re_alignment_logs | The Pieces You Hide

Entry tags:

The Pieces You Hide

WHO: Fracas and Shockwave
WHERE: Megatronus's temple, Shockwave's quarters
WHEN Nnnow-ish?
WHAT: Fracas is doing some cleaning after too much highgrade the night before, and Shockwave notices something possibly unexpected.
WARNINGS: n/a

A night off from work wasn't a bad thing, really; for all of Fracas's work ethic even he needed to relax sometimes. He hadn't inquired where Shockwave had gotten the highgrade from - it wasn't his place and he was just grateful for it being there. What made it tricky was actually ingesting it. It wasn't too much trouble, with the opening the mask... the problem was that not all of it actually went into his mouth.

Which was why, in the early hours, he carefully slid away to the closet in Shockwave's room and retrieved a bucket and a cloth. Fracas kept the bucket (retrieved from the Junk Pile a few weeks ago) full of water, just in case anything needed a quick washing. In this case, the inside of his mask. He couldn't just leave it grungy, with energon drying on the inside.

He carefully unlatched it and pulled it free, wetting the cloth and starting to wipe down the inside of the mask. If he worked quickly, no one would notice, probably.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

There was one slight problem with not wishing for anyone to see such things, that being Fracas' possession of a rather large roommate. And that roommate being the one the room belonged to. Sooner or later - no matter the time - he was going to make an appearance.

... Unfortunately for the Vehicon that was shortly after he'd unhooked his mask.

And that was something Shockwave would not have expected. That Fracas' face was really a battle mask of sorts. The more you know.

"You wear a mask..."

Here he thought he'd been being quiet enough to get away with it, too. He really should have expected it, though, it's the sort of thing that happens to Vehicons. Even if Fracas is the sort to stick to protocols as much as possible, which means not taking the mask off where others might see.

His shoulders hunch up a little as he cringes, keeping his head down. He'd been doing so well at this, too.

"Ah. Y-yes. All Vehicons do. As far as I know..."

Shockwave stands there simply staring at the smaller mech try and shy away. It was obvious from the reaction that he was attempting to not be seen cleaning it. As for why? Shockwave couldn't even begin to imagine.

"You should have taken it off last night."

A mask like that was quite beneficial for battle, but he can hardly see any reason to keep it on for something like drinking highgrade. He can only assume that it would hinder more than it assists.

"You are not required to keep it on when you are not training."

It wasn't as though outside of battle he'd need it, as far as the scientist is aware. Perhaps it was an attachment thing.

He couldn't expect Shockwave to understand right off the bat, really; he wasn't used to Vehicons or their politics. Which he's more okay with than he'd originally expected. Still, it's slightly strange to try to explain. He's never had to before.

"It's uh. It's generally considered improper for officer to see Vehicons without... without their masks."

And that was the first time he's ever been drinking with an officer. Which was an odd enough occurrence even with the mask on.

"It's not really a big deal for me, though. Wearing it all the time."

Removal of his mask was improper? He honestly can't understand why, a battle mask was exactly that, a battle mask. Worn within battle and usually not otherwise. He cannot see a reason why Fracas would be required to wear it constantly, especially considering he worked maintenance. Why they would even need to have their faces covered in front of officers. Logically it would be more beneficial without the mask.

"Is there a reason for that?"

Because he clearly can't find any logical ones.

"As I said, you are not required to. I do not care if you don't wear it."

"The officers implemented the rule. It probably had something to do with making us look more intimidating... which works better when there's more than one of us... but. I can't really say."

Who knows how officers think? Fracas certainly doesn't. Besides, being anonymous was always easier for him at least. And it hides the trouble with his eyesight, too; extra bonus personally made for Fracas.

"That's..." he pauses for a moment, shifting his head slightly so the side of his face and his one good eye are at least partially visible. "That's kind of you. But I don't. I'm not sure what I'd do, if I wasn't wearing it. It's one of the things that identifies me the most as a Vehicon."

"That would imply that you are incapable of being intimidating otherwise."

And he very much doubts that it would be impossible for Fracas and his fellow Vehicons to be intimidating if properly trained. The smaller mech's universe sounds entirely uninspiring. Pitiful.

From what he can actually see of the Vehicon's face, it certainly would not be impossible for him to be intimidating without his mask, so the attachment to it is odd. To say the least.

"It is the mask that makes you a Vehicon? And if you were to loose it?"

If he was so attached to it, it could prove problematic, should it ever be lost in battle.

"Did I seem intimidating when you first met me?"

Or ever, really. They aren't trained to be intimidating without the matching masks and armor. Then again, they haven't intimidated anyone lately anyway. Autobots just charge right at them and mow through them.

"... None of us have ever lost our mask before. So I-I don't know."

Probably try to find a replacement. His face is a private thing.

His brow arches at the question, him intimidated? He's never been intimidated if he actually were to think about it.

"No. However, I do not see why it would not be possible." Perhaps impossible for Fracas to intimidate him, but others? Could be.

