AN: So, the last fic was kinda dark. Sorry for springing that one on ya. The next three (yes, you're getting a triple-barreled update :)) should be a little more light-hearted. Starting with some TFA, set before the great war at Tyrest University. I know that's technically a Shattered Glass location, but it was listed as a 'leading science and knowledge university' on TFWiki, so I figured that it'd be the best setting. Enjoy!
There was a lot of talk circulating the campus about this particular new arrival. He'd joined with all of the other freshmechs, of course, and was apparently studying in the science department. Even with the fact that he was a seeker, he didn't really stand out all that much.
That was, until one heard about his ideas. The young mech had visions for Cybertron – glorious visions that bots would sit and listen to, enthralled; leaving in the firm belief that such revolution was just around the corner. This student foresaw a world led and created, even governed, by advances in science and technology. Inventors would lead the way into a New Golden Age, constantly striving to improve their fellows' way of life and ruling with great fairness granted by their prodigious intelligence.
Personally, Arcee thought that it was a load of political nonsense given too much hype. It sounded good, and she had no doubt that the mech spouting the stories truly believed in them, but she had seen fanatic visionaries like him at Tyrest University before. Their ideas never lasted more than a semester, after which people moved on to other things.
It was a good thing that she was in the final stellar cycle of training, Arcee supposed. Most of the younger bots didn't discuss things like this with their seniors for fear of being ridiculed. And thankfully the majority of the bots on her teaching course shared her views about the newcomer, so she remained relatively unaffected by the phenomenon.
However, that had all changed yesterday. Arcee belonged to an extracurricular group that studied politics which she had, coincidentally enough, joined because of her fascination with the seeker sub-faction. The small circle of friends studied the seekers and other similar groups purely out of interest, as often the subject bore no relevance whatsoever to their chosen course. Among them were a budding scientist, an aspiring intelligence agent, a talented botanist and a skilled historian, who specialised in past conflicts. And then there was Smokescreen, whose high-flying creators had insisted he take a course in Law, and whom Arcee had taken under her proverbial wing when it came to the study group in a bid to convince said creators that their son was, actually, taking some sort of interest in the subject he had been shoehorned into studying. Mostly, Smokescreen used the meetings to catch up on recharge.
And now, according to Perceptor, the group was gaining a new member. It was this same 'revolutionary' that the campus had been going crazy about – he'd met Percy somewhere around the science department, heard about the study group, and asked to join.
Great, Arcee thought. That's exactly what we need – some up-himself freshmech shoving his nonsensical ideas down our fuel inttakes.
Starscream grinned to himself as he sauntered down the corridor towards the library, where he was meeting the other members of the study group. He was looking forward to this for more reasons than one – there was, of course, the interest in the subject, but since he had learned from Perceptor exactly who would be attending his mind had outlined a new benefit.
Arcee, the femme from Skyfire's teaching course, was part of the group.
Starscream's best friend was a couple of stellar cycles older than him and more interested in teaching science than studying it. The seeker had seen some of Skyfire's classmates around the campus, but the one who had really stood out for him was the pretty pink femme with the rose-coloured faceplates, who was more often than not to be found in the company of Smokescreen or the History student Springer. Thankfully, she didn't appear to be romantically involved with either of them, and once Starscream had discovered her name via Skyfire, he had made up his mind that he would, somehow or other, ask her out. So what if he was only a freshmech, and she was two stellar cycles his senior? She was hot. And, cocky and self-assured young mech that he was, Starscream didn't see how Arcee could say anything other than yes to him.
This explained his buoyant mood as he entered the library. He had it all planned out – after the meeting he would wait until Arcee left, then catch her up and offer to take her for energon at the university bar. Best not to ask her outright in the library – he didn't want it to sound too rehearsed.
He still had a confident smirk stuck to his faceplates as he approached the group's table, but his expression faltered slightly as he turned the grin on Arcee and was met with a coolly appraising stare. He didn't have time to dwell on this, however, as at that moment Perceptor joined the table and the discussion began.
After the meeting, Starscream mooched back to his living quarters alone. He felt deflated – there was no other word for it. The seeker had been so sure that Arcee was friendly, and what's more, intelligent, having seen her around the campus, but she hadn't said a word all evening. The femme hadn't had any points to make or opinions to offer at all – Pit, even Smokescreen had contributed more than her! Starscream could only assume that Arcee had joined the group for much the same reasons as the law-student-cum-gambler.
Great, he thought. That's just what we need – a stuck-up bimbo hanging around, making no contribution whatsoever!