It's been a while...

[autocommander.livejournal.com]

But with that odd noise, Optimus Prime enters Milliways. There's something odd, though: he seems a bit nervous. He's got a very wide briefcase in one hand, which he sets down on a table.

The table may, in fact, have creaked a little.

His next stop is the bar, where he lays his hand gently on the Bar (no tapping for him), and says, "One Atlantean, please."

Getting the glass, he goes back to the table, sits in a chair, and contemplates both the briefcase and the glass of liquid.

Comments

[gone_byebye]

Ray got a phone call this morning. He'd rather not think about it just yet. Other people's problems are MUCH more interesting than kicking off the month of October. So is alcohol capable of summoning Mayahuel, the Aztec goddess of pulque and by extension other ass-kicking drinks, by its mere presence.

"Should I ask?"

[autocommander.livejournal.com]

Optimus observes the glass and the case briefly, then responds.

"We're setting the date for going public with the existance of the Autobots. The cartoon is doing well, the plush figures are flying off the shelves. Even Grimlock likes his portrayal on the cartoon." He emits a noise like a sigh.

"I'm just not completely sure how well the jump from 'see the cartoon' to 'here are the Autobots' will go. I don't know how people will react. The US Military Forces in Qatar know about us - it's hard to hide in a close community like that, but..." He taps the table gently. "They're also going to disclose the truth about the battle with Megatron. Sector Seven is being downplayed, but at the same time there's still going to be a lot of questions." He reaches over and opens the briefcase - it's one of those that opens from the top - and removes a thick folder marked with lots of 'we really don't want you to share this' notations from government agencies in red stamps.

"Part of me is thinking 'well, how bad could it be?' And another part is thinking of how bad it could be."

He flips it open to reveal the title of the document within:

OPTIONS FOR UNITED STATES/CYBERTRONIAN GOVERNMENT-IN-EXILE RELATIONS
POST-REVEAL OF CYBERTRONIAN PRESENCE ON EARTH

"Some of the worst-case scenario projections scare me, Ray. I know they're realistic possibilities - panic, hatred, destruction - but at the same time, I dislike the methods used to deal with it. Police actions, riot control..." Another soft sighing noise. "I want to believe humans can be better than that."

[gone_byebye]

"Oooh." Ray wrinkles his nose. "That...yeah. Humans can be kind of weird about that kind of thing. I know how the reaction to the revelation of the supernatural's gone in the worlds I've been to, but that's mostly the reaction of New Yorkers, who're sort of a specialized and excessively restricted subset of the planetary population. And we did have a relatively peaceful overall response to the existence of the Deep Ones in the Atlantic Ocean. If it helps at all, people usually settle down and accept paradigm shifts eventually?"

[autocommander.livejournal.com]

"Oh, I realize that. It's just... if people are injured, or worse, directly or indirectly because of us, I'll blame myself for it. I do not want that on my spark." He glances at the folder, then closes it again.

"I also am expected to write a speech for the ceremony. Secretary Keller told me to write honestly, and I will, but even on Cybertron, I was never one for public speaking except for work assignments and the ceremonies of Primus." Optimus shakes his head. "I'm going to bring Bumblebee and Silverbolt with me; Ironhide is a bit too grumpy, Jetfire isn't quite down-to-earth enough, Ratchet may well have an attack of pedal-in-vocalizer malfunction, and Grimlock... is Grimlock. I wish I could bring them all, but public relations..." He shrugs. "I shall process this."

[gone_byebye]

Ray considers this for a bit. Eventually he says, "I realize she's not actually going to be living on your world, but would you like me to ask Ecto if she wants to come along? She's used to dealing with the general public by now. It'd be completely understandable if you said no, of course, since she's not really representative of who your world's humans are going to be dealing with, but if she can help at all I'm sure she'd love to."

[autocommander.livejournal.com]

"I might want to spend some time to consult with her on her opinions of how to deal with humans who aren't used to the concept of sentient machines - another point of view. But no, I'm going to ask Lissar to be our 'face'; she's got dignity, poise, and a remarkable talent for speaking." He pauses. "And if anyone tries anything with or to her, Ironhide will show our ability to protect the people we've pledged to assist."

"I don't think it will go very badly, but I'm sure there will be people who would take the concept of us as an insult to their beliefs. But what's the old saying? No one can keep everyone happy, I think. We'll deal with the situations. But yes, Ecto's perspective would be helpful to listen to." Optimus chuckles. "She's very insightful. Watch yourself, Ray: she may end up running for President when she's legally old enough. And she might win."

[gone_byebye]

"I hadn't thought of her, but Lissar sounds like a very good idea," Ray says. "Is she aware of the possibility yet?"

Then, well, his face does something along the lines of the above icon. Because while Ray's considered a lot of things about the future, both his own and Ecto's, they've usually been on the order of 'how much slime can I expect' and 'will there be worldwide waves of horror and insanity or can we just expect basic rioting should we not be capable of stopping the Mythos incursions in time'. The prospect of someone having to literally raise the roof on the White House honestly had not occurred to him.

[lissla-lissar.livejournal.com]

"Good day, my Prime." Lissar says, with a kiss for one of the less pointy bits of his metallic cheek and settling down in a seat near him.

[autocommander.livejournal.com]

"Good day, Lissar," he replies. The glass of Atlantean is still sitting there, like a liquid bomb.

"I just returned from Washington. They're starting the process for us to no longer be secret. No more secrets, no more hiding. The cartoon is doing well, the toys are selling out, and... well. They want to introduce a new character onto the cartoon." He reaches into the briefcase and pulls out an 8x11 poster. On it is the animated (more simplified appearance, more stylized facial features) Ironhide, with a satisfied smirk on his face and arms crossed over his chest plastron, and sitting on the cross arms a young woman with white hair and shining eyes, wearing all black, looking perhaps a bit younger than Lissar actually is.

