#and then i think drif is in this as a bonus? i think?

[aparticularbandit]

In which I spent forty minutes stuck in the snow in the driveway and am now safely not halfway in the road anymore and, uh. Hey, look, I have suddenly some free time, LET'S DO THE 2-4 CASE TRIAL.

[yes-dillman-yes]

ahh!! awesome! could you write a miniseries stozier x FTM reader smut that takes place post them defeating pennywise the first time? (obvi a good while after so they’re an appropriate age) like the reader notices that stan is pulling away from the group and that richie is being avoidant about it/deflecting a lot and decides to talk to the two of them and things escalate from there

or if you’re not comfortable with ship x reader: a miniseries richie x FTM reader where the reader saves richie from a beating by henry bowers and comes out to richie (bonus points if you can work in a reference to the teenage werewolf in the basement incident into the fic <3)

1960s!RICHIE T. X 1960s!STAN U. X FTM!READER

Warnings: mature language, penetration, blowjobs, cunnilingus, unprotected smut, threesome

Summary: They had defeated Pennywise for years at this point, but the haunting presents of the clown had yet to leave them. They are now exiting their finale year of high school, when at Billy’s graduation party, Stan and Richie enter a private argument. Or what they thought was private - until y/n stumbles into the room to declare peace.

Notes: Never in my life would I think I would be writing a Stozier fic, but I found it as a challenge to overcome. All characters are 18/19, so no underage private time. I haven’t written is so long so please excuse typos or just shit writing. Long intro, and I kind of altered the story from the request slightly. Enjoy my readers!

There was never the intention for y/n to become an ease dropper, but he had somehow ended up as one. Eddie was freaking out over spilled punch and Billy had used all the downstairs towels for cleaning up a mess earlier that night that y/n took on the responsibility to hunt for some replacements. Which lead him to finding Richie and Stan in Billy’s room - whisper shouting at each other.

“I told you, Richard, everything is fine with me,” there is a pause in Stanley’s speech, “I’m just…I don’t know what to say anymore. I don’t know how else to move on - except to just leave.”

Richie grabs Stan’s shoulders, forcing him to look each other in the eyes.

“You don’t think I feel the same? But that’s not what this is about. You know that. The other’s keep asking me about you, and I’m always left with no response-”

“I’m sure that’s new for you.”

“IT IS! I tell them you’re at Boy Scouts, or bird watching! Because I can’t just tell them that you can’t even stand to look at any of them anymore since all you can see is that stupid clown’s face!” Richie’s face starts to turn red.

A beat of silence until another word is spoken.

“I apologize that my absents causes so many issues for you.”

“Don’t, Stan. Don’t turn this into something it’s not. I’m asking you to stop running. You have no idea the affect you have on me. You ignore us- me, and I feel like I’m loosing a part of myself.”

“Maybe it’s for the best-” Stan is about to finish his sentence when all of a sudden the door swings open. Y/n stumbles into the room awkwardly catching their balance.

“Oh shit, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt,” y/n tries to say casually. He doesn’t want them to know he was listening for so long. But they both look at y/n with a suspicious stare.

“You’re not,” they say in unison and then smirk at their actions.

Stanley pulls away from Richie’s grip, and heads for the door. But right before he brushes past, he is grabbed by y/n’s firm hands. A shiver runs down his spine excitedly. Y/n leans into their shared space and whispers, “Don’t go, Stan. Let me talk first”. Y/n leads Stan to sit on the bed, and shoots Richie a look that says ‘you too’.

Y/n stands before the two boys and begins his speech, “Ok, so I was definitely listening before I fell in. Which I am sorry for doing, but I know - we all know that something is wrong with you two. Stan, you’ve been MIA for weeks. Even when you’re in the same room as us, you’re mentally a million miles away. You saw shit that some of us didn’t but you’re letting it drift you away. We miss you. I miss you.”

