|
Post by Soundwave on Feb 17, 2023 1:24:25 GMT
Nightshroud might need the reassurance, but the conversation Soundwave overheard said otherwise. He knew it was only a matter of time before the whole bombing incident was brought up, but he hadn't expected it to come in the form of Skyfire informing the young femme. Even still, he was pleasantly surprised to overhear that she forgave Starscream for what had happened even calling him her sire once more. Soundwave had been right all along that chances were good that things would work out, but also he could not help but notice Starscream's tone when he finally did speak. He did not sound okay as much as he attempted to play it off, and so the spymaster knew what he needed to do. "RAVAGE, FRENZY, LASERBEAK: OPERATION: RECONNAISSANCE. KEEP WATCH FOR INTRUDERS OR MIRE" With a groan from the femme, the three of them got up before taking point so Soundwave could head back to the berthroom without any worry. Yes he wanted to let Starscream have some time with Nightshroud, but it was clear that he was in need of some reassurance himself. From the sound of things, Nightshroud did have some of it covered but how much could she truly bare to handle on her own? She may have changed the former air commander for the better without realizing it, but could she handle millions of years of pain if Starscream actually did let it out as she requested? Still.. maybe that was a good idea: to coax his silly little rabbit into opening up about what troubled him in an effort to make him feel better.. to make him hopefully relax and maybe recharge. Rounding the corner into the berthroom, Soundwave retracted his mask as he stood close by. The sight of the two seekers hugging one another tightly brought a smile to his face as he stepped closer, placing a servo on Starscream's shoulder as he spoke. "She speaks the truth. No one is here to judge you should you wish to release your feelings. We will shoulder it for you."
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2023 17:29:27 GMT
Even if Starscream wanted to ‘let it all out’, he didn’t know how. He had been repressing so much for so long, all he knew to express was rage. He couldn’t even name what he was feeling right now, it was a jumbled mess of too many things unravelling at the same time. It would be so much easier to shove it all down, ignore it and move on.
He resisted the gentle coaxing from his sparkling, hugging her tighter and closing his optics. He was still tense, shivering from the overwhelming waves of his feelings. He couldn’t let go. Wouldn’t. Bury it, stay strong…
Yet his spark kept on making him aware of the sadness it was drowning in.
[‘Ping’][Skyfire said many true things about you. His goal was to turn me against you. He said how violent you are, how you refuse to accept that the war is over, how you will shoot him for no reason and would send him into stasis lock under the ice again with no regrets.]
Why? Why did Skyfire say that? They had talked while he was in the cage he had told the slagging shuttle that he was done with fighting.
[‘Ping’][If you're just going to sit here sulking and rusting away instead of accepting the situation and actually trying to make this world better, you may as well have something productive to turn your cogitator to.] [‘Ping’][If you decide to look at the future instead of wallowing in self-pity about the past, tell the warden and I'll come back.]
There. Skyfire knew he didn’t want to fight.
[‘Ping’][If all it takes to make your Autobot heart all happy, I truly and deeply apologize for shooting you with my null-ray] [‘Ping’][It doesn't quite make me 'happy', but I accept your apology.]
Starscream clenched his servos, he was close to purging his tank, dread, disgust, grief slamming into his spark like stabs.
He’s pulled out of his spiralling into silent panic when a servo gently lands on his shoulder plate. Soundwave’s voice was like a reboot, kicking the panic away easily. The shivering subdued as well, Starscream finally relaxing, opening his optics. Half letting go of Nightshroud, Starscream flopped on his back, reaching for the blue mech's arm. Too exhausted to voice his thoughts he sent a quick comm.
[Soundwave] <<Please stay>>
Closing his optics, he gently tugged on the spy’s arm, pulling him into the berth.
|
|
|
Post by Nightshroud on Feb 19, 2023 1:12:48 GMT
The quieter Starscream grew, the more Nightshroud grew worried. Given how he was acting he had to be suffering in some capacity, and she wished that he would let it out and let her shoulder the burden for awhile. The more she thought about it, did he really know how to let his guard down? He hadn't in the time that Nightshroud had known him, always insisting on staying strong for her but she wanted to be strong for him. As he held her tighter, Nightshroud tightened her hold as well as she continued to rub his lower back. However, her attention was drawn away as she heard a voice she hadn't heard before. Moving her helm, she was both surprised and frustrated to see Soundwave standing there.. but without his faceplate? So he could talk after all.
