//If that was a serious suggestion, perhaps you don't need any subordinates.//
*He supresses a shift in the pitch of his engine. It isn't jealousy exactly - and he still can't bring himself to believe that Cyclonus would lower himself enough to interface with the Terrorcon - but something like it. Sinnertwin appears to have managed something that Vortex has been trying to attain since their first encounter in the Nexus, and it really gets to him.
He considers making a break for it, but there's nowhere he can realistically go. Well, apart from certain Autobots, and none of those are any match for Cyclonus.*
*He stays still, not actually wanting to frag up Cyclonus' work. He isn't sure how much Cyclonus knows about vocalisers, but Hook and Scorponok are nowhere to be seen, and besides it means that Cyclonus has to get really close. An optic-full of antennae is nothing to object to.*
*Cyclonus knows a fair amount about vocalizers, although mostly not ones quite like Vortex's. And one thing about working with Sweeps is that there was almost always spare parts to hand, better than the ones they have here and now.
Cyclonus carefully puts the new wires and connections in place, disconnecting some of what the CR chamber managed in order to put what needed to be there in place.
The task is absorbing enough that he briefly forgets about trying to figure out the situation with Sinnertwin and Vortex, and his tenuous control over either of them.*
*Actually, it stings, but he's enjoying it anyway.
His fingertips twitch. He could just reach up and grab one of those antennae... He keeps his palms pressed flat to the tabletop, but decides to sigh through his vents at just the right angle to see whether that kind of atmospheric disturbance will have any effect.*
*Cyclonus' antennae detect the atmospheric disturbance, but he's too busy with the vocalizer to react. If his antennae were capable of independent movement, Vortex might have gotten a reaction, but as it was, his processor simply filters out the information as irrelevant.
He uses a small tool to tighten a joint in the vocalizer, and holds it in place for a second.*
*He tries again with the antennae, having decided to himself that this is For Science and therefore the experiment must be repeated for the results to be considered valid.*
Hey, where the slag is Scorponok anyway? And what's up with Inferno, he looked like someone'd taken away his flamethrower.
*That's not information Cyclonus would like Vortex to have just yet, and the second ventilation over his antennae is just noticeable enough to be annoying. But he has a job to do right now, and Vortex' vocalizer still doesn't sound quite right.
He tightens the joint again, and then goes and adjusts another component.*
Tear him apart, and there are a lot more sensor relays I can take out of you, Vortex.
Since both the neck and the rotors are still recovering, Cyclonus grabs one of Vortex' arms near the shoulder and snatches him up by that, dangling him in the air next to the berth.*
The two of you had better work this out in a manner that does not require any more CR treatment.
Now. I believe there are some other injuries that the CR chamber fixed. *Cyclonus taps Vortex' interface panel again.* Unless, of course, you want to continue trying to convince me to punish you more thoroughly.
*Cyclonus puts Vortex back on the table, and pulls over a chair. This would be easiest to do with Vortex on his back, but he doesn't want to interfere with the rotor integration.
The panel is, once again, pristine. Cyclonus takes out his knife and starts carving the first glyph.
Vortex doesn't deserve this today, but he clearly needs a reminder of whoses he is--a better reminder than he'd get if he couldn't feel this.*
*He leans his head back, palms flat again to the table. His engine revs, and his rotors quiver. The bright heat is shocking, and all thought is suspended as he loses himself in the sensation.*
*He supresses a shift in the pitch of his engine. It isn't jealousy exactly - and he still can't bring himself to believe that Cyclonus would lower himself enough to interface with the Terrorcon - but something like it. Sinnertwin appears to have managed something that Vortex has been trying to attain since their first encounter in the Nexus, and it really gets to him.
He considers making a break for it, but there's nowhere he can realistically go. Well, apart from certain Autobots, and none of those are any match for Cyclonus.*
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*Cyclonus locates some tiny wires and relays that should, at least, help him get the vocalizer into better working order and returns to Vortex.
I am serious about your need to stay still right now, however.
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Cyclonus carefully puts the new wires and connections in place, disconnecting some of what the CR chamber managed in order to put what needed to be there in place.
The task is absorbing enough that he briefly forgets about trying to figure out the situation with Sinnertwin and Vortex, and his tenuous control over either of them.*
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*Actually, it stings, but he's enjoying it anyway.
His fingertips twitch. He could just reach up and grab one of those antennae... He keeps his palms pressed flat to the tabletop, but decides to sigh through his vents at just the right angle to see whether that kind of atmospheric disturbance will have any effect.*
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He uses a small tool to tighten a joint in the vocalizer, and holds it in place for a second.*
Say something.
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*He tries again with the antennae, having decided to himself that this is For Science and therefore the experiment must be repeated for the results to be considered valid.*
Hey, where the slag is Scorponok anyway? And what's up with Inferno, he looked like someone'd taken away his flamethrower.
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He tightens the joint again, and then goes and adjusts another component.*
Again.
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So, I take it you'd prefer it if I didn't kill Sinnertwin?
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*That's a bit better. The rest of it's going to have to be left to Vortex' self-repair, however.
He closes up Vortex' neck and starts putting his tools away.*
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Y'know, there's infighting, and then there's this. He tries anything again, I'll tear him apart.
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Since both the neck and the rotors are still recovering, Cyclonus grabs one of Vortex' arms near the shoulder and snatches him up by that, dangling him in the air next to the berth.*
The two of you had better work this out in a manner that does not require any more CR treatment.
Now. I believe there are some other injuries that the CR chamber fixed. *Cyclonus taps Vortex' interface panel again.* Unless, of course, you want to continue trying to convince me to punish you more thoroughly.
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You better beat some sense into him then.
*He can't help but squirm as Cyclonus taps him. In response to Cyclonus' question, he releases the catch.*
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The panel is, once again, pristine. Cyclonus takes out his knife and starts carving the first glyph.
Vortex doesn't deserve this today, but he clearly needs a reminder of whoses he is--a better reminder than he'd get if he couldn't feel this.*
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Cyclonus keeps carving, allowing himself to slightly deviate from his previous pattern this time, improving the style.*
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