Shockwave makes his way over to the Vehicon, gently giving him a pat on the head.

"You should consider not wearing it all the time. The less attached you are to it, the less it can be used as an exploit."

"We haven't intimidated anyone in a long time. The Autobots left are. Pretty nasty."

Maybe not as nasty as whatever Autobots Shockwave dealt with; Fracas hasn't met any of them so he couldn't tell. He's just never been particularly intimidating.

And being pat on the head is... slightly different for him.

"... Exploit? No one even knows that we have faces under our masks."

"Then perhaps you should change that."

He was training Fracas after all, it could be added in once the other mech was good enough at not just defending himself, but fighting back. But he'd have to improve first before such things could even think to be added into the schedule.

Shockwave reaches down to grab hold of the mask, move it to a shelf that isn't quite Fracas' height. To prove a point, or simply to view his reaction? He's not saying.

"Do your Autobots not have enough firepower to damage your masks? Nor the humans? Fellow Decepticons?"

Or has Fracas simply not been in battle long enough to know if they have or not.

"Because one intimidating Vehicon will really ch- hey!"

Fracas lets out a short, protesting noise as his mask is taken and put just out of reach. He gets up, awkwardly turning to fully face Shockwave finally. His other optic is whited out and surrounded with scars.

"Most of them don't aim for our heads. We go down from shots to our chassis just as easily. And the latches for the masks are strong."

Not that he's been in combat recently. With his optic it might not be surprising.

Shockwave watches carefully, the reaction thus far is good. Better than he'd expected.

"You would be surprised what one mech can do."

If Fracas could actually pull something like that off? It was currently to be debated.

He makes no comment on the Vehicon's appearance, one optic and facial scars? He is the same in that respect, although such things could be why the other seems rather timid at times. Something that was being corrected with training.

"Unfortunately your Autobots are not the only ones here. It would be best to make precautions, should anything happen."

Fracas really just doesn't want to make a fool of himself in front of an officer, really. Hopping up and down and waving his arms trying to get his mask back would definitely make him look like a fool.

"I wasn't designed to be just one mech doing things on my own."

It's weird and kind of uncomfortable. Less uncomfortable than it had been when he first arrived, admittedly, but still...

His timidity was something that was always there, really; a survival mechanism so higher-ranked Decepticons would be less inclined to take things out on him. The optic was simply the reason he'd transferred to maintenance all those cycles ago.

"No one here knows I have a face, either. Well... except for you, now..."

"You may be designed to work as a group, however here I see no reason why you cannot change that."

It would be logical to do so. Especially from a survival standpoint. True, there was a lack of war here, but there was enough fighting to warrant that as a logical choice. For now.

"And that does not mean that Autobots will not aim for your face, even without that knowledge." It's kind of a thing in his universe. "They do enough damage and you actually survive it and you may find yourself being forced to remove it."

Have a plan for everything. It's teaching time even if it's not technically teaching time.

"I know. I'm alone and things could get nasty around here even if there's peace... especially for mechs like me..."

The small ones and the relatively weak ones. He'd be a lot happier if he didn't have to hide behind someone else every time Wheeljack decides he needs to punch someone. Fracas doesn't enjoy being a punching bag.

"I know, I know," he mutters, lowering his head to look down. "But... if they know about this -" the Vehicon waves one claw at his optic "- they'll try to exploit that too, won't they? And it's a lot easier to exploit that than trying to tear off a Vehicon's mask."

"Precisely."

One of the reasons he'd been teaching Fracas to begin with. A loyal Decepticon that can't fight would probably die at the first moment of danger. With his training he'd make it where even the strongest could have trouble taking the Vehicon down.

"Only one useful optic is hardly a weakness," he sets his hand atop Fracas' head. Just look at him, all he had was one optic. And the scars? He was covered in them, so the one the smaller mech had? Added character in his opinion.

"But they would. It would be best if we removed both as possible exploits. I know you are capable of that."

Having that big hand come down on his head his somewhat of a surprise... though he knows Shockwave has a point about the one optic. He would know, wouldn't he? And yet...

"I don't want some other 'Con getting hurt because of my blind spot, or my... my lack of depth perception." Even if he didn't deal with other Vehicons often, Fracas didn't want them getting hurt. Certainly not because of some (admittedly perceived) fault in himself.

"You're... You're putting a lot of faith in a Vehicon, Shockwave. How can you be so sure that I can?"

Even if he's come pretty far since Shockwave started training him.

Shockwave looks him over, his hand remaining atop the Vehicon's head. A noble cause, but in battle you can't always be noble. When you're a Decepticon, you can't always be noble.

"How much does the single optic hinder your ability?"

Some changes would have to be made. But those would be talked about later.

"I have seen you fight, you're capable. And I would not be spending my time training you if you weren't."

He looks up. Or looks at Shockwave's hand, at least. Fracas only sees it that way because... well, who else is going to look out for Vehicons but other Vehicons? At least back home, anyway.

