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ratcandy · 20 days

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Big Huge Irritated Rant About The Latest COTL Update's Story Choices and the Implications

So the lore drop in the new Cult of the Lamb update, Unholy Alliance, pisses me off. The writer's confirmation of what that lore drop means pisses me off more.

Why? Because it's unnecessary recontextualization that was made pretty obviously in favor in one character in particular, and somehow in that process makes that very same character way less interesting. I think it's incredibly detrimental to the story and I will Explain Why in a second.

But before I do, I just want to put this out there: Prior to this update, my opinions on the Bishops and Narinder and that entire plotline were pretty neutral. I'm an NPC enjoyer, I spend my time thinking about that moth with two lines of dialogue. I did not previously have strong opinions on Narinder or Shamura outside of mild dislike for fandom treatment. So I'm not coming from a place of bias here (or at the very least I'm not trying to be). I genuinely, wholeheartedly, 100% believe this writing decision was unnecessary and the Wrong one to make, and I think it severely undercuts the original plotline because this was a retcon and one that sucks pretty bad.

Ok we're on the same page here? Ok awesome. Long rant ahead, and obvs spoilers for the Unholy Alliance update

So first, what the hell am I talking about? What part of the update do I not like? Let's clarify that first.

It's Shamura's dialogue. Like, all of it. For ease of understanding, here is all the dialogue I will be talking about:

"Ah... we gathered here, the four of us, a council of war and I the general. I have not forgot. I did not tell them that chains to bind a God must be forged of Godly matters. What matter of Gods? What matters of Gods? I have not forgot. The betrayal of kin, the breaking of spirits, blood spilled, his and ours. ...the sacrifice of what we had sacrificed so much for... ...shaped into shackles for our own brother. And our wounds always to weep. Such sharp claws..."

"He sought to break nature's own laws. Death was his, yet he placed his sacred duty in peril. His experiments... Experiments I encouraged. I am not... blameless. My soul, stained... yet I do not... Ah, The story. Yes the story... He wanted to open the doors between Life and Death, to... to allow their return. Those mere... mortals. Even though he knew their sacrifices, their faith, their fears sustain us. Death must be the end. Otherwise, what use would they have for Gods? They began to flock to him. What he promised, we could not match. He swelled with devotion... while we waned. Would he have let us perish? I could not take... the risk... the hunger... You are lucky there are none left to force such a choice on you. Hail, Lamb. Last God... lonely God... Ah... I feel... unburdened..."

And for fun, before anyone tells me I'm misinterpreting any of this or that it's left up to interpretation or is intentionally vague, Word of God (the writer of CoTL):

And it's this being Word of God that's spurred me into making this post to begin with. Because prior to this, I just seethed about this dialogue's implications in my server and hoped I was wrong. But now it's been confirmed what this means, and I'm . Disgruntled, to say the least!

And since I've started writing this post, there's been another addition made to further clarify parts of this. But I'm going to go over that addition more towards the end, because it also irritates me for separate reasons.

So, let's get this straight.

Prior to this update, the specifics of what happens between Narinder and the Bishops were pretty vague. We were told Narinder was "gluttonous in his ambition," per Shamura's previous dialogue, and that they "introduced him to ideas of change" but "Death cannot flow backward." Heket somewhat elaborates on this by saying he preached "heresy" and "noxious ideals" that would not be tolerated. Heket also notably refers to Narinder as a flat-out "monster." Narinder attacked his siblings and left them each with a big, symbolic wound. Then he was chained by the four of them, with Shamura the one to lead it (in their own words).

There's a lot of talk of betrayal, but before this update, it was unclear if the betrayal was meant to just be Narinder's experimenting with death (which even then was pretty heavily suggested to be resurrections) or the wounds inflicted upon his siblings. There's also a lot of talk of sacrifice, i.e. from Leshy if you kill Heket before him: "After everything we did. After everything we sacrificed. He will not be satiated."

Regardless, the picture this painted was of Narinder being this ambitious, evil, violent God that even his fellow Gods (Kallamar) feared and felt needed controlling. The idea that the wounds could have been in the nail in the coffin to this entire ordeal made sense; as they were obviously planned by Narinder to some extent (otherwise why be so intentional about who got what wound?) and a fair reaction to Being Mutilated would of course be to chain him.

Then of course there's the idea that the wounds were given while he was being chained and in self-defense, which only seems possible if you think Narinder could take on all four of his siblings at once like that and only manage to lose his claws in the ordeal (which was only revealed in this update to be something he's implied to have lost thru the relic). I thought this at first too, but realized it seems pretty impractical for that to have been the case if the wounds were also purposeful in who got what. I mean, sure, they could all be coincidentally symbolically appropriate for each Bishop, but I have doouuubts?

but now we're here, with this update, and all has been revealed.

And what's been revealed exactly?

Narinder's thing he was doing was indeed resurrections (we knew that)

Shamura encouraged him to do it (we also already knew this)

It seems like he did literally nothing else outside of that

His siblings got pissy about this because it made their domains purposeless and got all their followers to flock to him

"Would he let us perish? I could not take the risk" - Implies they literally did not even ask him

Shamura knew that in order to forge chains that could keep Narinder down, it would require a sacrifice of their bonds AND their flesh

They DID NOT tell the other Bishops this

Their wounds were requirements to chain him. They had to get the wounds they bear now in order to chain him. ONLY Shamura knew this. That means they allowed their siblings (and themself) to get attacked knowing full well what would happen. They may have even encouraged it, perhaps provoked Narinder into it, seeing as they knew the wounds were necessary to have him chained. (Or they just knew he would retaliate. Which, like. Yeah. They're condemning him after he went down a path they encouraged and, as far as we can tell, nothing else.)

And for... what?

In this version of the story, Narinder was experimenting with resurrections, and Shamura told him to keep doing that. Then he was successful, mortals turned to him, and his siblings (including Shamura, the one who told him to do it) got mad. That's it. That's their reasoning for chaining him. There's nothing else given. "Would they perish?" We have no idea. Is that how it works? Seems like Shamura doesn't know either. Or at the very least doesn't know if Narinder intended for that at all. Gives the vibe that literally no effort was made to talk to him and figure this out. They don't even really go down the "it puts nature out of balance!" path, which would at least have some merit, maybe. It's literally just "we are no longer sustained. What's the point of Gods in this world?" <- idk babe you had all the other ones slaughtered. So you tell me

And then Shamura just took it into their own hands, leading their siblings to their shared wounds (WITHOUT consulting them) and their inevitable destruction because of........... reasons, I guess. (I mean, if you think about it really hard, they probably also already knew what would happen following all this. With the lamb genocide and Narinder's resurfacing and etc. And they had their siblings wounded anyway. For no god damn reason)

And now why does this make me mad?

Because, honestly, in and of itself, there's not anything necessarily wrong with this added context. It's not contradicting anything in the main game. Shamura knowing what was needed makes sense, after all.

But it's... unnecessary. It screws up the motives and makes them more shallow, less nuanced, more... petty. Making gods petty is cool and all, I love doing that honestly, but in this case it just feels like a waste of potential.

But beyond all that. But most importantly.

This entire recontextualization of events REEKS of being made specifically to absolve Narinder.

I mean, come on. He's made out to be the victim, here. Shamura knew what he would do, knew what he would become, and knew exactly what would happen to their siblings if they sought to chain him (without doing so much as talking to him beforehand), and yet they encouraged it.

All blame is being shifted on Shamura. All Narinder did specifically against his siblings was inflict the wounds, which at this point seems to be hinted as self defense or a retaliation against threat or insult (assuming he was provoked into attacking, somehow). Because the wounds were part of the process.

And almost equally irritating, this seeks to arbitrarily absolve Leshy, Kallamar, and Heket as well, as they had no idea what the plan was and were just strung along. Which is just kinda worse, right? As far as they are aware, Narinder did just randomly attack them for no reason, and this wasn't foreseen, and surely couldn't have been stopped. All because Shamura didn't tell them any of it.

Shamura is being made into the big bad. Shamura is at fault for everything, for all of it. Narinder is a victim of Shamura encouraging him down a path they later condemn him for, their siblings are victims of Shamura and Narinder both (the latter of which could have been resolved at any point prior), and now any possible intrigue about Narinder being this big bad guy who tore apart his siblings due to his own ambition getting the best of him is ERASED.

It's GONE. All in favor of making him more sympathetic.

And sure, about a million different excuses could be made for Shamura, or could be used to headcanon whatever you want about exactly what happened. But with what we're given right now, just from the source, no attempt as made to stop Narinder before it got to this point. It is literally suggested they didn't even talk to him.

"Maybe they were too scared" - For the other three, maybe. Shamura is the eldest and clearly the most respected one, by Narinder as well (he holds some amount of respect for them even STILL. After EVERYTHING). They at any point could have stopped this.

"Narinder could still have been a bad guy outside of the attacks" - Sure, but we're given little to nothing on that front. In the old dialogue, literally all that's mentioned is the resurrection stuff and the wounds. Shamura is the one who said his ambition made a glutton of him, by the way. And hell, this isn't even touching the very real possibility that all of the Bishops (Narinder included!) are unreliable as hell.

"But Kallamar feared him even before his chaining, that suggests he was still a bad guy beforehand" - Sure, it could! But that's about all we get! And hell, in this new update, Kallamar's fears are fucked with, too. He states:

"Once, long ago, Followers would worship at my altar just to glimpse the beauty of my temple… of course, it could not last forever. Perhaps my siblings did not understand this, but I have always known. It did not make me less afraid. Cowardly Kallamar, ha…"

Here, it seems Kallamar's fears have been changed to be more about the decline of his temple and the loss of his followers, which was happening because of Narinder. He refers to Narinder's plans as "foolish" as opposed to... idk, horrifying, or threatening, or whatever. He also fully takes on the 'cowardly' title, giving the impression that his fears were somehow unfounded, which wouldn't make a lick of sense if Narinder indeed sucked ass outside of the wounds.

Not to mention he "didn't want to hear it" when Shamura "revealed the plan," but we know because of Shamura that they didn't mention anything about the wounds, so Kallamar didn't want to hear that they... had to chain Narinder? That's literally all he could've been told about the plan. Why wouldn't he want to chain Narinder if he was scared of him up until that point?? Doesn't make any sense!!! EDIT AFTER I POSTED: On reconsideration this might just be referring the lamb genocide plan, but that's hardly better, because now this update absolves Narinder, Leshy, AND Kallamar by making them blameless in everything (both Leshy and Kallamar expressed not fully understanding the plan for the slaughter or, in this case, not wanting part in it). What's up with THAT. Why is Shamura getting the blame for LITERALLY EVERYTHING.

Anyway, my point is

This was a story decision made to make Narinder sympathetic. It's so blatant. And it's so, so irritating. It gets rid of so many potential cool flaws of Narinder and replaces it with "Actually, Shamura was the bad guy the whole time! Huzzah!"

And honestly, had the entire game come out like this to begin with, released at the start how it is right now, I don't think I'd care this much. But being added now, as an afterthought, after the fandom and devs alike have grown to favor Narinder above all others, it just...

It reeks of favoritism. It smells of revising the story to make Narinder more likeable. It's just erasure.

And for what. Like, I don't want to be That Guy, but I cannot help but notice that one of two nonbinary characters (outside of the Lamb/Goat themselves) is being this heavily demonized in favor of absolving a Man of his crimes. What's, uh. What's up with that.

