TF: Curiosity and the Spec Ops Mech
Rating: PG
Series: G1
Pairings: Prowl/Jazz
Summary: When all the Praxians on the Iacon base put in for leave at the same time, Jazz made it his mission to find out why.
Disclaimer: As per usual, the good things in life are not mine to have, but belong to someone else… in this case Hasbro, Takara and IDW and anyone else I’ve forgotten…
Authors Notes: For the prowlxjazz February Festival - Prompt 10 - dangerous and Thaipusam festival. As always with competitions, I finished in the best place... last.
Feedback makes friends. Flames dealt with by the masters of paranoia and fire, Red Alert and Inferno.
Font used: Peaxhandwritinglight
When all the Praxians on the Iacon base put in for leave at the same time, Jazz made it his mission to find out why. A mission made all the easier given who he was in a relationship with.
“Hey Prowler, when were you planning on telling me about your little vacation?” Jazz asked as he entered Prowl’s office, sitting down and propping his feet up on the desk. Prowl pushed his feet off the desk without looking up from his datapad.
“Please don’t put your feet on my desk, Jazz. And I was going to tell you when we were both off duty.” He looked up pointedly at that. Jazz grinned.
“When I hear about all you Praxians going off at once, it made me curious.”
“Curious.” Prowl’s tone was flat.
“Curious, intrigued, interested… you know I like to know what’s going on around the base.”
“Yet this appears to have taken you by surprise?”
“Yeah.” Jazz sounded equal parts amazed and annoyed. Very little tended to slip past his notice.
“How much do you know of Praxian culture?” Prowl put down his datapad and leant back in his chair. Jazz shifted uncomfortably.
“Not as much as I’d like. Was the one place I never really got to visit before war broke out.”
“Praxians are deeply religious.”
“Really?” Jazz sat forward in surprise. “I had no idea, I mean, ya never really show that…”
“Just because I do not outwardly show that I am religious, doesn’t mean that I’m not.” Prowl’s doorwings flared back, and Jazz worried that he’d offended his lover.
“Sorry.”
“No apologies necessary. I am aware that I do not show myself fully to many.” He inclined his head to show that Jazz was one of the few he was beginning to be himself with. “And especially with this war beginning to escalate, many don’t believe that Primus would do this to his creations.”
“So this vacation all you Praxians are taking, is something to do with Primus?”
“Yes.” Prowl nodded. “It’s… complex. Praxus has a long history of devotion to Primus. And every year, there is a festival, which is the one I have put in leave for. The festival of Thaipusam.” Jazz nodded as Prowl started explaining.
“Now, that I’ve heard mention of. Ain’t that where you all get stabbed for some weird reason? That’s dangerous.”
“It’s not stabbing… and it’s not for a weird reason. And it is not life-threatening.” Prowl was patient, and not offended at Jazz’s words. “The kavadi is a burden we bear to show our devotion to Primus. Some followers do pierce their plating or protoform to show the level of their devotion.”
“Have you?” Jazz couldn’t help but ask, curious.
“I have in previous festivals.”
“And this festival?” Prowl thought about that for a long moment.
“I believe I will, in order to ask Primus to spare us from too much loss in the war.”
“Wow.” Jazz sat back. “But doesn’t it hurt? I mean, I’ve been injured, and I gotta tell ya, it burns worse than the Pit.”
“It does hurt, but it’s a pain that transcends the physical.”
“What else do you do during the festival?”
“Why don’t you join us?” Prowl offered. “That way you can experience it for yourself.”
“Don’t take this the wrong way Prowler, but I’m not exactly a firm believer in Primus.”
“No one is asking you to take part. Come to Praxus and see what happens at the festival, and I will answer any questions you have regarding what’s happening.”
“Not sure I can take the time off…” Jazz hesitated. He wanted to go, wanted to see what it was all about.
“There are no missions scheduled over the festival period, so you wouldn’t be missing anything. And all intelligence indicated that the fliers are heading back to Vos for their own festival. I cannot forsee anything requiring your immediate attention.”
“Well, if you put it that way, I’d love ta come.” Jazz grinned. “Can’t wait to see what you get up to.”
~*~
Praxus was bustling when their transport arrived at the central hub.
“Is it always this busy?” Jazz let out a low whistle as he looked around. There weren’t just Praxians here; he could identify several different frame types just in their immediate area.
“At Thaipusam? Yes. Though at the peak of the festival, there will be more, as many mechs make a pilgrimage on foot.”
