Bath time.

[vandalization]

WHO: Vandal and Ambulon
WHERE: Medbay of course!
WHEN: Sometime after new years.
WHAT: Brushie brushie. Ambulon emerges from his cocoon to become a beautiful purple leg.
WARNINGS: Vandal.



"Ambulooooooooooon!"

Vandal has become known for... tenacity, somehow. Just being generally hard to put down, despite the fact that there's nothing special about her, save for how crazy she is. For whatever the church- the Marker did to her that makes the voices and the static and that strange code haunt her day and night.

Tenacity. Because she'd survived that. She'd survived her entry to this place. More over, she'd somehow, despite even her wishes, survived Prism. So nobody can tell her that she has to stay in bed all day.

Currently, she is limping her way around the medbay, braced against one makeshift crutch and partially using the walls to get around.

"AMBUTT! Hey! Hellooooooo?" She has a small bucket and a few tools slung over her shoulder as she conducts her very... slow search.

Comments

[rstlsslegsyndrm]

Ambulon had nearly dropped his tools in surprise and concern once his audiols picked up Vandal's shouting. Optics widening, he quickly slipped out of the room. Had something happened did she relapse he was gone for just a little while-- He came to a sudden halt then, standing some feet away from the tiny human.

Ambulon stared a moment. Optics shuttered. "What are you doing out of bed?" he asked, frowning. Sure, Vandal was strong, and a survivor, but she was still recuperating, dammit.

[vandalization]

He's met with a grin.

"There you are." She stumbles over, bracing against his knee.

"What am I doing? I was going to help you shed that old coat of paint and deep clean your plating is what. Pick me up, we're going to the washracks."

She snaps her fingers apparently having decided it's not up for debate.

"Also, I'm bored out of my mind and I'm starting to hear shit again so."

So there's that.

[rstlsslegsyndrm]

Ambulon wanted to ask her about the voices, if he should go get Rung or someone else better suited at this entire mental health field, or scooping her up and taking her back to bed to sit and talk and be pleasant because no, Vandal, you should be resting. But!

Sigh.

"You will over-exert yourself," he said but knelt, one hand gently pressed to her back. Offering additional support plus to relax, at least just a little. "We can do something else. Something that doesn't require so much physical work. I can call in Drift or Wing or one of your friends to keep you company, if you'd like."

[vandalization]

"No, I won't. I'm fine. I need it, it'll help restore some muscle and get the blood flowing again."

She shakes her head, leaning back against his hand regardless.

"No. You're not getting out of this one. Come on. Bath time. You're shedding like a Persian cat. Let's go. Come on!"

[rstlsslegsyndrm]

Ambulon frowned. "... Fine," he grumbled, finally, and a pressed a hand to his forehead, sighing. "Fine. But you let me know if you're in any pain or if you get tired." Damn humans and their damn bodies. He carefully scooped Vandal up, placed her protectively to his chest, heading off to the washracks. "Also, I know what a cat is... But what is a Persian cat? Is it a sub-species of cats?"

[vandalization]

Well. She wins again. Smiling triumphantly, she curls up against his chest and lets him carry her to the washracks.

"Yeah. They're big fluffy beasts that shed like motherfuckers. They also usually have a grumpy face so that works too."

She chuckles, picking off a paint flake with her finger.

"Why'd you paint over this? It's pretty."

[rstlsslegsyndrm]

"What works?" Of course, let it just fly over his head.

Ambulon's frown twitched at her comment regarding his original paint job. "I felt like changing it, that's all," he mumbled. "Besides, it's nothing fabulous. Just dull purple and blue."

As they headed for the washracks, he added, "It's odd. I get more complaints from people here than I did from Pharma back on Delphi in regards to my poor paint job. And while you may know nothing of Pharma, it is quite surprising, considering he's an utter perfectionist." He tilted his head. "Then again, I never let it get this worse in condition."

[vandalization]

"Never mind." She waves a dismissive hand, chucking and flicking another paint chip away.

"Nonsense. It looks like it belongs better than the orangey red scheme. I bet you're absolutely beautiful under there. Maybe add a smile more often and you'd be the talk of Haven."

She grins up at him as they reach the washracks finally.

"Doesn't bother me. It just looks itchy."

