will they sing tho

[thanksoptimus]

Who: Orion Pax and Starscream
Where: In the desert somewhere near the Autobot camp.
When: After this, during music event.
What: Starscream is a treacherous fucker and he backstabs Orion real good.
Warnings: Seriously screw that guy.


Orion shows up at the coordinates ten minutes later, ideally giving himself a bit of a chance to survey his surroundings. He's being haunted by a dull sense of unease, like an ache in his spark. He doesn't want to fail everyone by screwing this up but...he's found himself believing Starscream's story. It lines up with everything Orion has seen of him.

More than anything, if there is some chance to turn the tides of the battle here...he wants to take it. For himself, and for Arcee and the others.

He tells himself this even as he makes up as many back up plans as he can in the back of his head, waiting in his alt mode in an empty patch of desert.

Comments

[starscheme]

Megatron's intentions towards him confirmed, Starscream is totally prepared to full on beg and plead for his life (seriously, it'd be physically impossible for him to look any more terrified than he is right now)... and then the music starts.

Not this shit again.

"All that time, serving at your side," Starscream corrects, seamlessly slipping into the same beat with the practice of someone who just did this shit less than a few minutes ago... all as he cringes back from Megatron, posture low and submissive.

[bigfuckinggun]

Megatron's eyebrows pull down in confusion and he looks around as though for a hidden enemy as the music builds. Where is it coming from? What is happening?

He can't resist the music. This is terrible.

"All that time," he replies, "convinced that it was worth it, to spare your wretched hide –"

He grimaces. He wants to demand an explanation from Starscream. But, to be fair, he also wants to let him know how completely done he is, and this does seem as good an opportunity as any.

And apparently that level of acceptance is all it takes to plunge Megatron straight first into Actually Singing territory: "Now I hear you plotting to dethrone me; now you’re outright planning my demise! Standing here, it’s sadly clear..." He puts the energon harvester away – this is actually kind of invigorating – to seize Starscream roughly by the arm, yanking him closer and finishing in a growl, "To spare you was unwise..."

[starscheme]

Starscream lets out a terrified squeal, stumbling as Megatron yanks him forward. The music keeps going in the background, which is completely and sort of hilariously at odds with the way Starscream is cowering. He's not quite singing at the moment, though he tries to put on a charming, placating smile. It just comes off as looking extremely forced.

"Alright, so I see the folly of my actions now, it's true- but did I not still you your prize? Orion Pax, I delivered him right to you!" He tugs back against Megatron's grip, taking on a sing-song tone once more: "Master, please, I beg you reconsider...!"

The worst part is, this is the point where he'd be hitting the skies by now, but something about the rhythm of the song has him glued to the spot. He's stuck for the duration, at least. If he survives that long.

[bigfuckinggun]

"Delivered him right to me?" Megatron repeats incredulously. His grip on Starscream's arm tightens painfully, and he throws him across the sand in time with a violin crescendo. "Do you expect me to simply pretend not to have overheard you gloating to yourself about my imminent defeat simply because your folly has yielded me something I want?" he demands, striding after him and bringing one of his massive feet down on Starscream's leg before he can make an attempt get away. "I do not need you functioning to claim my prize, Starscream."

[starscheme]

There's an audible crunch and a snap, swiftly followed by an ear-shattering howl of pain from Starscream. That definitely broke something attached to actual nerves, rather than just cracking the armored plating. He sits himself up with both hands and tries to squirm backwards, his other foot coming up at an awkward angle to kick weakly at Megatron's ankle.

There's a million excuses he can think to make, and a million more pleas to go along with them, and Starscream is all together terrified and remorseful... But the music compels him to perhaps put up a bit more of a fight than he usually might, like the only course of action that makes sense is for him to sing what he's really feeling instead of doing the smart thing and supplicating himself to Megatron.

This is perhaps not exactly the best moment to reach such a conclusion, but he can't really help himself. He stares back up at Megatron, eyes taking on an unusually steely glint, though he's still trembling with fear and pain. "Perhaps you don't need me to claim your prize, but you know you need me to help you bring the Decepticons to true glory!

He picks up the beat once more, this time actually singing. It helps that, now that he's heard Megatron belt out a tune, he's a bit more confident in his own abilities. Make fun of his singing voice, will you?

"All those years, living in your shadow..." he pauses to curse at the pain wracking his leg once before continuing. "All those years, believing you were wise. All that time, burying my feelings, and cultivating lies..."

He looks particularly taken back, concerned really, by his own words at the last part, what- Wait no he did not want to bring the question of their fucked up quasi-hatemance into this oh nooooooo