outer_divide | [Video]

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[The video fizzles on to a pair of bright blue, glowing eyes framed in white. Sure does look like a giant robot. A very confused giant robot.]

Rodimus? Rodimus. Please come in. This isn't funny anymore. I mean it was funny at first in a sort of ironic way, but now it's... not? Anymore?

Anybody...?

Maybe this is a dream? But then usually Ultra Magnus is talking backwards and Wing shows up to tell me that I forgot my front plating and I have a test to take...

Uh. Is anyone here?

Helloooooooooo?

[Maybe he's finally somehow found the Knights of Cybertron?! ... No. His luck is rarely that good.]

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I cant see how anyone wouldn't like you.

[He seems absolutely sincere about that, too. But his cheerfulness fades and he leans into the touch slightly. He gets the feeling that Wing has been through a lot here. None of it pleasant.]

Ah I... hadn't thought of that. Is there any scattered here? Or anyone who can make some kind of synthetic-

[Right. They're the only two Cybertronians here. It quickly becomes clear this isn't a place to live. This is a place to survive. And that is something Drift is good at. It pains him to think of someone like Wing, someone who is used to a place like Crystal City, safe, comfortable, all his needs met, to suffer through what he went through in the early parts of his life.

No. He frowns, blue optics narrowing.]

You don't have to worry anymore. I'll take care of us. We'll find a way. And we're going to get a place to stay, Wing. I'm sure there's got to be some kind of abandoned buildings or something.

Drift, you didn't like me. [It's said fondly, though. Drift's gruffness in Crystal City had been endearing. ]

We have a limited supply on the ship. I've been rationing it out and asking Miss Potts to seek it out in her trading missions. But it's possible there is none here.

[He's told others there's a way to make an energon converter, but it's not his area of expertise.]

[He notices the fierce look on the other's face and he squeezes the arm, gently. ] I've been managing fine, Drift. Besides, someone needs to stay by the ship and protect it from the Authorities.

I was an idiot who wouldn't know a good thing if it was shoved in my exhaust port.

[He holds up a hand. No, Wing. He's having none of this.]

Then we'll build a dwelling here. And if I refuse to be a drain on your supplies. Fortunately, searching with two can cover a lot more ground.

[DON'T YOU BACKSASS ME I'M A BIG BOT NOW.]

... Authorities?

[Wing bursts out laughing. That's...a terrible image, Drift, despite the seriousness of what Drift is saying. He forces the laugh quiet, afraid of hurting Drift's feelings. ]

No, Drift. You were never an 'idiot'. You believed strongly in what you were doing.

We can ask the scientists for help. They might be able to retroengineer something.

[He doesn't directly answer the rest, just letting his thumb glide over the armor. He's so proud of Drift, he doesn't think he could find words if he had to. He hopes the touch is enough.]

The Authorities live in the domed cities. They've attacked directly twice since we've been here, endangering the Old City as well as the ship.

[He kind of gives a bit of a sulk at being laughed at. You remember the way he used to sulk all the time, Wing? He's still got it, just a tiny bit. But it easily fades now.]

I did, but I was also pretty damn stupid about-

About a lot of things.

[Things he won't talk about right yet.]

Alright. I'm sure we can offer them some kind of incentive to help us.

[His optics dim a bit. It's been a while since anyone have him positive physical attention, even if it's just a hand on his arm.]

Great. Well. How about this, then. We'll build or find a place to stay that's not far from the ship. We can stay away from the general population, but still be close enough to help if we have to.

I mean- if you don't mind staying with me.

[He winces. Yeah. Remember that time you died because of me? But he's determined to do everything he can to gain some measure of atonement for that, too. You took care of him once, so now it's his turn.]

[He does remember the sulking and he'd admit, now, how adorable he'd thought it even then. ]

We all are, at times, Drift. You should never be embarrassed by the strength of your conviction.

[The gold optics soften--he hates seeing Drift be so hard on himself.]

[The hand stays on the arm, wanting to go further, but no. Not yet. Better to wait and see and let Drift choose for himself. ]

[He grins. What was he just saying about the power of Drift's convictions? ]

I'd like to. Very much. [That delicate dance of making Drift feel welcome but not wanting to scare him off. ] It's been...lonely. [As hard as he tries to control it, there's a slight threadiness to his voice. He has never been alone before. Not like this. He used to sneak out from the City to fly, but he always had friends to return to. Until here.]

