1043/Whirl Walks Into a Bar

**Whirl has posed:**
Whirl walks into the bar -- err, the inn, head bobbing from side to side as he struts in. "Hello, you lucky, lucky people," he says. "I'm \*here\*. Let the fun begin!"

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock was sat one of the window tables, reading a datapad with a drink sat nearby, she'd glance up hearing Whirl only to glance back down, she had her cheek planted in a folded hand as she read, merely acknowledging the rotary with a simple nod.

**Whirl has posed:**
Whirl recognizes Starlock from the medbay and, because she's nodded at him and therefore acknowledged his existance and thereby signaling her willingness to be graced by his presence. "Hi Medic Person!" he says, chicken-walking over toward Starlock. "I'm Whirl, we met yesterday. What's the what?"

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock raised a ridge but nodded once more. "I'm aware, you're very hard to forget, even by someone who has memory issues like me." She'd say in a gloomy tone as she looked up at Whirl, and gave him a grin. "It's Starlock also." She'd add on before looking back down to her datapad. "Nothing really, just reading.."

**Whirl has posed:**
Whirl's optic crescent moons. "I am unforgettable," he agrees, standing near Starlock's table. His head bobs about, as if scanning the room for potential threats or the odd shiny distracting thing. "Whatcha reading?"

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock thought herself hard to forget, or at least hoped so, being a purple Autobot medic in sea of red, orange and white others. "Uhhhh." She'd sate, glancing up at him, wondering if she should really answer that, but she rather be truthful in this case. "A novel.." She'd glance away, sounding slightly embarrassed, whoops she'd been caught with her head in the clouds.

**Whirl has posed:**
Whirl's head tilts to one side, then to the other, then back again. His rotors twitch as he processes this concept. "...like....what kind of novel?" he asks, almost warily curious. "...is it a romance?"

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock stared at him, unsure how to answer that, maybe that was just something he liked? "Fantasy actually" she'd chirp, however there was romance in it... Though could probably figure that out for himself later. She'd shift uncomfortably, trying not to see tom rigid or standoffish.

**Whirl has posed:**
Whirl blinks his optic. "Fantasy, huh?" he says, ticking his claws together. "...that could be good, I guess. I mean, it's no romance but romance, I mean, come on? Who wants to read about happily ever afters and people gazing longingly into each others optics and living together in a non-blasted hellscape?"

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock stared at him once more as he rambles on, and simply.. Quirks a ridge in questioning at him.

**Swivel has posed:**
Yet another patron has arrived at the Red Guardian. Swivel enters the bar, wearing her usual unobstrusive demeanor. She's not particularily shrunk in on herself, nor does she swagger, nor does she zip around like a turbosquirrel on boosters. Just a simple, plain, walk as she wears a plain, simple, neutral face to the world around her. She gives her cursory glance around for anything threatening to her person, as is habit, and then quickly finds a place to sit near the exit.

**Nightlash has posed:**
Nightlash strides into the place and takes a few steps in before pausing, looking around, and frowning... "Huh...thought this was..." She takes a few steps back to pop her head outside the door and re-reads the signage out front...then shrugs. "Eh, whatever, this'll do..."

She makes her way over to the bar and just claims a seat to call her own...by promptly writing her name on the bottom of it before sitting down proper.

**Whirl has posed:**
Whirl continues on his theme. "And the titles! Sweet Primus do not get me started on the titles! So generic, am I right? I'm right, you know I'm right! "The Air Commander's Secret Protoform" and "The Tarnian Prince" or -- and this one's just, like, wow you would not beleive this one but I swear I saw it: "Recruited by the Prime!" Can you believe that?!"

Whirl begins stalking back and forth, claws clicking. 'Just, generic, extruded book product, no real substance, no real plot, no real characters! Just a bunch of generic people doing generic things in a generic way! AND, the tricursed things are so \*short!\* you end up having to buy half a dozen at a time if you want to have enough to read through an entire duty cycle! And then, you find out half the ones you got are just repackaged editions of stuff you've already read! What kind of monster does that!?" He pauses, as if realizing what he's just said. "Errr....so I have heard. From other people. Who are Not Me. People who read those kinds of books. Who are Definitely Not Me. Nope. Not Me At \*all\*"

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock noted both Nightlash and Swivel, nodding to them both in greeting as she looked back at Whirl. "Their good to laugh at once in-a-while, specially with titles like that." She'd grin slightly, trying /very/ hard to not laugh at some of the stuff she's read.

