( No, do tell him. That's the sort of thing he wants to hear from you, Optimus. )

What I see others eventually will, given enough time. Even you didn't think you could be Prime at first. ( And look at you now. ) I've lost count myself, but I was only ever suspended five times.

( A grin, because even though he know his fate was a direct result of their inability to censure him, he wouldn't make any other choice. Someone had to do it, had to be the sole voice of reason among his coworkers. Shockwave's tone is fond - fingers tracing idle patterns across Optimus' plating. If there was a point to this he's lost it long ago. Not that he's complaining. He wouldn't trade this easy companionship for anything else at the moment. )