For @radetzkymarch
Simpatico
“Hey Perceptor!” Brainstorm called from the other side of the lab, earning him a side eye from the other scientist.
“Yess Brainstorm?” the other replied warily. Any amount of extreme enthusiasm from the other warranted at least some caution.
“I found a connection!” the excited scientist rushed over to the other, essentially shoving the data in his faceplates.
Perceptor couldn’t help the flare of his plates in frustration at the proximity. “Not so close, please,” he grumbled, glancing over the information presented to him.
Brainstorm did not move away, staying uncomfortably close. The data he had presented was not the real reason he had approached him. In fact, he wasn’t even looking over the info with the other mech; he was looking at the mech.
Perceptor was not like the average genius scientist. He was much more than normal (at least in comparison to brainstorm). Long tendril like appendages hung close to his frame, each with a sharp point at the distal aspect. Fresh welds and patches littered his frame from where he had most of the damage he had sustained repaired. Though he still retained his speech and fine motor functions, the underlying programming of the beast still had him sometimes (They were still working on that one). Brainstorm could see just how uncomfortable he was at the proximity between the two. Perceptor was borderline squirming, trying to hide the movements as best as he could.It took Perceptor a moment to realize the data was not the scrutinized element in the situation.
“Can I help you Brainstorm?” He questioned, setting the information tablet down on the workstation before him and facing the other.
Brainstorm was quick to recover. “So what did you think, cool right?” Perceptor didn’t buy it for a nanoklik.
“Brainstorm, I think you and I both know that information was not what you wanted to analyze.”
Brainstorm took a half step in retreat, hands raised in a display of surrender. “Alright, you caught me. I wanted an excuse to take a look up close. Being a sparkeater is kinda cool. I mean, its not every day that you can stand next to one and not get eaten or ripped apart.” He admitted. He remembered quite vividly one of the first interactions with a spark eater on the Lost Light. That memory was quickly suppressed just as fast as it had appeared. He hated that memory.
“Despite it being a huge danger to you, I suppose you could observe if only to satisfy your scientific hunger for knowledge.”
Brainstorms optics lit up with regained enthusiasm. He had figured Percy would have given him an absolute no.
To appease the awkwardness, Perceptor returned to his work, taking a look at the information stored on the tablet once more. The information was indeed relevant to him recovering from his current ailment.
Having closed the gap between them once more, brainstorm watched carefully as Percy slowly relaxed, his armed tendrils loosely hovering around him, testing the air and helping to maintain the gap between the two. Every few moments, one or two would twitch in tandem with things that happened in the environment.
“So, these tendril things you have…” He started, attempting to poke one.
“What about them?” Perceptor queried in return, the tendril actively avoiding his touches.
“Can you feel things with them?” He asked, watching closely.
“I can feel you trying to touch them if that’s what you’re asking.” He replied, retracting them just a bit as Brainstorm moved around to his side.
“I saw that they reacted with the environment and movement so I was trying to test their tactile senses.” He responded, moving quickly to touch another. It jerked out of his way with lightning speed, a servo grabbing his own suddenly. Perceptor wore a slightly irritated but equally confused face.
“Must you test it like that?” He asked, slightly agitated at the sudden lunge for the appendages.
“I just wanted to test it Percy!” Brainstorm exclaimed, reaching out and seizing one of the tendrils while the other mechs concentration was off. This time he was successful in capturing the tendril, gently grasping it. Perplexed by the feeling, Percy let go of his wrist. The tendril, Brainstorm estimated, was about as long as preceptor was tall. Its distal terminus was affixed with a tool to help cut into the plating around the spark. the proximal end that connected it to its host was armored to protect it from damage. Brainstorm recalled that some sparkeaters had traits based on physical appearance. Things like asymmetrical length of tendrils and asymmetrically ended tendrils fell into this category. The offending tendril was then released, quickly being retracted away. The next to fall victim to Brainstorms scrutiny was his servos. He took one, holding it close and eying it, admiring the clawed tips of his digits. Other than the claws, they were lacking any luster. Perceptor’s previously blue optics still glowed a sinister gold, no longer in disrepair from when he had first seen him like this but still gold.
The clearing of perceptor’s vocalizer had Brainstorm blinking back into focus.
“Did you hear me?” Perceptor asked, arms crossed.
“Not a word. What was that?”
“I asked if you got the data you wanted.” Perceptor shifted awkwardly.
“Oh! Yeah totally!” Brainstorm was practically smiling behind his facemask. “Thanks Percy!”
@transform-or-treat
