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

[Wing's a talker to be certain.]

I imagine so. There might be rules against fraternization but that rarely stops things from happening completely. During war, some may feel less inclined to get attached and forgo intimacy, whereas other might feel the need to connect while they still can. And I imagine it can play a part in establishing power or control...

[Wing certainly had a new, more personal perspective on the last motives to part given recent events. It's still something he;s not all that comfortable with.]

Complicated indeed. Starscream seems to think it matters little, but from the standpoint of my own values it's extremely troubling.

It's generally considered a private matter--but that's also usually when it;s kept separate. When intimacy is used as a tool, a means to an end and not then end itself... things get more complicated.

You're not supposed to have distractions when it comes time for a mission. [No one's specifically said this to her, but she feels like it's true, so she's saying it matter-of-factly.]

But, between missions, a bot might...you know? Need to relieve some stress. It doesn't have to be for power, or emotional.

[Whether she's fully conscious or just sort of background processing, she is talking this out mostly to hear herself reason it out.]

But, activity that looks the same, can be for power, or because you feel something else.

So, that means it is your intention that is important.

You can't say that what looks or sounds forceful is always wrong, because...maybe that makes some bots feel better.

[She then she looks directly at her comm lens and is very conscious of Wing being there.] Starscream said what didn't matter?

[He nods.] It's common a sense approach.

[He listens quietly as Slipstream muses over the topic. It most of them are conclusions he's come to himself at some point, though it's interesting to hear some of them spoken aloud. There's no judgement in his face though, only curiosity.]

That's very to the point. It really comes down to intent and consent. In the end, ideally it's beneficial for both parties, however they choose to take benefit from it.

There's...nothing wrong with activities that are forceful or hurtful if the individuals are consenting. And if not true harm is done? [It's posed as a question, because this is one area in which he does not have any real experience. ~~But seems to have interest.~~]

Starscream? The whole thing. He didn't seem to think much of it. I suppose I shouldn't either... [He's still getting his processor around that.]

[Slipstream smiles briefly, mostly because she actually likes feeling justified by having someone agree.]

Harm? [She has to think about it, and to what might have been her own surprise, this also makes her smile.] Nothing that can't be repaired. [The smile is quickly replaced by insistent denial.] I mean- that's probably what any bot might think, if they felt attachment or were possessive. Marks for others to see, or just to remember the feeling.

Not that- well, certain kinds of harm, I guess. To wings, or thrusters. That might be more about showing power. Wouldn't it? [Megatron crumpling Starscream's wing: she doesn't see how that would be a good thing, if it happened to her. Harm that keeps her from getting away? She's pretty unsure about that.]

[A small chirp, as if to clear the vocalizer.] If Starscream said it didn't matter, then it probably didn't.

[But, really, she thinks he was lying. Why would he have even mentioned it on the Link to others, if it had been nothing?]

[He was a bit hesitant at first, buthe's warming to this subject. He feels a little weird talking about it, as if someone like him shouldn't be, but it doesn't change that it catches his interest...]

I'm making a semantic distinction though...

Hurts that are desired, that bring enjoyment or some kind of positive effect, in the end, are not harmful. If that makes sense?

So yes, nothing that can't be repaired. Nothing life threatening. Marking seems...relatively common? But I know it can go far beyond that, even consensually.

[His mouth twitches a little, because as clinical as this conversation is, he can't help but think of situations where these aspects have applied, or where he wanted then to apply.]

Sometimes it's about trust too? Having faith that a partner can...indulge in hurtful play without passing your tolerances. Past a certain limit, then it is harmful.

I think this is why my...counterpart disturbed me so much. He had no respects for such limits. And yes, seemed fully willing to use such things to display power, test loyalty and otherwise subjugate individuals. Doing intentional, unwanted damage to the important parts a mech's body just to weaken them...

[He frowns, because that does legitimately make him uncomfortable.]

I can never be certain with Starscream. He rarely says exactly what he means. [He shrugs helplessly.] I'd done my best to make assurances that I'd never do such a thing. I'm not sure what else I can offer him.

[Slipstream gives a nod.] You mean 'harm' is the lasting, bad stuff.

[She understands the distinction, more or less. And while Wing may be thinking of the matter in terms of his own experience, Slipstream's thought processes keep returning to Starscream. Having knowledge that he did something, or that something was done to him is not the same as having experienced it, at all. Out of context, the facts can confuse her quite a lot.]

[her optics widen and refocus as she views the micro-expressions in Wing's faceplate. She's not sure she can read that particular expression.]

It's not exactly easy to trust.

[Her enameled lip components press together tightly. There. Simple phrase. But it sums up a lot of Slipstream's hidden doubt that she's really making the best decisions.]

I don't-!

Sometimes, you can't even trust someone who's supposed to be on the same side. But, there's another way....If your counterpart was going to do something so bad, don't you trust there would be others to stop you from continuing?

Someone would rise up and say it was wrong and just stop you. Maybe not at first, but in time.

No?

[She's not sure about this theory, and for her it relates very much to her having chosen sides between Megatron and Starscream. The information she'd had then isn't what she knows now. Maybe her strategy had been flawed.]

Then, your enemy, in a way is your ally. And your ally- doesn't have to become your enemy.

Maybe.

[And if no one rises up to say it is wrong?] If you had served with someone who would crumple your wing when he was angry, you might learn to phrase things just so.

Not that I'm saying that's the case with anyone we know. [She doesn't even know if Megatrons in other universes crumple wings.]

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