[001 | Video - Static Ahoy!]

[shutupndrive]

[It had taken a moment or two..maybe it was three--he really couldn't say--but when everything had finally settled and he'd gotten most of his bearings back, realization hit him as he peered at the mark on his arm.

He'd seen that mark before. Primus it had been awhile but he'd had that mark on his arm before.

Pushing himself up, Smokescreen had tried to activate his navigation systems but nothing was working right and he had no idea how long it had been since he'd been here before. Looking around didn't really help with his problem, considering he was pretty sure he was in the middle of the Badlands.

Lucky, it seemed like his comms were still working, though they were full of static.

It was something though.]

--anyone c-c-copy?

This--Smokesc--n.

[Man he hoped someone would be able to understand this.]

Not sure--w-w-where I am. Badlands--? Navigation systems not---king.

--could use some help.

[Anyone? Someone?]

Comments

action;

[shutupndrive]

Hey! It worked!

[Sort of.

The pat on the shoulders is appreciated though, dadbot.]

....What?! The lab's gone?!

action;

[sciencetank]

More or less obliterated... I've been working to restore it, but.

[And there, he just looks tired. Shaking his head.]

But things have come up.

action;

[shutupndrive]

[Optics flickering, Smokescreen shifts closer to his guardian again.]

Is.....well, now that I'm back, I'll help you get everything back to the way it was.

[He wants to press, wants to ask what that tired look is about but right now?

Right now he wants to try and cheer the other up a bit.]

action;

[sciencetank]

[Back to the way it was...]

[That's about when Perceptor does something wildly out of character for him. He stares at Smokescreen, silently, for a few moments.]

[And then just plain hugs the poor kid. Crushingly.]

action;

[shutupndrive]

[Smokescreen doesn't even really have a chance to react, instead just jerking slightly in surprise, engine revving softly as he's hugged. It takes a moment before his arms find their way around the larger bot but he manages and squeezes him back, optics dimming.]

action;

[sciencetank]

[Sorry, Smokescreen. It's been rough.]

[And he never once felt anything other than guilt over losing you. But now you're back.]

[And maybe things really can go back to normal.]

...

You'd best never do such a thing again. Disappearing.

action;

[shutupndrive]

I promise to do my best not to disappear again, dad.

[While his tone is playful, there's a sincere note there as well. It's not like he wanted to disappear before..it just happened.]

action;

[sciencetank]

Good.

[He knows -- that it wasn't intentional. That Smokescreen means it. But even so, he can't really find it in him to loosen his grip just yet.]

[Smokescreen might have to be the one to do it.]

action;

[shutupndrive]

[Yeah see, about that.

Smokescreen isn't really all that intent on letting go at the moment. He's far too comfortable with his current position.]

So what's happened since I was here last?

action;

[sciencetank]

Madness, chaos, and wanton slaughter.

[All right then, they can just sort of stand here like this for a while, then.]

... much like home, really.