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So there was a job fair in Crystal City today. (No, not that Crystal City.)
I was going to drive, but my parents worried about traffic, so I bowed gracefully to their suggestion to use the bus-and-Metro instead. I went to the bus station immediately after work like a good little moogle, making do with only a cereal bar for lunch. Had I known that the bus was going to be half an hour late, I would have stopped and gotten some sushi. -_-
The job fair had only an hour and a half left to it by the time I arrived at the Crystal City metro station, and so I decided to walk to the hotel it was being held at rather than wait around for the shuttle. "It's such a nice day," thinks I. "It's not that far," thinks I. Oh, moogle. When will you learn? Also, the shoes I wore today? Stupid, stupid choice. I knew they would rub me raw, and yet I wore them anyway. Apparently I hate my feet.
Finally, weary and thirsty and sun-stroked and leaving a trail of blood from my poor abused heels, I solicited Directions. "Excuse me, can you tell me where The Hotel Is?" "Oh," says the kindly stranger, "about six blocks back the way you came."
...Insert profanity here.
Luckily, there was a bus, although I had to wait another half an hour for it. By the time I finally got to my destination, the job fair had only a half an hour left to go. Which was about all I really needed, as there were only two booths that were even slightly, vaguely, infinitesimally in my field. So basically, today was so totally a waste of makeup.
*whimpers pathetically and flops in friendslist's lap* Someone write something for me? Cheer a moogle up? *saaaad eyes*
*....crawls off to doctor blisters*
I was going to drive, but my parents worried about traffic, so I bowed gracefully to their suggestion to use the bus-and-Metro instead. I went to the bus station immediately after work like a good little moogle, making do with only a cereal bar for lunch. Had I known that the bus was going to be half an hour late, I would have stopped and gotten some sushi. -_-
The job fair had only an hour and a half left to it by the time I arrived at the Crystal City metro station, and so I decided to walk to the hotel it was being held at rather than wait around for the shuttle. "It's such a nice day," thinks I. "It's not that far," thinks I. Oh, moogle. When will you learn? Also, the shoes I wore today? Stupid, stupid choice. I knew they would rub me raw, and yet I wore them anyway. Apparently I hate my feet.
Finally, weary and thirsty and sun-stroked and leaving a trail of blood from my poor abused heels, I solicited Directions. "Excuse me, can you tell me where The Hotel Is?" "Oh," says the kindly stranger, "about six blocks back the way you came."
...Insert profanity here.
Luckily, there was a bus, although I had to wait another half an hour for it. By the time I finally got to my destination, the job fair had only a half an hour left to go. Which was about all I really needed, as there were only two booths that were even slightly, vaguely, infinitesimally in my field. So basically, today was so totally a waste of makeup.
*whimpers pathetically and flops in friendslist's lap* Someone write something for me? Cheer a moogle up? *saaaad eyes*
*....crawls off to doctor blisters*
sore
Likely not enough schmoop but...
Cyclonus stared down at the Prime, his lips curved down in a frown and one optic ridge arched. He looked less than impressed by the sight before him, and Rodimus couldn't exactly blame him.
"Hi," offered Rodimus awkwardly.
"What do you think you're doing, Prime?" Cyclonus rumbled, optics narrowing.
Too weary to form a proper explanation, Rodimus gestured vaguely back to the huddle of Sweeps behind him. "Kidnapped," he said.
"Kidnapped," repeated Cyclonus flatly.
Rodimus nodded, still slumped in an exhausted heap on the floor. "And shown no mercy," he added, sounding far too serious when he spoke to actually be sincere. The Sweeps, however, seemed eager to agree with this, giving affirmative little contributions and nodding. Cyclonus only snorted, but Rodimus could see the faintest hint of a smirk growing at the corners of his lips.
He turned on his heel, waving his hand dismissively. "Then, if the matter is under control, there's no reason for me to stay."
"You could," managed Rodimus, causing Cyclonus to pause in step. "I'm so unpredictable... there's no telling what I could do. You should be here to keep me under control."
Cyclonus turned back, very evidently smirking now as he eyed Rodimus' slumped frame from head to heels. "What? In case you walk while you recharge?"
Unable to resist a smile, Rodimus shrugged. "You never know. I could have very vivid nightmares to influence me."
"Are you asking for someone to hold your hand through the night, Prime?" asked Cyclonus, voice laced with amusement.
Laughing quietly, Rodimus only grinned and held his hand aloft in invitation.
With only a moment's hesitation, Cyclonus silently accepted, resting himself snugly at the Prime's side.
Re: Likely not enough schmoop but...
*glomps you* You're so good to me. ^_^
Re: Likely not enough schmoop but...
*snugglefuss* Anything to help cheer the poor moogle.
Re: Likely not enough schmoop but...
Sweep: *grumblemuttercling*
Cyc: *lord, what fools these mortals be*
You are very, very cheering.
