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016 | [Audio]

[So yeah, that whole true-form thing happened, and needless to say, Wheeljack's not happy that he's back in his tiny, fleshy body. So not-happy that he punched a wall out of anger. Needless to say, he's got it in bandages right now.

You idiot.]

I'll be at Digital Dive if anyone needs me.

Try not to need me.

[There's no Digimon this time. It seems like they know him well enough to give him some quiet time.]

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[Everything, and everyone is so high strung after they all lost their true forms. Everything has a double meaning, emotional stakes are higher, they're all reeling. A Cybertronian losing their form means more than just losing their size or their transformation ability.]

And what about you, Wheeljack?

[Wheeljack doesn't want to be needed by others right now. But Bee narrows his eyes.]

You telling me that you don't need anyone right now?

[Because he doesn't believe it.]

[There's silence for awhile. Almost to the point of thinking Wheeljack just ignored the text.

But there it is, with as bad of grammar as always.]

outside the apartments meet me

[Bumblebee pretty much has a direct route outside with the rather large hole in his apartment. Aside from the chill coming in at night, it's a terrible reminder - he'll ask to move rooms soon as possible.]

[He'll meet you there, Wheeljack. Just Bee. Vanguard stays behind.]

[He's already started attempting to fix his. One of his projects, so to speak.

But when Bee arrives, Wheeljack is sitting there, looking at his injured hand (oh yeah, that happened), practically numb.

Whatever this was...it certainly wasn't Wheeljack.]

[It's a little startling to see Wheeljack like this, let alone seeing what happened to his hand. Bee approaches slowly, eyes drawn like a magnet to that injury. Now he's really worried, bro.]

... Wheeljack?

[The injury itself? That came from a mirror. Wheeljack punched it--yeah, he's an idiot. It's bandaged, at least, but the cuts and bruising peeks through.

At Bee's voice, though, he tilts his head up, the once smarmy face now completely confused and lifeless. Like a dog trying to make sense of just why it chewed up the couch.]

Hey kid.

...

[His eyes dart away, only taking slight glances back every few seconds.]

I messed up.

[Geeze, Jacky. We're squishy and fragile again, yanno.

Bee wasn't sure how Wheeljack was going to act, what the feeling in his gut was, or what he was even going to say to the older Autobot after the network broadcast before he'd arrived. He wasn't expecting this.

Bee's used to defiance, anger, surprise and self confidence... but this? It doesn't seem right on him. He looks... lost.]

Messed up how?

Edited 2014-02-09 09:58 (UTC)

[It certainly was an odd colour painted on him, that's for sure. For someone who was so full to the brim with confidence, he looked like a shambled version now.]

Arcee and I.

You uh...can guess.

[As if to emphasize, he puts his hands together, fingers laced, and pulls them apart.]

[Bee's turn for confusion. Wheeljack and Arcee. The hand motions. Bee's seen other bots use the same motion before, but it was usually in relation to... well.. relationships. What did that have to do with-

It takes him a moment to register.]

Wait. You don't mean-

You and Arcee are...?!

[You guys are a thing?!]

[SURPRISE!

Wheeljack's head tilts, eyes going half-lidded.]

Yeah, for the past few months. Now it's sorta-kinda. Doubt she wants anythin' to do with me now.

[What the fuck did you think 'partners' meant, Bee.]

Edited 2014-02-09 10:18 (UTC)

[Hey, man. He's been running around haunted houses and being chased by Tyrannomon and getting punched in the face by Leatherhead. He's been too busy a bee to spot the secret smoochings that you two kids have been up to in his absence.]

But why? It's been going so well until now, hasn't it?

[He supposes he should've seen it before now. They'd been getting along so swimmingly ~~like two cassettes in a Sondwave~~. Too swimmingly, now that he thinks about it.]

Edited 2014-02-09 10:26 (UTC)

She needed me, and I...I wasn't there. Worse, I put somethin' else before her.

[To which he holds up his D-Terminal, referring to his broadcast. The way he says it, it's like he's disgusted by himself. Like it was done in some fog of frustration.]

I didn't mean it to apply to her but...

[Sigh.]

Kid, don't think there's a wound I've gotten in the war that hurts this bad.

[Quite the statement, seeing as they've been through some terrible scrapes. But he figures that's how it is with matters of the spark.

