exsiliumlogs | (no subject)

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Date: November 1st
Location: The Observatory.
Characters: Everyone.
Summary: New Transports arrive and are shuffled into the Observatory after their initial briefings. The zombie plot will not spill over into this area, this area is safe and unaffected! To face zombies, characters must leave the area, and please move to the event log with those threads.
Warnings: None.

Your arrival here has been very unceremonious. One second you were somewhere else, and now, very suddenly, your feet hit the glowing white of the Transporter pad, and you're here. You aren't alone, either. There's a crowd of others around you, each seeming just as bewildered, angry, or confused as you might feel. At the head of the group is a woman in purple robes, solemn and taciturn. She hurries over a quick overview of your intended purpose here, and gives direct answers when asked for them, but to most things she simply shows you how to access the tablet you've just been given, or tells you that the DITR's greeters will explain everything. On the tablet, you can find the history of this place and a record of what your new cohorts have experienced — although it won't have Network access for another 8 hours. Someone stands on hand to give you a weapon, and though the armory is now greatly reduced, you should be able to find something to suit you.

You're shepherded down a walkway tunnel and into the Observatory, where you will find screens mounted on three sides of the wide room. It's night outside the great wide windows, and the lunar landscape isn't much to look at right now; the only lighting comes from dull red emergency lights, but there are… noises. Listen carefully. Over the voices of your fellow Transports, now and then you might catch the sound of a scrape, or a low and muffled cry. It doesn't sound human. Are there animals up here?

You're free to explore the base, visit and use any of the VR rooms, or discover your new room and roommates, but try not to step out of any airlocks if oxygen is a requirement for your system.

Welcome to the moon base, and to the remains of Exsilium.

[[ ooc; As a note for players of current characters: please keep your root comments confined to the various groups and organizations that set up root comments to greet new characters! We highly encourage tagging around here, but since it's a log meant for new characters specifically, we ask that they be the ones to set up root threads to the entry. Thank you, and happy playing! ]]

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[Out one war and into another. It just figures, with Swindle's luck lately. And to make matters worse, he's found himself surrounded by organics. Organics mostly from Earth, it looks like. Probably one of the worst planets to be from, in his opinion.

And on top of all that, he's small now. Too big for the base, they'd said. He's never been one of the larger 'Cons ("Cybertronians," he mentally corrects), but the difference in perspective is still disorienting. How did humans do this all the time? It's already exhausting. What he'd give to just be back at Maccadam's now.

So, to deal with it all, Swindle has taken to just sulking around, because that's definitely one of the best ways to confront a problem. Try as he might, though, even at a smaller size he's not quite the type that can blend in. His paint job aside, very few others' pacing brings a metal clang with every step.]

( Rodimus hasn't gotten used to the change in size yet, either. It's one thing when in his alt-mod or using his holoform because that was kind of the point - smaller, blend in, and so on and so forth. Like this, though? Nope, still not used to it. Never going to get used to it. Probably going to complain about it when given the opportunity.

But here's the thing - and Rodimus should really have expected it after Luna-1 - he just didn't ever think a Decepticon would show up. There's a long list of 'bots he wants to see here, and a few he wouldn't know what to say to if they did show up. But a Decepticon? Never even crossed his mind. Which is why he has to do a double take when he catches a glimpse of a familiar shape and color - just as short as he is. It takes another moment after that to recognize who it was, and then he just groans. )

Oh come on.

( Anyone but Swindle. Anyone but Megatron, Shockwave, Soundwave, probably Starscream, quite possibly Scorponok, and Swindle. )

[The familiar voice stops Swindle in his tracks. He's not altogether sure how to approach this situation, running into Rodimus, of all 'bots, and here, of all places.

So he puts on his "customer service" voice.]

Rodimus! Not exactly the guy I wanted to see, but still! [Were you using this shoulder? No? Swindle will just plant his arm right there, then.] Great to see you're not dead after all, you know, I was almost worried for a second there, but you know what I said? Rodimus Prime's a 'bot that even death couldn't kill. [Were you going to say something? No? Don't worry, Swindle can carry a conversation for the both of them.] Say, remember the last time we saw each other, surrounded by a planet of organics? No hard feelings, right? You understand. I mean, we did get back to Cybertron together, one way or another. You know, the past is just the past; "let bygones be bygones," I always say. You know what I think? I think, in a way, if we hadn't had our little run-in, maybe everything wouldn't have turned out the way it did. Cause and effect has a weird relationship sometimes. So, how've you been? Doing alright? You look good! Have I ever told you I love the flames? I love the flames.

[Stop him now, or he'll go on forever.]

Okay, first? Don't touch me. ( Gonna remove that hand from his shoulder for you, Swindle. ) And second - stop talking.