Y/n sees tears start to build in the dark haired boy’s eyes and something in him shifts. Y/n can’t help himself as he bends down to wipe the boy’s tears away. He shares a smile as he does so. Their hands intertwine as y/n shifts towards Richie’s direction.

“As for you carrot top,” a giggle leaves Richie’s mouth at the name, “you’re always a loud mouth but recently- everything is a fucking joke to you. This is the first time in a while that I’ve heard you have a serious conversation. You criticize Stan for running away but don’t pretend that you’re not avoiding the pain too”. Y/n takes his free hand to run his palm softly across the other boy’s freckled face, “Now, please, tell me what I can do to help relieve you both of these feelings?”

Stanley hums to grab y/n’s attention, and leans forward to connect their foreheads. Before any more questions can be asked, both of their lips are touching. Stan moans into the kiss while he slides his left hand on to Richie’s thigh. His thigh shakes at the touch like a jolt of electricity runs through him. Richie moves into action, running his own hands over y/n’s hair and shoulders. He begins to leave kisses on each piece of skin he touches.

Y/n pulls apart from the kiss to catch his breath, and bends his neck to open more room for Richie’s mouth to suck. Stan rubs his hardening cock through his jeans while watching the show before him. The sucking comes to a pause so a whisper could be shared, “I think this is us showing you our gratitude”. The sucking instantly continuing. Y/n smiles at Stanley and can feel himself start to get wet.

“Don’t just sit there, baby. Show me what you want,” y/n request.

Both of the other men guide y/n onto the bed, with his face towards the ceiling, they begin to undress him until only his underwear remains. Richie begins to undress himself while Stan kisses the happy trail leading to y/n’s wet entrance. Stan shoots a look up, asking for permission, which is granted with a moan and a nod of the head.

“Your body is beautiful, y/n. I can’t wait to feel how good it is to be inside of you,” Richie is rubbing his cock right in front of y/n’s face while speaking pure filth, “But first, Stan the Man here is going to get you nice and loose. I bet you like his tongue.”

The only sound Stan makes in response, is his tongue sliding into y/n’s pussy to then slide out so he can suck on the clit. The minute he begins to focus on that area, a deep groan leaves y/n throat. But before he could make any more sound, Richie grabs his jaw and slides his long cock into y/n’s mouth. A sweet bliss washes over all of the men.

For a few beats, the only sounds that could be heard are the sucking sounds of skin and moans that sound like a choir. Y/n’s legs are shaking around his lover’s head while Richie gasps with pleasure from the friction of the tongue against his dick. The edge of his climax creeping upon him.

“I’m going to fucking cum all over your face, baby” Richie purrs.

All of a sudden, Stanley pulls his head up and lays a hand on Richie’s shoulder to pause the action. Stanley demands, without saying a word, for Richie to lay on his back while positioning y/n on top of the laying boy’s stomach. Stanley once again shoots a questioning look towards y/n - asking for consent. The request is eagerly accepted.

Richie is heard whinnying as Stanley leads the boy’s slim cock into the soaking entrance of their shared lover. A sigh of relief leaves y/n’s mouth as they finally become full. A sudden new sigh escapes him when he feels his cunt stretch perfectly to fit another cock inside. Both of the other men are gripping and kissing any flesh available to them.

Finally, Stanley utters his first words, “We’re going to cum inside of you. You’re our angel.”

Richie is sucking their lover’s nipples while reaching around to grip Stanley’s ass, helping the man to thrust deeper inside. Y/n is moving his hips in the best direction to feel his g-spot getting hit repeatedly. His nails scratching the surface of Richie’s scalp - Richie groaning and thrusting like an animal in response. Stanley, on the hand, is fucking like he has it all mapped out. Every move has a purpose and direction: making everyone cum.

“Fuck me harder! I’m close…so, so fucking close,” y/n demands.

Richie is there too, leaking inside the other’s hole.

Stanley slams his thick cock in the perfect spot that y/n jolts forward, climaxing as Richie’s cock slips out. His cum covering Stan’s stomach and y/n’s ass. Richie quickly moving his hands to stimulate Stan’s nipples - just enough touch to get the dark haired boy to groan out his sign of climax.

