Hallways always [OPEN]

[vandalization]

who: Vandal and any visitors. [OPEN]
what: Vandal is bed-bound, recovering from her month-long detainment and torture.
when: All this week.
where: The Medbay
warnings: very yes
notes: Tag in your own threads, it can be set during any point in the week.



The beep of the monitors is loud with her head this eerily silent. Whatever he did to her, between the needles and questioning, he separated it. Took something. Now that static in her head is far quieter. It's almost as maddening as when it was present.

Now she's almost lonely without it. Well- she was lonely before, but now even more so.

She doesn't sleep, no. It's not safe to sleep anymore. She wants to scream every time she's left alone, but it's not practical to have someone with her all the time. Prism is dead, the Gatherer is dead, but the way she goes back to that place every time she shuts her eyes.

So she lays in a space between waking and sleep, startling back to consciousness every tie she starts to drift. Shaking. Thinking about it. What it did to her.

She reaches up to smooth a finger over the gauze covering what used to be her right eye.

Ruined. He ruined her worse than the church did. The mental, the physical.

Everything. Ruined.

She wishes they'd have killed her when they found her.

But she's also a coward, and afraid of death, so here she sits and lets the stitches heal.

Comments

Whenever's good for you?

[sword_redemption]

It had felt good to do something, to save someone. He understood, a little bit, maybe, what Wing might have felt.

Maybe. It still hadn't felt like enough, not when he'd seen Vandal's condition. It felt selfish, but he'd lost Rodimus. He was on the verge of losing Wing. He just wanted this to be...good.

He steps into the room, as quietly as he can, settling down next to the berth, trying to find some hope in the click and beep of the machines.

We'll say Monday, so one of the first to show up.

[vandalization]

She hears him come, of course. Even as quiet as he is, she's not asleep. Her eyes is closed but never asleep.

The left eye, relatively unharmed opens and she looks at him, a sidelong glance.

"I'm sorry," is the first thing that leaves her mouth, no more than a whisper. Sorry for what? Everything. She'd been briefed on what had happened. She was sorry she wasn't there when he'd died. When his friends had died. When everything had gone to shit.

She's sorry for being careless and a liability and most of all how she spoke to him the last time they'd talked.

ok!

[sword_redemption]

He catches the movement of the eye, and pushes away from the wall, dropping to kneel beside the berth.

"Don't apologize, Karrie. If anyone should it's me. We couldn't find you. It was my fault."

He leans forward, resting his helm on the berth, wishing he could do something to fix this.

[thxforthememories]

Maybe it's unwise to move so silently into her room. But the concept of making noise when he moves isn't something he's entirely used to, yet. And, anyway, if she's asleep, he shouldn't wake her. He just wants to check. After being away so long, who wouldn't want that?

It's been a few days, when he finally slips into the room. Maybe he should have brought Kay -- no. It would be best to say these things alone. He stepped nearer to her, before crouching, setting a few fragile items down where he thought she might see them; a glass bottle he'd found, and a piece of paper, folded and cut into an unfamiliar design.

Then he retreats, stepping back from her, to stand beside the wall, watching. If she's asleep, he shouldn't wake her. Right?

[vandalization]

She never really sleeps, so when he enters, she opens her one good eye and smooths her tongue over chapped and peeling lips.

"Hey, sweetheart." Her voice is quiet, exhausted, but his presence is relief. He's there and that means she's safe. Safer at least.

He'd gone with the others to get her back, after all. So she was in good hands, for now.

[wheeljackofalltrades]

It was hard for Wheeljack to see comrades hurt. He tended to avoid it...to block it out. Busy himself with other things. Because if he did that, the pain wasn't there. He tried not to take things seriously.

Because if he takes things seriously, they matter.

And if they matter...

It took him awhile before he entered the medbay, rolling a shoulder nervously as he entered. Why was he here? Especially after how hard he tries to avoid it? It was simple. Vandal had exhausted herself to get him shipshape after he died...and now he could at least see how she was doing.

