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lets-try-some-writing · 2 years ago

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Ghostly Boredom

Optimus gave himself to the well, restoring life to Cybertron and ending his life in the living realm. He expected to join the Allspark or perhaps go to the realm of the Primes. He did not expect to find himself standing beside the well mere moments after it was restored to functionality... as a ghost.

He quickly found he couldn't interact with the living realm in any real capacity. He could walk straight through surfaces if he wanted and hover in the air if he didn't feel like walking. When he was feeling particularly emotional he could even gain just enough influence to cause the air around him to become warmer marginally. But beyond that he had no influence. This caused him a great deal of distress at first, especially as he watched his team mourn for him and could do nothing to comfort them. For weeks all he did was try and desperately attempt to communicate with them and wipe away their tears as they wept for his passing and all the others who had fallen. It tore him to pieces to be unable to so much as whisper to them or even allow them to feel his presence.

With time and after years of not being able to interact with others, his carefully cultivated composure fell away without anyone to keep up appearances for. More than once he screamed into the void, desperate to be heard, to be felt, to be seen. He raged, he raved, and slowly but surely his Primely persona slipped away back into his base nature, that of the archivist Orion Pax. As the years passed and his team moved on, Optimus's whirl of emotional outrage calmed. He grew to accept his circumstances and seeing as there was nothing he could do to aid his team or the newsparks that came from the well, he sat back and observed.

In the end he watched his team, his family, slowly move on all while he cheered for them.

He stood by Ratchet watching on as his friend first fell deep into depression and then gradually regained a sense of purpose, assisting in the rebuilding of Cybertron. He smiled widely as Arcee and Smokescreen worked together to re-establish the elite guard, healing from their respective traumas together. He practically glowed with pride as Bumblebee came into his own and joined the ranks of the law enforcers. He observed Ultra Magnus, Bulkhead, and Wheeljack endeavor to use their skills to repair their shattered world with no small amount of joy. And when he was sure of their circumstances, he even followed Knockout as an unseen spectator as the medic struggled to fit into the new society rising up around him.

Optimus came to find that he preferred following Knockout more so than his team simply because it hurt too much to be around them for long. He couldn't bear to stand idly by and be unable to speak with his closest loved ones. Such instances of him staying with them for too long led him to grow depressed. As such he enjoyed Knockout's company even if the former Decepticon didn't know he was there. The medic made humorous remarks even when alone and tended to always act in such a way that the part of Optimus that was Orion found it to be entertaining. He took to making snarky remarks, a habit he picked up from hanging around Knockout too much, to keep himself entertained as pain, rage, and worry faded into boredom.

He found himself taking to floating around Knockout as the medic went about his day and talked to himself all about the daily gossip. This woke the archivist in Optimus and soon enough he too was always eager for the details of the happenings in social circles he didn't know or care for.

Knockout: Primus! Trailbreaker did not!

Optimus: *floating nearby trying to read over Knockout's shoulder* What did he do this time? He better not have fallen of a bridge agian trying to perform some stupid stunt.

Knockout: I can't believe he fell of a bridge for the fifth time this month trying to do a flip in alt-mode!

Optimus: *very much invested* He did NOT! Did he tear a transformation seam like last time too?

Knockout: He even tore a transformation seam! If I were his medic I would destroy his finish!

Optimus: He absolutely deserves it. Now don't leave me hanging. Did Brainstorm also blow up his lab again or not?

Optimus developed a relationship of sorts with Knockout, albeit one only known to him. He would spent a majority of his time tailing the medic just to have something to do. And when not doing that he would follow one of his team and make commentary on whatever it was they were doing.

This continued for several more years as he grew more and more bored. Any elegance he had developed as Prime was pushed aside in favor of mocking and criticizing everyone just to stay sane. However as his team continued to move on, Knockout steadily grew more on Optimus, and Cybertron continued to build up around him, the Prime found himself alienated even more so than he already was. He hated watching his home be restored and be unable to interact with anything. And while he tried to eliminate the feeling by mapping out the rebuilt cities and wandering the restored archives to read over some archivist's shoulder, he grew tired of that too after a time. And so to clear his helm a bit, he went in search of Megatron.

