[Open]

[tearsofsteel]

Who: Albert/004 and whoever finds him
Where: Alpha Trion's quadrant, the graveyard
When: The day after Christmas
What: Albert pays his respects
Warnings: Just the usual Albert depressiveness

Albert hasn't been around the network or...anyone, really as of late. This time of the year wasn't the best time for him. It was one of those times where the past caught up with him especially hard. He didn't wish to expose people to that...and just be around people. Some personal matters he felt was best left alone.

It wasn't different back home, really. He preferred to spend his holidays alone. Blurr was recuperating and Teddie he hadn't seen in a while. He spent time with the only person he could feel comfortable with this holiday season. Even if she wasn't here, even if he could never get her back, he felt an obligation to pay his respects.

In the graveyard, he had a small stone--certainly not impressive, but enough to place a marker there. On it was scrawled the word 'HILDA'. His mood seemed to improve today. He didn't look happy, but he lost that brooding edge to him. He had his presents on, hands shoved in his pockets. What a peculiar sight, a gray-haired man talking with a stone.

"You like it? It fell through the Lambada. I thought you might appreciate it..."

He reached down, touching the stone,I hope you're having a happy holiday...wherever you are."
 

Comments

if this is okay?

[whirlybird_of_prey]

Whirl? Trawl graveyards? It is more likely than you'd think!

Whirl was doing his usual overflight, because, hey the dead don't necessarily stay dead and his puppets might need new friends soon, and honestly, does anyone really want to know Whirl's reason for anything?

He dropped down behind the not-really-human/whatever, though the sound of his engines when flying might have given him away, intent on sneaking up on him and scaring the daylights, and possibly some bodily fluids, out of him.

Until.

"Talk to rocks much?"

totally fine, man

[tearsofsteel]

Before Albert knew any more his defensive instinct kicked in. Black Ghost had trained him too well, far more than he'd like to admit. And this place just always kept him on edge, expecting some machine or other to leap in combat.

He whirled around automatically. His modified hand had outstretched, waiting to fire. He dropped his armed hand when he saw the intruder. Yet his mood had not improved, "Scouring for more bodies?"

[whirlybird_of_prey]

Hey. Even Whirl admits that's pretty neat. The hand thing.

"If I was, I'm smart enough to come at night when no one's here." SO THERE. Think he's dumb?

[tearsofsteel]

Albert might have agreed if the whole cyborg body thing wasn't forced on him.

"Then what are you doing?"

[whirlybird_of_prey]

"Duh. Spying." So obvious.

[tearsofsteel]

His hands clench. It was so hard to tell with Whirl.

"Why?"

[raceme]

[Blurr was still resting, but his turbofox was doing what his owner couldn't do right now: patrol. He wasn't always the best behaved pet but sometimes Frank did try to be a proper police fox.

He smelt the man's scent and followed it around the graveyard until he found him. Then Frank stopped and sat, tilting his head and wondering what was Albert doing.]

[tearsofsteel]

[Oh.

Something's behind him. He jolts, looking down, surprised at the little animal. His expression eases.]

Oh hi, Frank. What are you doing here?

[raceme]

Yipyip! [Frank moves his ears and then one of his paws goes up to his head, mimicking a salute. Patrolling, he's patrolling. Isn't it obvious? Probably not.

He approaches Albert and stares at the stone.] Yip?

[tearsofsteel]

[Albert cracks a weak smile. The dog had a good sense of duty, he'll give them that.]

This?

[He rubs the back of his head.]

It's nothing.

[raceme]

[He tries, he tries. You all work really hard, he takes example.]

Yip? [U sure bro?] Yip yip. [Not totally trusting you, so he moves closer and rubs his head against you. Then he looks at the stone again.] YIP!?

[tearsofsteel]

[Albert feels work is all he can do around this place. He hesitates at the fox's curiosity...he really should just drop it. He sighs, gently petting the robotic animal.]

It's...it's just someone I knew.

[raceme]

[He just want to comfort you, Albert.

Frank sits next to the man, tilting his head again.]Hhhrrruff? [So that person's gone?]

