The silence is deafening.

Five pairs of red optics staring you down with varying degrees of malice as they all do their very best to scare you away from pursuing a relationship with Soundwave.

Laserbeak perched on Ravage's helm, the two getting on surprisingly well for being a bird and a cat, respectively. But their crimson optics are easily the scariest, staring through your chassis and seemingly into your spark.

Ratbat hangs upside down, and if you didn't know any better, you'd say he doesn't care in the slightest, but the sideways glances he gives you seem to contradict his demeanour.

Rumble seems to be absently polishing a gun that's almost comically large compared to his own frame, but his optics are trained on your exact position, while Frenzy glares you.

As you're not a cassette or bonded with these particular cassettes, you can't hear the silent tracks they're all playing when they're quiet, or feel their emotions through the symbiote bond like Soundwave can.

But, you don't need to share emotions with them to understand what exactly is going through their processors right at this moment. Or, more accurately, over the past few months.

Your budding relationship with Soundwave is barely off the ground, but all of the cassettes (including Buzzsaw and Enemy, both of whom are out with Soundwave on a scouting mission right now) seem to have a profound disliking of you.

It's not like you've done anything to piss them off, but you suppose they're all just feeling protective over their Cassette Player.

"So, you wish to start... Relations, with Soundwave," Ravage speaks, and you nearly jump out of your frame.

Ratbat speaks next, twitching his audials in your direction. "Despite the woefully bad idea it is. Do you know how distracting having a Conjux Endura is?"

Frenzy's helm snaps towards Ratbat, and Rumble's disapproving glare is soon fixed on you instead. "Distracting? Is'at all you're worried about?"

"Considering how high up the chain of command Soundwave is, you'll need Megatron's permission." Laserbeak muses, "and he'll often be busy. Wouldn't you prefer a Conjux that can afford to be more... Attentive? To you, and you alone?"

"Exactly!" Rumble shifts the gun in his lap, so its rather conspicuously pointing straight at you. "Soundwave is a loyal Decepticon, and his first priority will be The Cause, and us! You'll always be second- er, third fiddle!"

"Eighth fiddle if you count all us Cassettes separately." Frenzy adds, to which Rumble nods like his life depends on it.