A sort of Atonement

[not_your_gun]

WHO: IDW!Megatron and OPEN!
WHAT: Magnum has escaped from the Hollow, and is going around the different Zones trying to do good deeds for people. He's very amiable in this state, and will probably perform any service asked of him.
WHERE: Zones 6-3, probably
WHEN: Now-ish
WARNINGS/NOTES: Doubt this will be an issue, but since I've been so darn slow

Comments

[zetabeamguy]

[ He'd been to many a mirrorverse in his day, but it was still downright disturbing to see Magnum acting like this.

He'd been tailing the mech for a while- tracking him down had been difficult, but not impossible- and with every little favor, every saccharine gesture of kindness, he knew that Magnum was going to feel more and more like an idiot when this was over.

So, when the Decepticon's route took him to the park, he used his Power Staff to levitate to a tree branch at magnum's eye-level. Where he perched for a moment before very loudly clearing his throat. ] And what do you think you're doing?

[not_your_gun]

[Megatron was, happily, carving out a patch of concrete to put the crystal-gel starters in. It was work that he was more than used to, even if digging into concrete was a bit different than digging into rock, and it was relaxing and easy to follow the directions the park-guide had given him.

He'd have happily continued on for the rest of the day, as well, if he hadn't recognized the voice that was specifically addressing him.]

J...Jonathan!

[His optics flickered in a blink.]

I'm seeding crystals. It...is for the public benefit.

[He offered one of the starter gels up for Jonathan's inspection, completely unperturbed by the fact the human was standing in a tree.]

[zetabeamguy]

[ He pays the offered starter gel no mind, and instead meets Magnum's gaze levelly. ]

You look like a fool.

[not_your_gun]

[Magnum winced, looking around.]

I...am...not the only one out here today...?

[It was more of an excuse than he wanted it to be, but here Jonathan was, and he didn't want to disappoint him.]

[glassloyalist]

He wasn't often in Zone 6. Starscream was certainly a creature of air and sunlight. But sometimes... sometimes there were things he wanted or needed that could only be found here. Electronics shops where he didn't really care to ask where the parts were from or how they'd been obtained. Organic parts, too, sometimes. Plants that he was certain were dangerous. All things to test, to use.

He was trying not to worry.

There is no war here. You do not fear for your life. Even if the place abounds with strangeness... and even if ... even if he's not...

Perhaps best not to think at all.

He was so lost in his thoughts, or rather in attempting to avoid them, that he ran right into Magnum, without even seeing who it was.

"Oh, oh my, I'm terribly sorry..."

[not_your_gun]

Magnum....was painting.

He hadn't entirely meant to be painting, but he'd seen a small mech up to a tall job and knew it was going to be difficult for him to finish that, alone. They were both spraying the exterior of the parts-shop, now, giving it a fresh, clean look that he was certain would attract more customers.

It was red, besides.

He liked red.

The mech that ran into him was also red, and left a red smear across his arm as the paint can jostled and mis-sprayed a new swatch of color that he found himself staring at incredulously.

It didn't match, but...that was alright.

"I'm sorry..." He started, catching himself on the wall and leaving a hand-print in the paint...
and then reaching to steady Starscream, also, when he realized who it was he'd just been in the way of.

"C...careful. Are you alright?"

[glassloyalist]

"I'm..."

He stared. Magnum? And still affected by the virus, he saw. How did he get out? Hadn't he been cloistered away by Soundwave?

"I'm perfectly fine, but thank you," he said. "I haven't seen you in... oh, my, cycles. Are you alright?"

[not_your_gun]

Without thinking about it, he wiped the paint-covered hand on his thigh-plate, wanting to get it clean so he could fix the spot on the wall it had damaged.

That didn't stop him from offering Starscream a smile, though, reaching out to poke him with a single red dot in the middle of his white forehead before he went back to painting, once again steadied.

"I'm redder than normal, but you did not hurt me. Th...thank you for asking, though. You seem to be doing very well, yourself. I am..."

He paused.

