ximilialog | catch-all

[ luke stares up at megatron, mouth thin, brows knit. it's ugly, what megatron may have to return to. that this is just a short reprieve from torture that's going to last a very, very long time is one more cruelty to add to his punishment.

but.. maybe not. ] --Your regret, [ he says carefully at last, arms curling around himself as if cold. ] Is it to do with your war? [ and if it is, will it rewrite his people's history? his own? if the power of these orbs can really do what people have said, then maybe things can be very different for his reality.

it's none of luke's business, he knows. their regrets are often very personal things, after all, but he can't help but want.. better, a kinder fate for the mech. whatever he was, after all, he's clearly not the same person now. ]

[ Megatron hates his prison--almost wishes they had simply executed him. But perhaps, if he is lucky, there will be a chance for reprieve and for him to continue his work somewhere in the future. He is a creature who has nothing but time, after all. ]

In some sense.

[ The question feels heavy and the answer even heavier. ]

There's too much tied up in the war for me to wish to undo it completely. And I've seen what happens when there isn't a Decepticon movement. It's worse in its own way. A Cybertron where those without a useful purpose are culled by religious fanatics and where the ruling classes stretch Cybertronian imperialism further than I could have dreamed.

[ He shakes his head, morose. ]

No, I don't wish to undo the war. My cause was just when we began, even if I strayed.

There is one loyal soldier, one loyal friend that died because of my inaction and my inability to confront myself. He was killed by fanatics I had created myself for the purposes of my war.

[ He trails off, staring at the simulated snow as a few flakes drift by on the simulated breeze. ]

It's a small thing in comparison to weight on my scales, but one life is a start.

[ luke stares up at him, searching his face, chest aching and throat tight with the injustice of it all. having to choose a war because the alternative is worse.. luke understands it, in a way. the death star haunts him, battles he's fought, those he'd killed in the name of freeing the galaxy from the grip of a tyrant. he could undo them, if everything is true, but at what cost?

so he made his regret small and personal, like megatron had, because anything greater is too great a risk. ]

.. It's a start, [ he agrees softly, and with some effort, forces himself to uncurl, to open his posture up again. he takes a breath, two, carefully centering himself, bearing himself up beneath the hurt. it's not going to help either of them if luke buckles. ] One life in the grand scheme of things may not seem like much, but it's everything to the people that cared about him, to all the lives he touched and could have touched. [ he offers a small smile, and finally glances away, out toward the rest of the sunlit, snow-covered field. ] .. I guess you're just going to have to treat being here as the reprieve it is. For now.

[ all hope isn't lost just because they can't see a way forward yet. ]

It's a reprieve, yes. Not one I'm sure I deserve.

[ Megatron exhales, his optics shuttering against the sunlight gleaming on untouched snow. ]

I'll admit, it's nice to be able to hold a conversation again, at least.

[ He looks back down at Luke, gleaming red optics focused on the human once again. ]

It's also a privilege to be allowed to continue the necessary work on myself.

What you deserve is to be treated fairly. But being here is something, at least.

[ .. how long has he already been imprisoned for? it's a miserable question to consider, and one luke doesn't wonder aloud. there's no need to make megatron dwell any more on it than he has to.

he gently bumps his prosthetic hand against the back of the mech's, then shifts away to crouch, gathering up snow into a loosely-packed ball and rising again. he releases it into the air, using the force to loft it up high, where it breaks apart into a little shower of snow, catching the light and swirling away with the breeze. ]

I guess.. I've been considering it a break, too, a little. I'm not-- it's only been a few years for me since I joined the Alliance. A lot's happened, though, and I've realized in the few days I've been here that I haven't really had time to just.. deal with anything. [ he dusts his hands off, glances back up with a quirk of his lips and snow in his hair. ] Maybe we'll both work on ourselves here.

Perhaps you think I have been treated unfairly after everything I've done? Your sympathy is appreciated, but misplaced, I'm afraid.

[ Megatron smiles, though. He watches as Luke raises the little ball of snow over his head then scatters it. It's a fascinating little display, but not something Megatron is necessarily unused to. Magnetism, forcefields, and other such tools are used in similar ways all the time where he comes from--though he's never seen a human use it. Slowly, he lowers himself to sit in a snow drift with a soft crunch of snow underneath his frame. ]

How do you do that? With the snow? I realized just now I know very little of you, Skywalker, though we've spoken a few times.

