[ In person, Kagerou sounds exhausted. Absolutely wrung out with everything that is happening to him.
Pressed against Gunmax, leaning heavily on him, it's probably no surprise that he staggers there taller than he was. Not by much, a few inches at most, but who knows how much it will be in the end. Evolution, not damage. But Becoming was always painful.
His chest is warmer than it should be. Something, if you feel, very very carefully... Beats beneath.
That's almost an answer in itself, isn't it. ]
I- I knew it wasn't a good idea.
[ But he had been desperate.
There's another surprised, disoriented noise as Gunmax fits the shades on. Well, it helps. He clings onto Gunmax, and manages to stay standing. ]
[ Gunmax rolls his optics and mutters a swear under his breath. ]
Right. If you can't tell me, then you're gonna give me enough clues that I can put the damn case together. I'm a detective, Kage, I'll figure it out come hell or high water. [ And then he's gonna have some fucking words with whoever did this.
He can feel the beat in Kagerou's chest. It's almost like a fuel pump but it's too warm. Closer to a human's heart. And isn't that strange? A robot with a heart beat. But didn't those Cybertronians have one?
He turns that over in part of his processor as he bolsters Kagerou. ]
Right. Let's get you back to-- You don't have a habsuite do you. Knowing you ninjas you've been sleeping in the vents. Right. Okay. My suite it is. One foot in front of the other, birdie, let's get you into a proper room so I can get a better look at you.
[ His voice is so very small, though the scratchiness remains. His form shudders, and it's so easy to see another stripe of newborn metal. ]
It's with nii- It's with Elecman.
But...
[ Kagerou roomed with Elecman, roomed with Rock. Elec, he could tolerate; Elecman he even wants. He could accept nii-san's worry. Even crave it, the way a little sibling wants to tuck up against an older. But he wouldn't want to scare Rock. He just wants the quiet, and the dark, and a place to lick his oh so metaphorical wounds.
In the end, he nods wearily. Gunmax's would be better.
One foot in front of the other, as his frame gradually keeps changing. ]
[ Gunmax glances at Kagerou from the corner of his optics. One foot in the front of the other. Progress is slow but they'll make it there. He didn't miss that Kagerou called Elecman nii-san. An aborted nii-san, but nii-san nonetheless.
Good. Kagerou had found some form of family here. ]
We'll give Elecman a call soon here then. He'll be good for you. God knows you'll listen to your brother.
[ The last sentence is teasing, meant to lighten the mood a little. Gunmax knows how much it's needed sometimes. He adjusts his hold carefully to account for the new growth, the new weight, and shoulders open the door to his habsuite.
He slaps the lights off with one hand, and helps Kagerou onto the couch after. ]
Right. So. You accepted a gift that was a bad gift, and now you're growing new parts.
[ Orange light flickers as Gunmax cycles his optics and he crouches in front of Kagerou, observing the lines of new metal. He's spent enough time working on himself and on Gunbike to know his way around. Kagerou is... almost something else now. Not wholly a Brave.
His antenna twitches again and Gunmax flicks his gaze back up to Kagerou's face. ]
[ He does earn some success: a wan smile curls the edges of Kagerou's mouth, the teasing doing its job. Besides, Gunmax isn't wrong. On both counts.
Even despite everything, despite the pain, he wonders what Gunmax and Elec will think of each other.
There's a soft hiss as he eases down onto the couch, relaxing into the softness and the dark. Okay. Okay, yeah, this was a lot better than the cold, hard metal of his hideaway. It doesn't take away the pain, but it... Eases it, somehow. ]
It's- A spark. It's a spark.
It was someone else's, but that person is- [ Exarchon. Something about an Allspark. Washed away in the haze of pain, mostly, but Kagerou had been listening. ]
[ ...He tries not to think of the bite marks he's left in a few vents on his way to his eventual hiding spot. ]
Not for... A while.
[ His tank had been basically empty, when he and Skywarp had talked. The changes were not helping any of this in the slightest, 'snacks' aside. It'd just hurt too much to think of emerging. Not wanting to be seen. A wounded animal gone off to hide.
[ Gunmac lets out a slow breath and shakes his head. Of course, Kagerou hadn't eaten. He can't blame him. It wasn't like Gunmax had managed to get back up to full rations yet himself either. ]
Yeah, fair enough. Okay. I'm going to call Starscream and get some fuel for you, okay? We'll get some metal additives in it.
