kismet_loop | [Accidental Video]

[A lone drone seems to have found a wreck in the deep snows of the Northeast Sector. It's beaten to scrap, with spent energon and half-frozen cydraulic fluids smeared from a dozen places of damage. Part of the wreck looks like it was once black with a purple stripe paralleling one edge. The rest is blue but so faded, dented, and scuffed that the protective paint has all but worn off in many places.]

[There's a groan, and the wreck shifts . . . and sits up. Ah, so it's not a ship that got pummeled by a meteor shower or something. Actually, as the helm comes up, the face and torso will be familiar to many . . . at least to an extent. He looks like he's been ten rounds with Megatron who's ten factors of pissed off at Starscream, and he wasn't allowed to fight back. One edge of his helm is a little caved in, like he took one HELL of a backhand, the optic cracked and dark. His canopy is spiderwebbed. His wings . . . well, they're bent and dented badly - actually, before he sat up and turned to face towards the camera (without having noticed it yet), the backs could be seen covered in long scorched furrows. Also? They're not the same color scheme. His left wing is his, but the right . . . isn't. Also, there's something around his throat, a tight band with inscribed sigils and tiny indicators and controls.]

[Thundercracker seems to take a long moment to even really register being conscious, let alone where he is, but finally the cold - the cold WET - is sinking in. He shifts in confusion, then shifts some more, getting his knees under him as he flails a hand through the bizarre white stuff he's half-sunk into.]

W-what the frag? Where . . .

[He looks around and the comm drone immediately starts into the greeting and explanation that everyone here has heard.]

What? S-stop...stop talking. Whatever you are, stop talking!

[He makes a swipe at it with his hand - his arms are also devoid of rifles, leaving only roughly-patched holes in his shoulders - and it beeps and darts out of the way. It dodges easily, the once-proud Decepticon weak and off-balance from his injuries. Or...not Decepticon? No brands. On either wing.]

W-where am I? What the frag happ-!

[The comm drone, triggered by the "right" words, follows its programming and attempts to launch into its explanation again.]

I said SHUT UP!

[The video ends with the Seeker snarling and launching himself - okay, more like flailing himself - at the drone.]

((Heeeee's mostly just in reaction mode at the moment, but he'll calm down and be more reasonable shortly... Also, forgive the lack of icons, that's being remedied.))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Jade glances up for just a moment as Bulkhead arrives. Under other circumstances, he might have made a snarky remark about the Autobot's lack of flying skills, but currently he had other concerns.

Like the way Thundercracker winced at the sound of Bulkhead's arrival. Or the fact that Thundercracker called Jadewing 'sir'. That was just weird, and only added to how disturbing the situation was.]

You don't have to call me 'sir'. My name's Jadewing. And you can look at me, you know; we're the same model, so I can't be that ugly.

[When you don't know what to do, snark. Hopefully it would work.]

[Wing gives Bulk a small smile, he couldn't muster much with how worried he was. When the Autobot lands, and so awkwardly, he shifts as though to catch him, at least puts a steadying hand on him.]

I'm worried about him, Bulkhead. [His words are whispered, he didn't want to interrupt Jadewing's attempted to get through to him...]

[He can't help it, he spent most of his life before as a grounder. His bulk is working against him. He gives a grateful nod to Wing at his steadying hand.

He's quick to refocus his worried expression on the odd acting Thundercracker at the whispered words. There was more to worry about at the moment, then flight issues.]

He ain't acting like TC. [Yeah, he'll keep his words whispered too.]

[The comment - the joke - catches Thundercracker by surprise. He's exhausted and in enough pain that his defenses are down - the comment actually gets a soft snort of a laugh out of him, though it still sounds strained. His voice is soft to keep the others from overhearing.]

No...far from.

[He can hear the others whispering, though he can't make out what they're saying. But the bounty hunter's Seeker has essentially given him permission to sit up and his master hasn't spoken otherwise, so...he pushes himself back up to a sitting position, daring a glance at the other two, then up at Jadewing, before properly dropping his gaze once more.]

I won't fight. [Another snort] Not that I'm in any condition. I'm sure they won't believe that I'm not a runaway, but... [a shrug]

[Thundercracker's response gets a slight smirk out of Jadewing, but only a slight one. The situation was too disturbing and bizarre for much amusement. At least it got Thundercracker to sit up, if not to really look at any of them beyond a fleeting glance.

What Thundercracker said when he did, though only heightened the sense of things being off.]

Well, can't really argue the 'not in any condition to fight' part; you look like you went ten rounds with Devestator after upending Hook's tool organizer and insulting Scrapper's taste in architecture. But what do you mean by a 'runaway'?

[He leaned slightly to one side, both to get a look at Thundercracker's face and to get a good angle to read what was on that collar around his neck. He had a sinking feeling that collar was part of the answer to his question...]

No... [His spark is breaking over this.]

No, he's not acting like the Thundercracker we knew.

[So is it? He doubts it, but guesses it could be possible...]

[It's hurting his spark too, almost as hard as when TC left. He does his best to muster some strength.]

No, but....whatever happened to him, or even if it's not him, we still oughtta help him get over it. Right?

[TC or not, a part of him still wanted to help the mech, like he was still the trine member he knew for so long.]

[The question finally gets Thundercracker to look up in earnest, a clear "REALLY!?" look in his optics. But then his optics brighten in surprise.]

Y-you...you don't...

[He cants a quick glance at the two enforcers - one of whom looks like he probably wasn't always a flight frame, too...well, bulky...huh - with a look that seems to ask "do they know?" Meeting the other Seeker's optics, he asks in a whisper, his tone incredulous.]

You're allowed to not have a collar?

[Thundercracker looking up finally gives Jadewing a chance to read the writing on the collar. An unfamiliar mech's name, what he can only assume is an address, and some other information. But the part that makes his optics flash bright in surprised outrage for a moment is comprehension of what the collar is; it's marking Thundercracker as that other mech's property.

He forcibly calms himself, though; someone had to keep a reasonably cool processor in this situation. He can't erase the look of bafflement, though, and that, he feels is totally justified.]

Of course I'm allowed. In fact, if anyone ever tried to stick something like that on me, they'd find themselves on the business end of my weaponry.

[Which might call TC's attention to the fact that Jadewing is indeed armed, as well as the fact that he shows no signs of abuse whatsoever.]

Why would I have one in the first place? And why do you have one?

Edited 2016-04-16 05:59 (UTC)

[Wing nodded.] Without a doubt. He most certainly needs help.

[He wished he knew what Thundercracker was saying to Jadewing. He wanted to approach so badly.]

[Accidental Video]

SAD PARTAY

SADDEST PARTY!

SHOULD'VE BROUGHT THE ALCOHOL

TOTES GONNA NEED IT before this is over

DEFINITELY

Bunch of boozed up bots.

Let's hit the bar later. Also bfbvksbfvjbsf,b I need to track this thread. /hides

/pets It's okay, bb. <3

Definitely hitting the bar later.

Sorry, I forgot it was my turn. 9,9