As Starscream flopped back, the femme was immediately pinned into place with one arm trapped underneath him as he held her close. She wasn't about to complain however as there was nowhere else she'd wanted to be. Even if she wasn't happy about Soundwave being here in this moment and trying to assist in calming the other seeker back down, Nightshroud didn't complain as the blue mech was pulled into the berth forcing them into a group cuddle. She supposed Soundwave could stay for now, but there wasn't anywhere the small seeker could go anyway.
Right now, all she cared about was helping to make Starscream feel better.
"I'm here. I'm right here." The crimson seeker whispered softly, leaning in close to rest her helm back on his chest armor. "I'm not leaving you, sire. I'm not leaving you and it's okay if you aren't alright. I will never let him hurt you like that again.. You don't deserve his so-called friendship. You aren't alone.. You are never alone."
|
|
|
Post by Soundwave on Feb 19, 2023 1:26:18 GMT
How could Soundwave refuse Starscream's request to stay? He did not fight as the seeker pulled him into the bed, wrapping an arm around him yet careful not to touch Nightshroud at the same time. He wanted to give her that personal space for now in hopes that it would help her to see that he wasn't a threat. Soundwave listened as the femme repeatedly attempted to reassure her adopted sire that she was not going to abandon him and promised to never let Skyfire harm the older seeker again. She was wise to not use the mech's name as it would likely instill more panic that Starscream did not need. He'd already experienced that first hand when it came to mentions of Megatron, but even that seemed to be dying down a little.
Just the former Decepticon's leaders own voice was enough to send Starscream into a panicked reboot.
Silently he stroked the mech's helm, setting up his speakers to play some comforting instrumental music of the binaural variety. Something soft and relaxing, yet with electrical hums that came naturally through the spymaster's speakers. He could tell just by looking at the seeker that he was exhausted. For as much as he boasted about not needing recharge, it was clear that he very much did.
"Rest your optics, Starscream. Rest for as long as you need. Your sparkling and I will remain at your side to keep you safe and bring you as much comfort as your spark desires. You are safe now. The fight is over for now."
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2023 15:08:47 GMT
Starscream let out a shivering exhale, trying to silence his processor. Nightshroud was cuddling him, whispering sweet nothings and he tightened his grip around her. On the other side, Soundwave was gently petting his helm, the Seeker reaching with his free servo to rest it against whatever part of the blue mech he could reach with his limited range of movement. The music, like Soundwave’s voice, made Starscream relax and brought him closer to recharge.
He tried to let go, focusing on the music, knowing in his processor that he was safe, but his spark felt otherwise. It was dreading retaliation from Megatron, threats from Mandroid capturing any Decepticons, worried for the two mechs on each side of him. Skyfire’s words plagued him, stabbing at his spark.
[‘Ping’][If you decide to look at the future instead of wallowing in self-pity about the past, tell the warden and I'll come back.]
Starscream sighed, turning his helm toward Soundwave, nuzzling it against the blue mech. As much as he tried to push it down, he was so hurt by what Skyfire had said and done. Mad at himself for letting the Shuttle hurt his spark over and over again. Even if Nightshroud swore she wouldn’t let him do further damages, the worst had already been done. He had apologized to Skyfire about shooting him.
[‘Ping’][It doesn't quite make me 'happy', but I accept your apology.]
So what, Skyfire had lied? Was he just gathering information to hurt the Seeker further down the line? He had been very successful on that front. Starscream shivered, a small whimper escaping him. He just wanted to recharge, but Skyfire’s words kept replaying and echoing in his helm.
|
|
|
Post by Nightshroud on Feb 20, 2023 21:57:55 GMT
Nightshroud felt absolutely horrible. She hated telling Starscream the things that Skyfire had said and while she wished she hadn't, he deserved to know. Starscream deserved the truth, and she wasn't going to hide that from him. His 'friend' had said some extremely hurtful things both about him and to Nightshroud herself, but what more could they really do about it? Right now they just needed to rest up and figure out where to go from here, but it was clear that Starscream was shaken even with Soundwave's.. assistance.
It made her only feel worse as Soundwave's actioned seemed to be having more of an impact than her cuddles and promises that things would be okay. It made her feel useless, but that tightened hug helped to cheer the femme up somewhat. Starscream still wanted her here. He wasn't going to abandon or replace her. Even that tightened hug helped to remind her of those truths, and so she smiled sadly as she nestled in closer. That whimper of Starscream's broke Nightshroud's spark, feeling like she understood what he might have been feeling even if just a little. He must have felt like Skyfire had abandoned him and had horribly hurt him through words alone; almost how she had felt when she'd realized Clematis was alive yet the femme never came looking for her until the damage had already been done.
