July 10th, 2002
~Psykeout(D), Slipstream(D), Whiplash(D), Ghost(D)

Golden Blaster - Bar Room

     A former transit station that extended both above and below ground, the Golden Blaster was recently reconstructed. This was once the junction station and has now been renovated into a quiet bar. Several tables are set about, while a former concession stand was converted to a bar equipped with stools for the patrons. The dim lighting and the smell of smoke waft gently through the sometimes still air, adding a quiet ambiance. A jukebox sits in the corner, carrying everything from the latest techno-pop to pre-war love melodies. The quiet in this room allows for deals to be made and secrets to be exchanged with little chance of eavesdropping. Behind the counter most nights is Shotglass, a femme who is very popular with the local patrons. Working the tables are the waiter, Tankard, and the waitress, Downtime.

Players: 
Psykeout 
Objects: 
Drink Menu                Slash                     Jukebox                  


Obvious Exits:
 -O- Out leads to Crystal City - Commercial Sector
 -D- Spiral Staircase leads to Golden Blaster - Dance Floor


-Psykeout sits in his usual corner, his fingers wrapped around his mug as per usual. The ener-cig offers a soft glow that surrounds his face, lighting up various places, while leaving others in shadows. His optics are quite dim, as it seems his is constantly in thought, as of late.
-Moonlight strolls into the bar, humming a whimsical little tune.
-Psykeout's optics move to notice the newest entrant, but makes no move to motion to the femme.
-Moonlight's optics go straight to Psykeout's usual corner. That perdictability is going to get him in trouble one of these days. She walks over to him, still humming.
-Psykeout bows his head slightly, thinking that he needs to find a new place to sit. Looking up, he shakes his head for a moment, before he smiles faintly. This femmes constant upbeat attitude is interesting.
-Moonlight takes off her hat, places it on the table, and sits down across from Psykeout. "Kiss anyone lately?" she asks, squiggling her optic ridges at him.
-Psykeout looks up to the femme, his optics narrowing slightly for a moment. Suddenly he realizes that she is only joking, as he motions to the seat. "Not as of late, but have a seat if you like." Taking a sip off of his own drink, he looks to her once again, "Would you like something?"
-Moonlight shrugs. "Not yet." She grins. "Seems like your seriousness is lifting a bit. Or maybe you're just not getting offended so easy anymore."
-Psykeout chuckles, "Perhaps. Or perhaps I have learned to take everything that you say, with a grain of salt. I have somewhat learned when you are making a joke, and when you are being serious.
-Moonlight blinks her optics. "I'm serious?"
-Psykeout nods once, "Occasionally, you have been known to let a grain of truth slip out of that always entertaining mouth of yours."
-Moonlight shrugs. "Glad you find me entertaining...someone has to." She grins. "So what's new with you lately?"
-Psykeout shrugs, "Nothing much. I've actually been bored off of my aft. There has been no type of excitement lately. It's actually gotten a bit depressing."
-Moonlight wiggles her fingers at Psykeout. "Tsk, tsk. You're just not looking hard enough."
-Psykeout looks around the room, then waves his hand in the air. "Where do I look, Moonlight? Do you actually think that I possess the true insanity to attempt to invade Autobot HQ? No. But...I would just like to have something more, than wasting away my time within a slag-hole such as this place." A few of the customers, as well as Slash, give Psyke a bit of a glare. Unbothered, he continues, "I mean, seriously. This place is about as exciting as listening to Shockwave lecture."
-Moonlight nods her head. "Well, it has gone a little down in intrest, but I have never been lectured by Shockwave, so I don't know how well the comparisson works. That's why I work on my own projects though. Gives me something to do when I'm not needed."
-Psykeout chuckles, "'Twas only a joke, Moonlight. You know? One of those things that you do so often. I actually thought about doing one myself. My own projects...I have thought about doing such things, but my last 'project' was not looked upon well by a certain tentacle-wearing femme.
-Moonlight leans forward slightly. "What sort of project?"
-Psykeout raises an optic ridge, "You have been to my office, no?"
-Moonlight wriggles her hand. "Sort of. Never been inside though. Some mech kept chasing me off."
-Psykeout nods once, "The mech was my 'project'.
