[His optics flicker, directing their line of vision upwards, and he makes a scoffing noise. It shows how little he thinks about the subject.]
Me Grimlock know they boring.
[The intricacies of the legal code were for the "smart" bots like Optimus, Rodimus, Ultra Magnus, and others working desk jobs. The Dinobots were usually far away from that.]
Dinobots just follow Dinobot law.
[It was a simple code. Listen to Grimlock when he gives orders or get punched. Don't punch other Dinobots too hard or get punched by Grimlock. Stand up for other Dinobots in times of need.]
[Grimlock has to stop and think. Usually his laws are issued on the fly and backed up by his strength. He cannot list them, because they rarely stay the same.]
Dinobot law what Grimlock say. Grimlock King of Dinobots.
[Even so, he wants to give Ultra Magnus a good answer.]
So...never hurt other Dinobots too much. Never hurt Decepticons too little. Slag no challenge Grimlock unless want Grimlock smash. Slag no burn Swoop unless want Grimlock smash. Slag no burn Snarl unless want Grimlock smash. Slag no burn Sludge unless Sludge being too stupid. Sludge no allowed climb high places because Sludge heavy. Sludge no allowed interrupt because Sludge stupid. Snarl let Grimlock sit on shoulders when Grimlock wants. Snarl get Grimlock energon when Grimlock wants. Snarl polish Grimlock when Grimlock wants. Sludge stand up and move when Grimlock wants. No Dinobot interrupt good part of story. No Dinobot leave other Dinobot behind. Dinobots Dinobots first and Autobots second.
[He grins smugly as he finishes. Those were a lot of laws and he remembered them all!]
[The first few rules warm Minimus's Spark. Caring for themselves, clearly defining their enemies, not harming one another. Then it devolves into dictatorship. Laws only meant to keep Grimlock in power and the figurehead of his band.
He is horrified. Simply horrified. Even the last two aren't enough to quell the pain within.]
Why are you giving yourself all this special treatment?! You are a leader not a tyrant!
Me give them nice things. Snarl play in water like other Dinobots. He listen to Kup stories with other Dinobots. Even if me need drag him from corner. Me Dinobot leader! Never dislike Dinobots!
[He snarls out his last two statements. He is disappointed in Magnus. Other Autobots can be excused for not understanding how the Dinobots work. Yet he recognizes Ultra Magnus, and Magnus recognizes him too. Even if the worlds are different, Magnus should know that Grimlock's leadership works for the Dinobots, whereas all the fancy laws of the Autobot code don't.]
[That's not a name he expected to associate with the Dinobots.]
Then forgive me for thinking you were anything like your counterpart in my universe. I personally had to arrest Grimlock after his stunt on Earth. [How to summarize it in a way this Grimlock would understand?]
He betrayed his fellow Dinobots.
[And this one is just friends? No need to show that he is always in the right? No willingness to work behind his comrades' back? This was just a childish way of assuming dominance?]
[Grimlock is shocked into silence. His fingers wrap around his communicator. He barely holds himself back from crushing it.]
That bad joke! No funny! Dinobots Grimlock soldiers! Never betray Dinobots!
[Perhaps, in another lifetime, if he had enough worldly wisdom to match his arrogance, and was surrounded by various degrees of cynicism, then if he believed a certain course of action could benefit his Dinobots, or simply preserve their dignity, he might push through with it at any cost. Yet as he is now, Grimlock is too young, too naive.]
You Magnus want scare Grimlock? Tell Boogieman story?
[And now he's in distress. Magnus tends to create that sort of reaction, and this time it's no different. He sighs loudly.]
No, that was not my intention, but if you wish to see it as a cautionary tale, keep in mind that you must treat your friends as your equals if you wish to keep them.
Though it seems that I have your word on it. [At least he thinks it's a promise. Despite his tendency towards violence, he hasn't seen this Grimlock boss the others around.]
[Grimlock is not incapable self-reflection. Magnus' lesson does strike a chord in him. He is king of the Dinobots, but he rules through having the respect of his Dinobots. He must always remember that the king put the need of his soldiers first.]
[He definitely has not relinquished his ambition to rule the Autobots on the R2 either, seeing as how "Baby" Prime is soft-sparked, but now he realizes that it might not be so easy to command the respect and loyalty of the Autobots, especially the "smart" ones.]
