Ep. 2 - Refuge in Audacity ( open)

[Bumblebee]

Bumblebee's optics narrowed into a frown as Thunder addressed him, and he stared into the cube infront of him silently – as if wishing the ground would swallow him whole. Way to be totally lame, Bee.

--Yeah well, nobody explained the rules!-- he beeped quietly, almost in whiny protest. He glanced up to listen to Arcee speak and tell a story of what'd happened to her. So you drink if you have done the thing.. Then tell a story of the thing. Okay. This wasn't so hard. Good thing Bee was a fast learner. Anything to stop himself looking like even more of an idiot infront of all these older bots and subject himself to more namecalling from Thunder. Benji wasn't even funny, nor did it make any sense.

At least the two femmes seemed to take sympathy in the fact Bumblebee had never done this before, and he would bob his helm in silent thanks to Rota for sticking up for him. His attention was quickly drawn by Carbine addressing him, however. His gaze moving past the helicopter and he'd lean back just slightly himself to look at Carbine's chair. Oh how he wished it would topple, then Bumblebee wouldn't feel like the lamest person in the room.

--Yeah I got the idea.. Thanks, though.-- He did appreciate the fact Carbine had explained it. He knew Carbine could've been an aft about things.. But he hadn't. Bee would lean forwards, to right himself in his chair so he didn't fall backwards like Carbine was about to, servo reaching out to tap his cube in thought. What hadn't Bumblebee done? Well.. A lot, that much was evident. This one should be pretty easy, and maybe he could get everyone to drink.

--Never have I ever, blacked out from drinking.--

That one was too easy, and would hopefully be the reason for some hilarious stories - although by the way things were probably going to go tonight? Bee would soon be adding that to the 'things he has done' list.

[Deleted]

In response to the admonishment he received for his teasing of Bumblebee, Thundercloud simply grinned rakishly, completely unapologetic, not caring in the slightest that folks were getting their panties in a twist over his less than tactful way of explaining the rules of the game. That was just the way he talked - mecha like him and Carbine, they had a way of communicating that was unique to the sort of environment they had earned their stripes in. There was no malice in any of the unkind things they said (at least, most of the time there wasn't), it was just posturing. You give your friends hell, they give you hell back - it was a comradery thing. You knew who your friends were because you could call them a slag sucking little glitch without getting your teeth knocked in, and you were expected to extend them the same courtesy.

As far as Thundercloud was concerned, he wasn't being rude - everyone else was just taking their sweet time getting with the picture.

Eventually, things circled back to Bumblebee, and the little speed-bump posed a truth that made him throw his head back and laugh, his free hand moving to his chest while the one that held his drink tried not to spill it. It took him a moment to compose himself, and once he did he leaned forward, propping his elbows on his knees as he took a drink from his cube.

"Aw, I got horror stories for you, mech. I've lost 'bout, what, three hundred years of my life gettin' blackout drunk?"

He looked over to Carbine for back up, to confirm that this estimate was accurate.

[Deleted]

--Never have I ever, blacked out from drinking.--

Arcee shared a sharp laugh the same time Thundercloud did. She gave Bee points for picking up on the game quickly after his first 'fumble'. She played idly with her partial cube, tracing the angled sides with slender finger. The two-wheeler turned her attention to the large jet's statement.

"Aw, I got horror stories for you, mech. I've lost 'bout, what, three hundred years of my life gettin' blackout drunk?"

Arcee snorted, "Why does that not surprise me?" The femme proceeded to take another swig of her drink. Primus she hoped they moved to a more physical activity soon, she'd need to burn off some of this High Grade to last longer this night.

"I woke up one morning, optics shorting every second and the mother of all processor aches, sitting in my CO's command chair," she said, "My fellow cadets thought it would make a great prank. Whether it was intended for me or my CO, I never found out."

"Either way, I got them back for it during the next hand-to-hand combat session when the instructors weren't looking." Arcee added coolly. "I couldn't decide if my CO was more pleased to find me that morning or irritated at having to write me for unprofessional misconduct to save face in the department."

[Deleted]

The green femme shook her helm in response to the more rambunctious mech's grins, though a small smile graced her own face. Eventually, she would learn that they were the sort to use insults to show that they 'care' – but just not at this very moment or maybe even tonight. Her attention turned onto Bumblebee, who bowed his helm in quiet thanks for her doing her part in sticking up for him. Rota simply nodded her own helm back at him, figuring it was nothing – it had only been the right thing to do to make sure that the youngest of their little group was also enjoying himself.

