#Ⅰ skybound : energon universe Ⅰ

[skyboundprime]

Open Starter.

Breaths under the faceplate were heavy. His optics were a bright pale purple, his digits digging deep into the earth, doing his best to ground himself-- though, to no avail. The fusion cannon's barrel still lightly hummed with energy and steam swirled into the air from its heat. Whatever had been in front of Optimus as an opponent... they were only a husk now-- sparkcore completely blasted through without hesitation, still hissing with heat.

He was struggling to pull himself from this outburst, flashes of the young child, overtaken by green wires that sprouted from the monstrous form of Optimus still lingered in the front of his mind. All he remembered was the slightest threat against the boy, and now... now he could barely tell the nameless Decepticon he sat over was already in pieces.

" ... I can't-- I can't-- by the Allspark... "

[skyboundprime]

Oh, thank Primus. He... didn't hurt anyone. He was sure something would've gone wrong. Whenever that happened, he'd always done something. He remembered the dam, and... what he did to Shockwave...

" ... Good. Good. " Optimus muttered out, letting his optics close for a moment. Every moment that passed with Ratchet was helping him calm down more and more, the presence of the other helping him relax and finally properly ground himself. " I... I'm sorry you had to see me like that, old friend. " He lowered his head, as if ashamed of himself for not 'controlling' it better.

" ... I could... explain what's happened, but I don't wish to interrupt your work any further. But... I can at least explain what happened with my optics. I know you and your Autobots have had struggles with the Decepticons using dark energon... I would like to assure you, it is not that. "

" It... started ever since Sparkplug, Spike Witwicky's father, had... relit the Matrix. I was dying after an encounter with Devastator, as I used the Matrix's power to return electricity to a hospital where Spike stayed at-- after a battle with the Decepticons and the Autobots, and the humans, where he was brought into the crossfire and struck by a human's bullet-- he sacrificed himself, for me to protect Spike and mankind. And... "

" Whenever I get those... those 'outbursts', I see flashes of Spike, of Sparkplug's memories of him in his younger years... but in ways where I was corrupting him, as if I were trying to turn him into a machine. I always see Megatron's arm, clawed, with... wires being gripped and gouging into Spike. And he was screaming. Or dead. And then... when I'd pull myself from those visions, I'd... see I'd done something horrible. Like I returned to how I once was during the war. "

" Shockwave beaten to near-death for what he did to you, Cliffjumper, Jazz... and Ultra Magnus, or I'd destroyed the dam in response against Starscream despising humans... or even when humans shot at me with their tanks, trying to protect their own without realizing or listening to me that I wanted to help them... Yet it's the only way I can seem to manage to make ANY progress in my world. Every time we try to do something peacefully, what we have is destroyed. But I don't want to return to the bot I was before. So filled with hate in the war... but nothing works... nothing ever works... and everything under my leadership goes so wrong... "

This sense of vulnerability was completely foreign to Optimus. It only left him worrying more for Ratchet knowing he'd dragged him into his problems, and yet it somewhat lifted a weight off his shoulders to just... talk to someone. With everyone else, he wouldn't dare try to open up to his own Autobots-- they needed a leader, not someone ready to break down... but Ratchet? In his own universe and this one's, Ratchet... was always someone he could talk to, feel safe with. Someone he could stop for a moment and realize he could be himself. There was no need to always be Optimus Prime, sometimes... he could just be Orion.

" ... I'm so tired, Ratchet. "

Although staring may have been awkward to some, Ratchet had no difficulty gazing back, but it was less of a returned stare and more of a focused analysis. Eye contact was another element of significance for certainty, security, and in this case, for bringing someone back to the present.

Ratchet continued to study him quietly, noting the signs of recovery and refocusing. His hand lowered from his helm as Optimus began to move, not wanting to restrict him.

Blinking at the question, the medic hummed thoughtfully as he considered a reply, only to put that thought on hold due to the next question. It needed to be addressed first!

