look at that old man drink; they call him sir emo

[notsoloyal]

WHO: spacetimeprime & notsoloyal ...and theprimerprime at some point?
WHERE: A BAR CALLED STICKS.
WHEN: Friday night.
WARNINGS: A very very veryyyyy old former robot drinking. And a another former robot, not nearly as old, being a creeper.
SUMMARY: Vector Prime is emo drinking, Shockwave is taking advantage of this and goes to hang out with him so that he can learn more about him and his ancient ways.
FORMAT: Magical combinations of letters.


It was not long after getting the location to the bar that Shockwave arrived. Were it not for the fact that this was Vector Prime he would never have even entered the building. But the elder Cybertronian was interesting. With the information he had uncovered from experimenting on Alpha Trion in mind, the mere prospect of poking at another ancient Cybertronian was too good to pass up.

After all, he was not planning on drinking anything, so he would be fine. He certainly did not need to repeat the last incident. While alcohol was actually quite nice, the hangovers they caused along with the monologues they brought about in him, were not.

Quietly he made his way through the bar, taking note of how many people were in there, until he finally managed to spot his target.

"Vector."

Comments

GDAMMIT I'M NOT EMOING.

[spacetimeprime.livejournal.com]

Vector Prime was doing his own experimentation; drinking.

Certainly, he knew this was only a stalling tactic. At best. At worst, it would do much worse than kill a few brain cells. But it was also a tried and true method that was used to at least distance oneself from a problem, if only for a little while, and if anyone had put him on the spot that would be what he would admit to doing. To numbing a pain until he was more capable of dealing with it, and deal with it he fully intended on doing. Eventually.

For now, though, he was eying a glass of brown liquid critically. The Network had been most helpful in recommendations, but he wasn't certain if it was just unfamiliarity or the new form that made certain ones...less than appealing. He could only hope his stamina held through this body...

Bringing the glass to his lips, he took a sip, then paused to look over his shoulder. It wasn't hard to see Shockwave through the crowd; a Friday night made it busy, but Vector had at least made an attempt at finding a spot where he could watch for any threats. Old habits, after all, made a Guardian hard-pressed to fully let down his guard.

"Shockwave."

CAN'T HEAR THROUGH ALL THE EMOOOOOO.

[notsoloyal]

There's a nod in acknowledgment as the scientist seats himself across from the other. While Shockwave was not much for casual conversation he would attempt it, what better way to learn in this kind of situation.

"So is this experience truly required?" Perhaps not so casual, but it was a start. He would not press the subject too hard. There was a far lower chance of getting answers that way. And if the Prime did not wish to speak of the reason he was drinking - doing it for the experience made little sense to him, he'd assumed it was a lie - then so be it.

pft. also going to bed; will tag in morning

[spacetimeprime.livejournal.com]

Vector inclined his head, watching Shockwave as the Decepticon seated himself. "Perhaps not," he admitted, "but I have not been selfish for some time. I expect worrying Sentinel enough for him to insist on guiding me back come closing time will be enough for the next millennia or ten."

Warning enough there; Vector had no idea how they would get along, but given Sentinel's opinions on Decepticons...he sipped at the glass again. Shockwave was smart enough to decide whether or not that encounter was truly required.

one day i will learn what this 'sleep' concept is.

[notsoloyal]

"Sentinel?" Warning enough, but not much a deterrent. "Hn."

Shockwave was not fond of Sentinel, not with the way that arrogant Autobot acted. Always jabbing at the fact that he was a Decepticon, tormenting him and Blitzwing when they had been hungover, calling him old and forgetful when learning his age. Sentinel Prime was, over all, an annoyance. And an idiot to top it all off, which fit ever so nicely with the previous fact.

He'd consider leaving before then, but he was not about to let the arrival of the Autobots' leader disrupt his study. There was a truce, and he intended to follow it.

"What prompted the choice to be selfish now? And it a shame that these bodies do not live that long."

That he was aware of. Study proved that they did not, but as far as imPorts went? He had little idea. The longest that someone had been in the City as far as he could tell, was simply a little over a year. Hardly long enough for a factor like that to come into play. Further study on that would be required if he remained in this City for a long enough time.

it is so very delicious |O

[spacetimeprime.livejournal.com]

Shockwave seemed hardly affected by the comment. Vector let it be, taking a few moments to try and isolate the flavors in the drink. After a few moments, he gave up, wishing once again that he could find a place that served these with liquid hydrocarbon. And/or that humans could, in fact, drink such things; he wasn't sure they could...

"What did you do, when the reality of being in human form first hit you?" he asked. "My own has changed over my many Vorns, but never into something like this."

It wasn't the whole truth, no, but they could work on that slowly.

wait. you eat it? i've been doing all wrong this whole tiiime.

[notsoloyal]

The reality of being human. Hn.

The first hit had been when he originally arrived in the City, causing a complete breakdown. Something of which he never spoke about, he'd had enough breakdowns for other reasons already.

