re_alignment_logs | I felt like destroying something beautiful

Entry tags:

I felt like destroying something beautiful

Who: Drift and open
What: Catharsis
When Nowish
Where Outside Vector's place
Warnings Damage to harmless innocent geology and if you look slantwise, suicidal tendencies maybe?

It's morning--or what passes for it here. And there's a sharp, ringing sound, of metal on stone, and then another. They keep coming, sometimes a quick flurry, sometimes one, or two at a time, like the blows are calculated.

Drift's standing in a rough circle, blades drawn, in a loose version of an old Decepticon training ring. On the main vectors of the circle, at the perimeter stand rough pillars of stone: crystal and schist, nodules of manganese and pyrite.

Fool's gold. It's fitting.

There are sparks, as the metal of Drift's blades strike flint in the sedimentary stones, or larger sparks, as he slices into the strange quartz of this place. His style isn't like Wing's--Wing's bladework is elegant, almost dancer-like: Drift's is sharp and explosive, honed less on a pretty, underground practice floor than in the thick of combat.

He's fighting something here. Not enemies, but himself.

After a moment, he throws the two short blades aside, their blades ringing on the stone, and draws the Great Sword. There's a blaze of light, like sunlight or flame, from the golden gem in its hilt, and bright energy skitters down the blade, filling the glyphs like liquid light, as he moves to attack one of the mindless chunks of stone again, his face set and resolute.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

That earns a smile from her.

"All you have to do is accept that you're worthy of love." That was it at it's most basic, though she knows it's not an easy task. She's not exactly easy on herself either.

"Everything else will come in time. Just try to be open in the meantime. Focus on the good. I know you've been through a lot, it's been hard for you. I couldn't begin to know what you're feeling, but I'd like to be there to help you through it."

There's a soft chuckle, a bit of a teasing smile that's very token to her.

"And do you have any idea how long I've been waiting to do that?" To kiss him.

"Is that all?" He laughs, because it's the not-really-very-funny kind of joke.

"Vandal, I've told you everything I can." Because he wouldn't let her make a mistake, go into this unknowing.

He smiles, an echo to her smile. "I'm sorry to make you wait so long."

"Kind of a blanket-statement, I know but eh. I like to keep it simple. Over-thinking is a killer."

She pulls her knees up to her chest, shaking her head.

"I know. I'm not asking you to tell me anything more. Just that I want to be there for you. I know I haven't always been."

She waves a hand.

"Worth the wait. I'd be jumping for joy but you know..." A motion down to her legs. Because a joke at er own expense is usually the go-to place.

"I'll tell you anything you want to know, Vandal. As best I can."

Which he is the first to admit isn't much. "Vandal. I just want you happy."

"You'd probably heal faster if you actually rested." He poked her, he hoped playfully. It's advice he'd ignored dozens of times, but it felt like the responsible thing to say.

"I know you will," She smiles gently.

"And I want you happy. I think we can work with that. If I could make you happy, you know... In. Ways?" She smiles awkwardly, kicking herself mentally. Oh yeah. Totally great at the wooing.

She squeaks, batting at his hand with a grin.

"Sorry, this was more important."

"Ways?" No, he does not know. Another mech, and this might be some coy flirty thing. But this is Drift. And he's clueless.

"Vandal. Me being an idiot is not important. It's not even that rare." Unfortunately.

"You know... ah. I mean. Like. I'm." Vague gesture. Wooooooo yeah.

"I'm great at. Hugs?" Smooth.

"Hugging. Definitely in my skillset. And. I'm good with my hands. I- I mean like. You know if you're hurt or. Want a backrub. I know how you people work and-"

Did she just say you people? She wants to die right there. Yes. Be accidentally racist to someone you want to date.

"I mean you. I know how you. What you. Are. Into. I mean not into into, but what you like? That th-"

She just covers her face with her hands.

"No you're plenty important." And she should just stop talking oh god. She's so bad at this.

"You are pretty good at hugs." He will admit this freely. He'd needed one after...Gasket.

"...what am I into?" Now he's really confused, if he's asking her what he's into.

She looks upset. He shoots her a worried look, tilting his head. "Everything all right?"

Well she has that going for her.

"Yeah no everything's fine I'm just uh." Struggling. And attempting to be, in some way, remotely attractive. Missing an eye and half crumpled on the ground, she's probably struck out in any sexy department.