Y/n didn’t need to hear the groan though. He felt the warm fluid coat his raw insides. Finally feeling complete and fulfilled.

“Goddamn that’s Stan the fucking man!”

“Shut up, Richie.”

[djschool]

um... what about ness??

my grubga <3

favorite thing about them: no brain brain dip.. so sweet & how much of a tank he is you could hit him with a train and he’d still have hp

least favorite thing about them: hmm maybe generic silent protag. def gives space to characterize how you want but damn bitch would it kill you to say something

brOTP: him and frank fly tbh they hang out and talk about wrasslin 🤼 frank also teaches him basic shit since his dad isnt around to.. i like the it

OTP: ness/porky obviously look at these morons good for them good for them! bffs they share the braincell <3

nOTP: ness/lucas help girl. dont even know each other & hed annoy lucas so bad.. also ness/paula and claus/ness weirdo ppl

random headcanon: he isnt very smart.. idk what smash calling him a “child genius” was for he has salmonella. very focused on music tho, just has a few interests he can excel at

unpopular opinion: hate skinny legend purple eyes anime yaoiling get that thing away from me !!! also dont think he even likes baseball that much.. its more tracys thing imo

song i associate with them: definitely history of a boring town. bonus lol lawl lole

favorite picture of them:

(i dont feel like searching thru a bunch of art LOL but the smash64 art/screens r so cute too or art where he has big dopey grin.. favs) (hi drif)

[cozyships]

hello! mood, special and starry? maybe with drif! :) (@robotlover)

@robotlover friend hello!! Ty for the ask!

moods: what makes your f/o happiest?

Motes probably. 

Nah I'm joking! but tbh I don’t know the last time he’s been genuinely happy? He’s always got that smile and says to go out and have fun, be rebellious, all that. But I know he’s a sad dude :( Drif my dude, are you good? You okay? 

I could be very wrong about this, but I think he’d be happy living a life where he can go out and explore and stuff, but not constantly be watching his back. Bonus if he has a place he knows he’ll be welcome when he needs it. But I could be wrong.

special: what stands out to you about your f/o? what stands out to your f/o about you?

Alright I’ll try to pick one thing lol. He’s a very resourceful guy, and pretty knowledgeable, too. Whether or not you’d want to know half the stuff he does... okay you probably don’t and unfortunately he might tell you anyway. But really, I do admire his skills. Guy has built plenty of remarkable things with the stuff he finds and I think that’s pretty neat! He's a good person to go to when you need something (if you don't ask questions and are ready to do something for him too)

As for something more serious though, I think it's really admirable that he's still around helping us out when I know he wanted to run off somewhere.

And what he sees in Rabbit? idk actually? He might think they're kind of a fool for doing what they do, but a part of him might find it admirable, especially when they agree that yeah, they're probably a fool.

And they're actually kind of similar in some ways. Rabbit also kind of a sad person and they don't disagree with some of his more gloomy outlooks on life, but they're still trying. And while they don't agree on everything he does, and they might be a bit skeptical, they are one of the first people he'll ask to help him with something, just because they genuinely want to help.

starry: what gets both and your f/o excited?

Both he and Rabbit like finding neat stuff from around the system, and if it’s old stuff, maybe even from before the golden age? Even better! It’s fun discussing what it might’ve been for, if neither of them actually know. They’re both dorks, even if he’d never admit it. And honestly, almost anything that gets Drif excited makes Rabbit excited too, if only because he’s happy. Almost anything. Sometimes, they have their concerns lol

[diceforanaltmode]

Team Fire: Session 2, or Drama! Tears! P-poetry!? (Did I read that right?)

Team Fire continued their adventuring and drama after their first game (read about that here!) and we’re bringing you the summary!

