January 18th, 2003 ~Starifre(U), Kimakaze(D), Arcane(A), Onslaught(D), Ghost(D) Production Highway Tying together the various supply and production facilities around the planet is a network of smoothed highways, sometimes raised, sometimes flush with the planet's surface. This particular stretch of highway extends between the factories to the northwest and the warworld to the northeast. The once gleaming, nearly chrome colored surface of the highway has become tarnished and marred with blast marks with the numerous battles fought between Iacon and Skymount (and subsequently, Darkmount) over the years. Still, from the massive spans and arches, it's apparent that this was a proudly maintained zone, kept immaculate for years until Transformers resumed fighting each other in this latest war. Onslaught [Robot] [D] Starfire [Robot] [U] Hellrazor's Saloon Obvious Exits: -N- North leads to Old Cybertronia -S- South leads to Great Gouge -E- East leads to Production Highway -W- West leads to Production Highway -Moonlight strolls into the area. She isn't moving in her usual way, being a bit slower and more careful than the norm. She's humming, but it is a slightly sadder tune than usual. -Starfire's optics widen as she gets some *very* odd instructions. Starfire looks around, and sure enough, there's Moonlight. She hesitates, then makes one more radio transmission to make sure that she heard correctly. -Moonlight doesn't know anything yet, but she keeps moving towards the bar. It's someplace she can relax that has nothing to do with work or pain... -Starfire shakes her head, still amazed and siiiighs, turning back towards Moonlight. "Um... excuse me, ma'am. May I ask a favour of you?" -Moonlight glances over at Starfire, a bit surprised that the femme is talking to her. "That depends. What is it?" -Starfire fidgetfidgetfidgets, even as tired as she is. "It's... kinda weird, but I'm supposed to learn about stuff in bars. I guess it's spying-type stuff. Do you think you could help me with this?" -Moonlight blinks. "Well, I was sort of hoping to just rest after that fight...but if you want to come inside with me I won't mind." -Starfire nods slowly. "I'm not supposed to be out alone anyway, but the, um, person who was supposed to come with me had something else to do." Moonlight can probably take a good guess as to who that might be. -Moonlight frowns slightly...she really doesn't like the person Starfire is hinting at. "Why aren't you supposed to be alone anyhow?" -Starfire shrugs. "It was part of the terms of the agreement. As long as I'm under the Empire's supervision, I can't go outside of Darkmount without an escort and stuff. Probably 'for my own safety'." -Moonlight blinks. "You're not a Con, are you?" -Starfire shakes her head. "No, ma'am, not any more. I'm just being training in combat like most recruits are, plus special stuff like this as part of a bargain." -Moonlight shrugs. "Well, if you're not a Con, then who's gonna threaten you?" -Starfire sighs. "I don't know. Maybe the Autobots will get mad at me over all this, though I've been trying to be careful about it. Or maybe it's just standard procedure for recruits... My roommate doesn't get sent out for special training, just me." Starfire adds, "Or a security issue. I'm not a Decepticon, so they might want to keep an optic on me." -Moonlight just shakes her head. "Why did Whiplash seem so pleased to have you around? No offense or anything, but she usually can't stand non-Cons." -Starfire smiles, a bit sadly. "I was part of the Empire a few years ago but ended up being sent to relatives in Crystal City. She didn't like that, and I guess she's holding it against them." -Moonlight ahhhhhhs as a few things become clearer. "Okay, that makes a little more sense." She looks over to the bar. "Ready to go in? If I remember, you don't like crowds much, do you?" -Starfire makes a face. "I don't like being in close quarters. Not that crowds are like being in tunnels, but I don't like people I don't know so close." -Moonlight grins. "Well, I'm sure you'll get used to it eventually. Let's head inside." -Starfire nods and follows. Hellrazor's Saloon You are inside the fledgling upstart bar Hellrazor's Saloon. The place is packed, as it always is. The combination of a truly neutral atmosphere and incredibly cheap drinks makes the Saloon a gathering point for Transformers from all over Cybertron. The bartender, Flask, and his staff of waitresses are always busy, but they are remarkably polite with customers despite how hoppingly mad the place is. They are especially polite to customers who tip generously. Loud pounding music blares out of speakers around the room, adding to the din of a crowded bar. Bash and Crash, two rather large