#Megatron accepting himself he abused those who worked under him

[wingsofthegundam]

tbh I feel like I wouldn't mind a Megatron who switched sides as much as I do if the fact that he did it for selfish reasons and isn't working to better himself but for his own sake was actually acknowledged. a Megatron where everyone's just like "yeah he's not redeeming himself or whatever, he's still a selfish bastard but just on our side now" is WAY better than "everybody fucking loves Megatron inexplicably for w/ever reasons and he's totally a good guy now even though he doesn't actually redeem himself/we never see him do so!" which I truly fucking loathe

Honestly anon thats the fucking tea

[fandomoverdrive]

Okay I just need to go on a rant about Whirl because I love him he might just be the most tragic character in the entirety of MTMTE and considering the candidates that’s a pretty hard position to cinch. Some of this is gonna have mentions re: self harm, suicidal tendencies/ideation, overall bad coping mechanisms etc so if that’s not your cuppa please scroll on. 

This gets long so here’s the obligatory read more. 

Let’s write “tragic” in flickering neon letters with the fact that Whirl’s first appearance in MTMTE, dropping the titular “how to say goodbye and mean it,” is a personal soliloquy delivered as he’s in the midst of constructing his own funeral pyre. Whirl is lost, directionless, trapped and unwilling to be such in a postwar environment. But how did we get here? 

Whirl is without a doubt a driven character. In the prewar functionist society, he had no qualms switching careers, risks be damned. Whether he’s always had a knack for disobeying authority or was simply driven by passion or both isn’t elaborated on, but he’s got a hell of a hardheaded streak that’s impossible to ignore. When destroying his business wasn’t enough to deter him from further rebellion, the Senate was happy to turn him into an empuratee and destroy not only the opportunity but the capability of continuing to rebel by pursuing his passion. This is what I’d personally consider the big ‘whump’ moment, less so the use and abuse as a pawn that followed but the point of trauma at which we begin to see Whirl’s psyche begin to twist.

From this point forward we see Whirl in and out of prison, let loose when he can be useful to someone else’s ploy and otherwise incarcerated for a buffet of offenses. No longer able to be constructive and having little if any control of his life, Whirl becomes aggressively destructive. In response to having everything he aspired toward ripped away from him, permanently, he builds a mental defense of bitterness and anger and paves over his black hole of self worth with a veneer of outright assholery. It’s here that he bares his metaphorical fangs and pushes - with gusto - anyone who might even suggest they’re trying to appeal to reason or get close to him as an individual. 

It’s hard to imagine, given even subtly different circumstances, that Whirl would not side with the decepticons for the war. While he’s single-handedly responsible for radicalizing Megatron towards violence, the ‘con intent at the start of revolution - that movement in society should be possible and a caste system based on alt mode is unethical - aligns quite nicely with what he’d already aspired to do with his life. His conscription to the side of the autobots is just another instance in which his autonomy is cast aside. 

Whirl is a tool. Whirl had a passion for watchmaking, but now he can’t, so his new passion is violence. Whirl is a gun and someone else has always told him where to point and all he’s ever been given for his cooperation is the blame of pulling the trigger. Whirl is an asshole, Whirl is unpredictable, Whirl isn’t a mech anybody would ever think twice about saving - the answer would always be no. Whirl wants to die. Whirl only wants to die on his own terms and he’ll be damned if he’s going to keel over under the orders of someone he doesn’t respect, for a cause he doesn’t believe in. 

A few years of this sort of treatment would be enough to drive anyone insane, let alone the millennia of warfare he suffered through. Worse yet is the one time he found a group, a team that was known for the unorthodox and taking on the big messy challenges, the Wreckers kicked him out. Whirl was too much for the mechs that were too much and there’s no way in hell that doesn’t still sting. 

That’s how we get here:

Whirl defends himself through isolation from others. He can’t be hurt by others if he never lets them close enough to be hurt by. In a hypersocial society, he has no close long-term friends, he is one of the few with no roommate aboard the Lost Light. He made himself as unpalatable as possible. He’s crass, he’s volatile, he makes it clear with every word and action that Whirl is first, you don’t mean anything, I’d leave you for dead in an instant..... But that’s not true, is it? 

Whirl is shown being completely, dramatically, self-destructively caring throughout the series. Between risking his life for the scraplet colony disguised as a protoform, participating in an untested spark jumpstart to save a life, coming up with a plan to rejuvenate Tailgate’s spark, and performing a spark transplant surgery on Megatron - without whom the world would never have been even a fraction as cruel to Whirl as it had been - Whirl is far from the most selfish character in the series. It’s in his nature, however, to deny such, to the point where he more than likely believes his own narrative that he’s irredeemable, self-absorbed, invincible, degenerate, and neither capable nor deserving of close interpersonal relationships. 

It’s also how we get here:

Whirl is one of the characters that we more frequently see in a state of disrepair. He fights passionately and recklessly, with no regard whatsoever to whether or not he makes it out of a scrum with all his limbs intact. Injuries like these, and those that he experiences elsewhere in the series, would put other mechs out of commission through pain alone, but as long as Whirl is conscious he doesn’t stop until the fight is over. 

As depressing as it is to think that Whirl is simply at this point accustomed to extraordinary pain, it’s even moreso to think about the more likely concept that he wants to be hurt. Whirl doesn’t have control of a lot that happens to him, but do you know what he does have control of? Who he chooses to shit-talk. More often than not we see Whirl being blatantly disrespectful of his superiors, and some of the more dangerous mechs aboard the LL. While obviously his intent when insulting Ultra Magnus isn’t to start a fight, harping on Drift (and subsequently getting cold clocked) or Cyclonus is a little more self-destructive in nature. 

While Whirl has been in therapy, we see during the encounter with Fort Max that he’d shared very little of what he actually considered traumatic with Rung. With no material to work with, Rung wouldn’t have been able to give Whirl instructions or advice as far as a healthy coping mechanism, and so I’m firmly of the belief that Whirl goes out of his way to get himself hurt as a way to have a vague sense of control. 

On his actions and guilt:

Whirl is immensely guilty. When he’s overcharged, he admits that everything feels like his fault - and unfortunately a lot is. Whirl believes he’s the bad guy, and he’s willing to take the fall for actions that others might find immoral. There’s a lot Whirl has done that he’ll likely never forgive himself for, even if he garnered the ability to start forgiving himself for the small things, but the character he’s created for himself has been part of him for so long that it’s near impossible to tell where to draw the line between caricature and his genuine self. 

At this point in time, Whirl is not capable of improving himself without external assistance. 

He has accepted (however wrongfully) that he is not cared about, trusted, wanted, or respected. 

His assumptions become self-fulfilling prophecy as he - consciously or not - works to perpetuate his image. Whirl is a dick, he’s unfazed by anything anyone says about him, if someone is insulting him they’re probably right, why bother arguing unless it’s with the intent to get in a fight? He doesn’t pay attention to others, he doesn’t pay attention to himself, nothing that anybody could say could possibly make a difference. 

Right? Right?

Wrong. Part of what makes Whirl so heart-wrenchingly tragic is that it is so incredibly clear that nobody has ever told him he mattered. Rodimus throws out what could be interpreted as a snide remark, “even the crazy bastard makes a difference,” and that aside sticks with him. Millions of years of warfare, of being a tool to use, an expendable soldier, a rabid dog to throw at their enemies, and not once did someone turn around and say he was anything good. He’s been thanked for saving lives, for contributions, for individual acts, but his reaction to Rodimus really cements in my mind that nobody has ever said that he, that Whirl, was important. 

Whirl is a broken character. He’s subsumed by his own self-hatred that he perpetuates and justifies with a mask of cruel indifference and aggressively abrasive snark. He’s alone, by what he thinks is his own choice but is really a horribly misguided attempt to keep himself safe. He’s got no potential for growth unless someone wants to force their way through his defenses in order to help him find the line between who he is and who he pretends to be in order to keep from being hurt. Whirl is terrified of abandonment, and guarantees that nobody will ever be able to leave him by never letting them come close to begin with. He’s not a good person, he’s violent and callous and has little regard for the consequences of his actions, but he is that way because of the life he was forced to lead. He falls into consistent patterns because he craves control, even if those patterns are self destructive. It’s proof of the little growth he was allowed during the course of MTMTE/LL that after their quest was over, he didn’t attempt suicide again but instead got into the revolving door of incarceration for petty offenses. 

All in all, Whirl is one of the saddest characters in any media I’ve consumed and please someone get this despicable bastard helicopter a new therapist and a stiff drink 

[turtle-in-the-mums]

OOC: Postwar Cybertron Headcanon

In my head, the majority of Cybertron's population are the descendants of bots who for one reason and another ended up living on colony worlds scattered all over the galaxy. Some of those colonies had lost touch with the ancestral home planet long before the war started, and the rest shed their ties around the time Iacon fell.

Those who heard about the end of the war and the very attractive opportunities being offered to those of Cybertronian descent willing to move to Cybertron and help rebuild it didn't necessarily know or care much about the war. A lot of them disparage it and those who fought in it as uncivilized and pointlessly destructive.

Megatron had the Machiavellian (in the sense of "able to look at the ugliest and most brutal political realities and do the ugly and brutal things necessary to counter the worst of the side effects of human (Cybertronian) power politics") good sense and intestinal fortitude to keep his near-absolute power. He has a circle of allies and advisers, and a lot of the day-to-day business of governing is handled by district or neighborhood-level officials and councils, but on matters of top-level policy decisions his word is law. The rules of living in his Protectorate aren't necessarily kind, but they are crystal-clear and freely available to anyone who wants to know about them, and they're backed up by Megs' own treatises on politics and government. One is free to challenge the laws or request guidance regarding how they apply to this or that person or situation--Megs has been known to reconsider or revise some of his decisions when the argument was well-reasoned enough--but if you violate the rules you'll find out how very, very cruel Megatron's regime can be.

Because Megs isn't a sentimentalist or at all prone to idealism, he set up an admissions/immigration system that investigates and thoroughly questions every would-be immigrant about everything, then rejects anyone whose ideology/politics/intentions don't fit with the society the Lord Protector has in mind. Stuff like Functionist beliefs, prejudice against cold-forged bots, cultural grudges, crusading or imperialist mentalities--you either leave it at the orbital Immigration Station or you don't get your entry authorization. Those who were found to be harboring such ideas after being allowed in have their authorizations/citizenship summarily revoked and are either put through a prolonged period of indoctrination and probation or given exactly one day to pack up and get outside the borders of the Protectorate--when the time limit's up there's an automatic bounty put on the head of the offender, and it's sizable enough to guarantee plenty of interest from the citizenry.

Guess where the rejects end up.

Optimus never wanted the Primacy. Orion Pax had serious objections to the corruption and hypocrisies of his society, but he was high enough in the hierarchy not to be as unbearably crushed by them as Megatron and his followers. Reading Megatron's speeches and writings metaphorically opened Orion's optics to a lot of injustices he'd never thought about--like a fish that isn't aware of water until it's taken out of it, Orion just hadn't been aware of the real nature of his world until Megatron pulled him out of it. Still, Orion was for reform rather than revolution. He was a young, naive idealist. Committed to his beliefs and possessed of a fundamentally noble and gentle Spark, but dangerously flawed because he has such a hard time when the world fails to accept and conform to his vision. The ruthless pragmatism of the Matrix mitigated the ill effects of Op's idealism to a degree, and Prowl countered some of the rest, but once the war was over Op let himself believe he could stop compromising and doing the crueler things rulers have to do. He insisted that the natural goodness of the Cybertronian Spark would prevail if it was just given the freedom to do so...and he yielded power to a series of democratically-elected bodies with only the barest of restrictions or restraints.

It's perfectly understandable--Op carried a heavy burden (largely of his own making, but still a massive burden) throughout the war and he was looking forward to a semi-retirement of being an elder statesman. (He wasn't looking forward to remaining a quasi-religious figure, but that's not his decision.) It was nonetheless a massive mistake. Op's ideals aren't nearly as natural and self-evident to the average bot as he so firmly believed they are, and those who came to resettle Cybertron weren't as eager to adopt his vision and live according to his principles as he expected they would be. He failed to account for the tendency of sapient minds to resist large-scale changes of any sort regardless of the circumstances.

As a result, the population of Op's territory is highly fractious, the various levels of government and bureaucracy not under his direct influence are legion and full of pockets of flagrant corruption, the laws and social mores are either oppressive or selectively enforced or both...and he lacks the power to unilaterally correct it. He really, really hates the bitter fact that Megatron's way has actually turned out to be the better option, but he's been consulting with Megs and working with Prowl and the others of his old command to correct his mistakes before he dies.

Megatron's way, of course, has the Achilles' heel of being dependent on the judgement and intentions of whoever has absolute power. Megatron, for all his faults, doesn't seem to care much about the trappings of power or being loved. Starscream likes things like crowns and throne rooms and adulation. Megatron has a goal in mind and he'll do whatever he thinks is necessary to achieve that goal--he'll sit on a throne if that's what will get him closer to his goal, but he won't throw a fit if there isn't a throne available. He'll stand and give orders and make sure they're obeyed. Since his goal is a society that doesn't tolerate functionism, slavery, corruption, or any of the myriad other pernicious habits and ideas his people have used against each other in the past, his tyranny is better than Op's democracy. The problem is that as soon as Megs either gives in to temptation or is replaced by someone else, there's nothing to prevent a new dictator from engaging in the most appalling of abuses of power. Op's preference for spreading power around is a good protection against that sort of thing, but it relies on the general population to decide and enforce a just moral and ethical code...which means the rules are set by the lowest common denominator, and that can be very low indeed.

(I wrote a treatise on post-war Cybertron that casts Megatron as the wise and good mech and Optimus Prime as a willfully-blind fool. I think I've committed some form of fandom heresy.)

[exitiumsuum]

I'm curious, you said you love megarod so much? What dynamic are you envisioning for the two? I personally don't like it because what interactions rodimus and megatron had seemed incredibly abusive or at least negative to me- but i'd be interested in seeing your view on the subject if you'd be willing to share?

(Sorry I took so long to answer, Chrome borked, and then I got tacos. I hope this doesn’t come across rude or anything. I tend to be a little dry in my analysis. I blame being an art and  history major.)

I don’t know if you’re following, or how long if you are. Partially because this has been a pretty prevalent ship on my my blog, along with another (that hugely developed from an amazing partner but that’s a tangent). But also because I’ve written several meta before on Megatron’s warped perception of the world and development of unhealthy coping mechanisms that have modeled him to be The Way He Is, both of his own doing and outside contribution.

That being said, Megatron has grown to be an abusive individual. Practically any and all interaction he has with anyone at any given time can be taken that way. He’s a short tempered, explosive, control freak who hates being told he’s wrong. Any ship with him is going to start off outright abusive, bordering abusive, or turn abusive, depending with what character and at what point in time you ship him. There is really no way around that, at all.

Through MTMTE and LL we’re watching both of these characters grow. Rodimus is valiantly trying to carve his own path, and make a name for himself, while trying to overcome his own hang-ups and insecurities. He’s trying to prove himself and work himself out from under the shadow of the hero he’s practically worshipped, and sometimes still seeks guidance from, despite how said hero treats him. Megatron is seeking atonement more so than forgiveness, and it’s ultimately a journey of self-awareness and moving forward and accepting his eventual end. Granted, there are valid criticisms in how that story played out, and I have my own, but that’s basically the gist of what story is being told here. It’s a theme for them, and everyone else on the ship.

Whether you ship them romantically or not, it’s something pretty clearly presented that these two characters bring a sort of completion to each other. They are both each other’s face and heel. The two of them are both rather stubborn and obstinate, and in their clashing, they teach each other. Megatron curbs Rodimus’ impulsivity and causes him to weigh the consequences and outcomes of his actions. Be a little more analytical in his approach. Exert and exercise control. And to actually be self-aware, as it’s something he’s struggling to learn for himself, too. Meanwhile, Rodimus shows Megatron that sometimes you have to fly by the seat of your pants. That it’s okay to let things be out of your control. And that it’s okay to be ruled by your kinder emotions, the ones that have been suppressed for so long.

Megatron does berate and chastise Rodimus. It’s not usually for “no reason”, and often hinges on Rodimus being childish or otherwise pedantic, and Megatron not having any patience, and also a lack of tact on how to deal with it, especially early on as those aforementioned unhealthy control issues don’t change overnight. And also because they’re both stubborn individuals who don’t like to yield. But despite their arguments, Megatron is one of the few characters that actually respects Rodimus. He doesn’t go out of his way to demean or undermine him, or treat him like a child like so many other characters do, even when they’re trying to be supportive. (It’s only when Rodimus acts like it, and warrants it.) Their conflicts tend to come as a result of their equal stubbornness, and a difference of opinion (which isn’t always that different, just the execution of it).

There is also the fact that the power imbalance is actually somewhat skewed toward Rodimus. Megatron may have been appointed the title of co-captain by Optimus, but Rodimus is ultimately the commanding officer, and has been. He is also essentially Megatron’s warden by extension. This is not something Megatron is used to, as he’s the one typically in charge. Of course he’s going to buck against that a bit. But Rodimus is the one with power over him. And he respects that Rodimus is a capable captain. He sees it, he knows it, and he knows that ROdimus doesn’t actually see it in himself despite his bravado.

Conversely, Rodimus is shown to be an incredibly empathic character. While he makes himself out to be selfish and self centered, he is completely the opposite. He has a strong moral compass, and he will sacrifice himself to do what he feels is just and right, and for the better of everyone else. He’s self sacrificing to a fault. He is also incredibly understanding, and willing to see past even centuries worth of corruption to find what lies underneath, and willing to give a second chance. His entire friendship with Drift is based around this alone. And despite his prejudices (prejudices with good reason), he is able to see Megatron taking steps to actually better himself, even if it seem sto everyone else that it’s too little too late.

The point is, they both bring a piece to each other that completes them, and in some way allows them to make a bigger step in the goal of their character growth. They also realize each others’ potential at a level that no one else does. Is it because they empathise with each other on some level? Perhaps. Their convictions aren’t that different. It was the execution of them that cause their paths to deviate so far.

Either way, the chemistry is there (whether you see it romantically or not), and in my opinion undeniable, and exceptionally under utilized. But that’s what fanfic and roleplay is for.

I am also personally a sucker for ‘oil and water” type pairings, where the two have such opposing personalities, yet they find a common ground and find their jagged edges actually fit together in a way that helps them both to heal. So I ship it romantically. It’s a pairing that takes a lot of work, but I feel they’re both the type of characters that would give it the work it needs with enough time. Because that’s just how Rodimus is as a person, and he’s the best thing to ever happen to Megatron, and I don’t see him wanting to let that go.

Anyway, that’s how I see it. I hope that answers your question.

[verdigrisprowl]

Dec 24 Dancitron Movie Night - Gotham s2 e4-6

Primus showed up and made things snow. There was general consternation. Primus assured them that the snow wasn’t acidic.

Prowl only vaguely liked that the new police chief in the show was fighting corruption, but he was doing it so badly and introducing so many new bad aspects to the police that he couldn’t really support them.

Soundwave finally let Prowl help clean after the show.

