[Visual]

[robotfightclub]

[About the same time Arcee pops on the scroll, the sound of a train can be heard in the background just leaving the station. It's not her train judging by how she's standing outside, but a part of her wishes it was. If you can't guess where she is, she probably wants nothing to do with you.]

I'm leaving.

[That's all she can manage to say at first. Truth be told, informing her friends was actually an afterthought. Arcee: A+ friend. At least she manages to think of something more to add before closing up the scroll.]

Obviously gonna have the scroll on me, so don't say I didn't try to stay in contact. Bulk, you're in charge. You know, if you're still here. Considering my luck, who even knows anymore.

I'll come back when I feel like it.

[And that's that. Mini vacation? Mini vacation.]

Comments

[robotfightclub]

[If this were anyone else, you can bet Arcee would be lashing out right about now. There was just something about Fluttershy that kept her from sinking her claws into the pegasus.]

Go ahead, get it out of your system.

[kind_to_all]

[ Fluttershy didn't let the cat go for a while. Eventually, sensing the kitty wanted to end the hug, she backed off, and nosed the bag forward. ]

There's two cans of tuna, a bag of kibble, and a cushion for long nights. I couldn't think of anything else you might need.

[robotfightclub]

[Kibble. She got her...kibble. Arcee's ears fold back again momentarily, she's getting a little tired of being fed pet food. As much as she realizes her friends are being nice, she can only tolerate "treats" so many times. Now she's getting kibble?

Taking a deep breath, she tries to let it slide. Cybertronian solider reduced to eating kibble, this is really happening. She just...has to keep telling herself it's Fluttershy.]

Thanks.

[Look, see? She can do it.]

I'll be using that cushion a lot.

[kind_to_all]

[ Fluttershy sees something's wrong, but isn't sure what. ] I could... rush back and get something else if you forgot something at home!

[ She gets all motherly when she's worried. ]

[robotfightclub]

[Which is part of the problem. She's millions of years old, she doesn't need a mother.]

Fluttershy, look, I know you're just trying to help, but for Primus's sake, you saw the real me. You're babying a giant alien robot, can you really imagine something like that eating kibble?

[So much for keeping it to herself. At least she didn't shout.]

[kind_to_all]

[ Fluttershy shrinks back from the outburst. ]

Th-th-that's not fair! I'm... I'm sorry about the kibble... [ That was stupid, stupid, she should have just stuck with the fish....

She sits back on her haunches, very small. ] I'd... do this even if you weren't a cat. ... Okay, mostly. But only because you're so small now...

[ She knows she isn't being helpful, and her heart sinks. ] But I'm your fr-friend no matter what you look like.

[robotfightclub]

[Siiiiigh. Well, can't say she didn't see this coming. Time for damage control.]

Then treat me like your friend, not your pet.

[Okay, that was pretty bad damage control.]

[kind_to_all]

[ Fluttershy opened her mouth to say something, then swallowed and nodded. ]

O-okay.

[ Pause. ] But... the supplies are still yours if... you want them. [ She's not looking at Arcee anymore, looking away, hating herself and the stupid mistakes she made. She should have treated Arcee better. She shouldn't have let her love of cute animals blind her to who Arcee was, even a little. Her eyes watered a little but she ignored it, hoping the tears wouldn't fall. ]

[robotfightclub]

[Another sigh, this time at herself. The last thing she needed was to make Fluttershy cry. Funny how her original intention was to scare everyone off, even expect a few tears from anyone she might've mouthed off too harshly at, but somehow this crosses the line.

Without a word, she pads over to Fluttershy and rubs against her. Please no sads right now.]

[kind_to_all]

[ Fluttershy nuzzles Arcee back. ] You're all... in such a difficult position, being stuck in bodies that you're not used to. And I'm good at helping people changed into ponies. Even... some dragons. But I guess I've been blinded to you even though you're just the same as they are.

[ She squats down to look Arcee in the eye. ] I'm so sorry. Can you ever forgive me?

[robotfightclub]

Just this once.

[Like she wouldn't. But so much for cutting ties, Arcee didn't want to give people a reason to miss her. Friendship is probably the biggest reason, and all she can think of while she pushes against Fluttershy is how this puts a damper on her plans.]

[kind_to_all]

[ Fluttershy just holds her close. The last thing she'd want to do is drive Arcee away. She lets the cat -- her friend -- hug her for as long as she wants. ]

[robotfightclub]

[It's a pretty long hug by Arcee standards, but eventually she signals that it's time to stop.

She has a train to catch, after all.]

[kind_to_all]

[ Fluttershy nods and lets her go reluctantly. ]

You take care, Arcee.

[robotfightclub]

[Arcee hesitates, giving a rather long sigh. She was all for going a second ago, now she's not so sure.]

I don't know if I can.

[kind_to_all]

[ Fluttershy places a comforting wing around Arcee's back. She selfishly wants Arcee to stay behind. But she doesn't want to stand in her friend's way, either. ] Why?

[robotfightclub]

[Again she hesitates, becoming conflicted if she should even continue this conversation. She doesn't like throwing her problems on people, not if she can help it. Not even Jack got the full stories.]

I don't know...

[She lowers her head.]

It's like every time something good happens, it gets taken away faster than it came. Every. Time.

[kind_to_all]

Oh, Arcee... [ She holds her with her wing. Not in a hug, exactly, but she's there for comfort. ] What happened?...

[robotfightclub]

[Arcee struggles to hold everything in when that wing comes closer. It's exactly like what Jack did when he was here for that short time.

As a result, her voice is surprisingly hushed.]

Optimus is gone.

[kind_to_all]

[ The rather alarming change in the tone of Arcee's voice worries the pegasus even more. She lowers her head in understanding, touching the top of Arcee's as she does so. ] A friend?

[robotfightclub]

[Okay, deep breath, here she goes.]

Optimus Prime is our leader, chosen by Primus himself to carry the matrix. He's like our Celestia, he's a hero, I could go on forever about all the amazing things he's done for us. Just the fact that I got to fight directly under him was the greatest honor of my life.

[She pauses, stopping the hero worship ramble for just a second as she collects herself. Her voice shakes as she finally goes on.]

I was finally able to gather up the courage to tell him how I felt.

He disappeared soon after... and I will never see him again.

[kind_to_all]

He's not waiting? [ ... But Arcee's tone tells her all she needs to know. Fluttershy pulls her in closer, a true hug now, holding Arcee to her as she joins the cat in her grief. ] Oh... oh no...

[ Her own eyes water. ]

[robotfightclub]

[Arcee doesn't fight the hug, but she doesn't embrace it either. Instead she finds herself already regretting telling Fluttershy, she didn't want to make her cry again.]

I'm sorry... I didn't mean to take it out on you.

[kind_to_all]

Arcee... Arcee, no... [ Tiny tears fall onto Arcee's fur, and Fluttershy tries in vain to wipe them away. ] Th-that's what I'm here for. I'm sorry I'm not... being so good at being leaned on right now, but...

I'm so sorry about him, Arcee...

[robotfightclub]

[Oh no, she's apologizing to her. Arcee's heart can't help but sink. Her ears fold back as she glances away, not wanting to make eye contact.]

You don't have to be sorry for anything, Fluttershy, really. I was an idiot for not seeing it coming a mile away.

[The ever common bitterness lingers from her voice.]

I got mad... at myself so I took it out on everyone else. I can't believe I made that fragging message, this whole train stint might as well be a cry for attention.

[Arcee's sadness is obviously turning into anger at this point and she finds herself embarrassed that she did any of this in the first place. See what feelings do to you? They turn you into a hot mess.]