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Post by Perceptor on Jul 13, 2009 13:30:41 GMT -5
"I have fortunately never needed to worry about small endowments," Perceptor replies. Of course small salary endowments. "My allotment has always been ample for my needs."
He watches carefully as Xaaron focusses his attention and feels the slight tension building within the Emirate's grip as he prepares to fire-- And the pop as the round expells directly at their feet. Onto Xaaron's foot, rather.
"Ah, no worries. Such accidental discharges are common for the unskilled," he soothes gently, maneuvering Xaaron's grip back into position to aim at the intended target. "You must squeeze, not pull, to achieve the proper directional discharge. Now, sight along the length, past the tip, just as before, and try again. Remember, squeeze. Do not pull."
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Jul 13, 2009 14:19:10 GMT -5
"Some make skillful use of what they have and are content," Emirate Xaaron agrees. "Though I suspect you might require somewhat extra to ensure proper upkeep of your more specialised implements." Pause. "Such as that scope. A precision piece of equipment, is it not?"
Emirate Xaaron immediately and unthinkingly reaches down to try to wipe off the sticky mess on his foot, and in the process, he gets his had all wet. He shakes it, trying to dry it off. However, when he returns his hand to the pistol, he just gets the implement sticky, too.
Oh bother.
Emirate Xaaron carefully tries to align the sights again, but he suspects that Perceptor is doing most of the work of getting the little device into just the right position. Drawing his gaze along the length and past the tip, he gently squeezes the trigger until it just yields to his pressure.
Pop!
The recoil rocks him back, off his balance, possibly toppling him and his sticky feet and hands into Perceptor.
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Post by Perceptor on Jul 13, 2009 14:37:22 GMT -5
"Very," Perceptor agrees. "Additionally, I am simply very... selective... about which individuals I choose to allow the use of my equipment. I find that such selectivity minimizes risk of damage or contamination."
Perceptor isn't so much doing the work, really, as he is assisting Xaaron in finding the best position. A little exercise in "muscle memory", so to speak. He notes the paint now staining Xaaron's hand, but does not comment on it, nor prevent Xaaron from continuing his aiming and shooting. After all, paint will wash, and a simple little smear of paint should not affect the exercise much at all.
Of course, Perceptor could be wrong.
He isn't expecting the weapon to kick so much, nor Xaaron to take so much recoil so suddenly, and therefor is not very prepared to catch Xaaron as he topples backward. With a strangled, "Oh, MY!" he, too, tumbles backward, and with his arms still wrapped around Xaaron as they are, he pulls the Emirate along with him, both of them flailing unexpectedly.
The gun clatters to the floor by Perceptor's thigh, spilling out a couple of rounds which... squish unpleasantly under him, squirting more sticky, wet paint out around them both. Alas, Perceptor's valiant attempt to twist mid-fall and catch them both has only succeeded in getting Xaaron torqued around to land atop him, not quite straddling, hands and feet smearing more paint across the scientist's frame.
Well, now. That was... unexpected.
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Jul 13, 2009 22:12:28 GMT -5
Rodimus Prime is familiar enough with the tunnels that the Autobots have claimed to know that this is a little used dead end. Thus, he was curious when he heard the sounds of noises and is that... weapons fire? But it sounds off... coming from this area.
And thus, he is investigating.
He turns the nearest corner, and walks dead into a sight that immediately makes him wish he had just ignored the oddity.
Perceptor and Emirate Xaaron on the floor together. Emirate Xaaron on top, straddling him. Arms reached around each other, and some sort of black liquid - oil? Lubircant? - everywhere.
The young Prime's optics go wide in shock and horror as he is faced with a scene that may well haunt his darkest nightmares for years to come. Unicron will bring up this memory just to torment him, he suspects.
(If Unicron himself isn't horrified.)
"Oh, Primus!" Rodimus exclaims, then rips his eyes away and turns his head rather quickly.
"Sorry, I'm so sorry, I just... I heard noises and..."
