video;

[stubbornandfrustrating]

[The video clicks on and shows nothing but the ceiling of a room for long moments before it rattles and a hand obscures the camera. There's a scrape and a soft groan as Ratchet hauls himself as much into a sitting position as he can manage and finally manages to pick up the communicator and turn the camera towards himself.]

[He looks exhausted, his optics dim and his mouth drawn down. The hand not holding the communicator up is pressed carefully to his windscreen and his ventilations are labored as he wakes up a little more, his optics focusing in the low light of his room. His voice is soft and fuzzy with static when he speaks.]

Hey. What did I miss?




LOCKED to Spinister
I need a status update on Krok. Now, please. I can't get up to go check on him myself.

Comments

Video;

[stubbornandfrustrating]

Yeah, Blades, m'all right. Promise.

Video;

[swivelrotors]

Are you sure? You look sick. Do you need a hug?

[stubbornandfrustrating]

[That actually makes Ratchet smile a little.]

That's not what I'm sick from. Something bad happened to a friend of mine and I had to do something little dangerous to fix it, but we're both all right.

[swivelrotors]

[Oh no, that makes Blades even more worried! Dangerous things are scary!]

...Are you sure you don't need a hug, anyway?

[stubbornandfrustrating]

[Ratchet hesitates for a long moment--but he's tired, and it's been a while, and--]

I'm not sick from not having one or anything. ...but I wouldn't say no.

[swivelrotors]

I'll be right over!

And I'll bring Buddy! Buddy always cheers me up!

[stubbornandfrustrating]

...what's Buddy...?

[swivelrotors]

She's my fluffy baby!

[He clutches his hands by the side of his face, looking smitten.]

[stubbornandfrustrating]

...what.

[swivelrotors]

Just a sec!

[Blades disappears for a moment then shows back up with his fluffy darling chocobo who is about the size of a medium dog by now, and has a large orange-and-white bow daintily attached to her neck.]

Buddy!

[stubbornandfrustrating]

...oh.

[swivelrotors]

We're coming right over, don't you worry!

[stubbornandfrustrating]

Well--

All right, then.

[Action]

[swivelrotors]

[Blades actually knocks before poking his head in when he arrives a little while later.]

Hello, Ratchet?

[stubbornandfrustrating]

Come in.

[Ratchet's voice is soft and rough, but audible, and when Blades comes in he's sitting up a little on the berth.]

Hey.

[swivelrotors]

[Blades gasps and hurries over, hands hovering worriedly over Ratchet. Buddy is roosting on one of his shoulders.]

You look even worse in person! Wait. I mean. Not that you look bad! Just that you look... sick?