TF-'verse. Nellis AF base. Bringing home a stray.

[random_xtras]

There are two couches in the common room of the hanger. One is large enough to accommodate an over thirty foot mech comfortably.

Optimus is sprawled on the smaller one, his long legs stretched out in front of him as he holds a datapad in one hand and cuddles an armload of Elita and sparklings with the other. He doesn't look away from the huge plasma TV as he hears someone PINpoint in. "Welcome back, Ratchet. Arther Ryan called while you were out, and asked that you contact him as soon as possible."

"Oh so now he calls," growls the CMO. "Well, he's too late. I've already taken the other offer."

Then he pauses and looks at his alt, aware of the dusty concrete floor scattered with toys, the Transformer-sized DDR game in the corner, and the drunken black pickup sleeping it off in the courtyard behind them. "Welcome to the base."

Optimus looks up quizzically.

Comments

[l33tmedic.livejournal.com]

Ratchet glances in the direction of Ironhide, still feeling the pull to go speak to him despite his logical side telling him it's just not worth it. Not his Ironhide. Instead, he tries to keep his attention focused on his alt and Honey, who seems to be interested in petting him.

"I guess a sparkling being brought up here on Earth might want stuffed animals, same as a human child," he reasons as he sets Honey on her own two feet again. In the mood to humor her and feeling almost a little playful himself, Ratchet transforms to beast mode and sits down. He rather resembles an extremely large, white circus bear with the way he's sitting in such a human-like fashion. "You can pet, kiddo."

[random_xtras]

"That could be part of it." Ratchet goes to one knee, totally forgetting Optimus, who is watching them with amusement. "She's the only one to really show the behavior, though Columbia has a blanket that she's fond of."

"Hey." Rap wants to know as he sits up. "Can I feel your fur too, man?"

Ratchet glances at the sixteen foot cobalt blue sparkling, then turns back to his alt and speaks to him privately via comm. //Rap is actually younger than Honey. He just processes at a higher level.//

[l33tmedic.livejournal.com]

"Each to their own, even in youth." Bear Ratchet seems to have forgotten about Optimus watching, as well, he's so caught up in conversation and dealing with the younglings. As Rap gets involved, he tilts his head to one side and takes his alt's private message into consideration. He can handle one sparkling, but the idea of two being about him makes him a bit nervous for some reason he can't quite explain. Nevertheless, he nods and lays down on the floor like a big bear rug. "If you want. Just don't make it a point to pet in the opposite direction my fur lays... It feels odd that way."

[nottabeater.livejournal.com]

"Like George's." Rap nods as he comes to hunker next to him and carefully study the fur along his shoulders. "Oh... this is real. Sweeet!"

"Bbbb!" says Honey, moving in for more snuggles.

//Perhaps,// says Ratchet privately. //Sometimes I worry that I damaged her when I moved her to her shell.//

[l33tmedic.livejournal.com]

Thinking some reassurance might be in order, Ratchet responds to his alt on the same secure frequency. //How long ago was she sparked and moved? I've built my own share of shells and had to work on moving sparks into them. Sometimes things just go a bit awry, but work themselves out again later.//

Ratchet allows the two sparklings to examine him and well...cuddle or pet him as they will. Truthfully, he'd probably snarl and snap at a fully matured mech if they attempted to treat him in such a manner, but these two get a free pass, if just based on youthful curiosity. "It's real...and it sheds out, unfortunately. An accident with some transwarp technology followed by a jolt from an altered CR/scan chamber left me this way. I used to transform into an ambulance."

[random_xtras]

//She was sparked nearly eight months ago. Moved to her shell nearly six months ago,// says Ratchet. //The fact that her father was dead when she was sparked... could also be a factor.//

"Dunno what transwarp means," says Rap thoughtfully. "Or CR chambers. But I got a big brush, if it'd help."

[l33tmedic.livejournal.com]

//"Was dead when she was sparked"...?// The response carries a note of surprise with it. As bear Ratchet's universe's Cybertronians did not have the ability to reproduce in quite the same manner, the explanation strikes him as even more out of the ordinary than what he is accustomed to...

Glancing at Rap, Ratchet frowns. "If it helps, just take all that explaining to mean 'it was an accident and a bad one, at that'. Sometimes when you mess with science, you're playing with fire...and it can blow up in your face." He nods at the mention of a brush with a bit of a grimace, however. "Well, if you've got a brush, I wouldn't refuse borrowing it."

[random_xtras]

//Yes. He was a wandering free spark. He got a little too close to Bumblebee while keeping her from dying, and a little while later we found Honey's spark in Bumblebee's spark chamber.// Ratchet sounds bemused as he relates the incident.

Rap actually laughs. "Uncle Ratchet had somethin' do that the other day." Then he hops to his feet, one Bumblebee-type hand pushing down on his knee as he does. "Alright. I'll go get it. BRB."

Honey giggles and snuggles. She likes this guy.

Then she turns her head and looks at Optimus, who's still smiling at them.