Welcome to the Big Leagues

A Grim Discovery

Sun, 19 May 2013 23:46:41 -0400

banterandbooze:

Seeing Brainstorm is a relief. Or at the very least, it prevents the dark pall that was pressing down on him from smothering him completely. His helm shifts from side-to-side, mouth working as more words the reject, deny this eventuality come forth. But quiet, stilted, like there’s part of him really does know.

Swerve can’t even entirely process what he’s feeling—it’s still shock and a huge dose of denial—so he has no issue following Brainstorm’s lead. He takes off down the hall after the jet, and when his little minibot legs can’t keep up he folds into his alt, ricocheting off the wall once and then he’s off after Brainstorm again.

He’s right on Brainstorm’s heels as they enter medbay, echoing he scientist’s calls because louder meant better right? The sooner they got all this done with the sooner they could go back to watching movies in the wee dark hours.

He had put Rewind in cold storage, saved Chromedome’s life, and was going to search for Eject, actually — until Dangerous and Dangerous-er burst into the medbay. Well, at least that cut down search time!

However, First Aid’s featureless face fell at the sight of the grey frame in Brainstorm’s arms. That was not good news - he had expected it only due to Rewind’s passing, but it was still unsettling to see a mech he had trusted to guard some of his deepest secrets laying stoic in alt mode, like a piece of useless equipment. It was almost surreal - because Eject wasn’t laughing dryly or telling him ‘Hey First, I’m fine!’.

His vocalizer decided to work only after a few moments of gawking incredulously. “Get him to a berth,” he spat, already running for the drips - and boy, he felt like he was going to be using those things a lot this next week. “Brainstorm, how long has he been like this, do you know? I need as many stats as possible and I won’t be able to get many if his spark pulse hasn’t been reacting for over a few minutes.”

And oh - First Aid knew Brainstorm was smart and collected and of course, worried about one of the most inspirational mechs on the Lost Light — but Swerve looked absolutely panic-stricken, and it nearly broke the young medic’s spark to see the look on his face.

“Swerve, you can take a seat if you feel you need it, I don’t want you up and about if you’re not feeling well,” he urged in a calm tone, even as he rushed back over with hardwire scanners in his hand, wasting no time to prep.

It won’t take First Aid long to see that any attempt at treatment won’t be necessary. The minibot is dead, without even a whisper of a sparkbeat left in him. The antennae isn’t exactly limp—it’s too spindly, with too few joints, to lie flat—but as Brainstorm lays it on the berth, a single data cable comes loose and unspools, dangling over the side of the berth lifelessly and clanking against the floor.

Eject always had a tendency to run cool, not being equipped with an engine designed to propel a mobile alt-mode, and by the time First Aid reaches him and touches his gunmetal-gray plating for the first time, it will be nearly cold to the touch.

The force that made this odd little machine Eject is very simply gone. There’s nothing left but a hunk of nonfunctional equipment.

plantmandotexeretired: For his next trick, Eject will strap his...

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 01:00:00 -0400

plantmandotexeretired:

For his next trick, Eject will strap his brother to a chair with sports supporters and will make him swear ‘by the code’ that he will stop hogging the camera and screw up the family photos.

((OMG YES (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ♥ YES MORE EJECT LOVE

AHHH THIS IS SO CUTE AND WELL DRAWN I’M SO HAPPY <3))

Eject has been rather quiet as of late. The minibot has, over the course of the past few weeks,...

Sun, 03 Mar 2013 23:49:00 -0500

Eject has been rather quiet as of late.

The minibot has, over the course of the past few weeks, settled into a state of grey numbness. Rewind’s unresponsiveness seems to have flipped a switch in Eject, and he’s spent an overwhelming amount of time working. His routine has consisted of resting, refueling, and assuming his duties. He’s spent most of his time plugged directly into the Lost Light, alternating between obsessively monitoring the hallways and scanning the multiverse’s many-layered communication channels. In some ways, it’s reminded him of his early life.

Eject had been on his way to the mess hall, ready to down half a cube and make his way to the bridge. Maybe he’d find someone there, like Rotorstorm or Rodimus. Maybe he’d stop by the med bay to check in on Rewind before he settled into work, or to remind Brainstorm to get some sleep, once in a while. He hadn’t been in much of a mood to talk, but it would be curiously nice just to be near someone, to feel the frequency of another EM field just beyond the reach of his own—

—the loss hits him in the middle of that half-formed thought.