Today NoodlesAtNight 7:31 pm ((A note - I don't know how many will be around tonight, we'll see what's what by 8)) SCProwl 7:31 pm ((k SpecsTheSpectralDragon 7:32 pm ((tbh I'm not sure how long I'll be around either)) ((it's kinda up in the air rn- the Family Obligations might call me away) NoodlesAtNight 7:32 pm ((perfectly understandable)) NoodlesAtNight 7:34 pm *For the moment, Soundwave will be poking around arranging things. He's got the usual array of snacks and drinks out, and is draped across his couch. That's right, he's doing all of this by feeler.* SCProwl 7:43 pm *arrives early for a change* NoodlesAtNight 7:43 pm [[Nothing to do at the police station?]] Angorumoa 7:44 pm [*bleps at the group then goes to let the doggo out*] NoodlesAtNight 7:44 pm ((blep! hi doggo)) SCProwl 7:45 pm I was able to finish my datawork a little earlier. We've finally gotten our system up and running. Angorumoa 7:46 pm [Oh geeze. SNOW OUTSIDE. Okay I may need to shovel it off the porch before I figure out who joins. A good two inches have built up. Maybe three.] Boomtank 7:46 pm ((HAH SCProwl 7:46 pm ((nice NoodlesAtNight 7:46 pm ((snooooow i'm so jealous. good luck))

*Soundwave tilts his helm.* [[Bevel making herself useful, is she?]] Angorumoa 7:47 pm [And YOU, aubade, wee need to see Bumblebee some monday] Boomtank 7:47 pm ((Like when I'm not recovering from mushing my car? Angorumoa 7:47 pm [Yes. THE ONE TIME YOU DON'T HAVE CAFFINE] Boomtank 7:47 pm ((yeah, that was....embarrassing Boomtank 7:48 pm ((hopefully it's still in theaters by the time I get my car fixed verdigrisprowl 7:48 pm *arrives* SCProwl 7:48 pm Well, she's prone to listening to music in at least one audial but she organizes data more efficiently than any police filing clerk I've ever seen. verdigrisprowl 7:49 pm *efficient data organization?* Who are we talking about? Boomtank 7:49 pm -And Blaster is just...going to drop into a seat- SCProwl 7:49 pm Bevel. NoodlesAtNight 7:49 pm [[You say that as though you disapprove.]] *He, obviously, does not.*

[[Ah. And your alternate has arrived.]] *Pings Prowl hello and nods to Blaster. Good evening, there.* verdigrisprowl 7:49 pm Ah. Really? Huh. Boomtank 7:50 pm -tired wave back. Hello.- SpecsTheSpectralDragon 7:50 pm *the dragon shows up- her cast is /finally/ off, praise the goddess! she's brought snacks for Soundwave, and she can put them where they belong!* Hello, Soundwave, everyone! NoodlesAtNight 7:50 pm [[Greetings, dragon. Ah - no medical equipment? Healed at last?]] SpecsTheSpectralDragon 7:52 pm All bones are back to where they belong! *the dragon extends her wing out fully to show off* I should try and be careful with it, but I'm cleared to fly short distances and everything! verdigrisprowl 7:52 pm *... where were the bones last time* NoodlesAtNight 7:52 pm *Soundwave dutifully admires the healed wing while fetching a hot drink for Blaster with a feeler. Poor mech always looks like he's about to perish on the spot.* Boomtank 7:53 pm -he's dealing with stubborn neutrals that think they know more than they actually do- NoodlesAtNight 7:54 pm *That's a good question. Somewhere else in the wing he supposes.* verdigrisprowl 7:54 pm *ain't that just how neutrals are.* Angorumoa 7:55 pm [doggo in and snow shovelled] NoodlesAtNight 7:56 pm ((yay! wb)) SpecsTheSpectralDragon 7:56 pm *they were broken in half, so trying to escape out the membrane. aka, not where they needed to be.* Boomtank 7:56 pm -Yep. If it would not be bad form, he'd call them out on it- Angorumoa 7:56 pm [Half tempted to go HEY LET IT SNOW ON CYBERTRON] Boomtank 7:56 pm -well, more than he already did today- ((SNOW)) verdigrisprowl 7:56 pm ((that'd be awful for the natural landscape)) Angorumoa 7:57 pm [shhhh it'd be fine SCProwl 7:57 pm *nods to alternate and finds her seat while she thinks how to word a reply to Soundwave's comment* I don't disapprove. It doesn't distract her from what she's doing and I also perform a number of tasks simultaneously. Mine just don't tend to result in outbursts of singing. NoodlesAtNight 7:57 pm ((soundwave will huddled indoors under 20 tarps and hiss at the windows)) Boomtank 7:58 pm -still going to take the drink and give Soundwave a tired smile- Thanks. Angorumoa 7:58 pm [He'll have to wear an ugly sweater] SpecsTheSpectralDragon 7:58 pm ((the dragon will show up with her rebreather and roll around outside the windows)) verdigrisprowl 7:58 pm ((oh no)) ((poor soundwave)) ((i guess)) ((he'll just)) Angorumoa 7:58 pm [Prowl gets one too] verdigrisprowl 7:58 pm ((have to cuddle with prowl)) ((for warmth)) SpecsTheSpectralDragon 7:58 pm ((ohohohoho)) Angorumoa 7:58 pm [Everyone gets ugly sweaters NoodlesAtNight 7:58 pm ((oh no how terrible. how will he ever stop laughing at the ugly sweater)) SCProwl 7:59 pm ((Prowl wouldn't mind a very mild acidic snowfall as she'd totally collect some to add to her acid collection Boomtank 7:59 pm ((Primus, don't do that. Angorumoa 7:59 pm [ouo [*going to do it* NoodlesAtNight 7:59 pm ((prowl just gobbling snow "thanks for the weaponry refill god" )) SpecsTheSpectralDragon 7:59 pm ((...oh, right. cybertronian precipitation is acidic)) Boomtank 7:59 pm ((do not SpecsTheSpectralDragon 8:00 pm ((the dragon maybe... should not roll in that.)) Angorumoa 8:00 pm [*GUNNA DO IT* SCProwl 8:00 pm ((yeah that'd be bad Boomtank 8:00 pm ((and yes, unless we want dragon soup SpecsTheSpectralDragon 8:00 pm ((no dragon soop for you)) Boomtank 8:00 pm ((BAD PRIMUS NoodlesAtNight 8:00 pm ((OKAY there is actually enough of a crowd tonight for us to progress thru s2 so i don't need to switch to an xmas cartoon. thankfully, because i have already watched so many aha)) Angorumoa 8:00 pm [christmassss] Boomtank 8:01 pm ((oh right, feck, that's tomorrow Angorumoa 8:01 pm *Totally debatable snow outside and ugly sweaters for everyone. Totally debatable whether reality or not.* SCProwl 8:01 pm ((tho explaining it ic would be funny "uh, it's the only signal I could get from earth aside from some very annoying speech by a very orange man Boomtank 8:01 pm ((HAH ((yes SpecsTheSpectralDragon 8:02 pm ((boo, no orange man)) ((he's bad)) Boomtank 8:02 pm (('humans can come in that color?' NoodlesAtNight 8:02 pm ((we won't have the orange man here tonight. or any night. all right, warnings: GOTHAM S2 4-6 // Violence, blood, death, police militarization (trust me, it won't work out), poor depictions of mental illnesses, foul language. Alfred being a dick to Selina, Nice Guy Nygma, Butch's brainwashing, 'family' abuse, a loose eye, severed limbs, charred humans, prison comments I thhhink are in bad taste.)) ((but also more tabitha so like it evens out.)) verdigrisprowl 8:03 pm ((i choose to believe that all transformers continuities take place in universes where someone mildly more tolerable was elected SpecsTheSpectralDragon 8:03 pm ((it's what we deserve)) Boomtank 8:03 pm ((yes Angorumoa 8:03 pm [I know noooothing about Gotham, so ey, all the confusion on my end. Also it may or may not be snowing outside with suddenly ugly sweaters on robots] SpecsTheSpectralDragon 8:03 pm ((does the dragon get a sweater)) Angorumoa 8:03 pm [of course] SpecsTheSpectralDragon 8:04 pm ((fuck yeah)) Boomtank 8:04 pm ((GDI PRIMUS Angorumoa 8:04 pm [with proper wing openings] SCProwl 8:04 pm ((TF timelines are the good timeline? verdigrisprowl 8:04 pm ((well, depending on the timeline, the decepticons MIGHT kill billions of people, so, yknow)) ((*weighing scales gesture*)) SCProwl 8:04 pm ((fair point SpecsTheSpectralDragon 8:05 pm ((yeah but megatron does a hit and run on the orange man and kills him instantly so)) ((also soundwave steals all of jeff bezos' assets)) NoodlesAtNight 8:05 pm ((basically what you need to know is: bruce is a baby, he's trying to find out who killed his parents, penguin's a boss, and a new arrival in town is trying to get revenge for his family's erasure in history by installing himself in a position of power. nygma's slowly sliding into riddler land and there's something shady going down at wayne enterprises. there you go!)) SCProwl 8:05 pm ((that's why Soundwave's so rich Angorumoa 8:06 pm [Stuff! I may debatable mute and watch my= dog wtf are you doing out there] SCProwl 8:06 pm Oh, we're watching this again? Boomtank 8:06 pm ((ooooi NoodlesAtNight 8:06 pm ((soundwave just sells his rations of rare metals he doesn't like and makes his money that way)) [[Yes. The story continues.]] SCProwl 8:07 pm May I have a visual? Angorumoa 8:07 pm *distant nooting outside* verdigrisprowl 8:07 pm *pings video* NoodlesAtNight 8:07 pm [[Of course. One mom-- those blasted flobsters are back.]] verdigrisprowl 8:07 pm Got it. NoodlesAtNight 8:07 pm [[Ravage! Ravage, if you please.]] =On it.=- SCProwl 8:07 pm *accepts with a grateful ping* NoodlesAtNight 8:07 pm [[Ah, thank you.]] verdigrisprowl 8:08 pm *... leans on soundwave* Boomtank 8:08 pm -tucking legs under him at nooting- NoodlesAtNight 8:08 pm *Lean! Good. Comfortable.* SpecsTheSpectralDragon 8:08 pm *the dragon clambers up onto the arm of the couch to hang out with Soundwave, if that's okay. she'd hunt flobsters, but...* SCProwl 8:08 pm I suppose that's one way to get attention. NoodlesAtNight 8:08 pm *She is absolutely welcome up there.* [[Do not worry. We will not allow any flobsters inside. Nobody will be electrocuted tonight.]] verdigrisprowl 8:08 pm *...... caaaaasually laces hands around Soundwave's arm.* NoodlesAtNight 8:09 pm *Caaaaaasually settles a hand on those hands. Ahh.* Angorumoa 8:09 pm *Ravage can get a nice lobster snack outdoors. And possibly get a ride on back inside cause Primus just strolls in like a god does.* NoodlesAtNight 8:09 pm [[He hopes someone doesn't have to pay for that chair.]] Boomtank 8:09 pm I'd appreciate them remaining outside verdigrisprowl 8:09 pm Taxpayers. SpecsTheSpectralDragon 8:09 pm If they sneak in, I'll fight them. *flobsters would probably be quite a fight for a fox-sized dragon.* NoodlesAtNight 8:10 pm *Ravage will 100% ride on Primus. He likes to feel tall.* [[Oh, he likes this one.]] SCProwl 8:10 pm Agreed. SpecsTheSpectralDragon 8:11 pm *Ravage is supremely valid* verdigrisprowl 8:12 pm ... I'm... skeptical of the long-term efficacy of this approach. Angorumoa 8:13 pm *Ravage can chill out up on his shoulders then. And get a scritch if he's feeling it while Primus may need to duck to actually get inside. For reasons he's a tad taller than usual. And just way late on, like, /everything/ else.* NoodlesAtNight 8:13 pm ((frick is it skipping/blanking)) verdigrisprowl 8:13 pm It's the correct thing to do but I don't think that's the correct way to achieve it. verdigrisprowl 8:14 pm ((it's fine here)) NoodlesAtNight 8:14 pm [[What are the flaws in his approach?]] *Curious.* verdigrisprowl 8:14 pm And I'm a /little/ bit skeptical of anyone who talks about bringing back respect for law and order. NoodlesAtNight 8:16 pm [[Elaborate?]] *That is not something he expected a cop to say. He'd like to know why - not that he disagrees.* verdigrisprowl 8:16 pm For one thing, he only fired a small fraction of the corrupt cops. The rest are now on their toes and ready to team up against someone who threatens their way of life. NoodlesAtNight 8:18 pm [[Covering for one another, or harming him? Both?]] verdigrisprowl 8:18 pm Both. Boomtank 8:18 pm -just going to curl up in the seat now, listening more to the room than the show- SpecsTheSpectralDragon 8:18 pm And once again, Penguin showing off his weakness comes to bite him. NoodlesAtNight 8:19 pm [[He really should have sent her somewhere safe.]] verdigrisprowl 8:19 pm And in my experience, when I've met enforcers who talk about making the civilians respect them, they're USUALLY not talking about becoming more respectable. Oh look, he's already talking about murdering suspects. What a surprise. SCProwl 8:19 pm I changed my mind. NoodlesAtNight 8:19 pm [[And he no longer likes this human.]] SpecsTheSpectralDragon 8:19 pm I'm not sure if safe is "far away" or "at his side at all times," really. Neither one seems to appeal. SpecsTheSpectralDragon 8:20 pm *bares fangs* Bite his throat out. NoodlesAtNight 8:20 pm [[Far away. She can't be hurt if no one can locate her.]] [[For Primus' sake. War does not make a fantastic police officer.]] Angorumoa 8:21 pm *Primus put a warm blanket around Blaster's shoulders. Give him something to hold onto while he listened to the few mechs, and one dragon, gathered on the eve.* SpecsTheSpectralDragon 8:21 pm War makes horrors and nightmares. NoodlesAtNight 8:22 pm [[...He apologizes for cursing.]] *To Primus.* [[Agreed, dragon.]] verdigrisprowl 8:22 pm His hard stance against corruption is the only thing going for him. Boomtank 8:22 pm -ooooh, blanket, don't mind as he hides in it now- Thanks SpecsTheSpectralDragon 8:22 pm *the dragon looks over, sees Primus, and just about jumps out of her fur* ... verdigrisprowl 8:22 pm Wh—? *glances for who Soundwave's apologizing to.* Oh. Hi. verdigrisprowl 8:23 pm So. All angry, half of them out for revenge. Angorumoa 8:23 pm *Casual shrug to Soundwave. By far not the worse he's heard. Gives Blaster a little rub on the helm then looks over at the others.* Amusing that only now you realize I'm here. SCProwl 8:23 pm They should be addressing the rampant poverty in this city, not preparing a military squad to murder criminals. verdigrisprowl 8:24 pm You don't— Newbs don't join strike forces! NoodlesAtNight 8:24 pm [[He dreams himself a warlord. Hmph.]]

[[And he knew you were here. Ravage informed him. Thank you for your presence.]] SCProwl 8:24 pm Your officers. SpecsTheSpectralDragon 8:24 pm *the dragon sniffs the air curiously. smells like Primus.* ...Hi. verdigrisprowl 8:24 pm "What do we have to l—"?! You have LIVES to lose! Theirs AND those of the people they're going to be pointing guns at! Angorumoa 8:25 pm Hello. You know it is snowing? NoodlesAtNight 8:25 pm [[It -- /what?/ ]] SCProwl 8:25 pm It's--what? SpecsTheSpectralDragon 8:25 pm *that gets the dragon's interest* Snow?! SCProwl 8:25 pm No! Boomtank 8:25 pm -hums and settles- You tend to do that thing where you....what SCProwl 8:25 pm Do not go outside. SpecsTheSpectralDragon 8:25 pm Is it acid snow? Can I play in it? NoodlesAtNight 8:25 pm *Twists to look through the doors.* [[...He'll pencil in a repaint.]] Angorumoa 8:25 pm No. Yes. NoodlesAtNight 8:25 pm [[No! Do not play in it!]] verdigrisprowl 8:25 pm *glances at the door before remembering his alternate and turning back to the screen.* Boomtank 8:26 pm Primus. Primus why? SpecsTheSpectralDragon 8:26 pm *wait. Primus said yes. Soundwave said no. confusion.* NoodlesAtNight 8:26 pm *Already inching closer to Prowl.*

[[He's going to have to replace the doors again too.]] *Long-suffering vent. Oh well. At least Buzzsaw makes good use of the glass scraps.* Angorumoa 8:27 pm *Shrugs.* I had a bit... excess power that needed an outlet. It is only limited to about... thirty feet in a circle outside. Boomtank 8:27 pm Primus that was a bad idea. verdigrisprowl 8:27 pm Did it have to be a circle that's populated? SpecsTheSpectralDragon 8:28 pm ...Docent! Don't hit a hatchling! verdigrisprowl 8:28 pm She murdered someone. NoodlesAtNight 8:28 pm [[Who was going to have them murdered first.]] SCProwl 8:28 pm *Prowl's vents stutter at the mention of Primus* Angorumoa 8:29 pm No one was around other than a flobster that Ravage ate. Not going to do any harm to the area. verdigrisprowl 8:29 pm ... She /murdered/ someone. SpecsTheSpectralDragon 8:29 pm So he's going to sock a hatchling in the face? That doesn't teach her anything but not to trust him. verdigrisprowl 8:30 pm I don't think a punch is too harsh for a murderer. Angorumoa 8:30 pm [we lost a noodle] SpecsTheSpectralDragon 8:30 pm ((oh shit soundwave's gone)) ((ANARCHY)) ((set the chat on fire)) NoodlesAtNight 8:30 pm ((trying to make my screen stop dying sorry)) Boomtank 8:30 pm Primus, what about this area? We're kinda in it? Aren't we? SpecsTheSpectralDragon 8:30 pm ((valid)) SpecsTheSpectralDragon 8:31 pm *guh. the riddling human disappoints her.* verdigrisprowl 8:31 pm And why spend that energy on snow instead of... making more energon? Angorumoa 8:31 pm I said thirty /feet/, not miles. It isn't a massive area. The dragon go roll around in the snow if she wishes to. Not going to cause harm to her nor the landscape. NoodlesAtNight 8:32 pm [[...If it isn't acidic, then very well.]] verdigrisprowl 8:32 pm That's gonna rust. SpecsTheSpectralDragon 8:32 pm *excuse the dragon as she /zooms/ out the door. SNOW TIME.* NoodlesAtNight 8:33 pm [[We will scrub it in the morning. The dragon has been injured for weeks. He would see her enjoy herself.]] Angorumoa 8:33 pm You know energon in most cases is my /blood/? And no it wont. It is on a self recycling loop. Not actually touching the ground. verdigrisprowl 8:33 pm You know that energon is ALL our blood? NoodlesAtNight 8:34 pm ((i'm gonna restart computer, brb - scp has remote)) SCProwl 8:34 pm I'm going outside. If you don't mind, I'll keep the video connection, Captain? verdigrisprowl 8:34 pm Go ahead. It won't be disorienting? Boomtank 8:35 pm -finishes drink and kinda hides under the blanket now- SCProwl 8:35 pm Better than-- *remembers the last time she didn't fall into everyone's deluded belief that this person is Primus* --i'll be fine. I need air. verdigrisprowl 8:35 pm Very well. Angorumoa 8:35 pm *Chin stroke.* I do, Prowl. I also remember the time I was shedding energon as a naga... Those were very early and interesting days when the Grays were more active. SCProwl 8:36 pm *stands up and leaves* Angorumoa 8:36 pm [Those were very weird but fun days. M!A everywhere.] verdigrisprowl 8:37 pm A "naga"? SCProwl 8:38 pm *ducks out into the snow and immediately starts scanning what's already fallen for acidity* Angorumoa 8:38 pm A naga is a hybrid of a snake and a human, somewhat. From the chest up is the humanoid and the bottom is a long snake of varying description. [Unrelated: STUPIDCRICKETSINMYEARS] SCProwl 8:38 pm ((Zsasz~~~ SpecsTheSpectralDragon 8:38 pm *the dragon is rolling around and kicking snow into the air* Angorumoa 8:38 pm [Tinnitus I think is goddamn horrible] verdigrisprowl 8:39 pm Sorry, snake and a "human"? You mean, from the chest up, it looks like, uh...... /us/? Boomtank 8:39 pm Grayfaces got to you too? Angorumoa 8:40 pm *The snow outside was just that, snow. 'Fluffy' frozen water that melted when it warmed. It melted faster while the dragon rolled about in it.*

