|
|
Post by Soundwave on Jan 20, 2023 1:36:37 GMT
Soundwave watched as Starscream suddenly slid down to the floor before he leaned his helm against the window separating them, glancing over for a moment as Ravage began to approach the seated seeker. "Do not worry. Ravage will not harm you as I have requested that he not do so. He is merely the substitution for my physical comfort for the time being." Just as Ravage reached Starscream, he plopped down against Starscream's side to sandwich himself between the seeker's leg and the window to get close to Soundwave as well. Curling up a bit, Ravage rested his head upon Starscream's lap as he looked up at him as if to say he was only doing this because the blue mech asked him to, but he'd attempt to comfort the mech if requested.
And then Ravage purred.
The former communications officer shifted in order to get comfortable, pressing the right side of his frame against the window before leaning his own helm against it. Without that window, it'd be like they were cuddling with a somewhat confused and comfortable panther right between them. Soundwave debated about whether to put his mask back on but in the end he opted not to, smiling at Starscream instead before touching the window with his left servo. So he'd wanted to listen to Digital Love, did he? Soundwave could do that. "Rest well, Starscream. Ravage, ensure that he stays comfortable and should I not wake before he does do your best to calm him."
Ravage was completely baffled with this request, trying to figure out what was going on with the blue mech. What had changed between him and Starscream that they suddenly were much closer? He couldn't argue too much he supposed given Megatron's betrayal, but still this was crazy.
Letting his visor power down, Soundwave began to play Digital Love softly through his speakers as he himself started to drift into a semi-comfortable recharge. Hopefully the morning would be better for the seeker beside him.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2023 18:46:27 GMT
Starscream was so exhausted he couldn't even bring himself to open his optics. A small smile was all he could muster after Soundwave's dramatic declaration.
“He is merely the substitution for my physical comfort for the time being.”
Primus, Soundwave was so adorable.
The Seeker listened as Ravage settled down, the purring surprising him, however he was too exhausted to move. The steady rhythm was calming him but he still fought the recharge until he was sure Soundwave had settled down too. Recharge claimed him very shortly after Digital Love started to play from the Spy’s speakers.
His dream was very different this time. Instead of dreaming of being chained, beat in windowless room, locked, trapped underground, darkness, no sky, The Call… Starscream was dreaming of a lazy afternoon spent kissing Soundwave and hanging with the cassettes and Nightshroud. They made such a pretty picture of a perfect family.
Unknowingly, Starscream was silently crying, his spark aching again, only this time it was something softer, wasn’t painful as much, almost felt… comfortable. The Seeker half-awoke, confused, optics snapping open, landing on Soundwave next to him, then Ravage with his head on his lap. Right, G.H.O.S.T., the cage, the Call of the Sky. Closing his optics again, Starscream reached out with a trembling servo and rested it on Ravage’s head gently. The purring felt familiar, almost like a Seeker engine…
Starscream fell into recharge again, more peacefully this time. His spark felt warm in his chassis, Soundwave’s peaceful sleeping faceplate without a mask on burning in his processor.
|
|
|
|
Post by Soundwave on Jan 22, 2023 2:28:54 GMT
As Starscream woke, Ravage lifted his head for just a moment out of curiosity. He was surprised to see the seeker crying of all things, shakily reaching out to pet the panther on the head. Deciding to play nice, Ravage began to purr louder, resting his head back on Starscream's leg. He had to admit it felt nice, but he still had to question a lot of things. Still, Soundwave wanted him to keep the former second in command calm and so he was going to do that to the best of his ability. It didn't take long for the taller mech to slip back into recharge, and the panther cassette made a note of what had happened to inform Soundwave of later. Seemed like he was doing a good enough job so far, so the blue mech would be happy to hear that progress.
Soundwave, however, remained deep in recharge while the event transpired. The music that played had shifted from Daft Punk to something a bit more relaxing and binaural; something that would help clear the mind and allow one to recharge better at the right frequency. It amazed him that humans used the same techniques, but that vibration that came with the music was the key. While it didn't affect humans in the same way, the vibrations could mimic the sound of one's own engine rumbling gently. Great for when one was alone and needed some help getting a little recharge, but doubly so for seekers with trines when they were separated. Seekers seemed to be quite different for so many reasons: they needed to be together in trines, they couldn't handle enclosed spaces for too long.. they had a lot of sensitivities not that there was anything wrong with that. Even when the former communications officer had changed his form, he hadn't felt a need for trines or anything too different. It was merely to be able to travel on his own with ease because how was a tape player supposed to get around without raising suspicions?
