EVENT ONE: JUNE 21ST-28TH

[luminals]

TAKE BACK KNOWHERE
When: June 21-28
Who: Everyone.
Where: All over Knowhere, ending in the Continuum Cortex and Observation Deck.

Event details are here, IC announcement is here.

Prose & Action brackets are both acceptable ways of posting to these comments, please be mindful of what threads you are posting under!

Comments

[alwaysadrift]

The last thing Drift needs is another tentacreep joining in on the hugging. Could it get any more awkward than that?

"I just needed some help really seeing it." He flashes another smile before getting back to the dangerous business at hand. "Right. Later, we can catch up. Promise. Right now though, where are you headed?"

[knightoflight]

Hey, don't kinkshame, Drift.

But a tentacled monster with unpleasant intentions would be an interruption here.

"We all need help sometimes, Drift. That's why we're social creatures. No one can do it alone." That's why the Circle of Light was a circle.

But maybe he can save the preaching for later, too, when things--and his own emotions--have settled down. "I was just trying to get the lay of the land here. And...maybe, trying to find a way to speak to it?"

[alwaysadrift]

Hey, he'll try anything once so long as there's consent and stuff! But that guy had a bad attitude. And maybe Drift isn't ready to share.

He smiles at the sentiment. Drift's missed that preachiness, Wing, and he's glad he finally has an oppurtunity to appreciate it. "Well...you don't have to do that alone. If, you know, you want company?"

[knightoflight]

Well true, that guy was rude.

But Wing's toned down the preachiness just for you, Drift! Only because there's so much to explore here, not just Drift, that he's a little giddy.

"I'd love your company. No one else I'd rather have by my side if we run into one of...those things again." A beat. "What was that, anyway?"

[alwaysadrift]

Toned down is good, Drift learns a lot better these days through simple conversation, no robojudo throws as punctuation required.

"Sorry, what?" You lost him at 'no one else I'd rather have by my side'. He's off in the clouds for a moment, until Wing's next question brings him back. "I'm not sure, none of the species here are familiar at all."

[knightoflight]

Well, maybe they could repurpose the sparring to something more fun.

"Why do you think I volunteered to fight Braid with you, Drift?" All right, it was a bit more than 'you look fun to fight alongside', and Wing hopes the little smile at the end of the phrase conveys that.

"I ran into one earlier. She said she was an, uh, human?" Weird. But kind of cute.

[alwaysadrift]

Drift is all for this plan, whatever 'more fun' happens to be. Anything to spend more time with the jet though, whom he never had enough time with in the first place.

And maybe sparring could become fun too, more for actual sword lessons than moral ones?

"I thought..." He thought a lot of things back then, most them misguided at worst and confused at best. "I assumed you'd done it for the city..." To make up for his folly, for bringing that Decepticon into their midst, the one who'd ruined it all.

He doesn't miss the smile though, and the one Drift offers back is hopeful, that they could maybe get past all that and become something else, something better.

"Humans? There're humans here?" That's not him looking concerned. Except it is. "Was she, uh, nice?"

[knightoflight]

"I did it for the city as much as you did, Drift." See? You were brothers in arms in that as well. "But I did it because I wanted you to be free." And that's what the ruse would do, after all, set Drift free from his past.

"Well, she said she was a human? I don't know. I mean, I've never seen one." But she looked a lot less evil than Braid, if that helps? "But she was, well, she said she'd never been off their 'Erf' before." With a planet name like that, you'd think they'd be dying to leave, right?

[alwaysadrift]

"I wish I'd seen that sooner." And been less bitter. It had set him free in more ways than one. With Wing gone, staying had been...awkward at best. A reward he hadn't felt like he'd entirely earned. Sort of like getting one of those crackerjacker candy boxes with no prize inside.

But maybe...maybe he's earned it now? Not the city, but having Wing back in his life.

"Erf--? Oh! Earth? Is that what she said?" Drift chuckles, because at least it's something he's familiar with. He suddenly feels a little less lost. "I was there for a time. Nice people, the general populace I mean, interesting cultures. The military powers though, not so much."

[knightoflight]

"It's the past," Wing says. "There's no point ruining the future with what was simply your truth in the past." The thing that mattered, after all, was that Drift had been free, he had been changed. That was...worth everything.

And why not have the box and the prize now?

Okay, Wing will leave the metaphors to you, Drift. Maybe better that way.