"I'll just leave you two alone," he finishes hurriedly.
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Jul 14, 2009 12:10:10 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron groans, "I think I'm a black repaint now."
He vainly tries to wipe off some of the paint on Perceptor's chest, apologising, "I'm dreadfully sorry about this, I really am. I'm going to need a shower and looks like you will, too."
Then, he notices that Rodimus Prime has walked in on them, and he immediately sits up on Perceptor's hips, and he holds up a sticky, blackened hand, fingers spread wide. Emirate Xaaron says quickly, "Rodimus Prime! I don't know what this looks like, but whatever this looks like, it's not that."
He rubs his temples, getting the paint on his head now, and he asks quietly, "Uhm, did you need something from me, Rodimus Prime?"
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Post by Perceptor on Jul 15, 2009 15:15:15 GMT -5
"No apologies necessary, Xaaron," Perceptor assures him. "You did attempt to warn me, after all." He chuckles, shaking his head. He is about to remark that if paint is the greatest of his worries, then all is well, when they are quite suddenly not as alone as they had been.
And Rodimus Prime looks horrified. And horribly embarrassed.
It is only then, when Xaaron sits up, fully straddling him, that Perceptor realizes just what, exactly, sort of tableau they must present to the youngish Prime.
"Oh no! No, of course not! We would never! Not like that! Well, not that I find anything wrong with that, of course, simply that I am not attracted to Xaaron in that manner, not to mention the difficulties it might cause with the chain of command..." That's good, right? Except...
"Nor am I attempting to imply that Xaaron should restrict himself should he develop an attachment of that manner to anyone, but this was merely weapons practice, nothing more! Just weapons practice! I was merely attempting to instruct Xaaron on the technique of firing my pistol-- err, that is to say, the weapon I constructed for him."
So not helping.
"A non-lethal instrument!"
Nor that.
"Something harmless to learn upon!"
Still. Not. Helping.
"This!" he exclaims flailing about by his hip until he comes up with the aforementioned gun, also liberally stained in sticky, wet black paint. "A dye pellet ballistic device! It... misfired. Or... something," he finishes weakly.
He's just going to shut up now.
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Jul 15, 2009 16:35:46 GMT -5
Rodimus is in the process of turning to leave the two their privacy when both offer there vehement denial. Which, of course, they'd be doing if they had been up to, well, what it had looked like they were up to. But it's also what they'd be doing if they hadn't been up to that. All in all, it's kind of a tricky problem.
The Chosen One can't help but gives a quick chuckle at the sheer awkwardness of their replies, though.
"Well, I guess either way, it's your business," he states, glancing towards Perceptor's gun. That is to say, pistol.
You know what I mean, darn it.
"Anyway," he shakes his head towards Emirate Xaaron, "I wasn't really looking for you in particular. I just wanted to see what was going on down here. I'd heard some of the noises."
The occasionally suspicious noises.
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Jul 15, 2009 19:40:20 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron sighs, shoulders sagging. Right. Rodimus Prime thinks he'd shack up with Perceptor, and Perceptor thinks he's not attractive. What kind of image is he projecting to people, these days?
He explains, "I realised my inadequacy in handling weaponry and asked Perceptor if he'd be willing to assist me in rectifying my faults. My inadequacy got all over."
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Post by Perceptor on Jul 16, 2009 13:21:45 GMT -5
Perceptor had said that he is not attracted to Xaaron in that manner, not that he did not find Xaaron attractive. Those are two totally seperate concepts. One may find someone attractive without being attracted to them, after all, but with Xaaron being their leader, it is somewhat of a moot point anyway.
Plus, there's the whole clashing of ideals thing to consider, too.
"Xaaron did attempt to warn me that he would manage to cause damage with even such an innocuous weapon as this," Perceptor adds with a rueful little grin. He probably makes an even more ridiculous sight than normal, still sprawled there on the floor with Xaaron still straddling him, and in no obvious hurry to alter the positioning, despite his awkwardness.
