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| Homemade Science; Closed; with Rodimus | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: 7 May 2016, 03:22 PM (385 Views) | |
| Rodimus | 10 May 2016, 09:16 PM Post #16 |
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watch me burn; bright, brighter, brightest
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Rodimus stared as Perceptor drank down the glass, so easily, so casually. How long has the sniper been brewing and drinking this that he could swallow it like it was a weak energon spritzer and not the blood of Unicron? The taste and burn was still lingering for Rodimus, but the effects of the brew were buzzing in his systems, enticing him with the promise of a good charge and no regrets in the morning, since he wouldn't regret what he wouldn't remember. And then Perceptor had to go and press the one button that always prompted Rodimus into doing stupid things. Yeah, no. No, you did not just offer something more gentle after showing off like that. Rodimus glared at him. Challenge accepted, Perceptor. "You know what? First drink's always the hardest. I got this." Rodimus braced himself this time and threw his head back as he drank down the remaining brew in his glass. His systems were going to hate him before he blacked out and he'd probably be lucky if he didn't end up in the medibay after this, but like hell he was going to let Perceptpr drink him under the table. He set the drained glass on the desk, though he nearly missed before his optics opened so he could see where he was setting the glass. "Round two." |
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| Perceptor | 10 May 2016, 09:37 PM Post #17 |
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Confirmed Gay Disaster
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"....Round two indeed." Another fill of both glasses, and Perceptor drank his down like it was a daily fuel ration, setting the glass on the desk with a clink. He was well practiced in the art of liqour, after many hard lessons learned in the Wreckers. His grin did not fade, instead it gained a Chesire's curl as he sat back comfortably, legs now crossed as prim and proper as nobility. He tilted his helm, the challenge still wide open as his optic scope whirred as though targeting. "Don't push yourself, Rodimus. You are the acting co captain after all. We can always sample something a little less stressful on the system." He laughed, low in his throat like a Devil in armored plating. "Unless you intend to try and drink me under the table. I do love a bit of friendly competition." |
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| Rodimus | 10 May 2016, 10:05 PM Post #18 |
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watch me burn; bright, brighter, brightest
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Rodimus had come here to get black out drunk in the first place, after all. He wasn't out yet. Definitely feeling the charge and his systems were already warning him that maybe he should do the responsible thing and call it quit. He rarely drank more than a few glasses of hot engex, only ever pushing his limits when everything stacked up - exiling Drift, nearly losing Magnus, nearly dying to stop Tyrest, coming clean to the crew about Overlord; those had piled on him and he'd drank himself into a stupor behind closed while the crew was deciding how to vote. Now he had two DJD members on his ship, at least two dead mechs come back to life, and First Aid...Primus, he should have been at the medibay sooner, after Aid's first call. If he'd been there, Pharma wouldn't have had the chance to hurt First Aid. These thoughts coming back to him didn't make him feel better. Neither did Perceptor's teasing about being acting co-captain. Rodimus glared at him again, a little more heatedly, and pointed one golden digit at the scientist. "Listen here. This 'co-captain' thing's just until we find the Knights and pass ol' Megatron to 'em," he told Perceptor. "Soon as that's done, I'm taking my ship back and starting a new quest. One Optimus can't override me on." He picked up his glass and drank a long sip from it, swallowing the brew with all the other choice words he had about Optimus. Primus, he looked up to the Prime - who didn't? - but it still hurt that Optimus didn't have much confidence in him. "And yeah," Rodimus continued after bringing the glass from his lips, a slight slur to his words. "I'm gonna drink you under the table." |
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| Perceptor | 10 May 2016, 10:23 PM Post #19 |
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Confirmed Gay Disaster
