116/Ripples

**Blast Off has posed:**
So. Blast Off has a wine shop. SOMEHOW. And now he has to set it up and keep it running without clueing the Autobots in on it. Hmm. So far, that's meant keeping things on the down low as much as possible. Trying not to be obvious just WHO the new owner is, keeping his head down. While he stocks this new store with the finest wines and engex money can buy. Money left to him by the wine shop proprietor now in jail. Fortunately, there were already distribution lists and connections and it hasn't been TOO difficult to at least get this thing going. In fact he's waiting on some deliveries now as he slips inside the shop, a small but respectable location high on the upper crust of Vos.

**Swivel has posed:**
"Lessee.... now take a left... shoo be ont he corner of...." These little mutterings are the ones of a tiny femme who is walking down the center of the Vosian walkways, keeping as far from any edge, with or without railings, as possible. She'd driven most of the journey until it was a matter of finding the right building written on her order. She looks back at her parcel, marked fragile, and looks up. "Looks loik th'place." Swivel walks around the place to see if there moer than one entrance or exit, a little peculiarity of hers she'd picked up. Once satisfied, she slips into the wine shop, announcing in a loud voice. "Duh-liverrrreeeee!"

**Aegis has posed:**
After her recent run in with a certain mech, the heights of Vos are suddenly quite appealing. So Aegis finds herself flying to the part of the city above the plate. Meandering around for a while, she hears an atrocious, but familiar, accent. Smiling to herself, she follows the sound. While she doesn't have any deep attachment to Swivel, she was a polite enough passanger, with all her quirks, and she's curious to see how the femme is doing. It doesn't hurt that the place she is going into seems inoccuous enough. Making a small sound, so she doesn't startle the courier, she proceeds to say, "Hello again."

**Blast Off has posed:**
Blast Off winces a bit at the sudden arrival and voice ringing through the shop, glancing up with a mildly annoyed expression before it melts into bemused surprise. He glances towards the door, making sure she hasn't been followed. "Swivel. I had wondered if it might be you. Now please, indoor voices." Manners are important! Then Aegis appears. This causes him to freeze, waiting to see if she recognizes him. She did repair him, but she may also have seen that \*Wanted\* poster at the airport, too.

**Swivel has posed:**
"Indoor voices, yeah, guess it's kinner small 'nuff for 'em. Some places 'ave such 'igh ceilin's 'n big rooms I still gotter yelp t'be 'eard, wot wi'bein' all small 'n a -- Oh! Blast Off! 'Ello!" Yes, well, the femme started yapping off before it even registered who was talking to her, although his voice and address were familiar. The femme smiles, holding out the parcel - but then...
 "Eh wot?" Swivel turns her head, reflexively bringing her parcel closely to herself in a guarded stance. Whilst not entirely startled, the femme does seem to be on the alert. HOwever, seeing the shuttle-femme, she relaxes and smiles. "Oy, so ya's still 'ere. Tho' affer th'mech ather port was all 'I'll pay ya 'igh ta ge'me offer this planet' ya moighta left soon affer 'rivin'. Woona blame ya if ya did, but, eh, small parter me glad ya din't. Means I'm not th'only crazy one fer returnin'. Ha. Er, not tha' I think yer crazy.... no sireeeeee." The state of the planet certainly doesn't deterr the chattiness of this particular femme. She holds the parcel out again, looking a bit foolish for pulling it back so suddenly when she was in no real danger.

 "A'roight, back ta business. I'll be needin' ya ta sign some stuff, usual thingers yanno, once ya take tha' off me 'ands." There was no way the femme was going to try and hold the package in one hand, thus, she is unable to reach for the datapad at her hip. She glances back at Aegis again. "Wot brings ya 'ere? Well, I guess if ya kin fly, why not visit Vos? Ya? Though yer more of a space-flier than a sky-zipper." It seems the femme is more than happy to try and run two conversations simultaneously.

**Aegis has posed:**
Aegis honestly doesn't care about the wanted poster or Blast Off's infamy right now. At the moment she just sees a mech standing there that she repaired once. Nothing sinister about that, right? She nods politely to him and smiles. "We meet again," she greets.

