the point is to never give up, never give in [OPEN]

[inferiordude]

WHO: Soundwave & YOU
WHERE: Junkpile/Outside in general
WHEN Not too long after Soundwave has an accident with Wing.
WHAT: Feeling like a terrible person, Soundwave checks out early from the Medbay.
WARNINGS: Robo-angst, can't be helped.



There have been quite a few things he's felt like he's messed up with. He's been able to pick himself back up, always, because someone else needs a hand. After his face had been removed years ago by Ratchet, he still managed. When Rumble died, when Rodimus was murdered, when his face was forcefully repaired, when he got Magnum killed, when he just plain messes up he can somehow find a way.

And he will. Soundwave still will. It doesn't mean that he won't take a moment to dwell, though. He knows he's going to get back up from this somehow, but it still hurts.

Looking out into the hulls of various junk, Soundwave's perched on top of a pile. He looks down at his own hands, exhaling heavily.

"Sorry, Wing," he murmurs to himself.

Lashing out like that had been a pure accident. Just so badly timed. He hadn't meant for it.

Hadn't meant for a lot of things.

Eventually, yes, he will pick himself up and move on, but for now, he feels absolutely terrible about potentially harming someone he considers a friend.

Comments

[saidthespidertothefly]

The clink-clink-clink sound of pointed feet crawling across metal heralded the presence of a certain femmebot, who could then be heard chuckling.

"Well well well," said Airachnid, as she scuttled into view. "Who do we have here?"

[inferiordude]

The sound is definitely interesting. Precise, almost delicate; he can kind of appreciate it in that way.

Even if the eight legs are, uh. Kind of freaky, let's be honest here.

Still, it's not in him to be rude due to appearances; the rest of her looks perfectly fine, after all, and who is he to judge?

"Soundwave's the name. Believe it or not, dudette," he comments a bit wryly, mostly just sounding tired.

[saidthespidertothefly]

"Soundwave? Really? Hm. You're a bit chunky compared to the Soundwave I know..."

She disengaged her spider mode, touching down on the ground with her normal legs and folding her rotor-legs behind her.

"Airachnid. It's a pleasure, regardless."

[inferiordude]

"Chunky? Oh, doll, you ain't all that slick with the compliments, are ya?" Still, he gives a good-natured laugh, at least implying that he isn't insulted.

That's a bit more reasonable looking, he'll admit. Soundwave nods at her introduction, holding out his hand.

"Nice to meet you."

[docbot]

One of the main rules of the Medbay is that you aren't allowed to check out early from the Medbay.

And even though Ratchet feels a bit more awkward around Soundwave than he does other bots, it still stands that he oughtn't be out here with such a huge trauma so recently in his past.

"Soundwave?"

So have a somewhat frustrated medic trotting up to you from across the dunes, Dudewave.

[inferiordude]

Oh. This is not exactly within his, ah. Expectations. After all, Ratchet almost seemed just as reluctant to see him before.

But now he's sort of faced with a frustrated look and Soundwave twiddles his thumbs awkwardly

Cool. Yep.

"Heyyyy. Hey Ratchet."

Crap.

[docbot]

There's awkwardness about being around a patient in the medbay, then there's dragging a patient back because he's putting his health at risk. One is not the same as the other.

"I had higher expectations of you."

Ratchet has his hands planted on his hips, and he's looking quite ... disappointed. And frustrated. Mostly frustrated.

[inferiordude]

The words, the expression -- it almost makes him cringe. Soundwave is folding his arms against himself, turning his head away to keep from staring at the annoyed medic. It won't help.

"Yeah. You ain't the only one," Soundwave comments softly.

He shakes his head. "Did you see what happened? If y'did, you wouldn't want me back, Ratchet."

[heavymetalgenkigirl]

Miko had been in rather good spirits lately, though she constantly thought of Bulkhead not being around she also knew that there was nothing they could do to change that and tried her best to be positive about as much as she could. Currently she was sifting through the junk, hoping to find various musical instruments and, or parts for them, especially guitar strings as her e string had snapped some time after the party.

She was quite fearless about roaming the junk pile and at one point pushed off an area while standing on what looked to be a flat panel of metal. Unfortunately it wasn't as flat as it seemed, a rib attached underneath, and instead of sliding down the pile a ways on it she slid only a little ways before being thrown from it. She tumbled down and to the side a ways, curling up to protect herself as best as possible.

"Ahhhh~!" She made more of a shout than scream, but there was some panic to the tone.

[inferiordude]

The voice is all too familiar to him as it shouts in surprise; Soundwave immediately finds himself rising to his feet, whirling around to face the source.

Quickly, he's getting a handful of Miko.

"Whoopsie-daisy! Got you, little lady!" Soundwave stumbles back a bit with the catch, trying to make sure it's as gentle as possible.

"Sheesh. Looks like that was a ride. The slag happened?"

[heavymetalgenkigirl]

"Thanks for the catch~!" she says looking utterly unrattled by the fall.

"Scrap didn't slide like I though it was. I was hoping to ride it all the way down." She smiled up at him and gave him a small pat on the hand. She appreciated that he clearly was trying to be easy with her. She was very used to big bots who took care to be careful enough with her without treating her like spun glass.

[inferiordude]

"Psh, wasn't a thing, Miko."

Carefully, he lowers his hand to the ground to set Miko back down. Still, he can't help but peer at her, almost teasing. "I know you've probably heard it a million times, but you really should be more careful, y'know. What would y'do if some angry Cybertronian went stompin' yer way?"