      She'd listen to him rant, and.. Well, given what she heard? She /very/ much didn't believe him for a second that he wasn't speaking from experience, and just had this amused grin on her face. "People that are not really good at writing and just want to make some quick money." She'd nod.

**Swivel has posed:**
Good. Made it to sitting down without anything bad happening. That's a feat! Swivel places her hands on the top of her table, and just stares at them for a solid moment. She's hearing bits of conversations around her, including Whirl and Starlock's edifying conversation about bad literature. She glances up, catching Nightlash in an act of vandalism. However, she doesn't correct Nightlash. Or say anything. Or even give her a judgmental stare of disapproval. She just quickly looks down at her hands.

"What'll you have?" A server asks Swivel, causing her to look up again.

"Coolant, please. Wait. No. I'll have Blue Engex." Pause. "No, go back to Coolant. Yes. Coolant. Sorry."

Swivel looks up again to where Starlock and Whirl are, then back down at her own table. Up again. Down again. Then she remains plastered to her seat, for now.

**Whirl has posed:**
Whirl nods, head bobbing. "I know, right?" he says, clicking his claws together as he struts around Starlock's table as if unable to contain his own nervous energy. "Or -- or you know what's worse? When you find an author yu really like, I mean, like you really-really like but the stupid slagger goes and gets themself shot by a 'con sniper before they finish their last book in the series! How am Iesss...is, how is, I was going to say how is, how is a fan supposed to find out how things ended?! Fanfiction? Please! If I...they...someone...not me...blast it..."

**Nightlash has posed:**
Nightlash just sort of settles there in her seat and kind of...shuffles about, debating the options rather critically as she considers drink options...and finally just shrugs. "Uh...surprise me with something, I guess. I dunno..." She tosses the menu aside because it's been rendered useless for her needs and looks back at Swivel and stares... and blinks... and...stares...and then shrugs because she did nothing wrong.

Honest!

Then there's Whirl, and Starlock, and the juke-box off in the corner...and that seems to be pretty interesting so she just ventures that way, carrying her claimed seat with her because ...of course she is.

**Hound has posed:**
Hound enters the bar after finishing a shift of work. The scout's been doing mostly paperwork all day and a nice drink and some relaxation among friends would be welcome. He steps inside, surveying the scene. Nightlash is... walking with a chair? He blinks, continues to see Swivel over there, Starlock and Whirl over yonder. Hmm, Ok. He will smile to anyone who looks his way as he heads to the bar to order a drink.

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock nodded to him, and just gives him a stupid grin at him with a hand to her chin, a she shook her head and chuckled, yep, he was not going to convince her now, that he /wasn't/ who he was talking about and juch... Shook her head. "Relaxe, I'm not one to judge, I drew fanart most the start my time online so." She'd chuckle with a shrug.

      One of her finials twitched at hearing Nightlash's approach and she'd look over, giving the femme a nod and.. a confused ridge raise, but she was quick to shake it off.

**Swivel has posed:**
Well turning a blind optic to vandalism is one thing, but when Nightlash picks up the chair, Swivel lifts a hand, single index finger extended in protest. Then she just seems frozen like that for a moment, then drops her hand.

Other staff seem somewhat perplexed by Nightlash's behaviour, watching her somewhat warily lest she try to leave the room with the chair. But as long as she stays within the bounds of the establishment, they don't interfere.

Between Nightlash' antics and Whirl's woes of unfinished stories, Swivel nearly misses Hound's entrance. But her wandering gaze does finally settle on him and his smiling face, which does get a reflexive smile out of her in turn. After looking about, Swivel picks up her coolant and wanders over to Hound.

**Nightlash has posed:**
Nightlash sets up her stool near the jukebox and starts plugging in a song selection that...will undoubtedly range from annoyingly stick-in-your-head to obnoxiously loud to laboriously slow...and now that her stool's been planted, that's where she opts to sit, and she just sits there, waiting for her random drink order to be delivered as she bobs her head in time to the song.

In this case, obnoxiously stick-in-your-head peppy. As for everyone who's staring her way? Eh, she ignores them, or seems to not notice.

