re_alignment | [Video] Oooooops.

[The feed fizzles on, something big in the way for a moment. It soon becomes apparent that it’s a giant metal foot. The Link is turned slightly on its side, and angled so it’s looking up at Drift and Wing. It was apparently Drift’s foot in the way.]

[The two are facing each other, moving in slow, deliberate movements. It’s almost like a dance, but not, and way too slow to really be...anything. What are these hippies up to?! Whatever it is, it’s clear that Wing is the one slowly guiding Drift through these odd, slow moves.]

[And Drift has clearly had enough of this. He stops, not hiding his frustration very well at all.]

...Seriously, though. we've been doing this for weeks. I think I get it by now. Would it really hurt to pick up the pace a little or-- or do something else for a change?

You are improving, Drift, but perfection takes time.

[Wing looks thoughtful, studying his student for a moment.]

Would it help to see the results of what all of the slow control will result in?

[Drift huffs slightly and straightens up, planting his hands on his hips and giving Wing a shrug.]

Couldn't hurt. As things stand now, it feels like I'm getting nowhere.

All right.

[Wing takes a fighting stance.]

You will do the first kata I taught you. Nothing more, nothing less. You'll go from start to finish as quickly as you can, understood?

[Drift nodded, mimicking Wing's stance.]

Quick as I can, got it. Say when.

Now.

[Wing says it even as he lunges at Drift. What follows is an impressive flurry movement. Wing strikes at Drift fast and hard, and Drift moves as though in response to block and dodge, despite the clear shock on his face. It’s a fight, it’s a dance, and for a moment it seems this may end with Wing not landing a blow on Drift at all.]

[Those experienced in combat may be the only ones to realize that from one movement to the next Drift’s footing ends up off, and so leaves the mech wide open to attack. Wing doesn’t hesitate to strike with a kick to Drift’s side. BAM!! Drift stumbles. He's able to regain his footing pretty quickly, but it's already too late. He knows what's coming next.]

Wait wait wait--

[This is lesson time, Drift. With a grab, a sweep of his leg, and not much more than a tug, all of which Drift should have been able to block had he managed to finish the kata, Wing will toss Drift aside, sending him tumbling across the ground.]

And that is why these kata need to be second nature. You lost your stance at the end, else you'd still be on your feet in front of me.

[Drift just stares up from the ground, clearly grumpy but not outright complaining. Yeaaah this was kind of his own fault. He waggled a hand in the air dismissively]

Okay, okay. I'll take my time with it.

[Wing smiles and steps up, offering Drift a hand to pull him back to his feet....and then gets a shocked look on his face, gaze going to the Link just beyond Drift's head...]

Oh...

What? Is something broken?

[Drift totally doesn't get it and starts prodding at his face with his free hand, y'know making sure nothing's actually broken.]

Wing?

[Wing covers his smile with one hand, making a soft buzzing sound.]

No, no, nothing's broken. But it seems we just put on a show for the residents of Haven.

[Drift gives him a confused look and glances around, finally spotting what Wing had been talking about. And then he looks absolutely mortified because wow. Wow.]

Oh hell.

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[He just grins.] Of course. Didn't sound like you'd been here before.

I haven't, no, you're right about that.

[Oh no he's looking around. Ooooh no they're so cute. He's being extra careful not to move AT ALL because THEY'RE SO TINY AND FLUFFY OH GOD what if he steps on one]

How'd you find out about this?

[Wing very, very carefully sits. Cats coming to climb up on his lap, and others into his offered hand. He very, very carefully pets at those in his hand.] Blurr. He'd mentioned cats, only I had no idea what they were, so he brought me here to show me. I find them rather endearing.

[Drift likely has a number of cats around his feet, mewling at him for attention.]

Oh, yeah? They're from Earth, I've seen some before.

[Drift suuuuper carefully lowers himself to his knees, trying to carefully shoo cats out of the way in the process. As soon as he's down, they start climbing on him.]

Just not up close like this.

That would explain why I've never heard of them before.

[He smiles] They seem to like you.

....I nearly brought one back to our room when Blurr brought me here.

I don't know if we have the means to take care of a pet. It's probably best that you didn't.

[Except that. They're really cute. And really fluffy. And oh God they make the cutest noises.]

[He shrugs] Mostly didn't because you didn't need that kind of surprise. There are ways to care for them, though.

[You know you want a few, Drift.]

[he might. Even though there's one clawing it's way up his FACE.]

They're pretty small, though. I'd be worried about one getting hurt.

[Wry] It's why I didn't just show up with one. If we took any in, you needed to know they would be there beforehand.

[And he'll reach over to very gently pluck the cat from Drift's face.] Careful about letting them near your optics.

Just be gentle with them, Drift. They're surprisingly resilient little creatures.

[Drift holds a hand out for some fluffy critters on the floor and a couple cats scurry up his arm like he's some kind of tree.]

Agile, too. I kind of like them.

I do to. They have a lot of personality too.

[In a fit of 'ornery', he shifts to lightly "drop" the one he'd plucked from Drift's face...onto the top of his helm.]

[it just curls up next to one of Drift's pointy head fins and MRROOOWWWWWWs. Drift looks mildly unamused]

Noisy, though.

[And Wing has a hand up to cover the smile on his fave.] Only because there are so many. They sound like they have tiny engines in them when they're happy.

That's kind of a strange sound for an organic to make.

[the little cat on his helm has decided to use Drift's fin thing as a scratching post. he winces and tries to gently nudge it away from there with a finger]

[Wing gives a sympathetic wince when the cat scratches at him like that.]

[And the cat on Drifts head gives an indignant "myah" sound, before turning around and pouncing his finger.]

Need help with that one?

This one's a little jerk!

[Drift seems more amused by this than angry. He manages to pluck it up gently and now the little bastard's curling up in the palm of his hand.]

I think I've got it covered.

Edited 2014-06-30 03:35 (UTC)

[He chuckles] Oh, you hear him? [Wing nods to the little furball in Drift's hand. And the cat is PURRING OMG.] Well, I think he likes you, Drift.

[He'll picks up a few cat toys, and in short order he has a few cats chasing "ropes" of feathers across the floor before him.]

[Drift holds his hand up to his audial so he can hear the purring. ooooh no.]

Oh, that's... that's adorable. It does sound like a little engine!

[he sounds absolutely thrilled by this. Okay maybe these fuzzy little critters aren't so bad.]

[Wing nods, o-or starts to, until he feels the kitten on his helm start to slide. He keeps his head still and continues playing with the other cats.] It is, isn't it? I never would have thought an organic creature could make a sound like that.

What kind of food do they eat?

[Beeeecause Drift may or may not want this little purring one omggggg]

Something called fish, or the Acolytes here have small cans of solid fuel they like.

[He's eying Drift...you're considering it, aren't you?]

Oh, I know fish! I don't know that there are any around here, but I can ask the Acolytes about food.

[Drift is just. Mesmerized by the little orange ball of puff in his hand. It's flicking it's tail and looking all sassy Wiiingggg looook.]

[Wing is grinning.] So....if you kept one...what would you name it?

[Drift watches the cat as it stretches and struts around on Drift's hand like it owns the place, meowing for attention. Drift gently rubs it's head with a finger.]

...Rodimus. This one's called Rodimus.

[Wing studied Drift, wondering if that was a name that meant something to him...it sure sounded like such a name.]

Rodimus...I guess that settles it then.

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