Autobrand Party: Boogie Down, My Wayward Son

[Perceptor]

Being an "adult" doesn't automatically ensure mature, intelligent, wise behavior; just look at Optimus Prime, NBA star. Or not. To say nothing of the wildly gesticulating scientist... who ends his run of the Macarena by shifting into a little more Travolta.

"Perhaps, Grimlock, it is merely inopportune fortune," he offers. "I believe I am in need of a refuel. Holi, Wheelie? Would you care for a libation, or would you prefer to continue dancing?"

[Wheelie]

Wheelie pauses in his dancing long enough to consider Perceptor's question. "Wheelie knows a lot from dancing to vacation, but needs someone to tell him, what means libation?"

[Holi]

OOC: Skipping Grimlock due to time-out. He's free to post back in whenever.

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Okay, Tiny is no longer making the table her domain. This is good. She has, however, done away with the high-grade punch. So it's with an abashed half-smile and an anxious, muffled laugh that Holi answers Perceptor.

"I'm not really doing much dancing," he declares quietly. "I could go get drinks… but there isn't any more high grade." He turns and peers down again to Wheelie, pausing for a few seconds to check his installed dictionary to be sure he has this right. "Drinks, Wheelie," he explains gaily. "Libations means drinks. Would you like one?" Minibot and scientist seem to be having fun dancing, so Holi can fetch the beverages and neither of them need worry about having to stop if they don't want to. It works out wonderfully!

[Grimlock]

Grimlock grumbles. "Bad luck more like it." He's echoed Perceptor's sentiments, but doesn't realize it. It's part of his big smashy charm, after all.

Another grumble, and he heads off. "Me going to help Rodimus, since me probably going to have to deal with Nightbeat anyway..." he says, shoulders dropping like a teenager who really doesn't wanna do their chores.

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Out of thread.

[Perceptor]

Poor Grimlock. Always such a chore to be the responsible one - for a relative value of "responsible", that is.

"That is all right, Holi. I do not mind pausing for a rest, and fuel intake is difficult during the more... exuberant gyrations at any rate," Perceptor replies as he winds his dancing down. "Although, if you would prefer to remain here and try your hand at dancing..."

[Wheelie]

Wheelie considers this thoughtfully, then shrugs. "Now that he's had time to stop and think, Wheelie agrees... let's have a drink!"

[Skyfire]

About this time, Skyfire and possibly Makeshift (if he hadn't wandered off or fallen off) turned up at the refreshments table. As he refilled his cube with the mid-grade that was left--what had happened to all the high-grade? No wonder this party was getting so... interesting!--Skyfire offered some to Makeshift (if he's still along).

Skyfire turned to Perceptor and said, "Sometime you'll have to explain to me the cultural significance of these dance rituals. I believe I recognize what Mirage and the Other Xaaron were doing as a formal Cybertronian social dance, but the rest are a mystery to me."

[Makeshift]

He may be slightly buzzed, but he's not quite at the point of tipsy yet. Makeshift accepts the refill with a grateful not and takes a sip. As he does, he considers what he said earlier to Goldbug about a database entry. He's still alert enough despite the drink that he could take care of it, and the drink's probably loosened him up enough to help him say it. Ah, liquid courage.

"Thanks for the lift, big guy," he says to Skyfire, hopping down, "but I should probably turn in soon, and I've gotta take care of something first. Take care." And with that, he drifts off with his cup, trying to remember where he can find a camera.

Out of thread.

[Holi]

"No, but thank you," Holi says even while he watches Grimlock depart. Oh, he understands all too well what it's like to be the responsible one. He keeps trying to fall back into that role only to find someone else filling it; there's no Jan here who needs supervision lest one of his stupid stunts go horribly awry. Even if they tended to do that even with Holi around. There's no Patrol here to captain, either, and as big a pain as those three can be sometimes… okay, so it's more like most of the time… Holi really does miss them. They aren't just his subordinates, they're his friends. His best friends, for that matter.

