Celebrate - Speedwrite full responce
TITLE: A Toast
RATING: Teens
(WARNINGS for suggested drunkenness)
CHARACTER: Wheeljack, Sunstreaker
UNIVERSE: Generation 1
SUMMARY: It is good to remember and be reminded of blessings.
PROMPT #1 A Job Well Done
*plonk*
Wheeljack wearily shuttered his optics. He’d gotten used to random Bots depositing stuff in front of him, where ever he went.
When the mech slide into the empty chair across vrom him, the inventor finally looked up. “Sunstreaker?”
The yellow melee warrior said “Finally got your attention - we’ve been calling your name for over a joor.”
“It hasn’t been that long,” Wheeljack protested. He carefully ignored the ‘wanna bet?’ coming from behind him. His optics focused on the object. It was in a cube that held some kind of liquid …. “Is that high-grade?”
“Try it and tell me - you’re the expert.”
Wheeljack vented, grabbed the cube and tasted it for analysis purposes only. “Ratchet’s the real expert - he can identify true high grade in any blind taste test, and even name its city of origin.”
Sunstreaker pointed at the crowd behind him. The group Wheeljack should have seen if only he’d looked up and around. “Sideswipe’s gotten Ratchet’s approval on the batch - every off-duty officer and warrior is partaking. Except you.”
“And Percy.” Wheeljack spoke before looking at the crowd beginning to drink in excess. “Wait - how’s you get Perceptor out of the lab?”
“Trade Secret, Wheeljack. Want to join us?”
“What’s the occasion?” Now that Sunstreaker mentioned it, the high grade wasn’t disappearing willy-nilly, instead being consumed after toasts were made.
“Another day of living.”
“I can drink to that.” Wheeljack joined the others.
TITLE: Mr. Scrooge
RATING: Teen - (a cuss word)
CHARACTER: Ratchet
UNIVERSE: TF-Prime
SUMMARY: A time of joyous celebration can also be a season of despair.
PROMPT #2 Holiday
Raatchet woke from recharge.
It was quiet. Too quiet.
The mostly white medic sat up, wondering where the team had gone. Bulkhead, Smokescreen and Wheeljack couldn’t be quiet at all. As much as Ratchet claimed they were too loud, and their activities were distracting, the noise did let him keep an optic on them.
This absence of noise was suspicious.
Ratchet exited from his private quarters (which doubled as the medbay when somebot was injured and in need of assistance) and looked past the opaque walls to the public section of Autobot Outpost Alpha.
“Oh, uh. Hi Ratchet. We’re not done decorating. Could you wake up in an hour or so?” Bulkhead noticed the medic’s presence first.
“WHAT DID YOU DO TO THE BASE?” Ratchet thundered. He reached for the invasive greenery tacked onto the walls. “Take it down NOW! All of it!”
“Easy, Doc.” Smokescreen dropped his load of fake green vine. Ratchet wasn’t sure if the stuff was supposed to be needles or feathers. “The entire town’s decked out in this stuff - and you should see the lights!”
Ratchet tore one strand of garland off. “The ‘entire town’ is decorated on the outside! Not inside!” He stormed into his space, relieved that nothing had been touched or added to. Except for the garland lining the walkway and railing the kids used. “Bah, surrounded by humans and their stuff everywhere I go!”
Wheeljack came in, carrying a truckload of more garland. “What’s with grumpy gills?”
“Ah, we didn’t get his input.” Bulkhead explained “Don’t blame him - I’d be upset too if someone decorated me without permission or asked what I liked.”
“Guess I should leave the cans alone, then”
“Smokescreen - it’s impossible to sneak up on a Wrecker.”
Smokescreen grabbed the discarded garland and stretched to reattach it to the wall. “Miko has a habit of being where you least expect her.”
“Miko’s an exception.” Bulkhead wiggled fingers at his comrades-in-plotting. “Think we can finish up before the kids are let out?”
“Why bother?” Ratchet called out. “They go back to school on Monday.”
“Normally, yes. But not this week or next week.”
Ratchet stormed out. “You mean instead of a weekend with the kids underfoot, they’ll be here for two solid weeks?”
“Yep.”
“Primus.” Ratchet grabbed the nearest box. “What anniversary are the humans celebrating this time? Another late president’s birth? The remembrance of freedom and what it cost? The attack on Pearl Harbor? The independence of their nation? Which one?”
