re_alignment_logs | What's December Without Christmas Eve? [Tree Decorating: OPEN]

What's December Without Christmas Eve? [Tree Decorating: OPEN]

WHO: Anyone and Everyone!
WHERE: Around various parts of Haven
WHEN: From now until what counts as 'New Years' for Cybertron (New Years Day for us?)
WHAT: Tree Decorating!
WARNINGS: Infinite cute and maybe tree eating

Well, Kay and Elita had done it. It took awhile, and surprisingly, all in one night, but they'd been able to grab branches from the large crystal trees that the pink robot had grown, and placed them all around Haven. Where, specifically? Outside the temples! Really, surprised no one noticed it. But to those who walk out of the them, they'll now notice a tree on either their right or left, empty, glittering, and with a note.

What could this mean? What's this? There's trees everywhere! What's this? And depending on what your alignment is/where you live, you'll get a different tree.

(ooc: I'll be putting comments up for each quadrant's tree. Comment under whichever one you'd like to react to/decorate/chat with people under. It's a huge mingle thread! Also, don't forget to put your tag in the log!

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Rung doesn't like this, he doesn't like this at all. He can't pull away, he can't do anything, just moving as Tarn moves him and staring helplessly at Fort Max.

"L-leave him alone," he murmured, looking away from Fort Max and up at Tarn. "Please just...Let go...please?"

His voice is weak, trailing off at the end because he feels completely out of his element right now.

Tarn mostly ignores Rung's pleas. Bigger fish have shown up, and he's got plans for this one.

"I don't think you understand who you're threatening, Maximus, but I'll let that go. We haven't been properly introduced yet and I'll leave that to the doctor." Who hasn't asked his name, and either obviously doesn't know it, or is just really, very stupid. "Your attitude though, leaves something to be desired."

To Rung, he says, "You're a psychiatrist, tell me, why it is that Autobots are consistently so rude? Is it a defense mechanism, do you think? A response to fear?"

"I don't think you understand how much I don't care." You've got your paws on - well, they're not friends, but it's definitely someone Fort Max feels responsible for, at least in small part. And it's pretty clear that Fort Max isn't taking too kindly to this. "And I ain't playing games with you."

This is complete with him approaching, hands balling in to fists.

The therapist shudders a bit as he's addressed directly, forcing himself to keep his gaze on Fort Max because, if nothing else, it's a comforting presence.

Even if he's sort of convinced he's going to die right now.

"....He's not...being rude. You're the one being rude. I don't think..I didn't give you permission to touch me," he managed to get out, almost looking up at Tarn but he catches himself, optics dimming as he wrings his hands together a bit.

"Are you being serious right now?" Tarn asks Rung. "We've just met, I haven't done anything within my considerable power to hurt you in any number of inventive ways, and here comes Fortress Maximus bristling and threatening to remove my head. You don't find that at all to be in poor behaviour? Why, Doctor, I'm afraid you might need to get your head checked. I'd suggest a comrade, but he's currently indisposed at the moment. You'll just have to make due with me, but don't worry, I'll willing to talk. We can work to uncover the root of your problems -- which I'm sure lie beyond simply being an Autobot."

Tarn drops his free hand onto Rung's other shoulder, and leans forward, his huge bulk seeming almost twice as large when compared with Rung's much tinier frame. Raising his head just a few degrees to lock eyes with Maximus and finally spare him the courtesy, he says, voice taking on a tone that is just minutely more sweet, "I'm not interested in playing games with you, Fortress Maximus. That's always been more to Overlord's taste than mine." Not entirely true, but true enough. At least in some regards. "Oh, that's right. You've already met him, haven't you? You'd know all about that."

At the mention of Overlord, Fortress Maximus's step falters. He regains his balance a second later, something flickering in his optics-but by the time Tarn's finished, he's frozen in place.

That's not outright fear in his optics, but it is uncertainty. One he doesn't like. As if this situation was bad enough...

There were some lines that you just didn't cross and Tarn had crossed one of them. Rung may not have been the largest mech around, or the strongest, but even he could get angry with the best of them.

