re_alignment_logs | Hallways always [OPEN]

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Ambulon turned back from the monitors. "Where is the pain? I can get you another sedative," he said. Paused. "I'm afraid I wasn't much help. Still not much, in fact, as my skills remain limited in the field of treating organics." He turned away again. "I can get First Aid in here if need be. The female human, Martha, she is unavailable right now."

"No, no more sedatives." She doesn't like sleeping when there's nobody there with her. Being forced to sleep is no better. She's still terrified of waking up back on that slab, scalpels bearing down on her.

"You were there. That's already more than enough. Stop selling yourself short."

She's having none of that shit, Ambulon.

"Right now, I'd rather have you, if it's all the same."

Ambulon frowned. "You really should sleep," he said. "I understand why you would prefer to stay awake, but I know your human body cannot survive very long without the proper rest." He paused. "If someone were to stay by your side as you slept, do you think... Do you think that could help you, at all?"

He tilted his helm. "All right, but I'm afraid I'm not very good company..." Though he did have some time to spare. Even if he didn't, Vandal was worth it. Ambulon just... sat down beside her bed, close to the monitors. What to say, what to say, what to say? God, he was terrible at this comforting stuff. His yellow optics turned and he spotted-- "What are those called again?" he asked, carefully pushing the blanket back into place over Vandal's foot. "Those small appendages. You told me once, but... I can't recall."

What are toes, Vandal? Seemed distraction worked better for him.

"I know I just-" Yeah. She really doesn't want to sleep alone.

"Maybe," Yes. Absolutely yes, but she's got a few shreds of her pride left to look so damn needy.

"Whatever," She settles when he agrees to stay a while, watching him carefully as he adjusts her blanket. Ambulon is a lot nicer than he gives himself credit for. Often overlooked, but kind all the same.

The question distracts her momentarily and she tips her head.

"Toes? You mean toes."

"Toes? Okay. Toes." He paused and nodded. "I'll have to remember this." Ambulon glanced up at her, slightly. "If you're willing to take a sedative and sleep, I can... stay here?" Ambulon knew there'd be much better company - let's face the facts, here - but if it's a warm, constant presence she wanted, then... He could at least give that much. "I'll stay until you wake."

"Don't need the sedative if you're here." She's exhausted, but the only thing keeping her from sleep is the fear.

That's all she needs to hear. As long as he doesn't leave.

Usually she'd request the vehicle mode but...

"Can I-" This is kind of an awkward question.

"I mean can I lay on you?"

Ambulon wasn't exactly expecting that. It wasn't Vandal's first time... well, "being" on him. He remembered from the bar, and it had been so confusing. Yet, well... He wasn't opposed? "All right," he murmured, after an awkward moment of silence. "Do you want to lie on my... back? Or chest?" Ambulon tilted his head, blinking yellow optics. "Or just in my lap? Um..."

"Just... pick me up and lay down on your back."

Ambulon isn't really used to much physical affection. Probably much physical anything, she's guessing. She's patient enough.

She just gathers the blankets around her so she can take them with her.

Ambulon waited until she was ready. It - Well, it still felt a little weird. Handling something so fragile and small. Yet, and he smirked to himself, Vandal was neither. Still, sitting comfortably, he easily scooped the tiny human in his hands. Very carefully laid back, a bit stiff, before laying Vandal out on his chest.

Ambulon blinked and looked down at her. "Is this okay?" he asked, using one finger to carefully spread out the blanket. So, what was this? Cuddling? Is this how it went?

She makes herself comfortable, scooting up once he is settled to hook her arms around his neck and tuck her head under his chin.

"That's perfect," She says with a shaky sigh, "Put your hands over me."

Arms would be better, but for the bots, usually hands cover the whole cuddling bit, since their arms tend to be too heavy.

Ambulon tried not to wince when her arms went around his neck. Not that it hurt - of course not - just... surprised. Wasn't quite sure why. He blinked, optics rolling down to look at the human while keeping his head still. "Right," he murmured, and very, very carefully, placed one hand over Vandal. Minding the weight, applying just enough to provide comfort without being too heavy. Just the right amount of pressure and touch, and his second hand spread below the first.

After adjusting, Ambulon sighed and let his body relax. The tension left his neck, his shoulders, his hands. "Right," he said again, and, as an afterthought, released just a small, gentle pulse of his spark, hoping somehow Vandal could feel it beneath layers of armor. And just... hope that would help relax her, he supposed.

This? This is good enough. And Vandal knows how to listen to machines. To Cybertronians. She knows the faint thrum of the spark, how the engine and back up systems are supposed to sound.

It does not go unnoticed, with her ear to his plating.

"You're a good robot," Vandal mutters, sounding half asleep already. Once hand starts in, lightly scratching under his jaw. Something roughly about 70% of bots seem to appreciate.

It was nice, if not a little weird. A physical display of affection? What was that? But it... He liked it? And he almost smiled, too! But quickly caught himself. Not quite sure why. Either way, he settled, and relaxed. "Sleep well," he said, finally, and really hoped she did.

It's no wonder that she wanted company. Almost as soon as he says it, she's passed out on him, body relazing against the warm metal and blanket.

She never sleeps for very long, but for what it's worth, he's helping her in one way or another.

Hallways always [OPEN]

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