Blackout:

-Blackout's room remains, to put it mildly, a mess, though now it's more of a zoo for an oversized, seemingly indestructible mutant drone by the name of Sprinkles than an ex-weevil frat house. But, it remains to be as safe a haven as can be on the Nemesis (or on this pathetic dust ball in general, really), so after having his brawl with Lockdown, it is the first place he returns to. Since he could get to the base under his own power (even if some of it was done walking) the helicopter is convinced he doesn't need to see a medic first thing, thus he's lounging on his have eaten berth. Time for updates, to make sure he didn't miss anything too vital in his absence from the base.- ::Private comm to Bonecrusher - Accept Y/N?::

Bonecrusher:

*Bonecrusher's been spending the last few days avoiding the medbay, getting drunk, and dealing with Autobots - all without an extra arm to strangle people with.  Needless to say, he's been so unbusy it's not even funny, lounging around outside the base walls and drinking himself into a fine stupor.  The comm comes as a bit of a surprise, though, considering the fact that he hasn't talked to Blackout in however long, so it takes him a moment to actually respond.*  :: Y -- WAS WONDERIN' IF Y'FORGOT ABOUT ME, BLENDER. ::

Blackout:

-His comeback is almost instantaneous, like an instinctive response.- ::I actually have duties and obligations that keep me from loitering around the place, you must know.:: -A pause, his nervous shifting nearly audible through the link. It goes unsaid that one of said 'duties' is periodically making sure the other hasn't blown himself up yet, even if he does not do it as often as he would like. He just doesn't admit such a thing.- ::What is your status?::

Bonecrusher:

*Bonecrusher smirks at the pause, shaking his head slightly*  :: DRUNK, SITTIN' OUTSIDE TH' ARK, WISHIN' I HAD MY ARM BACK.  LOITERIN' AROUND. ::  *He finishes off the cube he's got in hand, before adding:* :: HOW 'BOUT YOU?  DOIN' ALRIGHT? ::

Blackout:

::...dandy.:: -The helicopter quips back dryly, not wanting to go into detail about his shredded appearance or the creature taking up residence in the floor/roof above his current sleeping arrangements.- ::I have not seen you recently and so I was curious whether you were going to accept my offer to stay with me or not.:: -You know, where Blackout can keep both red optics on the slagger to make sure he doesn't go gallivanting off with the shiniest car of the week. >\-

Bonecrusher:

*Considering his current "gallivanting" with shiny cars this week will most likely involve painful confessions about past torture and Insecticons, Blackout probably won't mind him running off very much.*  :: ....I WANTED TO, BUT I NEVER GOT A CHANCE T'TALK ABOUT IT WITH YA.  YER ON TH' NEMESIS, AN'... LET'S JUST SAY, I DUNNO HOW TH' BUGS ARE GONNA DO IT FER ME.  ...BUT IF TH' OFFER STILL STANDS... ::  *There's a bit of a low growl in those words, because if they share a room Bonecrusher knows exactly what he's gonna get up to...*

Blackout:

-Oh, he reads that growl loud and clear, and considering how long they've been separated? It's no wonder something as plain and direct as that has his rotor blades shivering just the tiniest bit.- ::I am not so sure now...I do not think I am convinced you really want to stay with me.:: -The sultry tone of his voice says otherwise, but no harm in playing along, correct?-

Bonecrusher:

*No harm at all - Bonecrusher's tone is anything but casual (more filled with pent-up energy, rather), but mock-thoughtful.*  :: MM...  'M SURE YER REAL BUSY.  DUNNO IF YOU COULD... MAKE TIME FER ME...  DON'T WANNA BOTHER YA... ::

Blackout:

::It depends...whether or not you make it worth my time.:: -He keeps their mock ruse up, but the seductiveness that has crept into his voice and oozes down the comm remains quite obvious.-

Bonecrusher:

:: ....WELL, IF YER NOT BUSY, I SUPPOSE I COULD STOP BY AN' TRY T'MAKE MY CASE... ::  *Bonecrusher might not do seductive, but he does do innuendo - he's fairly good at that - and there's more than just one meaning in that comment, accompanied with that growl as it is*

Blackout:

::I do hope you are fairly close. You know how I despise waiting.:: -And Blackout can certainly get behind the other's idea of...enticement. Every single possible context, to be exact.-

Bonecrusher:

:: I CAN BE THERE IN FIVE MINUTES. ::  *Five is pushing it, really - he isn't that fast - but it's at least better than ten and besides, he's already getting up and heading for the doors.*

Blackout:

::Excellent.:: -That would be an excited, very pleased hiss. He ends their communications line and remains on his berth, waiting a couple moments before rising...and witnessing half a drone carcass falling from the ceiling to in front of his feet. With slow precision he looks up to watch Sprinkles make a couple pleased 'chirps' and wag its...thorax? at him. This...could be a problem.-

Bonecrusher:

*Bonecrusher takes the four minutes and twenty-five seconds it takes to get from the front of the Ark to Blackout's room to drain another cube - more out of habit than anything, though he suspects that if he's drunker, it'll be easier to avoid digging holes (or at least, make him limber enough to scramble out of them).  He reaches Blackout's door and hesitates for a moment, trying to decide if he should just bust in or not... Probably not.  Pretending to be polite is better for now, so he instead bangs on the door with a fist.  That's polite, right?*

Blackout:

-Cursing up and down the alphabet, he looks from Sprinkles to the door, then back and forth again several times. Bonecrusher knows he's already here, so ignoring him would be ineffective, but allowing him inside is equally unpromising. He sighs, moving to the door and opening it just enough that his front is shown.- You're late. -He tries to remain as casual as possible, his tone still rather playful considering his CPU is practically overheating from the processing power of trying to figure how he can solve this particular problem.-

Bonecrusher:

*His optics narrow slightly as he smirks at Blackout, unaware that the other is currently hiding some sort of mutant BEAST FROM THE PIT in his room.*  ACTUALLY, 'M NOW STILL 20 SECONDS EARLY.  UNLESS THERE'S SOME WEIRD TIME-SHIFT 'TWEEN TH' ARK AN' TH' NEMESIS.  *-Why is he standing in the doorway... and why does he look like slag?*  ....WHAT HAPPENED T'YOU?

Blackout:

-Ok, so that's not the topic for a distraction he would have chosen, but he'll go with it. He shifts so that he's leaning against the doorframe, a hand still firmly holding the door.- I may or may not have met with a neutral and...tied. -Better than outright losing, amirite?-

Bonecrusher:

*Not much else to distract him with, when he can't get inside and do terribly dirty things to rotorblades, now is there?*  AN' WHY AREN'T Y'AT TH' MEDBAY?  ALWAYS BITCH ABOUT ME AN' MY FIGHTS, 'S MY TURN.

Blackout:

All in due time. -Blackout assures flippantly, before it occurs to him that this is as good an excuse as any.- Actually, on second thought, you're right. I think it would be wise to have myself examined right now. And I think I desperately need the company. -He changes his tune quickly and steps outside of his room and firmly closes the door behind him. Nearly in the same motion he grabs the other by the hand (it almost makes him pause, Primus it's been too slagging long) and intends to start leading the way when there's a loud crash from inside his room.-

Bonecrusher:

......*Now, Bonecrusher ain't exactly the sharpest beartrap in the forest, but he isn't exactly stupid when it comes to crashing noises and Decepticons actually wanting  to go to the medbay.*  ....BLACKOUT...  *The unadded addendum to the other's name is, basically, "You've got some 'splainin' to do."*

Blackout:

-But Rickyyyyy D:- Yes, Bonecrusher? -Somehow, someway, Blackout actually manages to keep a straight face as he regards the other, as if nothing suspicious had just come from his room.-

Bonecrusher:

*Luuuuucyyyy!!!*  NOW, WE CAN DO THIS TWO WAYS.  Y'CAN EITHER OPEN YER DOOR AN' EXPLAIN T'ME WHY THERE'S EITHER A RAVISHED AND-OR BEATEN NEUTRAL IN YER ROOM OR SOME OTHER, MORE HORRIBLE THING, OR I CAN OPEN TH' DOOR MYSELF AN' FIND IT M'SELF.

Blackout:

-Whatever he was about to say, and believe me, he had a lot of things he was going to try and present to Bonecrusher, was replaced with a blank stare. A blank stare that slowly evolved into a glare.- What did you just insinuate about me? -Pointedly, the helicopter straightens and, letting go of the other's hand, he places the both of his on his hips, looking down at the mech. At about the same time, something bashes against the door, lightly for now, as if testing it.-

Bonecrusher:

*He looks back mildly, gears in his shoulder socket grinding as he habitually tries to cross his arms.  This kind of sucks, from a posture point of view.*  I INSINUATED THAT Y'RAVISHED THAT OBNOXIOUS NEUTRAL WHO WAS TRYIN' T'HIT ON YA EARLIER.  NOW, 'M ASSUMIN' IT AIN'T HIM IN THERE, SINCE THAT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A BOUNTY HUNTER T'ME, SO, HOW ABOUT Y'EXPLAIN WHAT'S GOIN' ON, EXACTLY.

Blackout:

How dare you even think such a thing! Just because you have the nerve to go and 'ravish' any over shined, suped up, self absorbed sports vehicle that speeds across your vision doesn't mean I would sink so... -Directly to their right something forcefully rams itself against the wall, and then again, until a hole with a weevil pretty much a good size larger than even Blackout peeks its head out and chirps "MOMMA!"-

Bonecrusher:

......*There's a giant weevil thing  calling his helicopter "momma."*  ....OKAY SEE - *turns from the weevil to Blackout* -THIS IS WHY WE CAN'T HAVE NICE THINGS.

Blackout:

...-Shuttering his optics closed he facepalms, leaving it there as he exasperatedly says- Bonecrusher, meet Sprinkles. Sprinkles, meet Bonecrusher. -Let it be known that the creature makes a strange clicking-hiss-like noise at the mining vehicle.-

Bonecrusher:

.....AN' YOU NAMED IT SPRINKLES.  *deadpan*

Blackout:

...not my idea, honestly. It was 'Daddy-Sideswipe' who came up with the atrocious title. -Just as deadpan.-

Bonecrusher:

......SIDESWIPE.  *Bonecrusher has never felt faint before.  He kind of doesn't enjoy the feeling.*

Blackout:

The thing is obviously delusional and mentally stunted. There is no other explanation for its beneficial, but it seems to enjoy dining on its own kind, so at least it is...beneficial. In a way. -Finally lifts his head up to observe the other and frowns.- ...I think it would be best if you sat down or...perhaps it is time to head to the medbay so that you may lay down?

Bonecrusher:

OKAY FIRST.  GIANT WEEVIL THING.  SECOND, DADDY-SIDESWIPE.  THIRD, MOMMA.  SERIOUSLY, BLACKOUT.  *looks at... dear Primus, Sprinkles, then back at Blackout*  COULDN'T YA HAVE JUST HAD TH' FRAGGIN' BOUNTY HUNTER IN THERE?  *weakly*

Blackout:

-He really does look affronted at that and hurt, though the latter is just covered up by more insulted expressions. The helicopter is swift with a retort, it coming out harshly.- Well, that can be arranged if you would prefer it that badly. I did promise him a second round. -Primus, would they even survive a another go?-

Bonecrusher:

AT TH' MOMENT, BANGIN' SOME LOWLIFE NEUTRAL WOULD BE PREFERABLE TO.... T'THAT  THING.  *Maybe if he doesn't look at Sprinkles, it'll go away.*  ....WAIT.  *-And now he's frowning*  SECOND ROUND?  *>\* WHO INITIATED TH' FIRST  ONE?

Blackout:

-Oh, sure, now Bonecrusher cares about the Lockdown issue. And it's never a good sign when Blackout actually has to pause and consider an answer.- He introduced the idea, however, I made the suggestion. In a way, I suppose it was a mutual agreement.

Bonecrusher:

.....HNN.

Bonecrusher:

*Oooh, that isn't a pleasant look on his face!*

Blackout:

I'm sorry, is there a problem with my association with Lockdown? Cause rest assured, I was waiting to 'bang him' until at least the third 'date'. -Kind of like your own baseball run.- For Primus' sake, Bonecrusher, we were a little too busy trying to rip one another apart to interface. I am only interested in him as a sparring partner and nothing more. -As he talks the drone creeps forward slightly to rest its chin on the helicopter's shoulder, looking as if it's saying 'hi! :3'. Such an attention whore.-

Bonecrusher:

*Relaxes visibly at that, looking vaguely relieved*  PRIMUS.  THOUGHT I WAS GONNA HAVE T'KILL A NEUTRAL - IF HE STARTS ANYTHIN'  WITH YOU THAT YOU AREN'T INTO, Y'BETTER TELL ME SO I CAN PROPERLY DEFEND YER HONOR.  FRAGGIN' NEUTRALS AN' THEIR STUPID CONCEPTS AN' - THAT THING IS KINDA DISTRACTIN', BLACKOUT.

Blackout:

While I appreciate your fervor on the subject, but it is hardly necessary. We tied, remember? I can handle him. -He taps the whip marks streaking across his face as indication. As the other points out Sprinkles Blackout scowls, shrugging the mutant off.- And you would like me to do what about it, exactly?

Bonecrusher:

.......*shrugs*  BUILD IT A DOGHOUSE OUTSIDE?

Blackout:

-Sprinkles makes that same angry noise as it did earlier and makes a valiant attempt to curl around Blackout...which is kind of awkward, considering it's still partially inside his room.- Somehow...I highly doubt that will do much good.

Bonecrusher:

*....Heh.*  GIVE IT SOME ENERGON TREATS AN' A FLUFFY BED IN YER ROOM, THEN.  SEEMS T'HAVE THIS STRANGE NOTION THAT Y'NEED PROTECTIN' - DUNNO WHERE  IT'S GETTIN' THAT.  *And that's a significant looking look to Blackout's whip-related injuries*

Blackout:

-Double takes, though not because of the look.- Just moments ago you were all about getting rid of this thing, and yet here you are, proposing I not only keep it, but spoil it? -He shakes his head.- This thing has already caused me enough trouble. -Seeming to sense Blackout's distaste, Sprinkles clings closer to the helicopter with its spiky legs and gives an innocent 'who me?' look...or as much as a mutant weevil can.-

Bonecrusher:

I NEVER SAID ANYTHIN' ABOUT GETTIN' RID  OF IT.  AN' BY TH' BY, BLENDER, I DID  JUST SPEND A GOOD LONG WHILE BARRICADED IN M'ROOM WITH SLAGGIN' WEEVILS ALL OVER TH' PLACE.  *BUT, it'll keep Blackout busy and therefore away from any stupid neutral that tries to mack on him >\*

Blackout:

Mmm...you are up to something. -He crosses his arms over his chassis and gives the other a curious look. Blackout would have even moved closer, but Sprinkles is...being rather clingy, as in 'preventing mommy from cheating on daddy'. The mutant no want a divorce!-

Bonecrusher:

FER ONCE, 'M NOT.  *He looks at Sprinkles with an amused smirk*  'S KINDA CUTE, ALL PROTECTIVE OVER YOU.

Blackout:

Cute is the last adjective I would use to describe this thing. -Glowering down at it, he gives it firm nudge with his foot.- Appalling and disturbing is more like it. It's made a nest in my ceiling and keeps leaving 'surprises' in the form of its brethren's heads on my berth.