Oh, and that addition by the writer I mentioned was made while I was writing this.

This was made after Jojo was questioned whether this was a retcon as to who caused the wounds, as this whole thing could also certainly be read as Shamura being the one to directly wound their siblings (which I didn't think was the case, but still).

"I don't know if they thought it would be so severe" - How do I put this in a nice way. This feels like a weaseling out answer. This feels like giving Shamura an out only after being questioned on this writing choice. How could they possibly not know how severe it would be. This spider is Knowledge. This spider has Foresight of some kind. And how do you not know what they thought. You are the Writer. If you want to clarify something like this you gotta say it with your full chest.

Not to mention a good portion of the fandom probably won't even see these tweets, so this context is all missing from the story presented in the game. This is Tacked On Context on top of already Tacked On Context. It's unnecessary retconning all the way down.

Anyway. I realize the fandom at large will not care about this, because (and I mean this in the nicest way I can manage) the Narinder favoritism in this fandom is already impenetrable, but for me personally? This retconning that was so clearly done out of that favoritism?

It ruined Narinder's character for me. More than the fandom possibly could have. I mean, if it's fanon, it can be ignored. But this was canonized. Because Narinder is the dev team's favorite guy.

And I can't stand it.

#VERY long ramble #<- i mean it. this post is chunky.#I have a lot of thoughts. And they are not positive. MM dev team when i get you.#Narinder enjoyers beware. I do not like your man and it's because of this update.#If anything I said in the post is unclear please feel free to ask and I will elaborate where I can! I tried to make my thoughts #as clear as possible. but i am also a fulltime college student with a keyboard that is currently retaliating against me.#My brain is a little scattered atm lmao. but if I hold onto this post much longer I might just anxiety myself out of posting it.#because nobody else seems to be having these same critiques. Save for my tiny little discord server where we are all very loud haters.#If you don't agree with me that's awesome 👍 please be normal about it tho if you are arguing i'm begging.#if this post gets any amount of traction I'm going to be wary about having my inbox open hkjsdhg #ok now the scary part.#cult of the lamb #cotl unholy alliance #cotl spoilers #unholy alliance spoilers #<- i don'tknow if that still needs tagging but jic. also I'm wary of tagging characters on here. so for now i won't.#cotl #ok that's it for now. Runs away. Fast

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verdigrisprowl · 7 years

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Mar 5 Dancitron Movie Night - A cat documentary and a spider documentary

Swoop tried to make Tarantulas and Bob have a table-eating contest, and punched Tarantulas hen he refused. Laserbeak came down and laid down the law. It was, Prowl thinks, about damn time.

The spider documentary was very rude about how it described spiders. Calling them freaks and monsters. Hmph.

Shocky 7:43 pm hallo all! ItsyBitsySpyers 7:43 pm *Soundwave has a lapful of Ravage and is presently sitting with his pedes up. Snacks are out, seats are arranged, etc.* Aegis 7:43 pm *Aegis is always a slut for documentaries* Smokescreen 7:43 pm /He's coming in, but is making a point of sitting on the opposite end from Soundwave- hopefully near the snacks?/ ItsyBitsySpyers 7:44 pm *Soundwave nods to those coming in and watches Smokescreen suspiciously.* Bevel 7:45 pm *arrives and watches the video playing from near the door for a little bit instead of doing anything constructive. like sitting* Jazz 7:46 pm Was that Astrotrain? Who knew he had it in him. ItsyBitsySpyers 7:46 pm [[It was. You'll see stranger y--]] *NOOO. Primus. Where's Prowl. Where's ANYONE.* [[Stranger yet.]] Aegis 7:46 pm Pretty much anyone can have that in them as long as there's enough engex or shanix on the line ItsyBitsySpyers 7:47 pm [[Speak for yourself.]] Smokescreen 7:47 pm /He's avoiding face contact with Soundwave, making a point to stuff his face/ Jazz 7:47 pm I'm diggin' the--uh. ItsyBitsySpyers 7:48 pm [[Owning a nightclub has its benefits.]] Bevel 7:48 pm *giggles* Jazz 7:48 pm *he was gonna say he was digging Bee and Cliffjumper's choreography* Shocky 7:48 pm ((having troubles staying connected here, is it just me?)) ItsyBitsySpyers 7:49 pm [[He has other Autobots somewhere in here. Do not worry.]]

((if you are having trouble staying connected i suggest resetting)) Shocky 7:49 pm ((did a second ago, it's better now)) Jazz 7:49 pm Eesh. Does Starscream know what that lighting is doing to his paint job? Not that he's much to look at in the first place, but that was hideous. Smokescreen 7:53 pm ... Wait wait what is smokescreen.exe Bob 7:54 pm HELLO. ItsyBitsySpyers 7:54 pm [[We can't all be paragons of -- damn it. Flobsters again.]] Bob 7:54 pm *looks around* ItsyBitsySpyers 7:54 pm ((hold on y'all it's froze on my end)) Bob 7:54 pm *....does nooooot see the Swooping friend yet. Hrm.* ItsyBitsySpyers 7:55 pm [[Greetings, Bob.]] Jazz 7:55 pm [[ oy wily i got u a starter ]] ItsyBitsySpyers 7:56 pm ((10-15 minute warning, y'all get your food and stuff)) Aegis 7:58 pm ((Oooh I love this song)) Specs 7:58 pm *the dragon WAS coming in with a cart piled high with goodies, from silver and mercury drops to rust sticks to energon cookies, but she's had to stop to avoid dancing. what a catchy song!* ItsyBitsySpyers 7:58 pm *Isn't it? One of his feelers is twitching back and forth a bit.* Specs 7:59 pm *okay. NOW she can get to piling things on the table. delicious, delicious, treats* ((PFHAHAHAHAHA of course it's rumble and frenzy for this one)) Bob 8:00 pm ((Oop, I saw Jazz. Grazie o7 Jazz 8:00 pm [[ o7 ]] Bob 8:00 pm !!! IT IS THE FRUMBLE AND RENZIE WAIT ItsyBitsySpyers 8:00 pm //Kinda mixed up, ain't ya?// Jazz 8:00 pm *laughs* Bob 8:00 pm THE FRENZY AND THE RUMBLE ItsyBitsySpyers 8:01 pm \\BETTER, BUGBUTT.\\ Bob 8:01 pm I AM BOB =I Jazz 8:01 pm Frumble and Renzie. I love it. Smokescreen 8:01 pm BOB I heard it was your birthday earlier! Happy Bobday! ItsyBitsySpyers 8:01 pm //You would.// Bob 8:01 pm !!! IT WAS I HAVE TURNED FIVE OF THE YEARS. THANK YOU! *chitters* Jazz 8:01 pm Got a problem, Frumble? Aegis 8:02 pm *Oh no, Bob is a cute* Magnum Ace 8:02 pm -pings Soundwave for entrance. Movie night, yes?- Prowl 8:03 pm *appea—ghhghgk the bug is here tonight.* Bob 8:03 pm *WAVES AT PROWL* Prowl 8:03 pm *DISAPPEARS* Bob 8:03 pm *Drops a hand in confusion* I THINK HE MUST HAVE FORGOTTEN THE SNACKS Jazz 8:03 pm [[ DANCING SOUNDWAVE ]] Bob 8:03 pm THAT IS OK. WE WILL WAIT Jazz 8:03 pm [[ my only weakness ]] ItsyBitsySpyers 8:03 pm [[Ah, that's right. One moment.]] *Fishes around in his subspace and eventually finds a small box of energon candies. Slides it over to Bob.* [[From Zori, for your creation day.]]

*Looks up and tilts helm. Well. He supposes that's that for his rescue chances tonight.* Bob 8:04 pm !!! THANK YOU. PLEASE TELL THE ZORI FRIEND THANK YOU. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:04 pm ((dancing soundwave is my big weakness man)) Bob 8:04 pm *cronches* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:04 pm [[He will.]] Prowl 8:04 pm *reappears at an angle from which Soundwave can mostly shield him from Bob's view.* Tarantulas 8:05 pm (( this is so fuckin. chill-ass soundwave and his lowkey moves ItsyBitsySpyers 8:05 pm *Aha. So that's what he's up to.*