TEAM FIRE

Rodimus by Frosty (tiefling sorcerer) Drift by Space (earth genasi rogue) Ratchet by Hawke (firbolg cleric) Magnus | Minimus by Tuna (half-orc paladin | human/tethyrian wizard) Megatron by Briar (goliath paladin) Rewind by Robin (high elf wizard) (out for this week, but back soon)

First Session (no seriously, read this first!)

The party begins in the same place they left off, in Zeta’s throne room. There is the door the party came in through, and the door on the other side of the room. There is Zeta’s body, the throne, and the windows.

Magnus and Megatron walk over to the mysterious door and attempt to open it. Megs, far too weak after his time in the dungeon to open it with his bare hands, doesn’t even make a dent. Mags tries next, crushing it ever so slightly but not making much more progress (Meg’s eyes widen at her strength). Ratchet, almost out the door to go talk to Orion, pokes his head back in after he realizes no one else is following. He sees the two other giants of the group at the door and walks back over.

“What the hell are you two doing?”

Mags turns back. “Oh, Ratchet. By chance do you have a spell that could help us open this door?”

Flipping through a tattered notebook full of spells, he gives her a look. “Magnus - it was Magnus, right? - I have nothing magic wise, but I got a mace…”

“Wait, hold on, I have my battle ax, I can just use that,” Megs pipes up. Ratchet frowns.

Megs gets them through the door, and they find Zeta’s tower study.

When they look through the papers on Zeta’s desk, they find orders for construction of additional rooms and dungeons under the castle. There’s no updated map, but you can see information on where construction would have begun. The various plans and correspondences suggest that Zeta was concerned about the security of the castle, and wanted to keep his most important research and laboratories hidden, in a place that Nine of Twelve wouldn’t know about because it did not exist when he controlled the castle. They get some information from a hidden drawer about the security being like the dungeon and there being two additional rooms for security, and then an office and lab. The research referenced includes vague references to the plane of his patron, and one letter from the Functionists that suggests it might be time to revisit the earlier work that had brought Zeta to their attention.

Magnus goes to look through the cabinets, muttering “I really shouldn’t be doing this.” Megatron joins the search. They find:

Lead Helm - gives immunity to psychic damage, charm, and sleep. It looks like Magneto’s helmet.

Cloak of the Matador - Worn Item - As a reaction, you may have an enemy attack against an ally within 5ft of you target you instead if you took the dodge action on your turn - possibly causing it to miss.

Grasping Whip - Weapon: When you hit with this weapon as a bonus action you can make a strength or dexterity contest to disarm or trip your enemy. You have disadvantage in this contest if disarming a two-handed weapon or tripping a creature larger than yourself. Take care picking it up or its lash will snap to your wrist.

Needles: +1 to medicine checks

Potions: disguise self, Nausea inducing poison

Megatron takes the Lead Helm, Magnus takes the cloak and potions, also the whip but that is potentially for Drift.

Ratchet quietly snags those needles.

They leave the room, now a little more armed. Magnus and Ratchet head over to Drift and Rodimus, asking if everything is okay and if Rodimus needs help. He insists he’s okay, despite gritting his teeth and growling. Drift stays close, with a hand on Rodimus’s arm, as Rodimus retrieves his arrows, and Drift loots the ring of fire resistance from Zeta.

The party goes down the tower, as they do, Magnus asks Ratchet to introduce her to Orion, needing to get a message from an old friend of Orion’s to him.

----

When they get back into the courtyard where they find Orion, who is talking with Anode. Ratchet goes over to Orion with the intention to ask about the mind control but is interrupted as Orion greets Ratchet and then sees Megatron and immediately freaks.

“WHAT THE HELL IS HE DOING HERE?!” He’s turned to Anode, looking for an answer, and trying to put himself between Ratchet and Megatron.

“I don’t -” Anode starts, “I heard that he might be imprisoned here but I don’t know - what are you doing here?”

Megatron explains that he was imprisoned and says, gesturing to the rest of the party, says, “these heroes rescued me,”

Orion retorts that Megatron became a murderer and a tyrant and betrayed their ideals.