**Hound has posed:**
Hound stands by the bar, having ordered the Petrex Gold this time. He spots Swivel approaching and gives her a nod. "How's it goin'?" He asks good-naturedly, eying Nightlash but not saying anything, either. Though her music selection does get the scout's foot tapping. "Nice!"

**Whirl has posed:**
Whirl tickticktickticks his claws together, seeming to have gone off into his own little world for a bit. Perhaps he's contemplating the mysteries of the universe. Perhaps he's trying to plot out a suitable ending for the series that Someone (NOT HIM!) reads that was left incomplete by an inconsiderate Decepticon sniper.

The mention of fan art brings him back into himself. "...wahhhht? Seriously? What was your handle?" he says, his rotors starting to swirl slowly. "I mean, y'know, I might have stumbled across something you did back in the day. I was never one for drawing art myself, I did..."

Whirl cuts himself off, head going up, left, right, down and back to focusing on Swivel. "...artist, cool, cool," he says, claws clicking in counterpoint to the music playing. 'Yep, coolcoolcool...hey, uh, I just met you and this might be crazy but I could use a drink and since I don't have a mouth or hands, I kinda need help getting energon into my tank so...help a glitch out?"

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock's face lit up a bright shade of pink when he starts asking about her artwork and she just glances away and fidgets. "I..I uh, didn't post it anywhere, I didn't want to get in trouble for slacking on my intended job." she'd weakly chuckle, rubbing at her neck.

      She gave a wave to Hound once she spotted him, after turning her head to look at where Nightlash had gone. She'd take a moment to listen to the music, it didn't seem bad by any means, (At least by her standards.) and merely nodded.

      "I can understand where that can be sad, and frustrating... And kind of questionable to continue, for those that worked with the person." She'd muse in thought, tapping on her face platting. "Sorry, I'm not much of a talker, more a listener." She'd smile weakly. "I can sit through Sky Lynx's tales, if that puts it into perspective."

      She'd blink as he gets turned around and starts talking to Swivel, she then just... slooowly sinks into her seat, out of second hand embarrassment.

**Swivel has posed:**
Swivel seems actually a bit startled by the sudden beat of peppy music, nearly dropping her drink. As it is, though, she just tightens her grip on it, its contents sloshing dangerously close to the rim but never spilling. Realizing it's just music, Swivel's shoulders lower somewhat and she looks up at Hound.

"Oh it's going. You know. War out there. But I've got a drink and shelter, so no complaints here." Swivel says. Once again her grip on her coolant tightens, almost as if it were some sort of lifeline. She takes a small sip, her gaze shifting as she takes continuous stock of her surroundings before looking up and tilting her head. "Y---uhhh?"

And this time, when Whirl addresses her, Swivel does fumble her drink, spilling its contents. She saves about two third of it. Nonetheless, she looks dolefully at the spill. She then looks up at Whirl, tilting her head the other direction, mouth opening and closing a few times until she manages to push some words out. "Uh... are you asking me? Or... did you just get turned around?" Swivel asks, clearly bemused as she pulls out a rag and begins dabbing herself dry.

**Nightlash has posed:**
Nightlash finally gets her drink! Huzzah! She takes it all in one go, hands the glass back to the mech delivering it to her, and mutters. "Another...whatever seems good." She shrugs. "Surprise me again." She vents softly and looks at the jukebox again as the song continues on.

**Whirl has posed:**
Whirl does not suffer from second-hand embarassment! Or first-hand embarassment! Maybe a kind of bespoke, custom-made embarassment that is super expensive and requires a craftsman to work for oh, just oodles and oodles of time to create out of high-quality materials.

Whirl's optic flickers as he looks at Swivel. Waitasecond, he was talking to Starlock, wasn't he? But...maybe not? How hard did he hit that wall last night? Did he knock something loose that he didn't mean to knock loose? "Uhm....am I asking you?" he says, antennae flicking back and forth. "...I think so? I mean...I asked \*somebody\* and if you want to do it, that'd be great. I think I have a funnel on me but if not I bet the bar does? For, y'know, people who don't have mouths."

