#anolug

Anode wasn't often grumpy after a job. The worse they went, actually, the more positive she acted, like she had something to prove.

She didn't seem interested in proving anything to anyone just then, though, hunched over a wash basin and grumbling under the sporadic rev of her engine. Her hands clicked and whirred through another dozen rapid microtransformations and she grumbled louder.

What she didn't do was ask for help. Lug huffed, finally resigned to the fact that she wasn't going to.

Image description 3 of 49: A zoom out of the earlier shot- Arcee and the disc are now clearly visible, and Wheeljack is walking alongside a similarly relaxed Nautica who seems to be chatting with Wheeljack. Behind the next wall of the base, Ironhide is gesturing for people to follow while Sunstreaker and Tread Bolt run ahead to turn the corner to where Wheeljack and Nautica are... End image description.

Image description 4 of 49: Anode moves her hands away from the terminal to pick up her sword, while Arcee looks on, face now visible in the frame, and the platform discs on the floor and overhanging the wall start up with blue blast effects, with Lug stepping towards the one on the ground... End image description.

Image description 5 of 49: as Lug steps away she looks over her shoulder to see BBM Wheeljack around the corner arms raised in exclamation, while Nautica stands beside him reaching for her gun on her back, wrench in hand. Sureshock rolls in her motor scooter mode to sneak between Wheeljack and Nautica, with High Wire biking himself in behind, and ER Sunstreaker and Universe Tread Bolt following with rifles drawn. Arcee continues to remain still on the top of the wall... End image description.

Image description 6 of 49: a focus in on Legacy Prime Arcee looking down from the wall (a TR Arcee packaging box) by the overhang arm, her pink tri-crest bright on her blue helm in the room light, silver face in a slight grin... End image description.

Image description 7 of 49: a focus on Anode picking up her blue energy sword in Arcee’s view- and the Golden Disks nearby, while Lug’s foot is seen approaching the activated teleporter (a ground bridge). End image description.

Image description 8 of 49: behind the second wall, BBM Ironhide moves up to join Tread Bolt, followed by Thunderhowl with his sword sheathed and shield out, Legacy Elita One with her guns holsters on her back stacks, and BBM Ratchet with his rifle on his back. End image description.

Image description 9 of 49: Anode snatches up the Golden Disks close to her chest and deflects a blast effect from Nautica with her sword, while Lug leaps into the ground bridge, and Sureshock in bot mode charge at Anode, followed by minibots High Wire and Grindor also in bot mode. Wheeljack is pushing Nautica’s gun out of position to prevent her from getting another shot in- and she has her wrench raised in exclamation. Meanwhile, Sunstreaker is about dip around the corner to aim her rifle, and looks on instead at Ironhide, who has her rifle raised aloft. Tread Bolt holds position, while Thunderhowl and Elita stop behind Ironhide, waiting... End image description.

Image description 10 of 49: Lug now gone, Anode attempts to back into the ground bridge which has now caught fire in several places, while Sureshock wrestle the Golden Desk’s out of her grip... End image description.

Image description 11 of 49 : Anode, now fully on the burning ground bridge, reaches out to the Golden Disk’s in Sureshock’s arms, while Wheeljack outstretches arms in turn towards Anode... End image description.

Image description 12 of 49: Sunstreaker has dropped her rifle, and follows in with High Wire with only hands, Grindor close behind. Ironhide looks over to get a look at what is happening, while Elita starts to rush around him, and Nautica kneels on the ground, face looking down at the floor, gun pointing down. Tread Bolt, Thunderhowl, and Ratchet hold back, Ratchet with an arm out towards Elita... end image description.

Image 13 of 49: A zoom in on Elita stepping in between Ironhide and Nautica, who is looking away. Sunstreaker’s foot rushes onward, rifle behind her. End image description.

Image description 14 of 49: Arcee, with a sniper rifle holstered on her wheel-pack, has slid down onto the ground bridge opening that Anode and Lug crossed through, one arm on the wall and the other towards the bots who had been after Anode and Lug... end image description.

