(Untitled)

[not_toothfairy]

When Ironhide got back to base after the trip out to the Mojave Reserve (he did leave a message before going- no sense worrying anybody), he got filled in on the news about Prime's received signal. He had his doubts; he kept them to himself. That's really all anyone can ask of him some days

Comments

[lissla_lissar]

Lissar lifts a hand when, having heard one of them enter, she looks up to see him. The pile of dogs considers shifting a little, but doesn't do the obvious ooze away.

[lissla_lissar]

Lissar laughs, brightly enough that she actually looks startled by her own laugh, "Yes, I think that is a good idea. Although if I see Prime before I talk to Ratchet it will no longer be a surprise."

[not_toothfairy]

Ironhide grunts. "No big deal. I just figured, y'know- better you getting him the info than Ratchet dropping it by mistake."

[lissla_lissar]

"Thank you." Lissar says, "It is something I might not have thought of. I...I am enjoying trying to find ways to make each of you happy; and might have forgotten Ratchet's lack of speech-filter in my urge to share."

[not_toothfairy]

"You'll get used to it eventually," says Ironhide, a little amused. "We all did. It just takes time."

[lissla_lissar]

"I never knew how...how hard it is to remember so many friends." Lissar says with a wry shake of her head, "It was, in many ways, easier when it was just me and the dogs. Life is hard, a glorious pain." she says, leaning her head against his hand. "I would not trade it."

[not_toothfairy]

"Yeah, Kup used to say that," says Ironhide. "About it bein' easier to go it alone, sometimes. You stood or you fell by whatever you had in you, and that was that. But there was no one to pick you up when you fell. Friends're part of that."

[lissla_lissar]

"Sometimes," Lissar admits, "I am still afraid. As you know, for I told you last night. Sometimes I am still afraid, but I know that if I call out you will hear me. That if you do not, you are only so far as a phone call...or, if you had to go back out after Scorponok, I could call one of the others.

"Sometimes I am afraid, but that is a joyful thing as well. I was not so afraid in the kennels of Ossin Goldhouse because I could not afford to allow myself fear; I had to protect myself. I trust you."

It means even more than I love you, to her.

[not_toothfairy]

Ironhide nods. "Nothing wrong with that," he says. "And I'll tell you something else he told me, too- about being afraid. Kup said there was nothin' at all wrong with being afraid, long as you didn't let it master you. He told me, and I'm gonna remember this to the day that I go offline, that not being afraid isn't courage. Courage is being afraid and going on anyway."

"You do that pretty much every day of your life, the way I see it. That's worth a lot of respect."

[lissla_lissar]

If it weren't for the fact that his hand is on her shoulder already she'd probably force him to submit to a hug. As it is she reaches up to rest her other hand with her first, both of her hands and her cheek on his hand at this point. "That is...not untrue." Lissar says quietly, "That I fear every day. I would beg you to know that it does get less most every day."

[not_toothfairy]

"Good," mutters Ironhide. "Whether you can get through it or not, you shouldn't have to. Nobody should have to live in fear. Least of all you."

[lissla_lissar]

"Not in fear, not in sorrow, not in loss." Lissar agrees, "You should not live with any of those either, Ironhide. It is my wish for you that tomorrow will be better than today for every day of the rest of my life."

[not_toothfairy]

It's hard to find something to say to that, at least if you're Ironhide. He's going to mutter "Thanks,", though, and maybe squeeze her shoulder with the absolute greatest and most tentative of care.

Because, well... yeah.

[lissla_lissar]

Yeah. This is a situation that needs a bit of a tension break, isn't it? So after a moment of silence Lissar offers, "And teach you all that you will need to know as the heir to my father's throne. I shall do that for you, as well."

[not_toothfairy]

".... what."

[lissla_lissar]

"I will never marry a human man." Lissar says in an offhand tone (with laughing eyes), "And I am my father's only child. So he whom I love must of necessity be next in line to be king. The title would be Crown Prince; and so I say hail Crown Prince Ironhide."