And Ignite Your Bones

[namesnotprowl]

WHO: Barricade and OPEN!
WHERE: All over the Haven
WHEN About now-ish
WHAT: Barricade returns to the Haven after an absence
WARNINGS: n/a; will update when applicable


Barricade had shut his Link off shortly after he'd left the Haven, in the opposite direction from the Badlands. He'd seen it and there was nothing there for him; better to explore a little farther than he had before, while he gave himself time to think.

And to get as far away as possible so he could send transmissions out on old lines he rarely used anymore. No one was going to answer, but saying everything out loud, sending it all into space... had helped. Gave him a chance to breathe a little instead of keeping all of it in. None of it was anything he felt comfortable sharing with other mechs here; the last two he could have were... well.

That was why he'd gone in the first place.

Eventually he had to come back, though. Even if it was really rather nice out there. Seeing stars again... erupting volcanoes. Get past the whole rocky terrain thing and this Cybertron wasn't really too bad. But it was the bugs that brought him back. His headlights had attracted a cloud of the things and the trails of them leaven the Haven led him back. Like some stupid song.

So he'd come back.


(Option 1)
Barricade waves a few of the robo-bugs away from his headlights as he finally enters the Haven again, taking a look around before eventually heading in, intent on giving it the full once-over before heading to a certain spot that had gotten his attention when he'd turned the Link back on.


(Option 2)
He'd caught the mention of a graveyard out in Alpha Trion's quadrant when he'd turned the Link on again. He exvents as he approaches it, slowing to a stop. He'd disappeared for a while, but... time to pay his respects now. Stay a while with a little bit of quiet for once.


(Option 3)
Eventually he has to leave the graveyard behind. He can't stay there forever, after all. Once he decides to leave, he heads back to Solus Prime's temple. He could use a good cleaning... and finding someone that might be able to explain why that symbol on his shoulder has gotten larger. It's disconcerting and in this case, he definitely needs answers.

Comments

Option 3 ~Solus

[deadlydoctor]

[Knock Out was still getting using to his new 'home'. He wasn't sure about how to feel about the whole idea of being trapped in a planet, much less one that so randomly got influenced by Unicron. He had enough of that when he was on Earth. So he was just walking around, exploring when he crossed paths with the other mech.]

[namesnotprowl]

[Barricade's found his way around, mostly. He's got the hallways he needs mapped out, anyway; there's a lot he hasn't quite found just yet. Though his b-lining for his own quarters is stopped by-

-that's Knock Out. Looking like he's more exploring than heading anywhere in particular. Huh... Well. It wouldn't hurt to ask. He flashes a smile.]

Looking for anything in particular?

[deadlydoctor]

[Knock Out freezes for a brief second, trying to figure out what faction the other bot might be. The mech sure doesn't look like an autobots but it's unusual for a Decepticon to have a ground vehicle as an alt mode. He quickly changes his posture to a more relaxed one, trying to sound nonchalant.]

I'm trying to find the way back to my room. Why, wanna help me with that? [Clearly the best guard to start a conversation. He wanted to take others off guard.]

[namesnotprowl]

[Barricade is a difficult one to put off guard. Especially with being propositioned; it was one of those easy things he usually used, along with pet names. Speaking of...]

Well. I wouldn't be opposed to it, darlin'. If that is what you want.

[While Barricade's quartet of red optics might suggest Decepticon, the symbols on his pauldrons are still more or less gone; the gouges left have filled in, leaving gunmetal grey clawmarks in their place.]

Option 2

[perfavore]

[Mirage had been keeping himself mobile while in Haven, and thus, patrolled around whenever he felt he needed to. Which was a lot. It was harder to get things from home off of his mind, and cruisin' through the landscape seemed to be the only escape. Now if only he could find a way to get this feeling permanently.

Barricade's departure didn't help. He honestly wasn't sure why, either. Barricade, despite his new alignment, was still a Decepticon in his world, and should be treated as such. But the bot had obviously changed...

And it was a drastic one.

He had to figure out where they exactly stood as of now. He owed it to himself. And as luck would have it, he found the bot standing over the graves at Alpha Trion's sector. With a transformation, he resumes base mode, padding over.]

You never notified your return.

[namesnotprowl]

[Barricade wouldn't have been sure what to say if he'd been asked that. Certainly if he'd been asked before he left. Now he's at least in a better mindset to handle questions, whatever they happened to be.

It had been so long since he'd needed to escape and been able to. After Chicago he'd had no chance to do anything like that. He'd just had to sit and wait it out, which had almost been more terrible than what happened itself. He couldn't just wait this time. Not with what had happened. At least he'd come back.