Now for his never-have-I-ever...She was gearing up to drink when Thunder knocked back his own. A soft laugh left her. “Oh Primus, how many times did you wake up with a painted faceplate?” She asked with a cheerful smile before her attention turned to Arcee, her smile widened, a shake of her head too. “Who knows, maybe it had been a mix of both?” As for herself, well...She knocked back her own drink – and then promptly sputtered because it had been years since she had high-grade and even then! She was used to a smoother drink.

“It was after my first performance at a new theatre, my fellow dancers decided to take me and the other new dancers for a night on the town after a job well done. They had lead all of us to this..seedy little bar in Praxus and promptly started to pour each and everyone of us high-grade. Last thing I remember, I was dancing on top of one of the tables, singing along to that...hey carburetor song?” A laugh left the femme as she slightly mimicked the silly little dance for a brief moment. “Well, I woke up with the other newbie dancers in the costume department of the theatre, tangled up in one of the chains the aerial dancers use and covered in stage makeup.”

[Carbine]

Leaning back upright into his chair properly, Carbine folded his forearms down and over the backrest of the chair. He watched Bumblebee with a sideways glance as he popped out his comment for the game, and much like Thunder, Carbine let out a bark of a laugh. It was hard not to really, it was something that doomed the majority of them here, and was a good tactical strike by the little runt. He had learned fast!

"At LEAST tha͝t."

Carbine stated with a snort of a laugh in reply to Thunder, pointing a lazy finger in his direction.

"I remember once w-͡when Thunder was t-trashed, like, primus above his p͢r͜o̷ce̵s̴sor must have dead spots now, he was supposed to be go-́go͝-͞g-͟travel into the washracks to try to sober. We̵lļ,̡ ͞ìnstea͘d of soberin' him up, he came back out clutch-ing a p-pipe he had torn out of the dam̴n͟ ͡walļ. Started talking about how he and it were bes-be̸-̡s͢uperior friends and were going to elope, and how͜ ̴nob̨o͞dy͢ understood him like this pipe did. It was rįd̶iculous͞."

After Carbine said this, he arched his frame forward, to push his back up and out a bit more. This caused the bundle of metal and components along his spine to flex a bit, shifting in its sockets. He did smirk at the others however, offering chuckles at their own embarrassing tales, or... as much as they could remember.

"Nooowww... me o̶n̨ ̢th́e̸ other hand..."

Carbine started, speaking dramatically.

"Ok so you all know those stupid little puzz͠le things͜? The bent twisty p-ieces of rebar st-uck together that they SAY you can separate bu̸t͡ its̢ fraggin' impossible?"

To emphasize his story, he held up both his hands with his pointer and thumbs picking at the air. He wiggled them a bit as if to pretend he was manipulating the tiny puzzle game that was needed a lot of clever thinking to figure out more often than not. He ended up squinting one optic as he did so, before continuing his story.

"Well when I wok̕e̢ ͜up, I was face first draped o-ver my table, yo͟u͝ kn̷ǫw, the classic drunk id-iot trying to peel themselves off a fla-fl-level surface covered in crusty vomit and ģr͞os͢s, well... sitting there in front of me, j͝u͏s͏t̨ ̵wa͘iting͢ for me to find it... a sign of my conquest and PRIDE at being more int̛el͏lig̵e͞n̨t ͏wh͏i̕le͘ slag faced than sober... was that litt-lit-tiny rebar puzzle com-pletely s̷o̢l͟ve͘d̵ and separated."

Carbine shrugged before he finally unhooked his cassette with a pop.

"NO idea how I d͠id įt̵."

A shifting rattle of a transformation rang out. Large white rings on either side of his back burst apart, to permit a canine's helm to swing up and forward. The entire process was quick, fluid, and over in just a moment, but it left a large dog now standing upon the ex-cops back.

Bolo's forepaws planted down solidly onto the junction between Carbine's shoulder paneling and neck, the little rubber grips rooting him in place. His hind legs in contrast, were plunked solidly upon the posts that speared out of the back edge of his hip flaring. This left Bolo arching up and over Carbine some, still playing the role of a backpack, but independent and with an ability to look around. He was going to sniff at the air in interest, but Carbine lifted up his drink and held it on his shoulder.