Ah, yes. Sorry. It was one of the many hybrid designs that were going around. Less popular than the mer. verdigrisprowl 8:40 pm Well, there's one new rookie down. verdigrisprowl 8:41 pm *gives him a quick funny look for comparing the anatomy to aliens instead of, like, themselves; but then back to the movie.* SCProwl 8:41 pm *low acidity, then. so her paint won't get ruined then, that's fine. uses her hand to guide her to a good place to lean against the wall* You're missing the show. Angorumoa 8:42 pm *Shrug. They shared the bipedal shape with humans and certain other species that were like that. It was a common design that was semi-efficient. Having free front forelimbs was a very good thing for a species.* NoodlesAtNight 8:42 pm *Soundwave startles back to awareness. Had to reassure the minicon complex that the snow was expected and not dangerous.* Boomtank 8:42 pm -don't mind as he gets up to trot outside to see the snow, blanket trailing behind him- SpecsTheSpectralDragon 8:43 pm *the dragon mrrps, looking over at Not-VerdigrisProwl Prowl* It's nice to see snow here. There's plenty of it at home, but... verdigrisprowl 8:43 pm She shouldn't be there. He's a mass of stitched-together red flags. NoodlesAtNight 8:43 pm [[No, she shouldn't. She should have left when she got up.]] NoodlesAtNight 8:44 pm *Somewhat worried now.* SCProwl 8:45 pm Is it acidic on your planet as well? *tenses slightly at Blaster walking back out, recognizing him by the sounds he's making* It's low-acidity, Blaster. Angorumoa 8:45 pm *Might end up transforming the snow into a proper resource at the end of the night since he had been putting his energy into it. It wouldn't just be a 'pretty' waste.* Boomtank 8:45 pm Oh. Nice. Hi. Sorry if I startled you. SpecsTheSpectralDragon 8:46 pm It's not as acidic as normal Cybertronian rain. It's more or less the typical pH of pure water. verdigrisprowl 8:46 pm ... He could at least tell Gym why he's doing it. Maybe not who's got the hostage, but. SCProwl 8:46 pm It's fine. Water can be quite acidic to some species actually. NoodlesAtNight 8:47 pm *Notices most everyone has gone outside.*

*.........Settles up right proper against Prowl. Maybe a tiny shoulder nip. Not like anyone but Primus is watching anyway* verdigrisprowl 8:48 pm *if he weren't on camera duty, he'd return it as a kiss.* NoodlesAtNight 8:48 pm *The thought is appreciated*

[[...He can understand the Penguin's rage, in a way. He does not have a mother, but - well. He has others.]] Boomtank 8:49 pm -flops more than sits on ground- I mean, the dragon isn't in pain, so... Angorumoa 8:49 pm *Even then is only half paying attention. Prowl and Soundwave were cute. A good pair they made for helping each other and more. Don't mind his grin. Thinking to himself while keeping track of the outside conversation.* NoodlesAtNight 8:50 pm [[And Theo plays a dangerous game. Penguin /did/ erase all the competition in a year.]] SpecsTheSpectralDragon 8:50 pm Right, it can be. I forget, sometimes. verdigrisprowl 8:51 pm *taps Soundwave's arm* Just so you're forewarned, if someone ever takes you hostage, I'm continuing with business as usual and taking it on faith that you can extract yourself. SCProwl 8:51 pm What's your planet like? It's organic, yes? SCProwl 8:52 pm *would appreciate alternate not kissing Soundwave if she knew about it* NoodlesAtNight 8:53 pm *Glances over.* [[He accepts this warning and the inherent compliment. Though he does hope that you will mind any messages he sends if - for some rare reason - he cannot get out on his own.]] *Pause.* [[Would you like him to react similarly, or...?]] SpecsTheSpectralDragon 8:53 pm Yes, it is. It's rather different, really. It was very weird to see stars for the first time- I come from a pocket dimension, as they're called, so there's been only the one solar system for my entire life. It's a cold planet, so more snow than rain. But we make it work. We got to the moon! And built a space elevator and satellites to facilitate transit. SCProwl 8:55 pm A pocket dimension. Your universe has a reachable stopping point? Is that how you were able to access other universes? verdigrisprowl 8:55 pm Depends on what I have to do to get you out. I'm not interested in being blackmailed. NoodlesAtNight 8:56 pm [[Why would he blackmail you?]] verdigrisprowl 8:56 pm No, whoever has you hostage. Presumably, if you're being kept hostage and I'm being told and you can't get out, it's because they're trying to use you to get something out of me. SpecsTheSpectralDragon 8:56 pm Ah... I mean, technically, it might? I haven't found it yet. What happened was that an alternate of the Soundwave hosting us was accidentally sent to my dimension- which was a very cruel thing to do, because there were defense systems emplaced that could well have killed him, and there's no energon there. SCProwl 8:56 pm *huffs in annoyance at Galavan's acting* Boomtank 8:57 pm -curious blink at the other Prowl- Something happen? NoodlesAtNight 8:57 pm [[Ah. Well, you needn't kill anyone. Should it come to that, his deployers would take care of that part.]] [[Preferably his captor.]] *Huff.* SCProwl 8:57 pm Galavan asked for Gordon to support his campaign for mayor. verdigrisprowl 8:58 pm Preferably. SpecsTheSpectralDragon 8:58 pm Galvan is going to reap what he sows. Boomtank 8:58 pm ....huh? Oh, the show. Yeah, that's kinda ranging in on stupid Angorumoa 8:59 pm *Small grin.* Guess I should stay hands off if something serious were to happen to either of you? Let you work out your own fates. *Shh. Small butting in.* NoodlesAtNight 8:59 pm *Glance over.* [[Well. He wouldn't say no to divine interference. He'd be a fool if he did.]] verdigrisprowl 9:00 pm Oh, well, if you're offering. Angorumoa 9:00 pm *Laughs.* SCProwl 9:00 pm It's interesting that so many of the universes that have found their way to others has been by accident or space bridge malfunctions. NoodlesAtNight 9:01 pm [[What can he say? We are on the pragmatic side.]] SCProwl 9:01 pm Blaster, how did you find your way into another universe the first time? NoodlesAtNight 9:02 pm [[Hm. Frenzy would like that one.]] Boomtank 9:02 pm ...stupidity. SCProwl 9:02 pm Intentional stupidity or accidental? verdigrisprowl 9:02 pm Mm. They kicked her friend. Serena's gonna kill them. Boomtank 9:02 pm Accidental Angorumoa 9:03 pm Even with the excuse of 'divine intervention,' not many would believe it. *Chuckles.* Casually nudging things to go the right way rather than just uplifting from danger. NoodlesAtNight 9:03 pm [[The napalm one, mind. Not the kicker.]]

[[And he would not complain if she did.]] Boomtank 9:04 pm I stumbled through a rift, and luckily found my way home...and then....had help developing a way to do so safely NoodlesAtNight 9:04 pm [[Many things are drastically changed by a casual nudge. He would not -- where does he find a warehouse like /that/?]] verdigrisprowl 9:04 pm Believe, shmelieve. Anyone who wants to improve the odds is welcome to. SpecsTheSpectralDragon 9:04 pm Ah, I said accidentally. He was intended to be bridged to a dead universe. My universe isn't dead. verdigrisprowl 9:04 pm ((this looks like it could be a location in borderlands.)) SCProwl 9:04 pm *Prowl knows where one used to be* NoodlesAtNight 9:04 pm ((i had so hoped you would think so too)) SpecsTheSpectralDragon 9:04 pm It was an attempted murder, I should have said. NoodlesAtNight 9:05 pm *Minor startle* verdigrisprowl 9:05 pm ((friendly home depot style supermarket with friendly speaker announcements full of weapons and explosives)) *snorts at the explosion.* NoodlesAtNight 9:06 pm *Lips draw back.* [[What are they /eating./ ]] verdigrisprowl 9:06 pm They called it fun dew. Angorumoa 9:06 pm *Grins then shakes his helm.* I am a god of favoritism, but such happens. Can't be there every moment for everyone. *Troublesome. Very much so. Anyway!

Rolls his shoulders.* Hmm. NoodlesAtNight 9:06 pm [[It doesn't look fun. It looks... melted.]] NoodlesAtNight 9:07 pm [[Which is why he so appreciates all the moments you have been. Thank you.]] NoodlesAtNight quietly hugs brigit)) 9:08 pm verdigrisprowl 9:08 pm Some melted things are good. Have you tried warm gallium? SpecsTheSpectralDragon 9:08 pm ((d'aw)) Angorumoa 9:09 pm *Dips his helm.* Things that feel so small, but had such a big impact to where we are now. Such as you being my temporary vassal of transference. SCProwl 9:09 pm I've never been told how Soundwave and Ratchet stumbled onto another universe. It happened while they were on Earth during the war. verdigrisprowl 9:10 pm Being what a what now? NoodlesAtNight 9:10 pm [[Not in a long time. Is it that good? The gallium.]]

*Soundwave looks over to Primus.* [[Whenever it is needed, sir. He will not mind.]] SpecsTheSpectralDragon 9:10 pm But they all got out okay, yes? The one I met... It would have been very bad if he hadn't been able to get help. Even though he only had the one deployer, his fuel supplies started low. I'm glad I could help him build the bridge, but I wish I knew what happened to him. He scrambled everything after he left, and I've never found him. NoodlesAtNight 9:10 pm *And because Soundwave can hear things through the bugs outside:* @SCP: [[Shockwave's fault. Another space bridge incident.]] SCProwl 9:11 pm *eugh eye* verdigrisprowl 9:12 pm I like it. Better in mixes, but I'll take it by itself in shots too. Angorumoa 9:12 pm Preferably I won't need to call on you for something so extreme again. SCProwl 9:12 pm *not even surprised Soundwave can hear the conversation outside* @SW: [[Of course it was.]] NoodlesAtNight 9:13 pm *Considers this.* [[He thinks there is some behind the bar. He will try it tonight after the others have left?]]

[[And preferably not - he'd like to think he does a better job of protecting you than that - but should it be necessary.]] [[Hm. At least she still cares about her own health. That will help her survive their mistreatement until she can get assistance.]] Angorumoa 9:14 pm And I may of used the wrong word, but, it was close. *Looks at Prowl beside Soundwave.* It isn't exactly a story many know of. It is... quite old. A reason Soundwave has, well... *Glances at the slender mech. Prowl does know about the shard?* NoodlesAtNight 9:14 pm [[...Though not as much as if she stopped burning things.]] *Soundwave nods. Yes he does.* verdigrisprowl 9:15 pm *without looking, reaches over to point toward Soundwave's chest questioningly.* NoodlesAtNight 9:16 pm ((i love edwige's hair)) SpecsTheSpectralDragon 9:16 pm ((it's so floofy)) Angorumoa 9:18 pm *Nods.* The short of the story, since there is no one beyond us listening, is that I owe Soundwave much. He acted as the conduit, close enough, for me to temporarily reside in all my essence and power into a globe of Cybertron. I was... nearly dead at that time. As you can see, I am very much alive with my power contained in a proper body.

*Chuckles.* Why I do believe Soundwave thought he was a /thief/ for a long while because a piece was left behind. Angorumoa 9:19 pm [story years old that my lazy ass never completed but is canon fhskdjf] verdigrisprowl 9:19 pm He certainly told ME he was a thief. SCProwl 9:19 pm The multiverse does have its benefits. Boomtank 9:20 pm -snorts- Benefits. Right. Angorumoa 9:20 pm *Looks at Soundwave in amusement.* Better to be thought of as a thief, hrm~? SpecsTheSpectralDragon 9:20 pm I like being able to see stars. They were terrifying at first... But I like them, now. verdigrisprowl 9:20 pm I'm beginning to get the impression he blames himself for a great many sins he never committed. NoodlesAtNight 9:21 pm *Vents. They're ganging up on him now.* SCProwl 9:21 pm When Bevel returned to Cybertron she brought everything she learned about other universes. Millions of different universes. Finding the Soundwave you helped would not be an easy task. NoodlesAtNight 9:21 pm [[He has committed enough of them.]] SpecsTheSpectralDragon 9:22 pm Goddess, no, I know that. And I'm not sure he intended to be found. If that's the case, I never will. verdigrisprowl 9:23 pm *clutches a little tighter to Soundwave* Angorumoa 9:23 pm *Walks over and around. Grinning, he leaned carefully on the back of it. Leans his helm down to give Soundwave a gentle connection. You know he teases out of love.* verdigrisprowl 9:23 pm *it's hard enough when Butch is on the screen when they AREN'T actively forcing him to do things he doesn't want to.* *or talking about his conditioning.* NoodlesAtNight 9:24 pm *Holds tight. It's all right. You're here and nobody will touch you.* @P: [[Ravage tells him things will get better soon.]] NoodlesAtNight 9:25 pm *Soundwave lifts a feeler to gently pat Primus on the helm. He knows. If he didn't know, he would have a very different reaction.* [[Don't stand there, put him out.]] verdigrisprowl 9:25 pm @S «Appreciated.» SpecsTheSpectralDragon 9:26 pm ((dying on fire does not a great cop make)) Angorumoa 9:26 pm *Hums. The air around them warming gently in an appreciative, safe, air.* Boomtank 9:27 pm ((ah fuck SCProwl 9:28 pm *yeah, that'll end well for Gordon* verdigrisprowl 9:29 pm I feel like there are probably less unpleasant ways to prove that the knife is sharp. NoodlesAtNight 9:29 pm [[Slice a paper. A cloth. Anything else.]] SCProwl 9:30 pm *shifts slightly to run one pede through the snow building up round her* Boomtank 9:30 pm -should maybe head inside? Or not? Hmn...- verdigrisprowl 9:32 pm ... Is... *squints at the back* Is he just. Strangling back there. SCProwl 9:32 pm *not the worst idea for a removed limb* NoodlesAtNight 9:32 pm [[He is.]] [[Or trying not to.]] NoodlesAtNight 9:33 pm [[That's an innovative way to go about it. Ratbat never mentioned it.]] verdigrisprowl 9:34 pm I also feel like there are easier ways to get councilmen's support that don't leave them able to say later on when they're feeling slightly safer that they were put on a stool with a noose. Gym's completely out of line. He SHOULD be reported and his strike team is right to call him out and report him. NoodlesAtNight 9:35 pm [[Oh, there are. A potential slip, he hopes.]]