“I don’t know doc. I kinda like their way of remembering the past.”
“Hmp. You would.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Easy. Ratchet’s just not in the mood. He’ll warm up when the kids get here.”
“That’s what you think.” Ratchet grumbled as he joined the others in artfully layering and displaying the garland. “Tell me you forgot to include the lights.”
“We didn’t touch them. Your shining personality outshines anything the humans can string up.”
TITLE: Quitting is NOT an option.
RATING: Teens
CHARACTER: The Lennox Family - Annabelle, Sarah, Will
UNIVERSE: Bayverse
SUMMARY: Looking back at the (then) insurmountable obstacles, they aren’t nearly so big as we thought.
PROMPT #3 A difficult time now past
“Hello? What’s this?” The paper fluttering towards the ground was snagged in mid air. Curious hands unfolded the hidden sheet. Brown eyes widened at the date across the top. “This is older than me!”
It was refolded and the flashlight’s beam sweet closer for a better inspection of the desk the lone sheet fell out.
Something small was illuminated by the bean of light. It’s hiding place had been hidden in the dark. “A diary? This is mom’s handwriting.”
Annabelle Lennox forgot about the errand that sent her up in the attic, looking through files in a long ignored desk. She wanted to know what was so important her mom needed to write down, then hidden.
“Annabelle.” Sarah Lennox found her daughter several hours later, still reading the diary by the flashlight’s fading glow. “Annabelle, what are you doing?”
Annabelle closed the handwritten book. “Did you really consider leaving dad?”
Sarah sat next to her daughter on an old loveseat, ignoring the dust that billowed up. “That was a long time ago - and I chose to remain. It wasn’t easy, but I wasn’t about to let our marriage become a statistic.”
Annabelle leaned into her mother’s side. “Your vow: for better or worse. For richer or poorer. In sickness and in health. By His side, forever I will remain.”
“Yes.” Sarah Lennox wrapped her arms around her unresisting teenage daughter. They sat that way for quite a while.
“Did dad know?”
“Oh yes, he knew. He asked what I wanted, down deep. He needed to know what I really wanted, no, needed. Will would fight to remain by my side, if that’s what I needed. He also vowed to give me time alone, if I needed that - but he told me, that Divorce was not something he wanted to consider. That the decision shouldn’t be made in haste or during emotional turmoil.
“Because your father fought for us to stay together, I would give him that second chance - and have never regretted the decision to remain his wife. During those years of emotional turmoil, we wrote hundreds of letters back and forth, talking every spare moment we could find. It wasn’t easy letting him ship off, while I remained behind, but somehow we managed.
“It’s still hard waiting, while he’s on another continent, but the wait has never been in vain.”
“Guess we better find Grandma’s famous recipe then.” Annabelle rubbed her face, surprised to find she’d been crying.
“The food can wait - My husband’s here now and not going anyplace any time soon.”
Annabelle and Sarah left the attic, found their way to the kitchen, where William Lennox was putting the finishing touches on the turkey. “I hope the meal turns out okay - wanted to try a new recipe.” He looked up and saw the tear streaked faces. “Hey, are my two precious girls okay?”
Sarah nodded towards the diary still clenched in Annabelle’s hand. “My darkest secret has been found out.”
Will hugged his oldest daughter. “Hey, baby girl. I’m still here. I’ll never leave you.”
“Thanks, dad.” Annabelle whispered, sinking deep into the loving embrace.
TITLE: Smile for the Camera
RATING: K
CHARACTER: Autobot Ensemble {Bumblebee, Cliffjumper}
UNIVERSE: G1 - any
SUMMARY: Opportunities shouldn’t be wasted.
PROMPT #4 A coming together
Bumblebee nodded to Cliffjumper, joined the short-tempered mech as he walked to the rec room. “Anything new today?”
“Meaning: am I going o accuse someone of being a infiltrator?” Cliffjumper slugged the eternally joyful mech. “Maybe I should lump you with the not-traitors then.”
“As long as Red doesn’t get wind of it.”
“As long as Red doesn’t get wind of what?” Inferno asked as the two minibots strolled past him. “Is it something bad or a good surprise?”
“Haven’t you noticed? Cliffjumper never accuses the same mech twice of being a traitor.”
“No. Been too busy wondering who Red will claim of being a spy.”
Jazz emerged from the rec room. “How come no one’s pointed any fingers at me?” He sipped his cube of fuel.