It’s like a hammer-blow directly to the spark, and it sends the small mech reeling, stumbling, one hand splayed along the hallway wall for support, the other grasping desperately, disbelievingly, at his own chest. He can feel it, feel the startled silence where once there had been a myriad of frequencies that had been so familiar to them he hadn’t even thought of them as anything but his own. He can feel the change in his spark’s own dynamic, feel the wrongness in its balance, in its burn, and he knows without having to think a moment longer that Rewind is dead.

He makes a soft sound, once, very much like a sob.

Then he steps forward.

It’s a losing battle, but Eject has never backed down in the face of a fight he thought he could win before, not from anyone or anything. His body is shot through with a curious cold tingling, but he pushes on, visor burning with determination, willing his limbs to move by sheer spite. He has to get to Rewind. It doesn’t matter that his brother is lost. In the churning confusion of his thoughts, he can only think that he should be there, should be wherever Rewind is, and his shuddering, stubborn frame carries him yet another step. He almost falls, but he grips at the wall, his fingertips scoring the metal and leaving shallow scratches.

The numbness spreads. It has only been a few moments since Rewind’s spark snuffed out, but Eject feels like he’s been struggling for hours. There’s no energy left in his limbs, and his mind feels suddenly very… distant, detached, from his increasingly-unresponsive body. A surge of rage and frustration unexpectedly rise in his dying spark. No, speech is beyond him, but his thoughts burn with a clarity lent by anger, I didn’t live through millions of years of war for this. There’s too much left I have to do, too much for me to leave behind. I haven’t made it this far to die like this, and I won’t. I am not going to die here, alone, in this hallway.

He dies anyway, of course.

Eject’s last act as a living mech is to take a last step forward, and then finally collapse, his vents giving one last shuddering sigh. The glow behind his visor fades, and he goes still. His first act as a dead mech is to immediately shift, his body entering rigor morphis and changing into its preferred form: his alt mode.

That’s where he will be found, still and limp on the floor like a piece of discarded equipment.

The Longest Night

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 01:48:07 -0500

unmentionable-genius:

banterandbooze:

When he’s content, Swerve can sleep like a brick. In that way it’s good that he’s a minibot, because Brainstorm has little issue just levering Swerve’s slack recharging form off himself and depositing the minibot back on the berth—all without little more than mumbled groan—when the weapons engineer decides to time to get back into the lab.

And even if there’s a deep quality of contentment to his current situation, there’s also an underlying thread of concern that extends past himself. And it’s by the thread that Swerve pulls himself through the fuzzy haze of recharge when he feels the EM field near him stir with emotional activity.

He hums his contentment as he wakes slowly, stretching a little before flopping back against the mech next to him again. Swerve raises his head, a flat broad smile on his face and his optics shutter open…awfully close to Eject’s face.

O-oh…

Brainstorm’s recharge goes by peacefully and without much event. Sleep is one of the few times where his busy processor calms itself, and he rarely ever dreams. This time is no exception.

Since he was so exhausted the night before, it takes a several sudden movements to wake him from his deep slumber. The jet finally begins to ease out of recharge after Swerve stretches himself out.

At first, Brainstorm doesn’t online his optics simply because he feels too comfortable to get up just yet. He lazily inches himself closer to the smaller body next to him, slinking on arm around it in a loose embrace and curling in until he’s struck by the thought that something feels…off. He can feel the familiar sensation of Swerve’s EM field with his own, but it’s farther away than it should be and mingling with yet another field between the two.

His half-aware and hazy mind is confused by this, and curiosity wins over contentment as the weapons engineer turns on his optics and looks down next to his chest plate, only to find that he’s currently clinging to Eject’s tiny frame.

…Wait, Eject?

While the two smaller Autobots stare at each other, Brainstorm’s processor is flooded with the events of the night before. Quickly realizing that he’s unknowingly gotten himself into an embarrassing position, he quickly removes his arm from around Eject’s midsection and places it on one of the satellite bot’s shoulderplates instead in what he hopes is a more appropriate gesture.

“Umm, good morning.” Brainstorm’s vocalizer manages to croak out. “How’re you feeli— I mean, uh, did you get enough rest?”

The scientist’s awkwardness is practically tangible at this point.

Eject is a little startled by Swerve’s proximity when the other first goes limp against him, and then wakes. His expression is largely hidden by his battle-mask, but the gentle prickle of surprise can be felt skittering through the outer frequencies of his EM field. And then Brainstorm is—cuddling him? Eject’s visor flickers as he blinks, limply submitting to the shift in his position. He’s too startled by the gesture to move, and anyway, Brainstorm is very comfortable and warm at the moment.

