"Thank you," Soundwave tells Loki, more than happy to look him in the eye now that he's managed to get his high-beams turned off.
There are so many thoughts and feelings jumbled around in his mind right now.
Loki is almost certainly feeling the spark-call, just as Ravage felt it from him, even though Loki is an alien being and hasn't a spark of his own.
Which is interesting to think about, but leads to dangerous paths, because Loki is everything dear sweet Orion once promised to be but was wholly unable to be.
Which is dangerous, because dear sweet Orion once terrified Soundwave, until he gave in to that cloyingly bright fascination, knowing better each step of the way, not failing to notice that Ravi was often too much of a challenge for Orion to ever have meant some of the things that he said, and then the betrayal came.
And he will not think about how things could be once more what they never really were before. No, he will decidedly not think about that, even though Ravage and Megatron were kinder and gentler and not at all toxic together when Orion was there in the middle beside him.
Let it stay as it is. Two and two do not have to be four, especially not when the other two are not yet done with being one and one. He has Ravage all to himself now, and he's wanted that far longer, and he'll savour that as long as he can have it, which is, hopefully, forever.
It's rare for him to be attracted to anyone other than Ravage, but if Orion taught Soundwave anything, it was that being attracted absolutely did not mean he had to act on it, no matter how rare it was, no matter what Megatron or even Ravage said.
"I wonder," he says conversationally. "Do you think that when we finally sign the treaty, someone will tell dear sweet Orion he needs to stop dressing like me, because with two of us on the opposite sides of a table for posterity, and Ravage beside me, people other than Ravage and Jazz will finally notice?"
After all, if he can manage never to kiss Jazz again, he can certainly manage not to kiss anyone else that he shouldn't.
"It also strikes me as amusing. Even though Orion didn't take Megatron back after Megatron joined his tribe of idiots, Megatron tried to court Ravage, and Orion tried to blackmail me into joining them. I wonder what Orion would have tried to do if they had actually got both of us to stand with them under that banner."
Soundwave would curl his lip in distaste if he could. Instead, he just laughs.
"From what I've heard, I do approve," he tells Ravage with a wry smile. "I may be the god of lies, but I don't like it when they're used to uphold the status quo. The status quo, more often than not, needs to be disrupted."
That is what a Trickster does, and the Trickster nature is even more fundamentally a part of Loki's identity than divinity is. "My tendency is always to take the side of the underdog, the outcast, and the disrupting influence. That's why I feel you are part of my providence, at least in part. It's my duty and privilege to offer my congratulations, even if you never require my assistance."
He is not aware of Soundwave's mix of thought and emotion, which is just as well, because attraction is nothing he is prepared to deal with right now, when his bond with Megatron is so new. But he would be immensely flattered. His sympathy for Soundwave is already significant, in part because of the parallels he knows exist. He does not dare mention them now, because that may be more information than Soundwave would ideally like for him to know right off the bat, but it's fascinating and pleasing to meet what seems to him like a brighter mirror of himself from an entirely alien species and culture.
"...wait," he says thoughtfully. "He dresses like you? Surely there's some amusement to be had there, at his expense. Is it a coincidence, or does he do it deliberately? If you made a subtle change at peace talks, would he echo it?"
Fortunately Soundwave has finally managed to shut off the offending process. He needn't be thinking about kissing anyone other than Ravage (not Loki, nor Jazz either), not when he's finally accomplished the lifelong, and far more emotionally important, goal of getting Ravage all to himself. It's also confusing to him, since when he was organic himself, he found the prospect of organic sex grossly unappealing. But then, he didn't have his telepathy properly working under that spell, and that's always been a huge part of his attractions.
"Loki," he says, with amusement, "the mask is adaptive technology. It's not a part of me, nor is it part of him. Most people only wear them during battle, or when there's some kind of airborne infection about. He wears one all the time, like I do, and has done, since the four of us were an item. I think at one point he meant it as solidarity, or so that I wouldn't feel odd about it, although I never actually did feel odd about it, because unless I'm eating or drinking, or kissing or making love, it makes me more comfortable. And he still wears a helm crest that's only subtly different from mine. Megatron bought both of them from the same jeweller. He had just won a whole lot of money and paid for everything the three of us, Ravi included, had tried on and liked without telling us, and gave it all to us later. His accounts are all frozen now, or you'd already know how much he likes to give presents."
