tenthtimeisthecharm | (no subject)

(no subject)

There is a brief pause filled with audible clicks and thuds, followed by the slightly echoey acoustics that come from someone recording audio in a large room. "Hello hello! You've reached Dr. Velocity! Feel free to leave a message or a video or whatever here, and I'll do my very best to respond promptly! And if it this is about the stickers, Ratchet, I didn't do it! Love and love and love!"

text | voice | video | action

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Oh! Oh hi, Riptide!

[Velocity laughs, delighted to hear from a friend even when she hasn't been feeling so good lately]

That would be really fun, I'd love to see you! I'm just finishing up helping code a few things at the library, but I should be done in about half an hour?

What were you thinking of getting up to?

Oh, I have no idea. What sort of thing do you like? Video games? I have so many edibles... uhhhh... we could play golf on the hull! Maybe just watch tv. I'll let you pick!

[A fluttery noise as she considers this]

I don't really know? Ratchet and I usually just send each other videos when we're in the same room.

And? Edibles? I, um, can't say I've ever done anything like that. I drank once after I failed my exams for the ninth time...

Maybe? Video games? What's your favorite?

Aww. Nerds. [he says, affectionately. riptide doesn't really care about any ratchet that isn't the one from the lost light, but he can appreciate velocity having a loaded meme vault.] Let's maybe give those a skip for now then, yeah? I'd hate to put you on a bad trip. I wanna hang out for fun, not that!

[there's a tink tink tink sound as he taps his chin.]

Any and all, really. Ones I can cheat on. Tailgate and I for sure are gonna complete every game in existence!

[Velocity grins at being called a nerd, but it isn't until Riptide says the bit about playing every video game to exist that she lets out a little laugh, but not a mocking one]

In existence? That'll take a minute or two, but at least you two will be having fun, right?

Okay, well let's see... Um, I've mostly played simulation games for school, and a few interactive novels that read themselves out to me, but? I do like racing sometimes, maybe one of those?

We've got racing games, I just hope you don't mind me being one of the most elite gaming specimens that was ever farted out of wherever my spark came from!

[he pings her his room number.]

I'm always loaded up with some good snacks, so I'll get the game loaded up and see you here!

[Velocity arrives not terribly long afterwards, although she probably would have arrived even earlier if she hadn't gotten turned around. Save for being called out for a few emergencies, Velocity has barely begun to explore the ship e ouch to really know her way around. She does give her way there eventually, however, and she knocks a cheerful pattern onto his door as she calls out to him]

Riptide? Its Velocity! Am I at the right room? Or time?

Yep! [comes riptide's voice from inside the room, getting closer as he stumbles to the door.] Yep, yep, yep!

[he opens it looking a little dishevelled, and steps aside so she can enter.]

Sorry, I just started up a ranked match and got really into it. Alright! Racing. Are you from Velocitron? I don't remember ever asking.

That's all right! I don't know what a ranked match actually is, but I'm sure it's very exciting.

[Velocity smiles at him and bounces a little on her pedes and wandered into his room, peering around herself curiously]

I'm from Caminus, actually! I heard of Velocitron sometimes, though, and was always curious about it. I've never actually raced anyone in person before, is it like in the games...?

Right! Yes. I think it's because your name is Velocity. I brain good.

[his room is a bit messy, but otherwise typical. there's some big axes sitting in the corner and a lot of pillows on the berth. looks like riptide is a fan of comfort. the big tv and games console is in front of a couch with more cushions on it.]

Kind of? It depends. I've only ever raced underwater because... you know. Boat. I think I like it more in games because it doesn't matter if you blow up. In real life you just get yelled at by medics! [he claps his hands.] You can pick first character!

It wasn't a bad guess. [She's already looking over the screen with thoughtfully dimmed optics, but hadn't moved to sit yet. He hadn't said she can] A lot of people were really surprised I didn't go into entertainment like racing instead of medical school, even outside of my frame. So it's not something I haven't heard before?

[She finally picks up one of the controllers, a bit clumsily. She's played sims before of course, but they'd all been training ones in school on concepts such as how to use the laser guided tools for surgery, not anything fun like this. She hovers her selection box over a character that has a green color scheme not terribly unlike her own, and looks back at Riptide uncertainly]

How about this one? Is this one good? Are there downsides? Or, um, do you get points docked if you pick the wrong one?

Edited 2024-06-02 06:37 (UTC)

Yeah, I get you. Being a hydrobot kind of limits what I can do too, but it's not about the altmode and all that nonsense! Don't let people do a functionism on you, that's bad.

[he moves away to grab some of the pillows off his berth, not offering a seat as he doesn't Realise. riptide glances over from where he's fluffing some of the flatter ones up, and sweeping some crumbs off the berth.]

They all have strengths and weaknesses, that one goes really fast but can't take corners well! Not really possible to pick the wrong one, so don't worry about that.

[Velocity squints at the roster of available characters, which she notices does not come with any sort of list of statistics such as what he described. She looks at him again, bewildered]

How do you know? It doesn't say. And there has to be, doesn't there? A choice that's best. But I don't know which one you'll pick or which one will compensate for the advantages I also don't don't know about the one you'll pick.

[She frowns uncertainly, but based on aesthetics alone she is already leaning away from the green racer and towards a heavier built one rendered in shades of grey that reminds her of Megatron, but what if that is the wrong choice? What if Riptide is wrong?]

There's a lot of characters and potential combinations, too. I don't think there will be enough time to run through all the possibilities...

[She wavers still further, then very hesitantly presses the button, selecting the grey racer]

This one?

Is this the overthinking olympics? I don't remember signing up. [he says with a snort.] You kind of find out as you play, though I guess it also applies to what the cars can do in real life?

[he points at one that's bright pink.] See how that looks like Rodimus a bit? He's quick because he's a bit smaller, but the bigger ones are slower cause they have more weight.

[instead of answering, he just leans across and taps her controller to lock the choice in and start the game, though he does vaguely wonder if she actually even wants to play or is just uncomfortably indulging him. she knows she can just say if she doesn't want to play, right?]

Yes! Ooooh, they put you near the start line! I never understood why they were staggered like that, but that means you get a good chance to stay up front!

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