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"I'd like to see you try, Hot Rod.", said Perceptor quietly, calmly... briefly frigid. His servos twitched as he reached for the bottle, refilling his own glass and topping Rodimus's off. He did not meet his captain's optics. Was this little rivalry, this casual banter the beginnings of a bit of revenge? Perhaps. Perhaps this was a small payback for nights spent mourning in a habsuite too far from anyone for it to be known. Perhaps this was revenge for watching a white-plated mech once more walk away; like an eon before. Perhaps this was every off-color remark and sarcastic joke at Perceptor's expense that no one thought he heard or caught paid back in sips and tastes. Perhaps this was a levelling of the playing field. Perhaps this was repayment for not just exiling Drift, but Perceptor as well. Or, perhaps, this was Perceptor extending a hand the only way he knew how, anymore. Perceptor making himself a focus, a target for Rodimus; giving the flamboyant captain something to pin his faults and fury upon in order to circumvent his coping process. Not all exorcisms are Catholic, or holy. One never knew with Perceptor. "Do be careful, though. Try not to set anything on fire, hm?" |
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| Rodimus | 10 May 2016, 11:15 PM Post #20 |
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watch me burn; bright, brighter, brightest
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Rodimus frowned at his old name as it fell from Perceptor's lips. He knew Perceptor was pushing his buttons now, not just letting a couple of things slip. Buzzed or not, he wasn't going to let the other mech get away with that. Two could play at this game. "Watch me, Percy." He reached for the glass again and took a drink. This time, he didn't toss it back, just took a normal sip, before he shifted, leaning forward with his arms at his knees, letting his head hang. He just needed a moment to let his systems adjust. This concoction of Perceptor's was much more than he'd ever really had before and drinking it as quickly as he had was probably a really bad idea, but god, he needed it. Too much had built up, things were only getting worse, and he had no idea what to do about all of it. He couldn't admit to Megatron that he had no idea what to do; the former Decepticon would just hold it over his head as one more reason why Rodimus wasn't fit to be captain. Magnus already seemed to favor Megatron, forming an odd bond with the ex-warlord, and seeming more distant with Rodimus by the day. He still hadn't even spoken to Drift. Rodimus brought his hand up to run it over his face with a sigh. "Only thing on fire is my insides. And maybe my entire life." |
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| Perceptor | 12 May 2016, 12:46 PM Post #21 |
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Confirmed Gay Disaster
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Perceptor's optic glinted at the small confession. A single sentence. He hummed in his throat, tracing a servotip around the rim of his own glass before taking it hand. "Why would you say that, Rodimus?", he asked softly, as close to gently as Perceptor could GET anymore, "Things seemed to be looking up for you, all things considered." A sip from his glass, and a chirrup fro his optic scope. He frowned, tapping at the side of his helm until the sound stopped before once more focusing on Rodimus as the Captain leaned. He looked... exhausted, sitting like that. Perceptor decided he didn't like Rodimus looking so worn down like this; it wasn't right. This was Rodimus, gung-ho space captain extraordinaire, living roman candle with no concept of things like "limits" or "common sense". Why did the mech look so damn tired? "...Anything you say doesn't leave this room; for what it's worth." |
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| Rodimus | 12 May 2016, 04:40 PM Post #22 |
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watch me burn; bright, brighter, brightest
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Rodimus lifted his head again to give Perceptor a skeptical glance. "How is any of this - " he gestured vaguely, wrist rotating to indicate the entire ship before Rodimus let his hand drop to rest at his thigh, " - 'looking up' for me? I've let more dangerous Decepticons on the ship, First Aid got hurt because I didn't get to him fast enough, don't even get me started on what the crew thinks of me." He was exhausted and it was probably only because of the alcohol that his inhibitions were lowered enough for him to admit it. Very rarely did he drink anything strong enough to make him lower his guards, drop the faked self-confidence, and let the part of him that had so many regrets show. It was the rare few who saw this side of him, since it usually only came out when he was alone, locked in his quarters with a couple bottles of Nightmare Fuel. He could count on one hand how many mechs had seen this tired, regretful, and, he mentally berated himself, pathetic side of him. "I don't want them on my ship, Perceptor. It's going to end up like Overlord all over again." It would be worse, probably. Two DJD members and a dangerous ex-medic who'd already shown he was capable of killing hundreds? Rodimus had conceded to Megatron and Magnus' points, given them their own floor to wander mostly free, and he hated it. If any of them decided to act out, his crew would pay the price for another mistake in Rodimus' growing list of mistakes. Speaking of mistakes. Rodimus brought his hand back up, cradling his head in his palm, before taking a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Perceptor." His voice was quiet, soft and almost hollow, everything that his voice wasn't supposed to sound like. "I've made a lot of terrible decisions, as a captain, as a leader, but worse, as a friend." He paused, gripping his glass, not sure of what he was saying because words weren't exactly his strength; he could ad-lib a good speech, throw together words of encouragement here and there, but being honest about something he regretted? "I never should have let Drift take the fall for me. He was doing fine, getting his life together, and I let him throw that all away to save my own aft. I should have gone after him the moment after I told the crew the truth and I didn't. Because I was scared he'd hate me. I made it about me instead of putting him first." |
