Rung

…I can’t find Crash Cart.

She didn’t leave the apartment again, did she?

Offffff course she left the apartment…

…I can’t find Crash Cart.

She didn’t leave the apartment again, did she?

“Of course.” Rung answered, gesturing to a seat across from xem. “I…apologize of you had expected…a different Rung. Lots of multiverse stuff happened and now I’m here working as a therapist in another Rung’s stead.”

“Well, I hope my appearance doesn’t irk you too much. If it does, I could recommend you to my friend, Soundwave instead.” Xe picked xyr datapad back up. “If you aren’t at all irked… Why don’t we get this going, shall we? May I ask what beings you in today?”

“Anyone can get night terrors. An ex-warlord is no exception. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.” Rung explained. “You probably have a lot on your processor. You could try doing some relaxing activities before recharge so that you’re in a calmer mindset going in. Do you like to read, write, or do puzzles?”

Rung lowered her helm just a bit as she listened. She could relate, to a degree. “I understand,” she said, and she seemed to truly mean it. “It’s jarring.” she continued. “I wasn’t ever expecting to find a version of me that didn’t go through Empurata, but he exists and he’s…doing quite alright.” She lifted her helm. “It’s perfectly reasonable to feel jarred or even be made uncomfortable by it, I hope you know that.”

“Of course.” Rung answered, gesturing to a seat across from xem. “I…apologize of you had expected…a different Rung. Lots of multiverse stuff happened and now I’m here working as a therapist in another Rung’s stead.”

“Well, I hope my appearance doesn’t irk you too much. If it does, I could recommend you to my friend, Soundwave instead.” Xe picked xyr datapad back up. “If you aren’t at all irked… Why don’t we get this going, shall we? May I ask what beings you in today?”

“Anyone can get night terrors. An ex-warlord is no exception. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.” Rung explained. “You probably have a lot on your processor. You could try doing some relaxing activities before recharge so that you’re in a calmer mindset going in. Do you like to read, write, or do puzzles?”

“Of course.” Rung answered, gesturing to a seat across from xem. “I…apologize of you had expected…a different Rung. Lots of multiverse stuff happened and now I’m here working as a therapist in another Rung’s stead.”

“Well, I hope my appearance doesn’t irk you too much. If it does, I could recommend you to my friend, Soundwave instead.” Xe picked xyr datapad back up. “If you aren’t at all irked… Why don’t we get this going, shall we? May I ask what beings you in today?”

“Of course.” Rung answered, gesturing to a seat across from xem. “I…apologize of you had expected…a different Rung. Lots of multiverse stuff happened and now I’m here working as a therapist in another Rung’s stead.”

“I mean, you should be turning me in to the Autobots! The- The Elite Guard!” Swindle threw his arms up as he sat in the chair across from Rung.

Rung only chuckled. “I know,” xe agreed. “But I won’t. You came to me. I’m not going to turn you away when you’re just now reaching out for a servo.”

“You should.”

“I won’t.”

Swindle was silent for a moment. “Do you drink?” he then asked.

“Mm. Used to.” xe answered. “Do you drink?” Xe paused for a moment, seeing Swindle shift uncomfortably in his seat before beginning again. “Let me ask a better question. What do you drink?”

“…Flier Energon.” Swindle reluctantly answered, crossing his arms.

“Ah.” Rung hummed, leaning back in xyr seat. “That’s strong stuff for a Grounder. The red kind, I presume? High-grade?”

“Hence the optic.”

“Hence the optic.” xe repeated back in understanding. Rung looked down at xyr datapad for a moment before looking back up at Swindle. “When I drank,” xe began. “It was to forget how alone I felt. I drank a lot before—” A pause. “I drank a lot before I found my family.” Another pause. “Is there any reason why you drink?”

“Because I’m weak.” He confessed. “Physically. Probably weak-willed, too. I mean, I’m a combaticon who can barely put up a fight on his own.” Swindle scoffed at himself. “Flier Energon gives me a boost. Makes me feel good. Stronger.” His optics drifted downward. “And there’s this mech I know who’s so strong and…” He looked up, only to look back down, voice trailing off. “And I’m such an easy target.” He got very quiet. “He’s had to save my aft a lot.” He then added, softer yet. “I hate to be a burden to him.”