"No. You did not hurt me, or anything else." His field relaxed into casual reassurance, instead of such a thick blanket of safety.

"I believe you were reliving a traumatic memory, although I am unsure why your optics changed hue for it... I've witnessed and assisted others with similar experiences before." Ratchet made no effort to remove his arms, ensuring he did not rush Optimus' recovery or suggest that the experience was 'scary' to him. The medic continued, "Your main objective appeared to be protecting me, so I complied."

[skyboundprime]

Open Starter.

Grey fingers kept tapping at the metal of the Ark near one of the old open ledges, protruding from the Ark and the mountain alike. Optics kept staring on into the horizon, absent at first, a purple hue as each tap-a-tap slowed when he could swear he saw a figure in the distance approaching the Ark rapidly.

Said optics zoomed in. More. More. This was a figure unbeknownst to him... who was it? His optics flickered and faded into their normal blue.

" Autobots-- " Optimus called out, his deep voice easily ringing through the Ark, " -- prepare for possible threat-- approaching the Ark. Possible faction is unknown. I will approach it to discern what it is. "

The leader took a step off the ledge, dropping from the metal cliffside and into the earth below with a loud THUD-- then, he walked forward, curious at first... who was this? Were they injured or damaged? Tired? Or ready to fight? Or even someone he might've met already? He wouldn't be sure until they approached...

" ... Hello? "

[skyboundprime]

" HALF MY AUTOBOTS ARE DEAD, MY MATRIX IS GOING INSANE FROM HUMAN SPARK INFLUENCE, MEGATRON IS FRAGGING PRIMUS-KNOWS-WHERE, MY VERSION OF ELITA WON'T TALK TO ME ANYMORE AND I DESTROYED THE DAM. "

" WHAT IN THE NAME OF THE ALLSPARK AM I DOING?? AND WHY IS STARSCREAM ON TANK TREADS?!?!? "

[skyboundprime]

@oneshallstand replied to this post:

"Might I suggest Frank Sinatra?" That happens to be his favorite music artist.

--

It took him a moment. The Prime sat down, fidgeting between radio stations again... and then, it hit him.

𝆕 Someday, when I'm awfully low When the world is cold I will feel a glow just thinking of you And the way you look tonight Yes, you're lovely, with your smile so warm And your cheeks so soft There is nothing for me but to love you And the way you look tonight ♫

Glancing around. Side to side. He made sure no one else could see him-- he'd be fine with his fellow Prime, of course...

... And then, getting up, he lightly swayed back and forth and was doing a very, very small jig.

Looks like he LOVED Frank Sinatra too! Glancing to his fellow Optimus, his optics seemed to sparkle. A rarity, in the universe Optimus was from.

"... With each word your tenderness grows, tearin' my fear apart, and that laugh wrinkles your nose, touches my foolish heart...~𝆕 "

[skyboundprime]

Despite them being enemies, Optimus couldn't bear the thought of seeing someone like this, or anyone like this. The Ark had been fairly empty ever since all of their constant casualties in their battles against the Decepticons, and only a few others were currently up and about-- many of them needed to recharge. Optimus was practically one of the only few keep watch. After their run-in with one another during one of Optimus's more vulnerable moments... he wanted to at least pay Starscream back for not, well, instantly killing him.

He'd barely focused on what Starscream tried to say. He had a feeling it was to save face, anyhow. The moment Starscream seemed to stop speaking, however, he'd dropped-- this got the Prime to quickly react. " Starscream-- " A grunt of surprise, his hands rushing to gently grip the Seeker and slooowly help him up, mindful of his wound that gushed energon. " Careful... " He murmured.

Without hesitation, Optimus was whisking Starscream away with slow, mindful steps, practically hoisting him up to help him reach their medical bay. Ratchet wasn't there. And Wheeljack was busy. Optimus would need to do this himself-- he was lucky he'd been such close friends with Ratchet and had all his knowledge from the libraries... otherwise, he'd be, as the humans would say, screwed.

