112/Refreshment

**Starscream has posed:**
Starscream is annoyed, annoyed, annoyed. Everyone got out of Toraxxis in time and no one was hurt, although it's hard to tell with Sunstorm. As soon as everyone was back at base and reports were coming in, the second in command decided that he needed some refreshment and heads to Macadams.

Seated at a corner table with his back to the wall, Starscream sits nursing a glass of the highest grade stuff this place serves. He sips his drink sullenly and mech watches silently.

**Swivel has posed:**
Across the room from where Starscream is being annoyed (as if that is anything new) Swivel is being busy. Or bussy. She's bussing tables. This is quite a bit different work from her usual, but nonetheless, there she is, rag in hand, piled empty cups on a tray balanced on her arm, and a jovial and active energy about her which clashes with the overall damp mood of most patrons these days.

 Swivel had taken notice of Starscream when he came in, and as a result, was taking care of the tables as far away from the mech as possible, and doing her best not to attract too much attention to herself.

**Windcry has posed:**
Windcry doesn't usually stray this far from the Academy, but lately the flyboys have been insufferable. They jumped on the news of Toraxxis like Sharkticons, tearing apart the implications rapidly, and then descending into talking about how much bigger the explosions would get once /they/ got into the fray. Her mask would only bear up so much of the weight before she collapsed beneath it. She just HAD to get out. In general she found she was able to calm her own nerves, but once in a while, it didn't hurt to have a little assistance.

So she finds herself here, at Maccadam's. She'd never really been here before, but she'd heard good things. And after scanning the area her optics couldn't help but notice Starscream over at one of the tables. In fact, she has to do a double take. She certainly didn't expect him to be here. But, then again, tales never told of him being meek of character. Still, he has the uncanny habit of being on the news, and yet he's here, bold as brass, nursing a drink and a sullen expression.

But all that is beside the point. Here, in the same bar as her, is the Seeker among Seekers. A small part of her is inclined to just turn around and walk away. But that part is quickly drowned out by the others. The question becomes, what is the best way to take advantage. Does fortune truly favor the bold? If so, she should take her drink and ask if she can sit next to him, nay, she should just take the seat. After all, taking makes more of a statement. On the other hand, prudence is also a good trait, which would mean the cautious path would be better. Careful waiting suggests taking a seat at another table or sitting at the bar. But, not wanting to be caught gawking like she was freshly out of her proto-form, she strides over to the bar and orders a drink befitting a student while the wheels in her head turn rapidly.

**Starscream has posed:**
Starscream looks into his drink, takes a sip and then watches Swivel bussing tables. He frowns slightly wondering why she hasn't come near him yet but then dismisses the thought as his optics get sidetracked by a femme Seeker at the bar ordering a drink. Isn't that just what Windcry needs? Starscream staring at her?

**Swivel has posed:**
Better Windcry than Swivel! Swivel had only caught a glimpse of Starscream glimpsing her and immediately looked away, busying herself by furiously rubbing a spot on a table. Whoops. That's just a bit of peeled paint, not a spill. Eventually the femme will have to make her way to that side of the room. She pauses, surveying the tables, hoping that someone might get up and leave on the far side, giving her another table to do before moving closer to Starscream. No such luck. Swivel sighs, rolls her shoulders back, and walks to a cluttered table several spots away from where Starscream is.

 Clank. Clink. The sound of placing the expended drinks on the tray is loud as Swivel rushes the job so that she can quickly leave to drop the drinks off to be washed.

**Windcry has posed:**
That waitress looks suspiciously familiar. Windcry is SURE she's seen her somewhere before. But that really isn't her priority right now. Still, she keeps an optic on her now and again.

When her drink is finally in her hand, time is pretty much up. A decision has been made, and it's time to act. From the bar she makes a direct approach to the other Seeker's table, her gait neither timid nor a swagger. In the end she decided on simple respect. "May I have a seat?" she asks clearly and distinctly, aptly hiding any worries deep inside. At the very least, it gives Starscream something to focus on that isn't Swivel.

