robothell | [Closed], [Open] after

Entry tags:

[Closed], [Open] after

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.

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"But that's not you now. Is it?"

And there was the problem. His partner is... gone. Isn't he? The bot he knew is gone. He'd changed too much after four million years... and who wouldn't?

He asks it very quietly. There's honestly nowhere he'd rather be than by his partner's side -- he'd always thought. But evidence points to the contrary.

How could he do that to Pax?

What happened?

"About what?"

"Is that all you wanted?"

He frowns, hoping Optimus will leave.

It was not Optimus' place to decide whether or not this was the right place to discuss their war, as far as the old mech was concerned. Optimus didn't fight it alone. Optimus didn't suffer it alone.

And if they could show the people from other worlds the consequences of such a conflict and how meaningless it all was in the end...

"I'm hardly in a position to strong-arm you into answering much of anything, even if I was interested in doing so." Aftermath inclines his helm back, peering quietly at the Prime. "This is only a request. The questions I will ask you will not be pleasant but answering them at all is your decision alone."

"I am a camera," Spy Shot says, placing a hand on the lens that makes up his chest. Aftermath may or may not be able to see it from here, as Spy Shot is likely little more than a speck.

He says this like it explains everything, and to him it does. Reporters and cameras just go together.

Slowly folding one knee under himself, Aftermath reaches down and offers the tiny fellow his hand.

"You are a camera," he agrees upon closer inspection, amusement coloring his voice. "Are you saying you're interested in working with me?"

Arcee considers this, and then: "What happens when the NAILs show up?" Who will be in charge of them? Arcee doesn't care in any way except that she needs to know how it works to figure out her place within it.

"Yeah, everyone was worried for him when he got injured." Not her, though she understood why every other autobot would be upset. People did that when their friends were in danger.

"They're going to have their hands full with that Tarn business, I bet."

It's the truth of it. Megatron is going to have to confront Tarn eventually. They all know that. Bumblebee would like to be around for it - if only to step in when it's been enough. Megatron might do something he could come to regret later...

That's neither here nor there at the moment.

"So when do we head out?"

"I am." Not entirely, but enough. Talking with Alpha Trion had certainly cleared a lot of animosity back home. And he had direction now.

Whether or not that was the right direction was another story, but one he couldn't question now.

"In a few days. I feel something with this planet. Familiar, but...something I have to check out."

Spiritual journey, Ironhide. You love those.

A good question, and one Optimus has to think about. He certainly didn't want to impose a rule here. But someone to lead them...that had to be established.

"They can either be with us or go off by themselves. I cannot command them. They retain the same rights as someone human, or any other living creature not aligned to us."

That would work. For now...

"All right. If you say so."

He won't push it, but he'll keep an eye on Prime. And make sure he really is telling the truth. The last thing he wants is Optimus going all Center Must Hold Alone on them.

On... him.

"Heh, sure, drag me off to a feelings trip, huh?" he says, more amused than annoyed.

"Scrap," Starscream whines quietly to himself. A moment later he slowly emerges from his hiding spot with his hands held out placatingly and a miserable look on his face, wings drooping behind him. It's then that he realizes that this isn't quite the Optimus that he's familiar with, which could be either a good or a bad thing, depending. Better to keep his mouth shut, just to be on the safe side.

...That likely won't last long.

With the figure coming out of hiding, Optimus is at least less on his guard. Sure, this one could be dangerous, but they seemed to know they'd been caught. So he'll handle it formally until proven otherwise.

"I cannot say I recognize you," and boy, is he racking his memory banks. Some came close, but were just different enough to pass as a negative.

"Did you just arrive?"

For now, he'll be a friendly, but it won't take him long to figure it out, should Starscream speak.

Ironhide has every right to be worried. It's a very Optimus habit. Sometimes he forgets that being a Prime means you have to shoulder the burden with people. Despite how he wishes it could be just on him.

"Prowl's not exactly thrilled either, if that's any consolation."

There's just as much amusement back, casting his glance down at his friend.

Bumblebee's worries were the same as Optimus's. Ones he'd never think he'd admit to. But with Tarn running around, and especially wanting to target Megatron, he couldn't help but want to postpone his trip.

In case Megatron needed it.

But something kept nagging at him, telling him to go out there. Optimus wasn't the most spiritual, but he certainly had the curiosity of a cat.

"Whenever we're prepared."

Oh good, he doesn't recognize him. Well, Starscream isn't about to offer his name readily, considering that the last few times he's done so the responses haven't exactly been positive. Apparently all Starscreams carry a reputation, regardless of what world they come from.

"Arrived? Oh! No. No no no," Starscream sputters, forcing a nervous grin. His hands are still up. "I've just been... minding my own business, and what not, if that is what you are wondering. It's unlikely our paths would have crossed, I'm not exactly what you would call a social creature, so if you don't mind..."

His head hangs low, allowing Shockwave to hold onto him as he tries to piece everything together. Where did he start? How much did he learn? If he could keep that from Shockwave he would, but the Senator had a right to know as anyone.

And...deep down, he felt that he should be the one to tell him, anyway.

"Shadowplay and Empurata, as you know." He starts off slowly, before looking dow at those hands. "They took away the one thing that set you apart from the rest."

His optics flash up.

"Your emotions, Shockwave. They were forcibly ripped from your mind. And with no moral center...--" he takes a soft vent. "You joined the Decepticons. Because it was logical."

The bot's personality immediately strikes a positive note with the Prime, even offering him a hand to sit on if he wanted eye-to-eye conversation. "If there's anything I can inform you about, I'll do my best to answer personally."

It WAS a lot of information, after all.

"You are aware of our race?"

That was always a good place to start.

"I know that you are aware of that, but--" He stops again, looking down at Bumblebee as a hand rests itself on his shoulder. "I don't want to lose you again."

It's hard for Optimus to admit it. Not that he wasn't close to Bumblebee, but that he was showing such weakness openly. He wanted to be strong as he'd always been. But Bumblebee--losing Bumblebee...

He'd be lying if he said that wasn't on the list of biggest fears.

"Yes. That and I hope you've recovered."

Megatron fucked your shit up, man.

"I'll ask Ratchet to let me know when you're being released. We'll go from there."

"You needn't wait. I'm leaving today."

He's decided he's sick of this place.

"I'd like to think the values that made me Prime are of Orion still."

It hurt to think about. Had he changed too much in those four million years? Nothing remained of the bot that had been by Roller's side? His eyes show a hint of worry, and a bit of self doubt as he looks away.

"He had said I was a good candidate for the Primacy."

And the Matrix had picked him, truth be told.

"Are you cleared?"

"Diagnostic scans show level of functionality at an acceptable level."

That's a no.

There had been a rebuttal on his vocalizer, but it dies. The hand on the shoulder stops him. Optimus' words hit harder than what is likely intended by the much larger Autobot.

"Optimus."

What does one even say to that? Bumblebee has had doubts about how important he could have possibly have been. Optimus admitting this openly? Who wouldn't it hit pretty hard? Bee sighs and nods.

He knows. He knows this well -- Optimus hasn't changed in the time they've apparently been apart. It might as well be the day after the incident. And... for that he's grateful. It's nice, having a constant.

"Prowl ain't thrilled about anythin', Prime," he says, nudging Optimus with an elbow. "That's an awful consolation."

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