Scourge to Rook

[Sable Conolly]

Concurrent with the very end of Best Laid Plans, on Pz-Zazz

//Rook. Clear your schedule. I need an appointment. I'll make it up to you - do you do tea*? Coffee**?//

* Scourge is probably thinking a more Asian ideal of robot tea than an English one.

** The secret of Ruination's power is coffee milk, and all the Decerpticons have their own favourite robot coffee drinks. This is canon. This is also really strange.

[Rook]

//I'm delighted at the invitation, Lord Scourge, though it's hardly necessary to give me an incentive to do my job. Might I ask what this is in reference to? The new Starscream just stopped into the office asking for Commander Barricade.// In Rook's experience, having two high-ranking people come a-knockin' in quick succession is rarely a good thing.

[Sable Conolly]

//I need something to settle my wires, anyway.//

Does Rook want to deny a Scourge who just admitted that he's stressed out his soothing, calming afternoon robot tea?

//I expect that he did. Starstruck's #1074?//

That happens to be one in Basin City, overlooking the reservoir. Scourge likes to get a window table and broodily fantasize about blowing up the reservoir.

[Rook]

//Oh, you meant right now! I'll be there as soon as I get the office in order, sir. But really Lord Scourge, a Starstruck's? If I might be so bold as to suggest The Shadowed Leaf instead? It's a little Zamojin establishment at [coordinates].//

[Sable Conolly]

//What were you doing to the poor office? No, don't answer that.//

//You've probably bugged it. Fine.//

[Rook]

//If the teahouse in question is bugged, it's not my fault. I simply suggested it because I prefer it to Starstruck's.//

And by 'Get the office in order' he means 'shanghai someone into working the desk while I'm gone.' Rook considers asking Scourge if he wants the place bugged, but thinks better of it.

[Rook]

Shortly after Long Live the King

//Good cycle, Lord Scourge. I'm curious as to what you plan to do to consolidate your position. I hope I'm not overstepping my bounds by asking.// The crow sounds conversational, almost bored. He could almost be calling up his boss for a friendly chat while he files his claws, rather than desperately trying to figure out where he wants to be standing when the dust settles.

[Sable Conolly]

//That depends why you're asking. Feeling like playing carrion crow today?// Scourge says lightly, almost teasingly.

//I assure you, I am taking all the usual steps.//

Such as kicking Shockwave's doors down and ransacking his computers. That's usual, right?

[Rook]

//A carrion crow never lacks for a meal when he follows an army on the march,// Rook responds cryptically.

//You're having your enemies watched, then?//

[Sable Conolly]

//Oh, always! Might as well gouge out your own optics,// and aren't optics just delicious to hungry little crows, //if you aren't doing that.//

[Rook]

//I'm glad to hear it, my lord. Nothing is more pleasing to a counselor than when his council proves unnecessary.//

Rook prefers a plate of fresh vegetables and grains, really, but if someone offered him eyeballs and told him they were a delicacy, he wouldn't turn them down.

[Sable Conolly]

//I'd like that advice, all the same.//

[Rook]

//In that case, I would advise you to heed the old adage about keeping your friends close and your enemies closer.// Rook privately suspects this is why Megatrons keep appointing Starscreams as their seonds-in-command. //I would also remind you that with everything going on right now, it may be difficult to tell who your enemies are. Even I'm still trying to figure it out, and dealing with this sort of thing is my function.//

[Sable Conolly]

//It's rather gutsy, albeit in an odd fashion, for you to admit as much,// Scourge observes, perhaps sounding slightly pleased and amused.

//I shall keep you closer for the time being, then, until I figure out where you stand?//

If Rook doesn't know if he's friend or enemy, best to treat him as an enemy for now. Sporting but foolish of Rook to admit that much... so where's the hidden agenda?

[Rook]

Rook actually laughs out loud. It sounds genuine and unforced, but then sounding genuine is what he does. //I was hardly referring to myself, Lord Scourge! Goodness knows I'm hardly in any position to be much of a threat to you. I mean that I am trying to figure out where the crew will fall if lines are drawn, and who will be drawing the lines.//

The crow pauses, perhaps taking a sip of fine energon from a crystal glass.

//Hellbender, for instance, will probably follow whoever seems most likely to step down if Shockwave returns. Cannonball and Swindle will go where they see the most profit. Bonecrusher will follow whoever can manage to intimidate him into obedience. There are those among us whose motivations are less clear, however.//