"Stop it," he said sharply, jerking in Tarn's hold, fighting whatever was going on as best he could, optics narrowed just a bit despite the fear still gripping him. "Stop it. The FirstForged won't be pleased with this. You've had your fun now stop!"

He jerked again, reaching up to try and pry the hands off his shoulders, his frame trembling despite the courage he was trying to show.

But he wouldn't give up, not if he could help it.

Tarn doesn't actually know how deeply Fortress Maximus has been scarred thanks to his stay rooming with Overlord. That said it probably won't take him long to twig onto the fact that someone clearly isn't a happy camper with their memories. After all, everyone including Tailgate knew what happened at G9, and Tailgate needed a picture of Optimus Prime.

But dear Rung, Tarn crosses a lot of lines. It's just part of the job. In fact, there was very few lines he's left alone. Too bad, Autobots. No remorse! Can't be tamed!

At Rung's little fit, Tarn just laughs at him. Needles to say he doesn't loosen his grip at all. "Won't be pleased with what? A conversation? The threats your friend is making towards me? Doctor, if you think this is how I enjoy myself, then I'm afraid you're severely underestimating my intellectual apetite. If I didn't think you were simply too uneducated to know better, why, I'd be hurt."

Tarn looks at Fort Max. "As far as I know, these First Forged are opposed to murder. You don't want to try and kill anyone here, do you, Maximus? That might be a mistake. For the both of you."

This entire time, Tarn's voice has remained a steady tone of straight-up cheerful.

"I ain't afraid of them," comes the rasp. And it's true - he's not. He knows they're powerful, he knows they're capable of a hell of a lot, but outright fear?

He's got too much centered on one mech, for it to be spread out to anyone else.

"And I'm not about to watch one of mine get played with by a 'Con, either. Told myself I'd kill them myself before I'd watch that happen again, if I could, but keep the 'Con alive long enough for them to regret it."

Suffice it to say, that mech has influenced him in other ways.

Edited 2013-01-01 02:15 (UTC)

"Uneducated?" Yeah, he's taking offense to that. He has enough of himself together to glare a bit, still trying to pry at Tarn's hand. He pauses thoug as Fort Max speaks, hands gripping the Decepticon's as he watches his patient.

This was going to spiral out of control real quick.

"There's no reason for anyone to get hurt. I understand you're trying to make a point but your attempts at making yourself look like the good guy are out of line," he murmured, glancing up at the 'con with narrowed optics again despite the cheerful tone.

There's just something about Tarn.

"Please release me. I am not I the mood to be insulted and you've a fight break out because you feel the need to antagonize Fortress Maximus for your own amusement. This needs to end. Now."

Congrats Tarn. You brought out Rung's little temper.

Edited 2013-01-01 16:01 (UTC)

Oh ho? "One of yours?" The question almost takes on a purr. "The doctor falls under your protection... or is it the other way around? You wouldn't happen to be a patient of his, would you?" Max doesn't really strike him like the type to get chummy with the small fry. And then, what's that? "'Again'? This has happened before?"

"Rung," Tarn chides, "do you have a bad habit being a nuisance?" Smoothing a hand over Rung's shoulder, he says, "You really should take better care of yourself. You could get into a lot of trouble running into someone so powerfully well-outfitted."

Turning back to Maximus he says, "Now, it's funny you should mention leaving them alive..."

Thumb rubbing back and forth over Rung's neck cabling, Tarn murmurs calmly, "Oh, I'm hardly a 'good guy'; and yet, I can't help but think that Fortress Maximus might appreciate something I have for him."

Rung, he's not going to take you seriously until you grow yourself a pair of treads. "Maximus is a big build, he can make his own decisions. If he really wants a fight, I'd be delighted to oblige," he looks back at the warden, "but it doesn't have to end that way, of course."

Edited 2013-01-01 23:41 (UTC)

It's an ugly look on Fort Max's face. A maelstrom of hate and frustration, among other things - Tarn's hit the nail on the head with what Max himself has let slip.