“By foot? From where?”
“Wherever they normally reside. We have had mechs come from as far as Kaon on foot.”
“Wow.”
“Indeed.”
“What’s that?” Jazz asked, discreetly pointing out a mech carrying a large metal frame.
“Another form of kavadi.” Prowl answered. “Those are designed to be carried on the shoulders and across the doorwings.”
“Doesn’t that hurt?”
“Some are specifically fitted so they don’t hurt, but some mechs prefer that it hurts… it shows Primus that they are devoted enough that pain doesn’t stop them.” Prowl explained, guiding Jazz to their accommodation. “The festival begins properly tomorrow, and I need to prepare a few things tonight.”
“Can I help?”
“Of course.” Prowl smiled, glad that Jazz was taking an interest.
“What do you have to do?”
“I need to cleanse myself in preparation. I will continue fasting, but there will be energon available for you.”
“Fasting? That to do with the cleansing as well?” Jazz questioned.
“Yes.” Prowl nodded, keying open the room they would be staying in. “Most of the rooms here at the moment are fully equipped with everything I need to cleanse myself, but I would not be adverse to help?” Jazz grinned.
“A chance ta get my hands on yer plating? I’ll take it!” Prowl shook his head.
“You may get your hands on my plating, but there will be nothing more. Not until after the festival I’m afraid.”
“Nah, it’s all good mech. Soon as you mentioned cleansing, I figured interfacing wasn’t on the cards. Kinda intrigued to see the ritual though.” Prowl led him through to the small but well equipped wash rack in their room.
“Wow, that’s more than I would expect.” Jazz looked at all the cleansers on the shelf. “You going to use all of these?”
“Most of them.” Prowl indicated the order he would need to use them in. “This is more ritual than actual cleaning, but the process helps to clear the processor and allow me to focus on my thoughts and Primus.”
With Jazz’s help, the ritual cleansing was done quickly, and Jazz left Prowl alone to meditate. He curled up on a chair with a cube of energon, thinking about everything Prowl had told him so far, and everything he’d seen. Prowl had said that he would see far more in the morning, and Jazz found he couldn’t wait. He was reading a datapad, planning a few reconnaissance missions for when they got back, when Prowl stepped out from the washracks.
“All right?” He looked up and smiled at his lover. Prowl nodded.
“Much more centered.” Prowl replied, sitting on the sofa, within easy reach of Jazz.
“What’s the plan for tomorrow then?” Jazz subspaced his datapad.
“Once you’ve had your energon, we shall head down to the main square in Praxus. From there, we’ll follow a set route through the city towards the Temple of Primus.” Jazz nodded.
“Then once we reach the Temple, there will be several priests of Primus to greet us and accept our kavadis on behalf of Primus.”
“And then what?”
“More prayers, readings. There will be a wide range of energon and treats as we celebrate Primus and rejoice in his acceptance of our kavadis.” Jazz nodded again.
“There’s a lot I didn’t know about Praxus.” Jazz murmured, half-wonderingly.
“There is a lot we do not show to ‘outsiders’.” Prowl offered, the distaste in his tone easily conveying his opinion of Praxus’ view of ‘outsiders’.
“Yeah, I’m getting that. Seems like this festival is a real Praxus only thing.”
“Not entirely. There are many mechs who have come to Praxus seeking resolution of their views on Primus and have been welcomed. Many of those return year after year for Thaipusam.”
“Well, at least I won’t stand out being the only non-Praxian then.”
“Jazz, you will always stand out.” Prowl teased. Jazz laughed and reached for Prowl’s hand, tugging it.
“Come sit with me?”
“There is no space.” Prowl pointed out. Jazz grinned.
“There’s space on my lap.” Optics flickering in response to Jazz’s quip, Prowl moved, seating himself comfortably on Jazz’s lap, wings fanned back.
“See, told ya there was room.” Jazz petted Prowl’s closest doorwing lightly.
“Jazz…”
“No more than touching, I promise.” Jazz answered the unspoken warning. “I know how much this means to you, and as much as I’d love nothing more than ta get ya dirty an’ help ya clean up, I’m not going to.”
“Thank you.” They stayed curled up, talking quietly until Prowl shifted.
“We should recharge. Tomorrow will be a long day.” Jazz nodded, letting Prowl stand up, before standing up and stretching himself.
“What have ya got to do in the morning?”
