robothell | [Video] Sad Dad Bad Had

[Video] Sad Dad Bad Had

[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.]

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[She laughs, only sightly mockingly.] An enigma? You give me too much credit, Optimus! You just don't know me well enough to see how transparent I am.

[Though he might know her better than anyone else, at this point.]

The horizons are nice, but I think I'm beginning to like it here. I might even be... somewhat fond of some of the population. [She is carefully examining her claws, and not looking at Optimus as she shrugs.] It's a lot easier to meet people when you aren't being shot at. Who knew?

Are you?

[It's said humorously. As if she were making that up.]

Maybe my eyesight really is going, then. Because I see much more than what you're telling.

[And news that she's adjusting is good, at the very least. He tries not to let it show in his eyes, but there's hope there. While the faceplate helped slightly, his eyes always told the truth.]

It's always funny how that works out. You start to wonder if maybe blasterfire is not always the solution to a disagreement. Or how to introduce yourself.

The last one specifically.

Naaah, I think that must be your processor going with your old age. I mean-- calling me an enigma, and yourself rust? Gotta be a problem in your head. [She sighs, head bowing solemnly and a little smirk on her face.] Such a tragedy, seeing someone so old they're just starting to break down... why, if I had any empathy, I might even cry.

[She is pretty obviously trying to hold back giggles as she wipes non-existent tears from her cheeks.]

Weeeeeell, I don't know. If the Starscream who made me shows up, I might decide some blaster fire is the absolute best solution to that particular reunion. [Grudgy? You betcha!] But jumping the gun wouldn't do anyone favors around here.

Well, four million years of war can age you considerably fast," he retorts, a small chuckle somewhat escaping that faceplate. "I hope you won't hold it against me."

[Maybe it's getting him in a better mood too--because this is the most casual talk he's had in quite some time. Who knew it'd be with a once-Decepticon?

Well, maybe not THAT weird. Looking at Megatron.]

I appreciate your restraint. Honestly, I can't blame anyone who has a slight against Starscream. He's not exactly...

[Nice? Considerate? A friend?]

Trustworthy.

I'll only hold it against you a little bit, [she promises, trying her very best not to laugh and beginning to fail. By the Allspark, Slipstream likes chatting with Optimus, and not for the sake of trolling him.]

Mine's a narcissic rust spot on the surface of the universe, and he ought to be buffed out and painted over with something better. Anything better. Maybe scraplets, that'd be a pleasant change. [She shrugs, with a little smile.] But after following him around for a couple days, I don't think I have much hatred to give to the rest of our kind. [It's not restraint, Optimus! It's apathy! Clearly!

It's not actually apathy. She thinks she prefers her current quiet life over the action she's seen, and wouldn't want any of her new-ish friend-like people to be upset with her when she doesn't mean for them to be.]

[And here he thought anyone with a part of Starscream in them was insufferable by default. Cheers to being proved wrong, he guesses, keeping that little tidbit to himself.]

It's funny, you claim to be part of him, and yet you can point out his flaws. That's one part of Starscream that he'd never admit to. Which makes me believe you're much more than just part of his personality. Although, I guess that goes without saying, since you're adjusting to a life of peace.

[There's a little quirk of his eyebrow as he speaks, and if you can read Optimus's eyes correctly, you can almost see the smile under the faceplate.]

Either way, I'm happy for you.

Oh, well, you know...

[What is this feeling welling up inside her? Could it be... bashfulness?

Slipstream doesn't have a name for the strange and squishy emotion in her head, though, and she would be disgusted with herself if she giggled at the praise, so she quashes that instinct viciously and waves a flippant hand.]

One of my brothers got the egomania, you know. Apparently there was enough to make his whole personality from! But I don't suppose that's actually a surprise to anyone who's met a Starscream.

[And him being happy with her? No idea how to respond, so she flips that away, too, even though it warms her from her half-empty spark chamber to the tips of her wings. She can't seem to stop smiling, though.]

[Oh Slipstream, you're adorable when you're flustered. Not that Optimus would point it out--he can't pick out those things to save his life. Literally. He can't. He's probably died once because of it too. ]

His ego certainly is large enough to be a seeker of it's own, I'll agree.

