|
Post by Starscream (Movie) on Apr 11, 2011 18:42:13 GMT -5
Month 1, Week 4, Day 1, Open to 'Cons
What with one thing and another, it's taken Starscream a while to organize this little event. Changes of command tend to take up a bit of time. However, as second-in-command, things like this fall to him to organize. It's a pleasant bonus that taking care of them personally makes it look like he cares about the troops more than Scourge.
Thus, he stands in his usual slightly hunched posture in an open room toward the rear of Ship. Rows of chairs have been set up facing a small metal obelisk at one end of the room. Carved into the memorial in the glyphs native to the bomber's reality is the simple epitaph "Lugnut: Decepticon Soldier/ Transform and Rise Up." At the top of the obelisk is a lit torch, burning blue.
|
|
Mistwind
Major
Licensed flight addict, deepsea diving fan, mech-pilot rookie - Accepts food and play for services.
Posts: 531
|
Post by Mistwind on Apr 14, 2011 5:22:45 GMT -5
Silently, a small shadow appears at the door. When the 'Con steps into the room the hesitation and confusion is clear to be seen on unshielded features.
Mistwind approaches the obelisk, after making his greeting to Starscream. In front of the pillar, he halts, reading the text, staring. And he stares worldlessly for quite a moment.
Turning to Starscream, there is a moment of silence, before Mistwind swallows, picks up his courage and asks quietly; "Commander Starscream Sir....... when is Lugnut coming back?"
|
|
Hellbender
Major
Mecha-Shai-Hulud
"Seriously."
Posts: 892
|
Post by Hellbender on Apr 14, 2011 8:06:37 GMT -5
Hellbender enters, as quietly as only he can. He stops to study the obelisk for a long time, and nods approvingly. Lugnut was worthy of recognition.
"So Search-and-Recovery found nothing?" he asks again.
|
|
Slugslinger
Minor
And if it weren't for this blasted coin…
Posts: 388
|
Post by Slugslinger on Apr 14, 2011 8:40:41 GMT -5
Slugslinger doesn't know a thing about Lugnut aside that he's dead and gone. He doesn't particularly care, either; deaths happen and, in his experience, unless you've some hellish miracle worker on your side, they're pretty permanent. He's mainly here to see how Starscream runs this show after Scourge had his conference about Shockwave.
Oh, how Slugslinger hopes they're going to have at each other. His attempt at a solemn expression looks more bored and dull than anything else as he clumps up behind Mistwind. At least it's a pretty memorial? he thinks, for a certain expectation of beauty.
"He isn't, short-stack!" he answers Mistwind in far too light-hearted a fashion and tries to pat the little guy on the head in the way of someone who wouldn't know comforting if it punched him in the face.
|
|
Counterpunch
Minor
The Overlord, His Peerless Highness, Arch Duke Counterpunch. The Salient Vanquisher of His Own Mind
What're you looking at?
Posts: 419
|
Post by Counterpunch on Apr 14, 2011 21:12:56 GMT -5
Counterpunch stalks in and throws himself down into one of the seats in the back. For his part, there's no real love lost between him and Lugnut. Not after that incident with the POKE.
Which is pretty much why Counterpunch is here, really.
It's probably fortunate that Counterpunch has no discernible face, because otherwise he might be smirking smugly.
|
|
|
Post by Starscream (Movie) on Apr 15, 2011 19:38:12 GMT -5
Oh, Mistwind, it's a funeral, not Starscream's birthday. You didn't have to get him anything! However, the wonderful segue into his prepared speech is an excellent gift nonetheless.
"Lugnut will not be returning to us, Mistwind. He has made the ultimate sacrifice for our cause. Only tiny fragments of his armor were recovered," he says, nodding to Hellbender, "and they have been molded into this memorial. The flame on top represents the recycling forge into which Lugnut's chassis would have been cast if it was recovered. He surely would have wished to continue his service in death." ('Recycling forge' doesn't exactly roll off the vocal processor, but the term 'smelting pit' has some negative connotations.)
