The Diego Diaries: Baller (dd7 62)
=0=The Pit Stop
It was a tense group that sat in a booth near the window. Prowl glowered at Prime who grinned back at him. It was a standoff. "Hand him over, Prowl," Prime said.
Prowl frowned at him, then crossed his arms over his chassis. "And if I don't?"
Prime stared at him without a word, watching as Prowl began to crumble around the edges.
It worked on him with his own genitors when he did the odd 'bad'. It also worked on Prowl.
Prowl felt his insides turn to mush from the only mech in his life outside of his genitors who could do that very thing. Just a silent stare from Prime brought out every insecurity, real or imaged that he'd ever felt. He sat back with a frown, then opened his hatch. Pulling Possibility out, he slid the baby toward Prime.
"Thank you, Prowl," Prime said with a chuckle as he nestled his son on his arm. "That was easier than it looked."
Prowl frowned. "You're the Prime of Cybertron, the First Disciple of Primus and a father of numerous children," he said glancing with a frown at Ratchet. "Of course, you're not a show off like SOME PEOPLE but all in all you have a certain … uh, a certain ..."
"Dash?" Ratchet asked.
"Debonair take on life, like me?" Ironhide asked with a grin.
"Perhaps a certain flair," Alor said.
Half the 'usuals' had been arriving to sit and watch with morbid fascination a hard aft slagger like Prowl turn to slag by a mere glance from Prime.
"Nah, he's a sad sack. Sad sack-itis," Springer said with a grin. "He's just upset that he's bonded to a real athlete. Tell me, Prowl … what sports did you excel in at school?"
Everyone glanced from the first to the last Mrs. Optimus Prime. Prowl gave Springer The Look. It lasted a bit but it didn't move Springer. He was essential equipment.
"I'll have you know that I was an outstanding student. I excelled in martial arts, cross country navigating and climbing." Prowl almost sniffed. It was also good that he didn't ask anyone else in the group what sports they excelled in *AT SCHOOL*! Only Ironhide and his family could answer.
Everyone looked at Prime who was grinning at the tiny Optimus laying on his arm. "That is quite an amazing array of sports, Prowl. I'm proud of you."
Prowl was *almost* mollified by that remark, then he cinched his girdle just that much tighter. "You have a place in society, Optimus, that demands a certain standard. Playing football with former Decepticons and the old gang from Cell Block D is hardly in keeping with that idea."
"The humans love it. Our sports eclipse theirs every time they show up on their media. They love football. Having four more teams makes an even dozen in each league and its going to make a great season. Of course … Praxus can kiss any idea of a championship goodbye forever," Jazz said with a smirk.
Prowl gave him The Look as he considered what kind of smart ass comeback he could make in return. Since it wouldn't look good if he did so with a slide rule, he didn't.
Reply.
He did, however, peruse the duty schedule for Mirage.
Nothing is fair in love or war. So thinketh the Prowl.
"Tell me, Prime. You're taking the entire basketball team into the game with you?" Hercy asked from a table nearby. He smirked at Prowl, then sat back to listen to the lunacy and Prime's near fetish with sports. Those who knew him like Hercy weren't surprised by this move. Optimus Prime, a very gifted natural athlete was mad about sports.
"I am," Prime said glancing at the few who were here with more spotted out the windows coming to join them. "Here come the rest of them. Apparently, word gets around."
"On The Hourly News," Prowl said.
"AND WHAT GREAT NEWS IT IS!" Jetta said as he walked in slapping servos on the way to the tables nearby with most of the femmes, Maelstrom, an awestruck Partition with Lancer, several more relatives of his family … Hauser with his oldest son, Tok-N as well as his brother, Mack. He sat, then grinned. "Maelstrom has something to tell you, Optimus."
Everyone glanced at Maelstrom who sat down after pulling out Chromia's chair … yes, Our Maelstrom has it bad. He blinked in the spotlight, then glanced at Prime. "I'd like to be on the team. The Crater Comets."
"Okay," Optimus said. He grinned. He wanted Maelstrom on the team as well. Given his competitive streak, newly noted by some who weren't as versed in him, Prime also wanted his brother, Turmoil.
A mech could dream.
"Thanks," Maelstrom said. He glanced at Chromia. "I'll help block for ya, Chrome."
"I can't wait," Chromia said as she leaned against Maeltrom's massive chassis.
"Oh, frag. This is getting better by the minute," Ratchet said with a chuckle. "Can I be team physician? Something tells me you're going to need one. For the other teams."
Huge laughter and agreement met that as orders began to be taken, arrive or decided upon. It was mellow as Prowl began to cool off. He'd blast Optimus later in private.
He was the Prime of Cybertron after all. Ratchet was supposed to be the embarrassing one in this crowd.
So thinketh but not sayeth the Prowl.
