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Post by Rodimus Prime on Apr 14, 2009 16:47:25 GMT -5
That's not the annoying part, Swerve. The annoying part is that Rodimus manages to somehow have the armor of a tank and the speed and handling of a sports car.
He takes a moment to respond, and his optics go dim... almost dark... as he kneels there, arms crossed in front of his chest. His expression goes from pained and angry to just pained and finally, to calm. Finally, he takes in a deep cooling breath, cycling air through his system, his optics brighten and he looks up, expression tired and... a bit relieved? He smiles faintly, grimly at Swerve, and says, "Sorry about that, Swerve. I... let myself get a lot angrier than I can afford to get."
Then he pulls himself up and approaches the racecar slowly. "And I am... sorry again, for forgetting that sometimes even the closest allies need... their own space at times. Things, thoughts... knowledge kept to their own. You're right. You've shown trust about the important things, and I should have remembered that."
If allowed, he'll kneel next to the racecar and gesture to his wrecked side, where he ran into the wall. "If you like," he offers, "I can help you with that. Completely up to you, but some of that looks like it might be in areas that'll be hard for you to reach."
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Post by Swerve on Apr 16, 2009 15:51:49 GMT -5
Swerve shifts uneasily – uncomfortably – at the sudden change in mood and the apology. It's a faster 180 than his best record. It's outright fragging bizarre, is what it is.
"Whatever," he mumbles, irritable with the abrupt turnaround but acknowledging all the same. He's still running too hot to even think of why he might have to apologise, busy trying to cycle in more and more cool air. He doesn't back away when Rodimus approaches, but he tenses up; if the big guy can go from raging mad to contrite just like that, there's nothing saying he can't switch back with the same speed. He's getting the benefit of the doubt on that count, though.
Not so much on the offer of repair work.
"It's mostly my arm and my leg," Swerve says roughly, headlamps dimming and brightening again. It's a dull pain now, though he knows it'll hurt like mad once he transforms. "I can take care of it myself."
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Apr 16, 2009 22:37:38 GMT -5
Granted, there's a lot more in the switch from angry to calm than Rodimus is letting on... but then, it was the nature of that 'lot more' which reminded Rodimus that sometimes, people need to keep private things private.
It is enough to remind Rodimus that he'll have to watch himself more carefully for awhile. He'd gotten so that controlling Unicron was almost second nature, something he could do stressed or unconscious or whatever else without thinking, but with the new addition, the equations' changed. Prime tells himself he'll adapt, and he believes it - if it's through his own self-doubt that they strike at him, he will not doubt.
"Oh, I know you can take care of it yourself," Rodimus allows as he inspects the damages, not disagreeing with Swerve... and noticing that Swerve hadn't actually turned down his own offer for help. "But you should know you don't have to."
"At least let me do some work on the joints there," if allowed, his fingers will brush lightly against the spot where the damage is the worst, and where transforming will cause the most warping. "Looks like transforming as it is'll mess things up a lot worse. Nothing crippling or anything, but it should be pretty easy to nudge things back into shape so you don't have to go through that."
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Post by Swerve on Apr 18, 2009 20:49:01 GMT -5
Swerve should expect this sort of bizarre altruism by now after so long with the Autobots. He still doesn't – not really – so it's still strange to think that Rodimus is being perfectly serious about his offer. That still doesn't stop Swerve from abruptly backing away, brakes squealing sharply, when the other Autobot tries to touch him.
"Don't!" he barks. He's running too hot – much more and those burst welds might start whistling, and he's well on his way there just trying to figure out what the smelt he's supposed to be doing – and he doesn't feel like giving Rodimus another reason to get nosy. Or maybe the big slagger won't even notice through that armour. Frag it. Not worth it. Swerve adds, less vehement but voice rougher, like gravel, "Just… don't. Don't touch me." Spewing too much heat. Space too close. He needs to get out into open air, cooler air. "Lemme out."
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Apr 18, 2009 22:16:19 GMT -5
Rodimus leans back and lifts his hands, letting Swerve pull away without argument, but he can't help but stifle a frustrated sigh. For a moment, just a moment there, he had thought he had made progress. He's pretty much locked into accepting Swerve's rejection, though. He did tell the other he didn't have to accept, after all.
The Prime pushes himself upright and stands straight. "I want you to understand, Swerve... everyone, even the best techs, have been known to make mistakes," Rodimus says firmly, "Even Perceptor's been known to benefit by working with someone else. I wasn't intending insult." He steps back and steps aside, allowing Swerve room to go wherever it is Swerve feels the need to go.
"See you around, Swerve," Rodimus adds, voice still frustrated, but conceding, for the moment.
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Post by Swerve on Apr 18, 2009 22:35:36 GMT -5
For some reason, Rodimus's frustration is just that much more aggravating.
"I'm not insulted, fraggit!" Swerve growls, equally as frustrated. "I didn't even mean anything like that! I just–" He breaks off in a loud snarl, revving his engine, and now his damaged pipes are definitely whistling and the alarms he's been forcing himself to ignore are back in full force. Am I just always talking a different language? He shifts too hard, too fast, and steers around Rodimus to start back the way they came so he can actually find his way out of the tunnels and to the surface. He's in no mood to explore. "Forget it! I'm gonna take a drive topside. Could use the air." And unless Rodimus tries to stop him, he's out of here.
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