1114/Moonlighting

**Blast Off has posed:**
Blast Off is here in Stanix for one obvious reason- WINE. It is here that the orchards supply the stock that makes it to his wine shop, and every now and then he likes to come by and check how things are going, see if the harvest will be good this year. So then he can make plans for the upcoming season. Onslaught would likely be proud of such planning! Though speaking of Onslaught, Blast Off is still a bit ...unsettled about his own hand-withdrawal the other night in medibay. He really shouldn't care what others think! He's a space mech! He doesn't care what some... groundpounder thinks, does he? Wait, well... Goth isn't exactly a groundpounder, and actually, come to think of it... Onslaught \*is\*.

Ok, maybe it's better if he stops /thinking/ at all. Yes, he'll just stand here at the edge of this vinyard, smell the scent of energrapes, and just \*be\*. Yes. No more confusion! Viola!

**Whirl has posed:**
Whirl is out for a flight. No particular reason or direction in mind, he just wants to be out and about and on his own for a while -- mayyybe, if the opportunity presents itself, he might pound on something or someone, just to get some of his bad thoughts to Shut the Frag UP, For Primus's Sake.

He's made his way toward the edge of Decepticon territory, buzzing as close as he can to the border, maybe creeping just a biiiit over the edge, into Stanix, the land where the weather and the terrain are almost as unpredictable and quirky as he is. They do grow some good energrapes though -- probably even at that orchard down below!

**Blast Off has posed:**
Blast Off strides along the edge quietly, pausing to sniff at some energrapes. Ahhh, he can even pick the scent up with his olfactory sensors- now that's good stuff! He straightens to look out across the orchard when his aurdial sensors pick up something else. Hmm. "Vortex?" He turns, frowning. There's a rotary nearby, but.... no, it's not Vortex, sounds different.

**Whirl has posed:**
Whirl spots some Decepticon wandering in one of the orchards. From his vantage point, he can't really tell who it is nor does he really care. He's bored and a tad edgy, definitely in a mood where he shouldn't be around his fellow Autobots. They tend to frown on him having fits of temper in-house, as it were. But if he hassles a Decepticon, well, that's practically an obligation!

Whirl dives, putting on speed as he attempts to buzz Blast Off.

**Blast Off has posed:**
Blast Off is still looking around as the buzzing gets louder. Finally, the shuttleformer looks up as he sees Whirl diving towards him. "What the-" The Combaticon blinks, then ....dives into the vinyard. Hey, he needs some cover! Instantly his ionic blaster is out, trigger finger tense and ready. "I'd say you're very, very \*lost\*, Autobot."

**Whirl has posed:**
Whirl zooms upwards, transforming in mid-air and dropping to the ground in a move that is as reckelss and foolhearty as it is bad-\*aft\* (and it actually \*worked\* this time!). He straightens up, standing so that his chest guns aren't pointed directly at Blast Off but could be in an instant. "Nahhhhh, I'm not lost," he says. "I'm exactly where I wanna be, Decepticon."

**Blast Off has posed:**
Blast Off's optics narrow. This is that weird cyclops he met in that bar, isn't it? The one who reads the same romance novels that he- I mean that he DOESN'T read, ahem! He studies the Autobot, scanning the area for any comrades, before focusing back on the rotary. "...Is that so?" His grip remains tight on his weapon, ready to go, but not pointed at him yet. "And why is that?"

**Whirl has posed:**
Whirl shrugs his shoulders, bobbing his head back and forth like a cyber-snake as he watches Blast Off. His claws clack together, though the rhythm is off, as if Whirl is somehow missing beats. "Ohhhh, I dunno," he says. "Maybe I figured you and I should get the chance to start a book club. Or maybe I just wanted to bust some heads and, lo and behold, Primus has delivered you unto me!"

**Blast Off has posed:**
Blast Off still looks rather non-plussed. He continues studying the cyclops, bringing his weapon up front, clutched to his chest where it's not pointing at Whirl but it's rather obvious and /there/. There is a slight flinch at the mention of a book club, and he scans the area again instinctively, as if to make sure no one ELSE heard that (gasp!). There could be QUESTIONS! The comment about fighting is /much/ less worrisome, it seems, and Blast Off doesn't react much to that except to say, "Well, which is it, then? If you're looking for a book club I don't think there are many books to be found \*Here\*. A fight, however...." His grip on his weapon tightens.

**Whirl has posed:**
Whirl has a well-deserved reputation for being unpredictable and for being quick to fight. However, what often goes unnoticed is his tendency to latch on to an opponent's weaknesses. And Blast Off's flinch at the mention of books gets Whirl's attention. "I dunno, you look like the kinda mech who always has a spare datapad on him," he says. "Chock full of all kinds of gripping reads. I'm right, aren't I? I know I am, just admit it."