//We ain't got a problem if you don't.// Specs 8:05 pm *the dragon is staring, enraptured. she might be about to drop a plate of energon cookies on her head if she doesn't pay attention* Jazz 8:05 pm [[ look how many dancing soundwaves are in the recommended videos it's a smorgasbord ]] ItsyBitsySpyers 8:06 pm [[Dragon. Dragon, your plate--]] Specs 8:06 pm Oh-! *CLONK* *...now she gets to clean up the floor. yay.* Smokescreen 8:06 pm It's always weird seeing Soundwaves that can dance well Bob 8:06 pm *swaying to the music* Tarantulas 8:07 pm (( HE'S DOIN THE ROBOT Jazz 8:07 pm Heh. I bet he could manage if he just loosened up a little. Most bots can! Bob 8:07 pm SMOKING SCREEN FRIEND. DO YOU NOT HAVE THE DANCE PARTIES AT YOUR HOME? Prowl 8:07 pm *check out these fools doubting Soundwave's dancing abilities.* Magnum Ace 8:07 pm ((dancing 'wave! Bob 8:08 pm AT THE ARK HOME THE JAZZ FRIEND AND THE BLASTER FRIEND ARE GOOD AT THE DANCING Smokescreen 8:08 pm WAIT I can dance really well! I've had that kinda thing. Specs 8:08 pm *even the dragon knows that Soundwave is the best dancer* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:08 pm *And now one just for him....* Jazz 8:08 pm We sure do~ Ayy! Get it, Prowl! Prowl 8:09 pm My bumper can't do that. Aegis 8:09 pm Have you tried? ItsyBitsySpyers 8:09 pm [[Perhaps they've gotten a modification?]] ((FIVE MINUTE WARNING)) Prowl 8:09 pm I know I can't for the same reason that I know I can't bend my arm between my elbow and my wrist: because there aren't moving parts that allow that motion. I don't need to try. Smokescreen 8:10 pm Oh! Those bots are kinda cute in a boxyverse way. Specs 8:10 pm *okay. floor is clean. contaminated cookies are placed in the cart to be dealt with later. everything else is on the table. she's getting a couch and rubbing her bruised skull.* Bob 8:10 pm CONSTRUCTING BUILDER BOTS Twincast 8:10 pm ((oh, that explains why there was two of me. I somehow had this open twice Prowl 8:11 pm *gaze quietly rivets on scrapper.* Bob 8:11 pm *SWOOP SENSES ARE TINGLING Swoop 8:11 pm *IS A SWOOP* Tarantulas 8:11 pm *if only tarantulas had been here to see that prowl mmd, alas. he's here now though! and trying to sit next to prowl, should it be allowed* Bob 8:11 pm *LOPES TOWARD SWOOP *Skiiiiiids Magnum Ace 8:12 pm ((BAY! Swoop 8:12 pm *dashes over to Bob, clean and clearly ruffled about it* LOOK! Bob 8:12 pm I AM LOOKING WHAT AM I LOOKING AT Smokescreen 8:12 pm /Smokescreen's going to sit near Swoop- that should be far enough from Soundwave while not lonely!/ Swoop 8:12 pm Me Swoop have to BATH :V Jazz 8:12 pm *oh right, sitting. Jazz should probably take a seat at some point.* Bob 8:12 pm WHY? Swoop 8:12 pm DON'T KNOW Twincast 8:13 pm *slides in and takes a seat* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:13 pm ((WARNINGS: Cats, cats, cats, followed by spiders, spiders, spiders. Unfortunately, the latter has some fearmongering and unpleasant language. And, as these are documentaries, animal death.)) Swoop 8:13 pm ((is Tarantulas in Dancitron?)) Jazz 8:13 pm *he's in the mood for slinging his feet up on a table but alas, he'd probably fall over if he tried to do that here* *tables too high* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:13 pm *He could always move a shorter furniture over.* Bob 8:14 pm MEOW FRIENDS Swoop 8:14 pm *notices a thing for once - namely that things are quieting down like they do pre-movies - and YELLS for Soundwave* THIS movie is BOB movie?? Tarantulas 8:14 pm (( tarantulas is indeed, currently aiming for a prowl. i'm so scared swoop ItsyBitsySpyers 8:14 pm [[Quiet, Swoop. You are indoors and do not need to shout.]] *Vent.* [[Yes. This is.]] Specs 8:14 pm ((I should take a video of princess nugget walking back and forth across my keyboard)) Bob 8:14 pm YAY! Prowl 8:15 pm *it won't be UNallowed, but Prowl's not inviting Tarantulas onto the seat.* Bob 8:15 pm *Antennas flick up Jazz 8:15 pm *he will content himself with slouching all over a couch* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:15 pm *Ravage sits up on Soundwave's lap and curls his tail around his legs, now completely riveted to the screen. Anyone who wants drinks is gonna have to get them themselves.* Aegis 8:15 pm *Makes himself comfortable with some oil cakes he brought* Bob 8:15 pm *Is that the Tarantulas friend? Swoop 8:15 pm *snickers at Soundwave then perks up when he sees Bob perk up* Tarantulas 8:15 pm *yes pls, tarantulas is taking that seat, tho he's not risking getting too close jic* Bob 8:15 pm *IT IS THE TARANTULAS FRIEND Swoop 8:15 pm *is unclear what we are excited about but is excited* Bob 8:16 pm *clarifies* IT IS THE TARANTULAS FRIEND Tarantulas 8:16 pm *hears his name. oh no* Swoop 8:16 pm *nods and points* Spider bot Bob 8:16 pm *LOPES OFF* Prowl 8:16 pm *probably safe. Prowl tenses up slightly just at Tarantulas's proximity. Swoop 8:16 pm *cackles and scampers after Bob* Aegis 8:16 pm *Looks over at Bob curiously before payin attention to the screen again* Bob 8:16 pm HI! HI HI HI HI HI Swoop 8:17 pm *JUMPS up on Bob's back/shoulders to peer at Tara* HI ItsyBitsySpyers 8:17 pm ((is bob approaching spide)) Bob 8:17 pm ((yis)) ItsyBitsySpyers 8:17 pm *Soundwave tenses and curls his fingers into Prowl's hip. He'll bridge them away if they come any closer.* Bob 8:17 pm YOU HAVE MADE IT TO THE NIGHT OF MOVIES! YOU HAVE MISSED THE DANCING. DID YOU BRING THE SNACKS? Swoop 8:18 pm Him Bob eat LOTS AND LOTS of snacks! Prowl 8:18 pm *no need, prowl's noticed him. guess who just vanished and reappeared on the other side of the room.* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:18 pm *And now Soundwave's squeezing the air. Well then.* Smokescreen 8:18 pm /Waving at Tarantulas- though he's not coming close this time. He's heeding Knock Out's warning from earlier/ Tarantulas 8:18 pm I - was I supposed to bring snacks? *very startled by all this* Prowl 8:18 pm *... NOT the other side of the room with Smokescreen. the other other side.* Bob 8:18 pm IT IS OK. I CAN SHARE MINE IF YOU DO NOT HAVE ANY Smokescreen 8:19 pm /Many many sided room/ Swoop 8:19 pm Bob have Him SIDESWIPE snacks : > Twincast 8:19 pm *indeed* Bob 8:19 pm *skids to a stop in the spiders space and flops* THE SECONDARY CARETAKER MADE BIRTHDAY SNACKS. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:19 pm =Worshiped.= Slow blink. =As it should be, no?= Ravage chuckles quietly. Swoop 8:19 pm Bob is FIVE!!! Tarantulas 8:19 pm Oh but those are for /you/, Bob. Bob 8:20 pm THE SHARING IS THE CARING Aegis 8:20 pm *Oh no he's adorable* Specs 8:20 pm *the dragon looks slightly surprised at the siamese cats which occasionally appear on the screen- they've got pointed coats just like she does.* Swoop 8:20 pm ((is tara on a couch or a chair?)) Tarantulas 8:21 pm (( couch! with a very obvious empty space between him and soundwave Swoop 8:21 pm *hops off Bob and onto the back of the couch next to Tara's shoulder to perch* Smokescreen 8:21 pm ... /Is there's some empty space, he's sitting a little closer to Tarantulas, though not on Soundwave's side./ ItsyBitsySpyers 8:21 pm *Looks down at Ravage. Looks across the way at Prowl. Looks down again. ... He'll stay here a little longer. He'd hate to move his deployer right now.* Specs 8:22 pm ((speaking of catness, her royal nugget has decided that she is more important than the documentary and is chewing on my hands as I type. I love my goblin daughter.)) Twincast 8:22 pm ((give her a smooch)) Tarantulas 8:22 pm *is being surrounded, looks toward sw and prowl in dismay. ah well. he'll succumb to his fate* Bob 8:22 pm *Scooches closer to the couch, a big ol' spiny, lump* Specs 8:22 pm ((of course)) ItsyBitsySpyers 8:22 pm =Superior form.= Tarantulas 8:22 pm What sort of treats are they, Bob? Bob 8:23 pm *From the floor Bob slowly lifts a party hat and gives it to Tarantulas* Aegis 8:23 pm *There's a soft clicking as Aegis commits some of these images to memory to go over in detail later* Bob 8:23 pm THE ARE THE SNACKS OF SILVER. AND THE SNACKS THAT LOOK LIKE THE CRYSTALS BUT ARE NOT. AND THERE IS THE CAKE. .....I DO NOT THINK YOU CAN EAT THE SUGAR. Smokescreen 8:23 pm ... /He's going to ping Messy- he wants to ask something, but Messy also seems kinda preoccupied!/ Tarantulas 8:23 pm *...takes the hat gingerly, doesn't wear it* Swoop 8:23 pm *pats Tara* Him Bob eats EVERYTHING! ItsyBitsySpyers 8:25 pm =It's hideous.= Tarantulas 8:25 pm I suppose that's one thing he and I have nearly in common. *to bob* ...What KIND of cake? Swoop 8:25 pm :V Smokescreen 8:26 pm I want a cat house but me-sized ItsyBitsySpyers 8:26 pm *So bright and colorful. How are they meant to hide from anyone like that. Ugh. Humans.* Swoop 8:26 pm You Spiderbot and BOB do eat contest!!! Specs 8:26 pm The space elevators are built somewhat like that, although I must say that the aesthetics are vastly more sensible. Magnum Ace 8:26 pm ((holy shit dude Tarantulas 8:26 pm E-eating contest? Oh Primus. Swoop 8:26 pm yeAHH Smokescreen 8:26 pm Man- this kinda place is like what I wish my suite could look like though Bob 8:27 pm IT IS FUNFETTI Tarantulas 8:27 pm *pings smokey back with a sort of "sorry hold on" signal* Bob 8:27 pm EAT CONTEST SOUNDS FUN Prowl 8:27 pm *prowl's following this documentary as best as he can* Bob 8:27 pm *wait* Smokescreen 8:27 pm ((I've had my sound muted adszxcbmnxvc what's been going on in the documentary Bob 8:27 pm CAN YOU ALSO EAT ALL OF THE THINGS? LIKE THE SHEET METAL AND THE TREES? Prowl 8:27 pm *he's wondering when and if they're going to explain how you're supposed to be able to tell that all these cats are indeed cats, and not, say, dogs* Tarantulas 8:28 pm I - trees? ...Technically yes. Swoop 8:28 pm DO it Smokescreen 8:28 pm d Tarantulas 8:28 pm *this is sounding extremely dangerous* Smokescreen 8:28 pm did they just how can they just catch mice like that that's amazing ItsyBitsySpyers 8:28 pm *Soundwave gives Ravage a fond scratch between the shoulders.*

*Prowl could always ask... after all, at least one of the two is here on Soundwave's lap.* Magnum Ace 8:29 pm ((not sure if Ace is in the room or not... ItsyBitsySpyers 8:29 pm ((did i miss a bridge request? consider him having gotten one)) Prowl 8:29 pm ((lesbian cats)) Tarantulas 8:29 pm (( omgg Specs 8:29 pm *gapes a grin at smokescreen* Give me a skitterstalk and five minutes and I can do a similar trick. I'm sure Ravage would do it more superiorly, though. Swoop 8:29 pm Bob! Bob! What BIGGEST thing You eat?? ItsyBitsySpyers 8:29 pm =Naturally.= Smokescreen 8:29 pm so many cats man weird me would love this Magnum Ace 8:29 pm ((m'kay! Aegis 8:29 pm Weird you? Smokescreen 8:30 pm From the weirdverse. You know- red eyes me. Bob 8:30 pm BIGGEST? I HAVE EATEN A TABLE Swoop 8:30 pm *arms up in the air* BIGGEST Bob 8:30 pm IT WAS FOR THE CONFERENCES Magnum Ace 8:30 pm -don't mind him, he's up on the table again- Bob 8:30 pm THE RED ALERT FRIEND WAS NOT HAPPY. Tarantulas 8:30 pm Slow down, slow down, *lowkey panic* Bob 8:30 pm BUT THE FRIEND OF THE IRONHIDES WAS/ Swoop 8:30 pm You Spiderbot eat a table :V Bob 8:31 pm FOR HE DID NOT HAVE TO GO TO THE MEETING THINGS Aegis 8:31 pm Bob... why would you eat a table? Specs 8:31 pm ((pfff, I think that was bad green-screening there)) Bob 8:31 pm IT WAS THERE? Aegis 8:31 pm ..... Bob 8:31 pm I DID NOT KNOW IT WAS NOT FOR EATING Tarantulas 8:31 pm Why in the WORLD should I eat a TABLE. Swoop 8:31 pm BOB eat a table 😆 ItsyBitsySpyers 8:31 pm [[Please, do not eat the furniture.]] Swoop 8:31 pm Not HERE table : > Aegis 8:31 pm *Looks a little stunned and rubs at his temples* Bob 8:31 pm I WILL NOT. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:32 pm *Ravage makes that face a lot when mechs come in for movie nights.* Smokescreen 8:32 pm You're supposed to eat one table! A nutrition table Magnum Ace 8:32 pm -wait. He ate a table? Should he move?- Smokescreen 8:32 pm ... primus I wish I were that cat Bob 8:32 pm !!! WHERE DOES ONE FIND A NUTRITION TABLE? WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? Tarantulas 8:33 pm *face in his hands* Smokescreen 8:33 pm Uhhh In energon! Bob 8:33 pm *expectant* ??? Swoop 8:33 pm You Spiderbot want to beat Bob at EATING, you have to eat table. It the rule Smokescreen 8:33 pm If you drink enough energon you'll find it Bob 8:33 pm *looks around* *looks for energon Aegis 8:33 pm *Looking at Smokescreen in disapproval* Tarantulas 8:34 pm I never said I wanted to beat Bob at anything. I concede defeat. Bob 8:34 pm ...THERE ARE TABLES IN ENERGON???? Smokescreen 8:34 pm Sometimes! Just drink a little every now and then and you'll find one. Swoop 8:34 pm You Spiderbot not eat anything. That bad contest. Bob 8:34 pm I WILL LOOK Specs 8:34 pm *the dragon blinks* Seal point? *looks down at herself* Seal point? *why is this named. why. she is just dragon colored.* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:34 pm *Ravage lets out the ghastliest 'meow' before collapsing onto Soundwave's lap and rumbling in amusement.*

