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Post by Mirage on Aug 7, 2009 10:29:13 GMT -5
Day 18; Semi-Private, please ask before posting in
It had taken some time for Mirage to prepare for this encounter. The spy, lackadaisical about so many things, can be quite exacting when it comes to planning for another's pleasure. But he feels all has been done to the best of his abilities. It will not be perfect under such constraints, but it will suffice.
That Oracle would not know what was wrong to call it out, matters not one whit. He would know.
Mirage is currently sprawled upon the couch of one of the viewing rooms, waiting for Oracle. His plating is polished to a perfect shine; he looks good, and knows exactly how fetching a picture he should present as he lounges in such a fashion. He sighs. Too bad he doubts Oracle will truly appreciate his loveliness.
He checks the time. She should be here shortly.
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Oracle
Minor
The future is always in motion.
Posts: 426
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Post by Oracle on Aug 7, 2009 21:01:44 GMT -5
Oracle has no idea of the amount of preparation that Mirage has put into this whole event, if she did it would probably embarrass her. And make her nervous. Being unaware of exactly what one is supposed to do on a date has her jittery enough.
Still, she had put forth some effort of her own and her armor gleams softly from visor to turbines. She figured looking good was probably part of the whole date etiquette after all.
Arriving at the viewing room when Mirage asked her to, for a moment she hesitates before going inside. Last moment to loose her nerve past though, she steps into the room and looks over at Mirage. Well it looks like she was right about getting polished up though she has to wonder if Mirage is actually posing as well. The effect is nice either way, but the idea he's posing is a bit amusing.
Approaching the couch she smiles. "I don't think I'm late, am I?"
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Post by Mirage on Aug 7, 2009 22:33:51 GMT -5
Mirage does not immediately rise when Oracle enters. It is, after all, so much easier to best admire her from his current position. That she also put some effort into her appearance is pleasing. Not totally clueless after all, it seems.
He does rise, however, once she starts toward him, and he quickly closes the distance. He reaches out with both hands to gently take up her own before rising up slightly on his feet to give her the most chaste of kisses upon her cheek. He leans back a bit after that.
"Not late at all, and lovelier than I could ever have imagined," he murmurs. He releases one hand, then laces elbows with her. "Now. Shall we away?"
OOC: This and all future friendly touching done with permission.
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Oracle
Minor
The future is always in motion.
Posts: 426
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Post by Oracle on Aug 7, 2009 23:10:50 GMT -5
Even though she's beginning to get the sense that it's just part of who Mirage is, the kiss to her cheek still manages to fluster Oracle. She doesn't mind though, even if she's not entirely sure how to react.
Lacing elbows with someone is new as well, but that at least is easier to adjust to and accommodate. As a bonus as well it makes it easier not to bump him with a wing accidentally then she would have figured any manner of walking so close next to someone would. Shifting slightly her smile turns a bit shy as she looks at Mirage.
"I do suppose so. Am I going to have to wait to find out where we're going, or can you tell me?" Her tone was clearly teasing, and she hoped it covered the slight rush of additional nervousness she was feeling now that this was really happening. She really hoped she didn't screw things up.
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Post by Mirage on Aug 8, 2009 8:46:04 GMT -5
He pats her hand, "All things in their time, my lovely. For now, let us walk and talk. It is but a short walk to the sim room."
Look, he drops a hint!
He tilts his head to look at her as they walk, a rather self-satisfied smile on his face. Her anticipation- and nervousness- are quite clear to him, at least.
"So, I must ask, how many times in the past few hours have you considered calling off this little encounter?" It's a serious question, lightened by a teasing tone.
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Oracle
Minor
The future is always in motion.
Posts: 426
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Post by Oracle on Aug 8, 2009 14:12:04 GMT -5
The sim room? Well that gave her a physical location, but considering the nature of the place, still gave her no idea of what she could possibly expect to see. A surprise it is then, Oracle supposed she could handle that. At the very least, until they got there and she actually saw what he had planned.
His question makes her own smile change from shy, to a slightly wry expression. "Is it that obvious? I don't know, I wasn't counting." More then once then, because one is a very easy number to remember. "I did show up though." Which considering they were talking was a rather obvious thing, but she said it anyway. Hesitance or not, she was still here.