A perk of being a ghost was that he didn't need to hunt mecha down through the usual means. He merely needed to reach out for them mentally and he would find himself before them. So this is exactly what he did, soon finding himself on a desolate rock where Megatron sat glaring off into the distance.

Optimus: So this is what you have been doing for nearly two decades? Rather pathetic. Not at all like the revolutionary and warlord I knew.

Megatron: *whipping around* What the ever loving FRAG!??!?

Optimus: ... well, scrap

The Prime came to discover that Megatron of all mecha could see him. And as if a switch had been flipped, Optimus made it his life mission to be as irritating as possible until Megatron got up off his aft to do something about his previous poor life decisions. There was only one mech that he knew that could see him and Optimus had no intention of wasting that.

Megatron: Will you shut up!? You weren't nearly this irritating before or after becoming Prime!

Optimus: *bellowing cotton eye joe on loop* WHERE DID YOU COME FROM, WHERE DID YOU GO! WHERE DID YOU COME FROM COTTON EYE JOE!

Megtron: For Primus's sake, shove it or i'll-

Optimus: Do what? Kill me? Too late for that I am afraid. Now are you going to get up off your aft to go fix things or what?

Megatron: ...

Optimus: *getting ready to sing the song that never ends*

Megatron: FRAGGING FINE!

His mission of being the biggest pain possible to force his nemesis to go redeem himself complete, Optimus followed Megatron to Cybertron just to ensure he actually went about making a change. Then once Megatron reassured everyone that 'no, I don't intend to kill you all', the former warlord got to work with restoration, even taking up a place in the archives to give the Decepticon side of the war to the new archivists working there.

Pleased, Optimus decided to go to earth for some fresh scenery... only to find the fragging fallen looming there. And so panicked beyond belief he hurried back to Cybertron and exerted every ounce of willpower he had to call upon the only other mecha with a bond to him strong enough to possibly allow them to see him. He went to his sparkling.

Using the memorial pool he directed Bee to earth as best as he was able and then watched on with increasing exasperation as his charge somehow managed to frag up a simple task so royally Optimus almost considered just going to get Megatron. He watched on as Bumblebee managed to get himself, his partner, and a random troublemaker stuck on earth. Then he watched as Bee picked up more companions, including an actual dinobot, a flier, a samurai, and his minicons. And then he got second hand embarrassment every other minute as he was forced to watch Bee struggle to figure out a leadership style. More than once he wished he didn't phase through things just so he could bang his helm on the wall.

However if nothing else he gained great amusement from watching Bee's companions do ridiculous scrap. Optimus came to enjoy mocking Sideswipe more than any of the others, constantly making remarks on his bad form and offering up sarcastic and deadpan advice even though he couldn't be heard. He also found it hilarious to confuse the minicons as they were a suspicious duo who tried and failed to convince Bee's team that they were being haunted. For the pure chaos of it, Optimus exerted his influence around the minicons whenever he was able, even managing to make ominous whispers and throw a rock once. He found it hilarious to watch the minicons feverishly try to prove that he was there, especially when they got Fixit involved.

Optimus also developed a habit of commenting on everything and anything Bee did, throwing out his critiques and groaning in mixed embarrassment and irritation as he watched Bee fumble around with leadership. He also regularly took to floating above the scrapyard to look down upon Bee and his team, usually wishing for a cube of energon to sip from as he watched them with a fond irritation. But by far Optimus's favorite thing to do was follow around the human boy that Bee's team resided alongside. The boy hardly read his books, but when he did Optimus was always there to read over his shoulder anxiously.

Optimus: *leaning over Russell* Fascinating. I didn't know your ancestors created glue in such a manner.

Russell: Ugh, this is so boring.

Optimus: Wait don't stop! Keep reading child!

Russell: This is stupid, I'll read it later.

Optimus: NO, Child please! Finish the chapter at least! I need to know what happens next!

Russell: *closes the book with a snap* Forget this!

Optimus: *angry screeching* ITS BeEN ThReE mOnTHS!! JUST FINISH THE BOOK!