Then she turns to the younger femme. "Well, if it comes down to it and there isn't any other way off available, I might find myself taking people, but I'm really not meant for taking many passengers," she admits. "Coming here, you just lucked out; you happened to be going where I was going anyhow, so it wasn't an imposition. I'm not planning on leaving right now, so it would have been out of my way to take that other mech. I hope he got away safely though, if that is what he truly wished."

**Blast Off has posed:**
Blast Off just sort of looks at Swivel like a turbo-deer in the headlights as she chatters on. His optic ridges twitch once or twice, espcially at the \*crazy\* parts. "Yes...well...no. I..." Um. "No, I have decided to stay here. I have responsibilities." And teammates who would miss him, and vice versa. Not that he would admit that. He then looks back to Aegis. When she nods to him, well.... at least she's not calling the cops. Yet. He nods, "Yes. Were you here for some wine?" and then moves towards Swivel. "Very well, if you'll place the crate over here," he points to a corner, "I can sign for the delivery."

**Swivel has posed:**
"Right-o sir, right away!" Swivel says in her chipper tone. She carries the delivery over to where Blast Off indicated and set it down. She takes just a moment to stretch before walking back, holding out a pad. "Touch 'ere, 'n 'ere, 'n enter yer vender license ID 'ere 'n yer serial 'ere." Swivel beams and turns her head to look at Aegis again. "Oh, ya've met Blast Orff b'fore? Real classy mech, yeah?" She then turns her attention back to Blast Off. "I dinna know y'ad a business. Mus' be better 'n bein' a lowly shipper, eh? This was marked express, so it's prolly why I was d'liverin' it instead o' a bigger bloke. I gots lotsa shortcuts I kin use 'n bypass a lotter shipment checkpoints bigger vehicles gotter deal with. But, yeah, mus be nice. 'Ope this works out fer ya. It's 'ard makin' a bit o' shanix wither prices o' energon, yanno?" Swivel glances at Aegis yet again. "'Ow are you doin', I mean, shanix wise? Ya gotter job?"

**Aegis has posed:**
"I actually heard her voice and followed the sound of it. She sound rather distinct," Aegis points out to Blast Off with a smile. "You see, I'm the one who flew her back to Cybertron." Her shoulders rise and fall easily in a shrug, and there's a faint twinkle in her optics.

She gives Swivel a kindly smile. "I've only met him once," she says, not commenting on whether he's classy or not; she honestly doesn't know him well enough to say. "But yes, I do have a job and I'm doing alright for myself." Pause. "More or less."

**Blast Off has posed:**
Blast Off likes being called a classy mech and somehow the shuttleformer draws himself up a little straighter at that, as if to show how right she is. "Well. Yes. Indeed." He takes the pad and begins signing, "Yes, I seem to recall you are quite skilled at delivery work. No wonder they sent you, then." He stops as soon as Aegis mentions she was the one who brought Swivel to Cybertron, pen scritching across the datapad at the mention. The shuttle's violet optics turn to stare. "YOU did?"

**Swivel has posed:**
"Mmm-hmm, yup, looks good! Okay!" Swivel peeps as she checks over the form. She tucks it away and seems to almost glow with admiration as she watches Blast Off straighten up. "I am very skilled." Well, at least Swivel is confident about something? Or maybe Blast Off just rubs off on her. She looks over to Aegis and nods, giving them femme a thumbs up. "Great! Glad yer taken care o'. I mean, glad ya got a way ter take care o' yerself. I 'Ad a bit o' trouble 'en I landed findin' work again, 'coz th'agency I worked for was in Nyon, and, well.... Nyon ent there no more." Swivel frowns a little at the mention of her place of origin being a pile of rubble. However, after a token moment or two of silence for the massively deceased, she brightens up again. "Been on as a temp, but 'opin' ta be given full time. So I's need to prove m'self all over again, but, 'ey, guess that's wot I git fer rompin' offworld. Beautiful out there, jus loik y'said, Blast Orff. Beautiful."

**Aegis has posed:**
Aegis nods her head to Blast Off. "I did. As I said, it was on my way. I'm not a passenger craft, but Swivel isn't very large, and I had room. She probably couldn't have gotten a ride on a proper passenger craft. Most non-Cybertronians simply WON'T land on Cybertron. And most of us," she taps her chest lightly, "are picky about currency." She sighs softly.

