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]

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.

[happyclappyhippydrippy]

No, I understand.

[Drift reaches up to rest his tiny little hand on Ratchet's claw for a second.]

...Not to change the subject so suddenly, but can I get a lift onto the desk? I feel like it might be easier to talk if I'm not way down here on the floor.

[asafepairofhands]

[Ratchet snorts a laugh and stoops, scooping Drift up carefully in one claw and setting him onto the desk, leaning against it with his other arm and regarding Drift thoughtfully.]

I could just use my holomatter avatar too, if you'd like.

[happyclappyhippydrippy]

[Hey, a laugh is good! This sort of counts as progress a little maybe...ish.]

No, no, this is fine. It's been a little awkward to get used to, but being able to see the world from this kind of perspective is really kind of fascinating. I mean yeah, we can scale holomatters down to this size, but this just-- it feels completely different.

[asafepairofhands]

You know what? [Ratchet smiles crookedly down at him.]

I think I'll just take your word for it.

[happyclappyhippydrippy]

Oh, you're no fun. Aren't you even a little bit curious about it?

[asafepairofhands]

'Course I am. Doesn't mean I'm going to looking for the opportunity to turn into some mysterious flesh creature nobody's ever seen before.

[happyclappyhippydrippy]

It's not a creature, Ratch. It's some kind of person.

Some kind of person with webbed fingers.