video;

[asafepairofhands]

[This time when Ratchet starts broadcasting, the video clicks on. He looks a little worn, but there's an underlying stubborn determination there, deepening the lines at the corners of his mouth.]

Ratchet here. Consider the inorganic section of medical officially back in business. That goes for everyone who's even part mechanical, not just Cybertronians--my door is open.

If you are Cybertronian and I haven't seen you for a check, you're due. I'm aware I still can't exactly order any of the Decepticons around ranking medical officer or not, but except for certain individuals who know who they are, you're welcome as well and I recommend it. Who knows what the hell this place is doing to us--I'd appreciate a baseline just in case something does go wrong and I end up having to do something about it.

Anyway, that's it. Ratchet out.

Comments

[asafepairofhands]

Then there's no possible reasonable objection you could have to seeing me right now, is there? I'm on my way.

[happyclappyhippydrippy]

I haven't even told you where I am!

[asafepairofhands]

I'll figure it out eventually even if you don't, but it'd make my life easier if you just let me know now.

[happyclappyhippydrippy]

[ssSSIGH]

I'm in my room.

[asafepairofhands]

[There's a knock on the door about three and a half seconds later.]

How did I guess?

[happyclappyhippydrippy]

[Good lord Ratchet how are you so fast.]

Okay, real quick, two things.

One, promise you won't freak out. Two, I can't exactly reach the door right now, so you'll have to let yourself in.

[asafepairofhands]

[Because he was already on his way there, because of COURSE YOU WERE IN YOUR STUPID ROOM YOU STUPID HIPPIE]

Well, fifty-fifty isn't bad, I guess. [He keys the door open and steps inside, scowling.]

[happyclappyhippydrippy]

[GOD

anyway Drift's one of these little fuckers, staring up at Ratchet and just. Shrugging. What does he say to this.]

So. This happened.

[asafepairofhands]

Huh.

[Ratchet's optics narrow and he flexes his claws slowly before he folds his arms over his windscreen.]

Well, that can't be comfortable. You doing all right, otherwise?

[happyclappyhippydrippy]

[Drift's kind of relieved that Ratchet's taking this pretty damn well. He can't help but stare at the claws for a moment but y'know.]

I... guess? I don't think I'm in any pain, it just... Everything feels weird.

[asafepairofhands]

I think I'd be more worried if everything didn't feel weird.

[Ratchet eyes him consideringly, the claws of one hand clicking together at a steady, thoughtful pace.]

Please tell me you've eaten something since this happened. And showered and changed clothes at least once.

[happyclappyhippydrippy]

[Drift is really distracted by the claws okay, he doesn't even know if he should mention it just what is everything right now.]

Okay, shower yes, clothes I haven't actually been wearing much because if feels strange, so I think this is still clean? I'm just going to assume it is. Food. Right, I should eat food.

[asafepairofhands]

Please do. I didn't haul my aft all that way to collect you only to have you let yourself starve to death by accident, understand?

[happyclappyhippydrippy]

Yes, Ratchet. I understand. Honestly though, I have no idea what am, let alone what I can eat. I mean, have you ever seen one of these before?

[He kind of motions at himself, look he is scaly and freaky and has buggy eyes what is this]

[asafepairofhands]

Hmm. ...no, actually. Good point. Let me check the ship's medical records to see if there's anything that matches so you don't go accidentally poisoning yourself somehow.

[He draws out his MID and starts tapping at it delicately with one claw--it's slower than it would have been with fingers, obviously, but he's managing. He flicks his optics briefly down to Drift.]

This is what all that fuss was about? What did you even think I'd do when I saw you?

[happyclappyhippydrippy]

I wasn't sure, to be honest. I just figured you already had enough on your mind lately. Are you doing all right?

[asafepairofhands]

Mmmmm.

[Ratchet looks away from the MID for a moment and down at Drift, his gaze steady.]

Yeah. I'm all right.

[happyclappyhippydrippy]

Good, good. No more pain or anything, right?

[Drift's just going to be tiny and cross his arms. He worries okay]

[asafepairofhands]

[Ratchet decides on honesty for once and inclines his head a little.]

Some phantom pain in my fingers, sometimes. It was the same when I attached Pharma's hands, except I had fingers then, so it's a little odd. It'll pass. Other than that, I'm adjusting as well as can be expected, I guess.

[happyclappyhippydrippy]

Good, that's. That's good.

[Oh good, the honesty is much appreciated. Drift kind of sighs and looks down at his own hands. They're all fleshy and stuff now, but hey.]

I would have offered you mine, you know. I know they aren't as good as yours were, but...

[but it's got to be better than claws, right?]

[asafepairofhands]

[Ratchet actually recoils a little, shock and the slightest hint of anger flickering across his face.]

You think I could do that? Just... take the hands of someone who was using them, knowing what it's like to not have my own? I had Pharma's and I have Glitch's because they have no further use for them, not because I'd do anything for a new set, whatever the cost. I wouldn't have taken them if you'd tried.

[happyclappyhippydrippy]

Well. You had Pharma's because I lopped them off of him, but that's getting a bit off track.

I don't expect you to accept an offer like that, because you're you and I know you, but I can say that it's something that I'd be more than happy to do for you if it ever came down to it. That's all I'm saying.

[asafepairofhands]

Pharma didn't deserve them. Not anymore.

[Ratchet's voice has a slightly ragged edge as he presses one curled-in claw to his windscreen in a brief, unconscious gesture before he snatches it away again, his shoulders tense.]

I don't want you to do something like that. I don't want-- [He stops, his throat tight as he reaches up and presses the flat space between two joints of one claw to the plate between his chevron, his optics dimming.] Look. Just. It didn't come to that, all right? I'm fine.

[happyclappyhippydrippy]

[Right about now Drift is really hating the fact that he's so small, right now he just wishes he could give Ratchet a pat on the shoulder or a hug that he'd probably get smacked for or... anything, really. As things are now, all he can really do is kind of awkwardly rest his hand on Ratchet's leg. Is that even like remotely reassuring? He isn't sure, but he's doing the best he can.]

I know. I didn't mean to upset you, and before you bring it up, I wasn't offering just because I feel like I owe you one. Maybe I'm not even wording this right.

[asafepairofhands]

Nah. S'all right.

[Ratchet reaches down and brushes the back of one impossibly delicate claw over the top of Drift's shoulder, just touching lightly. Millions of years of memory doesn't make the claws just as good as hands, but he clearly is managing.]

We already talked about owing. It's done with. And it's not that I don't appreciate the idea, I guess, but I just--I wouldn't have been able to do that.