-Moonlight ohs. "What did Whiplash find wrong with him?"
-Psykeout chuckles, "His origin did not make her pleased in the least." It seems that Psykeout is willing to share information, but also doesn't want to incriminate himself.
-Moonlight blinks. "Where did you get him from?"
-Psykeout raises an optic ridge, "It's quite the story, from beginning to end. Are you sure you want to hear it?"
-Moonlight shrugs. "If you have the time and the inclination to share...sure."
-Psykeout nods deeply, taking a drink off of his bottomless cup. Lighting an ener-cig, he leans back in the booth. "Well. It all started out about 2-3 vorns ago. Whiplash and another Decepticon were venturing off into space. I don't remember his name off hand, but it really does not hold that much importance at this time. Anyways. We had gone to a distant planet, where there had seemed to be a few mechs running around. Whiplash considered said mechs to be quite a threat to our safety. She ended up ending the life of one, while terminally injuring another. She made some sort of excuse, saying that we were in search of a place to retrieve energon. I still to this day not totally comprehend why I was on the mission. Anyways, unbeknownst to Whiplash, I kept the remains of the mech that she had destroyed. She was anything but happy, when she discovered this. Attempting to attack me, to end my life." He bows his head low, as a single ener-tear falls from the corner of his optic. Pausing for quite some time, he awaits a reaction from Moonlight.
-Moonlight nods her head. "Whiplash /is/ a little prone to temper loss. What happened next?"
-Psykeout sighs deeply, before he takes another drink off of his mug. "Blitzwing. Blitzwing was his name, if I remember correctly. Although I cannot be sure that was it. Anyways. He had quickened his speed, before Whiplash tore me limb from limb. Arriving back on Cybertron, I high-tailed it back to my office. This currently being hidden within the realms of the underground, I had no fear of being found. I hid in my office for months, creating this creature. I left 'presents' for Whiplash, scattered around the realm of Cybertron. I truly thought that she had feelings for me...something that I quickly learned was not true. So, I continued with my project. I wanted something that would always be there for me. Something that would protect me blindly. It just so happens, that the laser core held the memory of my trip to it's home planet. However, the mech remembers nothing else. He has plead his total existance to me, considering that I returned him from the dead." Psykeout shrugs once, "However, his speech isn't all that great. Maybe...Maybe I just need to move deeper underground. I...I am too easily found by those within the tunnels." He drifts off into thoughts of his own...
-Moonlight shakes her head. "Sounds like you've done a lot of running in your life, and it sounds like running is what you're going to be stuck doing."
-Psykeout nods once, "As I have. Where do I have to settle down, Moonlight? The Decepticons are without a secure base. The Crystal City is not something that is considered secure. So...I am left with running. The Autobots want me dead. The Decepticons have all but forgotten about me. I...I am alone again."
-Moonlight pinches her arm. "Funny, but I thought I was sitting here with you..."
-Psykeout smiles softly, "The Decepticons as a whole, Moonlight. Not any single mech or femme."
-Moonlight shrugs. "I meant, you're not alone. I'm sitting with you, right here, in this bar."
-Psykeout nods, "I meant 'alone' in the fact that, I have nobody to turn to. I have nobody that is always going to back me up. A person to hold a conversation with, is completely different than someone who will support you. I..." Drifting off, his optics flicker rapidly.
-Moonlight raises an optic ridge. "And how many people are /you/ supportive of? How many people would even dream that you would support them? You want someone to turn to, but trust is a two way thing you know."
-Psykeout sighs deeply, leaning his elbows upon the table. Locking his optics upon the femme, he smiles softly. "No matter who it was, where it was, etc...I have always been there for anybody who has needed it. Have you EVER heard me turn down an opportunity to help someone? No. I protected Enfilade during the fight at Silentlight's supposed 'execution'. I will support anybody within the entire Decepticon Empire. I have felt that way and I always will. All I ask...is for the same support in return."
-Moonlight sighs. "But your caustic and cynical nature makes people wary. None of us are mind readers, and we don't know these things unless you give us a way. You've told me, so I know...but I can't say as much for the others. Besides, most Decepticons are too far gone to support anyone."
-Psykeout bows his head in silence, cradling his face within his hands. Muttering through the small space between the hands, "I...I don't know what to do..."