More recently, however, that fact had really been sinking in. That he didn't have actual programing anymore, that this body was causing emotions to surface. That returning to an inorganic body or something similar might not be possible for some time, and that by the time it was possible this body could have caused too many problems.

"There was little to do. Simply accept the fact, as allowing it to affect my ability to function would be illogical.

"The form is not preferable, but... drinking is not going to change anything. If that is your reasoning."

no that would be a pokemon

[spacetimeprime.livejournal.com]

"I'm well aware it won't. But I'm also well aware that time can be a factor in accepting these things."

The liquid was rapidly disappearing from the glass. When it was empty, he rubbed briefly at his throat; there was a distinct aftertaste, a lingering sensation, but it wasn't...fully bad. And he was beginning to feel the effects of them - he was nowhere near drunk as some of the others in the bar, there was one talking loudly about the state of the City and the 'goddamn imports', but he supposed that would also require time.

"I do not wish to contemplate certain losses right now. Thus, this time-waster. Care for one?" he added, glancing at the small list he'd made regarding drink suggestions.

...vector do you really want a drunk shockwave on your hands. he'd talk your ears off.

[notsoloyal]

He nodded somewhat, accepting things with time was a common concept. Emotional. It was nothing he was not used to, he'd had to structure things around the concept before. But it was nothing he'd ever truly known personally. He accepted things when logic dictated it, only then, time was only a factor on some occasions.

The question Vector had asked had been met with some surprise. It was not exactly expected.

"Some alcoholic beverages may be rather pleasant in taste, and I do understand why it can be... useful as a temporary avoidant..." he trailed off for a moment, it would likely not be beneficial. However he was not about to switch things around, ask for a better explanation from Vector.

If he was drinking to avoid dealing with something, then he would get nothing out of him on that subject.

"I doubt it would do anything to assist with my stress."

Not quite a no, but not a yes either.

he was just being polite okay

[spacetimeprime.livejournal.com]

"I believe it's the whole 'muddling up the processor' aspect that makes it so appealing." Having only so much experience in the matter, he couldn't confirm that from experience. But other than a drink or two tasting wrong, it wasn't a bad experience so far.

Vector traded a few words with the bartender, who seemed to believe that as long as he could pay he had only so much business asking questions about the strange man - it wasn't long until there was another glass before him.

"You have other means of relieving stress, then?" he asked, lookign back at Shockwave.

this is no time to be polite. unless you are prepared for the consequences

[notsoloyal]

"I would not exactly call it appealing." With the after effects and the lack of productivity when drinking in place, the appeal did go down. Temporary avoidance was really the only thing it had going for it, in Shockwave's mind.

"Somewhat. More recently, not nearly as much as I would like." he shrugged.

Recently, everything was stressful.

it is always time to be polite, unless it is time to be pissed off

[spacetimeprime.livejournal.com]

"I know quite a few mechs who'd care to disagree with you." Including the entire populace of one bar that wasn't quite within a stable dimension, and most other dimension travelers couldn't even find it. Vector supposed it was his innate power that allowed him to touch that particular version of Maccadam's without being...well, dead. Not that he didn't have that status from time to time...

but this is the one that hides all his problems deep inside. you don't be polite.

[notsoloyal]

Again, nothing new, little to actually pay attention to.

"It is an opinion, someone is going to disagree with me at some point." without proper manipulation, or brainwashing beforehand.

"It lacks logic. Were it more logical, perhaps my opinion would change... You are going to have quite the hangover with the rate you are going."

should vector be the one encouraging shockers to talk?

[spacetimeprime.livejournal.com]

Vector...couldn't help but smile. "Not everything in this life is logical," he noted, sipping at the drink. "And I can imagine. I suppose that will give me yet even more time, from a certain way of looking at it." Namely, time spent suffering the sensation of one's processor trying to burst out of their helm. Or was it different for humans? He supposed he was going to find out within the passing of a day.

[theprimerprime.livejournal.com]

Precisely five minutes before last call, Sentinel found himself outside of a bar called Sticks. A decidedly seedy-looking and most un-Prime-like place, but there was no accounting for taste. Sentinel, personally, wouldn't have been caught dead drinking there. Then again, after his own experiences with alcohol, he wouldn't have been caught dead drinking at all. No accounting for taste.

There was just no figuring these old bots sometimes.

Without further hesitation, he walked in and began scanning the crowd for Vector. Ugh, inebriated organics. The things he went through for a fellow Prime. Finally, he spotted the older man and edged his way across the room to meet up with him...and Shockwave?

"Vector, what are you doing?!"

IT ISN'T WHAT IT LOOKS LI-okay it's exactly what it looks like

[spacetimeprime.livejournal.com]

By this point, Vector was finding out just what the limits of this form were. The alcohol tolerance was...not quite as impressive as his standard model, but perhaps impressive nonetheless for the sheer fact that he hadn't passed out or purged yet.

