thepurpleone | Cyberformed [] Inbox

[There's a sigh from Donnie's end. All these Megatron altercations lately are concerning. Is it inevitable, having so many aboard in one place?]

You're okay though, right?

That's understandable though. My workshop's open to you. I'll be here so come by whenever.

[Wheeljack hesitates. The doorwing that had been severed is still in a sling to protect it while it recovers, and the patch jobs all over his frame are skillful but more than a bit obvious. Certainly better to need a new paint job than to have died from energon loss, however]

Better, now that I'm out of there. Medibays and medics are a lot to deal with. Just- do not be surprised when you see me. That said, I will consult my datapad and be on my way shortly.

...Thank you.

Can't say I disagree there. The medbay isn't really the most comfortable place to be stuck in.

...that's not the most reassuring thing to hear but okay. See you when I see you.

[It takes Wheeljack a significantly longer amount of time to reach Donnie's lab than it necessarily should've, because Wheeljack is still wary of stressing the doorwing after the other Ratchet and Breakdown and his Ratchet had impressed on him how important it was. This means that he moves much more carefully than usual, at least for now, just in case even the mild shifting from running or transforming injured it again while his systems were repairing themselves. He'd had more than enough of people being disappointed by his straining recovering injuries]

[He knocks on the doorframe when he arrives, shifting his weight from pede to pede before he announces himself] Donnie? It is Wheeljack. I will come in, assuming you haven't changed your mind.

[He isn't kept long waiting. The door slides open without fanfare to allow him entry.

Donnie's room may have been repurposed and divided up into areas more suitable for someone his size, but he's left the front area nearest the door largely untouched to allow for bigger visitors. It does serve for parking for the roomba-turned vehicle.

The turtle himself is going doing some work on some gadgetry or another at his workbench, but he looks up once Wheeljack enters, perhaps mentally bracing himself for the worst.]

[Wheeljack enters, all while cursing himself that he didn't think to bring a gift like the meatloaf he and Windshear had brought to the last movie night, because then at least he'd have something to do with his hands. As it is, they clench and release at his sides for a moment or two before he offers an awkward, lopsided smile]

Would you say it is better or worse than you were perhaps expecting?

[At least, that was what he'd been planning to say, when he in turn notices Donnie's bandaged feet. He cycles his optics, but doesn't say anything beyond a simple, and even more awkward, word]

Ah.

[Wheeljack's upright, at least. He doesn't seem to be limping like last time, but he still looks a lot more beat up than when Donnie had first come upon him in the hall.

Donnie glances down at himself, waving a hand after he's set his tools down.]

They're feeling better.

[Which is the truth, otherwise he wouldn't be standing on them. He stuffs his hands into the pockets of the purple hoodie he wears, walking over to better speak with his guest.]

You can sit if you want. There's a button there that extends a seat from the wall. Handy, right?

[Wheeljack waits for an extra few moments, until Donnie has come closer and Wheeljack can personally squint at Donnie's feet. Wheeljack still doesn't know the slightest thing about organics to confirm or deny whether Donnie's feet seem healed, so he can only take Donnie's word for it. Frustrating, and only adds to his feeling of helplessness. When had Donnie been hurt, that he hadn't known or been able to protect him?]

[He then summons the seat and sinks gratefully onto it, resting his head against wall behind him. He feels better than he did yesterday which had felt better than the day before etc etc but that didn't mean it wasn't exhausting right now. Not Ratchet had told him in a few days the sling around his doorwing could come off, but he wanted to be well enough to challenge Dreadwing now]

[Once he has rested even briefly, he leans forward again] It is... This is not why I originally sought you out just now, but... A thought occurs, Donnie. If it would not be imposing. I know Windshear sometimes comes here on his own to spend time with you, but I would like to formally ask you to watch over him for a few days. I have been asked to assist with a complicated matter, and... [A strange expression crosses his face] And I would be very appreciative if I knew he had somewhere safe to rest. Among friends.

Edited 2023-11-06 07:47 (UTC)

[The turtle's just glad that Wheeljack isn't asking for further explanation. The mission had been weeks ago but things are still too fresh and easily brought to mind if he lets himself think about it. And he'd rather not think about it. But he's had a lot of things to do to keep himself busy, preparations for another but hopefully less intense mission.

At least Wheeljack takes a moment to rest, and Donnie's only glad he hadn't repurposed that extending slab for storage or something else so that he had a place to offer him to sit at all. He looks up at Wheeljack, concerned that he's even being shown such vulnerability. The other had made such a fuss that time, after all.]

