Oracle
Minor
The future is always in motion.
Posts: 426
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Post by Oracle on Jul 19, 2009 22:40:28 GMT -5
Oracle's wings are sensitive to be sure, she's a flier after all and they need to be to some extent, but she's probably not that sensitive about them as he might be used to.A winged melee fighter made for some odd adjustments, and painful as it was sometimes, she was used to having her wings as targets.
"Somehow I don't doubt you'd be convincing." Hearing the clatter as he goes down, she goes for another sweeping strike. Direct attacks would be too difficult to target, but if she takes advantage of her reach and keeps him moving maybe she'll get lucky. "But I can be pretty determined too." Short flash of a happy predator's smile as she comes up in a low to high roundhouse arcing across where she heard the tumble. "When it's worth it for me to be."
She hasn't had this much fun in a long time, and hopefully they're just getting started. It's not flying, but maybe she won't go stir crazy on board, if she can talk Mirage into doing this again.
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Post by Mirage on Jul 20, 2009 9:16:39 GMT -5
Mirage just does avoid that roundhouse kick, Oracle's leg rushing through the air over his head as he drops back down onto his knees. He makes a grab for her leg during its downward arc, and if successful, will tug, hopeful of bringing the graceful dancer down.
Regardless of his success, Mirage will quickly shift to balancing on the balls of his feet, ready to spring in any direction required. He deliberately lets his cloak fall a minute early. If she's going to try timing him, (and she will) he shall make it as difficult as possible.
That smile of hers had said much. "This is your element," he says, a thoughtful smile on his own face.
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Oracle
Minor
The future is always in motion.
Posts: 426
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Post by Oracle on Jul 20, 2009 22:46:35 GMT -5
While it most certainly wasn't what she planned, Oracle does indeed go down, rotating as she falls and landing on her hands. At which point she mulekicks backwards with her free leg both to extract herself and get a bit of space to spin back up to her feet once she's coiled her legs back under her.
While she is indeed timing him, she's got a bit more up her metaphorical sleeve then that, and moments before his cloak even falls she's springing forward. A foot hooked behind a knee and a grab that ends up looking more like a pounce then anything else, then gravity does the rest and she's sitting on her catch looking very pleased with herself.
"Yes." Nothing else, but her expression continues to say more then her words might have anyway.
-------- OOC: Permission from player for pounce.
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Post by Mirage on Jul 21, 2009 10:03:53 GMT -5
Mirage is pounced!
He can't help but chuckle and smile up at her. His hands move to lightly rest on her thighs. Still that thoughtful expression is in place, however. This is is first time in close quarters with her, his first time to truly examine her character and attitude. She puzzles him, she does.
Of course, that he seems perfectly at ease wither her straddling him in such a situation may puzzle her in turn. Sauce for the goose and all that.
He traces a seam in her thigh armour. "Its an odd thing, you know. In my own reality we have several distinct hand-to-hand styles, but few true proficients. But I have neither heard of nor seen a flyer exhibit them. That a Seeker, the top line jet model, would prefer such combat is intriguing."
Then his grip tightens, and Mirage tries to throw Oracle over his head and off his person. If successful...
Poof!
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Oracle
Minor
The future is always in motion.
Posts: 426
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Post by Oracle on Jul 21, 2009 13:47:48 GMT -5
Peering down at Mirage, Oracle is honestly more interested in that thoughtful expression then where his hands are, though she still keeps track of them in case he's about to try and tumble her over. Which means she startles slightly and her own expression turns a mix of curious and thoughtful when he strokes the seam in her armor.
His comments though, are not puzzling. "I highly doubt you'll see another, though I could be wrong. If I've learned anything since showing up here, it's that the universes are full of a great many weird things." Sorry Mirage, an explanation isn't going to be quite that easy.
While she could try to hang on, that would probably end up turning this into a wrestling match, which wasn't exactly her idea of high times, even if it could be amusing. So she goes with the throw, planting her hands to get a bit of extra lift so she can tumble back up to her feet instead of sprawl artfully on the ground.
She's hardly surprised that by the time she looks Mirage has vanished, and she laughs quietly. Here they go again.
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Post by Mirage on Jul 21, 2009 15:05:07 GMT -5
Thread is open to spectators/hecklers is anyone wants to wander in.
Mirage laughs (over radio), then says, //Artfully said, and artfully avoided, though you must admit, I didn't actually ask a question.// Yes Mirage can spot an attempt at misdirection easily enough. It's his job.
//So, really, why such a focus? You must forgive me, I am a curious creature by nature.//
Mirage sidles up behind Oracle, reaching out a leg to try and trip her forward at the same time that he snaps a hard elbow to the back of her head. He's pulling punches, keeping to tactics not likely to hurt badly, though.
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Oracle
Minor
The future is always in motion.