**Hound has posed:**
Hound gives a nod back to Starlock, smiling. He turns back to Swivel as she nearly drops her drink, but she's got it in hand before he can react and attempt to help, so he just waits until his own drink arrives. With a thanks to the bartender, he swishes it around a little before taking a sip and nodding at Swivel. "Yeah, there are many less fortunate than u-uhhhh..." He blinks as Whirl starts talking to Swivel suddenly and...uh. He tries to stop the drink from spilling but again, not fast enough. Hmm. He looks from her to the rotary, then reaches back and grabs a napkin to wipe the mess from the floor.

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock's finials on the sides of her audial headphones droop as she looks at Whirl a bit nervously, trying to get some sort of tell on him, as she stared. As this all felt very similar to when Darkstar had tried to get her and Aid to drink at Maccadams. She'd taken in a quite vent and she'd lean over to attempt to catch Swivel and Hounds optics and mouthed: "I'm so sorry." to her with a knitting of her ridges and an awkward smile.

**Swivel has posed:**
Surprise Nightlash, eh? Well, no one really expects to be able to do that. But she is brought out a colourful drink with two lit sparklers placed in it.

Swivel continues to just stare up at Whirl. She glances around, then back up at Whirl. At this point she is dabbing the same spot on herself despite, while Hound cleans up the real mess. "Ah. Well." Swivel clears her vents and speaks up, looking to the nearest server. "Could someone provide this mech with a funnel or other apparatus for alternate energon consumption?" She requests in a clear, commanding, yet not demanding, voice.

To her surprise, it gets a response. One mech looks to another, there's an exchange of meaningful glances, until one scurries off to find something to accommodate Whirl.

Meanwhile, Swivel is looking over at Starlock with a somewhat curious expression, catching that silent apology. Swivel responds with the universal, exasperated "what can you do?" shrug and headtilt.

**Nightlash has posed:**
Nightlash blinks at the sparklers as the drink is delivered and just... stares. There's no drinkin git, she just...gets lost in the sight of the sparkling potassium nitrates and sulfurs, head slightly tilting to one side as the thing almost seems to leave her vaguely hypnotized...

And that's where she sits until they finally burn out. And then she just sets the drink on top of the jukebox and leaves it there, not even bothering to drink it.

The music shifts from preppy poppy tunes to something pointedly...well, it sounds like something that would be blasting from the undergrid during gladiatorial matches. Heavy, loud, full of that solid drum beat.

**Hound has posed:**
Hound catches Starlock's mouthing and grins briefly, giving her the shoulder shrug of- ah well, what can you do? It's Whirl. He finishes cleaning and drops the trash into a disposal, then turns back to the scene- and his drink. After taking another sip, he pauses to watch Nightlash and asks loudly enough that (hopefully) she'll hear, "How about you, Nightlash? Having fun?" He glances towards the source of the music, a little less enthused with this particular song.

**Whirl has posed:**
Whirl stands patiently as Swivel calls for someone to assist him. He seems oblivious to the discussion going on around him, despite the fact his head bobs and weaves in a variety of geometric shapes. Up-down-right-left, then left-up-down-right, then up-down, up-down, left-right-left. He whistles a low, soulful note and ticks his claws together.

As he stands there, one of the servers comes over with a funnel and a bottle of standard energon. The server holds it out to Whirl, holding it so that he doesn't actually run the risk of touching Whirl's claw hands.

Whirl looks at the funnel, then to the server, then down at his claws, then back to the funnel. "...thank you," he says, with a surprising amount of grace as he takes the funnel and the bottle.

**Starlock has posed:**
     Swivels response does relax Starlock a bit, her shoulders sinking as she physically starts to relax, then again, it.. Might also be the sound of the music, this type of music was actually something the smaller femme enjoyed, anyone that walked in on her cleaning the medical bay with her music players headphone jack unplugged knew this. She'd take in a deep vent.

      She'd shutter her optics, watching Whirl and the server, tilting her helm slightly. While outwardly she seemed more curious, inwardly though? cursing herself and sputtering other nasties as she tried to figure how to articulate what she wanted to say, and thinks for a long moment, before pulling her sketchbook from her subspace, and flipped it to a new page, and started working.

      "...I used to be a Librarian in Harmonix." She'd state, as if it would give some insight to Whirl.

**Nightlash has posed:**
Hound's question is met with a rather...well, abrupt and decisive response. "No." She leaves her untouched, formerly burning drink where it's at and looks towards the ceiling...and frowns. "Wonder what it looks like outside..."