Prowl, passing by as he headed towards his office, replied. “You’re too obvious.”
“Ah, more’s the pity.” Jazz mock pouted. “Say, I hear you caught Sideswipe attempting to bring contraband in.”
Bumblebee traded glances with Cliffjumper when Ironhide interrupted. “I asked for some stuff - forgot to clear it with you.”
“Duct tape?” Prowl turned a disproving glare at the weapon’s instructor. “What do you need with that stuff?”
Ironhide shrugged. “Wanted to test the tensile strength.”
Sitting at a table, cube seemingly forgotten in front of him, Wheeljack piped up. “Like Adam Savage and Jaime Hyneman? Oh that was a classic episode-“
“They did two.”
“TWO?” Wheeljack’s optics went wide.
As more and more mechs were drawn into the conversation, Bumblebee and Cliffjumper slipped away.
“Never thought I’d be grateful for being a minibot.”
Bumblebee chuckled. “Wanna help me?”
“I know that grin - it’s trouble.” Clffjumper nodded. “Whatever it is, count me it.”
“Good. I need you to talk to Brawn - tell him it’s time. I’ll find Gears and Huffer. Meet up back here?”
They split up.
Less than two breems later, Gears and Huffer were slithering through the air-vents, hoisted up to the access panels by Brawn. “How did I get talked into this?”
“Less complaining, move faster.” Commanded Huffer. “I want to fire on the twins.”
“Yeah, but you notice who isn’t doing the shooting?”
“It’s good practice for us - you can target Bluestreak.”
“…” Gears fell silent, and neither minibot made any unnecessary noise. Their progress through the vents went almost undetected, except for the slight echo that coincided with every step.
Perceptor held out a hand, bemused. “Curious. It appears to be raining aluminum and tin cut-outs.”
Ratchet tried brushing the metallic confetti off. “JAZZ!”
“Wasn’t me!” protested the silver saboteur, who was decorated in so much glitter.
“Well, unless the twins somehow managed to escape medical confinement, I don’t see who else it could be.”
Cliffjumper glared at Bumblebee, as they too were covered in the fine particles. Optimus, listening to the grumbles and laughter, decided to ignore the misuse of human supplies. This prank was harmless.
RATING: Teens
(WARNINGS for suggested drunkenness)
CHARACTER: Wheeljack, Sunstreaker
UNIVERSE: Generation 1
SUMMARY: It is good to remember and be reminded of blessings.
PROMPT #1 A Job Well Done
*plonk*
Wheeljack wearily shuttered his optics. He’d gotten used to random Bots depositing stuff in front of him, where ever he went.
When the mech slide into the empty chair across vrom him, the inventor finally looked up. “Sunstreaker?”
The yellow melee warrior said “Finally got your attention - we’ve been calling your name for over a joor.”
“It hasn’t been that long,” Wheeljack protested. He carefully ignored the ‘wanna bet?’ coming from behind him. His optics focused on the object. It was in a cube that held some kind of liquid …. “Is that high-grade?”
“Try it and tell me - you’re the expert.”
Wheeljack vented, grabbed the cube and tasted it for analysis purposes only. “Ratchet’s the real expert - he can identify true high grade in any blind taste test, and even name its city of origin.”
Sunstreaker pointed at the crowd behind him. The group Wheeljack should have seen if only he’d looked up and around. “Sideswipe’s gotten Ratchet’s approval on the batch - every off-duty officer and warrior is partaking. Except you.”
“And Percy.” Wheeljack spoke before looking at the crowd beginning to drink in excess. “Wait - how’s you get Perceptor out of the lab?”
“Trade Secret, Wheeljack. Want to join us?”
“What’s the occasion?” Now that Sunstreaker mentioned it, the high grade wasn’t disappearing willy-nilly, instead being consumed after toasts were made.
“Another day of living.”
“I can drink to that.” Wheeljack joined the others.
TITLE: Mr. Scrooge
RATING: Teen - (a cuss word)
CHARACTER: Ratchet
UNIVERSE: TF-Prime
SUMMARY: A time of joyous celebration can also be a season of despair.
PROMPT #2 Holiday
Raatchet woke from recharge.
It was quiet. Too quiet.
The mostly white medic sat up, wondering where the team had gone. Bulkhead, Smokescreen and Wheeljack couldn’t be quiet at all. As much as Ratchet claimed they were too loud, and their activities were distracting, the noise did let him keep an optic on them.