"Not as much as I'd thought it might. I guess I got used to compensating a little when I was working on the ship. But it's more difficult at longer ranges."

He's better with one of his blasters than the other, really. Though that last bit makes him tick his claws together sheepishly.

"Only any good because you've bothering to train me..."

"Good, it's something that we can work on. There will be way around any difficulties you're having with it."

It's certainly not something that can seriously hinder a fight when you've been living with it for a long time. Fracas will do fine, considering how he's progressed thus far.

He lifts his hand off of the smaller mech, and quietly hands him back his mask.

"Loyalty to the cause is something to be rewarded, not thrown away as cannon fodder."

"Of course. Thank you, again. For helping me with this."

He doesn't know how could repay this, really. Aside from surviving in fights... which is a feat in itself for someone like him.

Fracas raises up, carefully taking the mask back. He looks down at it for a few moments before looking back up to Shockwave, brow ridges knit in confusion.

"No one has ever seen us as more than cannon fodder. Besides each other, anyway..."

It wasn't really any trouble, teaching the mech, so Shockwave merely nods. Eventually the bot will probably stop thanking him constantly. No reason to point it out now.

"Using those from your own faction as cannon fodder is foolish." Using others from the opposite side, or neutrals... Even other species. That was just fine, but not fellow Decepticons.

"There are disposable soldiers. Their deaths bring unwanted lowering of our numbers, but they hold nothing useful aside from fighting skill. It is unfortunate when they are offlined, but they are not simply thrown in front of the enemy in hopes of getting a lucky hit."

They knew how to fight. They went into battle for the cause and to kill Autobots, and plenty of them were good at it. Cannon fodder was useless. Cannon fodder weren't soldiers.

"Cannon fodder is highly illogical in most situations."

Fracas snorts quietly. "Tell that to Megatron and Starscream," he mumbles before he can stop himself.

Uh.

"... Actually don't tell them that, they wouldn't like it."

Even if Starscream left he wouldn't like it. And the Vehicons were usually the ones that got the brunt of the officers' anger, no matter the situation.

Shockwave stares at Fracas for a moment, an interesting outburst. Perfect infact.

"Good. So you do have a bit of an attitude."

He'd have to get that out a bit more, not to the point where it could hinder things, but certainly make the Vehicon stop being as timid as he was.

"You should consider saying what's in that processor of yours more often. Might be good for you."

In privacy of course, especially if it was about a Megatron.

"I... Normally don't do that. It's normally dangerous to do something like that. The officers don't like it..."

Talking back was a good way to get killed. He'd never thought he'd hear an officer appreciate candidness from him.

"I'll. Try to be more honest about things. Just not to everyone. It's hazardous, usually."

Though that's probably the last time he talks about Megatron that way.

"Understandable."

Talking back, having an attitude, it could indeed cause harm. Some bots only had so much patience for those things. Still, some attitude from one such as Fracas could only be a good thing. If it got out of hand then perhaps it could prove to be a problem, but as things were, it was completely welcome at this stage.

"I'm certain you can find a decent balance."

"I hope so."

It's doubtful that it will get out of hand. Fracas is a conservative sort, and even if he's willing to mouth off a little in front of Shockwave... Shockwave isn't a Decepticon he really knows. He's different.

Not a bad thing, for Fracas.

"You are hardly idiotic, you will be just fine."

Unless of course Fracas was far more foolish than he thought, but he doubted that. The Vehicon likely would not have survived for so long if he wasn't intelligent.

"Well, that's... nicer than I usually hear, actually."

It's a kind of roundabout way of saying he's smart. Or at least smart enough to keep his mouth shut when he ought to. Though really, he wouldn't be alive otherwise.

Fracas, a little sheepish again, finally pulls his mask back on. Better.

He gives Fracas' head a little pat once the mask returns to covering his face. Something to work on, but for now whatever makes the Vehicon comfortable within their room.

"Do not get attached to it, once you can fight well it will not be often you hear it."

That isn't to say he won't compliment the Vehicon, but others likely won't be so kind. Be they Autobot or Decepticon.

Fracas dips his head slightly at the pat. He'll probably lighten up a little eventually, but he's still cautious about this whole thing.

"O-oh, I won't. I promise. It's not something I hear often anyway."

Compliments are not exactly his forte, wherever they come from.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The Pieces You Hide

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

he's not going to take it and put it somewhere fracas can't reach. no. never

asldkfjskf shockwave you are so mean (i love it)

it's called tough love and it's to keep you alive

it's called being mean and now i'm just jumping uselessly trying to get it

it's called you're really cute and have a cute face

it's calle- wait you think i'm cute

yes cute as in incredibly attractive

... you're just saying that

no i really mean it. you're attractive

unsure if i believe you...

i could prove it. but you might prefer if i buy you dinner first

d-dinner? oh well that's. quite an offer

it's a step up from drinks

it is. and it probably wouldn't be so bad, either

of course not

well, alright then. it's a uh. date!

excellent D3

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject