June 21st, 2002
~Swivel(A), Arcane(A)

Crossroads
        The crossroads here are one of the few remaining functional intersections on Cybertron. Four thoroughfares enter and exit this cloverleaf monstrosity made up of intricately woven levels of superhighways, but the actual routes can only be determined by traveling them. Stacked three levels above the surrounding landscape, the entire exchange is covered with a huge glass dome. The purpose of the dome was lost long ago with the construction crew that built this interchange, but now it simply provides some shelter from the occasional caustic storms that arise on Cybertron.
        The area around the interchange is relatively flat and since the crossroads are raised above it, there is room underneath for travelers to rest or admire the open view. Hotly contested in more recent times, whoever controls this central transit point could potentially control entrance to Iacon as well as the Crystal City so the Autobots and neutral citizens of Crystal City try and keep close guard over it.


Swivel [Flip Car] [A]

Obvious Exits:
 -U- Up leads to Sky above Iacon Crossroads
 -N- North leads to Ancestral Overpass
 -S- South leads to Crystal City Highway
 -E- East leads to Old Expressway
 -W- West leads to Ruined Outpost


-Moonlight is walking through the Crossroads, humming a little tune. Her walk is jaunty and self-assured as usual.
-A vehicle comes ripping along the roads. Hitting an odd bump it launched into the air, and then lands and keeps going, not disrupted at all. The car does a quick turn skidding sideways until it stops, making a terrible screeching sound.
-Moonlight stops walking and watches the vehicle with interest. Certainly a helpful model for getting away, something Moonlight is highly familiar with.
-The low buzzing rumble of the engine resonates a few moments, though the strange car seems to be perfect still. it goes into reverse a few feet, then transforms into a rather young seeming femme.
-Moonlight grins slightly. "You're one of those Autobots. Yes, I've heard of them. Very interesting." Her tone has a slight, sarcastic ring to it.
-With one hand swung nimbly behind her searching for a weapon she forgot to bring, she stares at the femme. She sneers at the sarcastic tone in her voice. "You are a condescending one, aren't you?" she replied, putting her han calmly to her side having realized there was nothing to grab. The small femme perches the other hand on her waist, her optics staring intensely at the other femme.
-Moonlight grins. "Maybe. I was just commenting on the fact that I don't see a lot of your kind here. Last time I saw a Bot was when Ultra Magnus made a mess of my paint job."
-Swivel crosses her arms calmly and tilts her head to the side. "I don't heed boundaries often. I myself don't necessarily see your here either." Swivel looks around. Usually she swept by here so fast she didn't see anyone. Seemed this femme was the only one here, so she eased herself. There seemed to be no sign of hostility or dang,er but she still had to be aware when dealing with the opposing faction.
-Moonlight chuckles. "No boundries eh? I like that. Too bad you're one of the reds."
-Swivel grinned. It was a compliment, wasn't it? Swivel enjoyed compliments, even from those nasty over dominent cons. Her grin turns to a smirk. "Not so bad yourself. Not like some brute dimlights i heard that would attack head on upon seeing a bot. I see flaw in that behaviour." still feels rather alarmed, but she's always on her feet. Never trust a con...
-Moonlight waves her hands in front of her body. "I don't like fighting. Bad for business and all. Besides, I'm a crap job at it."
-Swivel nods. "Seems we have something in common. Not combatants, nor are we looking for a fight. I see I have no quarrel with you... of course, I doubt things will stay that way, con," she says not in a prejadus tone, but more or less dissapointed.
-Moonlight smirks. "Apparently I get under people's armor (aka skin). Your Elita One isn't so fond of me. But I typically stay out of Autobots' faces."
-Swivel says, "Elita One isn't really fond of many people. She seems easily agitated, especially with cons. Ahem...." she looks away. She was starting to blab a little. "I suppose your smooth way of talking and sarcasm does the trick,"
-Moonlight shrugs. "What trick?"
-Swivel says, "geting under people's armor!"
-Moonlight tilts her head to the side. "Some people find me charming. Actually, I'm surprised how few mechs here are interested in femmes. I guess it's the war. I had them crawl all over me back on Monacus."
-The approaching sounds of whirring helicopter blades signals the arrival of another individual. As the helicopter approaches landing, it transforms into the venerable Transformer known as Arcane. He lands on the ground and stumbles and falls, using his black cane to help himself to his feet.
-Swivel turns startled as another bot arrives. Hum... her conversation might with the con might make her look bad. Well, at least it isn't as bad as Phantom. She almost hits herself for thinking like that, it's probably very hard on him. She looks at arcane, wondering if he was always clumsy. "Well, probably is the war. Why don't you jsut go back to monocus if the war is that much of a problem for you?"
-Moonlight notes Arcane's arrival and nods politely, if somewhat saucily, to the older mech. She then turns back to the femme. "Because I'm wanted on Monacus by the underworld."
-Arcane walks over, leaning on his cane for support. He nods to the other two, saying "And good cycle to you folk."
-Swivel looks at arcane closely. Oh, he's an older, much older, bot than herself. "Uh, good cycle, sir," she says.  Swivel looks at Moon "Hum, i wonder why."
-Arcane looks at Swivel, having just entered the conversation "Wonder why what?"
-Moonlight speaks up for Swivel. "Why the Underworld on Monacus is after me."
-Arcane quirks an optical ridge at Moonlight "And why's that? Gambling debts?"
-Moonlight throws back her head and laughs. "Not quite, though I do dabble in gambling now and then."
-Swivel croses her arms looking at the two. "Hum...." shakes her head. She'd never been to monocus. She wondered what was worse. Being at war or running from the Underworld or whoeevr they were.
-Arcane smiles and asks "Did you deny the affections of the wrong individual, my dear?"
-Moonlight chuckles. "No, but I was rather attached to the wrong mech. My mentor was the leader of a highly prominent smuggling ring. He got careless and attracted the animosity of the other smugglers. They banded together to dispose of us. To my knowledge, I am the only one who escaped."
-Arcane does not smile. He nods and says "I am sorry for your loss."
-Swivel looks at Moonlight. Recently sotries about being close to teh wrong people have been floating about. She almost praises her youth and lack of yet being in a relationship.
-Moonlight frowns slightly. "And that's what it is. A loss, which means it can be found again. I don't think that Swipe is dead."
-Arcane nods and smiles "Optimism is good. Without it, it is difficult to face the challenges Fate throws at you. I myself have lost ones close to me. I know the feeling."
-Swivel looks down. Loss? Close ones? Swivel had a shortage on both. She hasn't lost much nor face much tragedy, but she hasn't really had any enjoyable experiences or close relationships. "humm..."
-Moonlight shrugs as though trying to shake off the oppressive mood that's gripped her. "I'll get him back someday."
-Swivel quietly looks around. "I'm sure you will with a good ataitude like that," she says quietly.  Swivel looks at arcane. "Pure chance."
-Arcane nods "Well, I only stopped by to see who was blipping on my radar. Now that I know, I'm going to depart for my home. You two are welcome to join me for a drink, if you like."
-Moonlight makes a face. "That would probably get me in trouble. But I appreciate the offer."
-Arcane looks curiously "Are you on duty?"
-Moonlight shakes her head. "Naw. But 'Lash would have my hide."
-Arcane shrugs "For what?"
-Arcane looks over at Swivel "Whiplash. A Decepticon of some repute."
-Moonlight crinkles her face up. "For consorting with the enemy and all that blah blah blah." She turns to Swivel. "Whiplash. A very devoted and powerful Decepticon."
-Swivel says, "Whiplash? The one who trashed Ph.... er, I've heard that name before!"
-Arcane laughs "Ah, but, Moonlight, you could justify it by saying that you were gathering intelligence, or somesuch."
-Moonlight lets those around her see the glint of her optics from beneath her hat. "Hmmmmm. I like the sound of that. You're a canny fellow, aren't you?"
-Arcane taps the side of his head and smiles "Comes with age, my dear." He looks at Swivel "Care to join us?"
-Swivel looks at them. "No, I should be heading back now..." she says.
-Arcane turns to walk "Follow me."
-Moonlight nods and falls in step behind Arcane.
-Arcane stands before the door to his domed abode, and makes a bizarre hand gesture, while chanting obscure words "Azon'chakai, sammarantez sathow." And with that, the door unlocks and opens.
-Arcane walks into the center room and calls aloud "Computer." There is a beeping chirp as if to acknowledge the call. Arcane says "Play Barion Ranultz, by the Zhydine Symphony Orchestra, 4th Movement." The computer intones "Acknowledged, Sagacion." Music begins to play from speakers around the room, a bizarre electronically synthesized classical piece from an alien race you may or may not have heard of.
-Moonlight looks around. She's been here before, but she was in a bit of a hurry that time. "Nice pad you've got here."
-Arcane nods and smiles "Thank you." He walks over to one of the shelves and pulls out two glasses and a silver flask. He says to Moonlight "Carterian Enerbrandy alright by you?"
-Moonlight nods her head. "Sure. I usually have plain enerwine. But I'm always up for a new brew."
-Arcane pours the intoxicant into the glasses, and hands one to Moonlight. He then walks over and takes a seat in his strange golden throne, taking a stool from the side and placing it nearby, saying "Have a seat."
-Moonlight glances at the stool. Not the most cushy seat she's seen, but it'll do. She sits down.
