DON'T COUNT MISTAKES I LOST TRACK OF THEM

[tilallisoverused]

( He's in trouble. He's Rodimus, the younger of Nova's two candidates for Prime, and he is absolutely in trouble. It's not his fault. He just happened to be somewhere where trouble results, although okay - that part isn't new.

And he knows exactly how he got here in the first place, it's the same as it always is.

Orion frowns at him every time he leaves the Primal Basilica dressed in a cloak - knowing full well that he's going to go to those places that Nova finds unlawful and unruly. Sure, the other Prime in training had attempted to stop him before, to no avail. That makes something twinge in Rodimus because he likes Orion, he really does.

Then again, most people like Orion 'Super Cop, Future Prime' Pax. Because apparently some people like having a career that's pointless once you know you'll carry the Matrix. He guesses that has to do with Orion having spent some of his life from out of Nova's influence - maybe that made you like police work.

Not that Rodimus would know what that's like - Nova snatched him up two days after he was forged, as if he knew exactly where to find him. Must be a 'wisdom of the Matrix' thing. Find your replacements before someone else does and what not. But it boiled down to the fact that he'd never really got to know or experience life outside the basilica walls and for every time Nova told him he shouldn't or couldn't go out - he did.

Which is how he ends up standing over someone he punched into a wall - thanks Galvatron and Cyclonus for teaching him that one - inadvertently starting a bar fight that he is determined to win. Rodimus is pretty sure that as a mysterious cloaked and hooded figure, he definitely looks awesome which negates the trouble.

Mostly. )

Comments

[thesurpriseinside]

[ He looks back at Rodimus and gives him a Look. ]

Did you forget about the gambling ring? I told you it would go badly if you went back and it did.

[ He got shot and everything. ]

[tilallisoverused]

( He winces at that, taking a drink. )

Alright, fine. Tied.

( But that just means he's got to do something to give himself a win. Watch out. )

[thesurpriseinside]

[ That does occur to him. He reaches out and sets his hand lightly on Rodimus' arm. ]

You don't have to be keeping score, you know. And... Thank you for this. Really.

[tilallisoverused]

( His free hand moves to rest over Minimus's almost absentmindedly - lips in a thin line before he smiles. )

And if I want to? ( That's not the point, though. ) I knew you'd like it.

( So you're welcome, Minimus. )

[thesurpriseinside]

[ He glances down at the hand resting over his, expression warming for that. ]

If you're going to insist on keeping a score, I suppose I can't stop you. [ He shakes his head, leaning back just a little. ] You're impossible.

[tilallisoverused]

Impossible is good, I like it. I like doing impossible things even more.

( It's just encouraging him at this point. )

[thesurpriseinside]

[ Yeah, that sounds a lot like trouble. ]

And what impossible thing are you planning next?

[tilallisoverused]

Dunno, but I'll know it when I come across it.

( He has to remove his hand from over Minimus' to take a drink, and he is very resolutely not missing the feeling of the other bot's hand under his. )

[thesurpriseinside]

Try not to do it without back up at least.

[ He settles back a little when it occurs to him that probably he doesn't need to be immediately in Rodimus' personal space. ]

[tilallisoverused]

Are you offering?

( He misses that too, which is weird. So he's going to look at either his glass or the band for a long second, even though he can't help but have his optics flicker over to Minimus, an easy smirk sliding across his face. )

[thesurpriseinside]

[ It's a minute before he answers that, considering the question as he stares down at his own drink. Finally he looks back up at Rodimus, utterly serious. ]

Yes. Yes, I am.

[tilallisoverused]

Good. I accept.

( Said with an easy smile, as if it's the most natural thing in the world for him to do.

Rodimus isn't certain what he just accepted, if it's friendship or something. He doesn't think Minimus is swearing his life to him in the way that Cyclonus does to Galvatron and Galvatron to Nova, but it's-- something. And it makes warmth snake through him, curling around his spark. )

[thesurpriseinside]

[ Minimus isn't really sure himself what he's offering, but he knows he won't take it back. ]

Good.

[ Unsure of what else to say, he turns his attention back to the stage. ]

[tilallisoverused]

( Rodimus, for once, doesn't say anything - just watches Minimus in silence. Which might be kind of creepy if the other bot saw, but Rodimus is betting his attention will be on the band, at least until they're done. At which point Rodimus pushes himself back from the table with a grin. )

See? You had fun and it didn't kill you.

[thesurpriseinside]

[ His attention is 100% on the band. It's been a while since he's seen live music and he'd forgotten just how enjoyable it was. The combination of that and the drink, however mild, has him unusually relaxed and warm. He follows Rodimus' lead, standing. ]

The chances of my dying from "fun" [ He doesn't do the air quotes but they are there. ] wasn't what I was concerned about. But this was nice.

[tilallisoverused]

How would you know? You've probably never experienced it before. ( Said as he leads Minimus out after promising the bartender he'd send someone round with the money for the tab tomorrow. ) We'll come back on one of the days they go straight until morning.

[thesurpriseinside]

What, dying or having fun?

[ He pauses briefly outside the bar to get his bearings. ] That sounds a little extravagant.


[ But... it could be nice. ]

[tilallisoverused]

Having fun. Although you probably haven't experienced death either. ( Unless he's not telling him something. But Rodimus follows Minimus, staying in step once the other bot figures out the way. ) If you wanted extravagant I'd take you to one of the official concerts.

( He makes a face at that. His idea of a fun time is absolutely not milling with the Cybertronian elite. Even if he is one. )

Here? Here's there a chance for dancing and absolutely no Senators trying to make smalltalk.

[thesurpriseinside]

[ He hums low. ]

I wouldn't mind attending one of those someday either. [ Just to know that he had. ] But I can see why you prefer the smaller venues... Do you dance?

[tilallisoverused]

They're definitely not worth it. ( In his opinion, which is the only opinion that matters. ) Sometimes, depends on what the music of choices is that night.

( He is not... that good at anything requiring a great amount of patience in order to do the dance properly. But he puts a hell of a lot of enthusiasm into it, which normally makes up for his mistakes. )

[thesurpriseinside]

[ He's quiet for a moment, considering that. ]

Perhaps next time we can do that. Dancing, I mean.

[tilallisoverused]

We'll go as soon as I get back.

( He'd mean it literally too, if Nova wasn't going to drag him into reporting on the state of their empire the moment he touched down. )

A month, two tops.

[thesurpriseinside]

I'll look forward to it then.

[ And it's a little startling to realize he means that. ]

After you give your report to Nova.

[tilallisoverused]

Good. I'll get you to loosen up and have fun yet. ( But he makes a face at that before waving it off. ) After I report back to Nova.

[thesurpriseinside]

Glad to hear it.

[ A not-smile for that. And they're close enough to his apartment that he pauses and offers his hand to Rodimus. ]

Thank you, again, for this, Rodimus. I'd prefer more advanced warning next time, but this was. Very nice.