( You better believe he remembers the last time he's seen Swindle and the disaster that followed - he takes betrayal personally, not to mention the whole 'kill the Autobots' thing and the disappointment no one bothered to hide when they looked at him. But that was before... before everything. Not for the first time he finds himself wishing Ultra Magnus and Drift were there. But Drift is-- he's gone and Ultra Magnus or Minimus Ambus or whatever Magnus wanted to call himself is dead and it's just him.

Time for some creative problem solving. WWDaUMD? Drift would advocate forgiveness and Magnus would just arrest him on the spot. Right, okay, Rodimus has totally got this. )

Right now it's just you and me here, so this is how it's going to work. ( Casually assuming that Swindle will do what he says, nbd. ) You're not going to cause trouble or do whatever it is you normally do, and I'm going to try really hard not to hold the entire swindling thing against you. Or any of the other things you got up to on Earth - Magnus probably had a list. Got it?

( But yeah, the flames are pretty cool aren't they? )

Edited 2013-11-04 22:46 (UTC)

[Fine, you don't want the hand? You don't need the hand. The hand is doing just fine on its own, thanks.

Swindle tries not to make a face the second he realizes Rodimus is trying to give him orders. He fails to avoid making a face at the mention of Ultra Magnus. Some Autobots, he swears.]

Hey, I'm not looking to cause trouble, and frankly, I'm a little offended. I mean, I did just get plucked off Cybertron, which, don't know if you've heard, is a complete mess. Probably the worst situation possible. I've had enough trouble for two lifetimes. Yes, Cybertronian lifetimes. I'm good.

[Swindle takes a second to actually size Rodimus up. It's just the two of them, huh?] You don't actually hold any authority here, do you?

Like I haven't heard that from you before. ( HE'S JUST SAYING THAT THE LAST TIME SWINDLE WAS ALL "HEY LET'S BE FRIENDS" IT DIDN'T TURN OUT TO WELL. ) I got pulled trying to stop Tyrest from murdering everyone that's been constructed cold. How's that for worst situation possible? ( If they're going to do the 'who's been through the worst in the months since the lost light left' game Rodimus is 100% sure he'll win. ) We haven't heard from Cybertron in months - doesn't Bee have it all under control by now?

( C'mon Bee, he was counting on you. Since they've kind of failed to find the knights by this point. )

What? ( Whoops. ) Well no, but it's only a matter of time, right?

[Swindle looks Rodimus dead in the eyes.] Starscream is the de facto leader of Cybertron.

[Let's just let that sink in a little.]

So that's what happened the last time Autobots assumed they were qualified to have everything under control.

( See Rodimus. See Rodimus start laughing. There's no way Bee could lose to Starscream. He didn't even know Starscream was in the running, so it has to be a joke.

It takes him a bit to realize that Swindle isn't laughing, and that's when it sinks in. )

You're serious. ( WHAT. ) Wait okay, let me get this straight - Starscream is the currently leader of Cybertron.

( NOPE HE CAN'T DO IT HE CAN'T ACTUALLY MAKE THIS MAKE SENSE. )

Edited 2013-11-05 04:27 (UTC)

Well, yeah. That's oversimplifying, a lot, but. Yeah. [Swindle folds his arms. He's realizing admitting the results to a democratic venture he technically would have been a part of does not actually make him look good. Whoops. Time for a subject change.]

So, uh. Tyrest. Didn't see that one coming.

How? I know Bumblebee wasn't really popular with everyone when we left, but that doesn't mean you can just go and elect Starscream instead!

( This is clearly your fault, Swindle. You did this. You voted for him, you did the thing. As for Tyrest -- )

You're telling me. We show up on Luna-1 and it's all "you're going to be executed for crimes against creation" and "I need to purge myself of guilt so I'm going to kill everyone constructed cold through this irreversible kill-switch".

It was popular vote, not just me! [Swindle knows if he tries to defend himself further -- well, he'll be defending Starscream, first of all, but he'll also be dangerously close to actually giving his honest opinion on Bumblebee and the rest of the Autobots. Not good for future prospects, whatever they happen to be. He'd much rather be able to eventually get his way back on Rodimus's good side, thanks.] Blurr was fine with it.

[Wait, crimes against what?]

What-- Really? I've gotten arrested for plenty of stuff but even I've never managed to get marked down for "crimes against creation". That's incredible. I'm impressed, honestly, I've never even heard of that one. You have to tell me how you did it. Come on, one criminal to another.

Blurr was-- ( It's official. Everyone has lost their minds. ) It's like we left and everyone went crazy. Next you're going to tell me that Prowl's retired and decided to live out the rest of his life amongst the NAIL and Decepticons.

( A beat. )

Please don't tell me he did that.

( There's only so much Rodimus can take, and the entire Starscream thing has already taken up most of his available processing ability. But he'd bet anything that Prowl's face was priceless when the results of the election were announced. That poor table that was inevitably flipped. )

Not a criminal - it doesn't count since Tyrest is clearly out of his drilled-into mind. Also that would make everyone else on the Lost Light criminals too, and we've got Rung. ( Who is the least criminal person you could possibly think of. ) You haven't heard of it because it didn't exist until he decided to write it. Minim-- Magnus I really need to figure that out said he didn't know.

