The Chosen One

I am Starscream, Leader of all of Cybertron. If you don't like it, you can leave, though there isn't anywhere else you can go.

[slenderwave]

verdigrisprowl

If Prowl’s glares could produce lasers, Starscream’s thigh paint would be peeling by now.

“He made a painfully desperate public declaration of alliance,” Prowl said stiffly. “I was an unwilling and unconsenting victim of the declaration.”

Soundwave kept staring straight ahead, as motionless as a mannequin.

[[It is true. Prowl did not know he was going to do that. It was a foolish notion brought on by extended exposure to an alien organic’s ideas.]]

[[He had believed our species would become stronger, unafraid, and more difficult to divide if even the lowest knew that those in power did not fear creating such connections - or the discovery of them.]]

He bowed his head, then, but made no other movements.

[[It was an ill-advised maneuver lacking a full understanding of a social structure very unlike that of his own Cybertron.]]

[chosentorule]

Ooh, toasty. Prowl’s venom is rewarded with a smirk, just a little perverse enjoyment in this drama of lovers. Neither Soundwave nor Prowl were known for acting so rashly, and to hear confirmation that they hadn’t even discussed such an ill-thought maneuver was a delight to Starscream the mech even if Starcream the Emperor Perpetua was livid. “Lack of consent noted.”  

“Ah, acting on advice from organic aliens! Truly the foundation of sound decisions both personal and professional.” He waved a hand mockingly, but the sarcasm is discarded for a harder tone. 

“Personally I couldn’t care less who or what you put your hands on while off duty. Both of you have confusing enough places in the social hierarchy as it is that I really can’t say what the overall opinion will be once the surface of wheel or wings and former factions have been scratched. 

“What I am concerned about is the massive damage you’ve both done to the eyes and hands of Iacon’s security while attempting to inspire public revolution in personal relationships.” Also a stern glare for that, be careful with them revolutions sir. “Did you ever think of what it would look like with the head of surveillance canoodling a police captain?! You’ve called into question months of joint cooperation! How can anyone be sure that you’ve both been honest in evidence gathering or presentation?” 

[slenderwave]

chosentorule

You enjoy startling Starscream, he’ll savor your recent and cataclysmic loss of composure, Prowl. “We’ll put you down in the records as the ‘type’ Prowl, and list all the rest as the variants one can encounter in the wild.” Less of a squeal this time, more of a startled clatter as Starscream leapt to his feet. He hadn’t been completely considering firing Soundwave and Prowl but man they were pushing his flimsy patience. “Behave or I’ll schedule mandatory bi-weekly reports from the both of you. In person.” Neither of you wanted to deal with him more than you strictly had to, right? Please, Soundwave, sit. Or stand, whichever.

verdigrisprowl

“Well—I’m honored to be considered the platonic ideal of a Prowl.”

Then Soundwave made a sound, and Prowl jerked around to stare at him in shock and horror. Soundwave. How could you. How dare you. Prowl had successfully startled Starscream and now they were bantering—actually mutually bantering!—and you come in and one-up him with a quote from an angry Megatron?! Prowl was too shocked for words. The audacity. The betrayal. You are the worst nemesis wingman in the history of cross-battlefield ambiguous emotional tension.

Prowl turned back toward Starscream, gaze lowered, pouting glowering at his thighs. Outdone by his own amica. The humiliation.

(Dimly, he registered that the threat of bi-weekly reports meant Starscream probably wasn’t planning on firing them. That was one probability reduced.)

Soundwave tucked his recording of Starscream startling into a safe series of secured file folders and twisted to look at Prowl, who was openly staring at him.

He emitted a tiny huff and bobbed his helm in acknowledgement once Prowl turned away from him. All right, all right. So he’d pushed his luck with that bit of vengeance. At least their employer was still threatening them with bi-weekly reports. No need to glower at him or Starscream.

…Was that a glower? For a moment, Soundwave could have sworn that Prowl had fixed his gaze on Starscream’s legs - an odd place to look, given how many non-optic areas he had to choose from.

No. Prowl was probably scowling at nothing, even more angry with Soundwave than he’d already been for the rooftop announcement now that Soundwave had tested the limits of Starscream’s patience. Of course Prowl had no interest in anything else. Who would?

He opted to stand, looking attentive with his hands clasped behind his back.

[[Acknowledged. No further outbursts.]]

