Long-term Goals

Log Title: Long-term Goals

Characters: Starlock, Swivel and Dust Devil

Location: New Harmonex; The Rollout Bar

Date: November 24, 2022

Summary: Swivel shows off a neat artifact and ends up discussing her long-term plans.

(Note: Two separate scenes are going to be merged here as one log as they took place on the same day and concerning the same topic - and the second scene was short.)

New Harmonex[]

Starlock is in New Harmonex today, working on normal admin/leader stuff, all her holo-screens up and datapad in hand, she's gone nose first into work, she still looks much more rested then normal, which was good, but it was clearly coming down.

There were errands to run, as while Swivel does crash at The Rollout Bar when necessary, she prefers to keep her address in New Harmonex. She likes being a citizen there. She likes being a citizen! The aforementioned errands take her through the centre, whereas she strolls at a carefree pace, she notices Starlock. At first Swivel waves and calls out to her with a cheerful "Halloo- oh!", then stop shorts, seeing the datapad out and her serious, working expression. Swivel's arm hangs in the air uncertainly for a moment, then it drops.

Starlock's finials perk up and she looks over, hearing her name and smiles seeing Swivel, waving. "Heeey!" She'd call with a chuckle, and wide smile, she would minimizing a number of the holo-screens, and start to head over, then pause, wondering if she was busy.

When Swivel sees Starlock begin to approach, she perks up again. Swivel begins heading to Starlock, meeting her halfway. "Hi! Sorry, ya looked busy. Thought maybe I was interruptin'... but.. I mean, am I interruptin'? Sorry if I am."

Starlock shakes her helm. "Naah, mostly just paperwork that doesn't have a time limit." She'd smile. "How ya doing? Not to busy ya self?" She'd ask as she'd finally finish in walking over.

Swivel visibly relaxes when Starlock assures her it's no problem. The little seafoam femme smiles brightly. "Oh excellent! I just finished up some errands meself." Swivel straightens up just a little more. "Hey, if ya do have some toim, maybe I kin show ya somethin' neat I salvaged!"

"Sure." Starlock grins and puts away her datapad. "Did mention you wanted to show me something at the bar the other day." She'd muse, placing her hands on her sides, tilting her head. "Makin' me wonder whats up there." She'd chuckle.

With her hallmark enthusiasm, Swivel bobs her head. "Oh it's nothing really spectacular or ground shatterin'. But it is kinner neat and kinner useful..." Swivel's smile then falters, and she begins to looks a bit sheepish as she opens a large compartment in her thigh, pulling out a bulky object that is slightly curved, and appears like several layers all folded in on itself. "...Let's see." Swivel holds it against her forearm and it affixes itself there, then begins to extend, dominating most of her arm. "Got this a whoil ago, only recently really began figurin' out wot it can do." Swivel gives it a hardy pat to make sure it's good and secure. Swivel then looks around. "Uh... well... wot ta show first..."

Whatever it is, it looks ancient, and appears to have very fine craftmanship once one looks past the wear and tear.

Starlock's optics light up, stars even appearing. "Ohhh, what kinda artifact is this?" She'd ask, looking it over as it works, trying to figure what it maybe. "Where did you find it?" She'd add as she'd looked around at it, taking in details.

Swivel holds out her arm so Starlock can get a better look. "Some kinder super fancy thing that turns into a bunch of neat tools!" Swivel chirps. But then her countenance falters again. "But, wellum... um... see thing is, it's neat but I'm also wonderin' if it was wrong fer me ta keep it. Dust Devil said I could keep wot I foind when he invoited me along, but that was before we knew we'd end up in an old Titan assembly place or somesot."

"So like, some kinda Omni-tool?" Starlock asks looking at it. "Handy." She adds with a grin, then looked up and though. "Ah.. It's fine.. lotta stuff like thats been long abandoned... For like.. millions of years at this point." She'd cringe. "so.. finding and putting stuff to use now that the planets alive again, isn't a bad thing." She'd nod.

Swivel's optics grow just a little brighter. "Ya think so? And yeah! Omni-tool! I loik that!" Swivel looks at it and pats it. "It's got strong magnets, an' utility blades fer cuttin' an' pryin', some sorter welder, and a grabby thing! The grabby thing's my favourite." Swivel looks over at Starlock. "Though I wonder if it's wasted on me. But I suppose folk prolly have better, fancier tools with modern tech. And I... I've got nothin' much. It's neat ta have somethin'."

Starlock blinks and looks at Swivel.. the smile frown turning into a soft, empathetic smile. "I know the feeling." She'd huff. "I don't think its wasted, If you can learn to use it, and make it /yours/ I say do it." She'd grin. "Who knows, might find ways to upgrade it." She'd point out, trying to help ease her into keeping it.

"Like.. I wasn't forged a medic, had to work my aft off to make myself into one." She'd chuckle. "Had to have new hands up to my elbows build to be on part with forged medics." She'd explain.

Swivel listens attentively when Starlock talks about the hard work she put into becoming a medic. Swivel looks up at the sky, then back to Starlock. "So.. you think I coo; be anythin' if I worked hard 'nuff, too?" Swivel then looks down at the bulky omnitool. "Hard work an' the roight equipment."

"Hell yeah." Starlock grins, placing her hands on her hips. "I like.. had nothing, littraly, I had to kinda.... drag myself through hell and back, but i did it." She'd smile. "You'll have a easier time.. but I still think its worth a shot if you really wanna."

For a moment or two, Swivel appears quite pensive. She fidgets and shifts her weight, her optics looking at nothing in particular. "An easier toim....?"

"Aye, things.. aren't as restraint as they were back then..." Starlock smiles softly. "You have a support system, which is no shade too you, its what I wanted for everyone, to try new things."

Swivel continues to stare off at nothing a moment longer. She gives a small nod, followed by a more punctuated one. She then smiles. "Yer roight. Things are different now. I got lots o' support. I shouldn't fear failure, 'coz I got things stacked in my favour!" Swivel brightens up, but there's something ever so slightly wistful about her demeanour. "I mean I showed up here, got repairs, got place ta stay, got a job with very little effort. It's all... very different from how it used ta be."

Starlock grins and snaps her finger, pointing over. "Exactly~ Things are better, its okay to make mistakes here, and wont be alone in fixing what breaks." She'd grin, but her look does soften. "That it is.. almost like a dream." She'd glance back at the city, how it was alive, clean, there.. The song of the crystals as well.

"...Its real though, went through hell to make it because I was tired of waiting on others, but Its worth it." She'd nod.

While Starlock speaks, Swivel detaches and collapses the omnitool. When Starlock's expression softens, Swivel's smile grows less chipper and instead more relaxed. And as Starlock says her final piece and nods, Swivel flings her arms open and moves to gather Starlock up in a grand hug.

Starlock would blink as she'd hugged and lets out a chuckle, hugging her back. "It's not perfect, but it's a start." She'd grin, starting to tear up.

Swivel squeezes Starlock tight, resting her head on the medic's shoulder. She speaks softly, almost a whisper. "It's perfect enough fer me. I'm gonna prove that all yer hard work, well, that it was worth it. An dun let anyone tell you you've been wastin' yer toim."

Starlock smiles softly, closing her optics. "Thanks Swivel.. I needed to hear that." she says softly, she'd soon laugh. "Honestly, those living here, con, bot, neutral, ex, any of those, I'm glad to help.. make it worth it."

With a happy sigh, Swivel draws back, looking Starlock in the optics, adding her own twittery laugh to Starlock's. Swivel keeps her hands on Starlock's shoulder for a moment longer. "I wanna help too!" Swivel frowns. "I thought maybe bein' a medic... but I wonder if maybe, I moight be better off learnin' mediation an' diplomacy. Do you... d'ya think that'd be useful? Or even wanted?"

"Dunno." Starlock says, bringing a finger to her lip. "Only one way to find out." She'd grin. "I do think that could fit ya' though, you do have that.." She'd wave her hand trying to think how to explain. "Aura, about you that is calming, helps put people at ease where you can get them to open up and talk." She'd muse.

"Would require learning to be a bit sterner though.. Gods how people talk over another." She'd groan remembering some of the stuff she experienced, rubbing her temples. "...And don't take this the wrong way, some defense, I know a few people that wouldn't hesitate to shoot someone like that." She'd cringe. "We're still at war after all but.." She'd nod her head side to side.

"If we let that stop us, we'll get nowhere."

Swivel nods her head, although she does wince a little at the mention of needing to defend herself. But then she presses her lips into a thin line, setting her weak jaw and furrowing her optic ridges in a look of determination. "Yer roight. I shouldn't let that stop me."

