Road Trip Minus Road?

[sword_redemption]

Who: Drift, Barricade, Vandal, Wing and First Aid (anyone else want in on this poke me via PM?)
What: Exploring
When: Day or so after the dance (so there may be hangovers to start?)
Where: Wildernessy waste places.
Warnings: added as needed

((OOC: I'm going to create three placeholder sub-comments below--first night's camp, random encounters, and the ruined village. Feel free to start your own threads under each or add your own categories, and tag around--I think that'd be easier than doing a long rotation.))

Drift certainly hasn't felt like he's been doing his part. It felt good to fight again, good to do something to help defend. But the battle was over and he was feeling that old emptiness gnawing at him--in a world at peace, what good was a warrior?

A warrior could still explore. A warrior could protect himself, move without fear. And, maybe, notice things that could be useful.

He rolls the tension out of his shoulders as the little party all shows up. "Ready?"

Comments

First Night's Camp

[sword_redemption]

(s'mores, anyone?)

[winged_knight]

The last time Wing had left the Haven to, uh, 'explore' he hadn't paid as much attention as he should have to the scenery. He's still not exactly sure how he didn't get grotesquely lost, he just assumes the powers that be had been looking out for him. This time around he's got company and the circumstances are much, much better. It's nice to get out and see Cybertron when your vision isn't so clouded with personal issues.

Yes things are definitely better now, he thinks as he sits with the others in camp, Great Sword propped next to him. A knowing smile spreads over his face, remembering recent events, the dance and the much more intimate after party still very fresh in his mind.

[sword_redemption]

Drift's still a bit unsure about being a leader of this little expedition. His previous experiences didn't end so well. So he's fretting around the little circle, as though walking around and worrying would, you know, make everything go smoothly.

"You doing all right? Need anything?"

[winged_knight]

"Just you." Wing grins. It's an invitation, for now or later, whichever suits Drift best. Wing knows what it means to be full of nervous energy. Though if he can set Drift more at ease that'd be the best of both worlds.

"Need me to take a watch tonight?"

[sword_redemption]

The invitation sends a warmth through Drift's frame, reducing him to a stammer. If only Wing knew the effect he had on Drift when he said things like that. "I. Uh. I'm here. If you. Uh. Need anything." Hopefully 'intelligent conversation' isn't on that list.

"If you want. And Wing?" A shuffle of his feet. "Thanks for coming along."

[winged_knight]

"A cuddle would do. When you're ready for recharge." Being a pillow doesn't require conversation, so Drift should be safe. "Or earlier if you like." Maybe Wing will be the pillow then, so Drift can relax.

"Sure. I'll take dawn watch then." His smile is warm, not unlike the dawn itself, but with only his spark to light it. "Adventures with you? I can't think of anything I'd rather do."

[sword_redemption]

Drift winks. "Oh, are you afraid of the big scary outdoors, Wing? I'll be your teddy bear." He knows it's not true: he knows Wing has gone off without him. But he's making light of it because, well, you know. Tough guy exterior.

"Dawn it is." He gives a nod. He'd been ready to pull watch all night himself.

[winged_knight]

He laughs, loud enough that he has to cup a hand over his mouth. It just seems smart, out here in the wilderness, to be discreet.

Not that he's really succeeding. There's still a laugh or two that sneaks out from behind his hand before responding, "So maybe I am? You should have seen the thing that jump me in the lake! I think it's definitely in my--our--best interests for you to stay with me tonight."

Wing can play the damsel to Drift's tough guy anyday.

He nods his assent. "Maybe one of the others can take the middle watch." So you know, that cuddle time can actually happen. Because laying out here under the stars, so far from Prima's light, with Drift? Sounds sublime to this damsel.

[sword_redemption]

"Thing that jumped you in the lake." Sadly, all he's thinking is tentacles, right now, and that doesn't quite help your cause.

"Don't worry, Wing. I'll protect you." It's a joke: how many times had Wing thrown him across the training room in Crystal City? Yeah, Wing didn't need his protection.

[winged_knight]

Sadly it'd be true. "Thing had more tentacles than legs. And. I'm not really sure where its face was?" He puts on an expression that implies having a face wasn't really required to be ugly. "Very unmannerly it was, too."

It's nice though, to be able to let one's guard down. Especially when you have complete trust in the mech that's got your back. "Will you?" he grins, sounding both pleased and hopeful, "You know how good I am at getting into trouble."

[sword_redemption]

All right. Not helping Drift's concentration. "Y-you don't say."

Drift snorts. "Amateur." Deadlock had gotten into trouble so deep someoen like Wing wouldn't even be able to see the bottom of it. "Better put me to the test, now."

[vandalization]

After a long day of begging rides off Drift and Wing, Vandal has plunked herself down by their feet, propping her head on her helmet like a pillow.

