re_alignment | [Video][Transmitting from Junk Pile's edge near Megatronus's Quadrant]

[The Link flickers on to revel darkness cut by a single shaft of pale light. Only the tip of a pointed silver footplate is visible in the light, occupying the immediate foreground. From there the view travels up, the darkness marred only but the soft gray lines of a white frame punctuated by blood red accents seated in the background.]

[The helm swivels, sharp white audials slicing through the air as the glow of red optics comes into view.]

Fellow Haveners, refugees, it's Wing again.

[The voice: it’s very definitely wrong. It’s not Drift’s but it’s not Wing’s. It's almost a beautiful melding of the two but with a dark, sticky-sweet coating. He moves like a ghost, slipping from his perch to come down to your level.]

Please disregard my earlier broadcast. I assure you there's nothing to worry about. Aside from a slight frame mix-up-- [the helm leans further into view stopping just short of a ray of light, revealing Drift's features instead of Wing's] --which appears to just be a thing that's been happening of late, I feel peeeerfectly fine. Mooore than fine, in fact.

[It’s much of the same cadence and language that Wing uses, but his normally gracious words carry none of their usual earnest weight, instead sounding overly casual and almost patronizing.]

The only thing that's not fine is that I don't know where Drift is. [A thread of irritation--insolence--that gets covered quickly and his tone becomes sweet again.]

But maybe there's someone out there that can help me with that. Speaking of...

[Wing will just call out a few people of interest now, and not bother locking any of the frequencies. What would that accomplish?]

[To Soundwave]

Soundwave. Why so blue? It’s horribly depressing. Not to mention boorish. You’re better than that. Can’t you make some beautiful music for me? [Oh, there's a look that promises something in return, should you indulge him.]

[To Kagerou]

My friend Kagerou. You said recently that you wanted to start living. I was happy to be there to cheer you on. Now I'm ready to step up and take you places. Do you really want to start living? Come find me and I'll show you.

[To Perceptor]

Perceptor, did they lock you up for those shootings yet? No? Good. We could have some fun with that overactive trigger finger of yours. I’ve better uses for it. [Have a impish little smile.]

[To Pharma]

Oh Pharma... [He waves a hand casually.] Just wondering how it feels to know you touch the world through Decepticon crafted hands? Self servicing must be a real conflict of interest now.

[To Blurr]

Blurr, [it comes out as a purr almost, as if caressing the syllables as they leave his mouth.] You naughty thing. I’ve been watching you. I saw what you did. I just have to say...Bravo. [A slow clap, dark fingers into a cool metal palm.] Veeeery entertaining. Please, let us have mooore.

I do wonder though...how you think you’ll get your police force off the ground with behaviour like that. But I guess we didn’t really need it anyway. That’s no fun, right?

[To Starscream]

Starscream. No, no the other one. You are as big as your ego now. Have you challenged Megatronus yet? You were so confident about being his equal earlier when you were telling me how you'd throw him over your knee and slap his aft til he cried 'Primus!'. I'd love to know how that goes. [Can he watch? Please?]

[To Vandal]

So Karrie--err, sorry--Vandal.... Maybe you should come stay with me? You’ll be safe here. I can protect you if...Drift is otherwise occupied.

[To Drift]

And Drift... Where arrrre you? You've been avoiding me. [a pout of distaste] Perhaps I can understand why but, reeeaaally, we just have more in common now! Could be fun, yeeees? [the helm tilts provocatively as he leans uncomfortably close into frame.] Please let me know where you are. I've miiiissed you so very much. And I've I gotten as much fun out of myself as I can. I need you. Don’t make me come fiiiinnd you.

At this rate I'll have to find myself a lesser substitute just to satisfy my needs...

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

So you were first born. In some cultures that's a boon, an honor. It's all a matter of perspective. But see, they're doing it already. Trying to diminish who you are with labels. You can be as great as you want to be.

[His words are impassioned; they resonate from his vocalizer because he believes you can be more than you are. Whether what he wants you to be is also what you want...remains to be seen.]

We do, but who's to say they'll believe us. They may demand proof, and I certainly am not about to expose myself just to satisfy them. [The word slides from his mouth with sneer.] They don't even have physical proof that they have souls. Even you have your Super AI chip. Proof that a mechanical being can spontaneously evolve Life. You're a miracle.

[He calms himself, regaining his composure.]

I'm just trying to look out for you Kagerou, as a friend. I assume you'd do the same for me. I won't get involved if you'd rather I didn't though.