Then she twitches slightly at the mention of Nyon, though not for the reason that Swivel is sad...yet at the same time, the reason Swivel is sad is what brought Aegis there in the first place a few cycles ago. But that's another story. "There is a lot of beauty to be had in the universe, that is true," she says softly. "But here is where I felt I was needed." She nods to Swivel. "I would have come back if I thought I couldn't take care of myself."

Then she turns her optics back on Blast Off for a long look. "I had a drink with your /acquaintance/ the other day. The red, white, and blue Seeker with the ego," she notes with a faint smile.

**Blast Off has posed:**
And appreciating one's skills, when deserved, is just fine. And Swivel's do seem deserved, so the Combaticon gives her a small nod of approval. "Yes. I'm still doing various..." He glances towards Aegis, "Things here and there, but I would like to stay... small. Quiet. Not... bring a lot of attention to myself here, you know?" In other words don't tell anyone I'm here Ok? Hint hint hint. He can't say too much more with Aegis here though. Nyon brings back some unpleasant memories. "Yes... well. Thins change, after all," he says quietly, then starts striding towards the crate when Swivel's comment on the offworld has him looking her way again, and something shifts across his face, something almost wistful. "It is, isn't it? I am... pleased that you were able to see it."

Glancing to Aegis, he is about to nod- when she brings up Starscream. Ugh, that guy. At this he stiffens a little, drawing in some air through his vents. "I see." He doesn't sound overly pleased. Not angry just... aloof. "Yes, I am all too familiar with him. Telling you how great he is I take it?" Because Blast Off is totally one to talk, right?

**Swivel has posed:**
With her head tilted, Swivel stares at Aegis a moment longer, catching that change in demeanor when Nyon was mentioned. But surely, Aegis isn't from there, is she? Swivel doesn't ask or say anything (for a change) about the matter, but instead offers up a little shrug. She returns her attention to Blast Off, nodding as he talks. "Quiet. Gotcha," Swivel responds. She raises an optic ridge and nods, smiling, following up with two rapid taps to her helmet and a wink. "Quiet. Like space. Space is very quiet..."

 Swivel pauses a moment to listen for a bit, rather than prattle off whatever comes to mind. However, just about any comment can start her up again. "....Starscream, however, is NOT quiet. Bleh, I was workin' cleanin' tables at a bar in Rodion, ya moight know it, Maccadams? 'Enway 'e was there. Not really one fer keepin' a low profile. Silly Starscream. 'E kin be a real pest, though! 'N I dun offen say tha' 'bout 'enone."

**Aegis has posed:**
Aegis raises an optic ridge. "If you recall, I did see the two of you together the first time..." she notes, perhaps a little distantly, to Blast Off. "But yes, he is quite sure of himself." She sounds more amused than anything else, yet her optics narrow just a triffle. "Yet...as brilliant as he seems to think he is, I'm not sure if he realizes how much danger he keeps putting himself in." Tilting her head to the side. "Perhaps you should tell him to also adopt a philosophy of...less attention being better...if you care about his wellbeing at all."

She then looks over at Swivel. "She has it in one. Starscream is not quiet, though I wouldn't go so far as to call him 'silly'." Then she smiles. "Pest isn't quite appropriate either." She taps the side of her face thoughtfully, as though trying to find the exact right way to describe Starscream.

**Blast Off has posed:**
When Blast Off smiles (rare as it is) even a little bit, it's hard to tell given that he wears a faceplate. However, his optics register at least a little less \*annoyed\* than usual. "Exactly." He and swivel seem to be understanding each other here. "It's very quiet." Then the other two both speak of Starscream and Blast Off tsks. "Well... you are right," he gives Aegis a nod, "Starscream is not silly. But pest?" He gives a mild huff. "/Pest/ I might agree to. Yes, I work with him sometimes, and yes, one should be wary around him. He is skilled in his own right, just nowhere as good as he \*thinks\* he is." Unlike Blast Off, of course. "What was he talking about? Himself?"

