[Video]

[vandalization]

[So this entry is tagged 'party progress', but when the video comes on it's very obviously not.

Everyone know that strange "guy" with the modulated voice always wearing the suit? Well, say hello to Vandal. She's not wearing the suit today. No helmet, no courier text. Turns out she's just your typical female human. But she's... not looking so good.]

Someone I-

Please. I don't feel right... I ca...

[Behind her, appears to be her little home, partially painted normally, but the paint job trails off into clusters of complex glyphs and symbols. The center looks like two pillars, spiraling up to two points, twisted like a helix.

Vandal is shaking, face coated in a fine layer of sweat.]

I'm turning into one of those things, I need to stop it I need to-

[Her hand is lifted. Sure does look like a normal hand, but she holds it out as though it were some grotesque limb.]

It's starting already! Please god- it won't go away this time! Someone please.

I need to cut it off before it spreads!

[Someone is obviously hallucinating.]

Comments

[inferiordude]

[Vandal is taken into his hands delicately as he looks down at her. The gaze is soft, his visor glowing dimly.]

Shhh, easy. Easy now.

[When Drift arrives, Soundwave looks up, visor flashing for a moment. He remains very still, saying nothing before he looks at Vandal again.]

I can help you, but you gotta listen to me. Very, very closely. Every single word, got it?

Drift, come closer. You're gonna be near her.

[vandalization]

[She winces as she's transferred off, hands not wanting to let go of Perceptor, the semi-safe space there, but Soundwave is there and then Drift comes and there's a lot of coming and going but he's here.]

Drift-?

[The presence of her friends, and her best friend, help soothe. Everyone is here now. Even as Wing leaves, she's comforted by knowing he'll come back. Despite the signal screeching in her brain.

They're all here now. She's never had so many people. Robots. Whatever. They're people to her.

It helps her sharpen. Helps her listen and she nods to Soundwave. Yes, okay, she can listen.]

[percept]

[ It's at this point that Perceptor becomes aware of just how useless he is at this moment. He lacks any medical knowledge that might help them in calming Vandal, lacks Wing's speed in seeking aid. All he can do is stand by and wait to see if his aid will become necessary again and hope that Soundwave and Drift can do something to ease her suffering.

With Vandal in safer hands he takes the opportunity to glance back at her handiwork, taking in the alien glyphs she's scrawled across her home. It's clearly some sort of language... ]

SHOW OF HANDS which idiot didn't track the thread o/ *the fail katamari continues*

[sword_redemption]

[Drift doesn't think Perceptor's useless here. If nothing else, the stoic calmness the other mech seems to exude is bracing, and he shakes off the last of his panic. He throws a glance toward the other mech, and what he hopes is a friendly nod.]

Vandal. I'm here. [Talk about feeling useless. He's here. Yippee.]

[He steps closer, into her range of vision, and then looks expectantly at Soundwave. Maybe not expectantly, more...pleadingly.]

s'all good, man

[inferiordude]

There you go, then. Now listen.

[A soft hum is emitted from Soundwave. He keeps it concentrated, as if he's trying to find just the right tone until he sings softly to Vandal.]

I don't believe in panic,
I don't believe in fear.
I don't believe in prophecies
so don't waste any tears.
I don't believe reality would be
the way it should,
But I believe in fantasy;
the future's understood.

[The tone he takes, he hopes to inspire calmness in Vandal, to bring her down out of her panic. As he sings, he begins to reach out mentally to the human in his hands.

Sleep. You just need some sleep.]

Y'all can figure out what to do with the sleepin' crazypants now.

[vandalization]

[She reaches out for Drift briefly, but turns and listens. It's a very strange song and for some reason she starts to feel very tired. The words block out whatever signal is running through her head as she slowly starts to shut down.

Down.


Down.


Down.


And out. Completely limp.]