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| Perceptor | 12 May 2016, 05:16 PM Post #23 |
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Confirmed Gay Disaster
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Perceptor opened his mouth to comment on the Con situation when- "I'm sorry, Perceptor." The sniper's mouth closed immediately. He listened to the apology as it crept from Rodimus's spark, it seemed, small and timid and nervous and tired. He listened to the heavy tones of self-loathing, saw the hunch to Rodimus's frame. He heard a thousand years of failing heroes and a thousand more of downturned optics; he listened to the sound of burning hymns and too many choices far too soon. And he remembered. And somewhere in his spark, old dusty thing it was, he mourned for the lost time; for the marks on Rodimus's self-kept record- decisions he shouldn't have had to face alone, decisions that he never should have faced to begin with. He remembered, back to Overlord rampaging through the ship, remembered his own panic, the haunting lilt of the Demon's voice. He set his glass aside, turning to the desk in silence. The reticule had been set aside before they began to drink, and he reached for a circular case, clicking it open. A servo over his false optic swiped away the fake lens, and he dropped it into the case after flicking it open. Microlenses whirred and trilled as they rapidly adjusted to the sudden change in perception. As Perceptor reached to detach the setup, he spoke. "I'd tell you that you've nothing to apologize for, but that would be sugarcoating it.", he began, hissing at the final click, "So I'll settle for the truth. You wouldn't have been able to stop Drift if you had wanted to." He winced at the first tug, and the lens cluster slid free. He set it aside and reached for the old patch he often recharged with, to cover the empty optic channel. Busywork, to keep his servos from fidgeting, to stop himself from being distracted from what he was saying. "He would have done whatever it took to make things go 'the easy way', no doubt. That is how Drift is.... He's much like you, Rodimus. Thinks with his spark more often than not-" The snap of the patch's low-grade magnets attaching to faceplates and helm. "Do I believe your choice at the time was the correct one? No. I don't.", he continued, settling again to face Rodimus, "But do I believe you made the choice with malice behind it? Also no. It was a terrible situation, with suffering on either side; and someone like you cannot stand hopelessness, Rodimus." Perceptor looked levelly at him with his one optic. "...And that is why I cannot bear you ill will for what you have done, or what has been happening. I hold no grudge against you." Perceptor's expression was... oddly gentle. No longer the sniper in this moment, he was once again just a tired scientist; a scientist talking to his captain in the plainest way he could. "You are doing the best you can, and that is all we can ever ask of you. The cards are stacked against you; all you can do is play the hand. Should things go sour, you will have people around to help you, know that. If it means I take up patrols on the floor the Cons are being kept upon, then I shall do so. If it means that schedules and preferences are swept aside, then so be it." Perceptor leaned, placing a war-roughened had on Rodimus's shoulder. "Half this crew is a bunch of misbegotten stains on a washrack wall ANYWAY.", he chuckled, "You are, by far, one of the better Captains I have served under." |
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| Rodimus | 12 May 2016, 08:01 PM Post #24 |
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watch me burn; bright, brighter, brightest
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Even if Perceptor had told him he had nothing to apologize for, Rodimus wouldn't have believed it. He had so much to apologize for and so much of it was for things for which it was far too late to do so. Drift was only one person he owed an apology to and he couldn't even do that right, apologizing to Perceptor for what he'd done instead of seeking out his friend to say it to Drift. "I didn't even try to stop him," he pointed out between breaks in Perceptor's speech. He'd argued with Drift, but hadn't really tried to stop him. Drift had sacrificed everything he'd worked for years to gain and Rodimus had never felt worthy of that sacrifice. "He's not like me, Perceptor. He's better than me. I knew that from the start." Rodimus took a long drink from his near empty glass, choking the hard liquor down around the tightness in his throat. He set the