Officers Meeting: the House of Prime
In which Rodimus announces to Optimus Prime his intention to formally adopt the title of Prime. Drift is in favor; Magnus is opposed; no one is surprised.
Rodimus:
Rodimus paces back and forth in the meeting room, argh he didn’t want to do this I the meeting room! The fact that he is early— maybe the first one to the meeting speaks volumes to his nervousness.
Pace pace.
Drift:
The moment Drift heard there was a meeting, he headed that way—so he arrives not too long after Rodimus. The pacing worries him, but he probably isn’t going to have enough time to talk to Rodimus before the others arrive; so he comes over long enough to take Rodimus’s hand and give it a reassuring squeeze, and then takes his usual seat at the table.
Magnus:
Why Magnus is the last one to the meeting? We’ll never know. Mark this event down in history.
Drift:
(Because Drift ran in the halls.)
Optimus:
Technically, Optimus is the last one to arrive, but he has a pretty solid excuse. That may or may not involve getting a bit lost, a bit distracted, and Rodimus’s crew.
Rodimus:
As everyone filtered in Rodimus had stopped his pacing, having assumed a nonchalant stance and a welcoming smile when Optimus had made it to the room.
“So—” He starts while leaning over the planning table, “I want to be an official Prime!” :D
Drift:
Drift’s hand shoots up. “I second the motion!”
Optimus:
Optimus looked to each mech before shrugging. "Ok."
Rodimus:
Just going to stare at Optimus a moment, before grinning, "That--- was easier than I thought."
Rodimus:
"I guess I already did the dying part." :D
Drift:
"Based on everything I know about choosing Primes—which, admittedly, isn't as much as some people in the room—you've been a full Prime for some time. I think the main concern is getting formal endorsement to get the public to see you that way." Which was what Drift assumed the meeting had been called for. Obviously Rodimus didn't need PERMISSION to be the Prime, right?
Magnus:
Magnus had been listening silently to the flow of conversation, his gaze darkening with each moment. "Perhaps, Rodimus, you should explain your reasoning for this as thoroughly as possible. Before we jump to how it will be seen through."
Optimus:
Optimus's antenna twitched and he shook his head. "Rodimus has been offered the title before. He refused." He turned his attention fully to the mech in question. "I'm curious, what's changed now that you're willing to take it?"
Rodimus:
Standing up right, fanning his spoiler out attempting to look as regal and primly as he can, "For my Crew, my ship, my quest, and Cybertron--- I want to protect them any way I can. I don't want to lose anymore. The title-- Or rather us restoring the house of Prime could do that."
Glancing to Magnus, with a twitch of a smile, "I know this isn't the easy way," looking back to Optimus, "But it is the way my spark says is the right way."
Magnus:
"Inspiring words, sir," Magnus muttered. He didn't say it aloud, but he was thinking it. 'Did Drift write them for you?'
Optimus:
Whatever he'd expected Rodimus to say, it hadn't been that. "I can't argue with that." he tipped his head to the side, contemplative. "I'm not sure how to reinstate the house, this situation never came up in how to be a prime 101 ."
Jokes aside, Optimus was at a loss. While he understood the reasoning, he hadn't expected or planned for this. "It will not be easy, I'm sure."
Rodimus:
Shrugging a moment, "I have no idea-- Magnus do you know?"
"Drift, is there anything in the records?"
Drift:
"If there is any information, I'd have to dig for it. This situation, though—two living Primes at once—is unprecedented in Cybertronian history. Usually, a Prime's appointed by the Senate—and those were fake Primes. That's not a precedent we want to follow."
Drift shrugged. "We might have better luck looking into how OTHER houses add new members. Like the House of Magnus." He glanced at Ultra Magnus.
Magnus:
"I don't think the House of Magnus is the best example," Magnus remarked. "My induction was not entirely legally binding."
Optimus:
"Then we will need to search for answers elsewhere." Optimus stated decisively. "It isn't entirely without precedent, something will likely turn up."
Rodimus:
Flopping soundly into the captain's chair, Rodimus visible relaxes with that wide killer smile. "So this is going to happen. Oh--" looking to Optimus, "We are arresting Prowl tomorrow, there is some sort of Autobot day going on in a woobie verse--- no reason to wreck their party."
Drift:
Give Drift a moment, he's not quite done staring at Magnus in shock over the revelation that he did ANYTHING in his life that wasn't strictly by the book.
Right. Okay. He's recovered.
"Well—I'm sure there are public records on how other houses induct new members." And that was all he had to contribute on that topic. He sat back to listen to the others discuss Prowl's imminent arrest.
