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Post by Crankcase on Nov 17, 2011 16:48:41 GMT -5
OOC: Month 3, Week 3, Day 5. Private thread.
Crankcase arrives a few minutes earlier than the arranged time, spear in hand, collapsed and inactive. If Knock Out has a problem with him showing up ahead of schedule, well, Crankcase can always ask the next member of medical he happens to meet between duty rotations. He'd rather not have to; it was enough of a trial just getting through it the first time. He's rather forgotten the need to vocalise concerns like this. He never needed it with Hatchet and Crowbar.
But they aren't here. His fist tightens around the haft of of the spear he holds. It thrums, gleaming red. He grinds his jaw, huffs unhappily. His team is gone. He hardly even needed to radio with them; they simply understood after so many years of working side by side. He hardly knows any of the Decepticons here that well and talking to them – getting involved with all their strangeness, all their idiosyncrasies, all their dysfunctions and foibles, is such a chore that he feels overextended simply after exchanging watch debriefings. They wear him out with their presence alone.
He stops where he is, just inside the doorway, and banishes that line of thought for now. He'll at least remember his manners and wait to be acknowledged.
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Knock Out
Cadet
Relax! He's a doctor.
Posts: 86
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Post by Knock Out on Nov 19, 2011 17:44:08 GMT -5
Knock Out does, but only because Crankcase doesn't know anything about style. One is supposed to show up late! It's fashionable, you know! Not that he lets that be known as he turns around. No, Crankcase instead gets a shudder of disgust at his unholy visage, the vain doctor's features wrinkling in disgust, before smoothing out into a forced smile. "Ah. Crankcase. It's always a....Pleeeaaasureeee....To see you."
He beckons to the Dread, inviting him by beckoning with his hand, before moving to a table where the upgrade is already laying, ready and waiting. "Now, this should be an easy procedure, fairly standard, and fully fitting your specifications. But, I got to thinking....Why stop there? Why not go a step further?"
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Post by Crankcase on Nov 19, 2011 21:04:55 GMT -5
Knock Out's barefaced revulsion earns a not-dissimilar look of disgust from Crankcase, who snorts even as he approaches. If the medic is going to lie so badly, why do it at all? Why can't anybody around here just make sense?
"FURTHER," he echoes flatly with a questioning look as he sets down the spear next to Knock Out's contraption – a contraption Crankcase takes a moment to thoroughly look over. If that's supposed to get hitched into his frame, he won't allow it without first examining it. The last thing he needs is some new attachment disrupting his performance. "DON'T UNDERSTAND." He pauses, makes a noise like static and feedback as he reboots his vocal processor, then tries again. It comes out as words this time, not short-message signal. "Don't get your meaning."
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Knock Out
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Relax! He's a doctor.
Posts: 86
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Post by Knock Out on Nov 27, 2011 10:50:22 GMT -5
Honestly, Knock Out can't even tell that Crankcase is returning the look. All he can see when looking at him is a writhing mess of plates and fangs with no semblance or structure. And it's making him suffer another unpleasant shudder. Maybe he should follow the humans example and talk Crankcase into wearing a paper bag.
But when Crankcase asks him to explain? He undergoes a complete 180. Disgusted frown is replaced with an enthusiastic smile, his voice bright and chipper. "Gladly! See, there is nothing wrong with the whole 'Insect Predator' look, really. Terrifying and all that, disgusting, absolutely horrible! But you take it a biiit too far."
With that the doctor turns to grab two datapads and holds them up for him to see, showing him some designs. They're less fragmented, more sleek, still fearsome, but more like something from Knock Out's own reality. "So why not undergo an upgrade! An extensive one, that not only boosts your abilities, but also gives you a look that will send Autobots running for the hills, but not us." Yes. He is trying to talk Crankcase into a makeover.
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Post by Crankcase on Nov 27, 2011 20:55:25 GMT -5
The sneer Crankcase turns on the suggested redesign Knock Out offers is so blatant it warps his entire face. He makes to push the data pad away, snorting again in contempt.
"Pointless," he declares with a huff. "The job isn't to look… pretty." He practically has to spit the last word from his uncooperative mouth. He points at Crowbar's spear, and at the housing lying beside it. "It's to be efficient."
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Knock Out
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Relax! He's a doctor.
Posts: 86
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Post by Knock Out on Dec 13, 2011 6:53:44 GMT -5
"Riiiight, but with this you can still be efficient, and it won't make us feel like we're looking at something that got mangled and used a Yautjian beetle carapace to sloppily replace the broken parts." Knock Out gives the Dread his best winning smile, trying to persuade him with sheer charm alone. Nevertheless, he still picks up the upgrade-component, figuring that it's easier to convince him if the doctor acts friendly. "But I'm sure you'll come around if I give you some time to think. First, let's install this, hm?"
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Post by Crankcase on Dec 16, 2011 20:07:18 GMT -5
Knock Out's charming smile earns a low rumble of scorn from Crankcase. His mandibles twitch as he works his jaw. For a moment, he reconsiders this whole operation. Can he trust Knock Out not to take liberties with installing the new compartment since he's so dead-set on cosmetic improvements as well?
He can always retaliate if Knock Out crosses the line, he decides.
"Get on with it," he grumbles, seating himself with his back turned to the medic. The plates of his back are somewhat less jagged than other parts of his body, many points along the edges of the layered plates graded off somewhat, rounded slightly. They might pose less of a threat to Knock Out's finish.
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Knock Out
Cadet
Relax! He's a doctor.