This absence of noise was suspicious.
Ratchet exited from his private quarters (which doubled as the medbay when somebot was injured and in need of assistance) and looked past the opaque walls to the public section of Autobot Outpost Alpha.
“Oh, uh. Hi Ratchet. We’re not done decorating. Could you wake up in an hour or so?” Bulkhead noticed the medic’s presence first.
“WHAT DID YOU DO TO THE BASE?” Ratchet thundered. He reached for the invasive greenery tacked onto the walls. “Take it down NOW! All of it!”
“Easy, Doc.” Smokescreen dropped his load of fake green vine. Ratchet wasn’t sure if the stuff was supposed to be needles or feathers. “The entire town’s decked out in this stuff - and you should see the lights!”
Ratchet tore one strand of garland off. “The ‘entire town’ is decorated on the outside! Not inside!” He stormed into his space, relieved that nothing had been touched or added to. Except for the garland lining the walkway and railing the kids used. “Bah, surrounded by humans and their stuff everywhere I go!”
Wheeljack came in, carrying a truckload of more garland. “What’s with grumpy gills?”
“Ah, we didn’t get his input.” Bulkhead explained “Don’t blame him - I’d be upset too if someone decorated me without permission or asked what I liked.”
“Guess I should leave the cans alone, then”
“Smokescreen - it’s impossible to sneak up on a Wrecker.”
Smokescreen grabbed the discarded garland and stretched to reattach it to the wall. “Miko has a habit of being where you least expect her.”
“Miko’s an exception.” Bulkhead wiggled fingers at his comrades-in-plotting. “Think we can finish up before the kids are let out?”
“Why bother?” Ratchet called out. “They go back to school on Monday.”
“Normally, yes. But not this week or next week.”
Ratchet stormed out. “You mean instead of a weekend with the kids underfoot, they’ll be here for two solid weeks?”
“Yep.”
“Primus.” Ratchet grabbed the nearest box. “What anniversary are the humans celebrating this time? Another late president’s birth? The remembrance of freedom and what it cost? The attack on Pearl Harbor? The independence of their nation? Which one?”
“I don’t know doc. I kinda like their way of remembering the past.”
“Hmp. You would.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Easy. Ratchet’s just not in the mood. He’ll warm up when the kids get here.”
“That’s what you think.” Ratchet grumbled as he joined the others in artfully layering and displaying the garland. “Tell me you forgot to include the lights.”
“We didn’t touch them. Your shining personality outshines anything the humans can string up.”
TITLE: Quitting is NOT an option.
RATING: Teens
CHARACTER: The Lennox Family - Annabelle, Sarah, Will
UNIVERSE: Bayverse
SUMMARY: Looking back at the (then) insurmountable obstacles, they aren’t nearly so big as we thought.
PROMPT #3 A difficult time now past
“Hello? What’s this?” The paper fluttering towards the ground was snagged in mid air. Curious hands unfolded the hidden sheet. Brown eyes widened at the date across the top. “This is older than me!”
It was refolded and the flashlight’s beam sweet closer for a better inspection of the desk the lone sheet fell out.
Something small was illuminated by the bean of light. It’s hiding place had been hidden in the dark. “A diary? This is mom’s handwriting.”
Annabelle Lennox forgot about the errand that sent her up in the attic, looking through files in a long ignored desk. She wanted to know what was so important her mom needed to write down, then hidden.
“Annabelle.” Sarah Lennox found her daughter several hours later, still reading the diary by the flashlight’s fading glow. “Annabelle, what are you doing?”
Annabelle closed the handwritten book. “Did you really consider leaving dad?”
Sarah sat next to her daughter on an old loveseat, ignoring the dust that billowed up. “That was a long time ago - and I chose to remain. It wasn’t easy, but I wasn’t about to let our marriage become a statistic.”
Annabelle leaned into her mother’s side. “Your vow: for better or worse. For richer or poorer. In sickness and in health. By His side, forever I will remain.”
“Yes.” Sarah Lennox wrapped her arms around her unresisting teenage daughter. They sat that way for quite a while.
“Did dad know?”
“Oh yes, he knew. He asked what I wanted, down deep. He needed to know what I really wanted, no, needed. Will would fight to remain by my side, if that’s what I needed. He also vowed to give me time alone, if I needed that - but he told me, that Divorce was not something he wanted to consider. That the decision shouldn’t be made in haste or during emotional turmoil.