[His optics flash as he nods.

But the way Wing says that- he's now more attuned to picking up the subtle things. After a lot of meditation and learning people.]

We're together now, right? You don't have to be lonely anymore.

[He'll shoulder every ounce of responsibility, and this one? This is hardly a problem. He straightens himself and puts on a determined frown.]

I'll take care of things now. You don't need to worry, Wing.

[Did he deepen his voice just now?]

Survival situations are kind of my specialty. As Rodimus puts it, I have.

"Street cred".

[Air quotes.]

Edited 2012-09-03 21:30 (UTC)

[Wing feels his spark pulse at Drift's words. How Drift has changed! He wants to comment on it, but worries it's just going to just reinforce the distance between them. ]

[Instead he just smiles, nodding, hoping the gesture hides the emotion on his face.]

We'll do it, together. [He'll reluctantly drop his hand from Drift's arm, the fingertips feathering down the elbow. ]

You've always been a survivor, Drift. And your Rodimus sounds like a very good friend. [He's on the verge of asking if Drift misses him, but doesn't want to sound...jealous. It's a new experience for him.]

[His hand darts forward as Wing's falls, catching him by the fingers. Just reactionary. Drift is much like a dog chasing cars. He doesn't know what to do when he actually catches one. So he squeezes, and then lets go, shifting awkwardly.]

We will. And when we figure out a way to get out, I'll take you back to the Lost Light with me.

He is. Well, he's my commander. But I write his speeches!

[Yeah, you hear that, Wing? I write speeches now. He kind of wiggles his shoulders proudly.]

Some of them. Anyways...

You two would get along great I think.

[He pauses. Maybe a little too great. Note to self: keep Rodimus away from Wing if ever they should meet.]

[Drift might not know what to do, but Wing does, letting his hand be caught for a klik, lingering in Drift's for as long as he can. Because such gestures should never be made to feel like they were unwelcome.]

I'd like that. [For more reasons than he can say. He'd resigned himself to dying here, alone, as long as it was in defense of others, but now...there's a glimmer of something like hope. It's strange--it's like their situations were reversed now. ]

Speeches? On what? [It's a side he hadn't seen much of--only the once and in the Circle's chamber, Drift had been more earnest than articulate.]

I'd love to meet this Rodimus. He seems to mean a great deal to you.

Yeah. So would I.

[Excuse his wistfulness.]

Motivational speeches! You know. For morale. And stuff.

[GRIN.]

Yeah. He's pretty great! And you could meet everyone else, too! Perceptor, Tailgate, Swerve, Rewind and Chromedome, Ratchet-

[Well, maybe Ratchet wouldn't be the best to introduce... or Ultra Magnus...]

Anyways... I'm just.

I'm so happy to see you.

Edited 2012-09-03 22:54 (UTC)

It sounds amazing. All of it. You'll have to tell me who all of your friends are.

[All these details of Drift's life: if he only knew how precious Wing would find them, a future beyond his own life.]

I'm..._{It's amazing what you've become. I'm so glad I can see it.}

I... wouldn't be-

I mean.

If it wasn't for you.

[Wing was the catalyst. He always had been.]

That's not true, Drift. You are you. Unique. No one else could have made so much out of himself.

[Wing had perhaps helped, but if Drift had been any other mech, he would not have become...this.]

[Ah. He's not really sure he can even handle all of this flattery. His head falls slightly until he's staring at Wing's feet.

Yeah. Okay. We're going to have another hug, thanks.]

[It's not flattery, Drift. Wing is not a flatterer: he only says what he feels is truth.]

[He gladly folds his arms around the other mech, his spark fluttering, feeling the honor it was to have someone like Drift's esteem.]

[Yeah he'll just stay here. Like this. For a while... until he's good and ready.]

[Wing has never rushed Drift. Not in Crystal City, and not here. Especially not when he craves the touch almost as much as Drift.]

[He'll stay here all night holding Drift if the other wants.]

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