Instantly Bolo dove into the high-grade as if it were a treat offered to him. There was an obnoxious lapping sound, and some of the noxious green cocktail splattered down and around to trail thin lines along his black armor. He didn't mind, and after Bolo got a few drinks in, he pulled it away to get ready for the next round.

[Bumblebee]

Listening to the other bots tell their tales was starting to make Bee feel less awkward about being here. While there was still that dreaded feeling of being thought of as lame at not having any stories for future questions, he was at least thankful he'd asked a question that everybody had answered with a story.

All except Thunder.

He'd hinted at it, sure, but hadn't told a story. His optics narrowed some as he tapped the side of his cube idly. He would call him out on it in a moment.

He chuckled at Arcee's story, and was honestly surprised that she took a shot. So when Rota spoke up also and took a shot? He was gobsmacked. She was so... Quiet. So dainty! The thought of her getting blackout drunk was... Wow, he'd misjudged her totally.

He leant back in his chair with a goofy, lopsided half-smile on his face. That warm, fuzzy but unfamiliar feeling of high-grade in his system. This was nice. He was just slightly buzzed, and hopefully this would be as drunk as he would get; but this probably wouldn't be the case as the night had only just started.

--Where's the pipe now?-- He grinned after Carbine told a story on Thunder's behalf. His gaze shifting to look at the ex-cop as he spoke further and went on to tell his own story.

--Pfffft-- He snort-laughed. --I bet someone else did it...-- He trailed off, not finishing that thought. Maybe he was a little more buzzed than he'd like to admit, his processor already a little fuzzy.

His gaze snapped up at the noise of transformation, and he instantly slunk back in his chair a little. Ooh no. He remembered just last week. The incident. With the shelves. And Bolo. Luckily the canine seemed more interested in the high-grade and sitting on Carbine, and so Bee would sit up a little straighter once more. He turned his attention away from the pair, not drawing attention to himself. After last week? He would be forever wary of the canine, even if now they were on slightly better terms.

--Aight so ya need to tell a story!-- He'd peer at Thunder then, as if judging him for not telling one earlier. --Can't say ya got horror stories and then not tell one! And Carbine telling one for ya don't count!--

This should be a good one.

[Deleted]

One would think that in the face of such an embarrassing story about himself, Thundercloud would have the decency to look at least a little shamefaced, or perhaps look at Carbine with betrayal and annoyance for having brought up the story in the first place. Alas, Thundercloud was a shameless mess of a mech and as such all he did was laugh and shake his head, grinning crookedly as the story was told.

"Hey, in my defense I don't remember nothin' 'bout that night so take a minute to consider how reliable your narrator is, alright?"

He bobs his shoulders in a casual shrug, taking another sip of his drink just because he can - and also because he just doesn't want to have to wait until the next run of questions in order to take one.

"Sounds like somethin' I'd do though." He admitted flatly, before the little gold bug kid decided to open his mouth.

Thundercloud dragged his optics over towards Bumblebee, rolled them in the most passive aggressive manner he possibly could, before grinning wide to show that he was just being a pain in the aft for fun, not out of malice.

"Fine, fine. Don't blow your top, Rin Tin Tin. There was this one time, way back before the war, back when me and Patches were--" In prison. "--We were hangin' out, right, just kickin' back and tryin' out our buddy's homebrew. Tasted like somethin' a grounder'd scrape off their tires, but it was some good slag. Hard as a punch to the face."

He dusted his knuckles over his chin for emphasis, before shooting a grin at Carbine. He knew where this story was going.

"Anyway, turns out the slag he gave us didn't mix well with what I had in my tank. Dunno what all was in that drink, but it sure as hell didn't play nice with energon. Things got a little hazy 'bout three hours in, and when I came to I had some new etches in some interestin' places and a bolt in my face."

He reached up, tapping the screw below his lip with his forefinger before leaning back and draping his arm over the back of his chair.

"I was out of it for three days, or so they tell me. Still dunno what all else I did. I'd ask Patches, but he's a lyin' son of a glitch and I ain't about to take him at his word, specially not when he keeps tellin' a different story every time someone asks."

Of course, this could simply be because Thundercloud did an insane amount of increasingly ludicrous things in those three days, but he preferred to think Carbine was just a dramatic little slag who liked to make up stories.

"Anyhow, I'm up next, right? Lessee. Uh. Never have I ever been stood up on a date."

