Pump It Up

Hey, I'm Pumpman, DWN 074, yadda yadda yadda. I don't have time for this. There are hooligans out there messin' up the streets and I gotta clean up after 'em. I swear, kids these days... ((This is an RP blog for the AMR group.))

[pumpingitup]

the-king-of-blades:

“Most of our linemates are missing in action if you don’t remember. I have no idea where they would be and I doubt you have any clue either. You think any of them would be happy about what you’ve been doing?” Blade exhaled a large puff of smoke. “Assuming that they’re even around anymore to find us.”

Blade still stared at Pump. Only time his eyes moved was to look up and down at his linemate.

“I think they’d be happy that I’m finally freakin’ happy.” Pump said bitterly. He still wasn’t looking at Blade, but he could practically feel that staring. “You’re the only one to give me so much shit about it.”

...Well, not entirely true, but that’d been way back when his and Wood’s involvement had been very, very different. 

[pumpingitup]

City Visit

[pumpingitup]

the-king-of-blades:

“What would you consider ‘back as they were’? Us getting infected by the virus and having no control over whatever we did? Or do you mean just me shutting up about you dating a damn Wily.“ Blade grunted. His red eyes glared at Pump despite his expression not changing much. He took in another deep breath of his cigar. “I don’t get what you want out of me.”

“I mean back when you actually talked to me.” Pump shoved his hands in his pockets, still not looking at Blade. “Back when you treated me like you would any of our linemates. When you weren’t like- this.” 

This had been such a bad idea... he should’ve known better than to think Blade would greet him all rainbows and smiles. He furrowed his brows a little, letting out a brief sigh. “I just wanted to reconcile. That’s why I’m here.”

[pumpingitup]

City Visit

[pumpingitup]

“Well, uh… not really.” I didn’t think this through as much as I probably should, he thought to himself. He now realised it’d been kinda stupid of him to think talking to Blade in person rather than over link would change… well, anything, really. “I, uh… figured we could have a walk around and talk and stuff.”

[the-king-of-blades-deactivated2]

“Walk where? I can’t leave the confines of the city. What is there to talk about either?” Blade looked at him. His eyes were completely blank and showed no emotion. His monotone matched his face while he talked bluntly. “You said you didn’t want to be around any humans either. I don’t know what you expect me to do.”

[pumpingitup]

“Well- ...” Pump dropped his gaze and ran his fingers through his hair awkwardly. Well this was a big mess already. What had his plan been here, exactly? “...Blade, look, I’ve been worried about you, okay? I mean just- look at you.” He waved a hand in his direction for emphasis. “You haven’t spoken to me in months. I just want things to go back to the way they were.”

[pumpingitup]

City Visit

[the-king-of-blades-deactivated2]

“I told you before. I’ve been miserable.” Blade grunted. His face was stoic and his voice was monotone. He didn’t seem to react to anything other than his cigar. Blade deeply inhaled more of the smoke. He turned his head so he could exhale slow and steady without blowing it in Pump’s face.

“Anything you have planned while you’re here?”

[pumpingitup]

“Well, uh... not really.” I didn’t think this through as much as I probably should, he thought to himself. He now realised it’d been kinda stupid of him to think talking to Blade in person rather than over link would change... well, anything, really. “I, uh... figured we could have a walk around and talk and stuff.”

[pumpingitup]

City Visit

[the-king-of-blades-deactivated2]

Blade inhaled a long swig of his cigar before exhaling it slowly. He didn’t seem to react to Pump appearing from the teleporter in front of him. He looked rather uncaring actually. He had a sweater that the museum’s gift shop clerk provided for him that seemed a size too small. The only part of his armor that was still on besides his bodysuit was his boots.

Blade slowly looked to Pump, not stopping his smoking. “…Hello…”

[pumpingitup]

Pump hadn’t exactly been expecting a huge fanfare on his arrival, but... Blade’s greeting felt just a little on the unenthusiastic side. Maybe it was dumb of Pump to think he’d gotten over the whole fiasco with Wood... but hey, he was talking to him and willingly meeting up, so that was a start.

“Uh, hey, Blade.” Pump offered a small smile in greeting. “How... how have you been?”

[pumpingitup]

City Visit

To say it’d been literal years since he’d been taken from the city and to the fortress, very little seemed to have changed since he’d last seen the place. As Pump stepped out of the teleporter and looked around for his linemate, it almost felt like he’d never left at all.

Thankfully it was getting to that time of year where things were starting to get colder, so he didn’t look too out of place wearing a long-sleeved jumper that Wood had stolen for him a while back. With his long arms retracted a little so they were a more humanoid length, and their segmented appearance hidden by his sleeves, it was doubtful anyone would recognise him... or even remember him at all. He was a pretty plain looking ‘bot, and not at all intimidating, so with luck he wouldn’t draw any attention.

[the-king-of-blades-deactivated2]

“Very well. I’ll be free all day Sunday. We can meet then.”

Blade pursed his lips in thought.

“Fine. I’ll meet you at the teleporter. I’ll see you there.”

[pumpingitup]

Yeah, uh- good, all good with me. I’ll see you then.

Hoo boy, going back into the city after... what, two years now? This was gonna be nerve-wracking, but it’d be good to see Blade again. Maybe by now he would have finally cooled down about Wood...

[pumpingitup]

Pump wrinkles his non-existent nose. He guessed he’d rather hang around garbage than around a load of humans, but still.

No, no, I should be good. I’ll just wear something with sleeves to hide my arms. 