"I am sorry I have not been able to meet with you. Soundwave thought it best if I did not leave, and I had no desire to go against his wishes, but I found it was...difficult...to atone for that which I had done if I was trapped."

[show_my_cannons]

[He's out, on an errand, doing his best to get back into the swing of things again. The center needed more mats for the floor. More material to keep Jetfire from setting everything on fire by accident. Which meant traipsing all around the city in search what he needed.

The last thing he expects to see is... well. Megatron. Planting things.

For a long moment, the soldier just stares. His cannons are itching in his forearms, but all he can do is watch and wonder if he's hallucinating.]

[not_your_gun]

[Nevertheless, the planting continues for a good long while.

Crystals in concrete. A metal sculpture. Trees.

When he finally looks up and sees Ironhide, however, all he can do is stare, a plethora of emotions winking across his once-controlled facial plates. Fear. Sorrow. Hope.]

I...Ironhide?

[show_my_cannons]

[That's even more confusing. It takes him a moment to remember the issue - the virus. It still hasn't worn off.

He straightens, squaring his shoulders. Panels on his arms fold away, ready to release the cannons.]

Megatron.

[It's a low growl in his vocal processor.]

[not_your_gun]

W...wait.

Please.

[He does not straighten, still holding a tree between his hands. They're shaking, now, recognizing the posture in the other mech, knowing that Ironhide wishes him dead, but...
Still, he bends, carefully, and pushes the rest of the dirt into the hole, carefully standing the tree up straight and patting the base of dirt to keep it steady.]

Not in public.

[It...is a park. They're not alone. There might even be kids.]

[supreme_leader]

[He's sneakily strolling about, learning what he can of the comings and goings here. If he's to be successful in his plans he has to know Nexus well and there's no better way than with his own optics.

A mech catches his attention and he pauses, looks again. Oh, now this is interesting; it couldn't be anyone other than his duplicate, they were far too similar. He hadn't anticipated stumbling across Magnum randomly, too certain that he was out of reach thanks to Soundwave but this is quite the delicious little treat. Watching Magnum a moment is interesting, not exactly what he expected... perhaps this is what everyone meant when they said he wasn't himself.

He moves closer and stands just out of reach.]

Well now, just what do we have here?

[not_your_gun]

[Magnum had stationed himself at a crossing where a particularly large number of elderly humans seemed to live. If he'd known what a 'Retirement Home' was, he might have realized what the trend entailed, but since he didn't he contented himself to offer assistance to them as he might, and was currently giving directions to a man looking for tea. That...was something he knew, thanks to Mikaela.]

...just up two buildings, and then a left. Yes. A left...

[The man was safely on his way, however, when there was a voice he heard.

It...was odd, because it sounded sort of like he did...

...but it also didn't sound like he did, at all, causing him to look up and seek the source.

It also caused him to double take.]

M...Megatron?

[supreme_leader]

[He scowls as he watches the human walk away. ]

I am Malcolm, Magnum.

[He gives a suspicious glance around. This is the mech that had the loyalty of so many? He was finding that a little hard to believe unless this virus had more power than he thought.]

Slipped away from your watcher have you?

[Oh this keeps getting better and better.]

[not_your_gun]

[It...was really him. Another Megatron--and very obviously a Primaxian one. It made him intensely curious and intensely worried at the same time, knowing that he was not in his element and that Megatrons were strong, smart, cunning, and not particularly good with competition.

Thankfully, right now, he wasn't any of that.]

Malcom. It is a pleasure to meet you.

[He still offered a hand.]

Soundwave means...very well. But I needed to be outdoors.

I...

I did not know where was another of me in the city.

[Not one of the five slots Magnum has open.]

[caelumtorqueo]

[Skywarp gets...'lucky'(?) and spots Magnum shortly after beginning his recon grid. Outside. In the open.

And really, really vulnerable. This...is not good.]

[Right. Comm Soundwave. And he's going to keep an optic on Magnum. Just in case anyone gets a little too...friendly or unfriendly with him.]