[Deleted]

Arcee leaned back into her seat, finally feeling more relaxed and loosing up more than she had in long time. One of her short legs dangled over the side of the seat idly. She snorted at Carbine’s enthusiastic sharing of Thundercloud’s date in the showers.

“Why does that not surprise me?” She commented, quite amused.

"Anyhow, I'm up next, right? Lessee. Uh. Never have I ever been stood up on a date."

The blue femme casually set down her drink beside her. Dating. The bane of her existence, when she was much younger. More like a lack of it.

“Well, that’s a no go for me.” Arcee said. “Generally, after the first hand-to-hand instruction class I participated in with a new group of mechs, interest faded pretty fast.”

She shrugged, not trying to sound like she was bragging or anything. It was simply the truth. Oh, there had been plenty of interested parties, especially after she’d left the academy, but once they witnessed her sparring with an average mech easily twice her size and coming out on top more often then not. Well, yea, like she said, interest faded. Arcee had been a feisty firecracker not some mech’s fragile trophy to show off. Probably, why she deliberately went searching for a sparring partner within the cycle of transferring to a new department.

And no, she didn’t count those cherished outings with Tailgate as ‘dates’. Those were simply mutually consented get-togethers with a respected partner and friend.

[Deleted]

The green femme listened to the other’s stories with interest, though when Bolo popped up? She couldn’t help the smile that grew across her faceplate. “Have you always had him?” She asked Carbine curiously while Bumblebee nagged Thunder to tell a story on his own. “I had a lilleth, but I always loved the hounds that many in my cohort had.” Just idle chatter before her attention was pulled onto Thundercloud’s actual story. She put a hand over her mouth, and she let out a laugh. “Oh Primus, couldn’t imagine that!” Rota mentioned.

“At least the bolt suits you?” She asked curiously, but she couldn’t think of anything to add commentary wise to his story. As for his ‘never had I never’, her smile faded and she did frown a little as Arcee mentioned that it was a no go for her. She let out an awkward sigh, and the femme moved to get a new drink before pouring down the hatch it went. That one, at least wasn’t as potent as the first one! “Well…” The feme started.

“I was still living in Iacon at the time…It was far before I moved to Praxus and I thought it was a good idea to ask this mech who lived close by out. He said he’d love to, that he’d pick me up after my practice for us to go out afterwards, and he never showed.” She shrugged her shoulders a little with a frustrated huff from her vents. “Honestly I am glad he did, because he wasn’t the nicest of mecha, him standing me up like he had opened my optics a bit.” The femme remarked with a small nod.

Besides, she ended up running into Cipher not long after that – so if she hadn’t been stood up? Well, she might still have had eyes for him, and missed out on the fun she had with Cipher! So, there really weren’t any regrets with that one, and honestly? She seen as being stood up as fairly normal, even if so far? It looked like two of the five (and likely three of the five, given she wondered if Bumblebee ever been on the date, what with him being the youngest. did not have the experience.

[Carbine]

Carbine side eyed Bumblebee as he asked a question about the pipe, the bottom edges of his optics crooking up in amusement.

"I kept i͜t ̀fo̵r aw̕h́i̛le̢. D-drew a face on it and offer it k͜z͝zt would to Thunder when he was being mopey. Told him͞ ̷that hi̷s da͝rling would cheer him up! I th-think he got rid of it th̶ou͞gh̀, I haven't seen his little precious for a very lo-ng time. Or maybe he was just en-̷en̢-en͘vious of me manhandling her."

Casting Thunder a smug look, he knew that the entire story could have been fabricated in the other Cybertronian's eyes. Thunder was SO far gone, that it was a miracle he was even alive any longer, or... at least had half a processor to form words with. Alas, Carbine for once didn't make up this one, not that the jet would possibly fully believe. Oh well. He had fun, and was enjoying listening to the tales and the memories it all brought.

Now throwing a glance to Rota as she addressed Bolo however, Carbine shifted his weight a bit.

"Sparked wi̢th́ him. Can't imagine a̧ da̷ỳ wíth͠out the little slag!"

He said happily. Bolo stretched forward a bit, trying to sniff at the air closer to Rota momentarily, before he licked at some residual high-grade that was smudged over his snout and draining out of his nose mesh. Carbine was considering asking Rota about her dog thing, but Thunder punched him with the game.