Megatron counters that at least he was trying to resist the Functionists, but Orion doesn’t let him finish before he shouts “TRYING?”

Megatron shouts back that, yes, he was trying, he was trying to make things better, he was trying to make a better place for everyone, so they could live free of the Functionists.

“You were trying to make things better - what about for the people who died in the hospital you bombed, what about for all the people you killed because you thought they might think the wrong thing -”

“I became a monster, and yes, I regret it. But at least I didn’t bow my head to the Functionists -”

“And you think I did?”

Megatron challenges Orion on having gone back to become a cop after leaving Kaon.

As Megatron and Orion argue, Megatron offers that if they let him go, he will leave the city and they won’t have to deal with him.

Orion incredulously asks whether he thinks that would be enough, after everything he’s done, after the hospital.

Megatron explains that the hospital was covering the Institute and that patients being taken and tortured and killed. Even though dozens of innocent people died, destroying it was meant to prevent still more people from being tortured and killed Megatron insists that even though he’s been a monster, at least he wasn’t enabling horrors like the institute.

Orion is totally taken aback. He pauses for a long moment. “I didn’t - when I took the job, I was trying to reform things, I was trying to protect people from the worst of the corruption. And I was working with the underground there, I was trying to help. I wanted to help you if you hadn’t - I - I didn’t bow my head or whatever you think - I don’t know why you would think I would do that, you … know me.”

“Even if you were trying to help, you were still working for them. Can you really say you didn’t hurt people in their service, that you didn’t commit any atrocities?”

“I’ve been mind controlled for the past year, I don’t! fucking! know! what I’ve done! I don’t… fucking… know.”

After Orion has his breakdown, Megatron turns slightly away, and Orion turns back towards Anode and Ratchet. Anode puts a hand on his arm and speaks softly and guides him back towards the other guards.

Ratchet asks Megatron about the hospital, closes with this: “For all your reasons, they’re still dead.”

And Ratchet walks away.

Drift is Not Having A Great Day, and this shouting match did not make it any better.

Magnus quietly says, more to herself than to Ratchet, “Definitely not the best time to introduce someone, is it?”

---

The party goes back to Swerve’s.

Rodimus, upon entering and seeing the state of semi-organized chaos that Swerve’s in, with various people returning from taking the castle, First Aid and Rung treating people, Prowl running around, people running back to the castle - etc, concludes: “I want a drink.”

Ratchet says, “You know, you’re not as dumb as you look.”

“And you're not as dumb as you look, too!”

Ratchet does not dispute this. They go to find Swerve.

Ratchet leans over the counter and stares dead into Swerve's eyes. "Give me the largest jug of mead you have, small man."

Drift goes up to Swerve and asks for some tea. Swerve seems confused but goes and makes it anyway.

Rodimus goes up to the bar and says - “Give me the strongest drink you have.”

Swerve hands Rodimus a shot glass and Rodimus proceeds to drink it all in one go eating the shot glass as well. He's immediately wasted.

Swerve sees Rodimus eat the shot glass and his eyes go wide as saucers. “You… you’ll have to pay for the glass too.” He makes no further comment, because this is just that kind of day where this might as well happen.

Ratchet sees Rodimus eat the glass, and asks Drift if it's always like that.

"Not glass...he usually has a more varied diet.."

"Hmm. Interesting."

"You get used to it."

"HMMM." And he proceeds to order another jug and keeps chugging.

Rodimus faces Drift, slurring, “Drif, Driift, Drifff. Look a wha I can do!” And he casts dancing lights.

“That’s great Rodimus…”

Later across the bar Rodimus can be seen messing with the lights and laughing his ass off.

----

Megatron comes up to the bar and orders a pint of mead. Swerve takes the order on autopilot because it has been A Day for everyone, goes back into the kitchen to get his order, comes back out, finally recognizes Megatron, and with a- “AAAAUUUGHHHHH!!” he jumps about two feet in the air - pretty impressive for a halfling - and spills about half the mug on the floor.

