Dayshift 43: Waiting Room / Lobby 1 [4th Shift]

[not_rly_fai]

It'd been nice to talk with Subaru, if only to see that the young man was faring a little better than before.  He seemed to have the worst luck and unfortunately, there wasn't always someone there to protect those that needed it the most.  As he passed the Sun Room, there was still no sign of a post from Ururu either.  Things didn't look promising

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[ruthless_hunter]

A visitor? What did they mean when they said Lockdown would get a visitor? Everyone Lockdown knew was too big to fit through the front door of the building. Well, maybe Prowl would be able to get through if he was in bike mode, or if he used a hologram. Then again, he didn't think Prowl even existed in this world, let alone get the desire to visit him.

Lockdown was led to a room he'd never been in so far, which the nurse called the 'Waiting Room' and told to have a seat. The bounty hunter did as she said, mostly because he was rather curious to find out who wanted to see him. Still, he told himself to be on his guard, just in case this turned out to be a trap or something.

[ruthless_hunter]

That last part caught Lockdown almost by surprise. He hadn't expected this Swindle to actually offer to get him something. Of course, the bounty hunter wasn't one to let an opportunity like this go. Lockdown thought long and hard about what to ask Swindle for, not wanting to waste the opportunity. It had to be something useful.

"Well, now that you mention it, there are a few things I want. How about a cargo belt, and a book on human anatomy, and maybe a chainsaw and gunpowder." He was half expecting Swindle to refuse to bring those last two, but it didn't hurt to try. The belt would be used for holding his weapons, while the book would come in handy for learning human weak points and dealing with injuries when HK or a medic weren't available.

[damned_visitors]

He knew he had the upper hand when Lance looked surprised and took a while to think. It was tragic what had happened to him, really, but Stan knew when he had someone over a barrel. As long as he was locked up, Lance didn't care about royalties, and if Stan could walk away with full rights to the next summer blockbuster while keeping his good friend company, it was win-win, really. He just needed to make the offer a bit less risky, and that required some negotiation.

Without losing his smile or cheerful tone, he leaned in and lowered his voice. "Okay, slow it down a sec. I'll see what I can do, but they do frisk us before letting us in here, and I think the chainsaw and explosives would stand out a bit. As much as I'd love to help you out any way I can, I'm salesman, not an arms dealer."

[ruthless_hunter]

Yes you are, Lockdown thought. That's exactly what you are.

Aloud, he said, "Alright, alright, then just the belt and anatomy book will do." At least those would come in handy. The bounty hunter thought for a little while again, wondering if there was anything else he should ask Swindle for. He could think of one thing, but it wasn't material goods and would probably be a bit weird. But, Lockdown lived in a world of risk taking.

"Also, if you see Prowl, tell him I miss him." He knew it wouldn't be the same, since that Prowl wouldn't be his Prowl, but Lockdown would take some small comfort in knowing that at least some version of Prowl, fake or not, knew it. Sure, HK was good and all, but the bounty hunter really had been missing the ninjabot.

[damned_visitors]

Stan made another note and nodded, "Uh... yeah, sure. I'll let him know." He didn't realize the two of them were particularly... close, especially given that the cop had put him here, but he wasn't one to judge... just profit. Unfortunately, the nurses were starting to shuffle people around and herd the visitors out.

"How time flies when you're having fun. Don't worry, I'll tell him you're alright, and keep an eye on the shop for you, make sure nothing happens while you're here and all that."

[ruthless_hunter]

Lockdown closed his optics and nodded, "Thanks." Still, he really wished that it was the real Prowl getting the message. There were times when part of him wished that Prowl would show up here, while another part didn't want to wish this fate on the young mech. Prowl might not have been the very first to make Lockdown feel emotionally vulnerable, but he was the first in a very long time.

"Trust me, that's easier said than done," Lockdown mused, touching the bandages on his upper arm.

[damned_visitors]

As the salesman stood, Lance drew attention to his bandages. Stan had assumed that injury happened when he was taken in, but the way he talked...

Genuine concern showed through his cheerful mannerisms once more, "No problem... and, Lance? Stay safe, okay?"

[ruthless_hunter]

Lockdown looked up at Swindle. Part of him wanted to shout out 'I'm not Lance! I'm Lockdown!' and 'Don't patronize me, you're not really him!', but he held his glossa and simply said, in a neutral tone, "Yeah, I'll try. Thanks."

If he was sure this was the real Swindle, that concern would have been much more appreciated. Swindle was one of Lockdown's few and only friends, after all. Even still, he gave the other man a faint smile.