[ He glances at Kagerou's face again and cracks a small smile. ] I won't let him in, don't worry. I know you don't want to be seen by anyone yet.
[ He sits back on his knees and grabs for his comm, wasting no time in calling the brigade Starscream. He knows that out of everyone on board, he can help. ]
[ Gunmax earns another faint smile for it all. Exhausted, but Kagerou reaches out all the same to briefly squeeze the other Brave's wrist in thanks.
Starscream, of course, bitches about not seeing Kagerou. Even when he does show up and pass a Lot of oil cans through the door, already seeded with various metal additives. He's not sure WHY Gunmax needs them for Kagerou, but despite the bitching he stays exactly where he is: on the other side of the door.
Kagerou can't help but smile the whole time. Loved, even in his less than intelligent moments. It soothes some of the less physical hurts.
His fuel tank actually rumbles when he spots the cans, though. It brings a tint to his face, surprised and embarassed. ]
[ The wrist squeeze gets a smile in response. He's glad that Kagerou feels safe enough to trust him with this. It's good to know his help is wanted too, at least on some level. And then, of course, Starscream hands off entirely too much oil, and Gunmax almost laughs about it.
Do you see, Kagerou? Do you see how much people care about you?
He thanks Starscream and carries the cargo back to Kagerou's side. There is a veritable mountain of oil cans for the mech to have now. ]
There. Drink slow. Your systems will probably pitch a fit.
[ He doesn't say a word about the rumble of Kagerou's tanks. He knows exactly how it goes. He presses one can into Kagerou's hand and gives him a smile instead. ]
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chiming
no subject
Date: 2024-08-23 08:11 pm (UTC)From:It was part of the payment.
[ In person, Kagerou sounds exhausted. Absolutely wrung out with everything that is happening to him.
Pressed against Gunmax, leaning heavily on him, it's probably no surprise that he staggers there taller than he was. Not by much, a few inches at most, but who knows how much it will be in the end. Evolution, not damage. But Becoming was always painful.
His chest is warmer than it should be. Something, if you feel, very very carefully... Beats beneath.
That's almost an answer in itself, isn't it. ]
I- I knew it wasn't a good idea.
[ But he had been desperate.
There's another surprised, disoriented noise as Gunmax fits the shades on. Well, it helps. He clings onto Gunmax, and manages to stay standing. ]
no subject
Date: 2024-08-23 08:34 pm (UTC)From:Part of the--
[ Gunmax rolls his optics and mutters a swear under his breath. ]
Right. If you can't tell me, then you're gonna give me enough clues that I can put the damn case together. I'm a detective, Kage, I'll figure it out come hell or high water. [ And then he's gonna have some fucking words with whoever did this.
He can feel the beat in Kagerou's chest. It's almost like a fuel pump but it's too warm. Closer to a human's heart. And isn't that strange? A robot with a heart beat. But didn't those Cybertronians have one?
He turns that over in part of his processor as he bolsters Kagerou. ]
Right. Let's get you back to-- You don't have a habsuite do you. Knowing you ninjas you've been sleeping in the vents. Right. Okay. My suite it is. One foot in front of the other, birdie, let's get you into a proper room so I can get a better look at you.
no subject
Date: 2024-08-23 08:57 pm (UTC)From:[ His voice is so very small, though the scratchiness remains. His form shudders, and it's so easy to see another stripe of newborn metal. ]
It's with nii- It's with Elecman.
But...
[ Kagerou roomed with Elecman, roomed with Rock. Elec, he could tolerate; Elecman he even wants. He could accept nii-san's worry. Even crave it, the way a little sibling wants to tuck up against an older. But he wouldn't want to scare Rock. He just wants the quiet, and the dark, and a place to lick his oh so metaphorical wounds.
In the end, he nods wearily. Gunmax's would be better.
One foot in front of the other, as his frame gradually keeps changing. ]
no subject
Date: 2024-08-23 09:28 pm (UTC)From:Elecman?
[ Gunmax glances at Kagerou from the corner of his optics. One foot in the front of the other. Progress is slow but they'll make it there. He didn't miss that Kagerou called Elecman nii-san. An aborted nii-san, but nii-san nonetheless.
Good. Kagerou had found some form of family here. ]
We'll give Elecman a call soon here then. He'll be good for you. God knows you'll listen to your brother.