Still, while he did dream he found himself in a similar sort of dream that Starscream was having. It was him and his cassettes. Not just Frenzy, Ravage and Laserbeak, but Rumble and Ratbat as well. Alongside them was Starscream as the seeker leaned against Soundwave, but there was someone else there too.. Someone he didn't recognize but could only assume was the 'vengeful twin' that the seeker had mentioned multiple times. They had a generic body type with bland colors, but it was clear they were meant to be a femme. If nothing else it had been enjoyable to be together, and maybe one day they could make that possible.. to some degree.
Rumble..
After a few hours Soundwave's visor powered on before shutting the music down. He turned to look over to the slumbering Starscream, noting that Ravage had also fallen into recharge. Now to play the waiting game.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2023 23:54:06 GMT
The dream was back again, the picture of a perfect family, as they laughed and watched the cassettes and Nightshroud run around and play. Starscream leaned against Soundwave, sighing happily, as they held servos, digits mingled together. How sappy.
Starscream had to admit this had been one of the best recharges since he got thrown into the cage. Waking up was done slowly instead of being in panic, the Seeker first noticing the purring under his servo. He took a moment to do a complete system review, pleasantly surprised that everything was in order. Opening his optics, Starscream looked at Ravage with shock, turning his helm to see Soundwave was already awake.
Not for the first time, Starscream was hit by how gorgeous the other bot was. The Seeker smiled fondly, blowing a kiss to the other side of the window, servo petting the panther absentmindedly.
“Did you rest well?”
Starscream knew Soundwave would be fussing all over him in an instant, so he asked about the other bot right away. Thank Primus he still had his memories, closing his optics as he reviewed the last day. His spark was warm, feeling three sizes too big for its casing. Last thing he remember picking up was Soundwave falling down after sending Ravage over.
|
|
|
|
Post by Soundwave on Jan 23, 2023 1:48:17 GMT
Starscream waking from his recharge caught Soundwave's attention as the mech turned to watch as the seeker took in his surroundings. He most definitely did not seemed panicked in the least, relaxed enough to start petting Ravage before turning his own attention to Soundwave. With a small smile on his face, the former communications officer nodded in greeting as the seeker blew another kiss. This was definitely a much better start already, and the fact that Starscream hadn't been panicking at all had meant nothing but success in Operation: Therapy.
"I recharged sufficiently, but I take it that you did as well? Compared to the last couple of days, you seem quite relaxed as opposed to waking in sheer panic only to render yourself unconscious and in full reboot mode." He was certain that the other Decepticons in the surrounding cells were thankful for this, but the real question was how long would Ravage be able to keep this up? He had no doubts about the Cassetticon refusing to do what was requested of him, but how long would Starscream be content with it before the Call became too much to bare again? "It seems that Ravage is most comfortable at the moment, so perhaps we shall continue to speak in this manner? Ravage does not approve of being woken from a deep slumber regardless of who it may be that disturbs him."
Soundwave included.
Placing a servo against the window once more, directly over where Starscream's cheekplating was, Soundwave let his servo glide down. It was as if he was stroking the other's cheek, but it was the closest he was going to get to that motion. "Did you dream while you recharged?"
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2023 19:15:10 GMT
Once his review was done, the Seeker opened his optics, greeted by Soundwave’s smile. Starscream was swooning internally at how lucky he was to be at the receiving end of that smile. Anything Soundwave would give him, Starscream will cherish and return it tenfold. He was already so grateful for a peaceful wake-up, a small twinge of guilt at how much the other bot was exhausting himself helping out.
At the mention of Ravage, Starcream chuckled softly, making sure his pets were gentle enough to not startle the panther awake. He looked down at the black cassette with mixed emotions, optics returning to look at Soundwave with a teasing glint in them.
"You spoil your cassettes too much." Starscream spoke softly, knowing Soundwave would understand him perfectly well.
He shouldn't really talk, he'd probably concede to any small whim Nightshroud might throw his way. If he ever saw her again. The Seeker shivered, pushing the thought aside.