[[And he hopes they do report him.]] NoodlesAtNight 9:36 pm *Bristle. He's pretty sure he knows what this is supposed to be. Does not approve.* [[Do not bother waiting. Burn the lot.]] verdigrisprowl 9:37 pm Don't burn the lot. There are imprisoned slaves inside the lot. NoodlesAtNight 9:37 pm [[Burn the lot after freeing them.]] verdigrisprowl 9:38 pm Maybe they shouldn't be showing their faces. NoodlesAtNight 9:38 pm [[Stop showing off and aim it lower-- oh, for Primus' sake. Wasted opportunity.]] NoodlesAtNight 9:39 pm ((capn barnes is so mad he broke netflix)) Boomtank 9:39 pm ((yup SCProwl 9:39 pm *well at least she can agree with Barnes about some things* verdigrisprowl 9:39 pm All right, the captain gets a point. Gym definitely deserves that note in his file. NoodlesAtNight 9:39 pm [[IT IS NOT WAR.]] verdigrisprowl 9:39 pm And immediately loses it for calling this a war. verdigrisprowl 9:40 pm There ARE gray areas. That doesn't make it acceptable to wander into the shadows just because you're mad and feel like taking it out on someone's chassis. NoodlesAtNight 9:41 pm *Hmm. A good move. Soundwave huffs at Bruce's tactic. He used to like that one himself.* Angorumoa 9:41 pm [*dying* mind if I drop an image here I think all of you could appreciate? or would it mess up the log, puff?] Boomtank 9:41 pm ..... -okay, inside he goes- verdigrisprowl 9:42 pm ((wouldn't mess up my log, just put the link in parentheses so that it actually saves.)) NoodlesAtNight 9:42 pm ((i'm interested in seeing)) [[Welcome back, Blaster. Enjoy the horrible, cold, wet, sticking snow?]] verdigrisprowl 9:42 pm ((parentheses or whatever else)) Angorumoa 9:42 pm [lesse if it works] [ https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/413443912884158464/526939670857252874/fa8.png?width=417&height=468 ] NoodlesAtNight snorts)) 9:42 pm Boomtank 9:43 pm ((hehe verdigrisprowl 9:43 pm ((yeup)) Boomtank 9:43 pm -shakes out blanket- Kinda? It was new, so there's that SCProwl 9:43 pm *admirable defense tactics from the newbuild* NoodlesAtNight 9:43 pm [[You've never encountered it before?]] SpecsTheSpectralDragon 9:43 pm *the dragon is going to roll in this snow for as long as it lasts* NoodlesAtNight 9:44 pm *He can see Harvey doesn't like the Strike Force either. Sensible human.* [[/Run./]] SCProwl 9:44 pm *will remain out here until the being claiming to be Primus leaves or the show is over, whichever happens first* verdigrisprowl 9:44 pm *at least they obey the rules.* NoodlesAtNight 9:44 pm [[Oh, what a move - impressive, that.]] Boomtank 9:45 pm Not really...I've never been to Earth long enough. NoodlesAtNight 9:45 pm [[Perhaps you should go sneak about a while. He is told this is a good time of year for horrific mounds of snow in different parts of the planet.]] SCProwl 9:45 pm *almost sorry to hear Blaster go back inside, but it's fine* NoodlesAtNight 9:45 pm [[It will also be a good time in another six months, but we are not six months from now.]] Angorumoa 9:46 pm *The snow will last until the movie night ends. Then it'll be turned into something else. Maybe mercury or another liquid for energy. Except if Prowl wants to take some. It'll keep snowing in a jar. /not-magic/* Boomtank 9:46 pm I'd...rather not. Boomtank 9:47 pm Snow is...new, yes, but I'd rather not deal with it again SpecsTheSpectralDragon 9:47 pm ((okay, I've got to sneak off. dragon is having snow party time. night all!)) Angorumoa 9:48 pm [night, have a good christmas!] NoodlesAtNight 9:48 pm ((fun fact: the character bridgit is, is traditionally a guy in the comics. recently they took her from the show and put her in as them. *wiggles* )) SCProwl 9:48 pm *she might take a small sample, it's rare the precipitation on Cybertron has so little acidity* Boomtank 9:48 pm ((g'night! NoodlesAtNight 9:48 pm ((night dragon!!)) [[Pity he didn't blow his hand off.]] SCProwl 9:48 pm ((Bridgit <3 verdigrisprowl 9:49 pm (("put her in as them"? what, like, changed the original dude's pronouns to they/them, or took out the dude and put in the girl instead, or?)) NoodlesAtNight 9:50 pm ((like she made her own appearance as that particular villain - there have been multiple with the name and she's the latest)) [[Not undeserved.]] verdigrisprowl 9:50 pm ((ah)) Boomtank 9:51 pm ............... -hiding in the blanket- NoodlesAtNight 9:51 pm *Carefully pulls it up higher over Blaster's head.* Angorumoa 9:51 pm [GOOD GOING] Boomtank 9:52 pm -muffled 'Thank you' from under it- Angorumoa 9:52 pm [*coughcough* speaking of bbq, boom, you did eat today right? NoodlesAtNight 9:52 pm ((oh my god)) verdigrisprowl 9:52 pm ((hey cro did YOU eat today)) NoodlesAtNight 9:52 pm ((i did! twice)) verdigrisprowl 9:53 pm ((good)) Boomtank 9:53 pm ((leftovers ((but yes I had at least one meal Angorumoa 9:53 pm [we're 50/50 or 30/70 adults capable verdigrisprowl 9:53 pm *squeezes a little tighter. are they going to help him? undo the brainwashing?* Boomtank 9:53 pm ((yup! NoodlesAtNight 9:54 pm *Pets the hand and nods.* verdigrisprowl 9:54 pm *is fine with him getting attacked strangled as long as it's going to set him free.* NoodlesAtNight 9:55 pm [[Fool. If he doesn't keep it, you will be out a valuable source of information. Learn to bend when it is important.]] NoodlesAtNight 9:56 pm [[Besides - imagine all she knows about the other jobs they pulled. She could give closure to many cases and identify many who hired them.]] Angorumoa 9:56 pm [Aaaaaaaaaaah! I don't visit my email or facebook vert often, but my friend, my "twin" as we joked in school, just got engaged.] NoodlesAtNight 9:56 pm ((congrats to them!!)) verdigrisprowl 9:58 pm ... That's a hell of a thing to say to an orphan. NoodlesAtNight 9:58 pm [[Yes. Rather insensitive.]] verdigrisprowl 9:58 pm ((look at bruce.)) ((he's six.)) NoodlesAtNight 9:59 pm [[...He wouldn't.]] verdigrisprowl 9:59 pm ... He might. Boomtank 10:00 pm -still hiding, and not thinking of changing it any time soon- SCProwl 10:00 pm *this is going to end badly and Prowl isn't looking forward to it* NoodlesAtNight 10:00 pm [[Oh, good, she went back.]] NoodlesAtNight 10:01 pm [[She does their jobs for them and they arrest her. Hmph.]] verdigrisprowl 10:02 pm She HAS committed several murders at this point. NoodlesAtNight 10:03 pm [[The world is better off for her having done so.]] *Pause.* [[...But he realizes that is illegal. Still. She did not deserve that.]] Boomtank 10:03 pm -very glad he's hiding, he heard that- verdigrisprowl 10:05 pm Mm? The world has several more murders in it. It's good that they were stopped. But. Boomtank 10:06 pm That's not going to help.... NoodlesAtNight 10:07 pm [[There, you see. You've lost her.]] verdigrisprowl 10:07 pm To be fair, she... pretty unambiguously set herself on fire. NoodlesAtNight 10:07 pm [[There were other ways to go to her.]] NoodlesAtNight 10:08 pm [[And she roasted the vehicle. The rest was an a-- oh no.]] NoodlesAtNight 10:09 pm *...Personally, he would be thankful to someone who saved him from a partner like that. But he can see how someone else would be disturbed by it.* verdigrisprowl 10:10 pm He's got a hand around her neck. I'd say he's exactly the man she thinks he is. NoodlesAtNight 10:11 pm *Shakes his head. Poor Kristen.* verdigrisprowl 10:11 pm Do CPR, you idiot. NoodlesAtNight 10:11 pm [[Will that help her? He thought it was for humans who had drowned.]] verdigrisprowl 10:11 pm You had her neck for, what, about ten seconds? It takes about, oh, thirty to actually kill one. It's not too late for CPR. It gets air moving again when the air's stopped. Works for drowning, strangulation, suffocation... NoodlesAtNight 10:12 pm [[Then he has killed her twice. She deserved better.]] NoodlesAtNight 10:13 pm [[...Hm.]] Boomtank 10:14 pm -is it over?- NoodlesAtNight 10:14 pm *It is indeed over. Soundwave gently taps Blaster on the arm through the blanket.* Boomtank 10:15 pm -peers out at Soundwave-....I really don't like fire... NoodlesAtNight 10:15 pm [[Oh? He did not know that. Would you prefer to be informed of large fires in the future?]] Boomtank 10:15 pm If that's not too much trouble... NoodlesAtNight 10:15 pm [[It is not.]] SCProwl 10:16 pm *ah it's over. pings Soundwave, Blaster, and her alternate goodnight and ends the video feed* Boomtank 10:16 pm Then, yes please. verdigrisprowl 10:16 pm *returns ping* Angorumoa 10:16 pm [*made self sad*] [*but happy for them* SCProwl 10:16 pm ((ngl but she sounds like she wants to fuck the grinch verdigrisprowl 10:17 pm ((she does)) Boomtank 10:17 pm -returns the ping- NoodlesAtNight 10:17 pm *Bobs head at SCProwl. Goodnight. Do not fall into any drifts on the way out.* Boomtank 10:17 pm ((juuuuust a lil verdigrisprowl 10:17 pm ((you're a mean one mr grinch as sung by that one lady in the jim carrey version)) verdigrisprowl 10:18 pm *ah, his eyes are his own again* SCProwl 10:18 pm ((accurate, puff NoodlesAtNight 10:18 pm ((why are you sad??? @primus-mun)) Angorumoa 10:18 pm [Cause I decided to stay on Facebook to remove some people, mostly ponies, and saw my old boyfriend.] Boomtank 10:19 pm ((ouch NoodlesAtNight 10:19 pm ((oof)) SCProwl 10:19 pm *definitely won't, though her tires do skid a little before she gets them fully beneath her and takes off back to Praxus* Angorumoa 10:19 pm [Yeah, I'm the one who broke it off too btw. So long ago... And seems he is now happily married. With by seeming to check on other things, appeas to have a babbeh Boomtank 10:19 pm ((holy shit Angorumoa 10:20 pm [I knew him, like, so flipping long ago. He looks exactly the same.] NoodlesAtNight 10:20 pm *Soundwave closes his optics and lets himself float off to the music. The dancing is nice, but he wants to picture something other than fleshlings dancing to that.* verdigrisprowl 10:21 pm *checks to ensure that no one is looking specifically in his direction at this exact moment in time.* Boomtank 10:21 pm -still, he got a blanket out of this, so he's good- verdigrisprowl 10:21 pm *coast clear for .5 seconds? smooch.* Angorumoa 10:21 pm [I'm happy for him to be a happy. He's a great guy. I just couldn't move onto things he wanted, so... whee I'm gunna faceplant on discord now] NoodlesAtNight 10:22 pm *Startle! ... Quick smooch back. Maybe a little biolight pulse.*

((i'm so sorry. i hope this sadness passes for you and that your year to come brings you things you want)) Angorumoa 10:22 pm *You know he's right there?* verdigrisprowl 10:23 pm *yeah but he wasn't looking AT them at that precise moment in time.* Angorumoa 10:23 pm [Sad pang, but as I said, I'm happy that he's happy with a wifu.] Boomtank 10:23 pm -going to dump the blanket over Primus' helm- NoodlesAtNight 10:23 pm *Please. Prowl accused you of being his dom once. That overrides any possible awkwardness over a small smooch.* verdigrisprowl 10:23 pm *it was a /metaphor/* *and a /good/ metaphor* Angorumoa 10:23 pm *Internal cackle. Has a blanket now. How dare.* Boomtank 10:25 pm -and then just...kinda drape on him.- Home now? NoodlesAtNight 10:25 pm @P: [[Been sitting on that?]] verdigrisprowl 10:25 pm @S «Since you bit my shoulder.» Angorumoa 10:25 pm Yeah, you have to get back home safely, Blaster. NoodlesAtNight 10:25 pm *Turn to stare.* [[Your patience is legendary.]]

*Glance to the others.* [[He can arrange a bridge, if safety is a concern.]] Boomtank 10:26 pm Hey. I'm not that bad.... verdigrisprowl 10:26 pm @S «It wasn't that long.» Angorumoa 10:26 pm *Chuckle.* Boomtank 10:27 pm It malfunctioned /once/ NoodlesAtNight 10:27 pm @P: [[You say that, and yet he remembers you staring at the ceiling like it had done something terrible to you and waiting to run upstairs with him the night he needed to speak to Primus. Tonight, he had no idea.]] Boomtank 10:28 pm ...okay, so that time nearly got me killed, but it was only once. verdigrisprowl 10:28 pm *AHEM* @S «... That delay was unanticipated.» Angorumoa 10:28 pm These are things you don't want your guard to know, Blaster. Boomtank 10:28 pm ................... Boomtank 10:29 pm please don't tell him Angorumoa 10:29 pm [nazis in the nutcracker] NoodlesAtNight 10:29 pm *Softy huffing.* ((wha?)) Angorumoa 10:29 pm [XD the nostalgiacritic reviewed a nutcracker, the most hated version with nazis in it Boomtank 10:30 pm ((ooooh Angorumoa 10:30 pm Go home in the safe bridge, Blaster. I'll avoid telling Har what you said. NoodlesAtNight 10:30 pm ((well i won't have that shown here and i don't care to think about such things tonight)) verdigrisprowl 10:30 pm ((agreed)) Angorumoa 10:30 pm [that whole movie was a big NOPEWTF] Boomtank 10:31 pm Fine, fine, I'm going. Angorumoa 10:31 pm [on good news, it is STILL SNOWING] Boomtank 10:31 pm ((FUCK NoodlesAtNight 10:31 pm ((god, good luck)) Boomtank 10:31 pm ((gonna need it Angorumoa 10:31 pm [put a noodle in a parka and THROW to enjoy the snow for a few seconds] NoodlesAtNight 10:31 pm ((last one and then public stream closes off)) NoodlesAtNight 10:32 pm @P: [[And what would you do if he found an excuse to delay tonight? Out of curiosity.]] verdigrisprowl 10:32 pm @S «I got my kiss in.» Boomtank 10:32 pm ((g'night and thanks for the stream! NoodlesAtNight 10:32 pm ((night! and thank you for comin)) NoodlesAtNight 10:33 pm @P: [[And that is all you want? Well. If you insist, but he confesses he /is/ disappointed.]] verdigrisprowl 10:34 pm @S «It's all I was waiting on. Anything else is a pleasant bonus.» NoodlesAtNight 10:35 pm @P: [[Ah. Fortunately for you, he is feeling generous.]] *Gonna take one of those hands around his arm, lift it up, and nibble the knuckles. What can he say? He's been in a biting mood since he thought about it earlier.* [[Do you know, it is rather convenient staying with this half mask. He thinks he'll keep it that way.]] verdigrisprowl 10:36 pm @S «Do I still get your optics to myself?» NoodlesAtNight 10:37 pm @P: [[Without question.]]

*Soundwave stretches.* [[But for the moment he should clean up.]] verdigrisprowl 10:37 pm Can I help? NoodlesAtNight 10:38 pm *.......Considers this. Prowl asks so often. And he's pretty sure he can trust Prowl's definition of clean more than the twins'.*

*Oh, why not.*

[[Yes, thank you. He would like that.]] verdigrisprowl 10:39 pm *a milestone! he gets to help clean.* Angorumoa 10:39 pm *Aren't they cute. Don't mind him, he was still there grinning like a bit of a youthful mech, as he pulls back. Dislodges the Ravage who may or may not of been there still.

There is thirty feet of constant snow he must see to and remove outside. Shift it into... something. Maybe a few barrels of mercury or another metal. Soundwave can figure out what it can be used for once Primus has cleaned up his own mess.* NoodlesAtNight 10:40 pm *Ravage was blissfully napping, as it happens. Emphasis on was, as he is now jolting awake with a confused /brrrm?/ and vacating Primus' shoulder. Some mattresses, honestly.* NoodlesAtNight 10:41 pm *Primus wouldn't happen to consider making it gallium, would he? Just a thought.* verdigrisprowl 10:41 pm *Too Much Gallium* NoodlesAtNight 10:42 pm *Rubbish. You're going to live at least another few million years. That's plenty spoiling time.* Angorumoa 10:42 pm *Sorry, Ravage. Out of apology, he'll turn a bit of the snow into a toy flobster he can destroy to his spark's content. That or torment the other minis with it. Good?

Gallium? Can do.* NoodlesAtNight 10:43 pm *Mmm, destruction. He'll take it.* Angorumoa 10:44 pm *A pounce-sized flobster toy that'll take time to completely wreck gets tossed in a minute after Primus went outside. It'll last a day or a week depending on Ravage's time spent.

The rest will end up in barrels outside the door. The twins can bring them on in later.* NoodlesAtNight 10:46 pm *Soundwave wobbles some gratitude in Primus' direction. One way or another, they'll make good use of that.*

*For now, he'll keep picking up furniture and moving it back where it goes.*

[[Hm. Perhaps he should enlist your help after business hours as well.]] *Humor ping.* verdigrisprowl 10:47 pm Do I get to stay over those nights if I do? *humor ping* NoodlesAtNight 10:47 pm *Stops mid-lift to look over at Prowl.* [[...Would you want to stay over those nights?]] Angorumoa 10:47 pm [nini you two, have a good christmas and/or general holiday-ness <3] verdigrisprowl 10:48 pm ((gnight)) NoodlesAtNight 10:48 pm ((goodnight! have a good day tomorrow and a good new year <3 <3 )) verdigrisprowl 10:50 pm *the snacks that he's seen being put up before, he's putting back where they belong; the rest he doesn't he's organizing neatly on the counter. But he pauses to consider Soundwave's question.* ... I don't dislike the schedule we already have. I—also don't dislike the idea of spending more time over, but—I am—concerned, about the possibility of spending too much time together. And either getting on each other's nerves or sacrificing other relationships. NoodlesAtNight 10:57 pm *Soundwave sets the item where it goes at last and eyes the puddles from the snow tracked in earlier. He'll fetch a mop. It's tiny - meant for one of the deployers to use - but he can hold it in the tendrils and he doesn't feel like going upstairs for the bigger one.*

[[He doesn't dislike the schedule or the idea either, if that is any comfort. And you do not get on his nerves.]] *Mop, mop, mop. Can't have rust inside the club.* [[But he does not wish to get on yours, or to cause you to sacrifice your other relationships either. That is why he asked whether or not you were serious about it.]] *Wrings mop into an empty cube. It's going to get washed and recycled anyway, so.* [[He will not take offense if you say no. Concerns must be controlled and balanced; he understands that.]] verdigrisprowl 11:00 pm And you don't get on mine. Nor do I predict with certainty that you would—but I don't know if that would change if we doubled the amount of social time we spent together. Anyway, it's not a "no"— a list of concerns IS my answer. NoodlesAtNight 11:03 pm ((rabbit what are you DOING tonight)) verdigrisprowl 11:03 pm ((gee prowl, why does rabbit let you have TWO soundwaves?)) NoodlesAtNight 11:03 pm ((LMAO)) NoodlesAtNight 11:08 pm [[He can assure you he would always keep at least two - perhaps three - nights to himself. He does require down time, and the deployers need time and attention of their own. One of the most understanding and cooperative mechs you may be when it comes to them, but he does not think you would care for getting caught up in their habit of piling on him to sleep.]] *More soft laughter.* NoodlesAtNight 11:09 pm [[Although Zori would probably manage to nap in your thigh compartment rather comfortably. He did say it was cozy.]] verdigrisprowl 11:09 pm ... Well, they ARE about a tenth the size of the Constructicons... *humor ping* verdigrisprowl 11:10 pm I'm glad my thigh compartment meets his approval, at any rate. NoodlesAtNight 11:10 pm *Pings back.* [[Very well. He'll tell Buzzsaw to come roost on your shoulder at once.]] verdigrisprowl 11:11 pm *huff* NoodlesAtNight 11:13 pm [[Not that you would be expected to spend all of the other nights here, of course. You have things to do with your time as well. He is simply saying that you aren't going to need to worry about being asked to stay every night, if that is any comfort of any kind.]] verdigrisprowl 11:14 pm I didn't expect you would, but I appreciate hearing it. NoodlesAtNight 11:14 pm *Nods.* NoodlesAtNight 11:18 pm *...He doesn't know what else to say so he'll just put the mop and cube away and park himself at the bar for a standing shot of something warm (but not boozy, naturally)*

[[Well. He has run that into the ground. Had you anything else on your mind?]] verdigrisprowl 11:19 pm No, you didn't. *he gets another smooch.* ... Would YOU like me to stay over more nights? verdigrisprowl 11:21 pm *... was the smooch too much. he's overthinking it now. don't mind him silently fretting over here.* NoodlesAtNight 11:25 pm *Soundwave's engines tell Prowl exactly how pleased he is with that there smooch. It's not too much at all.*

[[...He wouldn't mind one more, at least. These movie nights make a fine tradition, and one he is not inclined to change, but he--]] *How to phrase without being selfish? Is that a thing? Isn't everything to do with this sort of thing selfish by nature?* [[He also likes the idea of your being here for the night without first having to sit in and wait on a noisy crowd. It is more... hm. He does not want to say "personal." More focused?]] verdigrisprowl 11:26 pm Private? NoodlesAtNight 11:26 pm [[Ah. Thank you. Yes.]] verdigrisprowl 11:27 pm ... Hm. ... We could try it out and see if we like it? NoodlesAtNight 11:29 pm [[If that is all right with you, he would like that, yes.]] verdigrisprowl 11:31 pm All right. Then, let's try it. NoodlesAtNight 11:32 pm *Tiny bow.* [[Thank you. He appreciates your willingness to test it.]] verdigrisprowl 11:33 pm What nights work for you? NoodlesAtNight 11:35 pm [[The only one he has trouble clearing or scheduling around is Saturday.]] *Shakes the glass in Prowl's direction and sends a humor ping.* [[Do not tell his enemies.]]

[[Besides, that would just be another day for you to wait on his being done with a crowd, and it is even noisier than than these nights.]] verdigrisprowl 11:36 pm I take it you don't actually want me to help clean, then. *humor ping* How about the middle of the week? There tends to be less crime and I have less late nights. NoodlesAtNight 11:37 pm [[You can if you like, but we clean Sunday mornings.]] *Toothy smile.* [[Very bright for night time.]]

[[Ah, that will do. ... Why is there less crime?]] [[Have the criminals begun getting organized? He hasn't seen any signs of it--]] verdigrisprowl 11:38 pm People have more free time to get into trouble on weekends. verdigrisprowl 11:39 pm You don't have drunken dance club brawls on the nights dance clubs aren't open. NoodlesAtNight 11:39 pm *Plants Rumble and Frenzy's photos on his visor.* [[You'd think that, wouldn't you.]] verdigrisprowl 11:40 pm Okay, maybe YOU do. General "you." The average public "you." NoodlesAtNight 11:42 pm [[An acceptable point. He understands. The middle of the week is fine, thank you.]] NoodlesAtNight 11:43 pm [[And he will try to keep the local off-season drunken dance club brawls to a minimum.]] verdigrisprowl 11:44 pm It wouldn't be any wilder than my place, I'm sure. NoodlesAtNight 11:45 pm [[Primus forbid. To the Pit with the furniture; he wouldn't have any /walls/ left.]] NoodlesAtNight 11:46 pm [[But all of that will be another night. For now, there is a chain upstairs with your designation on it.]] *Drops the tiny glass in the sink with the cube.* [[Literally, in fact. He borrowed Buzzsaw's engraving pen. It amused him.]] verdigrisprowl 11:46 pm *REV* NoodlesAtNight 11:47 pm *Silent but obvious laughing.* [[Had he known that would be your reaction, he'd have tried it sooner. Well, then - would you like to be led to it, or will you be directing yourself?]] verdigrisprowl 11:49 pm ... Had I known that would be my reaction, I'd have suggested it sooner. *you learn something new every day.* I, uh... think I like the sound of being led. NoodlesAtNight 11:54 pm [[Good. He liked the sound of leading you.]]