After all, she was practically a Wrecker in name.

She mattered.

"Hey tiger." His voice had a slight hitch in it as he walked over, attempting to put on a smile. Those eyes though...they say completely different.

[vandalization]

She's a little surprised to see him. He's not terribly sentimental, but it's nice. There's a presence in the room and he's comforting above all else.

"Hey Jack." She shifts, her voice ragged and tired.

"I'd get up but..." She's really bad at jokes right now.

Probably a bit later in the week

[notyourblueangel]

Humans are so fragile.

That's about the only thing Thundercracker can think of. Well, that and the fact that, in spite of it, this human has survived. With a lot of help, granted - a lot of VERY UNWANTED help - but still.

The Seeker had seen Vandal on the network now and then, and knew that she was important to a lot of people here. He didn't yet know why . . . but that didn't really matter, did it? The fact remained that she was.

It will be some time before the memories of the deep shock, horror, and utter rage, in even the most peaceful of his friends, fade from the forefront of his memory banks.

Thundercracker is restless. Normally, he'd take to the skies. But since . . . that post - the one shortly before Prism's - he's been . . . laying low.

Good time to finally go meet the human everyone's been talking about, the one he helped rescue. Oh, wait . . . she's probably still not recovered yet - fleshlings can't just be repaired like Cybertronians can be. Pit, she might not even be conscious yet. Well . . . he could at least "do the decent thing" and go check on her.

He pauses initially in the doorway, then enters the room, crouching to get a better look at her.

Humans are so fragile. And yet . . . not . . .

[vandalization]

"Take a picture, it'll last longer," Vandal mumbles weakly, her one good eye opening just a slit. She's not asleep, not by far.

This one looks like Starscream. And oh how she misses that dick. He was a dick but he cared about her. And... well. Actually not really a dick to her. Not when it mattered most anyways.

"Who're you?" She'd been briefed. Given the names of those who rushed to her rescue. She'd been surprised by how many, actually. It made the fact that she wished they'd have given her a merciful death kind of bitter, actually.

Unfortunately though, she can't really form coherent enough thought to match names to faces quite yet, and the way he's peering down at her of course gets her usual reaction: try to look tough. She's not really got her heart in it though.

Everybody knows how not tough she is now. How vulnerable and weak and pathetic. She wilts in the bed a bit, peering up at him.

i'd like saber to be one of the first to show up, so within the first few days. is that okay?

[pendragon]

((Also, for the life of me, I cannot find where the medbay is. I'll find it as I finish posting this and feel like a derp, perhaps.))

Saber stood outside of the door for a good few moments. She knew not this Vandal, and was only aware that so many cared for her. She hadn't heard anything particular about the woman, but with so many wishing to fight for her..

This was not the best time to want to get to know someone, however, and she understood that. If anything, she'd come by to give her best wishes and then be on her way. Personally, when Saber was unwell, she wished to be left alone. If Vandal was asleep or didn't appear to want company, the knight would quickly take her leave.

Holding a jar in her armored hands, the knight looked down at the contained dragonfly. This was one of Jetfire's creations. Maybe it wasn't the best gift, but Saber was unsure of what to bring. It was impossible to find flowers, after all. The glowing bug darted around, and since there was only one, the light was present, but not over-powering.

Pushing the door open carefully, Saber is aware that as she walks, her armor makes noise. Even with her walking as quietly as possible, the metal still gently chimes in the room.

The jar is set upon a wall shelf in the corner closest to the door. It's a fair distance from the berths, so it shouldn't bother the one resting here. Saber turns from the jar, somewhat blocking its light, and stands there for a moment before speaking. She speaks gently, not wishing to wake Vandal if she's slumbering.

"Excuse me?"

Yup!

[vandalization]

She opens one eye when she hears someone enter. It had been a slow stream of visitors. People ghosting by, trying to be quiet and looking surprised that she's awake.

