VIDEO;

[inferiordude]

Aw right! So, I know, we're kind of stuck in a place with, you know. Hardly anythin'. Not goin' home. Not gonna lie, that can totally bring you down!

And sure, there's a bunch of work to do, but... we gotta pass the time!

So, I've been goin' through some of the junkpile in my spare time. There's a couple of things we can totally go ahead an' do and keep us occupied. I got some instruments if you dudes wanna learn how to play. And board games! Some cards. Stuff like that!

I mean, don't get me wrong -- I totally gathered as much food as I can for our fleshy dudes. I remember that humans don't seem to like, uh, canned green beans? But I totally have that, sorry. And peaches and ramen and soup and ravioli and yeah! All kinds of stuff. I'll, like, start a stash or somethin'.

Yeah! Lemme know if you guys need food or if you guys want somethin' to do to keep yerselves busy.

Soundwave, rockin' on out!

Comments

[inferiordude]

Then I'd feel bad for confusing them. That'd be terrible! [Such a conscience with him.]

[At hearing Starscream's voice, Soundwave's head perks up from his search. He hops up onto one of the piles and waves both his hands.]

Yo, Screamer! Over here, dude!

[ex_dishonestly997]

[Fortunately he cuts the link before he can laugh wholeheartedly at that response and ruin everything.

Starscream picks his way carefully across the piles, with slow deliberation, and stops when he draws close.]

Hey. How goes?

[inferiordude]

Uh, well. I guess I'm okay. I was kinda upset when Fortress Maximus threatened me an' all, but kinda to be expected.

Not a lot of people are happy to see I'm wearin' a Decepticon brand. Even if I explain what it means to me.

How 'bout you, dude?

[ex_dishonestly997]

...You know, he's going to be trouble. I just know it. [His wings twitch a little in unconscious sympathy about faction tensions--pretty nervous about Fort Max. And he doesn't know the half of it, just rumors.]

It looks like in the majority of these worlds, the Decepticons were the aggressors - at least eventually. [but politics like that are risky to talk about to someone like this Soundwave, who he is still completely confused by] I can try to talk to them; my people started out freedom fighters, in my world - but no promises. One mech's freedom fighter is another mech's terrorist.

I want to know about your world's Megatron. And Starscream. And you.

[inferiordude]

Maybe, maybe not. I dunno, maybe he's got his reasons. Not my place to judge... or, uh. Ask, I guess. A bummer.

[That, he does know. Soundwave folds his arms and glances away.] Don't worry about it. I can make my own case. 'Sides, I think people need to come to their own conclusions that not all of us are jerks. If we preach, I dunno if anyone will listen.

Heh! Well, I'm not so good at talkin' 'bout myself, but sure. Whaddaya wanna know?

[ex_dishonestly997]

Not your--[slowly shakes head...]

...Alright. But sometimes people need a little push in the right direction. [or off the right cliff.]

I want to see if I can eliminate some of the differences, that's all. What do you do for Megatron? Do you spy for him?

[inferiordude]

Spy? Huh?! No no no, no way! I mean, we do recon missions sometimes, but spying is like. Invasion of privacy, dude!

I do communications and I'm his Morale Officer. Gotta make sure the troops are up for a good fight, y'know?

[ex_dishonestly997]

[a flicker of astonishment, but less than before. He's getting used to this weird alternate universe.] Morals like that are expensive, unless you have a lot of territorial, technological or personnel advantage.

[a beat] Or unless you're being led by a tactical genius.

[inferiordude]

Well, I will say that my universe's Megatron an' Starscream are both pretty smeltin' smart. So no worries there!

'Sides. I'd rather have morals than start questioning myself later. I know you probably don't agree, but ... I feel better knowin' I'm doing the right thing.

[ex_dishonestly997]

[considers that with a smile. At least there's an alt him out there doing the name proud, even if it is in a weird way.] Well, good.

...Don't count me out so quickly, friend. I've made some mistakes, but I don't know many mechs on either side who ever felt like they were doing the wrong thing. [he almost says "even Megatron", but that seems--like a very bad idea, so he refrains, reaching down to rifle through a bag. Human clothes! Wow how useless.] So how are you planning to rid yourselves of the Autobots? Or are you hoping you can force them into an unconditional surrender, instead of having to slag them?

[inferiordude]

Maybe no. Most of 'em make excuses. Or work through the guilt until they stop feelin' it.

[There's a roll of his shoulders.] Can't ask me that. Some 'bots deserve to get slagged. Some of 'em, I'd rather just get 'em arrested.

[ex_dishonestly997]

You mean the Autobots, right?

[he pauses, and ponders.] Which ones do you want to slag?

[inferiordude]

...Yeah, the Autobots. And some 'Cons I've met.

[This? Is an uncomfortable topic. Soundwave rubs his hands together awkwardly.] Optimus Prime's top of the list.

[ex_dishonestly997]

Cons you've met here, right? You're going to have to be very careful around them. Some of them... [insufficiently] You've found out they're not the gentlest mechs.

...Your insignia is red. [stating the obvious is brought to you by--Starscream!]

[inferiordude]

I've been 'round, dude. Before here, I was at a city. I met... I met a lot of kinds of mechs. Other 'Cons from other universes. Same for 'Bots.

An' yeah. ... I know.

[The comment earns a gentle laugh.] Sure is, Screamer.

[ex_dishonestly997]

What kind of city? [there is no fine line between nosiness and curiosity, according to Screamer.]

So I take it the Autobots wear purple. --I know it's dangerous to assume anything, but I just need to know if I end up approaching any of them and don't want to get my tailfins shot off right away.

[inferiordude]

Place called Axiom Nexus. Place sucked, but I made a ton of friends there. Not much to say.

[Except there's plenty to say; it's just also a place full of... complex feelings. Memories.]

Nah, s'fair assumption. Same symbol, just purple.

I know. I figured that out later, too. Still hard to look at a person, recognize them, but have to figure out that it ain't them 'cuz of a new color or mod.

[ex_dishonestly997]

Interesting. [but these kinds of studies are more for hardcore physicists, quantum theorists, and possibly sociologists.]

Perfect.

Yeah, I'm not sure meeting the me of your universe would go down very well for me, personally.