He catches the presence of someone else with his sensors before he even sees them. He glances back to Mirage, offering a nod.]

Just got back. Figured I owed this place a visit. You wanted to talk?

Option 1!

[im_wavin]

[There is a white robo jaguar with a red Decepticon symbol and a Nexus Prime glyph playfully stalking and pouncing at the new bug-bots flying around. He'll wave at Barricade as he drives by before going back to the buggies, because those things are so much fun to chase~.]

[deadlydoctor]

[It's unusual for Knock Out to find someone who can keep up with his propositions so easily. He chuckles, pleased by the answer.]

It's nice to find a kindred spirit ready to give a poor mech like me a hand.

[Those clawmarks needs seem buffing, Barricade. Knock Out could help you with that.]

[namesnotprowl]

[Robot jaguar waving.

Robot jaguar.

Well, that's new. Barricade pulls to a stop and transforms, watching the jaguar curiously for a while. Well, it's sporting a glyph so it's obviously safe - and probably not someone's pet - but other than that, he knows nothing about him. He waves back.]

You new here?

[namesnotprowl]

[Poor Knock Out. He really needs more interesting mechs in his life. Luckily Barricade is more than willing to help in that respect.]

Now what kinda mech would I be if I just left you in the cold... so to speak~

[Well, he wouldn't turn down a buffing, that would just be rude.]

With a name like Dirge how could I not pick option 2?

[dirge]

With all the death the Haven had experienced recently, Barricade was not the only one to have heard of the graveyard. The recent events with the glyphless hadn't bothered Dirge at all- Megatron was gone, but he hadn't attacked him and the clone was sure he would be back some day. That's how it always worked.

But the graveyard was of particular interest to Dirge, as he'd always had a fascination for deactivated bodies. He supposed it had something to do with his name... or more likely the urge to scavenge parts of mechs that could not fight back. Whatever the reason, he was attracted to death, and thus felt two emotions that usually did not apply to graveyards: excitement and curiosity.

When Barricade arrived he was perched on a rather large tomb like some horrible teal vulture, cackling to himself over the clicking of his claws on metal.

"Here to die too, Barricade?" he asked with a giggle.

A most excellent choice!

[namesnotprowl]

Barricade had managed to get himself into the middle of the whole thing, and... well, having your best friend start to morph into a monster and your chosen leader having to be put down can be difficult to deal with. Especially on top of... all those things he doesn't talk about. Which was why he'd decided to stop by.

He's no graverobber, himself... and besides, he's had his typical body disposal methods chastised around here. Even if they're more valid here than usual. But most of these mechs were close to those here; he can deal with picking up parts here and there in the Junk Pile.

He quirks up a brow ridge at Dirge, nonchalantly pulling his shotgun from its back holster. Just to make a point.

"Afraid my designation hasn't come up on the list yet, Dirge," he retorts as he settles on his pedes.

"Hope you weren't planning anything untoward out here; I here the law doesn't like it."

why thank you

[dirge]

Dirge eyes the shotgun, his grin still in place, wings hiking a little higher. Barricade is fun to play with- he remembers from back in Axiom- and not nearly as vindictive about things as the autobots there. And a threat is just the decepticon way of saying hello, isn't it?

"Aw, that's too bad," the clone chirps, scooting a little closer and craning his neck down at the police car. "I was hoping I could finally have those pretty tires of yours."

Barricade's implication that he was up to something makes the jet snort. "It isn't just the law that doesn't like most of the things I get up to. Apparently it's very offensive to dig up empty shells around here. How silly~ What good do they do to anyone just rotting in these tombs?"

[perfavore]

[Mirage walks up, wings flicking idly as he gazes at the gravestones a moment. Maybe he should move Ironhide's and Que's to this place, now that he takes a look at it...]

Si.

[There's hesitation after that, like he doesn't know how to properly word what he's trying to say. His gold tipped fingers go to his 'moouth', thinking it over.]

I want to know where we stand.

[namesnotprowl]

Well, Autobots and Decepticons, really. Though Barricade's given up on being either since they last saw each other. If only there weren't so many bad apples spoiling all of them for him these days...

"Sorry; you'll be waiting a while yet." The Saleen tips his head up, regarding the jet with just a pair of optics. He flashes a grin. "It's like the universe can't just let me go."

"Believe me, I get you. For once. You should've seen how horrified they were when I mentioned that was how I got most of my parts and honored the dead. Was like I suggested I was going to take them apart." Barricade snorts and shakes his head a little. "But if they want me to keep my claws off the bodies around here I'll abide their request."