He sat Starscream down at one of the tables, optics scanning along his form and soon settling on his injury. " I'll make sure to stem the leakage-- keep putting pressure on it... " Optimus told him quickly, rushing to look through the supplies they had. Not much. But they'd have to do something-- Optimus was NOT going to have another bot die on his watch. Most of these things were Ratchet's, all of which were carefully preserved by Optimus himself, especially his tools. He sifted through them, grabbing at smaller spare parts in the process.

" What happened? " He asked, flicking on the lights in the room and already starting to kneel before the Seeker, lying him back onto the table to begin his examination, a table of tools near him. " Did you run into any of the Autobots? I presume they must have thought you were OUR Starscream, or... " There was another thought, one he didn't ever want to think about-- was it Megatron?

" You came to the right place. hurry, get in… " said Optimus Prime —@skyboundprime

If abject surrender could be displayed in its truest definition, it would be in the form of Starscream glowering at the doorstep of the Prime. Never mind that he was the one to approach first, his pride clung tightly like wires choking a fist within his complex, showcased in a proud lift of his wings as he walked himself inside.

" Don't get any funny ideas about this, " he warned him with one energon-painted digit pointed directly at his helm as if he could blast through it with the gesture alone. " I— " had nowhere else to go, " found this place most convenient. "

Nursing the wound wedged into his side, he applied pressure with an onyx palm, damming most of the bleed. It was an angry one that coughed thick rivets of fuchsia over the pearlescent white of his middle and the danger-flagging crimson of his pelvic armor, dotting a trail where he stepped.

He didn't care how he looked, having been this way one too many times before and observed by all ranks of soldiers and civilians. If the Prime was so willing, then Starscream was more willing to take with all 10 claws and every inch of greed that his debased morality allowed.

With a heavy drop, he collapsed into the nearest surface he presumed could sustain his weight and size. He didn't look too closely before his nasty fall— if it was something important, Optimus better pray he can replace it.

" It's really- " he clenches his dentae in a sharp hiss, " - not so bad. I just had a bit of a tumble. " Into the wrong side, into the wrong mechs.

[skyboundprime]

-- Starter for @ambulance-mom

" ... I know you do not exactly approve of the Autobots... " Optimus spoke at first, quiet, soft, as his optics drifted from Trauma to the landscape around them-- far from the cities, far from their respective bases.

" But... thank you, for not attacking the humans. "

[skyboundprime]

Reply to @cybertr0nian's post:

--

... Brow-plate raise. " Maximum attraction, Megatron? "

[skyboundprime]

@tacticturn replied to this post:

Starscream clicks her glossa with an unamused expression. "Certainly not a good look for me... it seems to be a trend of my alternates turning out... /interesting./ Oh, right, a shame for the rest of your- whatever as well. Have you considered going apeshit?"

--

" ... b-but I don't want to... " Optimus worriedly mumbled after his bout of yelling, looking to have... well. Vaguely calmed down.

[skyboundprime]

@oneshallstand replied to this post:

Visable sweating. And he thought that HIS war was rough... //im DYING

--

He just fucking sat down. Prime's pissed. He angrily transformed into a truck... silent treatment against the universe time.

KHEE KHEE kho KHERK.

[skyboundprime]

@autobotmedic replied to this post:

"... Dean Martin also has a few songs, such as 'I Wish You Love' or 'Sway.'"

--

♫ I wish you bluebirds in the Spring, To give your heart a song to sing; And then a kiss, but more than this I wish you love. And in July, a lemonade, To cool you in some leafy glade; I wish you health and more than wealth, I wish you love. My breaking heart and I agree That you and I could never be, So with my best, my very best, I set you free. I wish you shelter from the storm, A cozy fire to keep you warm; But most of all, when snowflakes fall, I wish you love. I wish you bluebirds in the Spring, To give your heart a song to sing; And then a kiss, but more than this I wish you love. 𝆕

Oh, this was a song he loved, too--! More joyous swaying, his optics brightening with glee as he now kept the song on instead of switching between stations.