…So the, uh, weekend, then? It’s official?

[the-king-of-blades-deactivated2]

“Sure. Tell me what time to meet up with you. Do you want me to send you coordinates to where we’ll be or do you want me to go somewhere and I’ll just show you the way when we meet up?”

[pumpingitup]

I don’t really have a schedule, so whenever you’re free from, uh... work, or whatever.

I also kinda don’t want to walk through the city on my own so I’d rather we met up at the teleporter.

[the-king-of-blades-deactivated2]

“I hope you don’t mind the smell of garbage then. I’ll scout out streets that humans aren’t around very much in. I don’t know if we’ll be completely free though. I imagine that some homeless humans would live in those same streets. Unless you want to dress up and pretend that you’re a homeless human.” Blade grunted.

[pumpingitup]

Pump wrinkles his non-existent nose. He guessed he’d rather hang around garbage than around a load of humans, but still.

No, no, I should be good. I’ll just wear something with sleeves to hide my arms. 

...So the, uh, weekend, then? It’s official?

[the-king-of-blades-deactivated2]

“I wouldn’t know that either.” Blade grunted. “I’m a little confined to the city since I’m their property now. I don’t have any doctor to vouch for me to roam that freely. I’m still under lockdown, Pump.”

Blade dropped his cigar on the floor and crushed it with his foot. He was tempted to smoke another one, but he stopped himself so he could speak. “The most I could suggest is finding a closed off street between some buildings and hiding around trashcans. Otherwise, I don’t know what you want me to do.”

[pumpingitup]

I, uh, guess we could do that, then...

The thought was a little bit scary, but again, he guessed there was no real reason for anyone to still be looking for him... wasn’t like any part of him really stood out aside from his arms either.

I mean if that’s, uh, alright with you.

[pumpingitup]

Well I’m pretty much free whenever, so- whenever you’re ready, I guess?

Woah, Pump hadn’t been expecting Blade to actually go for it. Hopefully this would be the start of them patching things up between them.

We’d just have to meet up somewhere where there aren’t any humans around.

[the-king-of-blades-deactivated2]

Blade blew some smoke before speaking. “Well… I’m free for the weekend. I suppose you can come then if you want.”

Blade growled lowly at Pump’s last sentence. There was silence from him for a moment again. Blade’s face made a grimace while he seemed to be thinking. Eventually he made a quick, blunt statement. “I don’t know any place without any humans.”

[pumpingitup]

Uh... right.

That made things difficult. Then again, it’d been what, years since he’d been taken from the city now? There was no way he was important enough for anyone to still be looking for him or for anyone to even remember who he was. If he wore something with long sleeves to hide his segmented arms and tried to keep them at a normal human length, then it was doubtful he’d have any problems...

Okay, I think I can work around that? What about somewhere where there aren’t that many?

[the-king-of-blades-deactivated2]

“Yes… I’m okay to meet up.” Blade inhaled more smoke. “Just tell me when you want to. I’d like to prepare for whenever you come over.”

[pumpingitup]

Well I’m pretty much free whenever, so- whenever you’re ready, I guess?

Woah, Pump hadn’t been expecting Blade to actually go for it. Hopefully this would be the start of them patching things up between them.

We’d just have to meet up somewhere where there aren’t any humans around.

[the-king-of-blades-deactivated2]

Blade took in another inhale of his cigar. The only sounds that came from him for a moment was his blowing out some smoke. His face was completely blank in thought.

“…Do you mind the smell of cigars? I’ve been taking up smoking. Don’t know if I should stop for whenever you come around.”

[pumpingitup]

Blade, I used to work in the city. It won’t bother me at all.

...So that means you’re, uh, okay to meet up, then?

[the-king-of-blades-deactivated2]

“I don’t know… I can’t put a word on it. All I can say is that I don’t feel good at all.” Blade grunted bluntly.

“Listen, is there something you want from me? I don’t imagine that you would just want to talk to me out of the blue after all these months.”

[pumpingitup]

I don’t have an ulterior motive here, if that’s what you’re thinking. I just wanted to see how you were doing. Like linemates do.

Pump winced a little. He hoped Blade wouldn’t interpret that as a personal jab.

Listen, I’m sorry to hear you haven’t been feeling great. If you... wanted to meet up and talk, I’m always available.

[the-king-of-blades-deactivated2]

Blade lit his cigar. He put out the light and put the lighter away. He put the cigar to his lips to take in a deep inhale.

“Yes… I’m still at the museum. Things have been fine.” He exhaled the smoke. “…The same can’t be said for how I feel.”

[pumpingitup]

And, uh... how have you been feeling?

Pump fidgets a bit. Maker he hoped Blade wasn’t still bitter about his involvement with Wood.

[the-king-of-blades-deactivated2]

“Hmph… Like I said, I could be better…”

Blade tried to flick his lighter on to light his cigar.

[pumpingitup]

So... things not been going well, then?

Pump’s glad Blade can’t see his face right now, because he was feeling... kind of really awkward. It’d been what, three? Four months since he’d last spoken to his linemate? Blade had been mad at him the last time they’d spoken, but he had to have mellowed out by now, surely.

...Still at the museum?

[the-king-of-blades-deactivated2]

Hey Blade, long time no speak. Have you, uh... been doing okay?

…Hello Pump. I… could be better. …Why do you ask?

[pumpingitup]

Well y’know, it’s been a couple months so I figured you’d, uh... I dunno. Just wanted to see how you were doing.