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[for-the-better-and-worse]

Prowl does not flinch when the captive rises. Lesson one of interrogations, really. Or- well, lesson two, placed snugly under never give the other anything to use against you. He flinches when the voice begins to ring in his head. Hard. Or rather, he gasps at the ache-turned-pulse, his processor rushing into a frenzy as a voice rings out from nowhere all at once. For a second- a solid two of them- Prowl panics, staggering a step back as his EM field flies into a fritz. It doesn't- he's far, far away from him, and dead- it isn't- no. It's the creature in front of him. It's responsible. Prowl sets his jaw, exventing heavily, some expression of fury barely contained behind adamant disdain. "You-" He fixes his voice. Level. Ignore the Primus-damned voice. " Phrygor- Phrygonxenos. You are being held under violation of Cybertronian Law. Acknowledged in sections three and fifty-two under the Code of Interplanetary Conflict. In which the Aurigeas Court is not- there is no mention of it. Neither is Taethon." His gaze steels. "Your excuse is unacceptable. Regardless of your viewpoint, we are civilized, and you; capable of higher thought. Explain your origins. What court?"

For a few long moments, there is no reaction from the captive. Then it raises its head, its frills unfurling, the harsh light of the cell glinting off the glossy new tissue that had grown in—barely twenty-four hours have passed since it sustained the grievous wound, yet it now appears practically unscathed.

It gets to its feet, unhurried. An ache begins to pulse behind Prowl's optics as it approaches the screen, one clawed hand still offering up the cube of energon. The ache becomes a cascade of tonal suggestions, a scattering of black spots across his vision, and finally, painfully, focuses itself into something like a voice.

OUR INTENTIONS HAVE BEEN MISUNDERSTOOD. The Jury leans down, bringing its head level with Prowl's own. WE DO NOT KILL FOR SPORT, OR OUT OF HATE. WE SEE YOU IN THE SAME WAY THE GREAT STORMHAWK SEES THE PROLEMURS IN THE CANOPY. YOU ARE ALL PREY.

It turns, pacing the length of the screen. The intensity of its communication lessens, if only just. WE ARE PHRYGONXENOS, DEFENDANT OF TAETHON AND EXILE OF THE AURIGEAS COURT. WHAT PITIFUL AUTHORITY IS IT, THAT YOU DEMAND WE ACKNOWLEDGE?

#phrygonxenos #♞ · [ crunching stats ] ic.

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Prowl bristles when Perceptor laughs at him. Comedically enough, his doorwings raise like hackles on a cybercat. He's never been- alright, maybe a few times, sparingly, though never quite in his face. Directed scowls, staring daggers, rolling optics- that he's familiar with. He does not know what to do with laughter. His internal temperatures raise by a point or two in degrees, humiliated. It's almost a relief when Perceptor trades it out for a frown. "...Ah. I'd assumed that was part of your- reinventing." His optics linger on Perceptor, tone much more careful. As much as he can make it. "Metallurgy. That's fun." Sarcasm- his voice is dry. Pausing for a moment, Prowl runs through his memory files, rifling around to recall a memory. "Hm. Nova Cronum, was it? Not a very lively industry for that there. You filled a specific niche, then?"

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— Perceptor tries not to bark out a laugh at that. Tries, and fails. It seems that engex is finally starting to get to him. He's well aware of his societal placement and evidently where his frame lands him. He was just lucky that it aligned with his passions. The engex suddenly tastes sour in the back of his mouth. His good-natured laugh gone, replaced with a hard line between his brows.

" Metallurgist, " he begins, taking another swig to try and wash the bitterness down, " I used to break down hard rock samples, learned to forge metals and alloys myself. It can be very physically demanding when handling raw materials. I am a scientist, but that does not mean I was forged brittle. "

He makes no remarks to correct Prowl's assessment of him being meant for science.

He agrees.

#rifleseye #♞ · [ crunching stats ] ic. #ACTUALLY? oh god. new perceptor tidbit

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Prowl you have to stop rerolling the perception check just forget it. Put down the dice

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#♞ · [ out of office ] ooc.

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A solid few seconds pass before Prowl makes any indication of fixing his face It's- well, skeptical is a generous word. Obviously he knew Perceptor could fight- it was the bare minimum for being a Wrecker. There was no way around that in a crowd with Springer, or- Primus forbid, Impactor. He'd signed off on Perceptor's on-person-rifle authorizations himself. But that had been it. A rifle. Prowl tries not to say something diminutive, or wildly offensive while not-sober. Like, you're a scientist. "But you're a scientist," Prowl says aloud, an odd sort of look in his optic. There's no derisiveness in his voice- it's the statement of a fact, unconvinced as it is. He swiftly backtracks. "Hm- sniper. Up against an ex-Aerial Corps. I struggle to believe it. You do not mesh very well with the phrase beat him into unconsciousness. Your frame isn't-" He cuts himself off. Quickly.

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— A low laugh as he looks on as Ironhide has to break up the Dinobots in place of Blurr. " That would be the one. Oddly enough, I gained his respect afterwards. Granted, it did take beating him to unconsciousness... " He says the last part under his breath, it was Whirl who incited him often enough. Perhaps it was just the excuse he needed.

He's not proud of it, of course. He doesn't enjoy being violent. But different expectations were required of him at the time, and if that meant the occasional scrap with his fellow Wreckers then he sucked it up. Still... he can't deny there was a certain simplicity of getting out feelings with fists.