"Look um, do you wanna go and like. Sit somewhere and just chill out for a while? Or were you really set on giving these rocks the what-for?"

"Are you sure? You sound weird." Weirder even than the broadcast she'd made the other day.

He kind of thought they were sitting and chilling out, but what does he know? "Where do you want to go?" He looks back at the rocks, almost embarrassed. "I was just, uh, practicing."

"U-uhm. I'm fine." Just. Trying and failing to be supportive and/or impress him in some way.

"Uh. Anywhere, I guess." She'd rather not sit on the ground, at least. She shakes her head.

"I'm only teasing. You looked good." Pause, "I mean your stance. You. You're real good with a sword."

Screaming internally.

"A blade. With a blade. You're." Sigh.

"Yep. Could you help me up?" She doesn't be allowed to say words.

He tilts his head, but he won't question her. She knows better, right? It doesn't seem worth making a big deal.

"We could," he pauses to consider. The medibay doesn't seem like the right option. "We could go to the lake? Or, I mean, I guess my room, if you're cold or something?"

It's his turn to be embarrassed. "Uh, thanks. It's...practice. I've had a lot of practice."

He moves back, extending a hand.

"Your room," She says a bit too quickly. She's not really in the mood for scenic, as nice as it is. Something more comfortable.

"I can tell." He did stab Prism to death for her, which is more than she could have ever asked of him, so no doubt he's had millions of years probably.

She takes his hand, wobbling to her feet again.

"Thanks." A small smile.

He doesn't notice anything strange, figuring the speed is probably a sign that she's tired and cold, and doesn't want a long trip.

"You want me to, uh, carry you? Or I could drive or...?"

It's one of those times she's grateful he's mostly oblivious to her awkwardness.

"I- uh. Well. You could carry me? Because you know. I'm assuming... stairs." She bites her lip. Yeah that's totally it.

He can't see her awkwardness over his own cluelessness. He gives a laugh. "Oh, I just drive up the stairs. It's no probl--oh. Right." It would probably be pretty jarring for her. Drift you are terrible at patient care.

"I should probably carry you, you're right." He bends down, offering his arms awkwardly. "There's, uh, a way to do this?"

She chuckles apologetically.

"Yeah just um-" She eases her way up against his chest, under his chin, looping her arms around his neck.

"Okay... like this."

"You're comfortable? This isn't pulling on anything?" He braces his arms under her, trying to make a cradle for her as he takes a tentative step forward.

"Yeah, this is fine. My stitches are getting taken out soon, anyways..." She closes her eye, leaning her head down.

"Thank you."

A pause.

"I'm sorry I yelled at you."

"That's good, right?" He has no idea about human repairs. It seems a really iffy system, if he's honest. All this time, all those scars. Humans should just be able to replace parts, like sensible bots.

"Don't apologize, Karrie. I'm sorry I made you come out to me."

"Yeah, that's good."

So this is nice. They'd cuddled plenty before. Rather, she'd slept on him in various ways, if that could be called cuddling. (She counted it as cuddling). Still, it's nice after all of that.

"Yeah you totally told me to come out here I didn't sneak out of my own accord or anything," She teases, shooting him a wry smile.

"Don't worry."

Drift's moving slowly, in smooth, even strides, over the bridges toward Vector's palace proper, trying not to jostle her.

"Sneak out? Vandal. You're not going to get in trouble, are you?"

All this means is they're going to need to concoct a good cover story. And then...that matter with Skids.

"Probably. But I can probably make the big puppy eyes... eye. At Ambulon and he'll crumble." Hopefully. He can be kind of a hard ass.

"I'll take responsibility and tell them I coerced you into cooperating." She snerks.

"Does that work? On Ambulon?" Wow, he couldn't see it: not the way Ambulon huffed him around. "Maybe it's not something I can pull off, though," he muses.

"I think we should, you know, maybe try to get you back without him noticing." Not yet, though. He mounts the last ramp, leading toward his quarters.

"Wellllllllllll... I dunno really. Haven't tested it. But who can resist the. Adorable disgusting organic with the drinking problem, right?" If she jokes about it that makes it okay. Except not.

"You should try though seriously. Open your optics super wide and look like you're gonna cry." Mostly she just wants to see him make faces.

"I think that's doable."

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