-Moonlight reaches over and pats Psykeout's arm. "I don't think anyone on this planet does."
-Psykeout snaps his head up suddenly, snarling softly to the femme. This guy has the oddest mood-swings. Standing on his feet, he bows his head slightly. "I...I need to think. I'm sorry for my sudden reaction. But..." Drifting off, he makes his way towards the door.
-Moonlight moves her arm out of the way. "Go ahead and think. It might make you feel better."
-Psykeout makes his way to the door, his mind consumed with thoughts. Opening the door, the light shines upon his armor. He takes a single step outside of the door...
-Slipstream is sitting at a table with her feet propped up on a chair. Her optics scan the news stories and she sighs. The bar seems crowded tonight. Slash moves around breaking up a couple of fights.
-Moonlight is sitting at Psykeout's usual table, all alone.
-Slipstream looks around and notices Moonlight for the first time. "Hey there. Have you seen our good Doctor?" She chuckles at the nickname she has for Psykeout.
-Moonlight nods her head. "Ayup. I certainly did. He left a while ago. Wasn't feeling well I guess."
-Slipstream peers at the other robot. "really? What was wrong with him?" She puts her datapadd away and focuses her attention on the other female.
-Moonlight tilts her head to the side. "I think I was part of the problem." She shrugs. "I think the whole planet and the people on it is the rest."
-Slipstream blinks at her. "Oh what happened now? I thought he would be glad to be back here. It is his home."
-Moonlight isn't wearing her hat, she's able to look Slipstream directly in the optics. "It's not so much what has happened, but what hasn't."
-Slipstream sits back in her chair. her face is nuetral and she queries, "Oh? What has not happened for him?" Her hands fidget slightly in her lap giving one of the few signs she might have an idea.
-Moonlight gives a half-smile. "I think he is looking for something and going about it the wrong way. Or perhaps, he's looking for something other than what he thinks it is."
-Slipstream chuckles. "What did he say he was looking for? I thought he had a friend come by recently?" She makes mention of the rumors around Crystal City.
-Moonlight blinks. "What friend? I didn't think he had any?" Thinks. "Oh.../that/ friend. That little encounter didn't seem to improve his mood any."
-Slipstream nods her head. "Indeed. I thought he would have been happy to meet her." She shrugs her shoulders. "Not that I have met this being yet." She peers at Moonlight. "Why wasn't he happy?"
-Moonlight looks at Slipstream again..."Why does it matter to you? Last I checked you two weren't hitting it off so well. In fact, I remember an arguement going on."
-Slipstream laughs. "We seem to be off and then on. Right now we are working on the 'on' part. With his trial we are patching things up a bit." She sighs and orders another drink. "Who knows what will happen in the future."
-Moonlight leans her elbows against the table. "He seems to think he's all alone..."
-Slipstream blinks. "All alone? What happened with his friend?" She edges closer to the waitress and continues, "The rumors were more hot than cold about them."
-Moonlight grins. "Oh, the rumors were mostly true. Kimakaze /did/ give him quite the embrace. But no matter what I say, Psykeout thinks he has no one but himself."
-Slipstream thinks, "Kimikaze huh?" She types that name into her datapadd. "Well he should know he has comrades...and friends he can turn to in times of need. I thought the trial demonstrated that to him."
-Moonlight nods. "Like I said, I think he's looking for something other than what he thinks he is looking for."
-Slipstream ponders her words. "What do you think he is looking for?"
-Moonlight shrugs. "I really don't know. He always talks about respect, and I know he looks for that. Maybe his idea of friendship is more complex than mine."
-Whiplash slips silently into the Blaster, keeping close to the ground in her quadruped form, and scans the room warily for problems out of sheer habit. Too much time spent in Dead End City and the Wild Surge, perhaps.
-Moonlight is sitting at Psykeout's usual table, talking with Slipstream. Her hat is sitting on the table in front of her. Moonlight ponders the question. "Don't know really. I don't really think that way about anyone. I guess I'm mostly an individualist. But he seems to think that no one appreciates what he does."