**Starscream has posed:**
Starscream watches the femme walk toward his table and a smile erupts as she gets closer. "Of course you may have a seat." he almost purrs and moves the chair next to him out so she can sit down. Then he glances over at Swivel being noisy. His grin gets even wider though. "Shall I tell Thundercracker you are back?" without waiting for her reply he looks back at Windcry with a smooth sip of his drink.

**Swivel has posed:**
Once you've seen one seeker, you've seen them all, right? Swivel doesn't quite recognise Windcry as the femme who was talking with Blast Off. There was a lot going on, and that femme was far from the forefront of her attention at the time. Swivel does not respond to Starscream when he mentions Thundercracker. She just goes on doing her job as if she didn't hear him. Instead, she begins humming a fractured selection of ditties as she does her job.

**Windcry has posed:**
Windcry slides into the seat easily. "Thank you," she says, putting her glass in front of her. The drink is a modest one. It's not garbage, but it's certainly not top notch either. Extending a hand forward, she introduces herself, "Windcry. And don't worry about introducing yourself; they say you broke the mold." The latter part is said in a slightly lower voice and she leans forward.

Whatever is going on between the wheeled one and Starscream is filed away in the back of her mind, but she doesn't outwardly acknowledge it. Yet.

**Starscream has posed:**
Starscream smirks, "I did break the mold, Windcry." he says then gives a side glance toward Swivel. So she doesn't want to answer him, no matter. He will though tell TC shes back. Even if he doesn't want to admit it, he knows his wingmate is worried about the small femme and will make sure he knows shes alive and looks well.

His attention focuses back on Windcry, "What would you like to talk about?" his voice is a bit low and charming and does it sound friendly? It just might.

**Windcry has posed:**
Windcry is young, but she's not naive. Starscream's attentions could just be superficial for the moment. They could be devious. Either way, she doubts they are genuine. But that doesn't mean she is unaffected. She'll take them for what they're worth. Again she deliberates between trying to come across as somewhat impressive herself, or trying to pander to his ego. Pride suggests that she do the former, but intuition suggests the latter. "I'm sure you know a lot more subjects of interest than I do. I'm still just a student, though this is my last year, and graduation is a mere few cycles away." She lets a sigh of elation that is not an act, but still serves her purpose, escape her lips. "And then the sky's the limits."

For a moment she flicks her glance towards the ground-bound femme. Obviously there's some connection there, but it doesn't seem to be one of closeness. But she keeps her curiosity close to the vest, so to speak. Time will either reveal things, or they won't.

**Starscream has posed:**
"The academy." Starscream simply says, "Perhaps I will give your graduation class its first test flight in formation." it is something he does do at times. He'd do it with every graduating class if he could but being seconc in command of the Decepticons does keep him pretty busy. He smiles, "Would you like that?"

**Swivel has posed:**
Swivel had been out of site for a while, but she comes back over to the general area Starscream and Windcry are sitting, clearing away another table. She chances looking up, listening a little bit to the conversation. However, as soon as she is there, she is gone again. My, what a quick and efficient worker.

**Windcry has posed:**
Windcry smiles just long enough to not seem vacant, but still seem engaged. "I'm sure that would be appreciated, and not just by me," she says. "There are many that look up to you." Which isn't a lie. She actually doesn't care much for lies. Well timed truths are much better. At least in her estimation.

When Swivel is out of sight, she quickly downs her drink so that it's empty the next time she appears. Then she beckons the other femme over with a smile, just to see if she'll actually balk at coming over when a customer makes a motion for it.

**Starscream has posed:**
Starscream grins some more. He does love what she's been saying that's for sure. Then he leans back and watches to see if Swivel will respond. Time to into watch mode and check out these two femmes interacting.

**Swivel has posed:**
Well, at least Swivel doesn't look like a fiber-optic llama caught in headlights. She just tilts her head when the femme gestures to her, looks about herself as if seeking someone else to deal with it, then looks back at Windcry. She puts on her best smile (but not her biggest - those smiles scare the customers!) and walks over to Windcry. She takes the empty glass and places it on a tray balanced on her forearm. She then holds out a datapad and raises her optic ridges inquiringly at Windcry as if to ask if she wants anything more, but does not actually ask. The whole time she focuses purely on Windcry, althoug she does take a moment to look at Starscream's drink to gauge if it might need to be topped up.