"I usually don't recall my dreams. Haven't really had to analyze them recently to know what they were about…"
Megatron keeping him in enclosed spaces, Megatron beating him and ripping his wings, stucked underground in a mine, the likes. Last night had been something completely new and the Seeker opted to reveal a half-truth.
"I was dreaming that we were out of here…"
|
|
|
|
Post by Soundwave on Jan 24, 2023 19:20:46 GMT
Soundwave would hardly call it spoiling his Cassettes. They were like his children, and so he was going to treat them well.. to give them the love and care they truly deserved. There were many bots who were creeped out by the mere thought of Mini-Cons and smaller bots like the Cassettes, but that didn't make them any less useful. They just.. were smaller. It was convenient for the large group that Soundwave carried around with him, and they seemed to care as well. He didn't know where Frenzy and Laserbeak were now, but hopefully they were fine on their own. As for Ravage, he seemed quite content recharging on Starscream's leg while being petted.
He listened as Starscream spoke of the dream that he'd had, intrigued that he'd had a fairly nice dream by the sounds of it. Out of here was somewhat vague and left a lot of room for interpretation, but maybe Starscream just didn't want to go into detail. That or he was waiting for the blue mech to go first.
"I, too, did dream. I dreamt of myself with the Cassetticons, all gathered together safe and sound. However, there were two additions. The first of which being you at my side." Soundwave paused for a moment, glancing down at the slumbering Ravage. "These second of which is one I did not know.. a generic looking femme of various colors that would not stay consistent. I believe she was meant to be a substitute for this vengeful Decepticon twin you speak so highly of."
Or not at all.
"I will not pry for details as it seems that you wish for her identity to remain anonymous for the time being, however when there is a good time I would like to hear more about this femme. For now I shall not continue the subject unless you wish to engage." He'd leave it open ended, allowing the seeker to comment further on it if he wished to do so. "However, as it appears we have nothing more to do at this very moment.. how about you regale me in the tale of your own dream. That is.. if you remember it beyond being free from these cells."
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2023 23:34:20 GMT
Starscream was swooning all over again, small blush spreading on his faceplate. It was so adorable that they had a similar dream, the Seeker chuckling as he looked down at Ravage. That Soundwave even had Nightshroud as part of his dream family made Starscream’s spark melt. The Seeker remembered that it had been mentioned that Spy had asked about Nightshroud before. He was hesitant to say her name in case it drew suspicion, knowing now, thanks to Soundwave, that Clematis was somehow affiliated with G.H.O.S.T. Ravage in his lap reminded him that if anyone could understand, the ex-TIC would.
Humming, Starscream turned his gaze back toward Soundwave’s gorgeous mouth. It was a very nice distraction.
“My dream is too similar to yours to be a ‘regale’ tale.” The Seeker winked. “I can… tell you how I met her… I was at a hideout when someone landed on the premises. She was starving, alone and in need of someone she could trust. She told me about being left behind and… that’s a similar guilt I carry around. I took her under my wing, so to speak, she reminded me so much of myself, un-trusting, blinded by the past, not willing to move forward…”
The Seeker grimaced, fighting his every instinct about keeping everything close to his spark, to shut up already about feelings and vulnerability.
“I helped her with certain things, she helped me with others. For the first time… It felt like I truly had a Trine…”
|
|
|
|
Post by Soundwave on Jan 27, 2023 2:04:25 GMT
Soundwave was somewhat surprised to hear that they had both had similar sorts of dreams, even if they varied to some degree. He listened closely as Starscream began to tell him a different sort of tale, though he did notice that the other wasn't looking directly at his optics. Just a little further down.. Was he looking at his uncovered face? It was a rarity for many bots, but he did have more secrets that he kept from others. Starscream seemed to becoming the everlasting exception to his rule of never speaking his mind to begin with, and now here Soundwave was showing off what lay behind the battle mask itself.
The story the former SIC told was that of the vengeful Decepticon femme and how he had met her. It seemed she had only come to him out of dire necessity and not by choice, but if he was understanding correctly the two of them seemed to form some sort of a companionship especially by the tale's end. To be part of a trine was a big deal for seekers, and the fact that the seeker next door was working to replace his former trine spoke volumes of how he really felt about Skywarp and Thundercracker. They had been inseparable up until the days of the war it seemed, so for him to no longer consider them part of his trine was unexpected to say the least. However, that left room for interpretation. If he was going to regard this mysterious femme as part of his trine, then who was the third to be? Perhaps Starscream was hinting at the idea of Soundwave being that third member? It was still too early to make assumptions of course but it made one wonder.
