#relentlesshorizon

[ 𝐥𝐢𝐞 ] : receiver is trying to convince sender they're feeling fine.

Ratchet was sitting quietly in the far corner of his lab space, a datapad in his hands. The screen cast a soft glow on his face and plating, while the room itself contained dim lighting, as only one of multiple lights had been turned on. The datapad had audio playing, quietly, sometimes just faint sounds of mechanical beings, sometimes with voices, and occasionally louder exclamations from certain young humans. Ratchet himself looked tired in a way that could not be described as lack of rest, but rather a weariness from the weight on one's spark.

However, the moment he realized someone was lingering in the doorway, that changed. The datapad fell silent and flickered off as he stood, audials raising, antenna straightening, posture becoming collected and expression neutral.

He was not certain how long he had been there, or if Cirrus would have been able to identify what he was viewing, thus he did not know if there was much point to his shift in demeanor, but... Professional habit.

Send "be honest…" with a question your muse has been dying to ask mine and they'll answer truthfully.

"It means I regard ethics as flexible and treat them as suggestions rather than obligations." Knock Out tilts his helm. "I wasn't trained under the quaint little maxim of first, do no harm."

He hesitates, deliberating how honest he should be. "In practice, it tends to involve unauthorized bodywork. Frame modification. Cosmetic enhancement. Sourcing parts where one can find them."

"This was a lot of fun! I got our human friends to help me because the flowers are so small. I used, uhh...." He checks the list. "Alstroemeria, amaryllis, mistletoe, yellow rose, yellow tulip, and viscaria."

— @relentlesshorizon

❀ Floral Expressions ❀

"Oh my gosh, Cirrus!" Despite her enthusiasm, she is careful in holding the fragile flowers... Though, she cannot help but dig her snout into their petals, letting the floral fragrance wash over her olfactory sensors.

"I'm glad you had fun, let me think..." She rolls their meanings around in her processor, reciting them carefully.

"Friendship, splendid beauty, requests for kisses, joy n' friendship, sunshine-y smile, and a dance request too?? Of course, Cirrus!" After carefully putting down the bouquet of flowers, she practically pounces upon Cirrus, giving him a big mlaaaaam of her glossa against his cheek.

Cirrus is seated, his pedes pulled up on the chair in front of him. He looks over at Ratchet. “... How do you feel about Wheeljack? If you're comfortable saying. Do you want to be close... closer with him?”

The medic gazes at him in silence at first. He truthfully doubts he has the emotional attunement to accurately answer that, beyond saying, "Complicated."

After a bit, Ratchet follows up with a sigh, then continues, "I know he cares and seems fond of me, which he shows in his own ways. As for the depth of it, I don't know. I thought 'closer' was mutually desired, but I'm no longer certain of that, and I am not interested in chasing any form of relationship with another. If this is the extent of closeness, so be it."

@relentlesshorizon

Completely misunderstanding the gesture, Cirrus gives Smokescreen a kiss on the helm instead!

​And what can he do but look up at Cirrus following a little kiss on the helm, blinking, doorwings fluttering happily.