bouncers usually stationed near the door, make sure that fights don't last very long here. The entire establishment is owned by the mysterious and apparently very wealthy Hellrazor. (Note: Type menu to see the menu of drinks, and the coded commands for ordering them.) Contents: Kimakaze The Back Room Arcane -Moonlight strolls into the bar, albeit a bit slower than usual. -Kimakaze has been talking fairly pleseantly with Arcane, and is standing near enough beside him at the bar. -Starfire follows Moonlight in, but doesn't look particularly happy to be there. -Kimakaze notes the new comers, her optics flaring with slight recognition, before answering Arcane again. "I /manage/ it by not being wholly Cybertronian in design. Some racess have gone a lot farther with their work on science, space exploration and sub space. I just happen to have access to such technologiess. A fourtunate lapse in one'ss bad luck lifespan, you could say." -Moonlight notices a fellow Decepticon at the bar and makes her way over there. She also spots Arcane, and she briefly bobs her head in greeting to him. "Hey there," she says as a general greeting. -Kimakaze notices Moonlight making her way across and also nods to her, for once her actual face visible. "Welcome, comrade." -Arcane smiles as his optics brighten "Care to speak of these advanced folk you acquired this technology from?" He then turns and smiles at Moonlight warmly, and turns to the barbot and says "Get her what she wants." while gesturing to Moonlight. -Starfire hangs back at first, but it's kinda hard to hang back in a crowded bar, so she reluctantly comes closer to her current mentor. What can one learn in a bar, other than how to drink too much energon? -Kimakaze picks up her F-5 (when the barbot has presented it in her general direction). -Moonlight grins. "Me and my friend here will have an ICEE each. You can hardly extend a drink my way without offering one to my companion." She seats herself at the bar. "So, we interrupting anything?" -Kimakaze laughs a cruel laugh, suddenly, in response to Arcane's question. "I did not say they were advanced folk, /no/. Advanced is ... not the word I would choose to describe them. And it is best that I do not mention them by name here." She glances at her shoulder slightly, though the subspace armour there hides whatever markings *might* be underneath that. -The bartender gives Starfire and Moonlight a pair of Icee's, apparently free of charge, as he walks away before they can pay. -Arcane shrugs and says "Fair enough." His smile takes on a mischevious appearance "So just how many blades do you have in there?" -Starfire gives Moonlight a curious look. She didn't expect to find icees here, since most people drink for energon content. The drink she eyes briefly, then sips to see if it tastes right, glad for a distraction from the conversation. She was brought up to think that eavesdropping is wrong, so she's extremely uncomfortable with being here. -Kimakaze actually laughs a little at that, although this time more pleseantly. "I don't have a single *one*, they are all created on the fly. -Kimakaze says, "Like thisss." So saying, Kim flicks her wrist slightly, allowing a blade to shoot out from it in a basic knife shape, and come straight back to her again. -Arcane says, "Fascinating." -Moonlight taps Starfire on the shoulder and motions to a table nearby. Then she gets up and takes a seat at that table, taking her ICEE with her. -Starfire joins Moonlight at her table and fidgets, trying not to listen. As much as one might try not to do something, that tends to guarantee that it *is* done. A few words are caught, and she shifts guiltily. "Um... nice icee," she ventures to her companion. -Kimakaze peers at the F-5 (I am assuming it is a shot like thing?), as though sizing it up like a warrior on the battlefield. Then, she licks her lips once and tips her head back, throwing the entire thing down the hatch, as it were. Closing her mouth and wiping it with the back of her hand, she chuckles "As you can probably tell, I am no stranger to drinking out with the 'Con boyss." -Moonlight shakes her head and smiles. "Word of advice, no matter how uncomfortable a situation makes you, try really hard not to let it show..." -Arcane chuckles and says "I'm not fond of such drinks, myself, although..." he speaks in a queiter tone "I have vices of my own you might find intrigueing." -Starfire mutters, "Everything shows with me." -Moonlight nods her head. "So I've noticed...but that means other people will notice too. It's really a good skill to have no matter what function you have. I want you to give it a try." -Kimakaze raises her optic servos to Arcane, setting down her little F-5 glass. "Oh? Do go