That said, he didn't look nearly as sharp as he did when he started. As Sentinel pushed his way through, he blinked at the other Prime owlishly.

"...that is a trick question." He distinctly remembered telling Sentinel - well, both of them - that he was going out to drink, and here he was, drinking, and maybe he no longer cared or remembered what drink he was on but he wasn't turning time back yet and that was a good thing as far as he concerned because it meant that his memory was still mostly intact.

Mostly.

/tries out formatting style option #2 in this thread. let me know if it still burns eyes.

[notsoloyal]

Shockwave remained silent as Sentinel arrived, just quietly observing. The younger Prime's reaction was expected. Vector obviously had not mentioned his being there to Sentinel beforehand. How unfortunate for the little Decepticon hating 'Bot.

Not that he cared.

Finally after Vector had spoken, he gave a very light wave, barely noticeable.

"Greetings, Sentinel." If the other was not going to say "hello", he would.

That is SO much better *_*

[theprimerprime.livejournal.com]

"Shockwave." Sentinel regarded him with a polite nod, replying in an arch tone. He wasn't about to have the Decepticons accusing him of being uncivil (again), so berating Vector for drinking with the enemy could wait until they got back to base.

Returning his attention to the older Prime, Sentinel attempted to evaluate his condition. Given that this was his first time drinking in a human body, he had doubtlessly managed to get himself thoroughly smashed. But at least he wasn't falling all over himself or anything. Yet.

"It's not a trick question. We'll discuss it later," he said, forcing himself to be patient. "Now come on. We're going home."

b(^o^)d TWO THUMBS UP

[spacetimeprime.livejournal.com]

There was a reason Vector hadn't mentioned it to Sentinel, but he had to Shockwave, he just couldn't remember it either. Hm. Hopefully it was a good reason.

"It is a trick question, just like someone asking if Primus was 'cool'," he insisted. "Which he is not, for the record." Warm and full of life and he got to his feet slowly, using using the bar to steady himself as it seemed that the alcohol had weakened his legs. Hn.

sweet. now i just have to decide if i like that version or all courier best.

[notsoloyal]

A wise choice on Sentinel's part, the Autobot would not have liked Shockwave's response otherwise. Although if he thought about it, it was calculated that Sentinel would not like much of anything he had to say. Being a Decepticon and all.

Shame.

The scientist couldn't help but arch a brow at the conversation. Primus.

He'd have commented on that, however, there was little time to think about it as Vector got up. Perhaps he had let the elder Cybertronian drink too much.

"You should probably help him, Sentinel." He'd have offered to help himself, but he was not sure if it would be permitted.

[theprimerprime.livejournal.com]

"Don't tell me what to do, Shockwave," Sentinel replied, a bit testily.

In actuality, he was already moving to assist, planting a hand on each of Vector's shoulders to both steady him and guide him away from the bar. He didn't bother debating the 'trick question' with Vector any further, or attempt to inform him of the fact that he really wasn't making any sense. It would probably have been a useless effort, so why bother?

/needs more human icons dammit

[spacetimeprime.livejournal.com]

The steadying hands helped. Vector Prime reached up to touch one, managing some wordless gratitude as he began to...walk. Well, he probably wouldn't have been able to without Sentinel's help, so it was more of a half-walk.

"Good-bye, Shockwave," he called over his shoulder.

[notsoloyal]

Shockwave shook his head, "I am not telling you what to do, Sentinel. I am merely advising."

Quietly he nodded to Vector in acknowledgment.

"Goodbye. We shall have to do this again sometime. Without the alcohol."

[theprimerprime.livejournal.com]

Sentinel ignored Shockwave's parting shot, focusing his attention on steering Vector out of the bar and toward the unmarked police car he'd been keeping around ever since that unfortunate incident with the tank. After all; one never knew when a set of wheels would come in handy.

He opened the passenger side door first and more or less shoved Vector into the car. A fairly gentle shove, but a shove nonetheless. Having successfully completed the transfer, he quickly rounded the front of the car and situated himself in the driver's seat.

"I will warn you right now: if you throw up in this car, you have to clean it up. Understood?"

[spacetimeprime.livejournal.com]

"Certainl-"

By that point, they were at the door, and Vector was briefly caught off guard by the chill air. And then-a car?

A car.

"This seems somehow wrong," he mused aloud, settling in the seat. "-and I'm not going to purge. I haven't done that in Vorns. No, more than that..."

[theprimerprime.livejournal.com]

"Tell me about it," Sentinel grumbled. "And they're manually controlled. It's annoying."

As for Vector's insistance that he wasn't going to make a mess of the car, well, that remained to be seen. He clearly wasn't sufficiently adjusted to the effect of alcohol on his human body, and Sentinel didn't trust it at all. All the more reason to get back to base as quickly as possible. He started the car and pulled out into traffic, drawing a few honks from unsuspecting motorists.