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Post by Mirage on Jul 22, 2009 14:11:37 GMT -5
He wasn't wrong. Very seldom has Mirage been so unhappy to find that he is so right.
"Not now," he counters at her denial, tone carefully neutral. He makes no move to stop her withdrawal. Once she's clear of him, he stands as well, not trying to close the distance. He crosses his arms in front of him, one hand clasping the other wrist, weight shifted to the left. "I shudder to think of what you must have done to break your chains."
A subject shift is needed, and he gives a quick smile, "Your ability does not help you when I am cloaked, else I'd never have have taken you so unawares. Had that been, say, Spinister, you would be much worse off."
He attempts to close the distance now, to reach out and cup her cheek.
"Show me that throw-attack combination again. I am certain there is a counter, but I need to work on my own reaction time."
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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 14:41:34 GMT -5
At his comment about breaking her chains, Oracle curls her lip in annoyance and glares, though some of the effect is lost because of her visor. The intent is pretty clear though, she's really had enough of that subject.
Thankfully it appears Mirage doesn't need the prompting to move on, and back on slightly more comfortable conversational ground a little bit of tension uncoils out of her. "No. I can only see where you're going to be just before you uncloak, which gives me a slight advantage over most, but not near what I'm used to." Her head tilts slightly at the mention of Spinister. "He has a cloak that works similarly then I take it?" Sounds like it, or at least enough like it she should be concerned. Then this practice was even more important then she realized, potentially.
When he moves in to cup her cheek, she doesn't pull away, though she is a little bit wary. Until he speaks and she goes still. "What are you playing at?" It's almost plaintive, and distinctly unhappy, but she still hasn't pulled away and doesn't seem angry like she was when being questioned.
All in all, Mirage is just managing to confuse the pits out of her. Clearly the thought patterns of the Elite are beyond her, because he's being somewhat incomprehensible.
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Post by Mirage on Jul 22, 2009 15:55:41 GMT -5
"It is safe to assume so," Mirage answers still cupping her face, "The alternate Spinister did. Though it did not appear to have the same handicap as mine."
His hand drops hard at her accusation, and he props one fist on his hip as he looks up at her, frowning. "I am not playing at anything, Oracle. You agreed to the possibility of exchanging fighting instruction for instruction in more social dancing, and I was endeavoring to take advantage of that offer." His voice has taken on that haughty air which it often does when he feels slighted, "While I was expecting a throw, and intended to roll with it, I was not expecting the seamless transition from defense to offense. It seems I ought to be able to counter the movement, I am sure, but I am unused to such combat and my reactions are not so quick as yours."
"I was also attempting to turn the conversation from the subject that made you so uncomfortable, by returning to a subject which you enjoy. For do not pretend that while you may not like what brought you to it, you do not enjoy such a melee."
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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 16:14:19 GMT -5
Oracle frowned at him for a moment, then sighed and smiled wryly, mentally throwing her hands up at the whole situation. She needed a Mirage to Cybertronian translator and she hasn't got one, so she'll just have to fumble along. But she would take the gesture in it's intended spirit and just attempt to keep moving along.
"You couldn't maybe have picked something a little less touchy for a first lesson?" Something she hadn't been half afraid had killed him for a minute for instance. Still, if he was trying she should try to quit being quite so suspicious and paranoid, and just take it for what it was. "And I would never pretend that I didn't enjoy combat. What's the point?" Hiding something so obvious wasn't worth the effort anyway. She was usually more concerned with concealing other things.
After a moment she extended a hand, shrugging her thoughts off. "Did you want to learn how to attempt a counter against that type of throw for anyone, or against me specifically. There's a bit of a difference." For one she had wings to maneuver him around, and two she could twist differently. That necessitated a few changes in her style he wouldn't encounter elsewhere.
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Post by Mirage on Jul 22, 2009 17:54:54 GMT -5
Mirage quirks a smile, then reaches out to grasp her extended hand. With a courtly bow, he brings her hand up, flips it palm up, and presses his lips to the heel of her palm. He raises his head enough to answer, "Whatever you think best to start with. I am but a humble mech seeking knowledge at your lovely and deadly feet, and must bow to your superiority in the field."
He winks at her.
That is all the warning she gets before he tugs on her hand, twirls her lightly, and finishes in the position which started the whole mess: his arm round her neck and fist at her back.
Mirage knows he's pushing it. But she had struck out to kill earlier, even knowing that he was not an enemy, not a threat. He will teach her situational restraint. If she can calm down enough to learn the lesson.
