robothell | (no subject)

Who: Bee, Verity, Ratchet - open to anyone around the clinic
Where: Clinic
When: After Verity hears the bad news
What: Helping Verity cope / bothering Ratchet for repairs
Warnings: tbd?

( Verity )

[ as soon as Bee heard the distress in Verity's voice, he knew that he had to be there. it's something that he had wanted to spare her, and a few other people, from knowing. Bumblebee doesn't really want to lie, but it's hard for people to accept death. Verity has had so many things ripped from her and Bee doesn't want to be one of those things. the kid has enough on her plate to deal with. the weight of losing another friend shouldn't be added to that pile until some weight is taken off.

still, it had been inevitable. Bee knows this. secrets - even if his passing really hadn't been one - never stay buried forever. honestly, it should have been himself that relayed that information to his human friend. having her hear it from another source? that's going to be double painful and for that Bumblebee wishes that he had said something either.

without further adieu, he is at the clinic. Verity is still likely recovering - Bee doesn't really know how fast humans heal up - so that makes it rather easy for her to find. again, like before, he doesn't say much. instead he meanders over to her and just sits down. he doesn't know how to start this conversation. hell, Bee doesn't really WANT to have this conversation. ]

I'm sorry.

[ for not saying anything. for causing unknown grief. for not outliving her. ]

( Ratchet )

[ after talking to Verity, Bee lingers around for a while. mostly it's the chance to see Ratchet. the cranky medic had always been one of his closer friends - at least in Bumblebee's opinion. the guy is probably running himself ragged. all work and none of it really towards himself. Ratchet helps so many people, but who is really there to help him? initially, that's what Bumblebee is mulling about for. someone has to get the guy to take a moment for himself, right?

there's also the issue of his own scorched armor and missing badge. it's something he does need to bring up, but maybe now isn't the best of times. thus Bee walks around, ready to hunt his friend down. seriously, it shouldn't take this long. it's not like Ratchet is going anywhere fast, right? ]

( Open )

[ after talking with Verity and Ratchet, Bumblebee doesn't really feel like going anywhere, but at the same time he doesn't like just being idle. there's no where that he has to be. since Optimus is in charge, there's no burden of leadership to weigh him down either. it's been ages since Bee has had free time to himself. he honestly doesn't know what to do with it. what does one do when they are not bound to their responsibilities or duties? trying to relax? it's not really working.

he drives laps around the clinic area. Bee paces in the building itself and in the open areas close by. there's no where to go. no place to be. it's, frankly, starting to drive him nuts. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Verity despite the odds stacked against her healed quickly enough that simple stubbornness could be to blame. Only it was a moot point; she was lively and alert enough - in control enough to be alert and moving unassisted.

Complications arose in the wake of a supposed insignificant conversation struck up over the network with Sideswipe. Suddenly, her seizing was more abrupt and between these stressful periods all she ever did was sleep or obsessively scour the network. ]

Are you?

[ Verity didn't look up from the data pad she was reading. Eyes bruised with the dark circles of too many sleepless hours reading. This time around it was one of Megatron's pre-war diatribes. Not sparring Bee a passing glance as she flipped through the pages. ]

The glossed over reports from everyone else seemed to suffice.

[ humans need sleep. it's something Verity isn't getting enough of. Bee might say something... or he might just tattle to Ratchet and see what can be done. there has to be more they can do for her on that front.

her words sting. but they are kind of meant to and Bumblebee likely deserves it. he winces and hangs his head slightly. ]

I should have told you. Simple as that. It's selfish, but I didn't want you to think about it, knowing your past with the Wreckers. Mourning me when I'm right here seems a little...

[ he moves his hand to make that 'iffy' motion. it does seem weird, doesn't it? to do that when Bee is right there in front of everyone? ]

That's why I don't have a badge, Verity.

It's not...selfish.

[ Verity could barely hear herself with her sudden hushed, almost meek mumbling. Call it guilt, but even though it had freaked her out...

Hands mess up her loose ponytail shaking fingers through her hair. Fidgeting her way through a difficult topic.]