Starscream pauses, as though to gather his thoughts, then clenches and unclenches a fist, gesticulating. "Yes, at times Lugnut could be a difficult Decepticon to get along with. But he was a comrade and a soldier to the end. He died fighting the Autobots, striking a blow for our cause. We must not let his death be in vain! We must strengthen our resolve! Let no Cybertronian put the welfare of alien races before his own! Let no Cybertronian deny our rightful place as masters of the universe! When next you meet an Autobot in battle, comrades, strike a blow for Lugnut!"
If Starscream had been here longer, applause would be mandatory at this point. Alas, Lugnut picked an inopportune time to croak.
|
|
|
Post by Sable Conolly on Apr 15, 2011 19:43:10 GMT -5
Scourge does sidle in the back. Their first 'real' death. He folds his arms and watches how Starscream comports himself.
Skippable
|
|
|
Post by Dark Skyfire on Apr 15, 2011 20:34:41 GMT -5
Skyfire doesn't know if he belongs here, but it seems the decent thing to do to pay respects, even if he had no idea who this Lugnut was. Death was death and death in the service of the cause should be honored, yes?
So he enters right on the tail end of the jet's speech. Which seems..rather stirring. He hovers around the perimeter of the room, unsure of quite what to do other than nod solemnly at anyone meeting his optic.
|
|
Mistwind
Major
Licensed flight addict, deepsea diving fan, mech-pilot rookie - Accepts food and play for services.
Posts: 531
|
Post by Mistwind on Apr 18, 2011 4:05:59 GMT -5
Slugslinger's patting jostles his systems a bit, but Mistwind lets him. He's too shocked and dumbfounded... and confused! To do anything more but stand there and listen to Starscream's speech.
During it, his expression turns into devastation to eventually pass over into seething rage.
He limits the expression to his face, however, the whole of his body straight and unmoving. Mistwind gazes at the memorial, as if everything will be okay if he just stares hard enough.
'It won't.' Shivering, Mistwind takes a step back, bowing stiffly towards the obelisk. 'So unnatural.' As he leaves, one thought fills his mind as he glances back to the metal gravestone. 'So wrong.'
((Mistwind got an explanation, paid his respects and wishes to settle his thoughts by himself. Also, his player will be MIA))
|
|
Hellbender
Major
Mecha-Shai-Hulud
"Seriously."
Posts: 892
|
Post by Hellbender on Apr 18, 2011 9:33:33 GMT -5
Hellbender glares at Slugslinger. Walleye there is a real punk; one of these days, Hellbender's going to wind up just slugging him. He's sure of it.
Hellbender winces at the mention of 'recycling forges'; damn straight "Smelting Pits" and anything that reminds him of that hellhole has negative connotations! Optics narrow slightly; so his chassis was not recovered... just like nobody has 'found' Shockwave yet. Search and recovery seems to be a bit lacking in the competence department--or is it lacking in the motivation department? Sure is convenient for Scourge and Starscream for their leader to stay missing, and Lugnut's temperament made him a difficult trooper to handle; could be a lot of people are just as happy for him to stay MIA, presumed offline.
Hellbender isn't one of those people, but he is a Decepticon. Paranoia and mistrust are the general order of the day. Still, he nods at Starscream's speech and gives Lugnut's centotaph a full military salute. As soon as the ceremony allows, he pivots on his heel and leaves, without saying a word.
He doesn't trust himself should he start talking.
|
|
Slugslinger
Minor
And if it weren't for this blasted coin…
Posts: 388
|
Post by Slugslinger on Apr 21, 2011 10:33:35 GMT -5
Slugslinger is not a Good Person. He has to try very hard indeed not to just burst out laughing at Starscream's eulogy for Lugnut. The idea that any Starscream could even feign sincerity with a pile of mush like that to spew from his vocal circuits – and the sentimental dreck itself – it's almost too much. He can hold back the laughter, but the rest of it, not so much.