-Slipstream nods her head thoughtfully. "Well short of giving him a medal I doubt anyone can convince him. And you know Shockwave is not the warm and friendly type." She looks at the door as whiplash enters the bar. "Hullo Whiplash." She seems nervous and takes a deep breath. "About what happened in the hospital...I';m uh...sorry about grabbing your tentacles. At least that is what Stronghold told me I did to you."
-Whiplash notices a few people she recognizes over at the table. She glances back toward the door, as though contemplating being on her way, but then curiousity and a trace of socialization gets the better of her, and she moves over toward the table. "Got the night off, hm?" she questions.  Whiplash gives Slipstream a slightly strange look, then dismisses it with a motion of her tendrils. "Never mind. You were kinda out of it."
-Moonlight waves emphatically to Whiplash. "What's this about your tentacles?" she asks with a grin.
-Slipstream nods her head. "Tell me about it." She shoots Moonlight a very embarrassed glance and downs her drink. "Ah Primus..." She sinks down in her chair.
-Whiplash transforms and slips into a seat at the table, uninvited, though assumes it's okay as long as she's not being glared at.  Whiplash replies to Moonlight, "Best I can figure, Slipstream was a little under the influence of pain killers or something. Thought my tentacles were a toy." She shrugs, apparently not too worried about it.
-Moonlight grins at Slipstream. "Must have been pretty far gone. No offense to you Whiplash, but you don't look kidlet-safe to me."
-Slipstream sinks low in her seat. "I have never been more embarrassed in my life.." She waves her empty glass at the attendant and waits for a refill. She looks at her two conversational partners and chuckles. "Well I got a bit of a shock there." She looks at Whiplash. "Moonlight seems to think Psykeout is feeling poorly treated or some such."
-Ghost pads into the Golden Blaster, a faint frown etched on her face. She stops just inside, sidestepping fron directly in front of the door.
-Whiplash scowls a little at Slipstream's words, though. "Poorly treated? The whole blasted army stormed the Autobot base to get him back!"
-Moonlight shakes her head at Slipstream. "He doesn't feel /mis/treated...I just think that he doesn't think like other people, so maybe he expect different things than mainstream type 'Cons."
-Ghost settles herself on a barstool, quietly ordering something.. sparkling and popping. And a simple beer to chase it.
-Slipstream nods her head. "That is what I told her but I guess he feels he commands no respect." She looks around and notices Ghost. giving a nod of her head and a wave of her hand, she motions her to join them.
-Whiplash glances over at Ghost.
-Moonlight gives Ghost a cheerful wave.
-Ghost scoops her two glasses up, nodding to the 'tender as she makes her way over to the table, offering a wry smile, "Well, Is this a private gathering or can anyone join in?" She smiles, a wry, amused expression.
-Whiplash gives Ghost a quick smile of welcome. "I got no objections," she says. "I kinda invited myself, too."
-Moonlight pfts. "I don't know the meaning of private when I'm in a bar." She pauses. "Well, it's not /that/ bad...I do like hyperbole after all."
-Slipstream grins and moves a chair over to ghost. "Come join in. Don't mind another comrade here." She gestures to Moonlight. "She was telling me Psykeout is feeling out of sorts here." she accepts a drinka nd sips it.
-Whiplash growls softly to herself. "I offer to teach him to defend himself, he turns me down. He gets hauled outta the middle of our own city by a group of Autobots, and we storm their base to get him back. And he feels unappreciated? Seems like someone oughtta meet us halfway."
-Ghost hooks a seat with a foot, dropping into it as she sets her drinks on the table, "Well.. As with anything worth the effort, it will take much time for him to feel perfectly comfortable. The transition is not going to be.. instantaneous." She lifts a brow as she drains a bit of the sparking drink, chasing it with a swallow of the other.
-Moonlight frowns. "Hey now, I didn't open my mouth so you could call him down..."
-Slipstream looks at Moonlight. "we are not trying to put him down, just understand a bit." She seems confused. "I am not sure what exactly he is looking for really other than respect."
-Whiplash taps her fingers on the table for a moment, the tentacle-tips increasing her pace. "You know..." she says a little hesitantly, "it might also be that he feels embarassed by what happened. Being hauled off by the 'Bots like that. It's kinda degrading. Speaking from experience. Maybe that's what he's so out of sorts about?"
-Moonlight shrugs. "Maybe to be looked at as a person instead of just a member as a group..."