You're leaving him? [A frown then.] I'm not going to say no, but... if it's potentially not safe for him, I have to wonder about how safe it is for you. Not to mention when are you planning to have to assist with this "complicated matter," because you don't look like you're in any shape to be doing complicated things.

[Wheeljack tries for a smile and fails] I would leave him with my lord, but... [There is that expression again, uncertain and unhappy, both at what Antlers may do, but also at how close he is coming at admitting to Donnie that he hadn't told his lord where he is going, or told anybody else at all] He has had... a complicated relationship with minicons, and Windshear in particular prefers your company.

[He then waves a hand dismissively, though that same concerned expression gives him away. He never had been particularly good at disguising his thoughts]

I will be leaving soon, several days from now. I have been assured that by then, the sling around my doorwing will be removed, as my systems will have had the opportunity to effect internal repairs. I must simply, ah. Be careful. And I intend to. I remember your scolding from last time.

[For someone so young, Donnie certainly has the disapproving parent look down really well.]

Windshear can stay. At least I know he won't be prone to touching anything he shouldn't. I could use some help in taking care of my plants here anyway.

But you better be careful! No picking fights, you don't have to impress anyone. At least I hope you're not going to have to. Where are you going anyway? And how long are you thinking you'll be gone?

My brothers and I will be going with Anemone to investigate some ancient settlement of her people's creators, so I'm not sure if we'll leave before you return or not.

[Wheeljack eases his tense posture a bit at the confirmation that Windshear can stay, though he is now wearing an expression that's half puzzled, half guilty]

Thank you, I- What? [He cycles his optics, almost giving an uncertain laugh at what is being said] I, ah... I promise to do my best? Although if I am needed, I would be unable to make any such promise. I will not shame myself or my friends again by being useless. [This last part comes out 'ore stiffly, and he shakes his head before continuing]

And, ah... We are going to be visiting a planet called Azure, for reasons it isn't my place to elaborate on. If all goes well, it should only be three days or so, I believe.

That said, I hope you will be careful, as well. Earthlings make wishes or promises over sweets, yes? I have some energon candy left over from the medibay that I was actually able to consume, if you'll believe it, is that close enough?

[Donnie doesn't look particularly convinced there but he eventually sighs.]

There are always other ways to be useful. But I mean it. Be careful.

[He walks over to tug the bean bag chair he's long since claimed from the organic's hangout room as his own, flopping down onto it so he can unwrap his bandaged feet.]

Azure? Don't think I've heard of that. But then...there's a lot of places out there and we're always between systems. I should see if I can integrate a map or something into my computer to ping me whenever we're entering a new one.

[He rolls up one set of bandages and starts on the next, making a face at the cold floor as he puts his foot down. He'll need to dig out some socks.]

Sweets, wha? [Blinking, he looks over at Wheeljack again.]

I... am not really sure what you're talking about.

[Not that he was one to be making promises over a lot of things, but sweets even less.]

Wheeljack looked away for a moment with replying. When he looked back he opened his mouth, then closed it. When he spoke again it was uncertainly. "Ah. It was in one of the films I watched with Hashtag once, humans lit the thing on fire and made a promise. Did they invent that for the film?"

"In any case, it doesn't matter. I expect an equal effort to come back from both of us, wish or not. I shall be very disappointed if either one of us-" A pause and a firm shake of his head. "We'll be fine. You aren't going alone, correct? You will have your brothers and-" He paused again, with a slight frown. He'd heard that name before, or saw it somewhere, but the last few days were enough of a blur that it was hard to remember details like that. "And your friend. That will be more than enough."

I...am not connecting anything with fire and sweets and promises. -oh, are you talking about birthday cakes? That's just some kind of silly tradition involving impractical beliefs in regards to wishmaking.

[Donnie waves a hand.]

But yeah, it's going to be fine. My brothers are probably going to be needlessly overprotective as usual.

[Wheeljack shrugged noncommittally, but he was even more curious about organic traditions, now. He almost asked what a practical belief in widhmaking would look like, before deciding to focus on other questions, instead. His optics brightened, then dimmed]

How protective is overprotective? You and Ratchet have said things that I would argue are protective, but where is the limit?

Not letting someone go somewhere- or anywhere for that matter, without you thinking you need to accompany them, for one. It's like...yes, I know you care but I'm not going to break if someone breathes on me and it makes me feel like they don't believe I can take care of myself.

-just as an example.

[He wrinkles his nose, leaning back in his beanbag.]

It's true that we can't always anticipate everything that's going to happen, but just because something does, it doesn't make it someone else's responsibility if they weren't there to do anything about it, and there's no guarantee that things would go differently even if they were.

Cyberformed [] Inbox

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject