Low Bar For Proselytizing

Log Title: Low Bar For Proselytizing

Characters: Slugfest, Sunstorm, & Swivel

Date: April 29 2023

Summary: Sunstorm is looking for new parishioners at The Rollout Bar.

The Rollout Bar[]

The Rollout Bar's interior is designed to accommodate the widely varying scales of the universe. On the bar itself there's a section designed for humans, Junkions and those of similar scale, with their own bar which can be served either by the main bartender or a bartender of their own scale, should one be on duty. A spiral staircase grants access to the bar's surface for those who are small enough to use the secondary bar, with barriers high enough for most transformers high enough to notice protect those making their way from the doors to the bar itself. There are a series of bar stools of various sizes along the bar, allowing most Transformers to be able to sit comfortably at the bar.

Next to the bar, there are two doors marked "GAMES ROOMS". They are roped off, and from the other side, the sounds of building work can be heard. Warning signs mark them as "UNDER CONSTRUCTION"

Beside the doors sits a large stage, protected by energy fences should it be required. A fairly decent stack of amplifiers and speakers allows music of almost any kind to be performed there, by any species - space for a five-piece band of Transformers, or an entire orchestra of human-sized beings. There is a dance floor in front of the stage, and surrounding that one will find a series of octagonal tables with adjustable seats around them. Each table has a spiral staircase for those of human-ish scale to access the table top, where there are seats available.

The wall opposite the bar is lined with booths that allow four large Transformers to sit comfortably in relative privacy - and again, there is access to the table-tops for those of human scale. Each booth has its own window out of the bar, which can be closed with a curtain should it be required. They can also be enclosed within top-of-the-line privacy fields - Encore is trying to build a reputation at the Rollout Bar for absolute discretion and neutrality.

One wall is entirely taken up by a changing holographic vista, showing beautiful places from around the galaxy. The other wall is labeled "THE NEWS WALL", and is a huge bank of screens showing news broadcasts from across the galaxy, including Autobot News, Free Cybertron Press, and the Decepticon Propaganda Network, among countless others.

Encore himself usually tends the bar here. A sign behind the bar reads 'BARTENDERS WANTED: APPLY TO ENCORE'

Sunstorm enters and has a seat near Slugfest. "Greetings and salutations, little stego mech!" The end of the bar where he's seated becomes instantly warmer from his radiation leak.

The tiny stego is perched on a seat, and has clamored for energon! The barkeep brings a bowl that will be easy for Slugfest to drink from. Before slurping, he looks over at Sunstorm. "Is warms in here nao, or is just me?"

"It's from Primus' blessings on this fine establishment, friend!" Sunstorm claims mercurially. "It is the warmth of the spirit!"

Slugfest ooohs, and then starts slurping energon, his tail wagging rapidly. "It are?" the tiny stego wonders between slurps.

The golden Seeker orders a drink, then sips it delicately in very typical highbrow Vosian fashion. "It absolutely are -- err, 'is'," he says with a smile. "You, little one, should join my church! It is free to join and we meet once every cycle to worship the almighty Primus."

The tiny stego cocks his head sideways. "Thought church was for hyoomans."

"Not this one!" Sunstorm says. "This one is ONLY for /our/ kind. After all, Primus didn't make *them*. He made us!"

Slugfest ohs quietly and resumes slurping energon. His tail still wags, though more slowly.

"At least -- at the *very* least, my stego friend, you should think it over. I mean, the price is very affordable. And the chance to make our Savior more favorable to us is, of course, /priceless/." Sunstorm smiles and sips his drink.

The cellar door swings open, and from the depths clambers Swivel, one of the bartenders that works at the Rollout Bar. The teal minibot is looking around, purple optics wide and something about her mannerisms suggest she is on high alert. Her radiation readings had been going haywire and after concluding it wasn't a sensor failure, it was time for her to investigate. It isn't long until the little four-wheeler femme has walked slowly, albeirt gingerly, closer to Sunstorm. She pauses, looking the golden mech up and down with unveiled scrutiny. She then glances at Slugfest a moment, then back at the mech. Everyone seems to be going about their business, no one seems to be in distress. Swivel's optic ridges furrow in puzzlement, but she manages to soften the expression with a smile. "Greetings. And how is everythin'?"

"Is nummy energon!" Slugfest squeaks as he continues slurping energon, though the bowl is nearly empty now.

Sunstorm smiles warmly at the newcomer. If he's aware of the radiation leak, he doesn't give any indication of it. He seems well enough. "Ah, greetings, maddame! Welcome to this establishment!" he greets Swivel in the same mercurial, enthusiastic way he greeted Slugfest.