Still there's got to be some explanation. He'll even settle down cross legged, beside the other bot.]

Can't say the message helped any. But you should talk with her, Wheeljack. I mean, what you were doing must've been important...

[Right?]

[Physical wounds are easy. You can bandage them up, have a medic cut off pain receptors...this...there was no source. There's no cemented problem.]

Yeah...really gotta stop speakin' before thinkin'.

Easy to mess up your own life that way.

...

Tried. She didn't really take it all that well.

[Well, you wouldn't be Wheeljack if you didn't jump first and figure out how to land later. It just... gotcha in trouble this particular instance.

Wheeljack might've put his foot in his mouth, but having two members of his family fight feels all sorts of wrong. ~~KISS AND MAKE UP~~.]

... She kick you out for a few days?

[Bee it's a little more complicated than that.]

[True, that is how he does things. And he's even better at getting away with it. ...Until now.]

...more like...'to be announced'.

[Ouch.]

To be announced!?

[His shoulders droop a little, at a loss. What does that even mean? .. Okay. Give him a second to think.

He stands up in front of Wheeljack.]

Hang on.

'To be announced'- That doesn't sound good, but it also means you've still got hope, right? You've got to try and talk to her again.

Edited 2014-02-10 22:01 (UTC)

[True, he hadn't completely given up. He wouldn't be much of a Wrecker if he did. But it was one of those sliver amounts, if that. His eyes cast up at Bee, a bit wider.]

Uh...well, not completely.

You really think that's all it'll take?

Maybe...

[Just For you, Wheeljack. Bee's going to think of this strategically. Fight smarter, not harder.

Step one! Analyze weaknesses. Change your attack strategy]

Let's figure out what you did right and what you did wrong. Going about it the same way's only going to cost you your second chance. Something needs to be different this time around.

[Play up your strengths.]

She likes you for a reason, Wheeljack. And she hasn't broken it off completely, maybe even for the same. You could do more of the stuff she likes. Things that made her smile.

[Reinforce weaknesses.]

There was just something missing, or something that made her angry from your first talk with her. So if we fix that, we'll be in good shape.

[consolidate your forces for the final moment of attack]

If you need anyone to coordinate things or get a hold of apology gifts quick, Sora, me, and the others will have you covered.

All that's left is for you ...

[for you to win back Arcee!]

to flank the enemy for a decisive victory.

[... Wait. Wait no. Something wasn't right there. Did he just say the wrong ...?]

[Wheeljack listens (and watches Bee's little erratic movements), eyes locked onto the Scout. His enthusiasm was almost infectious, the way he was talking. He really, truly believed in Wheeljack with this, even though he only learned about his feelings a few moments ago.

Did the kid really...have that kind of faith in him?

It made him smile.]

...

[That is, until that last part.]

The what.

[Quick recovery!]

Arcee.

To... make up with Arcee.

[A short silence may follow ~~as he makes sure Wheeljack didn't notice his flub~~. I mean what flub.]

[He'll let it slide...for now.

But be prepared to come back to this later on. When everything's made up.]

Yeah...yeah, you're right.

I just gotta make everything right, yeah?

[Some newfound confidence--definitely needed.]

Yeah... [He gives Wheeljack an affirmative nod.] That's all.

I mean, I know Wreckers don't fix things.

But if anyone knows Arcee well enough to make this work, it'd be you.

...

[That makes it feel possible. Like he actually can do this. And it shows in that almost-bashful smile he's got going on.]

Really startin' to like you gettin' your voice back, kid.

[He grins.] Well, I like having my voice too.

It's good that Arcee's opened up to you.

I didn't see the two of you coming. But hey.

[Here's where he'll pause, long enough that it seems like he might not say what comes next.]

... Don't tell her I said this, but lately it feels like she's ...

[Here's the thing, Wheejack. This may be a thought that he hasn't really spoken aloud. To anyone. And the words just seem to fall short of what he really means. Bee had seen her in the aftermath of not one, but two world-shattering losses. And half the time, he'd always wondered if Arcee was one step away from... not giving up entirely. But something just as grim.]

She's closer. To being okay.

I just didn't know who to thank, until I talked to you out here.

[Because of Wheeljack.

He seems to trail off after that, uncertain of what to say.]

016 | [Audio]

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