glass on the desk, pushing it away with a couple of swigs' worth of liquid still in it. He could barely look up at Perceptor, not wanting to see the expressions on the other mech's face. On the one hand, Perceptor was right, as he usually was; Rodimus couldn't stand hopelessness, wouldn't stand it. He'd take a no-win scenario and do what he could to find a way to win anyways. So why hadn't he done that with Drift? "You should. If anyone should be holding a grudge against me, it's you. You and Drift both." He finally looked up at Perceptor to see that gentle look on the other mech's face and it struck him almost unnerving, yet comforting at the same time. His spark pulsed in its casing at the reaffirming words Perceptor spoke and he managed a small, if still pained, smile to show his appreciation. Rodimus was pretty good at saying the right words to reassure others, but he was terrible at doing it for himself, so when Perceptor told him that he was doing the best he could and would have people around to help him, it was a relief that he was truly grateful for. "Thanks, Perceptor. It means a lot. And if you're serious about patrols, let me know your schedule. We'll work something out so you're not run ragged." He let his smile widen a little at the compliment from the other mech. "One of the better ones. Can't quite beat Kup, can I?" |
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| Perceptor | 13 May 2016, 04:04 AM Post #25 |
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Confirmed Gay Disaster
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"You surpassed Kup and Springer ages ago, believe me.", snorted Perceptor, releasing Rodimus's shoulder and reaching for his own glass, "A bunch of half-cocked old mechs, running around like newbuilds at a race; ridiculous." He took a hefty swallow of liqour before continuing, "HONESTLY, the pair of them were disasters to deal with; I'd beat them over the helm with a lead bar as much as pat them on the back, had I the chance." He swirled the remaining liquid in his glass before continuing, "All that aside; you don't deserve a grudge against you, Rodimus. For Drift to suggest something like that, like he did; because I have no doubt it was his idea, not in the LEAST mind you, was unfair on his part. He offered you a line when you were struggling, not seeming to realize the emotional consequences it would have on either of us." Perceptor sighed heavily, "Master of leaving without goodbye, that one. Hmph." He drained his glass, swallowing easily and licking his lipplates afterwards with a mildly bitter expression. Edited by Perceptor, 13 May 2016, 04:09 AM.
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| Rodimus | 14 May 2016, 08:17 PM Post #26 |
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watch me burn; bright, brighter, brightest
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"And a half-cocked young mech running around like a newbuild at a race is better?" Rodimus gave a snort and leaned forward, picking up his glass again. He finished off the last bit in the glass before pushing it back towards Perceptor for another refill. He was never going to make it back to his quarters on his own, as much as the brew was affecting his systems. If he wasn't sitting at the moment, he would probably fall over. He felt like he was swaying a little. Maybe he was. "Give Kup a break, Perce. He ran a tight ship, but he got shit done. If he ran this ship, we'd would've found the knights by now and dragged 'em back to Cybertron." Rodimus leaned back in his chair, letting his body go lax with his head falling back so his gaze was on the ceiling. He couldn't really say anything about leaving being Drift's idea; it was true and there's was no point arguing it. Drift had given him a chance to keep going, saying that it was important that Rodimus see the quest through. Rodimus just wished that he hadn't ever suggested it. Drift hadn't had to leave if Rodimus had just told the truth from the beginning or had never let Prowl's stab at his pride get to him. "I should have made him talk to you first. Maybe you could have talked him out of leaving." Though maybe that was part of why they'd gone through with Drift's plan so quickly. If anyone could have talked Drift out of taking the fall for him, it would have been Perceptor. "Do you think...he'd forgive me for not going after him?" Rodimus asked. "After I told the crew, I mean. We should've gone after him months ago, but I couldn't face him. He was my best friend and I left him hanging for months." |
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| Perceptor | 16 May 2016, 05:52 AM Post #27 |
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Confirmed Gay Disaster
