rehab #2

[staygoldponybot]

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.

Comments

[staygoldponybot]

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.

[optout]

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."

[staygoldponybot]

"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."

[optout]

"Actually, Shockwave gave me the name."

You forget that he can't detect sarcasm even if he had the proper equipment, Sentinel. "And you can start by correcting yourself, because this goes further than just Megatron."

Here, he'll help.

"The system as a whole was corrupt. We were all corrupted with it. Failing to see that is something we all have to carry on our shoulders."

[staygoldponybot]

Guilt isn't an emotion Sentinel is even remotely close to being capable of feeling. Hell, he's not even regretting things the way he should. His main thought is, why didn't I kill everyone?

"It's hardly on your shoulders," he starts. It's easy to brush it off when he can't empathize himself. "The system was designed to restrict and prevent anything from being done. When something was..."

Then Sentinel was called in to make that something disappear. He's not sure where he's going with this but he knows it's important Optimus thinks he actually gives a fuck. Fake it 'til you make it, right?

[optout]

Just don't say that one out loud, Sentinel. There's plenty of ways Optimus can make things hurt without killing you. You're just lucky he's actually got a soul under all that.

"It certainly wasn't on yours, and that was your choice. Someone had to pick it up--and that just happened to be me."

It wasn't Zeta--that guy was a loon.

[staygoldponybot]

Well, he has no idea what Zeta did - or even that he even become Prime. Sentinel kinda dropped out of the loop after coming down with a nasty case of Megatron punched a hole through him.

"Perhaps I'd better understand this with context beyond being jeered at for dying." He's probably not as bothered about that as he should be but... it hasn't happened yet. Whatever. The Nile isn't just a river in space Egypt. "As far as I know, it went right from the uprising in Kaon to a planetwide war. What happened?"

He's genuinely asking. He tries not to think too hard about the fact the desolate wasteland they're on right now is Cybertron but... you know. He'd never even conceived the planet dying in his lifetime. Lucky he's good at hiding it.

[optout]

Well maybe you should have just recovered from death like Optimus can. What are you, some kind of FAKE PRIME? Yeah he thought so.

"With the Senate gone, and Megatron rising, things fell into Chaos. Zeta became Prime, and was just as corrupt as the rest of you." ... "Perhaps even more. It slowly bred into war, at the planet's expense."

A pause.

"Inevitable, just like Shockwave had said."

[staygoldponybot]

Listen, bud, his plan so far is to challenge whatever deity rules over the pits of robot hell where he'll eventually end up (ha). Sentinel is 100% certain he could win a flexing competition.

He makes a face, like he'd just bitten into a particularly sour, rotten lemon. "Zeta." Judging by his tone, he's even worse than you is what's going unsaid. At least he's validated in his belief that he wasn't quite the worst Prime ever. Still, though. His goddamn planet is dead and even someone with a hardened spark like Sentinel feels pretty terrible about it.

It's too many fee fees for him to process properly right now. He ducks his head into his hands for a few moments, trying to get it straight in his head.

New goal: find a pillow to scream into for 3 days straight.

[optout]

Sentinel there's something to be said for your faith in yourself and how unrealistic it is. You can't even win against the mortal world what makes you think Hell is going to be a pushover.

Although the feeling is mutual with Zeta, as he lets out a 'sigh' underneath that faceplate. "I thought I could trust him. But in the end, he was more corrupted than anyone would've thought." Or anyone that didn't know he kept begging for power like a dog begs for treats. Agreement in guilt over their planet would be one of the few similarities they'd treasure.

"I'm sorry."

Because the only way to encourage Sentinel to have a soul is to help him with said fee fees, right?

[staygoldponybot]

LET HIM HAVE THIS, MOTHERFUCKER.

He nods, though, behind his hands. Opening his fingers just a bit to look out at Optimus for a moment before moving them entirely.

"Don't be."

No, really, don't.

[optout]

"Fine."

Well that was easy.

"Then you know most of what went on that led to Megatron becoming what he became. Before I became Prime."

[staygoldponybot]

"Good."

Don't feel sorry for him, he doesn't want pity. Don't hold him gently into the night and tell him it's gonna be oka-- what

"I do now." He sighs again, pinching the bridge of his nose. "And I know how to treat people properly. I helped clear out the medibay." For his own gain, but. "At this rate I think it would be best for me to just... leave everyone alone unless they need something punched really, really hard and you're unavailable for some reason."

[optout]

Don't worry, he won't shred a single tear for you. He did the bare minimum he's pretty good with life now.

"Well, you certainly do a good job of that. I've seen it back home, after all." yeah the way you kind of oppressed people will certainly come through for you here yes best idea who thought of this one oh yeah him.

"Have you thought of...other hobbies?"

[staygoldponybot]

Coincidentally, that's exactly how Sentinel ran his Primacy! You know, barely pay attention to important meeting then go get hammered with group of henchman. Hedonism!

"Hm," a hobby..... that isn't shooting or oppressing anyone.... not sure what to do..... "I did try stacking rocks once a few days ago."

It's probably incredible the shit he can say with an entirely straight face.

"Wind blew them over. Was absolutely devastated."

[optout]

It's almost like you were a bad leader, Sentinel....almost.

His fingers drum awkwardly on his legs as Sentinel thinks. A part of him actually wonders if he's thinking of real hobbies, or if he's just humoring him. Or if he's just thinking of the most sarcastic comeback.

--ah, it was the third one. And Optimus resists smacking Sentinel upside the head. "Something crumbling beneath your hands. Must be so familiar."

BUT MOVING ON.

"Perhaps reading--"

[staygoldponybot]

Jokes on you nerd, he was telling the truth. For a moment, he can't help but wonder if Optimus' tone is implying the Prime isn't sure if Sentinel can read. He'd find it funny, if it wasn't directed at him.

Instead, he frowns. Christ, does he miss crushing people.

"I am trying to look into renovation. This place isn't exactly rife with literature, let alone building shelters for morons."

[optout]

He doesn't doubt Sentinel's intelligence, but more of a 'why bother'. He knows the guy's priorities. Probably more than he should.

See? That's exactly what he's talking about.

"Renovation sounds harmless enough. I'm...pleasantly surprised."

And he means that, too.

[staygoldponybot]

"Yes, well. The dumpsters are only comfortable for so long."

Is he serious is he joking WHO KNOWS HE SAYS IT WITH SUCH A STRAIGHT FACE. That said, his mouth quirks EVER SO GENTLY at the corner.

"Useful destruction, no?"

[optout]

You can't see it, but there's a slight smirk underneath that faceplate.

But what isn't seen is somewhat said in tone. He's...humorous now.

"And Destruction people would welcome, honestly."

[staygoldponybot]

He huffs.

"I have been told several times mechs like me are better in construction."

To be fair, he has buried bodies in concrete before. That's... that's close enough, right?

[optout]

"If that's what you want, after all. We're no longer a species that has jobs assigned by what we're built for."

A pause.

"You could be anything."

[staygoldponybot]

He could be anything except something, it seems.

"I'll try to make sure I don't get overly ambitious." Again. "Don't want to accidentally hit the gun poking my neck and set it off."

[optout]

"That'd be a safe bet. But anything within reason shouldn't make that happen."

...

"Most people don't find joy in murdering others."

[staygoldponybot]

Sentinel just looks away awkwardly.

"You say that now. This uneasy peace won't last forever."

And he can tell already he'll be the scapegoat.