"What's the drill then?" Drift asked as he considered joining the team himself.
"I will be holding practices in the Valles starting next decaorn, in the beginning of the period. Do not tell anyone. We can work out our plays and strategy. I am going to ask Prowl to be our statistician and strategist."
Prowl nearly threw a rod when he heard that. He glanced at Prime. "Is that so."
"Sure," Optimus said as he relaxed into Prowl's discomfort. He knew it was for his health, his prestige and his overall benefit that Prowl was fragged off. He also knew that he would never let The Hourly News deliver the news like this for him again.
The big baby.
Possibility sat on the table chewing on a french fry as the group chatted and ate lunch. No one was going anywhere. There was a semi-final game to decide in the waning orns of professional basketball and the mania to see who would play Iacon in the final game was running high on several worlds.
It was a foregone conclusion short of meteor strike that Iacon would be in the finals.
All it took now was to sort out the only two teams that had a record good enough to be the other players, Polyhex and Kaon.
"What's your best bet on Polyhex defeating Kaon to cinch a spot in the final game?" Jetta asked Springer to be ornery.
Springer smirked at his brother, then sat back. "Are you besmirching the honor of my great city?"
Jetta smiled. "Yes."
Huge laughter, agreement and slag erupted for a moment.
"You know the twins won't allow you to be the one. They practice all the time, the two of them and the team," Jetta said. "Only Iacon does more."
Everyone glanced at Prime who grinned. "Hi," he said sweetly.
Everyone chuckled, then glanced at Ratchet. "What about those slagging twins?"
"You're asking me? Why don't you ask me about something better? Ask me about the ensemble I have for the semis and the one for the final?" Ratchet asked with a dazzling smile.
"Don't ask," Ironhide said. "You'll only encourage him."
Ratchet grinned at Ironhide. "Don't tell me after all these eons of vorns you're getting embarrassed only NOW?!"
Ironhide stared at Ratchet. "What the frag? I'm trying to drink beer here. I AM IRONHIDE! LEAVE ME OUT OF THIS, OLD MECH! I HAVE SPOKEN!"
"Well, let me help you," Ratchet said as he poured Ironhide's beer over his helm.
It was a short walk to the hangar central command nearby and their on-duty wash rack. Alor was delegated to watch and defend his food.
"Too bad you have scruples, Ali. I could put all manner of fun stuff into his calzone," Ratchet said with a chuckle.
"It would serve him right," Alor said.
"How? That mech is perfect," Raptor said as Turbine nodded.
"Insanity. You get it from your family," Prowl said. He glanced at Ratchet. "In your case, it came with you and no one could prevent it. Sorry."
Ratchet snorted, then laughed. "Good one, slagger. Want to tie one on?"
"And get arrested? Killed? Marauded? I thought a broken arm would cure you for public intoxication?" Prowl said.
Ratchet stared at him a moment, then shook his helm. "Prowler, Prowler, Prowler … don't you know such things require shame?"
HUGE laughter erupted as a big black Autobot warily returning approached the table to sit and scan his calzone.
"I said I'd protect it for you, son," Alor said with a grin.
"Sure. I trust you like I trust him," Ironhide said glancing at Ratchet. "*LIKE NEVER*!"
"Finally you're catching on, Ironhide," Ratchet said with a grin.
"Slaggers," Ironhide said as he picked up his calzone. "This is mech food. I love this stuff. Calzony. Mech food."
:Are you going to tell him its pronounced cal-zone?: Ratchet asked Alor.
:Not now. He's so cute eating that: Alor said as he watched his son.
Ratchet noted the rest of Ironhide's elders had the same expressions on their faces as Alor. He'd have to agree as well as he watched Ironhide devour the hot concoction with delight. "So … what's the prospects for Praxus Science in football now that you're a Comet?"
Prowl paused an onion ring before his mouth, then glared at Ratchet. "Slagger."
"Don't feel bad. You get to be the ball boy," Ratchet said.
"Strategist. Planner." Prowl glared at Ratchet. "Ball boy."
"Baller boy. Prowl the Mascot of the Crater Comets. What sort of costume are you going to wear? I'll wear one, too, so you don't feel odd. Not that you can feel odd. I'm just saying that if you had to wear a costume you might feel it. Odd that is."
Ratchet stared up at the ceiling. How he got planted on the floor when everyone was still sitting down would remain a mystery of the universe. Apparently, Prowl's footsie game wasn't like anyone else's. He sat up, then grinned. "I guess this means war."
Sphincters everywhere tightened up at that thought as Ratchet sat down again.
Springer glanced around Drift. "Ada. Isn't war limited to dear old Dad here?" he asked as Ironhide put the last bite into his pie hole.
Ironhide paused in his chewing to look around, then glared at Ratchet. "MEH! WHA YOU DO'N!? LEAF ME OU!"