Though you can't tell me you didn't enjoy that.In her travels, she ran across a rather handsome and mostly helpless man with a bear. Not an armadillo-bear or a porcupine-bear. Just a bear.
He was a very odd man, but he was sweet and kind. He was also frighteningly inexperienced, and the doctor couldn't leave him to fend for himself.
He said his name was Kuei, and she said her name was Song. The bear's name was Bosco.
They traveled together happily for a time, until one day strange earthbenders in green with wide hats appeared. They told Kuei they had been looking for him to bring him 'home'. He protested he did not want to go.
Bosco also protested. Rather more forcefully than Kuei, which led to one of the earthbenders losing a hand.
Song stayed quiet, and the green earthbenders duly captured the pair of them. (And Bosco.) The earthbenders mostly ignored her, except to ask her questions about where she came from and what she knew of Kuei. She lied to them pleasantly, but was saddened that skills she had to learn to deal with Fire Nationals were being used to save her from men of the Earth Kingdom.
The earthbenders called themselves the Dai Li and said they were from Ba Sing Se. They treated Kuei with a certain delicate care that did not hide the force they could bring to bear.
When they made camp that night, Song offered to make the Dai Li earthbenders tea. Kava is very soothing, and the nights get cold this time of year.
A doctor's arts lie in her herbs, and the teas that calmed the sick could also be used to put them to sleep. Once the Dai Li fell asleep, Song bound them in the chains they'd used on Bosco, and she, Kuei, and the bear snuck off.
You would probably enjoy Avatar. (I think only people who loathe all things good would dislike Avatar, but I am very biased.)
Don't have much, but, what I have, I gladly give.
***
Optimus Prime - Leader of the Autobots, Keeper of the Matrix and Holder Of Other Important But Progressively Sillier Titles He'd Really Rather Forget (like the one about the petro-rabbits which was just plain embarrassing) - sighed as he clapped one of his old friends on the shoulder.
"Try not to traumatize them too badly."
Ironhide smirked up at Optimus. "What? It's not like the 'Cons will be gentle."
Optimus sighed. They went through this dance every time they got a new batch of recruits in. "They won't be seeing battle with the Decepticons for quite a while, old friend," he said. "And I'd prefer not to have to submit too many of them to Ratchet's tender mercies in the process."
"Bah! It'd just give them the proper appreciation for stayin' in one piece to have a few wrenches lobbed at them right off the bat," Ironhide laughed, then gave his leader a playful punch on the shoulder. "I'll be gentle, Prime...relatively."
Optimus knew that was probably as good as he was gonna get. "I'll leave you to them, then," he said. "Still on for the game tonight?"
"Primus willing and the 'Cons don't strafe us," the old soldier said. "Now get out of here. The new-builts are nervous enough without Command peeking over their shoulders."
And they did look nervous Optimus noted as he turned to head for the jump-shaft back to the command level. He trusted Ironhide. The old mech had nothing but the best at spark for these new Autobot recruits...
"Okay, you rust-heaps! Welcome to Ironhide's School of Mayhem and Fun! This is your last chance to turn your sorry excuses for chassis around and run for the canyons. If ya don't take it, you officially belong to me - spark, shell and manifold - for the next twenty joors! I hope you survive the experience!"
Optimus winced...well, it probably was for the best. After Ironhide, the Decepticons would hold no terror whatsoever.
...Also, I want to know about Optimus's title involving petrorabbits. *pokes curiously*
He's not saying. He's standing just there pretending to read a data pad and trying to ignore me. I do get the distinct impression that, if he were human, he'd be blushing so hotly you could toast a marshmallow over his face.
All I know that it's silly and embarassing. Maybe we can bribe Jazz to tell us.
It was thus nearly two joors after his shift officially ended when he stalked out of his office hoping to never see it again, and shutting the door in Magnus' face upon anticipating that Magnus was about to invite him back to his quarters for the night. It would probably be a wonderful time, Magnus having (at least!) a fully-developed sense that hard work ought to be well rewarded after its completion, but Rodimus had spent the last five joors being badgered and hounded and nagged by him in between everything else today, and was in no mood to be conducive to Magnus enjoying anything tonight.
He transformed, and was out of the base before he realized where he was going. He'd been thinking to visit Jazz, or Sideswipe, or Air Raid, or Bumblebee, or perhaps go back to his quarters and get himself off in front of a commsat link with Springer, but without completely knowing why he was headed for a certain canyon at the edge of the Autobots' security perimeter. He commed Galvatron on the way, the message warning and challenge in one: "If you're up for something a little different, I'm gonna be at the usual spot in a couple breems. If you're not, say so and I won't be."
Galvatron probably couldn't ignore a challenge if you paid him; he'd be there.
"Nope, no Springer," Rodimus said, weariness from the long day seeping into his voice despite his best efforts; Galvatron's smirk told him the weakness had been noted, and he held up a hand.
