[The screen shows a matte black jet, with (he thinks) rather dashing purple highlights, sitting behind a desk, scarcely able to restrain a chortle. He clears his vocalizer, looks down. The grin fades.]
(
In which Skywarp turns the tables, flips the script, and...goes a little power mad. )
Reply
[Keeping in mind that Skywarp has been busy since his arrival with setting up his job--and dealing with *shudder* Velma--that he has NO idea of Blackout's current situation. Hence:]
You here to intimidate me about Megatron, too? I should be flattered. He sends his faithful yappy dog to bite my ankles.
[Smirk] 'Loquacious' huh? Nice to see Megatron finally sprang for that 'word a day' calendar for you.
Reply
Hardly. [He snorts, but his voice is sober when he continues.] You'll find I'm not much of an emissary for Lord Megatron, these days. It's pure disdain for your kind that impels me now, jet.
[...And another snort.] Please. My vocabulary has always been expansive.
Reply
Oh, my apologies.
Remember, Blackout, I haven't seen you since Tyger Pax. Back then you were the strong, silent, loyal type.
How things have changed.... Now you're just a sad petty creature driven by envy of jet-frames. So...desperately unoriginal.
Reply
Hn. I am loyal. I have merely chosen to give my service to a new master.
If you think I envy any of you fixed-wings even the slightest bit, Skywarp, you're the one with a fritzing processor.
Reply
[OMG did the jet just grammar flame you? Yes. Yes he did.]
Loyalty that can be so easily shifted...isn't worth much. Who knows when the tectonics of your loyalty will shift again?
Whoever trusts you, in short, is a fool.
And the only reason you don't envy jets? Is because you fear us too much in combat.
Reply
And here I would have expeced one of your kind to take it as a compliment, that I'm willing to waste so many words on denigrating you.
... [ B| ] I don't ask to be trusted, jet, I only ask to be allowed to serve. And if the mech I serve chooses to give me to another, I can hardly object.
Oh, please. I know too much about jet weaknesses to have much fear of you.
Reply
Oh yes, having a copter's spleen spilled all over me is...immensely flattering. I'm just...overwhelmed. And...slightly sticky.
[Uh oh, cue the bonding montage music]
Really, now? Here's a disturbing thought, Blackout: at least your leader bothered to give you to someone else. Must be nice to be treated like chattel--damn sight better than being ignored.
[Oh don't think that self-pity's weakness, Blackout. You'll never beat him up as hard as he does himself. But...welcome to try. :D ]
Copter: superior. That what you want to hear?
Reply
[So dry:] A trip to the washracks will take care of that, you know.
...Hmn. I wouldn't call it disturbing. Rather, I'd say that if you're finding yourself ignored, Skywarp, you ought to do something to deserve being noticed.
Of course. The insincerity tarnishes the admission somewhat, though.
Reply
[Oh did your insult miss? Yes. yes it did. Thanks to Skywarp's Patented Short Attention Span!]
Oh, I will get noticed, Blackout. You mark my words. As soon as...I can think of something. Worthy. You know.
[sigh]
Look, what do you want from me? Six rotors good, no rotors bad. Right? Seriously. All sincerity? At least your command chain noticed you fraggin' existed. At least someone WANTED you when the offer was made.
Reply
[I.E., you don't have any, but at least he doesn't come right out and say that?]
Given that that may be the first time a jet's ever said those words to me and not meant it entirely sarcastically, I find I can't complain. And I'm not going to insult your intelligence by telling you, again, that you must do something worth noticing if you want to be so.
Reply
Oh that's right. You wouldn't know anything about that whole Thinking For Yourself thing, would you, Mr. Handed On Over Like a Tool.
[shrug]
Reply
Just because I choose to serve doesn't mean I'm incapable of making my own decisions.
Reply
Oh of course not, Blackout. I'd never even dream of implying such a thing.
However, so much abject following might have let your initiative skills get a little rusty.
Along with your tact.
Reply
Of course you wouldn't. [Blackout's turn to be insincere!]
Heh. I assure you, I'm as capable to taking the initiative--when it needs to be taken--as I ever was. [By which he means only within the constraints of appropriately-phrased orders.]
And you make the mistake of assuming I ever made much effort to be tactful.
Reply
Color me completely impressed. [He sees your insincerity and counters with some good old fashioned canon. :P ]
I do remember being entirely blown away by your initiative to, like, glue yourself to Megatron's side, follow his orders. Why, I heard you even stopped the immediate pursuit of the Allspark at Tyger Pax because you had to wait until Uncle Megatron gave you permission.
[grants one point]
And true. A mech like you has no need, really, of tact. Not when you have such a hard head.
Reply
Leave a comment