re_alignment_logs | THE SHOW MUST GO ON [open]

Entry tags:

THE SHOW MUST GO ON [open]

WHO: Soundwave & OPEN
WHERE: Medbay
WHEN Some hours after Barricade & Driller find him/repair him.
WHAT: Eventually, Soundwave wakes up from repairs in a very unfortunate location for him. Visitations, anyone?
WARNINGS: Trauma, mention of robotgore/robotdeath.

Dreaming is a difficult thing for him.

Usually, Soundwave is in the company of someone, and adopts their memories, their dreams into his own. It's sort of nice, because he feels as though in that way he can improve his techniques as the Decepticon Army's Morale Officer. He knows how to help his fellow soldiers, help his friends keep upbeat. Not just with sing-a-longs with Dead End or Bombshell's therapy sessions, but he himself needs to help the others find a will to carry on.

Here in the medbay, when he's resting, he gets flashes. Some dreams his own, some not. A mix of what he's taken, and what he trembles in the wake of.

There's a sharp smile, a cheerful giggle, and a laser scalpel digging into his face as it's removed, torn from his head You just look so much more interesting this way! and how his mind burns when he knows the truth that he failed one of his adopted kids he's dead he should have rescued him red eyes burning at him This doesn't concern you, Decepticon and he hears Rodimus screaming and he's too late and the black sucks him down and he's never been able to escape it and in his arms it's cold metal just so cold and
he remembers
something new to all of it
this isn't what I want stop stop stop stop and the tired sigh of it's not as if you will remember this, Soundwave, your struggling is getting tiresome and stop stop stop don't open that there's just no choice.

The dust kicks up under his feet, the expansive desert, and Soundwave stares in confusion. Twin stones twisting around each other, a fierce glow, and it screams in his head.
MAKE US WHOLE

Soundwave jerks awake from recharge, his intakes gasping to vent out hot, anxious air, trying to cool himself off. Looking around in a panic, he almost doesn't remember being here.

The medbay.

Frag, he hates being in medbays.

"Ugh, so bogus," he groans to himself, rubbing his helm. Glad he has hands to use again.

It's rare to dream something for himself. Not all of it his, but enough of it was, and that bothers him. Soundwave shudders to himself, shaking his head. No, no. He's okay, he just needs to roll it off his shoulders. He can deal with it.

It's okay. It's okay.

Soundwave folds his arms over his midsection, hugging himself.

Right. He'll be okay.

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That... just earns a small laugh from Soundwave. His shoulders shrug and he grins widely at Wheeljack. No, that sounds like something his enthusiastic teammates would do. Maybe one of the Constructicons.

"That's not so bad! Glad yer okay, though. ... Uh. Is... is Ratchet that bad?"

He's not really had many good experiences with one.

"...No, but. He said he wanted to ask me some questions. So I went t'see the dude. ... Didn't expect he'd snatch me up and... yeah."

"Yeah, I didn't think it was so bad either! Glad someone agrees with me on that. I mean, I've had things blow up in my face before. It's not like it's a rarity with me."

That doesn't do much for your argument, Wheeljack...

"Ratchet's a good guy, honestly I think it's just me that sets him off so bad. No idea why. Bad news for you, though. Might be grumpy with me in the same room."

...

"Snatch you up....big fella?"

"Accidents happen when yer makin' with the booms," Soundwave muses. "Suppose it just gives medics more crap to do, so they don't enjoy it. I know Hook used t'fuss over that sort of stuff. Just meant he was worried."

It seems, at least, Soundwave understands what Wheeljack is getting at.

The conversation about Ratchet definitely makes him uncomfortable. Soundwave squirms a bit on his berth, looking at the floor; it's a good focus point.

"W-well, I'll. I'll keep that in mind." Frag, it figures. He tries to not shake.

"Bunch of... cables came out. From the temple. After he shot off my legs, it picked me up. I couldn't... fight back."

"I know right? I mean, one explosion after like...a century and they harp on ya like ya can't take care of yourself... guess it is just worry that gets 'em though."

He notices the shaking, and it definitely gets his attention.

"You okay? Ya look like ya just saw Primus himself."

"Yeah. It's kind of part of the job for 'em, I think. Try to, uh. Not hold it against 'em, 'Jack."

There's a pause as he lets air in and out from his vents, trying to settle his nerves. It's difficult, but considering Prism and the mention of Ratchet and being stuck here, it's difficult.

He'll manage. He has to.

The mention of Primus, at least, makes him snort and laugh. He won't rub it in Wheeljack's face and it still surprises him how many people believe in Primus.

"M'fine. Just... rattled."

"I try not ta. I'll admit, some of the things I do are kinda slaggin' stupid." He'll be the first one to admit that maybe a bomb blowing up in your face wasn't the most brilliant of ideas. "Wish I didn't get caught, though."

That snort makes his head tilt.

"I say somethin'?"

"Well, I ain't all that bright either. Ain't gonna judge you, 'Jack."

The question, oh how to answer back. Soundwave doesn't really, ah. Judge anyone for the belief. Fortunately, Cliffjumper had been the first example of someone who believed that wasn't a crazy zealot.

"Most folk I know don't believe in Primus," Soundwave informs him as delicately as he can. "Uh, most including me."

And suddenly Wheeljack found a new friend. He had no idea who this guy was, but he liked him. In fact, if they both weren't on varying levels of dying, he'd slap him on the back.

