[Closed], [Open] after

[luckyfaceplate]

WHO: [Closed] - Optimus and non-Lost Lighters
[Open] - Optimus and YOU!
[Closed] - Optimus and Sentinel
WHERE: Near the Crater
WHEN: After Bumblebee recovers from being hurt, a few weeks after everyone's arrival
WHAT: Information sharing and political stuff
WARNINGS: NONE

[CLOSED: NON-LOST LIGHTERS: NO TARN ALLOWED]

Optimus had asked word to be spread about a gathering. It'd taken some time (some of them had gotten injured along the way), but word had gotten out. With a new, yet destroyed Cybertron, Optimus had wanted to set the record straight with quite a few things. One, that they were not here to continue the war. The planet's landscape was proof enough that the environment had clearly seen its fill of that. Two, to fill in others who had not otherwise caught up with what was going on back home, as well as any people not from that universe. And three, how leadership should be distributed.

Topics covered
-Finding out just who is and isn't accounted for
-The Megatron situation
-Filling in on what's been going on for those not caught up
-Leadership and how it's going to be treated, who's going to follow who's lead.

The rest is just mingling, catching up on some old friends who may have died or worse. Feel free to use this as a moment to make new friends as well, or potential new not-so friends.

Who knows!

[LATER: OPEN TO ALL]

After the meeting had taken place, Optimus had decided to get a little 'fresh air'. Why yes, he knows he doesn't breathe. But with everything now as situated as possible, he needed to consider some of his personal thoughts. Things that couldn't be brought up there. Many things had come back from the dead (quite literally in some aspects) on his arrival here, and dealing with those wounds opening was not something he'd originally thought he'd face so soon. Bumblebee...Shockwave...Roller...

Was the universe teasing him on this? He'd miraculously gotten Ironhide back, it wasn't completely beyond all reason. But it'd reminded him just how fragile everything was in his hold. If he believed in it, he'd call himself cursed.

No...it'd been a series of circumstances. Series of many things that went wrong. Things not even he could have prevented if he wanted to. And sometimes...

He didn't know which one was worse.

[EVEN LATER: CLOSED: TO SENTINEL PRIME]

This had been long overdue. Optimus had met Sentinel Prime the day they'd all arrived, and while their conversation had been anything but pleasant, there was still unfinished business to attend to. Granted, before he could, Megatron had gotten ahold of the Prime before him, finishing what he'd somewhat started. Sentinel himself was...alive, at least. In extreme medical care, but fine. All Optimus could do was wait until he was conscious again.

Before he'd have a chat.

He walks in, giving his regards to whichever medic was on duty at the time before glancing around, looking for the ex-Prime. Thankfully, he wasn't too hard to spot. A large gold and red monstrosity was very hard to miss. The green thumb of Cybertronians, dripping with pretentiousness. There's a brisk walk over to his bed, eyes as hard as when they'd met for the first time.

"You're awake."

Nice observation, Optimus.

"I was beginning to think you'd become a real sleeping beauty."

The sarcasm, there's oh so much.

Comments

B!!

[starscheme]

As per-goddamn-usual, Starscream has been avoiding other people like the cybonic plague. Normally he would have been sucking up to just about everyone he came across from the moment he woke up on this planet. He would have subtly tried to throw himself into the thick of things, to try and figure out where alliances are starting to form amongst the tiny population of the once abandoned city, sniffing out weak points and contemplating what his next move towards seizing power would be.

Apparently getting nearly scrapped by a bunch of Predacons can change a guy a bit.

The seeker is just trying to mind his own goddamn business when he catches a glimpse of a really unwelcome face approaching, and throws himself gracelessly behind a nearby scrap pile. He presses against it, venting hard and hoping he wasn't seen; his colors, luckily enough, provide him some natural camouflage against the dreary grey surroundings. Thus far they've actually been a boon to his new favorite activity of sneaking around and rushing from hiding spot to hiding spot like a particularly jumpy prey-reptile. It would be pretty hard for anyone to miss the flurry of movement he created in his haste, though.

[tomemyoutliers]

"An enjoyment of the quiet moments or charisma? Because if it's the latter, Optimus, I must inform you that you have always had it." A smile, one of his hands coming up to rest upon Optimus' forearm gently before the smile fades away. "And you."

He's silent a moment longer, venting slow and even before he speaks, voice heavy with emotion. "I have been told a little of my fate. Shadowplay and empurata." Out of spite, and his face darkens quickly. "But not of what it did do me."

