robothell | ( OPEN ) the problem with history

who: senator shockwave & YOU (and also a guest appearance by optimus prime) 
where: his lab. also the forum at night.
when: sometime. probably.
what: shockwave does things he shouldn’t.
warnings: nope!

i.

Shockwave is most often found in his lab, various remains of half started projects with the minimal resources they have available scattered around the area. His most precious and pressing project is the holographic map of the city and surrounding area - as far as he’d managed to get out of the city before being pulled back by some unknown compulsion. If he cannot map the entire planet, then he’ll make what he does know as detailed as possible; there’s notes about soil composition and guesses as to what the ruins were, if they’re too far destroyed to tell from looking. It remains constantly on, the projection spinning in the middle of his lab for lack of anywhere else to put it.

His other main project, however, is something he’s not willing to share. It’s a half formed idea, born of a failed project he had so much hope in a million or so years ago. But he only works on it in spurts, grabbing a seemingly random datapad out of the stacks he’s managed to accumulate to jot down a few notes before moving on with other work.

Most days find him in a good mood as well, and today is no different, although he is looking very intently at a datapad, occasionally looking up at what appear to be cans of various colors of paint. A literal vanity project, if you will. But he’s more than happy to be disturbed by whoever or whatever comes to his door.

ii. closed to optimus prime

"Meet me at the forum tonight. Around eight. - Shockwave"

He’d thought it was a clear enough message to Optimus that needed no followup. Optimus would come, as he always did when Shockwave requested his presence. Although here it was different - there was no need to plot to overthrow the government, and the lack of one both amused and bothered him. Everyone seemed to know their place, worked in the organization they were familiar with. Military procedure, defaulting to the chain of command.

As a civilian, Shockwave found little comfort in that, even if Optimus was heading the faction Shockwave would have joined when pressed. But at the same time there was a sliver of realization that his work could be his own, as it was back on Cybertron, with no need for him to answer to anyone if anyone questioned him. Regardless, the focus here was not his relief in the freedom to do as he pleased, but meeting Optimus. Valeria’s conversation still stuck in his head: Whatever's involved in initiating a romantic relationship for your species, you should do it to Optimus. Simple enough, and something Shockwave certainly didn’t have any objections to, the question was Optimus, as it always was.

But he wasn’t going to find out if the other bot returned at least his physical attraction - if not emotional - by sitting around in his lab. So inviting the other for a simple nighttime stroll it is - now he simply had to wait for the other to show.

Shockwave had waited for Optimus any number of times in his life, what was one more?

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"Rodimus," he repeats, mouth curing up at the ends. "Named himself after a trend, didn't he. Nominus, Optimus." Well he wouldn't be a match for Optimus in Shockwave's mind - but no one could, so it's hardly a slight against Rodimus. And as they'll never meet because I play them both, he won't be able to judge the shit out of him either.

But onto the meat of the matter. Energon. What have you. Ignoring Val's words, even if they motivate him, Shockwave moves to lessen the amount of space between them, one arm smoothly sliding in Optimus' so they can lock elbows.

"Walk with me? I'll explain as we go."

"He was...inspired." That's the correct way to put it, really. And not say 'yeah some Decepticon asshole decided to trick him into thinking he was a prime in a frat-boy identity crisis'. But in the end, he had earned the title in Optimus's eyes. So there was that. There's a certain warmness at the topic of Rodimus--he'd certainly been one of the brighter parts of the war.

He doesn't have long to dwell on that, though. Shockwave was never one to dawdle, and his eyes widen slightly as the senator hooks arms with him, turning to look into those eyes.

"Of course." What else could he say? The gesture was...not unlike Shockwave, although it did send excited jolts through his spark nonetheless.

"Lead the way, then."

"I see." Well, there are worse people to look up to, clearly. His smile is still encouraging and gentle. The path he takes is away from the city, out towards the outskirts where their bare attempts at clawing out something resembling a living space doesn't interfere too much with the view of the stars above.

"Back on Cybertron, this would have been a rare sight. It's beautiful, isn't?" He says, referring to the stars above while also making a gesture with his free hand that includes Optimus. But back on point: "I've been recently informed in none-too-gentle terms that I have, perhaps, not been as honest as I should have been."

Thanks, Valeria.

While Shockwave gestures to both the sky and himself, Optimus is certainly only going to pick up on the former. After all, clearly the cosmos were far more majestic than he was--he wasn't even a considerable option. "It would be. I can't remember the last time I saw the cosmos quite like this." His eyes keep trained on them as they walk, only enough until his attention is called back to Shockwave.

"Shockwave?" That part worries him a bit. Shockwave being less than honest...it almost seemed foreboding. There's caution in his voice.

He keeps on trying, goddamn it. What does he have to do? "It'd become distorted by the time I was forged, and only got worse. Jhiaxus was never too concerned about it, but I'd always missed the chance to stargaze from Cybertron. Other planetary skies just don't feel the same."

Off topic, bring it back to the point, Shockwave. He pauses, once they've gotten out far enough.

"About my own feelings, Optimus. You need not be worried." Er, well. Overmuch. "I've promised to be more... forward, and true to them in the future."

Not be subtle, honestly.

"Seems like this world is granting us so many things that have been lost to us," looks like Shockwave's not the only one being subtle. The only difference is Optimus knows when he's doing it. Whereas he can't pick up on anyone else's.

His eyes cast down, knowing full well that Shockwave had always lived by his emotions. His feelings had often gotten him in trouble, and that had often separated him from the rest of the Senators. So being honest about them...well, call Optimus curious.

"This is a first--" it's said humorously, finally looking up. "I had always thought that was one thing you never hesitated on."

( OPEN ) the problem with history

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