And then they’re both staring at him and he suddenly feels quite bashful about the whole affair for reasons he can’t quite pin down. Under different circumstances, Eject would probably beeven more flustered, but his processor is full of heavy thoughts, and he responds with a light chuckle. “Sorry, I… heh. Yeah. I rested fine.”

He lets his gaze shift sideways, willing himself not to let the shame creep in. His friends are here because they want to be here, and he does feel bad for having drawn them here, for having kept them from their proper berths… but it’s outweighed by how glad he is that they stayed with him.

“I…” There’s so much he wants to say, and he has absolutely no way to say it. He inhales deeply, retracting his mask and his visor, looking first to Swerve, and then to Brainstorm. Words fail him. It seems that will never change, but at least his friends will be able to see the sincerity in his expression. “Thank you. Just… you’re the best. Both of you.”

He looks away, down at the floor. “The best,” he repeats quietly.

themightyhelicopter: readyforsomefootball: themightyhelicopter asked you: “A new face” Springer...

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 13:56:45 -0500

themightyhelicopter:

readyforsomefootball:

themightyhelicopter asked you: “A new face” Springer offers a nod to the small mech in a polite greeting. “How are you doing?”

“Springer? You don’t…?” Eject stops himself mid-sentence. By now, he’s had enough experience with the erratic nature of the tears not to be surprised that a familiar face doesn’t seem to find him familiar.

He just nods. “Hey, Springer.” The minibot’s voice is rather flat, conveying little emotion. “I’m… well. I’m here.” He doesn’t really want to unload the severity of his current circumstances on the Wrecker, not right off the bat. “How’re you? Anyone fill you in on our current situation yet?”

“I’m fine, a bit confused about everything but fine. And yes, Rodimus has cleared some things. I don’t know much about that virus but it sounds really nasty.” Springer instinctively grimaces, he doesn’t want anyone to suffer such illness.

Eject nods. “It is,” he says quietly. “It really is. We’ve got a quarantine goin’ on right now, so there ain’t gonna be any leavin’ the ship for a while. Sorry. We think we got it contained, mostly…” but there are a few mechs that Eject hasn’t seen in a while that he’s worried about. When’s the last time someone checked on Red Alert? he thought to himself.

“But hey, all things considered, it’s good to have you back. We could use the firepower, mech.” And the morale boost that having the indomitable Springer aboard would bring.

sunshineinthegutters: Really? A symbiont putting these two in their place? Gasket had to bite his...

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 03:49:40 -0500

sunshineinthegutters:

Really? A symbiont putting these two in their place? Gasket had to bite his upper lip to stop from chuckling, doesn’t like to be rude after all. Sorry, he just doesn’t really know Eject, or the things he’d do. “I’ve never asked Perceptor either. Like you say, not my bussiness. I’ve seen that sort of dynamic before where I came from, you know? hence why I’m thinking of keeping Perceptor in our ship, far from that mean jet.” Honestly, this kind of discussions usually ended in blows, then again Gasket doesn’t really expect a pair of huh, educated mechs to resort to that sort of thing (you never know!). “Ah? No! Percy isn’t on your ship, thankfully.”

Eject gives a subdued chuckle. “Might be a good idea. ‘Mean jet,’ eh? I’ll be honest with you, fella. Ace can be a downright gearstick when he wants to be. But… that ain’t all there is to him. He’s…” Eject’s tone softens, and a warmth enters his voice. “He’s right capable of being a good friend. The best, really.”

He’s quiet for a moment.

“But yeah, someone has to look out for those two nimrods. You’d think, with them bein’ hotshot scientists, they’d know how to behave, right? I’ll look out for Ace, and you look out for Perceptor. Deal?”

Eject has made no attempt to make this frequency private. Unless Gasket has gone through means to do so, then Eject’s rather blunt summation of Brainstorm and Perceptor’s behavior would be plain for both of them to hear—and it doesn’t seem to bother him one bit.

sunshineinthegutters: readyforsomefootball said: “That hate each other. Ace is… he ain’t a -bad-...

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 03:16:30 -0500

sunshineinthegutters:

readyforsomefootball said: “That hate each other. Ace is… he ain’t a -bad- mech, he just ain’t real good at the whole ‘manners’ thing. And Perceptor knows how to get under his skin, and he gets him goin’, They do it to each other, really.”

