Log Title: Spotless
Characters: Blast Off, Dust Devil, Pulver, Slugfest, and Swivel
Location: The Rollout Bar
Date: November 28 2022
TP: Non-TP
Summary: A quiet night at the Rollout.
As logged by RandomSyllables
NOTE: Log is incomplete - anyone with the first portion of the log, please add in missing poses! Thank you!
Pulver
Pulver is working the late shift. "Need any help?" she asks Dust Devil, breaking her usual silence. She has all her work done and is re-polishing an empty cube for the third time. "It's pretty quiet tonight," she continues. "If you want to take off, I can take over the cleaning." This may be more words than Dust Devil has ever heard her speak.
Dust Devil's head pops up in surprise and he carefully answers, "I'm one of Encore's strays... so technically I room under the bar if I'm not shackin in the medbay or elsewhere. I don't mind helpin out."
Pulver grunts and shrugs. She slips an industrial strength floor cleaner on her strong back, and starts cleaning up spills too powerful and dangerous for mere Autobots with chamois.
Dust Devil smiles at her and looks at his bin before offering, "I do have these two that I can't quite pull apart. I don't wanna break em...." He grins at Pulver.
Pulver accepts Dusty's stuck-together glasses with a grunt suggesting she'd soak them. She quickly cleans and mops the bar, activating holographic sighs to warn incoming patrons about wet floors. Again, she's done very quickly, and stands for a moment with a frown. "Between Veritas and Swivel, you all are keeping this place pretty nice," she comments -- again, perhaps the first compliment Dusty has ever heard Pulver give.
Blast Off enters the bar, his large form casting a long shadow beyond the door. The shuttle ignores most everyone, however, optics for only one person... he glances about for Swivel while trying not to actually *look* like someone looking around for someone else. Not seeing her, he steps towards the bar to order a drink, still (totally not!) keeping an optic out for the femme. "Orion Three Orchards," he tells the bartender. His favorite vineyard.
A tiny stego appears to be curled up on a bar stool, fast asleep!
Pulver moves quickly behind the bar and makes Blast Off's drink just the way he likes it. For a large tankfemme with massive, scarred hands, she is surprisingly dexterous and quite skilled at mixology and the proper way to serve enerwine to make sure it breathes properly and best expresses the subtle flavor of each vintage. Pulver does this without flourish -- she lets her work speak for itself.
Dust Devil takes the dishes to the back, bringing back clean stuff so that he can restock it for the bartender. He then raids the snack bins and brings out some treats for himself and others, making sure to drop some for slugfest.
Slugfest hears a treat drop on the bar counter, wakes up, and gobbles it up!
Blast Off watches with an experienced optic as Pulver fixes his drink. She looks like she knows what she's doing. Still, the proof is in the *taste*. The shuttleformer gives her a nod as he takes the glass. Funny how delicately she worked... so unlike Brawl. The little hatch on his faceplate slides to the side and he takes a sip. Ahhh. "Excellent," he approves.
The shuttle remains glancing about the bar, still not seeing Swivel but there's Dust Devil. Violet optics squint slightly as the 'Bot moves nearby, watching Dust Devil now, though he doesn't say anything. He will offer a nod of the head to Slugfest, though, if the other Con takes note of him.
Alas! Swivel is not on duty. Nor is she about to be. But luck would have it, if one were to call it such, that the little femme had been busy, and the Rollout bar was closer than New Harmonex. And so, into the Rollout does the petite femme enter for a rest from her busy gadding about. She does not draw attention to herself, however, walking as softly as a mechanoid being can walk. She eyes the entrance to the showers and looks down at her dusty self. Maybe Encore won't notice or care about a little dirt, if she cleans up anything she tracks in later.
Slugfest looks around and notices Blast Off as soon as he finishes the treat. He hops from the stool to the counter and runs along it, looking for more treats.
Pulver nods in appreciation of Blast Off's compliment, but then backs off and lets him enjoy his drink in peace. Her optics flick VERY quickly over to Swivel as she comes in, but as Swivel seems to be walking softly and trying not to draw notice, Pulver immediately averts her gaze to the container rack. She plucks off an empty cube and shines it for the 800th time. When Pulver is working, the bar is SPOTLESS.
Blast Off suddenly has a small stegosaurus begging for treats. Slugfest is inoffensive enough, and Soundwave is scary enough, that the shuttleformer is in no hurry to get on either one's bad side. Certainly not needlessly. He looks around, waves towards Pulver, and murmurs, "Something for my co-worker here." With Slugfest holding his attention, he hasn't noticed Swivel yet.
With deft, practiced hands, Pulver quickly assembles a small basket of Slugfest's favorite treats. Somehow, Slugfest never seems to get charged for all the bowls of engex and treats he consumes. Does Soundwave come around and pay his tab, or does Encore think of him more as the Rollout's resident pet? Pulver certainly isn't telling. Some patrons don't even know she CAN talk. She delivers the treats to Slugfest, and silently offers to top off Blast Off's ener-wine.
