No chance to say goodbye...

[stormbunny]

"I find myself in a difficult situation. Given the nature of this place... it can't be completely unique."

"I lost someone I cared about, because access to his universe is gone. It was always a possibility, and yet... it was completely unexpected when it happened. For some time, I've kept surveillance in place in case the portal returned..."

"When you lose someone, there's a point when you have to accept they are not coming back. It's expected to mourn the loss... but... How does one mourn for someone, when you know they're not dead? And... he was an alternate, so there is a counterpart in my own world. How can I make it less awkward if I have to work with him?"

Comments

[random_xtras]

Galvatron nods and looks back to her, his expression serious and his eyes darkened with memories.

"I've found that the only thing that helps to ease the pain and confusion is the..." He presses his lips together to keep them from going wibbly. "Love and support of my creator and family."

He glances back to the sparklet as she squeaks, his mouth quirking wryly. "They watch out for me. I tried burying myself in work, but said creator and family wouldn't let me."

[stormbunny]

That gets a trace of a wry smile out of Harpuia. "I've been accused of 'burying myself in my work' for years," she says. "Far too long for it to be an aspect of grieving, and my family understands that." Her devotion to duty elicited gentle teasing, but little more than that.

"Unfortunately, it's my work that would bring me into contact with my world's Forte."

[random_xtras]

Another nod. "It's my paying job that brings me into contact with large numbers of alternates."

[stormbunny]

And yet they're willingly doing it, despite alternates making them uncomfortable. Harpuia doesn't see the logic in it. After all, a paying job is something one just does for money. Hers is another matter...

"If it were a matter of income, I'd find another job. I am one of the four Guardians of Arcadia. It is my duties in that regard, and in particular in the containment and destruction of a hazardous energy-based entity, that would bring me into contact with my world's Forte. As uncomfortable as it might be, I must do what my duty requires of me."

And, unfortunately, Schilt as well... although it's actually less uncomfortable to be around the ex-Judge with an annoying crush than it is to be around... someone who isn't who she keeps wishing they were instead.

[random_xtras]

"I don't have a choice of other jobs," says Galvatron simply. "And we need the money to rebuild the worlds that I destroyed when I belonged to the world eater. Too many people know who Galvatron is, and what he's done in my and other realities."

[stormbunny]

Harpuia tenses... not at the name Galvatron, which she's never heard, but just before that at the mention of a 'world eater'. It could be coincidence, but the tension doesn't fade. Because she is talking to one of those Cybertronians, or at least he looks like one. And that was the species the Stardroids insisted were their alternate-universe equivalents. And it had been the Stardroids to first give that strange history to the Force Energy encountered in Giga City.

"I see," she says, tone crisp as if she was on duty. But, where it's concerned, she is always on duty. "Then we are both doing what we must."

[random_xtras]

He notices the stiffening, and the sudden crispness, and his expression changes to concern as he quickly runs over options in his mind for politely taking leave of the girl before she starts denouncing him as a murdering madman and wakes the sparklet up. His reaction is assumption, but he's had people respond that way so often, and it's so hard to stop Optimus from crying once she's started that he might not be able to help it at this point.

[stormbunny]

"The energy parasite has been said to be the remains of some sort of 'world eater'."

[random_xtras]

One brow quirks very slightly as he pauses and looks at her again. He's only heard of two world eaters thus far in his life, though a few more world destroyers.

"Was that world eater named Unicron?"

[stormbunny]

"According to some sources, yes."