cyberformed inbox, UN: boaty mcboatface

[knaval]

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[tsunclonus]

[Oh shit, Riptide is attempting legitimate social interaction, what do.]

Did you... have something in mind?

[He honestly likes Riptide but he has no idea how to approach 'hanging out'. Tailgate and Whirl mostly just happen to him whether he likes it or not. And unlike Drift, they don't even have swords in common.]

[knaval]

[he hums thoughtfully for a moment.]

Well... being cooped up in the ship sucks. We could just get some energon and magboots and go outside for a bit?

[tsunclonus]

That sounds... agreeable.

[Staring at the stars is his top hobby, after all.]

[knaval]

Later today?

do we wanna jump to really awkward conversations in space?

[tsunclonus]

I am available at [time-stamp].

U KNOW IT

[knaval]

[riptide is sitting cross-legged on the hull next to cyclonus, happily watching the stars go by. he's holding his cube of energon, watching it float around inside the cube.]

Do you recognise any of these stars?

[tsunclonus]

[Cyclonus sits next to him, a bit stiffly, but then when is he not stiff?

The view is quite spectacular, though, and he gives the question serious consideration, gaze darting across the starscape.]

No.

[knaval]

Yeah, I thought I'd clocked a few but turns out I hadn't. [he leans back on the hull of the ship, most certainly a lot more relaxed than however he was the last time cyclonus had seen him on the moira.] We really need to find a place that we can land on and not get swarmed. It'd be nice to be planet side for a while.

[tsunclonus]

The exercise would be good for everyone, I think.

[He may be space-worthy, but there's something unique about flying in-atmosphere.

Okay, he's going to attempt small talk. Because Tailgate would want him to.]

Do you miss... [What's the word for this? Floating??] ...boating? When you're land-locked for too long?

[knaval]

[riptide rests his chin on his hand, evidently not bothered by how awkward this should all be.]

Yeah. I'm space-worthy, but... you know, Hydrobot. Going for a dive after a while is like having a nice cold cube of energon after a long day, y'know?

[tsunclonus]

[Cyclonus gives a small nod of understanding. He may not see the appeal of large bodies of liquid, but he knows the itch of being grounded for too long.]

Is it difficult? Not having many opportunities for transformation.

[Obviously one can transform wherever, but sitting around as a boat without water seems about as satisfying as sitting around as a jet in a hangar.]

[knaval]

Honestly? It was at first. After the Forced Flood all of us felt really useless whenever there was no water. It was like a twisted form of Functionism, in a way.

[he takes a drink, shrugs a shoulder.]

Then then, like everyone else, I learned I'm not just my alt-mode. A little late, maybe, and sometimes I still feel a bit... out of place. I think we all do. [he looks over at cyclonus.] I guess it's like... imagine being able to turn into your jetmode, but you're on a planet with really high gravity. Made me need to get good at fighting, though! I couldn't just rely on having manoeuvrability or an exit point with my alt.

[tsunclonus]

[Cyclonus has... a lot of thoughts about the war. About M.T.O.s like Riptide being made to fight before they had a chance to learn how to fight. About taking new lives and using them up like... like ammunition. Battles are meant to be fought by warriors, but he'd be hard-pressed to call someone so freshly off the assembly line even a soldier.

But he doesn't say so, because telling someone that you find their origin obscene seems impolite, even if he doesn't hold it against Riptide. He thinks the Hydrobot is doing very well in spite of his unfortunate history.

He has a drink to cover up his thoughtful silence.]

The battlefield can be a good teacher, if a harsh one. ['Learn or die' can be a powerful incentive.

He taps a claw restlessly on the edge of his cube, and finally adds:] You're much more than you were built to be.

[knaval]

[he'd probably just sadly agree, anyway. he knows it wasn't great; he lived it.]

I don't like agreeing with that, but I have to. [riptide looks over, clearly surprised at the compliment.] Thanks. I guess-- you too? I mean, you got your conjunx!

[tsunclonus]

I- [Can you hear the mental record scratch as he drops his energon?

Luckily they're in space so it doesn't fall, he just has to catch it before it floats out of reach.]

I'm sorry, my what?

[knaval]

Uh.

[uh oh.]

Your... conjunx. W--wait, are you behind? Timeline wise? Forget I said anything!

[tsunclonus]

[Wow, you can't just do take-backsies on spoilers like that, Riptide!]

...

.....

Is it Tailgate?

[knaval]

...

Yeah. It is. I-- thought you knew. Sorry. I thought you'd already done it.

[tsunclonus]

No, I- it's fine.

...I'm planning to ask him. Soon.

It's what the gift is for.

[knaval]

Wild how I didn't immediately guess that. [riptide looks over to cyc, expression painted with delight.] Tell me how it goes, yeah?

[somewhere, a sad trombone plays.]

[tsunclonus]

Certainly.

[Honestly, knowing that he and Tailgate really are Conjunxes in the future is rather bolstering.

If the R2 had a generator that ran on dramatic irony, it would be powered for centuries by now.]

[knaval]

[riptide leans back until he's laying flat on his back, arms crossed behind his head and looking up at the stars.]

Awesome. Hey, can I ask you something?

[tsunclonus]

I don't know, can you?

[This is Cyclonus being funny. You can tell because he shoots Riptide a little half-a-smirk.]

[knaval]

Terrible! [he snorts, despite himself, at the surprise of cyclonus joking, if nothing else.] I was just wondering... where do you think you'd live with Tailgate back on Cybertron? When we all have the option to settle it's just... really weird.

[tsunclonus]

[Oh, that's actually an interesting question. Cyclonus is silent for a moment in consideration.]

Tetrahex was my first and longest home. I should like to see it again. Only... [Only Cybertron as he knows it was destroyed by the war.] I'm not sure I could bear to live on Cybertron as it is now.

[He doesn't know about the shenanigans of their universe swapping out their original Cybertron for a slightly less abused model.]