He knows he won't be the same. That much is obvious. But he has to know the details, he does.

[luckyfaceplate]

There's a soft vent, as if Optimus wanted to continue the conversation, knowing full well that it would be an inappropriate time to do so. Still, this conversation WASN'T over, and he wanted Bee to be fully aware that it was going to pick up at a later time.

"This Cybertron is a different one compared to our own. But much that we know of it is still uncharted. Unaccounted for."

And if this was the state that the nearest civilization had been reduced to, safe to say he was worried about the rest of the planet.

"I'm thinking of taking a crew to investigate.

[luckyfaceplate]

"I'm different to you."

He's always been a blunt one, so he might as well come out and say it. "I'm a Prime, and I'm not the partner you once knew." He couldn't exactly blame him. A lot had happened that Roller wasn't there for. Something Orion at the time had blamed substantially on himself.

...

"Am I really so different?"

[luckyfaceplate]

"Fair," he corrects. After all, he was alive, and all his friends were as well. That alone was comforting in itself.

Also wow Ironhide that's gay. You're lucky he's just as gay tho.

"I'm thinking of journeying to see if there's any part of this planet that survived its fate. Any survivors, any civilization... They could be invaluable to returning home."

[luckyfaceplate]

"I thank you for the compliment."

A hand reaches out though, to the golden bot. Palm open and willing.

"You deserve a second chance as much as anyone."

You sociopathic asshole.

[luckyfaceplate]

Quick movements didn't go past the Prime, and as Starscream tries to take cover behind that rock, he manages to catch it in the corner of his optic. A flash of blue seemingly looks the jet's way, narrowed in suspicion at what he just saw. Anyone could have brushed it off as the rock formation being not entirely stable. A few pebbles falling at the most.

But that could be a mistake that would be life or death. Something Optimus isn't willing to risk on a foreign (yet somehow familiar) planet.

Keeping his eyes locked on the boulder, he pads forward as quietly as he can, waiting to see who, or WHAT could possibly be hiding.

The very least? Nothing. The very most....well, let your imagination do the work.

"Show yourself."

[officerjuicebox]

He huffs. Slowly letting the air back out of his systems. This isn't a conversation he wanted to have. Or knew how to have. But... it's true. All of it.

He can't hide it from his partner.

"I don't even know what to call you anymore," he admits, lamely. "Half the time, I start saying Paximus in my head." Those big shoulders twitch. "When I saw you last, you were still jumping off roofs and doing reckless scrap left and right..."

And I was right there with you.

"I get knocked on the head and you're... Prime."

And where does that leave me?

[arnhaid]

"If you say so," he allows, looking up at him still. Studying. "If you ain't really fine though, Prime... you don't got to be."

Not around him. He's a bodyguard for a reason. The heavy one to rely on. He won't waste this chance to be at Optimus' side.

"Sounds good." The stocky bot draws himself up, as if things have already been decided. "When are we headin' out?"

[staygoldponybot]

He eyes the hand. Last time hands were involved, Optimus crushed his. After a sizeable hesitation, however, he takes it. Mostly so he can use it to pull himself up, something clicking inside him. Probably one of those organs Megatron broke.

"I look forward to being your pet project."

Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuugh no he doesn't

[luckyfaceplate]

Bumblebee wasn't the only one concerned for Megatron's welfare. If only because Optimus may have had a hand in dooming him...should that battle come to fruition. Something he'd have to be sure to bring up with Megatron when he got back from scouring the planet.

"And you were the practice."

It still doesn't sit well with him, Bee. You're one of his closest, and you had gotten injured again under his eyes. You know the guilt complex is strong in this one.

"Bumblebee, I don't need to tell you what you already know. But--"

He stops there, trying to figure out how to phrase this next part.

[luckyfaceplate]

While Aftermath's face was hard to make out, he could certainly tell from the tone that the other bot had come here strictly for business. And he couldn't really blame him for avoiding the contact with Prowl. He wasn't exactly the friendliest Autobot (UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE YEAR, OPTIMUS), and he can definitely see it going south should the topic come up.

"Mmm, you raise a good point. The people deserve to know our intentions, our hopes...everything we fought for." That some sacrifices had to be made, questionable ones, at that.

"If you truly believe it will clear the animosity, I will consent to it."