Swivel checks and rechecks her sensors, glancing up at Sunstorm and them immediately away so as not to stare. She glances at Slugfest's quickly emptying bowl. "More?" Swivel asks. As if she needs to.

Swivel then looks at Sunstorm as he greets her warmly. Her optic ridges shoot up past the overhand of her helmet a moment in surprise. But as quickly as it dropped, her smile returns. The scans are still concerning, but she isn't sure what to make of them. "Eh? I otter..." She reflects on that Vosion accent, and her word sentence trails off as she adjusts. "If I were on shift, I'd be welcoming you. But thank you."

Swivel looks back to Slugfest, putting her hand out to the bowl, and then draws it back. She just said she wasn't on shift, but part of her mind hasn't quite caught up with that fact. She pulls her hand back and instead signals to one of her co-workers.

"Yush please," Slugfest says, almost uncharacteristically politely for a tiny stego. But tiny stegos that are half-full of energon are smart enough to be polite to those that refill the bowl!

"Oh, so you work here, then? But not this cycle?" Sunstorm smiles. "Where are my manners? I am Sunstorm of Vos, and it is a pleasure to meet you today." He eyes the small stego. "...You know, Slugfest, for a mech of your size, you polish off your energons in the quickest way I've ever seen."

When the bartender comes to refill Slugfest's bowl, Swivel tilts her head to him in a casual greeting. Swivel then turns to face Sunstorm again, looking up at him. "Pleasure's all moin. The name's Swivel. I'm currently between shifts." Swivel responds, giving an affirmative bob of her head.

At the remark about Slugfest, Swivel giggles and cobbles onto a stool next to Slugfest, on the opposite side from Sunstorm, and reaches over to scratch Slugfest atop his head. "I sometoims wonder if this one has a black hole hidden in there somewhere." Speaking of anomalies hidden inside someone, Swivel's gaze slowly draws back to Sunstorm. Something's not quite right here.

Slugfest yays when his bowl is refilled. "Are thirsty!" he says, then resumes slurping. He yays as Swivel gives him a few scritches on his head. "No haz black hole. Only bottomless fuel tank."

Sunstorm laughs at Slugfest's explanation for his quick energon consumption. "Primus broke the mold when he made you, Slugfest, for you indeed are one of a kind, my friend." He sips his drink. "Hmm...perhaps I should offer free energon at the end of every service. Then my church would be extremely popular! Ah, but alas, I can't make such an offer, especially if I do not have the means to provide the benefit in the first place. I'll need to think of another way to draw in parishioners."

Slugfest shrugs as he continues to drink. "Prolly no would need so many energons if could get nuff suns," he says.

Swivel laughs again, giving Slugfest a few more pats on his head. "Roight you are," she says softly. She sits up straight, and keeps Slugfest between herself and Sunstorm for the time being. She's not eager to get too close to the seeker. And though she sits with her back straight, and facial demeanour calm, one leg is shaking with nervous energy. There doesn't appear to be a threat, but threats can be deceiving.

Once Sunstorm finishes speaking about ideas for a church, she tries to think of a way of shining some light on the readings she is getting. What clever segue could she employ? What nuanced conversation could provide clues to this mystery? Finally, Swivel blurts out, "Are y'aware yer leakin' radiation?"

Well. That just came out. Oops.

Sunstorm places a hand on his upper chestplate, in an 'I do declare!' sort of gesture, and he has a priceless looking surprised expression. "Leaking?? -- Oh nonono, maddame Swivel, what you are experiencing is my divine power! It is very often mistaken for radiation but I assure you, it is harmless in every conceivable way! It is the divine light of Primus Himself issuing forth from my carapace to bless all who come in contact with it, you see."

"Are warms in here," Slugfest murmurs as he continues slurping, well on his way to ordering up Bowl refill #3.

Swivel winces a bit. As Sunstorm's hand goes to his chestplate, Swivel's hand goes to her mouth, an apology hot on her lips. However, as Sunstorm begins to explain the source of her readings, she is silent. She listens. Slowly, her hand lowers. Now she appears just as puzzled as before. "Divoine power?" Swivel parrots. It's not in ridicule so much as bemusement. "And these blessin's offen - er - often get misread as radiation?" She seems receptive to his explanations enough to listen, still seems to be leaning away from Sunstorm.

Sunstorm nods adamantly. "All the time!" he exclaims. "But fear not, it's only the goodness of my god. Nothing to fear unless you persecute or defame him. It is all wonderful. And of course, the good news is that you, too, could become a parishioner in my church of the Fire of Primus. You, as well as my small stego friend, are welcome anytime to come and experience the love and blessings for yourself!"

