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Post by Hook on Apr 17, 2008 22:57:25 GMT -5
This takes place the day after Of Nodes and Probes, and several days before the Jabberwocky thread.--- Despite the general stupidity of Seekers, the amount of 'interesting engineering things you ought to take a look-see at' dumped on his desk, and the emergence of a number of alternate-universe versions of the local Autobots, there is still surveying and base construction that needs to be gotten done. Thus, the head of Decepticon Engineering and the greatest construction worker on the planet is currently tromping around outside of Decepticon base with a tripod and a few simple visual instruments.
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Perceptor-3
Rookie
Curiosity killed... everyone else. After a lengthy examination, of course.
Posts: 139
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Post by Perceptor-3 on Apr 18, 2008 0:36:25 GMT -5
Perceptor had been forced to give his toy up. That makes him a sad evil scientist, sulking investigating in the woods near the DeceptiCamp.
Ah, but what is this here? Not a sight he us used to seeing, that of Hook wandering about freely without a Guaridan looming nearby. How.... fortuitous.
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Post by Hook on Apr 18, 2008 17:19:13 GMT -5
It looks like it's going to take either a bulldozer or applied explosives to flatten this mountain side into something useful. Unfortunately, all he has are the explosives. Unless he can convince Scourge to put on a bulldozer blade for a bit.
A flash of red catches his optic, and he turns to see one of the alternate-universe Autobots skulking about. One, in fact, that he has some interest in. "Perceptor."
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Perceptor-3
Rookie
Curiosity killed... everyone else. After a lengthy examination, of course.
Posts: 139
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Post by Perceptor-3 on Apr 18, 2008 23:26:03 GMT -5
"Hook."
Hmm. Had that been a flicker of interest, there? Perceptor slips out from the lackluster concealment of the trees - insofar as a bit of green and brown foliage could possibly mask his bright red bulk. He pauses beside a particularly large tree to lean against it, a cool twist of lip components hinting at an unseen smirk.
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Post by Hook on Apr 19, 2008 13:41:15 GMT -5
Hook straightens his tripod and equipment while reviewing scenarios for dealing with this Perceptor that do not involve violently shoving him into a tree and threatening severe bodily harm. Most of his alternate scenarios, however, just move straight on to causing severe bodily harm, and he is quite certain that Needlenose would be annoyed at him for breaking the truce like that.
"You and I need to have words." He strides forward, his entire bearing suggesting that he will not move around Perceptor.
Perhaps, if the microscope is lucky, he will stop though.
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Perceptor-3
Rookie
Curiosity killed... everyone else. After a lengthy examination, of course.
Posts: 139
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Post by Perceptor-3 on Apr 19, 2008 15:39:14 GMT -5
Oh, how delightful! A Hook that does not flinch at his mere presence!
A Hook who appears to be... put out, in fact. Colder. Less easily rattled. And rather cross with him. The faint twitch widens to a true smirk as Perceptor straightens, optics narrowing as he assumes every millimeter of his height.
"Indeed," he purrs, voice like the slip of a hot scalpel against plating. He isn't backing down, but neither is he threatening.
Hook may be wary of Needlenose, should he break the brittle truce, but Needlenose is nothing more than a wisp of a curl of smoke compared to the force of the Prime's fury, should his plans be brought down by the churlish slip of one's temper.
The glare of those red optics fixed upon him do not precisely fill him with threat, however, and the smirk ratchets up another cruel little notch.
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Post by Hook on Apr 20, 2008 17:12:00 GMT -5
Hook does not delude himself into believing that he is an incredible fighter. He has learned quite a bit over the years, from places as diverse as actual combat instruction to listening to patients babble at him while he patched wounds to simple observation of more capable mechs.
He is not an incredible fighter. He is a very credible one.
When he is well-within the calculated acceptable distance from this Perceptor, he shifts abruptly into the highest tolerable speed to both get this done and minimize the amount of response-time available to his opponent. Grabbing Perceptor's outer hand, he forces it behind the microscope's back even as he brings all his weight and strength to bear to pin Perceptor's other arm against the tree.
And, of course, there is the little detail of staying just behind Perceptor's scope.
