robothell | rehab #2

rehab #2

Who: idw sentinel and idw optimus
Where: crater near the gross plants
When: after babytron's announcement and op's subsequent "please hate me" video
What: rehabilitation
Warnings: standard depressing cybertronian bullshit

Despite what he'd said, Sentinel arrived about two minutes after Optimus. Boy, it sure is inconvenient missing a major organ!

As per usual, he doesn't say anything on arrival. He probably used up most of his words of the day in the video call. Instead, he just takes a place next to Optimus with an uncharacteristic and slightly creey grin plastered across his features.

Don't make him say it, bro. Don't do it.

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"I'm honestly surprised he didn't try to shove needles in my head or remove my hands."

Yes, haha, he's a terrible person. Thanks Optimus he hadn't come to that realisation already.

"Don't get smart."

He's had it up to here with your little attitude today, Sentinel. He's dealing with Megatron trying to rebuild Cybertron under the name Decepticons and his coffee was a little burnt so he does not have time for your salt mine of self-pity.

"I'm still trying to figure out if that counts as starting a fight or not. Since it was technically yourself."

"Good question."

Would it be murder or suicide if he killed this dude and ripped out his t-cog? Sentinel decides it would be in his best interests to not vocalise that concern.

"It was more of a I didn't see you coming reaction. You know the ones."

What a good, contemplative question, Sentinel. Some might say suicide, some might say murder. Others might consider it doing the world a favour. "I'm pretty well aware of them."

...

"Either way, I hope you two left without a medical team required."

He flaps a hand.

"Yes, yes. Fine, wonderful, we're best friends now. What did you want to do this time."

Swear to god Sentinel one day you're just going to try his patience just a little too far.

"I thought we could work on trust. It's going to be important if we're going to be stuck here. We need to learn that we can count on each other. And that everyone else can count on you too."

Even if they can't and won't.

Maybe he just wants another ass beating huh

Trust. Sentinel's not so sure that either party could get over what happened under his Primacy and what he allowed. What he did even as a lowly security guard. He can't help but wonder why he didn't have more than one contingency plan. Or really what he was going to do after pulling Megatron apart. Get wankered? That's not enough.

Regardless, Sentinel is used to being in high-tension company. He was all too painfully aware that the senate could have him and his entire force "disappear" for literally any reason. Found someone better, having a tantrum because their vibrator batteries ran out...

He shrugs in answer, "I have no grand schemes in motion," half true. He's still trying to figure out if he could replace his t-cog himself. Maybe there's a Guide to Surgery For Dumb Assholes lying around in the wreckage. "And no intention to cause any harm." Okay that right there was just a straight up lie, who's surprised (no-one.)

Sorry he's starting to get the idea that you dig that kind of thing.

It's true, though. Optimus can't exactly ever truly trust Sentinel with his life, but he can try to trust him to repair the broken bridges he'd destroyed himself. Maybe that could work them up to it. And maybe some part of him had a little hope for the bot.

"This is about trust, Sentinel. And I trust you to come up with better lies next time."

Man he knows you. "I believe the first one. It's the second that gets me--you can't even keep your hands off yourself."

"Half my guns no longer work and we're not exactly swimming in ammo."

He has like two bullets left and he's saving those for a dire situation. Then he realises that he didn't mean to imply that that's the only reason he hasn't killed anyone. Fuck. He raises both his hands, stumbling over his people words slightly. "Not-- uh. Not that-- frag it, even if I wanted to hurt anyone do you really think I'd do it with the intention of surviving the retaliation?"

Honestly, he's slightly anxious that if anyone kills someone he'll be used as the scapegoat. He rubs a hand over his face, venting heavily.

"I know where I stand, Optimus. No longer a Prime, barely even an Autobot. I should probably be counting myself lucky you or Megatron didn't make a public example out of me."

"You're right, you should count yourself lucky that Megatron held back. That he showed you mercy when he didn't have to." Yes, he was certainly going to point that out as blatantly as he could, blue eyes like daggers into the other.

He wants to put faith in Sentinel, he really does. But the Autobot has given him no reason to. Although...maybe extending a hand in the form of this exercise will help.

"But if we're going to believe you, we have to trust you. Now, I don't think I need to mince words when I say we don't trust each other at this moment."

...

"But I want to change that."

Sentinel still doesn't entirely understand why Megatron did. Actually, he does, he just doesn't think it was done in earnest. There must've been some sort of ulterior motive behind it.

"Hmm."

Maybe he's just being paranoid, but he can't get rid of that niggling feeling that this is just all an elaborate ruse.

"What do you propose?"

