Seacrest!

Why would he need privacy for any Guests-?

Oh. Oh.

"....I do not have guests, ever. So no need to worry about....that..."

"As for routine, that can vary....."

And that was how the rest of the trip back to Cybertron went. Longarm filling Seacrest in on particular details the seacon would need to know. Answering questions his new mission partner had. By the time they arrived, it was late evening. Which worked out best for the Prime, enabling for a disembarking with little staff to witness. Or care.

They head to his - their? - apartments, feeling tired but deciding he'd at least start working on forging documentation for the seacon before retiring for the evening. When they arrive, it would prove that Longarm's choice in decor was....understated. But not bad.

Comfortable but standard furniture and floor plan, only the occasional bit of seemingly random abstract art on the otherwise blank walls. And everything colored in tasteful cool greys, blacks and ocean teals/blues.

Just the type of place for a mech that was both too busy and very mild in personality, which Longarm was supposed to be.

"Here we are." He'd mutter, giving a light stretch as he does.

“Probably should invite at least one over. At least for the persona”

Helm on a swivel as they land, admiring the view of civilisation on the planet he’d never be able to call home if they lost, and he’s just twitchy wings in fascination at every establishment, glowing billboard, neon sign, and accelerating grounder that passes them on the way home to…

“So, did you pick the colour scheme before or after Longarm Prime?” He asks, nothing malicious, even if the little mech could pose against any wall in his home and blend in, but never thinking to style one’s home in your colours. What would a light grey, dark grey and orange place look like? He’s absolutely having orange furniture. A circular lounge around a fire pit sounds ballin’

But Seacrest is slinking around like a newly introduced felenoid, sticking a head in every room for a once over, looking up and out windows for the view, a cautious glance over the balcony to sense check accessibility of would be assassins, and he’s trotting back into the main room.

“I hope the other apartment is just as nice. The blue walls give sea vibes. I like it”

Honestly, he didn't expect for Seacrest to actually propose staying with Longarm for the assignment. Most Cons would've been delighted to be on their own and not hesitate to snatch up the chance. Personal comforts a priority even while on a mission like this.

And it was obvious that the idea really did appeal to the seacon, even as he made argument against it almost immediately. Shockwave had to respect that focus towards the goal.

".........I can't find fault in your logic. There have been no attempts on my life while on Cybertron, yet. But I've also never had backup before. So now that you are to be with me, there is strength in numbers....."

He muses, calculations already running triple fold within Shockwave's processor.

"I have unused rooms in my accommodation, so you'll have space to call for yourself. I will still arrange for you to have an official address of your own for our use, but you can stay with me."

He agrees with a nod.

As Longarm will come to learn, Seacon's were usually deployed in 'schools' of five to twelve to help them patrol, scout, mine, or perform recon. While, yes, a seeker or a grounder might relish the sudden offering of space, for an aquatic? Being alone was usually a death sentence. With no one to watch you, you tended to drift off into the current or depths silently.

"Thank you, sir" Well, that gets a pleased little smile that even the great Shockwave finds that his suggestion is logical. "And, of course, by having the second apartment if at any point you need space for ... Guests, or meetings, I can shuffle across the hallway to give you some privacy" Not that this guy really looked like the type for 'guests', but who knows.

But this was good. Shockwave had yet to have an attempt on his life by his little botty peers, even a half assed one, which means if and when it comes about, it will get this little fish one step closer to a handshake with Big M.

"... So, do you have some sort of routine? Just so I don't get underpede"

coetusmachina

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎‎‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎‎‎ ‎( ✧ ― @seacrestseacon ― ✧ )‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

Just leaning on the wall in what he hopes is a Very Cool™️ and Very Sexy™️ pose for Flame Nova

“Hey big guy. Wanna shuffle?” 😉

Flame Nova simply stared at the other for a moment, arms crossed while he tried to figure out just how best to react to this display, as well as the pun that was just made. It didn't escape him that it was due to the name of his species: Cardbots.

Coming to decision, he gave a low hum, "And what, exactly, do you mean by that?"

No, he wasn't going to acknowledge the way the other was posed up against the wall, nor the very obvious implications it gave what he was asking.

Please acknowledge his pose. It is a good pose. Shows off these hips and wings.

"You know, a lil fun? I can take you out dancin'. Teach you the horizontal shuffle. You look like you have good coordination and rhythm" And size. Big size.

#coetusmachina

Well. It's gratifying to see that the mention of Megatron, at least, could get the seacon to visibly lock in a bit more. As did the living situation.

Honestly, Longarm couldn't blame him. Truly, despite everything, where he lived on Cybertron was definitely the nicest accommodations he'd ever had in his millennia of life. As infuriating as it was sad.

"You'll have your own apartment near my own. That way your comings and goings won't be up to much scrutiny. You'll also have access to where I live, for easy collaboration."

Oh, he's locked the F in now. At least you know the Seacon equivelent of 'Walkies?' to get him on track.

"My own? Like, no roomies?" He says, looking over at Longarm in surprise. He gets his own digs? Like, a whole apartment to himself? Not, shared with anyone like a squadmate, a coworker, a recruit?

".... Seems risky. You are a Prime here, of intelligence, and while I have no doubt you can handle yourself, you also have to stay in that frame without drawing attention to yourself or without having the strength of a decepticon. If anyone wants your job, they are going to get you when you are most vunerable, which is before, during, or after recharge. If we shared, it would be easier collaboration."

