re_alignment | [Video] [Transmitting from Prima's Quadrant, outside Police Headquarters]

[The feed clicks on and Wing raises a hand to greet you. He's looking every bit himself again, though his usual cheer is replaced with a determined solemnity. The new Police Headquarters building stands behind him, from which he's obviously just emerged, with the light of Prima's temple shining from the distance.]

Fellow Haveners,

The last time I addressed you all in this fashion I was very much not myself, as many of you already know. Aside from not looking like myself, I was also suffering from a decidedly altered state of mind and morality, through no fault of my own. Unfortunately, I believe many others here may have also suffered because of it.

But first: Any issues you have with words or actions you assume were Drift's during that period, the week before last, know that they were mine instead. Due to Alpha Trion's pages, I looked near identical to Drift while he looked nothing like himself during that time. I do not wish him blamed for my actions or those perpetrated by my dark counterpart. If you have issues, please bring them to me.

[His head hangs in silence, gathering his thoughts. The weight of this is obviously heavy upon him, but he bears it with the quiet, composed grace of someone who has done much introspection. When he speaks, his tone carries both strength and empathy.]

I wish to extend a dutiful and sparkfelt apology for the wrongs incurred due to my words or deeds during that time. I can't tell you how much it pains me that I may have, even unintentionally, undermined your trust in me, damaged friendships or tarnished respect. It would never be my intention to deliberately slander, harm, make uncomfortable or otherwise create malcontent in this community.

[He cycles a ventilation here, slightly uncomfortable. Because though that's 99% true, he's fully aware that part of him bares little shame in his plots to kill Prism. That's something he's still trying to reconcile with his own values.]

As much as self exile is a fitting penance for someone such as I, which is why I have been out of touch of late, I realize it does little for the community which I have wronged. As such I would like to offer recompense to those my dark counterpart called out directly, in the form of one task or favor you wish of me. Such a task can be any of your choosing, so long as it is within my ability, though I do reserve the right to refuse on moral grounds...

If you feel such a thing is not necessary or refuse the offer for any other reason I will respect that, but remember I do this for you as much as myself, as it is part of my personal process of atonement.

Feel free to contact me publicly or privately, however you feel most safe. I urge anyone to please bring me any questions or concerns you have, I will field them all regardless of what you have to say, pleasant or not. I owe you all that much.

I'm sorry it took me this long to bring you apology, but it's taken me some time to get right with myself before being able to offer the same to all of you. You have my endless gratitude for your patience and understanding. By the Guiding Hand, I wish you all well.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Promise, I've seen folks act a lot stranger under the influence of... whatever. This wasn't so bad, really.

[Everyone came out of it not crazy and intact, so he calls this a win.]

Oh, you know. You with all that honey in your voice, tryin' to convince folks of things. Gettin' all plotty.

[Not so much the murdery bits though.]

[A chuff of dry air.] I'm...not certain if I should be grateful or sympathetic that you can have such a...jaded approach to these matters? No offense intended of course.

Ahhh-ha. Yes. [He clears his vocalizer.] Well the voice thing _{usually only happens behind closed doors.} [When he's feeling playful. *ahem*] As for the rest... In a way I do do those things just for entirely different ends. For the benefit of others, not my own.

[Wait, why is he saying all this...?]

[He snorts.] Well, when you're best friend turns evil and your roommate who hates everything suddenly starts cuddling up t'you at all hours. By which I mean no offense taken.

Oooh, closed doors, huh? I see. Lucky mech that gets that, I'm sure. [And from your last transmission, he might be sure which one said lucky mech is.] I see. So y'went from selfless to selfish, but you bein' all calculating doesn't change.

And you are being awfully honest right now.

[A pause, and what looks like a sympathetic cringe.] Wow. I can see why recent events might not seem so surprising then.

Aha, lucky? I'm the one who feels lucky really... [A flash of a giddy smile.] That's a good way to describe it. I do like to keep watch over things, in the interest of nurturing the greater good as best my judgement can.

[He grins a little.] I also have a secret project or two I've been working on of late...

But why wouldn't I be honest? [You get the notion he has to work real hard not to be.] But--oh. I, ah, suppose I am being a bit forthcoming.

Promise it really wasn't as bad at it might sound. [Well. Mostly.] But yeah, the latest events weren't all that shockin', I'm afraid.