"So it would seem that you were responsible for saving this femme's life. Had she not come to you when she had, she may not have had enough energon reserves to have survived on her own. All speculation of course as she could have simply found more on her own, but given that she is indebted to you I can now see why you believe she would come to rescue you. To repay that debt, but I believe it to be more than simply that by your tale. To be trine, she must be important to you, but I must ask.."
Soundwave paused, putting his servo back on the window. "A trine is incomplete with two members alone. Have you recruited a third?"
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2023 21:28:50 GMT
Soundwave was so attentive and focused on him, it made Starscream feel things he hadn’t dared to hope feeling again. It sounded so much like he cared, genuinely did, had actually listened and even asked something related to the topic. Part of the Seeker was enraged at how long they had wasted being in each other’s way. The things the two of them would accomplish together will be grandiose.
The question was very endearing, if a little incorrect in its assumption.
Starscream chuckled, pressing his helm against his side of the window, where Soundwave’s servo was. If anyone had told him that he would end up with a grounder turned flier in his Trine, he would have laughed at them before throwing them off an air lock. The hesitation in Soundwave’s voice made Starscream swoon internally all over again. Two grounders turned fliers.
“Well… Recruiting is not the proper word here. It’s something that just… Happens. Coding and all… Trine are not always three members, it’s more of a traditional title than an exact number. I knew a Trine with 4 Seekers and 2 Shuttles. They weren’t called a Hexa…” Starscream sighed, closing his optics. “Just another wonderful flaw… Another thing to deal with when you’re a Seeker. Need a Trine to help process… stuff”
He couldn’t even bring himself to broach the subject of flying. Even less explaining how Trines worked, why Nightshroud… He did want to ask one thing.
“Why… Are you offering?” Starscream scoffed. “Don’t be ridiculous, you have your cassettes already, you don’t want an extra spark bound with two messed up Seekers.”
|
|
|
|
Post by Soundwave on Jan 30, 2023 2:13:17 GMT
To be fair Soundwave himself wasn’t quite sure what he was doing. This wasn’t something he had done before, and millions of years of speaking his mind had definitely made things a little more awkward between the two of them. There was genuine enjoyment as he spoke with Starscream, watching as Ravage recharged on the seeker’s lap. He wanted to continue whatever this was, whether it be romantic or platonic. It would take him time to truly figure this whole thing out, but there was something in Starscream’s advances that kept the former TIC interested; Made him want to venture further down this rabbit hole and see where it took him.
It didn’t surprise him when the former air commander corrected him on terminology for trines and what did and didn’t make one. He had assumed it had been a group of three as that was generally how he had heard of it before, but he supposed that there had to have been some scenarios where there were more than three in a trine.
But was he offering to be part of Starscream’s new trine with the mysterious femme? Soundwave sighed to himself, looking at the seeker. “My answer may not be no, but consider it a tentative acceptance. I would feel more comfortable making such a decision once I meet this mysterious femme of yours. If she is as important as you say to you, then I do not see an issue. However, I do find it difficult to trust in one that I have no knowledge of outside of second hand information. Take no offense. I do not wish to put you in a scenario where I agree to join this trine of yours, but we do not get along.”
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2023 15:22:11 GMT
“I’m not offended. I told you that I think it’s a bad idea. I’ll say it again: it’s a bad idea. We don’t need a third member, we are fine.”
He might sound a bit overprotective there but he felt the need to be. Nightshroud did not trust people easily, it had been sheer luck that the femme had opened up so much to him. She’d need time to adjust. Especially with how she’d have to deal with the new bond between him and Soundwave to start with.
The Seeker opened his optics, staring back at Soundwave. This time, he made sure to look at the other bot directly in the optics.
“She does not trust easily. She’ll probably even resent you at first. Poor thing will probably think you’ll take me away or she’ll be replaced. So I am in no rush to add anyone in this already complicated thing. She’s my Trine and I will protect her.”
Looking back down at the panther, Starscream grimaced, wondering if he should say what he has in his processor next.
