[ Christ, even just hearing the sudden be-WHOOP of the approaching siren has Verity nearly stuffing everything not bolted to the floor into her bag and bolting. To compensate, she finds a booth closest to the nearest exit in a direct line of sight, with Maccadam still tending the bar. A human song thrums with enough to bass to smooth out her frayed nerves.
She was meeting Prowl, she told herself. Prowl was a prick, but he had his own warped moral code she was confident she could navigate. Like nervously punching in Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A Start at just the right time. It all came down to timing.
[His combat computer typically chirps at him with a string of threat probabilities when he entered a room. Today, he immediately recognizes the song as having the typical Earth 4/4 time at 107 BPM speed. The even bassline made it good for dancing. He tries not to listen too hard to the lyrics, and can't help but look a little out of place with the serious stare he gives back.
Prowl picks up an Old Corroder from Maccadam and joins her. If they were going to talk about Tarantulas and the Wreckers, which is what he suspected, he wanted something stronger than your typical engex.]
Verity, this is rather sudden.
[sets the glass between them.]
Edited (my grammar is ass today rip) 2021-11-12 01:15 (UTC)
[ Verity stiffened the grip around her drink going white knuckled. ]
I- it should have gone through, right? [ AS far as Verity knew the broadcast Springer went out should have gone through. Prowl was a bastard but he hardly ever left anything to go unnoticed. ]
Springer- he used the Timemaze. He was going to back to- [ She worked through what felt like a noose around her throat. ] To fix things.
[He usually has the advantage of never having to show his first reactions to others. Typically he was well-informed, and well in control, never missing a single detail and dancing circles around the ignorance of the other partner in his conversation.
Somehow, in the midst of grounding himself after his exile, he missed this. Springer had been one of the few things he'd truly been proud of. The rare chance he got to do something right for once. Wreckers do not have high survival odds, he knew this from the beginning. That fact did not help the horrible feeling in his spark.
Prowl manages to remain stoic. His gaze drags from Verity to the wall at the opposite end of the bar.]
Always the tenacious one. I wouldn't have expected any less of him.
[he's kicking back the rest of the drink until its gone.]
[ Verity and Prowl stew in that moment as if they both just heard the tell-tale 'click' of a landmine being detonated. Neither of them wanted to say anything as it risked revealing too much. Words hang in the air as they both drown them out with the last dredges of their glasses. ]
Right. [ Verity's words bounced back at her in a mini echo as she spoke over the rim of her now empty glass. ]
Father of the fucking year you are, must be proud.
[Prowl knew well enough of human family relationships to recognize he'd felt an inkling of it through Ostaros, even if his only role was passing him on to a much better mentor figure. As the high grade seeps into his systems, it becomes harder to maintain his emotionless veneer.]
[ Verity rests her head in one hand while the other raises her glass to signal a refill. She tipped her newly refilled glass towards Prowl, miraculously without spilling a drop, signaling the staff to do the same. If they were going to be in their cups, it might as be mutually self-assured destruction. ]
The worst part? I can't even deny you that. I probably have you to thank for it all, actually. [ Verity leaned back and took another pull, staring up at the ceiling because it was easier to maintain the facade of indifference when you were glaring up. ]
If I was locked in a room with my father, Megatron, and Overlord with a gun and two bullets? I would have shot my old man twice, then have Megatron go all gun mode and shoot him again. You knew when to walk away when it was best option.
I'm not delusional enough to believe I'd make any sort of positive role model. Kup gave him the comradery and conviction I never could.
[ A daze hits him as more gets poured into his glass. Prowl felt like he was swimming through oil, trying to process this. ]
I was tasked with sending Autobots like him to their deaths for the past aeon. Logically, I always knew this day would come. It was a simple matter of probability.
[ he opts to stare down to keep their gazes separate, measuredly bringing that second glass down to about half-full.]
Even after trawling through so many casualty reports that it all blends together, it feels... wrong.
I don't think you were ever delusional. That's the problem. Sometimes you see things so clearly, and in such stark contrast, it gets more manageable that the more you start to compartmentalize.
[ They were both too many drinks in and in the horrors now that this was death by the exsanguination of things left unsaid. ]
You wanted what was best for Springer, I know you did. [ Verity doesn't tear her gaze away from the ceiling as she clinks her glass against its comically large counterpart in Prowl's hand. ]
Cody has expressed interest in learning Neocybex. Speaking it would be a complicated matter with his human physiology, but perhaps some reading and writing…
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Re: action!
