set of six
Title:Slow recovery
Characters: Optimus Prime, Sideswipe
Rating: Teen
T-Series: Bayverse
Notes:Tag to DoTM
Prompt #1 one character is out of action. Your protagonist has to write a letter to the out-of-action’s character closest friend/lover
After the battle had ended - a loss for both sides - Optimus Prime found himself standing over the rusted-into-dust frame of Ironhide. Rather, seeing as the old weapons Master had succumbed to weaponized Cosmic Rust, and not a conventional killing tool, the location where Ironhide had deactivated.
Blood, energon, oil and more fluids splattered the still-standing walls, staining columns and filling the cracked, wrecked streets. Humans and Cybertronians both had death intermixed in the rubble. The final tally of the dead, would never be known for sure.
Optimus simply stood. A statute in the midst of the chaos.
He waited, waited in vain for Ratchet to emerge from the Cybertorinan triage camp and say Ironhide would be fine.
Optimus knew it - but he couldn’t believe it. Not yet.
Not until Sideswipe, lain silver instead of the boisterous red had had been before, took Ironhide’s position as the Prime’s bodyguard, did Optimus fully grasp the finally tally of losses: Ironhide - killed by Sentinel Prime. Executed one might say. Sentinel Prime, exterminated by the younger Prime, rage fueling his actions.
“Has Chromia been notified?” Optimus asked, surprised to hear how expressionless it came out.
“No. Not yet.” Sideswipe sounded just as unmoved by his mentor’s execution, but his teammates knew better. Knew how much this loose tore his spark.
“Then I shall write the condolence letter myself.”
Title: Jury duties
Characters: Lennox
Rating: K+
T-Series: Live Action Film (Bayverse)
Prompt # 2 Scene in a courtroom
The wooden seats have no padding. William Lennox shifted, trying to find a comfortable way of sitting. No such luck.
There was no arm rests - will had not problem placing his arm on his leg. (Not so his neighbors). Aside from the lack of cushion, it wasn’t so bad.
Eleven of the twelve people in the jury box were just as restless and eager to stand up, to leave and never again return to these all-original chairs and lack-of-comforts provided the jury box.
They couldn’t. They hadn’t been dismissed yet - and wouldn’t until after this case had been give a verdict.
Title: not all liquids mix
Characters: William Lennox, Ironhide
Rating: K+
T-Series: Bayverse
Summary: Rains can wash away disguises - but they can also bring up oils and other desiccated liquids that now hinder observation
Prompt # 3 Rain Soaked Neon
“Ah, gross.” Lennox lifted his booted feet up out of the mud. The tacky, wet, clay resisted his efforts. “Hey, Ironhide? Can you help me out?”
The black Topick stayed on the road. “You’re only six steps away from me - you can get back on your own.”
“With this gunk trying to suck me in?” William Lennox had one foot free, but the other was firmly stuck. “Just give me a hand, will you?”
Headlights flashed. “Not supposed to transform, remember?” He did throw a tow cable to the soldier. “Grab on - maybe I can drag you out.”
Mutated laughter. “I’ll need gloves, so I don’t get rope burns.” Lennox looked down, almost fell over. “Great - I get covered in sticky goop trying to identify a puddle of oil.”
“Figures” Ironhide vented, blowing hot air towards the human. “Wet oil and surface water do not mix.”
Title:Young readers
Characters: Annabelle, Sarah Lennox
Rating: K
T-Series: Live Action Movie
Summary: Children have imaginations that won't be denied
Prompt # 4 Task: Pick a number between 1 and 180, and then go to this site. Find the poem that corresponds to your number and use that as an inspiration for your story!
(#33 - The Meadow - Kate Knapp Johnson)
Annabelle Lennox read the poem aloud. When she finished, “Mommy, what’s a withness?”
Sarah Lennox turned the book of literary poems around, to read for herself. “I’d say, ‘Withness’ means a person who is always with you.”
“Oh. Like you and daddy?”
Sarah smiled. “Yes. Like me and daddy.”
Annabelle turned the page. “Is daddy’s truck a withness too?”
“No, dear. The truck isn’t alive - a withness has to be someone alive.”
“But the truck is always with daddy.”
“Annabelle,” Sarah sighed, trying to word her next sentence in a way that explained why some things were impossibly, without discouraging her daughter. “Only people are withness. Not pets, not cars. Not favorite toys. People - like your baby brother, and your classmates.”
Title:Make-do
Characters: Ironhide, Bumblebee
Rating: Teen
T-Series: Bayverse
Summary: Deliberately exhausting oneself only delays the nightmares for a time.
Prompt # 5 Up All Night
“Who’s on midnight watch?”
Ironhide gazed at Bumblebee, surprised by the question. “Optimus.”
“He stood guard last night.”
“If Optimus wants the midnight watch, I’m not going to complain.”
Bumblebee rolled his optics. “Ratchet will say something when Optimus wars himself out between meetings all day, and midnight watches afterwords,”
“Granted - but unless Ratchets catches on, nothing I can say will help Optimus recharge, instead of lying awake all night long.”
Bumblebee vented, processor whirling in thought. “Maybe I can help - “ he retreated without another word.
Ironhide shook his head. If Bee’s plan worked, he wouldn’t get relieved tonight.
Title:Hidden finds
Characters: Robert Epps, Ratchet.
Rating: K+T-Series:
Bayverse
Prompt # 6 Image
“Another relic from the Cold War.” Robert Epps brought the fare closer to the wall. “How’d we miss this munitions facility?”
Walking behind the exploring humans, Ironhide could reach up and touch the ceiling with no effort. Optimus Prime, on the other servo, had to bend slightly in the knees so not to scrap his head against the metal ceiling.
“Does it matter?” Ratchet had begun examining the far side of the room. “I’m surprised this building hasn’t collapsed from disuse.”
“I guess not. Well,” Robert shook his head, finding more Cyrillic along the doors. “At least it’s empty.” He strolled forward, hoping there were no booby-traps - and that the bots would recognize (and warn their fragile companions), if there were any.