[ti]Ep 3[/ti]White Flag (Optimus, Prowl, and Sundance)
Apr 28, 2023 18:47:43 GMT -5
Post by Optimus Prime on Apr 28, 2023 18:47:43 GMT -5
Hearing that there was no conflict between Sundance and Jetfire was good, as it meant that the hesitation that she spoke of previously was not sourced from ire at the other mech, though her following passing statement turned it upside down. Optimus now wondered if such an infatuation played a role, not wanting to draw someone she liked into a risky situation due to selfless idealism. While he did not care if individuals sought relationships and social connections, they needed to be aware enough that they did not disrupt the team while doing so, avoiding senseless risks such as what occurred in this particular case. While this may be a thought, one that could have been subconscious, the idea that Thundercracker's name was being thrown around as though he were a god that could summon the wrath of the entire Decepticon army was concerning.
As Sundance continued to speak, turning her thoughts then into a question towards Prowl, Optimus' hand would raise slightly in a light gesture for the tactician to stay his response on that topic and not clarify just what his weaponry could accomplish. It frankly did not matter what was there, so much as it was what the question itself represented in its core. After this motion, his hand would place back down atop the desk, fingers lightly curling inward while he spoke in a stern tone to put more power behind what he had to say next.
"How can you calculate the validity of your allies, if you do not know their capabilities?"
Not that someone could water down an individual to skills and weaponry to begin with. There were so many other factors in play that went beyond surface layers that could be noted in a dossier. All of their soldiers have been through countless interactions in their lives, and there was no telling if any one of them may have insight, whether from their own experience or from the voice of others that had told them the story. That said, if Sundance did not even consider Prowl's missiles which were right out on display, then she truly was flying blind even before her unfortunate confrontation.
"You put too much value into who it was you were up against while assigning little to yourself."
Optimus wondered just how deep this lack of self-confidence dug down, unknowing if it had always been there, or if it was truly a name that shocked her to her core.
"Thundercracker is but a mech. No individual rules their domain, and even the strongest can fall."
In his opinion, being a 'master' of any given subject was as much a strength as it was a weakness. Complacency at being towards the top brought sloppiness and arrogance to many, and such ideas left fissures that others could shove a wedge into in order to split them apart. This mindset was why Optimus always fought with a level of caution. While he knew he was profoundly powerful and could do much through years of being pitted against stronger foes until he got his footing, he never assumed a fight was a guaranteed win, no matter how low the threat may appear.
As Sundance continued to speak, turning her thoughts then into a question towards Prowl, Optimus' hand would raise slightly in a light gesture for the tactician to stay his response on that topic and not clarify just what his weaponry could accomplish. It frankly did not matter what was there, so much as it was what the question itself represented in its core. After this motion, his hand would place back down atop the desk, fingers lightly curling inward while he spoke in a stern tone to put more power behind what he had to say next.
"How can you calculate the validity of your allies, if you do not know their capabilities?"
Not that someone could water down an individual to skills and weaponry to begin with. There were so many other factors in play that went beyond surface layers that could be noted in a dossier. All of their soldiers have been through countless interactions in their lives, and there was no telling if any one of them may have insight, whether from their own experience or from the voice of others that had told them the story. That said, if Sundance did not even consider Prowl's missiles which were right out on display, then she truly was flying blind even before her unfortunate confrontation.
"You put too much value into who it was you were up against while assigning little to yourself."
Optimus wondered just how deep this lack of self-confidence dug down, unknowing if it had always been there, or if it was truly a name that shocked her to her core.
"Thundercracker is but a mech. No individual rules their domain, and even the strongest can fall."
In his opinion, being a 'master' of any given subject was as much a strength as it was a weakness. Complacency at being towards the top brought sloppiness and arrogance to many, and such ideas left fissures that others could shove a wedge into in order to split them apart. This mindset was why Optimus always fought with a level of caution. While he knew he was profoundly powerful and could do much through years of being pitted against stronger foes until he got his footing, he never assumed a fight was a guaranteed win, no matter how low the threat may appear.