"This is great. No giant bugs, no crazy fuckin' chaos. Just kind of a walkabout."

She opens a bag of what appears to be M&Ms or something close to it, tossing one at Drift, it bounces off his knee.

"Thanks for the ride, by the way. Walking is so much better when you don't have to walk."

[sword_redemption]

"You're going to jinx us, talking like that." Sometimes, Drift swears, it's like the First Forged or Unicron or whoever has nothing better to do than eavesdrop and do horrible things.

The M&M, a green one, bounces harmlessly off his armor. "And if something does attack you? That's a terrible weapon."

He shrugs off the compliment. What was he going to do? Just leave her? Besides, he'd never admit it, but he liked giving her rides.

[vandalization]

"Lucky for me I'm armed to the teeth and have a few big fellas who really like me around."

She flicks another candy at him, missing entirely.

"Not that I want to cause you problems or anything but you know. I'm not too worried." Except she's always worried, but it's become so normal for her that she's almost adjusted to the paranoia.

"I get to sleep with you and Wing, right...?"

[sword_redemption]

"And unlucky for anything trying to mess with us." He knows she's tough. Maybe not against bugs, but he remembers her standing off against Wing during that awful pages thing.

"Eh, you don't want to sleep with Wing. He snores." No, he doesn't. Drift just likes messing with them.

[vandalization]

She laughs, reaching over to swat his ankle playfully.

"How can a cybertronian snore?!" She says, giving him a wry look, "Unless you have something stuck in your vents."

"Besides, you gonna make me sleep all on my own?"

[sword_redemption]

"You know. Air frames. Who the hell knows what they can get stuck in there." Birdstrike comes to mind. Ewww. Right. Maybe Wing needs a good scrubdown.

"Course not. You can sleep with me."

[vandalization]

"Got a few bats stuck in there, maybe?" She jokes, picking herself up and walking over to lean against his side.

"Oh good, cozy as ever then." She's grown very used to sleeping on, in, or around Drift, it's become a great constant comfort for the nightmares she has.

[sword_redemption]

"Ooooooor bats." Ew. Definitely going to not think about this.

"Of course. I'll be sleeping with Wing." So, best of both worlds? He just likes messing with you.

[vandalization]

"Well that's great. I get both of you, then." Just as intended, really.

"I'll even promise no tickles. Unless it's Wing. And then you gotta hold him for me, remember?"

[sword_redemption]

Yes, but this way Drift wins. Shush. It's complicated robot logic.

"I remember." It is Evil Gleam time.

[lifepersists]

This was the first time First Aid had been out of the Haven... ever. Usually the medics kept inside the boundaries of the Haven as they were often needed inside the medibay, if not for checking over injuries, but for also regular checkups and maintenance. There was always something to be done.

And First Aid... well. He felt a little bit of the odd mech out, with friends but no one particularly close. Still, he didn't regret coming with Drift. This was a new kind of adventure and someone had to make sure Drift didn't lose a leg or something.

He sits by the fire by himself, his optics lighting a data pad that he had propped against the backs of his legs. Hey, even out on a journey, he had to document it somehow. Behind him was his cybercycle, providing a small barrier to lean up against.

[namesnotprowl]

This is all just a bit of a good chance for things, for Barricade. Meet a few new people, maybe find a few things. He hadn't had much call for his medical skills and - for the time being - he could use a break from construction. Exploring was a good opportunity for that.

Besides, he doesn't deal often with mechs from other temples. Particularly from Megatronus's. Probably because he was wary of being around anyone Shockwave had something in common with. They hadn't had the best rapport of late and any way to avoid him.

Still, this particular mech... didn't seem so bad, from the network. Barricade approaches from the side, slow enough to try to avoid startling him. "Data pad, huh?" Some kind of conversation starter besides 'So what brings you here' because they all already know.

[lifepersists]

Barricade was a mech First Aid had heard of and only spoken with briefly (the topic, he recalled right, was over their strange form of reproduction), but aside from that he didn't quite know the other mech well. Just a few things heard, here and there, about him being ex-Decepticon. First Aid didn't discriminate; he worked with Ambulon, after all.

The sudden question makes his head jerk up, facial plating heating. He rolls his shoulders, then quickly saves his progress with the data pad.

"I... Well, it's a diary..."

[namesnotprowl]

Barricade knows the general feelings of others mechs, related to his old allegiances and his field of work. Decepticon medics from his universe tended to carry certain... connotations, after all. Still, he's hardly going to bring it up or stop him from associating with other medics. They were all here to work, as far as he was concerned.

"You don't gotta stop on my account. Trying to keep a record of the whole journey, I'm guessin'? Not a bad idea."

Good idea to catalogue it in writing as it occurs, if nothing else.