And, with that, she slips off her stool, flips it over, crosses her name out, and just drops the thing where she stands carelessly before starting towards the door. "This place is boring..."

**Swivel has posed:**
Whirl is given the polite "You're welcome" by the staff before quickly finding less troubling customers to attend to. One of the other mechs cames out late with a mop, only to realize Hound had already attended to the spill. "Oh. Sir. You didn't have to..."

Swivel seems to shrink when the music gets very loud. Swivel also seems to jump at the clatter of a stool being dropped, and she looks over as Nightlash leaves in a fit of boredom. Her optic ridges knit together as a look of concern washes over her features. She seems to almost go after the femme, but something causes her to remain where she is. Unsure what else to do, Swivel looks down at the two thirds remaining of her coolant and chugs it down.

**Whirl has posed:**
Once the server departs, Whirl occupies himself in opening his refueling port, something that takes a bit of doing but he manages it in a way that some might describe as heroic or inspiring -- though, presumably not to Whirl's face. Not twice, at any rate. Inserting the funnel into his intake, Whirl pours energon from the bottle into the funnel and \*siiiiiighs\* contentedly. "Oh yeah, that's the stuff! Tastes like...nothing in particular but still, mmmm, feel that indicator gauge rise up!"

**Hound has posed:**
Huh. Whirl showing... manners, who knew? Hound gives the cyclops a smile, too, before turning back to Nightlash, where the smile fades. Hmm. "Rough cycle?" He watches as she does all.... those things, and heads out towards the door. "Er.... I hope next cycle is better?"

The smile returns briefly as Swivel thanks him. "Aw, don't mention it. One 'Bot helping another." He leans back to enjoy his drink, still facing her and looking as pleasant as always. Until... well the look of concern returns. "Swivel, are you alright?" He winces towards the msuic, "Is it pretty loud, isn't it?" He starts heading over to the stand to turn the music down some, or maybe change it.

**Nightlash has posed:**
"No...not rough... going to find my drone. Think I left it somewhere..." She pauses at the door, after-the-fact remembering her drinks and just throwing a more-than-enough payment on the nearest table before walking out. It's not too long after that the sound of her engines start up, only to be stifled into silence as cloaking systems take over.

**Whirl has posed:**
Whirl's optic flickers as Nightlash leaves, rotors flicking as he hears her engines start up. "...well," he says, perhaps louder than he should. "Some folks just can't be out in public, can they? Weirdos..." Yes, this is the pot calling the kettle a darker shade of grey. He continues pouring energon into his system, whistling that tuneless note he seems to be so fond of.

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock glances up to watch Nightlash go, a frown on her face... They really needed to get nightlash a new drone, and soon.... There is a moment where she stops drawing, to think about how that drone of Nightlash's may of helped in concerns with the damage to her.. She'd hem and tap her lip in thought. Starlock's optics then snap up when Nightlash mentions needing to /look/ for her drone and she knits her ridges, visibly cringing... Which then became something of a /glare/ when he mentions Nightlash in that manner.

      Her optics then track to Hound, and she'd sigh, rubbing at her helm, as she resides herself to one very harsh thought. "We really should... Do something about replacing her loss Drone, since she use it to help those that where held captive." She'd state, looking to Hound again with a frown.

**Swivel has posed:**
"Oh. I'm just... Nightlash has been rather out of it a lot lately." Swivel rubs the side of her helmet, wincing a little. She then sees Hound heading to the jukebox and is about to say something, but then goes silent. Even over the music, Nightlash mentioning her drone causese Swivel to look up with some alarm. But hearing her engines, she knows there's no way a grounder like her could catch up with the femme. "..."

Swivel keeps her optics on the exit as a hand reaches back, feeling for her seat to make sure it is where she left it. She then plops herself down. After a moment or two, Swivel's gaze wanders back to Whirl. "Well.... at least you're enjoying yourself." Swivel raises her empty glass to the gangly rotary. It's shortlived, though, when Whirl makes his remark about Nightlash. She gawks at the mech, but doesn't glare quite like Starlock.

Speaking of Starlock, she frowns at the mention of getting a new drone. "I've often been told not to expect compensation for the sacrifices I've made, since everyone is expected to make them." Swivel's tone suggests she doesn't agree with this statement. "But... we should see what the techs can come up with."