Letting out a groan of a noise, Carbine rolled his helm backwards in dismay, leaning as far back as he was able to with Bolo standing where he was. The canine wiggled a bit, forepaws scrabbling to a new position as he adjusted his stance, not wanting to topple backwards off of his Master, but wanting to remain up on his perch where he could look over everyone like the self proclaimed king he was.

Bolo was blind to Bumblebee's nervousness though. He didn’t mind Bumblebee really, even after the incident. Sure if Bee made any threatening motion at Carbine, Bolo would take a sharp snap at his hand, remembering how he hurt Master, but other than that? He was still the happy little puppy. Besides... Carbine had a metaphorical leash on him, keeping him in line and calm. Either way, the stories started.

Eyeing Arcee , Carbine hooked a brow. While he had no smile that could be seen, Bolo acted as a tell due to being linked to his Master at a core level. Because of this, Bolo's maw peeled open, a happy sort of grin with the tip of a tongue lulling out from the side between blunted prongs.

"Hey I dou̶bt m͠y̷ in̛t͡erest would f-fade after being a bi͜ţ ̵s͟cuff͘ed͘ up."

Ahh the hopeless flirt. It didn’t matter Arcee was a potential buzzkill trying to act all high and in control because of being on base far longer than him, and it didn’t matter that she seemed to be a ridged sort, Carbine was just a tasteless Cybertronian. This fact was further emphasized after Rota spoke.

"-and I w-wouldn't stan͠d up̵ à ̡pre̷tty femme!"

It was no wonder then that when it was Carbine's turn, he revealed his anguished life of flirting gone sour. He reached a hand up, and pretended like he was counting for a moment, before giving up.

"Man, I don't even KNOW how màn͢y̶ ţime̴s͢ I ̕ha͘ve asked a l-lady out, and had ̸it bac̸k̡fire. The really pretty really don't k̵zz͝t̷ ones don't really hurt anymore... They can pick out anyone they want really and I am͟ j̕ust ͏a̵ ̶wor̢k̀fo͜rc͡e cop! But it is when the fraggin' ̨u͞g͡ly on͞es stand you up that it hits yah right here."

Making an obviously fake pained noise, Carbine rapped a fist over his spark.

[Bumblebee]

Bumblebee didn't know how, or why, Thunder kept coming up with such stupid names for him. He took it all in good fun though, and managed a beepy chuckle as he was addressed by yet another nickname. His attention on Thunder as he began to tell his story. His optics adjusting just slightly to keep focused, due to his processor being a teeny bit buzzed.

He couldn't help but snicker as Thunder tapped the bolt in his chin. There was no way Bee would ever get something like that – not that he could, anyway – he kept his mouth hidden behind the yellow faceplate that covered much of his lower jaw.

--Least ya didn't feel that, looks like it woulda hurt! Looks good though.-- He mused. It did look pretty neat, and would probably have been worth any pain even if it'd been done while sober.

At Thunder's question for his round of the game, Bumblebee would glance down to stare into his cube. Aah, the feeling lame thing was creeping up again. Damn his youthful inexperience and innocence. All Bumblebee had known was war, so he hadn't had time to really have a life beyond that, although now he was on Earth and things were mostly calm, who knows.

He listened to Arcee's answer, and honestly expected as much! She was a tough femme, and everyone was probably too scared to even dare stand her up on a date. His gaze still downwards as Rota told her story.

--Eh, his loss. Least ya didn't invest too much into it!-- He stumbled over his words a little, frowning. He also realized that maybe she might get the wrong impression from what he said, it was an innocent comment, but now he was stressing that maybe they'd take it as something more. Damn high-grade, and damn overthinking slag. --I uh. Mean his loss in that ya seem nice.-- Noo that's.. Frag.

--His loss.-- He mumbled. Way to totally not explain your thought process, Bee.

He managed to look up as Carbine spoke to him, optics adjusting. He couldn't help but laugh, quickly forgetting about the awkwardness he'd put himself under just seconds earlier.

--Maybe he keeps it hidden under his berth!-- He piped up cheerily, wanting to stay on Carbine's good side despite the fact that things were actually quite civil between them after what'd happened last week. He even chuckled at Carbine's story, although it wasn't surprising in the slightest – after what Bee had seen of Carbine in the hallway earlier, he could totally understand why the helicopters attempts at asking femme's out had backfired.

