robothell | Rehab Session #1

Who: Hey I'm Prime, I'm Not-So-Prime and we're the Prime Grumps (Optimus Prime and Sentinel)
Where: The Crater
When: After Optimus's Return, but before his clinic visit
What: Optimus checks up on his babysitting job, possibly gives him his first trial of rehab.
Warnings: Sentinel is present

To say that the planet had a tall order for the Cybertronians was an understatement. 'You must learn to cooperate and get along', while simple for many folk, didn't function so well under a race that had just come out of a war (some even still in it). Needless to say, it left Optimus with some...minor doubts. (see: major doubts).

First thing was first, though. He had to get Sentinel, and get up to speed with him. Leaving him alone for a few days was difficult, but he wasn't exactly welcome on their voyage, and he wasn't nearly as responsible as Optimus liked to think he was. So consider this a catch up, because he wants to know exactly what you did while he was gone, buddy. Thankfully, Sentinel was the size of a skyscraper and gold, so rather easy to spot in the dreary ruins of a planet.

They were to meet by the Crater. It was an easy landmark, and perhaps Optimus had something in mind for the bot. Whether or not Sentinel would like it was a different matter, and not something Sentinel had a choice in either way.

He stands there, watching the horizon placidly. Sentinel would arrive any moment.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Something in the way it's said is what sets Optimus off. Much like how Autobots and Decepticons who couldn't accept that the war was over, Sentinel couldn't accept that he would have to change.

It was a toxic attitude that he's going to stop, and if he has to use his fists for it, then so be it. He almost doesn't say anything for a moment, letting it sink in before he lashes out, almost too quick for someone of his build and grips him by the throat.

He's not stupid--Cybertronians don't breathe, but that doesn't mean he can't pop Sentinel's head off like a wine cork if he wanted to. His fingers dig in, securing that hold he has on the larger bot before slugging him straight down to the ground. Of course, he goes with him, ending up straddling his torso.

"NO. This is on you, Sentinel. And I will not condone you talking down to me like I'm some lower caste member in a segregated world only you see. I am your Prime and you will do as I say.

This world has no need for toxic individuals, so you're going to make a choice."

~~oh no that's hot~~

Sentinel passed his 'give a fuck' level a while ago, he doesn't really try to stop Optimus wrecking his shit. As it ends up, Sentinel is wincing because of his shattered optic and dented face (THANKS BUD!!!) and has both hands on the Prime's wrists. Not tightly, though.

"Why are you-- ack-" There, his grip does tighten ever so slightly and he leans his head back, a small amount of energon running down the side of his helmet, "giving the option?"

Seriously, dude, he gets the whole having power over someone else thing but did this nerd actually expect feelings talks to work??

Well the feeling's mutual at the moment, Sentinel, because you've pushed this truck farther than he's wanted to, and probably into the 'you deserve this' territory. His eyes narrow as he keeps his hands on that throat, lifting him up slightly only to slam him back down.

"Because I believe in our race. I believe that a species of lifeforms who pride themsevles on the ability to change and adapt can be so much more than what you exhibit. Because we are intelligent and we are old and have to provide an example. I expect better of you.

I expected better of EVERYONE. But we didn't--we fought a four million year long war because of the habits you're currently showing. And I will not condone it."

But he also won't kill him. Because that's another part of the war that needs to stop.

And yeah, maybe he expected feelings talk to have a bit of an impact. A little. He slams him down again, to emphasize.

"This is the choice you're going to make. If you want to keep your Prime title, you're going to play by my rules. If you decide not to, drop it, and become the very scum of Cybertron you claimed to be fighting so long ago. Because that's all you'll be reduced to."

He can't help but notice the irony in being told all this while also being slammed into the ground repeatedly. Please, where is the robot aspirin. This is far too much blunt force trauma to the head in such a short amount of time.

Regardless, he can't have gone through the sound ass reaming at the hands of Megatron and this right now without feeling a thing, everyone has their limits and Sentinel can tell when he's pushed his too far. He's far from being anywhere near what Optimus wants, but right now there's a multitude of factors piling up on each other and self preservation outweighs his (rather wounded) pride and ego.

Releasing his grip on Optimus' arms, he dims his optics a touch. The one that wasn't already shitting out, anyway, "You're-- right."

A puff of air escapes his vents and he ceases all remaining attempts to struggle against Optimus' grip.

That isn't to say that Optimus doesn't feel slight guilt from this. He's pretty much acting just like how Primes had exerted their power and authority in the past. But in some ways, Optimus felt justified. This was half the reason why their race had a war.

Killing him wouldn't solve anything. It would only paint them more as murderers. He thinks of Windblade, of how she would handle this. And in the end, that's the final straw in what keeps him.

It's not until he hears those words that he stills, not looking at Sentinel just yet. But there's a certain level of defeat in both of them. They have to give something to get something, and whether Sentinel knows it or cares, that's something he'd find out later. When Sentinel goes limp in his arms, his grip eases, looking at his own hands at the level he stooped to.

Nothing that the one he'd shaken had taken, but comparing yourself to Sentinel was never a good thing in the first place. "Then...then it appears we have work to do. A lot of it."

Meanwhile, Sentinel's still staring above him, at the sky. This entire situation is embarrassing. The fact he had to concede to Optimus was embarrassing.

"Optimus," he says after a few seconds, "Get off me."

...

It didn't register what he meant at first, until he looks own at his hands still clasping to his armor.

"Ah. My apologies."

Just...slowly going to get off you now. Awkwardly.

He sits up a bit too eagerly, maybe catching Optimus with his knee and 'helping' him up. He also not so subtly wipes himself down, though in the process managing to smear the energon from his optic all over his cheek. The perfect end to one of the most awkward and uncomfortable hours of Sentinel's life.

Looking at the small amount of energon on his fingertips, he sighs and in the words of legendary human composer and poet, Snoop Dogg, "Fantastic."

Rehab Session #1

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