He glances at Ravage and drops to one knee, with an expression that somehow manages to be demure and thoroughly wicked all at the same time. "You should commission me a different one, Ravi-brightspark. After all, neither he nor I are in service to Megatron, now, and I am in service only to you. And perhaps we'll wear our wedding capes to the peace talks."
"That does seem like the appropriate course of action," Ravage says thoughtfully, and leans over to kiss Soundwave's helm, since his face is completely covered.
"And," he says to Loki when he stands, "in that respect, we're absolutely in your providence."
"Well, I've never seen him," he tells Soundwave with mild amusement. "I've no way of knowing in what aspects he dresses like you. That, and you all seem to have variant shapes, which is fascinating."
He cannot avoid looking sheepish and just a bit soft at the talk of Megatron giving presents. He can imagine, already, but he gives a little shake of his head. "That's probably for the best. I've always preferred handmade and heartfelt gifts more than pretty luxuries. Though I would be lying if I pretended I don't get such things for myself more often than not."
"But all of that sounds like a good idea, for the sake of yourselves and not just to troll him. There is a very good tailor in the Nexus. I'm not sure whether he would be capable of creating a mask or helm himself, as he seems to work primarily in fabric, but I'm sure he'd know someone who could. I always take the children to him for new clothes."
"The only clothes we ever wear are capes and drapes for formal occasions. Anything else interferes with the transformation process, should we need to be able to change. We'd need to have helms and the like made by people who are familiar with our requirements, also because of the transformation. But simply changing the helm crest would dispel the illusion."
Ravage makes an amused little chuff. "I have plenty of images of Orion in my mental banks, if you'd like to see one. I swear I'll spare you the sight of his dripping valve; it's irrelevant to the subject of how he looks currently, as there's a piece of god-ridden metal stuck in his chest that's changed his whole body, and that just makes everything worse, because now he's a little bigger than Soundwave instead of barely being a little bit bigger than I am right now."
"Megatron," Soundwave says after a moment's deliberation, "derives a great deal of pleasure from seeing people he cares about wearing his gifts. If he gives you jewels, you should probably wear them. He's not good at making things with his hands. The only gift that he could make himself would be poetry, and if you haven't gotten that already, it will not be long. Sometimes he will find rare gems underground and give them to people, but he doesn't know how to make jewellery out of them. Anything he gave you would, I think, be heartfelt. And also...he is not possessive, but he likes to see tangible signs of his favour on all of his favourites. I'd call it 'marking territory', but it's not meant to warn anyone off--the only warning in it is that this is someone he has feelings for, and you had best not harm them."
He sighs. "I did very much want Ravage to get rid of a collar, but Laserbeak took it and tore it apart and used the jewels on a jacket for somebody else, because she knew I wouldn't say that. But that was the only extravagant thing he gave Ravage when they were living together apart from me, and I couldn't stand the sight of it. The rest of it, I honestly don't care about. I just know how he feels, because he feels a lot."
"There's no reason I need to see images of Orion," Loki chuckles a little at Ravage. "And especially none where he is in flagrante delicto with any of you."
He makes a thoughtful sound at Soundwave's explanation. "Don't worry, then. I enjoy gifts as tangible expressions of affection. A handful of dandelions is as good as a polished emerald in that regard, but as long as the feeling behind it is the same, I'll love anything he gives me."
"...although I could always have the children teach him to make friendship bracelets or pot-holders whenever they do meet him."
"Let him give you whatever he wants to give you," Soundwave suggests. "I believe his gifts say something about his feelings for people, and neither a pot-holder (whatever that is) nor a friendship bracelet would be truly appropriate."
He ex-vents, irritated. "That is the other reason I disliked that collar so much. I never like to see Ravage in collars, even if they are made of jewels. I am sure that he would not put one on you."
After a moment, though, his expression goes wry and fond. "You may, however, wish to start thinking about who you would ask to make a cape for you, if that cape had to be made by your dearest friends. One you already have will not do, if it comes to that."
"Perhaps I should say it differently. The children absolutely will attempt to teach him to make friendship bracelets and pot-holders whenever they meet him, whether he wishes to give the results away or not." Loki's lips quirk playfully. He knows his kids. Agnarr will be wary, and Sigrid will be curious to interact with a poet and may in time be willing to be mentored, but in the interim she and Una will be perfectly content to instruct a new adult in their lives in the matters they believe are most important.
