“Tch. You Swoop big pansy. Him Spider talk shit, Him Spider get hit.”
Eh it was probably best to not have a murder investigation bringing Prowl to their cave anyway but it’s the fucking principle of the thing.
The question and the look in particular gets a glare - not unusual for Slag, granted, or any of the dinobots, since their eyes are just kinda shaped that way, but there’s a fair amount of suspicion behind it for the occasion. “Me Slag not built with crow-no-me-ter-thing. Me Slag dunno. Long time. Dark. Why you Swoop want know.”
The glare has no impact at all on Swoop. He is just as unconcerned about getting pummeled as ever and rests his head on the triceratops’ side. Nevertheless, Swoop doesn’t lock optics with Slag. He’ll glance to check on his brother’s face but keeps his gaze moving around.
“Him Spidermom ask bunch of Dinobot question. Me Swoop tell building Dinobot story and Dinobots on Cybertron story and Spider questions questions questions. More than Me Swoop know.”
(( BREAKING NEWS: here’s the 4k unfinished rp log from after this post, in which tarantulas temporarily adopted @medicalmurdersaurus, @kingasaurusrex, @surly-saurus, @tomatofaceasaurus, @elite-tracker, and @slvdge, and they wreaked absolute havoc on the Tor.
TAKE CHANCES, MAKE MISTAKES, GET MESSY!
Tarantulas
One thing led to another led to another led to another. Scooping Swoop up somehow got leaked to Grimlock, then Grimlock threatening him via comm inspired Tarantulas to adopt him too, which got leaked to Slag as well, who joined the party and essentially dragged Snarl and Sludge and Slash along for the ride. Tarantulas hopped through one portal after another herding them into the Tor, and mysteriously enough, they all seemed completely fine with the impromptu field trip. It was surreal how quickly and painlessly it came to pass - and all the more foreboding for what would probably follow.
The room the Dinobots were plopped into was mainly clear of equipment, although it had a decent serving of webbing slung around here and there. One might mistake it for a foyer of sorts, given the paths branching off toward more dim destinations. Strange sounds and smells emanated from far too many directions.
…In hindsight, Tarantulas would probably find that this hadn’t been the wisest of places to drop the Dinobots into the Tor for the first time. Popping back into the foyer at last, he’d just have to see the results of his poor decision for himself, now wouldn’t he?
Swoop
On the plus side, getting kidnapped gives Swoop a chance to look around while his siblings are herded up. On the down side, getting kidnapped gives Swoop a chance to look around while his siblings are herded up.
The high ceilings are far too tempting. He has to know what is up there. Up where? Up there.
Tarantulas
Swoop's first guess is probably right - webs. More webs, loosely spun. Probably a pretty fantastic jungle gym, a thought that's definitely occurred to Tarantulas as well.
Grimlock
Grimlock had only been outside his own verse a handful of times. Notably only to see the Prime that wasn't Prime, but regardless, this place is new. With new smells. And new sounds. And several new sights. He squints through his visor, deciding quickly he doesn't like it.
Which is only a half lie to himself.
He's curious as hell. Enough so that he reaches out to start poking at the various webbing strands littering the area-
And immediately decided it was interesting enough to start pulling at. Weird how it looked like string but felt nothing like it. Should probably take some home. It'd look cool in Kraken's cage.
Swoop
Swoop circles the room once, twice, a third time for good measure. In the last pass, he dips down past Grimlock and pulls up sharply so he can get enough momentum to fling himself up to the highest webs while transforming. He shrieks all the way up to his new perch.
Sludge
Swoop chose to go up, but Sludge? Sludge chose to go left, and investigate this entirely new place from the ground level. There's weird smells coming from that way, he has to know what they are, immediately. And possibly touch whatever's making those weird smells.
Absolutely touch whatever makes the weird smells.
Snarl
Snarl is just kinda staying put exactly where he ended up.