[[She has no idea what she is doing.]] Tarantulas 8:35 pm I was under the impression that the rules of the eating contest involved mostly SNACKS. Tables would constitute a MEAL. Swoop 8:36 pm Um. Dunno! Me Swoop never eating contest Prowl 8:37 pm *well. prowl's not getting his seat back any time soon. where's jazz, maybe prowl can sit with him.* Jazz 8:37 pm *jazz is lounging* *Prowl is more than welcome to join him* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:37 pm =Hmph.= Swoop 8:37 pm *sliiides off the back of the sofa to smush himself between Tarantulas and the arm of the couch* Tarantulas 8:38 pm *sorry prowl, tarantulas desperately DID want to sit with you* *he didn't know he had an entourage* Prowl 8:38 pm *will head that way.* Is this seat taken? *gestures at the space nearest lounging jazz.* Aegis 8:38 pm *Is very comfortable sitting on the floor off to the side somewhat* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:39 pm *...That's not quite how he wanted to be safeguarded tonight, but he supposes he'll take it.* Jazz 8:39 pm Nahh. Not for you, my friend. Tarantulas 8:39 pm I'm not eating a table. But, if permitted, I will take some cake. Prowl 8:39 pm Thank you. *sits.* Swoop 8:39 pm *sits with his legs pulled up so he is smushed into the couch (and tara) like the giggling wiggle that he is* Bob have lot of snack : > Tarantulas 8:40 pm *puts up with the wiggle. we'll see for how long* Prowl 8:40 pm (("info from the paws goes to the brain as instantly as electricity" uh yeah it's based on electricity that's how nerves work it isn't a cat thing)) Smokescreen 8:40 pm cats are electric i wish I was that white cat everyone just Specs 8:41 pm ...Smokescreen. Too much information. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:41 pm [[Agreed.]] Swoop 8:41 pm *was too busy being a wiggle to pay attention to the screen and Tara should be thankful about that* Smokescreen 8:41 pm wait what I just saw the cat being groomed and stuff Magnum Ace 8:41 pm ....... Smokescreen 8:41 pm ....... Bob 8:41 pm CATS ARE A LIQUID Swoop 8:41 pm Him Bob have lot of teeth. You Spiderbot lot of teeth? :V Smokescreen 8:42 pm was that cat uh Magnum Ace 8:42 pm -even HE got it- Bob 8:42 pm THE CARLY FRIEND SAID SO *Settles at Tarantulas' peds to watch kitties* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:43 pm =What does Carly know.= Swoop 8:43 pm *puts his feetsies on Bob* Tarantulas 8:43 pm Why all the questions, Swoop? *exasperated* Swoop 8:43 pm Cause : > Tarantulas 8:44 pm This - this is MOVIE night. We're here to watch movies and ask questions about the movies. Not the viewers. *is trying to logic the dino. knows it probably won't work* Swoop 8:44 pm *leans his head on Tara and grins up at him* NAAAHHH ItsyBitsySpyers 8:45 pm *Guess what he is.* Aegis 8:45 pm ...they have to Shockwave Syndrome the cats? ItsyBitsySpyers 8:45 pm [[...Shockwave Syndrome? What is...?]] Specs 8:46 pm ((and, of course, personality has something to do with that too. heaven knows that princess potbelly didn't necessarily get cuddled 24/7, but she's gotta be the princess at all times)) ((I say as I smooch her head for the 37th time)) Tarantulas 8:46 pm *at least bob is being reasonable and sitting mostly quietly. he gets a pat on the helm for that* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:46 pm ((heehee)) Aegis 8:47 pm It's when someone being held by another is conditioned to enjoy and empathize with the one that's holding them hostage. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:47 pm [[...Then why in Primus' name is it named after Shockwave?]] Swoop 8:47 pm :V ItsyBitsySpyers 8:47 pm *Has few illusions about his other companion.* Magnum Ace 8:47 pm Stockholm, not Shockwave Aegis 8:47 pm Be... cause it's happened with him? Swoop 8:47 pm You Spiderbot pat Swoop Smokescreen 8:47 pm ... Wait Shockwave got held hostage or Prowl 8:48 pm *certainly hasn't been caused by or done to any Shockwave Prowl's ever met.* Tarantulas 8:48 pm *sighs, pats swoop* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:48 pm [[You must know a far more sociable Shockwave.]] Swoop 8:48 pm : > Bob 8:48 pm =< MAY I HAVE THE PATS? Aegis 8:48 pm Possibly? Specs 8:48 pm ((oh! Norwegian forest cats have a rare gene that turns their melanin into phaeomelanin)) ItsyBitsySpyers 8:48 pm ((what is phaeomelanin?)) Specs 8:48 pm ((which is the black pigment to the red pigment for those of us who DON'T spend midnight on Pubmed)) Tarantulas 8:49 pm You - I - *of course bob, more defeated pats for you* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:49 pm *Ravage HISSES at the screen.* Smokescreen 8:49 pm ... Messy, you doing okay? /Reaching to getnly pat the fuzz/ ItsyBitsySpyers 8:49 pm =They are not OBJECTS.= Swoop 8:49 pm *bounces* Me Swoop want pat again : > Smokescreen 8:49 pm ... I wanna be this fluffy Bob 8:49 pm *clearly the solution is to pat both of them* Specs 8:49 pm Why are their faces so FLAT? Smokescreen 8:49 pm They're from my universe! Aegis 8:49 pm inbreeding possibly? ItsyBitsySpyers 8:50 pm =Vile human adjustments.= Smokescreen 8:50 pm /Pointing to his own face/ Aegis 8:50 pm *Gestures towards Ravage* What he said. Specs 8:50 pm Lovely. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:50 pm *Still sneering.* =Interference with perfection.= Specs 8:50 pm Oh, that one is just about as fluffy as I am! *poofy dragon is poofy* Tarantulas 8:50 pm *is pet by smokescreen, is petting swoop and bob. what is his life even* Swoop 8:51 pm *leeeeans into the pets and chirps* Tarantulas 8:51 pm I'm - beseiged, is what I am. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:51 pm [[You seem to be doing well enough despite that.]] Bob 8:51 pm *plating shuffles* Smokescreen 8:51 pm ... Should I give you some space? /Still, petpetpet/ Smokescreen 8:51 pm And- can I ask you something? Tarantulas 8:51 pm You may as well. *he's trapped anyhow* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:52 pm *He remembers being one of those. It was a relatively pleasant experience despite the meat shell.* Specs 8:52 pm It is creeping me out that the siamese cat is the same pattern as my species. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:52 pm =Claw her face.= Specs 8:52 pm ((nugget is VERY smart and VERY sweet and I love her very much)) ...That human needs a hand removed. Prowl 8:52 pm ((that poor cat getting slung all over lol)) Aegis 8:52 pm Agreed Swoop 8:52 pm Spiderbot Twincast 8:52 pm ((poor squoosh face :c ItsyBitsySpyers 8:53 pm *hisssss.* Bevel 8:53 pm ((where's my greasy chicken cats? I need more of them in my life Smokescreen 8:53 pm I want to be held like that Bob 8:53 pm *Coooooos* *Lil' baby kitties <3* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:53 pm //HAHA!// Smokescreen 8:53 pm This time sending a private comm to Tarantulas. ::Do you think Soundwave could frag with someone's mind?:: MROW Bevel 8:53 pm ((yesssssss greasy chicken cats Prowl 8:53 pm ((goblins)) ItsyBitsySpyers 8:53 pm //What a wrinkly baldy.// Specs 8:53 pm AUGH. *the dragon shoves her face under her tail* Why is it naked? Swoop 8:54 pm Spiderbot ItsyBitsySpyers 8:54 pm //You look like that under yer armor, Rav?// ItsyBitsySpyers 8:54 pm *Rumble receives a growl.* Swoop 8:54 pm Spiderbot Bevel 8:54 pm ((*collects all the wrinkly goblins and goblets to himself* Tarantulas 8:54 pm Swoop? Swoop 8:54 pm Eat a table Smokescreen 8:54 pm .... now this reminded me of what Knocktopus tried to do all of a sudden Aegis 8:54 pm *Looks over at Tara's little entourage* Tarantulas 8:54 pm @Smokey: ::I think he could, but that doesn't mean he would. Why?:: Another time. We don't have any tables right now. *patpat* Smokescreen 8:55 pm @Tarantulas: ::I was just talking to Knock Out- and he suggested Soundwave might do it? He was going to check my processor after this.:: Swoop 8:55 pm *lights up as much as he can without literally errupting in fire* *is gonna hold him to this* Smokescreen 8:56 pm ... why would they dump the cat Swoop 8:56 pm Bob, Bob, you and Spiderbot do eating contest. It going to AWESOME. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:56 pm [[Irresponsibility.]] Tarantulas 8:56 pm @Smokey: ::Who's going to check your processor??:: Smokescreen 8:56 pm @Tarantulas: ::Uh. Knock Out? He is a medic, after all! And I can trust him.:: Bob 8:56 pm OKAY Prowl 8:57 pm ((you fools. this just guarantees that the only cats that breed are the ones that don't like to go into boxes.)) Jazz 8:57 pm [[ lmao ]] Swoop 8:57 pm ((lololol)) Bob 8:57 pm ((Pfffft) Swoop 8:57 pm ((breeding super cats)) Smokescreen 8:57 pm ((New cat colony of box-hating cats ((too much power Tarantulas 8:57 pm *withdraws hands to put face in them* Either you get your eating contest, or you get pats. One or the other. Prowl 8:57 pm ((this is what happens when humans tamper in the natural selection process)) Swoop 8:58 pm Why???? :V Tarantulas 8:58 pm Because I said so. Swoop 8:58 pm *bounces irritably* Why? Magnum Ace 8:58 pm ((cats who avoid all boxes Tarantulas 8:58 pm Because I'm the one who's currently being granted the power in this situation, that's why. And I say so. Specs 8:59 pm ((hahaha, I actually did this for alley cat allies in highschool as part of the required service stuff. mostly just the lugging cats around and setting things up, though.)) Swoop 8:59 pm *squints at Tara* Smokescreen 8:59 pm ((abcxbncv that siamese loks like my old cat cuckaloo ;; Swoop 9:00 pm ((there are so many flamepoints in this show and it makes me want to hold my girly)) Bob 9:00 pm *chittering* *Oblivious to contest talk* *Gettin' all the pets* Specs 9:00 pm ((I am so grateful for Nugget being a job-holding cat so that I may smooch her forehead here in college)) Prowl 9:01 pm ((the fuck you mean feline version of aids. who's out there fucking cats. who's sharing dirty needles with cats.)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:01 pm ((oh my god)) Swoop 9:01 pm ((feline aids is a real thing)) Specs 9:01 pm ((other cats are fucking the cats)) Swoop 9:01 pm *grabs onto the fluff on Tara's arm* Me Swoop want pets. Specs 9:01 pm ((and biting the cats, in Princess Potbelly's case)) Jazz 9:01 pm [[ BIG PAWS ]] Tarantulas 9:02 pm Your choice, then. *resumes pats* Swoop 9:02 pm Pet now and eat contest AFTER movie Both Specs 9:02 pm ((although she was only tested at 6 months for FIV, so she'll be retested in may to confirm that she actually has it. if her mom did, she might have inherited the antibodies, but not the FIV infection proper)) ((...perhaps you see why I keep lurking Pubmed at midnight, lol)) Smokescreen 9:03 pm @Tarantulas: ::Just- don't mention all that to Sounds, of course.:: /Continuing to gently pet Messy!/ Tarantulas 9:03 pm That's not an option! *withdraws pets from swoop* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:03 pm ((*gently boops princess*)) Swoop 9:03 pm WHY ItsyBitsySpyers 9:03 pm =Some of you.= Smokescreen 9:03 pm Hey- Hey Ravage. Do you like me? Jazz 9:04 pm [[ that was delightful but now i must slep ]] ItsyBitsySpyers 9:04 pm *Flatly.* =No.= Smokescreen 9:04 pm ... Oh. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:04 pm ((sleep well)) Specs 9:04 pm ((she loves you unconditionally, slendy)) Prowl 9:04 pm ((gnight)) Specs 9:04 pm ((night Jazz!)) Jazz 9:04 pm [[ good nigth and i will smooch butter* and charlie for you all ]] Tarantulas 9:04 pm @Smokey: ::Do. Not. Do. That. Please, Smokescreen, there wouldn't be anything for him to find even IF Soundwave had tampered, which I sorely doubt.:: Smokescreen 9:04 pm ... Well, I think you're pretty cool. Specs 9:04 pm ((thank)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:04 pm ((FAIR WARNING: UP NEXT IS SPIDERS. LOTS OF CLOSE-UPS. LOTS OF EVERYTHING. SPIDERS. IF YOU DON'T LIKE THEM, GET OUT NOW AND SAVE YOURSELF.)) Prowl 9:04 pm ((SPIDE)) Tarantulas 9:04 pm Imbalance of power, that's why, Swoop. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:04 pm ((YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES)) Bevel 9:04 pm ((*abandons ship* Jazz 9:04 pm [[ weh i am missing spides ]] Swoop 9:04 pm What THAT mean? Tarantulas 9:05 pm (( spide spide spide Tarantulas 9:06 pm It means I get to set the ultimatums and there's nothing you can do about it. Smokescreen 9:06 pm @Tarantulas: ::But- Come on, Messy. I can trust him even more than I can trust you. And he's got some experience- he said he could probably identify tampering. ... And, I mean, I know there'll be at least one memory in there he can use for reference of what tampered memories look like.:: Swoop 9:06 pm *squints* *does not respond well to ultimatums* *PUNCHES at Tara's side* Tarantulas 9:07 pm @Smokey: ::Oh Smokescr -:: *is ponch* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:07 pm *Soundwave grabs Swoop IMMEDIATELY and hoist into air.* Tarantulas 9:07 pm *YELPS* Bob 9:07 pm !!! Swoop 9:07 pm *CACKLES* Magnum Ace 9:07 pm !!!! Specs 9:07 pm !!!!! Bob 9:08 pm *Grabs Swoops hand instinctively with one of his tinier ones* Smokescreen 9:08 pm /Inching away as he sees those feelers come kinda close!/ Tarantulas 9:08 pm At least I was GIVING you a choice, you brat! Swoop 9:08 pm *is just LOSING it* Aegis 9:08 pm *Winces, looking over at Tara* Are you okay? ItsyBitsySpyers 9:08 pm [[He has had enough of this. Laserbeak, downstairs. Now.]]

