Muse needs to have a sad and this mun is going to let him.

[donttasemebee]

The list of my failures just keeps growing and growing...I should have just backed down early on. I was never meant to be a leader.





I'm sorry, Metalhawk...I'm so sorry.

Comments

[golds_and_blues]

...Bumblebee, what happened? [Kendrick's tone is gentle, because he has a horrible feeling he knows.]

[donttasemebee]

I...a friend..was killed. By someone we trusted...and that someone has taken over our home now.

[He failed them. He failed everyone, that's what happened.]

[golds_and_blues]

Bumblebee. I - I'm so sorry. I wish there was something I could say, but it honestly wasn't your fault. No one ever sees traitors coming. You aren't psychic.

[donttasemebee]

It's--but I should have.....everything...everything's that happened is my fault.




I'm a horrible leader.

[golds_and_blues]

It wasn't your fault. You didn't make that choice, the traitor did. You did nothing wrong. And you are not a horrible leader.

[donttasemebee]

[A small part of him really wishes he could believe that.]

This is just another new addition to my list of failures, Kendrick. I can't keep anything together.

[golds_and_blues]

Bumblebee, this isn't your failure. People like that are wired dfferently - pardon the pun - and they make bad choices. It's not you. This could have happened if anyone was in charge.

[donttasemebee]

I--could it? Would it have? Or is this just some horrible twist of fate or whatever you want to call it? Is my luck just this horrible?

[golds_and_blues]

It would have happened the same without you. This man had an agenda. You weren't part of it. Bumblebee, this is not your fault. These are the actions of another man. Nothing else. Nothing more.

[donttasemebee]

You're...I know you're right.

It's just--Metalhawk is--



...He's dead..and I couldn't..

[golds_and_blues]

I know. I know, Bumblebee. It'll take a long, hard time to move on. But the important thing, the thing I can actually hopefully help with, is this: what can we learn from this to help you so you don't have to ever go through this again?

[donttasemebee]

[Bee's quiet for a moment, pondering the question--truly pondering it.]

I don't....I really don't know for sure.

[golds_and_blues]

Give it time. Talk to people. You'll figure it out.

[donttasemebee]

..I...alright...you're right..



Thank you, Kendrick. I mean it.

[golds_and_blues]

I'm always here for you. Or I try to be. I've never been in your position, but I've been praying for you.

[donttasemebee]

I appreciate it..I really do, Kendrick.

[He doesn't have many friends out there right now.]

[golds_and_blues]

I just wish there was more I could do to help.

[donttasemebee]

You do plenty, Kendrick, even if you don't realize it.

[golds_and_blues]

If there's anything I can do, you know I'll do it. If nothing else, I can promise you that.

[giantchiapet]

[Terra's first impulse is to berate Bumblebee for showing so much weakness and wallowing in misery, but he stops himself at the quiet apology. He reconsiders his words before speaking again.]

Then grieve, but not for too long. You may not believe yourself to be a good leader, but you are a leader regardless. The world doesn't stop turning for anyone, and if it's time to act then I urge you to do so before more people are hurt. You have a populace to take care of, it is not only your duty but your obligation!

[donttasemebee]

[Bee's quiet for a long moment, just letting those words sink in. He knows the other's right but with every new chunk of story that comes out, the more he just feels horrible. Pathetic really.]

...I don't think I should be the leader anymore, though. I think it's time someone else takes control--someone that can actually get things under control again.

[fun_police]

[Hi Bee.]



[they've really ended up in the gutter, haven't they?]

You can't shoulder the blame entirely. There were a number of things that were out of your control.

[Including him.]

[...]

[donttasemebee]

[Well. You're the last 'bot he expected to contact him.]

I should have done a better job though.

[fun_police]

[Prowl may be an asshole, but he's your asshole, Bee.]

You could have started by keeping Starscream away from any fledgeling government.

...

Unfortunately, getting a point through Metalhawk's thick skull is nothing short of a miracle.

[donttasemebee]

[He's like that wart you just can't get rid of really.]

You think I wanted him there? He was--Primus he's so obnoxious.

And Metalhawk...he...

[Yeah he just can't right now. His expression falters and he glances away.]

[fun_police]

[Why yes, that is an apt comparison. Only the wart does all your math homework and takes care of your finances. Occasionally, it can act as security.]

Metalhawk was a fool. He let his idealism blind him and he paid the consequences when faced with reality.

And this time, he dragged all of us into it with him..

[Is Prowl biased in wanting to blame the neutral? Naaaah.]

[donttasemebee]

[...If he made Bee's lunch he'd be even better.]

Metalhawk wasn't a fool. If you're going to call him a fool then I'm one as well and so are you. He was headstrong and had just ideals, that's all. He wanted what was best for Cybertron.

We had all worked our way into the situation already, Prowl. But none of us saw it coming.

[fun_police]

He'd been living in a comfortable, cushioned haven outside the war. He had no idea what he was sticking his head into or who he was messing with. So yes, I'd consider him an utter fool for defending Starscream and allowing him a voice for the sake of his ideals.

[Prowl's never been too kind with his words, and Metalhawk's death wasn't about to change that.]

[donttasemebee]

Comfortable cushioned--

Prowl are you listening to yourself? Just because he was a neutral doesn't mean he didn't have to deal with the war. I'm not a fan of neutrals all that much either but he's still Cybertronian and this war is supposed to be over!

And yet we're still losing others...they're still dying and now Iacon is lost to us.

[fun_police]

[He could agree that chewing out Metalhawk post-mortem wasn't going to win them Iacon back.]

We can regroup and bide our time. There's only so much legitimacy you can earn based on theatrics. I kind of doubt the Decepticons will stay in the wilderness as well.

This is far from done.

[donttasemebee]

...But how much more has to be lost before we gain something, Prowl?