Rung was silent for a moment, taking in every word and hint of body language Swindle sent xyr way. “You think you’re a burden?”

“Of course I’m a burden.” Swindle snapped, looking back up at Rung. “And everyone knows it. I frag up everything for everyone else.”

Rung leaned back slightly, blinking with xyr singular optic. “If you were a burden…” xe began slowly. “He wouldn’t have helped you all those times.” xe explained, slowly shaking xyr helm for emphasis as xe spoke.

“Everyone else thought I was a burden.” he insisted softly, looking down again. “I mean, they all left me because of it. Because I held them back so much.”

“And this mech hasn’t left, you said? He’s helped you out a lot?”

“Yeah.”

“Swindle…” Rung began slowly, watching as the mech lifted his helm, coolant stinging the corners of his optics. “If those others you mentioned left you, they were likely never loyal to begin with. After all, this mech hasn’t left you even after you needed lots of saving, yes?”

Swindle nodded.

“And he’s come to help you every time?”

Another nod and an ‘mhm.’ “He kinda…I don’t know…watches me? Follows me? He always knows when something’s wrong and is always there just in time.”

“Hm! Concerning!” Rung let out a sound that was halfway between a worried squeak and a curious hum. “But… It sounds to me like he’s not getting tired of saving you any time soon.” Rung observed.

Swindle went silent, optics narrowing as he thought for a moment. “Like…Mario and Princess Peach?” he asked, trying to draw a connection in his processor so the lesson would click easier.

Rung hummed, considering it. “Sure.” xe finally answered, smiling warmly before going to look something up on xyr datapad.

“And I’m Princess Peach…” Swindle groaned, burying his helm in his servos.

“That’s not bad, is it?” Rung asked, tapping away at xyr datapad, optic scanning the screen. “Peach has a lovingly loyal companion in Mario.” xe added, looking back up at Swindle. “And she is not a damsel in distress by any means, you know. She’s saved Mario a few times, herself, as a matter of fact. Peach just…trusts Mario to save her, and he always does. It goes both ways. They save and cherish each other.”

Swindle mumbled. “I guess…”

Rung watched, his helm tilting a little. “Well, with that out of the way,” Swindle looked up. “It looks like my time available for this session is up. I need to check up on my daughter. So, same time next week? I’d really like to continue this conversation.”

Swindle suddenly straightened up, letting out a little awkward chuckle. “You… You want me to come back? Again?”

“Of course!” Rung happily waved a claw.

“And not a word of this gets out?”

“I won’t tell a spark.”

“I mean, you should be turning me in to the Autobots! The- The Elite Guard!” Swindle threw his arms up as he sat in the chair across from Rung.

Rung only chuckled. “I know,” xe agreed. “But I won’t. You came to me. I’m not going to turn you away when you’re just now reaching out for a servo.”

“You should.”

“I won’t.”

Swindle was silent for a moment. “Do you drink?” he then asked.

“Mm. Used to.” xe answered. “Do you drink?” Xe paused for a moment, seeing Swindle shift uncomfortably in his seat before beginning again. “Let me ask a better question. What do you drink?”

“…Flier Energon.” Swindle reluctantly answered, crossing his arms.

“Ah.” Rung hummed, leaning back in xyr seat. “That’s strong stuff for a Grounder. The red kind, I presume? High-grade?”

“Hence the optic.”

“Hence the optic.” xe repeated back in understanding. Rung looked down at xyr datapad for a moment before looking back up at Swindle. “When I drank,” xe began. “It was to forget how alone I felt. I drank a lot before—” A pause. “I drank a lot before I found my family.” Another pause. “Is there any reason why you drink?”

“Because I’m weak.” He confessed. “Physically. Probably weak-willed, too. I mean, I’m a combaticon who can barely put up a fight on his own.” Swindle scoffed at himself. “Flier Energon gives me a boost. Makes me feel good. Stronger.” His optics drifted downward. “And there’s this mech I know who’s so strong and…” He looked up, only to look back down, voice trailing off. “And I’m such an easy target.” He got very quiet. “He’s had to save my aft a lot.” He then added, softer yet. “I hate to be a burden to him.”