*Soundwave is just gonna let a feeler slither out to wrap around Prowl's upper arms and chest. This mech is his now, thank you.*

[[Tight enough?]] verdigrisprowl 11:55 pm *REVVVV.* ... Yes. NoodlesAtNight 11:58 pm *Oh, this is going to be a /treat./*

[[Excellent. Step quickly and keep up. He won't be giving any excess slack.]] *Just enough space that neither of them smack into or kick the other while going upstairs. And now, time to head off with his dear amica trailing behind him.* verdigrisprowl 11:59 pm Yes, SIR. *and he shall obediently—and quickly—follow behind.*

[pessimisticshape]

How would Starscream fit into your Tf: Universe?

Prompt by : @Transformersmr-hq

((The starscream in building on is TFP Starscream, which is also WFC starscream.

I'm not one for romantizising toxic behavior in people and I pull no punches when it comes to analyzing villains and their motivations. Some people have a tragic backstory that explains, but not excuses, why they are the way they are. You have people who were raised a certin way and don't know any better because no one is born evil. And finally you have people who are just bad, nothing happened to them to cause them to go down a bad route and they were raised fairly well but we're allowed to get away with too much. Permissive parenting show be a federal crime, imo.))

I feel that most Starscreams would fit in military and scientific factions. Most starscreams' colors match this as well.

• Red(w/ a dull unassuming paint job of dark shades of greys)- military

(G1, Prime, armada, IDW, MTMTE, RID, WFC)

• White- scientific

(G1, Armada, RID, WFC,)

• Blue- artisan

(G1, RID, WFC,)

Starscreams are very sure in their abilities, so sure of them that it's causes them to bite off more than they can chew. Star would have excelled at a merit based society, he is very skilled, but he thinks he's to good learn how to be better. He dosent take criticisms well and can be brash and pigheaded when faced with what he wants.

Star is very charismatic but he's a terrible leader. Yes, in prime he did lead the Decepticons for those three year Megatron was taking a space nap, but across most Starscreams' this seems to be a constant. He is too self absorbed and selfish to consider what it takes to be a great leader that in inspires their followers to do their bidding. He's an incredible commander and tactician but an awful leader. (He's the Pearl to Megatrons Sugilite, lol.)

Ambition is good, it makes you want to do more and be more. Stars are incredibly ambitious and that's ok. The problems arise when he steps on others to reach his goals. He makes way, way too many enemies for him to maintain his goal for long. IDW Starscream had to flee vos because he embezzled tax dollars and was caught. And he never considers what to do if and when he reaches his goal. Starscreams are very calculating so for them to not think about these things is frustrating for me.

I think before the war, and before his canoodling with Megatron, Starscream would have been an aspiring officer or scientist. He would have been very good at what he did, so much so that most would overlook his more negative traits. This would contribute to star never improving his crappy personality. Give or take a few tutors and classmates. Why change if everybot already accepts you.

The Primary military faction was a very toxic place that brought out the worse in most mechs that enter there. The high protector believed that the pressure would make better soldiers. He was discredited and relieved of duty but not till after star had graduated. It's a much better place now but it was already too late for Star.

Starscream wouldn't have many friends, outside of bots he works closely with, like jetfire, skywarp and thundercracker. He would have made himself notorious for the misfortune that seems to befall mechs that get close to him, which he may or may not have had something to do with.

He was never a good person to begin with and his Training only exacerbated these qualities in him. It almost as if he had a pathological need to betray and backstab, even when it was his fault or his responsibility and everyone knows it, he still lies and blames others. Like when the incident with the zombicon outbreak on the nemesis. Even if both he and knockout were the cause, Starscream outranks knockout so he would be held accountable.

((When writing interactions between Starscream and other seekers, I jokingly make them uncomfortable and unnerved by his presence. Like if there was a wasp getting to close to you. His mannerisms and reputation put average fliers on edge. He's The Air Commander and SIC of the Decepticon Army. Not someone who's attention, good or bad, that you want on you. ))

Starscreams will not hesitate to throw anybot under an airbus. Anybot. He just doesn't care. This comes back to haunt him severely. All enemies and no allies.

Also from what I've read, Starscream has a silver tougue and able to talk himself out of and into trouble. He is painfully insecure and seeks validation from any source friend or enemy. This would stem from his antisocial nature and isolation caused by his varies misdeeds.

The worse thing about starscream, besides everthing about him, is that he doesn't know how to hold on to what he achieves. He works so hard to get things but he can't keep them cause he's a selfish, greedy dumbass. He wants power, he wants control but he doesn't want the responsibility of what getting those things would entail. You have to be composed, you have to be a source of motivation and maybe not be a known underhanded, morally bankrupt coward. Just a thought.

((Like he shoots himself in the pede on so many occasions that I'm starting to think it's intentional. I love this cranky bird man but sometimes I wanna just shake the hell out him screaming STAHP BEING MEAN! STAHP BACKSTABBING! JUST BE NICE! Breakdown's a Decepticon and he's not a pompous asshat!))

Back on topic, in my universe Star would probably be a scientifically inclined cross faction military cadet. His primary aspiration would be becoming the next sky monarch or in their high guard in Vos. But as he learned more about Cybertron and the legacy of the primes he would have wanted to become the next Prime.Cadets have a lot of privilege which would foster Starscreams narcissistic tendencies. He's handsome to behold from afar until he opens his mouth. He'd have many admirers but he wouldn't able to hold a mate for more than an orn.

Based of Stars appreciation and attachment to his frame id say that at the time of his creation his frame type was the first of that kind off the assembly line. But this pretty normal behaviour for fliers.

When vosian newbuilds are old enough they are sent off to be sorted and placed in boarding schools. Higher placements just mean that the new build will start at a more advanced level. Star would have been placed pretty high at a young age as he has an overactive mind.

I've been digging and I've come to the conclusion that most Starscreams' have a Cluster B personality disorder. Or all of them if you observe their actions. There is no concrete cause but there is a correlation between children that were verbally abused and developing personality disorders. Maybe Star was too young to be placed in such advanced courses with older seekerlings. They might have bullied him. :'(

Starscreams' lust for power and influence, or maybe just power. With the way things were going on cybertron during Starscreams hayday anybot would have done anything to come out on top, in Vos and in the other city-states. That might have lead star to affiliating with the factionless and Megatron's up-and-coming Decepticons. Him looking for any way to get ahead of the rest and Megatron looking to get a foothold in Vos and access to an aerial Armada.

I feel like starscream thinks he's so in control that he doesn't believe he is susceptible to manipulation which is why he is able to be used by Megatron.

Depending on the starscream, because of course, Stars motivation for usurping Megatron is sketchy at best. Most reasons are personal vendettas and others are to simply take his place. TFP Starscream is completely fine being a Decepticon but has noticed over the past millenia Megatrons sanity is slipping or has slipped. He does things that are incredibly detrimental to the Decepticon chances of winning the war.

Decepticons have all but won the war, they have an arsenal of weapons, they have a motherfricken BATTLESHIP! If they'd decided to spend most of their resources actually training their clone soldiers and looking for ways to restore cybertron and NOT actively antagonizing the Autobots they could've avoided all that extra nonsense with the predacons, and the dark energon, and UNICRON the god of flippin death and unlife! Megatron, is an egotistical Jackass, and any, any mech that worships him is dumber than the altmode they flew in on. Soundwave? Dumbass. Shockwave? Dumbass. Dreadwing and Skyquake? Double dumbasses.

It's ironic that their fanatical loyalty to him and the Decepticon cause, still Megatron, was there undoing.

[spockandawe]

So, I think we need to talk about Terminus. Because there is some interesting stuff going on there. And after LL06, I was upset and confused and wanted to figure out what was going on, and I tripped over some fascinating things along the way. Behind a cut for spoilers and length.

I’m so sad about this, guys. I wanted to adore Terminus so bad. I still kind of do love him, like I love Prowl or Getaway. But I’ve been assuming that he’s a good boy, and… I’m pretty sure he is not that thing.

The picture we’ve gotten of Terminus thus far (filtered mostly through Megatron’s fond/affectionate/admiring point of view) is of an intelligent, resourceful mentor who was able to help him channel his thoughts into his publications, and then get those publications distributed even from their shitty mining outpost. Terminus gave him the guidance he needed to find his footing. I really, really wanted to adore him as much as Megatron does.

But let’s take away those affection goggles. Terminus is used to being able to steer Megatron. He proofreads(/edits, I’m sure) his writing, and he controls distribution. The time we see him sitting (lying) with Megatron, while his legs are gone, that’s some quietly powerful stuff. We see the injustice the miners are dealing with, his insistence on the importance of Megatron’s work, the intense amounts of future potential babby Megatron is working with. But how about we take a quick look at the things he’s doing and saying.

Okay, Megatron is writing. He’s a good writer, he has a talent for it, and it seems to be work he finds rewarding. Terminus is telling him that no, if that’s not enough, then you, PERSONALLY, must do more. You may have to force the issue, and you may have to use your fists.

Megatron, in the innocent flower of his youth, is kinda distressed by this. He’s upset at the idea of him personally wading into a fight, but Terminus turns the conversation away from directly discussing violence. He uses Megatron’s own words to emphasize how important it is for someone to work against the injustice at the heart of a system. And this is all being framed as Megatron’s job, mind, not a duty where he volunteered, knowing the full scope of what he was signing up for.

Let’s just look at that quote one more time.

“Never back down. Never compromise. Never bend. The moment you try to accommodate a rival set of interests, you subordinate your own.”

Like… wow, dude.

In the context of this conversation, this moment kind of rolls past without being lingered over, kind of like the Pharma-feeling-guilty tidbit in the Tyrest arc. We’ve just seen Terminus with a busted body, where it’s not worth it to save him, so he’s been left to starve to death. And we’re headed right into the reveal that he’s been menaced by people who want to stop Megatron from writing. Plus he delivers the line very calmly and quietly, and he’s been speaking about righting injustices.

But dang is that an impressively bitter line.

This isn’t as intense as the last panel. But Megatron tries to call attention back to the group, and power resting with the collective, and Terminus is like nope, one Supreme Leader, you’ll be able to see after you force people to accept it.

And the contrast between needing someone to rally behind and needing someone to hold that leadership position forever is interesting. Because Megatron’s three questions to the senate were: ‘In whose interests do you exercise your powers? To whom are you held accountable? And how can we get rid of you?’ There are ways to answer that within Terminus’s paradigm, but not really in any way that’s reassuring that abuses of power won’t occur. After the war ended, Optimus ditched his name and peaced out into space, specifically trying to avoid this exact problem. And this is still sheltered, innocent, young Megatron. This isn’t setting up a healthy, fair future government structure, as is.

So the scene wraps up in a much less directly pushy way. But when Megatron suggests that maybe he should take a little break from writing to protect Terminus, Terminus shoots that right down. It’s still pretty pushy, even if it’s more subtle than before. Not only should Megatron keep writing, he should write more. And that writing makes him a leader, like Terminus said before. So just, y’know, keep that stuff in mind. About forcing the issue and using your fists and being a figurehead.

But that statement, that the people are hungry and Megatron needs to feed them… This is pretty classic imagery, fairly commonplace. However, consider it in the context of how Terminus isn’t getting repaired and his rations are getting withheld, and Megatron is going on dangerously short rations to help keep him alive. This is a sucker punch right to the heart, and I have a hard time believing Terminus wasn��t aware of that incredibly direct parallel. Look what you’re doing for me. Are you saying you’d do less for all of Cybertron?

Terminus’s active influence ends there, because he poofs off into the sunset, and Megatron is just left to remember what Terminus taught him. And to feel intensely guilty that in the last few minutes before evacuation, he gathered the datapads with his writing instead of looking for the missing Terminus.

Anyways, smash cut to four million and something years later.

We’ve got the first edition of Megatron’s big manifesto being dedicated to Terminus, though that was removed in all subsequent editions, because Terminus taught him ‘not to get attached.’ Given the emotions in that scene up above, maybe this is just because the pain and guilt there made him reluctant to open himself up to that happening again. But… this is honestly fairly in line with the philosophy Terminus was trying to convince him was right.

Look at how Megatron generally behaves during the war, in phase one and early phase two. I tend to refer to him as cult leader Megatron to differentiate him from present Megatron, because the differences are huge. Now, check out all those things Terminus was telling Megatron were necessary. Use your brain and your fists. Take the lead personally. Be a figurehead. The collective doesn’t matter as much as the person sitting pretty in a position of ultimate power, and be prepared to sit there alone.

And more than anything else, consider how he was told to never back down, compromise, or bend.

Terminus was legit out of the picture, as an independent, active force. But when you look at his philosophy and look at the behavior of classic warlord-flavor Megatron, Terminus’s fingerprints are all over the way Megatron carries himself.

The comic has memories and truth and manipulation as some of its major, major themes. Mnemosurgery means these come up pretty regularly, but manipulation comes up in other ways too, like with attempted blackmail, Rodimus being pressured to bring Overlord along for the ride (and Chromedome being recruited to work with him), Trailcutter’s drinking problem being derailed with a brute force permanent reactivation of his FIM chip, all kinds of flavors. Especially Getaway, right now.

In the pre-trial part of the comic, Megatron makes it very clear that he has an extremely negative reaction to the idea of anyone going into his brain, even if they claim they only have the most benign intentions. He’s also just generally pretty resistant about being influenced by… anybody. He does what he wants, and doesn’t afraid of anything. It shows through in general, even once he starts developing in a positive direction, like with how high-handed he is with permanently reactivating Trailcutter’s FIM chip. But it shows up more explicitly at times, like in phase one where Starscream tries to ask why they’re farting around one stupid alien city when they should be winning an intergalactic war. Even when Starscream makes an appeal about the ideals under which the Decepticons were formed, Megatron completely ignores those words. He just… does whatever the heck he wants.

Now, it’s not clear how much of that is due to what Terminus taught him versus the trauma from the almost-lobotomy and the rest of that day. But it’s very much in line with the things we see Terminus telling him about never bending or compromising. That’s almost the last thing Terminus ever tells him before he disappears, and it’s very much in line with how we see Megatron acting during the war proper. Even once he’s on the Lost Light and starts to really become a part of the crew, he’s just not a person who seems very concerned with what other people think he ought to do.

But then at the end of MTMTE 55, Megatron is a stressed-out mess, who was planning to die and was only barely persuaded away from that when Rodimus teleported in to rescue him. He’s just broken the vow of pacifism he’d been trying to take up, he’s on a planet that’s a massive reminder of his past mistakes, and he’s fighting the DJD, another reminder of his past mistakes. Then he watches his old, old friend die. He decides to peace out, and even threatens Ratchet in the heat of the moment, when Ratchet is trying to talk him down.

But then Terminus pops up, and Megatron just immediately snaps out of it. He drops the cannon, drops the idea that he’s going to leave, all of it. He goes straight to Terminus and immediately embraces him, which is a gesture of intimacy unlike anything we’ve seen from him in the comic. He’s been affectionate with Ravage, giving him scritches, but in the holiday comic he even says specifically that he doesn’t do hugs.

And his very, very first words to Terminus are about how he ‘lost his way’. He’s vulnerable, he’s taking comfort in someone, he’s telling his old mentor, who used to teach and guide him, he lost his way. It’s hard to say whether he completely falls into orbit around Terminus with the way the comic POV cuts away from them, but at that incredibly low moment, he recenters himself on Terminus. No matter how hard Megatron is to influence, Terminus has this old leftover backdoor into his trust, and the way Megatron reacts to him here is unlike we’ve seen him react to anyone else. Megatron is used to letting Terminus guide him, even if he’s been operating without that active guidance for millions of years.

Now, the overarching narrative of this comic keeps coming back around to manipulation, betrayal, and lies. A lot of this comes back around to Rodimus, with the way Prowl manipulated him into taking Overlord on board, the way Drift took the fall for Overlord to protect him, the vote of no confidence after he owns up to Overlord. Plus there’s always Getaway and his… everything.

This goes all the way back into phase one and the spotlight issues about his history with Dealer. We don’t see much of the fallout directly, but it really sounds like Rodimus took the loss of his team hard, and that has to hurt even more once he learns that it happened because someone he trusted betrayed him. And then we see it playing very, very directly into the story right now, with how furious Rodimus is over Getaway. I don’t know if we’ve ever seen him this angry, and it’s kind of alarming. Which makes it pretty painful to read  the way issue six ends with him thinking that after the Dying Of The Light, after everything they’ve been through, Megatron has betrayed them all.

Now, Megatron being resistant to manipulation is something that I already discussed. But Megatron himself can be pretty darn manipulative. He plots, he’s always planning, he’s always assessing the situation and working out strategies to get what he wants. And frequently that involves getting people to do certain things. I don’t know if this is even all conscious. He’s charismatic enough, he’s an icon in his own right, and he’s a large, intimidating person. But it’s definitely sometimes conscious. We see the way he provokes Optimus towards the end of phase one, getting him to lash out. We see him needling Starscream in spotlight: megatron until he finally lashes out. And we see him prodding and provoking Rodimus in quieter ways after he joins the crew.

I’m sure this is a combination of deliberate action and longstanding bad habits. But as he spends more time on the Lost Light, you see that start to fade. He’s more respectful of others, you see him expressing his doubt over everything he’s done and seeking ways to better himself. He’s less dismissive of everyone and more understanding. And even though he’s always been so resistant to outside influence, by the time we hit the Dying Of The Light, he’s willing to defer to Rodimus as a leader instead of just prodding him into making the decisions that Megatron wants, because Megatron always knows best.

He calls Rodimus and Ultra Magnus his conscience, which really says that he recognizes some of his own bad habits he’s learned over the years, and is trying to compensate for them. By the time issue six ends, he’s preaching peace through empathy, which is an incredibly striking change from his earlier philosophy. Instead of tyranny and ordering people to do what you decide is best, he’s advocating compassion and trying to understand other people’s needs.

The flip side of manipulation and betrayal is the idea of trust, especially building trust, and repairing relationships once that trust has been betrayed. We see this trust building between Cyclonus and… everyone, really, but especially Whirl and Tailgate. We see the way Nautica is so upset by the reveal that Brainstorm has been lying, we see the aftermath of Rodimus revealing to the crew that he was responsible for Overlord, and we see Drift and Rodimus reuniting, and the way Drift is hurt by the way Rodimus never came back for him after the truth was revealed about Overlord. We see the effort that goes into it

Nobody trusted Megatron at first. Which makes complete sense. The gradual buildup of trust has been slow, but it’s such an important part of his development. Instead of being that lone figurehead Terminus told him to be (the authoritarian figurehead that he ultimately became), he learns to back away from that position and respect other people as people.

