re_alignment | [Video] Backdated to within a few hours of the initial wave of monsters

[ Ratchet looks worn and a bit beaten about when he makes his call on the Link. He'd been caught by one of the Sharkticons before escaping back to the temple, and there's still smudges of energon glinting in the crevices of his helm and chevron that he missed when wiping his face off. Still, there's a spark in his eyes -- he may not be at the front of the fighting, but he's certainly not out of action. ]

Given this absolutely ridiculous influx of creatures, I'm going to remind you all that I'm a medic and that I know what I'm doing. If you get into a scrap, don't waste time being a hero and limping around with your innards hanging out -- come here and I'll fix you.

[ His eyes narrow. ]

But don't be an idiot either. If I find out that any of you have blown yourself up because you used too many grenades, I'm going to come after you and weld your hands to your skull.

[ The glare he's directing at the comm could kill a mech at twenty paces. ]

Wheeljack, this means you.

[[ ooc: going to be slow in responding, but I thought I'd post this up before I became even later than I already am. ]]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Thank you. I'll take your advise into consideration.

[ Ratchet raises an eyebrow, curiosity piqued by this rule mention. ]

WRB?

World Robot Boxing.

I could not tell you before that I am a boxer.

[Since the whole 'unable to communicate' thing when they met on the Junk Pile.]

[ Blink. Blink blink. ]

I see. So that's the reason for your, ah, hand situation?

[ Ratchet wiggles his fingers instinctively, as if making sure that they're still attached. ]

Correct. Fingers are not required to punch another bot or to halt them from punching you.

You seemed startled at the time. I apologize.

[SORRY BOUT SCARING YOU THERE]

Ah, yes, well... [ Ratchet's a bit embarrassed. ]

Where I come from, if a bot's hands are in that condition, it's because they've been purposefully modified from mobile digits. And that... usually isn't for benificent reasons.

[ AKA: it's a way to torture or hobble a prisoner, but he doesn't want to just come out and tell Noisy that. ]

Many Cybertronians seem to be seeing me unfortunate for a variety of reasons.

[He's been getting a lot of Implications lately from the alien robots that... aren't sitting well with him. And Noisy Boy is smart enough to assume that this somehow connects to Blurr's suggestion of slavery and Drift implying he was being unfairly treated or used.]

I was simply designed by my creator to fulfill a purpose.

I suppose that's because you're quite differently abled compared to many of us.

[ Ratchet pauses and processes that. ]

... I see.

[He sees that look Ratchet is giving him. All these bots broadcast everything so obviously...]

Is the same not true for Cybertronians? Were you not made for a reason?

No, we're born, not made. We just exist.

[ He frowns, tries to come up with a good explaination. ]

Think of it like... humans. Just as they simply are born and live and find their own purposes in life, so too do we Cybertronians and, ah, so could you, in fact.

I was created for boxing. It is what I am best at.

[Even if the injury to his neck and right shoulder would hinder him in the ring... he has no other viable skills.]

If I was built with a purpose, why would I choose another?

Well... because life changes. Boxing may have suited you very well where you come from, for example, but right now, other skills might be more useful, skills beyond just fighting other robots.

I was not programmed for other skills. Just boxing.

[Which, without the handler and ring and suitable opponents, he can't do.]

You can learn, though, can't you?

[ A gentle smile. ]

I have not tried.

[Unless his stargazing counts, of course. It's not that he can't, necessarily, just that he hasn't cared. He had his boxing after all.]

Now might be a good time to try?

[ He laughs, wryly. ]

Well... not right now, considering the conditions outside, but if you'd like, we can figure some things out after? What are you interested in, outside of boxing? Is there anything?

Going outside without my handler is unadvisable at present. But I would like that, afterwards.

[His interests? Well...]

I like to watch the crowds before and after my matches. And I like to watch the stars. I know their positions on different places on the Earth.

[Mostly because he memorized their patterns. They were his friends before he had friends, really.]

You have a handler?

[ That term... doesn't sit well with Ratchet. It's one he associates with livestock. ]

Either way, we could watch the stars without any undue danger to anyone, couldn't we? I might even be able to teach you some of the constellations! Ah, well, they're not all the same as they were-are where I come from, but they're still quite similar.

It could be ... fun? [ He says it as a question both for Noisy and himself. He hasn't had time for recreation in, well. Centuries. ]

All boxing bots have handlers that take care of choosing fight venues and repairs following fights. They also serve as our operators during fights, except for one.

[This is, really, just how things are. He can't say if it's good or bad because it's how things have operated since the beginning of robot boxing, as far as he knows.]

Constellations. Those are pictures in the sky, correct?

I would like that. [Though Ratchet seems unsure about that, maybe? Has he not done this in a while or something.]

What do you mean by operators? [ Ratchet's thinking that they're something like talent agents, thus far. ]

And yes, pictures in the sky. They usually have stories behind them too... I'll tell you about them. [Have a fond expression. Noisy really is a lot like a sparkling in some ways. ]

[To be fair, Ratchet isn't far off about that part of the business.] They use our controllers to issue commands during the bout. I have heard it compared to video games before.

That sounds nice. I look forward to it. [Excited yes, but his usual subdued sort of excited. It's not every day he meets someone to share his non-fighting interest with.]

[ Ratchet isn't really sure what to make of this. How can one being control another like that? ] I see. [He really doesn't, but he'll let it slide. He's just realized that grilling Noisy too much might drive him away. ]

You just let me know when you're free, then, and we can pick a night to go watch the stars.

Edited 2012-07-31 14:21 (UTC)

[Noisy Boy gets the feeling that Ratchet doesn't really understand, but he really doesn't mind. Explaining it has been difficult and hasn't really gone as expected. Someone letting it go for a while is something of a relief.]

I will. Thank you.

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