re_alignment | 01

[When the vid feed pops up on the Link, it starts with Swerve looking pretty confused, but this isn't exactly new to anyone who knows him.
To those who don't, welcome to Swerve-ville! Population: This boxy motherfucker and a whole lotta mouth.
He does perk up pretty quickly though, which again, isn't all that surprising. Swerve is pretty ace when it comes to looking like he's perpetually in a good mood.]

You know, I kind of thought we'd crashed through some kind of portal at first, 'cause this looks a lot like Cybertron. So I was thinking maybe there was some kind of massive surprise twist on the way and the Knights of Cybertron were actually on Cybertron the whole time, but it was an alternate version of Cybertron and the quest was actually supposed to teach us a lesson about perseverance and friendship.

Buuuut then some mech who was with me when I came out of recharge explained most of the actual situation to me. Kind of a disappointment, really.

[Though, if he thinks about it, this is actually pretty good. If there was a test on how everyone on the Lost Light was best friends, they would have failed it pretty quick. Because they're them.]

But, uh, just a note here? Waking up to a mech who was watching you during recharge just to explain the whole situation? Actually pretty creepy. So... might wanna get management on that.

((OOC: Tags forthcoming when I return from classes.))

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I intend to. [He keeps at it like it's a duty as well as an inspiration, because yes, someone has to.]

We couldn't model our society after the one we knew on Cybertron, we had to start over. And at least in the small community we had, several thousand, it worked. [He nods, because both he and Drift have pondered this too.] Unmaking the old system first was the problem...

[Wing chuckles, though there's a bit of sadness behind it.] Actually I don't think he does. But then that's me. I wish others could see him the way I do, though very few do.

[How bizarrely honorable of him.

Swerve listens attentively and keeps his mouth totally fucking shut about what happened to Crystal City. He's done being responsible for people's misery. So fucking done.]

Sounds interesting, but I guess you guys had plenty of time to figure it out. How long did it take ya? [The way he says it isn't bitter or blaming. Just a statement of fact. The war happened. They weren't involved. The end.]

You must know him pretty well to pick up on that. Can't say I know him the same. Like at all, really. But, you can't really control what others do or say or think. Well, not without seriously breaching the laws of ethics. 's the way it goes. [There there, buddy.]

[This is a great mercy you bestow, because though he will need to know sooner or later, such crushing news now would be ill-timed.]

It rather evolved out of necessity, with some help from the Circle's leadership. Survival is a big motivator. Everyone needed to lend a hand to help build the city. Former function didn't matter so much; we were forced to adapt, take on new roles, be flexible. It took a while to find a suitable location and the start building. The first hundred years or so were difficult as we sorted through the rough parts. But the important part was recognizing what wasn't working, then being proactive in changing it. [Wing is glad he can speak openly about these things without ill feelings. He knows it is not always the way for some.]

I do. I was his mentor then, and eventually his friend. And, gladly, something more than that now. [He nods.] No, you really can't. His situation is a bit unique though.

[Slowly but surely, he's learning when to exercise tact at the most serious moments. He's getting there.

He listens with sort of a vague interest born out of simply wanting to know. Swerve's always been kind of curious as to the form, use, and function of just about anything. Metals predominately, but there are other things. Still, it gets him thinking about the whole ordeal, as far as flexibility goes.]

Kind of ironic that for a species that adapts by switching out alt-modes and armor and all sorts of parts had so much trouble with the whole [Vague hand gesture] thing. Not your Circle. Just in general.

[The news of the relationship isn't really a big deal to him, though he does have a private moment of 'how do they even with so many sharp pointy bits'.] Isn't it like that with everyone? No situation is exactly the same as another.

[Points for personal growth mech!]

Yes, I've sad this myself. It's odd that we'd have such a rigid system when we, ourselves are so malleable. You'd think we could adapt to changing times better. [He laughs somewhat ruefully.] When I hear mechs complaining about how all they can do is war after so many millennium doing it, this is what I remind them.

[Very, very carefully and creatively. Not to mention, some of those sharp pointy bits are the most sensitive.] That is true, everyone has their own personal challenges.

[Are they gold stars?]

I think the issue with that is that it takes a while to get used to it. We're all so used to the war, I mean, it went on for millions of years. No one really knows what to do with peace anymore. [It's all said with a deceptive sort of casualness that doesn't betray lessons he learned from a technically dead mech.] I figure we'll learn on the go, but I don't expect us to ever be able to let the war go entirely.

[No, energon goodies. Just don't eat them all at once.]

I do think eventually people will change, but it's ironic that a species that is so adaptable physically can stagnate in other areas so easily.

[You're not the boss of how many things he can cram in his mouth, Wing. GOSH!]

I dunno. It kinda makes sense if you think about it from an individual standpoint. We live so long that we get used to things being the way they are.

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