**Windcry has posed:**
Windcry doesn't want to press things too far with Starscream. After all, he is much older, and (in)famous besides. Still, legends and media distort, and she has the mech in the metal here at a table. It's too hard to resist seeing what he's like in person.

But for now she's dealing with Swivel. Up close she finally recognizes her from the other day. "Waitressing by day, hugging walls by night? Interesting career choices you have," she notes. Holding up a finger, she adds, "I'll have one more drink please," further stating the type and quantity.

**Starscream has posed:**
Starscream stares at Swivel intently and when Windcry makes her order he says. "Put it on my tab and I would like a refill as well." he finishes the last of his drink and slides his glass toward Swivel.

**Swivel has posed:**
There is a pause and an almost lost expression upon the wheeled femme's face when Windcry references hugging walls. Her optics dart about as if expecting to see someone else nearby. Upon seeing none she squints a little at Windcry, as if trying to force some sort of recognition of the femme from her addled processor. Swivel tries to frown and smile at the same time, forcing her mouth into an odd, lop-sided bowed line for a moment until her expression sorts itself out. Finally the femme offers up a sheepish expression and a bemused shrug. "I guess..." she says in a very quiet, timid sort of voice. She nods to both of them, takes Starscreams glass adding it to the one already from her tray and nods and smiles. She turns to go get the refills.

**Windcry has posed:**
Windcry is genuinely grateful for the drink, though her mind is already searching for ulterior motives. She chooses her words carefully. "Hopefully I'll have the chance to repay this favor in some small way," she says. Simply promising in a vague way to 'make it up' to him is courting disaster.

"I was the one who attempted to rescue you when you fell. It didn't turn out so well. But you're still in one piece; I'll consider it a partial success," Windcry says to Swivel dryly. "But you were flown out of there before we exchanged more than a couple words."

**Swivel has posed:**
The little wheeled femme pauses and looks behind her, optic ridges raised up past the ornament on her helmet. "Ooooh!" The femme exclaims warmly, now putting the pieces together. She'd been wondering if her saviour had done that intentionally or not. She smiles and holds up a finger as if to say 'give me one second' and and trots off to trade in the empty glasses for refills.

**Windcry has posed:**
Windcry shrugs her shoulders and waits. The cards are played, and now it's time to see what everyone's hands are...this round. Any good game of cards really spans over multiple rounds, after all. Every little bit is a piece of the puzzle, and she's content to wait, both for information and for her drink.

**Starscream has posed:**
Starscream watches their interaction quietly pondering on just what they are talking about. He says nothing though and when Swivel leaves he looks at Windcry, "Be careful you dont promise something you can't deliver when you say you hope to have a chance to repay my small offer of covering your tab." his optics seem to gleam at that but he's being as charming as he can and he lets the silence after his comment end with a side grin that is hard to tell if its meant to be flirting or warning.

**Swivel has posed:**
There is just a minor commotion as a yellow femme bustles into the bar in something of a hurry, going straight to the bar and saying something to the tender. There seems to be a few brief, but not overly friendly words passed, and then she rushes past towards a door marked 'staff only'. Swivel had been returning with some drinks, and barely had time to sidestep the other femme, spilling only a /little/ bit onto the tray. She holds the tray still, watching the contents of the glass slosh side to side until they more or less settle. Swivel glances questioningly at the tender, who motions her over.

 While Swivel is getting the drinks topped up from the minor spill, there is only the faintest sound of a loud disagreement going on in the back. Swivel looks up from time to time, staring in the direction that the femme headed occasionally. However, once the tray is swapped for a clean one, and the newly topped up drinks are replaced, Swivel turns to bring them to Starscream and Windcry...