Rung was silent for a moment, taking in every word and hint of body language Swindle sent xyr way. “You think you’re a burden?”

“Of course I’m a burden.” Swindle snapped, looking back up at Rung. “And everyone knows it. I frag up everything for everyone else.”

Rung leaned back slightly, blinking with xyr singular optic. “If you were a burden…” xe began slowly. “He wouldn’t have helped you all those times.” xe explained, slowly shaking xyr helm for emphasis as xe spoke.

“Everyone else thought I was a burden.” he insisted softly, looking down again. “I mean, they all left me because of it. Because I held them back so much.”

“And this mech hasn’t left, you said? He’s helped you out a lot?”

“Yeah.”

“Swindle…” Rung began slowly, watching as the mech lifted his helm, coolant stinging the corners of his optics. “If those others you mentioned left you, they were likely never loyal to begin with. After all, this mech hasn’t left you even after you needed lots of saving, yes?”

Swindle nodded.

“And he’s come to help you every time?”

Another nod and an ‘mhm.’ “He kinda…I don’t know…watches me? Follows me? He always knows when something’s wrong and is always there just in time.”

“Hm! Concerning!” Rung let out a sound that was halfway between a worried squeak and a curious hum. “But… It sounds to me like he’s not getting tired of saving you any time soon.” Rung observed.

Swindle went silent, optics narrowing as he thought for a moment. “Like…Mario and Princess Peach?” he asked, trying to draw a connection in his processor so the lesson would click easier.

Rung hummed, considering it. “Sure.” xe finally answered, smiling warmly before going to look something up on xyr datapad.

“And I’m Princess Peach…” Swindle groaned, burying his helm in his servos.

“That’s not bad, is it?” Rung asked, tapping away at xyr datapad, optic scanning the screen. “Peach has a lovingly loyal companion in Mario.” xe added, looking back up at Swindle. “And she is not a damsel in distress by any means, you know. She’s saved Mario a few times, herself, as a matter of fact. Peach just…trusts Mario to save her, and he always does. It goes both ways. They save and cherish each other.”

Swindle mumbled. “I guess…”

Rung watched, his helm tilting a little. “Well, with that out of the way,” Swindle looked up. “It looks like my time available for this session is up. I need to check up on my daughter. So, same time next week? I’d really like to continue this conversation.”

Swindle suddenly straightened up, letting out a little awkward chuckle. “You… You want me to come back? Again?”

“Of course!” Rung happily waved a claw.

“I mean, you should be turning me in to the Autobots! The- The Elite Guard!” Swindle threw his arms up as he sat in the chair across from Rung.

Rung only chuckled. “I know,” xe agreed. “But I won’t. You came to me. I’m not going to turn you away when you’re just now reaching out for a servo.”

“You should.”

“I won’t.”

Swindle was silent for a moment. “Do you drink?” he then asked.

“Mm. Used to.” xe answered. “Do you drink?” Xe paused for a moment, seeing Swindle shift uncomfortably in his seat before beginning again. “Let me ask a better question. What do you drink?”

“…Flier Energon.” Swindle reluctantly answered, crossing his arms.

“Ah.” Rung hummed, leaning back in xyr seat. “That’s strong stuff for a Grounder. The red kind, I presume? High-grade?”

“Hence the optic.”

“Hence the optic.” xe repeated back in understanding. Rung looked down at xyr datapad for a moment before looking back up at Swindle. “When I drank,” xe began. “It was to forget how alone I felt. I drank a lot before—” A pause. “I drank a lot before I found my family.” Another pause. “Is there any reason why you drink?”

“Because I’m weak.” He confessed. “Physically. Probably weak-willed, too. I mean, I’m a combaticon who can barely put up a fight on his own.” Swindle scoffed at himself. “Flier Energon gives me a boost. Makes me feel good. Stronger.” His optics drifted downward. “And there’s this mech I know who’s so strong and…” He looked up, only to look back down, voice trailing off. “And I’m such an easy target.” He got very quiet. “He’s had to save my aft a lot.” He then added, softer yet. “I hate to be a burden to him.”

