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Post by Kup on Oct 8, 2007 14:52:49 GMT -5
The veteran arrives quickly at the spot where he asked Swerve to meet him, a road about a block away from the Autobase-under-construction. He's already looking around, his optics swiftly sweeping the area in a circular pattern that begins first above his head, then again in an area that covers his waist to his head, and finally, he looks low. This is the activity he is engaged in when and if someone else arrives...
...Hopefully, Swerve will.
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Post by Swerve on Oct 8, 2007 19:14:17 GMT -5
It's safe to say Swerve arrives second mostly because he doesn't want to be here at all. Being here means yet again doing whatever the smelt Kup wants, and Swerve is fragging sick of somehow always doing as one or the other oldtimer expects. Doing what others tell him has, in the past, rarely ended well for him. That it so far hasn't gotten him very seriously injured even on this completely alien planet is a fact that frequently slips his mind and waits for calmer moments to remind him of its existence.
This time, though, going along with what Kup says potentially means screwing with a Decepticon's plans. While it isn't enough in Swerve's book to mitigate yet again basically taking orders, it's at least a little mollifying. He doesn't bother saying anything as he drives up, letting his engine do the announcing instead, then transforms with a scowl already on his face.
"…Hn," is all he bothers to muster up for an acknowledgement of the rubbernecking pickup.
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Post by Kup on Oct 8, 2007 20:33:23 GMT -5
Kup doesn't give a response to Swerve as he finishes looking over this section of road. Eventually, however, he's done. He walks a bit farther down, nods to Swerve as he passes, and starts looking again.
"It's always good to have two sets of optics on these things," he explains calmly, like a teacher doing his best to make sure a pleasant field trip is also properly educational. "Each person views the world from their own unique perspective, and no matter how observant someone is, there's a chance a second set of sensors will get something they missed."
"Me, I always found it works best to do this in three visual sweeps. One high, all the flat surfaces above my head - not too many of those around here. One medium, covering waist to head. One low." And then he demonstrates.
Once this is done, he starts ambling a bit further on, asking, in the same tone of voice he had been using, "So. You know why I asked you to team up with me?"
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Post by Swerve on Oct 8, 2007 21:17:50 GMT -5
Swerve watches silently, only partially paying attention to Kup's explanation for why there are now teams of two all over the place looking for bombs. Something about the old Autobot's abiding tone just rubs the already agitated racer's circuits all the wrong way, so the technique demonstration goes almost completely ignored; Swerve just eyes the area like he would anything else he finds suspicious and potentially threatening.
When Kup finally says something that requires Swerve to respond, the racer's scowl deepens.
"No. 'M I s'posed t' care?"
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Post by Kup on Oct 8, 2007 21:32:09 GMT -5
"Up to you, I guess," Kup answers calmly as he continues his search, keeping up the pattern he has been using.
"I teamed you up with me 'cos I don't want anyone else to have to deal with you. A pretty good number of the folks who've ent up here ain't much more then kids. This whole situation," is he talking about the hostage situation, or being on this planet? "has got 'em confused, nervous... maybe even scared. And you make some of 'em nervous even under better circumstances." He doesn't say 'good circumstances' or 'the best of circumstances,' because they haven't had those circumstances so far on this planet.
All this he says in the most conversational of tones, as though Kup were remarking on the weather, or the color-choice of metals used here... just normal, casual small talk. He doesn't even look at Swerve as he speaks, continuing to search the area around him.
"So. You're with me instead," he concludes.
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Post by Swerve on Oct 8, 2007 22:10:25 GMT -5
So Swerve bothers the other Autobots. So what. If it means they know better than to just go pestering him whenever, that's probably the best thing for all parties involved. And really, the fewer of them feeling comfortable around him – Primus forbid trying to be friendly with him – the better. He doesn't need friends. A tolerable acquaintance is good enough.
"That's their problem, then," he mutters as he keeps checking his surroundings, for now ignoring that his problem is it means he gets stuck with Kup.
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Post by Kup on Oct 9, 2007 6:39:12 GMT -5
Kup isn't ignoring that fact.
"Long as you don't mind puttin' up with me when scrap like this comes up," Kup replies, still keeping a keen optic on his surroundings, "then sure. Does kinda limit our options when we have to group into teams, though. They will have to get over their nervousness of you, but onna other hand, you... don't know yet if it's just old kup trucks you lose it around enough to attack, or if I'm gonna have to worry about the safety of anyone else working with you."
Again, the tone is not accusing, and fits strangely with the words. He's calmly, casually... if a bit tiredly... stating the facts as he sees them, nothing more.
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Post by Swerve on Oct 9, 2007 13:29:14 GMT -5
Slag it all, Kup's doing it again. The incongruity of tone to words that, in Swerve's experience, should be angry and accusatory gives the racer pause. He still isn't sure exactly what to make of it. His brief, blank look is once again lost under a frown.
"…You torque me off," Swerve growls, though there's a lack of vehemence to it. He sounds almost resigned, which he is, in a way; he's decided that Kup is going to be a pretty much constant spanner in the works and there's little he can do about it. Yet. "And… I can't promise nobody else will," he adds with a gruff sort of candour that may seem unusual to Kup now but comes readily to Swerve. Given the right – or wrong – circumstances, anyone here could easily get on his bad side, which is every side, really. What he actually does about that might vary depending on who it is earning his ire and how they're doing it.