Tarantulas
The threads aren't really sticky - most of them, anyhow - but they do pull and pull and pull, and never seem to actually snap. The ones on the ceiling are thicker and have less give, which probably benefits Swoop (though if he chooses wisely he could certainly have a bungee-jumping adventure). Grimlock, however, probably won't be able to snag a sample of silk unless he slices instead of pulls.
If Sludge wanders far enough down the hall to the left, he'll reach a room with massive vats of various organic and inorganic fluids. Science lab or buffet? Who can tell.
What does it really matter what the original intent was, honestly.
Snarl
This wasn't part of his plan for the day. Not that he ever had much of a plan, but he definitely hadn't been ready for getting dragged along to be a part of the Tor.
Kinda looked like they just traded one dark rocky space, for another dark-ish space.
Swoop
There is some WWE off the ropes flinging going on towards the ceiling. This is a great time and Swoop is here for it, except... since when do his brothers come on his weird outings? That's new. Swoop springs towards the machinery nearest Snarl, landing with a CLANG.
Snarl
A lesser bot who DIDN'T LIVE WITH SWOOP 24-7 would probably be startled.
Grimlock
He's coming to that conclusion himself, though his considerable strength had managed to pull the elastic-like strands a decent way out of their original positioning. Now he wants this even more. Wheeljack could probably make some awesome weapon or maybe just something all around cool for the Dinocave.
He's thinking punching bags.
A hammock would be kinda cool too. He's seen those on tv and they at least look like a good time. It's never going to happen, however, unless he manages to get some of this stuff back home.
So without further ado, he reaches to his back to disconnect the base of his sword and activate it. When in doubt-slice it.
Swoop
"SNARL!" the pterosaur giggles. "You go a place. An INSIDE place!" It's difficult for someone as cartoonish as Swoop to come across over the top enough for the sarcasm to be clear. But, by god, he's trying.
Tarantulas
Thus begins the damage that Tarantulas will eventually have to repair and/or clean up later. Swoop's definitely leaving claw marks on that machinery.
Snarl
Snarl levels him with a look as flat as stale water. "What inside place?"
You have a chance to sell it, Swoop.
Swoop
Swoop throws his arms out Robert Downey Jr style to illustrate the Tor. "Dunno!"
Sludge
Vats! Full of stuff!
None of which he recognizes, but they're interesting colors and he's pretty sure that red flavor is the best flavor for anything. Spike had said that once. Sludge peered between the vats for a moment, trying to locate one that was red. And once he finds one, he carefully sets his cat down on the floor out of the way, and promptly shoves his face into said vat.
It's time... to lick the red flavor.
Snarl
Well. That meant his options were play statue exactly where he was which was tempting or go along with Swoop.... who might screech and pick at his armor until he does anyway.
Path of least resistance it is. Massive shoulders rise and fall in a shrug. "Kay. We go."
Tarantulas
Red flavor = probably synthetic blood, maybe, sort of. Does Sludge know what hemoglobin and plasma taste like? If so, it'll definitely be familiar, and nothing that'll affect his systems. His cat might find the vat strange, though.
And Grimlock can certainly have at, and with moderate success. Expect much chastising from Tarantulas once he does arrive and finds missing chunks of webbing, though.
Swoop
Nice. Another victory for Swoop.
"Us goooooooo-" He spun in a circle and then pointed in an arbitrary direction. "-thata way!"
Snarl
Good of a place as any. "Kay." Off they go then.
Tarantulas
Lots of static coming from "thata way." They'll have to open a few very-locked doors before they get to the source of it all.
Snarl
Hm. A door.
Fire time.
Sludge
Blegh. Spike was wrong, red flavor is worst flavor. Sludge is going to try the ominously glowing purple flavor instead. Maybe that one tastes better? Hopefully Tarantulas won't mind that he knocked over the blue vat on his way there.
Snarl
...This door is being very stubborn for fire time. Clearly that means there needs to be MORE FIRE TIME.
Swoop
Swoop is pro fire. He is always pro fire. But he's also pro comedy...
.... so he's going to go over and poke buttons to see if he can get the door open despite his brother.