*Poof bridge. Here comes Bird.*

{{SWOOP.}} Bob 9:08 pm *Looks at Swoop *Looks at the spider friend YOU DID A HIT Swoop 9:08 pm *is gone now, sorry Bob 😮 * Magnum Ace 9:08 pm What just... ItsyBitsySpyers 9:08 pm ((short continuation delay bc my attention is split)) Bob 9:08 pm *oops he's gone ItsyBitsySpyers 9:08 pm ((swoop isn't gone. bird came out a bridge)) Smokescreen 9:08 pm ... Messy? Wait- what just- are you okay? Swoop 9:08 pm *nvm is not gone* Me Swoop DO a hit! KAHAHAHA! ItsyBitsySpyers 9:09 pm {{You Swoop BAD.}} Bob 9:09 pm TARANTULAS FRIEND DO YOU NEED A BANDAID? Swoop 9:09 pm NYEHHHH! *sticks tongue out at Tara* Magnum Ace 9:09 pm -is everyone okay over there?- Tarantulas 9:09 pm No, he didn't so much as scratch my armor, thank you very much. *is busy extricating himself from everyone and everything* Bob 9:09 pm *frets Swoop 9:09 pm *snickers and looks at Bird* Yah? Bob 9:10 pm *friends are fighting *what is happening? *fret fret fret fret* I DO NOT THINK THE TARANTULAS WANTED TO PLAY THE FIGHT GAME Tarantulas 9:10 pm *that fricken hurt tho. you pteradumb* Swoop 9:10 pm *dinobots don't pull punches yo* Aegis 9:10 pm I don't think he wants to play the fight game either, Bob ItsyBitsySpyers 9:11 pm {{Bird not wanting bad friend. You hitting bots, make dangerous Bird home. Soundwave not being happy, no. Swoop visit because Bird letting visit. If Swoop not being good, Swoop not coming see movies. That GOOD bot present.}} Bob 9:11 pm SWOOPING FRIEND WE CAN PLAY THE FIGHTING GAME LATER INSTEAD. Prowl 9:12 pm *huh. they're actually laying down the law. finally.* Swoop 9:12 pm *cocks his head at Bird* Present? *looks over at Bob and grins* Yah! Tarantulas 9:13 pm *holding his side protectively, looms in a corner* Bob 9:13 pm =< ItsyBitsySpyers 9:14 pm {{Yes. No movies if bad, hurting guest. Bird likes guests. You want staying here?}} Magnum Ace 9:14 pm -debating actually going over to ask Tarantulas- Swoop 9:14 pm Yah! Me Swoop want to movie with Bird! And Bob : > ItsyBitsySpyers 9:15 pm {{You be sorry to spiderbot. No touch anybody if you Swoop not ask, no hurt, no bad. Next time, Swoop goes home, not coming back until Bird hear Swoop good at home whole long time.}} Swoop 9:16 pm Me Swoop not sorry 😕 *is confused* Magnum Ace 9:16 pm -screw it. He's jumping off the table to go over to the spider- ItsyBitsySpyers 9:16 pm {{Then you Swoop go home.}} Swoop 9:16 pm Dinobots never ever good Bob 9:16 pm !!! THAT IS NOT A TRUE THING ItsyBitsySpyers 9:17 pm *NOW Swoop is dropped into a bridge.* Tarantulas 9:17 pm *notices the smol heading for him, squints suspiciously* Swoop 9:17 pm *WHOOSh is gone* Smokescreen 9:17 pm /He's watching Magnum and Tarantulas- he knows he wouldn't punch Messy, but he's still kinda cautious but curious!/ Magnum Ace 9:17 pm -stops a few feet from- Are you okay? That sounded painful. Smokescreen 9:17 pm ITS MESSY Aegis 9:17 pm *Perks up* Smokescreen 9:18 pm messy has ruled earth for 400 million years ItsyBitsySpyers 9:18 pm *Soundwave dusts his hands off and sits again, looking at Tarantulas for a second.* Bob 9:18 pm *Antennas droop Tarantulas 9:18 pm I'm perfectly fine. The only thing that's ruined is my mood. Bob 9:18 pm *Saddest bug* Prowl 9:18 pm *now that swoop's gone, stands and meanders vaguely in tarantulas's direction. Will wait for Ace to say whatever he's going to say, though.* Bob 9:18 pm *Flattens self to a sad bug pancake* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:18 pm *Very well. Looks back to the screen and sends Ravage an apology.* Tarantulas 9:19 pm *distracted by the spiders but still sulking* Specs 9:19 pm ... *the dragon looks to be trying not to salivate at this, in respect to the fact that a spider is watching the movie as well* Swoop 9:19 pm ((it's up to you to make bob not a sad pancake, tara)) Smokescreen 9:19 pm >: ( dont call spiders that movie they're cute ItsyBitsySpyers 9:19 pm [[From time to time.]] Smokescreen 9:19 pm All the time. messy's bigger than my dinner place Aegis 9:19 pm *looks over at Bob and scoots a little closer, offering him an oil cake* Smokescreen 9:19 pm so is Airachnid Bob 9:19 pm *Sadly gnoshes Smokescreen 9:19 pm ... all the spiders I know are Bob 9:20 pm THANK YOU SMALL FRIEND =< Aegis 9:20 pm *Hesitantly pats Bob* Smokescreen 9:20 pm what does it snatch though Magnum Ace 9:20 pm -he doesn't /look/ injured- You do know you better...But the show should be interesting now Swoop 9:20 pm (( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNNv7b9-pbQ <-- Swoop)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:20 pm //Hey, it got, like. Octopus suckers.// Smokescreen 9:21 pm mass cuddling ItsyBitsySpyers 9:21 pm *Zori was about to come downstairs. He squeals at "crush through scorpions" and flees upstairs again.* Smokescreen 9:21 pm ... sticky? Sticky?? Specs 9:21 pm *oh shit, Zori! she was about to find him to offer reassurance, too.* Smokescreen 9:21 pm ... /looking over to stare at Tarantulas/ Tarantulas 9:21 pm If I couldn't build myself tough enough to withstand a hit from an immature Dinobot - well. Let's just say, I can. I'm fine. Smokescreen 9:22 pm Messy, are you sticky? Anywhere? ItsyBitsySpyers 9:22 pm *Soundwave pings Zori comfort and temporarily opens his upstairs door to let the little one in.*