**Swivel has posed:**
"Well say wot y'moight, 'e's a pest s'far as I'm concerned," Swivel responds only somewhat defensively. "'Til I get m'self settled, I dinna wanner be seen assosciatin' w'im more 'n I 'ad ta t'do my job... but 'e kept talkin' familler loik t'me a'ther bar, 'n I was jus' 'NO! PLEASE NO!' in ma mind. Though I guess silly 'ent th'word fer 'im coz I 'ent offen laughin' 'en Starscream's about." Swivel crosses her arms over her chest, sticking her chin out somewhat. "I only put up with 'im coz.... well wot choice do I 'ave? I dun wanner offend 'im. Mebbe 'e 'ent no governor no more, but e's still not summon I kin afford t'ave as an enemy. For lotsa reasons... lots'em..." Swivel glances down, her voice getting quiet near the end of her speaking.

**Aegis has posed:**
The medic's optics widen a fair bit. "Pests are things that are annoying but managable," she says. "If Starscream was a pest, no one would be worried about him, and he certainly wouldn't have been on trial, and needed to have escape said trial," she points out. "No, he's a mech with ambition, and that makes him dangerous." She folds her arms across her chest. "But you're pretty much right; he did talk a lot about himself," she concedes to Blast Off with a faint smile. Still, she's watching him rather closely as though to gauge his reaction to her words.

She's a bit awkward as she does it, but she pats Swivel's shoulder. "It's probably best not to offend him, you're right. Someone like that could easily make things difficult for you if he so choose. And he seems like the sort to make that choice. Still, I don't personally hold him any ill will." She shrugs.

**Blast Off has posed:**
Blast Off quiets a bit, too, as Swivel admits to some harsh realities. And they \*are\* real. His voice gentles slightly (at least for \*him\*). "...Understandable. No, he isn't someone you'd want as an enemy. Keep your audials open, though. Someone like him has a reputation to maintain. If you have a little...dirt on him, it might be a bargaining chip for you someday." There's a pause and he adds, "And if you ever hear of some, I wouldn't mind knowing either."

As Aegis speaks, she will find Blast Off returning that same appraising look. He doesn't say anything at all at first, then proceeds to the crate and opens it, pulling out the first bottle of wine packed inside. Looks good. He glances up. "So. You followed the trial, then? What did you think of it?" Unspoken questions: did she see HIM making the shot that freed Starscream to begin with and is she an Autobot sympathizer?

**Swivel has posed:**
"Oh, I 'ent sayin' as I 'old 'im any ill will. Juss kinner wanner avoid 'im is all. S'long as we stay outter eachother's ways, things is good," Swivel quickly assures. Swivel would be aghast if this nice medic thought she were malicious or spiteful. It's always good to be on good terms with medics.

 "Oh... if I 'ear sumtin' I usually keeps it ta m'self. I mean, least 'til I kin investigate it a bit. Rumours kin get roight messy. I learns this th'ard way," Swivel says in a whispery tone without actually whispering. Don't ask how.

**Aegis has posed:**
"I think the setup was badly done," Aegis says. "They needed transparency, but not immediate physical access by the masses. I'm not sure what they were thinking, because I wasn't there. I only saw it across the media." No, she didn't see that tidbit of information, but Blast Off has no way of knowing that. "I'm not sure what to think of the Prime," she says slowly. "He seemed more ineffective than awful, if I'm to be candid. But that was only one representation, one piece of media." She shrugs, watching Blast Off unpack his goods with mild curiosity.

She nods to Swivel. "I wasn't saying that you were saying that," she says. "I just wanted to make my own opinion clear is all. And I think that everyone on Cybertron is learning things the hard way. We gave up the easy way a long time ago."

**Blast Off has posed:**
"True. Rumors are not neccessarily true. I'd say most are NOT, in fact. But if you have facts, then that can be useful. Not to spread around. That would be uncouth. I simply have found information very useful. For knowledge, for power, for one's own security. The more power you have, Swivel, whether it be ability to fight, what you know, your command of others, even if it is just defensive skills... anything at all- that means others are less likely to hold power over you. Just some food for thought, as a thank you for prompt delivery."

Unpacking another bottle, Blast Off pauses to reply to Aegis, still watching her for signs of recognition or outraged disapproval (like, say, an Autobot might show). "Badly done. Ineffective. Yes, I'd have to agree." He leaves it at that, unpacking more bottles and placing them on the shelf nearby. "I'm afraid one piece of media is all we have now. One viewpoint that stifles any other viewpoints. But easy way? What would the \*easy\* way be?"