[Humourous banter--something he didn't get to do often. Or more like most people don't put up with it as well.]

There's a human saying, that some apples don't fall far from the tree. I guess he'd be one. You strayed far, though.

[Her brain goes, approximately, skjdakjfhdlkdas. She knew she wasn't that much like her creator-- that she was drips and drabs of him, not massive aggressive swathes of overpowering personality traits-- and that's something she tells others, too. But to hear it independently, from Optimus--

It means so much. It means so very much, all of a sudden, and she draws a breath and then presses her hand over her eyes and then cuts the video feed.

Getting slammed with a wall of feelings is a new and exciting experience!

After a few moments, she replies in text instead: she doesn't know what her face looks like, and she doesn't want to show it to anyone else right now.]

Optimus, you flatterer! You can't just say such nice things to Decepticons sincerely, they won't know how to handle it.

[Nevermind that she's not a Decepticon. She clearly cannot handle it.]

[Seeing the screen go black is unexpected, and for a moment, he carefully goes over what he just said. Hopefully something in there hadn't been too much of a jab at her. He had a tendency to say what he was thinking a lot with no consideration of tact. He's come to expect it.

He waits a few moments, hoping it was just the feed having disruptions...

Before a text pops up.

There's a few blinks before he starts to type back, almost immediately.]

I'm always sincere in what I say.

Oh, that's going to be a problem, let me tell you. If you keep on being sincere all the time, you might keep on saying very nice things, and no one will be able to doubt that you believe them. tsk tsk tsk!

What are you trying to do, Optimus, make people feel good about themselves? Make them feel like you like and value them? Keep this up and it's going to end with them liking and valuing you back, mark my words.

[By "people" and "them" she means her. She feels liked and valued and she likes it, and it is a new and very weird feeling.]

[Oh Slipstream, your flustered state is adorable.]

Is that really such a bad thing? Maybe that's what's key to helping us become Cybertronian again, instead of opposing factions with a grudge.

Well, it's definitely not the usual style of leaders I've met.

But the other leaders I've met have been all about grudges, so maybe your way has some merit. I mean, not a whole lot of merit, being a wonderful person can't be all thatgreat, but a tiny little smudge of merit? Maybe.

[Whoops did she call Optimus a wonderful person? Couldn't have, that would be sweet of her, and she's anything but sweet.]

Change is sometimes required. It's pretty natural for our species, especially. We adapt.

[But he pauses at the compliment, as it's one even HE can pick up.]

Wonderful may be pushing it. I'll settle for decent.

Point. Scrap, I ought to already know that, I've been through some big changes in my life already.

[Like going from not existing to existing, and switching sides to help Megatron, then deciding that situations that sent her face to face with an Autobot the size of a small mountain were terrible situations, then being brought to Cybertron... For a robot just a year and a half old, she's been through a lot.]

Is modesty part of your leadership skillset?

[You're doing pretty well for yourself, though, Slipstream. You're getting through all the muck early so you can start living your real life. It's an accomplishment.]

Not so much modesty as it is credit where credit is due. And nothing more.

[That, or she's setting a pattern of huge life upsets every couple months! But hopefully it's the first thing.]

'Decent' is still loads better than 'literally Starscream', at least! You should try being proud of that.

I'll make you a bumper sticker. "Honk If You're Not A Terrible Person!"

Anyone who isn't Starscream gets that title, Slipstream. And that includes you.

[Because he's going to make sure you know that you're your own person even if it kills him! Hopefully not, though. We all know he'll come back, but still a hassle either way.]

I. Appreciate that.

[Was that...embarrassment?]

[It's such a good thing they're communicating through text right now; Slipstream can't help but grin anytime she's reminded of how free of Starscream's legacy she is, now.]

At least you're being sensible, now. Admitting you're not Starscream is the first step to admitting you're no kind of toxin or rust.

What color would you like the sticker to be?

[Slipstream is actually going to make one, apparently.]

I suppose I can't argue with that. Although decent is still my goal. ... White.

White it'll be.

[And that is that, apparently. Optimus can expect a bumper sticker next time they meet, probably at Robot Prom, and unless he has more to say, Slipstream will go off and start in on making it for him immediately.]

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[Video] Sad Dad Bad Had

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vid > text

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texting forever

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