**Blast Off has posed:**
Blast Off flinches again. Ok, that's NOT the answer he was expecting. The shuttleformer takes a step back, wing elevons twitching once or twice, brushing past a row of grape plants. "I-I do NOT," he hisses at Whirl, then takes another look around to make sure nobody is watching this! LOoking back at the 'Bot, he insists, "Absolutely NOT. I'm a Combaticon! I don't have time for...for such silly, trivial nonsense! It wouldn't be befitting of a proper \*warrior\* such as myself!" HUFFFF.

**Whirl has posed:**
Whirl watches Blast Off, his head bobs slowing as he focuses on the 'proper Combaticon \*warrior\*' in front of him. "...except, y'do," he says. "You totally do. You do and I know you do and you know you do. Hell, those \*grapes\* know you do. You can hear them, can't you? I can. They're saying 'just admit it Movor, just admit you love you some trashy romance novels!'"

**Blast Off has posed:**
Blast Off stares at Whirl in horror, taking another step back. His spare hand clenches into a fist, swinging down to his side as the tailfin on his back starts almost vibrating with offense. "NO!" He stops, again nervously glancing about, even at the grapes for a moment suspiciously... then he straightens and \*huffs\* at the Autobot. "I DO NOT!! I-I... It's NOT my FAULT!" His cultured voice is sounding even more high-pitched than usual as it drops in volume for a sec, "Okay, I-I might have read one /once or twice/ when I was \*really bored\* ...you know, something... Vortex probably left behind! Or Swindle! But-but that doesn't mean I...you know, actually \*read them\*!"

**Whirl has posed:**
Whirl's optic flares in what a fellow empurata might recognize as sadistic glee. Or maybe not. Even among his fellow freaks Whirl is a tough read. "Suuuure, not your fault," he says, sounding almost sympathetic. "You were young and vulnerable, an innocent and some librarian handed you a datapad, said "c'mon kid, first one's free" and then, nexxt thing you know, you're downloading datatracks like they're gonna outlaw it tomorrow. Can't get enough of that wonderful stuff, right? It's okay, I understand. You're just a fellow trashy book junkie."

**Blast Off has posed:**
"I AM NOT TRASHY!" Blast Off is nearly flailing now, as much as he can with the near-forgotten gun in his arms. "I AM REFINED and SOPHISTICATED!" The refined and sophisticated mech screams amongst the grapes before grabbing a branch and yanking it off in a huff, then waving it at Whirl. "SEE? ENERWINE GRAPES! I'm even over here studying the enerwine grape harvest, that is TOTALLY NOT trashy! It's cultured and high class and thoughtful and CLASSY!" He finishes, still waving the grape branch around like a madmech. Some grapes may even fly off and hit the Autobot.

Then he stops, face shifting to the side as he murmurs, "Though.... there \*was\* this most \*excellent\* librarian in Altihex, she had the \*best\* selection of...." He stops and blinks, then continues much more insistantly, "...non-fiction and maps and charts and other \*importannt\* and absolutely not \*trashy romance\* nove- volumes! Tomes! RESEARCH!" The shuttleformer stops, vents heaving now, branch still held in front of him like some shield as he attempts to regain something vaguely aloof.

**Whirl has posed:**
Whirl blinks at Blast Off, having gotten more of a reaction than he expected to have. '...y'know, this reminds me this novel I read once," he says. "All about this guy who was just sooo uptight and stiff and who ends up getting stuck living with this other guy who was all carefree and happy-go-lucky and by the end of the book they went from driving each othe crazy to, y'know, driving each other crazy. In a good way."

**Blast Off has posed:**
Blast Off vents a few more times, then realizes how ridiculous he looks waving a grape branch around. Tossing it to the side, he lets out a ragged \*huffff\* as he calms himself down. Apparently he's had a lot of pent up stress. Yes, that's it. He just goes back to staring at Whirl. "...." He seems to mull this over a moment before responding. "Sort of an.... odd couple situation?"

**Whirl has posed:**
Whirl nodnods. "Yeah, it was actually pretty good, I mean, way better than it had any right to be, really," he says. "By the end, when the two decide to become...hold on, you read it or is it ok if I spoil the end?"

**Blast Off has posed:**
Blast Off's optics narrow again as he studies the other mech, but his demeanor is far calmer than before. Seems he's managed to regain some of that 'sophistication'. Still... he leans in slightly, brushing a grapevine away to really look at the cyclops. "I... I'm not sure. I mean, I do so hate to have endings spoiled but..."

**Whirl has posed:**
Whirl nodnods. 'Okay, I won't tell you,' he says. 'You should read it for yourself; it's really, really worth it. I mean, it just ties everything together. It's easily the best ending I've ever read." He brings his claw up to his face as if he were going to kiss his fingers. He stops himself, dropping his hand hard and fast to his side. "...so, these are good grapes, huh? What makes 'em so great?"

