[ 001 - Hologram] What's big, pink and smells like....strawberries?

[alwaysadrift]

[There's apparently a lot of giant robots around here. This one's looking a little out-of-sorts though, and it's pretty clear why, when he holds up--or attempts to--a very large wiggly semi-transparent pink cube. Give him a break okay: it's quite slippery, given its gelatinous state.]

Uh. Does anyone...want this? I bought it in the marketplace. I thought it was, ya know, something I could eat. Apparently it's for organics though. [Don't ask how Drift knows this. A medical diagnostic might be on his to-do list though.] And apparently non-returnable now.

[He has no idea what organics would do with such a large quantity of 'strawberry jello' or why it has any right masquerading in the form of an energon cube, but oh well, lesson learned. Drift sets it down before it nearly slips from his hot little fingers, (nevermind the squelching noise please) and pulls out an energon ration pouch, the pink liquid inside sloshing around as he holds it up.]

I am looking for more of this though. It's our fuel, and trust me when I say it's not good for organics. If you see any though, let me know. I can pay you for it, if need be.

[Just...not a lot. What a time to be without his gold currency card. But seriously people, Drift really, really likes not staving! He's done that before and would rather not again. But you better believe he's just the type of idiot to give out what rations he brought with him to the others of his kind. Because even if he's not fond of starving, hey, positive side: he knows how to tolerate it probably better than anyone.]

So Wing, Rodimus, Megatron, anyone else... let me know what supplies you have? I have some rations, if you're in need.

Comments

[knightoflight]

You're right, we should all pool the resources we have where they can most easily be shared.

[alwaysadrift]

Wing!

[Gnnnuh he's glad to see you.]

Yeah. That's a good idea. I have plenty to share. [Sort of but details, whatever. Just so the jet doesn't go hungry.] How are you faring?

[knightoflight]

[He has no idea why you sound surprised. Though he's glad to see Drift is apparently fine after the attack.]

We're in this together after all.

I'm fine, of course. This place, though? it still unsettles me.

[alwaysadrift]

[Not surprised so much as just...excited. COUGH.]

We are. We should be, right? Able to pull together and help each other out.

[He looks relieved. Though, there goes his easiest excuse to go see Wing. HMMM, what's plan B?] It is unsettling. Not just the gem thing but...this...place.

[CREEPY.]

[knightoflight]

Maybe when the others go back home, they will be able to share the message that we can all coexist.

[Which would make things worth it.]

I'm no cityspeaker, but it seems to me...it feels dead, this place.

[alwaysadrift]

We could be an inspiration to everyone back home.

[He really likes this idea.]

But...

...that's gonna be a trick. Getting them to. Co-exist positively.

[knightoflight]

I have faith in you, Drift.

[As for here, he'll keep his suspicions to himself.]

[alwaysadrift]

I...

Could use a little help, probably. Megatron and Rodimus...

Yeah that's not gonna be easy.

[He needs some peace pointers Wing!]

[knightoflight]

Megatron seems reasonable enough, I think. And they're your friends, aren't they? Surely they'll listen.

[alwaysadrift]

Do you think so? [There's the flare of hope right there. Drift's been worried he'd be biased, one way or the other, about Megatron. Hearing Wing's opinion bolsters him quite a bit.]

Well yeah, they are. Uh. I mean..._{Maybe I could call Megatron that but I'm not really sure} it's kind of complicated?

[knightoflight]

We spoke. He seems...different than before the war.

I don't mean to make it more complicated, Drift.

[alwaysadrift]

He is. He's...come to the same realization I did. I'm not sure who the catalyst was, for him, but someone changed his mind.

[There's still a lot Drift doesn't know. And it's not exactly a small talk type subject. Not that Drift is even good at small talk. Case in point:]

Oh, no-no! You don't. Certainly not! Ah-ha, no. If anything you're like...the compass needle for my sanity. [WOW that sounded...really....sappy-cheesy-awful-primus why does he open his mouth?]

It's just a power struggle with them and I'm certain to be caught in the middle.

[knightoflight]

It could be something you have in common with him, something that keeps him on his path. It's an important role, Drift.

[And he has every faith Drift is up for it.]

Power struggle? But I thought the war was over?

[alwaysadrift]

This is on a smaller scale. Apparently they've both been named captain of the ship I used to crew on. [It's messy. He's still trying to sort things out himself, a lot's happened since he left the Lost Light.]

And I'm hoping so... [His voice sounds small, but not weak. No, it's more an understanding of how large a task that truly is.] I know he lost that person, the way I...

[...lost you.]

[He runs a hand over his mouth once: afraid, unwilling, to say it.]

I just want him to have what I didn't.

[knightoflight]

But that's...not here. Why are they bringing that dispute here? It serves no purpose.

[Unless they have not left the war behind. which would be...distressing.]

You can be that for him, then, Drift. It sounds like he could use it.

[alwaysadrift]

They're hyper territorial stubborn gearsticks?

[Hopefully neither of them seeeees that....]

I'm trying. But. I'm sure he could benefit from your wisdom too. They both could really.

I know I did.

[knightoflight]

Maybe you shouldn't tell them they're so similar.

[Unless he wanted to see some fireworks?]

Ah, but Drift, I'm the past. They have no reason to listen to me.

[alwaysadrift]

[afhjakgh]

I. Uh. Wouldn't tell them. Like that. No.

[His pauldrons droop a little.]

But...

I thought the past, the good parts of it, is what you--we?--were trying to preserve? We need that now more than ever.

I didn't want to listen either, but it still did me good.

[knightoflight]

Well, maybe tell them from behind a safely locked door. Or with a head start.

[Because it would be funny. In a way. ]

Drift, we sat out the war. We hid from it. We ran away. And maybe trying to keep the past alive is ...wrong. Maybe building a new future is the right thing.

[alwaysadrift]

Hmm, or with a bull horn out of firing range. [HE'S JOKING. Of course. Mostly.]

Is there no way to do both? I wouldn't want us to forget our past mistakes. I wouldn't want to forget mine, what I learned from them.

And the good things...

[His helm bows then, painful recollection darkening his face, that the past they speak of, Crystal City, is gone.] I... I guess. You're right.

[knightoflight]

Hm. True. Megatron does have that cannon.

[He winks.]

We can try, of course. [The smile looks more than a little hopeful.] What matters is that we learn and move forward, and don't get stuck in the past.

[alwaysadrift]

Oh, actually he doesn't anymore. He set it aside. [YAY!] So I'm good!

...._{aaasssuming he doesn't go into tank mode in which case I'm shafted.}

[RIGHT. Let's not do that.]

But YES. Yes, that! The learning part is especially good. [Which is still a thing Drift needs to do a little more of.]

[knightoflight]

Hm. Perhaps we better just keep that joke to ourselves, then.

[It's still funny. Just...shared now.]

The first thing we should do is learn about this place, don't you think?

[alwaysadrift]

That, uh, that might be wise.

[Drift can do this kind of wisdom, at least!]

I think so too. What do think about... ya know...

Do you think it's a titan?

[He remembers the cityspeaker comment, who could forget such OMINOUS PORTENTS?]

[knightoflight]

What else could it be? I mean, what are the odds that two universes could come up with giant teleporting sentient robots?