“You’re not - I mean - you just - you’re not - you just look like the Butcher of Kaon, right? Y’know, that guy.”

“No, I am.”

“Ahahahah” Swerve shoves the mug onto the bar and flees back into the kitchen.

Megatron downs the half a mug in one and goes to sit in a corner, stealing a cloak off the rack to try and hide and avoid any further awkward encounters.

“Do you want a dunce cap?” Ratchet asks, sarcastically, at Megatron’s attempt to hide.

“That’s why he has the helmet.” Drift says.

----

[Mags and Rewind go over to Chromedome and Rewind visits Dom. CD and Mags discuss angsty stuff and Dom being there in Adaptica]

Chromedome flags down Rewind and Magnus from where he’s sitting in front of a door in the basement.

“Dominus is in there, I think he’s still asleep. He needed some rest after what he’s been through, but I think he’ll be okay.” Chromedome pauses, and looks at the two of them. “Look, I know you’re upset, and I know there are things you need to talk about, and - and I know it’s none of my business, but - but just go easy on him, please. He’s made mistakes but - trust me, he’s paid for them.” He sighs. “If - if one of you wants to go in there and sit with him, I guess that’s okay, just don’t disturb him, he needs the rest.”

Rewind goes in to sit with Dominus, Magnus sits outside with Chromedome.

“How long have you known Dominus?” Magnus asks.

“I didn’t really know him well, but from what I heard he got here at about the worst time, just before Zeta took over. The first thing Zeta did was put up magical barriers to communication, and then the wall.

“I know Perceptor was the one who called him, something about his planar research. And then he ended up working for Prowl, to try and infiltrate the castle. Because he was new to the city, Zeta didn’t know anything about him, and as a high-level druid, he had an in with Zeta’s magical research. He was trying to do the right thing, once he was here.”

“I know,” Magnus says.

“I wasn’t inside the castle until I was captured, so I wasn’t working with him. The time in the cell was the first I met him properly, and there wasn’t much talking then. He - well, they put the ‘interrogation chambers’ near the dungeons, so that was probably the most I heard his voice before you two showed up, and it wasn’t ... particularly conversational. Sorry.”

Mags is startled into silence.

“You’re his … sister, did you say?” Chromedome asks.

“Yes, I am.” Magnus can tell that Chromedome wants to ask how an orc is the sister of a human man, but he doesn’t.

“You said you didn’t really know him? That he worked with Prowl?”

“Prowl talked about him. He always talks about work. He only talks about work.” Chromedome adds bitterly. “I don’t know, I might have seen him a couple of times outside of that? I mean, before - yeah.” He turns to Magnus. “He’s a good person, I’m sure he’ll be okay.”

They sit in silence for a few moments before Magnus goes back upstairs.

-----

Magnus goes to sit by Megatron, where he’s still sitting in a corner nook.

“So,” he says as she sits. “Which atrocity do I need to apologize for now?”

“Surprisingly enough, you have not done anything to affect me. I have been hiding away in a fortress of neutrality for a few years now.”

Megs laughs humorlessly. “It’s been A Day,” he sighs.

"IT'S BEEN SHIT," Ratchet hollers from the bar.

Magnus chuckles a little. “Yes, I guess that is one way to say it.”

The two try to talk for a moment more, but both realize they are both shit at small talk. (“You’re not very good at this, are you?” “No, no, not at all.” “Well, I don’t have many topics for small talk, so.”) It’s awkward and they both acknowledge it. Thankfully, Megs has a potential way to make it Not Awkward.

He pulls out a journal, small in his hands. “If you like, we can sit here in silence while I work on some poetry”

Magnus perks up at this. “You write poetry?”

“Yes,” Megs asks if she’s read a list of certain poets, and informs her that they were actually all him, publishing under many pseudonyms. Mags, surprised yet again, says she has indeed read most these ‘authors.’