[ he gives him an arch little glance at the first part, too gentle to be defiant, but definitely pointed. still, he doesn't challenge it, instead watching as megatron seats himself.

he blinks as the mech continues, though, startled into a more genuine, somewhat bashful smile. ] Well, we haven't really known each other long. [ for all that their conversations thus far have been surprisingly deep and a little more vulnerable than he thinks either of them were expecting. ]

Back home, I'm what people would call Force-sensitive. [ he hesitates, thoughtful, ruffling a hand through his hair to brush the snow out of it. ] The Force is.. an energy source. All life comes from it, and all life eventually returns to it. Force-sensitives can.. tap into that energy, can hear it and feel it and use it. It gives us abilities that others don't have.

[ a range of them that luke himself is still learning about, given his mostly-martial education. ] Unfortunately, the year I was born, there was a coup of the galactic government. It was reformed into an empire, and the emperor--with Vader's help--killed every Force-sensitive he could find. So.. [ he trails off, a little uncertain for a moment, before shrugging slightly. ] My training was a little.. unconventional, to say the least.

[ Megatron is a devoted skeptic, but having just seen Skywalker manipulate the snow with his own two optics, it's not as if he's going to scoff at the possibility. So he listens quietly, idly gathering snow to pack into shape between his hands. Skywalker continues and... well, it's a tragic story, isn't it? The sort he's used to hearing from his own war, though maybe not exactly the same. ]

It must have been. That you were able to hone your skills under their noses must have been quiet an accomplishment.

[ He tilts his head slightly, studying Luke with an intense stare. ]

The more I learn about humans, the more impressive I find them. For all your fragility and despite your short lifespans, you are remarkable creatures.

I had teachers eventually that taught me about my abilities. Two of them, that were able to escape the Purge. [ ben and yoda had done their best, even if he thinks their efforts were a little misguided. and though he still cares deeply for both of them, he's not unaware of the way they'd manipulated him. would they have ever told him that vader was his father if he hadn't confronted them about it?

the stare makes his ears warm, flustered, but he meets megatron's gaze regardless. ] Well.. we don't really think of ourselves as fragile or short-lived, I don't think. We just live, like any people do.

No offense is intended.

[ Skywalker's temperature is increasing and he's getting red. Is he getting angry? Did Megatron say something wrong? ]

It's only in comparison to Cybertronians. We can live millions of years and all but the most grievous of bodily harm can be repaired or healed.

And none's taken, [ he says with a quick smile, and moves to settle next to megatron, seating himself on the snow. he's probably going to regret it in a few minutes, but for now it's fine. it's.. nice, even, being here, in spite of the snow. ]

I only mean it to say.. I don't think we're any more or less extraordinary than any species in the galaxy. [ he draws his knees up, hooking his arms loosely under his thighs. ] We all have gifts and shortcomings. [ he glances back up at megatron, curious. ] I can't imagine what it must be like, to live that long. Your people could really do a lot of good out there. What's your homeworld like?

I suppose I find you extraordinary because I spent so long convinced that your species was inferior to mine. Now that I am less burdened by such bias, I am discovering new facets to humanity.

[ He doesn't quite shrug. Luke asks his question about Megatron's homeworld and he stills, his gaze distant. ]

It used to be beautiful. Metallic mountains that reached towards the sky. Great cities, places of learning and commerce. Even the Great Rust Sea had a beauty to it. It's all gone now, though. Destroyed by Unicron.

[ He sighs softly. ]

Well. Not quite, but it's a long story involving an alternate universe. A duplicate isn't quite the same as the original.

[ it's hard to imagine a whole planet that's completely inorganic. even coruscant, beneath its lowest, deepest levels, paved over and hidden away, is dirt and stone and sleeping plantlife that may never see the light again. ]

I'm sorry. [ he can't help but think of leia and alderaan, though there had been no copy, no alternate universes. it's just.. gone. sometimes at home, he can feel how much its loss still hurts her, but leia's also extremely skilled at compartmentalizing when she needs to get something done. it's a skill he's never quite learned. ] I know it's impossible, but I would have liked to see it. I've never heard of anything quite like it.