[dirge]

"Haha, it's true. I think the universe likes us. You and me are always adrift in some special place," Dirge comments, waving a hand at the sky. He's spent his whole life in one bubble or another and it doesn't bother him in the slightest.

Once its become apparent Barricade isn't interested in threatening him further, Dirge arranges himself in a more comfortable position on the slab, stretching out lazily, chin supported in one hand.

"Ah, is that what you call it? Honoring the dead. I like that. Yes. They should be honored to be part of my collection. As should the living," he purrs, tracing an upraised decoration with a claw.

"Oh, but abiding by the rules is so boring! You used to be more interesting, Barricade. What happened? The best thing to do is do what you want- and then don't get caught!"

[namesnotprowl]

[Now that he's here, he's considering one for Frenzy. But part of him stills wants to believe his symbiont is out there, somewhere. Foolish hope, really, but he'd found Bonecrusher and Blackout once... sometimes he can't help it.

Barricade looks to Mirage, patiently waiting for him to begin. He's not sure that he's surprised by the question, really.]

In what sense?

Because if you still need an ally against Shockwave... I'm willing, but I can't burn that bridge entirely, yet.

[namesnotprowl]

"From cage to cage to cage. Well, at least this one is a bit bigger and wilder than the rest." Barricade still despises the fact that he keeps getting pulled from one place to another... though he feels slightly safer here, even with Dirge present.

"Mm, the only difference between them rotting here and rotting in your collection is ownership. Which is all the difference to you, I suppose. Never did break that habit, did you?" he finishes on a short trill, amused. "Not everyone is fond of being owned, sad t'say. Just a fact of life."

Barricade barks a laugh. "Soundwaves happened. When you've got spies on your tail you learn a little caution. And also when the population is smaller; easier to pick out the troublemakers here than Axiom. No big city to hide in now." After a few moments, his smile twitches wider. "Besides, much easier to make trouble if they think you play by the rules, darlin'. Find loopholes."

[perfavore]

[He held up a hand at that last part, kneeling down to inspect a grave and running his fingers along the top of it. None of them looked familiar.]

That is not what I meant, polizia.

I am not seeking a duel with Shockwave any longer.

[Those wings droop slightly, eyes cast to the ground.]

I say this as I have no one left.

Option 1 (shhh this isn't late... not at all)

[a_father_to_his_men]

Megatron noticed the mech as he entered into Haven, a quick once over clarified that he did, indeed, have a glyph, which was good but Megatron was uncertain how long he had been out of Haven.

"Welcome back to Haven friend, how long have you been out there?" It was an easier way of asking than addressing the issue with the Glyphless that had happened directly.

(nonsense it's never late <3)

[namesnotprowl]

The frame of the other is familiar enough, that helmet in particular. Color job suggests negative polarity. Sounder's Megatron? Or someone smart enough to try to play at it. Barricade will reserve questioning for later. The Glyph, at least, he can trust.

"According to the Link, about a week or so." He'd just needed a little time away; probably a good thing, or he'd be fussing over Blurr or getting his aft handed to him by Megatronus. "I don't think we've met yet. Designation's Barricade."

[namesnotprowl]

[Barricade shutters his optics once in surprise. He doesn't try to get closer to Mirage, instead mulling over his last statement.]

Ratchet's gone. Guess I shouldn't be shocked, honestly... never pleasant to have a comrade disappear in places like this, though. I'm sorry.

[The apology sounds honest, at least. With how many that have vanished under his own olfactory sensors, it's one of the things he can empathize with.]

I'm here, f'r whatever you need me for, Stallion.

[im_wavin]

Hai! [Ravage stops his chasing and waves again at Barricade, happy that he was noticed.]

Yep! I'm totes new!

[deadlydoctor]

[More interesting mechs that aren't trying to kill him are always welcome.]

A deceptive one, I guess. But I'm sure you wouldn't break my spark like that. I'm Knock Out.

[Exactly. I buff you, you buff me. Everybody wins.]

[perfavore]

[Mirage's hands clench into fists at the confirmation of Ratchet's disappearance. It was hard to accept, but...it wasn't the first time he'd lost someone. It didn't make the situation any easier, though.]

That is what I am unsure of. What I will need you for. Forgive me if it sounds rude, it is just you have taken so much from me in the past. I am unsure how I will be able to even give you trust. But you are the only one I can turn to now.

[Speaking of, he turns to face, Barricade, holding a finger up.]

If I can rely on you.