thisavrou_log | [closed] your circuit's dead

[closed] your circuit's dead

Who: riptide, magnus and guest starring megatron as an ice cube
When: grunts
Where: cryo
What: this is stupid
Warnings: this is really stupid

[it's not unusual for riptide to drop by megatron every now and then. this isn't a position he'd ever thought he'd be in, but then he also never expected to betray most of his friends for dead. the times he stops by tend to be fairly eclectic, but he's never seen anyone else there. he never expected to. least of all magnus. actually, honestly, that's a lie. he once had a dream he walked in on magnus kissing the tube and it weirded him out for weeks.

anyway, riptide is fairly certain that like always, he'll be alone for a while. maybe one or two people will wander by, but no-one that pays him much heed. he's paying so little attention that he's practically standing on top of ultra magnus before his brain catches up.]

...Oh.

[riptide looks down at his foot, raised and two seconds away from standing on part of magnus's kibble, had he not stopped.]

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[Ever since the Ravage incident, Magnus had been making time, once or twice a day, to stop by and visit with Megatron.]

[Not that it was much of a visit. In fact, Magnus would sit in a chair adjacent to the cryo tube, play some light music, and read. What he read didn't matter, really. Mostly, it was reports, or anything else of passing interest. Today, he was reviewing the forms he and Starscream had been working on; an official request to the captains about those safety tunnels and hatches that Starscream had learned about.]

[It was probably more strange for a third party for Magnus to be sitting with a frozen Megatron, while working on forms for a project with the warlord's former second-in-command.]

[Either way, Riptide must have been very deep in his thoughts to not have seen Magnus, or heard the music.]

[But at his approach, Magnus looks up from his report.]

...Riptide. What brings you here.

[He's not even considering this sight of Magnus sitting here with light music playing to be strange.]

[Wanna make something of it, Riptide?]

[deep in his thoughts indeed, riptide had been concentrating on what he was going to complain about.

he stares at magnus, a little unsure of how to react.]

Um. So this is probably going to look a bit awkward. Listen. The same reason you did.

I find it hard to believe you come down here to read in solitude while listening to classical music.

[While watching over Megatron. In a completely platonic way.]

I've seen your spelling.

[riptide makes a face. why does everyone have to remind him he's stupid all the time? what did he do to deserve this? oh right the mutiny]

No, I mean the location. [he nods towards megatron, still in the same position, still unconscious.] How often are you here?

I come every day. Megatron has been through a great deal recently, and I wish to update him as gently as possible when he awakes from his sleep.

Why are you here?

[riptide chews his bottom lip, clearly a little bashful.]

Um. I like talking to him. Even if he's not-- conscious.

[This draws a curious look.]

You're not here to vandalize the cryo chamber? Perhaps draw something wholly inappropriate on the glass?

I'd be lying if I said I didn't consider it, but.... he doesn't really deserve it?

[a beat.]

Plus the ice already looks like it says "frag" across his shoulder.

He doesn't?

Where is this coming from, Riptide? Don't pretend like I don't know your feelings on Megatron being our captain. They coincide with the majority ruling against him.

[riptide sighs, backing up to look up at the cryo chamber instead of magnus.

megatron's dark optics are a familiar if not still slightly unsettling view.]

Look, I know what I did was unforgivable, but I dunno. We had some experiences here that have kind of skewed everything. We spent a couple of days in a whale's stomach, for god's sake!

[he looks back at magnus.]

Anyway, I know I'm late on the uptake as usual, but I'm pretty sure he's actually trying. I didn't believe it before but now... I really, honestly believe he is.

... ... ...

[Magnus is silent as he pulls up two chairs; one for him to sit, and another for Riptide to also take a seat.]

Sometimes, Riptide...

...Sometimes I forget.

This journey, this quest...it sometimes causes me to forget our roots. And how the war skewed things.

[riptide had been expecting many things after his confession and this was... actually on the list of them. though being punched in the face was pretty up there.

he carefully sits on one of the chairs. right on the edge.]

You're gonna have to explain that one to me, Magnus.

[remember how he was pooped out directly into simanzi because RIPTIDE SURE DOES.]

The Ten Steps, Riptide. The Ten Steps that, by the time you were brought online, were reduced to Eight. And then finally, Three.

The fact that so many soldiers--so many Cybertronians were brought online for a singular purpose; to fight a war that many of them literally could not fathom.

I cannot empathize, mainly because I knew the cause. I knew why we fought. And once the war concluded, I could see the benefits of co-existence. Of forgiveness.

I imagine that when you are brought online, handed a pathblaster, and shown his [He gestures to Megatron's frozen form.] image and told that everything he stands for is something you must defend against...it is difficult to separate yourself from that.

[ritpide has to stop himself from scowling - after magnus had arrived, riptide had mentioned that as something he suspected to be his main motive for taking part in the mutiny and magnus had waved it off.]

There were hundreds of MTOs on the Lost Light. Were any of them left behind?

Irrelevant. We're talking about you.

And how I'm trying to understand your motives, rather than wave them off as inconsequential to the larger issue at hand.

As I said, Riptide; I tend to forget where we all come from. I see the Lost Light as my--our...home. What I interpreted as being lax in my duties...in becoming sloppy...was instead the fact that I grew to trust everyone, regardless of their past allegiances. I had forgotten why so many of the crew would hold a grudge against Megatron because they were literally born with the grudge foisted unto their shoulders.

