I am the one who cries out at night

[loltraitorlol]

WHO: Starscream, people who he's been a bastard to. START YOUR OWN THREADS, SET YOUR OWN SCENES, ETC also tag this yourself
WHERE: Multiple places.
WHEN: Wendsday evening possibly through Friday unsure as of yet
SUMMARY: Have the Teal Deer version. Basically, Starscream's lost his ambition and his pride! He will be going around the city

Comments

[allshock_notalk]

It was fairly easy to notice when Starscream went missing.

Although he's attempting to organize a jailbreak for Thundercracker -- stealthily -- on the network, the lab is cold, impersonal, and usually very sparse. It is just Shockwave, Starscream, and himself. Not to mention one of them is a spark, practically a specter right now.

With a sigh, he dresses in his civilian clothes, and heads off to find Starscream before the slagging Seeker does something irrationally stupid again.

It is difficult, but it is a matter of tuning in and looking for the voice. The sound. It is even harder, because Starscream does not vocalize like any typical creature right now. He hears his pulsating spark before he hears a voice

[loltraitorlol]

Starscream floated down by the river, trying to get back to the lab to see Shockwave and Soundwave first.

So it was that he found Soundwave walking by the bank of the river, picking his way through trash, before pausing to look at something.

He zipped along, then hovered by Soundwave's shoulder, not bothering to manifest an image.

"Soundwave?" he started. It was still hard to find the right words. Easier, and he knew it must be done. But...

Difficult all the same.

"Soundwave, I - "

He paused again, energy flickering across the surface of his spark as he considered.

[allshock_notalk]

At first...

At first he doesn't hear Starscream, or even recognizes that he's there. As Starscream observes, he pauses. Staring out silently, almost wistfully; his brows are fixed a little as he carefully studies it.

It's perched on a post, sticking out from the water. An osprey, indifferent to Soundwave's presence.

True to habit, it is rare for him to express emotion. Previously, there was anger about Ravage's inevitable death. At this moment, he considers memories of Laserbeak and Buzzsaw.

As if abruptly offended, the bird of prey spreads its wings and takes off down the river. Sighing almost irritably, Soundwave finally acknowledges Starscream.

"TROUBLESOME," he tells the spark, somewhat cross.

[loltraitorlol]

Starscream now sees what Soundwave was watching, and for the first time, realizes what pain Soundwave must be in. He has only ever lost one friend (he only ever had one friend) but he knows, more than Soundwave understands, what that pain is like.

"It... is painful, isn't it," he says, finally. "The loss of what you - what you truly care for."

There is no sarcasm in his voice - no sneering laughter, no mockery. What he says is genuine, truly genuine, and Soundwave has known him long enough to know the difference.

"I am sorry, Soundwave. For... my mistakes. My errors."

"I only ever wished to be a good leader and I, in my blindness, in my avarice I have... I did, perhaps, ruin everything."

"I should not have killed Megatron. I should have waited, I should have been loyal and earned the position of leader, I should have had more patience."

"... and I should have respected you more."

"It is worth nothing at this point but I offer my apologies."

[androllout]

Optimus, for once, was coming home early. With the rise in criminals being turned in, McClane gone off the deep end, and not doing his job, Optimus had far more on his plate than he could handle right now. He needed some time away from his desk.

That, and for once in his life cycle, Sentinel was being.. nice.

So, he was heading home with some chinese take-out (he was going to relax tonight, slag it, even though he knew he probably would end up corralling children or whatever. It'd be just his luck). His tie was already draped over his arm, and he had opted to walk. Sometimes, he preferred it to driving - it felt less unnatural. If it was darker, he would have tried flying, but not now.

He walked down 35th street, heading towards the Autobase, not really paying attention to much.

[loltraitorlol]

Starscream was heading in the same direction, also making his way to Autobase. The first person on his mind was Metabee, though... Optimus was as well.

And well. There was the Autobot leader now.

Leaving a trail of light in his wake as the sun began to set, he came up behind Optimus, in spark form, flicker-flashing slightly.

"Optimus Prime," he said, using the Autobot's full name. "I would speak with you."

It was strange. There was no malice in his voice, no sneer. He was being honest.