It's an awfully painful hit. And when put in to such a situation, Fortress Maximus' reflex at this point is to end it, as quickly as he can. But right now...

Right now, he's armed, and perfectly capable of using those arms.

He reaches behind, slowly and purposefully pulling out one of his rifles. Not the ones he's been modding, no, this is one he knows works, and knows will do the job it needs to.

"So let him go and we can all walk away nicely."

That's as close to saying he's listening that he'll do, Tarn. You'll have to work with it.

Sometimes, it really sucks to be one of those bots that has never upgraded, never gotten weapon training, and who is about as threatening as a puppy dog.

He tenses again before he can stop himself, the touch on the back of his neck uncomfortable--all sorts of uncomfortable actually--but he's stuck and Rung knows it. He's being used as a bargaining chip, as a hostage essentially and..well..

What else is new?

"Now, while I am incredibly well-outfitted with many fine mods -- take this impressive double fusion cannon of mine for instance --" Tarn says, allowing the light pipping that runs up his arm-mounted guns to brighten and cycle on by way of emphasis... and to meet the threat of Max's gun with his own. Maximus isn't the only one armed here, and Tarn is armed with, well, his arms and also some tiny, cute little backpack cannons, but we don't mention those. We can't ALL have leg guns, okay?

"And as much as I appreciate violence," for the first time his voice loses its cordial tone, "I do not however appreciate orders from Autobots." The friendliness is back again when Tarn next says, "I expect an apology."

That sure is a fusion canon, Tarn. It sure catches Max's attention, but he doesn't falter in his withdrawal of the weapon. To his credit, though, he doesn't immediately aim and fire - instead he simply hefts the rifle, powering it on without needing to look down, adjusting a few settings-

"Looks like we match. I don't appreciate orders from 'Cons, and I sure as hell don't appreciate this."

Can he fire without hitting Rung? That's a given 'no'. The question is, can he fire without killing Rung? Arms and legs can be repaired, but- for all his promises, he's reluctant. If it were someone else, anyone else he wouldn't be, but this...

He's already been responsible for one near-death experience of the psychotherapist. If he can avoid another...

His optics flicker to the smaller mech, uncertain.

Rung's optics dim a bit as he listens to Tarn, not liking where this is going--knowing that at this point, there was really only one way that it could end. And Fort Max seemed to know it too.

He met the other's gaze and a ghost of a smile appeared, the therapist giving the slightest of nods.

Pain was something he was use to after all.

Tarn rolls his eyes and even with the mask, the rotation of light is obvious. Rung, he's all by draped over you, he caught that nod, and Maximus, you think he doesn't know what you're contemplating, brandishing a weapon like that in a position like this?

"That's a very nice gun," Tarn agrees pleasantly, "but I like mine better." Both barrels go from pointing vaguely in Max's direction to pointing directly at Rung. And by 'directly' we mean one barrel against the side of the head, the other against the neck.

"Tell me, has this happened before too?"

Then Tarn makes a clucking, disappointed noise. "I know what you're thinking, Maximus, and I dare say the doctor does too. But I want you to ask yourself: if your shot doesn't kill him me -- and I promise you, it will not -- and if for some reason I don't move him into the blast trajectory -- which I will -- I want you to ask yourself if my plasma blasts won't kill him. I understand you're both crippled by your Autobot propensities towards wastefulness, empty gestures and even emptier heroics, but I think you both need to step back, calm down, and fully realise that I have complete control here."

"I think it's time someone asks me what I want."

"Yes."

The answer is short, clipped, and utterly devoid of any emotion. Yes, he's been in a situation like this, though it wasn't outright hostage; this was more of those games he'd mentioned. And this, all together, is bringing back some very unpleasant memories.

It's not so much that he's deflated or back down - the gun is certainly still out, yes - but something has changed about Fort Max. He's falling back on old barriers, defenses for himself and as much as others as he can make them. When, in the end, it's becoming more and more clear that there'll soon be no others.

Whether or not this'll end the same way as before remains to be seen.