-Ghost peers at her drinks as if they hold the secrets to all. A slight shake of her head as she says softly, "Maybe.. He's tired of overhearing snippets of others making assupmtions about how he feels instead of folks just *listening* to him as opposed to trying to fix something for him." She looks up, optics flickering.
-Slipstream considers it. "Well being taken from our city would be a low blow but what could we do? If he was a fighter I would suggest letting him take part in a battle against our foes."   She looks over at Whiplash. "Maybe he will change his mind about you trianing him?" she offers up.
-Whiplash grumbles, "Well, I hope so, 'cause I'm starting to feel a little silly making the same offer over and over, and being told to go jump in the smelting pit."
-Moonlight half stands up. "I /do/ listen to him. I listen to him a lot. He's all so concerned about how you all think of him, I think it's eating at him. He doesn't want to make a mistake...I'm trying to convince him that his ways just alienate people...but he wants to belong. But I don't know what exactly that means in his mind."
-Slipstream chuckles. "Well he is tempermental enough to say that..male pride." She shakes her head. "I swear the whole lot of or males are prideful." Grining, she takes another drink.
-Ghost takes another light swallow of the fizzy thing. "I dunno, Whiplash." She cracks a wry grin, "You still owe me that bout.."
-Whiplash admits, "I did kinda phrase it badly the first time." She brightens a little at Ghost's words. "That's right. Haven't forgotten. Gotta make it an exhibition match out in Dead End." She grins, showing a flash of fangs.
-Slipstream grins. "well if we are doing an exhibition match, maybe we should round everyone up and get an audience. I think the troops could use a morale boost."
-Ghost laughs softly, "I dont know how well their moral would raise when Mer Whiplash here hands me my aft on a silver platter." She winks.
-Whiplash looks dubious. "Would be a pretty sad day in the empire if you couldn't take me out, gray lady. But I'd give you a hell of a fight for it."
-Slipstream sits back and listens tot eh conversation around her.
-Moonlight waves a hand. "I'd pass...not much into watching people beat eachother to bits."
-Whiplash says, "And none of this holographic safeguard stuff either."
-Ghost' soptics glitter for a moment, "Yes, none of the safeguards. But most definatly a compitant medic on call." She considers, "I prefer not to engage in such things, but Mer Whiplash and I have been tossing this back and forth for quite a while now."
-Slipstream nods her head all around. "Maybe Psykeout would take you up on your offer if he got to see a battle first hand. Well one he was not fighting in at least."
-Moonlight shrugs. "I really don't think..."
-Whiplash says, "There's a thought. Demonstration match." She looks questioningly at Moonlight. "What? Think he wouldn't be interested?"
-Moonlight pauses..."As much as he needs to learn how to fight, I don't think that is what is bothering him. No offense, again, Whiplash, but you think too much in terms of fighting. There's more methods out there besides fighting..."
-Slipstream coughs slightly and sips her drink. "At least we got to destoy their base. Solar was good for setting up the bombs and implementing the plan." She tries to change the subject a bit.
-Whiplash is interested in the subject, however. "Well, methods like what, for instance? Doesn't it make sense that if you can't defend yourself, you're vulnerable?"
-Ghost takes alooong draugh of her sparky drink, following with an equally as long draft of the beer.
-Moonlight shakes her head. "That's true, but people can be threatened by things that aren't tangeble."
-Slipstream hears a beep and gets up. "Well it has been fun comrades." She walks out of the bar and smiles.
-Whiplash looks after Slipstream blankly for a moment, then shrugs. "Intel types," she says, then adds with a quick glance at Ghost, "No offense."
-Ghost flashes a grin, "No offense taken, Whiplash. We do tend to come and go terribly fast."
-Moonlight shakes her head. "Not me. I spend my time sitting on my aft in one spot for hours on end."
-Whiplash chuckles. "I guess you learn stuff that way too. Or Solar's technique of pretending to be asleep. But everyone's gotta be onto that by now."
-Moonlight shrugs. "I find the best way to get information is /not/ to go looking for it."
-Ghost hmms, "SOmetimes that works, other times you have to know whom to.. watch to get information."
-Ghost drains the rest of her drinks.. the both of them. "Actually, you'd be surprised how often SOlar *is* asleep." she winks.