Posts: 86
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Post by Knock Out on Dec 18, 2011 10:06:38 GMT -5
That shifting of the jaw gets another low shudder from Knock Out. Transformers weren't supposed to look like something Airachnid would hunt down and keep around as a trophy!
Tsk, Knock Out is a professional. And someone who would rather keep his paintjob intact unless it's worth damaging it. And this, as unsightly Crankcase is, is not such an occassion. So he does his job, reaching for a tool and walking up to the Dread's back. "This might sting a little." Knock Out turns off the pain sensors in the area where he will apply the upgrade, and once that's over and done with, he can start removing panels and work on making room.
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Post by Crankcase on Dec 22, 2011 6:01:19 GMT -5
Crankcase only makes a low noise, not quite a growl, not quite a rattle, and that only when Knock Out cautions against the pain. The entire process could be an exercise in pain management and Crankcase would sit through it like the Dread he is. Though, he muses, Knock Out might be put off by the distorted screams his patient can produce if his reactions to Crankcase's face alone are any indicator.
It must be Knock Out's opinion alone, Crankcase tells himself, talons idly tapping the side of the berth where he rests his hand; otherwise, he remains still as a statue. What does his appearance really matter if he can do his job? It isn't as though his job includes public relations, where a high polish and smoother face would be useful.
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Knock Out
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Relax! He's a doctor.
Posts: 86
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Post by Knock Out on Dec 23, 2011 21:00:58 GMT -5
This is the first time that Knock Out has installed an upgrade in someone from Crankcase's reality. He did his homework, looked over the specs, but he's still taking it nice, making sure he doesn't screw up. He removes parts, reroutes wires, installs new components, until finally he's ready to pick up the new spear compartment. He checks the connection points one more time before he puts it in, making sure the fit is perfect, and then goes about properly integrating it into the Dread's systems.
With the rest of the work done, he feels a bit more comfortable, and while he's still focused on his work, he can allow himself to do some chit chat. All in the name of playing nice to him so he's more open to Knock Out's suggestion, of course. "So, what's the story behind this? It's too similar to yours to be a trophy from an Autobot. Is it from a comrade?"
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Post by Crankcase on Dec 26, 2011 21:17:09 GMT -5
If Knock Out screws this up and causes Crankcase some sort of function-impeding damage, the Dread won't be the only one seeking medical attention. As the procedure has yet to be interrupted with anything that sounds like oops, Crankcase sits, quiescent. He makes no expression of discomfort – at least not until Knock Out asks him where he got the third weapon. Then he shifts his hands uneasily.
"Yes," he answers in a grudging tone and volunteers nothing further.
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Knock Out
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Relax! He's a doctor.
Posts: 86
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Post by Knock Out on Dec 29, 2011 19:51:03 GMT -5
"The silent, brooding loner type, are we?" Knock Out is starting to get a bit bored with how many there are of those. Especially because he wants to hear something juicy! But he doesn't press the issue, instead focusing on his work. Within no time, he has the upgrade installed, putting the spear in and sliding the plates back into place before he steps away, admiring his handy work. "Well? How do you like it?"
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Post by Crankcase on Jan 5, 2012 18:36:46 GMT -5
Crankcase is actually a horrible loner, but even worse at talking about it. He misses his team. He wants his team back. But none of the Decepticons here can do anything about that, so he sees no point in bringing it up, and simply grunts at Knock Out as he peers over his shoulder at the medic. If Knock Out's paying attention and willing to look at that gruesome, eight-eyed visage, he might puzzle out hints of hurt and hatred tangled amid the sharp lines.
At Knock Out's prompt, Crankcase sits up and rolls his shoulders first to test the movement. He feels no hitch, no burr, no catch in the slide of the interlocked and layered plates that make up his back., though he'll have to adjust himself to the additional weight. And the strange feeling that comes of carrying Crowbar's weapon; it's both alien and familiar. His integrity protocols hang in the middle of engaging, as if his own systems aren't certain whether or not to reject the addition. He checks for the commands to open the new compartment, engages them once found, and finds the subsequent action satisfactorily easy, if a bit slow. The delay between command and action is longer than he likes.
"Sluggish," he murmurs. "Good otherwise. Can you improve the response time?"
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Knock Out
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Relax! He's a doctor.
Posts: 86
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Post by Knock Out on Jan 6, 2012 21:14:44 GMT -5
No, sorry, all Knock Out can see is 'rawr, I'm a monster'.
While Crankcase is not his type (to say the least), he does watch Crankcase stand and twist with an intrigued look. Not because he finds him attractive, god no, but because he is extremely proud of his handiwork. So when the Dread complains, Knock Out narrows his eyes dangerously at having his work insulted. He is not the kind of artist that can take critique. "Hrmpf. I suppose." He walks closer, leaning in to look at the exposed inner workings of the panel, bringing up something that looks like a screwdriver with no handle and instead a red light on top. He holds it to the panels, the tool humming before he turns it off and steps away. "There. Try it now."
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Post by Crankcase on Jan 12, 2012 19:02:34 GMT -5
Knock Out's hauteur is wasted on this mechanism; Crankcase values efficient performance and if he feels the medic can't deliver, he'll make it known. He waits, still and quiet, while Knock Out makes the adjustments, and dutifully tests the action again when prompted. The response comes quickly and smoothly, and he makes a low, satisfied noise.
"Better." He takes a few steps for clearance, then draws the spear to try the reach and give it a few test swings. It will take getting used to; it hefts differently from his weapons, has a more even balance. He leaves that for another time, sliding the spear back into its compartment and turning to Knock Out. He extends one hand, palm up. "Thank you," he says.
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