Swivel's expression grows more thoughtful. "It wouldn't be an over-noight success. It'd be a long-term plan, with lotser steps. It won't help now but... maybe inner future." Swivel glances off beyond Starlock a moment, then back at her. "I'm sure Blast Off's lessons will help a bit, too. Some folk wun listen ta summin that dun conduct themselves wither certain qualities. Poise. Dignity. Elegance. Yanno? And... I'd need ta work on... well... I'm skittish. I'd need ta calm down. And hoid me expressions better. And, yes, learn ta defend meself. Or... or maybe just get a good bodyguard?" Swivel sounds hopeful at that solution.

"Oh totally, though there is someone I can suggest as a teacher, Crosscut, he's the Autobot's diplomat.. I think." She says with a squint. "He maybe neutral, I can't remember at this moment and totally gonna end up embarrassing myself later with it, so." She'd nod.

She'd then chuckle. "Oh totally, He maybe a Combaticon, but he still has some manners and class.. sort of." She'd snort with a grin. "A bodyguard is also an idea."

"Crosscut?" Swivel tilts her head. "Well maybe you kin help get me an introduction. O' course, I want to learn from as many folk from as many soides as possible. I think it's important I dun swing too hard ter any soid."

Swivel glances around. "Thing is, I dun wanner get swallowed up into either faction... but 'coz I do a lotta work with the Autobots, sometoims I fear I will." Swivel looks back at Starlock, some anxiety shining through in her optics. "Ye've done lots fer me, so I dun wanna seem ungrateful, but I also... dun wanna... be pulled into somethin' again. I've done things I regret 'coz I was tryna show gratitude..."

"Sure, I can also give you his contact information." Starlock grins, but she also nods. "I understand.. I can't.. really name a bot on the cons side that would be good to learn from.. but that doesn't mean one doesn't exist." She'd smile then think. "You'll likely end up working with Dust Devil alone, which, sorry about that.. but.. maybe he knows one?" she'd hem.

Swivel nods her head. "Thanks! And dun worry about the 'con soid of things. I'm sure I kin foind someone since I'm not busy foightin' them." Swivel rubs the back of her neck guard. "I've seen Dust Devil do some negotiatin' over in Tesarus." Swivel shudders at the memory of the psychotic artists there. "I wonder where he learned it from?"

"Crosscut." she says dryly. "He's also learning form Crosscut, and Spike." She'd chuckle weakly and pinch her nose bridge. "That's what I meant by working with DD."

Swivel bring s a hand to her mouth. "Oh! Oh! okay!," Swivel says, her hand lowering again. "I guess I'll also need ta get smarter to pull this off too. Can people... get smarter? Not just know more, but... you know... make those connections?"

Starlock takes a moment, trying to understand what she meant before nodding slowly. "I think so? That's what learning is, isn't?" She asks, tilting her helm.

Swivel tilts her head. "I guess it is. I always thought learnin' was just shovin' knowledge in yer head, but I guess it's more 'n that. Oh yeah, because when ya learn a skill, ya get batter at it. Oh..." Swivel brings up her hands and steps back, smiling. "Silly me." She says, patting the air.

"Wellum. Guess I'll be on a journey ta foind whatever teachers I can. And then... look fer opportunities ta help folk talk things out an cooperate. And even if it dun work out, we live long loives. I kin foind a new goal."

Starlock grins. "Glad to hear it~" she'd chuckle. "Didn't mean for things to get so.. philosophical, but.. I'm kinda glad it did." She'd smile, looking to the omni-tool.

Swivel also glances to the omni-tool. "Well, I hope, loik this tool, I can also be useful in many, many ways. And adaptable, too! I'm gonna work hard!"

Starlock chuckles. "Alright just don't be afraid to ask for help, alright? Like I said, things aren't like how they were back then, and we gotta keep it that way." She'd nod affirmatively.

Swivel nods. "O'course! I kin ask fer help." Swivel gazes at Starlock. "You can, too. I moight not be as smart or woise, but I kin listen."

Starlock grins. "How I got this far myself, listening." She'd then stretch. "Ooof...Hope I didn't hold you up too much also."

"No, not at all. I hope I dinna hold YOU up!" Swivel sprinkles in a little sheepish giggle. "Though, I s'pose, we both have things we otter get back t'work on. But thanks fer hearin' me out. I usually feel better after talkin' ta you."