[warborn]

Turned out highgrade was only so good at blocking memories. Sooner or later, they came back - it was a lifesaver of a stalling mechanism (though a medic probably wouldn't agree), but it wasn't a foolproof one. Which was why Fortress Maximus was doing one of the other things that usually kept that slag at bay;

Keeping busy.

Right now, that involves searching through the Junk Pile. For what? Well, he's got a pile of what looks like weaponry next to him, though they're all in various stages of ill-repair. Nothing that seems like it's in proper working order, but...

It's a start.

[inferiordude]

In the case of some, dragging out weapons -- broken or otherwise -- is probably the best option in a survival setting. They aren't desperate for weapons, but it wouldn't hurt.

Soundwave himself, when he's back on his feet, is searching for some repair equipment. Parts. Not for a weapon, but to fix the gold box that Blurr gave him. It'd been a very touching gift, one that he hardly expected out of anyone.

The Elite Guardsmech has a good soul.

He slides down a hill of junk, landing in a kneeling position, pausing as he looks at the other Cybertronian with his pile of. Fun. Or something.

Fortress Maximus.

Awkwarrrrd.

[warborn]

Fortress Maximus has met many Decepticons, over the years. Too many to remember them all. They come in all shapes, all sizes - the only difference when you get down to it is the violet badge they wear, wherever they choose to wear it.

It's the first thing he looks for, more often than not. To register someone as a potential ally, or obvious enemy.

When the strange mech slides down not too far from him, Max is in a crouch, and immediately tenses, reaching for one of his guns. Not the ones on the ground, for all the parts they may have been good for - no, one of the working ones he has with him, and has never let out of his presence since arriving here.

He pauses, seeing the glimpse of red. Starts to relax into a suspicious, rather than outright wary and defensive posture.

Then pauses again.

Wait.

[inferiordude]

There's a slow, steady intake of air; Soundwave has to convince himself to remain calm. He's already done plenty to mess things up. He can't make it worse for another, or so he's hoping.

Slowly, Soundwave raises his hands into the air, showing that they're empty.

"Easy, Big Dude. I ain't armed."

That's a fact. He doesn't even have his keytar with him, much less a blaster of any kind. Likely foolish, but he's not looking for a fight.

Though it figures the biggest terror that Soundwave has suffered has not been Autobot or Decepticon, but an unaligned A.I.

[youhavebeenswindled]

Ah yes, the glorious junkyard. So many untold treasures could be found here, and Swindle himself was often found here also. Though alert for possible dangers, he hadn't noticed Soundwave until he practically ran into the pile of junk Soundwave is on top of.

"Well hey there stranger!"

Swindle called cheerfully up at him with a wave. It should be interesting to see where this eventually went.

[inferiordude]

The voice pulls Soundwave out of his thoughts; startled, the Morale Officer nearly falls off of the pile. That... was almost really embarrassing.

He peers down, then holds up his hand in return.

"Hey, dude. Swindle, am I right?"

[youhavebeenswindled]

"That's right! I'm afraid I don't know who you are though."

He wondered if he should climb up so they weren't shouting at each other. A glance around said that that wasn't going to be too easy...

[whirlybird_of_prey]

New tail rotors need to be broken in. Ratchet's probably good and First Aid is too nice for his tastes, but let's face it, neither of them are helicopters. And he's heard that Fortress Maximus is somewhere around, and that's just a great big PILE of unfinished business. So, yeah, sorry, medics, but Whirl's going to 'test flight'.

Junk. Junk. Let's see, more junk. Wow. Thrilling.

Oh wait. Is that emo setting his Whirl!Senses tingling? He swoops in for a closer look.

[inferiordude]

The copter is kind of hard to ignore. Soundwave's seen him around the Link, but hasn't really talked to him. Not for lack of interest, but he's been pretty preoccupied. You know, with the whole getting kidnapped, maimed, and so on.

He peers up, awkwardly lifting a hand to wave.

[whirlybird_of_prey]

Yeah well, Whirl would have made a more interesting first impression but, you know, shot in the aft.

"Hey, don't know know it's dangerous out here all alone?" There may be more threat than friendly advice in his voice. He's not really decided yet.

[ex_dishonestly997]

Back home, Starscream had been pretty confident in his ability to - if not lead - at least direct the majority of the rudderless Decepticons, sort of like triggering an avalanche in the general direction one wanted a whole lot of snow. Here, there were so many different kinds of Decepticons from so many different kinds of worlds, and Soundwave's was possibly the most bizarre of all, as far as his own recognition went.

But Starscream (yes, hold your laughter) felt responsibility (no really) to his people, no matter what universe they came from. And there was something really wrong with Soundwave, after their latest conversation. So he was heading to the Junkpile with all due speed and care, putting off his own little trip to the medbay to beg some TLC. That could wait.

He landed and looked around for that promised flag, slightly optimistically.

[inferiordude]

Said flag is a piece of red scrap cloth tied to a pole, sticking out from a pile of junk. Soundwave, at the moment, is trying to keep busy, trying to adjust a dingy looking guitar he'd spotted out in the various items across the field.

He does pause. The sounds of the jet engines are familiar in a good way and it relaxes him. Most Autobot don't fly where he's from, at least.

Soundwave glances up, expecting the other Decepticon very shortly.

[ex_dishonestly997]

The Seeker walked across a small valley between two piles of junk, coming up to the Decepticon slowly and from the side, like someone might approach a spooky horse. Slowly.

"Hey. I, uh. I understand you not wanting to talk about this on the Link."