[chosentorule]

Starscream’s thighs have withstood a lot of glaring over the years so drink it all in, Prowl. In fact if they were going to attract this much attention he’d start demanding these meetings be done while doing sexy poses. It’d certainly liven up the bureaucracy a bit. 

(Both of you aren’t considering that Starscream might call in your unemployed asses to yell at twice a week just for the hell of it.)

“Well, gentlemen,” he started, leaning his elbows onto the top of the desk. “What were you thinking? A painfully desperate public declaration of internal alliance between the two major branches of Iacon’s security? This does not look good at all.” 

[chosentorule]

Mr. Starscream how do you feel about you being shipped with Megatron? And were do you get that lovely paint finish, red is so your color.

“The day someone can shove myself and Megatron- well. I suppose in his currently devoid-of-life state Megatron would be fairly easy to ship.”“I’ll still pass on the experience.” 

“And of course~ After a few million years you learn what colors suit you best, and this red has always been particularly flattering on me.” 

[slenderwave]

chosentorule

No, the elected leader of Cybertron Iacon does not start at the sudden cop in his office, nor does he live up to the second half of his name albeit in a charmingly miniaturized form before he slumps forward, elbow to desk and hand to forehead so he can give Prowl the scathingly unamused look he deserves. “Right. Holoform. You should consider changing your designation to ‘Hermit’ rather than ‘Prowl’, it would suit you far better.” “So? Where’s the other one?” A quick glance at his windows as if he expected Soundwave to come barreling though them in a shower of sass and glass.

verdigrisprowl

And Prowl does not put on his most stoic face to hide the glow of wicked delight blossoming in his chest. Oh. Oh, that was so satisfying. On nights when he can’t sleep he’s going to replay that.

“All the other Prowls already changed their names, as the last Prowl standing I’d be doing them a disservice if I didn’t keep it.” He was going to take the lack of a command to stand as permission to sit, so he did. “Not here yet.” Obviously.

Soundwave appeared less immediately, but still quicker than he ought have unless he’d already been hanging around. Which was a possibility. He did say he was investigating an intelligence report. (That wasn’t why he’d got there so fast, but it made for a convenient excuse.)

He also appeared quietly, and while Starscream was looking out the windows.

Lovebirds, hmm?

▓▒░ Starscream, ░▒▓ he boomed with someone else’s voice. And not just any old someone. Someone big, and powerful, and silvery-grey, and possessed of one hell of an anger problem.

Just making sure they had their employer’s full attention. They might be about to get fired, but they’re not going to have it happen while Starscream plays I Spy with the outside world.

[chosentorule]

You enjoy startling Starscream, he’ll savor your recent and cataclysmic loss of composure, Prowl. “We’ll put you down in the records as the ‘type’ Prowl, and list all the rest as the variants one can encounter in the wild.”  Less of a squeal this time, more of a startled clatter as Starscream leapt to his feet. He hadn’t been completely considering firing Soundwave and Prowl but man they were pushing his flimsy patience. “Behave or I’ll schedule mandatory bi-weekly reports from the both of you. In person.” Neither of you wanted to deal with him more than you strictly had to, right? Please, Soundwave, sit. Or stand, whichever. 

[slenderwave]

chosentorule

::Ding ding! Why take up more time than needed on this when I can simply interview you both at the same time. One stone, two ‘feral Earth avians’ and all. I take it the two of you don’t object?::

verdigrisprowl

«I know what you meant, I was hoping you would elucidate on the why. It’s absurd. It makes no sense. If you were actually going to evaluate us in relation to this incident you’d do it separately, to make it just that much harder for us to corroborate our stories. What’s the point of bring in both of us together? Don’t say to save time. If your time were so short that you couldn’t even afford to interview us separately you would have delegated.»

[[An attempt to shame both of us for what he did on the rooftop. Hoping to enjoy the sight of us squirming.]] Which Soundwave did not intend to do. [[Standard procedure.]]

[[If we do not have a say in whether or not we are going to this evaluation, he would like to get it over with, together or apart. He has intelligence reports in need of timely investigation.]]