I see… I mean, it’s kinda funny to watch them argue. But I’m worried of what would happen if they were locked in a room… or a lab for too long. I just think that this Brainstorm guy is pushing his luck a bit too far with Perceptor… idk, that’s just me.

Eject gives a weary sigh. “I dunno. I met Ace before I met Perceptor. Apparently they have a history? I dunno. What happened in the past ain’t my business. But I think they both know better than to let it come to actual blows. And if they don’t, then I’ll knock ‘em both upside the head.”

Exactly how he would reach that high, he doesn’t deign to explain. Eject knows Perceptor only by reputation. Though he would never admit it out loud, he’s always looked up to the scientist-turned sniper (and possibly, at some point, even entertained a silly, very minor crush on him), but that doesn’t mean it spares him from the minibot’s dreaded fist… especially considering that Brainstorm has become nothing less than a very dear friend to Eject.

“I wouldn’t worry. I wont let ‘em hurt each other. I don’t think Perceptor’s even on our ship right now…?”

themightyhelicopter asked you: “A new face” Springer offers a nod to the small mech in...

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 19:05:00 -0500

themightyhelicopter asked you: “A new face” Springer offers a nod to the small mech in a polite greeting. “How are you doing?”

“Springer? You don’t…?” Eject stops himself mid-sentence. By now, he’s had enough experience with the erratic nature of the tears not to be surprised that a familiar face doesn’t seem to find him familiar.

He just nods. “Hey, Springer.” The minibot’s voice is rather flat, conveying little emotion. “I’m… well. I’m here.” He doesn’t really want to unload the severity of his current circumstances on the Wrecker, not right off the bat. “How’re you? Anyone fill you in on our current situation yet?”

botofbanter: /Seeing Edgie down like this felt really bad. Red would probably hug him if he could,...

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 19:00:01 -0500

botofbanter:

/Seeing Edgie down like this felt really bad. Red would probably hug him if he could, would give him a solid, friendly hug. But it’s not possible and he knows that his presence would be very unwelcome in the place where Eject was. He smiles lightly again and just nods./

Oh, I’ve been listening to everything. Every word has been saved and processed. /He taps the console again./ You know… sometimes you think you can’t do anything but that’s not true. You do something even if you don’t know about it.

/Red chuckles and already sent a ping to the right mech. If he’ll play his cards right maybe there’s still a chance. That is, if his guess was right. He was tempted to say Eject about his plans but then, he didn’t wanted to give the small mech any high hopes. It was all a theory after all, but he possibly knew where to look for the clues for the cure. He shifts on his chair more comfortably./

Don’t lose hope. /He vents and smiles sadly./ It’s a very bad thing when you lose one.

Eject shakes his head. He doesn’t really know how to reply to Drift, but he also doesn’t understand the double meaning of the words being said to him. He’s not a doctor. He’s not a scientist. He’s very, very good at what he does, but his technical knowledge can’t help Rewind.

When the other mentions hope, Eject just shakes his head. “If you say so.” He can’t deny that he’s seen hope do great things—nigh impossible things—but hope is not infallible. Hope dies, and hopeful mechs die. He doesn’t have any reason to hope now. “I’m glad I got to talk to you, though. I… I should probably be wrappin’ it up. You take care of yourself, okay?”

Solace in the company of family. (Closed RP)

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 18:50:44 -0500

thevoiceisastereo:

The affection radiating from field and bond gave comfort to Blaster as he smiled faintly. With all of his spark he returned the sensations, feeling that words weren’t needed anymore and that simple gestures were what they needed. The loss that was sure to come wasn’t going to be made any easier, but he was ever so thankful to know how much he meant to Eject. He knew he would have to see Rewind soon, before things got even worse.

“I’m glad you feel that way, Ej… It means a lot to me.” The communications officer said quietly, the embrace tightening a little. He didn’t want to leave so soon. Didn’t want to let go of the minibot, but he would have to. “I wouldn’t have changed anything about things before… before…”

Eject seems content to remain in Blaster’s embrace. He doesn’t pull away or speak for a few moments, simply focusing instead on the silent feelings swimming back and forth through the host-bond. When Blaster struggles to finish, Eject twists in his grip, nudging the underside of the other’s chin with the top of his helm. “It’s okay, Boss. It’s okay.”