First... born? I don't think it's like that. I was... I was created so that he could be too. His... his shadow...

[Isn't that good enough? Isn't that what he'd always been? Was there really another option? Wing certainly seems to think there is.]

Is it wrong that I... that I never wanted to be anything else?

[He looks completely unsure, just waiting for the answer. For something to follow.]

I didn't think humans needed proof of their own souls. They accept them, like they accept gravity, or air. But... [He frowns.] So... we need to prove our existence. But they don't?

[He falls quiet, thinking, though one word slips out, mostly to himself.] Miracle...

No, I -- no, I would. For a friend. But how can someone like me look out for someone like you?

It's a metaphor. But as I said, it's a matter of perspective. You're the original, you came before him. Without you, he'd be nothing.

[Wing just wants you to know your worth Kagerou, and he wants you to feel indebted to him for it too...]

No. But it does lack...ambition, creativity. You're going to need these if you truly want to live, to experience more of life on your own terms, and not from someone else's shadow. [Except maybe Wing's. But it's nice there, really.]

It's hypocritical isn't it? They doubt us when we have proof, yet they just assume their own souls exist because their ~~beliefs~~ metaphysics tells them so. That's hardly fair.

[Yes Kagerou, a miracle...think about that for a while.]

You're able and intelligent, I'm certain it'll come to you more naturally than you realize. But as a place to start, just let me know when you think others might not have my best interests in mind.

Can it work both ways? I... wouldn't exist if they hadn't needed him.

[This is probably the worst time to reveal this face -- that he feels he owes his entire existence to his other half. But Wing is trustworthy, right?]

I do want to live. That's all I've ever wanted. But everyone assumes I know where to start -- what to be ambitious, creative, about. [He looks at the feed, and his expression is lost.] I need help. And no one will give it.

[Then he looks away again, processing.]

If they're told they have souls... as living things... Why doesn't the same extend to us? Aren't we alive?

[His head tilts.]

You're asking me to watch your back? Is that right?

I suppose, if you want to think of yourself as dependent on him. [He shrugs dismissively.] How you were made, how you came to be, is one thing: you have no control over that. What you become, that is up to you.

[Oh so trustworthy. He leans nearer to the vid screen, his head tilted emphatically, hand raised as if he'd reach out to you.]

I'll help you Kagerou. I can guide you. I have with others. I did with Drift.

[Oh yes, if he had a back pocket, he'd just keep you in it.]

[He shrugs, but it's a patronizing gesture.]
Who knows. They seem to think themselves privileged. Or they're just too simple to understand how advanced we are compared to them. It's a shame.

[Wing smiles, looking quite pleased.]

Yes exactly. It's a good place to start. I may have some other...projects I could use your help with as well.

I... [Dependent on him. That -- may be truer than he knows. Or that he wants to admit.] I may... be. I don't know what else there is -- for someone like me.

[He blinks, and reaches back. Out of habitual mimicry.]

Okay. I -- thank you. I need... help. I can't do this alone. I don't want to be alone.

[His head tilts.]

Privileged. Yes... I can see that. They don't want to accept our lives. Do they?

Like what? What do you need?

'Someone like me.' And how do you define yourself Kagerou?

[A slow smile spreads over Wing's face at that, with just the slightest of sultry edges.]

I can help you. You don't have to be alone Kagerou, not if you have me.

They don't want to accept that something could be superior. And in your case, that something they, themselves created, could surpass them.

[He passes a moment, his optics narrow slyly and he locks the feed.]

I'm considering addressing a big problem we have here and I know you're...familiar with him. Would you tell me what you know about Prism?

... A prototype. A practice... version. The one they left the errors in. The one they could easily replace when the time came. It's ... just the truth.

[He... actually smiles a little bit in response. Although it's little more than that mimicry again. Should he be smiling? Is this the right time?]

[Can't hurt to try.]

I want your help... you've been good to me, always.

Are you certain? I'm not the advanced model. I'm nothing but his shadow -- how can that surpass a human life?

[And then he flinches. Actually flinches, pulling back slightly.]

... Prism is an AI. He asked for help. And... then went through my memories. Like they were -- I didn't tell him he could do that.

[Video][Transmitting from Junk Pile's edge near Megatronus's Quadrant]

Video; God I should feel terrible about this whole thread but I don't

Video; neither do I 8D

Video; It's just full of awkward, beautiful half truths...

Video; and so much confusion

Video

Video

Video: Locked

Video: Locked