"You are very clever," he comments as he digs a thumb into the base joint of one of Perceptor's fingers. "Especially in that work you did on Duskwing."
He pats Perceptor's scope with his free hand. If the microscope watches closely, he might see the subtle warp as Hook opens a subspace portal and an unpowered laser scalpel drops into his hand. "However, if you ever force me to spend hours repairing that imbecile again, I will take great delight in demonstrating true genius with your scope and an electrocrystal tuner as my tools."
---
Violence on Perceptor's person done with player permission.
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Perceptor-3
Rookie
Curiosity killed... everyone else. After a lengthy examination, of course.
Posts: 139
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Post by Perceptor-3 on Apr 28, 2008 21:32:25 GMT -5
And strong, too!
Instinct twists Perceptor's features into a feral snarl, optics narrowed, flashing with icy fire at this assault upon his person. He is a being of intellect and reason, of thought and deliberation, rather than a creature of instinct, however. Even if that very unsubtle threat of Hook's grasp, pain flaring through his hand at the treatment, awakens a wholly different instinct within the red scientist.
How deliciously would this Hook writhe under his blade? How deliciously would that Decepticon imbecile writhe under this Hook's blade as Perceptor observed?
"None upon whom you could foist those repairs?" Perceptor purrs, voice hitching as pressure spikes through his digits, as he goes so still under Hook's hand. "Or are you merely not the favored blade in your Starscream's optics?"
That fierce snarl smooths away into such a carefully sculpted smile, schooled into cold calculation as Perceptor pushes back against Hook. Not enough to break the Constructicon engineer's hold, but enough to show that, if he chose, Hook would have a serious scuffle on his hands. Perceptor is not so weak, either. Especially not this one, who would not hesitate to stoop to tactics which his alternate would not, could not consider.
"Why do you tolerate such at all?" he asks in that same soft voice. "Why waste the resources and efforts on such a repellent subject?" He pushes back another fraction, optics narrowing further still at that unpowered blade. "Or do you lack the... facilities... to repair his most obvious defects?"
This Perceptor has some experience in assuring the compliance of Decepticon Seekers, after all.
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Post by Hook on Apr 29, 2008 15:17:08 GMT -5
"Starscream does not favor blades," Hook comments quietly. Perhaps he means it as metaphorically as Perceptor does. Perhaps he does not. Metal taps against metal as he flicks his unlit laser scalpel against the red scientist's scope. "But who better than I to undo the cleverness of idle hands?"
Scrapper deigned to speak modestly of his accomplishments. Hook did not bother, as he had noticed the wretched habit of many people in assuming that Scrapper's modesty meant his accomplishments were less than they truly were.
He shifts closer, body pressing harder against Perceptor in response to the scientist pressing against him. A scuffle he does not mind, but that is the usual association he has with mechs who speak seductively after he has pinned him. Usually they then drug him and leave him to hallucinate in amusing ways if he loses.
His mouth flutters against Perceptor's scope as he speaks, "Who better than I to modify and improve them for different body-shapes?"
Who better than I to do things you could never imagine with a body and a well-stocked toolbox?
Such an interesting suggestion this Perceptor has to deal with Duskwing. It says far too much of the world he lives in that he could be so casual about rewiring someone's mind. It also says much of his own rank and the whims of his commanders. Or perhaps it speaks of his blind spots.
Hook is intelligent enough not to suggest mind-modification as a method of removing annoyances. Oh no. To be caught doing that would get him shot - how could Starscream trust a mech who would do such a thing in secret? To ask for permission was to suggest the idea to Starscream and Shockwave, which was tantamount to suicide. No, he would not encourage the idea that minds ought to be reprogrammed when there were mechs around who could do such a thing to him.
"Do you always reach for a sledgehammer when the tool required is a pair of pliers?"
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Perceptor-3
Rookie
Curiosity killed... everyone else. After a lengthy examination, of course.
Posts: 139
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Post by Perceptor-3 on Apr 30, 2008 21:56:45 GMT -5
"Such a pity," Perceptor murmurs, optics flickering - bright to dark to bright again - for a moment as that unpowered blade resonates against his scope. Such arrogance. Such conceit.