Once more, he falls silent, and this time the silence lingers for even longer. “You’ll do fine, Boss. No matter what. You’re one of the strongest mechs I know.” Blaster has been an inspiration to many Autobots—in fact, it’s what he’s known for—and he’s been a particular inspiration to Eject.

botofbanter: /Red laughed faintly./ It’s so weird to hear. “Good to know you’re still kickin’” /He...

Sun, 27 Jan 2013 20:02:53 -0500

botofbanter:

/Red laughed faintly./

It’s so weird to hear. “Good to know you’re still kickin’” /He repeats and taps his chin with a single digit./ Because you never know if it’s good or bad. Most of mechs would assume it’s a bad thing… not like I don’t appreciate being alive! /His smile grows and despite Eject’s resignation he doesn’t stop trying to cheer him up./ After awhile in my dimension you lose the sense of where is up and down. Living not always is better than being dead. But thank you! Hearing such words from mechs other than Percy feels nice!

/While talking his usual nonsense with typical for Red energy expressed in many gestures and laughs, he started thinking about the whole situation. He wasn’t as smart as Perceptor, being the brain of the team wasn’t his role, but he wasn’t worse when it came to adaptation to new situations and thinking of any possible way outs in the shortest possible time. In few (maybe a little bit longer) kliks he processed the story from the beginning, including his own role in this entire farce and many possible to it outcomes. He suddenly stops rambling about nothing and taps the dashboard with his fingers thinking deeply. Edgie’s entire situation (and probably the situation of other’s bothered by the virus) looked like a very overdramatic play written by a very bored playwright who enjoyed the sight of his protagonists suffering. Or probably like those bored people on the Internet who loves to make their beloved characters suffer. Those lifeless sadists! Red rolls his optics realising that his thoughts start straying from the original topic. He stops tapping the console and looks back at Eject, frowning or rather grimaces fancifully, apparently trying to be serious (which the smaller mech could deduce by the low, stern tone of his voice)./

You sound like giving up too easily. That’s not like you Edgie. It’s not over yet.

/Perhaps there is a secret backdoor to this entire tragedy and he can sabotage it. Maybe. He did more (supposedly) impossible things in his life./

Eject cocks his head slightly. It’s an odd sentiment, but he can sort of understand why Drift would more often encounter mechs who don’t seem happy to see him. Eject is aware that he’s a dangerous mech, even if he does seem to have gotten on the red swordsman’s good side. It’s kind of sad to think about. What must it feel like to know that more people would be happier seeing you dead than alive? Eject is used to the concept of a vast faceless majority wanting him dead on principle—after all, he is an Autobot—but it’s not the same thing.

He’s always had friends, he’s always had Rewind. It was never personal.

He doesn’t know what to say in return to Drift’s candid observation, so he says nothing, not until the other mech addresses him in that stern tone of voice. “Red,” he says with a sigh, “ain’t you been listenin’ mech? There’s nothin’ I can do. I just…” He doesn’t even sound very irritated, but rather just hollow. “I just hafta wait, now.”

He shakes his head. “I dunno. Maybe it ain’t like me, but it’s the way things are, mech. I’m… I’m sorry.” He lowers his head slightly, visor dim. He doesn’t say as much, but it’s obvious by the tone of his voice that he is acknowledging his defeat.

Solace in the company of family. (Closed RP)

Sun, 27 Jan 2013 19:44:08 -0500

thevoiceisastereo:

“You an’ Rewind are my sons, whether I created you or not.” Blaster murmured as he gently rested his chin on Eject’s helm. The time was drawing shorter and he knew the inevitable was coming. Whether the communications officer wanted it or not, he would have to say goodbye to them. He could feel his spark constrict in his chassis and coolant threatened his optics again. “I love you two dearly.”

He didn’t let go, didn’t want to, as he felt the gratitude, affection and devotion wash over him from the minibot. Those emotions were reflected and strengthened as he stayed on his knees and sank back to sit on his heels. He poured so much love and time with the twins he didn’t want to think about what he would be like when they finally would leave him.

Eject smiles faintly, briefly. “Thanks, Boss,” he replies quietly. “I… thanks.” Despite everything, it’s remarkable bolstering to hear that. No matter what happens, it’s good to know how wholly Blaster has accepted the two mechs that he took on. He doesn’t respond verbally, but lets his affection radiate through his field and through the host-bond. It isn’t that he doesn’t want to say the words—it’s just that expressing such a thing through words is not his preferred method. Speech has never been his friend, and letting Blaster feel how he feels seems much more genuine somehow.