**Hound has posed:**
Hound looks concerned as Nightlash leaves, gazing out the doorway after she's diappeared and wondering what all is going on there. Maybe he should have a talk with her later... He turns back to listen to Whirl and his whistling, while looking to Starlock, then Swivel. "I agree. She's seemed... a bit lost without it, would you say? That's the impression I've been getting." Though as Swivel speaks further, the scout tilts his head. "...I'd... say that can be true sometimes, yeah, but... a drone's probably replaceable." He looks at her a moment longer. "Are /you/ alright?" He looks around the room, there's a LOT of people in a mood tonight. Hmm.

**Whirl has posed:**
Whirl finishes refueling and removes the funnel from his intake port and reseals his tank. He takes the bottle and funnel over to the bar and sets them carefully on a free spot before strutting back over to the general area where Starlock and Swivel are. Overhearing Hound he bobs his head. "Sure, pop on down to stores, grab a new one off the shelf and bingo-bango-bungo you're all ready-steady-set to go! Right? Sure you've lost the time and effort and energy you spent geting used to the old drone but \*whistle-sound\* so what? Who cares?"

**Swivel has posed:**
"The question is, will she accept a replacement for /that/ drone? While I don't peg her as the sentimental type, you never know." Swivel scratches the side of her cheek, avoiding the question as to whether she is alright. She tilts her head at Whirl's remarks and claps her hands. "See? Whirl is right on point with his satirical remarks." Swivel sighs. "But the old drone is gone. Would a new one as close to the original work? Or would it backfire?" Swivel scratches the side of her helmet.

**Starlock has posed:**
     "...I know." Starlock stated simply to Swivel, not that she knew Swivel was often told that, but.. It just was something often preached, and it too, was something she also didn't agree with. "..Still though, speaking from a medical standpoint, given I cannot actually speak of what I know, but what I've witnessed of her? She...." Her voice box would cut off as she started to struggle to find the her voice. "...Needs it." She'd then take a deep vent, still giving Whirl a dirty look, before turning to Swivel.

      "I... don't know, I know she's stated to me she wants /her/ drone back, that it was like a part of her was missing and.." She'd think. "I think.. I know why now." She'd murmur, scratching at her cheek. "I've tried to think of ways to maybe get a /part/ of it back to use in rebuilding it but.. I'm also a realist, and realize that, anything not blown up is likely been obliterated, melted and scraped." She'd vent a sigh, punching her nose bridge.

      "I honestly..Don't know... She also could of just been in shock and mourning, given how attached she was to it." She added, while pointing to herself, asking Hound if he wanted her to answer his question and or if it was directed at her.

**Whirl has posed:**
Whirl's claws tick-tick-tick in a rapid tattoo. "It might work," he says. "I mean, it's a big might. Some people get really attached to things like drones or personal weapons or blades or -- I knew a mech once, he was just super-super attached to this lug wrench of hers, it was like her absolutely most favorite tool ever. Well, maybe after her conjunx, but it was still pretty close between her sweetie and her wrenchie but..." He cuts himself off and click-clacks for a few seconds then. "...no, wait, that was a book I read...I think..."

**Hound has posed:**
Hound frowns at Whirl, but it does make him think. "I... well, I mean, I'm not saying it'd be easy, but it'd be the start of moving on. That's what we need to help folks do sometimes, right?" He lifts both hands in a sort of questioning gesture to Whirl and then Swivel. "I don't think we can replace that one, but it might help take her mind off her loss?"

He pauses to listen to Starlock, bringing a hand up to scratch at his chin. "Hmmm. Well, if we could get a part of her drone, that could help... if it's possible." His hand drops down, "Or maybe we should just ask her. Find out what she wants?" He pauses again at Starlock's gesture, not understanding a moment and then- "Oh, ha, how are you? I guess I'll ask everybody." He smiles to the room with a chuckle and takes another drink. Then pauses to squint a bit at Whirl.

**Swivel has posed:**
Swivel crosses her arms, glancing off in a direction not currently occupied by anyone. It takes a bit before she finds it, but there her gaze rests. "Well... one might be surprised with the things they think they need but can do without." Swivel sighs and looks down at herself. "Or surprised by what one didn't think was so very necessary until it's gone." Swivel brings a hand up to rub the side of her helmet, optics squinting.

