[ video ]

[lifepersists]

[ First Aid is still hard at work, but he's back to video. He's got some kind of oil on his hands and he looks pretty satisfied now. ]

The pyre is almost ready. The ceremony will be tomorrow. Those who have loved ones amongst the dead, please let me know if you wish to light their pyre mound.





[ Megatronus ]
I told you, it's all about phrasing.

[ This is practically a grin with his optics. ]

Anyway, I wasn't trying to gloat. I actually would like to ask you for a favor. Do you think you can assist with the fire?
[ Megatronus ]

Comments

/sneaks in gently...

[winged_knight]

Will you help me with Megatron's? First Aid said multiple people can light a pyre.

And well, his will be...considerable.

[sword_redemption]

I'm not sure he would want me there. We, uh, we didn't part on the best terms. [In either universe.]

[winged_knight]

He respected you at least.

I spoke to him, before he went to fight Optimus. He would taken us both with him, had he succeeded. If we'd agreed to go.

[sword_redemption]

Or he wasn't done with me yet. [A flicker of a smile.]

Would you have gone, if he'd succeeded? And I was [...dead]?

[winged_knight]

Perhaps, heh. [Something that could apply to them both really.] Who can say?

Only once I was certain you...weren't coming back. [It frees him in some ways but complicates it in others.] And even then...it'd be hard to turn my back on this place, the people here. At least here I know I have a chance of doing good.

[Maybe that's the answer then? But that strikes him with a curiousity.]

If you'd gone. If we'd gone together. Would you have kept the Autobrand?

[sword_redemption]

How long would you have waited? [He has no idea why, but it seems important.]

[He looks down at his chassis, shaking his head.] No. I wouldn't. Because factions tore us apart to begin with. It's no way to make peace.

[winged_knight]

Probably too long. [A solemn smile.] You know me and hope.

[He nods, and can't help but look a little bit pleased.] Symbols have so much power, yet so often it's abstract and out of our control.

[sword_redemption]

They were the only things we believed in at the start of the war. [He shakes his head, remembering how proud he'd been to get his Decepticon badge.]

Not that neutrals got any more respect.

[winged_knight]

We all wanted new ideology. [The Senate had certainly failed them.] But many didn't stop to really consider if it was better than the old.

I don't know where I would have ended up if not for the Circle. [A chuff of air.] Dead, I imagine.

[sword_redemption]

I think...if you hate what you have you think anything's an improvement. We were ignorant, but then again, they kept us ignorant. All of us.

[A bitter laugh.] I could say the same about Megatron.

[winged_knight]

[He nods.] Sometimes it takes change to put it all into perspective. But sometimes that's too late.


[An odd laugh as the irony strikes him.] In a strange way, I suppose the war saved us.

[sword_redemption]

It's hard to see exactly where we went wrong. Because the world was broken.

It saved our bodies, but I'm not sure what it did to our sparks.

[winged_knight]

It was so many things I think. One thing added to another until it was all wrong. Could a historian point to our history and say 'That's when it all changed'? I don't think so.

[It almost took Wing's body too, but that isn't a conversation he wants to have on the Link.]

The war dimmed us all, stole the light from us, some more than others. I want us to have a brighter future here. Where we can shine again. All of us.

[sword_redemption]

But if that's true, how do we know--here or anywhere--if we're making one of those wrong turns?

[You have no idea how much this haunts him.]

If only you shine, it would be bright enough, Wing.

[He can't help it, the cheezy, painfully earnest lines.]

[winged_knight]

[He shakes his head, because this worries him too.] It's not easy. But being more mindful of the bigger picture can help I think. In the end we can start with ourselves. I wasn't critical enough, I didn't questions things I should have. I no longer make that mistake.

[He won't be caught as the proverbial sheep moving with the flock ever again.]

Drift, I... [He can't help but give shy little laugh.] If it'd help, I would try. [Then a little grin.] But I want to see you shine, too.

[Never stop. Wing loves every moment of it, especially the earnestness.]

[sword_redemption]

I wish I knew how you did that. [It's not the bad kind of envy, more wistfulness, in his voice.]

[He gave a lopsided smile.] Wing, mechs from the gutters don't shine.

[winged_knight]

I paid a heavy price to learn it though. [Too heavy.] I'll tell you the story...if you'd like to hear it. Just. Not over the Link.

[He realizes he knows Drift's story, his early origins, but Wing hasn't shared his yet. It's time, he thinks.]

Why not, didn't Gasket? [What had been a shadow cast over Wing's face is burned away by his ardent smile.] And I know you can, I see it in you.

[sword_redemption]

I've made you pay a price for me. [He sighs, discontent.] Of course. Whenever you want.

[Whatever you want. Drift wouldn't dream of saying 'no' to anything Wing wanted.]

Not like you, Wing. [No one had ever been as pure and bright as Wing. It almost hurt to look at him sometime.]

[winged_knight]

Sometimes the price is the reason we learn. [He cocks his helm at the sigh.] It's up to you Drift. If you want to know, ask me about it sometime.

[It's certainly not a matter he'll press. Just a simple offer.]

[He ducks his head a little at the compliment.] Everyone shines in their own way. Every spark is different.

[sword_redemption]

And I want to make sure I learn it, Wing. [The price was too terribly high.]

I don't want you to feel that you have to tell me anything. [But, he'll listen.]

[And once again they're doing that dance of polite aloof distance when both of them want to draw closer.]

[He smiles, with a cock of his helm.] Accept the compliment, Wing.

[winged_knight]

You have, Drift. [And hopefully it's the hardest lesson he'll ever have to learn.]

Drift I...I want to. [A smile, because he realizes how true that is, dancing around each other and the hurts they have. Trying to prevent more, when they could be healing each other.] I want to.

[And now a little chuff of laughter, like he's been caught out.] ...thank you, love. If it lets me brighten your day, or anyone else's, then I will.

[sword_redemption]

Then I want to hear it. [He does. There's a part of him that is greedy for any crumb of Wing--his attention, his history, his touch...anything. He's just afraid of pushing in too closely.]

It does. [He wishes they were closer, but then again, he always does. And he's here about Gasket, the memento of his past that deserves to be laid to rest.]

[winged_knight]

[There might be some pain in the telling, but he realizes now too, that perhaps he still has things to learn from the experience even after it's aged so long. And well, bonding with Drift was an excellent reason in and of itself.] Maybe some quiet night, when the stars are out.

[Looking at the stars always made him feel better. Wing pulls a smile, he's almost looking forward to it now. If anyone would understand, it'd be him.]

Then I'll do it, everyday. Because I like to see you smile. [He tilts his head, the words growing soft.] I know he would too.

[sword_redemption]

Whenever you want. [Drift's not busy. And even if he were, he'd make an exception for Wing.]

[A sad smile.] I wonder sometimes what he'd make of me, honestly. What I became.

[winged_knight]

Soon. [And then he adds, for good measure:] And don't let me back out either. Just because other stuff gets in the way. [As it is want to do around here.]

I think he'd understand better than anyone why you made the choices that you did. [A soft smile.] And I think he'd be happy that you survived to make a difference.