[chosentorule]

::Well, to be accurate I attempted to call you in, Prowl, immediately following the incident and was informed that you were in no state to comply. Frankly the both of you have had enough time to compare notes by now anyway, and any attempts to keep you further separated would be moot.:: There was no sense in denying that Soundwave and Prowl had met in person by now, given the ample witnesses to a rather spectacular radio drama.  He’s not saying Soundwave is right, but Soundwave is about 40% right. What kind of leader didn’t get to enjoy their subordinates squirming once and a while? But no, there was indeed more important things than just Starscream’s general enjoyment. ::You do not get a say in whether this evaluation happens, no. If it’s so objectionable that you report to me at the same time then I’ll flip a coin and decide which one of you I want to speak to first.::

[verdigrisprowl]

«Soundwave.» Soundwave. Soundwave please. Please, Soundwave. Prowl was trying to hook Starscream into confessing those obvious things that both Prowl and Soundwave can clearly see. Soundwave. Soundwave you are the worst nemesis wingman.

Prowl sighed irritably. He made sure his comm was on to catch it. «How soon do you want us there, sir.»

[chosentorule]

::Well, we certainly can’t tie up any more of Soundwave’s precious time, can we?:: Yeesh, Starscream thought he was the impatient one. ::I want you here immediately. We’ll begin as soon as you’ve both arrived and are in my office.::

[verdigrisprowl]

«Sir.» Prowl hung up.

And appeared in Starscream’s office, immediately.

“Do I get to take a seat, or is making us stand the whole time part of the entertainment you’ve prepared for yourself.”

[chosentorule]

No, the elected leader of Cybertron Iacon does not start at the sudden cop in his office, nor does he live up to the second half of his name albeit in a charmingly miniaturized form before he slumps forward, elbow to desk and hand to forehead so he can give Prowl the scathingly unamused look he deserves. “Right. Holoform. You should consider changing your designation to ‘Hermit’ rather than ‘Prowl’, it would suit you far better.”  “So? Where’s the other one?” A quick glance at his windows as if he expected Soundwave to come barreling though them in a shower of sass and glass. 

[slenderwave]

chosentorule

::Ding ding! Why take up more time than needed on this when I can simply interview you both at the same time. One stone, two ‘feral Earth avians’ and all. I take it the two of you don’t object?::

verdigrisprowl

«I know what you meant, I was hoping you would elucidate on the why. It’s absurd. It makes no sense. If you were actually going to evaluate us in relation to this incident you’d do it separately, to make it just that much harder for us to corroborate our stories. What’s the point of bring in both of us together? Don’t say to save time. If your time were so short that you couldn’t even afford to interview us separately you would have delegated.»

[[An attempt to shame both of us for what he did on the rooftop. Hoping to enjoy the sight of us squirming.]] Which Soundwave did not intend to do. [[Standard procedure.]]

[[If we do not have a say in whether or not we are going to this evaluation, he would like to get it over with, together or apart. He has intelligence reports in need of timely investigation.]]

[chosentorule]

::Well, to be accurate I attempted to call you in, Prowl, immediately following the incident and was informed that you were in no state to comply. Frankly the both of you have had enough time to compare notes by now anyway, and any attempts to keep you further separated would be moot.:: There was no sense in denying that Soundwave and Prowl had met in person by now, given the ample witnesses to a rather spectacular radio drama.  He’s not saying Soundwave is right, but Soundwave is about 40% right. What kind of leader didn’t get to enjoy their subordinates squirming once and a while? But no, there was indeed more important things than just Starscream’s general enjoyment. ::You do not get a say in whether this evaluation happens, no. If it’s so objectionable that you report to me at the same time then I’ll flip a coin and decide which one of you I want to speak to first.::

[verdigrisprowl]

«Soundwave.» Soundwave. Soundwave please. Please, Soundwave. Prowl was trying to hook Starscream into confessing those obvious things that both Prowl and Soundwave can clearly see. Soundwave. Soundwave you are the worst nemesis wingman.

Prowl sighed irritably. He made sure his comm was on to catch it. «How soon do you want us there, sir.»

[chosentorule]

::Well, we certainly can’t tie up any more of Soundwave’s precious time, can we?:: Yeesh, Starscream thought he was the impatient one. ::I want you here immediately. We’ll begin as soon as you’ve both arrived and are in my office.::

[slenderwave]

chosentorule

::Ding ding! Why take up more time than needed on this when I can simply interview you both at the same time. One stone, two ‘feral Earth avians’ and all. I take it the two of you don’t object?::

verdigrisprowl

«I know what you meant, I was hoping you would elucidate on the why. It’s absurd. It makes no sense. If you were actually going to evaluate us in relation to this incident you’d do it separately, to make it just that much harder for us to corroborate our stories. What’s the point of bring in both of us together? Don’t say to save time. If your time were so short that you couldn’t even afford to interview us separately you would have delegated.»

