4th wall after the fact - a thing that should have happened at route_29

[getthehorns]

[ The residents of Casa de Rikku will get a rather rude awakening this morning in the form of Cliffjumper's Haunter freaking the hell out. Yes, Cliffjumper has magically vanished from his usual spot next to Rikku while everyone else was dead asleep. The Ghost pokémon seemed to be the first one to notice as he drifted through the wall of the bedroom.

The sudden appearance of a big red car in the front yard has also got Tanta a little startled. ]

Comments

[machinamonkey]

I know, Cliff. I trust you.

[She pats the dash since...yeah]

[getthehorns]

[ If he had a mouth right now, he'd be smiling. ] Last stop, hold on!

[ He goes tearing into a clearing somewhere and skids to a halt, kicking up a cloud of dust as he does. Once it settles, he opens the door for her again. ]

[machinamonkey]

[Rikku climbs out, laughing when she falls to the ground on her butt for the third time this morning]

Best. Boyfriend. Ever.

[getthehorns]

[ He lets out a laugh as he transforms, sitting down next to her ] And now you know why they call me Cliffjumper.

[machinamonkey]

[Rikku leans up against him. She misses the fleshy Cliff body, but this is nice. It's what Cliff really is, after all]

And I thought it was just because you guys get names like Ironhide and they don't really have a meaning.

[getthehorns]

[ He curls a hand around her, almost protectively. ]

Heh, well, I guess some of us live up to our names. Ironhide is the toughest Autobot I've ever seen, so it fits.

[machinamonkey]

Tough like in a fight or tough as in general stubbornness?

[getthehorns]

Uh, yes. But mostly the first one.

[machinamonkey]

[She giggles and tugs his hand closer]

So, any idea why you're metal again?

[getthehorns]

No clue, but I get the feeling it's happened before.

[machinamonkey]

Really?

[Hm]

Weird.

[getthehorns]

[ He shrugs ] It's probably not gonna last, but I'll enjoy it while I can.

[machinamonkey]

D'you miss being metal all the time?

[getthehorns]

Comes and goes. There's a lot of things I can do as a human that I wouldn't be able to do as a Cybertronian. [ He curls his hand around her a little closer. ]

[machinamonkey]

Like date me?

[Said very softly, but still audibly]

[getthehorns]

You know I wouldn't trade that for the world, right?

[machinamonkey]

[There's no response for a bit]

But you're really happy to be metal again. If there's a way to make it permanent, I don't want you not to...

[getthehorns]

Hey. [ he scoops her up, gently cradling her in both palms as he brings her to his eye-level ]

You mean a lot to me, and you're gonna mean a lot to me no matter what I look like. If I had to choose between lookin' like this or being with you, I'd pick you every time, okay?

[machinamonkey]

[Rikku smiles and hugs as much of Cliff's head as she can without poking him in the eye]

You're too sweet, Cliff.

[getthehorns]

[ He tilts his head a little, leaning into that. ]

Just don't tell anyone. I've got a reputation to protect. [ No you don't Cliffjumper. ]

[machinamonkey]

Yeah, a reputation as an awesome boyfriend that makes all the other girls jealous.

[She smiles]

Your obsession with red makes sense now, too.

[getthehorns]

[ His faceplates actually heat a little at that, but it's not an obvious thing. He lacks that pesky blood to color his cheeks. ]

I've always looked good in red. No reason I should stop.

[machinamonkey]

It fits you! Though maybe you should try blue, just to see if it works, one day. It'd give Ironhide a shock, too.

[getthehorns]

Blue? I am so not used to being able to just... put on different colors.

[machinamonkey]

D'you guys come pre-painted or do you get to pick one and then get stuck with it?

[A pause as she tries to decide if she needs to ask "how do you guys reproduce" before deciding it's not worth it]