You're going to take a bath whether you want it or not...

[masqueadrift]

[OOC: Closed post between IDW Sideswipe and IDW Blurr. Trying to get this plotty stuff out of the way here.]

IDW Sideswipe*It seemed like it had been forever since Siders and his twin returned from their trip, and at the time he'd been happy... over joyed even. Of course when the news about Mirage being missing... and seriously hurt had been

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[idw_blurr]

It'd been a couple days, and he had hardly seen anyone. He didn't dare try to get into the medbay. This Ratchet seemed a little more inclined to snap at mechs than the one he knew. Besides, it wasn't really his place. He wanders down to the river, thinking about trying to run up it again. That'd been kinda fun, but he spots a flash of red through the trunks and leaves and pauses.* Sideswipe? *He wasn't sure which one it was, but a closer look showed him it was his friend.* Hey. *He can tell Sideswipe is down, but takes the chance anyway, and sits down next to the warrior.*

[masqueadrift]

IDW Sideswipe

*The red frontliner's so distracted he doesn't even hear Blurr at first, doesn't even notice him until the blue racer is practically sitting right next to him. His friend's 'sudden appearance' startles him and he flinches, turning to stare at the mech, half expecting an attack; at least until he realizes it's just Blurr and relaxes again.*

Oh... hey, Blurr. *he picks up a small rock and tosses it into the river, watching as it splashes into the water.* What's up? *he doesn't really sound all that interested, but he'll pretend he is in an effort to at least look like he's alright.*

[idw_blurr]

*An optic ridge pops up. He’s not fooled, and he knows he moved slow enough not to startle Sideswipe.* Nothing. How are you holding up?

[masqueadrift]

IDW Sideswipe

*he gives a casual shrug, stretching his legs out and slipping them into the water. He watches as some of the mud and dust still covering his frame from the other day, washes away with the slow current.* Fine.

[idw_blurr]

*He frowns as he takes in the look of Sideswipe.* You’re filthy. *He stands, tugging on Sideswipe’s wrist.* Come on. You may be down and all, but then what do you think that Towerling is going to say when you go see him if you look like this? Pits, I barely want to touch you. Get up. *He tugs again in encouragement. He’s strong, but he’s far too light to haul an unwilling frontliner to his feet.*

[masqueadrift]

IDW Sideswipe

So what if I'm filthy? It's not like you share a berth with me, I don't see why it should matter. *he heaves a sigh, resisting Blurr's attempts to haul him onto his pedes.* No one said you had to touch me, you know. *he doesn't want to get up... let alone go inside and get cleaned up... not when the twins and the medic from hell are still down there.*

[idw_blurr]

*He huffs. Short of washing Sideswipe himse- He pulls a spare cloth from his subspace and wets it in the river, then starts on the warrior’s shin plating.* You wallow like this long enough, and you won’t be able to move when you do finally stop moping. *He’s pushing, but he also knows he’s fast enough to dodge Sideswipe if he tries to attack him. And right now, he’s not entirely sure he isn’t instigating a fight.*

[masqueadrift]

IDW Sideswipe

What are you doing? *he asks, his tone flat, his optics a dull, pale blue, instantly focusing on Blurr. He frowns as the mech starts trying to wash the dirt and mud off his legs.* I'm not moping. *he mutters, giving his friend a warning growl... and even if he was, he thinks he's got every right to mope if he wants to.*

[idw_blurr]

*He ignores the growl, rinsing the cloth and making a face.* This would be easier if you just got in the water for me. *He wrings the cloth over Sideswipe’s knee joint. He can see the caked mud in there, and it’s not coming out. He sighs, sitting back on his heels, and leveling a look at Sideswipe.* Get your aft in the river. You can beat yourself up all you like, but I’m not going to let you end up in the medbay too. *He’s taking a guess based on what little he heard during the rescue, but he’s fairly sure he’s not too far off the mark.*

[masqueadrift]

IDW Sideswipe

I honestly don't see why it matters? *he huffs loudly, glaring at Blurr as he pushes himself up to his pedes. The only reason he's bothering at all is because he doesn't want to end up in there and actually need medical attention - unable to escape should any of the mechs in there decide to lay into him... or take him apart.*

