{ ON IT! wordlessly getting up to quietly shut and lock the door before he’s right back next to his lover. }

{ sliiiiding closer, placing a palm on his thigh. snrk. need he say more. }

why’d he nudge me like that. { offended, but strolling along to take a seat by his wrecker. } i got an idea of what to do with our free time. ( 😏 )

{ NUH - UH. NO BITING, immediately rising up from the bed and stepping back. don’t antagonize the bird. }

{ that’s because he IS. gribby grabby. you can’t escape, tiny. }

{ he’s LOUDDD, he heard him over the running water! discarding his towel before stepping towards the bed to grab at ruben’s leg. heh. }

{ you better clear that space once swindle gets out of his shower. just kidding! taking a little peek out of the washroom, towel wrapped around his midsection. ruben stop screaming challenge, literally impossible. }

plus, that’s a long con. i doubt he’s * that good... { scoffs. } i’m sure if she were in danger, she wouldn’t be coming here all jolly either. maybe they’re really… a thing. ( 🤨 )

they * live together? { YIIKKESSS. if he plays her like a fiddle in her own home… poor girl. even swindle feels a little sorry for her. } what do you think, hot shot?

{ tapping his stingy digits together… } hrmmm. could be manipulation. hard to tell off of these clues so far.

… well, some just dig the bad boys. i think you would know. { snrk, leaning up against the edge of the bar. } who initiated? that’s the real dealbreaker here.

{ STOP!! DOING THAT!! you scare the cube every time, nearly dropping one of the clean glasses but saving it at the last moment. } he won WHAT? how does he even know how to play? { that is not the most important part of what he told you, swindle. }

{ don’t get on the evil guy’s bad side, hot shot! he’ll be watching. }

{ peeking up at the second floor… snrk. gambling gets the naive individuals every timeeee. suckers. } well, if you want. i already talked with ‘em once before.

if he were evil, maybe. { side eye. slowly releasing his hold on his lover, leaning in to smooch his cheek after. } you gonna go talk him up?

{ SERVO IMMEDIATELY OVER HOT SHOT’S MOUF. whispering… } shh. they got like super hearing, probably. i dunno… i never saw the guy’s root mode.

{ who the hell did moonracer just bring into the bar. guy looks evil as all hell. returning to cleaning glasses. }

{ not at all! grrr. }

{ because swindle is the one majorly suffering this time around, and not even he’s sure why. perhaps because the longer kitt stays around, the more attached he gets to the guy. grrr. }

{ UHHHRUUHHH. hot shot, you’re making it VERY difficult to brood here! leaning into his frame ever so slightly… }

{ swindle KNOWSSS hot shot is right, but he’s not wanting to hear the truth and reality right now. he grumbles incoherently in retort, choosing to continue his smoke break while brooding. okay, onslaught. }

well— him or karr, i mean. they stick out, y’know? i’m worried for kitt. { vent outttt… admitting how much he cares for the other mech is a big step for swindle. he’s growing! }

you don’t think he’s gonna get himself killed around here? i think he’s going to find trouble, if he isn’t in it already. { it’s easy to do if you linger where you shouldn’t. it creeps swindle out just thinking about it, taking a long drag from his cigarette. * 💧 }

{ typically! smoking during the day only happens if he’s dealing, or rather, waiting for the individual to arrive. } yeah, i’m alright. sucks to see kitt leave again. you doing alright?

{ kindly shifting his helm as to not blow the smoke in his lovely wrecker’s face. } aren’t you cold out here, baby? got a breeze out here and everything… barely got to even light this thing. ( 😒 )

{ night time smoke break. * 🚬 }

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ 𝘛𝘏𝘌𝘠 𝖢𝖠𝖫𝖫 𝖳𝖧𝖠𝖳 𝑩𝙀𝙂𝙄𝙉𝙉𝙀𝙍𝙎 𝑳𝙐𝘾𝙆☘︎, ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ 𝒫𝘈𝘓.ᐟ ⠀

{ if there’s any excuse for dancing, hot shot is taking it. sipping his mixed drink with a grin. }

{ he’ll chat up the ambassador to help boost her mood in the meantime. he knows hot shot doesn’t like to take advantage of the depressed customers. }

{ thank god. they will be safe from karr’s wrath, should he ever return to cybertron. }

{ did they have a… thing… she seems awfully upset by these turn of events if he was truly as bad as kitt said he was. }

nothing bad! sorry, had to lie a little bit to get you out here. forgive me. { especially since this drink has got a nice kick to it that will get her to RELAX. }

{ SUCKER. easy as taking candy from a baby, guiding her along to where hot shot remains, moving back behind the bar to ready the drink. he didn’t lie about that part, at least! } all yours.

then, just trust me. i’ll bring her here in a sec. { SMONCH… slinking away towards the table the trio sits at, kindly requesting for moonracer’s presence. the other two perk up in confusion, asking what it could possibly be for. flashing that signature grin of his! }

do you trust me, baby? { sliding closer… give him a good luck smooch. }

hmm… you want a private conversation? { halts his mixing for a moment, thinking up a scheme. it isn’t swindle unless he’s scheming. } i can make that happen. anything to put us in a better predicament.

shit, really? we need to get on her good side then, baby. i’m not havin’ that maniac against me. { QUICKLY MAKING HER A FREE DRINK. }

what’d you do to her? { snicker… }

{ side eye… }

{ nudging hot shot. whisper… } priss at two o’clock.

{ smooching on hot shot while ruben’s absent from the room. }

{ STOP LOOKING AT HIM LIKE THAT. } no worries. heard. michael, kitt, do you wanna come inside? i don’t know if you both traveled far… { not at all. }

not quite yet, i need a few more minuscule parts, but it’ll be done real soon for ya. can just add it to your alt, if you wanted.

* i only met karr one time— what a character. haven’t had the pleasure of seeing him a second time, though. hot shot acted like he wanted to see him. { he snickers, moving to lean up against the wall while shooting a sneaky glance at hot shot. teaser. } speaking of! we got progress on the weapon.

‘course. kitt’s talked a great deal about you. any friend of his is a friend of ours. { not to mention they were HEARTBROKEN when he left! } we’re happy to have ya here. you guys on a mission, or something?

{ he’s so happy to show off his human… it’s a little funny. don’t laugh, cube. }

sounds like it. uh— { watching the bird run at kitt like a launched missile. rubbing at the back of his neck. } that’s ruben. he’s real nice, you won’t have to worry about him attacking you while you’re here.

video playback? i’m honored. nice to properly meet ya. { the conman flashes a wide grin, dropping to a knee to offer out a digit. shake, shake. } hot shot will be out in just a minute, trust me, he’d love to meet you. he’s about as personable as you are.

‘kay. think he brought a friend, though… i’ll check it out. { SMONCH!! heading out the door and into the garage!! opening it up to the duo… } hey, kitt, missed us that bad, huh?

baby, i think he’s right outside waitin’ for ya… want me to go and greet him?