re_alignment | [Video][Transmitting from Junk Pile's edge near Megatronus's Quadrant]

[The Link flickers on to revel darkness cut by a single shaft of pale light. Only the tip of a pointed silver footplate is visible in the light, occupying the immediate foreground. From there the view travels up, the darkness marred only but the soft gray lines of a white frame punctuated by blood red accents seated in the background.]

[The helm swivels, sharp white audials slicing through the air as the glow of red optics comes into view.]

Fellow Haveners, refugees, it's Wing again.

[The voice: it’s very definitely wrong. It’s not Drift’s but it’s not Wing’s. It's almost a beautiful melding of the two but with a dark, sticky-sweet coating. He moves like a ghost, slipping from his perch to come down to your level.]

Please disregard my earlier broadcast. I assure you there's nothing to worry about. Aside from a slight frame mix-up-- [the helm leans further into view stopping just short of a ray of light, revealing Drift's features instead of Wing's] --which appears to just be a thing that's been happening of late, I feel peeeerfectly fine. Mooore than fine, in fact.

[It’s much of the same cadence and language that Wing uses, but his normally gracious words carry none of their usual earnest weight, instead sounding overly casual and almost patronizing.]

The only thing that's not fine is that I don't know where Drift is. [A thread of irritation--insolence--that gets covered quickly and his tone becomes sweet again.]

But maybe there's someone out there that can help me with that. Speaking of...

[Wing will just call out a few people of interest now, and not bother locking any of the frequencies. What would that accomplish?]

[To Soundwave]

Soundwave. Why so blue? It’s horribly depressing. Not to mention boorish. You’re better than that. Can’t you make some beautiful music for me? [Oh, there's a look that promises something in return, should you indulge him.]

[To Kagerou]

My friend Kagerou. You said recently that you wanted to start living. I was happy to be there to cheer you on. Now I'm ready to step up and take you places. Do you really want to start living? Come find me and I'll show you.

[To Perceptor]

Perceptor, did they lock you up for those shootings yet? No? Good. We could have some fun with that overactive trigger finger of yours. I’ve better uses for it. [Have a impish little smile.]

[To Pharma]

Oh Pharma... [He waves a hand casually.] Just wondering how it feels to know you touch the world through Decepticon crafted hands? Self servicing must be a real conflict of interest now.

[To Blurr]

Blurr, [it comes out as a purr almost, as if caressing the syllables as they leave his mouth.] You naughty thing. I’ve been watching you. I saw what you did. I just have to say...Bravo. [A slow clap, dark fingers into a cool metal palm.] Veeeery entertaining. Please, let us have mooore.

I do wonder though...how you think you’ll get your police force off the ground with behaviour like that. But I guess we didn’t really need it anyway. That’s no fun, right?

[To Starscream]

Starscream. No, no the other one. You are as big as your ego now. Have you challenged Megatronus yet? You were so confident about being his equal earlier when you were telling me how you'd throw him over your knee and slap his aft til he cried 'Primus!'. I'd love to know how that goes. [Can he watch? Please?]

[To Vandal]

So Karrie--err, sorry--Vandal.... Maybe you should come stay with me? You’ll be safe here. I can protect you if...Drift is otherwise occupied.

[To Drift]

And Drift... Where arrrre you? You've been avoiding me. [a pout of distaste] Perhaps I can understand why but, reeeaaally, we just have more in common now! Could be fun, yeeees? [the helm tilts provocatively as he leans uncomfortably close into frame.] Please let me know where you are. I've miiiissed you so very much. And I've I gotten as much fun out of myself as I can. I need you. Don’t make me come fiiiinnd you.

At this rate I'll have to find myself a lesser substitute just to satisfy my needs...

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But I look different and you just told me I'm still me, right? So he's...[Simple logic, again: if Drift is still himself, inwardly, then so is Wing.]

I can't fight for him. I can't fight...anything. [Come on, Vandal. Pants defeated him in this body. How can he fight anything?]

[He nods, pathetically and hugs her arm.]

I think this is different.

[Sigh. She really wants to shake you right now.]

I don't mean physically. Come on. You take everything so literally.