**Swivel has posed:**
"I kinner wish some things weren't so 'ard. I mean, I woona want everyhtin' t'be easy, but some things, yanno? Loik.... loik it'd be noice if it were easier t'trust yer own gov'ment. Or 'ave friends wi'out worryin' 'bout 'oo or wot y'are. 'Eck, it'd be noice if jus' stayin' functionin' wunt so 'spensive. Yanno?"

 Swivel listens raptly to Blast Off's speech about knowledge and power. And one can almost hear the cogs in her processor turning as Blast Off flicks on the proverbial switch. "Tha's prolly why folk are always affer me ta spy fer 'em.... mebbe I shoo start collectin' the knowins fer m'self... but I'm not sure I'd 'ave the... the... tha somethin' ta use it."

**Aegis has posed:**
"The easy way would be if everyone could throw their prides out an airlock for a few seconds and talk like civil creatures," Aegis says flatly. "War just ends up in a bunch of dead mechs and over worked medics," she goes on to say. "Primes have a history of being no good. But rebel thugs aren't just a different kind of problem." She coughs softly. "Let's say, as a medic, I promised to fix someone's wings, but only if I broke their legs off first. Sounds sort of counter-productive, doesn't it? Wouldn't someone going to see a medic want to come out as a whole mech?" Uh-oh, she's one of those: An idealist!

"Spying is dangerous stuff Swivel," Aegis cautions. "Anything you see or hear that is in the open, you can repeat, but never betray a confidence willingly. That will give you more grief in the end than the shanix would be worth. Spying also means you're either picking a side and spying for them, or you're spying for everyone and after a while no one will trust you. I don't think you're the kind of person that wants that. You strike me as too social for that." She smiles faintly. "But, people are often careless, and they will do and say things when they think that no one is watching. Things that are not confidential."

**Blast Off has posed:**
Blast Off is pleased to be the one who does flip that switch, too. "Exactly.That would be \*exactly\* why they are. You do have power- or could." He thinks over it a moment, then adds, "Well, \*I\* could be that something, if you wanted. Of course, yes, I offer that because it would benefit me, too," He says matter of factly. "It's your choice and you can come to me for advice- or do not. I will not hold to you either. But if there comes a time you seek advice, then perhaps I can be of assistance."

He gives Aegis a slightly sour look. "I am not saying that she needs to actively spy for \*anyone\*. Just that it can be wise to keep one's audials open. I also believe it is wisest to listen- and keep those secrets, unless of course it becomes vital to use them. No need to gossip or be a loudmouth- that would only get someone like her in trouble." He brings his hands in front of him and adds, "What would you have "rebel thugs" do when their government won't listen to them? When it jails and mutliates them for daring to speak out? At what point does it become worth it to fight for your freedom, then?"

**Swivel has posed:**
"Yeah... YEAH!" Swivel agrees with Aegis enthusiastically. Swivel is her own kind of idealist, although she often lacks the intellect to convey her ideals. She rolls her shoulders and glances at some of the wines removed from the crate she delivered, feeling proud because nothing is broken. Yet. She takes special care of fragile things! Her beaming and enthusiasm drops a little. "Yeah..." she agrees again, although slightly sheepishly. "I 'ent the sorter person 'oo kin spy. Tha's why I's always say no. I dun wanner close doors. Yanno?" Swivel gives a side glance to Blast Off, as if measuring him up under a new level of scrutiny. This shrewd sort of expression seems out of place on the young femme's face, and it doesn't last. "Yeah, I think advice wu'be good. I'll keep tha' in mind." It sure beats being force-fed advice from Blurr, especially that whole tidbit about kill or be killed.

 And then the conversation escalates to a new level of dark. "...erm...." Swivel looks as though she were about to say something in regards to thuggery and corrupt governments, but for a change, she thinks better of it. Instead, she finds something else to say. "Well, if I wanner keep myself emplyable, I prolly shoo not lolligag f'too long. Sooner I report back, sooner I get paid 'n kin get another job. Roight now jobs'er competitive..."