"Strike a blow for Lugnut?" he demands with a snort he can't quite stifle. "Why? He went and got himself killed." Slugslinger shrugs expansively, hands at shoulder height with elbows crooked, flight panels fanned out for maximum effect. "Another one down in the line of duty. Business as usual!" He waves one hand dismissively at the memorial. "I'll just keep killing 'em because they're there. No need to tack on all this other stuff. They're Autobots and that's good enough reason for me." He does not, however, promptly leave. Everybody else seems determined to rush out, so he'll stay for the sake of being contrary.
|
|
|
Post by Starscream (Movie) on Apr 27, 2011 13:41:46 GMT -5
OOC: Skipping Counterpunch due to time-out.
Starscream watches Hellbender go with a calculating look. The vermiform heavy could be a morale issue if he's going to sulk every time someone gets killed and/or disappears in a space bridge accident.
When Slugslinger opens his mouth, Starscream scowls at the other jetformer and stalks towards him, approaching and leaning forward as he drops his voice to a whisper. "Slugslinger, there are less than a hundred Decepticons in our contingent. We all know each other at least somewhat well, whether we enjoy each others' company or not," this last bit warrants a narrowing of the optics. "A single death in our ranks is a major blow to our military strength and a funeral is intended to soften any possible blow to morale. That being said, unless you want yours to be the next funeral, you'll act with decorum befitting the occasion at this one. Understand?"
Seriously, Slugslinger, we can't take you anywhere!
|
|
Counterpunch
Minor
The Overlord, His Peerless Highness, Arch Duke Counterpunch. The Salient Vanquisher of His Own Mind
What're you looking at?
Posts: 419
|
Post by Counterpunch on Apr 27, 2011 22:28:52 GMT -5
Skippable so I don't hold things up again!
Counterpunch looks between Slugslinger and Starscream, optic band widened slightly. Then he looks up at Starscream and gives a faint, firm nod, giving apparent approval over Starscream's handling of the matter.
|
|
Slugslinger
Minor
And if it weren't for this blasted coin…
Posts: 388
|
Post by Slugslinger on Apr 29, 2011 10:28:26 GMT -5
OOC: I… think I'm up? So many skippable people I'm not sure any more.
It's so hard not to leer at Starscream and ask if he's mad. Slugslinger's very wings ache with the need to keep poking and feed his own ego. His processors, on the other hand, scream at him to shut up. Starscream alone he might be able to handle, but Starscream holds some kind of command around here and can order a firing squad. It's no fun if it ends up with Slugslinger dead.
Slowly – and Slugslinger takes extra time to calculate just how carefully his face should slide through the change – his expression turns from smug humour to a blank cluelessness, and from there to something that resembles resentment. But no fear. He pulls in his panels a little but remains upright, hands at his sides, arms tense in case Starscream blows a gasket and things turn violent. He gives no ground to the other jetformer even when Starscream invades his personal space.
"Just sayin'," he mumbles in a sullen tone, keeping his voice at a conversational level rather than pitched low with shame. "Got more here than we had back home and we never put on any fancy show." Of course, Alpha Quintesson wouldn't have cared enough to bother and that antipathy for wasting time on morale boosters carried over to those in his employ. They'd had a plan to achieve and goals to make. Slugslinger can feel the distaste for it welling up even now; it manifests physically, a foul taste in his mouth like oxidised copper, and he swallows it back down before it can spoil his façade. A thought occurs to him and he adds as ingenuously as possible and holding onto his sulk by pure force of will when the urge to glance up slyly follows the thought, "Smashin' Autobots in Megatron's name would've made him happier anyway."
|
|
|
Post by Starscream (Movie) on Apr 30, 2011 12:50:07 GMT -5
It's almost like Slugslinger is deliberately trying to provoke a violent response from Starscream. But that would be crazy! Only some weird fairy-tale creature would be stupid enough to do that. Like an ogre or something.
"We don't have a Megatron here, Slugslinger," he says simply, flexing the claws hanging loosely by his side.
|
|