[rstlsslegsyndrm]

"I don't know," Ambulon mumbled. He wasn't the sentimental type; he wouldn't equate his old paint job with his old life, but... Still. It felt like it needed to be covered up anyway. "I suppose, at the time, covering certain things up felt necessary. And being the talk of the Haven? That'd be interesting." He shrugged. "It doesn't itch, though."

Once inside, Ambulon put Vandal gently back on the ground before gathering the cleaning supplies. Basic stuff. Starting up the water, he looked back, down at the tiny human. "You sure you want to do this?" Because it was probably going to be one Hell of a tedious job.

[vandalization]

"Well, you don't have to worry here about that."

She goes about pulling her over-shirt off to reveal a tank top she doesn't mind getting wet, and rolling her pants up to the knee, as futile as that is.

"I'm sure. You always help and never ask for anything in return. So I'm just going to take the initiative here."

[rstlsslegsyndrm]

"You're still recuperating, Vandal, so don't stress yourself," Ambulon replied, watching her closely. He wanted to help, but figured, you know, there wasn't much he could do. So, he sat down, pushing whatever supplies she needed to her side. He didn't know what to say in regards to her last comment. Though he did feel a little silly just sitting there with the water to his back not saying jack shit.

"You went out recently. How was that?" Ambulon asked, attempting to converse, but coming off as probably vague and obviously new to this. Usually he'd sit there in silence and work, but Vandal didn't seem the type to enjoy dull company.

[vandalization]

"I know, I know, I won't. Broken record, sheesh." She waves a hand at him as she hauls herself over to start with his feet and work her way up.

A scrub brush and a scraper in hand, she sets to work with some turpentine.

"It was nice. Perceptor and Drift and Wing have all been really good to me. Everyone has honestly. Don't really know what to do with all that kindness."

She could care less if he made smalltalk. She likes his company regardless.

"What do you do for fun, Am? You have a hobby besides being relentless?" She offers him a wry, teasing smirk.

[rstlsslegsyndrm]

"I imagine you get what you give," Ambulon replied, watching her work. He couldn't feel much of anything, but what he did felt like very light tickling. He wasn't going to tell her that, however. Still, the paint didn't seem too stubborn. "But I understand how... hard it can be. I'm still getting used to certain people." Such as the human now scrubbing away his old, flaking paint. "I'm not entirely used to all this..." He flitted a hand. Whatever.

Ambulon paused a moment. "I read occasionally," he said. "Mostly medical logs. Expand my horizons some. Beyond that..." He shrugged, just slightly. "Work and recharge. I've never really had any hobbies, but that's never bothered me." A pause, a second pause. "And you?"

[vandalization]

"Maybe. Honesly I dunno. Not real popular where I'm from. Not used to this much attention. It's nice, though."

She shrugs, scrubbing a little harder as the paint starts to slough off in earnest.

Oh, just wait Ambulon. You've far from escaped her plans to ambush you. She surveys the blue paint she's uncovered.

"God, I need to take you out sometime. Me? I keep myself busy. Try to at least. Less time I have to think the better. I like studying under you and First Aid. Helping out here. Fixing shit. Drinking. Like music. Do you like music? Did I mention drinking already?"

[rstlsslegsyndrm]

Ambulon felt a slight chill down his backstrut. Your words have been noted, Vandal. He'll just pretend that bad feeling was nothing.

"I'm glad you're enjoying your work here," Ambulon said. "Music is... all right? I don't know. I don't really listen to music. And I don't drink much, either. Only occasionally." He shrugged, peeling off a small strip of paint from his shoulder. "I suppose repainting myself was my only hobby. I suppose I thought if I were red and white, I'd... fit in better." Though he turned out more orange. Life is a bitch like that.

"I wouldn't mind 'going out' with you," he added, "but I'm not sure I'd be much fun."

[vandalization]

"I am. More the people than the work, but I like being useful. God knows I better make my sorry ass worth something, I cause enough trouble." She's nearly up to his knee by this point. With a bit of turpentine, it's just sliding right off. Easy work.

She smiles.

"Well, maybe we should try to find you something. If you likd repainting yourself, maybe you could take up art? Or models. And for the record, you could be any color you want and I'd like you just fine. I know how it is to want to belong, though."

