( OPEN ) the problem with history

[tomemyoutliers]

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?

Comments

[quantumechanic]

"Shockwave?" Nautica knocked on the door frame in passing as she invited herself into the lab and immediately went to peer over his shoulder at his datapad (or around his shoulder, given their respective heights.) He wasn't the only one with obliviously friendly boundary problems.

"What are you working on?"

GUEST APPEARANCE

[luckyfaceplate]

Shockwave was right on that part. The simple message was enough for Optimus--he really would have never refused him unless it was absolutely necessary. Although for once, Optimus isn't sure why he's being summoned. He regularly visited the lab that he and Val worked at, and then made sure to keep an eye every once in awhile. He trusted Shockwave, but the thought of losing him again was heavy on his mind.

And maybe just the thought of seeing him again was like going back in time. Back before the Senate had take a scalpel and twisted whatever remained of his friend. It let the guilt strip away from him for a second, because here they had all the time in the world to catch up. To do what they couldn't because of the Institute. To say that his feelings were...strong for the Senator was an understatement. You don't wait for four million years for a coffee partner.

But he'd never admit that to himself. Not on his own.

It isn't long before Optimus arrives, perhaps a tad fashionably late. "Shockwave." And already, there's relief in his voice. As if this is the first time all over again.

[officerjuicebox]

"Knock knock."

Surprise. It's not a knock. It's just a big jerk barging into the lab and leaning in the doorway. Looking as happy as ever to be in the senator's presence. Because hey. Guilt was a weird thing. It made everything all twisted up and awkward.

And...

Hard to figure out, if the conversation with Pax-slash-Prime was any indication.

Yet, here he was. Checking in on the source of the problem. Exterior source, anyway.

"Okay, great, you're still alive. My work here is done."

[justskidding]

Shockwave would indeed be disturbed today, but not at his door. There's the sound of something large bumping around the air ventilation. Not too loudly of course - Skids isn't a shoddy vent crawler, but a little noise manages to escape that one could pick up if they were looking for it. A few moments later, the metal grille of a vent is unscrewed from the inside and wiggled out of place. Red hands grip it carefully and set it against the inside wall of the vent.

Skids sticks his head down briefly, taking a brief 360 degree overview of the lab. It was filled with little projects, but devoid of the one making them. Odd.

A less curious Autobot may just turn right around and keep going. Who knows what evil science lies in this lab? Skids is a rapscallion of the ninth degree, however, and lands onto the floor without making a sound. The door was slightly ajar - so he's assuming whoever was in here would be back shortly.

He goes for the datapads, tilting his head as he turns one over to look at the notes.

f is for friends who do stuff together

[staygoldponybot]

Maybe one of the times Shockwave isn't holed up in his lab he'll walk into his best friend.

No, wait. The other one. Enemy.

Sentinel is way past pretending to still give a shit about his situation - since they last met he'd pretty much been through the equivalent of being dropped into a blender and left on the high setting for a few hours then strangled and stabbed a few times. Unlike before, he has no interest in trying to poke at Shockwave, instead opting to try and awkwardly... pretend he doesn't notice the senator.

Boy, this sure is an interesting alley he's suddenly determined to back into. Maybe he won't actually end up with broken robot bones!

[milkruns]

Okay, June's seriously impressed with Shockwave's lab. She was impressed with Val's, too, but there's something particular about Shockwave's space that makes an impression on her. She stops and stares up at the holographic map projection in slight awe for a while before she actually wanders over to talk to him. She rolls the thinning sleeves of her sweater up and gives him a wave, smiling.

"Hope you don't mind a visitor," she calls, brushing a lock of hair from her face. She's missed Shockwave's company lately; living with Trailcutter leaves her far from lonely, sure, but she's never really connected with anyone else here the way she has with Shockwave. He's just so easy to talk to, and that's refreshing around here. "I thought I'd stop by and check in. How are things?"

[babyboombox]

Soundwave's taken to shadowing Shockwave around the lab when they're there; his presence is soothing, and they like the illusion of having something to do. They're used to having to dedicate most of the day to scrounge up barely enough energon to get them through it, and they dont know what to do with all this new free time. Soundwave hovers over the map briefly, dipping their fingers in and out of the hologram, then wanders over to the paint cans.

"What is... Why do you have so much paint?"