“And you, do you write?”

“Um, yes, I do. A little bit.”

Magnus then decides to bring out her journal.

“Would you like to read mine while I read yours?” Megatron offers, “Mine aren’t exactly cogent right now.”

“Oh of course; mine are not as superfluous and detailed as my brothers’, but they get to the point.”

“Comparing yourself to someone else is pointless,” Megatron says, and for a moment he almost reaches out to put a hand on Magnus’ arm, but he catches himself and pulls his hand back before continuing. “Your voice carries its own weight and means something. You are your own self.”

Magnus is struggling not to tear up. “T-thank you. That is very kind of you.”

They then exchange notebooks and read their poetry out loud and compliment each other like dorks.

----

Rodimus starts to feel nauseous and tells Drift.

“Hey, Drif? I don- I don't feel so good… I think I ate something bad…”

Rodimus gets up to find a bathroom and Drift gets up too to help Rodimus to it. Along the way, they run into Rung, who’s left the treatment area as things have slowed down.

“Oh hey! What are- wha you doin’ here? Rrring? Ring.”

“Um, Rung actually..”

“Ya! Rang. I don’t… I don’t feel great.”

Drift recognizes Rung as someone Rodimus has talked about.

Rung offers him a potion that gets rid of the effects of the drink, and Rodimus takes it.

“Haven't seen you in uh… a while.” Rodimus says, and his hesitation betrays some of his conflicted feelings about Rung - while he’s happy to see him now, that doesn’t change the fact that he wasn't there when Rodimus needed him.

Rung says it’s been too long and apologizes for the fact that he hasn’t been there.

Rodimus asks about whether Rung knows what happened in Nyon, and Rung says he does. Rung tries to ask Rodimus about it and gets the brush off.

Rung changes the topic, “Adaptica is better now, even if things seem messy now. You and your friends are responsible for that.”

Rodimus says that killing Zeta didn’t help him, or make him feel any better.

Considering this, Rung offers. “Let’s take a walk.”

“Fiiiiiiiiine.”

As Rung, Rodimus, and Drift,  walk into the city, they see people in the streets - something they hadn’t seen much of when entering the city when it had been much more subdued, people only leaving their homes if absolutely necessary. Guards, now free of enchantment and having been released from AVL debriefing, reuniting with their families, people out and talking freely about what happened - celebratory music plays a few streets away. They continue to walk through the residential part of the city, then out further, to the wall. People are tearing down the hall, with hammers, whatever tools they can get to hand, with spells, now that the wall no longer has Zeta’s protective enchantment. Kids are playing with fallen bricks, reenacting Zeta’s defeat, building towers and knocking them down. People are painting the walls with messages and images of celebration and defiance.

Rung smiles, looking at the paintings on the wall. “They certainly are making quite chaotic art, aren’t they? It’s very beautiful, though it’s certainly not something I could do.”

Rodimus is noncommittal. Rung continues. “I know you weren’t here in the city, under Zeta’s rule, for very long, but it’s hard to overstate how bad it was.”

Rodimus, bitterly. “Well, I know what he did to Nyon, so,”

“Yes. Yes, you do.” Rung discusses how tearing Zeta down was good and has saved a lot of people, and that the people here will be better for the fact that Rodimus and his friends did so.

“That’s great but I don't get why you'd take us out here to show this.”

Rung notes the people celebrating around them and says that he thought it might be useful to see the city and how it is better off now.

Rodimus says that doesn’t change that everyone in Nyon is still dead and the survivors hate him.

“Why do you think that?” Rung asks.

“You said you knew what happened in Nyon.”

“I do.”

“Then you know.”

“I’d prefer to hear it from you.”

Rodimus isn’t pleased about this, but he does explain, how Zeta attacked, how he had a power he never knew he had, but he lit himself on fire.  “What do you want me to say? That I burnt down the entire town? Killed everyone? That I can't go back because the survivors all hate me? That- that I didn't even choose to leave I was run out?”