-Whiplash says, "Oh?"
-Moonlight taps the side of her face with a finger. "I always thought he had a high tolerence for sleeping so uncomfortably all the time...it just wasn't natural."
-Ghost grins, "If you're tired enough, you can sleep *anywhere*."
-Moonlight frowns, remembering when she lived on Monacus...before Swipe saved her..."Yeah, that's true."
-Whiplash says, "Hmm. Guess so. Though I always prefered to be in a nice safe little hideout before I let my guard down."
-Ghost peers at Whiplash, "It takes a lot for me to actually power down for a full rest. Since we lost Darkmounts mainframe.. well. I've been taking catnaps."
-Ghost hmms, looking a million parsecs away for a moment, "I miss the mainframe."
-Whiplash nods. "You really *lived* in that thing, didn't you?"
-Ghost nods once, "In all sense of the word, yes. I suppose I am lucky that i was not.. withen my office when we were attacked."
-Whiplash's optics darken a little. "Yeah. No kidding."  Whiplash says, "But - I'm sure we can get it rebuilt."
-Moonlight just listens. "Psykeout isn't in trouble again...is he? I mean, because I was talking about him..."
-Ghost glances at Moonlight, "No. As far as I'm aware, he is in no trouble."
-Moonlight looks uneasy. "Well, sometimes it's hard to tell..."
-Ghost lifts a brow, but doesnt say anything, a certain degree of thoughtfulnes crossing her face.
-Whiplash flickers a glance toward the door, her tentacles shifting restlessly.
-Moonlight breaks down and orders and enerwine. She sits and sips in silence since the other 'Cons seem rather quiet.
-Whiplash says, "Er, Ghost. Can I ... see you outside for just a sec?"
-Ghost glances at Whiplash, "Of course you can see me, Whiplash." She stands slowly, looking none the worse for the drinks.
-Moonlight waves the two off. "Go enjoy your chit-chat..."
-Whiplash gives Moonlight a slightly apologetic look. "Don't mind us. Just something I need to run past Ghost."
-Moonlight shakes her head. "Not a problem."
-Whiplash makes for the exit, remaining in robot mode.
-Ghost glances at Moonlight, shrugs and follows Whiplash.
*time passes*
-Moonlight is lying on her back on top of the bar, her head turned sideways to talk with the bartender.
-Ghost pads back into the bar, heading over to near Moonlight to drop onto stool and order herself something dark and nasty to drink.
-Moonlight doesn't notice Ghost yet...her head is facing the other way. She prattles on to the bartender. "Wish my wings weren't so clipped now..."
-Ghost gets her drink and takes a good draw off of it, peering down the bar at Moonlight thoughtfully.
-Moonlight rolls over onto her tummy and spots Ghost. "Heya, how long have you been back for?"
-Ghost holds her glass up, "Long enough to get a drink and have a taste."
-Moonlight would nod, but that's a bit uncomfortable from where she is, and apparently intends to stay. "Whatcha drinking?"
-Ghost eyes the glass, "Maltarian.." she hmms, "Definatly that. I think its a triple distilled brandy."
-Moonlight looks at Ghost's glass. "You like strong stuff?"
-Ghost shrugs, "On occasion. As of late I have been sticking with the lighter items."
-Moonlight nods her head, bumping her chin against the bartop slightly. "I've always stuck to the lighter stuff...well, ever since I've been on Cybertron anyhow."
-Ghost ahhs, "The lighter stuff tends to have more flavor as well as opposed to simply being there to get you overcharged."
-Moonlight swivels around so that she can sit up, placing her hands on either side of her and curling her fingers along the edge of the bartop. "It's safer when you have to leave in a hurry...being overcharged is dangerous."
-Ghost nods as she sips her brandy, "Most assuredly. Which is why I keep strict control over my consumption. We are not in a peaceful area."
-Moonlight makes a wry face. "When's the last time you were in a perfectly safe place?"
-Ghost considers, "Before Deadeye was Commander."
-Moonlight blinks her optics, not recognizing the name. "Who?"
-Ghost hmms, swirling her brandy, before she answers, "Deadeye. He was one of our ground units. He was also our commander before I had him killed."