[[He is glad.]] Aegis 9:22 pm *nearly chokes on his drink* Tarantulas 9:22 pm *spits word at smokey* No. Aegis 9:22 pm That is not a question that's appropriate outside the berth room... Smokescreen 9:22 pm Oh! That's good- it'd be difficult to hold you if you were. W what Messy doesn't even- he's not even interested in that kinda thing! Bob 9:22 pm *scooches* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:23 pm *Soundwave's vents rattle in a barely suppressed snort.* Specs 9:23 pm *this looks Incredibly Delicious and she must be a well-behaved dragon that doesn't eat spiders* Bob 9:23 pm *presses a couple of bandaids into Tarantulas's hands* Aegis 9:23 pm It's personal frame type information and you're asking it in public... Bob 9:23 pm *They're absurdly small* *scooches away* Smokescreen 9:23 pm I was asking if he's got sticky spiderpaws! Tarantulas 9:23 pm *if you so much as try to nibble this spide he's gonna end u dragon* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:23 pm *Soundwave uses a feeler to pass a bowl of other bugs to the dragon. Here. Take it out on these.* Specs 9:23 pm *CRONCH* ((pfff. jumping spiders are FAR too adorable to be scary)) Smokescreen 9:24 pm ((I knw right ... that one is so cute ItsyBitsySpyers 9:24 pm ((you wouldn't say that if one jumped in your face)) Smokescreen 9:24 pm Wait wait wait if I were a spider could I be that one ItsyBitsySpyers 9:25 pm [[What legs.]] Specs 9:25 pm ((yes I would. I'd startle, sure, but I have stupid anxious reflexes.)) Tarantulas 9:25 pm *tiny pat to the top of magnum's head* Your concern's appreciated, but unnecessary. Prowl 9:25 pm *all right, at this point prowl is pretty sure tarantulas will WANT to be distracted, so steps into personal bubble range and asks quietly,* You're sure you're fine? No dent? Smokescreen 9:25 pm Leg fluid? Prowl 9:25 pm *half-reaches toward the point where he was punched?* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:25 pm *Vents rattle again.* Smokescreen 9:26 pm ... /Confused staring at Soundwave- taking a couple of steps away./ Magnum Ace 9:27 pm -back to his table now, Prowl's got this, right?- Specs 9:27 pm *cronch monch* Tarantulas 9:27 pm *it's a prowl !!! holds still, lets him reach* O-of course. Internals got shifted to the side a half a millimeter, but I'm fine. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:27 pm *Oh, yes. The liquefying venom. Tarantulas never did give him a solid answer.*

*Soundwave watches Ace for a second. He's still curious about that drone...* Specs 9:27 pm ((she's beautiful and I love her)) Smokescreen 9:28 pm /Smokescreen will sit down near Magnum- he doesn't want to be near Prowl or Soundwave. And Magnum's cool!/ ItsyBitsySpyers 9:28 pm ((tara and slendy sling)) Aegis 9:28 pm *Looks fascinated with this documentary* *Still absently petting Bob because he's close* Smokescreen 9:28 pm It's a web of lies Prowl 9:28 pm *brushes side, searching for dents.* ... You shouldn't have put up with him that long. Magnum Ace 9:29 pm Oh, hello, Smokescreen Smokescreen 9:29 pm Hey, Magnum! You taking care of yourself? Magnum Ace 9:29 pm Eh....as well as I can Tarantulas 9:30 pm *none to be found, prowl* I suppose not. But I'm /trying/ - *sigh. how to explain* Smokescreen 9:30 pm Aww- that's fair. Have you been seeing your medics and stuff now? I was gonna see one after this- sports haven't been too hard on you, right? Tarantulas 9:30 pm *mutters* Could they stop with the sound effects already? Primus. Smokescreen 9:31 pm just let her eat Prowl 9:31 pm *... wants, very much, to put his free hand on Tarantulas's other side and leave them both there.* Specs 9:31 pm ((A FRIEND AND GIRL)) Tarantulas 9:31 pm *do it prowl* Prowl 9:31 pm *doesn't. steps back instead.* It's not a very respectful documentary, is it. Magnum Ace 9:31 pm Mechanics. And I'm...--usually pushed in by Bull Armor-- getting better at it? Specs 9:32 pm ((the tenebrous fishing spider lives in my area, and is Very Good)) ((very large but good friends)) Bob 9:32 pm *raises a hand MR SOUND OF THE WAVES? ItsyBitsySpyers 9:32 pm *Overheard that. Naturally.*

[[The others were worse. Or less informative.]] *Pause.* [[Yes, Bob?]] Smokescreen 9:32 pm ... That's good! You gotta take care of yourself. I'm not very good at it, but- I'm kinda worried about this one thing, and it's better safe than sorry, right? Bob 9:32 pm CAN I GO BACK TO THE ARK HOME NOW? ItsyBitsySpyers 9:32 pm [[You may. A bridge will be outside for you.]] Bob 9:32 pm I'M SURE THE SWOOPING FRIEND IS SORRY. Swoop 9:33 pm *IS NOT SORRY FIGHT HIM* Tarantulas 9:33 pm I doubted it would be, but. *waah. why you gotta step away, prowl* Bob 9:33 pm I SHOULD DO THE TALKING WITH HIM. THANK YOU. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:33 pm [[If you think it will help.]] Aegis 9:33 pm Take care Bob. Bob 9:33 pm TARANTULAS FRIEND? SORRY =< BYE! Tarantulas 9:33 pm *a nod at bob* *pure bug didn't do anything wrong* Bob 9:33 pm *waves and is off* Magnum Ace 9:33 pm -laughs a little- Working on it... Specs 9:34 pm ((what's REALLY impressive is watching these girls go for fish longer than they are. they tend to figure out what fish can and can't eat them very quickly, and they take full advantage of that.)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:34 pm ((talented spides)) Smokescreen 9:34 pm Aww- keep at it! What about- fun stuff? Have you had the chance to relax? Prowl 9:34 pm ((such smarts for such tinies.)) Magnum Ace 9:35 pm Eh.....not recently. Things have gotten hectic, for the off season. Smokescreen 9:35 pm Wait, really? What's been going on? Tarantulas 9:35 pm *reaches for prowl's wrist before he can leave* May I sit with you...? Smokescreen 9:36 pm I want silk glands! Magnum Ace 9:36 pm ....a few things that just need to be worked out Prowl 9:36 pm ... *prowl should say no. he's nowhere close to getting over the fact that he can't trust tarantulas, he'd unfairly get BOTH their hopes up by acting like things are normal, he shouldn't—* Sure. *dammit prowl.* Tarantulas 9:37 pm *visor is glowing eagerly, nods toward seat* *all it took was a dinobot punch to the side to get to sit next to prowl again* Prowl 9:37 pm ((sometimes i like to think i'm a sophisticated mature adult. other times im like, "it's pooping spaghetti.")) Smokescreen 9:37 pm ... /Turning towards Messy- while trying not to look at Prowl/ Is that how you can make silk or nah? ItsyBitsySpyers 9:37 pm ((lmao)) Swoop 9:37 pm ((ur welcome, tara)) Magnum Ace 9:38 pm -he's not going to say that it's a major issue that's going to take a while to work out- Tarantulas 9:38 pm It's roughly the same, yes. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:38 pm *Nod to once-again-couch-sharer and continues watching.* Smokescreen 9:38 pm I get that, Magnum- I hope everything works out okay. If you ever need help- or just a listening audial, you're not alone. Whoa- really? That's pretty cool! How much silk can you make? Prowl 9:39 pm *nods back as he sits.* Tarantulas 9:39 pm More than I need, hyeh. *sits with* Smokescreen 9:40 pm Pff- can you wrap someone up like those insects? ItsyBitsySpyers 9:40 pm *Can't help imagining Tarantulas mass-shifted to ten times Prowl's size and offering to interface. Tries not to betray his amusement in any way whatsoever.* Tarantulas 9:40 pm Can, and have. Smokescreen 9:40 pm Whoa- can you wrap me up in silk sometime? Swoop 9:40 pm ((butt)) Tarantulas 9:41 pm (( booty Prowl 9:41 pm ((a literal bubble butt)) Smokescreen 9:41 pm ((air butt ((yes ItsyBitsySpyers 9:41 pm ((lmao)) Specs 9:41 pm ((cons of having been a fanfic goblin since middle school: one bad fanfic has r u i n e d book lungs for me)) Magnum Ace 9:41 pm Thanks for the offer Prowl 9:41 pm ((ok ive gotta ask)) Tarantulas 9:41 pm (( same, i gotta know Prowl 9:41 pm ((did somebody fuck the book lungs)) Specs 9:42 pm (("his lungs unfolded in surprise")) ((NO(( ((just serious lack of comprehending book lungs)) Prowl 9:42 pm ((... okay "his lungs unfolded in surprise" is pretty weird too)) Smokescreen 9:42 pm ((lungs turned a page in surprise)) Aegis 9:42 pm It looks so soft... Tarantulas 9:42 pm *is quite soft* Prowl 9:42 pm ((his lungs accordioned in bafflement)) Smokescreen 9:42 pm is it weird to want to hug all of these spiders Specs 9:42 pm ((yeah, the writer thought that book lungs worked like books, and it was horrible)) Aegis 9:43 pm No, perfectly normal Specs 9:43 pm They do look very soft. *ignore her cronching these bugs* Prowl 9:43 pm ((he held his book-eared breath)) Smokescreen 9:43 pm ((his lungs fluttered open)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:43 pm *Now that the commotion sounds like it's died down, Chimera comes to see what's been happening. They slink down the stairs, over to Soundwave's couch, around the front... and looks up. Nobody looks harmed. Huh.*

*Unfortunately, Ravage has once again taken Soundwave's lap. Recognizing Prowl as one of their Boss' trusted companions, they do what has always been acceptable with the others aaaaaand try to leap up onto his lap to curl up.* Tarantulas 9:43 pm (( u mean BOOTY trap Prowl 9:44 pm *FREEZES* Specs 9:44 pm ((you are all killing me)) Prowl 9:44 pm *what the FUCK. who just sits on somebody's lap without asking.* Smokescreen 9:44 pm ... Oh yeah. Sounds. Did you still want some of those coupons Prowl 9:45 pm *looks down at Chimera.* ...... Excuse me. Smokescreen 9:45 pm many legbrations Tarantulas 9:46 pm *centipede. mmm* Smokescreen 9:46 pm oh vo ItsyBitsySpyers 9:46 pm *Soundwave's vents grow dead still. He's just. Gonna-- oh. Oh no. Too slow.*

*Chimera blinks up at Prowl.* <<Why? The Archi-- the Prowl has done nothing.>> Prowl 9:46 pm You are sitting in my lap. Smokescreen 9:46 pm all spiders are alien spiders to us though Prowl 9:46 pm *"the archi"?* Magnum Ace 9:46 pm .... Tarantulas 9:46 pm I'm not an alien, hff. Smokescreen 9:47 pm You're the only non-alien spider along with Airachnid! But you're the better kind. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:47 pm *The Architect. The Prowl did not like being called that last time. They have tried to adjust.*

<<Yes.>> Magnum Ace 9:47 pm I'm native to Earth, and that is a very odd looking spider Aegis 9:47 pm I mean, technically if we're not from the same cybertron, you are. Smokescreen 9:47 pm ... Fair enough, Magnum. Prowl 9:47 pm ... I would appreciate if you did not. Specs 9:47 pm Interestingly, that looks very much like a type of arachnid native to my moon. It's just not bright yellow. Smokescreen 9:47 pm BABIES Specs 9:47 pm Oh! Babies! Tarantulas 9:47 pm *SLINGS SLINGS SLINGS* Smokescreen 9:47 pm oooooohhhh it's like a backpack messy messy messy can you if you had bitlets would you hold 'em like that ItsyBitsySpyers 9:48 pm *Chimera stares for a moment, processing the unusual request. Then:*

<<Oh! Okay. Where does The Prowl want Chimera to sit?>> Prowl 9:49 pm ... I do not have a preference beyond "not on me." Magnum Ace 9:49 pm -snorts at he sight of dunes- Aegis 9:49 pm *Smirks at Smokey* He could always put bitlets on your abdomen like the Camel Spider Smokescreen 9:49 pm Camel spider? ... wait, on mine? Magnum Ace 9:49 pm -don't mind him- Specs 9:49 pm *Chimera can sit with the dragon* Smokescreen 9:49 pm egg Tarantulas 9:50 pm *distracted* Oh please, no. Specs 9:50 pm ((there is a very good fantasy book about a spider who absolutely doesn't want to get parasitized by a wasp)) Tarantulas 9:50 pm *cringing away from screen* Smokescreen 9:50 pm this is pretty eggsciting Swoop 9:50 pm ((PCHOOO)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:50 pm *Cheerfully:* <<Okay! Chimera will move now.>> *LEAP up and onto the back of hte couch with a minor scramble. Not -quite- as agile as Ravage.* Specs 9:51 pm ...Can someone with a larger mouth bite Smokescreen? Prowl 9:51 pm *LAUGHS. covers mouth.* Smokescreen 9:51 pm ... Prowl 9:51 pm *it's just— rolling away.* *shwoo.* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:51 pm [[That is ridiculous.]]

