robothell | [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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"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.

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.

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."

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."

Somehow, whatever Shockwave was expecting, that wasn't it. He'd been prepared for memories, for people to disappear from his mind. For the urge to rebel to be taken from him and for him to fall into the party line. But he's assumed - he assumed that they would leave him one thing.

He should have known Sentinel would not have been that kind. Shockwave's tanks twist, horror and sorrow overcoming his face as he grapples with this fact. And then to join the Decepticons - the side that would... what? Go against the bot he made sure could carry the Matrix and did?

Shockwave curls in on himself, letting his head fall into his hands. "Orion," because as much as he named Optimus, he's still Orion to Shockwave - that time too recent for him to move on completely. "What did I do?" Shockwave knows himself, knows Dai Atlas' words: see that you do not become a cruel scientist like Jhiaxus and Shockwave had shrugged it off because he would never.

But perhaps he had. And he needs to know.

Optimus's eyes sadden at seeing this, almost regretting admitting it to him. Shockwave had asked, but was it really right to...do this? Something he'll have to add to his guilt later. For four million years he bled slowly, watching someone he cared for so deeply lose himself, a shell of what he once was.

"You spared Dai Atlus's life." He'd open with that. Letting Shockwave know that....some part of him must have remained. "Perhaps logical, but I like to think there's more to it than that."

What comes next isn't as friendly.

"But...you served under Megatron, who became as twisted as you. A humble miner willing to move people with words, now killer. And you as his...scientist. Someone who put logic before everything."

For that he's glad, because he could not have believed himself capable of leading Dai Atlas to his death - his dearest friend who'd watched over him and warned him against-- against this. He'd learned what lessons he could from his teacher and then moved beyond them. But no, no he had done what he thought was impossible, and the scope of what he could do if he let himself is-- well, he'd known he was always smarter than Jhiaxus and look what he'd done..

"A Decepticon," he says, disliking the way it leaves his mouth. A mouth that he wouldn't have in the future. He was supposed to be by Optimus' side - that was how the plan should have worked. Distaste and anger flick over his face and he cannot stand it. "I--"

It hurts to tell Shockwave this--As the one who led him down the path to being Prime, the one who outfitted him for it. And it shows in his eyes as he watches the Senator take it all in. Optimus had shared that dream too--of leading the Autobots with Shockwave at his side, as they should have been.

But nothing is as it should be.

"It was logical." Words that still hurt his spark to this day, but...were the truth. Shockwave, after empurata and shadowplay, had chosen what side was beneficial, not what felt right. A hand raised itself to go around his friend's shoulders to comfort (something he didn't do with many bots, surely).

"I'm sorry that I couldn't--"

Couldn't save you.

"Logical," Shockwave repeats with a scoff. Since when has he ever done what was logical? He supposes that's the point - taking everything that made him him and leaving him there to serve as a warning. But surely the Senate had gotten more than they bargained for if what Optimus is saying is true - they'd thought to bring him down and he'd just become something even they could not control.

Poetic justice, but at what cost? Shockwave leans into Optimus' touch, unwilling to turn away the offered comfort.

"No, I went to my fate knowing I wouldn't be the same. There is nothing to be sorry about, Optimus."

He doesn't blame Optimus for that, not in the slightest.

[Closed], [Open] after

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