“If I had to do it again, I wouldn’t want nobody else but you, Blaster,” Eject says as he continues to cling to the larger mech. “Not nobody.”

Solace in the company of family. (Closed RP)

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 22:43:21 -0500

thevoiceisastereo:

The concern he felt from Eject was painful to Blaster and he couldn’t help leak the tumultuous storm of emotions into the bond. He’d been the strong one for his symbionts, the one they always knew they could count on for love and hope. When he found Eject and tried to nurture the twin’s natural talents, it was out of love and affection that he took care of the parabolic dish. But now… now he felt like his world was twisting and turning on its axis. Without a single sign of hesitation he swept the minibot into a hug, the most simple and powerful sign of affection he knew his son would accept.

“I’m scared.” He finally admitted in the smallest and quietest voice he’d ever used around the twins. The tears wouldn’t fall, though. He’d already spent them so many different times while avoiding the other members of the ship’s crew. He didn’t have the spark to burden that kind of emotion on Eject’s shoulders and he didn’t want to. He wanted to continue bearing the weight of their pain but circumstances weren’t going to allow that for him. “Don’t wanna lose you two…”

Eject stood still as Blaster enveloped him in his arms, only returning the gesture when the other had comfortably settled to his level. He wound his arms around Blaster’s neck, nuzzling his helm against the other’s. “Me, too, Boss.”

He closes his optics, tipping his helm down to bury it in Blaster’s neck. He lets his affection and gratitude waft through his field, buzzing with devotion as it overlaps against Blaster’s. This mech was one of the first individuals who’d ever treated Eject like a person. Blaster means a lot to him, and Eject deeply, desperately doesn’t want to leave him.

But he knows now that he doesn’t have a choice.

“I don’t wanna go,” he responds softly, still clinging to the larger mech. “But Boss… if…” He hesitates, unable to finish his sentence for a moment.

Then he minibot vents deeply and says, “If I do… I’m glad I met you, okay? I’m…” He vents again, raggedly, “I’m glad you found us.”

Solace in the company of family. (Closed RP)

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 00:56:33 -0500

thevoiceisastereo:

Blaster had effectively been avoiding others purposefully with the pain he felt. He knew Smokescreen was around and worried about him but the communications officer needed to come to terms on his own that his sons were on death’s doorstep. Steeljaw disappearing didn’t help matters but he needed to check in on Eject for company.

;;Eject? Can I come in?;; He asked through the bond once at the door to the younger twin’s room.

Eject has found, over the course of the past few weeks, that the most he can do about his and Rewind’s circumstances is deal with them. The support of his friends has helped a lot, but even so, the minibot is feeling drained and empty, too hollow even to dredge up the energy for despair.

He’s alone in the quarters he shares with Swerve, at least until he senses Blaster’s approach. He looks to the door and replies silently back through the host bond, Yeah, Boss. Come on in.

Thought they may not be related in any way a human would recognize, Eject had willingly entered Blaster’s service millions of years in the past, and he considers the larger bot to be a part of his family. Eject hops from his berth as Blaster enters. He’d been sitting on the edge, staring blankly into middle space, before the other mech’s arrival. He trots up to Blaster, reaching out questioningly and wordlessly through the bond. For the first time in hours, he feels something, and this time, it’s concern for Blaster.

How's My Driving?

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 16:55:00 -0500

newcrystalcity:

Hello! This is your friendly neighborhood constructive criticism meme. To participate, just make sure your ask box or submissions are open, and reblog this post! Whether or not to enable anonymous asks is left to your discretion.

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Submit your thoughts via asks or submissions, in the interest of privacy.

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Save the praise for love memes—there’s one on the way!

botofbanter: /Drift doesn’t answers staring blankly into the void, he tries to keep up his smile...

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 16:53:13 -0500

botofbanter:

/Drift doesn’t answers staring blankly into the void, he tries to keep up his smile but if he could feel pain he would probably say that it hurts to smile. He sighs knowing exactly what the other meant and it felt… empty, perhaps? Red looks at Eject again in that awkward silence, somewhat sadly./

/It always felt weird, to lose an acquaintance (or even a friend), one of the very few that were actual happy to speak with him or see him alive. How many of his “friends” died before him? (Not like that list was very long.) And Eject had his brother, he had a place to return to, mechs who cared about him. He probably deserved to live much more than Red did. After all one way or another he always ended up alone and even if he didn’t want to admit it, he was afraid that one day Perceptor will leave too. Oh those rare moments when you actually realize that life isn’t just a game you can replay anytime or welder can fix everything when you’re broken./