He raises an eyebrow and makes a thoughtful sound at the mention of a collar. "...well, it's not as if I wouldn't wear a collar, but--nevermind."
The connotations would be different. He gets that. And yet it's the cape that makes him blush slightly, only because they just mentioned their own wedding capes. "If that means what it sounds like it means, I hope he's not in a rush. I'm still not quite ready to introduce the children yet."
"Soundwave is being the hopeless romantic he always is," Ravage says, laughing softly. "He likes being married, so now he thinks everyone else ought to be, too."
He looks up at his husband in deep amusement. "Really. You shouldn't have said that. You'll scare the poor deity."
Ravage is a brat. And he knows this.
"I'm sure they'll teach him to make things. And he'll probably give the friendship bracelets to the children, so that they know they are his friends, and the pot-holders to Esmeral, in the vain hope that she'll stop banning his BC accounts."
"I've never been married, and I'm not sure I expected to be at this point in my life, but stranger things have occurred. At least I'm not actively serving as Prince of Asgard so there are few political implications to worry about." He's amused, fortunately, instead of terrified. A formal bond is something that must allow for his other lovers and the comfort of his children, and is likely a long way off in any case, but there's something sweet about the enthusiasm of the newlyweds.
"The look on Thor's face would be memorable, though." He wouldn't be Loki if he didn't like the idea of trolling his brother. But that is not a reason to rush into anything!
"But back to children and handicrafts, I had thought it might do them good to meet the two of you or some of the other Decepticons before being introduced to Megatron. Your species is unfamiliar to my universe, and adapting to a different culture without the complication of wondering how close their father and his new friend are, and whether said new friend will stay, might be easier for them."
"Megatron isn't a Decepticon any more," Ravage says after a moment. "I feel like I have to keep saying this. I had to say it to Lucifer...well, it was only once, but that's not what it felt like."
He scratches behind his ear. "I have to admit it feels a bit strange to think that we're the people you'd have your children meet first to warm up for meeting Megatron. Misfire or Esmeral or Clobber or even Suckerpunch are better examples of average Cybertronians; at the same time, I can't think of anyone who's a lot like Megatron, other than...Megatron. I mean, there's Galvatron, who is a tenth-rate imitation of Megatron, but we're going to kill him, so we can't use him. Is it because you want them to meet Cybertronians, or because you want to talk with us personally, or because you want them to meet Megatron's friends?"
"Oh! No, I am well aware of that," Loki looks mildly apologetic. "By 'other Decepticons' I meant other than you two and Ben, who the children are well acquainted with."
He shakes his head, then. "Perhaps I am being unclear; let me try again. These children grew up on a planet that no longer exists, and while they have known of other sapient species from other realms before leaving home, visits from them have been few and far between. In the Nexus, they are gradually becoming accustomed to beings other than their own kin, but they are also...injured. Traumatized. And sometimes they are frightened by new people and experiences. I'm not asking in order to smooth over introductions for his sake, but for theirs. I just don't want them to be overwhelmed."
"I want them to meet Cybertronians, and I want them to talk to you two if you are to be my friends."
"I don't know about Ravi, but I knew it was for their sake," Soundwave says. "What confused us was why us. But if the reason is because we are friends, that's a very good reason. Of course, we'll be happy to meet them."
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dancing_serpent
(no subject)
Date: 2020-12-03 07:29 pm (UTC)There are so many thoughts and feelings jumbled around in his mind right now.
Loki is almost certainly feeling the spark-call, just as Ravage felt it from him, even though Loki is an alien being and hasn't a spark of his own.
Which is interesting to think about, but leads to dangerous paths, because Loki is everything dear sweet Orion once promised to be but was wholly unable to be.
Which is dangerous, because dear sweet Orion once terrified Soundwave, until he gave in to that cloyingly bright fascination, knowing better each step of the way, not failing to notice that Ravi was often too much of a challenge for Orion to ever have meant some of the things that he said, and then the betrayal came.
And he will not think about how things could be once more what they never really were before. No, he will decidedly not think about that, even though Ravage and Megatron were kinder and gentler and not at all toxic together when Orion was there in the middle beside him.