That self-satisfied expression is a bit annoying, she thinks, but at the same time maybe Oracle could understand why. After all he really was holding all the cards here, and apparently she was doing a good impression of a datafile if he could read her so well. At least he wasn't flat out smug.
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Post by Mirage on Aug 8, 2009 18:50:10 GMT -5
Mirage pats her arm and smiles up at her reassuringly. "Observation is a very large part of my function, love. Don't trouble yourself over it."
He continues to make small talk as they head toward the sim room. Once there, he calls up the program he'd gotten Perceptor to help him with. Another favor he owes the scientist, and the spy fully intends to repay those favors. Mirage also makes a point of noting that the room is occupied. Not that such a note will stop some people. Really, the lack of manners here is most annoying.
What is revealed as they step through the door is a segment of Mirage's Iacon in the height of its glory. Polished steel and glass, towering and intricate architecture, sculptures and small parks tucked away between buildings- as close a representation of the elite's entertainment district as he could manage. There are shops, restaurants, theaters and more, and just enough "people" on the streets to keep it from seeming eerie.
They pass a street vendor, and Mirage stops to purchase a lovely carved, blue crystal star and offers it to Oracle. Yes, it will fade when they leave, but that is not the point, now is it?
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Oracle
Minor
The future is always in motion.
Posts: 426
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Post by Oracle on Aug 8, 2009 19:12:22 GMT -5
Letting out a mock annoyed grumble, Oracle shakes her head in amusement. "I still shouldn't be that easy to read anyway." She really shouldn't, she must be slipping and that didn't make her very happy.
Still the chatting with Mirage as they made their way to the sim room did quite a bit to settle her down again and by the time they get there, she's rather looking forward to seeing what he has in mind next. Which is probably good, since being nervous wasn't really helpful for the success of the date.
Stepping through the door once Mirage is finished pulling up the program he wants, for a moment Oracle is speechless. She's never seen anything quite like this, or at least nothing so refined. It's a bit daunting, but at the same time she's busy looking around and trying to see everything at once. "Where is this?" She would have asked when as well, but she could narrow it down a bit herself to the last period of peace wherever this had been. Things didn't stay this pristine for long with the war on.
When offered the crystal star, Oracle reaches out to take it from him carefully, running her fingers lightly over the facets. "Thank you." She knows it will vanish when the simulation ends, but the memory won't and that's just fine with her.
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Post by Mirage on Aug 8, 2009 21:41:40 GMT -5
Mirage smiles back, quietly waving off her thanks.
He extends his hand, indicating their surroundings. "This is Iacon, my Iacon. Or a small portion of it, I should say. The pleasure district of the elite, to be precise, where those of us with discerning tastes and the means to indulge them might enjoy ourselves. Over there," he points to the west, "you can just see the spires of my own estate against the stars."
"Ah, but come along, we have a reservation," he adds, carefully urging her along. "Does it bear no resemblance to your own cites? Or...have you never known a time without war?"
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Oracle
Minor
The future is always in motion.
Posts: 426
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Post by Oracle on Aug 8, 2009 22:11:47 GMT -5
Looking around again, Oracle couldn't help but comment. "I wonder if Iacon on my Cybertron used to look like this too." Well parts of it anyway, she highly doubted the whole place was this elaborate and beautified.
Wait, Mirage had his own estate? That..actually sorta explained a lot.
Reservation? Mention of having such got him an odd look for a moment, but Oracle was content enough to be guided along. She was sure she would find out shortly anyway. Maybe he was trying to really simulate reality, down to having a reservation? Sort of odd but interesting.
"Mostly the second, a little something else. I can see basic comparisons between the cities I know and here, but this is a lot nicer." She would feel very out of place, if this was reality she knew. But it wasn't, and all she had to worry about is what Mirage thought, not any of the constructed population around them. On that thought, this must have taken work to set up, if he'd gone to that level of detail. She was impressed.
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Post by Mirage on Aug 9, 2009 10:10:38 GMT -5
Timing, Oracle, it's all about timing.
And Mirage is a master of timing. At least in such situations as these.
"Fond as I am of my home city, there are more beautiful places on the planet. Wild, untamed places and places of such care and craftsmanship that you almost fear to speak, lest you disrupt the balance. Long Haul's group was both talented and prolific in my time. They seem to be a...universal constant of sorts." Mirage frowns. "I feel for him, here. I truly do."