" Would you like to join me in dancing to this, Ratchet? Or saying, whatever you prefer. " Optimus piped up, tilting his head a little. " Only if you'd like! It's just such a nice song! Very calming! "

[skyboundprime]

🎶 MUSICAL NOTES — what song lyrics do you think most accurately describe you? your journey through life? who you are as a person?

IN CHARACTER CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT QUESTIONS .

send an emoji/series of emojis for my muse to answer any of the following questions in character! for some questions, there are fields italicized and bolded for you to fill in with the name of a person/place/event/etc in the muse's life. please remember to fill in these spaces in order for the question to make sense! each emoji is described in case you can't see them, and they are listed alphabetically. ♡

🎶 MUSICAL NOTES — what song lyrics do you think most accurately describe you? your journey through life? who you are as a person?

A pause now, Optimus had to do his best to think this over. After all, this was a question he could actually answer without too much emotions hitting him at once.

" Well, there's this ONE song that Spike showed me--! " Optimus piped up with a slight hint of joy to his voice. Whenever he brought up Spike, there was ALWAYS joy, " It was this song by a band he called 'Journey'... " He looked around at first as if he completely forgot where Spike might've been, only to remember he was undoubtedly resting within the Ark-- no need to disturb him! The Autobot leader shifted slightly, the radio often used in his vehicle mode suddenly crackling to life within his chassis. It flipped between stations, adjusting the knobs to find the right station... and then, it started to play.

𝆕 Here we stand Worlds apart, hearts broken in two, two, two Sleepless nights, losing ground I'm reachin' for you, you, you Feelin' that it's gone Can change your mind If we can't go on To survive the tide, love divides Someday love will find you Break those chains that bind you One night will remind you How we touched and went our separate ways If he ever hurts you True love won't desert you You know I still love you Though we touched and went our separate ways ♫

" This song's grown to be very dear to me... " He seemed ready to say something else, yet halted himself-- there was no need to share the innermost thoughts he had.

" ... It's given me hope. I think, especially now, it accurately describes... so much of what's going on. It's been something I could listen to when I find myself faltering slightly... " A pause.

" ... maybe I could listen to it during a battle... I wonder... "

[skyboundprime]

@wcrkerbee replied to this post:

"...........You want some energon treats, buddy? Uh, fresh-baked." // THIS SOUNDS SO WILD???

--

He threw his hands up as if ready to sputter or yell at something, but the SECOND he saw Bumblebee, he stopped...

... Faltered...

" ... yyyes please... "

[skyboundprime]

😠 & ⚔️

IN CHARACTER CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT QUESTIONS .

send an emoji/series of emojis for my muse to answer any of the following questions in character! for some questions, there are fields italicized and bolded for you to fill in with the name of a person/place/event/etc in the muse's life. please remember to fill in these spaces in order for the question to make sense! each emoji is described in case you can't see them, and they are listed alphabetically. ♡

😠 ANGRY FACE — how easy or difficult is it for you to express your emotions? if you find it difficult, what do you think is holding you back?

⚔️ CROSSED SWORDS — do you have any skills that you are absolutely grateful you have and that mean a lot to you? how do you usually use these skills? would they come in handy if someone you cared about was in trouble?

Already, these questions were tough for him to answer. He opted for the second one, first, " For the second, I will be honest in the fact that my ability to talk is one of the ones I actually am grateful to have. " He responded rather plainly, " In my earlier days before I was a Prime, often I'd have habits on getting into trouble in my mining days... though, I'll be honest, I have no idea how I managed to become a librarian. Hah-- " It looked to be the memory of such simpler times got a laugh out of Optimus, though!

