[Video] Sad Dad Bad Had

[optout]

[After seeing Megatron's response, something certainly has been keeping Prime busy. He wasn't wrong--something did have to be done instead of wallowing in the loss (or victory) of a war. And if that meant following Megatron--well...he had to say he wasn't overly enticed by that plan. He knew the bot meant well, and would try not to let the same thing happen twice. But if there's one thing he's learned, it's that trying to change yourself turns you back into what you've been this whole time.

You can't outrun your identity. Optimus knows that now.]

I request an audience with all of you, whether it be in person or over the communications feed. As most of you know, I've talked with Cybertron itself, and although I don't exactly understand it, one part of its message was clear--we must learn to coincide with each other. To get along and make progress.  

Megatron is proposing a start to this. 

[Well, he might as well be honest.]

But there are going to be problems.  One of which is a symbol of the war--me. I am a Prime, and to some of you, I've been the toxin in your systems. The rust in your side. I'm here to dispel one thing--I'm not going to give the title up, as it's part of my identity. I will be commander to those who serve under me, as long as they'll have me. Other than that, however much say you want me to have in this world is entirely up to you.  If me stepping back will cause those who follow Megatron's dream to co-exist peacefully with the Autobots, I will gladly do so.

...

I've only been a Prime during the war. And I cannot look to previous examples for assistance. [Sentinel]

I suppose that's it. I hope that broadcasted nicely. I can never tell.

[Private to Sentinel]

Meet me by the crater.

[ROUND TWO OF REHAB, BUDDY.]

Comments

Re: priv audio

[staygoldponybot]

I'm almost there, Optimus. If anything, I will be waiting for you.

[maybe he was near the crater already. maybe he decided to run to make up for his lack of t-cog. MAYBE HE JUST WANTS TO BEAT OP AT SOMETHING!!

regardless, he hangs up before optimus can reply. then regrets it, seeing as he'll probably get punched in the face for it.]

private

[rodders]

Because you weren't there.

( THEY JUST HAD THIS GODDAMN CONVERSATION. GODDAMN IT OPTIMUS. )

It doesn't work differently. If it worked differently, then Megatron - who I haven't seen recently, did he actually manage to get out of here and not tell anyone? What the hell. ( Where was he. ) Then people wouldn't have listened to Megatron and me.

You're Prime, Prime. That means more than just about anything.

[optout]

[Unintentionally, his spark seems to warm at that. Slipstream had certainly been an interaction he kept close to his spark, and one he kept in mind when making this video. Knowing that she'd never made her own choice on her faction...why should this planet be forced into following a leader they never chose?

Especially on opposite factions. Although he doubted they would listen to him.]

I appreciate your words. Although I must ask your stance on things.

On me.

[Don't worry, he'll be a good dad and not point attention to it~]

[orerrible]

Should I be?

[ Well that was point blank haha stop immediately. ]

What has always set you apart be from either the primacy or our sordid progenitors if you have and will continue to do so is strive for what is right. Not what you believe to be best.

[ Shockwave tilts his head. Voice flat but the light casting an almost wry facsimile of expression on his empty face. ]

Forgive me if that seems vague. It took time for even one such as myself to sort out the discrepancies between the two.

[chickscream]

[She'd thought about their conversation a lot, too, both right after they met and in the weeks since, but it still takes her a while to reply.

She has to admit, she likes Optimus Prime. He has a power to him, a draw, that she finds absolutely fascinating, but he's either unwilling to use it as a weapon or unknowing of how it could be one, and he's steady as anything she could name.

Still, with all this new-found freedom and lack of accountability, she doesn't really want to throw her whole lot in with anyone, and one conversation is nothing to base loyalty on, if she has loyalty to tie her down.

At long last, she replies with a shrug, and tells him:]

My stance is that I'd rather not take stances, but if I had to stand somewhere... near you wouldn't be the last place I'd pick to place my feet.

[It might even be the first, besides "way out of the way and taking potshots".]

[villagepup]

Mm. I feel there are those who want to say the same thing, but say it differently. I do not know everything that has been said, but I know this planet needs help.

Audio

[system_dp]

[Silence. Because all of that went over her head.]

This unit still does not see the purpose of these announcements. This is appearing to be a Cybertronian concern.

