Pipes, of course, can hear Blue Bacchusâs stage-whispered bragging, but he doesnât care. His mind is on the fuel. When Hadrshell approaches him, Pipes looks up⊠and up, and up at the enormous Insecticon. âHey there.â He stares up at the other mech, not any more nervous than he is around the other gathered Decepticons, but unsure what to say.
He decides to answer Deathsaurus while also acknowledging Hardshell. âI think? Does the Death Zone have these⊠like, these weird giant monsters? I, er, got chased a few times. I had to put one or two down.â Looking at Pipes, itâs probably laughable to think that such a comparatively tiny mech could handle a kaiju, any kaiju. âButâŠâ and then Braverâs talking to him, and Braver has the energon sticks, so Braver takes immediate precedence over these fellows. âBe right back.â
He begins to step forward, and while doing so, he doesnât miss Overlordâs stare, and heâs reminded, for a moment, that the moment he ceases to be entertaining here, heâll probably end up being made entertaining somewhere else (and also probably end up in pieces). He pauses, suddenly intimidated and self-conscious, dithering at the edge of the circle.
Right. The game. But also fuel. Most importantly, the fuel. The fuel he hasnât had a taste of in almost two months. That fuel.
Pipes retracts his mask and visor. Heâs not much to look at, with a rather plain face except for a distinctively hooked nose. His optics are wide and red and utterly fixated on the food. âHey, Braver. Long time no see! And yeah, sure thing.â Man, heâs never been happier to see a plate of energon sticks. âIâll try and do the faction proud, Braver,â he replies, a hint of his customary dry humor returning to him. âOkay, so⊠I just eat at it?â
Once he receives further clarification, he opens his mouth (feeling like a fool as he does it, but too hungry to care). The moment he feels the energon stick against his tongue, itâs over. Pipes isnât giving this one up, nope. His first bite is somewhat tentative, his second a bit bigger, and by the third heâs giving the energon stick a little tug with his teeth. His arms are half-raised at his sides, but Braver in his normal mode is too tall for him to comfortably touch, so his hands just linger there, somewhat awkwardly.Â
Heâs not going to back down, though. Unless Braver pulls away, he wonât stop until their lips meet.