[[An attempt to shame both of us for what he did on the rooftop. Hoping to enjoy the sight of us squirming.]] Which Soundwave did not intend to do. [[Standard procedure.]]

[[If we do not have a say in whether or not we are going to this evaluation, he would like to get it over with, together or apart. He has intelligence reports in need of timely investigation.]]

[chosentorule]

::Well, to be accurate I attempted to call you in, Prowl, immediately following the incident and was informed that you were in no state to comply. Frankly the both of you have had enough time to compare notes by now anyway, and any attempts to keep you further separated would be moot.:: There was no sense in denying that Soundwave and Prowl had met in person by now, given the ample witnesses to a rather spectacular radio drama.  He’s not saying Soundwave is right, but Soundwave is about 40% right. What kind of leader didn’t get to enjoy their subordinates squirming once and a while? But no, there was indeed more important things than just Starscream’s general enjoyment. ::You do not get a say in whether this evaluation happens, no. If it’s so objectionable that you report to me at the same time then I’ll flip a coin and decide which one of you I want to speak to first.::

[chosentorule]

::Given that I see no more destruction in Iacon than usual I can safely assume that you two love birds can be brought in for your evaluation without tearing each other or my office apart?::

[verdigrisprowl]

«… What do you mean, “you two” plural “evaluation” singular?»

[slenderwave]

[[He means we are to go in to be evaluated at the same time.]]

[[As he is not a small, feral Earth avian with a tendency to nest in odd places, he is sure the office will withstand his presence for the duration.]]

[chosentorule]

::Ding ding! Why take up more time than needed on this when I can simply interview you both at the same time. One stone, two ‘feral Earth avians’ and all. I take it the two of you don’t object?:: 

[chosentorule]

::Given that I see no more destruction in Iacon than usual I can safely assume that you two love birds can be brought in for your evaluation without tearing each other or my office apart?::

[chosentorule]

“…..”

“Ah, so that was why Prowl recommended him to also work for me.”

[verdigrisprowl]

He knows.

«I’m so sorry sir, I didn—I did not authorize this, I-I do not support this—this—this wildly inappropriate display, I—I am—completely opposed to—"

Please don’t take Prowl’s job.

[chosentorule]

::Hn~? It sounds to me like you authorized some part of this.:: On the one hand this calls into question an enormous risk to Starscream’s security given the possibility of his two strongest subordinates being more loyal to one another than their commanding officer. Granted, he’d seen nothing to evidence this relationship beforehand, but situations changed. On the other hand watching Prowl scramble was delicious. ::You do recognize what questions about your respective jobs this information calls to light, don’t you?::

[verdigrisprowl]

«No! No! I had no idea he was going to— I didn’t even imagine he might— If I’d ever thought, I would have never—»

He choked on his own words. Oh god. There it was. The fragile simulacrum of trust he’d managed to build up with Starscream had been shattered. He’d told Starscream to hire Prowl’s own lover, there was no recovering from that, ever. His authority was gone. His position in the government was gone. His ability to monitor Starscream was gone. Everything, everything that Starscream had offered him, Soundwave had just snatched away.

He managed a level voice. «Yes, sir. I do recognize.»

[chosentorule]

::Excellent! Then you also understand why I’ll be calling both you and Soundwave in for a performance review as soon as the street-side carnival is concluded. The sooner all of this is cleared up, the better.:: He’s savoring ever second of Prowl’s utter surrender for as long as it lasts.

[verdigrisprowl]

«I can’t today.»

[chosentorule]

::Then hopefully you’ll have yourself presentable by tomorrow.::

[chosentorule]

“…..”

“Ah, so that was why Prowl recommended him to also work for me.”

[verdigrisprowl]

He knows.

«I’m so sorry sir, I didn—I did not authorize this, I-I do not support this—this—this wildly inappropriate display, I—I am—completely opposed to—"

Please don’t take Prowl’s job.

[chosentorule]

::Hn~? It sounds to me like you authorized some part of this.:: On the one hand this calls into question an enormous risk to Starscream’s security given the possibility of his two strongest subordinates being more loyal to one another than their commanding officer. Granted, he’d seen nothing to evidence this relationship beforehand, but situations changed. On the other hand watching Prowl scramble was delicious. ::You do recognize what questions about your respective jobs this information calls to light, don’t you?::

[verdigrisprowl]

«No! No! I had no idea he was going to— I didn’t even imagine he might— If I’d ever thought, I would have never—»

He choked on his own words. Oh god. There it was. The fragile simulacrum of trust he’d managed to build up with Starscream had been shattered. He’d told Starscream to hire Prowl’s own lover, there was no recovering from that, ever. His authority was gone. His position in the government was gone. His ability to monitor Starscream was gone. Everything, everything that Starscream had offered him, Soundwave had just snatched away.