He's honestly willing to do more than Optimus may expect. Except flower crowns. Sorry, bro, he draws the line at goddamn flower crowns.

Or maybe Megatron's just a better person than you are, Sentinel. At least...he started out that way. Crazy how things like that can happen when you don't oppress people into rebellion. But Optimus is silent for a moment, letting this mull over.

"I want to see how much you trust me. Come."

He starts to move, getting themselves away from the edge of the crater a bit (sorry he doesn't trust you enough near ledges HOW IRONIC) and turns around. Arms folded.

"You're going to fall backwards, and I'm going to catch you."

It's this or flower crowns, bud. Your choice.

He's heard of these exercises. Personally, Sentinel used different methods to build up trust within his henchmen. Exercises like 'was that a real grenade or a dud' or 'did I fire 7 shots or 8?' They work pretty well. Weed out the weak ones pretty quickly, too.

He's hesitant, regardless. Everything he was used to was done in relative comfort - he's not even sure he wants to turn his back on Optimus. Well, whatever happens happens. Sentinel is sure he could get at least one or two good shots in if he was shot or stabbed in the back.

"I like how we had to move from the crater," he snorts.

Edited 2015-05-17 13:27 (UTC)

Sentinel maybe you should work on your people skills. In fact, that's practically what Optimus is trying to accomplish with you. But don't you know him better, Sentinel? He'd never stab you in the back. That's one Prime trait he never really picked up.

And besides, that'd be a lot of wasted time on his part.

"I'm not stupid."

Honestly, Sentinel.

And yet here we are, he thinks.

He takes position, looking over his shoulder at Optimus. No, wait. One of those cannons gently vrrrs out the way. Now he's looking at Optimus.

"Ready when you are."

He'll just wait patiently while you situate yourself, Sentinel. He has no problems holding you up when you fall, so really he's just waiting on you.

His arms unfold, ready and waiting to catch the much larger bot.

"On your cue."

He plants himself firmly, looks back a few more times.

"Incoming."

And down he goes. WILL HE BE CAUGHT?? THE SUSPENSE IS TOO MUCH.

The answer you've all been waiting for....

Nope.

Optimus takes a step back and lets Sentinel fall flat.

That felt great, he's feeling better already!

He realises he's not gonna be caught about half way down, yelping and flailing slightly before falling on his ass with a WHUMP.

Anger spreads across his features for all of two seconds, before... he snorts, then laughs slightly.

"I suppose I deserved that," he says, pulling himself to his feet.

Something about that was more satisfying than he's willing to admit to. Seeing Sentinel flail at those last two seconds...

Priceless.

Although the laugh catches him off guard, as he helps the other to his feet. "You did. Now it's my turn."

Now you get to catch/not-catch him, Sentinel. What a fun day this is.

Yeah, he figured it was probably satisfying. Ah, pratfalls. The pinnacle of comedy.

He catches Optimus, though. Maybe to make a point, maybe because he doesn't really want to find out what would happen if he didn't. He does have to resist the fleeting temptation to flip Optimus the hell over his shoulder, though.

"I can feel the trust blossoming already."

~~No that's just your boner~~

Like you'd know good comedy if it hit you in the face.

He has to admit, he's surprised at Sentinel catching him, feeling his hands keep him lifted from the cold, hard ground. And for a moment, he looks up, those wide, genuine eyes he usually reserved for those he truly enjoyed the company of showing.

"Hm. You certainly surprised me. I'm starting to wonder if this is brushing off on you Sentinel."

There's an actual chuckle too, as he leans up to try and get back on his feet.

Listen, outliers crying is HILARIOUS, okay.

"Because," he says, while Optimus stands up again, "catching each other is all well and good, but the true restoration of trust lies in forgiveness."

He shakes his head, gesturing to the crater.

"Who in their right mind could ever forgive me for that?"

Despite the subject, it's not a source of angst for him. It's just a straight up fact he's accepted. You can't build a house on supports of glass.

It's only hilarious to you, Sentinel. Only to you.

"You're right. No one would ever forgive you for what you've done, at least not as you are right now."

He says it just as matter-of-factly, looking out at the crater. "But that doesn't mean you can't try and atone for it anyway. Trust can be slowly earned back. It all depends on your actions from here on out."

"Is that how you got your name? That ceaseless, infuriating optimism?"

He's trying to be a realist here. C'mon, he knows he's fucked. For now, at least. It wouldn't be Sentinel if he didn't have a few long term plans he's working on.

"I can't help but think that I'd have more luck trying to stack all the rocks on Cybertron than atoning for..." he rubs a hand over his face tiredly. "Megatron."

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