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

Random Encounters

[sword_redemption]

(there are creepy crawlies out here: feel free to have random encounters!)

[vandalization]

When she'd said no bugs... well. Apparently shed spoke too soon. Having excused herself to go to the bathroom moments before, now there are plasma rounds being fired from behind one of the rocks.

"AAAAAAAAAAAHHH FUCK FUCK SHIT! DIE!"

Silence.

"Oh wait-! It's okay guys! It was just a tumbleweed."

[winged_knight]

It's pretty amazing the number of Wing's body parts that can move when he's surprised. Which is what happens when he hears Vandal's screaming.

He's also a speedy thing when he wants to be, cresting the edge of the rock outcropping--

"What, WHAT!?"

--just as she's giving the all clear. Whoops? Hope you're decent Vandal.

[vandalization]

"OH! Uh-" Just as she's got her pants back up, honestly. She turns, waving a hand at him.

"It's okay! Just startled myself!"

Not bad response time, though, to be perfectly honest.

[winged_knight]

He blinks, and then remembers the laws of propriety for humans and fixes his optics somewhere to Vandal's left.

"A-are you sure?"

Because that scream? That was one for the record books. At least by way of the ones Wing's heard.

<small((ooc: we should fix that sometime. /GRIN))</small

[vandalization]

"Yeah. It was just like. A tumbleweed or something." She's scampering back over to him, walking straight away up to him and inviting herself to start scaling him with practiced ease.

"Sorry to give you a scare," She says, pulling herself up to his shoulders.

[ ooc: YES. YESYESYES. ]

[winged_knight]

"...What's a tumbleweed?" He peers around for some kind of highly aggressive hybrid plant creature. Obviously it must have been mean or to elicit a scream like that. Or maybe just extremely ugly.

"Oh it's fine. I'm just glad you're okay." It's fairly typical the way he moves to assist her climbing out of sheer habit. "Well okay...I'll admit dashing in to save you from some monster has more appeal."

[vandalization]

"It's a... ahhh you know? Never mind. It's nothing."

She rubs the side of his helm affectionately.

"Sorry to bust your hero bubble. I can handle myself when it's not fuckin' bugs. Just. Bugs. Uhg."

Well, now that she's here, she's going to get comfortable on him.

[winged_knight]

He quirks a browridge. "Well if you say so." He was kind of wondering, but that's his usual idle curiosity acting up again.

Wing pushes into that affectionate petting, glad to be appreciated.

"Aw well. I'd say some other time, but I wouldn't wish tumbleweed monsters on anyone intentionally." Primus knows this place has enough monsters without his rampant imagination helping out.

He makes sure she's settled before turning to rejoin the rest of the group.

[vandalization]

"Heh, yeah, what a terrible fate," She drawls wryly as petting turns to grooming flecks of rust from his helm idly as he turns to walk.

"Thanks though. You know. For the quick response. It hasn't. You know. Still hasn't been easy."

Nothing has been since the church, since Prism. The Marker.

Her hand stills.

"It's just nice to know you guys have my back."

[winged_knight]

"Hey it could be, this place has some pretty nasty monsters." He's never been so well maintained thanks to Vandal's attentions. It flatters him and warms his spark.

"Always." He turns to look at her, a gold optic warm on her face. "I want to keep you safe Karrie."

[vandalization]

"I appreciate it. After everything. It just means a lot."

She sort of hugs his head, planting a kiss on the plating that covers his nose.

She's damned lucky to have friends like this.

[winged_knight]

He likes to keep everyone safe, but with this, it's personal. He gets quiet a moment, then adds. "I know a lot of people here now Karrie. But you are one of the few special ones."

He pushes into it a little, chirring softly, giving her chest an affectionate nudge with the nasal ridge of his helm. He wishes he could kiss her in return, but well, when he thought to try it at the dance...things didn't go quite the way he intended.

[vandalization]

"God shhh you're going to embarrass me," She laughs, scratching over his audial flares a bit more vigorously as he nudges her.

"Fuckin' cute robots. I don't even know what to do with you sometimes."

[winged_knight]

Yeah Vandal you can stop doing that any time in the next five years. "In front of who?"

He chuckles. "Is that a good or a bad thing?"

[vandalization]

"I... I don't know. Shit, the rest of the camp?"

Another few strokes before she settles again.

"It's always. A good thing."

[winged_knight]

"All...three people. Though I kind of see why you'd want to impress First Aid."

Have some sass, Vandal.

"You spoil me, you know that?" With all the compliments and the petting and the shoulder rides.

[vandalization]

"Pfffffffff, god you're full of it tonight," She teases, giving his head a bit of a shove.

"What? I spoil you? Think you got that a little backwards there, Wingdings."