 ...Only to have the tray whisked away from her from the yellow femme. The femme gives Swivel a rather dirty side-glance, and also plucks Swivel's waitress pad from her as well. Swivel blinks a few times, looking a bit confused. Once again, she is motioned over by one of the other staff. While Swivel is speaking with her employer of the day, the yellow femme arrives and puts Windcry's and Starscream's drinks in front of them. "Here you are," the new femme says sweetly. "Enjoy. If there is anything else you need, let me know!"

**Windcry has posed:**
"Being ungrateful also has risks," Windcry replies, somewhat demurely. "After all, you have the advantage already. So I did choose my words. Carefully." She tilts her head to the side and gives Starscream a long look. "In the big scheme of things, a drink is a small thing." She folds her hands on the table in front of her.

Then there's all that fuss with the drinks and Swivel. She watches it all, and the smile she gives the 'yellow femme' is somewhat more aloof. Turning to Starscream she ponders aloud, "I wonder what that was all about."

**Starscream has posed:**
Starscream looks at the yellow femme, "I prefered to be swerved by her." he motions toward Swivel and takes his drink rather cooly. Then he looks at Windcry and smirks, "I get this a lot." but he sure doesn't seem upset by it. And yes he did hear Windcry's other comment but chooses not to respond, at least not yet.

**Swivel has posed:**
The Yellow femme's countenance falls for a brief moment into a microexpression of contempt, but she quickly pushes it aside and puts on a forced, pleasant expression. "Who?" she says, feigning cluelessness, and then looks over at Swivel. "Her? She's just a temp. She doesn't work here except when she wants a few free drinks..." She looks Starscream over for a minute, and then quickly adds, "...but if you insist, I can ask her to stay on until you are done." There is a sharpness in the yellow femme's voice indicating that this waitress is not pleased with letting Swivel take over her job.

**Windcry has posed:**
"I can only imagine," Windcry says, nodding her head. "Still, that doesn't seem to bother you; you let me sit here," she points out. She seems relaxed enough, though not completely at ease. Her optic ridges rise slightly as she observes the interaction between Starscream and the yellow waitress, to whom she just shrugs in a 'what can you do' manner. The affairs of waitresses really don't concern her. After all, there isn't a lot of aerial combat to be done inside a bar. No, Starscream is far more interesting at this point, so that is where her attention lies.

**Starscream has posed:**
"Why would anyone feel this could possible bother me?" Starscream counters with humor in his voice. Yes the Seeker does enjoy the femmes and he makes no attempt to hide that. He takes a sip of his drink. "So tell me, Windcry, what do you think of the Academy and its teachers. I am curious."

**Swivel has posed:**
The yellow femme makes a marginally frustrated sound and turns and walks away to go look for Swivel in the back. After a few moments the yellow femme returns, looking a little bit uneasy. She tries to hide this with a smile, but it's fakeness is obvious. "Well... the femme you requested.... has already clocked out. There's nothing I can do, sir." Although she sounded sour about looking for Swivel, the words 'nothing I can do' seem to words that the femme dreads to say, and she anxiously watches Starscream.

**Windcry has posed:**
"I think more of the teachers than I do of the students," Windcry says with a faint smile. "But that's just because they know more and have done more. Even if some of them seem too strict, or yell more than anyone should, or have other oddities, I figure they're there for a reason. You don't get to teach there by being stupid or a slouch." Her smile broadens a trifle. "Nor do you become a legend among the students by being those things either," she notes pointedly.

When the yellow femme returns she looks her up and down, as though trying to ascertain how much truth the waitress is telling. For a moment she's tempted to say something snide, but decides against it. Instead she'd rather see how it plays out.

**Starscream has posed:**
Starscream takes in what the yellow femme says and looks her up and down. "I do hope to see her back here earning an honest wage the next time I come in." he's not sure he totally beleives the yellow femme but he decides to give her the benefit of the doubt. And also in his own way he's kind of looking out for the femme that Thundercracker seems to like so much. He doesn't understand it but there you go. Then he looks at Windcry, "Who do you feel is too strict and yells too much? Have you filed a formal oomplaint with the student counselers?"