A great many obstacles lie between Swivel and a place of rest and refuge. After a rapid assessment, the cause looks lost. There are just too many temptations to further delay that power nap she had planned on. Quickly, a new plan is settled on, and the nap quickly forgotten. Swivel continues to walk softly, but is not precisely sneaking. She just unobtrusively walks over to the bar, climbing up onto a seat beside Blast Off. Leaning forward, she very deliberately places her elbows on the bar counter. She smiles at Pulver. "G'devenin'." Seeing Slugfest, she puts a hand out to invite Slugfest over for the customary greeting pets. Neither Blast Off nor Dust Devil are ignored, as they both get quick nods and smiles. In fact, she leans forward ever so slightly as she gives Blast Off a surreptitious side-glance.
Slugfest yays and noms treats, then scampers over to be scritched by Swivel.
Pulver nods in acknowledgement of Swivel, her iron face as close to friendly as it gets. Silently, she fixes Swivel's favorite drink on the house. It's not strong enough to over-energize her -- just a tastier version of standard Transformer fuel. She then steps back, fading into the background until needed again for refills.
"Thank you," Blast Off states again as Pulver gets the stego his treats and even tops off his wine. He holds the drink out, then once ready, he pulls it back in for another satisfying sip. He acts like a gentlemech, of course, refined and debonair~. "Fine service tonight." The shuttle leans back, enjoying his drink, glancing over and nodding back to Swivel on his side there, then taking another sip and-
Just barely not spitting it out. *AHEM* He double-takes and looks down at Swivel a moment, then clears his throat and looks straight ahead like nothing happened. "A fine night, no?"
Swivel's optic ridges shoot up in some surprise when the drink is placed before her. A small protest dies on her lips. She knows better. Swivel gingerly picks up the drink and gives it a small sip. Optics widen and she takes a larger mouthful before places it down, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand and noisily exventing a sigh of appreciation. Elbows still on the bartop, she looks over as Blast Off does a double take. She raises a hand and gives him a finger wave. "Fancy seein' ya here!" Swivel chirps merrily as she reaches out and gives Slugfest a few more pets for good measure.
Slugfest stegoloafs so that it's easier for Swivel to pet him. If it was a glass countertop, he'd be hoverstego!
At the back of the bar, just the hint of a smile appears in Pulver's scarred face in response to Swivel's enjoyment of her drink.
Blast Off looks back down and winces in PAIN as Swivel proceeds to break pretty much every rule in the book of etiquette. There might even be a slight groan or two, cut short, or an optic twitch, at the crude wiping of mouths and YA and elbows ON the TABLE ARE YOU SERIOUS- .....
*Ahem* There is time, there is time and Swivel is already scheduled to learn from the master (him) so.... fret not, she will learn. She will learn! He can't help, however, looking down at her after her cheerful greeting, his expression flat, and simply stating with a little wave of his index finger, "Elbows off the table."
Swivel's petting stops as the finger is wagged at her in admonition. She looks down at her arms, then back up at Blast Off. "Oh..." Swivel sits up straight and her elbows slide off of the counter. "Noice ta see ya too," Swivel adds, and she even sounds earnest, if not just a hint playful. Swivel slurps down another sip of her drink. With her free hand, she finger-walks her hand closer to Slugfest, before giving the little stegosaurus a playful bop on the snout.
Slugfest eeees and is booped on the snoot! :3
Blast Off watches as Swivel corrects herself... sort of. She at least pulls her elbows off the table, leading to the shuttle's shoulders drooping a little in relief, but then they start raising up again as she talks, ow ow ow... The shuttle quickly takes a large drink from his glass. Then another. ....Ok, better. He places the glass down, optic only twitching a *little* this time. "...Better." He gives her a nod of approval. A small one.
Swivel giggles softly at Slugfest's response but then softly rubs and pets Slugfest's snout as a small apology for the boop-attack. She then leaves Slugfest to scarff down whatever treats remain.
Sitting up straight, and stopping herself from putting the elbows back on the bar counter, she turns to Blast Off. "I'm really lookin' forward to our first lesson. I cooda used some better talkin' skills and manners recently."
Blast Off just sorta stares at Swivel a moment before gently shaking his head and deadpanning, "You truly have no idea how much I look forward to that, as well...." He just sits there, gaze going thousand-yard stare.... before flickering and focusing again. *ahem* Now he sounds mor lively. "I do believe I have an opening in a few cycles, meet me in Altihex? I'll send the date and location."
"Really?" Swivel beams. "I'll be sure ta make toim!" Swivel rubs her little hands together in anticipation. "But as it is, I prolly shoo get on'. Been a long couple days an a wee l'il nap is in order, methinks."
Blast Off nods. "Don't be late." He sniffs haughtily, then goes back to drinking his wine. But there is the faint little wag of his back tailfin to show to any observant eyes that he is, in fact, quite pleased.
"I'm not plannin' on it!" Swivel says in a sing-song voice. With that, she slides off of her stool and heads towards the cellar.