“I need to prepare my kavadi.” Prowl answered simply. Jazz figured there would be more to it than that. Moving to the berth, they lay together, holding hands as they both slipped into recharge.
~*~
Prowl was up first the next morning. By the time he woke Jazz up with energon, he’d already constructed his kavadi. He’d left off doing anything more, because he thought Jazz might be interested in knowing what happened.
“You been up long?” Jazz asked as he sipped his energon. Already he could see that the lack of energon was beginning to affect Prowl. He wondered how long he’d been fasting for, and how the medics had allowed it. He could see the fine tremble of Prowl’s doorwings.
“I have prepared most of my kavadi. I still need to do more, but I thought you might like to watch?”
“Yeah, I’d like that. Thanks.” Jazz finished off his energon and followed Prowl back to the main room.
“That what you gonna wear?” Jazz asked as he took in the recently constructed kavadi. Prowl nodded.
“Yes, I will fill them with energon before we leave for the procession.” Jazz nodded.
“What else do you need to do?” Prowl crossed to the table and picked up two small spikes.
“I need to apply these.” He held out his hand so Jazz could see.
“You actually going to go through with it then?”
“Yes. I have already cleansed them, I just need to…”
“Pierce them through your plating.” Jazz cut in with a shudder.
“Yes.” Prowl nodded. “Would you like to help?” He offered, doorwings twitching.
“No.”
“All right.” Prowl closed his hand. “You don’t approve?”
“I don’t understand… you’re deliberately hurting yourself. It’s dangerous. You’ll have open wounds for most of the day… I just…” He shrugged, hating the idea that Prowl would be harming himself like this, and worrying that something might go wrong.
“There are always medics around, Jazz.” Prowl tried to ease his lover’s fears. “There are very few reports of any problems with the vels.” He held up his hand to indicate the spikes.
“Still doesn’t mean I hafta like it. But… I’m not gonna stop ya doing it, I just don’t wanna help out with it. Don’t like the idea of deliberately hurting someone I love.” Prowl smiled softly at him.
“I understand. I would not ask you to do something you dislike.” Jazz nodded and retreated to the chair, watching Prowl as he prepared to pierce his doorwings. Prowl placed the vel spikes back onto the table, next to a small bowl of medical cleanser. He swabbed the areas he planned on piercing then bowed his head, murmuring softly as he took one vel, dipping it in the cleanser and rareng it in the air, lifting his head. He held it there for a moment before pointing it to the floor, directing it towards Primus. He then moved it slowly towards his left doorwing, reciting his wish for the end of the war before too much loss of life, before pressing the pointed end against his doorwing. He made a small noise of discomfort as the spike pierced the sensitive plating of his doorwing. He pushed it all the way through until the rounded ball at the end of the spike nestled against the plating. Jazz watched, half-fascinated, half-horrified as he repeated the procedure for his right doorwing.
“All right?” He asked quietly as Prowl bowed his head.
“Yes.” Prowl nodded, straightening and flaring out his doorwings. “I need to prepare the energon, and I would ask your help to place the kavadi.” He moved one hand to indicate the elaborate metal framework.
“I can help with that.” Jazz nodded. “Do they hurt?”
“It’s a mild pain. But it will serve to show Primus how serious I am in my desire for war to be averted.”
“I do hope he listens.” Jazz agreed.
~*~
“Kavadi to the left of me, kavadi to the right of me…” Jazz muttered as he looked around. Everywhere he could see there were mechs carrying kavadis on their shoulders and doorwings. Some had metal rods, like Prowl’s, impaling their doorwings that made him wince. He’d seen Praxians get injured, and knew how much pain even a little tear could cause on the doorwings. And he watched Prowl place them earlier, and seen his reactions.
He walked alongside Prowl, who was carrying his own kavadi, that Jazz had helped him seat, the metalwork fitting neatly on his shoulders and trailing across his doorwings. At the point of each doorwing, ornate jars filled with pure high-grade energon were attached to the frame. He’d watched Prowl fill them before they left, chanting softly as he did so. Even now, Prowl was softly reciting prayers as they walked. As were many around them. It reminded him of the clubs he used to frequent before the war broke out. The soft murmurs of conversation that he remembered were echoed in the quiet prayers being uttered around him. It was strangely relaxing, and he could understand how many could find absolution in their religion. Just being in the same area as all these mechs gave him a feeling of peace he hadn’t felt since he joined the Autobots. He could only hope that these prayers would work.