Let it stay as it is. Two and two do not have to be four, especially not when the other two are not yet done with being one and one. He has Ravage all to himself now, and he's wanted that far longer, and he'll savour that as long as he can have it, which is, hopefully, forever.
It's rare for him to be attracted to anyone other than Ravage, but if Orion taught Soundwave anything, it was that being attracted absolutely did not mean he had to act on it, no matter how rare it was, no matter what Megatron or even Ravage said.
"I wonder," he says conversationally. "Do you think that when we finally sign the treaty, someone will tell dear sweet Orion he needs to stop dressing like me, because with two of us on the opposite sides of a table for posterity, and Ravage beside me, people other than Ravage and Jazz will finally notice?"
After all, if he can manage never to kiss Jazz again, he can certainly manage not to kiss anyone else that he shouldn't.
"It also strikes me as amusing. Even though Orion didn't take Megatron back after Megatron joined his tribe of idiots, Megatron tried to court Ravage, and Orion tried to blackmail me into joining them. I wonder what Orion would have tried to do if they had actually got both of us to stand with them under that banner."
Soundwave would curl his lip in distaste if he could. Instead, he just laughs.
(no subject)
Date: 2020-12-04 02:15 pm (UTC)That is what a Trickster does, and the Trickster nature is even more fundamentally a part of Loki's identity than divinity is. "My tendency is always to take the side of the underdog, the outcast, and the disrupting influence. That's why I feel you are part of my providence, at least in part. It's my duty and privilege to offer my congratulations, even if you never require my assistance."
He is not aware of Soundwave's mix of thought and emotion, which is just as well, because attraction is nothing he is prepared to deal with right now, when his bond with Megatron is so new. But he would be immensely flattered. His sympathy for Soundwave is already significant, in part because of the parallels he knows exist. He does not dare mention them now, because that may be more information than Soundwave would ideally like for him to know right off the bat, but it's fascinating and pleasing to meet what seems to him like a brighter mirror of himself from an entirely alien species and culture.
"...wait," he says thoughtfully. "He dresses like you? Surely there's some amusement to be had there, at his expense. Is it a coincidence, or does he do it deliberately? If you made a subtle change at peace talks, would he echo it?"
(no subject)
Date: 2020-12-04 04:28 pm (UTC)"Loki," he says, with amusement, "the mask is adaptive technology. It's not a part of me, nor is it part of him. Most people only wear them during battle, or when there's some kind of airborne infection about. He wears one all the time, like I do, and has done, since the four of us were an item. I think at one point he meant it as solidarity, or so that I wouldn't feel odd about it, although I never actually did feel odd about it, because unless I'm eating or drinking, or kissing or making love, it makes me more comfortable. And he still wears a helm crest that's only subtly different from mine. Megatron bought both of them from the same jeweller. He had just won a whole lot of money and paid for everything the three of us, Ravi included, had tried on and liked without telling us, and gave it all to us later. His accounts are all frozen now, or you'd already know how much he likes to give presents."
He glances at Ravage and drops to one knee, with an expression that somehow manages to be demure and thoroughly wicked all at the same time. "You should commission me a different one, Ravi-brightspark. After all, neither he nor I are in service to Megatron, now, and I am in service only to you. And perhaps we'll wear our wedding capes to the peace talks."
(no subject)
Date: 2020-12-04 06:04 pm (UTC)"And," he says to Loki when he stands, "in that respect, we're absolutely in your providence."
(no subject)
Date: 2020-12-07 02:22 pm (UTC)He cannot avoid looking sheepish and just a bit soft at the talk of Megatron giving presents. He can imagine, already, but he gives a little shake of his head. "That's probably for the best. I've always preferred handmade and heartfelt gifts more than pretty luxuries. Though I would be lying if I pretended I don't get such things for myself more often than not."
"But all of that sounds like a good idea, for the sake of yourselves and not just to troll him. There is a very good tailor in the Nexus. I'm not sure whether he would be capable of creating a mask or helm himself, as he seems to work primarily in fabric, but I'm sure he'd know someone who could. I always take the children to him for new clothes."