He managed a level voice. «Yes, sir. I do recognize.»

[chosentorule]

::Excellent! Then you also understand why I’ll be calling both you and Soundwave in for a performance review as soon as the street-side carnival is concluded. The sooner all of this is cleared up, the better.:: He’s savoring ever second of Prowl’s utter surrender for as long as it lasts.

[chosentorule]

“…..”

“Ah, so that was why Prowl recommended him to also work for me.”

[verdigrisprowl]

He knows.

«I’m so sorry sir, I didn—I did not authorize this, I-I do not support this—this—this wildly inappropriate display, I—I am—completely opposed to—"

Please don’t take Prowl’s job.

[chosentorule]

::Hn~? It sounds to me like you authorized some part of this.:: On the one hand this calls into question an enormous risk to Starscream’s security given the possibility of his two strongest subordinates being more loyal to one another than their commanding officer. Granted, he’d seen nothing to evidence this relationship beforehand, but situations changed. On the other hand watching Prowl scramble was delicious. ::You do recognize what questions about your respective jobs this information calls to light, don’t you?::

[chosentorule]

“.....”

“Ah, so that was why Prowl recommended him to also work for me.”

[verdigrisprowl]

verdigrisprowl

«Hm, imagine that. I don’t suppose it had anything to do with the fact that you immediately alienated the vast majority of mechs on the planet with any combat training whatsoever by making their exile the key focus of your campaign platform?»

Hey, if Starscream’s got a better idea for how to reassure the public that Devastator isn’t going to rampage while still letting the Constructicons go free… «Well, I won’t be surrounded by them, will I? I’m not asking to hire them, I’m asking to set them free. They’ll be out doing whatever they care to do, while I’ll be working. I’ll only call them up as needed, if they’re needed. I hope they won’t be, but if they are it will be better to set a precedent of them being seen out and about and proving they can be trusted not to knock down buildings in the process.»

chosentorule

::At any point they could have taken the same step forward that both of us took and divested themselves from past factions for the sake of continued peace- but that topic is neither here nor there.:: It’d worked as a campaign platform, after all, and it’d immediately removed the biggest threats to his shaky grip on power at the time.

::Hmph. The idea of five former convicts and terrorists roaming free is going to do little to make citizens feel safe. If what you want is for your crew to go free then the idea must be introduced slowly to prevent any pockets of discontent. Not that I think any riots would form over this, but any amount of displeasure should be avoided.:: ::The Constructicons will be under a modified curfew. Only two of them will be allowed to roam free at any time, and they must either wear a tracking device- and I’m proposing a normal tracking device, I’m not quite that bloodthirsty- or agree to check in with their positions every two hours. Once they’ve proven they’re not interested in starting petty fights and we can be sure that there won’t be any major hiccups to integrating them into society can we discuss dropping their restrictions.:: ::If they gain employment that would conflict with the rotation schedule, they should alert me and we will make the needed adjustments.::

«… No. It’s not.» It was a nasty topic that could be argued about for hours, and Prowl was not in the mood.

Starscream, unfortunately, had a point. The Constructicons had garnered some public goodwill through the reconstruction project—Prowl had kept track of their media exposure—but for the most part they’d been ignored. Most of the positive media attention had gone to Prowl’s occasional standout activities—saving a multiversal tourist from being kidnapped, “heroically” taking a pipe to the head in the line of duty, et cetera. Maybe the public had forgotten about the Constructicons and would be apathetic to their release, or maybe they only ignored them because they knew they’d been safely locked away. Letting them out cautiously and slowly was the safest bet.

«Agreed—to the curfew, to the tracking devices and/or check-ins, and to only two being allowed out at a time. Which two are out at a time should be up to them as they see fit, not rigidly pre-scheduled. Until and unless, as you say, they start getting work.»

