╬ [Video] :: Location - The Hub

[young_upstart]

Okay, so I'm still a little...weirded out about this whole thing. I got that it's been at least several months or something since I was last here, and my last visit wasn't all that great, from what I'm remembering.

[Getting crushed with a giant hammer? Yeah, not a pleasant memory.]

Anyway, if anyone cares, I've got one of them glyph things now so I don't think I'll be losing it this time around- I hope, anyway.

[He taps a finger on his arm where the white insignia is, standing out against his more vivid color scheme.]

Oh yeah. By the way, the name's Hot Rod- not Rodimus or Rodimus Prime or whatever other fancy version there is out there. I doubt I'll hear the end of it, but a bot can try, right?

[Pausing for a moment, there's some slight hesitation before he finally continues.]

Um. I heard Ultra Magnus wasn't around any more. I think a couple of other guys from my...world, were around though, the last time I checked. Springer? And the...aw scrap, what was the name again...- well he kinda talked weird but yeah- if you guys are still around, I'd appreciate hearing from you.

Comments

[Video | Private/Unhackable]

[young_upstart]

Prima, got it.

The light, huh. All right- guess I'll start heading that way.

[Video | Private/Unhackable]

[primianpolarity]

My Acolytes will watch for you. Do not dawdle.

[it's technically not an order, but - there's something about the tone that implies it just by itself.]

[Video | Private/Unhackable]

[young_upstart]

-okay, okay!

[Yeah, he gets that. Well, only one way to make the best time. Time to transform and roll out.]

[Video | Private/Unhackable] quicklog, log, handwave - up to you!

[primianpolarity]

[and Prima will very much have his Acolytes at the entrance of the temple. they won't stop Hot Rod as he approaches, but they'll clearly be keeping an eye on him.]

Quick log if you're cool with it? :3

[young_upstart]

[The place isn't too hard to find, thankfully, so eventually the brightly colored sportscar comes up towards the entrance.

He flips out of alt mode, warily eying the Acolytes as he walks inside.]

What a warm welcome....

totes!

[primianpolarity]

[hey, one's coming forward to greet you. that's warm, right? it bows slightly in respectful greeting.]

Please follow me.

[and with that it turns, pausing only long enough to make sure that Hot Rod's behind it before stepping further in to the tower. one other Acolyte makes to bring up the rear, with the few others dispersing.]

\o/

[young_upstart]

Uh...

[He nods awkwardly, following the acolyte's lead, all too mindful of the one following, but as they go, he can't help but look around.]

[primianpolarity]

[enjoy the scenery, Hot Rod. marble-like rock and crystals and pillars and whoever built this place was a fan of making everyone else feel small and dull.

or maybe they were just big. and bright. could be that.

either way, the Acolyte(s) take him down a few halls, and then pause before a door. the one in front opens it, and gestures for Hot Rod to enter.

it seems to be a room made of - for all intents and purposes - crystal. but even with the subtly glowing Firstforged within it, it's not blindingly bright; rather, the crystals seem to soak up a bit of some of the shine, storing it within their forms.

Prima's back is initially towards the door, but as it opens, he turns.]

[young_upstart]

[If he had't been feeling anxious about this whole meeting before, he's definitely feeling it now, meeting a Firstforged in person.

Well, he's come this far, and since when has he ever backed down from anything? Of course, once he's ushered inside, he's not sure what's expected of him.]

[primianpolarity]

[and if that's not enough, the Acolyte closes the door behind him. enjoy being alone with the Firstforged, Hot Rod! they'll come back to collect the body later. maybe.

Prima, for his part, regards Hot Rod in silence at first. seconds pass...]

...Hot Rod. Wasn't it?

[young_upstart]

[Oh yeah, that's really reassuring. It's difficult to just stand there while Prima's watching, but once the Firstforged speaks up, Hot Rod tries not to jump.]

Yeah, that's right.

[primianpolarity]

[to be fair, the whole reason Prima called Hot Rod here was to reassure /himself/. he nods, then beckons Hot Rod closer, lowering himself to a knee as his optics fall towards the white mark.]

Tell me what you remember.

[young_upstart]

[Hot Rod steps forward, deciding that it's probably a good idea to cooperate with the Firstforged.]

...I remember being here, and what I was told about those that didn't have a mark. And I remember that for all I tried not to lose it, I...

[He shakes his head. It wasn't exactly one of his proudest moments, and nothing he took pleasure in recalling, what parts he could remember.]

....one of you- she had a large hammer. She helped end it...

[primianpolarity]

Solus.

[another gesture, and then he's reaching - slowly, purposefully, clearly not trying to startle Hot Rod - towards him, extending a finger to touch the Glyph]

And after that?

[young_upstart]

[He steels himself as Prima reaches towards him.]

I... can't recall. -Except for waking up outside of the Haven somehow, and that there was this mark dripping off my arm.

[primianpolarity]

Dripping?

[Prima furrows his brow a bit, frowning just slightly as he touches the metal. his finger is warm, and he presses just a bit while moving it - as though trying to smear the mark off.]

[young_upstart]

Y-yeah. It was weird, like a blob of energon, and this was left in its place.

[He glances over as Prima fingers the marking, half wondering if it would indeed come off.]

[primianpolarity]

[well, it seems to still be there when Prima's finger moves. pressing his lips together, he moves his finger again, touching it directly as it glows even brighter.

there may or may not be a stinging feeling. if there is, it may or may not hurt like hell for the brief moment it's there.]

You're sure it was energon?

[young_upstart]

I don't know, I kind of had other things on my mind at the time-

[If he didn't know any better, he would have thought the Firstforged was going to poke a hole right through him. His optics widen as the glyph glows, and he suddenly pulls back, giving a yelp.]

-ow! What the-! What are you trying to do?!

[primianpolarity]

[nnnot quite. Prima starts just a bit, pulling his hand back, but more in reaction to Hot Rod's yelp than true surprise. after a moment, he lowers his hand.]

Ensuring that there was an actual connection, and not a facsimile.

Since obviously you felt that, it...appears to be true.

[there's a little reluctance there. and something else. Prima's clearly Not Happy...but...it doesn't seem to be quite aimed at Hot Rod?]

[young_upstart]

[That reaction doesn't help to make him any less confused. He reaches over to rest a hand over the glyph as he feels that pain subside just as quickly as it had come.]

...so what's wrong then? If it's real, then that means I've got nothing to worry about, right?

[primianpolarity]

...

[hesitation? from Prima? nah. never.]

Not as you did before.

[young_upstart]

[Why does that phrasing not set him at ease.]

...but there's something else bothering you about this.

[primianpolarity]

[another pause. Prima seems to be considering how much to say...and when he speaks, his words are slow, clearly chosen carefully]

For a long time, those who went to the Badlands never returned. If we did see them, they were monsters - to be put down, and out of their misery.

For some time, there are those who have been...trickling back, wearing our Marks once more. I can count them on one hand.

But now, you, after we forsook you - and more, too, that we had thought long Lost.

[meditative? a little. he's watching Hot Rod closely, studying him for a reaction.]

[young_upstart]

[Oh, right. This was the one that liked to use a lot of words over the cut and dry. Folding his arms, Hot Rod listens, frowning a little.]

I heard that you guys couldn't bring back those wihout glyphs. So if this wasn't your doing, then how..?