Bonecrusher:

*Bonecrusher chuckles, looking at Sprinkles in obvious amusement*  'S GIVIN' YOU GIFTS AN' EVERYTHIN'.  WHAT'D YA DO T'MAKE IT SO EAGER T'PLEASE YOU, BLACKOUT, LEAVE FOOD OUT FER IT WHEN IT WAS STILL A STRAY?  *That's how he caught rats for Cat's food, when he ran out of the canned stuff, but he figures it works the same way for "pets," right?*

Blackout:

I haven't the faintest idea. -He admits.- I thought of it more as some Earthen fowl. With the Nemesis inhabitable, there were not as many mechs onboard, much less near the private quarters. I assumed I was the first one it has seen and thus it clung onto me...literally.

Bonecrusher:

.....*His straight face is failing so hard right now* ....LIKE....  *HOLD IT IN, BONECRUSHER*  .... LIKE A DUCK?

Bonecrusher:

*CRACKS UP*

Blackout:

....-At first Blackout looks anything but amused, but slowly...his expression does start to crumble.- It certainly does explain its appeal to Sideswipe...

Bonecrusher:

*Still laughing, Bonecrusher looks over Sprinkles again*  NO WONDER.  MAKES SO MUCH MORE SENSE, NOW, DOESN'T IT?

Blackout:

You are really getting a kick out of this, aren't you? -Doesn't sound upset about the fact despite his idle, level tone. He sighs, watching as Sprinkles gets distracted enough to snatch up a drone while still (strangling) clutching Blackout. Crunch, crunch, crunch goes its meal.- ...but yes, I am unsure you would...prefer to stay with me here. Perhaps it would be best to get ourselves a room on the Ark. -Ugh, how he despises the thought of going back there!-

Bonecrusher:

TH' CONCEPT OF SLEEPIN' NEAR THIS THING ISN'T EXACTLY APPEALIN', NO, BUT I'D HATE T'MAKE Y'MOVE JUST ON MY BEHALF.  *Except he'd totally be okay with it, really, if his tone indicates anything*

Blackout:

-...yeah, he notices that.- The place is more inhabitable than I had originally taken into account, so it would be in both of our best interests. Besides...I would not mind breaking in a new room. -His frisky mood from earlier? It's coming baaack. But as he tries to move in closer to demonstrate in some fashion exactly how eager he is he finds himself still caught on the insect at his feet. So reaching into a compartment he pulls out a canister of his uber grade and shakes it at the creature, it visibly perking up and following the flask with its eyes.- Want some? Do ya? Do ya? THEN GO GET! -He tosses it back into the room, Sprinkles making a happy!screech that could wipe the paint right off a car hood as it wriggles and scampers back into his room, nearly bowling both mechs over in the process.-

Bonecrusher:

*Bonecrusher moves quickly to not impede Sprinkles' mad rush for the ubergrade, chuckling anew and looking at Blackout in amusement*  PLAYIN' FETCH WITH IT AN' EVERYTHIN'.  YOU SURE Y'WANNA LEAVE IT ALL ALONE?

Blackout:

It has survived this long on its own, and I will return daily to check on its progress and feed it if necessary. Or walk it. Whatever. -Waves a hand flippantly.-

Bonecrusher:

*Shrugs and tilts his head down the hall*  THEN LET'S GO, 'FORE IT REALIZES YER LEAVIN'.

Blackout:

-His optics widen just slightly at that, and so...they're gone. He is not just walking, he's power walking.-

Bonecrusher:

*Follows suit, chuckling and speeding up a bit to keep pace - long legs make long strides, and short legs... not so much.*

Blackout:

-As they head around towards the exist to the Nemesis it occurs to Blackout that he is unsure where to proceed. He had never really put much thought in his old quarters on the Ark.- You have been staying in the medbay, correct? Any suggestions on where we can take up residence?