on. Besidess, you don't want to hear about me until the Ark comes home...besides, we'd be here all night cycle." -Onslaught enters the Saloon slowly...cautiously. Quite different from his normal movements, but there may very well be good reason for that. What there may not be good reason for, is the obvious fact that Onslaught seems unarmed. Well, if by unarmed one means no rocket launcher turrets on his back, then yes...he's as unarmed as can be. -Arcane begins to say something to Kimakaze, but then is silent as he turns to face in the direction of her glare. "Onslaught." he says in a rather matter-of-fact tone. -Starfire siiiiighs and tries focusing on her icee. It's blue... not her favourite, but okay, has a nice, soft glow to it. Pretty shade of blue. Concentrate, she tells herself, and as long as she stares at her icee, she doesn't seem so nervous. Neither is she paying attention to anything going on around her, but that's the price for showing... nothing. -Kimakaze hisses ever so delicately in response. "Yess, it iss he." -Onslaught grumbles to himself as he scans the bar area, stopping only a few steps in from the entrance. He's obviously looking for someone...but WHOM???? -Moonlight echoes Starfire's sigh. "Well, it's a good start, but not the best way to go. If you concentrate on one thing too long, you miss everything else." She thinks for a moment. "Where do you feel most comfortable?" -Starfire blinks, her concentration breaking, then hastily replays what Moonlight just said. "Um, in my alt mode in space, ma'am?" -A loud shouting arguement begins between two mechs elsewhere in the bar. Apparently, it's over a mech buying another mech's bond-mate a drink... -Kimakaze flickers her optics across to the disturbance, old habits die hard it seems as she bristles with defences almost without meaning to do so. "You were saying before he arrived, Arcane?" -Starfire mutters to Moonlight: "It wouldn't be ... ... ... I ... ... ... ... ... ... been ... ... Wild Surge lots of times ... that's ... ..." ((It wouldn't be so bad if I weren't here to do... stuff. I've been in the Wild Surge lots of times, but that's completely different.)) -Moonlight nods her head. "Well, just for a moment, imagine you're in space. Once you've got that image in your mind, look around and tell me if you feel any less nervous." -Arcane goes to speak again, but is interrupted as the shouting match turns into an open fist-fight. The two mechs start a brawl that spreads through the crowd like wildfire, as fairly drunk mechs looking for an excuse to sock someone they don't like seize the opportunity. Bash and Crash, the bar's bouncers, throw themselves into the growing melee, tossing mechs out the door like small toys. -Onslaught ignores most of the bar...even those he 'apparently' knows, heading straight for a small table off to the side of the room where a solitary femme sits, obviously waiting for someone to arrive. -Kimakaze shoves one Mech away from her roughly, to avoid him making bodily contact with her. "Foolish mech; you would impale yourself on me? Such nonsense..." she directs his flailing form in the direction of the door. -Starfire erks, taken aback at the sudden violence, and tenses on the point of transforming. Of course, that would wreak havoc with this bar and everyone inside, so she manages to restrain herself. Instead, she rises quickly to her feet and glances briefly towards the door, blocked by both the fighting and the bouncers' activity. -Bash catches the thrown mech, smiles and nods at Kim, and tosses the aggressive lout out the door. -Kimakaze just tossed a mech towards the door for falling nearby her, other than that she is talking peaceably to Arcane. -Moonlight grabs Starfire and attempts to pull her back into her seat. "Moving is the last thing you want to do. Just drink your ICEE and pretend nothing is going on." -Onslaught is walking towards a table where a solitary femme sits, in fact, anyone who was at the arena last night might recognize her as the same femme he spoke to there. -After a good deal of disturbance, the ominous and frighteningly large twin bouncers quiet the small riot-in-progress, and things return to their general rowdy normalcy here at the Saloon. -Ghost takes half a step into the bar only to find herself faced with a descision, push in or go right back out. A brow arches upwards as she sidesteps nimbly, avoiding a bouncer in order to move along a wall, seeking a place to lurk and observe. -Arcane looks back to Kimakaze, figuring he won't be interrupted this time. He whispers something to her. -Kimakaze remains 'on guard', just waiting for anyone stupid enough to come into her circle of reach. "Never mind the violence Arcane....there you see, those