Posts: 426
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Post by Oracle on Jul 21, 2009 15:28:39 GMT -5
"Comment, question, you were still curious just like you said." It's perhaps lucky her style involves using the force of a blow or toss to add force to her own moves, or that elbow might have been an unpleasant surprise. Thankfully she's already having a date with Mirage's trip and gravity, so the interruption of the elbow barely grazes her. She's more phased by Mirage's question, and that's still not much. "I was designed that way, why else?"
Dropping down onto her hands, one foot kicks up in a high arch for where she estimates Mirage's upper chassis probably is. She's not going to risk kicking for his face when she can't see him, just in case he doesn't dodge. Her other foot sweeps out in a scissors move for his knees, then she continues swinging her legs around. If she does manage to connect, she would really rather not be under him if he falls. That could hurt. It's rather hard to brace for having someone else land on you, when you can't anticipate things like pointy elbows, knees and other bits.
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Post by Mirage on Jul 21, 2009 18:22:15 GMT -5
Oh my, but she is a flexible one, isn't she?
Mirage barely has time to think that Seekers should not move that way before those very flexible (and lovely) limbs are heading toward his body. Time to show he isn't entirely incompetent in this arena.
He jumps lightly back and grabs that one leg as it kicks toward his chest. He uses her own momentum plus a small bit of strength to twist that leg and her with it, intending to sling her off to the side. Which would have worked wonderfully had she not been also trying to trip him.
The jump back had moved him mostly out of her reach, but not entirely, and as he makes to sling her off, the end of her toe catches the back of his heel. Oracle winds up across the room and Mirage winds up on his aft.
The spy, though embarrassed, is laughing quite gaily as his cloak cycles off. "Darling, whoever built you that flexible either wanted a berth mate or a dancer, but had to build a fighter instead." The tone is light, the smile is teasing, but there's a calculating look in those twinkling optics. Mirage is wondering what Oracle would be like on the battlefield, if free to loose her fury.
Tossing Oracle done w/ permission
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Oracle
Minor
The future is always in motion.
Posts: 426
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Post by Oracle on Jul 21, 2009 22:14:22 GMT -5
Unexpectedly becoming airborne was a bit of a surprise, but Oracle rolled with it. Literally in fact, as she twisted in mid air, rotating into a handspring before finally landing in a three point crouch facing Mirage. She can't quite help the pleased chuckle as she hears the thud, looks like more then just her went airborne in that exchange.
"No, I'm sure they knew exactly what they were getting when I was built, as far as frame goes." They weren't expecting other things, but her frame? That had been intended. "And I'm just about as sure it wasn't a berth mate or dancer they were after. Since you know, we already covered the fact this is the only dancing I do well."
Grinning unashamedly, she stalks forward, somewhat torn between waiting for him to pick himself up and taking advantage of the fact she can actually see him for the moment. Eventually she comes to something of a compromise that at least satisfies her more impish side, and she darts in.
One hand on his arm and the other on his shoulder propels her up into a vertical handstand, where she grins at him face to face for a moment. "Hi." Before pushing off with the hand on his shoulder and twisting away. Alright so maybe she doesn't know that move for it's prankish applications and it's usually executed a bit differently, but...it was funny.
-------------- OOC: Manhandling with permission.
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Post by Mirage on Jul 21, 2009 23:23:06 GMT -5
If Mirage knew Oracle just a might better, he'd steal a kiss during that brief moment of closeness.
And even not knowing her well, the thought still crosses his mind. If nothing else, it might throw her balance off a mite.
But she is up and over before he can make the move, and he quickly twists and rises up to a crouch, one leg extended back, weight forward one hand balancing his weight. That thoughtful smile still in place, he watches her, waiting for her to settle and turn toward him.
He stays visible.
"Oh, I imagine that if you put your mind to it, you'd be a fine dancer. Graceful, lithe- just because one wasn't allowed to play at non-lethal pursuits during one's formative years doesn't mean they can't play at such things as adults." It's a stab in the dark, that comment, but he's fishing now, for information and reactions. She's intriguing him by the second. And it has not a thing to do with attraction.
It has everything to do with his function.
He springs forward and left, being sure not to cloak until he is in the middle of the motion. The question is, where will he end up?
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Oracle
Minor
The future is always in motion.
Posts: 426
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Post by Oracle on Jul 21, 2009 23:43:48 GMT -5
Hm, throwing her off balance during that move might have gotten Mirage a bit more acquainted with Oracle then he intended. Since the first thing likely to go would probably have literally been her balance, and her into his lap.
The reactions might have been interesting all around.
Bouncing up on her feet, Oracle shrugs, almost clicking the tips of her fingers together for a moment in what seems to be an old habit as she tries to figure out why he's still visible. Trying to keep from falling into patterns still? Possibly.
