OPEN |

[aurable]

CHARACTERS: Drift and YOU
LOCATION: Simulation Room + Closed Starters
DATE: Mid-Late September, Post Wish Full
CONTENT: Drift finds a familiar simulation program
WARNINGS: possible discussions of terminal illness and substance abuse TBD MA! the robots are fucking again!

A FRIENDLY REMINDER

[ Drift had not stuck around for what passed for a debriefing, leaving before Dengar had even gotten a word in edgewise. The situation was Yzak had been an unfortunate advantage to slipping under the radar. For two days, it was decidedly easy for someone nine feet tall and made of metal to fade into the background. Then, he started popping up in sudden bursts. Once or twice, at some odd hour, he would poke his head into the infirmary or go knocking on a seemingly random door only to say nothing and walk away without saying much — a melancholic jumpscare, where instead of "boo" the monster merely shakes his head and leaves.

Later into his self-imposed and unexplained isolation, things had taken a turn almost into normalcy when a group text went out:

Driving lessons at 0900 in the Sim Room
Sword and closed-quarters practice at 1300 in the Training Room
By appointment with thirty minutes advance notice at the latest

Absolutely nothing. Drift had reconnected with the rest of the crew in so many words and with as much affection as a timed reminder for a phone app. At the very least, notifications and replies look as though they're being read now. ]

A CITY WITH NO PEOPLE

[ The doors of the simulation room open with a whisper of hydraulics sliding open like a soft, unintrusive announcement. Bursting into view with quiet brilliance is an endless horizon with a view from the peaks of an alien world. You enter onto the balcony of a polished white steel building with a view falling down into the perfectly recreated, dizzying heights of a sprawling city. Above is a night sky streaked with a nebula's pale, milky spill and thousands of stars painted around and through its cascade. Flicking lights shine like fireflies on the roads coiling up and around the buildings that grow ever higher towards a massive focal point — a spire that, even at night, illuminates everything surrounding it. All of it was a facade of life, the illusion only broken up by the vacuous silence where the sounds of the rush of traffic or even the stray snatch of conversation or laughter carried up by the wind should have been.

Drift stands at the edge as an almost unobtrusive silhouette against the skyline. He could have easily been mistaken for a statue if one of his finials hadn't slightly flicked in the direction where he heard someone sidle up beside him. Eyes that glowed a cold and pale blue against the dark color of his face stared out over the balcony. Even without pupils, it was clear he hadn't offered so much as a glance in the direction of whoever decided to join him. ]

It's something else, isn't it? [ A neutral response to an otherwise incredible view. Drift hadn't moved an inch, and his tone of voice was quiet, almost like someone who had just woken up from a very long nap and was only speaking on reflex. ] This simulation was made by...[ Imperceptible movement — a slight bow of his head. ] by someone else. The capital city wouldn't have been my first choice, and it's not how I remember it.

See that? [ Drift pointed to the tower, voice perking up slightly but still holding the stupor of a lecturer who had repeated himself once too often to care. ] The Primal Basilica, or at least I think it is. Xrisora reminded me a little of this place, thought I'd see how deep the mirage went. [ Drift nodded as if confirming something to himself ] They did a pretty thorough job.

Quiet, though. [ Finally, he turns his head two degrees to catch you in his peripheral. ] I can leave if you need the room.

Comments

[victorylap]

[ The whole world feels distant. And maybe that's appropriate, with the simulation spread out around them. He leans forward to nestle his forehead against Drift's with a low hum. His hand wanders. ]

...yeah. Yeah, let's do it.

[ Easy to say. Easy to do. ]

[aurable]

[ Swaying, Drift feels like, for a moment, the only thing keeping him upright is Rodimus — that they're propping each other up. Maybe that was true.

With a timorous click, the seam that ran down the middle of Drift's chest plate began to part. Drift stills, and his eyes widen then dim as he hesitates. Even with Rodimus, it was always difficult when the brand on his spark casing was bare. Reaching out for Rodimus's hand, he laces their fingers together and gives two rhythmic squeezes that pulse through his EM field. Rodimus was terrible at chirolinguistics but could pick up the intent, seeking reassurance. ]

[victorylap]

[ There's - quite literally - a crackle of tension and energy in the air. For a long moment he just sits and then he responds in kind. There was an answering little click and his own chassis split open to reveal that pulse and glow. There was a tremble in his frame. Something hesitant, maybe. Or just anticipatory. His hands squeeze in reply and after a long moment of thought, he leans in to press a kiss against the corner of Drift's mouth.

Not quite full on.

But close enough. ]

[aurable]

[ Almost palpable relief thrills through Drift when Rodimus answered in kind. A familiar, terrible brand etched onto his spark casing splits down the middle as the last layer separating them is shed. The exposed spark pulsates with a pale yellow light that flicks out with tendrils of energy against brilliant, pure Matrix blue.

A spark merge is complicated to describe outside their species; it's intimate in a way exclusive to them. The effect is instantaneous, like a comforting embrace or a deep conversation late into the night with an old friend. In a sense, it was both. Drift inclined his head and caught Rodimus's lips with his own. ]

[victorylap]

[ There's something like a shudder that runs through Rodimus. This is - intimate. Beautifully, wonderfully intimate. He hasn't done this with anyone in a long while, not while he's been running errands. And being able to do it here with his amica feels like an intense relief. Something he's missed so intensely. He feels the energy swirl together and blend - a touching of minds and souls and something beyond human comprension.

He leans into Drift and lets the kiss deepen. His grip tightens and there's a bit of a scrape as metal hits metal.

He'll worry about it later. ]