The spy shakes his head then, shaking off melancholy and smiling again at his companion. "But enough of such talk. We've reached our first destination," he says, as he stops before a tall, multi-windowed building, it's surface so polished as to reflect the scene around them. The doorbot tips his "hat" in recognition at the couple as they approach and hold up the door. Another bot greets them at the lift, and Mirage murmurs out a quiet instruction before guiding Oracle onto the lift.
He leans against the lift wall. "The technology is most impressive, I must say. The science team has outdone themselves."
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Oracle
Minor
The future is always in motion.
Posts: 426
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Post by Oracle on Aug 9, 2009 20:26:37 GMT -5
Nodding at Mirage's comment, Oracle has to agree. "The combiners as well. It can't be at all fun to be separated from your team. Though Long Haul has to deal with a more then minor complication there." Because part of his team is here, just not on the same side. It makes Oracle glad she never was that close to her squad, it helped avoid a lot of headache once she arrived here.
Looking at the building in front of them before they enter, Oracle absently wonders how much of a pain it must have been to keep that level of polish on the real version. Then his comment registers. "First destination? You really did plan this out in detail." She's flattered, and a little nervous that anyone spent that much effort on her for something non-essential.
Of course that doesn't stop her from continuing to try and absorb as much of the experience as she can as Mirage guides her along.
"They really did. I was stunned when I found out how much you could do here." And she's taken full advantage of it since the first time she was introduced. "The explanation of how is way beyond me though, but it's still interesting." Vanishing doors and all.
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Post by Mirage on Aug 10, 2009 10:32:15 GMT -5
He smiles as she mentions his planning. "But of course, my lovely. I am a consummate master of this particular art after all. I only regret that I have had to make do with such limited resources." He shakes his head, "But I imagine the night will be passable. Not quite up to my usual standards, but passable." No, he's not teasing. Mirage is being perfectly serious.
The lift stops with a soft click, and the doors slide open to reveal a patio and balcony. They are at the top of the tower, and the whole of Iacon's seems spread beneath them, lights glittering off steel and rivaling the stars twinkling over head. The view of Cyvbertron's moons is excellent here.
He leads her to the wide balcony, bypassing for now the lone table and chair set. There is a view to take in, before their drinks are brought.
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Oracle
Minor
The future is always in motion.
Posts: 426
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Post by Oracle on Aug 10, 2009 10:57:48 GMT -5
Oracle can't help but give him a wryly amused look. "I think, if this is your idea of passable, your usual standards might be overwhelming. Enjoyable, but overwhelming." She's probably lucky he thinks his resources are limited in that case, since she's already quite impressed and they've barely started.
Once the lift opens, she is content to let Mirage guide her forward again, since her attention is transfixed on the vista before them. Her first thought is she wants to fly over that, and see it from above and within, but the impulse is easy enough to squash. There's always later after all, and she turns a brilliant smile on her companion instead.
"It's beautiful, thank you." Oracle is more then happy to admire the view for as long as Mirage will let her, though she did absently note there was a table out there with them. Evidently he has something else planned as well.
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Post by Mirage on Aug 10, 2009 22:25:08 GMT -5
Mirage moves to slip an arm around Oracle's waist and hold her closer to him, even though they both still face out toward the view. It's an easy, practiced move, and not even the wings give him trouble.
"The scenario is saved under "Oracle" in the computer. I know you'll never be truly satisfied 'til you have flown over and explored ever bit from your own unique view. I look forward to your describing it for me." He tilts his head to smile up at her. "I've never seen it from above, not really. A transport does not count, not in that way."
There is a small sound behind them, and Mirage turns, "Ah! Right on time! Our drinks are here." He leads her to the table and helps her with seat. The waiter sets two long-stemmed flutes upon the table and pours them both full. The liquid is perfectly clear, a shade of violet so light as to barely noticeable as a color. It bubbles slightly, just a light fizz that quickly subsides.
"This, my dear, I feel the need to warn, is not an illusion. So have a care, if you are unused to spirits." His smile this time is a bit sultry as he lifts the glass and tries to coax her into a toast.
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