Her optics narrow a bit at the comment behind her visor, and she's in motion by the time he is. More simply to be in motion again then a planned strike, and while her legs do helicopter around in Mirage's direction as he vanishes it's almost as though it's an afterthought and just part of the round off carrying her across the floor.
"I didn't play at lethal pursuits any more then I learned to dance." She wouldn't call staying alive play, even if it was twisting words. Crouching she tried to figure out where her once again invisible sparring partner was. "I wouldn't mind learning to dance, I simply don't know how to now." Actually, if the followers steps mirrored the leaders, she could probably fake it pretty well.
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Post by Mirage on Jul 22, 2009 0:23:23 GMT -5
Mirage would not have been adverse to an Oracle in his lap.
Her kicks do miss, as she likely expected them to. His comment had bothered her. It was obvious to him, given away by that almost minute tick, in the way she was immediately off and moving, the almost brusque delivery of her comeback. Good. It means he's getting closer.
Not that he truly wants to upset her. But...one does not cease to gather intel even among one's own, and every scrap of information could be useful at some time or another. That the spy will keep such information to himself, well, that speaks of his own code.
//I could teach you to dance, my lovely. Perhaps you could teach me to fight?// he asks in that same half-teasing tone.
"And I am quite sure you don't play at killing, sweetheart," he murmurs into her audial from behind as one arm snakes around her neck, and the other hand fists against her back directly over her lasercore. Mirage isn't anyone's assassin. That does not mean he doesn't know the tricks.
OOC: permission, yada yada
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Oracle
Minor
The future is always in motion.
Posts: 426
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Post by Oracle on Jul 22, 2009 0:52:16 GMT -5
Mirage had best be sure he wants the information he's after because his source is rather prickly and not much inclined to sharing if there are other alternatives.
"I don't know how much help you need, but I certainly wouldn't mind a trade of skills. If nothing else, I'd gain something in addition to your company." Back to teasing, she seems a little more relaxed, but Oracle really should have known better.
A shocked hiss escapes her at the words in her audial, and she just reacts. There's still the same grace in her movements, but a hard edge that was missing before shows up now as both elbows jerk back hard into Mirage's chassis. One movement blends into another as she twists, snaring the arm around her neck and using it as a pivot to toss him around her hip to the floor. She follows him down and slams a clawed hand into his armor over a seam on a diagonal toward his spark, as one of her knees moves to pin him in place. But there aren't any claws, nor did the blades at her elbows engage because she locked them earlier. And that realization has her crouched over Mirage for a long moment shaking before she smacks him with a closed fist.
"Dammit Mirage, what the frag were you trying to prove!" She's not hysterical, but she's also Not Happy. Being afraid you might have almost killed an ally can do that.
---------- OOC: Mirage-abuse permitted by player.
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Post by Mirage on Jul 22, 2009 10:33:18 GMT -5
Mirage had expected a throw. He knows how to take a throw, and being prepared for it, Oracle does not hurt him perhaps as much as she could. It is still a violent move, however, and had this been a real fight...Mirage would not have recovered in time to avoid serious damage.
As it is though, a few dents and scuffs are worth the information.
The hard throw had jostled his cloak off, and so she can easily see the neutral smile on his face and the concern in his optics. He gives her a moment or two before he answers her. "Prove? Not a thing. Learn? Quite a lot," he says softly, one hand reaching up to lightly cup over her fist. He rubs his fingers over the back of her hand, a soothing gesture.
"How long did you spend as someone's pet killer, Oracle, to react with such fury in such a benign situation?" Again, he could be wrong. If she denies it, he will not press. But based on her reactions, her earlier comments, he does not think he is wrong.
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Oracle
Minor
The future is always in motion.
Posts: 426
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Post by Oracle on Jul 22, 2009 13:49:58 GMT -5
If Oracle was smarter, less keyed up or more used to stressful social situations stomping all over her buttons, she probably would have denied it. Instead Mirage gets an angry hiss like a kettle left on too long and a vehement snarl. "I am no one's pet!" Her clenched hand spasms under his touch like she isn't sure if she wants to pull away or just plain hit him again. She doesn't do either, but they both look like very tempting options.
What would she do though, run? Ship in space, sorta limits the options there. And however briefly tempting the idea of violence...that's not going to work either, for more reasons then she's going to bother to list. She feels trapped, and really doesn't like it. Which just makes her want to hit him again, probably not a good cycle.
"Just, leave it alone Mirage." There's an unspoken please hanging quietly in the air as she pulled her hand away and stood, and a not so subtle tension in her frame. Being called a pet killer brought back very unhappy memories, and she really wished he would just drop it. She had been enjoying his company until then too. Though, interesting he hadn't apparently been bothered at what happened. That thought pulled her slightly out of her upset and she looked at the spy a bit curiously.
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