"I'm glad to hear that.. Always is nice talkin' with you too." Starlock smiles. "One the few doesn't drain my social battery." She'd chuckle.

"Oh, I'm glad ta hear that!" Swivel says, seeming to stand just a little taller at this revelation. "I'd nay wanner be a drag on yer resources." Swivel beams, clearly pleased with how this conversation went. "Well, guess I'll say goodbye fer now! I got lots ta think about 'n plan!"

"Be safe, and don't worry about BB, he's waaay nicer then he thinks he is." Starlock laughs with a shake of her head.

Swivel blinks, momentarily startled at the mention of Backblast. "Oh... I'... I'm sure he is," Swivel says, resurrecting her smile. "Bye now!" Swivel quickly says, giving a friendly wave to Starlock and turning to head off.

The Rollout Bar[]

Later that same day...

Into the Rollout Bar enters Swivel, who strides in with a deliberate gait unlike her usual either meandering stroll or her clipped, nervous skittering.

Dust Devil is working on helping close the bar up. There's probably a few stragglers still about. But Dust Devil is working on getting ready to rest

As soon as Swivel sets her gaze on Dust Devil, she grins and walks over to him. "Ah, Dust Devil! Jus' ther mech I was hopin' ta see!"

Dust Devil looks over and grins, "Hey Swivel....whatcha up ta?" He wipes off the next table and moves the stools.

"Making plans!" Swivel responds cheerfully. She glances around, about to engage in some small talk as is she is wont to do. But she gives herself a head shake, dismissing her own inclination. She levels a determined look at Dust Devil. "Wot kin ya tell me about the mech Crosscut?"

Dust Devil grins a bit, "He's actually one of my bosses. His job is diplomacy and all. Writes some rather...umm...interesting screen plays."

Swivel tilts her head. "Screenplays?" Another small shake of her head and Swivel bears herself up, trying to look serious. "Diplomacy! Roight. Back in Tesarus when you were talkin' with folks, tryna negotiate - did he teach ya that?"

Dust Devil thnks for a moment, "UmmmmI've alwas been kinda good with my words He found out and well...he put me ta work. Why do ya ask?"

Swivel tilts her head raising an optic ridge, looking ever so slightly skeptical, but also uncomfortable with her skepticism. "So yer a natural?" she murmurs quietly. Swivel then rubs at her chin pensively. After a moment she smiles again. "I've been wantin' ta do more. Learn more. Be more. At first I was thinkin' of maybe learnin' ta fix folk. But... lately I been wonderin' if I moight do well in mediation. Not 'coz I'm a natural - no not at all. But I wanna learn."

Dust Devil looks at Swivel and grins. "It's not...not like that precisely. I don't know if I should admit ta this or not. But...well...I'm good at figurin the weaknesses..." He sighs, "That's not really the right word. My skill makes me good at seein what people need and the best way ta talk ta them. But his trainin HAS made me much better. Ya don't have ta be a natural. Bein sincere helps though."

Swivel nods her head as she listens, squinting her optics a little when he tries to explain. "You... read folk." Swivel fidgets and looks around. She curls in her lips, narrowing her optics further as she glances to the side. But then she looks back to Dust Devil. "O' course! That's wot I was hopin' to ask you about. Would it be possible fer me to get the same trainin' even though I'm not an Autobot?"

Dust Devil says, "There's a need fer Neutral negotiators. WE have too many people who don't' trust the bots or the cons. So I'm sure he'd consider trainin ya happily."

Swivel perks up immediately, bringing tiny, balled fists up just under her chin. "Really?" She shakes her hands with excitement. "You really think he would? Would ya b'able to introduce us, then?"

Dust Devil says, "Of course! Yer my friend. I'd be more than happy ta help ya out.""

Down goes Swivel's hands as they relax. "Thank ye kindly, friend!" Unreservedly, Swivel throws open her arms to give Dust Devil a hug.

Dust Devil smiles and gladly hugs his smaller friend. "Don't worry, you'll like Crosscut. Overall, it's helped me survive a lot better."

Swivel gives Dust Devil a squeeze and then steps back, looking up at him. "Well today's been good an' productive fer me! But I think I otter wind down fer the noight." In high spirits, Swivel turns to help close up and then leave.