-Moonlight raises an optic ridge, which is visible because her hat is still over on the table. "What did he do to deserve that?"
-Ghost hmms, "Caused rifts withen the empire, confusion, chaos.. He meant well, but it was a matter of time before someone else.." she trails off, "He was not what the empire needed."
-Moonlight raises the other optic ridge. "Remind me to remain useful then....."
-Ghost peers at Moonlight, "It is a bit more complicated in that as well, Moonlight. He was useful, but due to the circumstances in his taking command.. Such as off world mercenaries.. " She shrugs, "I still have nightmares of his death."
-Moonlight just shakes her head. "Have you been in war for as long as you've been alive?"
-Ghost offers a faint smile, "Of one kind or another, yes."
-Moonlight sighs. "I guess it does something to a person's mindset. War, I mean."
-Ghost nods, "It does. When that is all you know, everything else seems alien." She grows quiet. "But I do have the hope to see it come to an end. I have tasted peace, if briefly and Ifind myself hungering after it."
-Moonlight sighs. "It wasn't so long ago for me. Maybe that's why Dirge seems to hate me. Maybe not."
-Ghost peers at Moonlight, "It is different, isnt it?" she asks softly.
-Moonlight nods her head. "It is...and it makes things hard. Sometimes I find myself saying something that seems so normal, but all I get is funny, even hostile, looks."
-Ghost's lips curve into a genuine smile as she sips her brandy, "Don't change, make them accept that as part of who you are."
-Moonlight shrugs. "I guess they don't like the fact that I have an opinion....I figure blind devotion is no good."
-Ghost shakes her head, still smiling, "I far prefer opinions to blind devotion. That will only get you so far, having the capability to think outside the box is a benefit."
-Moonlight grins. "Glad someone agrees with me."
-Ghost laughs softly, "I tend to think slightly more sideways than most of my counterparts, myself. So I can appreciate the same in others far easier."
-Moonlight nods her head. "Sorry about that time with that Phalanx character...didn't do it to cause trouble."
-Ghost shrugs, "It was a simple case of misinformation."
-Moonlight nods again. "But I should have known better."
-Ghost shakes her head, "You were following Whiplashes lead, which has very rarely failed."
-Moonlight tilts her head to the side. "She's very loyal to the idea, isn't she?"
-Ghost nods, expression sliding solemn, "She is very loyal to the empire as a whole."
-Moonlight sighs. "But she's a little single-minded in her problem solving. I think she likes to fight a little too much." She pauses. "Not that I don't like her, because I do, but I don't really understand her."
-Ghost gives a shake of her head, "She is specialized. Her background was one of combat for combats sake. She was one of the famous gladiators of old. And as such, is a warrior first and foremost. It takes all kinds to make up a whole."
-Moonlight ahhhhs. "That makes sense then...I was a smuggler first, so I guess I'll always have smuggler in my mind and my actions."
-Ghost nods, "You understand much. Simply because we all wear the same emblem does not make us all have to be exactly alike. Everyones strenghts and weaknesses balance out everyone elses.. At least they should. Sometimes, things are not perfect."
-Moonlight shrugs. "Then why does everyone keep telling me that conformity is so vital?"
-Ghost lifts a brow, "Because some, unfortunatly, cannot see the beauty in disparity."
-Moonlight hmphs. "Well, that's their loss then, I guess. I'm quite content the way things are now...except the war part."
-Ghost chuckles as she sips her brandy, "They will grow used to you in time. Much time yes, as they had to grow used to my peculair habits."
-Moonlight walks over to the table, collects her hat, and goes back to the bar. "Time doesn't heal everything, or so I've noticed."
-Ghost eyes her brandy, then nods, "No. It doesnt." She sips, "I will always be looking for Deadeye to call me for a drink after patrol.. Or hear his footfalls in darkmount. But.. time, does make things more distant."
-Moonlight traces her finger along the rim of her hat. "And it drags things out. You were good friends with this Deadeye?"
-Ghost takes a moment in answering, finishing her drink, "He was my mate."
-Moonlight, despite her usual lack of 'respect' for most things, fall silent. There's nothing for her to say about this.
-Ghost stares off, optics grown dim as she remembers things from the past.
-Moonlight doesn't interrupt the moment of reflection.