My Monster and Me...

[bigsoftie]

Who: Leatherhead and Whomever
What: A gator's on the loose and no pizza place can hold him
Where: On the outskirts of the new town
When: Mid day

He didn't care for this new change. In fact, his first instinct was to hide. It had been so long since he went without this for and now...now it was back. And just like that all the old insecurities rose up. Would they accept him? Or did they only accept him on the merit of being human? And what's more, did this just mean they'd go back to casting him out or worse?

Well, don't worry. He'll reject himself you don't need to worry about that. The alligator had already abandoned Duke and Roadbuster. For a big guy he managed to give them the slip pretty well. Guess it was back to being on his own at least until this change went away.

The mutant liked it much better than in the city, really. A lot more grass, actually. And actual flowers. He liked those. The mutant could get used to this for awhile. Soon enough the mutant began wandering the area of the outskirts, enjoying the flowers of every hue and size. Yeah, if only Mikey could find him..

Comments

[bigsoftie]

"I am not sure he has seen fields like these before..."

[oneeyedterror]

Better pay attention to where you're wandering, gatorboy, because in one of the clearings is a big old helicopter. Well, space helicopter. It doesn't look like it's anyone's, does anyone here even have a helicopter?

Well that and it's actually Whirl, who decided to take up residence in this clearing during this change and he finds sleeping in his alt-mode a hell of a lot easier to do.

That and who the fuck is going to mess with a helicopter?!

[alley_kit]

"Well, not til you said so," Kit said, smiling a bit as she turned around on the stump to face him properly. "But I thought it might be you. I talked to Donnie earlier, and he's a turtle again, and since you and him are from the same world, I figured the same thing might've happened with you."

"Why're you trying to hide in the grass, though?", she asked. And 'trying' was the operative word, since even down on all fours, Leatherhead was rather too big to be hidden by the grass.

[brain_behind_purple]

Yeah, I know. It's a nice change in scenery compared to that.

[Although he did miss the big, wide-spaced city a lot.]

[beingthecreature]

"An honorable thing to do." If it was possible, Chris's smile got even bigger.

"See? I knew you were a good guy. Nothin' at all to be afraid of."

[bigsoftie]

"It is all I can do," he said matter-of-factly.

No matter how many times people repeat it, the fact they say it makes his heart warm, "I shall try to give you no reason to fear me..."

[bigsoftie]

His posture relaxes, so that's progress.

"They can see their souls...feel it...I am not sure if it is there..."

[bigsoftie]

"You know Donatello?" wow, the turtle must be real popular around here, "And Michelangelo?"

He sinks back into the ground since it's all he knows what to do, "...I thought they would not want to see me...see me like this..."

[bigsoftie]

Are there places like this on Earth?

[bigsoftie]

It's rare to actually see technology like that...and one so alien. It didn't look like the other Cybertronian alt modes he knew. It couldn't be a Cybertronian, could it?

Only one way to find out...the alligator made his way towards the helicopter, cautiously crawling on all fours. What the heck could it be?

[fuckinstoplights]

His hand lingers, fingers brushing the symbol on his chest. Almost absently. As if he's lost in thought as he touches it.

"I can't feel it, either. I'm only an AI. I don't... think we have them, either."

[bigsoftie]

"But you feel...I feel...how can we be sure?"

Sorry Kagerou, he's just working through this.

[fuckinstoplights]

"I'm programmed to feel."

He says it calmly enough. It isn't a truth he likes. Or even one he's very comfortable with. But there's no sense dragging the poor guy into it. It's not Leatherhead's fault, after all.

"It's different. For things who are alive."

[bigsoftie]

He feels bad for Kagerou, yet he kind of relates on a small level. He just replies, "Sometimes I feel like I do not know why I was changed...why I am alive."

[fuckinstoplights]

"What do you mean?"

He stares at him as if his friend has started speaking another language entirely. All living things knew their purpose... right?

[beingthecreature]

"Well I haven't had a reason so far, so you're doing pretty good!" Chris gave Leatherhead a bright, warm smile and a thumbs up. He didn't think he'd ever have a reason, either.

[the_lion_roller]

No kidding, Alligator Dude that tasted terrible.

"Bleeehhh..."

He doesn't so much spit it out as he just...holds his tongue out a moment in disgust, well-chewed flower bits still stuck to it, before swallowing hard. Well, that was a resounding failure.

Cody looked up at Leatherhead with a plaintive expression, not so much guilty as it was...disappointed.

"'Thought it would taste sweet..."

[bigsoftie]

"I was not told my purpose...when I was born...when I was changed..."

[fuckinstoplights]

He blinks a few times, and, at length, settles down on the ground, sitting with his legs drawn up to his chest.

"What do you mean... changed?"

[bigsoftie]

...oh no cute. Leatherhead despite all his toughness is not one resistant to cute. In fact, it's overpowering.

"...promise me you will not hurt the flowers and I shall forgive you." He uttered out in the least threatening voice possible.

[bigsoftie]

He gives a small smile in return. It means a lot Chris...now excuse him as he goes back underwater, just for the sake of enjoying a nice dive.

[bigsoftie]

"I was not born this way," gosh Kagerou, you're sure getting him to open up, "I was...changed...into this."

[beingthecreature]

Chris watched for a few moments with a smile, then removed the notebook from his pocket. Reopening it, he started scribbling again, talking notes of the terrain with his partner beside him.

[fuckinstoplights]

He scoots a little closer, his visible optic intent, expression more curious than anything.

"Born. You weren't... always in this form?"

[the_lion_roller]

Cody doesn't look threatened, but he does look a little upset, like a kid who's accidentally done something they didn't know was against the rules.

"I'm sorry...I just wanted to see if it'd taste like honey. Martin told me where he comes from bees use flowers and stuff to make honey, s-so I thought it'd taste good."

Of course, the part about bees having special adaptations that allow them to harmlessly extract nectar from plants and then use that to make honey back in their hives went right over his head. Flower > Honey > Eat. Logical progression.

"I won't eat any more flowers, I promise."

He may or may not be doing that sad lip-wibble thing. He means that promise sincerely, and he doesn't want anyone mad at him. He just...learns best by trial and error.