IC Contact Post

[weapabilities]

Salutations! You've reached Drift of the Lost Light. I'm not in right now, but if you will kindly leave a message with your most positive energies in mind, I'll do my utmost to return your contact as soon as I am able.

Comments

Mask or Menace | Audio

[daintylegs]

Hey Drift! I've got a really important sorta philosophical question that I'd really like you to answer.

Call me back when you can, 'kay?

[weapabilities]

Hello? Tailgate? What is it?

[daintylegs]

Is it proper to call us "robots"?

I mean, I call us robots to describe us to organics, but after I think about it, we're not, are we?

You're smart, so I just figured you'd have an idea...

[weapabilities]

Well. That's tough. For human's benefit I say "robot", then I elaborate. We are not "robots". We are inorganic life.

A robot is automated, it does not think or feel, it does an assigned task or a set of assigned tasks.

We decide our fates.

[daintylegs]

It doesn't stop some of them from treating us like machines.

[Not that anything bad has ever happened, but still.]

So, should I stop calling us robots? I guess I should, right?

[weapabilities]

Yes.

It is our unfortunate task to educate humans that we are not like their... machines.

[daintylegs]

We do sort of look like them though. I mean, have you seen what they drive around in?

I should probably get an Earth mode sometime. I stick out like a sore thumb.

[weapabilities]

Take pride in your heritage, Tailgate. It's so important that we maintain our sense of self in this place. Integration is fine, but do not justify the human's short-sightedness when it comes to sticking labels on things they don't, can't or simply don't want to understand.

If you'd like an earth-mode, I will support that, but just because humans can be stubborn and insist they know everything doesn't mean they do. You are not a machine, Tailgate. You are a thinking, feeling person.

[daintylegs]

I haven't felt very Cybertronian since I got here, to be honest. I've been trying really, really hard to fit in with the humans. I can cook, and clean, and dress myself like them. What if I forget how to be myself, Drift? I haven't been Cybertronian as long as you guys. Those six million years I was unconscious don't count.

[His voice quivers slightly with worry. This isn't something he thinks about often, but whenever it comes up, his mind gets all confused and upset.]

What if one day I prefer to be Human Tailgate and not Cybertronian Tailgate?

[weapabilities]

[ Oh. That's a really hard question. ]

Well. I think. It's important to remember where you come from. I don't think you'll forget. Memories like that don't just disappear. Unless... unless you're Skids, I suppose. Anyways-

Well. As long as you find spiritual fulfillment in it, it can't be. Bad. No, I suppose as long as it makes you happy.

[ He sounds weird saying that word. ]

[daintylegs]

The only memories I have are from the Lost Light though.

[That sounds dangerously close to a confession.]

It's not about spiritual fulfillment. It's about... It's about wanting to fit in. I like feeling like I belong.

Th-That's really sad, isn't it?

[weapabilities]

Not. Not terribly, Tailgate.

[ He'll ask why Tailgate only remembers the Lost Light later. Right now isn't the time to grill him. ]

I know what it's like to want to belong in a place so badly but always feeling a bit on the peripheral. It's hard.

But Tailgate, it's just- you have to learn to be at peace with yourself. Love yourself and the right people will come to love you too. Belonging will follow. For now, you belong with me and Fulcrum, Ratchet and Wing. Okay?

[daintylegs]

How do you learn to be at peace with yourself? I-I mean, I don't hate myself, but I'm not anything too special either.

[He's getting worried that he's doing this all wrong somehow. Despite that, he's confident that Drift will have all the answers. He's smart, that Drift.]

How did you do it?

[weapabilities]

I-

[ Owch. Hard questions. ]

Tailgate I didn't. Do it. I haven't. I'm- what I mean is I'm working on... that.

But it's okay. You're a good person, and you have lots of great people who care about you.

[daintylegs]

Oh, I see.

[He doesn't judge Drift in the slightest. Liking yourself must be hard for anyone. Especially someone who lived during such a long and terrible war. Tailgate empathises. That someone as remarkable as Drift hasn't achieved "inner peace" does make him feel better. His voice loses a bitter of his quiver and lightens considerably.]

You're a good person too Drift! I hope you find peace someday. You deserve it.

And... And thank you. This helped a lot.

[weapabilities]

[ Well. He's wrong. Drift isn't a very good person at all. But he does find it very touching that Tailgate thinks that highly of him. Now is not an appropriate time to argue, as Tailgate seems to have found his resolve. ]

You're welcome, Tailgate.

If you need anything, I'm here.

[daintylegs]

I know.

You're dependable like that. I'm really glad you're my friend.

[His optics curves upwards, unseen by Drift. What makes Tailgate unique is how truly he means what he says. Friends are precious things, and Tailgate is forever happy that he was lucky enough to have them. Maybe oneday he'll return to the Lost Light and let all his other friends know these things too.]

We'll get back home oneday, won't we? All of us. I mean, the Lost Light is a really weird place where the most unlikely and unnecessary things tend to happen, but it was still home. I miss it lots. I want to hang out at Swerves again, and see Rewind and Cyclonus and Pipes and everyone else. We're all in this together, right?

[weapabilities]

I- aha. Thank you. Tailgate.

I'm glad we're friends, too.

[ A long pause. He misses it too. He misses the company and feeling somewhat accepted. Having Rodimus around and Ratchet. ]

Yeah. We're in it together.