[chosentorule]

::Excellent.:: Was there anything else that needed to be addressed? Constructicons, Prowl, Enforcers...it was sudden but Starscream was perfectly capable of shifting any major plans to accommodate this fortuitous event.  ::Well then Prowl, I’ll send you the requisite paperwork and we can begin getting you installed as an Enforcer. Welcome to the force~::  

[verdigrisprowl]

verdigrisprowl

Yes, Prowl thought Starscream might jump on the opportunity to bask in those three little words he so longed to hear. He couldn’t try to revoke the job offer now—if he did, it would require admitting maybe he wasn’t right—and consequently it put Prowl in a slightly better bargaining position.

It still stung like hell to say.

And so Prowl isn’t going to turn down the opportunity to take the opening Starscream just presented. «Yes, it probably is your fault, because if you’d been paying attention to anything over the past few years you’d know that having a paramilitary force strutting around the streets roughing up the citizens is the last thing that’s going to maintain a fragile peace. That changes now.» So, with the traditional snapping at Starscream out of the way—

«Yes. When I take this job, the Constructicons go free. Put whatever restrictions on them you find necessary—curfews, parole officers, whatever—but their imprisonment is over. They get to walk the streets and track down whatever employment they want. If you need some way to reassure the public that Devastator can’t rampage again, I’ll stay locked up, as we previously discussed. There’s nothing I’ll need to do as an enforcer that can’t be done through holomatter.»

chosentorule

Assuming that Starscream wanted to revoke the job offer in the first place. The insult of Prowl’s initial rejection still stung but his reasons for making the offer in the first place were still sound, and having Prowl have to crawl back and admit his mistake did a lot to soothe said insult.  

A shrug, though Prowl wouldn’t see it. ::It was the easiest system to implement given the political climate at the time, and as an imperfect system it continued to function almost acceptably.:: Look Starscream trusts thugs more than smart thugs to not attempt to topple his tower. Oh, them. Starscream’s nose will wrinkle with disgust.::Your construction crew getting tired of working under you, Prowl? I can’t imagine you feel sympathetic enough for their plight to want them roaming free. Though I suppose having five mechs that would report to you first out on the streets would be an enormous benefit to your role as hive mind, wouldn’t it?:: He couldn’t really think of any other reason to petition for the Constructicon’s freedom.

«Easiest,» Prowl says, with all the disdain and derision he can muster.

Hive mind! Who’s been feeding Starscream that parapsychological rubbish? But if Starscream thinks Prowl needed the Constructicons out as assets, he isn’t going to argue. They could be used for that—although that isn’t why Prowl wants them out. «If I’m going to be moving straight from a prison cell for terrorism to a position of authority over all the law enforcement in the city, I’m going to need every advantage I can get—because the respect and loyalty of my officers isn’t going to be one of those advantages for a long time. I’m sure you’re uniquely aware of the challenges that come with taking power over a population that would mostly rather see you locked up or dead. If I can come into the position with five mechs are able to serve as dependable informants, unshakeable allies, and sources of brute strength as needed, then so much the better.»

[chosentorule]

::Yes, easiest. Something about the political climate when I was elected made it extremely difficult to find decent help. For some strange reason those with any sort of competence found their time better spent waiting for me to run Cybertron into the ground so they could step in. Interesting how that never actually happened.::

In fact it was the idea of Prowl setting himself up as the center of command from a remote location that reminded Starscream of a hive system. Which he’d suggested before, and Starscream still didn’t like, though it at least lessened the chance that Prowl would get stabbed while on the job again. ::On the other hand, ascending to a position of power while surrounded by a handful of enforcement is going to earn more than a few suspicious looks. The Constructicons are little better than the brutes roaming the streets now, at least from the perspective of civilians.::

[verdigrisprowl]

«Hm, imagine that. I don’t suppose it had anything to do with the fact that you immediately alienated the vast majority of mechs on the planet with any combat training whatsoever by making their exile the key focus of your campaign platform?»

Hey, if Starscream’s got a better idea for how to reassure the public that Devastator isn’t going to rampage while still letting the Constructicons go free… «Well, I won’t be surrounded by them, will I? I’m not asking to hire them, I’m asking to set them free. They’ll be out doing whatever they care to do, while I’ll be working. I’ll only call them up as needed, if they’re needed. I hope they won’t be, but if they are it will be better to set a precedent of them being seen out and about and proving they can be trusted not to knock down buildings in the process.»

[chosentorule]

::At any point they could have taken the same step forward that both of us took and divested themselves from past factions for the sake of continued peace- but that topic is neither here nor there.:: It’d worked as a campaign platform, after all, and it’d immediately removed the biggest threats to his shaky grip on power at the time. 