Begrudgingly listening to the music as she relaxed, Nightshroud gently nuzzled the mech. "Shhh.. It's okay. Everything is going to be okay."
|
|
|
Post by Soundwave on Feb 21, 2023 2:10:27 GMT
Soundwave continued to stroke Starscream's helm in an effort to help the seeker relax, but he couldn't help but smile as Starscream turned his helm to face him. He allowed the former SIC to grasp at him however he wished along with the nuzzles, noting that the femme was also attempting to nuzzle the mech squished between them. All this effort seemed to be doing some good, but the seeker still quaked; still whimpered. Something had clearly upset him, and he didn't quite know how to process it. It's just that Soundwave didn't know exactly what he was feeling, and he didn't know how best to help. Music had worked previously and that had been his go to, but now they had the luxury of physical contact.
There had been a temptation to summon Ravage to the berthroom knowing he had assisted in helping Starscream relax, but it wasn't just the two of them anymore. Now Nightshroud was thrown into the mix, and he remembered Starscream's words. The femme would need time, and she was likely extremely uncomfortable with the spymaster just being in this close proximity sharing a berth with both her and Starscream. It was definitely cramped, but if the two of them combined could help ease the former air commander's processor then that was the higher priority at the moment. Plus the femme hadn't complained, though perhaps her thoughts were more focused on calming the other seeker with her hushed words of comfort.
There had been a secondary temptation which Soundwave resisted. It was not the right time, but perhaps.. it did not hurt to ask Starscream? Soundwave's optics fell on the femme, deciding it was best to comm his inquiry to his silly little rabbit.
<<Starscream.. Would it be alright if I kissed you? Would this help to calm you? I will accept a no if you do not wish it.>>
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2023 21:41:37 GMT
Starscream tried to push the feeling away, not wanting to drown in his own sadness.Skyfire had broken his spark one too many times. The mech he had known was obviously gone, sweet shuttle no more. Starscream couldn’t let the cruel words do this to him. He had to let go, forget all about Skyfire. Make his peace that they would never fly together again because they don’t trust each other anymore. Starscream did not trust Skyfire anymore, of that he was sure. He sighed, trying to push the thoughts away.
[‘Ping’]
Soudwave’s message made him whimper, the conflict in his spark only growing. The proposition was too sweet to refuse, yet he was hesitating. His Seekerling would probably be hurt. Starscream didn’t have the energy to deal with that. A kiss from Soundwave…
He knew it might not be enough to make him recharge.
[‘Ping’] [Ravage: OK?]
Great, his glitching processor worried about Ravage now. Truthfully, what he was missing were the constant purrs of the Cassetticon. It had lulled him to sleep and kept him calm for so long, he doubted he would be able to recharge without it…
The Seeker gave in his selfishness, tilting his helm up and sending a quick reply.
[Soundwave] <<Kiss please>>
Starscream closed his optic, asking for the other thing he really wanted.
[Soundwave] <<Could Ravage come over?>>
|
|
|
Post by Soundwave on Mar 1, 2023 2:49:07 GMT
Soundwave kept a very close watch over Starscream, making note of every little movement and sound that came out of the mech. He wanted to be prepared for anything, and he would do whatever it took to help the mech relax enough to actually recharge. It was quite apparent that he was in need of it, and the spymaster would not rest until the seeker did what he needed to do. Still, hearing that whimper was spark shattering and it caused an anger to grow in his spark. Whoever was responsible for this, and it was seemingly Skyfire from what he could gather of the previous discussions, would pay dearly for hurting the former SIC in such a manner.
He knew spark break when he saw it after all.
He did, however, smile softly as Starscream conceded and asked for that kiss. The blue mech continued to stroke the seeker's face, leaning in for a deep yet tender kiss. He'd stay like that for as long as Starscream would let him, but one additional ping eventually caused the mech to pull away just briefly. It would seem that just the three of them was not enough, and Ravage would be needed as well. Soundwave recalled how the panther's purrs and presence did help the former air commander rest more peacefully. Perhaps it was as simple as that.
<<Very well. Ravage: Operation.. Therapy.>>
And so Soundwave called for Ravage over ping as the sound of hurried steps rushed into the room before leaping right onto the berth. Ravage spun around a couple times before sitting directly on top of both Soundwave and Starscream, ignoring the femme for now as he began to softly purr. Once he was settled, Soundwave once more leaned in to kiss his silly little rabbit once more.
|
|
|
Post by Nightshroud on Mar 1, 2023 2:59:48 GMT
Nightshroud did hurt, but just not in the way Starscream was expecting her to.
