Reunited (or: is it gay in here or is it just you?)

[d_17nolonger]

Who: Megatronus, Starscream, and Orion Pax
Where: The City
When: Shortly after arrival
What: Starscream gets the Not As Much Of A Jerk As You Could Have Been award and helps Megatronus track down Orion Pax
Warnings: prewar babies being hella gay n/a

As shifty as this other mech had been, Megatronus was relieved -- but not quite getting his hopes up -- over the fact that he was supplying an aerial view, or that he had been willing to help him track down Orion in the first place. Unfortunately, a lack of an alt mode means that moving on foot is a bit... slower than he'd like. He tries to keep up with Starscream as best as he can, taking any shortcuts as he comes across them while still keeping an eye out for any sign of the data clerk.

Eventually, he pauses in a clearing and sighs before looking up, signaling to the jet. "Anything?"

Comments

[starscheme]

On the flip-side of the speed issue, Starscream is going half-way out of his processor having to slow down in order to keep from getting too far ahead of the gladiator. Of all the differences between Megatron and Megatronus, the warlord’s comparably speedy alt mode is definitely a positive improvement, he decides.

This is definitely the area he last saw Orion in, though. When Megatronus signals to him, he snarls to himself and zips ground-wards for a graceful landing, his delicate heels touching down for him to perch on top of a large pile of scrap metal. “I can see plenty from the air, but unfortunately as far as I can see in any given direction, it’s an unbroken sea of grey... present company included.” He lifts a single talon to scratch at one of the vents on the side of his face thoughtfully. “This is certainly the area I saw him in, though...”

Harsh red optics skim the crumbling buildings that surround them. “He either isn’t here anymore... or, perhaps, he is inside somewhere...”

[thanksoptimus]

Orion Pax is still very much hanging out in the same area he was before - his work has kept him near the array even if he has wandered off a few times by now. His processor is buzzing with new information, distracting him as he works. His tanks feel uncomfortably balanced, and ever since seeing that other Megatronus, Orion has been trying a little harder to stay out of sight from the sky.

The whole thing is far more unsettling than curious - not like the rest of the things that have happened. He is wishing more and more that he could just go home - to the home that still exists. He isn't any use here.

As Starscream and Megatron approach he is just starting to peal across the clearing in his altmode, trying to cover the exposed distance as quickly as he can manage.

[d_17nolonger]

Megatronus huffs in frustration, hands clenching just a bit out of frustration, but just as he's about to pick out which building to start searching, he sees something moving in the near distance. Something red.

Megatronus pushes forward and watches it closely for a moment before breaking away from Starscream (with no explanation, of course) to try and catch up to whatever -- whoever, ideally -- it is. "Hey!" He calls out as he approaches, forcing himself to stop once he reaches the clearing.

[starscheme]

It takes a moment for Starscream to catch up with what's going on, watching Megatronus sprint off like that. He shakes his head and launches back into the air. Starscream figures that whatever Megatronus saw, they'll have a far better chance of catching if he's tracking from the air.

[thanksoptimus]

Orion is driving, driving, and then catches sight of Megatronus in his rearview mirror, and he immediately skids to an uncharacteristically chaotic stop. He goes into reverse, pulling back around, and double checking this time before getting his hopes up.

This one's different. His eyes and face are different. And it looks like he actually wants to see him, instead of looking down on him with cold curiousity.

Orion flips into his root mode, straightening up with wide optics. There is still a distance between them, but it's close enough to see.

He feels like he should say something, but all he can bring himself to do is stare, a million thoughts clouding his processor.

[d_17nolonger]

"Orion," he says in greeting, voice incredibly relieved and actually happy to see a familiar face for once. He approaches, although rather slowly; Orion's reaction, or lack thereof, suggest that maybe a bit of caution is in need here. "I'm glad to see you're in one piece so far."

i assume starscream is not eager to interject so i'm going to pop in here

[thanksoptimus]

Hearing actual words from Megatronus helps things sink in more quickly, and gradually Orion's expression shifts from stunned to something Megatronus will likely find familiar. Orion has always had a way of managing to look happy and troubled simultaneously - he is obviously as enthusiastic to see the gladiator as the other way around, but he frowning all the same.

The relief is mostly in his optics.

"Megatronus," he says, starting to come forward himself. He suddenly feels really emotional and he's never been very good at dealing with that, which just makes him start feeling confused. "I am sorry, I..." He's trying to apologize for being weird, but he doesn't quite manage to finish his sentence.

[starscheme]

Starscream catches up to them a mere moment later. landing a few feet away. HIs expression is fairly blank, but his optics show the sort of cold fascination that he's watching these two with. Ugh. Gross.

[d_17nolonger]

Megatronus spares Starscream a brief glance of acknowledgement before his focus returns to Orion. He knows that look - something is wrong. "What's the matter?" he asks, optics narrowing in a mild sort of suspicion that suggests that there might be someone he needs to punch in the face, perhaps?

[thanksoptimus]

Orion considers for only a few more moments before making a decision. He closes the gap between them, looking up at Megatronus's with a small, tired smile. He clasps a hand against his shoulder, reaching to take Megatronus's hand with the other.

"It has been long cycle, old friend," he says softly.

[d_17nolonger]

Once Orion approaches and settles his hand on his shoulder, Megatronus begins to relax somewhat, lips curling in the vague beginnings of a smile. "Yes, it has. Although I hope you haven't been having as many... intense moments of identity confusion as I have had."

Given that he doesn't want to worry Orion with his tales about fighting a tank, he'll leave it at that for now.

[starscheme]

For some reason, watching these two makes Starscream feel intensely lonely... but of course, he's too much of an self-unaware fuckstick about his own feelings enough to identify the emotion as such, so instead it just makes him feel vaguely angry and irritated. What he wouldn't do to find someone who was actually from the same point in time as himself.

...But, despite the vague ill-will that he wants to harbor, he also is no longer possesses the kind of active vitriol he would need to want to interfere or break things up. He heaves a quiet sight that ends in a slight growl, rolls his shoulders, and starts to walk off.

[d_17nolonger]

Megatronus looks away at the sight of something moving from his peripheral vision and pulls away slightly to call after Starscream. "Thank you for the help! I never got your name."

Kinda awkward to not get this guy's name when he went through the trouble of helping him find Orion and all that.

[starscheme]

The seeker pauses and half turns back to him, weary and irritated. Part of him doesn't really want to provide his name, but.

"Errgh... It's Starscream," he says, and then pauses awkwardly for a too long moment, staring Megatronus down like he might have something else to say... then he transforms and takes off into the distance.

[d_17nolonger]

Megatronus watches after Starscream for a moment before turning back to Orion, utterly baffled. "Not sure what that was about," he says with a shrug. He doesn't dwell on it for too long, though, instead turning back to the issues at hand with a small frown. "I don't suppose you've found anything that helps explain what's going on here."