[He takes a moment to calm down and stop squeezing his communicator. Then, he nods.]
Me understand. Me want learn Autobot law with you. Then no betray Dinobots. Never.
[At least, he'll know exactly which stupid law he'll be disregarding the next time he's taking down Decepticons.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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Me Grimlock know they boring.
[The intricacies of the legal code were for the "smart" bots like Optimus, Rodimus, Ultra Magnus, and others working desk jobs. The Dinobots were usually far away from that.]
Dinobots just follow Dinobot law.
[It was a simple code. Listen to Grimlock when he gives orders or get punched. Don't punch other Dinobots too hard or get punched by Grimlock. Stand up for other Dinobots in times of need.]
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[It's list of rules, he can build off of that.]
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Dinobot law what Grimlock say. Grimlock King of Dinobots.
[Even so, he wants to give Ultra Magnus a good answer.]
So...never hurt other Dinobots too much. Never hurt Decepticons too little. Slag no challenge Grimlock unless want Grimlock smash. Slag no burn Swoop unless want Grimlock smash. Slag no burn Snarl unless want Grimlock smash. Slag no burn Sludge unless Sludge being too stupid. Sludge no allowed climb high places because Sludge heavy. Sludge no allowed interrupt because Sludge stupid. Snarl let Grimlock sit on shoulders when Grimlock wants. Snarl get Grimlock energon when Grimlock wants. Snarl polish Grimlock when Grimlock wants. Sludge stand up and move when Grimlock wants. No Dinobot interrupt good part of story. No Dinobot leave other Dinobot behind. Dinobots Dinobots first and Autobots second.
[He grins smugly as he finishes. Those were a lot of laws and he remembered them all!]
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He is horrified. Simply horrified. Even the last two aren't enough to quell the pain within.]
Why are you giving yourself all this special treatment?! You are a leader not a tyrant!
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[He replies as this is obviously.]
And Sludge stupid. Snarl clumsy. They no need "special treatment."
[Notice, though, he has yet to say anything bad about Swoop.]
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[Now it's his turn to be scandalized.]
Me give them nice things. Snarl play in water like other Dinobots. He listen to Kup stories with other Dinobots. Even if me need drag him from corner. Me Dinobot leader! Never dislike Dinobots!
[He snarls out his last two statements. He is disappointed in Magnus. Other Autobots can be excused for not understanding how the Dinobots work. Yet he recognizes Ultra Magnus, and Magnus recognizes him too. Even if the worlds are different, Magnus should know that Grimlock's leadership works for the Dinobots, whereas all the fancy laws of the Autobot code don't.]
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[That's not a name he expected to associate with the Dinobots.]
Then forgive me for thinking you were anything like your counterpart in my universe. I personally had to arrest Grimlock after his stunt on Earth. [How to summarize it in a way this Grimlock would understand?]
He betrayed his fellow Dinobots.
[And this one is just friends? No need to show that he is always in the right? No willingness to work behind his comrades' back? This was just a childish way of assuming dominance?]
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That bad joke! No funny! Dinobots Grimlock soldiers! Never betray Dinobots!
[Perhaps, in another lifetime, if he had enough worldly wisdom to match his arrogance, and was surrounded by various degrees of cynicism, then if he believed a certain course of action could benefit his Dinobots, or simply preserve their dignity, he might push through with it at any cost. Yet as he is now, Grimlock is too young, too naive.]
You Magnus want scare Grimlock? Tell Boogieman story?
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No, that was not my intention, but if you wish to see it as a cautionary tale, keep in mind that you must treat your friends as your equals if you wish to keep them.
Though it seems that I have your word on it. [At least he thinks it's a promise. Despite his tendency towards violence, he hasn't seen this Grimlock boss the others around.]
seems like this thread is wrapping up
[He definitely has not relinquished his ambition to rule the Autobots on the R2 either, seeing as how "Baby" Prime is soft-sparked, but now he realizes that it might not be so easy to command the respect and loyalty of the Autobots, especially the "smart" ones.]
[He takes a moment to calm down and stop squeezing his communicator. Then, he nods.]
Me understand. Me want learn Autobot law with you. Then no betray Dinobots. Never.
[At least, he'll know exactly which stupid law he'll be disregarding the next time he's taking down Decepticons.]