Tarantulas
Blue vat leaves a sticky mess on the floor that Sludge won't enjoy stepping in, mostly because he'd get, well, stuck. Glowing purple flavor is mysteriously void of scent and taste, but leaves a mild tingle wherever it touches.
Snarl
At least the door is a little more pliable than before. So while Swoop is off CLEARLY not helping, Snarl decides to take matters into his own hands.
Literally into his hands. He starts beating on the door with his fists.
Sludge
The tingle is kind of cool. Let's try some more of that and see if he can make his insides tingle.
Tarantulas
The door, meanwhile, holds against the fire, but the buttons nearby start to malfunction under the combo of radiant heat & ridiculous mashing. They're doing Tarantulas a favor by finding out the flaws in his security, right? In the end the fists are what does the door in first, and they're on to the next one.
And yes, Sludge, your insides are definitely tingling now. That might be an unfortunate distraction from the fact that the other parts that WERE tingling are no longer feeling ANYTHING now.
Snarl
One last hit, and the poor door finally gives, getting essentially blown off its frame.
Snarl
"Open."
Swoop
"You Snarl DID IT!" : >
Snarl
"You Swoop and Me Snarl go to 'that way' now."
Swoop
Swoop dashes through the door and immediately looks up to see if there's more stuff to play with.
Swoop
Snarl follows along at a more leisurely, lumbering pace.
Tarantulas
Nope, just another hallway leading six possible directions. The static's coming from behind another door. Suuuuuper tempting, right?
Sludge
Well, his insides feel really tingly and it's super cool. But he feels weirdly off balance with half his face no longer feeling anything. Maybe he should leave the rest of the vats alone now. He'll come check them out again later. Aaaaafter he's checked what other rooms are in this hallway.
Snarl
"...Me hear noise."
"Swoop, that you?"
"You Swoop weird noise allllll the time."
Swoop
Swoop runs a circle, going past each possible option before sliding Tom Cruise style into Snarl's side.
"Nope! It not Swoop."
Tarantulas
Meanwhile, guess who's busy conjuring another bridge back to the Tor, finally. Oh dear.
Snarl
Snarl, squints and scrutinizes Swoop. Not that staring at him suspiciously does much for figuring out SOUND.
Slash
Slash finally makes it to the party, she looks around at what is going on so far, seems all her brothers have wondered off to do their own thing. She probably should be a good dino and wait for her leader Slag, but all the new scent and surroundings where to tempting to stay still for too long!
Slash was soon sniffing around and collecting as many new scents as she can, it was time to explore!
Grimlock
Grimlock has a large, triumphant handful of the strange white stringy stuff. After much hacking has been had to get it that far. He's, for the moment, content and immediately wraps it around his arm for safe keeping. Besides, it makes his arm thicker by just that much that clotheslining Slag is going to be hilarious later.
That done, he notices his brothers have, as they're wont to do, wandered off. Well shit. Whose scent does he follow- or does he follow the odd chemical smell that burns at his ol factory sensors in a way that's not entirely unpleasant....
His brothers would be fine. Odd smells it is then.
Swoop
For a genuine moment, Swoop lets Snarl listen. That is his thinking face after all. But Swoop can only stand it so long before he just.... chirp!
Snarl
Oh, hey, the weird noise is getting louder. Kinda sounds like the TV when the channels don't feel like working. Or something like that.
Nope. Was probably Swoop.
Tarantulas
Sludge's exploration supplies him with various rewards - rooms full of more organic smells and sights, something that looks like an operating theater, then a dissection lab that definitely has specimens still displayed. Ick.
Swoop
"This Spiderbot, uh, house."
Sludge
The poor dinobot has no idea what an operating theater is, but it's got sharp pointy things and shiny things so that's where he's gonna play now. Some of these look like things Ratchet uses. Where's Swoop? He'd know what they were.
"SWOOP!"
Tarantulas
Sludge's yell makes things shake and clatter a little. Nothing's damaged.... yet.
Also, 'house' is a generous term.