Mm, I see... [You got a boyfriend~]

Oh? Secret projects? Now you've got me all curious.

You are being awfully forthcoming, yeah. Not usually somethin' that folks do around me. [Since he's generally the kind of mech that takes a great deal of advantage of that sort of thing.]

Well, I'm glad it wasn't so bad, it sounds like something that could have gotten out of control fast.

Unfortunately it's a completely new experience for me. And, as you might guess, more than a little unsettling.

[He just...kind of...giggles. BOYFRIENDS ARE GREAT OKAY!? Even if they're not 100% official yet.]

Yes, but I don't want anything slipping out before we're ready. One is nearly complete. The other...I'm still working on and waiting on the right time to present.

I...suppose I am. [Wing looks a bit sheepish, though he's not sure why.] But, you've given me no reason to be suspicious, we've gotten along fairly well have we not? [He just trusts so easily Barricade. He thinks the best of you even if no one else does.]

Eh, it got pretty hairy for a while. But I can look back on it and laugh f'r the most part, so it wasn't too bad.

No, I get it. It's pretty weird the first go-round. I hate t'say, but it never really gets less weird. You just learn how to handle it.

[He chuckles quietly.] Oh, you are precious.

Of course, of course. Gotta keep it locked down or it won't be a surprise.

[And Barricade is amazed and somewhat baffled, all told.] You are so trusting. ["How do you do it?" he doesn't ask. His engine chuffs in a 'throat clearing' noise, his tone getting a little more serious.] My timestream would have put you through a meat grinder. Glad t'see it wasn't that way where you're from.

I can't imagine getting used to something like that. Being less surprised though...I could understand. Hopefully though we won't have similar surprises in the future.

[He blinks, his giggle tones down into a soft chuckle.] You think so?

Indeed. It'll be pretty obvious once we do the do the presentation though.

[He tilts his head, his audial flares flicking gently.] I've been told that before. I do like to see the best in people. In some small hope that they might aspire to such. [He shrugs, because he doesn't doubt it.] Mine was not all that gentle either, I simple removed myself from the worst of it before the start of the war. It did manage to do some damage early on, only the Knights repaired it.

Oh, I'm sure there will be all new surprises coming along. It's how things go.

[Barricade chuckles.] Mm. I do. Wouldn't be surprised if your beau felt the same.

Oooh, a presentation. I'll wait in anticipation for it.

Yes well. Discussing the horrible differences between our dimensions is really better left to another time. When everybody is in a truly poor mood f'r one reason or another. Or left for when there's been just a touch too much highgrade.

Well... at least we won't be bored? [A shrug. It's something right? Not that Wing isn't perfectly capable of entertaining himself and others without all the drama. But such is life.]

[Wing is not shy but he can be modest at times...] I--thank you. [He smiles.] I hope so.

[Wing shudders, though it mostly for symbolic effect.] I agree. The only good that come of such discussion is being aware of where we went wrong. But I've had enough darkness recently to last me quite some time.

It'll be interesting. And hopefully or two of them will be funny in hindsight. [Though if he gets turned into a hatchling again he won't find it funny at all.]

Mm. Let's just leave it at that, in that case. There'll always be time later. [And things went so wrong in so many ways for so many places that any one cause is asking too much.]

I could hope so! [~~Wing would.~~ But he'd make sure you were taken care of at least.] It's quite a change from the last two millennium for me.

[Wing simply nods, glad that someone else understands the different between remembering the past and lingering on it.]

Oh, it's been a boring few thousand years lately? How awful. [He knows the feeling.] But lucky f'r you, places like this tend to keep one on their metaphorical toes. You just have to make sure the excitement doesn't drive you crazy.

Not so much boring, [Well, maybe a bit redundant in ways.] but stable and peaceful. Living in perfect isolation and near stasis compared to the outside world... It's a shock to come here and experience all of this.

I was happy...but I'm also realizing how much I'd given up to gain that. At least the good comes with the bad?

Stagnation isn't something I often hear of from our kind often. We never really were a species much for stasis, in my experience; we move ever upward - or downward.

Mm, there's always a give and take like that. And the time before always has its appeal. Nostalgic or otherwise.

[Video] [Transmitting from Prima's Quadrant, outside Police Headquarters]

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