Holi-3
Cadet
I always tell the truth. But that was a lie.
Posts: 74
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Post by Holi-3 on Jun 28, 2008 16:20:47 GMT -5
Quietly, carefully, not trying to be sneaky – that'd make him even more conspicuous – Holi makes his way along the fringes of the party. The larger bots might not be minding where they step or what small things might be underfoot, but that's fine. Holi's paying attention.
He's also making sure to keep as far from certain conspicuously red persons as he reasonably can; no reason to spend time in their company if he doesn't have to. He isn't here to be social anyway; he's just lurking around trying to pick up on personalities, to gauge which of these "allies" is the most worrisome and which ones might afford him a little more squeaking room if they happen to run into him unsupervised.
Some of these guys are even dumber than most. He has the feeling this won't actually make his life any easier; the stupid ones are less likely to care that he's supposed to be on their side and just see something tiny and breakable wearing an Autobrand.
Carefully, quietly, going for inobtrusive rather than sneaky, the Micromaster slinks into the crowd just a little further. If anyone just happens to look down and see what that little black and blue shape near his feet is, they'll be greeted by a tiny Autobot with a pleasantly serpentine smile. Oh, such a small and weak Autobot must be so tempting a target, surely. But why waste the effort? Why risk this truce and ruin the celebration? That's what that smile says – I'm not worth it. Just a little snake in a dragons' den staying up past his bedtime to watch and listen and learn.
It's because he's watching and paying attention that he manages to skitter out of the way when someone shifts their weight and a leg threatens to clip him; an annoyed frown darts across his face and he opens his mouth to snap before he thinks better of it; he shuts his mouth, recovers his balance, and shapes back up.
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Skyfire-3
Rookie
Professional Treasure Hunter and Pet Fancier
Posts: 182
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Post by Skyfire-3 on Jun 29, 2008 11:17:06 GMT -5
It's a good thing Holi was paying attention, because he was just missed by the foot of the Autobot Most Likely to Step on a Mini-bot Without Noticing, Skyfire-3. Skyfire has long had the attitude that if tiny maintenance drones don't want to get stepped on, they won't run underfoot. Besides, currently his attention is across the open park that is serving as the party room.
What was Perceptor up to with Shockwave? Skyfire frowned; he wanted to talk with Perceptor and found out what had happened to him, but Perceptor looked rather... busy. With Shockwave. Who was entirely too interested in their top scientist and engineer and doing an awful lot of touching and probing. Skyfire fervently hoped that Perceptor wouldn't be so distracted by whatever new schemes the party inspired in him that he forgot to give himself a thorough check for surprise party favors.
The blue skittery thing catches a corner of Skyfire's optic, and that part of his CPU that is always scanning for environmental anomalies to check out. He shifts his glance downward, train of thought broken, and spots the little micromaster slinking away.
"Holi." Skyfire says thoughtfully.
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Holi-3
Cadet
I always tell the truth. But that was a lie.
Posts: 74
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Post by Holi-3 on Jun 30, 2008 11:44:37 GMT -5
Holi peers up… and up, and he stifles a sigh – of relief? Maybe. Quite the mechanoid to not get stepped on by.
"Skyfire, sir," he addresses the shuttle, deferential and cheery without being too effusive. After all, the allied forces have just achieved a great victory. What better reason is there to be happy? "Some party, huh?" He teeters back and forth on his feet deliberately, hands tucked behind his back, and makes sure he's as attentive as he should be when speaking to someone of such stature. Not that he expects anything of the sort in return; he'll need wings before Skyfire bothers paying him much mind.
For once, he's almost happy to be a small car.
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Skyfire-3
Rookie
Professional Treasure Hunter and Pet Fancier
Posts: 182
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Post by Skyfire-3 on Jun 30, 2008 20:07:48 GMT -5
Skyfire half-knelt and snatched up the little blue Micromaster in one massive white hand. He stood and brought the micro-bot up to face level.
"Who are you working for these days, Holi? I haven't seen you doing anything particularly important; are you useful for anything at all?" Skyfire asked with a bit of a smirk.
--- OOC: grabbing of Holi-3 done with permission of player
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Holi-3
Cadet
I always tell the truth. But that was a lie.