She was meeting Prowl, she told herself. Prowl was a prick, but he had his own warped moral code she was confident she could navigate. Like nervously punching in Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A Start at just the right time. It all came down to timing.
Verity raised a glass at him and nodded. ]
no subject
Prowl picks up an Old Corroder from Maccadam and joins her. If they were going to talk about Tarantulas and the Wreckers, which is what he suspected, he wanted something stronger than your typical engex.]
Verity, this is rather sudden.
[sets the glass between them.]
no subject
[ She watches her drink as carefully as she watches every exit; every exist that has a vehicon casually stepping into place with arms crossed. ]
He's with me, Flinch. [ Verity waved offed her Vehicon guard and then leaned and whispered : It's okay, I'm alright, ]
We have a lot to talk about.
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wryly: ]
Well, I appreciate you calling this time around.
[ Their reunion is almost enjoyable without the threat of leaking extremely classified information. Taking a sip of the drink. ]
What brought about this desire to talk?
no subject
[ She does a shot in that she throws it over her shoulder and only briefly shudders -- Maccaddam might look on and disapprove. ]
Springer. Did anyone hear his last message?
no subject
Things got chaotic on Cybertron. I lost access to my ship and my computer arrays, I had to change my personal frequency. I've been out of the loop.
[he stiffens slightly, as if to steel himself.]
What did the message say?
no subject
I- it should have gone through, right? [ AS far as Verity knew the broadcast Springer went out should have gone through. Prowl was a bastard but he hardly ever left anything to go unnoticed. ]
Springer- he used the Timemaze. He was going to back to- [ She worked through what felt like a noose around her throat. ] To fix things.
"Wreck the past, rule your future."
no subject
Somehow, in the midst of grounding himself after his exile, he missed this. Springer had been one of the few things he'd truly been proud of. The rare chance he got to do something right for once. Wreckers do not have high survival odds, he knew this from the beginning. That fact did not help the horrible feeling in his spark.
Prowl manages to remain stoic. His gaze drags from Verity to the wall at the opposite end of the bar.]
Always the tenacious one. I wouldn't have expected any less of him.
[he's kicking back the rest of the drink until its gone.]
no subject
Right. [ Verity's words bounced back at her in a mini echo as she spoke over the rim of her now empty glass. ]
Father of the fucking year you are, must be proud.
no subject
[he admits.]
Despite everything.
[Prowl knew well enough of human family relationships to recognize he'd felt an inkling of it through Ostaros, even if his only role was passing him on to a much better mentor figure. As the high grade seeps into his systems, it becomes harder to maintain his emotionless veneer.]
no subject
The worst part? I can't even deny you that. I probably have you to thank for it all, actually. [ Verity leaned back and took another pull, staring up at the ceiling because it was easier to maintain the facade of indifference when you were glaring up. ]
If I was locked in a room with my father, Megatron, and Overlord with a gun and two bullets? I would have shot my old man twice, then have Megatron go all gun mode and shoot him again. You knew when to walk away when it was best option.
no subject
[ A daze hits him as more gets poured into his glass. Prowl felt like he was swimming through oil, trying to process this. ]
I was tasked with sending Autobots like him to their deaths for the past aeon. Logically, I always knew this day would come. It was a simple matter of probability.
[ he opts to stare down to keep their gazes separate, measuredly bringing that second glass down to about half-full.]
Even after trawling through so many casualty reports that it all blends together, it feels... wrong.
no subject
[ They were both too many drinks in and in the horrors now that this was death by the exsanguination of things left unsaid. ]
You wanted what was best for Springer, I know you did. [ Verity doesn't tear her gaze away from the ceiling as she clinks her glass against its comically large counterpart in Prowl's hand. ]
Wreck-
no subject
[He manages a melancholy grin as he kicks back the latest glass. He was too many drinks to the wind to hold up the cold mask.
There are so many other things he wanted to say. Perhaps the best response is to simply take Springer’s last message with him.
Wreck the Past, Rule your Future.
It’s not a bad mantra. ]
no subject
[ Verity stopped halfway through polishing off her second round to hold Prowl in a level stare. ]
Cody. Is he going to be safe around you?
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[he sounds a lot more dreary than usual. ]
He asked for a favor, and I'm fulfilling it. There's nothing more it than that.
no subject
[ She snorted and took another long sip ]
You said it, not me.
no subject
Cody has expressed interest in learning Neocybex. Speaking it would be a complicated matter with his human physiology, but perhaps some reading and writing…
[ looks at her pointedly. ]