She's never seen this woman before. She's pretty. She looks like a knight. What is it with Vandal and knights? Between Wing, Drift and Soundwave...

She lifts two fingers in greeting, because that's about what she's feeling up to.

"Who're you?" Well, she never boasted being polite, unfortunately. But given the circumstances, and being far less trusting of just about everything, she doesn't quite give a damn.

Probably one of the first, but after Drift? Tell me if this is okay.

[winged_knight]

It'd been too long in coming, and part of him feels remiss that it took them so long to find her and her captor, that she could have been spared some of this horror if only...

But no, that was not a constructive way of thinking. Personal recriminations weren't going to help. He'd failed to comfort Drift when it was most needed, something that still eats at him horribly. He has to do better here.

He knows she and Drift have a great deal more to talk about, and in general Wing tends to defer to Drift anyway in all things Vandal, so he makes sure they get their time together uninterrupted. Even if that means perching outside in the hall for however long it takes, gently steering others away.

But when it's quiet again and she's alone, he joins her, slipping into the room and over to the berth.

Yeppers!

[vandalization]

Well. She'd certainly got her fill of being really pathetic in front of Drift. Maybe she can go two for two.

She turns looking up at him.

"Hi." Her mouth is dry, eyes puffy from crying all over Wing's boyfriend. What a scene that was. She wonders if Wing saw or heard. She wasn't exactly subtle about sobbing and wailing and generally sounding disgusting.

One of the first, no doubt.

[inferiordude]

It's troubling, how much more he's come to rely on his abilities. But it's needed, so he's working with it best he can. Bottom line, Nexus is right. He needs practice.

He isn't sure where to begin asking for help, but now's not the time. No, not when he's needed right now. He hasn't gotten around to trying to coax her to sleep, though he knows he'll have to eventually. Soundwave understands her resistance to it, he really does, but it'd be for the best. Humans don't heal as fast as Cybertronians do, after all.

It brings him some terrible comfort about Prism and the Gatherer being dead. Part of him wishes he'd been part of bringing all of it down, but he knows where he was needed. That and he isn't cut out for vengeance acts.

Slowly, he approaches, kneeling down to try his best to get to her level.

"Hey, Joan Jett," Soundwave greets softly.

[vandalization]

She doesn't move, not yet. Just opens her eye and looks at him sidelong.

"Hey, Sir Duders." He'd been one of the first she saw. Him and Ambulon. They'd helped drag her out. The rest had been righting her captor.

Soundwave is always a friendly spirit. Always uplifting even when he's sad. And she can tell he's sad. He's probably sad more often than he'd like people to think. But then again, she gets the feeling, everyone here is.

"Thank you."

Later in the week fo sho

[littlecrowgirl]

Kagerou told her to work on festivities. Maybe it was to get her mind off what happened, but she still couldn't shake the thought of Vandal in the medbay...hurt. A robot...no, Prism did that to her. The one who had injured Soundwave...

He'd hurt another person she's gotten close to.

So when she enters the med bay...she looks around to make sure she's alone, hand grasping her arm nervously as she walks in. She wasn't sure if she was ready to see her but...sometimes you have just just jump into it.

And...what she saw was nothing like what she expected. She didn't see the feed Prism broadcast, thankfully, but Vandal had definitely seen better days.

"M-Miss Vandal..."

[vandalization]

Oh Kay. She'd honestly hoped the girl wouldn't pay her a visit. She's a gentle heart and probably too sensitive to really want to look at all the medical scars. Vandal shifts, pulling the blanket up a little more and turning her head so Kay can't see the bandages over her eye socket.

"Hey, sweetheart. What are you doing here?" She tries to sound... comforting, but there's a tremble in her voice.

"Little bird told me you were decorating for Christmas. Makin' everything nice." She nods toward the bottle on the shelf, the little snowflake still tied to it.