And gradually they start to accept him. For most of the crew, it’s more that they just tolerate him. Because they have to. But the environment he’s in is enough that he tells Velocity that he’s never been so happy in his life. In particular, his relationships with Ultra Magnus and Rodimus in season two go from being persistently antagonistic to being cooperative and friendly, with teasing that’s teasing instead of just conversational jabs at each other.

There are similar slow-burn trust-building relationships in the comic, like with Cyclonus, or with Drift and Ratchet. But the effect it has on Megatron is incredibly striking. This time when he’s never been so happy in his life, this is the same time where he’s feeling more guilt over his past than he ever has before. This is when he dents his own head with how much it affects him when he’s hit with the guilt gun. If the inside of Megatron’s head is about guilt, he’s drinking what he thinks is poison for every meal, and he’s making drastic moves like refusing to fight in any way, but he’s still this happy (and just look at the softness of that smile, coming from Megatron, oh my gosh), that happiness almost has to revolve around the relationships, and trust, that he’s built since coming aboard.

Now, consider how much time it took to build even an uneasy trust between Megatron and anyone from the Lost Light. Consider his trust in Ravage. And then just take a look at how easily he yields into Terminus. It’s a shame Ravage died, because I’d love to see how Megatron would react to Ravage and Terminus disagreeing over something. That trust with Terminus was built when Megatron was young and inexperienced, and I have a hard time believing someone could earn that much trust from him over anything at this point in time. The conversations they have are short, which is a shame. But the only time we see anything even close to this open from Megatron is when he’s talking to the distant past version of Optimus.

Okay now. Let’s remember what Megatron said to Rung.

If Terminus taught Megatron not to get attached, this is… different. Now, there is that ambiguity of how much Terminus explicitly taught him versus how Megatron dealt with the trauma of his terrible horrible no good very bad day.

But then if you look at Terminus’s quote about never bending, never compromising—Those don’t sound like how you ought to be treating a friend. Terminus doesn’t even tell him not to compromise his ideals, he tells Megatron not to compromise his interests. That’s pretty extreme. And then take into account the things Terminus said about a lone figurehead being necessary, one who sits alone. The text doesn’t lay everything out, but the implication I’m taking away from his words is that he doesn’t think Megatron should get attached to people, or at least that interpersonal relationships need to have a hierarchy that places Megatron at the top.

Which is kind of odd, given the way he and Megatron play off each other.

If you take as a basic premise that Terminus outright told Megatron ‘don’t get attached to people,’ then how does that flavor what we see on the page. It says don’t get attached to anyone… except me. Don’t bend to the will of other people…. even though this is a conversation where I’m telling you to do things you don’t want to do. You need to be the lone figurehead, the single ultimate leader…….. but still you need to do these things I’m telling you to do.

On its own, I never even noticed those contradictions. Megatron here is young and inexperienced, he doesn’t want to fight or lead, he’s more comfortable in the land of philosophy than in taking direct real life action. It makes sense that his mentor would be nudging him to grow and expand his comfort zone.

But then why does Terminus still keep acting similarly once Megatron has four million years of wartime leader experience behind him?

Megatron and Terminus are sitting in a massive field of the death flowers, Megatron has been explaining the war, and given his recent development, has almost definitely been very frank about how much death and destruction he’s been responsible for. Like… the war destroyed their entire planet for a while there, never even mind Cybertronian and alien casualties. Or the MTOs and their horrifyingly short expected lifespan. Even if Megatron only bears partial responsibility, he’s still responsible for a LOT.

Terminus’s response is immediately about how he’s sure Megatron is being too hard on himself. Um. About that. Well— This is a difficult conversation to field, and an incredibly huge scope to process. It’s understandable that he’d make some kind of comforting/reassuring response. And then the next two things he says are about gosh, look at you giving orders, and how he can’t wait to see Megatron TAKING CHARGE. Again, in the moment, not suspicious. But it’s really starting to play into a thematic whole.

And when you’re looking at the page with suspicious eyes, it even starts with him telling Megatron how to feel, and reminding him of wow, you remember when we were MINERS? And stuck in that dangerous mine? Remember what our life was like back then? And again, on its own, this looks incredibly innocuous. It feels like overreacting to mistrust this. But it’s really in line with the quiet way he tries to steer Megatron.

In the next issue, Terminus gets excited again about how good Megatron is at command and fights (even If Megatron himself is not directly fighting). Like before, it feels so overblown to get hung up on this panel as something suspicious, but it keeps adding up to a consistent whole.

But here’s where I start feeling a little less guilty about that suspicion. Terminus knows that their war is over. Megatron did the war leader thing, Megatron ditched the war leader thing. The personal cause Terminus was trying to get him to fight for, the cause that Terminus was so bitter over (only a day or two ago by his awareness), that’s been resolved. Terminus never got to watch it unfold, and he didn’t get to win. He’s heard that Megatron was that authoritarian leader, but Megatron didn’t get to win the war and seize full control like Terminus had been urging him to do.

And would you just look at that, here’s another Cybertron with another clearly oppressed class just begging to be led and saved. Compassion is the easiest motive to read into Terminus here. It’s natural. It’s what’s the reader has been nudged to feel. That’s how I read it the first time through.

Consider, why does Terminus want to stay here? Their universe isn’t perfect, but functionism has been solidly obliterated. Nobody’s being pushed into the mines. Paying for medical services doesn’t seem to be an issue as far as the medics we’ve seen. There’s social space for noncombatants to exist. There’s this group of friendly mechs here who seem glad to have him, including his old adoring mentee, who was so overwhelmed and happy to see him miraculously alive again. Why does he want to leave that? Even if Megatron didn’t win the war, the oppressive social structures that were screwing them over are gone. Why does he want to go to this war-torn, fascist mess of a planet, where those old enemies have been getting more entrenched, more powerful, and more oppressive? Compassion is one answer, sure. But are we sure he doesn’t want to just… win?

Terminus decides for himself to stay. Which is his right. And it’s understandable. And it’s understandable that if he’s staying, he’d try to get Megatron to stay with him. But it’s sure interesting that he watches Megatron and Rodimus squabble over Rodimus not trusting Megatron’s intentions. And then the moment Terminus and Megatron are alone again, Terminus is leaning on Megatron hard to stay here with him.

It’s all those old urgings again. Megatron led, Megatron fought. He’s done that for four million years. But the way Terminus talks to him here is just like when Megatron was young and inexperienced and reluctant to be a figurehead. Sure, this could be habit, Terminus hasn’t had long to adjust to the massive time skip. But again, Terminus told Megatron to never bend. To never bend for anyone. Except Terminus, apparently. Because when Megatron has just pledged his loyalty to the group leaving (right in front of Terminus), and while Megatron is saying no multiple times, Terminus is sure pushing hard that Megatron is the ONLY person who could lead and save these people.

And this is after Megatron and Terminus had a private, intimate conversation about how Megatron done fucked up, and when Megatron has been drowning in remorse and the awareness of how much he has to atone for. Terminus continues to tell him that no, never mind your trial, screw justice, you know what’s best more than they do. We know what’s best. You’re above justice.

Before, Terminus told Megatron about how important it was that he be the figurehead, the lone figurehead, placed above everyone else. He told him to never compromise in favor of someone else’s interests. He never took that back. He argued when Megatron told him that power needed to lie with the collective. And again here, he’s talking about Megatron being so very special that he’s the only one who could possibly lead. But the moment Megatron says he can’t keep putting himself first, Terminus pivots smoothly to noooo no no, this isn’t about you, this is about the masses!

Guys, Terminus is kinda super sketchy.

He’s talking about how justice is less important than Megatron’s skills. Megatron published a treatise that talked specifically about how the government needs to be held accountable, but Terminus is telling him that he’s too important to be held accountable. He’s trying to pull Megatron away from the faith he just, just pledged to Rodimus and Ultra Magnus. Terminus tells him that pledge Megatron values means nothing compared to what Terminus thinks he should value.

Megatron digs in his heels here and refuses to break that trust, just before the conversation is cut short, but. Dang. Seriously, it’s not the easiest thing to notice given the action movie pace of the Cybertron plot right now, but Terminus is being incredibly sketchy.

In the context of before, this pings me like an indirect ultimatum that Terminus is trying to lay down for Megatron. He knows their relationship, and he knows how much Megatron trusts him. He knows Megatron is used to being guided by him. This more self-assured, confident Megatron is new to him, but because of the way he disappeared, that mentor/mentee connection never went away, it just hibernated. Before, Megatron was going on starvation rations to keep Terminus alive. Is he really, really going to leave Terminus now?

Well, yes. He pledges faith again, and though Rodimus has been so on edge, even though he’s reacted in some really alarming ways that seem to tie back to trust and betrayal (like how he’s been burned with Getaway and Dealer), even then, Rodimus agrees to trust him. Megatron calls Rodimus captain. An overt gesture of respect for Rodimus and his authority, and an implicit deferral to that authority. Him learning to respect Rodimus as a leader was a slow-burn part of his development, but Megatron’s trust (and the way he shows it) is an intense, heavy thing. Rodimus is reluctant, but still decides to take him at his word.

Annnnd the moment they’re alone, there goes Terminus again, trying to lean on him to change his mind. He just saw Megatron make that promise to Rodimus, and he knows how serious Megatron was. But still, let’s have one more little nudge to break faith. Megatron doesn’t just dig in his heels here, he pushes back, and I’m very glad about that.

But when they have to go to a different teleporter, Terminus has an opportunity. Maybe Roller could have lied about the coordinates. But what have we seen to suggest he would do that? He seems like a nice, friendly guy. But we have seen a certain someone leaning harder and harder on Megatron that no, seriously, you need to ditch those guys and stay here with me.

Oooh, yeah, they gave you a second chance, that’s definitely how this happened~

Nice immediate spin on the situation to make Megatron feel like he should be grateful to stay here. The way he’s been insisting he doesn’t want to do. Terminus wants him to stay. The others totally want him to stay (yeah, even though Rodimus was so angry about the possibility of Megatron bailing on them). If so many other people want him to stay, shouldn’t Megatron… bend? :)

It kills me how urgent Megatron is in trying to find them, and how dismayed he looks in that last panel. He didn’t want them to leave without him, and he knows how generous they’ve already been with him, and he wanted to leave too. I’m reluctant to put too much weight on comic illustration microexpressions, but the way Terminus has that half-smile thing going on… I don’t like it.

But Megatron gets to return to his philosophical roots! Doing it right this time! Pacifist reform, peace through empathy! And he even gets to reconnect with Optimus and have a second chance to do that right too. Even if Terminus lied to get him here, this is a really happy ending, right?

NO!

Your mileage may vary, but one of the big narrative themes in this story has been… history. It comes through in a lot of ways, but one of the most common ways we see it is the idea that painful memories are hard to deal with, but they’re necessary and important. We see it with Tailgate rewriting the past so it hurts less. We see it with Chromedome for himself and for Rewind. Skids is told that the memories that are blocked off are going to be incredibly painful, but he keeps chasing after it, because it’s part of him.

And a lot of Megatron’s character development involves coming to terms with everything he did in the past. He’s aware, in a clinical sense. But as the comic follows him starting to treat people as people, it also follows him gradually becoming aware of the impact of that history. It’s what lets him connect on a personal level… but it’s also closely tied to how intensely he starts regretting the entire war. But those personal connections seem to be an integral part of what makes him so happy that he tells Velocity he’s never been happier.

He’s willing to face justice. He’s delayed his trial, but he’s never tried to escape it altogether. He could have done that during his trial under Optimus, when there was a flat-out rescue attempt. I’m sure he and Ravage could have easily peaced out at some point if he really wanted to. Here, Terminus offers him a nice, appealing escape, and he still insists he wants to face justice and atone.

So in what way is it a happy ending for him to land in a universe where none of that history happened to anyone except him? He came out of the history just fine, and ah, here we go, we’re in a place where those people dead because of you never existed. Nobody here knows anything about his past, except Terminus. I seriously doubt he’s going to publicize it. Even if people believed the ridiculous story, on a world that’s so inexperienced at war, why on earth would they trust him as a pacifist philosopher? No, now he’s free to redo everything and never face justice, because nobody is here to hold him accountable for that past. He can be the messiah he tried to be before, but this time he’s got it RIGHT, so nothing will go wrong. Just like he was so sure he had it RIGHT last time.

Oh, and would you look at that, he even gets to have a second chance with Optimus! Isn’t that wonderful. In their universe, things got so poisonous they had a jolly conversation about how many times they’ve almost killed each other, and then Megatron talks about how mmmm, he sure loves killing for the sake of killing, all to provoke Optimus into torturing him. He says that he didn’t think he meant it sincerely when he said it, but after saying the words, he realized he believed it. No, that’s all gone now. You can just pretend those memories don’t exist. This Optimus doesn’t have them, so it’s all good.

Rewind II had difficulty reconciling a relationship with Chromedome I, and that’s after only maybe like… two years of being quantum duplicate not-spouses. They had millions of years of history that they still shared, but Rewind still struggled with it. I would say that this Megatron and Optimus have four million years of divergence, but that isn’t even properly true. Megatron never existed here. His works influenced Optimus, back in the day, even apart from the effect of their toxic interplay once the war took off. This Optimus is a very, very different person from the one he knows. Honestly, I can see a lot of character ways this Optimus could even be a functionist enforcer. It was Megatron who originally nudged him out of his comfortable government-supporting groove.

And even if Optimus’s personality is fairly stable across universes, even if he feels like the same person, Megatron is going into this new relationship (platonic or not) with four million years of baggage and expectations. What an… incredibly intense weight to load onto that relationship. Is Megatron telling Optimus about his past? No? Well that’s four million years of lying by omission, that’s a nice honest start to things. Or is Megatron telling Optimus about everything? Look at how inexperienced these Cybertronians are with violence. Even if Megatron can get Optimus to believe him, how appalling is the full history going to be to him? The scale of the atrocities Megatron ordered, condoned, and carried out— Even for the characters who lived the war, Getaway says that it’s so much that you stop being able to process it. How is an unhardened, un-war-like Optimus going to feel about that? Thank you for telling me, I am taking this in stride, now how about we make out a little?

In TAAO, Starscream just cornered Blast Off into making a very difficult decision. He manages to box things in so that it’s a choice between ‘let the person you love destroy himself’ and ‘lie to him to keep him in line, and live a happy, romantic life together.’ Two shitty options, but of course Blast Off chooses the less shitty one, even though he knows he’s agreeing to live a lie, manipulating the person he loves so much. He chooses it, but he feels awful about it, because he knows what a dishonest foundation he’s just laid for their relationship, and he knows that he’s poisoned the trust between them. The narrative doesn’t expect me to be happy for him.

I’m not happy for Blast Off. So I’m not going to be happy for Megatron.

I’ll be sad for him, but if you’re going to value trust and honesty, this isn’t a happy situation.

Another huge theme in the narrative is that history can’t be rewritten. We see Tailgate abandoning the lies he told to prop himself up. We see Brainstorm fighting so hard to go back in time and fix things, and he doesn’t succeed. We see Chromedome rewriting Prowl’s memory to remove blackmail material, and whatever that is, I assume it isn’t going to be gone from the story forever. This isn’t literally rewriting history, but if it’s framed as a complete do-over for Megatron, it’s nearly the same thing. Megatron was willing to die as part of his atonement at the end of Dying Of The Light. He tells Tarn that he’s drowning under the weight of his past, and at the end, he only reluctantly lets Rodimus save him.

If he was that miserable then, I don’t think being the adored, beloved savior of Cybertron is going to be more than a temporary patch. It isn’t a long-term solution for the things he’s been struggling to deal with. And he didn’t choose this. He had the choice forced on him.

Terminus shamelessly exploited the trust Megatron had in him. He leans on Megatron harder and harder to get Megatron to do what Terminus wants. And then when that fails, he outright lies. All this while Megatron is very, very clear about what he wants and why. Terminus shoves himself in the way of Megatron’s new positive relationships, and sabotages that trust that’s been so slowly built up.

Megatron is upset to be left behind, but Rodimus is furious. And he blames Megatron. I was worried about him even before this, but this made it so much worse. Rodimus isn’t just angry for the sake of angry, he has that history with Dealer that made him shy away from leadership roles for ages. He’s still hurting bad over Getaway. And now he thinks that here we go, a third time someone has shamelessly exploited him. And he wasn’t going to trust Megatron. Megatron promised. And then immediately broke that promise (as far as Rodimus knows). Rodimus says that he’s heart over head, every time. Which has its value, for sure. But that has to make it so much more painful when someone he trusts abuses that trust.

In TAAO, at least when Blast Off was manipulated into making a shitty choice, he was aware of the manipulation. He knows the character of what Starscream is doing to him. It doesn’t get him out of the situation, but at least he knows what’s happening. Terminus is manipulating Megatron ~for his own good.~ No matter what Megatron says he wants, Terminus knows better. So why doesn’t he just… slip in there and quietly undermine everything you’re trying to do and sabotage some personal relationships you value. And then pretend like he didn’t do anything about this, nope. And the idea that it’s for Megatron’s own good… This is about what Terminus wants. His first appearance makes it clear that he’s very bitter and very ruthless. He was actively working to push Megatron into the ‘right’ decisions then, and he’s doing it now. It isn’t a happy ending that he succeeded in keeping Megatron from doing right by the people who put their trust in him.

Two frivolous little things. One, Terminus as a name. According to the wiki, “Terminus was the name of the Roman god of boundaries, with the motto ‘Concedo nulli’ - ‘Yield no ground.’” Innocuous enough on its own. But plenty telling given what we see of him here. He’s unyielding, but over what, exactly? He tells Megatron not to bend for anyone and then spends lots of time trying to get Megatron to bend for him. I think Terminus is unyielding over what Terminus wants, and like I said, he is a… very bitter man, and he has a major fixation on strong, authoritarian leadership.

And two, look at the contrast between these covers.

Melancholy and quiet, private introspection on the left. And high-energy action, no time to think, being pulled in against your will on the right. Both of these covers are gorgeous, of course. But I know which one makes me feel like it’s positive in a character sense. Kind of like it’s better to make your own difficult, painful choices than to be dragged in a direction you tried to resist.

Anyways, if I was meant to feel decent about the ending of this comic, it would have been really easy. It would have BARELY taken a change at all. There’s a post by @sunderedstar that summed it up well, but basically just… don’t have the lie. Have Megatron trying to keep faith, have Terminus supporting him while he tries to keep faith. Have him rushing to the new teleporter coordinates, but he’s just, just too slow. He and Rodimus reach out for each other, but the teleporter activates, and they only barely miss each other.

It would be bittersweet. But it would be better for Rodimus, knowing that Megatron didn’t lie to him, that Megatron didn’t use him. Megatron tried to keep his promise. And Megatron would know that they didn’t abandon him. Even if it’s framed as a gift of another chance, it’s still going against the difficult decision he made to face justice for his actions. He didn’t ask for another chance, and he resisted attempts to nudge him into taking one on his own. He’d know he wasn’t lied to, that nobody was trying to block him from doing the right thing. And honestly, the parallel to the climax of Dying Of The Light is so strong, I’m kind of shocked they didn’t go for this anyways. All I can take away from this is that the point was that Terminus blatantly lied to Megatron. And even if he’d say it was for Megatron’s own good, that isn’t a very happy ending.