Perhaps in the simulation room.

[ Perhaps, perhaps. ]

I know Drift was going to ask after simulating the festival of Lost Lights. That would show you some small glimpse of Cybertron. Even if it's after the war.

That would be nice, I'd like to see it. I haven't had the chance to celebrate many holidays, and it could be fun spending some time at a Cybertronian one with you.

[ his smile warms, and he uncurls himself to push upright, dusting the snow off his backside and the rest of his clothes. ]

I'm getting soaked sitting here. [ and honestly, as a desert-child, he's kind of freezing at this point. ] Should we finish up our walk?

With me?

[ It's still surprising to him that others want to spend time with him, even after the Lost Light. He expects most to fear him or hate him at best. He pushes himself upwards, leaving behind damp and melted snow from the heat of his frame. ]

Yes, I think we should.

Well.. who better to spend time with at a Cybertronian holiday than a Cybertronian? And I like you, why wouldn't I want to?

[ he's not excusing what megatron did in the past, but he's trying to be a better person now. it's like he said: he's working on himself. it can only help to be supportive of that.

he glances to the melted patch where megatron was sitting and has to stifle a smile behind a crook of his fingers. well.. good to know he runs hot, he guesses. bumping his other hand against the mech's larger one, he turns them toward the exit. ] Where were you headed before I talked you into kissing me?

I will never understand why.

[ It's not like Megatron isn't aware of how charismatic he is and can be. He just doesn't know why anyone likes this version of him: sad, angry at a world that decided the revolution could not be and angrier at himself for failing. As Luke continues there's a pause, a faint catch as embarrassment hits him.

He most be slipping. He never would have let Rodimus talk him into doing something like giving him a kiss, even on the cheek. He takes a moment to recover his thoughts. ]

The infirmary. I've been reading up on organic medicine.

[ amusement touches his expression at the grumpy response and the embarrassment. should he tell megatron about his empathic abilities..? it feels disingenuous not to somehow, though at the same time, he doesn't want the mech to feel uncomfortable or as if he needs to control his emotional state around luke.

but he'll find out eventually, because luke doesn't hide his abilities. maybe earlier than later, then. ]

I'll walk there with you, then. It's really good of you to take something like that on. Organic bodies don't always make any sense. [ thankfully for megatron, at least, it seems like most of the organics here are human. ]

No. They do not.

[ Megatron agrees with a grumble. ]

Your replacement limbs tend to massively inefficient compared to the originals for one thing. And you have internal organs that you don't need or know the purpose of. It's absurd.

[ he startles into a laugh at the complaints. megatron certainly has a point. ] I don't know, my prosthetic is pretty decent, I think. [ he lifts the gloved hand in question, spreading the fingers. ] Thank you again for helping with it.

[ his hand drops again, curling into a loose fist and tapping against his thigh. ]

.. I was thinking about it, and I feel I ought to tell you that part of my powers is that I'm empathic. [ he glances toward megatron from the corner of his eye, teeth digging into the inside of his cheek. ] I can shield myself to some degree so I don't get a lot of emotional noise, but.. I can't exactly turn it off.

It's the best replacement I've yet seen from an organic, I'll grant you that--

[ Megatron's stride pauses as he processes the information. There's a long silence and then a slight smile tugs at his lips. ]

One of my dearest friends and comrades from the war was an empath. I should have listened to him more, but... ah well. Looking back on what I could have or should have done is foolish.

[ His head dips slightly. ]

Thank you for letting me know. I would not want to cause you undue distress.

[ luke pauses when megatron does, turning to fully look up at him. the smile is reassuring, as is the mention of a friend of his. it sounds like he has fond memories of him, and it's good to know he has experience with empathy.

but then when he says he wouldn't want to cause luke distress, the human makes an exasperated noise, planting a fist on his hip. ]

I told you because I wanted you to know, because I don't want to invade your privacy. Not because I'm afraid to sense what you're feeling. [ he blows a few strands of hair out of his eyes, then shifts to start moving again. ] What was he like? Your empath friend.

Devoted to the cause. Idealistic. He had faith in our goals even when I had lost sight of them. He was not a violent person by nature, but took up the gun when we felt it was necessary. Intelligent and insightful in a way that I miss. I failed him, in the end.

[ Just like he failed so many others... ]

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