But he has friends here, too. Thirsty friends. He can fix this! And while Skyfire conveniently offers a distraction, Holi gets a little bold, gauging the distance before helping himself down with a moderate push to make sure he's clear of Perceptor on the way to the floor. His landing is a bit on the noisy side and his right knee twinges, but he sticks it, then off he trundles to ascend the refreshment table once more and fill whatever likely receptacles he can get. This one looks right for Wheelie, this one is definitely more Perceptor's scale, and… ah, here we are, one for Holi, too. He'd offer to get Makeshift a refill, but the little tilt-rotor has already left.

So it's back to the group he goes, taking great pains as he makes his way down from the table to be sure he doesn't spill.

"Here you go, Wheelie," he chirrups, offering the Minibot a glass.

[Wheelie]

OOC: Skipping Percy due to time out. He's free to pose back in whenever.

Wheelie nods his thanks to Holi as he takes the drink.

All things considered, it's amazing how fast Wheelie's taken to being in social situations. The former wild boy of Quintessa is now calming breakdancing and having fun with people, sharing a laugh and having drinks. Perhaps it says something of the time before Quintessa, the time he cannot remember, the past he has forgotten.

He wonders, sometimes, now more than before, where he came from. Did he come from Cybertron, like most of these other Autobots did? Or from somewhere else, like Swerve? Was he built on some other world like Grimlock?

Just who was Wheelie, before he was Wheelie?

[Perceptor]

Perceptor watches Holi trot off after hopping free of his perch on the scientist's shoulder - must design a jet pack or similar contrivance for the little mech if he insists on continuing such dangerous maneuvers in the future - with a small smile.

"Most are adaptations or adoptions of techniques and maneuvers learned or borrowed from the humans of Earth," he explains to Skyfire. "Others are pure exuberance and energy given physical form. I would be happy to demonstrate and teach you what few I have learned, however, I have not yet compiled all of the anthropological data that I had been intending to fully explain the significance to our satisfaction."

[Skyfire]

Skyfire grinned at Makeshift and said, "You're quite welcome. Good night then; see you another time."

The big white Autobot--and isn't he proud of being officially one now!--carefully avoided stumbling over Holi and nodded at Perceptor. "Interesting. I'd wondered if new dance forms had developed on Cybertron since my time. It sounds like Earth and it's inhabitants have had a major cultural impact on us, as well as military; I've noted how many of us and the Decepticons have alternate modes attributed to Earth designs."

[Holi]

With libations successfully delivered to Wheelie, Holi takes a moment to sip his own before hefting up Perceptor's cube right over his own head. It's a whopping three meters off the ground, so the scientist will have to stoop for it, but it's the best Holi can do.

"Here you are, doctor," prompts Holi when there's a lull in the dance talk. He beams a broad, congratulatory grin Skyfire's way while waiting, the cheery wave he can't give implied all the same. "Earth's pretty important where I'm from," he says conversationally. "We operate from there, and it's the humans who helped us found the Galaxy Defence Force. Supreme Commander Star Saber even adopted a son – my friend Jan." Yes, Earth has indeed had a great impact on Holi's Autobots.

[Wheelie]

Wheelie shrugs. "Wheelie doesn't know much about Earth like he should, but he'll believe if the others say it's good."

[Perceptor]

Perceptor doesn't mind stooping down to retrieve his cube. In fact, he offers both Wheelie and Holi his hand for a lift up to his shoulder to more easily join in the conversation, if either of them wish to accept it.

"A very significant impact. During the last few decades of my lifetime, while the Decepticons had controlled Cybertron, Earth had become the Autobot's new stronghold and home. Humans are a young race, with much to learn, but such innovation and incredible capacity for compassion and curiosity," Perceptor effuses, his tone full of admiration for the frenetic organic race.

"Adopted?" he asks Holi, tilting his head in curiosity.

"If you greet Earth as you had in my universe, Wheelie, you will quite enjoy it. Particularly the culture of the younger human set."