GENERAL DADTRON POST

[towardspeace]

Who: Megatron; YOU
Where: MORE OR LESS ANYWHERE
When: expansive shrug
What: MISC
Warnings: NONE YET

With Tarn dealt with for the time being and his own systems running closer to 100% again, Megatron's been spending more time prowling around outside keeping an eye out for trouble than before, you know, just in case Tarn isn't as down and out as they thought, or anybody equally godawful decides to show up and stir shit, so that he can beat their heads in (he has kind of missed being able to beat in heads) and say 'I told you so' to any Autobots still dubious about his fool's energon detox decisions.

Well, OK, it's partially that and partially that he's got a lot on his mind right now and this is a reasonable excuse to spend some time alone with his thoughts. WHICH MEANS ITS AN IDEAL TIME TO INTERRUPT HIM, GET TO IT

(That said he may also be skulking around Maccadam's to make sure none of the people he's supposed to be responsible for are starting shit. Alternatively I am sure I can come up with an excuse for him to be anywhere you want so if you want something more specific feel free to hit me up/post whatever kind of starter u like, you know. im flexible and so is this post)

Comments

[smarterthandad]

"Mostly Shockwave and Brainstorm," Val said in complete honesty, kicking her heels against the beam she was sitting on. She hadn't actually done much for Tarn or Prowl yet. "Not that Brainstorm will admit it. You, as a species, are super-arrogant, and he's way worse than baseline."

Val was super-arrogant herself, but that was a personality trait rather than a cultural one.

BACKDATED to when megadad was getting checked out of the robot clinic

[aminerproblem]

A lot was on Megatron's mind when he returned from his visit to the emptied out building the Decepticons had begun to use as a base. When he'd first planned his trip there, he'd thought on his choices enough to convince himself they were the right things to do.

It was afterwards that he felt threads of uncertainty and doubt. He could say he was happy here under Ratchet's tutelage. The clinic could be stressful and hectic at times, but he found satisfaction in the work, and in the company of the medics here. Perhaps he wasn't as fleet-fingered or patient or much of a prodigy, but he felt he was helping in his own way.

That is, until he made his first action towards his future followers and broke his neutrality. It was clear enough what his stance was when he tore the badge off Tarn's chest, and gave aid to Spinister. He wasn't going to be a passive observer anymore, and that meant he had some semblance of responsibility to these people. But he wasn't a tactician, or a gladiator, or much of a leader for them to follow.

He was still a former miner with ideas, one that held just enough rage and a little luck to survive attempts to kill him. But much when he saw Ratchet, he wasn't satisfied just leaving it at that.

So his future self will soon find someone familiar at his bedside, giving him that stubborn look that said they'd likely be staying there a little longer before he was allowed out.

"We need to talk."

[towardspeace]

Sixshot is hard to miss from a distance, and Megatron approaches with caution. He can't really say he's disappointed to see him – he hasn't seen Sixshot at all since the first time he ran into him, and not knowing what the phase sixer's been up to has been bothering him.

He at least doesn't seem hostile, for the time being.

Megatron's less sure about the bot next to him, and his optics stay mostly fixed on the jittering crab as he makes his way over.

"Sixshot," he says, just a little cautiously, once he's close enough. "Who's this?"

[towardspeace]

Megatron looks at him for a long moment, and then nods, accepting, and settles himself, resigned to spending a while here yet.

"Yes, I thought we might. About Tarn, I take it."

[towardspeace]

Megatron looks at him skeptically. Good grief. He really hopes this kind of thing isn't a universal Starscream constant – maybe he should check with the jittery one.

"Not so much of a believer, hm?"

[towardspeace]

Megatron laughs. They are, and Brainstorm is; he's not going to argue with that. Hard to dismiss Brainstorm as simply super-arrogant any more, though...

"Yes... I don't suppose you'd be willing to share any of the details of what exactly Brainstorm's got you working on."

[smarterthandad]

"Comms network. It's not a bad idea, but he's micromanaging and that never goes well when you have a bunch of geniuses in the same room. He and Shockwave are constantly about 30 seconds and a snide remark from trying to kill each other with the nearest blunt instrument."

Given how often her unpopular godfather dropped by the Baxter Building, Val was used to that state of affairs, and didn't regard it as unusual. She was catching Megatron up, not complaining. Besides, the more people were yelling at each other, the less attention they were paying to her.

[milkruns]

"You can just call me June," she says, raising an eyebrow, and her lips purse a little. Don't you take that tone with her, Dadtron. "Nice to see you again, too, Megatron. I was hoping for an udpate on the Tarn situation. You know, the heinously dangerous one?"

[whippingboy]

"Well you seem to be doing phenomenally better than the last time I saw you."

That's Starscream's way of saying "hello," apparently, uttered in a sort of mild and neutral tone that could maybe be interpreted as icy if you squinted enough. The jet is leaning against a door frame in what might come off as a cavalier, smug sort of way were it not for the mildly disconcerted frown on his features. He'd been informed plenty about there being multiple Megatrons here, but there was definitely no mistaking that his Megatron was among that number, from the evidence he'd gathered

They may have their differences, and Starscream might still be terrified of him in a very poorly concealed way, but the Seeker isn't really the sort to skirt around the elephant in the room. No, he's the sort that will march right up to the elephant and prod it with a big sharp stick, to make his presence known and put on a big show of being in control of his fears. If he and Megatron were doomed to occupy the same city, they'd have to deal with one another eventually, and making the first move means that maybe Megatron won't know Starscream has arrived here just yet. Starscream might even get to have the satisfaction of getting the jump on his old boss. Working a dismayed little frown out of him would honestly be enough of a victory to make it worth the risk.

