bairre-o-mathuna:

continuation from this >x<

A shivering cable slithered out to sweep most of the scattered equipment back into the cupboard, then closed the door halfway. In the back of his mind, Yaatree knew it was pointless to hide, but hunkered down between the bottles with Frenzy anyway. Could a driller look sheepish, or guilty? This one certainly seemed to.

Rumble frowned briefly, but turned towards the door and projected an air of cheery innocence. Anyone who knew Rumble for longer than ten clicks knew better than to believe it, of course.

“Soundwave, while you are always welcome to visit, I must inquire as to why the sudden inspection of my laboratories.” The steady click of Soundwave’s footfalls did not hesitate, but Shockwave’s heavy footfalls stuttered as though he had missed a step.

Keep reading

Spinflask somehow managed to continue looking nervous even with his EM field entirely contained and no visible face, and he kept his alt’s simplistic optical sensors on Soundwave. Shockwave seemed- not angry, clearly, more like- what, flustered? Oh, there had been something about- yes, right, trying to get Soundwave’s attention, but- 

Soundwave did not seem to want the attention. Soundwave seemed angry. At what? Did he- did he object to the courtship? Maybe, but- there was something else, there- there was- 

The restraints. Soundwave had been a Pit fighter, and not by choice, everyone knew as much. Which would… potentially make any sort of forced employment rather… distasteful, yes? 

Spinflask’s alt rack rattled a hiccuping noise as he gathered up all his courage, and he slowly transformed back into his root mode, sitting in that nervous hunch but trying to keep his spine at least moderately straight. He was afraid, clearly, but he made an attempt to meet Soundwave’s optics, despite the trembling of his servos and the clack-rattling noise his rack was still making tucked away in his chassis. Now- how to address this mech? How did one address Soundwave?

“I- ah- hello, Sir. Soundwave. Lord. Your- your preferred honorific.” 

There, that covered everything, albeit not gracefully.

“I do not- I-I will be honest, I am afraid to- to remain here. For fear of- mostly of vivisection. If- if you would take me with you rather than- than leaving me here, I can- can absolutely find a way to- to be useful to you. My alt is a-a high-capacity, high-strength centrifuge, I am skilled in most- most aspects of the laboratory chemical sciences, and I learn quick-quickly. If you” another awkward hiccuping noise, and his winglets clacked loudly as the not-currently-assembled lid of his alt tried to clamp down, “-would only- only take me with you, I can promise that I-I will be useful. Please?” 

Visibly shivering, he planted his servos on the tabletop and slid forward, turning his protective gesture into an awkward, froglike bow-crouch. “Please. I-I am at- at your mercy, and I would- would rather be at your mercy than- than that of a mech who has none.”