Slash
Slash decided to follow the scent to the vats she can smell Sludge has been here also, she wondered over to the vats to get a closer look and sniff only to step into the blue sticky mess and tumble forward into it.
Tarantulas
Grimlock's sense of smell leads him in a similar direction to Sludge, but down a different hall. It'll take him a long time to get to the source of the smell, but there's a straight path, and a green glow far, far off at the end.
Snarl
"Spiderbot have loud house."
"...."
"Wait that sound like him Sludge."
Slash
Slash is stuck! The blue goop clings to her if she tries to pull away.
Snarl
Hmmm. Sludge or the door. Decisions.
He looks to Swoop. ????
Slash
Slash is pulling! SHE WANTS OUT!! "ME SLASH STUCK!"
Swoop
Swoop looks back where Sludge's bellowing came from, then up at Snarl.
"Him dead."
Snarl
Well that settles that.
"Kay. We open door thing now."
Grimlock
Ugh. The smell was no longer as pleasant the closer he got to it. It stung, actually. Grimlock's face was set in a grimace under his mask and for half a second he almost turns back around. Then his optics narrowed and he growled. Giving up was for LOSERS. And Grimlock was no loser.
The green glow was more of a pinprick in the distance at the moment and Grimlock took off at a run, lumbering steps echoing down the narrow space.
Swoop
Swoop bobbled his head in agreement. Later, losers.
Snarl
There are more doors to break down. Like this one. Fire Time part 2.
Swoop
Swoop transforms into pterosaur mode and joins in the melting.
Tarantulas
The fire changes color when it hits the door, but it's slowly successful in melting it.
Swoop
He gaaaaaaaaaaasssps! <3
Snarl
Snarl stops immediately because did you see that?
Swoop
"AWESOME!!"
Sludge
Hmm. Swoop isn't coming. Shame. Now he has to go looking for his little brother. He gets to his feet and makes his way back to where he'd started, to pick a new hallway. Is he down this way?
Snarl
He's looking between Swoop and the door in quick succession.
Slash
Slash struggles to pull herself free of the blue mess on the floor, her claws start to heat up for more SLICING MELTING ACTION! "GRRR! ME SLASH WANT OUT!"
Snarl
Then he levels his brother with the most serious look that's ever graced his face. "Us burn ALL things. Find more colors."
Slag
Slag, for his part, waited to see where all his various brothers were going... and then went in whatever direction they weren't, plodding along leisurely with his drone pet/toy jingling about beside and somewhat under him when he pauses to scoot Gong Fat back between his front legs.
Gotta keep his toy from getting squashed or burned or otherwise Dino'd.
Swoop
Swoop lets out a victory shriek and flaps hard enough to get himself a ways off the ground. "YAAAAHHH!"
Tarantulas
Heated claws are super effective on the blue goop - it seems to melt as Slash slices, although it does leave a lot of residue on her as well.
Slag's adventuring leads to a far less interesting path than the others - it's mostly consoles, servers, and computer hardware in the rooms down his route.
Grimlock
Aaaagh even RUNNING was taking too much time! Grimlock growled, getting quite irritated. It was time to find a shortcut. He eyes the wall next to him, tapping on it.
The rearing his fist back to slam it into the surface with as much power as he can.
Slash
Slash was finally free and quickly gained as much distance from the blue goop as she can, her movement a little slow due to the residue left on her. She was totally leaving claw marks in the floor as she ran in a random direction.
ALSO SLASH SAW YOU SLUDGE JUST IGNORE HER >:C
Tarantulas
Also, tip to Swoop and Snarl: although all the doors in THIS hallway burn the same color, OTHER hallways might not. Have at it.
Grimlock immediately succeeds in denting the wall next to him, and there's a groaning rumble a few seconds afterward.
Grimlock
.........
Well, it did SOMETHING.
Time to hit it again.
Snarl
Snarl proceeds to be flamethrower, and immediately forgets to actually go through the door they demolished
Slag
Oh. Buttons.