/Drift chuckles again trying to break the uneasy quietness./

Pshhhhh. Don’t say that! You’re the good guy! /He waves his hand dismissively./ You always get beat up but you jump back on your pedes and kick the evil in the aft in no time, right? Because evil can never win and that stuff. It’s not the game over yet for you. You can do better than that! I still haven’t shown you what I’ve got! That prank with the bombs was nothing~

Eject just sighs. He doesn’t have the energy or the willpower left to argue. It had seemed for a moment like Drift understood and accepted was going to happen to the cassette twins, but then he was right back to his old self once more. “Maybe. But it’s not me that has to get back on my feet. Rewind’s the one who’s sick.”

It’s Rewind. Rewind is the mech suffering, here, and that tears at Eject more than anything else—to feel his brother’s suffering and know there is nothing he can do about it. He probably would have approached the situation with much more grit and gusto had he been the one sick (provided he wasn’t mad with fear or anything), but this just isn’t the case. Eject can’t fight this battle. He can only watch helplessly as his twin sinks further and further into fear and madness.

Eject doesn’t say anything for a while after that. He just settles into a dull silence, turning his head to a slight angle away from the screen, staring into middle space. When he does speak, it is softly, resignedly. “Thanks, though, Red. It’s good to know you’re still kickin’ around out there.”

botofbanter: Yeah, zombies! Let’s say that you should watch out in the future while playing with...

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 00:57:33 -0500

botofbanter:

Yeah, zombies! Let’s say that you should watch out in the future while playing with Dark Energon. /He giggles and relaxes again, sitting more comfortably smiling sheepishly at Eject’s honest wish for him to stay safe./ Oh please, safe and fun doesn’t get along very well, at least in my dictionary. What would I do without the thrill of action? I assure you that my Percy can handle everything the universe can throw at us. We had all kinds of crazy adventures together!

You should tag along with us someday for one! Our ship is maybe not as big and roomy as your Light Box but this baby is destined for great things. /He pats the dashboard affectionately. He already grew fond of Calabi, their new companion who hid all kinds of surprises./

“Dark Energon? I ain’t never heard of that. It don’t sound too… wholesome, though,” Eject replies, narrowing his eyes slightly. It sounds the opposite of wholesome, especially if there are somehow zombies involved. Eurgh. “Well, good. Glad to hear you’re in good company.”

At Drift’s offer, Eject’s faceplates relax once more into an almost-smile. “Thanks, Red. But I’m needed here. I got a ship full of mechs to look after. Heh.” The laugh that follows this is weak, forced. For a moment, Eject is just silent. It feels stupid to skirt around the issue, to address it with half-finished sentences and meaningful silences. He gives his head a little shake, breathes deeply, and just starts speaking.

“We both know I ain’t got that long,” he says finally. His tone is flat. There is no sadness in his voice, only grim acceptance. “I… I need to be here with the time I got left.” He goes quiet again. if this is the end, and Eject really, at this point, cannot be convinced otherwise, then he wants to be here, near Rewind, near the mechs he cares about. When he talks once more, his voice is quiet. “But hey, thanks. Maybe in the next life, yeah?” It’s a sentiment that Eject, regrettably, has had to share with many of his friends during the war—thought it was never him that was moving on.

botofbanter: /Drift drifted away with his thoughts for a moment thinking about the situation....

Sun, 20 Jan 2013 00:43:32 -0500

botofbanter:

/Drift drifted away with his thoughts for a moment thinking about the situation. Normally he wouldn’t care but something just didn’t want to leave his mind. His optics widened and he flinched for a moment. What if he was feeling… GUILT? That’s just horrible. He really was getting soft! He will have to blow something up later to somehow fix that. Glad that Eject changed the subject he turns to him smiling brightly./

Oh! I’ve had a blast traveling around the multiverse with my partner! /He waves his hands excitedly. Since Eject is considered as his friend he’s not afraid of telling him everything or at least most of the truth. It’s not like Edgie will use it against him since they are bros right?/ We first went to one universe where everyone had weird frames, they looked funny but what can I say - nature is not always kind. Hahahaha. Oh, I met a really cool human kid. And we found some guy’s eye and it turned out that the dude was a Con so we raided their warship. It was great! Haha. That Soundwave guy was really though and I losing an arm was totally worth it! I hope we will get a rematch one day.