**Aegis has posed:**
Aegis holds up a finger. "First, fighting and killing aren't the same thing. I could, in theory, punch you right now and it could turn into a fight that we could both walk away from." She holds up another. "Second, I'm pretty sure that the only people who have fallen are not just the government bodies that are responsible for making, or executing, bad policy. If that was the case, things wouldn't be so screwed up." A third finger follows. "My issue isn't with the 'rebel' part of the statement, but with the 'thug' part. Rebels can be eloquent, you know." She smiles faintly, even a bit pointedly. Wait, was that pointed /at/ Blast Off?

The look she gives Swivel is regretful. "My apologies, I shouldn't have gone so far." She offers her a rather archaic looking half-bow. "If you truly have to go, that is your decision, but the two of you obviously know each other, and if I made you uncomfortable, then I should be the one to leave, not you." At least she can be gracious, yes?

**Blast Off has posed:**
Swivel's shrewd look brings pause to the Combaticon, and he suddenly wonders if \*he\* is the one who just went too far. He frowns a bit under his faceplate, his optics darkening almost imperceptibly, before he reaches to sort more bottles. "Very well. I hope all your doors \*stay\* open, then." He seems to doubt it somehow. "Your prompt delivery is commendable. I'm sure we'll meet again."

He finishes placing the last bottle when he turns to listen to Aegis, the drakened look still there. Subtle but there, some of the shuttle's icy aloofness edging into his attitude. "Perhaps. And perhaps the government officials aren't the only ones who have fallen, but sometimes change is... painful. There are too many interested in maintaining the status quo, after all, and willing to do anything to keep it. Including manipulating and sacrificing others." (Because the Decepticons never do that right?) "I think things have gone past the point of easy solutions." The other spacecraft's comment on eloquent rebels causes Blast Off to stiffen, blink, and turn to suddenly sort through the bottles again- already sorted bottles. "Yes. Well.. perhaps. I should probably get back to... to this. The sorting. Very busy here, you know." Cough.

**Swivel has posed:**
"No no. I doooooo 'ave ta go. Dun worrt 'bout me bein' made uncomf'table. I'm usually pretty good at jus' changin' the topic 'en it goes sum'ere I dun loik." Swivel flips on a quick grin. "Sees, I gots lotser things t'say 'bout all tha' sorter thing, but I knows if I gets on th'topic, I 'ent gonna be leavin' 'ere anytime soon, an' it 'ent good fer business. Ya see? So really, no worries."

 Swivel nods her head to Blast Off, smiling warmly despite his increasing coldness. Surely, it's all directed at Aegis. "Thank ye kindly. Good luck, again, on yer business. I gotter g'off 'n get more jobs, get more shanix, 'n get a proper tune up. Slap-patchin' 'n cheap fluids only take one so far, yanno?" Swivel winks her optic and turns to leave, whistling a chipper tune.

**Aegis has posed:**
Aegis passes a hand over her face and shakes her head. "That's what I said. That we're past the easy part." She sighs deeply. "Look, I came home to quite a mess. And it would be arrogant of me to think that I, a single medic, could have done anything to tip the scales." Then she looks down at her boots. "Still, I feel some guilt. I ask myself, what if I HAD been here..." She rubs her hands up and down her arms.

"Very well then," she says to Swivel. "You take care of yourself." Her expression is thoughtful as she watches the cheerful femme go.

**Blast Off has posed:**
Blast Off gives Swivel a nod as she leaves. "Until next time," He says, voice cool, cultured, and a little bit distant. It remains thus as he turns to look at Aegis before continuing to find busywork to do. "One person CAN make a difference. Especially as they make connections and use their skills towards.... productive pursuits. They can certainly influence the area around them. Just like.. like..." He waves a hand around the shop. "Like this wine shop opening will affect many who live in this neighborhood- and perhaps much further beyond. ...Ripple effect. Just like the ripples of wine."

**Aegis has posed:**
Aegis nods once. "Well, I'm here now," she says. "And if I haven't offended you /too/ much, I'll probably be back. We could all use a good drink these days," she adds with a wry smile. "But I'll let you get back to your business. Good luck with it."

**Blast Off has posed:**
Blast Off isn't sure \*what\* he thinks of Aegis, but she is a potential customer and perhaps even more importantly- she is a fellow spaceship. So she MUST be alright ultimately, right? "Very well. I shall be open here in a few cycles and plan on offering some of the finest wine found anywhere across the galaxy. And as a space craft, I expect you would know quality when you find it. It shall be here." He gives her a polite nod and gets back to work.