“I also think... it’s not a good idea for you to bond with anyone while you are on a quest of revenge to kill Megatron… As someone who’s been in that mindset for millennias... you’ll just end up pushing everyone away while trying to achieve your goal. I’m not putting her through that. I can handle it if you want our bond to deepen but you will not drag her down that road.”
‘You already lost Rumble on this quest, are you willing to lose more?’ was left unsaid. Starscream rested his servo on top of the cassette’s head, frowning.
The Seeker had lost everything. He was finally starting to have things he hadn’t had in eons, a friend, a Trine, a flock… a conjux? He would not lose it in a foolish pursuit.
|
|
|
|
Post by Soundwave on Feb 5, 2023 15:27:46 GMT
It was strange. It both sounded like Starscream wanted him to be a part of this trine and yet not all at the same time. It was curious to Soundwave, but there was something else that he noticed as the seeker continued his prattle of many reasons why joining the trine was such a bad idea, and it all came back to this mysterious femme. Starscream seemed extra protective of the femme so there was naturally only two assumptions he could make, and one he could eliminate almost right off the bat. The former SIC had made it a point to mention he'd pinned specifically for Skyfire, and now so for Soundwave. He would've said something if that had been the case for this femme, wouldn't he? So that only meant one thing.
"You view this femme in the same manner in which I view the Cassetticons, do you not?"
Like a sparkling. His sparkling to be exact.
Now it made all the more sense of why he was going out of his way to protect her so much to the point of refusing to reveal her name. If that were the case, there was no way Starscream would be able to keep that a secret forever, especially if they already knew Clematis was this femme's twin. Soundwave wouldn't pry or attempt to force the seeker to say the femme's name as he understood what it was like to try and keep those you care about safe. Something he had tried so hard to do himself, only to fail in the end. The mech glanced down, visor dimming as his thoughts returned to Rumble.
"Plans can be adjusted. At this moment my spark burns with unshakeable rage, however it is possible to quench any flame. Megatron's actions resulted in the loss of Rumble, as it was only after his betrayal that energon became a scarcity to us while the Autobots relished and thrived. I cannot easily forgive him for such a loss, but I vow not to drag the vengeful femme into it as you so put it."
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2023 18:39:02 GMT
Soundwave was too clever for his own good. Of course he had figured out why the Seeker was so protective of Nightshroud. Still, he didn’t press for her designation, which Starscream was grateful for. He’d get to know her soon enough, when she’d come to bust them out. Starscream still had unshakable faith that she would, one way or the other, find a way to come and rescue him.
He couldn’t really deny the conclusion the Spy had come to, so he nodded, optics still on the black cassette resting against him. It’s not like he had plotted, planned or pushed in anyway for things to go the way they went. He had just found himself feeling very protective of the younger femme, the guilt of abandoning Skyfire behind making him desperate to make it up somehow. Maybe, unconsciously, his guilt would assuage if he took care of Nightshroud. He was just happy Primus had placed her in his path.
Starscream sighed, noticing that Soundwave’s visor had dimmed. As much as he was protective of Nightshroud, he could see Soundwave trying to make an effort. It was adorable. Lifting his servo, he placed it against the window, where Soundwave’s helm was, the same way the blue bot had done earlier. His optics were fixed on Soundwave.
“Soundwave. Look at me.”
|
|
|
|
Post by Soundwave on Feb 7, 2023 2:33:21 GMT
Even turned away, Soundwave could practically feel Starscream staring at him from the other side of that window. It was hard not to notice it despite the inner turmoils within the blue mech's processor. When his mind lingered on Rumble for too long, it was hard not to thinking about that guilt; the what ifs. It realistically could have been any of the Cassetticons that had blown up that day as Soundwave attempted to eject them, and there was no way he could have known that he had been in such a state for the tape deck's hinge to lock up trapping poor Rumble in there while he transformed. He remembered that pain well, both the loss and the physical pain from the internal explosion. Soundwave had been damaged by those events, and every once in awhile it'd slip into his recharge dreams as well. At least he had the others to keep him company, so it wasn't like he didn't have anyone to rely on in that manner.
But then Starscream urged him to glance over.
Hesitantly with his dimmed visor, the former TIC turned his helm to gaze upon the seeker noticing his servo on the window. In kind gesture, Soundwave too raised his servo placing it right along the window as if to touch Starscream's servo. "What is it, Starscream? What is it that you wish to say?"
|
|