Then we used those Bot’s dimensional bridge (we were kind of drunk, but still it was fun.) to get to a new place and guess what. We’ve found an abandoned ship! We managed to get it running and we landed on some abandoned outpost. Funny enough our counterparts were there too. And there was a lot of zombies. I met Percy’s counterpart and it was a bit awkward but he was quite good and we had a real Left 4 Dead party down there. /He laughs. That indeed was fun, too bad they couldn’t stay there longer./ We’re back in our own dimension now and are on some intergalactic mercenary outpost. Our ship is being repaired and I think I have some old acquaintances on my aft. Just a regular day.

Eject listens to Drift’s accounts silently. “Oh, that’s right—your partner is… it’s Perceptor, right?” He’s seen enough chatter on the net to have been able to draw the inference. “That’s sort of the same situation here, in our universe, I think. Our Drift is close to our Perceptor, too—er, well, or they were, I think. Our Drift is… gone, I think, and some other version of this Drift showed up, but he don’t talk to any of us.”

Eject falls silent again. “I met another Soundwave, once.” Though he isn’t aware of it, the Soundwave he communicated with is the same one that took Drift’s arm. Eject’s encounter with the Decepticon was much more peaceful, and a pleasant memory; they’d had a conversation of sorts, an exchange of pure data over the humans’ primitive yet expansive comm network. Itis rare that Eject ever gets a chance to speak in the method most comfortable and least confusing for him. “And… zombies? For real?”

He shakes his head. “That’s crazy.” Despite the tall claim coupled with the fact that he knows Drift is less-than… er, fully functional in the processor, he doesn’t doubt for a moment that the other mech is telling the truth. He’s seen enough strangeness in the past (Primus, it’s been almost a year since this multiverse thing started, hasn’t it?) not to be too surprised. “Well, stay safe. But I guess if your Perceptor’s anythin’ like ours, his snipin’ll keep most danger at a distance.”

botofbanter: A mind-virus huh… /He stops for a moment and frowns lightly. Doing the math was easy,...

Sat, 19 Jan 2013 13:00:52 -0500

botofbanter:

A mind-virus huh…

/He stops for a moment and frowns lightly. Doing the math was easy, there was a huge chance that he had a big role in the entire thing. After all he was the guy who freed the virus-dude and took him to Prime. And Red is not going to lie, a thing that attacks your processor does sounds like a thing his boss would come up with. The time also didn’t seem to be a coincidence from what he’s seen on the network. And he did see some other notices about the virus before. Including his universe’s Starscream’s odd behaviour. What a shame that his friend got caught up in all of this./

/He feels a little weird tingling sensation somewhere in his ember. He smiles trying to be reassuring or at least to cheer his buddy up, but the uneasy feeling is still there./

Oi, Edgie. Heads up! I’m sure it’s not that bad. Or as they say:

Don’t stop believing~ ♪
Hold on to that feeling~ ♫

Maybe a ~~good~~ little fairy will bring you kids a present? You never know haha! Good guys always have luck in comics right?

Eject visor flickers as Drift begins to belt out the song—one of his favoritres by Journey as a matter of fact—but he doesn’t smile. He vents heavily. “I appreciate it, Red. You tryin’ to cheer me up, I mean. But…” He falters, and falls silent, letting the absence of words hang heavy in the air.

He goes on, “But there ain’t nothin’ can be done about it if we sit and talk about it. We got a team of good scientists, and I mean real good, workin’ to help us out, so…” Once again he trails off. He’s not good with words at the best of times, much less so in this situation. Better to change the subject and get his mind off the inevitable. “Anyway—you said you were busy. What’ve you been up to?”

Quarantine? That’s nasty. You okay there Edgie? What kind of sicky-thingy is that? /He sounds...

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 23:29:23 -0500

Quarantine? That’s nasty. You okay there Edgie? What kind of sicky-thingy is that? /He sounds surprised and intrigued at the same time./ Oh and you know. Stuff. The list is quite long, I don’t like being bored~

“It’s… it’s a bad one. Attacks your processor. I’m… no. I’m really not, Red,” he admits, cycling his vents in one long, slow sigh. “Rewind’s sick, and he’s… he’s gotten real bad. I just wanna letcha know that we’re both…”

We’re both probably not going to make it.

“Unless we find a cure, I don’t think we’ll… well. You know.” He shrugs. He doesn’t sound sad, or angry, or frustrated at the futility of his situation. The normally-peppy minibot’s voice is dull and hollow. He’s already come to terms with what will happen to him. “I just figured you should know.”