[towardspeace]

"Comms network," he repeats with faint surprise. "That is a good idea. And a lot more benign than I would have expected from either of them..." He goes a little quiet. Of course, it's hardly as if this is the Shockwave he knows.

[towardspeace]

Ah yes. Human names. "It's dealt with, June," he tells her, slightly less curtly than he could have been. "For the time being, anyway."

[towardspeace]

Oh, god.

It really is him this time, Megatron's certain of that pretty much as soon as he turns to look at him, and he isn't pleased about it. There's your look of dismay, Starscream, although it's subsumed by a steely-eyed frown in short order.

"Yes," he says, curling one hand into a fist, "I expect so. When was the last time you saw me?"

[aerospacecommander]

"I generally require proof of something's existence before I acknowledge it."

And even then he'd probably still not believe in it. He stares back at Megatron. He's actually rather glad the former Decepticon commander isn't quoting Primus things to him.

[smarterthandad]

"Is this a 'doesn't think things through, explosions ensue' kind of expectation, or more of a 'building death rays for fun and profit' one? I can work with either."

Said the small child with a lab full of weapons.

[towardspeace]

"A little of both," he replies, looking slightly amused. "Shockwave was mainly the latter, when I knew him, but I never really knew what he was like before that, and he seems to have come here from a rather long way into the past."

[towardspeace]

"Hmm," says Megatron. He doesn't like this. He's disinclined to trust any Starscream, but he does generally trust that he can deal with them if they become a problem; what makes him more uneasy than the idea of a steadily increasing accumulation of Starscreams is the idea that every new alternate timeline he's presented with presents an additional opportunity for another version of himself, and if the one who attacked Nautica is anything to go by he really doesn't need to face the possibility of more god damn Megatrons.

"Your Megatron," he says abruptly. "What's he like?"

[whippingboy]

Jackpot. Definitely worth it. Now hopefully they can both keep this from exploding. That should be possible, provided Megatron doesn't decide to use that fist.

Starscream holds his hands up in a placating gesture. "Easy there, big guy. No need to get your circuits in a twist." Easing off on the door frame, he straightens his stance and hops a step forward. "Lets see, last time I saw you... You were heading out on some kind of desperate, last ditch wacky space adventure." He tilts his head, still holding his hands up. "Your turn."

[taselikeabee]

Smiling isn't always an indicator of amusement or whatever anyway. As an espionage agent, Bumblebee knows this. Megatron's smiles are actually terrifying anyway. This seems more honest. Hopefully.

"What? Does a 'bot have to have a reason to walk around with a clearly moping friend?"

Once more, it's a little snarky. He's gotten away with a lot, but he is the type that gently pushes the envelope. Besides... It's the implications in his statement that really matter.

[aminerproblem]

His expression hardens as he gets that familiar look of damp, meek remorse.

"It's not just about Tarn - and stop wallowing," The edge of the berth gets a firm whack,"It's about all of the Decepticons here."

Megatron backs away,"I visited their compound, and they're barely scraping by when we have supplies both sides can share. But the idea seems too alien to even attempt, even when I insist otherwise."

[towardspeace]

Ugh. "Yes, yes – the last time I saw you you had Cybertron convinced you were a sensible choice for absolute leader."

[towardspeace]

He sits up sharply, looking shocked and offended. "I am not wallowing," he starts to reply, but, no, he kind of is.

He folds his arms, frowning, and listens; after a moment, he sighs, and says, "It's been a long war. I don't imagine the Autobots would have let me try to help them if I hadn't taken this," he gestures to his badge, his expression unreadable, "and the Decepticons..." Megatron shakes his head. "They won't want to accept Autobot charity."

[aerospacecommander]

That particular question causes the edge of his mouth to twist up into a smirk. It was like opening a giant can of worms.

A can of worms Starscream just loves talking about.

"Are you sure you trust me to give you an appropriate answer? Not to mention, you might want to sit down. This might take awhile."

This is like a giant dream come true. Starscream gets to tell Megatron just how much he hates Megatron.

[smarterthandad]

"He's mostly concerned with energy resources." Val seemed like she was about to mention something else, but at the last second, she decided she didn't want to talk about kissing and instead hugged her knees to her chest, looking slightly disgruntled. Adults.

"He's excitable--and arrogant, of course--but his intentions are good." For all that was worth. "I'm sure any horrible disaster he'd cause would be accidental."

[whippingboy]

"Mmm, just like you convinced everyone that you've turned over a new leaf from being a genocidal despot. What a pair we make," Starscream says mildly, lowering his hands. "No, wait; my apologies. I'm not here to argue with you, believe it or not, its just that I'm actually pretty good at my job and you make it too easy."

[phase6kindofbot]

"This is Rampage," Sixshot introduces, inclining his head in greeting before continuing. "I shot him."

Not shot at him, which would imply some chances of Sixshot having missed his target. No, it was basically straight up shot him, as in a successful hit.

Which is possibly a bit peculiar because Rampage certainly didn't look like he's just been shot by a Phase Sixer.