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.
[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.]
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.
[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.
[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!
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.
[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.]
Yeah, the Functionist Cybertron we got out of it all is... a bit weird, too. You're not gonna want to see your home with all that you are your altmode rubbish all over it, are you?
[he's silent for a long few moments.]
I went back to Simanzi, to see how it was on a Cybertron before the war. I-- I don't know if I'll stay on Cybertron either. You'll have plenty choice, at least.
[Oh, there's another mention of Functionist Cybertron. But what does Riptide mean by 'got out of it all'? Cyclonus feels like he should ask but...
...He decides that for now he honestly doesn't want to know. It's not his future at the moment. He was displaced from that when he ended up on the Moira and then further displaced when he arrived on the R2.
Either he'll return to that timeline some day or he won't, but for now knowing about it isn't going help him.
Yeah. [he puffs out a sigh, finishing his drink.] I'm not so sure how the Galactic Council feels about us back home, anyway. I guess if we have to stay here then...
Well, like you said. Big universe. There will be somewhere. [he looks over at cyclonus, optics shining for a moment.] I'm really glad you two make each other so happy. You both really deserve it.
Uh huh. [he doubts he'll ever have an amica, but that's okay! he's accepted his fate.] Look at that, we've managed to have one whole normal conversation!
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
no subject
[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?
no subject
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?
no subject
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.]
no subject
[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.
no subject
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.
no subject
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!
no subject
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?
no subject
[uh oh.]
Your... conjunx. W--wait, are you behind? Timeline wise? Forget I said anything!
no subject
...
.....
Is it Tailgate?
no subject
Yeah. It is. I-- thought you knew. Sorry. I thought you'd already done it.
no subject
...I'm planning to ask him. Soon.
It's what the gift is for.
no subject
[somewhere, a sad trombone plays.]
no subject
[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.]
no subject
Awesome. Hey, can I ask you something?
no subject
[This is Cyclonus being funny. You can tell because he shoots Riptide a little half-a-smirk.]
no subject
no subject
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.]
no subject
[he's silent for a long few moments.]
I went back to Simanzi, to see how it was on a Cybertron before the war. I-- I don't know if I'll stay on Cybertron either. You'll have plenty choice, at least.
no subject
...He decides that for now he honestly doesn't want to know. It's not his future at the moment. He was displaced from that when he ended up on the Moira and then further displaced when he arrived on the R2.
Either he'll return to that timeline some day or he won't, but for now knowing about it isn't going help him.
He stares out a the stars instead.]
It's a big universe.
no subject
Well, like you said. Big universe. There will be somewhere. [he looks over at cyclonus, optics shining for a moment.] I'm really glad you two make each other so happy. You both really deserve it.
no subject
...Thank you.
I hope you find someone who makes you just as happy. Conjunx or Amica.
You deserve that.
no subject
no subject
Instead he widens his eyes slightly in a subtle display of shock.]
What? But my allergy-
[And then he doubles over, clutching his chest.]
no subject
Oh, my god! I'll call Ratchet! Hang on, Cyclonus! You're too young and beautiful to offline!
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)