His gaze would drift to Bolo as he grinned, watching as the dogs tongue lulled out. At least Bolo seemed to be in a good mood! His door-wing ached in some weird phantom pain at seeing the canine, though, but that'd no doubt fade in time due to the high-grade which would no doubt make him forget pretty much everything.

Which he didn't drink any of this round.

--I aint ever been on a date so nooo shot for me this turn!--

He felt really lame, and so would awkwardly clear his throat, turning his gaze back to Carbine, hopefully turning the attention back onto him, instead of Bee's lack of life.

--Ya didn't take a shot!-- For someone who had only just learned the rules, he sure was getting the hang of it to the point of annoyance, telling Thunder to tell a story, now this...

[Deleted]

As each mecha in the circle said their piece and told their story, Thundercloud listened in silence, taking a few idle sips of his cube every now and again. He knew that wasn't really fair, or in the spirit of the game, but you know what - tough. It was his party, he could break the rules and get smashed while everyone was revealing their embarrassing secrets all he wanted to.

Finally things went full circle and rounded all the way back to him, at which point Thundercloud threw back the rest of his cube, tossed the empty container thoughtlessly over his shoulder, then grabbed another off the table next to him.

"Well." He began, as if preparing to deliver a grand, important speech. "That was borin' as Hell and y'all should be ashamed of yourselves."

His tone was bright and chipper, despite the harshness of his words, and the grin on his face proved that he was entirely unapologetic about it. He even went so far as to lean back in his chair, slinging his arms over the backrest in an all-too-casual lean as he looked around at the circle of mecha he had assembled and shook his head, in mock-disappointment.

"I'm disownin' all of you. 'Cept for Bolo. He's got more interestin' stories than allla you put together, and nine times outta ten his stories end with him eatin' somethin', pukin' it up, then eatin' it a second time."

He glanced over towards the cassette in question, a broad, friendly grin spreading across his face as he favored Bolo with a fond look, reaching a hand out to beckon him over for an ear-skritch.

"Ain't that right buddy?"

[Deleted]

Hey I dou̶bt m͠y̷ in̛t͡erest would f-fade after being a bi͜ţ ̵s͟cuff͘ed͘ up."


Arcee gave an audible groan at Carbine's lewd remarks. Maybe she'd gotten too comfortable in her legendary reputation as being OFF LIMITS and believing it was was still in effect. Looks like she was overdue to give a demonstration to get the point across, even if it did mean enduring some skidplate groping during it.

"Well, Carbine, I'd be more than happy to do sparring round with you sometime in the hanger. I'll even be fine with Bolo joining in." Yeah, Arcee was feeling a little cocky and daring, probably the booze starting to affect her systems.

"Well." Thundercloud began, as if preparing to deliver a grand, important speech. "That was borin' as Hell and y'all should be ashamed of yourselves."

"Well, I'm sorry we failed miserably to amuse you, Thundercloud." Arcee snark back, her own sarcastic levity decorating her tone. "Isn't usually the party host's job to do the entertaining?"

Arcee readjusted her position on her seat, when she realized after a moment it was her turn to pose a question. Slag, what hadn't she done when she honest to Primus thought about it. Yea, sure she could do a cheap shot, but then she remembered oddly enough she never herself in this predicament considering she'd traveled all over Cybertron during patrol.

"Never have I ever been stranded somewhere unable to transform to vehicle mode and I'm talking prewar conditions."

[Carbine]

"Never been on a dat͟e̶!̢? ͠Quick̀, ̕so͠meone go out with Bumb͠lebe̡e̢! Show th-the little innocent thing what it is͝ ͘lik͘e to LIVE a day!"

Carbine screeched this as if Bumblebee had just admitted he had been a shut-in his entire life and had never experienced the outdoors beyond an underground base. The idea that the young bot hadn't even tried such a simple thing was absolutely horrible! But... not terribly surprising given the fact it was war. Relationships and emotional ties, would only hurt you when someone dies. It was easier to just roam solo and try not to get too attached.

Which never worked.

Carbine liked to think he wouldn't care if someone other than Bolo or Thunder died out on the field of battle. Sure he'd TECHNICALLY care, because a soldier lost is another weakness and less armed team, but... it wouldn't cripple him in any way. However the fact was he was already getting attached to these other people and would be sad to see one of them just blip away in the grand scheme of things. Either way, Bumblebee pointed out something, and he shot upright a bit in alarm.