"Oh...OH. You think--

Hahha! Nah, man, I don't believe in that stuff either. I mean, I guess Optimus says that's how he became a Prime, but I'd rather concrete proof, yannow?"

"OH PHEW oh man-- dude, you just helped me feel like I got a load off of my chassis!" Soundwave lets out a laugh and rubs his forehead. "I mean, okay. I get it some dudes believe in him, but I'm like you. I need th' science on that scrap."

Almost everyone where he's from didn't believe; others that did were fanatics. He knows that's not always the truth, but even still.

"That's a relief. Way t'spook me, though. Heh."

He gets a laugh out of that. To be honest, a lot of people believed in Primus where he was...although he wasn't sure why. Something about the planet? He didn't know, nor really cared. Unless Primus is in front of him, he's going to be skeptical. It's not like Unicron exists and he was just absent for a little chunk of time when he possibly reappeared or anything. THAT'S JUST IMPLAUSIBLE.

"Sorry about that bud. ...Don't think I caught your name."

The return in laughter earns a broad smile from the Morale Officer. Good, good. Seems like the two of them have quite a bit in common. Just... not their faction, not really.

"No problemo, dude. Name's Soundwave."

Hopefully, that won't... go over badly.

You know what, he could believe pink Starscream. He could even believe nerdy-version-of-himself. But talkative, FRIENDLY Soundwave? That just pushed the limits a little too far. He just gazes wide-eyed at the guy, wondering if he even heard right.

"Sorry...for a second I thought ya said Soundwave."

Well. Not the worst reaction he's ever had to his name. Soundwave just smiles helplessly and shrugs at Wheeljack.

"Hate to burst yer bubble, Jack, but that's totally what I said. Sir Soundwave of th' Decepticon Army, at yer disposal."

Oh. Well...

"How do I put this. Another version of ya and I just had the scrapfest of a lifetime before I got transported here."

He won't say that he lost that battle, because why on Cybertron would he do a stupid thing like admit that?

"Ya seem awfully cheerful. And talkative."

"I've heard similar scrap. Oh, but I thought Soundwave was a notoriously cold and sparkless dude! or isn't Soundwave supposed to be uncharismatic and boring?" He shrugs. "Where I'm from, you're a paranoid whackjob scientist that was in an asylum til you broke out."

Suffice it to say, this Wheeljack is pleasantly nothing like that.

"Don't blame ya if you get wigged over the name an' faction, Jack. Jus' sayin' it ain't new for me to hear."

"Won't lie, it's a bit weird, buddy. Soundwave where I'm from? Complete silent time. Guy won't even scream if he's injured. Definitely get creeped out by the guy." ...He pauses at that. "The scrap...?"

The less he knows about his other selves, the better, it seems.

"Uh...don't worry about it, 'Wave. Once ya meet three Starscreams ya kinda just go with the flow with anythin'."

"Sounds like a real creep," Soundwave muses. "Heh. Dunno what to say to that. Hopefully won't hafta deal with the guy myself, but I ain't gonna expect much."

He's already met two other versions of himself, both very... creepy already. This one sounds worse than usual.

"Psh! That ain't nothin'. You should meet the Screamer from my Cybertron. He's amazing."

"Yeah...not that I didn't pound some right dents into the guy...no offense... but he's pretty high up on the creep meter. The tentacles don't help."

Okay, he's going to call that one out.

"Screamy and amazing in the same sentence. Now I've heard it all."

"No 'fense taken. Best way I can look at this sort of thing is that dudes are different, even if they happen to share a name and maybe look a bit similar. Their attitudes can be totally different."

That just makes him laugh again. "You'd know what I mean if you ever met 'im. Starscream's been my best friend for ages."

"Guess that's a good way ta look at it. So far I think it's been the same across the board with the other me's. Cept for...me of course. I'm the only non-science one they got."

It was a little worrying. Was he a 'wrong' one?

Not that he'd outwardly talk about that, but still.

"Weird...Let me just ask ya outright, 'Wave. You in some kinda topsy turvy world compared to mine?"

"Nothin' wrong with that, dude. Way I see it, jus' makes you the unique one."

It's not a concern he's ever been bothered with. Sometimes, you just might share a name and a bit of an appearance and that could be it.

"Only in so much yours is to mine, Jack."

"Guess that would make sense, me bein' the opposite of your world, I mean."

Ah well. If this Soundwave was good, he wasn't about to question it. It's not like Ratchet would fix a real Decepticon if he was a real threat.

"...SO.

What are your hobbies."

Bad at small talk? Yes.

"'Xactly. The easiest thing for me to do is to judge each dude individually rather than by their faction. Trust me, way simpler. Less toes get stepped on."

The question makes him snicker. At least it's not a discussion of weather because yeah, that would go far. How's the tear in the sky looking today?

"Mostly music, my mech. Dancing, singing, playing-- assuming I got the time? That's what I do. Back at Earth, was mostly wrapped up in other duties. Not that I disliked 'em, but I wouldn't call 'em hobbies. What do you do outside of blowin' yerself up?"

Wheeljack listens to him rattle off that list, not entirely sure he's too fluent on most of them, but hey, he's willing to hear him out. And boy does he know the difference between hobbies and work.

"Heard that story. Me? I'm a mechanic, if ya can believe it. And...well, let's just say I like blowin' OTHER things up more."

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THE SHOW MUST GO ON [open]

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