[idw_blurr]

*He rolls his optics, and shoves at Sideswipe’s shoulder to get him into the river.* Primus! So you didn’t notice a mech trained to be invisible wasn’t around. I didn’t either. No one did. *Though he does feel a little guilty about that. He and Mirage had just been learning to get along. But voicing that wouldn’t help jar Sideswipe out of his funk.* If you feel all that awful about it then go apologize. But by Unicron, get this gunk off of you before you rust out! *He rewets the cloth and begins scrubbing at Sideswipe’s back.*

[masqueadrift]

IDW Sideswipe

Like it'll matter if I rust and fall apart.. *he sighs, letting Burr push him around without much protest. He already had plans to try and visit Mirage, try and apologize for the fight... for not finding him sooner. Huffing he stares down at the mud caught in the joints of his hands and wrists. What would Sunstreaker say if he saw you like this? he thinks, flexing his fingers and watching as more dust comes off his plating. Just look at you! You're covered in mud and organic filth. You expect me to want to get anywhere near you like that? No. Go wash that slag off and I'll think about it.* Okay fine! Geez! Get off my fragging back! *he throws his arms up in frustration, kicking at the water and splashing it over his legs.*

[idw_blurr]

*He tenses behind Sideswipe, ready to dodge, but stands firm.* No, your back is just as filthy. *Ok, intentionally obtuse there. He pulls a small bottle of cleanser out, and squirts some directly into Sideswipe’s shoulder joints, then moves to his elbows, hands…* What did you do to get this dirty? Roll in a mud puddle? *He looks up as he applies some of the cleanser to his cloth.* And really? You, you are really going to pull this everyone’s better off if I rust and disappear slag? *He snorts, genuinely worried, but unsure how to handle it.* Stick-with-disbelief-Challenge-Reaction-may-be-handing-me-my-aft-but-better-than-sinking-into-depression. *He moves around behind Sideswipe again, and really works on getting the grime off.*

[masqueadrift]

IDW Sideswipe

*he frowns, turning his head to stare at Blurr in confusion.* What? *he hadn't really been paying much attention to the other mech who'd somehow slipped behind him when he wasn't looking. Shutter-blinking he tries to get a better look at his back and huffs.* I don't remember... not even sure how that got there to be honest. *He open his mouth to add more, only to have Blurr's other question distracts him.*

Maybe I am? So what? They probably would be better off...

*You should pay more attention to your surroundings. You're just lucky no one else has died because of your stupidity. He tenses, fingers clenching. He's not dead, he tells himself, hands trembling slightly. Primus, it's a wonder you're still functioning at all with the way you run around half-cocked all the time. In an attempt to distract himself from the thoughts he's not even sure are his own, he fumbles and reaches into his subspace, pulling out one of his own cleansing cloths and scrubs blindly at the plating on his arms.*

[idw_blurr]

*He snorts at Sideswipe’s comment.* Yeah cuz I’m sure all of us whose lives you’ve saved countless fragging times prefer you offline from your own neglect. *He scrubs harder, tempted to call someone for help, but he doesn’t know who. Just because he listens to Kup doesn’t mean Sideswipe would. In fact he’s pretty sure he wouldn’t. And he knows Sunstreaker well enough to know the twins would just end up in a fight.

He sighs, rinsing his cloth and soaking the jetpack connectors, then working at them. He’s not even trying to be gentle. Pits at this point, provoking Sideswipe might be the best thing for him. The lifelessness was frightening, especially from one usually so… alive.*

It’s just a bad situation. We’ve all been in worse, you’ll feel better once you’ve talked to him.

[masqueadrift]

IDW Sideswipe

Like it even matters! *the rough scrubbing on his back is enough of a distraction, for the moment, that it silences those thoughts. Hissing in pain he tries to arch away from Blurr, twisting to face the mech and growling.* Ow! What are you trying to do, rip the thing off my back? Or strip the colour from my frame? Geez! *he reaches back to try and rub at the tender area but he can't quite reach it himself which just serves to frustrate him more.*

And maybe there have been worse situations... but none of the rest of you have my track record of... *he stops, lowering his head to stare at his warped reflection in the surface of the water.* Of abandoning other members of your team...