Rung says that because Rodimus never knew he had this power, it was still out of his control.

“Whatever,” Rodimus says, “that doesn't really change anything now does it?”

“When the fire started, were you trying to hurt the city, or hurt Zeta?”

“I was trying to hurt Zeta - how could you even ask that?” Rodimus says, disbelieving, hurt.

“I know. What you did with the fire was to try to protect your town. And you destroyed Zeta’s demons and forced him out of your city. So why do you think you deserve to be hated?”

“So - what, you think I should just walk back into Nyon, tell everyone who survived, ‘hey, I know you hate me, but guess what? You shouldn’t.’” Rodimus says, bitterly incredulous.

“I’m not saying you need to go back, I’m saying that you should stop trying to punish yourself.”

When Rodimus still seems skeptical, Rugn repeats his point, about the fact that Rodimus’ new powers weren’t under his control when he burned Nyon, and he adds that that doesn’t have to happen again, that Rodimus can control himself. Rodimus says that of course he’s learned how to control his flames, that that isn’t going to happen again.  

“Of course,” Rung says, “You have a fire inside of you. The fire can hurt innocent people, but that’s just one part of what it can do - what it can be. Fire is life, it can bring good. You used your fire against Zeta today, and you protected your friends, and you freed all the people in this city.”

“I guess…”

Rung, realizing that Rodimus is not only at the end of his rope but several feet past it at this point, gently changes the subject. “I see you still have the cloak I gave you.”

“Yeah. Yeah, I always keep it with me.”

“Well, I’m very glad it’s been helpful.”

“Ya uh, thanks, again. I guess.”

“Oh, there's no need for thanks.”

Rung asks Drift how he is, Drift says he’s okay and doesn’t follow up, he’s now firmly established as Not A Fan Of Rung. Rung suggests they go back to the pub.

Warthog, now released from First Aid’s treatment, recognizes Rodimus, specifically, but seeing the look on Drift’s face, which suggests he’ll stab the next person who tries to have a heavy conversation where Rodimus has to relive some shit, decides to leave that conversation for another day.

Rodimus and Drift grab something to eat, Rod all but falling asleep as he eats. When he's done, Rodimus decides to retire to the room he and Drift rented for the night.

----

When he sees Drift looking like he might want to come over and talk to him, Megatron is clearly paying attention to Drift and bringing the poetry conversation with Magnus to a close. Rather than having Megatron offer to leave, Magnus offers to go and sit somewhere else, and Megatron gratefully accepts. Magnus goes to join Ratchet.

Drift comes over and sits down next to Megatron and doesn't look at him. "So."

Aaaand that's about as far as either of them thought this through. Awkward silence.

"You know, I don't think that's the loudest I've ever heard you yell at him," Drift jokes.

Megatron sighs and Sad Dads at Drift. He tried to be a good dad and failed. He apologizes profusely, tells Drift he wanted the best for him, etc. He says he’s proud of who Drift has become without him, and grateful that Drift has become someone better without him. He says "I love you, and I’m so proud of you," which is when Drift bristles and cuts him off, voice starting to shake

"Alright, that's enough."

Megatron really wants to like, hug Drift or something, and he holds his hand out towards Drift's shoulder so Drift can accept or reject the offer.

"Don't touch me." Megatron takes his hand back immediately, like he's been slapped.

"I have a lot of things I want to say to you, but I don't think either of us is going to get anything out of having that conversation right now." Drift sighs, "But - what you were saying earlier- to Orion, about leaving- don't you dare. Don't you dare disappear on me after- being here."

Megatron promises not to leave.

And with that, Drift goes up to join Rodimus in the room and get some sleep.

After today, they all need some rest.

[aparticularbandit]

monomi: you have been bad! i will have to meet you after school! and give you a very thorough teach--

monomi: wait no that sounds super dirty AH NO

hajime: you're the one who said it

~

man i love dr2. bless these writers this is fantastic i laughed so hard.