When I look at you, I didn't see 'Riptide of Simanzian Dawn.'

I saw 'Riptide of the Lost Light.'

Yeah, but I never did.

[honestly? riptide's a little annoyed magnus had never considered this before, but there's no point getting angry when he is literally in the process of doing so.]

I just... why would Optimus think it was okay to do this?

Because...

[Magnus pauses, unsure.]

...I cannot speak for Prime. I can't. I'm not him. I can't presume to explain why he stationed Megatron on a ship that he had no jurisdiction over. We are not a military vessel. He had no control over it.

I won't try and explain him. But I can try to understand. Much like I'm trying to understand you.

I believe that Prime wants peace at any cost. Even going so far as to hope, to pray, that Megatron's change of spark wasn't some elaborate ruse. In trying to appeal to everyone, to give the people of Cybertron renewed hope for a unified race he overstepped his boundaries; created a situation where there were bound to be dissidents.

I also believe that he had faith that we would be able to mirror his capacity to forgive, to move on. And I think that, like me he'd forgotten just how many of our number were created with the singular purpose of tearing down everything that Megatron sent our way.

[again, riptide says nothing. he assumes calling optimus a stupid asshole with his head rammed up his tailpipe wouldn't be a good idea. he watches magnus intently for a moment, optics flicking between him and megatron.]

You're making more of an effort than him, at any rate.

Someone has to.

[He says it easily, Bee's words coming to mind.]

We all fought together, but do we really even know anything about one another? No one even knew I wasn't the 'real' Ultra Magnus until I was forced to reveal myself. How many of us still go by our callsigns and not our true names?

We're adjusting, every one of us, to a life and world where we're looked at as warmongers, and that life is all what many of us have ever known. I, myself, am coming to terms with the fact that I will likely be the last Ultra Magnus.

[He falls silent, then leans forward a bit.]

Riptide, for what it's worth, I am sorry it took me so long to truly see your position in all of this. To understand why you would choose to betray us. While I don't condone your choices, I can say that I can understand why you would be upset with High Command. Why you would see us...see me as someone who personally betrayed you for wanting to work with Megatron...rather than perpetuate a four million year old grudge.

Thanks. That means a lot.

[he means it genuinely, putting his hand over his (poop) spark.]

I'm... I'm sorry for betraying you instead of just. Uh. Talking to you. About those issues.

Riptide...

If..If possible. I would like it if you would continue to come to me.

To talk.

I want to understand you, Riptide.

I didn't mean any of that stuff I said before.

[it's the first thing out his mouth, because it's the thing that's been bothering him the most.]

Just finding out about Skids and some... other stuff at the same time was too much. I wrote it all down on that paper--

[Magnus pulls the note that Riptide had originally discarded from a compartment on his forearm.]

Do you mean this paper?

You put your hand in a--

Okay. Fun's over. Who are you and what have you done with Ultra Magnus and/or Minimus Ambus.

I'm not sure I understand where you're going with this line of questioning.

I threw it in the bin. And you reached in to pick it up.

You, Ultra Magnus. Put your hand in a used bin.

Because there was something important in there that did not belong in that bin.

[he can't help but giggle a little.]

Did you read it? I can't put it into words very well because it all gets muddled up in my brain. I mean, I can't write very well either but at least I could spend 5 hours on that without someone waiting on me to finish.

I did. I read it several times, in fact.

And I'm sorry I made you attempt to throw it out in the first place.

It might be some of your best work to date.

I thought that essay Megatron made me do wa--

I mean, I'm. Uh. Glad. You managed to read it. I really am... sorry.

Edited 2016-11-02 11:53 (UTC)

Essay?

What essay?

I told you before! Groucho over there started his lessons again. I have an essay about some junk that was due...

[riptide squints at megatron.]

A couple days ago.

And is it done?

Yeeeeeeeeeeeees?

[Magnus stands and plants a hand on Riptide's shoulder, preparing to usher him towards the door.]

The hesitation in your voice tells me that maybe you should double check your work before handing it in.

Wh-what! No, c'mon! I thought we were having a moment!

[he is going to Struggle Against that.]

I was enjoying your company!

And I was enjoying your company as well, Riptide. But one should never miss an opportunity to better themselves. You were down to Eight Steps, remember? That two whole steps you have to catch up on.

[He ushers Riptide towards the door, but stops and turns the bot around in his tracks.]

I think there's a lot of potential in you. A lot of potential that was summarily buried because we needed a gun more than we needed a person. And I am sorry I ignored that. Forgot that.

A--and that's fine! A lot of people did that!

[he is legit whining and gripping onto magnus's arm.]

I was feeling safe around you again!

...You were afraid of me?

... ... ...

I was... afraid of what you'd do.

...I see.

I...I didn't mean...

...I'm sorry.

But that's the thing. It wouldn't have been unfounded!

[he pushes off magnus, curling his hands into fists, holding them up in front of his chest.]

It's like calling Tankor fat and waiting for his fist to break your jaw!

I'm never going to hurt you, Riptide.

Not again and never intentionally.

I--I know! And I actually believe you! That's the best part!

So...does that mean you'll stay?

[riptide is quiet for an agonisingly long few moments.]

I...should go work on that essay.

Riptide...

...Please.

I'm-- I can't, I'm sorry. It's killing me. There's no point--

[he runs a hand over his face, sighing shakily.]

I just... can't.

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[closed] your circuit's dead

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