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And I of you.

[ She offers him another of those smiles. ]

Although I regret that I don't seem to have anything to give you in return. If you'll grant me your company, we can have tea again?

[He tilts his head, at first.]

It'll go well with the snacks I brought, I think. I wouldn't be opposed to tea. [He's gotten to like the taste of it, and looks forward to it.] And, Saber... you need not worry about giving anything materialistic in return. Having you as my company is enough for a gift.

Well, in that case, I'll go put some water on.

[ And she vanishes into the kitchen where she can be heard rummaging around. ]

... Bring plates too when you come back.

[While Saber is gone to the kitchen, he'll go straight to the sitting room. Once he's there, he'll begin to set the cake and snacks down on the table, waiting patiently for Saber.

The elephant plush doll will also be present in their tea party, having its own seat, too. ....... He thinks it's funny.]

[ She's back in few minutes with a teapot, cups, and plates, although she pauses with a startled little blink when she sees the doll set up in one of the chairs. ]

Ah. I see... we have a guest.

[Okay, it was his idea to have the plushie as a guest, but Saber pointing out the elephant in the room is a bit embarrassing. His cheeks flush pink over her comment.]

I thought it was... a cute idea.

It's... certainly cute.

[ She's not sure what else to say. So she mutes her smile and carefully starts pouring them all cups of tea. ]

Just not something I was expecting.

... You could say I was silly. I wouldn't fault you for thinking that, either.

[Anyway, Soundwave will just take his seat while she pours the tea, avoiding making eye contact with her for a bit. The elephant doll still remains on its seat. Fortunately, the embarrassment has gone away fast and he holds his cup in his hand.]

Feel free to help yourself with the cake and snacks first, if you wish.

Silly or not, I do not mind.

[ She carefully stirs some sugar into her tea and then helps herself to one of the little cakes. ]

You're too kind, Soundwave.

[ And then... another. And another. She really likes these, apparently. ]

[Soundwave doesn't reach for any of the snacks on the table yet, simply watching Saber enjoying herself while he sips on his tea. Although... Her finishing a cake and then immediately takes another and then another without an intention to pause gets a look from him. And also a remark after a beat.]

Do they taste good? You certainly do not hesitate to help yourself with another serving, Saber.

[Said with a hint of amusement in his flat tone.]

Oh-

[ Suddenly, Saber blushes and she pauses in her eating. She's forgotten herself, it seems. ]

They're quite tasty.

[ She flutters a wingtip. ]

I've just... grown rather fond of food since my arrival here.

I could tell.

[He takes another sip.]

Feel free to eat them to your heart's content, but do remember to chew your food and not choke on them. [And choking's a serious problem for human, without needing to be said.]

Thank you for the reminder.

[ She still sounds sheepish, but resumes eating at a slightly reduced pace. ]

That isn't something you need to worry about, is it?

[Saber looks like a child who was caught in a bad behaviour. It's an amusing sight, but he won't bully her further about it.]

Choking on food...? No. [He sets his cup down on the table and reaches for a gingerbread cookie.]

I don't breathe air, like you are required to. At worst, I would feel discomfort in my throat.

That was what I thought, especially since your form here isn't truly... real, if you'll forgive me. It's a projection of sorts, so it doesn't need to breathe or eat or anything of the sort.

[ She chews thoughtfully. ]

And I assume that, being a mechanical being, you do not require breathable air in any case...

[She doesn't need to apologize, he's well aware this form isn't "real", in a sense. He's not offended in the slightest. After all, this form is mainly used for convenience and also to eat food he couldn't digest just for the sake of taste rather than filling his tank.]

Your assumption is correct. [He pops the cookie into his first, swallowing first before continuing.] While I do still 'breathe' through my vents to prevent overheating, I do not require breathable air.

So, you do require some form of atmosphere for cooling then...? How fascinating.

[ She hasn't learned much about his "real" form, so it's interesting to learn a bit more about him. ]

Of course. It is possible for my internal system to overheat, and without it I am unable to cool off. And I may experience clogging in my vents if something is stuck in there, but it doesn't necessarily lead to... asphyxiation like a human would.

Plus, an atmosphere is required if I am to talk to other beings.

[Sound waves cannot travel through empty space, after all... Not that Soundwave specifically needed atmosphere, as he could telepathically talk to anyone... At least before this place took that ability away from him.]

Naturally. Sound requires a medium to transfer itself through...

[ Saber laughs quietly. ]

Soundwave. Does that name have a deeper meaning, considering it is your name?

[There's a beat after her question.]

... It does. It's a name I chose for myself, tied to my powers.

[Not one that was designated to him originally, whatever it was in the past.]

Have I ever told you about my powers before? Before I came here, I was an empath.

I think you've mentioned them in passing, but I would be interested in hearing more about them.

I believe I mentioned to you before that I was an outcast in the past Cybertronian society... It was because of those powers I was born with. My hearings are particularly powerful and sensitive, to a point that I can hear people's thoughts and emotions. I still do not know how I came to be with them, I guess there is a mutation in my coding...

Regardless, it's a power I was born with. And because I am the only one of my kind with this power, I had no one to guide me on how to control them, so I was constantly bombarded by thoughts and emotions... It didn't help that nobody cared for an outcast like me, so I was left alone on the street. And my memories were repeatedly destroyed by the storm of information in my head- For however long it was, I didn't even know who I am or even my original birthplace.

[Basically, being an empath sucks for him.]

That is, until I met some friends by chance who taught me to control my powers. After that, I learned how to control them and named myself 'Soundwave' after my own powers.

Hear thoughts and emotions? That sounds more like some form of magic than a natural ability, but... I suppose all things are possible.

[ She listens quietly otherwise, lifting her tea for a drink. ]

I'm sorry that your life has been difficult - you have seen so much over your long lifetime. Surely, we humans seem to pale into insignificance next to all of that.

I'm unsure if I could call it magic, really. I'll have to admit... without my powers, it's quiet here.

[It's hard to say if he actually misses having those powers, since it can also be a major headache hearing people's thoughts and emotions all day.]

It's fine, that was a long time ago. Us Outliers are generally accepted in Cybertron's current society after the war ended. And please, you humans may be incredibly short-lived, but I do not think you or other human as insignificant.

[Not anymore in his optics.]

I'm not strictly human, of course.

[ She responds thoughtfully. ]

Even when I was a king, I was... inhuman in some ways. And until my arrival here, I was a Heroic Spirit. More... energy given form than anything else. It's a little complicated, honestly.

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