video; backdated to a day or so after Prom

[redshitlord]

So uh... say... you were at a thing. Having a good time, and everything is just great.

But then... your memory gets kind of fuzzy. Like, wow I shouldn't have run into that electric generator in the back of the scrapyard kind of fuzzy.

[A beat.]

Not that that's ever happened! I'm just saying!

[Okay, Sideswipe, what are you trying to get at.]

And then... you think maybe you did something kind of really weird. But you're not like... sure?

Is that just me? It's not just me, right?

Comments

[wreckers]

You really have it out for the guy.

[ Is there a strict dudebro limit on Cybertron? ]

[redshitlord]

Well, yeah! He's a jerk.

He didn't even realize we weren't from the same Cybertron, and he still told me my friend was dead. I mean, who does that?

[wreckers]

Wait - now back up.

He did what?

[redshitlord]

When I got here! I was asking if anyone knew the bots back home. Because, hey! Weird new place and all.

He looked right at me and was all, "Yeah no your buddy's dead".

[wreckers]

Goddammit.

[ long, drawn out sigh ]

Leaning on Ratchet or Optimus to put the fear of god back in him might be overkill for shit tact, but for what it's worth - I am sorry.

[redshitlord]

... It's okay, I guess.

I mean, Optimus explained some stuff. So... I know Bee's probably actually okay and all.

...



But Rodimus is still a jerk.

[wreckers]

Rodimus never struck me as-

[ record scratch ]

What's this about Bee?

[redshitlord]

Uh.

[He blinks for a second, before, cautiously:]

Rodimus said he was with the All Sparks? Something like that.

[wreckers]

Bullshit!

[ Her voice suddenly cuts down; heavy and wavering like an executioners ax in novice hands. ]

I just talked to him. Rodimus is lying.

[redshitlord]

Wh-- hey!

I'm sorry! That's just what he told me.

[wreckers]

He's not dead!

[ Goddammit not again. Not again. Why should a kid outlive a species with a life expectancy in the millions.

She buries her face in her hands, screams and words muffled together. ]

Bee isn't dead.

[redshitlord]

I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!

[ADHJSKDFSD WHAT DOES HE EVEN DO HERE. WHY IS SHE MAKING THAT SOUND.]

M-Maybe he's not! Where you're from! Maybe -- maybe it's like the Bee I know!

[wreckers]

[ Verity screams until the spittle and sweat builds up in her palm enough to stifle ber. ]

Idiot. I'm a Wrecker. Maybes don't engender much confidence.

[redshitlord]

I don't -- I don't know what that is. But... I mean.

It could be different! Right? I got really upset too -- [Sideswipe the poor thing is having a breakdown not getting upset stop talking.] -- when Rodimus said that.

But I was wrong! And everything's cool!

[taselikeabee]

Thanks for that. It wasn't as if I was trying to spare her some pain or anything.

[redshitlord]

Hey!

How was I supposed to know!

[taselikeabee]

I didn't even tell you! When I see Rodimus next I am going to kick his aft into the next century.

[redshitlord]

Yeah! You didn't! So why are you yelling at me, Bumblebutt? I didn't do anything!

Blame Rodimus and his stupid jerk face!

[taselikeabee]

First of all, I have a proper name and you better damn well use it. Secondly, do you not have any common sense? Of course it wouldn't be all right to run your mouth off about that even if you did know!

[wreckers]

Were there any other casualties reported?

[ Voice flat, Verity goes into a deadened autopilot state where only the facts matters. ]

[taselikeabee]

Technically, I'm not. No.

[ not here, not right now. ]

Verity, please..

[ don't do this on account of him. 8( ]

[wreckers]

Not again.

[ She whines feeling bile press on the back of her throat. The burning sensation with the urge to regurgitate a litany of name; Ironfist, Topspin, Pyro, Rotorstorm, Springer-

Hunter

God she really wanted to puke but it was an impossible on an empty stomach. ]

You're not dead.

[taselikeabee]

[ yeah... yeah this is why he wanted only certain people to be aware of the fact he's dead. because of stuff like this. it's clear that some people can handle it all right, but others?

Bee doesn't want to see them hurt. ]

Are you still all holed up, Verity?

[ because he can't answer that question truthfully. but he can see her. ]

[wreckers]

Ratchet's.

[ The name and location of the clinic she was currently being sequestered in would have given Bumblebee a more concrete idea kf where she was, but in all fairness her mind was in freefall. ]

[taselikeabee]

Need a little company?

[ at least she can verify that he's around now. ]