[ti]Flashback[/ti]Nothing Louder Than Silence [Closed: SteelStrike ]

[Jazz]

     “I woulda assumed that by now ya would've figured out that I don’t really care how Cress feels. He’s always ‘unhappy’. Not bein’ around ta be paraded around like a shiny toy for his high-class snob businessmechs ain’t gonna make him any more angry than he already always is.” Meister thought to himself a moment before continuing. “If I was the only one that Cress ever threatened then we wouldn’t have gone through so many bodyguards in this short of time.” There was a half smile that came to him at that, as if he were somehow proud of his track record. “Actually, you’ve lasted longer than the others. Congrats. I would give ya a medal or somethin’ but I think that drink pretty much took my last bit of credits I’ve earned for this quarter.”

     Meister got up then and went to the little shrine he had set up and just stared at it for a bit. Then he lifted his helm and took a good look at the barren wasteland that was before him.

     “This place ain’t changed much since that day all this went down. It’s a little safer now that ya ain’t gotta worry about the heat meltin’ ya from the inside out, but otherwise? Same ol’ disgustin’ place. Those who were here always talked about gettin’ out and makin’ it big. None of them really ever thought they’d miss it.”

[Deleted]

"I don't know about time lengths of other guards," Steelstrike began, carefully, "But my own contract does expire in the next few cycles- and in all honesty, I think I'm glad I waived out of renewing it. I've got enough credits to tide over until I can find someone else to hire out to." He sounded obscurely pleased by that. Maybe he'd even manage to afford a slightly nicer habsuite. One with a window, preferably. As he considered the idea, his wings lifted slightly, spark buoyed as always at the thought of sky.


He paused, then added, "Also... I'd avoid wandering around by yourself like this. ...If you have to wander, at least take a guard or something with you." Not that he thought Meister was totally incompetent- but still, it never hurt to be safe than sorry. And if there was the *faintest* hint of genuine concern, well... Meister was odd. It had absolutely nothing to do with the fact Steelstrike might actually sort of like him. None at all.

Wings relaxing back into their 'neutral' pose, he then turned his attention to the shrine Meister was regarding. "...Who is this for, anyway? Anyone you know?" If it was, well, he'd offer a further comment. If not... he would be content to speak of something else.

[Jazz]

     "If someone out here manages to take me out, then I got more problems than just Cress. These folks are harmless so it'd take much more from'em to get me down." Meister wasn't naive, he just didn't really care- a point evident in the tone that he used. He then offered a small huff thereafter, then a chuckle, and finally silence as he turned his attention back to the small shrine.

     There was a good chunk of time that passed where nothing was said. Was he thinking of a way to 'put it' so to speak? Not really. He just wanted to observe a moment of silence out of respect. After a tip of his helm, he shrugged and dimmed his visor.

     "Jus' some fool who convinced me I was better than what I was created for. That there was somethin' bigger out there." Meister chuckled again. "I think the 'ol fool was wire or two away from a full malfunction of his processor." He motioned towards the old wreck of the collapsed section of the undergrid. "Drilled it into my head to stop livin' by the law of the land but he offlined as a hypocrite, right here." There was a smile that crossed his faceplate after the statement. Odd time for one, but there clearly had to be some memory he was reflecting on. "But he was a hero. Made sure the whole crew got out, stayed behind to hold up the exit for the last one. Got caught up in the explosion that took this place down."

[Deleted]

"You were a miner?" Steelstrike's tone was skeptical, though only mildly. He turned slightly to give Meister a long, measuring look, no doubt comparing the grounder's frame to that of a traditional Miner. "...You don't look like one now. Don't really act like one either." he added. Not that he really knew what a miner was supposed to act like.


His helm tilted, slightly, as the mech shifted his weight. "I couldn't stand never seeing the sky." he offered, after a pause. "...I'd go mad." The thought alone made his wings flatten in unease. Never to see the sky...? He was glad he wasn't a miner.


Then he added, "What.. was his designation? The bot who rescued you?" Even if Meister was annoying sometimes- he still deserved better than Cress.

[Jazz]

     "Wasn't a miner. I was a delivery mech for the company who owned this facility. Wasn't really built to be anythin' else outside of some joke I think." He grinned some and tapped his visor. "This lil' beauty's my only way of seein'. Don't even have optics under it as backup. Frame ain't built to take blows- just run from'em. But it's cool, really. Scoutin'round made it so that I could be free to travel and see different areas of Iacon. Fresh air an' all that..."

     Jazz thought about it then chuckled.

     "As fresh of air as ya can get, all things considered."

     There was a moment of silence as Jazz vented then turned to walk back to where he had been sitting and resumed his perch. He didn't have anything else to drink- not like he needed it anyway- so all he could do to keep himself busy was to fumble with his digits, which were now strumming against his knees.

     "Fracture. Least that's what we called him. Never learned what his numerical designation was. Always said we were more than the names we had painted on us and the jobs we were made for. Thought he had more than a few screws loose."