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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 18:52:20 GMT -5
That, was entirely not what Oracle had intended when she offered her hand, and the gesture leaves her rather shocked for a long moment. It's long enough she almost doesn't catch the wink after his flirting, and it only sinks in after he's already begun to pull her in.
She almost, almost, reacts exactly the same way as the first time, but some part of her was expecting him to pull this and she stops herself before her elbows do more then chime against his armor. It takes her another long pause before she can stand in his hold and tremble with the effort not to just send him flying. One, he wouldn't learn much except maybe how to fall, and two she has more control then that!
Oracle knows she does, and focus more then anything lets her cycle her vents, trying to shake off everything everything unbalancing her and just stick to the basics. "I'll show you how I tossed you, then how to counter it if you can't see a counter yourself." Her voice is mostly steady, and she's rather proud of that fact. "First, elbows back into the chassis of the one grabbing you." She suits actions to words, lightly tapping her elbows against him again. "Then twist, and an arm comes up inside the arm around your neck like so." For her this involves a very odd twist, taking into account her wing and vent. "Use their arm for leverage, and your hip and leg as a fulcrum to toss them like..so." Admittedly, she doesn't so much toss him as roll him over her leg this time, but Oracle figured he could do without a repeat of getting flung to the ground like before. "Then disengage and run or well..." finish them off, she doesn't say. Obvious enough though, he had her finger dents from last time.
Stepping back, she offered Mirage a hand up.
----------------- OOC: Manhandling with player permission.
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Post by Mirage on Jul 22, 2009 19:48:41 GMT -5
Mirages grip on Oracle is not as tight as it was before, and still she trembles from tension. He can feel how hard it is for her not to react violently, and the fist flattens into a palm, fingers rubbing lightly a the seam where one wing meets her back. In short order, though, he is on the floor again- albeit in a much gentler manner.
He reaches up and takes her hand, allowing her to help him up. "I think I see part of the counter, at least. This is closer to wrestling, and I never did take that up. Let us try again."
He moves behind her, and as he does so, he murmurs, "I will not hurt you, and I think you know that. You just need to get your instinctive self to understand the fact." His palm returns her back, continuing that soothing petting.
This time, when her hands move to grab him for the toss, he sweeps out a leg to try and pivot her off balance.
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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 20:23:54 GMT -5
Pulling away once she's helped him up, Oracle almost bounces in place for a moment as she considers what he said. "Mm, not so much like wrestling really, that's more of a contest of strength and flexibility. This is more speed, skill and flexibility. For ones built light and fast like us, not large, armored and strong." Sure you got crossover specialists, but it was more common to see the lighter fighters take to this type of style she'd seen. If they bothered with learning melee combat at all, and didn't stick to ranged that was.
She doesn't say anything to his assertion that she knows he won't hurt her, because really, what is there to say? Either she trusts him, or she doesn't, however much or little that might reach, and she must trust him at least a little bit to still be standing here. Or she's just stubborn, one of the two. For a moment she relaxes into the petting before centering herself and jabbing her elbows back slowly to start the whole routine over.
When Mirage's leg sweeps out, she gathers her legs and hops over it, which does cause her to abandon her effort to toss him, though not her grip on his arm as she grins up at him from her slightly bent position under his arm. "Yes, that is actually part of the counter. The other half basically makes sure I can't hop over your leg like I did and do something like," she straightens a bit, finishing the turn the hop had begun, and tosses Mirage up over her shoulder. "That." If they keep this up, Mirage is either going to need rolling lessons, or they should look into a room with mats and not mirrors.
Offering him a hand up again, she gives him a bit of advice to try as well. "Next time, when my elbows go backward, use the arm you have between my wings to catch them, then try the leg sweep." If he gets it right, she's not looking forward to this, but she did say she would teach him.
------------------- OOC: Mirage tossing again with player permission.
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Post by Mirage on Jul 22, 2009 21:20:16 GMT -5
Mirage actually rolls with this toss, showing that yes, he really does know how to take a fall. He grins at Oracle as she once more helps him up.
"At least I was not completely wrong then. I hope you realize I really do appreciate your sharing so much with me."
Back to starting position, and this time, he follows the advice. His arm locks hers, his leg sweeps her off her feet, and down Oracle goes hard onto her knees. Though not as hard as she should, considering that Mirage braces her weight slightly and follows her down so that he's kneeling behind her, arm still round her neck
Mirage rests his chin on her shoulder, very aware of how wound tight she is at the moment. "Is there a way out of this hold, or is one stuck?" he asks softly.
posing and handling 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 22, 2009 22:03:30 GMT -5
"Not wrong at all, and very much on the right track." And he seems to be getting smoother as well, though she supposes that only makes sense.
