[008] Heartfelt Thanks

[brynkitten]

[Oh hi, Keep. It's Bryn, on video, and she's dressed in some new clothes. They're not the usual second-hand items provided in the clothier's tower, and really not in a style she recognizes at all, but rather some from the bureau that appeared in her room some days ago. Bryn doesn't care how baggy they are because oh gosh, there were pants among

Comments

[heavyweaponsbot]

It was fine.

[brynkitten]

[Well, that's better than nothing. Ironhide gets a smile as well.]

I'm really glad to hear that.

[heavyweaponsbot]

[That's kind of a compliment, from Ironhide.]

And no one was turned human. You... yeah.

It was fine.

[brynkitten]

[She's really, truly thrilled. Bryn hadn't expected Ironhide to enjoy her party at all.]

I...?

[Changing her form is something she's become rather accustomed to, but she can't be sure what it would be like for a robot to become human, or how much of a shock that might be.]

You don't like being turned human?

[heavyweaponsbot]

Not anymore.

[He hated it on the Elegante, too. But at least there, he was never alone in it. There was always someone to commiserate with. And, if he were honest... it... was sort of endearing, how excited Certain Others got about it.]

Organic frames are faulty.

[brynkitten]

[Well, Bryn is thankfully getting used to these sorts of opinions, and she takes it in stride with a nod.]

I imagine you must find them so, especially in comparison to your own. So much softer and weaker, I imagine...

[heavyweaponsbot]

[He doesn't mean anything bad by it. He's just... being Ironhide.]

Everything is sensitive.

[brynkitten]

[She takes no offense, figuring she can't completely understand.]

Oh yes I...I can see how that would be rather uncomfortable and overwhelming.

[heavyweaponsbot]

Yeah.

[There's a pause. And his tone... shifts. He suddenly sounds distant, but there's a definite fondness in his words.]

Once... Ratchet and I were human. He got distracted by little colored cups of alcohol and gelatin. Tried so many... Old fool was emptying his tanks for days.

[brynkitten]

[She's never heard Ironhide sound like this, but she's definitely intrigued.]

I don't think I've heard you mention Ratchet before but it...it sounds like you two must have had some fun in human forms.

[At least, that's what she's guessing, from his tone.]

[heavyweaponsbot]

[... it's like someone snapped the lid down on a jar of happiness, creating instant "GRUMP".]

What do you mean by that.

[brynkitten]

You just...you sounded happy. Speaking of that time. I assumed...I'm sorry if I was mistaken.

[And Bryn's feeling awkward now. Did she overstep? She must have. He certainly didn't sound pleased by what she'd said.]

[heavyweaponsbot]

... Right.

He... was a friend. From home. Stuck on that ship together.

[brynkitten]

[And now she understands. Had Ironhide mentioned something similar before? She should have remembered. Ironhide was close with Ratchet. A friend. Now Ironhide was here, and Ratchet was not.

...he'd mentioned this before, hadn't he? How stupid of her to have forgotten, if he had.]

I understand.

[Time to change the subject, before they went awkwardly quiet.]

By the way, have you put any thought into my proposition?

[heavyweaponsbot]

... Yeah. Sort of figured you would.

[Except she doesn't remember. But this isn't the time or the place to bring that one up.]

Still trying to figure out what there is to do around here.

[But yes, a little.]

[brynkitten]

[Well that's something at least, that he considers her to be someone understanding. A bit more at ease, Bryn nods, somewhat to herself.]

I had a bit of the same problem. Though I figured perhaps...if no one is tending to the orchard, we might manage? With your height and perhaps with some research it would...be a project that might occupy some of our time. Although I suppose less so in the Winter...

[Some time at the drawing board might be required. Okay, almost definitely.]