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Post by Mirage on Nov 10, 2008 23:00:10 GMT -5
//You seem to be a helicopter of many talents, Spinister. Thank you.// And it truly is sincere thanks Mirage gives, all teasing gone for the moment.
"Swerve, let him help you, please." A request, but the firmness of Mirage's tone makes it clear he does not wish argument. "You've overheated, and that is extremely obvious to both myself and Spinister. We will be careful."
"Trust us both to know our own tolerances, and let us help you," Mirage finishes, fingers tangling with Swerve's. A gesture meant to convey comfort, remind the constable that he is not alone, that he is among friends. Touch is comfort to Mirage, the gesture a reflex. It does not occur to the spy that such a touch might upset Swerve further.
"If that...matter eats metal, shouldn't it have damaged his chains as well?" Mirage asks, keeping a wary optic on the slowly advancing wave.
Touching Swerve-3 done w/ permission.
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Spinister-3
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"I live for the day when no one has to fear."
Posts: 79
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Post by Spinister-3 on Nov 11, 2008 19:17:34 GMT -5
Of course the patient is protesting, even as he overheats while chained and a crazy evil moss tries to kill. Of course.
Idly, Spinister wonders if Swerve is a mechanic. Doctors are always the worst patients.
Spinister's voice is low and reassuring but firm and he insists, "If I wanted to go uninjured, I wouldn't be here. I have some coolant in my medical kit." He creeps closer to Swerve, trying to avoid the moss, and he opens his toolkit, slowly pulling out a can of spray coolant. 'Please, you are injured. Allow me to help you."
Hairsplitter shrugs and comments, "It might be a different sort of metal?"
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Swerve-3
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Post by Swerve-3 on Nov 12, 2008 17:27:43 GMT -5
What few medics Swerve has seen in the past few months – even excluding this last week – haven't done very much for his faith in the practise as a whole. Even as his own patient, he can be terribly miserable.
But as the heat fog thins a little bit more, reason seeps in to fill its place. The calm and unrelenting reassurances do much to salve Swerve's badly frayed conscience and for all that he aches, for all that moving hurts and his plating stings, he can still trust. He hasn't lost that.
"I'm sorry," he murmurs one more time to Spinister before he stills, grip momentarily tightening on Mirage's hand.
OOC: Blanket permission for whatever's needed for repair.
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Post by Mirage on Nov 12, 2008 23:30:36 GMT -5
Mirage relaxes slightly as he feels and hears Swerve's acquiescing to treatment. But only slightly. They are, none of them, out of danger yet.
"Don't apologize. This isn't your fault," Mirage insists yet again. He will keep insisting that, until Swerve at least agrees to consider believing it. A small bit of the fuzz creeps onto Mirage's leg, making the spy hiss sharply. He sweeps the mess off him, then wipes his fingers on a clear patch of rock. Even that small a contact was enough to eat through his paint and etch the plating beneath.
"Well, it likes us well enough," Mirage growls. He looks back at Spinister, "What can I do to help?"
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Spinister-3
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"I live for the day when no one has to fear."
Posts: 79
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Post by Spinister-3 on Nov 14, 2008 13:02:20 GMT -5
Hairsplitter sighs and starts to strip out of his armour, very neatly piling it away from the crazy moss. He does, however, have skivvies, so he won't be mentally scarring the giant robots or breaking the board rating. He then busies himself with shooing the moss away from the giant robots.
So not what he signed up for.
Spinister tries to assess Swerve's condition and attempts to apply some coolant to the worst off areas. If he tries to fix Swerve while Swerve is overheated, the repairs might just get broken all over again. He murmurs, "You're a victim, here. Don't blame yourself." He hates it when people blame the victim, and he hates people who convince victims to blame themselves more.
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Swerve-3
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Post by Swerve-3 on Nov 15, 2008 20:41:17 GMT -5
Swerve is tired. His plating is scoured thin in uncomfortable places, his systems are still too warm, and the relief at being in the company of friendly mechs even if none of them is safe yet is a heady thing. So he doesn't argue with either of his rescuers; he quietly nods his acquiescence, muffling a gasp at the quick bursts of cold as Spinister works.
They're right, of course, the both of them. The constable shouldn't blame himself, much as he feels what's happened is his fault, and he needs to remember that. He needs to remember to thank them both when this is all done.
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Post by Mirage on Nov 15, 2008 21:27:09 GMT -5
Mirage's smiles slightly. Spinister didn't answer his question, but really Mirage knows nothing about repair work. The best he can do is keep an optic out and make sure they aren't caught unawares.
The spy gives Swerve's hand a reassuring squeeze, then releases it, before standing. A quick scan shows that they do still seem to be alone, but just in case...
"Spinister, might I have my ri- oh. Oh my! That is....odd." Mirage is staring at Hairsplitter, gaze moving from the pile of armour to the the soft, pink thing which was currently playing moss-herder. Transforming guns are one thing. This is something else.
"But he looks so fragile!"
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Spinister-3
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"I live for the day when no one has to fear."