-Arcane takes a sip and says "I apologize for the lack of comfortable seating. I live alone, and it is so rare that I have visitors.
-Moonlight wraps her legs around the stool legs. "No problem. Beats sitting on the floor."
-Arcane says rather bluntly "So how is Enfilade doing?"
-Moonlight shrugs. "I don't see her much. Last I heard she was back up on her feet."  Moonlight thinks for a moment and makes a face. "How's the kidlet from the wall?"
-Arcane sighs and takes a sip of his drink "Hyperdrive is recovering. Physically. Mentally... I'm not so sure. The Decepticons really messed up his head."
-Moonlight nods grimly. "I don't like their tactics most of the time. A little heavy handed in my opinion. Too many of them enjoy their job too much."
-Arcane nods "To that I agree. One in particular I find disturbing is Psykeout. Do you know much about him?"
-Moonlight nods and sighs deeply. "He's my new duty. I'm supposed to make sure the Bots don't turn him into an energon grater."
-Arcane nods "But what do you know of him, personally? Aside from being a child-torturing sick fragger, I mean."
-Moonlight takes off her hat and lays it aside. "Everyone has a story, and not everything is always as it seems."
-Arcane says "Perhaps. I have heard your story. What of his?"
-Moonlight shakes her head, "I don't know really. I know he was an unaffil once. That he wants to be respected by his faction, but doesn't seem to achieve that respect. That he is rather twisted an angry."
-Arcane nods "Does he have anyone he cares about, a bond-mate or offspring, or close companions?"
-Moonlight shakes her head. "No. He's always telling me /how/ alone he is. Sometimes I think I'm his only friend." Makes a sound of disapproval. "If he would stop being so morbid, maybe people would like him better."
-Moonlight nods. "Yeah, he keeps waving his 'collection' of body parts around. I think it's kind of distasteful. But he keeps me supplied with liquer so I've got no complaints."
-Arcane nods and seems to dismiss the topic of conversation with a wave of his hand, saying "So how goes life in the Decepticons for you?"
-Moonlight shrugs. "It goes okay. Psykeout hasn't tried to leave the City yet, so my duties have been very lax. I've been working on my newest hidey-hole."
-Arcane smiles "I don't suppose you'll tell me where that is, neh?"
-Moonlight flashes a grin back. "It wouldn't be a hidey-hole if I told you now, would it?"
-Arcane nods and takes a drink "So do you have any other current duties besides kidlit-sitting Psykeout?"
-Moonlight waves a languid hand. "Not currently."
-Arcane hmphs "Well, that must be terribly boring."
-Moonlight shakes her head. "Not really. I like having my leisure time."
-Arcane nods and then quirks an optical ridge, asking "How would you like to increase your usefulness?"
-Moonlight raises an optic ridge. "Oh? Not sure if I like the sound of that. What is on your mind?"
-Arcane reclines in his seat, smiling "Any fool with a gun can hurt and destroy life. But few have the hands that can heal and create. If you were so motivated, and wished to learn the art of repair and healing, I could teach you."
-Moonlight shrugs. "Maybe. I don't know if that's my thing."
-Arcane says with a smirk "Well, if you were ever interested, I'd more than happily teach you a thing or two." There seems to be the faintest sense of inneundo in that statement.
-Moonlight shrugs. "I'll consider the idea. Might make me more indispensable."
-Arcane nods "That's idea. I enjoy quite a bit of freedom as an unaffiliated mech, because of my medical expertise. Both factions want me in their employ, so I am somewhat untouchable so long as I maintain my neutrality."
-Moonlight thinks about this. "Come to think of it, having an extra skill might not be so bad."
-Arcane smiles and takes a final draw of his drink. "Well, I'd like to say my door is always open, but I do have to keep it locked most of the time. Dangerous times, we live in, neh? However..." he hands Moonlight a datapad "Here is my radio frequency. If you'd like to contact me, for a tutorial or just for some friendly conversation, by all means do so." He places his glass to the side and says "I'm afraid I have to enter an inert state for a bit. This old frame of mine requires more rest than you young folk. Have a nice cycle, Moonlight."
-Moonlight nods her head, stands up, and places her glass somewhere off to the side. "You'll probably be hearing from me soon then." She reaches for her hat and plunks it on her head. "Be seeing you." And she heads for the door.

[OOC] Arcane says, "If Arcane teaches you how to be a medic... A) It reduces the number of deaths and injuries. Arcane may be a Bot, but he doesn't want the destruction of all the Cons. Only some of them ~_^. B) If Arcane teaches you, it will most likely form a friendship between you and him, something he can use to get intelligence, etc. and perhaps eventually convince you to join the Bots (so he hopes, anyway) and C) Becoming a friend and teacher to one of Whiplash's comrades will likely enrage Whiplash, and that just makes Arcane happy as a clam."