She couldn't help but watch as Soundwave suddenly kissed Starscream right in front of her. Painfully her optics glanced down at her tiny sliver of the berth as a frown grew on her face. It wasn't even the fact that Starscream had wanted Soundwave's help, but the fact that Soundwave was clearly doing the better job of helping her adopted sire than she was. Despite the arm wrapped around her, it was hard to remind herself that the other seeker had wanted her here. She couldn't even get up if she wanted to, but there was a part of her that just wanted to slip away and go hide under the roof's shelter or something. Nightshroud knew this was not the time to be selfish, but when one had lived the life she had lived up until this point it wasn't easy to think otherwise.
Soundwave was the one making great strides to help her adopted sire. Her efforts.. They just weren't good enough.
['Ping'][You are not equipped to free him from the sufferings which are happening inside him.]
Right in those moments Skyfire's words hit the femme as hard. Nightshroud hadn't taken those words to spark, but right in this moment of self-doubt and insecurity.. it tore at her spark. The femme pressed her face into Starscream's shoulder, fighting back tears and a whimper of her own while trying to block out the Cassetticon that had just joined them on the already crowded berth.
['Ping'][You are not equipped to free him from the sufferings which are happening inside him.]
She was not good enough. If Soundwave was able to calm Starscream down, what good was she?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2023 22:26:11 GMT
Starscream was still tense, optics closed, his processor stubbornly replaying the most painful moments from his past with Skyfire, back when they were a team. The guilt of not having searched harder for him started to eat at his spark again. He knew exactly the kind of damage it did, he was holding his sparkling that had been deeply changed because of it.
Ravage settling between them interrupted his spiralling thoughts, then Soundwave kissing him again alleviated some of the guilt. The familiar purring was lulling him towards recharge, but he still had something he needed to go.
The Seeker tightened his hold on his little dove, sending her a commlink on their private channel.
[Nightshroud]<<Thank you for telling me about Skyfire. I needed to hear it. I love you, my sparkling.>>
With that, Starscream finally let recharge take over his processor.
|
|
|
Post by Nightshroud on Apr 9, 2023 2:19:45 GMT
As Soundwave worked to calm Starscream down, Nightshroud found her thoughts spiraling out of control. She didn't think it was entirely feeling her adoptive sire's doing, but the longer she dwelled on her thoughts the harder it became to reel herself back in. At some point she couldn't even focus on what was directly in front of her anymore, stuck in an endless loop of what Skyfire had said to her along with her own self-doubt.
['Ping'][You are not equipped to free him from the sufferings which are happening inside him.]
['Ping'][You are not equipped to free him from the sufferings which are happening inside him.]
He was right.. There was nothing she could do to help..
['Ping'][You are not equipped to free him from the sufferings which are happening inside him.]
['Ping']
At first Nightshroud thought it was just Skyfire's words tormenting her endlessly, but when she didn't hear the white seeker's words she was left simply confused. Almost afraid to, she checked the ping to realize it hadn't been from Skyfire at all, but instead from Starscream himself. The femme hesitated to look into it any further, fearing that he was only about to confirm the harmful words floating around in her processor when once again that day he had proven her wrong.
<<I love you, my sparkling.>>
With a faint gasp the intrusive thoughts stilled. Without even realizing it, Starscream had once again pulled the crimson seeker back from the brink insanity. How he managed to keep doing so was beyond Nightshroud's comprehension, but even she knew that it wasn't that simple. He could keep her from falling, but she was bound to the edge until she could get proper recharge and have many solar cycles of rest and relaxation. Every single solar cycle until now had been agonizing, and even now it didn't feel like it had really happened. She was afraid she'd wake only to learn the jail break had never happened if she slipped into recharge right now in this mental state. Having Soundwave around was bad enough, and a reminder that she couldn't have what she wanted. It was supposed to just be her and her sire.. and now there was an intruder doing a much better job of caring for Starscream than she could to the point that it felt like he wanted the spymaster's help rather than hers.
"Sire.." Nightshroud spoke softly just barely above a whisper, trembling as she tried to keep herself comfortable. Either way the invasive thoughts slowly crept back into her processor preventing her from slipping back into recharge. Not just Skyfire's words, but the whole jail break and everything she felt; how she was terrified that she had lost Starscream a second time. She knew he had wanted to protect her, but she couldn't bare the thought of losing her sire again.