Slag doesn't really read much to know what the buttons do but, they're colorful. And some of them glow. And they have TVs on them. He supposes he can find something to watch.
Maybe spider has movies. Maybe spider has Netflix.
One stumpy triceratops foot plops gracelessly on the console, sort of pawing at the keyboard to try to make something happen.
Slash
Slash now wishes she can flamethrower breath to get all this blue goop off of her, it was slowing her down! She doesn't like this place anymore it's dumb!
Slash finally stopped running to look around, just where was she now? She'll sniff the air to see where her brothers had run off to.
Tarantulas
Grimlock manages to rend the metal of the wall a bit, but only enough to see through. It's inky black, wherever that is, and smells like... nothing?
......
Sludge
Swoop is decidedly not down this new hallway, Sludge decides eventually. But there's more places to see, so he'll keep walking. If the other hallway had interesting things, this one should too.
Snarl
Follow the burning, Sludge.
Sludge
Why follow the burning, when he can make his own burning?
Snarl
Follow the scent of scorched metal and mania.
Snarl
ALSO A GOOD OPTION.
Tarantulas
Spider does not have Netflix. Spider has a security system on his console that requires eight levels of clearance before anything actually happens. Want to give it a shot, Slag? It'll make tons of interesting colors and sounds.
Grimlock
How does something smell like nothing? Grimlock's vents huff as he tries to peer through the hole. His curiosity is torn now between this seemingly empty space that smells like nothing and the challenge that was the green glow in the distance.
Slag
Huh. Colors are happening. Maybe it's a game?
Slash
Slash will follow the burning.
Slag
He can probably figure out the button combo to make it do the thing. Keysmashing usually works back home. This is probably the same.
Sludge
He can sort of hear Swoop and Snarl burning things, though. Somewhere to the right. Does he want to backtrack? Not really. So he's going to go the Quicker Route and start spitting fire at the wall.
It'll have to give way eventually.
Snarl
Some of the doors are just opening and closing now. Weird.
Swoop
The problem with a hallway is that he can't full on circle and swoop in the air. He'll have to make do with brief strafing runs. Snarl gets well and truly covered in fire, which is probably a nice bonus to all the activity. Toasty!
Snarl
Snarl, wreathed in flames, and fueled by destructive impulses is a fearsome thing to behold.
Actually that's a lie. He's looks confused
Why are the doors just opening like that now? Are they trying to get away from the burning?
'Cause, Ha. Like that'll happen.
More fire.
Tarantulas
Definitely not the same, Slag. This one eventually blacks out completely after too much keysmashing, since the chances of one Dinofoot following the pattern of eight Spiderpaws is slim to none.
Grimlock
Curiosity has given way to frustration. Guess what?
That wall's coming down if he has to break his knuckles doing it.
Swoop
Swoop thoughtlessly clips his own wing on a wall and eats quite a bit of floor before sliding to a stop. "KEHEHE!"
Snarl
Hmmmm.
Slash
OK one the doors almost closed on Slash's tail! NOT COOL!
Slash will just... Well slash at the controls of the door, maybe that will stop it from acting weird!
Slag
Oh. Broke it.
............
WHELP. Time to leave the scene of the crime. Last time he broke a console full of buttons he got buried alive so maybe he'll just wander off and have no idea who broke the thing.
Snarl
Snarl is gonna pick Swoop up, and toss him through one of the doors when they open.
He's aerodynamic. He'll make it.
Probably.
Swoop
Wheee! Off he goes! "KAHAH!"
Slag
C'mon Gong Fat let's find something to chew on.
Tarantulas
Knuckles needn't be broken - the wall comes down eventually, and Grimlock gets the opportunity to venture into a space that's completely open, aside from long metal supports stretching seemingly-randomly through the darkness. He can certainly hop onto one or another from the hole he's ripped in the wall.
Slash gets a small explosion for her efforts, but the door doesn't reopen.
Sludge
This was is taking too long to melt for Sludge's liking. Time to bash it headfirst. Good thing he still can't feel his face.
Grimlock
He does just that, pulling his blade out again to set it on fire. So he can see, you understand.
Slash
Good that will teach the door one!
Slash will then continue to follow the burning scent until she spots Snarl, "You Snarl set me Slash on fire. Get dumb blue goop off."
Tarantulas
Sludge succeeds! This wall is REALLY thick though, so it might take quite a bit of headbashing to make it through.
Sludge
He has more than enough headbashing to go around for this wall.
Tarantulas
The first thing Slag and Gong Fat chew on shocks their respective mouths hard enough to (hopefully) be a deterrent to chewing more.
Swoop
Swoop is either meeting more floor or going for an impromptu flight. Either way, he is down.
Slash
Ok new plan, start scratching all the blue goop off!
Slag
Ouch. Well it's definitely not a cabbage for shredding which is deterrent enough for Gong Fat.
Slag, however, is a bit miffed at the shocky stingy ouch in his mouth, and retaliates with a bolt of laser from the tips of his horns. SCREW YOU, SHOCKY THING.
Grimlock
So Grimlock can only remember having to do so much jumping one other time in his life. Somewhere in the Rockies. It sucked. This isn't much better.
But hey, everything echoes here and everyone always accused him of loving to hear his own voice. It's gonna roar into that void right now.
Snarl
Did it work though?
"You Swoop see things?"
Sludge
Persistent headbashing has led to a lot of ringing in his head, but if it opened the wall, then he will consider it worth it.
Tarantulas
Finally - finally. Tarantulas is ready to round up the Dinokids and show them around their new home. He can't wait. It's going to be fantastic.
...But they're not here in the foyer. And there are at least three paths of destruction in different directions, all of which sound like no one is up to any good. What in the WORLD is he going to do with these dangerous toddlers?
He's never had much reason to use it before, but he's ridiculously glad he installed the PA system now. Tarantulas's voice is unbelievably cheery as it echoes in every room of the Tor.
"I trust you're making yourselves at home!"
Snarl
!!!!
Sludge
!!!! Voices from the ceiling!
Snarl
LOUD YELLING AND IT'S NOT THEM, WHAT?
Slag
Head voices.
Head voices everywhere.
It's echoing.
His head isn't that empty. Shit's not supposed to echo.
Slash
Ok the halls are talking!
Slag
Where is that coming from???
Swoop
Swoop pushes himself up from the floor and looks at the PA. "SPIDERBOT!"
He cackles. ::Hi, Spiderbot.::
Snarl
Snarl yells to the void, "This not Dinocave. You dumb?"
Grimlock
Now the place is echoing back at him ! And it sounded like Spiderbot! Grimlock isn't a fan of hide and seek on the best days.
"WHERE YOU SPIDERBOT HIDING! COME FACE ME GRIMLOCK!"
Slag
Slag is just gonna skeedaddle further away from the scene of his crime. He didn't do it. You can't prove shit, echoing head voice. "Me Slag not at home. Me Slag here "
Snarl
It's a complete accident how correct his sentence is "This is a TOR."
Sludge
Sludge looks up, trying to find the source of the new voice. Spiderbot?
Slash
"THIS PLACE DUMB!!" Slash snarls. Ok she’s going to do some Climbing now.
It’s time to find a way out of this dumb place.
---
(tl;dr - the Dinobots tear up the Tor and Tarantulas adores them during every second of it, until he’s somehow forced to give the destructive children back to their proper guardians.)
Truthfully it had started with the kind of tv he’d been watching, someone having left Teletraan streaming the HGTV channel. What show had been on, nobody could really recall, but the important thing to take away from it was that it had left an impression. An impression that had then been brought back to the Dinocave. All it had take was one sentence to spark an interest, a curiosity.
“ Us Dinocave got no curb-side apple.”
A curiosity that grew rather rapidly.
Now the Dinobots stood in the center of their cave, whatever little furniture left in tact shoved to the side (the tv itself might need replacing. Again.) and the walls and ceiling being studied avidly as they waited for Sludge to return with supplies.