Magnus:
Rodimus, apparently, had misread his comments as agreement with his decision. The Second's expression darkened even more. "Not so quickly, sir. You've told me you're doing this for the good of everyone, but can you give me a detailed plan of how it will do so?" He rumbled his engine and shook his helm. "I can't stop you, Rodimus. This is your decision to make, but it is an important one."
Optimus:
"Of course, so long as something is done about him." Optimus hadn't even expected Rodimus would arrest Prowl. "I will find out the specifics of induction, either Alpha Trion or," hand wave "Someone will know, it is only a matter of finding them."
Rodimus:
Rodimus smiles at Drift moment before tilting his helm to listen to his second, optics drifting to the table like a scolded child. Magnus doesn't trust his -- why should he anyways?
"I don't really do detailed plans..." Smirking a moment, brimming with confidence, "It's pretty much restore the house of Primes and operate outside the realm of whatever law Starscream can trump up!"
"Ok, Optimus--- Drift and I will look on our side."
Drift:
"If you need a plan, Magnus, I can provide you a hundred-item list of ways that Rodimus being officially appointed Prime would help both the Lost Light's cause and Cybertron's future." Drift's got Rodimus's back.
Magnus:
Magnus glanced between Drift and Rodimus, shaking his helm. "If I must say so, sir, this isn't solving the issue. This is punching it in the face and hoping it'll stay down long enough for you to grab what you want. Announcing yourself Prime comes off as a bit antagonistic. It's a statement, certainly, but statements draw attention. Attention means conflict. It certainly doesn't help the image that we are trying to work with the new power structure."
Rodimus:
"Who says that's the image we are going for?"
Drift:
"Starscream is going to try to spin ANYTHING Rodimus does as antagonistic. That's a risk we're gonna have to take if we want any stake in Cybertron's future."
Magnus:
"Yes. Let's split loyalties and play on mecha's deeply held religious and cultural beliefs just so we don't have to play nice with Starscream. This is how we make our stake, instead of through careful planning, time, and patience," he muttered. "I'm well aware of the power behind a name, but this is not a war. A legal battle does not need a rallying cry or a face."
Magnus shifted to his pedes. "And until you can properly convince me, I will have no part in it."
Rodimus:
"*JUST*-- Just so we don't have to pl-- WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO MAGNUS?!" Rodimus explodes at his second throwing his arms wide, "We talked about this this is our only legal way right?!!! You think I should just -- that I even would just hand over my crew, my space bridge, my ship just because the shadily elected lord of Cybertron told me too?!"
Slamming his hand hard on the table balling his fists squeezing his optics close hiding his pain with anger is certainly easier, "Than Magnus you obliviously don't know me like I thought you did."
Magnus:
"Contact me when you've compiled that list Drift spoke of," Magnus replied, his voice flat despite Rodimus's shouting. He wasn't the kind to react with such fierce passion. That done, he turned and strode from the room.
Drift:
Drift jumped to his feet, putting his hands on Rodimus's shoulders; but he didn't say anything until Rodimus's outburst was over, and Magnus had left.
"Rodimus, don't worry about him," Drift murmured. "If he wants to lay down and let Starscream walk all over him, let him. He can't make us do the same."
Optimus:
Optimus stood when Magnus passed, antennae tilting back before righting themselves. He turned to regard the two remaining occupants of the room.
"I trust your judgement." His optics pinched enough to qualify a smile, however small.
Rodimus:
Collapsing back towards Drift's grip lightly leaning into the touch, rubbing his optics a moment, "It's fine-- I will get his approval---"
Looking to Optimus his optics widening then he beams, his whole posture raising, as his expression lights up!
:D
Drift:
"You don't need his approval," Drift murmured. "You can do this without his permission."
A polite smile to Optimus. "I'm sure your support will be invaluable in getting Cybertron to recognize Rodimus's primacy."
Optimus:
Optimus's antenna twitched at Drift's word choice, followed by a small shake of the head. "Of course."
"I will begin making inquiries about the induction practices," he already had a plan for that, "I'll need to ask to use your spacebridge, though, Rodimus Prime."
Rodimus:
His smile only widened at the use of the title, "Go right head, Optimus Prime~"
Looking to Drift let's work on that 101 reasons why I should be prime, If I can't convince magnus how am I going to everyone else?"
Drift:
He squeezed Rodimus's shoulder when Optimus called him by his full title.
"Trust me, everyone else is going to be much easier to convince than Magnus. You shouldn't need to convince him." A smile. "But the list sounds fun anyway."
Optimus:
With that concluded, Optimus left the room.