He hums in response to Prowl's last comment, glancing at him with a knowing look. " Though, I'm not sure I would consider Whirl something to survive. You just need to know what makes him tick. "

#♞ · [ crunching stats ] ic. #rifleseye #internalized functionalism. we move

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Prowl and Rodimus warrior cats movie night 👍

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#ic or ooc. you decide #delete later

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[ RECHARGE CYCLE: FF2C2C ] He walks behind Hubcap. The corridor is very dark. Hubcap is speaking but Prowl doesn't hear. He's too busy walking behind him. He's too busy taking out his gun. His head is very very heavy, but his processor- well, that runs just fine. It sparks and crackles with each slow thought. Or maybe not. Maybe the crackling is just another thing torn out of his helm. It's a long way down, said a traitorous little voice in his head that was all Prowl. It's a long, long way down. The fall might hurt, if you misplace the shot. The corridor is very dark. Hubcap keeps talking.

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#♞ · [ crunching stats ] ic. #felt particularly viscerally ill about wreckers today #somebody come join me . please

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Prowl listens, mildly, though his gaze never falls onto Perceptor- the slight turn of his head in the other's direction is all indication there is. Warm light from the bar catches on the shell of his left eye, the glint indicating titanium- filament, for wounds sustaining long-term oxidation damages. It's another one of the many. A crease briefly forms under Prowl's chevron- he turns to stare at the scientist now, doing very little to conceal his disbelief. "You? In a brawl? With- hm. Whirl. Whirl. The one that-" A pause. The buzz of Engex is making his processor slow. "-That made an attempt on Springer's life? The one that tried to euthanize him. Or so he insists. Insisted." He takes a brief moment to process this. Frowns. "...I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. You have a habit of surviving things you really shouldn't."

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— Perceptor lets the obvious question hang in the air, as to why he's here at all if he hates it so much. But he understands social pressures just as much as he understands gravity. It's partially why he's here too, to be honest. No one asked him to be here, but it would be questioned why he wouldn't be here.

He watches as Snarl grabs Slug in a headlock, as they grapple each other to the ground, forgotten drinks shattering on the floor next to them, and Blurr rushing to try and break them up. The sight is too familiar. He takes another sip of his drink.

" No, I was not. At least... not often. I went occasionally. When I was invited. " He thinks back to his time with them for a moment, a look equal parts fond and dismayed crossing his face. " There was one time I got into a brawl. If I remember correctly it was Whirl who instigated it. "

#♞ · [ crunching stats ] ic. #rifleseye

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Everyone's accounted for! Thank you to everyone who submitted an ask. I couldn't get to everyone who submitted one today, due to the sheer number of them, but I'll probably do something like this again :] I had fun!

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#♞ · [ out of office ] ooc. #♞ · [ roll call ] art. #ok. thread time #back to writing in the mines

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[ooc] Hello my mutuals I'm in an art mood today. Send me an ask with 🎭 and I will draw up an icon of your muse (specify) and I'll share the voice I give them.

Same voice and notes. I wanted to draw another Rodimus though.

#flameofprimus #♞ · [ out of office ] ooc. #♞ · [ let me tell you a story ] answered. #♞ · [ roll call ] art.

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🎭 ( If ya like c: )

#helicrazy #grimaces. the one I think fits the least. #which sucks cause I love the combaticons + your vortex. heart #♞ · [ out of office ] ooc. #♞ · [ let me tell you a story ] answered. #♞ · [ roll call ] art.

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🎭 for @sunoflegend :]? you don’t gotta if you don’t wanna, I know I haven’t reached out to interact her properly lmao

#aethergate #the more I listen to the voice the more I doubt myself. you know what post it #♞ · [ out of office ] ooc. #♞ · [ roll call ] art. #♞ · [ let me tell you a story ] answered.

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🎭 only if you want, mostly curious about the voice :3c

Could not get a read on this guy. I'm so sorry if this is so far off.

#♞ · [ out of office ] ooc. #photobombingcryptid #♞ · [ let me tell you a story ] answered. #♞ · [ roll call ] art. #waving at him every time he shows up around the dash though!

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🎭

#SHIT I forgot to fix the art for trepan. whatever it's fine nobody will notice the mistake #♞ · [ out of office ] ooc. #♞ · [ roll call ] art. #♞ · [ let me tell you a story ] answered.

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🎭 - For Jazz (I'm not really picky on Jazz's accent. He can fit in just about anywhere.)

#spymeister #♞ · [ out of office ] ooc. #♞ · [ roll call ] art. #♞ · [ let me tell you a story ] answered.

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🎭 (For Ghostspire)

A bit of a forewarning that this is not Ghostspire's mun's design. Had permission to try and cobble one together off the description and vibes :]

#♞ · [ out of office ] ooc. #ghostlyvisage #♞ · [ roll call ] art. #♞ · [ let me tell you a story ] answered.

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🎭 -for Redstrike if that's okay? I'd love to be surprised! ( plus your art is gorgeous!!)

God I sure hope that's the right design. Sweats

#♞ · [ out of office ] ooc. #redinrevolt #♞ · [ let me tell you a story ] answered. #♞ · [ roll call ] art.

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Mask emoji? -stinglikeame

#stinglikeame #♞ · [ out of office ] ooc. #♞ · [ roll call ] art. #♞ · [ let me tell you a story ] answered. #I struggled quite a bit </3