accidental video; early morning 4/17

[redshitlord]

[At some point in the early morning hours, your sleep is probably going to be assaulted with the sound of someone... singing? Also dancing, should you venture out of your room.]

[It's not a great dance. But it's a dance, all right. And probably wouldn't be that intrusive, if he weren't accidentally recording, and also weren't... you know...]

[Singing along. Loudly.]

[He's not a bad singer, somehow, but still. No one wants to hear a song like this before the proverbial sun comes up.]

[Sideswipe is oblivious, his giant robot headphones jammed onto his head, MP3 player in hand. Grooving to his spark's content in the hallway outside his room.]

Comments

[squadgoals]

[It's another... what did Cyclonus call them? Cybertronian. But specifically an Autobot, apparently. He's a lot more chatty.

She stares at the video feed, digesting this new information piece by piece. Handsome. Alt-modes. Different forms.]

A rad car.

[What in the fresh hell]

[redshitlord]

Yeah!

[He is way too chipper for this time of day. Look at those jazz hands.]

Okay, I don't know if this works with the mid-com thing, but I will totally transform, right here, right now, if that'd help explain like.

Anything.

[squadgoals]

[His enthusiasm is genuine, if not a little ill-timed. In a way, she's reminded off-handedly of Conrad Verner.

And honestly, she's a little bit interested in this rad car thing.]

It's on your wrist, right? Not sure it'd work.

[beat;]

What the hell, give it a shot. If it doesn't, I'll come find you. I've got time. ["Because it's asshole o'clock in the morning" goes unsaid.]

[redshitlord]

... Wonder if I can peel it off.

[He says it absently enough, picking idly at his wrist before nodding. Still enthusiastic as ever, because yes, while it is "asshole o'clock in the morning", he is young and who needs sleep?]

Okay, gimme just a sec. Prepare to be wow'd.

[And that's when he goes into what he thinks is his KILLER TRANSFORMATION SCENE!! Or it would be. If the screen didn't become immediately obscured by shifting metal.]

[Whoops.]

Check it out!

[Sideswipe there's nothing to see.]

[squadgoals]

[There is a few beats of silence, as Shepard tries not to laugh at the black video feed. This kid is 100% alright. And hey, who needs sleep. Different reasons, but yeah, forget sleep.]

I hate to say it, but there's nothing to see.

Where are you?

[redshitlord]

... really? Oh for... that is so lame!

[There's more shifting metal, and then, suddenly, Sideswipe is visible again. Looking sulky.]

Outside my room. On the uh. Robot house... deck...?

[Nomo, Sideswipe. You live on the Nomo Deck.]

[squadgoals]

[ahahaha what]

And which deck is the robot house deck? I'm on Mero, and I don't see you here.

[She's out of her room and walking to the elevator when she has another thought.]

Thought you guys weren't robots.

[redshitlord]

Oh, right, you guys don't have sensors... Uhhh -- Nono? Normo? Nomo! That one!

[WOW, SIDESWIPE. Way to impress people.]

Well duh, we're not. But it sounds way better than "Cybertronian House". It's faster to say too!

[squadgoals]

Got it. On my way.

What about "Cyberhouse"? That doesn't sound so bad.

[redshitlord]

... Cyberhouse...

[Please wait.]

You know? You're pretty good at this naming thing.

[squadgoals]

[There's an exhale laugh, and an elevator chime.]

I do my best.

Speaking of names, mine's Shepard.

[redshitlord]

I'm gonna tell all the guys about that. Maybe even stick a sign up.

Sideswipe. Fastest bot on the ship.

[A pause, and then, muttered:]

Fastest on wheels anyway. Stupid jets.

[squadgoals]

All yours, Sideswipe. Let me know how the sign goes.

[If she's honest with herself, she's genuinely curious to see him transform into a rad car. Vehicles in general are awesome, fast ones even better. Jets are fine in space, but planetside, (for her at least) tires triumph.]

Are your wheels all-terrain?

[redshitlord]

Sweet. I totally will.

[Shepard, no, he really, really will do it. Because this is a dumb teen in a robot body, and that sounds like the best plan ever.]

[He shrugs, dismissively.]

Nahh... I'm not built for that kinda thing. I'm fast. Bulky tires are a no-go on this bod.

[squadgoals]

[There's another elevator chime]

So, a sportscar model?

[redshitlord]

Yep! The best there is. And the fastest.

[Is she impressed yet.]

[squadgoals]

Uh huh. Well, I hope you're ready to show me. Look up.

[And here's Sheppers, trotting down the hall towards him. She gives a wave as she approaches.]

Hey. Nice to meet you in person, as it were. [She gives him a quick once-over, and smiles.] I believe I was promised a rad car?

[redshitlord]

Huh?

[And look up, he does. The confusion on his face brightening. He waves, from where he's lying on his chest, head propped up in his hands.]

Yeah! Same to you, dude. [That cheerful expression just gets more so when she asks the question.] You sure did. Ready for it?

[Because without further ado, he transforms. It's a fast process, maybe just a second or two of folding, twisting metal before the lounging Autobot is gone, and a cherry red sportscar is in his place.]

Ta-daaa!

[squadgoals]

[Shepard watched the whole process happen in the blink of a few eyes, caught in a kind of speechless joy. That is indeed a rad car.]

Wow. Not sure what I was expecting, but... very cool. Glad you woke me up, Sideswipe.

[She walks around him, admiring it. It's a nice vehicle, and the whole concept of the transformation is interesting overall.]

Can you carry passengers smaller than you? Or is it all a part of your body?

[redshitlord]

[If he had a face visible right now, he would be literally beaming. Humans are so much more willing to tell him he's cool than other bots. They've got good taste, clearly.]

The coolest, right? I could beat anyone here in a race.

[To answer, he flicks open a door, showing off his interior.]

All part of me! But the car's complete, if that's what you're asking.

[squadgoals]

[As soon as the door opens, she's looking inside. Swag. Swank.

She's not a car nerd, but she's not not a car nerd.]

Alright, I'm impressed. [Then, out of curiosity:] Ever take anyone for a ride?

[redshitlord]

[The car seems to perk up at her answer. It even wiggles a little on its wheels.]

Oh yeah! Totally. The guy who ran the scrapyard back home and his kid took rides all the time.

[And then his voice turns wry.]

Why? You curious?

[squadgoals]

[She points at herself, arranging her face in a portrait study in innocence.]

Me? No! Of course not. I mean, if you've ridden in one fast car, you've ridden them all, right?

[redshitlord]

[Oh. Well then. His engine revs sharply in protest.]

They're not me! I'm not just a car, dude, I'm an Autobot.

[squadgoals]

So what you're saying is, it would be a totally different experience? That you're not a fast car, you're the fastest Autobot?