[voice | private to Breakdown | also backdated]

[10_20_15_5_50]

Hey, Breakdown.

[Sam's tone is one he's heard before---the once before, when Knock Out arrived and no-one yet knew whether he was real or another imposter; serious and slightly apologetic.]

I'm sorry to be sort of springing this on you, but I have something important to ask.

Comments

[a_little_red_in_the_face]

[He lets out a soft hiss. It does sting, much more than he figured it would. After that he pauses and softly brushes his fingers over the spot of blistered paint.]

Huh...That was...different. It has a sting to it, but that's gone the moment it'd one, and it's not much.

Sorry, Sam.

[And then he notices the look on his partner's face...and smirks, amused.]

[10_20_15_5_50]

[This meatball is doing magic, sir! Or, was. Now she's gazing up at Breakdown, looking mildly affronted.]

Son of a bitch.

[It comes out almost conversationally, before Sam flaps a hand at Breakdown's 'sorry'.]

You've got nothing to say sorry for. If it wasn't for you, I would be without some pretty vital information. Now I know: I'm going to have to get creative when I can't call for help.

[automobileenthusiast]

Don't you give me that look!

[Don't mind Knock Out getting all prissy guys sorry sorry]

That's the last time you volunteer for any weird magic experiments! Do you have any idea how long it's going to take to fix that paint!?

[a_little_red_in_the_face]

[He snickers at that.]

Hey, it doesn't bother me. This is why I volunteered and you didn't.

[10_20_15_5_50]

[Oh, Sam doesn't mind. If anything, she's sort of amused (the disappointment? lost its edge) and trying to stay straight-faced.]

Since that's supposedly the last time you'll be volunteering, big guy, can I recruit you right now for the future's weird magic experiments?

[The question isn't quite serious, as shown by the little wiseass grin Sam tends to sport while bugging Breakdown (and now Knock Out). She tried to stay straight-faced, she failed.]

[automobileenthusiast]

[Knock Out rolls his eyes in the most dramatic way possible before he moves in to inspect Breakdown's poor paint 8(]

You're both grounded.

[a_little_red_in_the_face]

[He just chuckles and lets Knock Out check out his chest.]

[10_20_15_5_50]

So much for my hope of aging out...

[if it doesn't happen at six million, it doesn't happen]

[oh well]

[automobileenthusiast]

[KO just gives her a weird look ALL OF THIS IS WEIRD YOU'RE WEIRD ]

Well, either way remind me to stay on your good side. I'd like to keep my paint looking pristine .

[a_little_red_in_the_face]

[He just chuckles a bit more, because, really, this was just funny to him.]

Don’t worry, Knock Out, I’m sure you don’t have to worry about Sam doing anything to your finish.

[10_20_15_5_50]

[YOU BET. Flyin' the freak flag high, and in fine form.]

I'm going to go ahead and consider myself ungrounded, then. Not that it makes a great deal of difference, since I've got this suspicion I won't make it to Lake Long this summer.

[...or ever again.]

He's right. Since I kind of just recruited you as an emergency contact, that would be both dumb and a dick move. As it is...

...well, I won't promise that I won't ever do anything at all to your finish, but you don't have to worry about me doing anything detrimental to it.

[automobileenthusiast]

[Knock Out kind of narrows his optics at Sam. IS HE ANNOYED ABOUT THAT COMMENT ON HIS FINISH?]

Dick move?

[No he's just confused by human lingo he's not familiar with. I mean he'd seen a few human movies and NATURALLY he knew what a dick was but what do dangle dongs have to do with moves 8(?]

[a_little_red_in_the_face]

Wait...what was that about Knock Out’s finish? [He’s curious...and taking a chance to maybe tease his partner a little.]

[10_20_15_5_50]

Something unnecessary, obnoxious, unnecessarily obnoxious, and inflicting some inconvenience on someone without cause. Not my style.

[She turn back to Breakdown, not even trying to keep a curly little smile from her face.]

I won't do anything detrimental to it, but that's not to say I won't ever do anything, because I mmmmay be able to give it some extra endurance. Like, unnatural endurance.

[automobileenthusiast]

[Dick move HUH learn something new every day. Also Breakdown gets A LOOK don't be a butt.

Iiiits the next part that really catches his interest, though.]

Extra endurance, you say?

[a_little_red_in_the_face]

[He gives Knock Out a cheeky grin. Why not be a butt?]

Yeah? Now that sounds like Knock Out's kind of thing.

[10_20_15_5_50]

Maybe. Probably? I am actually pretty sure.

['Pretty sure' in this case is quite, because while the boundaries of adept magic sometimes appear ill- or arbitrarily defined to others, they are nothing if not intuitive.]

It just isn't something I've tried for before, is all.

[automobileenthusiast]

Riiiight. We won't be testing that one on my finish, just throwing that out there.

[a_little_red_in_the_face]

[He laughs]

You can test it on me, I guess.

[10_20_15_5_50]

[Knock Out gets a small shrug.]

The worst that would happen would be 'nothing,' if that puts you at ease at all.

[But she has a volunteer! Bless Breakdown and his willingness to humour her.]

I'm thinking later rather than sooner, but someday? I would like to. Thank you for being such a good sport.

[automobileenthusiast]

[KNOCK OUT IS JUST ROLLING HIS EYES AT ALL OF THIIIIIIIIIS you're both lucky he likes you.]

Right, well. I need to go find the buffer.

[a_little_red_in_the_face]

Why? Your finish is perfect.

[Breakdown...he's probably getting it for you, you big idiot.]

[10_20_15_5_50]

[Sam turns her hands up at the eye-rolling in a wordless 'what?' though she's not in the least bit bothered by it---given Knock Out's attitude, it's only to be expected.]

[automobileenthusiast]

I know my finish is perfect.

[you NERD. He glances back down at Sam and just huffs. And grins a bit. OK fine]

[a_little_red_in_the_face]

[Oh...right.]

C'mon, Doc, it ain't that bad. [He brushes a hand over the bubbled paint on his chest....okay, maybe it is...]