[Beep boop, she is a robot that has no reason to care about your sad dad feelings Optimus.]

audio

[myownbestfriend]

[After Emma gets her eye-rolling out of the way, she joins the not-directed-at-humans conversation. Audio somewhat camouflages her species, but she's not using it to be deceptive. It's just that her X-Men radio doesn't have video capability.]

"Talked with Cybertron" how?

[She doesn't sound skeptical. More like someone conducting a debriefing.]

private

[optout]

Do you honestly think I would win among the unaligned?

[THINGS ARE DIFFERENT HERE RODIMUS.]

There is a difference between those who are under your command as a ship or crew and the general populace, Rodimus. And you are not counting those who don't hail from our universe in this.

[His eyes flick down.]

I'm not going to leave by my own admission. I've seen that it doesn't help.

And the people need me. I just don't know how much. The title of Prime is a confusing one right now, Rodimus. You and I both know that.

[optout]

[And he'll admit he was a tool for quite some time! He can't help but wince at the mention of Pre-war, though, eyes casting back up.]

That way of life is over, as is my loyalty to it.

...

And I'm sorry for my blindness to the real problem. Really, it's not much to say over what happened, but it's the most honest I can be. I assume that's what you'd want out of me.

[But he nods thoughtfully at his words.]

Decepticons deserve a voice as well. I want to at least provide you with one. Do you follow Megatron's ambitions?

[optout]

It is a subtle difference, and one even I sometimes cannot find the line on. Selflessness and selfishness coincide quite frequently, and sometimes when I try the former, I end up with the latter.

[But he appreciates the advice, and although you can't see behind the faceplate, his eyes seem grateful.]

It's a start, Shockwave. For the both of us.

[triggerhappycopter]

Yeeeaaaahhhh, I'llllll start on believing that.

[Guess who had the fun job of putting UV light to soldier's necks and telling them they'd been brain hacked during the war.

Also Spinister.]

Which Megatron? Older Megs? I kinda lost track about what all the fighting was about halfway through and just shot at everything after a while. Well, at least until Krok happened. And then the younger Megatron broke my gun when I got here.

[orerrible]

As is the line between self-effacement and feigned humility to serve a purpose.

[ That comment was not as harsh as the previous - almost humorous, almost. He can hear you smiling, Optimus. It's almost noxious stop that immediately. Do not stop that. ]

Your reputation is not so tarnished. Our cooperation might very well end up under greater scrutiny than if you personally aligned yourself with every Decepticon here.

priv audio

[optout]

[There's no need to turn this into a competition, Sentinel. I mean ITS NOT LIKE YOU'LL EVER BE BETTER THAN HIM AMIRITE. But he's already making his way to the crater as well, walking and talking.

If Sentinel does beat him, he won't be too impressed. It's like who can drink the most water out of a watering fountain.

Only two people will care.

But he arrives when he arrives, hopping into the crater near the vegetation. Still curious on that, but he's not the scientific expert. Someone had to be looking into it, for sure.]

[optout]

You're right. And from what it sounds like, it requires cooperation.

Although I'm not sure how to accomplish that, with so many torn by a civil war.

[villagepup]

The war that hurt Cybertron?

audio;

[officerjuicebox]

And for some of us, this is all one big crazy "what the scrap is happening here".

video;

[arnhaid]

Anyone who's got a problem with you, Prime, has a problem with me.

An' I mean that. No one's gonna convince me otherwise. I'm with you, whatever you wanna do.

video;

[redshitlord]

Whoa, what?

Optimus? Optimus Prime? Seriously? This is where you've been?

[optout]

So you've learned that.


Yes. That's correct. It's not our proudest moment, to be sure.

[optout]

[He couldn't stop if he tried. But he's just lucky a piece of metal stands between that and openly showing it. Perhaps a part of him knows that Shockwave can sense it.]

Our cooperation is exactly what the planet wants. Isn't that, in the end, what we're trying to achieve?

audio;

[optout]

Roller.

[Well if you didn't wander off...]

Are you adjusting?

audio;

[officerjuicebox]

I haven't lost my processing power yet, if that's what you're asking.

I don't think, anyway.

[villagepup]

It sounds as if the war isn't truly over.

video;

[optout]

...

[This is an unfamiliar face.]

Uh.


Have we met?