Rung was silent for a moment, taking in every word and hint of body language Swindle sent xyr way. “You think you’re a burden?”

“Of course I’m a burden.” Swindle snapped, looking back up at Rung. “And everyone knows it. I frag up everything for everyone else.”

Rung leaned back slightly, blinking with xyr singular optic. “If you were a burden…” xe began slowly. “He wouldn’t have helped you all those times.” xe explained, slowly shaking xyr helm for emphasis as xe spoke.

“Everyone else thought I was a burden.” he insisted softly, looking down again. “I mean, they all left me because of it. Because I held them back so much.”

“And this mech hasn’t left, you said? He’s helped you out a lot?”

“Yeah.”

“Swindle…” Rung began slowly, watching as the mech lifted his helm, coolant stinging the corners of his optics. “If those others you mentioned left you, they were likely never loyal to begin with. After all, this mech hasn’t left you even after you needed lots of saving, yes?”

Swindle nodded.

“And he’s come to help you every time?”

Another nod and an ‘mhm.’ “He kinda…I don’t know…watches me? Follows me? He always knows when something’s wrong and is always there just in time.”

“Hm! Concerning!” Rung let out a sound that was halfway between a worried squeak and a curious hum. “But… It sounds to me like he’s not getting tired of saving you any time soon.” Rung observed.

Swindle went silent, optics narrowing as he thought for a moment. “Like…Mario and Princess Peach?” he asked, trying to draw a connection in his processor so the lesson would click easier.

Rung hummed, considering it. “Sure.” xe finally answered, smiling warmly before going to look something up on xyr datapad.

“And I’m Princess Peach…” Swindle groaned, burying his helm in his servos.

“That’s not bad, is it?” Rung asked, tapping away at xyr datapad, optic scanning the screen. “Peach has a lovingly loyal companion in Mario.” xe added, looking back up at Swindle. “And she is not a damsel in distress by any means, you know. She’s saved Mario a few times, herself, as a matter of fact. Peach just…trusts Mario to save her, and he always does. It goes both ways. They save and cherish each other.”

Swindle mumbled. “I guess…”

Rung watched, his helm tilting a little. “Well, with that out of the way,” Swindle looked up. “It looks like my time available for this session is up. I need to check up on my daughter. So, same time next week? I’d really like to continue this conversation.”

“I mean, you should be turning me in to the Autobots! The- The Elite Guard!” Swindle threw his arms up as he sat in the chair across from Rung.

Rung only chuckled. “I know,” xe agreed. “But I won’t. You came to me. I’m not going to turn you away when you’re just now reaching out for a servo.”

“You should.”

“I won’t.”

Swindle was silent for a moment. “Do you drink?” he then asked.

“Mm. Used to.” xe answered. “Do you drink?” Xe paused for a moment, seeing Swindle shift uncomfortably in his seat before beginning again. “Let me ask a better question. What do you drink?”

“…Flier Energon.” Swindle reluctantly answered, crossing his arms.

“Ah.” Rung hummed, leaning back in xyr seat. “That’s strong stuff for a Grounder. The red kind, I presume? High-grade?”

“Hence the optic.”

“Hence the optic.” xe repeated back in understanding. Rung looked down at xyr datapad for a moment before looking back up at Swindle. “When I drank,” xe began. “It was to forget how alone I felt. I drank a lot before—” A pause. “I drank a lot before I found my family.” Another pause. “Is there any reason why you drink?”

“Because I’m weak.” He confessed. “Physically. Probably weak-willed, too. I mean, I’m a combaticon who can barely put up a fight on his own.” Swindle scoffed at himself. “Flier Energon gives me a boost. Makes me feel good. Stronger.” His optics drifted downward. “And there’s this mech I know who’s so strong and…” He looked up, only to look back down, voice trailing off. “And I’m such an easy target.” He got very quiet. “He’s had to save my aft a lot.” He then added, softer yet. “I hate to be a burden to him.”