"What difference, Prime?" Galvatron growled again. Rodimus smiled in the darkness.
"You said it." At Galvatron's confused look, he continued. "I'm the Prime. Ordained ruler of all Cybertron. Ultra Magnus has spent the whole day ignoring this, and I just spent two joors over shift doing paperwork." Was he imagining things, or was that the slightest hint of commiseration in Galvatron's expression? "I think I want the benefits of being in charge right now. I wanna call the shots, and be deferred to, and have someone seeing to my comfort and pleasure for awhile. I want someone obeying my commands. You up for that," he made the words challenging, "or shall I go back to base and find someone else to do it?"
Galvatron rumbled. "You want to be Prime, then, Prime?" He moved closer as he spoke.
Rodimus smiled, tight and tired. "And be served," he concluded. "And then, of course, such service would be well rewarded." With Galvatron, it never hurt to bribe.
"Oh, really?" The warlord's tone was interested, and Rodimus expelled air in a sigh of almost-pleasure.
"Humor me tonight, and I'll arrange a couple days' vacation for myself, and come spend a night or two at your base. I can be your prisoner, your slave, pretend to be an officer in your army, whatever you like. But right now, I want you to be my subordinate."
Galvatron purred, amused. "Very well, Rodimus." The Prime turned away as he approached, tapping the too-tight hydraulics in his shoulders and neck; Galvatron ran strong hands up his spinal strut, pressing lightly in a soft, deferent manner that seemed almost alien coming from the usually-dominant warlord, and the Autobot leader's cooling fans surprised him by kicking in almost instantly. He felt, rather than saw, Galvatron's amused smile as the warlord continued, getting into the role with surprising ease. "As you command," he whispered, voice thickening with desire. "Prime." Almost a prayer of devotion, as overstressed circuits sang under his careful touch and Rodimus sighed in sheer pleasure. Galvatron's lips light against the side of his jaw, by his audial, smiling as he delivered the final word. "Sir."
*many fluffy hugs*
It would be a lot easier, Tifa mused, if Cid didn’t view every single scratch and scrape they found on the Highwind as some kind of vast personal insult. She didn’t think the pilot had stopped swearing for over an hour…in fact, she doubted that he’d even stopped for breath. But when she arrived at the prow of the Highwind with the piece of sheet metal she was carrying, Cid was simply sat motionless and silent and the edge of the cliff, his eyes fixed on the darkening sky.
“…Cid?” Tifa said hesitantly.
“Hey Tifa.” Cid replied absently, not shifting his gaze.
“Is something wrong?” She asked, dropping the metal and moving to stand beside him.
“Was just thinking…realised I never thought what I was gonna do after we beat Sephiroth.” Cid replied.
Tifa sighed and took a seat on the Cliffside, “Neither did I, really…” She hesitated for a second before continuing, “To be honest…I didn’t really think I’d survive.”
Cid grunted in sympathy, “Shit, Tifa, none of us did…’cept maybe Cloud.” He sighed and looked at her, “But…I don’t have my rocket no more. The Highwind’s in pieces…and I’ll be damned if I know what happened to the Tiny Bronco - maybe the damn thing sank…but, I know I gotta do something with my life, or I’d go crazy.”
Tifa nodded, “I feel the same way, Cid. After everything we’ve been through, running a bar now seems…well, kinda dull.”
“Heard a story once,” Yuffie piped up from where she had obviously been eavesdropping, “Once, in Wutai, there was a great Samurai warrior, he was the best. He trained his skills every day, until he was the greatest warrior in the world and no one he faced could beat him…but one day, he realised that there was no one left who was a challenge to him, so his life had no purpose.”
Tifa twisted to look at the young Ninja, “So what happened to him?”
Yuffie shrugged, “He went out behind his house and fell on his sword.”
Tifa shuddered, “That’s horrible! Where did you hear that story?”
“My Dad told it to me when I was little.” Yuffie replied.
“Humph…pretty harsh thing to tell a kid,” Cid grunted.
“We’re just talking about what we’re gonna do when we all get…home.” Tifa said, her voice catching on the last word. Barret folded his arms.
“I now exactly what I’m gonna do!” He boomed, “I’m gonna take Marlene back to North Corel and help rebuild…after all those *#@%& Mako reactors are shut down.”
Tifa straightened, “That’s right, there are still lots of reactors running out there…they’ll need to go…”
Cid grunted and lit a cigarette, “Hey, hadn’t we better take a break first?”
“Maybe you’re right Cid…” Tifa said, “I think we all have rebuilding to do…homes, lives…hearts.”
The others nodded their agreement as Cid looked up at the sky, blowing smoke out through his nostrils.
“Yeah.” He said softly, “Lots of hearts need fixin’ around here…”
*empathizes with all her heart*
Hugs! May today be a thousand times better!