and what are you made of [closed]

[sciencetank]

WHO: FoC!Perceptor & Wheeljack
WHERE: Perceptor's lab
WHEN: Post-Pillar Expedition | Evening | Dec. 5th
WHAT: Perceptor returns from his expedition a little bit... changed.
WARNINGS: None

[It was... an adventure, to be sure. What else, he wasn't sure yet. Other than his newly acquired complete and utter inability to touch anything. Anyone. He wanted nothing more than to retreat to his lab and experiment. Both to understand the nature of his sudden condition, and to see if he could solve it.]

[Or... at least, make it so he could refuel at some point. That was what worried him most, right now. If he couldn't touch anything, if he passed through everything and everyone, then that posed a serious threat to his health, somewhere down the line.]

[The lab, therefore, seemed the most important thing.]

[He didn't bother informing anyone he'd returned. He was certain others would handle that aspect of things. Not to mention, he wasn't even sure if he could access the Link in his current state. Best not to worry anyone with an ominously blank message.]

[... another problem, he supposed, with his sudden attachments ...]

[He entered the proper temple, all but tripping through the door as he realized he was putting his feet through the decorative portions at intervals.]

[Great.]

[The approach to his lab was, mercifully, uneventful. He didn't even make noise as he walked.]

Comments

[sciencetank]

Green circles.

It should align the search matches automatically.

[SHOULD.]

[Once that happens, he can just read the screen. It should be easy.]

[wheeljackofalltrades]

[And he gets the screen set up, just as Perceptor asked.

A part of him was glad he knew as little as possible about this device. Because if it read something bad...he'd have that slight glimmer of hope beforehand.

A chance.

When the results pop up, there's a few -pings!-, wherein Wheeljack then turns it for the scientist to see.

Not looking himself.]

What's the verdict, Sarge.

[sciencetank]

[As soon as he sees it, his spark drops a few inches. He does his best to keep it off his face. To hide it.]

[Because there are no matches.]

[Not a single one.]

[He takes a deep breath, suddenly.]

I can work with it. It's not optimal, far from it, actually. But, regardless, I've worked with less before. Worked with practically nothing, in fact.

This is workable, yes. Certainly.

[He's babbling.]

[wheeljackofalltrades]

...


[He knows by now. Whenever Perceptor does that--that little tic. The babbling.]


It's that bad, huh.

[sciencetank]

[There's a heartbeat in which he tries to keep it up, shaking his head, waving a hand -- no, no everything is fine.]

[Before the facade breaks down.]

[He slumps where he stands.]

...

It's looked better.

[wheeljackofalltrades]

[He wants to shove the bot back up, to nudge him playfully and smirk, like everything's alright.

But he pulls back, fist slamming into the wall behind him, making a rather..sizable dent.

You have GOT to stop doing that, Wheeljack.]

Scrap.

[sciencetank]

... You have got to stop doing that.

[He says it very quietly. Very hesitantly, looking over at him with something like regret. Like apology.]

[This is his fault.]

[Again.]

[wheeljackofalltrades]

[He didn't even realize he did it, until it's mentioned, and he slowly moves his hand up from where it had dented itself.]

...


'pologies.

I uh...

[He'll be frank.]

Sarge, you're not...dead, are ya.

[sciencetank]

Just... I'll repair it, later.

[Hopefully.]

[Though the question earns a sharp look. He about snaps out a negative, before uncertainty creeps in, making him fall silent.]

[Then he shakes his head, firmly.]

Of course not. There would be a corpse, if I were. And there isn't.

[He says it with more conviction than he actually feels.]

[wheeljackofalltrades]

Right.

[He puts his faith in Percy in those words, sliding down the wall into a sitting motion.

Just...tired all of a sudden.]

So how do ya...fix this.

[sciencetank]

I...

[He's still rubbing at his face. Like that's going to make things clearer. Help make him understand the problem.]

[Or hit him with sudden inspiration.]

... I need to think. Before I can answer that.