Fundamental Failure to Fly

[redshirtrobot]

WHO: Fracas and YOU! Yes, YOU!
WHERE: All over the Haven
WHEN: Over the course of the next week (7/8 to 7/13)
WHAT: Fracas is practicing flying... unfortunately he's not so good at it yet.
WARNINGS: n/a, to be updated as needed


Fracas had been a car since forever. No, really. It was what he had always been. Wheels were the way he got around; it was why he suggested the roads in the first place. His undercarriage was so sore from rocks and stray junk he had to do something. Besides walking, anyway.

Changing to the body of a flier has... been something of an adjustment.

Okay, it's been a lot of adjustment. One he's still not entirely there with. But practicing combat with Shockwave had helped his fighting abilities. So practicing flying will help with that. At least, he hopes so.

If only it didn't end with him crashing so much.

Wing flaps are more difficult to deal with than he'd expected. If not for those, he'd have the flying part down. The landing not so much. As it is, he's only got down the takeoff. But one out of three ain't bad, right?
... Right?

Beware, Haven. For this week, a certain now-teal Vehicon is going to be in the sky. And nobody will be safe from him unexpectedly dropping out of the sky. Not even if you're in a temple; he might just crash right through your wall, in fact. Hope you were planning some renovations!

Comments

it happens

[redshirtrobot]

Fracas gets to his feet in time to see Optimus's weapons lower, though he still flinches backwards and backs up a little more. He's tempted to bring his own weapons to bear just in case... but he knows how well that's worked out for other Vehicons. Which is that it hasn't worked out at all.

He shifts on his feet, contemplating fleeing. But he's terrible at flying and he's not as fast on his feet as a truck is.

Time to go with a good old standby.

Begging for his life.

"Please don't kill me. I've already died once and I-I'm pretty sure it was awful and I don't want to again."

;3;

[ichooseboth]

Optimus' jaw dropped under his mask.

"...Pardon?"

The red visor implied Decepticon, but he was not of any design Optimus was particularly familiar with. The mech was obviously not from his own universe. The terror certainly seemed genuine at least, and so Optimus quickly stowed his rifle, easing his stance into something more non-threatening.

He couldn't recall the last time he'd seen someone so obviously terrified of him.

"Easy now. I have no intentions of killing anyone here, so long as they are not trying to kill anyone else. ...I assume that hit just now was accidental?"

[redshirtrobot]

Fracas is still in a ready stance, glancing back to make sure that he still has the option to run. Even if Optimus is not murdering him now... well. The Vehicon is used to things not going his way, especially when it comes to Autobots. Even if this Optimus isn't his Optimus.

"It was. I swear I didn't mean to - I'm not stupid enough to hit Optimus Prime on purpose - I'm just... I'm not good at flying yet."

Even if he wasn't afraid he's not exactly the most threatening thing in existence.

[ichooseboth]

Optimus has to resist the urge to wince at the sound of his name being used with such fear. It is terribly disconcerting - and worrying. He doesn't like the implications.

"See, it's alright then." He splayed out his hands in a calming motion.

"And I apologize for pulling my weapons on you - you simply startled me in turn."

[redshirtrobot]

Fracas is calming down by small degrees, though that's sort of like saying particularly skittish deer is calm. His wings have stopped twitching quite so nervously, at least. Good sign maybe?

"... So you're not going to hurt me?"

He wants this to all be some sort of wacky misunderstanding, he really does. He's been there with other Autobots here.

[ichooseboth]

Optimus will take the good signs where he can get them, in this situation.

"No. I'm not. I would not harm someone simply because of an accident."

He's not foolish enough to try to approach, and instead just keeps himself calm and casual, gestures slow and obviously benign.

"You may know my name, but I'm afraid I'm unfamiliar with yours?"

[redshirtrobot]

Fracas eventually, slowly, rises out of his crouch, wings flicking in what's less terror and more a nervous tic.

Well. That's one difference. His Optimus never asked about the names of Vehicons. Heck, no one back home did.

"Fracas. M-my name is Fracas."

[ichooseboth]

"I am pleased to meet you, Fracas."

Optimus smiled, carefully nodding a greeting.

"Are you uninjured from your tumble? I'm sure that was probably more uncomfortable for you than it was for me."

[redshirtrobot]

"... You are? It's. Nice to meet you too."

Fracas pauses, looking himself over briefly. The usual collection of dents and scratches from a crash... and all the dirt from one too.

"I should be all right. This. This isn't the first time I've crashed today." He'll probably have to do something about the wing that impacted, but it's not too horrible at least.

[ichooseboth]

"Ah. Hopefully you will be able to fly home without further trouble then."

He makes an effort to sound casual, but he gives the dinged wing over Fracas' shoulder a worried glance before his expression shifts toward confusion.

"You mentioned that you are new to flying? Did you just recently shift altmodes?"

He gives the wings another look. You don't often meet a brand-new flier.