"And, if I attack someone for breaking in, I make headlines, not you"

"Job perks are you only need to pretend to be performing an office job while I have you do much more interesting tasks. And you will be getting direct recognition from Lord Megatron when this mission reaches success. If you wanted to make a name for yourself in the cause, this is it."

He explains, and gives a light shrug.

"You also get to enjoy the cushy lifestyles the Autobots on Cyberstron have made for themselves. If that matters to you...?"

Direct Recognition from Lord Megatron. Sweet Primus on a jetski! Does Big M do autographs?! Or a photo!?

Well now he's just star eyed and little wings waggling in excitement at the idea of personally being praised by their glorious leader.

"Got it. Fake it till you make it" He can totally pull off the look of being a productive little bean counter until he's needed for other stuff. Oo! Espionage! He could spill some requested drinks all over someone's console if they've got incriminating content on it. Yess, plotting and scheming.

"Wait, don't these guys have, like, plush pillows and little blankets on their berths to keep them cosy?" Sign him the frag up! He's making a nest.

"Soooo... Am I like, bunkin' with department staff like it's bootcamp or...?" Oh, right. Autobots are weird and like this thing call personal space.

Considering the antlered mech had decided to pragmatically not go out of his way to antagonize his new.....team member? Subordinate...? He'd be fine with being categorized as simply "curious" up to this point.

"You will just need some training in the filing system and the terminal platform, then. Acceptable."

He notes, before letting out a soft vent. The corner of Longarm's mouth lifting just a bit in the ghost of humor.

"And no, you won't be writing any code. "

Good. Because you'd find a subtle line of varnish around the inner rim of yor glassware so every cup of fuel tasted wrong.

Acceptable.

He's not sure if its a promotion, or a demotion. You go from mining energon on water worlds, or smushing the locals in preperation of the next advancement, straight into a desk jockey.

"Good. Never done it, not programmed for it, would frag it up somewhere ............................... Job perks?"

For a nonklik he's tempted to answer 'Yes' to the pointed question, if only to see what the reaction would be. But Longarm dismisses the impulse as petty and illogical to do, even if spitefully satisfying, just as quickly.

Instead he turns to look over at the reclining Seacon,

"If you know marine sciences, you're obviously literate. I ask because office admin will be the easiest job position to stick you in, and I need to know if I have to train you in the basics or not. You need to at least be able to act the part. Autobots are as paranoid and observant as they are ignorant and complacent."

Sadly, Shockwave wouldn't have gotten much in terms of a reaction, far too used to it from high ranking officials, but it does spare him petty revenge of little inconveniences. If anything, Shockwave comes off as curious rather than malicious.

"Depends on what you consider the 'basics'. I can read and write, can do math, can type fast, I can send comms. I might need a refresher course but anything I don't know I assume I can just look online for instructions? I don't expect your 'admin' will have me writing code"

sometiktoksarevalid

@cruel-singer

#sea squaddie: caspian

fernsnailz

my seal drawing

#sea squaddie: caspian

buried-in-stardust

OP: "I've seen lion dancing and dragon dancing before, but this is the first time I've seen realistic lobsters fighting clams."

#sea squaddie: malacos

A nod, "Acceptable terms. As long as you offline a bot discretely enough, disposal won't be an issue for me. That being said, I'd like to keep that sort of thing to a minimum until we reach the end of this assignment."

Comes the even reply. Every death could just complicate things, as Shockwave well knew. There were still whispers around the late Highbrow's death, even after the case had been "closed".

"Any office skills at all...?"

"Oh, I'm discreet." Usually, it involves spiking a drink, 'helping' them back to their habsuite, and letting them choke on their own processed fuel. He's always wanted to just kick someone in front of a tram... Only one who beats him in 'discreet' is Blacktip, and that is because the guy eats the evidence of a murder.

Still, patting under the seat to recline it as much as it will let him, arms losely draped over his middle, and he's watching the windows as Longarm Prime gets this 'Economy Class Showboat' going.

" ... Is that your nice way of asking if the little soldier is illiterate?" Wouldn't be the first time, wouldn't be the last.

#sea squaddie: suckerpunch #nsfw?

shinesurge

clingy

It takes a few kliks of Shockwave wondering why the frag this 'flight frame' would know so much about marine sciences of all things when it hits him.

This was a fragging Seacon. The mighty Megatron had gifted him use not of a flight frame, but a damn SEACON!

..............................................

.........at least he seemed quick on the uptake.

Luckily, the expression on Longarm's face would remain rather static through this realization. His mouth only moving to take on a more thoughtful frown by the end.

"Sounds good enough. It will be simple work to forge some transfer documents for you. Not that any will look into it, much."

Unless Sentinel decided to have a bout of paranoia....again....

"What else do you bring to the table besides....shooting skills and marine knowledge...?"

He asks, turning back to the controls as he gave inputs to the ship's flight path.

Okay, Mr Rom Com Decepticon, maybe because sea life was freakin' cool?? Sorry we can't be watching romance sitcoms or binge reading cringey thirst fiction all day for such a distinguished palate.

What else did he bring to the table?

"Pretty much a jack of all trades. Lock picking, recon, surveillance. Within reason, I can get it done. Although, if I'm offin' a bloke, disposal is on you"