Swerve doesn't offer an explanation for his earlier attack on Kup. He wasn't asked for one and he isn't about to just volunteer the info. The oldtimer is still too unfamiliar and Swerve is willing to trust him with that knowledge about as far as he can throw him.
A glint to one side catches his gaze and Swerve looks again – just a bit of rubbish caught low in a round, jagged-looking green thing. Like if one of the tall, pillar-like green things was compressed low to the ground. He shrugs and keeps going.
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Post by Kup on Oct 9, 2007 17:59:06 GMT -5
Kup actually allows himself a faint smile at Swerve's frankness, although Swerve would have to be watching Kup to catch it. Violent as all get-out, with an unpredictable temper and an attitude the size of a small moon (or maybe a large space-station)... but honest. And he was infuriated by Holi's capture, and the bomb.
Could be a lot worse, really.
Kup nods, and answers, "Yeah. That's about how I figured." Once more, neither anger nor accusation to the tone. Just a casual observation.
His expression turns into a more definite frown, and he walks towards one doorway and kneels, not touching anything. Then he leans in closer, examining a bit of clutter - something left behind by a scavenging animal, perhaps? He shrugs, straightens, and continues on. Apparently he's decided whatever it is, it's not dangerous.
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Post by Swerve on Oct 9, 2007 18:44:22 GMT -5
Don't forget the part where Swerve has no concept of teamwork and doesn't take orders gracefully even if you wafer them between premium energon goodies.
He has no response for Kup. The conversational tone still throws him off and he isn't sure if he should wonder just what the oldtimer's up to or not. Swerve hasn't decided yet if Kup's the same sort as he thinks Emirate Xaaron is, or if Kup is really just that… weird. It's too much to think about when he's already hot under the hood thanks to that worthless, slag-sucking Cannonball.
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Post by Kup on Oct 9, 2007 19:37:26 GMT -5
Kup wouldn't know what sort Swerve thinks Emirate Xaaron is, but he'd be pretty sure he's a different sort. Although some similarities might show up.
The veteran pauses in his search as a new arrival announces himself. First Aid, huh? Well, they certainly can use him, even if the situation doesn't go south. Kup takes a moment to respond on the radio, then explains to Swerve, whether Swerve wants to know or not, "I know a First Aid, and the voice matches. Medic. Pacifist." Well, as pacifistic as someone who becomes the fist of a giant robot that regularly beats up other giant robots can be said to be.
Part of Kup absently wonders if Swerve even knows what a pacifist is.
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Post by Swerve on Oct 9, 2007 20:23:42 GMT -5
Yes, Swerve knows what a pacifist is, thanks. The point of the philosophy escapes him, mostly because it has no place in 'his own world', as Kup so very tactfully put it. There wasn't much in the way of violence when he lived topside, except for the occasional fight that got him dragged in front of the review board, and not fighting in the underground could get a mech taken apart faster than a high-test drag race.
So there's an air of vague distaste to the racer's frown as Kup rambles about this latest addition to their oh-so merry little band. Medic is fine, considering how much scrap these Autobots seem to get themselves into all the time. But pacifist?
"Great," Swerve mutters. Oh look, still nothing he recognises as dangerous. "Sure you guys need–" The sentence goes unfinished as something else grabs Swerve's attention. Something strange-looking, bright orange and blue, and flitting from tree to tree. He just watches it for a few seconds, bemused.
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Post by Kup on Oct 9, 2007 21:57:43 GMT -5
Kup shrugs. He's not trying to please Swerve. That looks to be a pretty much impossible task, anyway. He's just looking to keep Swerve informed.
When the racer breaks off, Kup turns rather quickly and follows his gaze. He tries to hold back a chuckle when he spots what's drawn the other's attention, but still a brief, quiet snort of amusement escapes. "It's called a bird, Swerve," Kup explains. "Another kind of organic species." The veteran tilts his head and considers. "A fairly pretty one, too."
It is not, however, a bomb.
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Post by Swerve on Oct 9, 2007 22:43:06 GMT -5
Bemusement very quickly shifts to resentment when Swerve hears that quick, muffled snort. Kup may be trying to keep it quiet, but he's laughing at the racer all the same. And what, because Swerve doesn't know what something called a 'bird' is? Oh sure, it must be hilarious.
"Looks pretty leakin' stupid," he growls, turning away and striding stiffly past Kup to continue the way he was headed before the lousy smelting bird caught his attention. See if he goes looking at fragging birds again. He'll just look for things that have a chance of exploding without first being exposed to laser cannon fire.
Yeah, he's really learning to love being on this planet.
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Post by Kup on Oct 10, 2007 6:58:13 GMT -5
Kup winces. Boy, that could have been handled better. He really had tried to contain the reaction!
And this would by why you don't send Kup in anytime tact is called for.
The veteran sighs, and apologizes. "Sorry 'bout that. I keep forgettin' this is really your first time on an organic world, 'til I get a reminder like that." He gets back to walking and to searching. He's beginning to suspect they're worried unnecessary, but better that then not worry when it's necessary.
"Since y'gotta be here, anyway, might be a good idea to keep your eyes opened. Y'might learn something, y'know," he observes casually.
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