Image description 15 of 49: a zoom up of the earlier shot: Wheeljack’s leg on the ground is now visible, as is Sunstreaker’s arm, - at the top of the photo the ground bridge wall arms have come loose and broken apart... end image description.

Image description 16 of 49: a zoom in on Wheeljack hitting the floor, arms around Sureshock, who is still clutching the Golden Disks... End image description.

Image description 17 of 49: a lopsided, shaky, blurry photo of Arcee on the collapsing ground bridge, the nearby terminal and near-prone Wheeljack in view... end image description.

Image description 18 of 49: just along the corner of the wall, Sunstreaker kneels, covering her head with her arm to brace from the explosion- and perhaps not wanting to see what happens to Arcee. High Wire hits the ground, and Nautica hugs Grindor close after he ran over to her. Meanwhile, Tread Bolt, Thunderhowl, Ratchet, Ironhide, and Elita wait, Ironhide scratching her own helm, while Elita looks on at Nautica, seemingly lost in thought... End image description.

Image description 19 of 49: Blaster still behind the terminal in alt mode, Sureshock, Wheeljack, and High Wire look on at the burning wreck of the ground bridge, Sunstreaker in turn looking at Wheeljack’s drooped posture. End image description.

Image description 20 of 49: A zoom in on Blaster on the ground by the terminal, Golden Disks also on the floor... Blaster’s reflection is visible on the terminal table frame. End image description.

Image description 21 of 49: Elita One’s forearm reaches over the terminal to grab Blaster... End image description.

Image description 22 of 49: An almost top down shot of squarely and roundly robust Elita One holding cassette player mode Blaster in her hands, looking down at him... the wreck of the ground bridge is visible in the background. End image description.

Image description 23 of 49: A front shot of before, Elita’s left hand is clenched in thought, a slight smile on broad-helmed face... end image description.

Image description 24 of 49: In front of a city backdrop elsewhere, Lug holds her fuel rods in hand while Anode steps towards her, sword at her side, big blast effect tears coming out of her eyes under her crested and goggled helm... End image description.

Image description 25 of 49: Engine fuselage armor half skirts turned behind her thighs, winged curvy Anode kneels, still crying, into shorter boxier backpack Lug’s chest, while Lug holds her as well around the shoulders and wings, fuel rods on the ground... end image description.

Image description 26 of 49: Lug leans in closer with her embrace now focus on Anode’s arms and her wings, head inclined as if smooching or whispering Anode’s helm... end image description.

Image description 27 of 49: Slightly blurred from close-up of the same image as before, with Lug’s lips clearly on Anode’s helm. Lug’s blocky right ankle is clearly visible. End image description.

Image description 28 of 49: similar image as before, with more visibility of Anode’s big angled ankles and her inner engine turbine-pack on her back, sword still clutched in her left hand. End image description.

Image description 29 of 49: Lug and Anode, no longer embracing, reach out to pick up the fuel rods. Anode seems to no longer have sobbing droplets down her face. End image description.

Image description 30 of 49: Lug and Anode rush off to the left, fuel rods in hand, four carried by each. End image description.

Image description 31 of 49: Anode following along with fuel rods in her arms behind off-panel Lug. End image description.

Image description 32 of 49: the point where Anode and Lug appeared is empty, only crates, towers, and an elevated highway or rail line visible... end image description.

Image description 33 of 49: same as previous image. End image description.

Image description 34 of 49: Legacy Prime Arcee appears in a plopped crash onto the ground face first where Anode and Lug used to be... end image description.

Image description 35 of 49: Arcee kneels up using the alien bending capability of her powerful torso actuators to look onward with ease in the direction Anode and Lug went... End image description.

Image description 36 of 49: she begins to change modes- her upper half turned around so her head and wheel-pack faces the ground, legs also moving... end image description.

Image description 37 of 49: her sequence continues, her motorcycle shape apparent, one leg outstretched with a wheel at the end instead of a foot... her sniper rifle is affixed ahead on her side, and head inside her fuselage. End image description.

Image description 38 of 49: nearly done actuating her motorcycle shape, Arcee sticks her kickstand down for balance, only one more armor flip is needed... end image description.