two have dealt with it. Rather efficiently too, I might add. Fine mechss indeed." Kimakaze of course allows Arcane into her circle, heh. -Starfire is yanked back to her seat, something of a surprise, but the fighting is dying down now and no further action is needed. She nods uneasily to Moonlight and notes quietly, "I would've just left in case they started attacking me." -Moonlight spots Ghost and waves her over with a big grin, unaware of the fact that she had argued with her just the other cycle. -Ghost mutters to Onslaught: "..." -Only just as the smoke begins to clear so to speak, does Kimakaze finally notice the prescence of the lurker, Ghost. -Onslaught mutters to Ghost: "..." -Arcane mutters to Kimakaze: "Ever heard of Vaporigon ..." -Moonlight shrugs to Starfire. "Sometimes trying to leave will get you more grief than staying still." She looks around, then looks back to Starfire. "Let's try that pretending thing again..." -Ghost catches a wave and a duo of familiar faces, Moonlight and.. oh my.. Starfire. She arches a brow, smiling crookedly as shemoves through the bar, heading over to them and speaking a greeting, "Not exactly whom I expected to be here, but good cycle. How are the two of you?" -Kimakaze glances with raises servos at Arcane. "I have heard of pretty much everything my friend; it comess with the terratory ass I explained to you before." -Starfire visualizes something nice and relaxing, like playing tag with ice asteroids in one of the rings around the planet carelessly designated as "Y", one of Cybertron system's less hospitable planets. At least until Ghost arrives. Her blue optics brighten visibly and she greets happily, "Ghost!" -Moonlight gives Ghost a smile. "Still a little sore, but other wise fine. Starfire here wasn't doing so well, but you seem to have changed that." She chuckles. -Kimakaze is watching the little, happy gathering of femmes whilst speaking. -Onslaught finally sits down across from said unknown unmarked femme, and tosses a mid-sized black box across the table to her, and leans in to begin some sort of discussion, the femme doing the same. -Ghost's smile brightens at Starfires enthusiastic greeting, lightening to a twilight lavender. "Hello there Mer Starfire." She grins as she hooks a seat with a heel, turning it to sit with arms propped up on the back. Nodding to Moonlight, she replies, "From what I've heard through the rumor mill, it was a pretty harsh fight. But, all in all, you did *damn* good in lasting until the very end, I must say." -Onslaught mutters to Onslaught: "You should find that acceptable to ... ... now. ... have your people to ... to hold ... ... ... ... any ... ... and I ... ... the ... Cross ... you ... what ... ... - ... ... ... ... will ... should I cross ... ... your....organization." -Kimakaze peers back to Arcane again. "Now, are you going to tell me what that word referss to, or do you want me to guesss?" -Arcane smiles mischeviously "Better yet. I can show you." -Starfire winces, recalling that brutal fight. Not between enemies, but against fellow Decepticons. She doesn't know if she could do something like that herself. And yes, Ghost's presence makes a big difference in her comfort level. -Moonlight's grin widens. "Why thank you Ghost. I was a bit surprised myself, considering I'm not much of a fighter. But it kind of helped that I was mostly ignored until the end." She shrugs somewhat modestly, but she's still rather flattered by the compliment. -Arcane gets up from his barstool, leaning on his cane as he begins walking towards the black door at the back of the bar, motioning for Kimakaze to follow. -Kimakaze lowers her head slightly, sending a radio msg, with a smile, before following Arcane "One thing before I follow you my dear...?" -Ghost notes Starfires wince, offering the young femme a warm grin, "Myself, I prefer things like that to happen with field generators on. It is hard to learn tactics if you're always in repair bay. Much easier to reset and try again until you get a better hang of things." A soft chuckle comes from the lean gray femme as she seems to relax in the prescence of the other femmes, "Even non-combatants can surprise a foe, Mer Moonlight." A shadowed glimmer crosses her optics as she recieves a radio message and she nods once, sending one in return. -Arcane nods "And that is?" -Kimakaze whispers to him. "... that ... gesture that ... made ... you ... ... ... me ... ... you ... ... ... ... that ... ... the ... ... off ... before we enter ... door?" Kimakaze winks at him after saying that. -Onslaught mutters to Onslaught: "Fine...fine... doesn't matter ... at ... ... ... you want ... ... ... ... ... all ... ... I've ... enough. *pauses for a while - ... the ... ... to ... MUCH quieter ... ... ... or ... ... ... ... Now ... ... ... ... time. ... sure I ... do without having ... in the Empire ... ... ... ... ... ... be ... to an ... MUCH too quickly. ... small talk ... need to ... ... of a few ..." -Moonlight shrugs. "I guess. But it /was/ supposed to be a punishment of sorts, and so some pain was to be expected." She winces slightly. She's not fully up to snuff and is a bit sore because of it, but she's mostly better. -Onslaught gets up quietly from the table and glares at the femme he was talking to for a brief moment, before beginning to make his way for the entrance/exit. -Starfire remains silent, knowing that Ghost speaks the truth. People tend to underestimate non-combatants, and while most of the time they're right about it, sometimes... sometimes, they're wrong. -Arcane mutters to Kimakaze: "Actually and I'm pleseantly ... ... noticed. Good optics ... dear." -Kimakaze chuckles, then indicates the door. "After you, then. Just wanted to make sure that you didn't forget. You might want to develop a slightly lesss obviouss signal though." -Ghost nods, smile fading slightly, "So I've heard.' she comments dryly, optics narrowing for a moment. Then she smiles again, "Would either of you two like to have a drink with me? Icee?" -Arcane chuckles "Indeed." He then walks over to the mysterious black door, and waves his hand in front of it, saying "Azek-kai." softly. The door seems to respond to the command, as it unlocks and the forcefield around it de-activates. -Moonlight idly wonders why Ghost's optics had narrowed...but doesnt' comment on it. "I'm sure Starfire would love another one...but I prefer something a tad stronger, so don't worry about me." She chuckles. -Arcane opens the black door and enters, smiling back to Kim and beckoning her to follow, saying softly "Come into my parlour." -Onslaught looks over at STarfire, Moonlight and Ghost, all assembled together and chatting. Any other cycle he may have walked over...had a little light banter, taken it from there. This cycle, all he can do is sigh, grumbling ever so softly to himself as he leaves the Saloon, almost as oddly as he entered. -Starfire recalls her forgotten icee and looks a bit guilty. It's warm now, too, but she doesn't like wasting anything, even an icee. Finishing it with a few gulps, she nodnods and tries to say something, but talking and drinking don't work well at the same time. -Kimakaze makes a strangely juvenile expression, could that be one of out of place embarrasment? She erases that problem by snapping her visor back across her face again, covering everything as it comes from subspace light lightning, to the service and defence of it's mistress. "After you, Arcane." She follows him, two combat blades curling out over the tops of both her hands as she enters the black space beyond. -Ghost chuckles, flagging a waitstaff down, "One Icee, one rogue and.." shepeers at Moonlight, "What do you want? My treat." -Moonlight easily finishes off her ICEE. "Just an enerbeer...for some reason they don't serve enerwine here. So, do you come here often Ghost?" -Ghost gives a shake of her head, "Nope. Just heard about it though the line. Thought i would drop in to pay a visit and see what they serve.. Miss the Golden Blaster." She peers around, "This just doesn't have the same feel to it." -Onslaught stops in his tracks RIGHT in the entrance, upsetting a few patrons both trying to leave, and some trying to enter...but one look at Onslaught holds most of their tongues at bay, as he catches sound of Moonlight's voice...asking for, enerwine? Hmmm...Onslaught spins around and makes his way straight for the three assembled femmes, approaching with what would appear to be purpose and determination, as he looks straight at Moonlight without acknowledging Ghost or Starfire and asks bluntly, "You want some enerwine?" -Starfire recalls something she was supposed to tell Ghost, but it can wait. -Ghost turns and stares at Onslaught as he asks a blunt seeming question. She doesn't comment, just offers him a smile before looking at the other two sheis with, waiting for their order to come. -Moonlight arches an optic ridge at Onslaught...this guy sure is erratic..."It /is/ my prefered drink, but I can live without it," she responds. -Onslaught says, "And what kind of enerwine do you prefer? Hmmm?" -Moonlight answers without a blink. "White. Why do you ask?" -Onslaught nods and mutters 'white' to himself before looking back at Moonlight, "White enerwine it is. I'll be back in a few moments." he turns to Starfire and finally nods, turning finally to Ghost and giving her a long look, nods as well, before he heads out of the Saloon. -Ghost blinks for several moments, "Well.. wonder