*It is a quiet day in Auspex's sanctuary. Sunbeams have come in through the open door, and there is a little Chiproach chasing about and babbling gleefully as she plays with them and with some sparkling glass marbles. Out on the front step Bob is dozing contentedly as his datapad slips from his hand and the sun bakes his wings. And on the roof Requiem crouches, his optics narrowed thoughtfully as he gazes out across the plain. Beamrider is a sleeping lump on his shoulder.*
Auspex: *hums softly, beginning a plan on a datapad for a mosaic of a recent image from Primus. She glances up to chuckle at Tessera's carefree antics*
Tessera: *happyhappyhappy* Ooo! Auspex!
*then the tiny femme stops and points her feelers toward the door, sparking with curiosity at what she senses there*
Auspex: *glances up again at the tiny voice* Tessera? *glances over, to see what is holding the chiproach's attention. She lays the datapad aside for a moment, to make her way to the door*
*from without comes the swish of a PINpoint, and a startled yelp and jag of fear from Bob, and then the thud of mighty feet hitting the ground in front of the sanctuary, and a gravelly voice*
Galvatron: I mean no harm. I want to find the priestess.
Requiem: *coldly* She pointed a gun at one of the servants. How is that no harm?
Bob: *eeeeeeeeeeeek :(*
Tessera: *up Auspex's leg in passing*
Auspex: *is mindful of Tessera, even as she hurries to the door, alarmed at Bob's fear and Requiem's voice. She comes to the entrance, though she remains in the threshold, examining the situation with her senses. There is resolute calm there, tinged with protective anger, and something cool and remorseless, though slightly confused. From Requiem comes the will to protect and a lack of fear, though he's wishing Bob would stop hiding and tell him what to do.*
Galvatron: She's a hunter. The gesture was automatic.
Requiem: He's no one's prey.
Auspex: *steps out onto the threshold, to see the rest with her optics. She recognizes that voice, and now she sees the face to match it, as well as an unfamiliar fem* Please, be mindful of your actions here - this world does not have stable peace, as do others, and I would not have a battle begin at my doorstep. The people of my sanctuary are protected.
*she nods solemnly* Galvatron... though I am not sure which universe you are from, or who your companion is.
Galvatron: *frowns down at her, his hopefulness at the sight of her not showing in his body language or expression* So I see. Call off your guard. I and my mate mean no harm.
Deathscream: *distracted from watching the cowering Seeker by Galvatron's hand on her shoulder and now focused on him instead, those cool emotions warming with affection and wistfulness*
Requiem: *standing tall, his arm slightly raised but no weapon opened yet as he waits on Auspex's orders*
Tessera: *still on Auspex's leg* :o Bob!
Auspex: Requiem is not my guard; rather a friend who looks out for me. His is not the only protection here. But it's all right, Requiem; I sense his sincerity, and his mate's instinct; though I trust she will show restraint here. *her expression is gentle, though pointed. It's then that she catches sight of the red Decepticon insignias that Galvatron and the black Seeker wear. Strange...*
*she turns a moment, to where she last saw her charge* Bob? Are you all right?
Bob: *tries to answer in the affirmative as Requiem stands down, but having a gun pointed at him was just too much. He curls more tightly and concentrates on not whimpering*
Galvatron: *sparking with concern and forgetting the reply that he'd intended to give*
Deathscream: *sees him frown and feels unhappy that her actions have caused the expression*
Auspex: *winces slightly* I'm sorry... give me a moment, and I'll speak with you. Let me see to my charge.
*she crouches beside Bob, putting an arm around his shoulders, speaking to him encouragingly, somewhat out of earshot*
Bob: *listening and gradually managing to force himself to uncurl and lean against her, though his feelings at first suggest that he's on the verge of crying. Terror gradually gives way to a pensive expression, and then he sighs and gathers his feet beneath him* Requiem... please don't do that.
Requiem: *looming over Galvatron and Deathscream* Huh?
Auspex: *kisses Bob's forehead as she stands again, though she glances up as he addresses Requiem. She hides a gently amused smile* Requiem. The menace is not necessary.
Requiem: *puzzled, but takes her words as dismissal and regains his usual post with a bound that looses a surprised whistle from Beamrider*
Auspex: *and so soon her young protector disappears, before she can thank him. But, that tends to be his way...*
Bob: *softly, emoting affection and thanks as he too stands and turns to walk inside* I'm going to my room.
Auspex: *nods, taking one of Bob's hands and squeezing it with reassurance* All right, then.
*She turns to look expectantly at Galvatron and his mate. A query to Primus gives an unusual answer; this Galvatron is on good terms with him, unlike many others with that name that she knows, or has heard of. She is pleasantly surprised*
Galvatron: *watches as the purple Seeker walks through the door, then looks hopefully back at the priestess and sees her looking at him* Is this a bad time? Are you busy?
Auspex: *can't help but smile at his hopeful sincerity* I am not. Please, come inside. *she turns and makes her way into the sanctuary proper*
Galvatron: *smiles at her turned back, hope growing, then looks at his mate* Walk ahead of me, Deathscream.
Auspex: *trusts Galvatron's mate to behave herself here, and not point guns at anything...*
*she freezes when he says the black Seeker's name. Ohh. Oh dear. She was afraid of that - she knows who these two are. Her optics blink out, and she grimaces. Well... she'd hoped to speak to them at some point... now is as good a time as any. After a moment of exchange with Primus, she turns back toward them, optics dim*
You are Deathscream? And you, Galvatron, carry the Matrix? I've.. heard of you. Actually, I knew you. *she pauses a moment* Welcome to my sanctuary... again.
Galvatron: *pauses, his optics searching her face* You knew.... *realization dawns, with a flash of guilt and remorse* Megatron, Oriana, and Starscream.
Deathscream: *concerned and watching*
Auspex: *again, she is struck with the youthful air of his hopefulness and sincerity. He hasn't been himself for very long; which is partially what makes this more painful. She gives him a sad smile* I did. Primus brought both of them here, broken and in pain, and I attempted to begin their healing. We'd made some progress...
*she sighs, shaking her head at the guilt she senses* But Unicron delights in undoing what Primus has done, he always has. The fault is not yours, and Primus knows that.
Galvatron: *looks down, blinking his optics off for a moment as one hand goes reassuringly to Deathscream's shoulder. 'I'm alright. I love you', the gesture says, and the black femme is content as she turns to look at Auspex again* Yes. He told me so himself, before he... left. *lights optics again and returns his gaze to the white femme, then takes his hand from his mate to step forward and offer Auspex a hug of apology and comfort*
Auspex: *optics flicker in surprise. Galvatron, of all people, is offering her a hug. Even with the unprecedented harmony he seems to have with Primus, this is not something she would expect. It takes a few moments for her to respond, but when she does, it is graciously, with a little sigh* Thank you, my friend. It is difficult for others to accept the reformatting of an associate, but you are taking it in stride with patience, and that will do much to reassure those who knew Megatron. Oriana... well, that will be harder... but that is beyond your control.
Galvatron: *nods as he gently puts a hand on her back.* Yes. Oriana is harder. She... is the one thing I remember.
*he lets her go and steps back then, his expression grave as he looks down at her*
Auspex: *optics flicker again, she gives him an amazed look when she meets his gaze* You... remember? *she frowns thoughtfully* I'm not sure what that means, exactly.
*another thought occurs to her* Primus... left?
Galvatron: *absently putting a hand on Deathscream's shoulder as he nods* One image of her face. But I'm not sure if it's a true memory, or one that Primus gave me when he was trying to call me that night. And yes. He was with me, in my spark, when I was created. But he left after he brought me to Cybertron.