"Earth! Yes, that's it." Urf? Arf? It sounded strange, like a grunt. "Were you? So you know about these humans!" You are quite the traveler, Drift: Wing is impressed!

[alwaysadrift]

"Yeah. Yeah I like that. Uh. The sentiment I mean. Especially you know...having a future. With. You in it." He coughs. "Maybe."

Ooookay. He needs to hush now. Because that's a runaway train of awkward sap that's gonna get sticky in the unfun kind of way if he doesn't derail it first.

Yeah no maybe metaphors are a bad thing to leave in Drift's hands. Almost as bad as say, guns.

"A little bit, yes," It doesn't seem that impressive but hey, he's just gonna roll with it. Impressing Wing? Bonus! "I spent a little time in Japan, observing. Annnnd then the Decepticons tried to take over and things got complicated." Story of his life?

[knightoflight]

"Maybe?" Wing looks around the bulkhead. "Looks like that's out of our hands so good thing we're both amenable to the idea." There's a little wink to warm the words.

A little bit is a lot more than Wing knows, though, so Drift may continue to get a bit of a chinhandsy expression from the jet. "What's a Japan?" Here's a prime example, Drift. "I hope it's still around? If the war went there...." He can't imagine any planet surviving the war.

[alwaysadrift]

Drift just grins, because that's a great start. A start to what, he doesn't know. But just being around the jet more? It's a dream come true. He doesn't know if it's one he deserves, but he'll enjoy it however can.

"It's a country," he chuckles, "Earthers don't have a unified government. Or if they do it's...really terrible. But anyway yes it's still around, the people of that world are quite, uh, resourceful and tenacious. Megatron couldn't complete his domination plan there."

Drift has a sizable respect for the humans because of that, but at the same time a wary uncertainty given what they did to overcome Cybertronian forces.

"Should we keep going? It seemed like there was some trouble at that cortex place?"

[knightoflight]

It's a start to living in the future, not the past, or at least that's how Wing sees it. It's still new to think he has a future.

"These humans are clearly tougher than they look." Which isn't saying much, really, because they don't look tough at all. But still, anyone able to thwart a Decepticon plan? Formidable!

"There probably is. It's like these creatures know where to attack!"

[alwaysadrift]

Which is what Drift thinks he's been doing. But it's dragged down by too much of the bad parts of his past, and not buoyed enough by the good ones. Hopefully he can correct that.

"Remarkably so. I wouldn't underestimate them." He just got you back Wing, don't do getting yourself into irreparable trouble with humans or any other questionable critters.

"They know more about this place than we do. And that bothers me." Quite a lot. "But it sounds like this cortex place is important?"

[knightoflight]

It's a new start for all of them, and Wing will not allow Drift to dwell on the past. Even if he has to throw him across the room to remind him.

"I envy you having met them before." Or really done anything. Drift's life sounded so adventurous--it always had.

"It is troublesome. We need to do what we can--I don't think these invaders were counting on running into us." Yes, us. His optics glow at the word.

[alwaysadrift]

That'd be a good thing, Drift does that too much, dwell on the past. Toss him across the room if you have to Wing, the irony will be good for him. Also, he can appreciate the lesson far better now, not to mention Wing's hands on him.

"I couldn't break cover and interact with them though, as much as I wanted to." There were a few exceptions, but nothing that really helped him understand them better. "Many of them were not friendly though."

Drift's life might be adventurous, but he's also seen a lot of things he would never wish upon Wing. As his life experiences go, the bad always came with the good.

"No, I don't think they were expecting us at all. That should give us an edge." But, how to exploit it? He just doesn't know enough about this place yet.

[knightoflight]

Well, later, then. Now's not the time for sparring. Now's the time to be fighting alongside each other, just as they were going to on Theophany.

"That's...unfortunate." Both sides of it. "But at least you got to see them?" That might sound a little wistful--trapped underground for millennia will make one envious of that.

"If they can't face one of us, two of us will be unstoppable." He leans over to bump a shoulder against Drift's, before picking a corridor. "I think down this way."

[alwaysadrift]

And Drift has far more skill to offer now, and he's eager, maybe, to show Wing what he's learned.

"It'd be nice to go back there but..." Maybe not such a great idea. "I can share with you what I learned though. Some of their culture and history is really interesting. Not entirely different from ours."

