[network post--marked urgent]

[asafepairofhands]

Hello? Yeah, all right, it looks like this thing is on.

[The vid flickers on and Ratchet's face fills it, somehow more exasperated and peeved than usual.]

Look, public service health announcement, stay away from the damn stupid flowers that are popping up everywhere. They're releasing a pollen that's hyperconductive that causes an allergic reaction in both organics and inorganics. Nobody's going to drop dead, unless you're set on being a medical miracle and being the first to die of overcharge, but if you're affected, for goodness' sake, be careful until it wears itself out. If you don't release the pent-up charge or whatever periodically it's possible you'll overheat.

If you absolutely need medical assistance, I'm going to be at the first medibay trying to figure out more precisely what the fresh smelting hell is going on.

Ratchet out.

Comments

[asafepairofhands]

[Ratchet chuffs a short, derisive sound and refuses to meet Ironhide's optics, thoroughly embarrassed.]

You don't want to hear what I think you deserve, flatterer.

[But he squeezes Ironhide's hands when they slide against his, his face softening a little and his optics dimming, curled close.]

[arnhaid]

What? How come?

[He tilts his head, trying to look the other bot in the face, expression still mild, still warm.]

[His hands don't stop. Constantly squeezing, reassuring.]

[asafepairofhands]

Huh. [Ratchet grimaces a little, then pulls one of Ironhide's hands in to nibble at the tip of a finger, shivering slowly under him.]

Well I'd need both my legs back, for starters.

[arnhaid]

Uh.

You would?

[Whatever Ironhide was expecting, clearly that is not the answer. He blinks, breaking into an amused chuckle at the attention to his hand.]

[asafepairofhands]

You'll find out later.

[Ratchet cups Ironhide's hand against his face, leans in and presses a soft kiss to his palm.]

Mmm. S'nice though. This.

[arnhaid]

Oh, yeah?

[He grins at him, though, that... dumb, happy expression reserved for people who are head-over-heels or something dorky like that.]

Good. If I'm deservin' something with your legs then... you're deserving this.

Or something. Sounded better before I said it.

[asafepairofhands]

[Ratchet kisses the backs of Ironhide's fingers lightly, trying not to grin right back.]

Glad to hear you think so.

[arnhaid]

You're not buyin' it, are you?

[He presses himself a little closer in a huff of approval, grin fading slightly.]

[asafepairofhands]

Not particularly, no.

[Ratchet just looks warm and content now with Ironhide still on top of him--the charge is there, but it isn't clouding him the way it was before.]

[arnhaid]

You think I'm just tryin' to flatter you? After the fact?

[Shouldn't the flattering happen before the banging happens? He's fine though, right now, curled up like this. It's comfortable.]

[asafepairofhands]

[Ratchet snorts a helpless laugh, reaching up and touching Ironhide's face with soft, careful fingers.]

It's the kind of thing you'd do, don't even deny it.

[arnhaid]

... yeah okay. Fair enough.

[He leans in enough to knock their foreheads together, grinning.]

But it's better if you do the flatterin' before the other stuff.