Rung was silent for a moment, taking in every word and hint of body language Swindle sent xyr way. “You think you’re a burden?”

“Of course I’m a burden.” Swindle snapped, looking back up at Rung. “And everyone knows it. I frag up everything for everyone else.”

Rung leaned back slightly, blinking with xyr singular optic. “If you were a burden…” xe began slowly. “He wouldn’t have helped you all those times.” xe explained, slowly shaking xyr helm for emphasis as xe spoke.

“Everyone else thought I was a burden.” he insisted softly, looking down again. “I mean, they all left me because of it. Because I held them back so much.”

“And this mech hasn’t left, you said? He’s helped you out a lot?”

“Yeah.”

“Swindle…” Rung began slowly, watching as the mech lifted his helm, coolant stinging the corners of his optics. “If those others you mentioned left you, they were likely never loyal to begin with. After all, this mech hasn’t left you even after you needed lots of saving, yes?”

Swindle nodded.

“And he’s come to help you every time?”

Another nod and an ‘mhm.’ “He kinda…I don’t know…watches me? Follows me? He always knows when something’s wrong and is always there just in time.”

“Hm! Concerning!” Rung let out a sound that was halfway between a worried squeak and a curious hum. “But… It sounds to me like he’s not getting tired of saving you any time soon.” Rung observed.

Swindle went silent, optics narrowing as he thought for a moment. “Like…Mario and Princess Peach?” he asked, trying to draw a connection in his processor so the lesson would click easier.

Rung hummed, considering it. “Sure.” xe finally answered, smiling warmly before going to look something up on xyr datapad.

“And I’m Princess Peach…” Swindle groaned, burying his helm in his servos.

“That’s not bad, is it?” Rung asked, tapping away at xyr datapad, optic scanning the screen. “Peach has a lovingly loyal companion in Mario.” xe added, looking back up at Swindle. “And she is not a damsel in distress by any means, you know. She’s saved Mario a few times, herself, as a matter of fact. Peach just…trusts Mario to save her, and he always does. It goes both ways. They save and cherish each other.”

“I mean, you should be turning me in to the Autobots! The- The Elite Guard!” Swindle threw his arms up as he sat in the chair across from Rung.

Rung only chuckled. “I know,” xe agreed. “But I won’t. You came to me. I’m not going to turn you away when you’re just now reaching out for a servo.”

“You should.”

“I won’t.”

Swindle was silent for a moment. “Do you drink?” he then asked.

“Mm. Used to.” xe answered. “Do you drink?” Xe paused for a moment, seeing Swindle shift uncomfortably in his seat before beginning again. “Let me ask a better question. What do you drink?”

“…Flier Energon.” Swindle reluctantly answered, crossing his arms.

“Ah.” Rung hummed, leaning back in xyr seat. “That’s strong stuff for a Grounder. The red kind, I presume? High-grade?”

“Hence the optic.”

“Hence the optic.” xe repeated back in understanding. Rung looked down at xyr datapad for a moment before looking back up at Swindle. “When I drank,” xe began. “It was to forget how alone I felt. I drank a lot before—” A pause. “I drank a lot before I found my family.” Another pause. “Is there any reason why you drink?”

“Because I’m weak.” He confessed. “Physically. Probably weak-willed, too. I mean, I’m a combaticon who can barely put up a fight on his own.” Swindle scoffed at himself. “Flier Energon gives me a boost. Makes me feel good. Stronger.” His optics drifted downward. “And there’s this mech I know who’s so strong and…” He looked up, only to look back down, voice trailing off. “And I’m such an easy target.” He got very quiet. “He’s had to save my aft a lot.” He then added, softer yet. “I hate to be a burden to him.”

Rung was silent for a moment, taking in every word and hint of body language Swindle sent xyr way. “You think you’re a burden?”

“Of course I’m a burden.” Swindle snapped, looking back up at Rung. “And everyone knows it. I frag up everything for everyone else.”

Rung leaned back slightly, blinking with xyr singular optic. “If you were a burden…” xe began slowly. “He wouldn’t have helped you all those times.” xe explained, slowly shaking xyr helm for emphasis as xe spoke.