When it comes down to it, who knows is your call. I should have been there for you and instead I flipped like a child.

I'm sorry.

[ Data pad down she looks back at Bee. ]

Are you...really okay?

[ technically, to him, she kind of is a child. but he doesn't need to bring that up. by her own species' standards, she is an adult and Bee should treat her as such.. ]

I don't think it's childish, Verity. You've seen some things that are going to give you nightmares for the rest of your life. People react to that sort of news differently and none of that is wrong.

[ then it's time for him to pause and look at his hands. is he okay? what a strange question. ]

You know I think you're probably one of the only people to ask me that. Physically, I am. The rest of it? I don't know. The last thing I fully remember is feeling proud that Megatron actually put down his weapon and then the sound of a weapon behind me.

I've seen things that would give anyone nightmares, but I shouldn't expect you to try and make me feel better over something that happened to you.

[ She still jumped at shadows in the corners of her vision, or even loud noises. Anything even remotely Overlord-y made her chest clench up tight, but this wasn't about her right now. ]

You don't have to play it out again for my sake.

Oh yeah? I'm not the one that has to deal with it when all is said and done. I've always been a part of this life, even before the war. I knew that one day I might not be coming back. [ that's just common sense. being prepared. though there is something that bothers him about it. ]

Might have just liked a bit more flare going out. Getting shot in the back? Not exactly the kind of end I had in mind.

[ his lip quirks into a little bit of a wry grin. of all the things to worry about, right? ]

Don't worry about me, Verity. I didn't feel a thing. There's not really much to tell.

But I will worry.

[ She admits, readily. ]

Sometimes I think about it - after Garrus-9. One between the eyes and...

[ Verity clacks her tongue on the roof of her mouth in a sharp, snapping sound. ]

Lights out. Coming back sounds like one of the most painful things imaginable.

[ THAT gets Bee's attention. well, enough of it for him to stare her down pretty damn hard. ]

Don't. Doing that just makes the actions they took to keep you safe pointless. Their deaths wouldn't mean a damn thing.

[ please don't think things like that, Verity. Bumblebee understands the pain. he really does. he's seen so much loss in his time... ]

The hardest part about coming back? Seeing how much everyone hurts.

Good people died in stupid, pointless ways. That was it. They're not exactly here to reap the benefits of my continued existence.

[ She muttered low under her breath, with her chin almost pressed against her chest as she withered beneath Bee's comment. Her nostrils flared like an agitated animal as she breathed in deeply, jaw clenched. Pushing back down her own bitterness before she looked back up at Bee. ]

We aren't at this kind of thing, are we?

[ We. Us. Her and most Cybertronians and an inability to articulate their emotions a commonality between them. ]

[ Bee huffs and rubs at his faceplates. ]

As a dead guy, Verity? Knowing that you'll continue to exist - even if the death is pointless and stupid - that's sufficient. It's enough. ...Maybe that's just me, but in that sense, I'm satisfied.

[ because it means that life can continue. it means that they won, that Shockwave lost. the people that Bee cares about get to continue to see this tentative thing called peace and get the chance to rebuild and remake themselves as well as their home.

as for what else Verity says, Bee shrugs. ]

Sometimes. In the end, we're all more alike than what anyone would really like to admit.

You're not dead here.

[ Verity would hammer that one in until the wood split if she had to. ]

And I thought death made the living put the lost on pedestals, not the other way around.

[ Enough people were gone so that she could keep going. ]

But you're right. On both counts.

[ good girl. Bee can smile at that. ]

I know. That's kind of why I didn't want to bring it up. I don't want people grieving or mourning when I'm still right here in front of them. And what can I say? I'm a weird minibot. Life deserves to be put on he pedestal.

[ he shrugs, rolling his shoulders. Bee's spirits have lifted a little. ]

I know I'm right, thanks.

Whatever, don't let this being right thing go to your head.

[ Verity knocked her shoulders against Bumblebee with enough force that the affection behind it was unquestioned. ]

[ as if he could get offended by such a gesture. ]

Why not? Maybe I need the little pick me up.