::Hmph. The idea of five former convicts and terrorists roaming free is going to do little to make citizens feel safe. If what you want is for your crew to go free then the idea must be introduced slowly to prevent any pockets of discontent. Not that I think any riots would form over this, but any amount of displeasure should be avoided.:: ::The Constructicons will be under a modified curfew. Only two of them will be allowed to roam free at any time, and they must either wear a tracking device- and I’m proposing a normal tracking device, I’m not quite that bloodthirsty- or agree to check in with their positions every two hours. Once they’ve proven they’re not interested in starting petty fights and we can be sure that there won’t be any major hiccups to integrating them into society can we discuss dropping their restrictions.:: ::If they gain employment that would conflict with the rotation schedule, they should alert me and we will make the needed adjustments.::

[verdigrisprowl]

verdigrisprowl

Yes, Prowl thought Starscream might jump on the opportunity to bask in those three little words he so longed to hear. He couldn’t try to revoke the job offer now—if he did, it would require admitting maybe he wasn’t right—and consequently it put Prowl in a slightly better bargaining position.

It still stung like hell to say.

And so Prowl isn’t going to turn down the opportunity to take the opening Starscream just presented. «Yes, it probably is your fault, because if you’d been paying attention to anything over the past few years you’d know that having a paramilitary force strutting around the streets roughing up the citizens is the last thing that’s going to maintain a fragile peace. That changes now.» So, with the traditional snapping at Starscream out of the way—

«Yes. When I take this job, the Constructicons go free. Put whatever restrictions on them you find necessary—curfews, parole officers, whatever—but their imprisonment is over. They get to walk the streets and track down whatever employment they want. If you need some way to reassure the public that Devastator can’t rampage again, I’ll stay locked up, as we previously discussed. There’s nothing I’ll need to do as an enforcer that can’t be done through holomatter.»

chosentorule

Assuming that Starscream wanted to revoke the job offer in the first place. The insult of Prowl’s initial rejection still stung but his reasons for making the offer in the first place were still sound, and having Prowl have to crawl back and admit his mistake did a lot to soothe said insult.  

A shrug, though Prowl wouldn’t see it. ::It was the easiest system to implement given the political climate at the time, and as an imperfect system it continued to function almost acceptably.:: Look Starscream trusts thugs more than smart thugs to not attempt to topple his tower. Oh, them. Starscream’s nose will wrinkle with disgust.::Your construction crew getting tired of working under you, Prowl? I can’t imagine you feel sympathetic enough for their plight to want them roaming free. Though I suppose having five mechs that would report to you first out on the streets would be an enormous benefit to your role as hive mind, wouldn’t it?:: He couldn’t really think of any other reason to petition for the Constructicon’s freedom.

«Easiest,» Prowl says, with all the disdain and derision he can muster.

Hive mind! Who’s been feeding Starscream that parapsychological rubbish? But if Starscream thinks Prowl needed the Constructicons out as assets, he isn’t going to argue. They could be used for that—although that isn’t why Prowl wants them out. «If I’m going to be moving straight from a prison cell for terrorism to a position of authority over all the law enforcement in the city, I’m going to need every advantage I can get—because the respect and loyalty of my officers isn’t going to be one of those advantages for a long time. I’m sure you’re uniquely aware of the challenges that come with taking power over a population that would mostly rather see you locked up or dead. If I can come into the position with five mechs are able to serve as dependable informants, unshakeable allies, and sources of brute strength as needed, then so much the better.»

[chosentorule]

::Yes, easiest. Something about the political climate when I was elected made it extremely difficult to find decent help. For some strange reason those with any sort of competence found their time better spent waiting for me to run Cybertron into the ground so they could step in. Interesting how that never actually happened.::

In fact it was the idea of Prowl setting himself up as the center of command from a remote location that reminded Starscream of a hive system. Which he’d suggested before, and Starscream still didn’t like, though it at least lessened the chance that Prowl would get stabbed while on the job again. ::On the other hand, ascending to a position of power while surrounded by a handful of enforcement is going to earn more than a few suspicious looks. The Constructicons are little better than the brutes roaming the streets now, at least from the perspective of civilians.::

[verdigrisprowl]

«Starscream. I accept your job offer.»

He’s not even going to ask if the offer is still open.

Or if Starscream is free to talk.

[chosentorule]

::…my what?:: Who is this, he’d blocked all solicit- oh. It’s Prowl. Job offer, job offer… ::Which one?:: Had he proposed more than one yet? 

[verdigrisprowl]

«If you’d offered me more than one, I wouldn’t have needed to reject it.»

Here, a reminder. Prowl plays Starscream’s own words back at him:

Your reputation, yes even several million years ago, is useful to me. Prowl, an Enforcer from before the war and a notable Autobot, visibly leading the police force will be invaluable. I have plenty of faces in the shadows. What I need is a face in the spotlight, one recognizable as a threat and a public servant.

«That offer. You have yet to procure a different person to serve as the face of your enforcers. I expect, then, that the position is still open, pending a renegotiation of our previously agreed-upon terms. I am prepared for those negotiations.»

[chosentorule]

Oh. ::Disregard my earlier statement, then.:: C’mon Starscream get the right diary out before you start sparring with Prowl.  ::Far be it for me to be overly suspicious, but might I ask what sparked this apparent change of heart? After all, when we last discussed this topic you seemed willing to remain nothing more than a construction worker until the eventual heat-death of the universe.::

[verdigrisprowl]

«… Because—» Oh, this is going to hurt. Grit your dentae and get through it, Prowl. «Because you were right. When you said that, when this city is crippled, it will be on my head, because I’m not an enforcer. But you were wrong about how.

«I thought that I would be better able to counteract any threats as a—a strategist-spymaster-mastermind-whatever-I-am—than as an enforcer. However—in the past few months, I have witnessed example after example of your enforcers’ incompetence and aimless brutality—today I saw one nearly kill a mech for the crime of standing under a lamppost with a drink—and I’ve realized that, right now, the greatest threat to Iacon is the enforcers. If they continue like this, they will start another war. I can fix it, but I can only do it from the inside.»

[chosentorule]

Did Prowl just say the magic words? That Starscream was right about something and oh-so-mighty Prowl had finally pulled his head out of his ass long enough to admit it? Prowl might be able to hear how smug Starscream’s expression gets. 

::How utterly remarkable of you to have hit upon the core of our Enforcer issue! Alas, the blame is probably mine, as I had erred on the side of physical presence over diplomatic skill to help establish this fragile peace.:: Was that too much? He should probably tone it down or Prowl would refuse again based on spite alone.

The news that a mech was nearly beaten to death doesn’t even get a blink. Some random drunk was hardly worth his time or attention, save for how he had inadvertently inspired Prowl to finally see sense. ::You opened with something about renegotiating terms.::

[verdigrisprowl]

Yes, Prowl thought Starscream might jump on the opportunity to bask in those three little words he so longed to hear. He couldn’t try to revoke the job offer now—if he did, it would require admitting maybe he wasn’t right—and consequently it put Prowl in a slightly better bargaining position.

It still stung like hell to say.

And so Prowl isn’t going to turn down the opportunity to take the opening Starscream just presented. «Yes, it probably is your fault, because if you’d been paying attention to anything over the past few years you’d know that having a paramilitary force strutting around the streets roughing up the citizens is the last thing that’s going to maintain a fragile peace. That changes now.» So, with the traditional snapping at Starscream out of the way—

«Yes. When I take this job, the Constructicons go free. Put whatever restrictions on them you find necessary—curfews, parole officers, whatever—but their imprisonment is over. They get to walk the streets and track down whatever employment they want. If you need some way to reassure the public that Devastator can’t rampage again, I’ll stay locked up, as we previously discussed. There’s nothing I’ll need to do as an enforcer that can’t be done through holomatter.»

[chosentorule]

Assuming that Starscream wanted to revoke the job offer in the first place. The insult of Prowl’s initial rejection still stung but his reasons for making the offer in the first place were still sound, and having Prowl have to crawl back and admit his mistake did a lot to soothe said insult.  

A shrug, though Prowl wouldn’t see it. ::It was the easiest system to implement given the political climate at the time, and as an imperfect system it continued to function almost acceptably.:: Look Starscream trusts thugs more than smart thugs to not attempt to topple his tower.  Oh, them. Starscream’s nose will wrinkle with disgust.::Your construction crew getting tired of working under you, Prowl? I can’t imagine you feel sympathetic enough for their plight to want them roaming free. Though I suppose having five mechs that would report to you first out on the streets would be an enormous benefit to your role as hive mind, wouldn’t it?:: He couldn’t really think of any other reason to petition for the Constructicon’s freedom.