Image description 39 of 49: side armor now tucked in and her rifle near her back wheel, still pointed forward, Arcee rushes off with an initial exhaust vapor of a blue blast effect. End image description.

Image description 40 of 49: in front of a wrecked and junk covered landscape, a sitting Lug opens up her chest compartment to reveal a single pink energon cube. Also seated Anode touches her forearm with her hand, while Lug looks at her, fuel rods on the ground between them.

Image description 41 of 49: holding hands with Anode, Lug chomps down on the energon cube with her left hand. End image description.

Image description 42 of 49: a focus on Anode and Lug hands holding each other... end image description.

Image description 43 of 49: Lug hands Anode the energon cube. End image description.

Image description 44 of 49: Anode bites in on the energon cube, while Lug gently rests a hand on her engine armor skirt. End image description.

Image description 45 of 49: Anode holds Lug’s hand again, who is looking down at her own chest compartment, which is empty. Anode nonetheless seems a little cheery, looking up at the sky.

Image description 46 of 49: Lug closes up her chest, and looks over at Anode, still holding hands... end image description.

Image description 47 of 49: the two go about picking up their fuel rods again... end image description.

Image description 48 of 49: the junk covered place is now seemingly without bots again, the two Conjunx rogues gone...

Bashir/Garak (about to be obvious I haven't watched DS9 in a long time, lol):

big spoon/little spoon: Garak is the big spoon because it's hard for him to relax with someone at his back, even Julian.

favorite non-sexual activity: Arguing literature, natch.

who uses all the hot water: Whoever gets to it first.

most trivial thing they fight over: Oh, Garak will pick a petty fight over absolutely anything.

who does most of the cleaning: It's pretty even.

what has a season pass on their dvr/who controls the netflix queue: Julian thinks he does.

who calls up the super/landlord when the heat’s not working: Julian, if Garak doesn't fix it first.

who steals the blankets: Garak steals them first, Julian steals them back and so on.

who leaves their stuff around: Garak; he insists he has A System-- and, tbh, he's probably telling the truth this time.

who remembers to buy the milk: They both remember they need it but Garak acts like he's forgotten so Julian will get it. Julian knows what he’s doing but also knows he’s the only way they’re getting milk.

who remembers anniversaries: Both of them.

Who cooks normally: Garak.

How often do they fight: Constantly but it's all in the name of keeping the flame burning.

What do they do when they’re away from each other: Make mental lists of things the want to say to each other when they're back together.

Nicknames for each other: "My dear doctor" or just "my dear" by Garak for Julian. Julian drops occasional endearments but nothing consistent.

Who is more likely to pay for dinner: Julian.

What would they get each other for gifts: Books and treats.

Who kissed who first: Julian kissed Garak first.

Who made the first move: Garak, of course. I mean, come on, he made it the first time they met.

Who remembers things: Both of them but Garak more so.

Who started the relationship: Both of them claim credit and neither is exactly wrong. Garak started it but Julian made it official.

Who cusses more: Julian.

What would they do if the other was hurt: Julian would treat Garak to the best of his considerable ability. Garak would make sure Julian was in good hands-- and, if necessary, call in a couple favors.

Anolug:

big spoon/little spoon: All else being equal, Anode is the big spoon because the reverse is a little too much like being out on the field. It sometimes comes down to who was in the most life-threatening danger most recently, though.

favorite non-sexual activity: Star-gazing

who uses all the hot water: Anode carelessly, Lug intentionally as payback

most trivial thing they fight over: They don't fight over trivial things as a general rule-- too many legitimate grievances to bother-- but both of them are prone to fits of backseat driving.

who does most of the cleaning: Lug, by a mile. Anode keeps herself and her tools in pristine condition and cannot be bothered to clean a single thing more than that.

what has a season pass on their dvr/who controls the netflix queue: Lug would but Anode impulse-pirates basically everything they watch.

who calls up the super/landlord when the heat’s not working: Lug, if Anode can't fix it herself.

who steals the blankets: Anode would if they didn't cocoon themselves into the blankets together.

who leaves their stuff around: Neither, generally. Lug is organized by nature and Anode doesn't own anything that she would be careless with.

who remembers to buy the milk: Lug.

who remembers anniversaries: They both forget and then blame each other for not reminding them.