Some might call it pardonable pride, Hook's implications, but if the engineer so much as scratches his lenses, then Hook will see the full extent of what "idle hands" can do.
Perceptor holds his ground, something rumbling deep within his structures. Perhaps a powerplant responding to the physical challenge Hook offers. Perhaps it is merely Hook's proximity that garners the response. Hook is right to be wary of being drugged, however. Then again, how is he to know that this Perceptor's talents are most expertly expressed through his compounds and his formulas than by his scalpel or his wrench? Natural suspicion may stand Hook in very good stead here, a fact that would have Perceptor silently cursing did he but know.
"Without being briefed on the full capabilities of your Decepticons," Perceptor intones silkily at that bare ghosting sensation against his scope, though he remains wary of the engineer as he eyes Hook sidelong, "that is unclear."
Do not underestimate my imagination or ingenuity, fractured shadow of a rippled reflection. What music we could make.
Rewiring a useless mech's mind is but one option among many. In Duskwing's case? If not for the pouting fit Skyfire would unleash upon being denied another pet, rendering to spare parts would be the scientist's preference.
Perceptor finally manages to carefully work his other hand free from where it had been pinned between his bulk and the tree beside him. Much better. Now he can see about these... liberties Hook seems to feel he can take with his person.
Sauce for the Gooseroid, and all that.
"Actually," Perceptor purrs, slipping that freed hand back to trail fingers lightly up the portion of Hook's crane boom that is within reach, "I find that I prefer utilizing my hands and a fine scalpel to dismantle most mechanisms. It is ever so much more satisfying."
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Post by Hook on May 1, 2008 11:43:18 GMT -5
Hook stiffens and his mouth scrapes against the red scientist's scope as Perceptor's fingers trail up his crane-boom. His hand tightens on Perceptor's, squeezing digits possibly more than is appreciated.
Oh, yes, he's definitely going to be drugged at the end of this.
It has been quite a while since he's felt this... Intrigued.
He relaxes his grip on the scientist's hand, rubs his thumb against the center of that black palm. "Trust me, Perceptor." If you dare.
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Perceptor-3
Rookie
Curiosity killed... everyone else. After a lengthy examination, of course.
Posts: 139
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Post by Perceptor-3 on May 2, 2008 2:58:31 GMT -5
Perceptor growls at the rough handling of his hand, shoving back a fraction, resisting. Ware, Hook. Ware the hands or it will be worse than drugged that you find yourself.
And ware, Hook does. Perceptor relaxes that bit as Hook's grip does, shifting restlessly at that intimate gesture. Dark fingertips dig in, not quite scraping loose green paint against that boom.
"As you trust me?"
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Post by Hook on May 3, 2008 19:31:48 GMT -5
"Exactly that much."
It is enough to be intrigued. It is, in fact, more than enough, for the Constructicon is quite tired of being petted and implied that he ought to submit to the will of others. He is a Constructicon, and he is Hook, and he has never been and never will be anyone's toy.
"I believe now is the time of ceremonial one-upsmanship, which ends when I do the surgical engineer equivalent of 'I've flown the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs', and you wander off to do complicated mathematics to figure out if that can even work."
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Perceptor-3
Rookie
Curiosity killed... everyone else. After a lengthy examination, of course.
Posts: 139
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Post by Perceptor-3 on May 4, 2008 20:03:07 GMT -5
Perceptor smirks almost warmly at that bit of commentary, although he does not relax any more than Hook has. He just continues stroking the fingers of his free hand up the length of that crane boom that remains in reach.
"Or I counter with an 'A full twelve? I managed it in eleven.' Correct?"
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Post by Hook on May 5, 2008 19:35:22 GMT -5
"Correct. And perhaps I make a comment about having written the procedure for doing that after I made the Run the first time around." There is a smile in Hook's voice, though no such expression curves his mouth.
He rubs a circle in Perceptor's palm again before carefully disengaging his hand from the scientist's. His fingers don't wander far, though- Just to the adjustment knob on Perceptor's forearm.
Very lightly, he twists it.
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