Optimus spent all his time hanging around hoping that Bee and his team would be able to face the threat that was on its way. He most certainly did not expect to be pulled into the realm of the Primes and tossed into an actual frame again empowered by his newly returned Matrix and the sparks of his fellow Primes.

He did not adjust well to suddenly being able to interact with the world again.

#maccadam #transformers #transformers prime #optimus prime #ghost optimus prime #team prime #bumblebee #optimus is bored beyond belief #poor guy just wants stuff to do #I've had this sitting in my drafts for months #now here it is #I think I will need to make a part two to write about all he hjinks I have in mind

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lets-try-some-writing · 1 year ago

Note

I hope to see more of your Optimus ghost au

maybe something went wrong when Optimus got sent to the real world and still had some ghostly attributes?

I meant to answer this forever ago, but alas, life is a thing. ANYWAY here it is! The continuation of this post I intended to make two eternities ago.

Previous part here.

Bad Habits

Optimus spent almost a half a vorn as nothing more than a wandering spirit. He grew accustomed to it and had exactly zero issues with his situation after a time and was rather content with himself after the emotions of mortality faded in favor of boredom. It was a dull existence, but not without its perks.

Spending so long as a ghost allowed his attachment to mortal emotions to fade to a degree. He no longer felt his emotions as strongly and instead found himself unconcerned with things, preferring instead to make commentary on it and watch from a distance. He came to enjoy being able to float wherever he desired without need for sustenance or rest after the longing passed. He was particularly fond of being able to think of a mech and transport directly to their location so he could watch and comment as he pleased.

By the time he arrived on earth to oversee Bumblebee's attempts to deal with the Decepticon influence there, and later the Fallen, he was completely at peace with his situation. It was boring, but Bee's companions were entertaining enough to keep him engaged. Then of course the other Primes dragged him from his peaceful existence and right in front of Bee and his team, wrapped him in a mortal frame once more, even going so far as the shove the Matrix in his chassis again.

It was so sudden and it hurt. He was certain that throughout the process he was screaming so loudly that if he weren't being remade, he would have damaged something. It was agony and when the work was done he could only fall to the ground limply, unable to move as he was forced to adjust to living again. Venting suddenly became a concious choice, touch and sensation were so overwhelming as to be painful, and he had no control of his field or even his basic biology. It had been too long and he had long forgotten the finer details of how to operate in a mortal body.

Bumblebee and his team were of course quick to assist, but Optimus merely flinched and groaned as they hauled him to his pedes only for him to be as clumsy as a newspark. Micronus spoke plainly, demanding Optimus end the Fallen himself and going on about how Optimus's frame was infused with the strength of all the Primes or something along those lines. He was too tired and overwhelmed to process much and so promptly passed out from sheer data overload.

When he woke he spent days slowly and rather painfully relearning the most basic of skills, ranging from walking to speaking. He could tell Bee was worried and that his team were disappointed and concerned. Optimus paid them little mind and focused himself on his task, opting not to be around the team as much as he could so as to not make a mistake. It was difficult adjusting, but he managed to fight the Fallen fairly well by relying on the Matrix to guide his steps and take partial control of his frame where he no longer had mastery.

However once the battle was over and Optimus was left without much to do, the oddities and issues that came from his almost half a vorn floating around as a ghost came to light rather quickly. The most obvious issue Optimus dealt with was the fact that he needed to be around other mecha again. He had always watched and commented on what went on around him, it was his method of coping. However now that he was living again, he quickly came to the realization that the personality he developed for himself to get by would no longer work in a social setting.

He hardly noticed at first when he would stand around, watching blankly as Bee and his team worked. He only realized how odd he must have seemed when he received fearful glances that spoke of worry for their performance in return for his staring. In those instances he often walked away without a word, regularly finding himself confused when he felt any actual strain to his movements before remembering that he was mortal once more. He also found himself not touching anything, just... standing and observing, reading over the shoulders of others instead of collecting a book by himself. The team were too unnerved to comment and so allowed the behavior and endured Optimus musings as he spoke as if no one could hear him.