"...As unbalanced as she always seemed... I think the drone just kept her barely.... aligned. With something. What, I'm not sure. But when we were dealing with psychosonorum, she somtimes could overcome the hallucinations somewhat because her drone wasn't effected, and would.... how do I put this... it anchored her into reality. It sent her feed of what was really happening, which caused her to question what she was seeing or hearing. At least, that is what I gathered from my observations. It's possible, that without it to constantly report to her about reality, she has no basis in it." Swivel then looks around, as if suddenly remembering Whirl was there. "Primus. I shouldn't be discussing this sort of thing openly or in a public place." Swivel stands up abruptly.

**Whirl has posed:**
Whirl fhhhhhhts pretty well for a guy who has no mouth. "Reality is overrated," he says. "If it wasn't that all my stuff was here, I'd chuck it for the next world over. But then, if I did that Rond would probably follow me over and give me the 'more in sorrow than in anger' eyebrows."

**Starlock has posed:**
     While it wasn't what she expected form Whirl, she'd nod to him, even if part of it was from a book, he was still on the right idea. "Problem is, any remains would be in Helex where she blew the Decepticons..." She had to bite back what she wanted to say. "Power base..." She'd grumble. "Power supply up." She'd vent.

      She'd then stare are Swivel as she basically confirms what Starlock's little theory, and just groans, running her hand down her face. "I'm an /idiot./" She'd abruptly state. "...Thank you, Swivel." She'd state quickly before the other femme can vanish. "I can't say why, legally... But, It seems her drone is.. more then what any of us anticipated it to be." She'd vent a sigh.

      She'd then look to Hound, some of the irritation at herself showing in her face and debates saying what was on her mind, before raising a ridge at Whirl "Rond?"

**Hound has posed:**
Hound is back to tapping at his chin as Swivel speaks about Nightlash. "That... could make a lot of sense," he sighs. He looks around as she mentions saying this in public and coughs. "...yeah, perhaps this would be better discussed elsewhere. I still think, with her around." He looks to Whirl. "Don't be too quick to discount this life, Whirl, there's some beuatiful things- and people- out there." ...Somewhere. He then looks at Starlock as she looks at him and blinks. "Huh?"

**Whirl has posed:**
Whirl nodnods. "Yeah, Rond! You know! He's a Psychiatrist, he's yellow and orange or white and yellow or something like that. Really, really, really not-memorable guy, but he's got these amazing eyebrows. I mean, I am totes jealous of his eyebrows." He sighs. "...so expressive, eyebrows...lucky ol' Pond..."

**Swivel has posed:**
Swivel nods to Starlock. "I... will tell you about any further insights another time. Privately. If I can think of any." Swivel says. However, she seems disinclined to discuss Nightlash' situation further in the current setting. Swivel looks to the exit, seeming preoccupied for a moment or two.

However, just before she actually leaves, something Hound says causes her to pause. She turns to look at Hound. "I wish more people felt that way, sir."

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock would blink for a minute, unsure who Whirl was speaking of, before instinctively flipping through her sketchbook to a sketch of Rung, with with words doodled in the corner in bold "Rung, His name is RUNG, you diptstick." after a number of other misspellings of his name scratched out in the empty spaces.

      Before she can say anything she looks to Hound and Swivel and nods in agreement, unfortunately her Brain-to-mouth filter then shuts off and grumbles to herself: "Would help if we were not surrounded around a bunch of Aftholes."

**Whirl has posed:**
Whirl turns his attention on Hound. "Welllllll, yeahhhh, I mean, \*I'm\* in this world so that makes it easily the awesomest place in the whole of the ever. So, you're all welcome for that. I mean, not that I expect an award or a parade or anything -- but if you all don't have anything better to do, let's do that! We could have confettie and streamers and a marching band playing "Hail to the Whirl! It'd be great! A real morale booster!" He flits his rotors.

Whirl looks over at Starlock. "Yeah, that's what I said!" he says. "Flange!"

**Hound has posed:**
Hound gives Swivel a wry smile. "...Yeah, me too. It's hard for people to see beauty in times like this but..." He glances to Starlock, then out towards the doors and beyond, "...believe me, it's still out there. Just maybe a little harder to spot sometimes." He turns to stare up at Whirl, then chuckles. "Well, I'll definitely accept that you make the World a... more interesting place."