[He makes a frustrated noise. Nothing makes any sense and he's useless. Not. Good. Things.]

_{I just want everything to be normal again.}

Drift, look at me.

Everything is going to be okay, alright?

[Since when did she have to become the vice of optimism around here? She's terrible at this.]

_{what if it's not?}

What if I stay like this? What if you're right and this isn't Wing and...he stays like that forever?

What is we all blow up tomorrow? What if everything is really a dream? What if cybertron is actually made of cheese?

Try to have just a little-

[Uhg she doesn't like the word she's about to say]

Try to have a little faith, Drift.

....Cybertron isn't made out of cheese.

[Too literal? That, at least, hasn't changed.]

[He sighs.] You're right. It's hard to have faith when you try to do everything right and get [he flops the hem of the sweater] this.

Hey. At least you're hug-sized now?

[He will just give you that glisteny tearing up look again. And there will be an extra flurry of pink petals. ]

What? I count it. Come on.

..._{I'd rather be able to protect you, Vandal.}

[They're talking in circles; he knows this, and he knows she's trying. So he forces a smile, which, since he's not very good at human, probably looks more queasy than anything else. ]

Do you still have those peaches?

[Sigh.]

Yeah, I still have the peaches, Drift. You hungry?

[He's not hungry. His spark's broken and that's like....the opposite of hunger. But he feels hollow and maybe peaches will fill at least part of it.]

I'd like to try them.

[Wordlessly she goes to fetch the can, returning and picking Drift up to set in her lap. Carefully, she peels back the lid and settles it in his hands.]

You'll like it.

[He wriggles as she picks him up--this is unspeakably pathetic--but then again, well...it's not that bad. Sort of like a hug, but not.]

[He stares at the opened can, the peaches glistening in syrup and looks back at her.]

You don't want any?

Sure.

[She reaches in and picks one slice out, popping it in her mouth and licking her fingers.]

Rest is yours, Mister Bun.

I can't eat all these.

[Well, at least he knows the proper etiquette for eating these things now. He takes one slice, tilts his head to study it and the drop of syrup beading on the bottom, before placing it almost gingerly into his mouth.]

[It was hard to describe, sweet, but not entirely, the texture of the fruit soft and unfamiliar.]

I don't think that name works anymore. [He manages a bit more convincing of a smile.]

Just eat what you can and I'll finish them when you're done.

[She scratches her fingers through his hair in an attempt to be comforting.]

Mmm. It will when this gets all worked out.

But [A bit of a pout in the voice, on the mouth's setting,] that's not how you share.

[Don't you know that?]

[He's not used to the hair thing, but her fingers combing through it feels good: he tilts his head into her touch, feeling the lack of a proper engine to rev acutely.]

If it does, you can call me Mr Bunny forever.

[Oh she actually laughs.]

I'd rather you eat until you're full. You need it more than I do.

Eat or I'' tickle you.

[For now she'll just absently pet your head.]

I'm holding you to that.

Vandal. [His voice gets very serious and quiet.] These things don't have fuel gauges.

[He has no idea when 'full' happens.]

I don't think that's a nice thing to do.

[But he can imagine all too well how 'tickling' would go, so he stuffs another peach slice in his mouth.]

Haha- no. They don't. You just kind of know when you're full. Your body doesn't feel hungry anymore.

[Drift you can be pretty cute.]

No, it isn't, which is why you should listen to me.

I don't feel hungry right now? [He feels sick at heart and frustrated and small.]

[But the peach slices are good, so he takes another slice.] I do listen to you.

Well, until you really don't want to eat.

[She's trying.]

No, you really don't. Well... okay you listen, but you don't seem to take it to heart.

All right. [He'll try to remember that.]

[He sighs.] Vandal. I try. It's just... a lot of habit to break.

[Action]

vandalization - 2012-09-18 00:59 (UTC) - Expand

sword_redemption - 2012-09-18 01:59 (UTC) - Expand

vandalization - 2012-09-18 02:08 (UTC) - Expand

sword_redemption - 2012-09-18 02:32 (UTC) - Expand

vandalization - 2012-09-19 07:02 (UTC) - Expand