@P: [[He cannot apologize enough.]]

=Is that a request?= Smokescreen 9:51 pm come on specs that was an eggcellent pun Aegis 9:51 pm That's a horrible yolk and you know it Magnum Ace 9:51 pm -snickering at the sight...and bad joke- ItsyBitsySpyers 9:52 pm *Oh--! It's the one with the--* Specs 9:52 pm ((a black widow lived in my locker in junior year of highschool. she was a good lady and I absolutely did not put anything in my locker that I didn't want to take 20 minutes to retrieve)) Tarantulas 9:52 pm *gentle shove at prowl, how dare u laugh* Prowl 9:52 pm *turns to Chimera.* Thank you. *what. why shove.* Specs 9:52 pm There are some puns that deserve a death sentence, Smokescreen. Tarantulas 9:52 pm *u laugh at spide* Prowl 9:52 pm *it ROLLED* Smokescreen 9:52 pm Aww, come on. I'm too HARD BOILED to suffer from anything! Aegis 9:52 pm Isn't that too much of a pun-ishment? Tarantulas 9:52 pm *so can he, would you laugh at him* Smokescreen 9:52 pm PFF- Magnum Ace 9:53 pm ((it literally rolled out Smokescreen 9:53 pm egg! Aegis 9:53 pm ((omg Tara the tumbleweed)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:53 pm *Soundwave looks down at Prowl's crotch, then up to Prowl's face.*

<<The Prowl is welcome. Is The Prowl a spider too?>>

[[Chimera, /please/--]] Smokescreen 9:53 pm I wanna I'm not gonna Prowl 9:53 pm *if you did it without warning, yes.* Smokescreen 9:53 pm I'm not finishing that thught Specs 9:53 pm ((tumblerantula)) Prowl 9:54 pm No, I'm a car. *has absolutely no idea why Chimera might have drawn that connection.* Tarantulas 9:54 pm (( anon asked him one time and tarantulas couldn't help but try Specs 9:54 pm ((and THIS is why I spent 20 minutes being sure of where she was, where I was, and that my socks were on my hands before getting things out of my locker)) Aegis 9:54 pm *Looks at Tara* Do you have venom? Specs 9:54 pm ((neurotoxin is the suck)) Smokescreen 9:55 pm Neurotoxinssss many many babies Tarantulas 9:55 pm Do I? *so mysterious* Smokescreen 9:55 pm ... wait messy do you? If you bit me would I die ItsyBitsySpyers 9:56 pm <<Oh. The Boss thought you had an hourglass.>> *Chirp.* <<This one is many things. Not cars. Cars are big.>> Aegis 9:56 pm If you do, would it be natural? Or.. is it something we could exchange recipes about? Smokescreen 9:56 pm they're dancing! Aegis 9:56 pm Oh no they're adorable Smokescreen 9:56 pm ... can't you put a mirror down and confuse them Swoop 9:56 pm ((look at those moves)) Prowl 9:56 pm I don't have an hourglass. I have a lava lamp, though. *it looks sort of similar and the substance inside goes up and down, maybe Soundwave saw it from a distance and mistook it.* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:56 pm *You know what, he's going to just focus on this - this dance-off.* Prowl 9:57 pm A bird, snake, and dog, correct? Specs 9:57 pm ((I love these spiders so much)) Smokescreen 9:57 pm i this this is me in spider form Prowl 9:57 pm ((the fucking didgeridoo)) Magnum Ace 9:57 pm -snorting laughter- Specs 9:57 pm Actually, Smokescreen, I believe you are correct in this instance. Smokescreen 9:58 pm .... are they were those spiders It's Messy! Tarantulas 9:58 pm I'm not a goliath, but close. Swoop 9:58 pm ((oh my fucking god did it ROAR and then STOMP a bug???)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:58 pm *Ravage immediately sits up and turns to stare at Prowl with something akin to betrayal.* =Dog?=

<<Oh, no, no, no. Chimera is bird, snake, and cat! Like the Hunter.>> Prowl 9:58 pm *hears "tarantula" and focuses on movie* Smokescreen 9:58 pm You're bigger than one though Specs 9:59 pm ((I love this big boy)) Smokescreen 9:59 pm the reason being they're a good friend and are great to cuddle ItsyBitsySpyers 9:59 pm *Hmm. This does not look like the kind Tarantulas is. There must be more than one kind of tarantula.* Prowl 9:59 pm Oh. *reviews the shape and tries to figure out how it's more catty than doggy.* ... I'll take your word for it. Specs 10:00 pm It has such a nice, soft color to it. It would make a great friend, I think. Smokescreen 10:00 pm I'd trust it with my life Prowl 10:00 pm *... its setae are supposed to be sharp and painful?* Aegis 10:00 pm Goliath Tarantula...? Don't those eat birds? Prowl 10:01 pm *looks at tarantulas's fuzz. ... can't relate.* Tarantulas 10:01 pm *only some, prowl* Smokescreen 10:01 pm ... How big *can* you get, Messy? Tarantulas 10:01 pm Classified. Specs 10:01 pm Yes, hence the name "goliath bird-eating tarantula," I suspect. Smokescreen 10:01 pm Aww. Bigger than Optimus? Aegis 10:01 pm I got distracted by something pretty Tarantulas 10:02 pm Yes, I'm fairly sure. Smokescreen 10:02 pm ... Bigger than my Dad? Tarantulas 10:02 pm Of course. Smokescreen 10:02 pm Is there a limit? Tarantulas 10:02 pm *snort* You have more questions than Swoop does. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:02 pm <<Okay!>>

*Ravage looks at Chimera before looking at Prowl and squinting lightly. How could anyone consider his protege a dog? He decides to ping Prowl in private.*

@P: =You are unfamiliar, eh? With cats.= Smokescreen 10:02 pm I wanna learn more about you! Tarantulas 10:04 pm You ought to come up with a list, then, and let me answer them all at once. Specs 10:04 pm *the dragon yawns, and stretches* I suppose I should get some sleep. Have a good evening, everyone! ItsyBitsySpyers 10:04 pm [[Goodnight, dragon.]] Smokescreen 10:04 pm But I know I'll have more questions even after that- and I don't want to force you to answer a million questions all at once. Swoop 10:04 pm ((night)) Prowl 10:05 pm @R «I can't say I've been close to any. ... Emotionally, I mean.» *physically, he's very close to two right now.* Smokescreen 10:06 pm Oh! Sounds, sounds. Can we watch some of those oddly satisfying videos? I started watching some earlier this week and nearly forgot to watch the show I meant to see Tarantulas 10:07 pm (( ugh ive suddenly got a wicked headache, so im gonna bow out - tarantulas leaves regretfully and uneventfully?? ItsyBitsySpyers 10:07 pm @P: =I see.= *Streeeeetch.* =That will not do. Come, come - to the bar. I teach.= ((awwww... rest well ;; and okay)) Smokescreen 10:08 pm ((Oh no! Hope you feel better soon 😧 Magnum Ace 10:08 pm ((g'night! Tarantulas 10:09 pm (( night <3 Prowl 10:09 pm @R «... All right.» *okay, Prowl guesses he's learning something today. Brushes Tarantulas's claws farewell and heads over to the bar.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:11 pm *Ravage hops down, trots over to the bar - which is many times his height - and as soon as he is sure Prowl can see, leaps up on it as smooth as triple-filtered energon.*

@P: =First lesson: -dogs- do not do that.= Magnum Ace 10:12 pm -and he should be getting back, he needs to see what chaos is at home now- Prowl 10:12 pm @R «... Do what?» *use chairs? he's pretty sure he's seen dogs in chairs.* *jump onto seats?? he's seen that too.* Smokescreen 10:13 pm ... Actually, Sounds. I'm gonna head off. I've got an important doctor's appointment. With a trustworthy doctor. Maybe I'll see you next week? Oh! I've heard this song I think on some radio station. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:14 pm @P: =Jump like me. Not so high, not so smooth. They scramble. No grace.= [[He questions this 'trustworthy doctor'. But as you please.]] *There will be a bridge waiting when Ace heads out. Hopefully he will be all right until next week...* Magnum Ace 10:15 pm -he's also worried about going back- ItsyBitsySpyers 10:16 pm *He can always try to make arrangements to stay behind if need be.* Smokescreen 10:16 pm Hey, he's probably the most trustworthy bot I know at this point, even if you don't think that. Prowl 10:16 pm @R «... Low jumpers. Got it.» Magnum Ace 10:17 pm -no, no, he needs to go. He doesn't want to make matters worse- ItsyBitsySpyers 10:23 pm @P: =Good, good. Now, paws.=

*Readjusts his sitting position to hold a front leg out. Flexes his paw and pops his claws in and out.*

@P: =Dog claws do not disappear. They are thick. Get dull.= *Like dogs themselves, he thinks.* =Earth cat claws do.= *Thoughtful rumble.* =Except cheetah. Long, thin big cats. Many spots. Runners. For them, claws out make good treads.=

*Twists his paw to the inside at the wrist.*

=Dog legs do not rotate here. Weak, inflexible creatures. Hmph.= Magnum Ace 10:25 pm -Right. Enough stalling. He's heading home.- ...Good night. And...thank you. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:25 pm [[Goodnight, Ace. You are always welcome.]] Smokescreen 10:25 pm Aww- night, Magnum! See you next week? Prowl 10:25 pm @R «Retractable claws. Rotating wrists.» *Anti-dog prejudice.* «Got it.» Magnum Ace 10:25 pm -hops off the table- ...maybe. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:31 pm *Ravage sets his paw down and opens his mouth wide. Good thing he's comming instead of talking out loud or this would be super difficult right now. Blaaaaah out sticks his tongue. There are weird barbs all over it.*

@P: =Stripping bristles. Rust, valuable minerals - or old fur, prey meat. Dogs have none.=