**Swivel has posed:**
Swivel freezes for a moment when Starlock mentioned being surrounded by aftholes. She frowns deeply. However, she exerts a much stronger brain to mouth filter and holds her silence. She instead turns to Whirl. "While I am not sure a Whirl parade would quite get the umph we need, something to boost morale would be fitting."

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock vented a huff, apparently unaware she'd spoken loud enough for anyone to hear her, and just looks at Hound and whirl with a raised Ridge, before glancing down to her sketchbook page. "...Name I wrote down for 'em says 'Rung'." She'd nod, deciding not to comment on Whirl's idea of a celebration.

      "...Yeah.. I agree Swivel, smelts been too damn depressing of late." She'd sigh, rubbing at her forhelm. "...I've not been helping in that department, moping instead of.. /doing/ something." She'd grumble.

**Whirl has posed:**
Whirl beams, optic brightening as people agree that he is the awesomest thing since purple energoodies. Because those are the mostest awesomest thing besides him. Well, and Polonium Pops. He struts a bit, pacing back and forth. His claws aren't clicking for once, almost as if he's distracted by the praise. "Ok, ok, so maybe instead of a parade we could have an 'Everybody tells Whirl he's awesome' Day?"

Whirl looks over at Starlock, blinking rapidly. "Yeah, that's what I said!" he says, sounding a bit exaasperated. "Round!"

**Swivel has posed:**
"Why not just a... tell everyone they are awesome day? Seems a lot of folk aren't feeling awesome. Present company excluded." Swivel frowns. "But... if it is prompted, then people who already don't feel awesome will know it's just part of a celebration and consider it insincere. So, uh, scratch that." Swivel shakes her head. "I've got some stuff to think about. So.... have fun." Swivel goes to pay for her single drink, and discretely and anonymously pays for Whirl's drink as well, including a HUGE tip. "I'll be heading out now."

**Hound has posed:**
A morale booster would be great, yes," Hound agrees with a smile, arms crossed as he leans against the bar. He looks sympathetic to Starlock, adding, "It's been a rough patch lately, not surprising that people feel down. Don't be too hard on yourself." He chuckles at Whirl again, "Well, I can tell you that you seem pretty 'awesome' to me, today? Maybe you can be part of the morale booster?" ...Whatever that is going to be? He looks to Swivel, "That sounds good to me." He waves as she leaves, then finishes his drink. "Yeah, I probably better head off, too."

**Whirl has posed:**
Whirl considers. "...as long as everybody has to tell me I'm awesome, I'm down for that," he says, ticking his claws again. Then he hears Hound say he's pretty 'awesome' today and the ticking stops. "...I am, aren't I?!" This is aparently as close as he's going to get to saying thank you. "H'okay, I'ma go do something I probably shouldn't."

**Starlock has posed:**
     "Alright.. See you Swivel" She'd say, rubbing at her temples in thought, but gave the fellow femme a two finger wave... Before letting out a bitter laugh at Hound. "Oh it has been, and trust me, I can handle my own self loathing, it's the beratting from others that makes it all the worse." She'd vent a huff, before nodding at the group.

      "Alright.." She'd glance away, then up at the ceiling, and then back down to the table, and over to Hound. "Sorry... If I've been coming off as snippy... And the mood swings." She'd add, before glancing to her radio, and datpad, thinking about something else she should do.

**Hound has posed:**
Hound finds himself chuckling as Whirl ...is Whirl. Then he turns to Starlock and raises a hand towards her, palm facing flat. "Nah, it's fine. You're fine. We all get a bit... moody dealing with this war." He pays the bar and then starts heading to the door. "Just... keep at it. Don't let the grousing get you down." He stops and looks out the door. "....And keep your optics open for the beauty that \*is\* out there... even if it is a little harder to find these days." He smiles and heads off.

**Whirl has posed:**
Whirl whoa-whoa-whoas. "Is somebdy giving you grief, Starry?" he asks. "Because if they are and if you would like them to stop, I can have a quote-talk-unquote with them -- by which I mean, I can beat them like a Decepticon's bad habit. Just gimme a name! Or two names!"

**Whirl has posed:**
Whirl doesn't wait for the names. "Y'know what, don't tell me, plausible deniability! I'll find the sleemo myself!"