He wants to share everything with Wing really, all the 'adventures' he had after leaving Crystal City when he thought wistfully about the jet being there to share them. "Unstoppable. ...yeah." Sorry, he's a little caught up in the grin growing over his face, one side a little higher than the other. "Lead on." He'd follow you anywhere, Wing. And not just for the view.

[knightoflight]

Wing is always up for learning new things. Though perhaps they could raincheck the reminiscent sparring until they've dealt with this threat.

"Who knows where this place might end up, though, Drift." See? The bright side. Maybe. Maybe it's just Wing's own curiosity, to see this Earth for himself, though.

"I'd love to learn." Anything, really. Crystal City was his home, but his spark craved adventure. It always had.

He isn't sure he quite likes the expression that flits over Drift's face, but he likes where it ends up. What an endearing smile, so much preferable to that scowl he used to wear. "Let's go!" He has his blades in his hands, moving down the corridor, half-sunk into a gliding crouch.

[alwaysadrift]

As long as Wing is issuing rainchecks? Drift will always take them, never forgetting the one moment he wanted it most and never got one.

"That's true! Maybe luck will shine on us." He likeS that thought a lot. "Or even better, maybe We can explore someplace new together?"

This station counts as 'someplace new' but there's a feel about it that isn't quite right. And there's nothing that really replaces seeing an indigenous species in its natural setting. He's just glad he, uh, learned how to appreciate that before he helped Megatron wipe them all out.

"When this is all done then, we can, ya know, catch up?" His smile is hopeful, optics bright.

Drift has to yank his attention back from the allure of Wing's natural grace, the way the hip skirting moves as the jet glides forward. Uh, yes, swords in hands: check. Moving forward in alert stance: check. Following after Wing: DOUBLE-CHECK.

[knightoflight]

This is his very first raincheck and he can't think of a better recipient. And it's one he most ardently hopes gets called upon to be filled.

"We have more than luck, Drift." They have the side of right and justice on their side. These people need help, right now, the kind of help Wing and Drift can give. Maybe that's why they were brought here.

"I look forward to it--though I feel you will have more talking to do then." Wing's catch up will probably be pretty fast, he feels: the battle on Theophany, which...however it ended.

He moves down the corridor, stopping and signalling Drift to pause, gesturing with one hand around the corner: one of the large enemies, back toward them, lumbering down the corridor.

[alwaysadrift]

Can he have more than one then? Because this while filling of rainchecks sounds fun. Except no, rainchecks means he has to wait for something and maybe a little instant gratification for once would be nice. Or is that asking too much?

He nods, Wing's encouragement doing its trick, though it's less a trick more just ardent belief shared. He's tried so hard, maybe it's time things turned around?

"But Wing. You know my past. I know...so little of yours." It's sheepish, the last part. Because Drift knows that even if Wing has shared more back then, he'd never have listened. But here, now, he has the chance to make up for that, he's ready to listen, in fact Drift will sit and listen all day given the oppurtunity.

He halts at Wing's signal, intent on its meaning. For a moment he's tempted to push forward, put himself between the danger and Wing (and maybe do something impressive (read: stupid) in the process) but then he thinks better of it. Instead Drift gives a curt nod and signals across the intersection, offering to flank the approaching enemy.

[knightoflight]

Rainchecks are fine, but maybe, you know, they could do things without having to put them off?

"It's not much of a story, Drift. Fleeing the war, then finding safety for our kind." Nothing like the adventure that seems to be Drift's lot.

He hesitates, peering around the corner one last time at the monster, and then gives a signal before flinging himself toward the creature, blades hissing through the air.

[alwaysadrift]

This is a novel plan that they should absolutely do. Period.

Drift desperately wants to ask questions--what the Circle was like back then, how Wing became a knight--but if Wing is not that forthcoming with his past for whatever reason, Drift can respect that. It took him a while to come out with his, after all. He can't entirely hide the little bit of letdown though. "Maybe...I just like hearing you talk?"

Uh, well, he hadn't intended to say that out loud, precisely. But it's out there now and sounds incredibly sappy and hopefully he hasn't embarrassed himself.

"And watching you fight too." That's all the signal needed and Drift's leaping out after Wing, springing with a roll to reach the creature's other side. Hopefully Wing draws enough of the thing's attention that he doesn't get tagged on the way, but even if he does, he can't be hurt that badly by these things...right?