Who cooks normally: Lug again. Anode would go out for every meal if she could get away with it.

How often do they fight: Pretty rarely overall but their bickering is the soundtrack for every bad job Anode gets them into.

What do they do when they’re away from each other: Lug stays in and plays her mood pipes, Anode goes out and gets herself, if not both of them, into more trouble.

Nicknames for each other: Nope.

Who is more likely to pay for dinner: Dine and dash all the way, baby.

What would they get each other for gifts: Things that were lost or destroyed on the last job. After they settle down, knick-knacks that remind them of each other and of past adventures.

Who kissed who first: Anode almost went for it several times but Lug is the one who finally pulled the trigger.

Who made the first move: Anode.

Who remembers things: Anniversaries notwithstanding, they both do.

Who started the relationship: Neither of them can pinpoint a beginning; they feel like something that's always been.

Who cusses more: Anode generally, Lug out of anger.

Lug snorts from her seat, never looking up from her book. It’s the closest thing to conversation that she’s offered in the past three days.

“No, really,” Anode insists. “The only reason I don’t literally throw in the towel is it’d clutter the place up. So, here goes.”

It at least gets her a suspicious look, flicked from her head on down like a spot-check for weapons, when she takes a knee in front of Lug. Anode doesn’t risk touching, not yet, instead settling her hands on the edge of Lug’s seat. After a moment’s thought, she shifts to be certain that Lug has space to slip by her.

“We shouldn’t have taken the job-- I shouldn’t have taken the job and dragged you along,” she amends when Lug sends her an acidic glare. “It was reckless. It was dangerous. You were right. I was... Well,  what’s important is that you were right.”

Lug does Anode the courtesy of looking her full in the face, at least, but her expression isn’t promising. Or, rather, it isn’t promising anything Anode especially wants. There is certainly the promise of an ongoing silent treatment.

Anode is then pleasantly surprised when Lug huffs and opens her mouth. Unfortunately, she doesn’t open it to express how silly she feels for dragging things on this long or how much she regrets neglecting her loving wife. No, she opens it to say simply, “And?” She doesn’t seem terribly impressed by Anode’s blank stare. In fact, she seems rather terribly unimpressed. Her face crinkles and she shakes her head, bringing her book up to eye level to block Anode out.

“And!” Anode blurts, catching the top of the book and pressing, gratified when it lowers without any resistance. “And… I owe you an apology.”

Silence. Lug lifts one optical ridge to a sharp peak. She then lifts one hand and rolls it through a meandering “get on with it” sort of gesture. The second roll, a moment after Anode just stares with twisted lips, is coupled with a much ruder gesture.

“Now you’re just being unreasonable,” Anode says without thinking it through.

Lug makes a sound of disgust and her plating shifts like she means to fold herself into alt mode, the better to pretend Anode isn’t there.

“I--” Anode’s vocalizer clicks, shutting down the rest of the sentence. Lug watches her with her eye ridges raised, plating ruffled like she might still transform at any moment. Anode draws out a sound unheard of in the known universe. Her chin hits her chest and just as quickly snaps back up. Gathering all her strength, she says, “I made the wrong call, I was reckless and I owe you an apology and-- and this is me apologizing. I’m apolo-- I’m sorry.”

Lug just stares and Anode groans, dropping her head onto Lug’s knees. She can’t even be mad if Lug is still mad, not really. Her arms wrap up around Lug’s legs without conscious thought; when she squeezes, as much as to reassure herself that Lug is there as anything, she knows exactly what she’s doing.

Almost inaudibly, she repeats against Lug’s plating, “I’m sorry.”

Those legs squirm and Anode relinquishes her grip, biting back another groan. A sigh falls from her lips, hitting the floor with the dull thud of defeat, and she leans back so that Lug has space to storm off and sulk in peace, if she’s not going to just tell Anode to beat it.

One might say she’s surprised when a kiss is dropped between her eyes but one would be underselling her reaction.