**Swivel has posed:**
"Well, that's not up to me..." the Yellow femme murmurs. However, she seems relieved and the smile that comes across her face seems a lot more natural. "Anyway, if you need anything, I'm on duty. I have other tables to attend, but don't hesitate to signal me." The femme bows slightly, gripping her tray tightly. She winks and then turns and walks away to attend to another table.

 The yellow femme passes by where Swivel is stepping back into the bar, holding a drink of her own that she is eagerly sipping while walking, not even waiting to be seated. She ignores the scowl the yellow waitress as she passes by, seeming all the world happy just to be lapping up something other than the cheapest, vilest item on the menu.

**Windcry has posed:**
Windcry gives Starscream a long look. "I'm sure if there was a real problem, something would have been done already." She taps a fist to her chest and sits up straighter in her chair. "We're learning aerial combat, not ballet." For a moment there's a fierce glimmer in her red optics. "If we can't handle a little yelling then we aren't going to be much good under fire." Then she smiles faintly. "Sometimes I just think they go a bit overboard." Then her smile fades and she droops a bit in her seat.

It takes her a while but she does notice Swivel come back in, off the clock now. She debates pointing it out, but then leaves it, pretty sure that Starscream will be aware of it just as much as she is. After all, he's survived this long, even with a price on his head and running with the toughest crew on Cybertron.

**Starscream has posed:**
Starscream gives a faint nod and smile to the yellow femme and then does see Swivel reappear holding a drink and looking like shes enjoying it. But his attention focuses back on Windcry as she speaks. "Keeping control over a room full of new Seekers is difficult at best. What you preceive as overboard may be exactly what is needed to keep others in line. You sound like youare intelligent enough to know your place as a student and show respect."

**Swivel has posed:**
It takes a moment or two for Swivel to lift her gaze up and notice Windcry and Starscream noticing her. There is a moment or two of indecision, before the femme shrugs and walks over to the couple at the table. She doesn't take a seat however, and addresses Windcry. "Oy, sorry 'bout earlier. Mussa seemed bit rude, jus' sayin' 'OH' affer ya told me y'elped me out back there. I really 'preciate it. I jus' was told notter talk on th'job... so I was tryin' REAL 'ard notter d'tha'." Swivel remains standing as she gives her explanation.

*Swivel Speech Translation: "Oy, sorry about earlier. It must have seemed a bit rude, just saying 'OH' after you told me you helped me out back there. I really appreciate it. I just was told not to talk on the job... so I was trying really hard not to do that."*

**Windcry has posed:**
Windcry nods her head and smiles to show appreciation for the compliment, but she isn't acting in that moment. "It isn't always easy since a lot of my fellow students would rather think with their guns..." she notes wryly. "But I make a decently good showing where it counts. And I listen." Inclining her head, she adds, "I'm sure you must have been a handful when you were a new student."

Then Swivel shows up and explains herself. Windcry listens and nods her head. "I can appreciate the value of following orders on the job," she says. "All is forgiven," she adds magnaminously.

**Starscream has posed:**
Starscream looks a bit blank for a moment as he translates SWivels speech and then he says to Windcry, "Me a handful? It /was/ difficult since I could outperform nearly ever teacher -- this before I was trained up as they say." he takes a sip of his drink with a rather aloof look on his face.

**Swivel has posed:**
Having said what she'd been eager to say, not wanting to be known as an ungrateful femme, Swivel was relieved to get that all out and even be appreciated for her due diligence. Swivel beams at Windcry and leans forward in the fashion of something between a nod and a bow. She gives Starscream only a brief glance, a nod of acknowledgement, downs her drink, and then turns to head out of Maccadams.

**Windcry has posed:**
Windcry nods to Swivel and watches the femme leave. She smiles at Starscream. "I think that would have made it hard for your teachers to save face then," she muses before finishing her second drink.

**Starscream has posed:**
Starscream laughs a bit, "I can't disagree with that." he finishes his drink and stands. "But who better to be in charge of that academy know then the one who broke the mold." with that ha steps away from the table, "I must take my leave, Windcry, duty calls. I will stop by the Academy soon but don't mention that to anyone. I want it to be a surprise." he turns and heads for the door.