s c o u t.

     ❝ Just Arcee is fine. ❞

that smirk was wiped off his face however, as she presented him with a box. not a chuckle sounded, nor one to be spotted on the horizon, only intrigue lighting his optics as he leaned in. spidering his digits just shy of the lid for a moment, he finally lifted it back… to be met with a pleasant chime, along with the rotating model of an Earth bull.

and the correlation, rather than breeding laughter, instead gives way to a renewed smile, though gentle.

     ALWAYS QUICK to jest about whatever he chooses but never when he had to be serious or sincere. She supposes that’s one of the many things she liked about him, despite what she may say or do at times. He is, perhaps, the only one that gets to see this side of Arcee...

     ... WHATEVER ‘THIS side’ may be.

“Well, that’s about the best-worst news I’ve heard all day! I’m just sorry to have to say I don’t recognize you..” He replied a bit sheepishly; ugh, she was probably a key player in the war, because weren’t they all, and here he was again, the bot who didn’t know Optimus Prime from Starscream.. Embarrassing. “And I think I would remember a unique design like yours, but then again, full disclosure? I kiiinda don’t remember how I wound up here to begin with.”

Which is, sadly, getting to be a trend here… 

     IN A way the Autobot supposes she’s grateful he’s from an earlier time; a time where he hadn’t met her yet. For him to know of his horrid downfall... The thought of him even knowing that makes the female bot feel terrible; a feeling which she tries to shake off as the other continues to speak.

     HIS RATHER cute exhalation of static, however, somehow soothes the automaton’s battered spark, even if it’s just for a brief moment.

     ❝ It’s fine, I just... ❞ ‘knew you for so long’? ‘Was your partner’? ❝ Heard about you... And your appearance. You’re hard to miss. ❞

     ❝ But that’s... Relatively normal. None of us really know how we came to be here, but here we all are now; trapped inside a brightly coloured prison. ❞ while that may sound grim, it’s simply the truth... And if anybot knew Arcee long enough, is that she delivers the truth in the most blunt way at times. It certainly doesn’t help that she’s not exactly in the best mindset at the moment, what with Tailgate making his appearance and all.

I didn’t hear my name, did I…?

Though it had dimmed quite a bit through the course of his little adventure on foot (his transformation cog having offered him no more than a single depressing ‘chug’), the soft glow of his visor steadily illuminated the interloper’s features as he faced them, and quite suddenly hunger was the last thing on his mind. 

“You’re Cybertronian!!” He exclaimed rapturously, his featureless visage lighting up with a spark deep pulse of excitement as he skittered forward and clasped one of the other bots’ hands in both of his, forgetting himself. It was a rare thing, not having to stand on tiptoe just to reach. 

“Or – Or Camien, maybe..?”He wavered, hoping he hadn’t presumed incorrectly or said anything rude, then pressed on hurriedly. “Either way, love the rose gold. Oh, finally, this is such incredible luck..! ..Or maybe just narrative contrivance.” A certain incident in his recent history flickered through his processor, and his visor warped into a slightly quizzical expression as he rambled on through his nervous energy, unaware of the two-wheeler’s inner turmoil. 

     IN A way, Arcee couldn’t be sure if him not remembering her at all was a blessing or a curse. On one hand, he wouldn’t have to wonder just why she looks like she’s on the verge of tears and despair, but on the other... It’s incredibly painful to have someone you were so close to not even remember your name or what you looked like.

     UNSURE OF what to feel or how to even react, the Autobot barely listens to the other as he prattles on, only blinking in surprise upon hearing his last words. Looking at him now, she realizes that he seems a little... Different than during the time she knew him. Perhaps he comes from a time prior to when they met... And in a way, that seems to worsen the hurt the fembot feels.

     ❝ … Er... No. No, I haven’t heard anything like that. ❞ she starts with her optics closed for a moment, fighting back any tears she feels that may come to surface. She cried her spark out when Cliff arrived here and she doesn’t plan on letting that happen again... If only for Tailgate’s sake.

     ❝ You... Don’t know who I am, do you? ❞ it’s hard to hide her saddened expression and tone as she speaks once more, though she shakes her head in attempts to try and fake her normal attitude.

(or the other way around - tell me!)