[tearsofsteel]

[Albert nods, at least understanding the general gist of what it's saying.]

Yeah...they're not here...it doesn't hurt to talk to them, though.

[He pets the fox once more.]

[raceme]

[His ear drop but there's no much more way he can communicate sadness.

He then licks Albert's hand. Cheer up, emo boy.]

[tearsofsteel]

[He's the poster boy for emo, Frank.

Nonetheless he smiles lightly, petting the robot animal. He can't say no to animals, can he?]

You probably don't want to be here. We should just go.

[raceme]

Yip yip. [He waves his tail, looking happier. Leaving could be good for both.

He doesn't stand up, instead he lowers his front legs and turns his head.] YIP! [Get on his back, yo!]

[tearsofsteel]

...you want me to--

[Albert rises, rubbing the back of his head. He never really...rode a fox before. Wait till 007 heard about this. Very carefully he seats himself on the fox's back.]

You sure you're ok?

[raceme]

YIP! [Yes, he wants you. And considering how fast Frank can go, Albert won't be riding him as much as grabbing onto him for dear life so he doesn't fall down.

I hope you are ready because he's speeding up.]

[tearsofsteel]

[He's been carried around by Jet before, this is small stuff compared to him. Albert holds on regardless, scarf waving in the wind. Maybe getting away might be better for him.]

[deusexraf]

It wasn't often that Raf wandered through this area, but...to be fair, it wasn't really intention that brought him here. He was just taking a walk, at this point, doing a bit of exploring...

...when he'd realized he'd gotten here, he'd paused, and considered heading back the opposite direction. Spooky enough without him experiencing it, but...

...was that a voice?

Hesitating a moment, Raf finally let curiosity get the better of him and moved towards the sound. The sight of a man before a stone was...not unfamiliar in itself, but decidedly not something he'd expected to see, here.

[tearsofsteel]

Albert heard the sound of footsteps. He might of dismissed it were he not constantly on edge. Cybertron aggravated that condition. He looked over his shoulder to find...a kid.

That was first, especially considering the mostly robot population. What was he doing in a graveyard like this.

"Uh..." he felt extremely awkward, especially talking to himself like that, "...are you lost?"

[deusexraf]

"Ah...no. Not really." He had a general idea of where he was. Raf frowned a little, reaching to scratch the back of his head sheepishly.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to overhear, I just..."

It just...happened.

[tearsofsteel]

His expression softens. Regardless of the offense, it was still just a kid. He still feels a little ashamed of being overheard like that.

"...sorry you had to hear that."

[deusexraf]

"No, it's..."

Well, this is awkward. Maybe they should just move...past the whole. Tombstone thing. It's none of Raf's business, right?

"...I'm Raf."

He thinks they've spoken before, but...it's been a while.

[tearsofsteel]

Good plan there kid. Albert's not one who'd really want to share his past with someone so young. They didn't need that kind of baggage at all.

Albert isn't sure if they've spoken. Then again, when does he speak with other people. He nods, "Albert."

"I imagine it must be pretty hard, being on your own in...this."

[deusexraf]

That...earns a little bit of a shrug.

"It can be," Raf admits, rubbing the back of his head. "But...I'm really not on my own. Not as much as you'd think, at least."

He's got Raf, Miko...and everyone else.

[tearsofsteel]

He still doesn't feel so reassured, especially since the boy ended up in a graveyard on his own.

"It'd help if you had someone supervising you, something...

Anyhow, I'm sure there's other places you'd rather be than here..."

[deusexraf]

At least he's still living?

"I..."

He's not /fine/ on his own, but he's...mostly okay. He could just leave, but it comes out before he can really think;

"Did you...want some company?"

[tearsofsteel]

There's that.

As much as Albert would prefer brooding by himself, he couldn't tell the boy off. He nods.

"Yeah, maybe I could use some."

[deusexraf]

Truth be told, Raf wouldn't have felt bad to be dismissed. But seeing Albert just all alone...

Sometimes you could use someone to talk to who could actually talk back - in whatever way they could.

After a moment more of hesitation, he nodded, stepping closer slowly. He couldn't help but look towards the marker, straining to make out the name there.