"Oh, Ironhide. You say the sweetest things," Ratchet said as laughter bloomed like algae all around them.
Ironhide swallowed, then grinned. "I do don't I."
That got slag, Prowl got slag, Ratchet got a wide berth.
"I think Prowl will be an amazing thinker for the team," Prime said as he held a fry for Possibility. He was sitting on his little bottom in a red onesie chewing on the fry without using his hands. It was a bravura performance.
"HOW ABOUT ME STANDING ON THE LINES AS YOUR TEAM CHEERLEADER!?" Ratchet asked just to goad Prowl who nearly spit a fry halfway across the room.
The idea of it got a standing ovation.
=0=Outside, some time later
They chatted a while before breaking up to leave. Heading their separate ways, Ironhide, Ratchet and their tribe walked toward Sports Center Road to join the family at the swimming pool. It would be less crowded than the one at the Tri-Cities Mall.
Prime and Prowl headed toward home to hang out until the kids were dropped off. The concept of date night had somehow morphed into date weekend and longer. There was also more slag that Prowl would dump on Prime even as he opened a space on his internal planning devices to create strategies for the Crater Comets to use on their march toward their second championship in their second sport.
Yes, that's how confident Prowl was for Prime to win.
Springer and Drift watched everyone go, then glanced at each other.
Drift grinned. "We're off until tonight."
"Wanna frag?" Springer asked as they walked toward the Mare and home. "I think I remember we did that once upon a time."
"Sure. Unless you have something else to do," Drift said as they walked along the sidewalk that would take them into the long stroll along the edge of the old quarry toward their building in the distance.
"I have dishes in the sink. The models need dusting. There's that stain on the rug in the office," Springer said. He glanced at Drift, then grinned. "It can wait."
With a chuckle, the two of them took the cobblestone path that would wind through the huge development toward home.
They would disappear into the crowd nearly immediately.
=0=TBC 8-14-19
NOTES:
fancyspinner chapter 61 . 18h ago
Great way to start my morning! What a fun little chapter.
ME: Sometimes a bot just has to have fun. :D:D:D HUGS!
Guest chapter 61 . 23h ago
Have to say, I've never heard the word baller. Is it old or new? Or just local where you live?
ME: Its pretty new apparently. I hear it now and again. :D
Thanks for continuing our education, anyway. Looking forward to the football season, should be interesting. Especially when Praxus plays the Craters;)
ME: MUAHAHA! My pleasure. Praxus and the Comets. It's going to be epic. LOL! HUGS!
fancyspinner chapter 59 . Aug 13
I was just wondering something, I'm rereading the story and I am reading about the high-caste and how they had these dynastic bondngs with the younger kids. Do CybertronIon's have to worry about defects you know, how would like if you marry someone that's too closely related to you your kids could be born with problems. Do you think that would be an issue for them
ME: What a great idea! I'm putting that in. It might explain Sio. HUGS, darling. :D
fancyspinner chapter 60 . Aug 13
I love it when Prawl it's his knickers in a twist! LOL it's so fun.
ME: Prowl makes me laugh. He would so love to be just a regular guy. LOL!
The high cast or no end of fascination to me. I know there are people like that on earth. They think that their own rules apply to them and only them only when it benefits them.
ME: There are. They're a real problem. I never believed that this could happen to you and all would be well when everyone came home. The tensions would be there and the people who started this, the high castes who had all the power would be problematic. They fascinate me a lot.
I think it would be interesting to see what happens when someone doesn't agree with the findings. For example, what if one of the families of these two mechs decides they don't want anything to do with it. It would be horrible but it happens right? What if Rockwell doesn't change. How does that affect everything? I believe, like you, that everyone can be redeemed but what if they don't want to be?
ME: That's also a possibility. This thread is long term and that is part of what can happen. IT would be terrible wouldn't it. There's extremes in my own family about what they believe and some of us don't talk. Its a big deal.
I think the problem with some of what I think would be interesting to see is that when to mechs bond it's forever and they can feel each other's emotions so I don't think that would be able to last long. It would be too distressing I think.
ME: That must be weird unless you can really firewall what you feel. Being forever, you better choose well.
I have other stuff I wanted to comment about, but I'm not all the way awake yet I need to drink more coffee. LOL
ME: Have a sip for me, honey. :D Take care and know you're loved. :D
PS: sorry if I didn't catch all of the mistakes I'm using dictation Per usual. At least most of the time.
ME: I used Dragon once and really screwed it up. I'm working on it to get better. Don't worry about your program. :D
PPS: I haven't started recording anything because I'm waiting for everything to be updated so that when I start doing the audio it's as updated as it can be.
Big hugs
ME: AWESOME! BIG HUGS BACK, DARLING FANCY!