Bonecrusher:

MEDBAY AN' OUTSIDE - MOSTLY OUTSIDE.  HUH.  *Truth be told, Bonecrusher hadn't been thinking much beyond "Need To Ravish Blackout"  I GOTTA FEW OFFERS ON SOME ROOMS WHEN I GOT KICKED OUTTA MINE.  EITHER THAT, OR I CAN JUST BREAK INTO ONE OF TH' EMPTY ONES.  'S UP T'YOU, REALLY.

Blackout:

Offers? What offers? -Ventures curiously, slowing down now that he's out of range of Sprinkles. Hopefully it can't smell fear or despair.-

Bonecrusher:

COUPLE OF FRIENDS WHO DON'T USE THEIR ROOMS MUCH, AN' JEFF.  BUT I'D FEEL BAD USIN' HIS ROOM ALL OVER AGAIN.  *Hopefully it can't track  it's mother, really, is all Bonecrusher's hoping*

Blackout:

...not Jeff's. -States carefully, only saying that much on the matter.- I suppose anyone else's will do at this point.

Bonecrusher:

YEAH, PROBABLY NOT FER TH' BEST.  'M NOT SURE WHERE HIS ROOM IS  - BUT WE'LL FIND IT.  *Smirks at Blackout*  OR WE CAN JUST ROUGH IT.  TH' OUTSIDE CAN BE... FUN.  *Fun if you like to be a bit of an exobitionist, of course, but shh.*

Blackout:

...fun? -Raises an optic ridge, looking skeptical.- I am unsure I see nature's appeal. The idea of roughing it, however...

Bonecrusher:

'M SURE WE COULD FIND A... NICE, SECLUDED SPOT.  T'RELAX.  OR, Y'KNOW....  *Starts testing several doors - he figures he should be able to get an idea where the hell Mirage's room is if he could just find  something to denote it*  ROUGH IT.

Blackout:

Certainly a thought for later, perhaps. -Oh what the Pit, the next room looks empty enough for his tastes. When Bonecrusher opens it to check he 'discretely' (shoves) bumps the other in with his hip, then follows him inside.- Looks cozy enough, but I think we can improve upon it...

Bonecrusher:

*Primus, Blackout, don't you realize that you could have accused Bonecrusher of cheating on you?  Oh well, this room is nice.  A little small, but nice enough.*  OH REALLY, NOW, BLENDER?  *Turns to face him with that same smirk - more like a leer, really*  HOW D'YA SUPPOSE WE DO THAT?

Blackout:

-All in due time, slagger, all in due time.- Mm...well, maybe a couple wall hangings... -As he says that he rests back against the nearest surface, enticing the other over with a finger looped around a piece of Bonecrusher's armor.-

Bonecrusher:

Mmm...  *He's more than willing to move with Blackout's hand, reaching out and grabbing the helicopter's hip tightly*  Could use some carpet, maybe.  Wallpaper.

Blackout:

A splendid idea...and maybe some furniture. A couple chairs...a desk...-He speaks smoothly as his free hand trails idly up the other's remaining arm, the helicopter applying more pressure as he reaches his shoulder.-

Bonecrusher:

Then again, I can do with just a berth.  *His clawtips slip under the seam nearest to them, voice little more than a growl, and he leans into Blackout's grip*

Blackout:

We do need to break that in, don't we? -He murmurs huskily against Bonecrusher's lips before viciously claiming them. He has gone on quite long enough without being able to do this, so he...heh, tries and make up for 'lost time'. It's easy to see that he's not holding back, even in something as simple as this. Digging his fingers into the other's joint he pulls the other flush against him.-

Bonecrusher:

*Bonecrusher groans loudly, pushing up against Blackout and returning the kiss with equal fervor - Primus it has  been a long time.  He's also sorely missing his other arm, because he can't grab more of the other, but he does what he can with his remaining hand, sliding it around to pull at Blackout's back, hooking claws under plating*

Blackout:

-Tilting his head, he deepens the kiss as much as he is able, throwing in a nip or two for good measure. He arches at his touch.-