Posts: 79
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Post by Spinister-3 on Nov 19, 2008 11:41:31 GMT -5
Spinister continues to work on getting Swerve cooled down, though he is starting to suspect that a proper cool-down would require a blizzard. It's like his rotor-blades, isn't it? An inherent weakness that no rebuild can remedy.
Pausing, he holds up Mirage's rifle to hand it back to the spy and finally answers, "Just make sure that no one shoots the patient." Spinister is apparently okay with getting shot, himself.
Hairsplitter, amateur moss-herder, smirks and replies, "I am. Comparatively speaking. Even reinforced bones and joints only go so far. Please don't step on me."
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Swerve-3
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Post by Swerve-3 on Nov 19, 2008 21:11:00 GMT -5
"Once… Spinister has me back on my feet," Swerve says wanly, voice hoarse but tone trying to be sunny, "I'll be sure to watch my step." He missed the strip show and can't see what's so odd about Hairsplitter – the bulk of his front end makes looking over his shoulder a feat quite beyond him at the moment – but he understands fragile well enough. Tiny Maximals and small Micromasters underfoot tend to have that effect.
Spinister's work has the constable's ventilation toning down, albeit slowly. Swerve fixes the Decepticon with a grateful look, optics dim.
"I've missed… quite a lot, haven't I?" The question isn't entirely rhetorical.
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Post by Mirage on Nov 20, 2008 23:33:59 GMT -5
Mirage reaches out and takes his rifle, though he doesn't take his optics off Hairsplitter. "But...how? Nevermind," Mirage shakes his head, "Once we're out of this situation, there will be time for what is undoubtedly a long story. I'll watch my step."
To Spinister, Mirage adds, "I have no intention of allowing anyone to harm him on my watch again. Is the coolant helping?"
The spy moves out a bit from the others, though he stays behind Hairspitter and his moss-herding efforts.
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Spinister-3
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"I live for the day when no one has to fear."
Posts: 79
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Post by Spinister-3 on Nov 23, 2008 12:31:04 GMT -5
Hairsplitter agrees readily, "A really long story." Shoo, moss, shoo!
Spinister offers, "Y'know, I can carry you, if you want. We probably ought to get out of here soon. Between the moss and the fact that this is a trap, well... this isn't the best place to start a party."
He looks up at Mirage briefly and replies, "Uh, a bit. I think."
Spinister surveys Swerve's injuries, trying to figure out what he must do next.
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Swerve-3
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Post by Swerve-3 on Nov 23, 2008 20:04:54 GMT -5
The coolant is helping; it's Swerve's own ill-maintained cooling systems that are the problem.
"I think – I think I can walk," he says uncertainly. He won't be doing much fighting with his sheared shoulder, but at least he isn't completely crippled; though as light-headed as he is, he'd at least need someone to steady him, and then they'd be slowed to his pace.
Being so hampered in his speed rankles old instincts. He winces and pushes those aside along with his chagrin. No time for it.
"Your way may be faster, Spinister."
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Post by Mirage on Nov 24, 2008 11:49:04 GMT -5
Mirage is glad he is not facing the pair at the moment, else they might see him wince when Swerve agrees to let Spinister carry him. Mirage had made that offer, and been rebuffed; the spy is quite certain that Swerve harbors resentments over this whole debacle. Perhaps there will be time enough to make amends later.
The spy nods; he is in agreement with Spinister. "We do need to move. If you can carry him, I-" Mirage breaks off at the news coming across the allied channel. He turns a sympathetic glance on the helicopter, "I am sorry. I hope Skyfire's optimism is not misplaced, I truly do."
"As much as it rankles, attempting to join our comrades in the desert is impractical. Best, I think, to get him underground." Xaaron and Rodimus can bless Mirage out for giving away the actual location of their temporary base later. Right now, Swerve needs to be someplace safe where he can rest. And Mirage imagines the constable might want to see his Emirate.
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Spinister-3
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"I live for the day when no one has to fear."
Posts: 79
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Post by Spinister-3 on Nov 25, 2008 8:50:01 GMT -5
Spinister explains, "I'm going to try to patch your shoulder. If I can get it in better status, think you'll be able to hang onto my wheels when I'm a helicopter?" Tying Swerve to his wheels would obviously be safer, but Swerve is probably traumatised by ropes and chains right now - and Spinister doesn't know the half of it.
Helicopters are faster than walking Spinisters.
Hairsplitter moves to gather his armour, since it seems they'll be move out soon.
"People die all the time, Mirage. I hope he hasn't, but... I'll remember him for what he was, if he has - as brave and bold and beautiful. That's the only life after death anyone can expect. To be remembered."
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Swerve-3
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Post by Swerve-3 on Nov 29, 2008 8:59:20 GMT -5
The constable can only agree with Mirage's assessment, really. He's in no shape to travel too very far. Where are they going, then, if not to join others in the desert?
"I should be able to," Swerve answers Spinister with a shallow nod and a resolute expression. If need be, he'll hang on one-handed. Worse comes to worst, he's fairly nimble for having a large portion of his racer mode affixed to his back; he can always hook his ankles around the wheels and hope it won't give Spinister too much more trouble than having him hang on by his hands.
He doesn't ask who might have died. Right now, he isn't sure he really wants to know.
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