**Blast Off has posed:**
"I... Well, I mean...." Blast Off stammers slightly as he glances off to the side a moment, "Well, maybe I.. I normally don't read such things, like I said, but...\*best ending\*? You've piqued my curiosity." Blink. "In a... /scholarly/ way, mind you." He makes a half shouldered shrug, casually waving his spare hand. "Perhaps you can tell me the title and ...well, if I'm really bored sometime and have nothing better to do..." he glances to the grapes, "Obviously something I don't often encounter but..." he rambles on a bit longer before asking, "What's the name of the book? Just to... know. For future reference." He sniffs, "Not that I know \*why\* you think any of that reminds you of \*me\*. No, \*that\* would be the story of the sophisticated mech who finds true love with an equally intelligent, thoughtful, and \*sophisticated\* mech. Yes, enerpeas in a pod!" Yes! He nods fervently.

Wait, not peas. Grapes. Whirl's asking about grapes. He looks down at the branch he casually tossed aside, picking it up and brushing it off some. "Well, you can see it in their shape and color. Note the faint rosy blush?" He holds it up, letting the grapes shine in the light. "See how plump they already are, even this early in the growing season? THAT, my friend, THAT is a fine quality grape!" He glances upwards, "The acid rains add a certain special extra touch that gives wine from this region extra body and heft. It's quite lovely." He looks back to Whirl, pondering. "....Do you actually \*drink\* wine?"

**Whirl has posed:**
Whirl's head tilts up to the left as he tries to remember the title. "Moonlighting," he says. "It's about this artist mech who was wealthy but who lost his money after his manager absconded with his savings," he says. 'Only thing the mech was left with was a partial share in this seedy informer/poet/auctioneer, so the artist ends up working with the poet for Reasons, but trust me, it Makes Sense In Context. And by the end, after a couple Big Misunderstandings -- that actually come about for plot reasons and aren't just shoehorned in -- they get their Happily Ever After."

He slows down and blinks at the grape Blast Off holds up, head bobbing back and forth as he tries to take it fully in. "...s'pretty, I'll give you that," he says, then blinks his optic. "Kinda? I mean....I don't \*drink\* like you guys with mouths and throats do but I can pour wine into my tank." He pauses. "...kinda loses some of the flavor but...yeah, I can 'drink' wine."

**Blast Off has posed:**
"Hmm," Blast Off listens as Whirl explains the plot, nodding once or twice, even chuckling briefly once. "Moonlighting. I'll have to keep an optic out for it." Pause. "When... you know, \*if\* I ever find time to read such silly things." Ahem.

He clears his throat, glancing out to the vinyard. As Whirl proceeds to admire the high quality fruits, Blast Off relaxes just a tiny bit, "It is!" he agrees, then quiets as Whirl explains how he intakes liquids. The shuttle's expression falls somewhat. "I am... sorry to hear that. That you can never really appreciate the ..." he looks down at the grapes, "fullest flavor of such exquisite fruit." He looks back up at the cyclops. "I do hope you can at least gain \*some\* sense of the taste. I suppose even an Autobot deserves to sample the finer things in life, once in awhile."

**Whirl has posed:**
Whirl's optic blinks again. "...you said Autobot," he says, taking a step back and clacking his claws together. He laughs, a hoarse, awkward sound as if he doesn't do it often. "..hehh...okay, I'm not gonna shoot you," he says. "I mean, you got every reason to not believe me -- and honestly, you probably shouldn't 'cause I can turn on a deci-shanix, but right now? I'm not gonna shoot you 'cause you said Autobot."

**Blast Off has posed:**
Blast Off frowns slightly, optic ridges furrowing, and he tilts his head just so. "Why? Why's that..." He pauses, still pondering. "You \*are\* an Autobot, correct?" He looks- yup, there does seem to be a badge there.

**Whirl has posed:**
Whirl nods. "Yeahhhhhhh but, y'know, you'd be amazed how many people look at me and feel the need to tell me I'm an empurata," he says. "y'know, just in case I mighta forgotten about it since I last looked at a mirror." He pauses. 'Not that I do that much. Look, uh, this has been fun and all that but I gotta go. Take it easy Movor, but next time, I'll probably kill you. Read Moonlighting sooner rather than later. You don't wanna die without knowing that ending, \*trust me\*."

**Blast Off has posed:**
The shuttleformer lifts up an optic ridge, taking all that in. Hmm. He huffs softly, mostly to himself at the nickname, but even the mention of killing just earns a slightly bemused expression as Whirl prepares to leave. Blast Off nods. "I see. ...Understood." Then he watches as the copter takes flight, making sure he leaves the area before turning back to his beloved energrapes.... and making a plan to go find that book!