She pauses, working the scrub brush into a joint.

"I used to be like that. Guess I still am but I found a place where I belong. Never thought it'd be with a bunch of 'bots but hey. Better than the Church. By a long shot." Nobody here had used her to start an outbreak and left her for dead, for one.

"Yeah? We should then. I could show you some movies or something."

[rstlsslegsyndrm]

Ambulon tilted his head, frown tilting as well. "It's just nice to have something to do, really. Don't need to consider it as proving your worth so much as doing something productive with your time." He began to work the paint off at his side; didn't expect Vandal to do everything. He was sure the water hitting his back had taken away a few chunks.

Ambulon would have asked about this church, but... No. Not fitting of the mood. "I suppose it's different now. I don't really need to 'fit in'," he said. "And... movies. Movies - those are the, um... Yeah, no, I know what they are. They weren't really common back on Cybertron. But, let me guess..." He half-smiled. "You seem like someone who enjoys a nice romantic comedy."

[vandalization]

"I suppose. I guess a bit of both for me." She's now working on his side-plating.

The comment he makes about her taste in movies stops her flat and she raises and eyebrow, trying to look annoyed but failing due to the way her mouth twitches.

"Excuse me? Gross. I like action movies, and epics. Used to like horror movies until my life kind of became one." She gives him a wolfish grin.

Remember how she said she'd get you? Well now is that time. She reaches back, fingers sliding between the gap in the joints that make up his knee, wriggling her fingers into the nest of wires there. Something she picked up from tormenting poor Drift, it usually set him flat with that awkward nervous giggle.

She can only hope it has the same effect here.

[rstlsslegsyndrm]

Ambulon chuckled at her reaction. He would have said something, except then - oh God. He restrained the sudden jolt, refusing to give in. Or, you know, accidentally knock Vandal over.

"You'll have to try harder," he sneered. Though a moment later, Ambulon did slowly stretch out on his side. The water was actually kind of soothing alongside her ministrations. At least lying down, she'd have more access to his plating.

"I've lived through enough action to last me ten lifetimes," he said. "Hmm. Also, perhaps you'd like to borrow some of the medical logs I've collected? They'll help you out."

[vandalization]

She did feel him tense. A wry smirk crosses his face.

"I think you're a liar, Amb. And I will try harder." For now, she goes back to scraping and scrubbing. She has one leg done and most of the other, plus part of his abdomen. Good progress.

"I wouldn't mind that. Anything to help me progress." She shrugs.

"Oh so you're the one who likes romantic comedies?"

[rstlsslegsyndrm]

"I'm nothing but a saint," Ambulon said, looking quite innocent. He paused a moment to help peel off more paint. The sight of his old paint job just... He shook his head.

"I suppose comedies are better than tragedies," he said. "But romance? No, uninteresting. Though if it were human romance, I might just get confused. I never quite understood how all the... 'lovey dovey' stuff went."

Ambulon nodded, wiggling around a little to expose more remaining bits of old orange and white paint. "I'll give you some to read while you're resting," he said. Then: "Are you all right, by the way? How are you feeling? Any aches or pains?"

[vandalization]

"Yeah, uh-huh." She turns away from scrubbing long enough to stick her tongue out at him.

"Heh, I guess it's hard to tell what you'd like. You're so quiet most of the time." She works away another nice big splotch of orange.

"I'm fine, thank you mom," As much guff as she gives him, it's nice that he cares so much.

"Stitches'll come out in about a week. I just need to work on the walking thing."

[rstlsslegsyndrm]

Just about got the rest of his shoulder done. Watching all this old paint circle the drain still caused a strange jump in his spark. Not one entirely for symbolism or sentiment, however, he quickly went back to their conversation. "'Mom' - Right, I remember. The female, the carrier of human offspring. That's the 'mom', correct? But not all the time - you have... gestation pods, too, right?" He tilted his head. "How am I like the 'mom'?"

Ambulon sighed and helped to work on another patch. "If you'd like, I will help you with your physical therapy," he offered, pawing off more stubborn, old paint. "Perhaps we can go for a short walk? I do a lot of walking anyway," he snorted. "And you can tell me more about these 'movies'."