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"If Kup ran this ship, I wouldn't be here.", said Perceptor dryly, "I'd be in some form of prison." Perceptor refilled both glasses before speaking, "I don't think I could have talked Drift out of leaving. It didn't work last time, I doubt it would have worked this time, Rodimus." Perceptor veered away from that particular memory. "But yes, I do think he'll forgive you. And not just because of this 'happy zen center' line he's been living. He might give you a swift right hook to the jaw, but all in all I think he'll forgive you." Perceptor shrugged, "And if he clocks you a good one, I have several thousand years of Good Ones I owe him anyway; it'll be a moot kind of revenge." The sniper looked at Rodimus then, and swallowed his laughter along with a sip of his drink. The captain was indeed a bit wobbly, but at least his posture looked a bit more relaxed; not so tense or worried anymore. That was a good thing. Perceptor's own optic was only half-lit, lipplates in a sort of dozy half-smile. It had been a long time since he'd been able to just... have company. Like this. Most avoided him, given his reputation as a soldier, or as a scientist. It was kind of nice, not to be alone for once. |
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| Rodimus | 16 May 2016, 09:18 PM Post #28 |
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watch me burn; bright, brighter, brightest
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Rodimus gave a snort. "Yeah, you're right. Forget the Knights, if Kup ran this ship, we'd all be in prison." He sat up and reached for his glass again, embarrassingly missing it the first grab and quickly catching it in his grasp the second. "Probably arrested by the Knights themselves." Taking a slow drink - pushing himself, though he knew his limit had already been hit - Rodimus focused on Perceptor's words. If he were to be honest, it was probably only the conversation with the other mech that was giving him any reason to focus and not pass out from too much alcohol. "You could've done a better job than I did. He listens to you." He gave a nod as Perceptor spoke of Drift and whether he'd forgive Rodimus. "A right hook's the least of what I deserve. I'm never going to let him take the fall for me or anyone else again. He's a good person. I hope he knows that." He wasn't sure Drift thought of himself as a good person, after all the things he'd done while he wore the Decepticon badge. Rodimus didn't know that much about Deadlock, but he knew Drift well enough to know that Drift was a good person, deserving more than having Rodimus for a friend. "I want more people to know that." Rodimus, on some level, knew that he'd said a lot in the last several minutes; he got talkative when he was drunk and he didn't always hold himself back on matters that were important to him. A lot of what he'd said were things he'd never say sober or to anyone else. Drift was a sore subject for many on the ship, whether because they were still angry about the other mech's part in what happened with Overlord or because they were mad at Rodimus for letting Drift take their anger. He knew that he could talk to Perceptor about Drift and, maybe, he could be convinced to speak to Drift himself if he talked to Perceptor first. He drank a couple more sips and set the glass back down. "This stuff is really great. A++ job with it, Perceptor. Expect a Rodimus star." He stretched his arms over his head, letting his back strut creak and shift to relieve some built up tension. "Might pass out on your floor if I drink anymore though." |
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| Perceptor | 21 May 2016, 07:58 AM Post #29 |
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Confirmed Gay Disaster
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Perceptor made a pseudo grand gesture at the floor, "Have at it. I've passed out enough on it... Don't tell anyone that though. I do have some kind of a reputation to uphold." The scientist snickered, "And besides... You DID say you wished to be reckless. And that you'd drink me under the table." He sipped his drink again, free hand coming up to push at the patch over his empty optic canal when he felt it sliding again. He really did have to get a new one; the one he had was old; still had the remnants of marker-graffitti washed off a thousand times over. "All else fails, if you do pass out I can drag you back to your hab." |
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| Rodimus | 23 May 2016, 08:39 PM Post #30 |
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watch me burn; bright, brighter, brightest
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Rodimus snorted. "No one would believe me if I told them." He didn't doubt the crew had the idea that Perceptor was a stick in the mud that never did anything that didn't involve complex equations and quantum shenanigans. How many of them had known Perceptor during the war, had seen what he was capable of as both a sniper and a scientist, but never saw him with the Wreckers between fights? How many knew Perceptor beyond the science and guns? He doubted it was more than a few. Drift, himself, Blaster, maybe. Rodimus wrinkled his nose at Perceptor's snickering. "I totally could drink you under the table. But I gotta check on First Aid." He leaned forward, putting his hands on the desk to help push himself upright. It was clear by his wavering that Rodimus should probably have stopped drinking a couple of glasses ago. "If I can make it to the medbay, maybe." He started to turn around and had to grab hold of the chair he'd just left in order to stay upright. "Magnus is gonna kick my ass for drinking this much." |
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