what that is all about.' She peers at Moonlight before she shrugs, getting her rogue as ordered as the beer and the icee are also placed on the table. "Well, Starfire, how are you enjoying your training?" -Moonlight watches Onslaught leave..."Is he always this odd?" -Starfire blinks, then giggles. "Um, enjoy isn't the word I would use to describe it, ma'am." -Ghost shrugs again, "I haven't had the free time to really get to know him myself. really ignoring all the rumors and little nitpicky undercurrents I keep hearing. Never." she lifts a brow, peering at Starfire a moment, "believe fully in what others gossip about. Its how bad information gets around." -Moonlight chuckles. "Oh, I know all about rumors." Of course, it didn't help that she gave those annoying cleaning droids something else to gossip about last night, but she really was too tired to care. "But it's kind of worrisome that I'm leaving my fate in the hands of a higher-up that doesn't quite seem stable." -Starfire drops her gaze and nods. -Ghost watches Starfire and chuckles softly, "I didn't mean to upset you, little one.. " she grins crookedly, "Alright.. so enjoy isnt the word you'd use.. What about.. at least interesting?" -Onslaught finally returns to the saloon, a bottle that one would assume holds energon in one hand, as he makes his way back to the three femmes, and places the bottle in front of Moonlight wordlessly. -Starfire says simply, "Hard, very hard. I wonder if I can last another hour, let alone months. And yes, it would be interesting, if I could stay awake long enough to experience what's happening. It sorta goes by in a blur..." -Moonlight glances at the bottle and grins. "Thanks. You gonna sit down?" -Onslaught shakes his head, but turns to look at the table he was at earlier and sighs, nodding now to Moonlight but quickly addressing the other two femmes, "Don't suppose you all mind if I join you, do you?" -Moonlight chuckles. "I don't see why /they/ would mind...you didn't throw /them/ into the arena." She doesn't sound upset and it's clear she's just joking around. -Ghost grins at Starfire, "Yes.. It is hard.. But you do learn a lot." She glances up at Onslaught before gracefully hooking him a chair from another table, "Sit down. We don't mind. The more the merrier." -Starfire nods to Onslaught, then in response to Ghost. "I think so, but I think I won't even know what I've learned until a while afterwards. Sorta has to sink in first and start generating understanding." -Onslaught doesn't respond to Moonlight's barb, instead he merely quietly takes the seat pulled over by Ghost and sits down. -Moonlight shrugs. She just can't figure Onslaught out. It doesn't bug her though. She opens the bottle and pours herself a glass. -Ghost sips her rogue, optics glimmering a light lavender, "Alright. Wine for the lady.." She smiles crookedly, "If you're not going to have that beer, I'll keep it from wasting.. two drink limit for me.. And that'll be something mellow after this thing." -Moonlight shrugs. "Sure, why not. Though I'm not exactly quite in the lady status." She chuckles and takes a sip, smiling over the fact that's it's some pretty good quality stuff. -Onslaught turns to Ghost, visor glowing slightly, "My apologies Ghost for not bringing you anything...perhaps next time. That is of course assuming you didn't want to sample some of what I brought for Moonlight...I'm sure she wouldn't mind sharing." -Ghost waves a hand, smile bright and genuine.. a rarity.. "No, Onslaught.. It'd be wasted on me.. havent the refinement to actually.. eh.. appreciate the stuff.. " she pauses, lips pursing in thought, correcting herself, "At least not at the moment. Trying to have a drink on my only cycle off in several months." -Onslaught chuckles as he mulls over the concept Ghost presents him, "Ironic really...you try to drink on your cycles off, however few, and I do my best to not take cycles off or drink..." -Moonlight chuckles. "I'm beginning to think there aren't any real super-refined femmes amongst the Cons. Or at least, I haven't caught anyone willing to admit to it yet." She takes another sip, just as happy that Ghost isn't interested, not that she wouldn't share if that wasn't the case. She turns to Onslaught. "If you don't mind me saying, you're one odd fella." -Onslaught says, "How do you figure, Moonlight? What about me makes me so odd? Hmmm? I'm all audials." -Ghost gives a shrug, "Only reason I'm having a drink is to insure that i remember how to relax.. Before I snap or something worse." She shrugs, peering at her drink for a moment before tipping it back and clearing her first cup. With a grimace, she sets it aside.. "Then again... I might be a lightweight again.. Might better steer