[androllout]

Optimus nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard Starscream's voice behind him. He whirled around, and instead of seeing the Decepticon, he only saw a floating ball of energy.

A spark.

His eyes widened, and he wondered what in the world Starscream's spark was doing talking to him. For a brief second he worried that Starscream was there to possess him, but then he realized what tone the Decepticon was using. Whatever it was he wanted to talk about, it was serious. And important.

He raised an eyebrow, and regarded the spark carefully. "Yes?" he asked, after a few seconds of analysis, fear giving way to curiosity.

[loltraitorlol]

The spark shimmers, slightly, and then Starscream manifests his image - in this case, again, his old Cybertronian form, young and strange, alien curves of his tetrajet form obvious in his build. He tilts his head.

"I wished to say that..."

"I was wrong."

"You are worthy of the title of Prime," he says, pacing slightly, turning his head. "You may be young, but you... are him. A strange mirror, and perhaps different, but I... have misjudged you."

At last, he meets Optimus' eyes, and it is obvious now that his eyes are different. No longer are they vibrant red, but instead a cool violet.

"I am sorry, Optimus Prime. You deserved better from me."

[loltraitorlol]

Starscream floated by Lyra, again, unsure of what to say.

Truth told, he thought her a little foolish, still, even if he berated himself for thinking of betraying her when she'd shown him kindness. And he had to warn her about Soundwave.

Instead of speaking yet, though, first he followed Pantalaimon in spark form, a glittering orb of light chasing the hawk through the sky.

[loltraitorlol]

Though Starscream had lost ambition and pride, he, too, still had a little joy. He wondered just how far he could push the limits of the holographic form he could project, and tried, managing to project himself as a red-tailed hawk - save with Starscream's distinctive red, silver, and blue coloration. He continued to chase Pantalaimon, his form transluscent and indistinct, but clearly that of a bird.

[holymedaroli]

"Maybe. Geez, with this weather, you'd think the polar bears would have their own swimming pool as opposed to an arctic habitat," Ikki replied. "How about getting some ice cream?"

He didn't really get why this polymorph thing made him calmer. But if it made him and Metabee fight less, he didn't see what the big deal was. After all, arguing wore a guy out easily. And with friends like Metabee, there wasn't much of a ruckus to be raised.

[loltraitorlol]

Starscream hovers around them first as a spark, just watching. He's not really sure how to appear, how to respond. He knows they'll both be very upset at seeing him, not that they can really do anything.

When he finally appears, it's with a degree of care. He's still slightly transluscent, but he tailors his image differently. Instead of his usual robot form, he's closer to Metabee's true height, and... cuter. His features are more rounded, his shape... different.

He appears, in fact, to be a Plane-type Medabot.

It's intended to put them at ease, at least a little. Something familiar.

"Metabee, Ikki," he says, carefully. "I would speak with you."

[ajrimmer_ssc]

Ace Rimmer, meanwhile, was home from his daily exploits around the City...and was trying desperately to force himself to sleep. Penny was already out, naturally, as she was still emotionally lost. She was sleeping a lot

[loltraitorlol]

Again, Starscream concentrated on altering his appearance. Though he doubted Rimmer would be afraid of him at this point, he still felt he should make himself presentable.

He appeared human, but dressed strangely. He actually looked like he was out of a 1950's science fiction film, in his long white coat with red and blue accents. And of course, there were his eyes - now violet - and the fact that he was slightly translucent.

"Rimmer," he said, simply.

[ajrimmer_ssc]

He froze for one moment, fingers still at his eyes, and then he looked up.

Rimmer looked very different, it should be noted. The thatch of curly hair was gone, replaced by something a bit more...'80s. (Let's be honest here, come on.) His H was gone. The uniform was gone. Heck, even the silver tin-foil flight suit was gone.

He was in a white turtleneck sweater and jeans.

Rimmer.

In jeans.

He looked at Starscream, across at the bed, and then he blinked, exhausted. He couldn't tell if he was dreaming or not.

"Starscream?"

[loltraitorlol]

"Yes," he says. He notices the informality; but he's already aware that there's been a change.

In both of them, really.

"I came to apologize."