#datanet ghost

i got “taking down the mistletoe” duty again this year

He’s curled up on his berth, dozing lightly with a heating pad on his chest. The knock wakes him almost all the way up.

First Aid only wakes up a little as he’s bundled up and carried off, just enough to snuggle closer to where he can hear Tarn’s sparkbeat.

How do they have a bean? accidentally. this is why we don’t screw around with spark-jumping technology in the laboratory, Brainstorm. now he’s got a tiny star orbiting his spark and Nautica is apologising over and over but he’s not even upset, really, it’s okay. it’s just a baby. you wanna be parents, Nautica? (yes, yes she does. panic to excitement in 0.8 seconds).

Would they have one bean or more than one bean? only one. imperious godfather Perceptor scrounges up some sentio metallico, grouchy granddad Ratchet carefully coaxes the baby spark out of Brainstorm’s spark chamber and into the living metal, and delighted aunt Velocity helps with all the follow-up exams to make sure the sparkling is developing properly. Nautica and Brainstorm name them Raindance.

What’s the bean’s shape? Size? they’re a tiny baby, but they never quite have a ‘blobby’, formless stage, and look vaguely like an infant from the moment the sentio metallico coalesces.

Is their bean an exceptionally cuddly squishy blob or no? Raindance just wants to touch everything: their carrier’s wings, their sire’s visor (flipping it down so it boops sire’s nose is hilarious), carrier’s experiments, sire’s rotors, carrier’s friends’ respective claws and needles… patting and poking are good. cuddling is also good, but optional.

Does their bean have basic protoform appendages forming yet? Raindance has stubby limbs from ‘birth’, and soon develops tiny, delicate fingers (the better to grab things with, to the dismay of their parents). indeterminate shoulder-kibble nubs form later.

Is much is their bean dependent on them? a lot. being the product of an accidental spark-energy exchange between a Camien and a cold-constructed Cybertronian with lingering spark trauma, their health is a little touch-and-go those first few months. even after their condition improves and stabilises, Nautica and Brainstorm still tend to fret and dote on them.

Who does the bean take after more physically? colour-scheme-wise, Raindance has Nautica’s shade of purple and Brainstorm’s gold-and-white highlights. when they get older and still don’t show any definitive alt-mode kibble, the crew quietly starts placing bets on which parent they’ll take after. joke’s on everyone when they turn out to be a triple-changer.

Personality-wise, who is the bean more like? Nautica. Raindance is very affectionate, and likes to touch people to convey that affection. they also embarrass easily, which is unfortunate, because one thing they did inherit from Brainstorm is his penchant to run his mouth when excited. they’re also very curious, like both their parents.

How does their bean interact with other grown mechs? “why do you have finny-things? can i touch them? why do you have swords? can i touch them? why are you a cat? can i ”

How does their bean interact with other protoforms? sadly, there aren’t any other babies currently on the ship. Whirl keeps making pointed jokes about ‘passing the jumper cables around’ and certain crew members (Rodimus, Cyclonus, First Aid, Perceptor) keep choking on their energon whenever he does, but so far nothing has come of it.

What sounds does their bean make? when they aren’t wheezing quietly, soft little baby jet burbles and coos. then they learn to talk and it’s r.i.p. to anyone within earshot, because you’re going to get an audialful of endless questions.

How does their bean move about? they will literally crawl, climb, or burrow under any obstacle. early limb-development has its perks.

*walks in carrying a large broom* alright, buddy; out you g—

*freezes at the sight of the empty corner*

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