“Everyone else thought I was a burden.” he insisted softly, looking down again. “I mean, they all left me because of it. Because I held them back so much.”

“And this mech hasn’t left, you said? He’s helped you out a lot?”

“Yeah.”

“Swindle…” Rung began slowly, watching as the mech lifted his helm, coolant stinging the corners of his optics. “If those others you mentioned left you, they were likely never loyal to begin with. After all, this mech hasn’t left you even after you needed lots of saving, yes?”

Swindle nodded.

“And he’s come to help you every time?”

Another nod and an ‘mhm.’ “He kinda…I don’t know…watches me? Follows me? He always knows when something’s wrong and is always there just in time.”

“Hm! Concerning!” Rung let out a sound that was halfway between a worried squeak and a curious hum. “But… It sounds to me like he’s not getting tired of saving you any time soon.” Rung observed.

Swindle went silent, optics narrowing as he thought for a moment. “Like…Mario and Princess Peach?” he asked, trying to draw a connection in his processor so the lesson would click easier.

Rung hummed, considering it. “Sure.” xe finally answered, smiling warmly before going to look something up on xyr datapad.

“I mean, you should be turning me in to the Autobots! The- The Elite Guard!” Swindle threw his arms up as he sat in the chair across from Rung.

Rung only chuckled. “I know,” xe agreed. “But I won’t. You came to me. I’m not going to turn you away when you’re just now reaching out for a servo.”

“You should.”

“I won’t.”

Swindle was silent for a moment. “Do you drink?” he then asked.

“Mm. Used to.” xe answered. “Do you drink?” Xe paused for a moment, seeing Swindle shift uncomfortably in his seat before beginning again. “Let me ask a better question. What do you drink?”

“…Flier Energon.” Swindle reluctantly answered, crossing his arms.

“Ah.” Rung hummed, leaning back in xyr seat. “That’s strong stuff for a Grounder. The red kind, I presume? High-grade?”

“Hence the optic.”

“Hence the optic.” xe repeated back in understanding. Rung looked down at xyr datapad for a moment before looking back up at Swindle. “When I drank,” xe began. “It was to forget how alone I felt. I drank a lot before—” A pause. “I drank a lot before I found my family.” Another pause. “Is there any reason why you drink?”

“Because I’m weak.” He confessed. “Physically. Probably weak-willed, too. I mean, I’m a combaticon who can barely put up a fight on his own.” Swindle scoffed at himself. “Flier Energon gives me a boost. Makes me feel good. Stronger.” His optics drifted downward. “And there’s this mech I know who’s so strong and…” He looked up, only to look back down, voice trailing off. “And I’m such an easy target.” He got very quiet. “He’s had to save my aft a lot.” He then added, softer yet. “I hate to be a burden to him.”

Rung was silent for a moment, taking in every word and hint of body language Swindle sent xyr way. “You think you’re a burden?”

“Of course I’m a burden.” Swindle snapped, looking back up at Rung. “And everyone knows it. I frag up everything for everyone else.”

Rung leaned back slightly, blinking with xyr singular optic. “If you were a burden…” xe began slowly. “He wouldn’t have helped you all those times.” xe explained, slowly shaking xyr helm for emphasis as xe spoke.

“Everyone else thought I was a burden.” he insisted softly, looking down again. “I mean, they all left me because of it. Because I held them back so much.”

“And this mech hasn’t left, you said? He’s helped you out a lot?”

“Yeah.”

“Swindle…” Rung began slowly, watching as the mech lifted his helm, coolant stinging the corners of his optics. “If those others you mentioned left you, they were likely never loyal to begin with. After all, this mech hasn’t left you even after you needed lots of saving, yes?”

Swindle nodded.

“And he’s come to help you every time?”

Another nod and an ‘mhm.’ “He kinda…I don’t know…watches me? Follows me? He always knows when something’s wrong and is always there just in time.”

“Hm! Concerning!” Rung let out a sound that was halfway between a worried squeak and a curious hum. “But… It sounds to me like he’s not getting tired of saving you any time soon.” Rung observed.