That's a very abstract bit of appreciation though, as he manages the counter and she ends up on her knees with her arm behind her and his arm around her neck. It's rather hard to appreciate that your pseudo-student is doing well when you're trying not to flip out. So when his chin comes to rest on her shoulder, she presses back against him a little as she listens to him because it helps remind her that this is Mirage, it isn't an enemy or one of her nightmares.
"That would really depend, on one's inbuilt weaponry at this point." Like hers, and the mental mantra of 'don't hurt him' she's repeating is keeping her from fielding her own and freeing herself. Oracle's not real copacetic with being restrained like this, but she's not going to poke holes in Mirage to get loose either. It wouldn't be either very polite or sporting.
"Let go, please?" Before I do something stupid.
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Nightbeat
Minor
Lord High Instructor, Duke of Snack
Cybertron's Greatest Detective
Posts: 373
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Post by Nightbeat on Jul 22, 2009 22:21:03 GMT -5
Nightbeat is nosy by nature, by programming, and by natural inclination. He can, after a few minutes of observation, generally figure out your personality faults to ten decimal places. He won't offer any corrections, mind you, but he'll probably let you know what he thinks of you.
And, of course, his on-going effort to know where everyone is at all times has put him into searching the various rooms, occupied or not.
"Well, looks like I stumbled onto quite the party," he says.
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Post by Mirage on Jul 22, 2009 22:43:57 GMT -5
"Hmm, so it's a good capture hold then," Mirage muses, absently rubbing his cheek along the side of Oracle's helm. As instinctive as it is for Oracle to strike out, it is just as instinctive for Mirage to try and soothe through touch. He is entirely too tactile for his own good.
He is releasing the hold, and would have rested his hands at Oracle's waist were they not so rudely interrupted. He hisses out a very impolite curse which should hopefully not reach the detective's audails. Then Mirage stands and offers the Seeker a hand up.
"Merely a bit of practice and instruction, Nightbeat," he says. Oracle might note that Mirage suddenly sounds snootier than ever. "Our pretty Seeker is quite the excellent partner."
He smiles at Oracle, "What next?"
And privately to Oracle, //Keep your mask in place, my dear, and I will attempt to keep his attention off studying you.// A sigh. //Which means it may be best for you to thrash me in a bout, I'm afraid.//
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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 22:56:17 GMT -5
Mirage's instincts to touch are in their own way to alien to Oracle's personal experiences, the disparity helps keep her focused and calm even if it wasn't quite the way intended. But hey, it works, right?
The curse at Nightbeat's arrival has Oracle muffling a snicker, but she wipes the amusement from her face and smiles politely at the new arrival as she lets Mirage help her to her feet. "You flatter me I think, but I'll take the compliment anyway." His question of what next has her stretching her arms over her head for a moment restlessly as she considers. "Sparring again? Since you seem to have that counter down just fine."
//How exactly is me thrashing you going to help keep my mask up. Seems like fighting too well got me in trouble in the first place.// She's a bit confused about the rest of Mirage's comment too, but that's the part that sticks out.
Lets not have the detective and the spy on her case, please?
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Nightbeat
Minor
Lord High Instructor, Duke of Snack
Cybertron's Greatest Detective
Posts: 373
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Post by Nightbeat on Jul 22, 2009 23:15:50 GMT -5
Nightbeat is well aware of the fact that Mirage does not like him. Mirage is therefore invited to stick his opinion somewhere where the sun does not shine.
On the other hand, this may well be the most interesting thing he's encountered all day. Posture, body language, there's something else going on here. He just needs to ferret out what.
He smirks. "Don't you guys stop on my account. And maybe after, I'll show you how we do it down in the slums."
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Post by Mirage on Jul 23, 2009 10:51:37 GMT -5
Nightbeat can go hang, as far as Mirage is concerned.
//You can't hide your skill, darling. But Nightbeat comes from a time when most were fighting, unlike myself, who was pulled from when the war was new. As I have already commented on your skill, he should not be so surprised by it. Though I imagine the mere uniqueness of your build is enough garner more of his attention than you like.//
An elegant shrug, "Yes, the counter was simple enough to learn. I suppose we can go back to sparring then. But let us start off with me visible this time. I'm interested in seeing how your ability works as a norm."
//Besides, our dislike is mutual. He'll take delight in every dent you inflict.//
"Hmmm, you style is different from Pee-Dee's. Not surprising I suppose. You're both such interesting ladies" Mirage says, oh so innocently as he assumes a boxer's stance.
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