In issue 28, when he’s talking to Rung, Megatron says that his life has been a series of decisions made in confined spaces. It’s in that same scene that we hear Terminus’s name for the first time. And now, Terminus has fenced him in again, against his will. The increasing pressure we see him exert on Megatron is uncomfortable enough, but it’s ultimately an outright lie that fences Megatron in here, and a lie that’s designed specifically to slip around Megatron’s explicit ‘no’. That isn’t a happy ending. It isn’t even bittersweet, just tragic. Terminus wins and everyone else loses. This isn’t happy, and I can’t and won’t be happy over it.

[roseymoseyberry]

Arrangement (2/?)

And here we go with chapter 2, also known as “thank fucking god the meeting is finally wrapped up and look Megatron is finally back I promise he’s a significant character in this fic”

Title: Arrangement

Series: Transformers: Prime, post Predaking Rising. More or less ignores everything about RID15, and facts from the rest of the Aligned verse will be cherry-picked as I see fit

Pairing: MegaBee aka BumbleTron aka Bumblebee/Megatron

Warnings: Politics, mention of dysfunctional forced relationships, and mentions of past violence/murder. But mostly a lot of politics.

Fic Summary:

“It’s not my deal. I’m just the glitch who agreed to take the job.”

The balance of peace in post-war Iacon is precarious enough when a former warlord returns unannounced from his exile. Without a war to fight in or a leader to follow, a scout turned warrior turned uneasy politician decides to irreparably tie their lives together for the sake of maintaining that peace.

And maybe it won’t turn out to be the worst decision Bumblebee’s ever made.

Chapter Summary:

“Ratchet recalls upper caste politics,” Soundwave stated. “Common event: mecha necessitating alliance despite personal distrust or past disagreements. Common solution?”

The medic sneered and replied, “Political spark bonding.”

|Prologue|Chapter 1|

"Autobots, you need to pull yourselves together."

"Pull ourselves together? How could we? How could you?!" Ratchet hissed as he threw his arm outward. "That's Optimus he was talking about in there!"

"I'm well aware." Ultra Magnus rubbed at his temples, his ventilations even, almost too even. Bumblebee wondered if the commander was using it as a coping mechanism. "However, this situation is far too important to allow ourselves to reveal any emotional vulnerability. Tensions are high, and if we wish to garner the support of Metalhawk, Discbrake, and Watts, we must prove ourselves to be more reasonable about this topic than the Decepticon councilmecha."

Arcee was frowning, her arms across his chest, and there were green paint transfers around her shoulders and helm still from where Discbrake had held her. Her cooling fans whirled as she finally relented, "I hate to say it, but he's right."

"Arcee!" Ratchet said, appalled. "Not you too."

"You know I never stopped wanting to rip Starscream’s smug helm from his frame, but that doesn't mean Ultra Magnus isn't right."

"But at this point, there will be no trial, no punishment -- we're already losing. At this rate, Megatron is going to be a free mech."

"Not if we can somehow overcome this outburst and make it clear we are better suited to keep Megatron under house arrest," Ultra Magnus stated.

That gave the other Bots pause.

"I'll admit, having my servos on him is an appealing thought," Ratchet murmured, said servos twitching at his sides.

"We will not be abusing that power," Ultra Magnus insisted, his tone final. "To even think that way will make us obvious and the fact of the matter is even if he is entrusted to us, I have no doubt that we will have to allow for some oversight to make sure we don't do just that."

"Yeah, yeah." Ratchet waved his servo dismissively.

“Where would we even keep him?" Arcee asked.

"Bulkhead said the construction on that new building is almost done," Bumblebee said. "It'll be one of the first to have apartments with a berthroom that’s separate from the living space. Maybe we ask for Megatron to stay here until it's ready and then set him up in there and take turns watching him? It's pretty far into our territory anyway so even if he made an escape, he'd just find himself surrounded by angry Autobots."

"It’s not a territory,” Ultra Magnus corrected again. “And while it doesn't seem like a plan that will last, it will do for the time being." Ultra Magnus scrubbed his servo down his face and huffed. "That is, if we can keep our composure."

Arcee made a motion as if welding her mouth shut and Bumblebee shrugged but nodded.

Ratchet, however, pressed his lips together in a tight line as his optics cycled, and Ultra Magnus simply waited for his response. Finally, with a heavy ventilation, Ratchet muttered, “I’ll keep my mouth shut.”

"I appreciate it. I know this has been difficult for us all, and will continue to be," Ultra Magnus said, his frown sincere. His servos moved to clasp behind his back and he stood up straight. "However, we must stay focused and vigilant if we are to come out of this meeting knowing that Megatron will not be allowed to become a threat. Understood?”

Bumblebee nodded resolutely, and didn’t need to look at the other two to know they had done the same.

"So we're in agreement that the Decepticon representatives are not the ideal candidates for hosting Megatron?" Ultra Magnus said, holding up an open servo as he posed the question to the Neutrals. It only took a glance out of the corner of his optic for Bumblebee to see a small curl to Ratchet's mouth.

Still though, the other Autobots kept their silence as they waited. Arcee and Ratchet had stayed true to their word, only commenting when asked a question, but otherwise leaving Ultra Magnus to work with the Neutrals to suss out Starscream's proposition.

And to their luck, they weren't the only ones who had returned to the room wary of leaving Megatron with the Decepticons. Watts had almost immediately jumped back into the fray, discussing the sociological reasons why even with the two year gap, she doubted that being placed in proximity with the mech who had acted as their leader for millennia wouldn't affect them. Starscream pointing out that his loyalties to Megatron had always been uneasy at best did not help his position though.

"Which is why even if you don't fall back under his thumb again, we figure the other most likely result is a dead Megatron and that gets messy fast," Discbrake had replied with far too much ease for someone discussing political assassination.

But it spoke volumes to what all the others had thought.

And Starscream's wings flared only once before settling back, his mouth surprisingly staying shut about that statement.

Bumblebee could only guess at what Soundwave had told his fellow Cons to keep them under control. He suspected it might have been pretty similar to Ultra Magnus's speech.

The fear of the Decepticons falling under Megatron's command again was far too solid for the trio to argue against. The likelihood of revenge followed close behind too, leaving any arguments insisting they would not fall prey to the former leader's charisma all over again to inadvertently support the possibility of assassination instead.

So it wasn’t surprising when Metalhawk nodded.

But it did ease the vice grip that Bumblebee felt around his spark.

"I do not believe they would be a good host. Watts?"

"Agreed."

"Discbrake?"

"That's a group I don't want to see reunited, so yeah. Agreed."

"Then that's decided." Metalhawk folded his digits together as he watched the council for a reaction. Bumblebee kept his expression lax, though his pede lightly bounced under the table. Whatever the mech saw from his fellow Autobots seemed to appease him, for Metalhawk next turned to the Decepticons.

Soundwave of course revealed nothing, his visor still shifting to add data as it streamed in. And Shockwave was already difficult to read since he lacked typical cybertronian facial features.

Starscream was usually the way that Bumblebee deciphered the emotional stance of their trio. And, to his growing dread, the seeker appeared unsurprised and resigned.

A calm Starscream was a terrible sign.

But still, the Autobots waited for Ultra Magnus's lead. The Decepticons had been thwarted, but that didn't mean that victory would be easily gained.

"May I then ask how the council feels about house arrest as an option, assuming we did find a viable host?"

That got a raised optic ridge from Starscream.

"Do you truly believe we'll let you have him?"

"That is not what I asked," Ultra Magnus insisted. "I imagine that the discussion of who will host Megatron will be a long one, but the discussion that must be had before that is whether we believe house arrest to be a plan of action we wish to go down at all. Discussing who should host is pointless if we are not all agreed that house arrest is an option."

"Would house arrest appease the Autobots?" Discbrake was staring at Arcee and then Ratchet. The two glanced at each other and then at Ultra Magnus, but when the largest mech started to reply, Discbrake cut him off quickly. "I'm not asking you, Mag. I want to know what the rest of your gang thinks."

That actually had Ultra Magnus bristling, but he quelled his plating almost immediately. However, the stern look in his optics spoke volumes.

Arcee looked at Bumblebee first, and he was almost embarrassed as he lifted his servos and said, "I'm not going first."

That left Ratchet rolling his optics and before Arcee could silently ask him, the medic said, "Fine, fine, let’s just get this over with. I know my opinion doesn't hold official weight, but the fact that I was allowed at all implies that it's at least tolerated, so here it is." He uncrossed his arms and settled his elbows on the table, his servos moving as he spoke. "No, I don't like it. I think it's far more than Megatron deserves. But the fact of the matter is that this council has already gone over what I would want if it were just my decision and discarded those options for the sake of this city." His vents heaved a heavy ex-vent. "And as much as it pains me to admit, that's why I passed on a position on this council. I know I'm old and bitter, and the future of our race deserves better than that. And as much as other citizens of Iacon will share my great distaste for Megatron only receiving house arrest, I imagine they will also come to accept it knowing that it was a decision made for their benefit."

Bumblebee nearly choked on an ex-vent and even Arcee's optics were wide and bright with surprise.

Discbrake shrugged, but it was relaxed. She actually looked appeased, and down the line Watts nodded. "That's fair. What about you, Blue?"

Arcee went stiff as all optics turned to her. She shot Bumblebee a look before saying, "I don't like it either, but I also don't want to let Megatron scrap all the progress we've made. I'm willing to support house arrest as long as he's placed in the right servos."

“And whose servos would those be?” Starscream drawled as he drummed his claw tips across the table surface. Arcee shot him a dark look.

Bumblebee cut that argument off at the start, interrupting, “I don’t think anybody I know would be happy about it. Lot of mecha have wanted him dead since even before the war, so it won’t be easy. But for better or worse, they’ve trusted us enough to make decisions like this, so that has to mean something, right?”

That got a rare smile from Metalhawk. “Very true,” he said as he glanced at Discbrake and then to Watts. With a nod from both, he continued, “Then I would motion for this council to discuss candidates for hosting.”

Bumblebee started to wonder if the idea had come up because they were all so deliriously exhausted from the meeting dragging on and on.

The conversation had started with the Autobots as a host, though not because of any choice Ultra Magnus had in the matter. He was insistent that they were not looking to take the position, but would and do so honorably if they were needed. Bumblebee would have considered teasing Ultra Magnus afterwards about playing hard to get if he thought the former lieutenant understood the usual meaning of the phrase, but the fact still stood that that's exactly what Ultra Magnus was trying to pull off.

However, Starscream was having none of it. He has more than happy to return the earlier favor of pointing out every time he had attempted to assassinate his former master, interrupting now and again to describe the numerous attempts the Autobots had made themselves. It was when Ultra Magnus started to describe some precautions they could take that Starscream pointedly stared at Bumblebee and stated, "If I cannot be trusted for trying to kill the lunatic, then I cannot see how the mech who succeeded can be."

Bumblebee gave his companions a chagrined look as the Neutrals agreed.

However, there wasn't much footing to be had with having a neutral host either. Oh, there were suggestions, but they were relatively few once both Arcee and Starscream pointed out that Megatron would need to be watched by someone who could stand a chance in a fight with him. That left the list of Neutrals pitifully short, and even those who remained were either more similar to guards on their various nomadic ships or they had been in war, but it had been the one before the civil war, meaning it had been millennia upon millennia since they had been in active combat.

Which cycled back towards reconsidering Cons and Bots, and recycled the arguments against them.

And that's when Soundwave finally spoke.

“Observation: no candidates suitable for house arrest as currently described. Easily obtained trait: warrior. However, candidates who meet that trait: Decepticons and Autobots. Difficulty found in identifying a host in candidate pool who meets two more necessary traits.” Soundwave’s visor brightened to show the number one. “Candidate does not support Megatron, will keep him imprisoned and powerless.” The visor shifted to the number two. “Candidate does not wish to harm or offline Megatron, will keep him healthy and safe from adversaries.”

“So we’re basically fragged from the start,” Discbrake grumbled.

However, Soundwave shook his helm once.

“Traits do not occur naturally together. However: in warrior candidate with trait one, trait two can be implanted.”

Even Starscream looked appalled though, unsurprisingly, for the wrong reason as he snapped at his companion, “Have you finally glitched? You want to hand him over to an Autobot?!”

“Even if it were not unethical,” Shockwave added, the glyph sounding wrong from his voicebox, “there has never been success in the precise level of reprogramming you are suggesting. Your suggestion is illogical.”

“And it’s sick,” Arcee hissed, and even from where he sat, Bumblebee could hear the way her battle systems whirred, trying to online themselves. “I guess you’ve never really changed, have you?”

Bumblebee, however, watched Soundwave and waited. There had to be some explanation. While he had little doubt that Soundwave still held the Decepticon cause close to this spark, this was out of character for him. Soundwave would know the response such a suggestion would garner, should know better than to say something like that aloud—

It was Ratchet who finally said, “You don’t mean reprogramming, do you?” Soundwave shook his helm again and Ratchet’s frown only deepened. “So you’re really suggesting what I think you are?”

“Ratchet recalls upper caste politics,” Soundwave stated. “Common event: mecha necessitating alliance despite personal distrust or past disagreements. Common solution?”

The medic sneered and replied, “Political spark bonding.”

"What?" Bumblebee asked, not quite sure what he was hearing. The words separately made sense, but together it was meaningless concept.

The other mecha around the table did not seem as confused.

"You've got to be kidding," Arcee said, dumbstruck. "Political spark bonding? With Megatron?"

"It does make an odd sort of sense," Watts said, her helm tilted to one side and her optics dimmed, as if still processing the idea. "It would indeed achieve the desired effect, and did show high success rates at the time."

"When it didn't end in murder-suicide," Ratchet grit out. "It may force two mecha together and usually to give a scrap about the other’s well being. However, when things go poorly, they go very poorly."

"Only for those with some silly idea that it could turn into something meaningful," Starscream said, his tone as close to unsure as he dared in a meeting, as if he was still considering his true opinion on the matter while debating it. "For those going into the political bond understanding its purpose and who could figure out how to exist with one another, it worked well."

"As if you would really know. You may have strolled your way around the Vosian upper caste, but from what I understand, your trine was an easy arrangement.” Starscream’s wings twitched and he looked stricken at the mention of mecha long lost. If Ratchet noticed, he didn’t care. “You’d be amazed what other mecha hid behind shut doors and paid mecha like me to sneak in and fix so they could keep up the ruse." Ratchet leaned back in his chair and turned his optics on Soundwave. "But you know better."

"Potential consequences: understood. However, potential consequences if political bonding not pursued as a solution: also understood."

"While it isn't ideal, Soundwave is correct." Watts straightened and her optics glowed brighter, her processor made up. "It would not only provide motivation for Megatron's host to keep him online and well, but would also help to dissuade outside attacks from those who are upset about the decision. Any mecha who would like to see Megatron offlined might not want to see the same happen to his host, and thus would not risk an assassination."

"It would also provide an excellent cover story," Starscream said, his wings spread out wide behind him in a show of pageantry, as if his moment of weakness were nothing. "The decision wouldn't even need to be traced back to us! While it might be difficult to spin, we could present the city with this bonding ceremony instead of house arrest. We do not appear to be breaking the treaty because it will simply look as if we have given Megatron his 'freedom', but also the city is put at least partially at ease knowing that Megatron appears to be a changed mech – a bonded mech at that, chained to and placated by someone they trust."

"Don't even bother trying to put yourself up as a candidate." Arcee locked her gaze on his face, sneering. "In case you've forgotten, you're not someone who's trusted to not support Megatron."

Those wings shot straight up in agitation. "I would never--"

"You've flopped back and forth enough times that nobody could ever be sure how you felt about Megatron at any given time," Ratchet pointed out. "And I wouldn't be surprised if a bonding would just finally cement you as his pet."

Starscream hissed, but stopped himself when Soundwave lifted a servo.

"Ratchet: correct. Decepticons: will not be trusted as bond partners. Neutrals: have no warriors powerful enough. Autobots: best option."

"Ok, that's the weirdest thing I've ever heard come out of you, but I'm willing to ignore that for now," Arcee said. "But I will bring back up my question of who the frag do you think is going to agree to a political spark bond?"

That left the room silent. Bumblebee glanced at his companions – Ratchet was frowning, but he was oddly subdued, almost defeated looking, and Ultra Magnus had still not said a word, his optics nearly offlined as his processor ran fast enough that Bumblebee could have sworn he could hear it.

Finally, cautiously, he asked, "Well, first, maybe someone could tell me what exactly we would be agreeing to?"

Watts was the one who took pity, turning to Bumblebee with a soft look as she said, "Political spark bonding is a practice that long became extinct with the collapse of the senate and the upper castes. Every case was unique, but essentially it is a spark bonding between mecha that is done not out of love, but out of political necessity.”

“How does becoming spark bonded help anything?”

“It leaves two mecha stuck together,” Ratchet replied, interrupting Watts without any apparent guilt. Ratchet shifted in his seat so he was better facing Bumblebee, as if this were just another lesson, but his voice was pitched loud enough that it was for everyone in the room. “Whether the mecha involved want to bond at all doesn’t change the connection that is forged. Once sparks are bonded, they are able to find and influence each other across distances, and the fate of one spark is shared with the other.”

“I know how spark bonds work,” Bumblebee grumbled.

“Yet you’re naïve enough to not see how they can be used for less romantic endeavors,” Starscream taunted. He was focused on his claws, flexing and unravelling. “If you must have an alliance with another who you and your House do not trust, what better way to make sure they cannot double cross you than to have direct access to their very spark? To know at all times where they are and how they feel?” With an audible clacking, Starscream clenched his fist and glanced at Bumblebee. “It’s comforting to know that if they stabbed you in the back, you would just drag them to the Allspark with you.”

Bumblebee fought back a shudder. “But they have that same access to your spark, so they would have that same ability to use the bond against you.”

“A risk that many have foolishly believed they could handle,” Ratchet replied, shooting Starscream an irritated look. Starscream shrugged.

“Nothing gained without risk.”

“And it is, unfortunately, the most logical solution to the predicament,” Shockwave added. “Any Autobot who takes on the task will not support Megatron, so there is little risk of him returning to power. With a spark bond, they will be able to track his location and monitor him. That same spark bond will also enforce the need for the Autobot to keep Megatron alive, since his death will mean their own. And their fellow Autobots will be too sentimental to risk their life in their search for revenge.”

Ultra Magnus finally spoke up, his tone definitive. “The risk is still too great to the host in this case. Megatron is strong-willed and clever, so he could overwhelm and dominate the bond.”

Discbrake leaned across the table towards Ultra Magnus as she asked, “So, wait – you really don’t want Megatron under Autobot control?”

“In this case, the question of who does not matter. There is no bot alive who has any experience that could prepare them for that sort of connection with Megatron, so--”

“I do.”

Bumblebee’s shoulders hunched when, suddenly, every optic in the room was on him. Regret immediately bloomed in his spark, unsure if he should have brought it up at all. It had just come out though, voicing a realization, and it was too late to take it back. And something did have to be done about Megatron, and this was possibly the best lead they had because finally the majority of them were in agreement, and—

And he was telling the truth.

“I mean, it wasn’t a spark bond, obviously, but I have been in his mind,” Bumblebee began, forcing his frame to relax, to not make the way anxiety was creeping along his lines obvious. When the Neutrals’ optics went wide in response to his statement though, he quickly added, “Megatron was in stasis, they had the stuff for a cortical psych patch, and we needed a cure for Optimus – it’s a long story and during the war, but yeah. I’ve been in his mind and I was able to get what I wanted from him.”

“I can verify the story,” Ratchet stated, his optics narrowed and his plating flared, “but you’re leaving out that Megatron then manipulated you into doing his bidding and bringing him out of stasis.”