" Nowadays, I use them to give speeches... or, as some joke, lectures. I have habits on... rambling. On and on and on, it seems. " His optics flicked away for a moment, " I've habits for doing that. But what helps the most isn't just the speeches, but the comfort I can bring. In these tough times of war... so many of my fellow bots need someone to just talk to them. To listen, to understand. It's so hard to find something like that in this sort of war... it feels isolating, doesn't it? There aren't going to be many people who may understand our situation, the losses we've faced, the horrors of war that we've seen... so I want to be the one who can be there for them. And tell them that I am proud, that I understand, no matter if they are friend or foe. " His head tilted upward to look off to the skies now as he spoke about that, unable to help but heave a sigh, his worries floating away with that one escaped 'breath'. He didn't seem to realize he went on one of his rambles again. " They would certainly come in handy-- yet... with how the war is, my fighting skills have been the primary thing that assisted me in helping my fellow fighters. " Disappointment laced his voice there. He didn't want to fight anymore.

Then the wisps of worries returned, remembering the first question asked. He went silent, hands clenching into fists as he tried so desperately to calm himself.

" I suppose it is... tough, to open up when it comes to my own thoughts. " His voice came out as a whisper, for once barely being heard over the mountain winds, " Parts of me sometimes would want to open up, but I know better. My grief could fill oceans as large as the Argon Sea. It would drown me, drown everyone. And as of now, everyone... needs a leader. A Prime. I must live up to that title. " He hovered his hand over his chassis's chamber where his spark and Matrix resided.

" ... Yet... I keep failing them. I keep getting everyone killed. "

He wished he could rip his spark out to rid himself of this sudden flow of emotion that he was struggling to shove back down. He wanted to go home. By Primus, he just wanted to go home...

[skyboundprime]

💬 + [Spike]

Send 💬 + [character name] for my muse to talk about that character!

Pulling his thoughts away from the passing of his ally, what did get Optimus to perk up for this daily log was the thought of Spike. Spike Witwicky. " Oh, he is a joy, alright, " hummed the Prime, glee creeping into his voice. " He is a small human. Oh, very small-- only just recently left the juvenile stage!... barely. During the rare times we do not have to battle the Decepticons, I have been able to watch the stars with him with what humans seem to call a 'telescope', he is very happy to show me them. He... had unfortunately lost not just the ability to use his legs in a shootout to protect my fellow Autobots from the terrified humans, but his own father. Sparkplug... had sacrificed himself, to repower my Matrix. " His optics drifted downward, and Optimus pressed the palm of his metal hand to his chest plating.

" I have gained his memories, his experiences, just as I have when it came to the Primes that bore this Matrix before myself. And... I know I am not Spike's true father, or mentor... but I will do everything within my power to protect him. "

" These memories... I witness them, when I lose myself. Spike is always so young in them, so small. I could hold him within my palm. I... I want to protect him. I want to nurture his life, to help him grow. I want to help him see the stars and become an astronaut. I want to show him everything beyond this planet. And... maybe, soon... when this war ends... we can be happy. And I could raise him. "

[skyboundprime]

💬 + [Ratchet]

Send 💬 + [character name] for my muse to talk about that character!

" Ratchet... my old friend... " The way Optimus spoke was something he tried so hard to keep away from the rest of the Autobots-- staring into the dataslate that recorded his voice, he'd found himself slumping as he struggled to find the courage to speak. This would be his one and only outlet, one he would inevitably wipe if it meant ensuring none of the others found how he truly felt and suffer from a loss of morale.

" ... A friend I deeply cherished. After we'd lost him, I... some part of my spark feels like it'd departed with him. He was amazing, he was kind. He cherished all life as a medic and understood what I meant, why I asked for us to not harm human life and to protect this world we'd landed on despite his struggles from missing our home. It felt like he was someone I could talk to. About anything, really. "

" How many more lives... will be lost due to my mistakes? My faults? "