"Quite the talent."

A little later in the week.

[thehardway]

To be honest, he barely knows her. There are some key facts, such as her friendship with Perceptor, Wing, and Drift; that stands out. That, and her general attitude.

But also that she's a medic. A good one, for a human. The Tyrest Accord would never approve, but here the accord has no weight. So he will oblige its lack of presence and what they need.

Out of his attempts to continue his duties, he is here. That and he owes some brief attention to Mirage's repairs. As he approaches, he stands some feet away, looking down at the human before nodding once. "Vandal," Ultra Magnus addresses her, his tone shying away from stern and just sounding tired.

No doubt she feels similarly for different reasons.

Re: A little later in the week.

[vandalization]

Well this isn't someone she expected to see. Magnus, the no-fun-zone himself. Though after he'd debriefed her, she had some appreciation. That and... quite honestly she'd said some heated things to him that she regrets.

"Hi, Ultra Radness." The usual joking tone is a little lacking with her.

He's tired, she's tired, more they both look like they've been through hell.

"Came to make sure I wasn't breaking any rules?"

Probably a day or two after? :3c

[rstlsslegsyndrm]

Ambulon had hoped he could help as much as possible, despite his limited knowledge of human beings and organics in general. Though, really, it was thanks in part to Vandal for helping to provide him with a good deal of that knowledge. He had just hoped he'd never have to apply it - at least, to nothing as serious as this. Not that he did much anyway, but he... tried.

He came to check on her. He could do that, at least. Could read her vitals. Could tell if she was stable. Well, physically. Though Ambulon wasn't really sure what to say. When he first arrived and she was awake, he took a moment.

"How are you feeling?" It was a question in regards to her physical health, if she was in any physical pain, if she needed something - or someone more qualified - to help her. Ambulon moved over to her bedside, checking the monitors for any unusual spikes or abnormalities.

[vandalization]

Ambulon has always been kind of a constant but quiet presence. She actually probably spends more time around him and First Aid than anyone else, since she works at the medbay anyways.

"Eh," She shakes her head at the question, "Hurts."

But when did it not? It's a cover-all statement for her condition right now. Physical and mental. She bites her lip.

"Hey. Thank you."

[percept]

He's wracked with guilt. He tried to find her, and he failed. His failure is written all over her, a map of scars and damage that he faces every time he stops by.

The first few times--just after the rescue--she was unconscious, either asleep or passed out, and he hadn't wanted to wake her. He'd simply stood there in silence, listening to the methodical cacophony of the machines around her. She looked so small on the medical berth, so fragile.

He'd failed her.

He let himself into the medbay again, hoping and afraid that this time she won't be asleep, that this time she'll be awake.

"Vandal..?"

[vandalization]

She'd asked about him a few times when she woke up. Always just missed him. But today, since nobody is around, she's awake. Sitting in bed, surrounding her, scattered across the sheets are dozens of malformed attempts at folded paper snowflakes, all of them aborted and haphazard.

She looks up from her latest attempt, her tired face animating slightly in surprise.

"Perce..." The paper slips from her fingers so she can reach out to him.

[warborn]

It's something he never wished he'd have in common with anyone in any way, shape, or form...

But it's not something anyone wants.

And it's not something he particularly wants to talk about, but- Vandal's a friend. Fort Max doesn't mind spending another bedside vigil, though he does ensure it's when nobody else is around, nobody to ask questions of or from, when there's the safety of solitude...

Aside from her. But she's never been a threat, really.

He's not sure if that's a good thing or not, for her, that is.

Maximus sits next to the berth, silent but for the low sound of systems.

[vandalization]

In and out, she's never fully asleep, but she's surprised when she comes around to be fully aware, that there's a new, and rather hulking figure in the room.

Someone she didn't expect to see, but she understands almost instantly why hes here. She's incredibly grateful.

"Max?" She says, trying and failing to push the sleepiness from her tone.