"I told them you'd need to approve, though. And... I'd like you to come to the press conference where we emerge into the public eye, as one of our allies. Ironhide isn't going to be one of the first to show - it will be Bumblebee, Silverbolt and myself - but you've got grace, poise, and presence, and I would be honored to have you with us at that time."

[lissla-lissar.livejournal.com]

Lissar laughs at the poster and says, "But she is wearing shoes, Optimus. I never wear shoes, if I can get away with not."

She has no other objections, however. Then she nods, and looking up at him says, "I expected it to be thus. I will be there, dressed in whatever is suitable. Even if it must include shoes."

[autocommander.livejournal.com]

Optimus turns it around and looks. "Shoes? Primus, I don't think she has any separation between pants and shoes. I'll talk to them, though." He puts it back in the case.

"For the ceremony, you'll need to wear shoes. Apparently, formal ceremonies in Washington frown on people being barefoot." He pauses. "Besides, you'll get to detail Bumblebee and I the night before. I know how much you enjoy that. Oh, in addition, we're going to arrange things so that if Ironhide goes anywhere for a public appearance, you'll go with him. Why not bow to the inevitable, I said to the Secretary."

Lissar may remember Secretary Keller from the Memorial Day barbecue. He was an older man, with steel grey hair, and he bowed to her instead of shaking hands, without any sort of prompting.

[lissla-lissar.livejournal.com]

Lissar remembers him fondly for that. She then quirks her lips and says, "Demyx has asked to take charge of my wardrobe. I shall ask him for help in finding the appropriate clothing."

And, after a second, "I think it is safer for all concerned if I go where Ironhide does. And if he goes with Grimlock."

[autocommander.livejournal.com]

"Tell him it should be at least semi-formal. I think he'll be able to get you something appropriate." He nods at the next.

"I agree. Grimlock isn't going to be going anywhere for a while yet, unless there's a major action that requires all of us. His anger is still so uncontrolled unless Ironhide, or to a lesser degree Ratchet or myself, are there that it's too dangerous to let him go unaccompanied by another Autobot." Optimus shakes his head sadly. "Before his injury, I had thought to make him the Prime-designate, but now..."

"But I'm sure we'll be fine."

[lissla-lissar.livejournal.com]

"Of course you will." Lissar says, resting her hand on his lightly, "And it will be many centuries before you should even have to think about the next Prime. Do not borrow trouble when there is so much already waiting for us."

[a1enzo]

"Hey, Uncle Optimus. What's in that?"

Enzo, for the record looks (a) at least half a year older than when Optimus saw him last, and (b) a bit more subdued than usual. But at least he's rested.

[autocommander.livejournal.com]

"Paperwork. The bane of all things in a government. And you'll looking well, Enzo. How's school going? You've gotten taller."

Sometimes, the best thing to do is state the obvious.

[a1enzo]

Enzo nods. "I compiled 'bout a month ago. School's... I dunno. I finally finished writing this huge doc for Ancient History, so that's good but now it's almost exams so it's all gonna get awful again." He brightens. "But it's the end of my second term, so I'll be getting my first protocol upgrade!"

[autocommander.livejournal.com]

"Sounds like you're doing well enough. I never had to go to school; I was incepted with the knowledge to be Prime, and learned on the go during the War. But tell me about what you had to write, what this protocol upgrade means, and how Dani is."

What? It's totally normal to ask.

[a1enzo]

He'll start with the last one. "Dani's great! I've been teaching her to swim! And she's been visiting Amity Park. Y'know. Getting used to it. For when she goes back."

He starts out smiling, but it fades a bit over the course of this.

[autocommander.livejournal.com]

Optimus nods. "Which is a place you can't visit. A problem, I can see already. But she can't live here forever, Enzo. Besides, look at the bright side: all the things in that world she can do, and learn, and bring to share with you, and you can share all that you've learned in your world with her. It may not be the best situation, but both of you have growing up to do, and back there is best for her, right now. Trust her."

Admittedly, the whole situation here is based more on what he's observed with Lissar and Ironhide, so his advice may, in fact, suck.

[action_rad]

Protesting tables get his attention.

It looks like it's carrying all the paperwork any individual human is ever going to see in a lifetime year.

"Is this one of those 'should I even ask' things?"

He's seen this before. Heavy briefcase + heavy drink = [usually] "don't bother me right now".

[autocommander.livejournal.com]

"We're going public. This is contingency plans, travel plans for the probable goodwill tour we're going to do, what to do about Grimlock, what will be done if there's a riot..." He sighs. "When I was just the Prime, it was so much easier. But then there was the War and everything else, and, well, I guess it got a lot more complicated."

[action_rad]

"And humans complicate matters in ways unexpected."

Oh yeah; they had their problems on Rad's Earth.

Josie Beller... RAAT...

And on Nebulos, Lord Zarak.

Problems.

"'Least you've got more control over it, if you're revealing yourselves."

[autocommander.livejournal.com]

"There's going to be a big presentation, and Bumblebee, Silverbolt and myself will be introduced. There's a toy line and a cartoon about us already. The entire secrecy about Mission City will be officially taken down and revealed for what happened. Then a fifteen-city goodwill tour, meeting people, answering questions. I fear the last one most of all." He looks at the Atlantean, but doesn't drink it yet. "If that crazy Beller woman shows up, who knows what madness will occur."

[action_rad]

"Toys and cartoons?"

The Great Autobot Rock Tour. This will go down in the history books.

For what, remains to be revealed.

"Just Beller? The crowds should drown her out either audibly or visually and she'll be ignored. Or hauled off by security if she causes trouble."

We hope.

Hope, dammit.