"No knew septycons like Primus," Slugfest murmurs. His bowl is once again empty and he clamors for more.

For a moment Swivel regards Sunstorm, tilting her head to the side. "I... never put much thought into Gods and the role they play in my loif. I prefer to believe the universe is indifferent to me. Ah, hold that thought, sir!" Swivel holds up a finger and looks at the empty bowl. This time she does pick it up, nodding to the bartender to signal she'll handle this refill. She hops behind the counter and refills the bowl and sets it before Slugfest. She looks over at Sunstorm. "I do think us folk do need more love and blessings in our loives, though."

"You know, Slugfest, many Decepticons do not because they think -- wrongly, in my estimation -- that there can be no love in their sparks for anyone or anything but the Cause. Which is absolutely not true! You can have both. You can love the cause, and you can love Primus at the same time," Sunstorm opines, then takes a sip of energon. "You know, Maddame Swivel, that is a very popular sentiment because yes, indeed, the universe and its vastness can feel very impersonal at times. But yet, it is beneficial to acknowledge when you are blessed with goodness. Once the Fire catches hold of you, it will radiate outward and touch others. Just like my divine power!"

Slugfest ooooohs, as he gets his refilled bowl back. "Can haz?" he echoes, as he resumes slurping. Now the tiny stego is getting slightly tipsy.

Swivel remains standing, and crosses her arms, standing a comfortable distance from Sunstorm while still being able to keep a conversation going. "I agree. I think there's room in our sparks to love many people and things. Though, sometoims folk see love as a weakness. And I can understand where they're coming from. But I've always found it hard to not love folk."

Swivel's gaze drifts to Slugfest and she nods to him. "That'll be your last, fella," Swivel says softly, reaching over to give the stegosaurus a pat on his flanks to indicate he is not being punished, but cut off for his own good.

Slugfest is so warm and happy and sleepy that he doesn't mind. He finishes his bowl and curls up on the seat.

"Oh my, Slugfest, you've done it again, you're getting cut off!" Sunstorm exclaims with a laugh. "Yes, Maddame Swivel, you have a very good point there. Love is not a weakness but an imperative. We are called to love one another as divine beings."

"Divoine beings?" Swivel can't help but let a laugh escape. She then covers her mouth again. "Sorry. Just don't see much divinity around here." Swivel eyes Sunstorm and gives a small bow of her head. "Present company excluded."

The tiny stego is now very sleepy, and drifts off, snoring just very slightly. Tummy full of energon makes a happy stego.

"Ah, thank you, and no worries at all -- sometimes divinity isn't seen with optics...but rather, it is felt deep in your spark," Sunstorm explains. "You will experience it as a feeling, an intuition. And because of that, others may not believe you, because it isn't a thing that they can see for themselves."

Swivel shrugs lightly, and unfolds her arms as she listens, her optics flickering in respond to the mention of intuition. "Well..." Swivel looks around, then at Sunstorm. Her sensors are still telling her this is a dangerous situation. But the words do sound mighty fine to her. "I have been seeking redemption. Maybe it won't hurt to check out this church of yours."

Sunstorm brightens. This is one of the first mechs he's encountered who hasn't outright mocked him for his cause! "Oh, that would be /brilliant/! I would love to see you there! It will be held on Neutral ground so all can attend, I do not discriminate my congregation because the Fire of Primus is for all mechs. Location 'to be announced'," he chatters happily. "I will let you know as soon as I locate a suitable place for services."

Slugfest is now dreaming of being in a nice warm oil baff!

Swivel's optic ridges shoot up again in that telltale mark of surprise as she listens to Sunstorm babble merrily. But she smiles and laughs it off. "To be announced? So this is a very new church then?" Before Sunstorm can get too apprehensive that Swivel may deem this a problem, she smiles and puts him at ease. "Well let me know when you've got a venue figured out."

Sunstorm nods. "New for this area! I did have to stop recruiting for a bit when the Silent Grill scare happened, and the other recent disruptions...war escalation, et cetera. But now, I feel called to begin this ministry anew! And I will absolutely return when the proper venue is located." He leaves two payments; one for Swivel's service, and another on a credstick for Slugfest's future energon binging fund. "For now, I must return to Vos and plan. This will not be in Vos -- the political climate is wrong for it. But fear not, I will soon locate the sacred ground. Farewell, and have a blessed evening. It has been a pleasure to meet you. I feel that Primus ordained this to happen. A divinely inspired meeting!"