*In goes the tongue. Puts a paw to his own nose.*

=Many times, shorter, squared snout. No disgusting, dangling lips. Earth cat optics can become vertical slits. That is all wrong for dogs.= *Licks his chops.* =Sometimes dog ears flop. It is strange.= Magnum Ace 10:31 pm ((and I'm out, g'night and thanks for the stream! Prowl 10:32 pm @R «What about pug cats, like in that video?» *he doesn't remember what the cats were called. he remembers that the dogs are called pugs.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:33 pm @P: =Persian cats. Unfortunate victims.= *Shakes his helm and growls.* =They have lost their noses. The rest is true.= Prowl 10:35 pm @R «Some dogs have similar noses, though. Snout length isn't... isn't a very good universal identifier, is it?» ItsyBitsySpyers 10:38 pm @P: =Imperfect. Teeth patterns are better. Not mine.= *His are very much like Soundwave's instead of an Earth cat.* =...Pity such dogs more than usual. The humans have ruined them, too.= Prowl 10:40 pm @R «So. Dogs have longer snouts, except when they don't; and floppy ears, except when they don't. Cats have bristles in their mouths and vertical pupils.» *... Prowl suspects none of this is going to be very useful for the Cybertronians that happen to superficially resemble Earth cats and dogs, but at least he has a checklist to tell one category of aliens apart from another.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:44 pm *Some of it may be. All the Ravages Ravage has ever met are cats, at least.*

@P: =Different vocalizations, different proportions, different physical language cues - and /we/ do not serve. Even when imprisoned. We /accompany/.=

*Ravage considers that all and nods.*

=There. A basic data set.= Prowl 10:47 pm @R «All right. Thank you.» *Prowl wonders how much of it is true and how much is fictitious anti-dog stereotypes.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:48 pm *Ravage settles into most of a loaf and gives Prowl a majestic nod.*

=Ah... and Earth police prefer using dogs.=

*Sharp, fangy smile.*

=Enjoy your night, yes?= Prowl 10:53 pm Thank you. And you. *he supposes the lesson's over then. back over to soundwave?* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:55 pm *It absolutely is. Ravage is certain he's done a good job of it all. How could anyone NOT look at him and Chimera and see them for the shining examples of feline nature they are?*

[[Welcome back. How bad of a scolding was it?]] Prowl 10:56 pm Less of a scolding and more of a lesson. Omicron 10:56 pm [am I too late?] ItsyBitsySpyers 10:57 pm ((for the documentaries? aye, movies are usually finished by 10:30-11:00))

[[Unexpected. Usually he just claws mechs to make sure they don't forget what he is.]] Omicron 10:58 pm (ah, shoud I poof?) ItsyBitsySpyers 10:58 pm ((up to you)) Omicron 10:58 pm (if you wouldn't mind, I'd like to stay a little, but if you two want to rp on your own I'll scoot off) ItsyBitsySpyers 10:59 pm ((i'm cool with a short stay)) Prowl 11:00 pm *Probably shouldn't point out that dogs can claw too, then.* Well. Probably a privilege of dating the boss. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:05 pm *Not quite like a cat can.*

[[He doesn't doubt it. They do all know how much he'd dislike seeing you harmed.]] *Test lean?* [[Which reminds him. How have you been lately?]] Omicron 11:05 pm Ice Queen limps in slowly, pauses seeing only the two there, in her bot mode for the first time. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:06 pm *THAT'S new. He watches her enter, already marking weaknesses.* Prowl 11:06 pm *leans back against.* Mm. Can't complain. *that IS new.* KnockOot 11:07 pm ((mun is here, woo)) Omicron 11:07 pm well... yeah...hi...by chance does someone have a patch kit? *the predacon femme waves a wing* Prowl 11:08 pm *sits up straight. this is clearly business and soundwave doesn't need leans.* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:09 pm [[No outrageous troubles with the force? Or anyone else? Citizens still holding grudges?]]

*Already waving for Frenzy to come down. He could have kept the leans, but if Prowl wants to keep up their usual half-afted secret preservation, he'll go along with it.*

[[We do. Seat yourself.]] Prowl 11:11 pm *it was mainly because he expected Soundwave to stand up, but if he's calling someone over instead, he'll resume leaning. discussion to be continued after their injured guest has been seen to.* Omicron 11:12 pm *the big predacon queen comes over to a seat, growling softly. She's mostly in shades of blue and green some black undertones. Not nearly as big as predaking, but doesn't have as much mass as her beast mode does* Thank you.... ItsyBitsySpyers 11:12 pm *Please. Soundwave can do maintenance and basic field repairs - and still has the records on how to reconnect damaged spark chamber wires - but beyond that? No.*

*Frenzy comes leaping down three stairs at a time, a toolbox nearly as big as he is held sideways in his arms and rattling with each bounce.*

\\RIGHT. HOW'DJA GET FRAGGED UP 'N WHERE'S IT HURTIN'?\\ Omicron 11:15 pm O_o well, I got in a....well, no it was a fight with the local Untra Magnus in the world my ship is in at the moment. *looks a little sheepish, points at her left knee and the damage at the joint, there's some ice encasing parts of her leg to keep energon from leaking* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:17 pm \\Y'KNOW THAT AIN'T S'POSED TO BE WHAT GETTIN' HAMMERED MEANS, YEAH?\\

[[Frenzy.]]

\\WHAT? I'M JUS' SAYIN'.\\ *Frowns at the ice. Doesn't want to melt it and get water all in everywhere. Decides to pop a drill and slowly make several holes in it. All the easier to give it a crack and shatter it.* \\LONG'S HE DON'T COME HERE TRYIN' TO ARREST YA OR NOTHIN'.\\

*He'll settle in to tending it once he's got that ice off.* Prowl 11:18 pm *... Prowl's opinion of their guest has just dropped quite a few points. It /implies/ something about people when Ultra Magnus fights them. Things like their faction, associates, and hobbies.* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:19 pm *Of course it does. Soundwave's not going to have someone bleeding out all over his neutral space, though, so treatment it is.* Prowl 11:20 pm *Oh, by all means, heal the injured. Still though. They're off Prowl's imaginary Christmas card list.* Omicron 11:20 pm Tell me about it, its much better when Ultra Manus isn't hitting me. But I kind of attacks first this time, *she winces at the memory, can't really feel anything in her legs right now* Insticts kicked in ItsyBitsySpyers 11:21 pm *Besides... it means he'll be owed a favor.*

[[Why? What instincts could possibly compel you to attack the leader of the Wreckers?]] \\EVEN I AIN'T THAT DUMB SOMETIMES.\\ [[/Frenzy./]]

\\WHAT!?\\ [[Your berthside manner leaves something to be desired.]] Prowl 11:23 pm *they're both right tho.* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:26 pm \\LISTEN, BOSS. ONLY OTHER BOT I AIN'T GONNA FRAG OFF THAT BAD'S YOU 'N THIS'N.\\ *Gestures over his shoulder at Prowl with a wire stripper before diving back into the wound.* \\RATHER PUNCH DEVASTATOR. LEAST I KNOW HE AIN'T GONNA KILL ME CUZ HE GOT THE HOTS FOR RUMBLE. ULTRA MAGNUS, I AIN'T SO SURE 'BOUT.\\ Omicron 11:26 pm I didn't know he and the wreckers of that world were 'cleaning up' rouge insecticons, and a good chunk of my crew are Insecticons. I let them take a couple of the older hatchlings out to explore *gives a low reflexive growl, pauses and vents* I found the guards in stasis and the worker in cuffs Prowl 11:29 pm For what it's worth, Devastator's affections are smaller than his bloodlust. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:30 pm \\YEAH?\\ *Considers that. Shrugs.* \\EH. I'D PUNCH 'IM ANYWAY.\\

[[He can see how that started a fight.]] Omicron 11:33 pm It looked like they were making off with my hatchlings. one of the effects of a strong beast mode *it looks like her hatchlings were being kidnapped so she attacked on reflex to protect them* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:36 pm [[You'll want to clear the situation up soon. Ultra Magnuses - Magni? Hmm. - tend to have long, long memories.]]

*Frenzy pulls his hands out of the leg and duct tapes a thin patch of metal in place.*

\\IT AIN'T PERFECT, BUT I AIN'T DONE LOTS OF PREDACONS. IT'LL HOLD TIL YA GET IT DONE RIGHT.\\ ItsyBitsySpyers 11:37 pm *He chucks an energon-coated shard of leg metal into his subspace, scoops up his tools, and heads upstairs to go clean off, whistling loudly.* Omicron 11:38 pm Thank you Frenzy. *gives a softer purr in thanks, wonders what he's planning on doing with that....hopes the nanites shute down* I can coat it in the ice again Omicron 11:40 pm *Ice queen looks over at Soundwave and nods* We started to, might have to do a trade, or rather predacon hunting skills. What do I own you for the aid? ItsyBitsySpyers 11:40 pm [[Outside, if you mean to do that. And nothing, for now. He'll think of a payment later. The hour is late.]] Prowl 11:42 pm ... Unless your universe is VERY different from most, Ultra Magnus isn't the type to just... capture and lock up creatures that aren't bothering anyone. It was likely a misunderstanding—he probably didn't understand that the Insecticons were part of your crew, rather than wild ones that happened to be roaming in your vicinity. With an adequate explanation he will almost undoubtedly see his error. But I'd suggest explaining it to him via comm. Omicron 11:47 pm *snorts a little, she does not like leaving things hanging debates pulling some energon out. She looks at prowl and inclines her head* Its been mostly cleared up now, for now? he and his wreckers are on their ship, I got my bugs and hatchlings back on mine. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:48 pm *Soundwave rises to clean up a little bit. He doesn't need fresh energon; they have a whole bar down here and a mostly-full storage upstairs.* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:51 pm [[He hopes they stay secure in the future.]] ItsyBitsySpyers 11:53 pm [[He apologizes, but now he must close the building for the night. If you require further medical attention, the New Praxus clinic is slightly closer]] and more likely to be of assistance to strangers [[than New Kaon's.]] Omicron 11:53 pm *what would he like?* I've taken steps for that. and Dread is on full alerts for wreckers or wild insecticons ItsyBitsySpyers 11:54 pm *He doesn't know yet. Thus delaying on naming his price. Especially since the things he wants don't always line up with Prowl's approval.* Omicron 11:55 pm *ice queen gets up, frowning a moment but nods* thank you for the patch. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:56 pm [[Quite welcome. He hopes you don't run into any.]] Omicron 11:58 pm *wave a wing claw and walks out, leg still stiff* (thank you for the time) Yesterday ItsyBitsySpyers 11:59 pm *Quietly hopes that does not become a lasting injury. Most of the Predacons he knows would challenge that without hesitation.*

((welcome!)) [[Where were we. Would you rather continue this discussion here or upstairs?]] Prowl 12:03 am *sideways look.* ... Two days ago we were neck-deep in bananas. I'm not risking the possibility that they aren't all gone yet. *movie night is one thing. staying the night is another.* ItsyBitsySpyers 12:04 am [[...He doesn't suppose he could convince you to go to the -other- apartment. Or us to yours.]] ItsyBitsySpyers 12:05 am *At least he knows he's right about Prowl having trouble facing the banana madness. The first major incident is always the hardest.* Prowl 12:09 am Your other apartment is fine. ItsyBitsySpyers 12:09 am [[There, then. May he...?]]

*Scoop motion with one hand.* Prowl 12:11 am ... You may. ItsyBitsySpyers 12:13 am *Pleased biolight pulse. Sweeps Prowl up and onto his shoulders just a little bit playfully - what good is a lot of strength if you can't use it to let loose in secret with your amica every once in a while? - opens a bridge, and marches through.*

*They can talk there.* Prowl 12:14 am *oh! wasn't expecting to go THAT high. yes, that seems fine to him.* *is carried away.*

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