thisavrou | video;

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[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.

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[Ratchet's optics light and his lips part, a soft, genuine laugh squeezed from him as he shakes his head.]

That's very flattering, Magnus, thanks. Same to you, now that you've decided to be sensible and listen to me. [His optics soften a little, the taut set of his shoulders relaxing just a bit.] I'm glad to know you, too.

Forgive me for losing my senses.

I have not been handling this new information well.

Hey. It's been hard on everybody.

I'm just glad I'm back up and running, for the most part. It was... unnerving, to know that I might not be able to help if something else insane happened.

Are you doing alright without your...?

I mean...are you...?

Erm...

[How does he phrase 'You doin' alright with them claws, friend?']

[Ratchet looks down at his wrists for a moment, the sight of the claws sprouting from the ends of them still unnerving. He cycles his vents and looks up, his face unreadable, and prepares to tell his very good friend a very kind lie.]

I'm fine. [He shrugs a little.] It's not the same, obviously, but I no longer have the luxury of giving up in a fit of selfish nihilistic depression and shoving the job onto somebody else--there is no one else, here. So I'll make do.

Have you considered training someone like you did with First Aid?

Train who, Magnus? I like a lot of the engineers here, and I won't argue that some of them are even brilliant, but they aren't Cybertronian. They don't have millions of years of experience, they don't have access to all the data they need--in part due to the Tyrest Accord, so thanks for that--and while I trust them as far as I can throw them, which is actually a considerable distance given the circumstances, that doesn't mean I'm comfortable turning over my practice to them, even if I retained any particular desire to give up in a fit of selfish nihilistic depression, which I do not.

I want the people here to get the best medical care possible. If I truly thought that meant stepping down and letting Tony Stark take over permanently, I might not like it, but I would do it. It just... hasn't come to that yet, all right?

That's twice in two minutes you've mentioned 'selfish, nihilistic depression.'

There are other Cybertronians on the ship, Ratchet. Cybertronians with little to no focus. Perhaps its time we start teaching, even if it's just rudimentary lessons, to those who could use it.

Truth be told, even I've considered looking into finding someone who could step up, should something happen to me.

Yeah, well, I'm not nihilistic and depressed anymore. Haven't been able to fit it into my schedule.

[He appears to pause, however, and take thought on this.]

I mean--yeah, I'd be willing to teach people, if they wanted to learn. I have no patience for people who aren't interested, but if they are--yeah. I don't see why not.

Three times.

That's my point. Why not find out who is interested? Gauge reactions? I, for one, would be willing to learn.

After all, I have small, precise hands.

[Ratchet politely declines to roll his optics.]

I'd be happy to teach you. Weird as it sounds, Megatron might be interested too. He told me he wanted to be a medic, once, but I'm pretty sure he was going out of his way to annoy me so I'm not sure how much of it was him yanking my chain. [He pauses, looking thoughtful.] ...Whirl too, maybe, if he's not too put off by the whole idea. I'll ask around.

I think we would all benefit from learning a little from you. In more ways than one.

At the very least, it could take some of the strain off of you as well.

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