(no subject)
Date: 2020-12-07 05:26 pm (UTC)Ravage makes an amused little chuff. "I have plenty of images of Orion in my mental banks, if you'd like to see one. I swear I'll spare you the sight of his dripping valve; it's irrelevant to the subject of how he looks currently, as there's a piece of god-ridden metal stuck in his chest that's changed his whole body, and that just makes everything worse, because now he's a little bigger than Soundwave instead of barely being a little bit bigger than I am right now."
(no subject)
Date: 2020-12-07 05:36 pm (UTC)He sighs. "I did very much want Ravage to get rid of a collar, but Laserbeak took it and tore it apart and used the jewels on a jacket for somebody else, because she knew I wouldn't say that. But that was the only extravagant thing he gave Ravage when they were living together apart from me, and I couldn't stand the sight of it. The rest of it, I honestly don't care about. I just know how he feels, because he feels a lot."
(no subject)
Date: 2020-12-07 08:28 pm (UTC)He makes a thoughtful sound at Soundwave's explanation. "Don't worry, then. I enjoy gifts as tangible expressions of affection. A handful of dandelions is as good as a polished emerald in that regard, but as long as the feeling behind it is the same, I'll love anything he gives me."
"...although I could always have the children teach him to make friendship bracelets or pot-holders whenever they do meet him."
(no subject)
Date: 2020-12-08 06:22 pm (UTC)He ex-vents, irritated. "That is the other reason I disliked that collar so much. I never like to see Ravage in collars, even if they are made of jewels. I am sure that he would not put one on you."
After a moment, though, his expression goes wry and fond. "You may, however, wish to start thinking about who you would ask to make a cape for you, if that cape had to be made by your dearest friends. One you already have will not do, if it comes to that."
(no subject)
Date: 2020-12-08 08:04 pm (UTC)He raises an eyebrow and makes a thoughtful sound at the mention of a collar. "...well, it's not as if I wouldn't wear a collar, but--nevermind."
The connotations would be different. He gets that. And yet it's the cape that makes him blush slightly, only because they just mentioned their own wedding capes. "If that means what it sounds like it means, I hope he's not in a rush. I'm still not quite ready to introduce the children yet."
(no subject)
Date: 2020-12-08 08:43 pm (UTC)He looks up at his husband in deep amusement. "Really. You shouldn't have said that. You'll scare the poor deity."
Ravage is a brat. And he knows this.
"I'm sure they'll teach him to make things. And he'll probably give the friendship bracelets to the children, so that they know they are his friends, and the pot-holders to Esmeral, in the vain hope that she'll stop banning his BC accounts."
(no subject)
Date: 2020-12-08 09:20 pm (UTC)"The look on Thor's face would be memorable, though." He wouldn't be Loki if he didn't like the idea of trolling his brother. But that is not a reason to rush into anything!
"But back to children and handicrafts, I had thought it might do them good to meet the two of you or some of the other Decepticons before being introduced to Megatron. Your species is unfamiliar to my universe, and adapting to a different culture without the complication of wondering how close their father and his new friend are, and whether said new friend will stay, might be easier for them."
(no subject)
Date: 2020-12-08 09:31 pm (UTC)He scratches behind his ear. "I have to admit it feels a bit strange to think that we're the people you'd have your children meet first to warm up for meeting Megatron. Misfire or Esmeral or Clobber or even Suckerpunch are better examples of average Cybertronians; at the same time, I can't think of anyone who's a lot like Megatron, other than...Megatron. I mean, there's Galvatron, who is a tenth-rate imitation of Megatron, but we're going to kill him, so we can't use him. Is it because you want them to meet Cybertronians, or because you want to talk with us personally, or because you want them to meet Megatron's friends?"
(no subject)
Date: 2020-12-08 10:22 pm (UTC)He shakes his head, then. "Perhaps I am being unclear; let me try again. These children grew up on a planet that no longer exists, and while they have known of other sapient species from other realms before leaving home, visits from them have been few and far between. In the Nexus, they are gradually becoming accustomed to beings other than their own kin, but they are also...injured. Traumatized. And sometimes they are frightened by new people and experiences. I'm not asking in order to smooth over introductions for his sake, but for theirs. I just don't want them to be overwhelmed."
"I want them to meet Cybertronians, and I want them to talk to you two if you are to be my friends."
(no subject)
Date: 2020-12-08 10:29 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2020-12-08 10:30 pm (UTC)