“Well, sure,” Bumblebee admitted with a wince. As if he could ever forget the sensation of losing control of his frame and blacking out, Megatron’s voice echoing in the darkness, nearly egging him on to crush his friend—“But that means that I’d know when he’s trying to do something like that again, right?”

“Bee,” Arcee snapped. “Do you even realize what you’re saying right now? We’re talking about spark bonding. With Megatron.”

It felt as if his spark was trapped in a vice grip and pulsing all the faster for it. Bumblebee felt sick. Yet with each pulse of his spark, he was pushed further.

“I know that. But if this means Megatron is no longer a threat and we can keep the peace--”

“No! Absolutely not!” Ratchet’s fist slammed down on the table, his optics too bright as he practically seethed next to Bumblebee, worry ebbing off his frame. “After all that Megatron has done to you, I wouldn’t let you even be in the same room as him, let alone – this!”

“He did a lot of things to a lot of mecha! I’m not a special case.”

“I have already nearly lost you twice to that monster!” Ratchet’s voice wavered with static, his servos fisted on the table surface. Bumblebee knew the medic held that guilt tightly even after all these years. “He left you with a malfunctioning voicebox for centuries!”

As if on cue, Bumblebee’s voicebox locked up at the memory.

His intake impossibly tight, the phantom touch of giant servos gripped around it, piercing and crushing, and the sound of his own scream turned to static turned to silence echoing in his processor. His voicebox hiccupped, popping with static as he recalled years of nothing but binary coming out of it, and the looks of surprise and horror and pity it earned him, the shame that welled in his spark--

"Bumblebee will not be the host and that's final."

"Agreed," Arcee said, her arms crossed over her chest. "I'll offline before I vote for that."

"I will also have to agree. As I stated, there is no one that I would feel comfortable giving this duty."

Bumblebee's spark ebbed against the vice grip.

"I could do it though."

There was a quiet chuckle that had seeker written all over it from across the table, but Bumblebee didn't have time to deal with it. Not with his companions all looking at him with varying degrees of frustration and worry on their faces.

Frustration with his naiveté, or his age, or stubbornness, or all three no doubt; worry for the very same reasons.

"No," Ratchet replied, flustered and upset. "He damaged you and killed you and—and I will not allow you to give him your spark!"

Shame sparked into indignation.

"Ok, but are we all forgetting that I killed him too?” Bumblebee asked as he pushed his pedes, his palms flat on the table still. “And you know what? When I did, it stuck. He sank to the bottom of the ocean, gun metal grey, and the only reason he’s still walking around is because of literal divine intervention. So if one of us should be afraid of the other, he should be afraid of me."

“So what?” Arcee snapped, standing up as well so that only Ratchet’s still-seated frame separated them. “So you’re even or something? It doesn’t work that way, Bee. Killing him doesn’t erase what he did.”

"Nothing that any of us did can be erased!" Bumblebee said, throwing his servos out to indicating the rest of the council. "Seven of us have actively tried to offline each other for millennia, and the other three had to leave our home planet so that they didn't get caught in the crossfire. Yet we can all still sit here and try to run a city. I think if I can stand to sit at a table with Starscream, I can find it in me to play house with Megatron.”

"This isn't just politics we're talking about, Bumblebee!" Ratchet's servo slapped against his own chest, palm above where his spark lay as he moved to stand, looming over Bumblebee. "You aren't agreeing to simply keep an eye on him! You would be agreeing to being tied to him at the most intimate level mecha can be connected. You would be giving away any ability to lead a life that isn't intimately tangled with Megatron's."

Bumblebee's tanks roiled at the thought, but he continued, anger fueling him, "I’m not an idiot, Ratch. I understand what I’m offering. But somebody has to give it up, right? If it’s not me, then it’s going to be some other poor mech who has no idea what Megatron’s like, which makes no sense.” He moved his servo to lightly bump against his chest, his pedes shifting a little wider to strengthen his stance. “If I'm the best mech for the job, then why shouldn't I be the one to do it?"

"Because Megatron and his fate are not your personal responsibility," Ultra Magnus interrupted, and for the first time that evening, there was genuine upset coloring his tone. Bumblebee turned to find the mech towering over him. "We serve the people of this city, and we work through our own personal hardships for them, but that does not mean that you must sacrifice so much when there are other options."

"What other options?" Bumblebee challenged.

That dropped like bomb on his side of the table. Ultra Magnus’s face pinched but he did not have an immediate reply. Nothing but rumbling engines came from Ratchet or Arcee either.

Given a few more seconds, Bumblebee was sure they would have rallied. The argument could have gone on for hours, given how stubborn all four of them were.

However, that was when Metalhawk stood and audibly cleared his voicebox. “Arcee, Ratchet,” he said, staring at each in turn, though his gaze lingered on Bumblebee for a moment before moving on, “and Ultra Magnus. I request that you all take your seats and show respect for Bumblebee as a councilmech. He has a right as much as any of us to present his idea in full before it is voted on, and I for one would like to hear what he has to say.”

“Seconded,” Starscream said, a lazy smirk on his lips. However, his optics were blinding in their brightness and focus on Bumblebee. “I’m very curious.”

“I see no reason to go down this path of discussion when we have not decided if political spark bonding is even a feasible option--”

“You are welcome to voice your concerns after Bumblebee is finished,” Metalhawk interrupted. Not a single plate shifted under the heated look Ultra Magnus gave him. However, the large mech finally sat. Metalhawk turned his attention next to Arcee. “And the same to you, Arcee.”

Arcee sneered, her engine growling softly. She turned to look at Bumblebee then, and said quietly, “Don’t do this, Bee.”

A flicker of guilt came and went before Bumblebee shook his helm. “Sorry.”

With a huff of her vents, Arcee sat with her arms crossed over her chest. Bumblebee had no doubt she was planning her argument, ready for her turn.

Finally, there was just Ratchet. Warily, Bumblebee lifted his gaze, and the guilt was back when he saw how distressed the medic was.

“I won’t let you do this.”

“Ratchet--”

“I won’t! If this is the only option then – then I will bond with him myself! If that’s what it will take then let me--!”

“Ratchet.” Bumblebee raised a servo to grab Ratchet’s arm, tightening his hold reassuringly. It was hard to tell which of them was trembling. “Please.” Both – it was both of them. “Trust me.”

Ratchet’s face crumpled, optics flickering.

“I can’t watch you do this.”

“Then don’t.”

Ratchet’s engine sputtered.

And then he turned, away from Bumblebee and away from the table, breaking Bumblebee’s hold. Bumblebee let him go. The swish of the door opening and closing was all that announced Ratchet’s departure.

“And to think that I’ve been accused of being dramatic.”

Bumblebee couldn’t keep his engine for revving as he shot Starscream a dark look. He didn’t rise to the bait though, just shifted so he was facing the rest of the council.

Metalhawk was watching him. They all were, in fact. Neutrals, Decepticons, and Autobots alike were staring at him expectantly, and the reality of what he was doing set in.

“The floor is yours, Bumblebee.”

“Uh, thanks, Metalhawk,” Bumblebee said before resetting his voicebox. He had never actually made a proposition in the council himself. Comments, retorts, agreements – those were easy. But presenting and defending his own idea?

He felt like he was actually doing something worthwhile.

“Obviously this isn’t something I want to do, but considering how long we’ve all been sat here arguing about things we can’t do with Megatron, I think this is something that has to be done by somebody. There’s no point in going back to earlier ideas when we’re just going to have the same arguments and end up back here again. Plus, the longer we wait to tell the city what’s happening, the more suspicious they’ll be about whatever choice we make, and—and they deserve better than that.” Bumblebee’s servos were twitching at his sides, and nothing he could do would still them. The council was quiet though, they were listening to him, and that was equal parts terrifying and thrilling. “If political spark bonding can keep the peace while making sure that Megatron isn’t a threat, then we should do it. And if an Autobot is the best choice to make sure both of those happen, then I—”

Bumblebee’s spark pulsed hard enough to hurt.

“—I think I would be the best Bot for the job.”

“Because you went swimming around in his helm?” Discbrake asked, sounding unconvinced.

“I mean, it was more than that,” Bumblebee argued. “I was inside his mind and I was able to make a deal with him based on what I figured out about him.”

“You spoke with him?” Watts looked intrigued, her servos folded and her chin propped on them.

Bumblebee nodded. “Yeah. I hadn’t planned on it, but he realized pretty quick I was in there, so I had to talk to him to figure out how to get the cure from him.”

“Which you apparently did successfully,” Metalhawk stated. When Bumblebee nodded again, he continued, “Just from talking?”

“Kinda?” Bumblebee winced, wishing he could take back the unsure tone. “I mean, I did, but it’s more than that. I was a scout my whole life until recently, so I’m pretty good at reading mecha. I don’t know Megatron as well as the Cons, but he’s not exactly a hard mech to figure out.” With a shrug, he quickly added, “Once you figure ‘em out, it’s easier to use ‘em.”

“That’s awfully sneaky for a mere scout,” Starscream said, his helm tilted ever so slightly to one side. He almost looked impressed.

Bumblebee couldn’t help a small grin thinking about his years under Jazz’s tutelage. “I was trained by the best.”

“So you have training and experience in your favor,” Starscream continued, his optics narrowing on the warrior. “But what makes you think that anyone outside this room would believe you would choose to bond with Megatron?”

“Uh. Right.” Bumblebee grimaced and rubbed at the back of his neck. “I mean, it’s kind of hard to come up with a cover story when I don’t even know what Megatron has been up to or why he’s here, you know?”

“Indeed. A logical cover story will need collaboration between both parties,” Shockwave agreed.

“Reason for volunteering?”

Bumblebee felt a shiver race down his backstruts as he looked at Soundwave. The mech still looked so calm, plating lax as his visor continued to filter data coming in from Laserbeak’s surveillance. The dots were spreading. There wasn’t likely a single mech in the city who hadn’t heard the news by now.

Why was he doing this?

“Well, somebody has to, don’t they?”

“Megatron: crushed Bumblebee’s intake, online solely due to medical assistance. Bumblebee: left permanently damaged. Bumblebee: entered Megatron’s mind, tricked him, left him for dead. Megatron: took over Bumblebee’s mind to save own life. Megatron: offlined Bumblebee. Bumblebee: offlined Megatron. Autobot companions: visibly upset over prospect of spark bonding.”  Soundwave’s visor went blank, and there was no way to see his optics through it, but Bumblebee swore he could feel the other’s heated stare. “Conclusion: Bumblebee hates Megatron; Bumblebee and Megatron are incompatible. So, question is repeated: reason for volunteering?”

Bumblebee grimaced, his processor racing to find something, anything to answer the question. It wasn’t readily available though.

It had just happened, just a realization that he had the skills, had the ability, had the experience. Then there was indignation and slighted pride because they thought he couldn't do it, that there was no way he could handle Megatron, that they thought he was too young/stupid/weak to handle that bucket of bolts. He had had to prove to them that he could!

But it was true. Bumblebee hated Megatron. From the day he was forged, Megatron was enemy number one, and he had never done anything to persuade Bumblebee otherwise. The former warlord still haunted the darkest corners of his mind.

But someone had to take responsibility for Megatron. Someone had to make the sacrifice for the sake of everyone else.

Despite everything that Megatron had done -- all the lives he had ruined and ended including Bumblebee's own -- someone had to open their spark to him to keep the peace.

Someone had to accept Megatron into their life.

"Because it's what Optimus would do."

The room was utterly silent as, slowly, Soundwave nodded.

"Acceptable."

"Bond?"

Bumblebee nodded as he shifted awkwardly on his pedes. "Spark bond specifically."

Megatron stared down at him warily, his optics cycling with thought.

"A political spark bond."

"Yep."

"To what end?" Megatron asked. There was nothing aggressive about how he spoke or in his expression, but Bumblebee still felt as if he was about to be reprimanded. "Surely I am considered a criminal."

"Things would be much simpler if you were," Bumblebee admitted. "But no. Anyone who was in the war has been forgiven for any crimes committed during it, and unfortunately that includes you."

Of all things, that only made Megatron frown deeper. "Excused of war crimes?"

Bumblebee shrugged, hoping that maintaining a casual exterior might actually fool Megatron. "You try running a planet when two thirds of it hate each other and the last third blames them both for what happened. We nearly fell back into civil war more times than anyone really wants to think about."

Megatron hummed nearly inaudibly at that, optics cycling with thought as he turned away from Bumblebee for a moment. Pacing must have been common practice among the Decepticon higher ups, considering the former warlord didn’t seem to think anything of his pede steps across the small cell and then turning to walk back where he had come from. Unlike Starscream’s near prancing during meetings though, each of Megatron’s steps were slow and measured, and his servos were clasped behind his back.

“I see. I had assumed that between my departure and your being Cybertron’s saviors, the Autobots would not face opposition to their control, even if only temporarily,” Megatron said, more thinking aloud than anything until his optics focused on Bumblebee’s again, “but apparently I assumed incorrectly.”

Bumblebee felt frustration burn in his chassis, a familiar outrage that their sacrifices were often accepted as only making up for what the war had done at best.

“Yeah, you did.”

Megatron tilted his helm at the bitter tone. “Interesting. So you decided to give everyone a legal blank slate? To what end?"

"We didn't really want to do a trial for every last mech on this planet, so it got them out of our wiring. Without having the government on their side, any actions they took would be seen as crimes against other citizens, not revenge, so it could land them in trouble. So things eventually quieted down.” Bumblebee shifted on his pedes again, and alright, maybe he could see the appeal in pacing. He decided to keep his pedes firmly on the ground though. “It’s not ideal, but at least this way everyone just lives with their own kind and tolerates the others’ existences.”

Megatron did not reply right away, his pacing coming to a slow stop in front of Bumblebee, his optic ridges creased together with thought. When realization seemed to settle in, his frown only deepened.

"You cannot punish me for fear of raising chaos amongst the population again."

"Got it in one. We need to keep you under control, but have it look voluntary to everyone else so they don’t get any ideas."

"Thus, political spark bonding." Megatron's frown finally shifted to a small, sardonic smirk. "Clever. I wouldn't have thought the Autobots capable of such a scheme."

"Technically it was Soundwave's idea."

Megatron's optics went wide, his plating shifting and rattling for a moment. "Soundwave? My Soundwave?"

"Long story, but yeah."

It was intimidating to have those piercing red optics so focused on him, as if trying to pick apart every detail, looking for answers that Bumblebee wasn't giving. And, truthfully, Bumblebee should have taken the chance to explain what had happened – to explain everything that had happened, the chaos of returning refugees, the tension of Autobots and Decepticons having to share a city again, how the council was formed and very quickly the Autobots had their power slip through their digits as Neutrals insisted on an evenly split council to represent all of the citizens, all while trying to keep everything under control so reconstruction could continue so there would even be a place for returning mecha to live--

Bumblebee's tanks roiled at the thought of having to spend that much time with Megatron. He would have to deal with it eventually though, considering he was facing a lifetime with the former warlord.

Maybe that was what made it all the worst.

Luckily, that was when Knockout called down the hall, "You almost done proposing down there? If we have a spark bonding ceremony in the future, then it's about time I be allowed to see the conjunx to be and make sure he’s looking appropriately pretty."

Bumblebee's plating flared, surprised by the other mech and flustered by the comment. At least there was relief to be found in seeing Megatron's plating flare as well, though Bumblebee couldn’t help noticing some pieces moving oddly, stiffly, and some not reacting at all.

The once fearsome warlord was, indeed, in need of a medic.

“Just a second!” Bumblebee called back, barely glancing down the hallway at Knockout before his focus was back on Megatron. It felt wrong to let the warlord out of his sight regardless of the barrier between them. After a ventilation cycle, he said to Megatron, "Look, you don't have to decide right now. I'll be back later to explain the specifics--"

"Will my agreement keep the peace?"

Bumblebee went still, staring with wide optics. Megatron’s plating had settled back into a neutral position though, and his expression gave nothing away. The autobot might as well have been trying to interpret the emotional response of a wall for all that he could glean from Megatron. Warily, he replied, "Well, it's the best plan we got, so I fragging hope so."

Megatron was studying him so closely that it made Bumblebee's spark thunder in its casing.

"Why you, scout?"

"I told you, I agreed to it--"

"But why?" Megatron stood straight upright, utilizing every bit of their size difference to tower over the small grounder. "We both know what I've done to you, never mind what I’ve done to your comrades and companions, and yet,” he said, his helm tilting just a fraction, “you come offering to tie your spark to mine."

Bumblebee scowled, and spat out, "Because I'm the best mech for the job." He stepped up closer to the barrier, armor flared wide, door wings raised high and aggressive. "You threw your best at me and I survived." He lifted his chin up, revealing his neck in a show of bravery he didn't feel all the way to the core of his spark, but far enough that he could convince himself to not hide it away again. "Apparently offlining you wasn’t enough, so I'm willing to do what it does take to make sure you never hurt anyone else ever again."

Then, of all things, Megatron smiled.

"Very well then. So long as you are doing this of your own volition and it benefits the city, then I accept your arrangement."

Bumblebee, to his chagrin, felt his jaw drop.

"What—really? Just like that? I've barely told you anything."

Megatron shrugged, his frame shifting before he started pacing again. It was a momentary relief to have those optics off of him. "You are more than welcome to tell me all the sordid details later, but I do not imagine that they will have any influence on my decision. I have all the information that I need." When he turned on his pedes, he had that weirdly fond look on his face again. "Who better to keep me in line than the scout who has always foiled my plans?"

"Warrior."

Megatron's optic ridges lifted at that, and then he was slowly walking towards Bumblebee again. Intimidation did not keep Bumblebee from continuing to blurt out, "I'm not just a scout anymore. I'm a warrior."

Megatron's grin grew.

"A title well deserved."

"Uh, thanks," Bumblebee replied after a beat of confused silence, too surprised to think of anything better to say, and regretting it as soon as he had said it. Embarrassed, he glanced back down the hall where Knockout was waiting, leaned against a wall. It was only the momentary flicker of one optic that clued him into the fact that the medic had winked at him.

Bumblebee looked back at Megatron and cleared his voicebox awkwardly.

"It's late and you clearly need some medical attention," he started, noting the irritation that was there and then gone again from Megatron's expression at the allusion to the state of his frame, "so I'll just go. I'll be back tomorrow."

Megatron nodded. "I suspect I'll be seeing a lot of you, little warrior."

Bumblebee barely held back a shudder as he turned away from Megatron and quickly made his escape down the hallway.

Knockout was watching him, nodding his only form of greeting before he jumped right in. "Any requests for your beautiful conjunx to be?" He squawked at the shove Bumblebee gave him, and sniped, "Sorry for trying to lighten the mood."

Bumblebee still felt full to bursting with agitated energy, but he managed to ex-vent and reply, "It's fine. As long as he doesn't have any weapons, he can look however he wants."

"How flexible of you," Knockout said as he finally straightened. "When I heard the news, I had assumed you would be a much stricter warden, given your history together and all. How lucky for Megatron."

Bumblebee's spark clenched tightly in his chest. "I'm not a ‘warden.’"

Knockout shrugged, replying as one servo carefully reached out to touch Bumblebee’s arm, "Your job is to keep him locked away in some apartment and compliant. We can call it political spark bonding all we like, but we both know it's far less romantic than that."

His tanks felt twisted with disgust, but Bumblebee had no response to that. He shrugged Knockout's servo away and muttered, "Just fix him up" before leaving.