Posts: 74
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Post by Holi-3 on Jun 30, 2008 23:05:39 GMT -5
Sometimes Holi is almost happy to be a small car. Sometimes, like when he gets grabbed and picked up by some oversized space taxi, he isn't. He takes a step back when Skyfire comes down, but he doesn't run. Running attracts too much attention and might even piss off someone. So he finds himself high off the ground in short order and staring into Skyfire's smug face. Maybe one of these days, that pet jet of his will grow a dorsal support structure and smash it in.
"I work for the Autobots, sir," Holi declares with a false pride that leaves his fuel tank feeling like it's full of rancid oil. "Maybe you've been too busy with Thundercracker to notice?" Just a polite suggestion offered in a poisonously saccharine tone with an incongruously oblivious smile.
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Skyfire-3
Rookie
Professional Treasure Hunter and Pet Fancier
Posts: 182
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Post by Skyfire-3 on Jul 1, 2008 7:05:38 GMT -5
Cold blue optics regarded Holi knowingly.
"I'm sure you are," Skyfire said. "Too bad you're so busy with whatever. I could use an assistant that's good at getting into small places and using the micro-sized equipment the locals had. Especially an assistant that doesn't add a big hit to the fuel rations. I'd consider such a person a valuable employee--worth protecting, if he did a good job."
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Holi-3
Cadet
I always tell the truth. But that was a lie.
Posts: 74
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Post by Holi-3 on Jul 1, 2008 19:40:51 GMT -5
Use. Everyone can use something. But there's being useful, which keeps Holi in company who have slightly less reason to be rid of him, and there's being used, which makes him feel like stealing Rattrap's explosives and setting bombs in everyone's berths, or nicking something corrosive from Perceptor's laboratory and adding it to the wash. Always getting used. As soon as he figures out some way to get them back for it and survive, he'll show them.
"An assistant?" It's a step up from pet or tool. Or it could be Skyfire-ese for pet, for all the Micromaster knows. Holi needs to tread carefully. "That's nice of you to say, sir," he demurs, somewhere between disbelief and flattery, "but I can't even fly!"
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Skyfire-3
Rookie
Professional Treasure Hunter and Pet Fancier
Posts: 182
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Post by Skyfire-3 on Jul 1, 2008 21:42:16 GMT -5
Skyfire smirked again. "You have a talent for survival; in my business, that's a big plus right there. I have no use for noobs who'll get themselves killed by stupidity their first five minutes on a strange planet."
He opened his hand somewhat--enough that Holi could stand upright on it with Skyfire's thumb to hold on to--and strolled over toward the drinks on a round-about path. "My dear Holi, I'm not interested in keeping you as an ornament; I'm making you a business proposition. Sure, you'll get a lot of dirty work in tight places--because you're the only one smart enough and small enough to do the job. But... you'll get paid. Rations for now, real currency when we get out to civilization and I've got a market for my finds."
He smiled this time. "You don't need to decide right now. Just keep it in mind, mull it over."
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Holi-3
Cadet
I always tell the truth. But that was a lie.
Posts: 74
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Post by Holi-3 on Jul 4, 2008 13:50:46 GMT -5
"You could call it 'talent'," Holi mutters very lowly to himself. He calls it necessary. "Everybody has to have something, I suppose," he says circumspectly and at a much more conversational level. He forces himself not to look too relieved as the grip on him loosens and Skyfire lets him stand on his own, but not being held in someone's hand like a trinket does plenty to improve his mood and he takes the tacit offer of support, steadying himself against Skyfire's thumb.
Another mood-booster is the idea of monetary compensation. Currency – enough of it, whatever kind – can buy plenty of weapons for the Micromasters. Or if that doesn't work, it can hire some mercenaries no matter how much that wishy-washy yes-man Raikuru protests.
All this assumes, though, that there'll be any way for Holi to break off with whatever earnings he gets and make his way back to Micro. Holi expects that'll happen right about the time he kills Star Saber with his own hands.
"…I'll think about it, then," he declares, carefully eyeing his surroundings and the crowd. He won't be availing himself of the refreshments, and he can't help trying to see if Oracle has noticed any of this. He technically hasn't done anything against her, but he can't trust that she isn't just as pernicious and fickle as any other Autobot. Still looking around, trying to look just with his optics and not move his head more than he absolutely has to, he ventures, "You really think there's somewhere to go?"