[ The last sentence is teasing, meant to lighten the mood a little. Gunmax knows how much it's needed sometimes. He adjusts his hold carefully to account for the new growth, the new weight, and shoulders open the door to his habsuite.
He slaps the lights off with one hand, and helps Kagerou onto the couch after. ]
Right. So. You accepted a gift that was a bad gift, and now you're growing new parts.
[ Orange light flickers as Gunmax cycles his optics and he crouches in front of Kagerou, observing the lines of new metal. He's spent enough time working on himself and on Gunbike to know his way around. Kagerou is... almost something else now. Not wholly a Brave.
His antenna twitches again and Gunmax flicks his gaze back up to Kagerou's face. ]
You've got a heart beat.
no subject
Date: 2024-08-23 09:55 pm (UTC)From:Even despite everything, despite the pain, he wonders what Gunmax and Elec will think of each other.
There's a soft hiss as he eases down onto the couch, relaxing into the softness and the dark. Okay. Okay, yeah, this was a lot better than the cold, hard metal of his hideaway. It doesn't take away the pain, but it... Eases it, somehow. ]
It's- A spark. It's a spark.
It was someone else's, but that person is- [ Exarchon. Something about an Allspark. Washed away in the haze of pain, mostly, but Kagerou had been listening. ]
It's mine. It's mine now.
[ That, and the quiet hunger. ]
no subject
Date: 2024-08-23 10:14 pm (UTC)From:[ Gunmax gives Kagerou an incredulous look at that. ]
A spark? That was the gift? A spark?
[ How does one gift a soul? How does one gift the soul of a dead mech since that was what Kagerou clearly cut himself off from saying.
Gunmax doesn't know but he is deeply concerned. ]
Right. Okay. You... Have a cybertronian spark now. You sure know how to pick your problems, birdie.
[ He leans in a little more and hovers a finger over the new line of growth on one wing. ]
If you're growing new parts... When did you last eat? You'll need nutrients. Metal doesn't just grow from nothing.
[ God. He should probably call Starscream. This is beyond his understanding and he never once claimed to be an mechanic expert. ]
no subject
Date: 2024-08-23 10:40 pm (UTC)From:Not for... A while.
[ His tank had been basically empty, when he and Skywarp had talked. The changes were not helping any of this in the slightest, 'snacks' aside. It'd just hurt too much to think of emerging. Not wanting to be seen. A wounded animal gone off to hide.
He'd always been a coward. ]
no subject
Date: 2024-08-23 11:18 pm (UTC)From:[ Gunmac lets out a slow breath and shakes his head. Of course, Kagerou hadn't eaten. He can't blame him. It wasn't like Gunmax had managed to get back up to full rations yet himself either. ]
Yeah, fair enough. Okay. I'm going to call Starscream and get some fuel for you, okay? We'll get some metal additives in it.
[ He glances at Kagerou's face again and cracks a small smile. ] I won't let him in, don't worry. I know you don't want to be seen by anyone yet.
[ He sits back on his knees and grabs for his comm, wasting no time in calling the brigade Starscream. He knows that out of everyone on board, he can help. ]
no subject
Date: 2024-08-24 07:43 am (UTC)From:Starscream, of course, bitches about not seeing Kagerou. Even when he does show up and pass a Lot of oil cans through the door, already seeded with various metal additives. He's not sure WHY Gunmax needs them for Kagerou, but despite the bitching he stays exactly where he is: on the other side of the door.
Kagerou can't help but smile the whole time. Loved, even in his less than intelligent moments. It soothes some of the less physical hurts.
His fuel tank actually rumbles when he spots the cans, though. It brings a tint to his face, surprised and embarassed. ]
...Thank you.
no subject
Date: 2024-08-24 01:04 pm (UTC)From:[ The wrist squeeze gets a smile in response. He's glad that Kagerou feels safe enough to trust him with this. It's good to know his help is wanted too, at least on some level. And then, of course, Starscream hands off entirely too much oil, and Gunmax almost laughs about it.
Do you see, Kagerou? Do you see how much people care about you?
He thanks Starscream and carries the cargo back to Kagerou's side. There is a veritable mountain of oil cans for the mech to have now. ]
There. Drink slow. Your systems will probably pitch a fit.
[ He doesn't say a word about the rumble of Kagerou's tanks. He knows exactly how it goes. He presses one can into Kagerou's hand and gives him a smile instead. ]
No thanks necessary, birdie.
[ He's just glad Kagerou is still functioning. ]