This sharp movement jostled Bolo, who didn't seem to thrilled. His jaw snapped closed and his ears flicked upright in alarm. While his hind legs had a good grip with toes splayed over the posts on Carbine's hip, the ones on his shoulder ended up slapping around and scrabbling to try not to fall and tumble right backwards off of the chair. After he got his balance, he snipped a light nip at Carbine's helm, not making contact, but more a displeased 'hey! I didn't appreciate that!'. His ire lasted about one second though, before Carbine shoved the half full high-grade at the dog's face.

Bolo forgave all and dove into the drink like he was dying of thirst, only stopping momentarily when Thunder addressed him. As if understanding he was being spoken of and praised, the canine's small engine rumbled a moment before he squeaked out a throttled bark. It was still loud, but it wasn't as loud as it could have been, almost a happy little chirp as High-Grade splattered down his jaw and slid along the hydraulic line that fed his maw. After this acknowledgment sound, he went back to trying to clean out the cube, licking at the inside of the glass and smearing the noxious chemical.

Carbine was distracted though by Arcee's previous words, completely ignoring Thunder and the femme's reply to him. He had something far more valuable to address.

"Oh honey, you don̕'t ͘w̶a̵ǹna ̵b͏e double teamed. I me̴an, unle̴ss̢ ̧y-you are into that, but then I wouldn't sugg͏e̢s̷t̨ Bo̷lo. I͡ d̸on't really roll th-that way."

His rotor's rattled a bit in a throttled laugh, finding immense mirth in the implication he just made, before he sat his empty cube down. Reaching forward, he would nick the edge of a new drink with the tip of a finger, and drag it back at himself, holding it at the ready so he didn't forget again. Bolo seemed keen to remind him, already nosing at his jaw in reminder that he was there.

"Ohhh vagu͢e̸ qu͟e͞s̸t̕ion is vague. I m-ean, stakeouts kin͟d̨ ͏of co̕un̢t as being stranded. I don't know if you all are aware, but I wàs ͜a ̶co͡p̨ b͜e͟fore the war. GASP I know right? Sh-shocker."

His over sarcasm was palpable. He then took a breath, trying to throttle back his glitching speech.

"We would get stuck a͜round all the time w-aiting to catch people, too many stories ͞to get into that nonsense. I assume you mean STUCK STU̧CK like... 'Ive fallen and I can't get up' stuck how̢eve̕r. ̀B̢eìng a hover car most of my function,̸ ẁè can... kind of pop͜ ̴ou̡t of whatever, so half drįnk here."

He offered the new cube to Bolo, who leaned forward. The canine's movements were a bit more wobbly and inebriated, but he shoved his face in the drink and got a couple greedy gulps before Carbine pulled the drink away.

[Bumblebee]

As Carbine spoke, Bumblebee would make an attempt to sink back in his chair.

Ground, please, swallow me whole.

--Noo no no.. No. I don't need no date!-- He beep-squawked in protest. The thought of dating was a weird concept to Bumblebee, he'd never had much interest in that kind of thing; more content to watch cartoons and play video games than do romance stuff.

With each and every round of this game, Bumblebee felt more and more lame. The fact Thunder had called them all out on being boring didn't help, even if the other Mech wasn't being mean with his words – Bee still felt pathetic. They'd all lived so much, done so much.. But Bumblebee hadn't done anything fun, it seemed. Tortured to near death by Megatron? Fun times! Known war all his life? Most fun ever!

Okay so maybe he'd done some fun stuff, like sneaking into Decagon alone back during the war, getting put in jail and then busting out... But none of these questions were that specific.

So everyone probably thought he was super lame. Because he sure felt super lame. Maybe drinking games weren't for him, and at this point he just felt like a sad, awkward fly on the wall watching everyone tell their stories and drink their shots.

Arcee's question didn't help that sad, pathetic feeling he had, and Bee would turn his attention to his cube which sat almost full on the table in front of him.

--That aint fair, I wasn't even around prewar!-- He beeped, and there was a hint of annoyance in his tone.

Carbine's 'double team' comment flew over Bumblebee's helm, which was probably for the best – but he'd glance up at Carbine's comment about him being a cop before the war. Huh. That was neat. Unexpected, due to how Carbine acted, but neat. The bright yellow chevrons on Carbine's shoulders didn't really register with Bee, having not seen many cops during his time in the war and so he didn't know any better. His gaze would shift to Bolo, watching as the canine drank the high-grade.

Even Bolo got to drink.

This was so unfair.