[taselikeabee]

Bumblebee is more than aware that the conversation isn't over. Optimus wouldn't be Optimus if he has just let this go. The reason that the smaller Autobot would rather not go through the lecture is mostly because he is already aware of the dangers Tarn represents. He wants to just slide under the radar for now.

Like that is going to happen. Bumblebee is still going to make a go of it. Later.

"Who all has volunteered? Half our numbers?"

Yeah so, Bee has to tease. If it's Optimus asking, almost everyone would volunteer.

[taselikeabee]

"Practice?" Bee repeats, thinking. "No, I don't think it was that. It felt like he was a lion on the prowl, waiting for something. I just happened to be that something."

Tarn had just sort of chased Bee. If he had really planning something, then his temper wouldn't have gotten the better of him. It's just the way that everything happened that has Bumblebee not convinced it hadn't been more than just chance.

"But be careful?"

Finishing that rather lamely there, Optimus.

[candidcamerabot]

"Hello!" Spy Shot says again, from far down at Aftermath's feet. "You are a reporter."

[warcorrespondent]

"I can make no promises about clearing animosity." That was a tall order, even for a journalist. "But. Cutting out the rust will make it easier to begin the mending as the old saying goes."

The question was just how much of the rust was Optimus himself.

[warcorrespondent]

Aftermath looks down...

Down...

And even more down.

That was... an incredibly tiny mech there.

"I am a reporter," he confirms, keep still.

[luckyfaceplate]

Please Sentinel, what do you take him for? He's not going to do that twice. Unless you give him reason to, that is.

"It will certainly be an experience."

He's not thrilled about this either, asshole so stop your whining.

[luckyfaceplate]

"I guess you could say we are both extraterrestrials. From a certain point of view. And one I'd certainly like to know more about."

And while Miria isn't concerned about her injury, Optimus surely will be. His hand gestures out slowly, as if to take it in the tips of his fingers. "Golden. Were they about my size?"


Just...just making sure.

[luckyfaceplate]

Even something as simple as that little joke was enough to ease Optimus. Shockwave...just as he'd remembered him. There was so much he wanted to say, to tell his friend. Apologies, explanations...anything. But all that escapes is a vent of air. A silent chuckle.

"Only to a few."

Only to the ones who mattered.

The words were said affectionately. Even he couldn't have stopped that. Although he quiets again when Shockwave speaks, his eyes losing their glow just a touch. Empurata, Shadowplay...everything had been taken away from him.

"Shockwave. Are you...certain?"

Because he needs to know. He doesn't want the Senator to regret this later.

[system_dp]

"This Unit is from Earth, thus not an extraterrestrial, Optimus Prime."

Really, the only thing she is concerned about is that she only has one arm access to her weapons. But she's not going to voice that, instead focusing on what Optimus is doing.

"It is possible. This Unit did not take stock of the crea-- Cybertronian's size, it was bigger than this Unit and attempted to step upon this Unit." A pause. "This Unit proceeded to stab the threat in it's foot."

If she felt pride she would have sounded so proud right then.

[luckyfaceplate]

"If Orion Pax suits you better, I will answer to it." It's soft, tired, and almost mellow. Optimus had lost much of the spark that was in Orion Pax. War could do that to you.

"But four million years have passed, Roller. And you were missing for most of it. I looked..."

You weren't there.

"I suppose we can agree Shockwave was right."

[luckyfaceplate]

He thinks on it for a moment. Weighing his options. While he didn't want to bring the topic of war into this place, especially with so many from differing universes, the people deserved to know his personal feelings on the matter.

"I will agree to it. On one condition." His eyes harden, turning to the bot. "If there is a question I am certainly not comfortable answering without my team present, I will refuse to answer."

Because he will not be the final say for the Autobots, not on certain things.

[luckyfaceplate]

And really, at his core, he knows that Bumblebee is aware. But part of being a mentor...of being what humans would call 'family', is by reiterating it. Letting them know that the things they do worry them. Him.

Bumblebee had certainly done that for him as of late.

"Hm. Well, certainly most of whom arrived here. I've no intention of asking Rodimus and Megatron's crew. I'm not here to take leadership from others."

[tomemyoutliers]

He hums thoughtfully, an amused smile flickering across his face. "It's not so selective, my friend." But he lets the matter rest. There's something more important to get at rather than spend time flattering one of his favorite people. For once.

"Yes," he pauses, reaching out to wrap a hand around Optimus' arm. "I'm aware that it isn't good, I knew that when I surrendered. But I can't stay here surrounded by people who know without knowing myself."