But he's not quite about to fall completely back, to appeasement, instead keeping his optics on Rung and the weapons pointed at his helm.

The feel of the gun pressed against his head and neck has the therapist's optics dimming to almost nothing, a tremor coursing through his frame before he just goes still. He can see it in Fort Max, the way this is all effecting him, the lack of emotion meaning the other is closing off and resorting to a state of mind that Rung would rather not see him in.

"...What is it that you want?" he finally spoke, voice soft as he kept his gaze on Fort Max. Any traces of fear were carefully tucked away now, Rung collecting himself as much as possible.

Right now, he needed to be the level headed one.

"Whatever it is you require, we'll do our best to help you...just..please tell us what it is you want."

"I want my apology."

"Rung, why don't you go first and show your patient how it's done?"

He wants to kill him. Murder him, consequences and fallout be damned. Make it slow, painful, agonizing, as horrible as he can possibly make it, and Fortress Maximus has been taught some very intense horrors.

But he'd enjoy every second of it.

Fort Max's fingers run over the rifle almost absentmindedly if not for the void expression on his face.

At least Rung still has his attention? More than the Decepticon, at least.

Rung couldn't help but wince, optics going offline for a moment as he just collected himself further. This Decepticon wasn't going to play nice with them, no matter what. It was obvious just from what he was doing, what he was saying, that this was all sort of a game to him in a way--at least that's what the therapist was taking away from it.

And this? A new part to the game. He wanted them to validate that they were weaker than him. That he was right and they were wrong.

His optics finally came back online, slowly brightening as he focused his gaze on Fort Max, vents cycling softly.

"I apologize..." he murmured, voice steady as his hands clenched into fists at his sides. "..that you feel as though you need to assert your dominance over us simply to prove a point. I'm sorry that you feel as though this is all necessary and I'm truly sorry that this is how you think others should be treated simply because you feel superior to those around you."

Edited 2013-01-05 23:47 (UTC)

Tarn may not have had Rung's impressive eyebrows, but as his head s l o w l y rises to catch Max's attention, you can just feel him raising one invisible eyebrow.

"Did this happen last time too?" Tarn just sounds like he's about to laugh. "I can't get over how terrible he is at this. I'm really beginning to think he does this on purpose."

Tarn's voice goes just a bit sweet again, but this time there's something in the way it vibrates out his body, pressed so close. For an instant a spark might even feel like someone's tickling it. But as soon as the sensation registers it's gone again. "Doctor, do you like getting in trouble? Am I fulfilling something for you? I hardly think it's professional you keep involving your patients like this. Or is it that you've simply grown tired of being alive? There are easier ways, you know."

Tarn isn't bothered by Rung's apparant nosedive into suicidal urges, people do a lot of stupid things when spurred on by fear; he's used to it. Attention back to the only other sane party, he says, "I really think you should consider seeing someone else, Maximus. I don't think this one has the proper qualifications to solve anyone's problems -- least of all his own."

Rung, are you...

Did you just...

Were Max in a different state of mind, he might have laughed, bitterly. As it is...he just tilts his head, ever so slightly.

"Has a habit for making things worse," the Autobot grudgingly admits, voice still ever-so-neutral. He'd respect the defiance, if it weren't for the fact, well...

Defiance...only gets you so far, in the end.

"Sorry."

For Rung, particularly, but if Tarn wants to take it any other way...

He won't stop him.

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rungout - 2013-01-06 12:34 (UTC) - Expand

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What's December Without Christmas Eve? [Tree Decorating: OPEN]

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This was not the thread I expected when I came into the Christmas-fun post..

i'm sorry 8c

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No. It's BETTER. Never in my wildest dreams would I have though tree decorating = hostage situation

iyaaaa

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Tarn talks so much oh man

Re: Tarn talks so much oh man

Re: Tarn talks so much oh man

Ringing in the new year with .... a very polite hostage situation?

max is rude i am sorry :[

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You guys make my crusty old frozen heart hurt [1/2]

But then I remember I'm a monster on the inside, so things are okay

how convenient

Re: how convenient

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