Prowl, uh, definitely didn't do that. He's... still with the Autobots. [That's enough of an explanation, probably. Swindle doesn't really want to recount the story of what happened on Cybertron in any more detail. It's not a good one for Swindle. Mostly involves him losing parts in one way or another.]

But hey, even the bad laws are still laws! That's how it's always been. [What Swindle doesn't point out is that certain 'bots have always been picking and choosing which ones count when, because that's the last thing he wants to get on about now of all times.] So Magnus didn't get the newest version of the Tyrest Accord, big deal, that's on him.

Well that's one thing, then. ( Prowl remaining Prowl means the universe can't have been through too much of an upset as far as Rodimus is concerned. )

Yeah, I'm pretty sure no one wanted him to get the new version of the Tyrest Accord. He probably didn't want to have to enforce it either. ( The image of Magnus' headless body lying on the floor comes back to him, and Rodimus shoves that image down super quick. ) Hang on - why are you trying to lecture me about laws?

I'm not lecturing! [He's totally lecturing.] I'm just saying, I know about these things. Me and Magnus go way back. But hey, you're the boss, right? Always in charge. I'll take your word for it.

Maybe from a criminal point of view, and you know - not a criminal. ( STRESSING THAT ) Good, glad that's clear.

( Rodimus this is the start of exactly how you got in trouble with Swerve last time. )

[It's really not often that Noh-Varr is caught off guard by seeing something. Giant non-organic lifeforms, ok, they always exist somewhere, if not particularly in this...kind of colorful form. (It's very hero, though, so props to him? If that was what he was going for. He would fit right in with the Avengers). It's the definitive ability to read into body posture and emotion and come up with "sulking" that is a bit surprising. He's never seen a technologically-derived species do something like that quite so easily before.]

What are you doing?

[It is always possible that he has the wrong impression. So it is worth asking the question.]

[Swindle regards him for a second, then just gives a shrug.] You know, the usual. Suddenly traveling through universes for some kind of higher cause, getting asked to play soldier for hire by a bunch of organics -- no offense. Some of my best friends are organics. ["Were" would probably be a more accurate word choice there, but no need to go throwing around ominous tenses around the humanoids just yet.]

None taken. I am sure I said something similar about humans, once, the first time this happened to me.

[As though ominous terms would be anything like an anomaly to Noh-Varr. When you cross universes to get shot down over Earth and wake up to all your family and friends and crew dead, to be passed from one institution to another for manipulative purposes like you're not even a person, before beginning your career as a hero...you know how shit can get ominous.]

Well. Truthfully, I said a lot worse. You're taking it pretty well.

Hey, I like to be polite. And, you know, after four million years, you just start to assume that this kind of thing happens. Maybe not this exact thing, but sometimes I think we just attract weirdness. I'd much rather catch a break already, but I guess that's not happening any time soon.

[Swindle assumes Noh-Varr knows of Cybertronians -- they are pretty infamous across the galaxy, after all.]

[Similarly, Noh-Varr would assume that everyone here should know of the Kree- because who doesn't? They are legendary. Sadly, though, it's probably very likely that nobody knows what the hell he is, any more than he knows what the hell the...being he's talking to is either.]

Well, this is technically still Earth space. And it is very characteristic of a typical Earth problem. It would be unusual for there to be a break in these kinds of incidents this close to the planet. Besides, I think they are exceptionally good at including the rest of the universe when it happens.

[He loves you, Earth, but look at all that shit that happened with the Phoenix Force.]

Yeah? I've been to Earth, nice place, a lot goin' on. [Plus the locals were easy to play.] Mostly Autobot activity when I was there. Never been to its moon before, though. So that's a first.

Oh, yes! Have you listened to their music? For a species so technologically behind they have an extremely sophisticated and diverse popular culture. And it changes so quickly, too. They have a new style for every decade.

[He probably could have gotten exiled from the Kree just for saying that. These are the reasons why he came back even after they kicked him off.]

Have you ever heard of close-harmony girl groups? They are incredible.

... That... wasn't what I was talking about. [And besides, he was lying, and even then this reaction was unexpected. To say the least.] But sure, there's something for everyone.

[It's kind of funny sometimes to spring this on people, as much as he is utterly sincere. Their reactions always say something.]

I don't have anywhere else to go, if you want to elaborate.

[Is he being a jerk? He is kind of being a jerk. On purpose.]

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swindle | transformers (idw) | open

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IM SORRY

NEVER BE SORRY

ONE OF US HAS TO BE SORRY

CAN'T WE SPLIT IT 50/50?

ITS TRUE BOTH OF THEM ARE PRETTY AWFUL...

THEY REALLY ARE. THEY NEED AN ADULT.

WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THIS TRANSPORTER ANYWAY

SOMEONE WHO WON'T TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHO IT BRINGS IN

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