Optimus wandered any and all parts of the base, uncaring of social norms and customs or even privacy. When he grew bored, he would walk the halls and enter into any room he felt like exploring, often walking straight into a wall expecting to pass through before he tried the doors instead. Bee and his team quickly learned to lock their doors at night so that Optimus wouldn't meander right on in without a care in the world. However sometimes that didn't stop him from being unnerving as he would pace up and down the halls singing songs and making all sorts of very bitter commentary.

He was not asked to do much save for rest and recover and to focus on reorienting himself. Thus Optimus continued with life as if he was still but a ghostly specter since nothing was expected of him. He watched, he wandered, and he tried in vain a great many times to transport back to Cybertron to check in on Megatron and Knockout as he would have as a spirit.

There were other things beyond his simple inability to socialize. Optimus hardly rested and when he felt any sort of strain he was always left startled and confused as to what to do. He completely forgot about fueling for nearly a week and was confused as to what was wrong with his frame before Bee handed him an energon cube looking more concerned that Optimus forgot that he needed fuel more so than his lack of fueling. Not only that, but Optimus tended to walk everywhere, never transforming and never running. He just walked without a care in the world even when there were actual issues that required speed to be seen to. He was only reminded of his alt-mode when the team yelled at him to transform when he got caught up in a fight by tailing the team.

Pain was one of those odd things he never really understood after being restored. He knew it well while he lived, but upon his restoration every wound was a stark and noticeable thing. Even the slightest trip could have him holding back a scream as pain and damage reports flooded his processors. The team didn't understand, and neither did Optimus. They stopped bringing him on missions shortly after his battle with the Fallen because of his oddities. He didn't mind much.

Optimus also just... didn't recharge. He needed it, but he wouldn't rest until he passed out cold without meaning to. He would spend days going without any recharge simply because he was unused to it and preferred being up and about so he could continue to watch. It frightened Bee and his team to find Optimus stalking silently, watching and waiting as they worked. Sometimes the Prime would sit in total silence on top of the cars in the junkyard, commenting and laughing as they trained or busied themselves. He was generally left alone due to how freaky his action were, however Optimus was startled when one outraged Sideswipe had enough of his words and addressed him where the others were too nervous to do so.

Optimus: How very disappointing.

Sideswipe: What?

Optimus: During the war even the youngest of soldiers could throw a right hook correctly. What happened to the teachings of warriors? Did it fade from the veins of Cybertron now that peace has been granted?

Sideswipe: Hey-!

Optimus: Look at that, now the youngling is upset. No self control at all. He won't last a day in an actual battlefield.

Sideswipe: I CAN HEAR YOU OPTIMUS!

Optimus: .... Apologies.

The Prime looked genuinely shocked to be addressed and that was the final nail in the coffin. Optimus stopped talking entirely and fell silent, instead continuing to hover and watch. He pulled away from everyone with a cold apathy that left the team fearful of something that wasn't there. It was during this time that the lingering aspects of Optimus's long time as a wandering ghost began to become obvious to the team.

Before they refused to ask, chalking Optimus's oddities up to him getting used to living again. But now that they looked, they could see everything.

Optimus was unusually quiet for a mech of his size, to the point where it made no sense whatsoever. It was as if the world itself refused to acknowledge he was there. Every movement was near silent, his plating hardly ever making a noise and his steps obscured by a strange calm that made it impossible to locate the Prime with hearing alone. Even his colors felt muted at times, his frame almost blending into the background because of some strange force that decided Optimus was not allowed to be noticed unless he wished for it.

It was odd, very odd, and highly concerning. Thus without any idea what to do, Bumblebee took the initiative to call upon Ratchet for aid, a call that was also answered by Megatron the moment the former warlord heard that Optimus was restored. All the while Optimus continued to watch, to wait, and observe. Silent as ever and content to remain a simple wraith, forgotten by the living and exiled from the ranks of the dead.

#maccadam #transformers #transformers prime #optimus prime #bumblebee #bee team #transformers rid2015 #ghost optimus prime #yeaaaah being a ghost for so long will frag you up #how starscream manages it all the time is beyond me #I would lose my marbles

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