Journal, Day 29

It's been two days since they put this new ban into action. I'm only slightly surprised it's still in effect.

It's only a matter of time before they realize how stupid they are. Honestly, I've never seen a closer couple than Hound and Arty.

Prowl and Morgan however...damn, I hope they're doin okay. With Prowl being so anal about the rules and whatnot, what's he gonna do about the new ban?

I'm just waiting out the storm now. What else can I do?

Bethany

The blonde sighed and promptly dropped her pencil on the desktop. Couldn't her superiors see how stupid this was? Apparently not.

Bethany shook her head and folded her journal back up. There was no use in whining. Not yet at least. She'd told them her thoughts and yet the higher ups were still being thick about it.

She could only hope for a dampen on the ban. But that required the overall staff to ignore the new code.

And it wasn't like interspecies romance applied to a lot of NEST operatives.

The woman stepped outside of her barrack, intent on going to the labs to bother Peede for a while only to find a fully transformed peterbilt outside her door.

She heaved a deep sigh through her nose and folded her arms. "So, to what do I owe this pleasure." She called out to the large mech, wildly unimpressed with him at the moment.

Optimus didn't answer right away, but instead knelt down to offer a servo for her to step onto. She could feel her posture lose a little of its hostility. It was hard to stay mad at the boss mech. He tried his best and yet…

"Do I even have to guess why you're here?" Bethany asked.

Optimus let out a slow ex-vent. "You're still pessimistic about the new code." He noted.

He certainly didn't sound surprised.

Beth scoffed. "No shit. And just so you're aware, it's been upped from a code to a flat out ban by the soldiers."

Optimus gave her a warning look. "I didn't come here to argue."

"I'm aware." Bethany shifted as the mech began to walk. "Look, I know you mean well, but this is wrong."

"Humans and Cybertronians should not engage in relationships." Optimus stood his ground. "With cultural differences-."

"I'm gonna stop you right there." Bethany snapped. "Puh-lease, "cultural differences" my left freckled ass cheek. I dare say some Earth cultures take marriage even more seriously than your race does."

"Ms. Grey-."

"Y'know, most people call me Big Banny or Benny-."

"Ms. Grey." Optimus repeated a bit more forcefully, "That is enough."

Bethany shook her head as the Autobot Leader ex-vented deeply. "Whatever. So, why are you here then?"

"I felt that you should be aware of our decision regarding the other couples on base." Optimus answered.

"What was there to decide? Just leave them alone."

"Ms. Grey-."

"Enough, Prime." Bethany scowled, "I'm sick of the excuses. I told you, Arty and Hound are like a match made in Heaven. The only ones that might be suffering are Prowl and Morgan."

Bethany certainly didn't miss the stricken look on the leader's face. Prowl was his third in command and a brilliant tactician. Having him under more stress than usual could prove disastrous.

"Would you care to elaborate?"

"Prowl's a stickler for rules. Sure, he loves Morgan. She's great for him. She gets him out of his shell from time to time and their workaholic attitudes actually tend to help their relationship. But I know that Morgan would just want to ignore this new ban. But I don't know if Prowl would." Bethany bit her lip.

"And you believe they are a good match?" Optimus raised an optic ridge.

Bethany smirked, "Don't believe me, Autoboss? Watch them sometime. See if they don't change your mind." She challenged.

For a while Optimus was silent, regarding the loud woman in his hands with careful wariness.

"Alright then."

Journal 29...again?

11:58 PM

Two of these things in one day? I must be losing my mind. So the Autoboss came to visit today.

I've somehow convinced him to spy on Prowl and Morgan the next time they're together out in the open. Now the waiting game begins. Which reminds me, I never gave him a chance to tell me the consensus on the couples that pre-date the ban. Shit.

Oh well, rumor mills exist for a reason, don't they?

Sleepily yours,

Bethany