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Skyfire-3
Rookie
Professional Treasure Hunter and Pet Fancier
Posts: 182
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Post by Skyfire-3 on Jul 5, 2008 12:32:20 GMT -5
"Look up, if the firelight doesn't blind your optics. See the stars? They have worlds around them, and a lot of those worlds have people of some kind, either organic or robotic," Skyfire said, gesturing at the night sky with his free hand.
"Even in our universe, most of 'em don't know and don't give two pips of rusty slag about Autobots and Decepticons. They got their own wars and fears and politics. Oh, and trade. Most of 'em, except for the ones that are complete xenophobic psychopaths--" Did Skyfire's optics flick over toward Rodimus Prime?-- "got something they want and will pay for, or trade something you want for."
Skyfire smirked. "It's a big galaxy. There's lots of places to go, if you got a starship and fuel. I'm a starship."
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Holi-3
Cadet
I always tell the truth. But that was a lie.
Posts: 74
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Post by Holi-3 on Jul 6, 2008 0:21:57 GMT -5
Holi just smiles and nods through Skyfire's impromptu refresher on astronomy and the galactic sociopolitical state. Because the Micromaster hasn't the first clue that there are other planets out there or that some of them were – are – oblivious to the war between the Autobots and the Decepticons. Micro was one of those worlds before Overlord ran like a coward and practically led Ginrai right to it. But if Skyfire wants to think Holi that stupid, fine. Underestimation is one of his best tools.
"Sounds like you really know what you're doing," he observes quietly, as if a touch awed by how together Skyfire seems. "I wish my head was screwed on that straight." Always plotting, the Micromaster, always lying and wishing, never optimistic enough to hope, too cowardly to follow through on much of anything. Maybe that'll change.
Not right now, though.
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Skyfire-3
Rookie
Professional Treasure Hunter and Pet Fancier
Posts: 182
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Post by Skyfire-3 on Jul 6, 2008 20:28:24 GMT -5
Hmm, Skyfire thought he almost had the kid there, and now something had slipped a bit. Kid was backing and filling, making polite noises, but the spark of interest that Skyfire thought he'd seen had hidden itself away again. He wished he knew more about Holi's background--he might be able to figure out what button he'd pushed.
Pity. He really could use a pair of small hands like Holi's. Skyfire gave Holi a friendly smile as he strode over toward the refreshment table. "If I don't know what I'm doing, I better figure it out fast. Ignorance gets you killed out there."
He laid the hand full of Micromaster down on the table, offering Holi the chance to get off conveniently. "Like I said, think it over. It'd be a change from whatever you're doing now."
--- Head toward wrap up?
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Holi-3
Cadet
I always tell the truth. But that was a lie.
Posts: 74
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Post by Holi-3 on Jul 8, 2008 20:11:48 GMT -5
The kid is a slippery little thing sometimes.
"Oh, I'll think about it, sir," he affirms, returning Skyfire's smile with one of his own, just as friendly but possibly twice as fake. No-one here is his friend. Skyfire might at some point become someone exploitable as well as someone looking to exploit the Micromaster. That's as close to good as Holi's willing to call it.
He avails himself of Skyfire's unexpected assist and steps down to the tabletop; reaching the floor from here is much more reasonable than reaching it from the Valkyrie's hand, and he sets to that straight away, before some drunken idiot groping for another cube accidentally scoops up him instead.
OOC: If you like. Holi-3 might be milling about a bit longer, though.
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Skyfire-3
Rookie
Professional Treasure Hunter and Pet Fancier
Posts: 182
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Post by Skyfire-3 on Jul 10, 2008 21:09:49 GMT -5
Skyfire smirked. "You do that. Have a good time, kid."
The immense white shuttle picked up a couple of stray cubes and waved farewell, then wandered off. Perhaps Perceptor was around somewhere and would like a drink...
--- Out-of-thread
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Barricade
Minor
Knight of the Spastic Sword
Trust Me
Posts: 372
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Post by Barricade on Jul 13, 2008 15:43:56 GMT -5
Well, well, now isn't that interesting? Looks like the runt is finding himself a champion now after all. Barricade smirks to himself from the shadows as he watches Holi scurry down the table to the ground.
"Not a bad choice, kid," he growls softly from the shadows once Skyfire is well away. "I'd still find out where his motor functions relay is, if I were you."
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