CYBERHUNTS.

This mech, however, needs a different approach. Blaze has a good read of people he meets and whatever he sees beyond those green optics hints at the underlying ferocity.

He will need to play this game methodically.

"I've seen pretty much everything." He gazes aside in recollection. "Strange planets, stranger people and sights defying all laws of physics."

"My niche is abandoned buildings and structures, I guess." He thinks about going into detail but decides to keep it vague. "I find a lot of trinkets there. Stuff that could have been someone's personal belongings once."

lockdown scoffs. " what is there to be found in abandoned structures. " a statement, rather than a question. in a world of death and isolation — life is what he favours. life, contained. kept like pets inside a too-small cage, accessible to him and only him. perhaps. he considers whether he'd share such information with this individual. is protective over his lot. would he try and steal it from him? of course he would. thus, he feels obligated to maintain his secrecy... ignoring the discomfort it brings him. yearning to reveal and share.

Alas, life has other plans.

"It's something I've done my whole life." He shrugs. "I travel. I see things. I take photos of them. I move on. Nothing special."

He regards the other mech with a curious look.

he can't fathom being so easy to please. having witnessed what the universe holds, what secrets it contains, what creatures lurk within it, this individual's nonchalance towards unbiased freedom has his guard rising. such freedom has changed lockdown. a rebirth of sorts, he is so unlike who he used to be. nothing about travelling the universe these days is simple. and nothing about it makes you simple. " i'm asking because i'd like to know. " optics narrow as he considers the other. " is that a crime? "

feel free to change pronouns / wording!

" you are dawdling! "

" i'll show you i'm not a child anymore. "

" you are much faster than i am. "

" this grass will keep you hidden if you stay low. "

" what devilry is this? "

" the forest is out of bounds until further notice. "

" we must have sinned something rotten to be punished so. "

" the smell of your cooking warms the heart. "

" you know you are not supposed to be here. "

" did he talk? "

" i don't have time to play games. "

" think it's funny making me run like that? "

" you'll get nothing out of me! "

" you're going to get us killed! "

" i'm not scared of dying you know. "

" be sure to stay in the light. "

" they ate him! "

" try not to look. "

" we can't do anything for them now. "

" the air... it's burning my throat... "

" they are not going to catch us, alright? "

" you should hide, it's dangerous. "

" when a rat bites you it poisons your blood. "

" maybe there's a monster in it. "

" it's not good to be alone. "

" you're just like all the others! "

" you're no fun. "

" you're lucky i like gold better than blood. "

" the better you look, the higher the ransom. "

" that's war for you. "

" i'm making your rescue profitable. "

" i've had enough of running. "

" he's going to slaughter us! "

" there's nowhere for you to go out there. "

" don't get all lovey-dovey. "

" you trying to impress me or what? "

" don't worry, we're all scared of what's in our heads. "

" try to be a bit more enthusiastic, will you? "

" use your eyes before using your mouth. "

" i would quite like to see a monster, actually. "

" i just don't like water much, that's all. "

" i'm sorry i lied to you. "

" a good remedy is a remedy that stinks. "

" the storm will drown out our voices. "

" you've read too many books. "

" you were having a bad dream... "

" brothers... sometimes you just want to kill them. "

" the first rule of survival is hit 'em between the legs. "

" that sound... you never get used to it. "

" i don't want to hear another peep out of you. "

" you have no idea how i have suffered. "

" i might've got a little carried away. "

" when you enter a place that has been abandoned for a very long time, there's something in the air. "

" i'm here with you. "

" it's like a river... a river of rats. "

" we haven't done all this for nothing. "

" what will be will be. "

" it's as if it was decided that ever since we met our lives have been governed by chaos! "

" none of this seems to be real at all. "

" you're not sleeping? "

" you're going to tell me about rules? "

" a child never runs away without a reason. "

" it is easy to spill blood, but to love, to protect... "

" they didn't hurt you, did they? "

" this is no place for a child. "

" nobody saw me. "

" your rank should make you more cautious. "

" you are a vile heretic driven mad by power. "

" we have the same goal. "

" this guard was devoured... "

" they use our dead to build their nests? "

" you wouldn't like it out there, believe me. "

" for the last time, will you answer my questions? "

" no one will hurt you now. "

" this is not a game. "

" you are a monster! "

" you don't have a home anymore! "

" i'm ready to die, it will even be an honour. "

" the rats will be coming, we need to light the fires. "

" i have to accept that he won't be coming back. "

" you're like a hero from a book or something. "

" i thought you said this place was secure! "

" we got that bastard! "

" you lied to me! "

" you are no longer any use to me. "

" my blade is still warm, as you will soon find out. "

" since you refuse to go to hell, i shall bring hell to you. "

" i'll tear them apart! "

" i wish i was strong like that. "

" you're a tough guy, tougher than i am. "

" i can't take any more of these bloody rats! "

" thank you for your candour. "

" calm down... it's over. "

" you want to try your hand at shooting? "

" we just don't want any trouble here, do you understand? "

i also have a saying — i don't care.

Instead he turns his back to Lockdown, sinking down to all fours as he goes to the other side of his relatively small cage. He sits, tendrils twisting and curling over each other, the subsequent 'tail' curling lazily around the cage. Arms rested on his legs and helm tilted back as he vented.

"I want a fragging cig..." He mumbled, taking off the cracked visor to rub his face. "I'm more Cybertronian than you are these days. Which says something about you, hmm? You hunt and you take trophies for what? What happened to the work? To the satisfaction of a good hunt and a good reward?" One tendril, a pincher, separated to smack against a bar close to the others servo, golden optics ringed in bright violet staring coldly up at him.

optics whirl, interest piqued, as the other turns his back on him. despite the other's guard being down, lockdown's doesn't shift. he's cautious of the tendrils and what they're capable of. prepared for an attack, or at the very least an attempt. lockdown lets out a gruff hum at his trophy's use of words. " i never was like the rest. " a wholehearted statement, despite keeping the company of cybertronians in his past — he considers himself vastly different to them. in pride, in wrath. how could they be like him, after all? he is a harbinger, an ultimatum... the end of the road. one could draw comparisons between himself and the grim reaper in human folklore. he was always destined to be above.

feel free to change pronouns / wording!