o22 ★ THIS IS HALLO-WHAT?

[electrowhipit]

I've been meaning to ask this for a while now, but I guess the town had other ideas. I don't think we're... what's the phrase? Oh! I don't think we're quite out of the woods yet, but I figured I'd take advantage of the calm.

Anyway, what exactly is Halloween? I'm guessing that's why everything is suddenly decorated, but I can't even begin to guess what's supposed to be going on.

I think this is the last time I have to ask that, though. I'll have been here a year pretty soon, so I've hit all of the human holidays this place feels the need to torture us with.

... Also I guess I'm supposed to talk to a guy named Conrad?

Comments

[electrowhipit]

Sideswipe... I just... [ Deep breath, Jolt ]

You need to think about how you treat people. How do you think it makes me feel to know you took advantage of someone for my benefit? How do you think it makes Conrad feel?

[weaponsparked.livejournal.com]

Why?

[This is an honest question, surprisingly.]

Apparently, it makes you upset. And he seemed fine enough with it.

[electrowhipit]

... Why? Because the way you treat people has ramifications!

[weaponsparked.livejournal.com]

But nothing bad happened this time!

[electrowhipit]

That doesn't mean you can-- ugh. Look, I'm the last person who should be lecturing you on thinking about the consequences of your actions. I am.

But this isn't home. You can't just skate around on your reputation and treat people however you want and get away with it.

[weaponsparked.livejournal.com]

Yes. Yes you are.

It isn't home. Therefore, it doesn't matter what I do to anyone but those I care for. I, frankly, don't care what half these people think of me. I am not "skating around" on anything!

[electrowhipit]

Isn't it you who's always talking about how Autobots are humanity's protectors? How we're their saviors? And then you turn around and use them and lie to them and talk down to them?

That bothers me, Sideswipe! And it bothers me more when you don't even have to face the consequences and I do!

[weaponsparked.livejournal.com]

That doesn't mean I have to like them. This was just... this was one time.

... What are you talking about?

[electrowhipit]

We work with them! Do you dislike the Major just as much?

[ Aaah, damn it. He's said too much. ] ... Nothing.

[weaponsparked.livejournal.com]

No. But he didn't disrespect us!

... What, Jolt?

[electrowhipit]

Well the humans here don't disrespect me. I wonder what the difference is!

[ There's a pause ] You probably don't even remember, but back when Olivier told me we needed to cut our ties, it was because of you. And earlier when Conrad told me that you were the reason he was giving me something, I asked him if I should apologize! That shouldn't be my first thought when other people talk about you.

[weaponsparked.livejournal.com]

I don't know! You're more of a pushover than I am?

You say "cutting ties" with that woman as if it were a bad thing. If anything, I did you a favor. You don't need her.

[And there's another pause.] What do you want me to say? That I'm sorry? I'm not. I did it for you! I'd do anything I had to for you - isn't that a good enough reason for... anything?

[electrowhipit]

What's it like not to care, Sideswipe? What's it like not to be so deathly afraid of losing anyone who ever bothered to get close to you that you can just treat them however you want? Because I'd really like to know.

What? For the painting? This isn't even about that anymore. It's about the fact that sometimes your actions hurt me, and it needs to stop.

[weaponsparked.livejournal.com]

I care! I just don't care about every single creature sauntering down this street! If I didn't care, I wouldn't put my exterior on the line for strangers in a demolished building!

[He just... doesn't have an answer for that. Something's gone a little cold inside, and he can't speak.]

...

Hurt you...?

[electrowhipit]

... That's what I said.

[weaponsparked.livejournal.com]

...

It was never... my intention.

[electrowhipit]

... I know that. But it happened all the same.

[weaponsparked.livejournal.com]

And you didn't think to tell me? Until now?

[electrowhipit]

I... didn't know how.

[weaponsparked.livejournal.com]

You couldn't bring yourself to say, "oh, by the way, you're making an aft of yourself, and you're upsetting me"?

Is that really so difficult?

[electrowhipit]

Yes! It really is difficult!

[weaponsparked.livejournal.com]

Why? I just said it! Why should it be any harder for you?

[electrowhipit]

... Because I was afraid you'd hate me for it.

[weaponsparked.livejournal.com]

For... letting me upset you further? That--I just said I didn't want to do that!

...

I don't want to do this.

[electrowhipit]

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I don't- I don't want to fight either.