clear of anything else." -Moonlight considers the question for a moment. "I can't quite put my finger on it. You just strike me as kind of odd." She shrugs. "That's not such a bad thing, is it?" -Onslaught shrugs to Moonlight as he also shrugs to Ghost, answering Moonlight first, "Seeing as how I really could care less what people think, it's neither a bad thing nor a good thing. As for drinking Ghost, that's not all there is to relaxing...or maybe it is. Been far too long for me." -Moonlight grins broadly. "Now that statement alone makes you strange," she comments with a chuckle. -Ghost lifts a brow, "Not sure I remember how to relax either.. But that's neither here nor there.' She peers at the empty glass, optics dimming inthought before she abruptly stands, "Do excuse me.. I forgot.. I do have something I need to be working on.' -Moonlight shakes her head. "Sounds like you both need lessons in just slowing down and enjoying life." She lifts her glass once more to drink. -Ghost offers a wan, soft frown, "Not really much left for me to enjoy other than duty, Mer Moonlight." she gives Onslaught a little salute, waves and pads towards the door. -Moonlight sighs. Now that really /is/ sad. "I'm sorry to hear that Ghost..." she says as she watches the femme leave. -Onslaught sighs as Ghost begins to leave...as much as a part of him would like for her to stay, he can't very well order anyone to do anything of the sort. ESPECIALLY with him attempting to avoid Darkmount, and being classified as off duty... -Moonlight finishes off her glass and begins to pour another. "So, what did you think of the fight?" -Onslaught says, "You mean besides the fact that it was perhaps all a big mistake?" -Moonlight doesn't bat an optic. "Mistake from what point of view?" -Onslaught sighs as he looks over at Moonlight, "Listen, I'd rather not talk about it. Alright? You can tell your mate Blitzwing that I send my 'condolences'...please try to save some of the wine for him. I'm sure he can use it." -Moonlight shrugs. "Is that an apology?" -Onslaught says, "....I have nothing to apologize for. If you construe my words as an apology, so be it. I'm not justifying my actions, nor explaining myself to anyone, any longer." -Moonlight stoppers the bottle. "You sound a bit cranky to me," she observes. She takes another mouthful of the wine. "This is really good stuff by the way." -Onslaught says, "I'm far from cranky...I'm just done with a few things. Feel free to construe that as my leaving the Empire, or taking matters into my own hands, or being more secretive. Heck, feel free to take that to the rumour mill, and have everyone think what they want. And by the way, you're welcome for that. I had an extra crate of it shipped to me, and haven't been able to move it as quickly as I wanted to." -Moonlight leans on her elbows. "You keep telling me that I can construe things any way I want. I'm not here to start rumors. If I'm mistaken, just tell me so." -Onslaught says, "I'd rather rumours get started. I'll level with you...I've had enough of all the garbage and slag that ends up getting thrown my way. I'm tired of sitting on my haunches not being needed...I'm just tired in general. So, think what you please, do what you please. Just be careful not to kick me too hard when I fall down." -Moonlight frowns. "Well, this war makes everyone tired. You heard what Ghost said...she sounds kinda tired too. I'm not here to start rumors, and I'm not here to kick people while they're down. It's just not Moonlight's style." She shakes her head. "As for not being needed, at least you're in a position to make stuff happen. You're a general...I'm just a Lieutenant." She grins. "Not that I'd want to be anything else." -Onslaught sighs as he looks towards the entrance, many thoughts running through his head as he mutters to himself, 'A position I risk this very moment', before turning back to her and nodding wordlessly...not finding anything to say that might be appropriate. -Moonlight continues to frown. Sure, this is the guy who punished her for sticking up for what she believed in, but that doesn't mean she's happy at his apparent gloominess. Moonlight may be many things that aren't enviable, but she has never been cruel. She finishes off her second glass of wine and tucks the bottle away to give to Blitzwing later. "I guess you're just going to have to find something to spark your interest again..." -Onslaught says, "It's not a matter of interest. By the by, I hope one day you understand why I did what I did regarding you...if not, well, my apologies in that case." -Moonlight shrugs. "Maybe I will, and maybe I won't. But I'm not too concerned. As long as I come out of a situation alive, I consider it a good thing."