Never again..
|
|
|
Post by Soundwave on Apr 9, 2023 15:34:50 GMT
Starscream was finally asleep, and Soundwave could not have been more relieved that the mech was finally getting that much needed recharge. It'd been just like before when the seeker kept waking in a panic, and he'd learned that both he and Ravage could easily assist vocally in different ways. Soundwave's music helped to lull Starscream, but it was Ravage's purring that further pacify him. It'd been enough this time as well to do the trick, but he didn't want to dismiss the femme's efforts as well even if her attempts at calming the seeker hadn't left as much of an impact. Nightshroud at least tried, but she wasn't the one who'd kept the former air commander company this whole time; to be the one to figure out ways to sooth him. In time she'd learn.
But her silence did come as a concern, almost as if she'd given up trying to help when Soundwave's attempts proved to be far superior. At first he simply believed she'd slipped into recharge, but her soft mutterings and gasp had proven otherwise. It was clear given how things had gone since the jailbreak began that she was not in a good mental state, especially with how she had screamed at the spymaster for attempting to calm her down. Soundwave didn't blame her for that, and most of that had only been because of what Starscream had said to him before about how she might react. Instead as Soundwave rested against Starscream, he dared to try something he hadn't done in awhile: to read someone's mind. It was intrusive, but when it came to a femme that didn't want to talk and seemed resentful of his presence he felt it was the quickest way of getting some insight of what lie beneath the surface.
Using his telepathy to enter the femme's mind unbeknownst to her, trying to get a grasp of how she was feeling was like the equivalent of how a human reacted to nails on a chalkboard. There was a whiplash of thoughts and emotions running through her processor; repeated thoughts of how she wasn't good enough and how she couldn't see how or why Starscream wanted her around when he had someone like Soundwave.
Immediately he ceased the telepathy, looking to the slumbering Starscream. Soundwave knew that it was best if he didn't try to calm the femme considering how that had gone earlier. He'd need to tell the seeker holding the both of them close that he would need to talk to her at some point, but not quite yet. Starscream needed his rest, and Soundwave himself was growing tired as well especially after that use of the telepathy. Leaving Nightshroud to her own devices was probably not the best of ideas, but he didn't know what else to do.
For now.. he'd recharge until Starscream awoke.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 1, 2023 16:34:59 GMT
Starscream woke up somehow groggily but feeling very well rested. First thing he noticed even before opening his optics, was the sensation of safely being in a pile with his trine. Which is a feeling he hadn’t felt in eons now, so he was very confused for a nano-klik. Ravage’s purring finally sunk in, then the soothing whine of engines on both sides of him.
Right, Nightshroud and Soundwave. Realization that he’s not in the cage anymore floods over him with relief. Properly waking up, the Seeker opened his optics, turning his helm to check on his sparkling. She probably was agitated after the rather public display of affection.
Starscream started to gently pet her, trying to see if she was awake.
|
|
|
Post by Nightshroud on May 2, 2023 18:45:29 GMT
Nightshroud lost all sense of time as she spent those hours lost in her self-depreciation. She had a vague awareness that Starscream was still there holding onto her, but it was so hard to stay focused. It was so hard to keep it together.. Starscream's needs came first, but how could she help him when she knew that she couldn't. At least that's how Skyfire had made her feel, but those words only grew louder and louder in the femme's processor along with her own self-doubts that had plagued her while Starscream was captured. She'd fought so hard to rescue him; risked her own life to save his and for what? So that she could see that he didn't need her anymore? So that Soundwave could rub it in that she was worthless and that anything she tried he could do effortlessly?
She'd hurt her sire. She'd hurt him..
At various points while the two mechs recharged the crimson seeker found herself crying both in frustration and distress. She tried hard to keep it quiet so she didn't disturb the seeker that had her arm trapped beneath him. Nightshroud felt like she couldn't stay afloat. All she wanted to do was run and hide somewhere until she could pull herself together enough to pretend to be okay for Starscream. The last thing she wanted to do was cause him more worry, but the cracks were already forming. No matter how hard she tried, he was going to see right through her eventually. She knew she should just tell him how she was feeling, but how could she? He was the one trapped in a prison for an extended period of time, not her. Lost in her thoughts, the tiny seeker gasped as she suddenly felt Starscream petting her helm. Frag.. he was awake! What if he'd noticed she wasn't okay? Had she woken him up?
With a short and quiet whine, Nightshroud forced herself to try and look okay but she couldn't do a very good job of it. The femme couldn't hide that faint hint of a frown; couldn't hide the sadness and fear in her optics. The former air commander might have pulled her out of the water, but she wasn't quite to the safety of land.
"Sire.." Again she spoke quietly, unable to find the words to say. All she could do was pray that he didn't notice.
|
|