“Because your father fought for us to stay together, I would give him that second chance - and have never regretted the decision to remain his wife. During those years of emotional turmoil, we wrote hundreds of letters back and forth, talking every spare moment we could find. It wasn’t easy letting him ship off, while I remained behind, but somehow we managed.
“It’s still hard waiting, while he’s on another continent, but the wait has never been in vain.”
“Guess we better find Grandma’s famous recipe then.” Annabelle rubbed her face, surprised to find she’d been crying.
“The food can wait - My husband’s here now and not going anyplace any time soon.”
Annabelle and Sarah left the attic, found their way to the kitchen, where William Lennox was putting the finishing touches on the turkey. “I hope the meal turns out okay - wanted to try a new recipe.” He looked up and saw the tear streaked faces. “Hey, are my two precious girls okay?”
Sarah nodded towards the diary still clenched in Annabelle’s hand. “My darkest secret has been found out.”
Will hugged his oldest daughter. “Hey, baby girl. I’m still here. I’ll never leave you.”
“Thanks, dad.” Annabelle whispered, sinking deep into the loving embrace.
TITLE: Smile for the Camera
RATING: K
CHARACTER: Autobot Ensemble {Bumblebee, Cliffjumper}
UNIVERSE: G1 - any
SUMMARY: Opportunities shouldn’t be wasted.
PROMPT #4 A coming together
Bumblebee nodded to Cliffjumper, joined the short-tempered mech as he walked to the rec room. “Anything new today?”
“Meaning: am I going o accuse someone of being a infiltrator?” Cliffjumper slugged the eternally joyful mech. “Maybe I should lump you with the not-traitors then.”
“As long as Red doesn’t get wind of it.”
“As long as Red doesn’t get wind of what?” Inferno asked as the two minibots strolled past him. “Is it something bad or a good surprise?”
“Haven’t you noticed? Cliffjumper never accuses the same mech twice of being a traitor.”
“No. Been too busy wondering who Red will claim of being a spy.”
Jazz emerged from the rec room. “How come no one’s pointed any fingers at me?” He sipped his cube of fuel.
Prowl, passing by as he headed towards his office, replied. “You’re too obvious.”
“Ah, more’s the pity.” Jazz mock pouted. “Say, I hear you caught Sideswipe attempting to bring contraband in.”
Bumblebee traded glances with Cliffjumper when Ironhide interrupted. “I asked for some stuff - forgot to clear it with you.”
“Duct tape?” Prowl turned a disproving glare at the weapon’s instructor. “What do you need with that stuff?”
Ironhide shrugged. “Wanted to test the tensile strength.”
Sitting at a table, cube seemingly forgotten in front of him, Wheeljack piped up. “Like Adam Savage and Jaime Hyneman? Oh that was a classic episode-“
“They did two.”
“TWO?” Wheeljack’s optics went wide.
As more and more mechs were drawn into the conversation, Bumblebee and Cliffjumper slipped away.
“Never thought I’d be grateful for being a minibot.”
Bumblebee chuckled. “Wanna help me?”
“I know that grin - it’s trouble.” Clffjumper nodded. “Whatever it is, count me it.”
“Good. I need you to talk to Brawn - tell him it’s time. I’ll find Gears and Huffer. Meet up back here?”
They split up.
Less than two breems later, Gears and Huffer were slithering through the air-vents, hoisted up to the access panels by Brawn. “How did I get talked into this?”
“Less complaining, move faster.” Commanded Huffer. “I want to fire on the twins.”
“Yeah, but you notice who isn’t doing the shooting?”
“It’s good practice for us - you can target Bluestreak.”
“…” Gears fell silent, and neither minibot made any unnecessary noise. Their progress through the vents went almost undetected, except for the slight echo that coincided with every step.
Perceptor held out a hand, bemused. “Curious. It appears to be raining aluminum and tin cut-outs.”
Ratchet tried brushing the metallic confetti off. “JAZZ!”
“Wasn’t me!” protested the silver saboteur, who was decorated in so much glitter.
“Well, unless the twins somehow managed to escape medical confinement, I don’t see who else it could be.”
Cliffjumper glared at Bumblebee, as they too were covered in the fine particles. Optimus, listening to the grumbles and laughter, decided to ignore the misuse of human supplies. This prank was harmless.