That probably isn't helping to dispell whatever Rodimus may or may not be thinking about them, really, but Perceptor is naive enough to think that Rodimus must believe him simply because he is telling the truth.
Perceptor frowns thoughtfully, gaze growing distant as he muses, "I must devise a means to harness such an ability... Being able to unleash such force of prbability under more controlled parameters would be a powerful weapon indeed. Perhaps by utilizing the principles of theoretical quantum physics, such a force could be harnessed into an entropy device..."
Oh dear. There he goes again. Not only is he expounding, but Xaaron has become his new Project. Look out, Emirate; you're about to be Scienced.
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Jul 16, 2009 18:06:41 GMT -5
Rodimus listens to the various explanations silently, but in the end he frowns and tilts his head, giving Emirate Xaaron a confused look. He shifts his weight from one foot to the other, arms more or less limp at his side, and asks, "Why now, Xaaron?"
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Jul 16, 2009 21:56:07 GMT -5
Perceptor can science Emirate Xaaron all night long, any time, baby.
However, Perceptor may be surprised - Emirate Xaaron serves the Lord of Chaos's sworn enemy.
Emirate Xaaron is still straddling Perceptor. He just doesn't get the big deal about physical contact.
He gestures widely and explains, "Back home, there were people in the tunnels who looked out for me. I need to look out for myself now and pull my weight with more than my razorsharp wit and my dry sense of humour."
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Post by Perceptor on Jul 17, 2009 17:18:47 GMT -5
Oooo, don't tell him that, Xaaron, because he would totally science your world. All. Night. Long.
"Why not?" he asks Rodimus, relaxing so that the pistol now rests across his chest. It might seem odd that he is continuing this discussion with the two highest ranking Autobots on Gillanan III from his position lying on the ground, but this is the same individual who talks to circuits. Odd is a very subjective term for Perceptor.
What Xaaron says, though, perplexes him as much as Rodimus potentially having an issue with Xaaron wishing to learn how to improve his weaponry skills.
"You already do, as you say, 'pull your own weight', though," he remarks, tilting a contemplative look up at Xaaron. "Not that I have any concerns with your desire to take a more proactive role in your own defense, not to mention that of the rest of the Autobots, however, the task of melding so many individuals from such familiar-yet-different realities is not an easy one."
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Jul 17, 2009 19:50:01 GMT -5
Rodimus listens to Emirate Xaaron's answer, and gives a faint nod to his head. "I... suppose so," he says in answer to the other's explanation that he never needed it before. He adds, a bit more uncertain, "We... in my timeline, we never did find out what happened to you. But that same applies even to a number of powerful warriors."
Then he looks at Perceptor and gives a faint smirk. "It's not 'why not?' so much as, 'why not before,' Perceptor," he explains.
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Jul 17, 2009 21:12:19 GMT -5
And Emirate Xaaron would like it. He'd demand in-text citations, though.
He grins down at Perceptor and points out, "I've seen an awful lot of action here." Combat action. Seriously. "Being dead weight in a fight doesn't help the troops any. That, and a lot of realities seem to expect warrior-leaders of the Autobots."
Emirate Xaaron inquires of Rodimus Prime, voice faint, "Is there any chance that I was murdered by Galvatron?"
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Post by Perceptor on Jul 19, 2009 14:50:29 GMT -5
Kinky. He's talking Perceptor's language.
Perceptor waves a hand somewhat dismissively toward Rodimus. Dismissive in a respectful manner, of course, but he obviously does not seem phased by the timing in the least. "Ah, before. In the midst of which crisis would you have preferred that such occur?" he asks with a bit of a rueful grin.
No, he's not trying to be snide or even condescending. He is simply being, well... Perceptor. He has his moments where he can show profound insight and compassion, but usually? He's just himself, and utterly uncomprehending of why the rest of the world does not think as he does. It honestly is not intended as disrespect; it's just utter cluelessness.
"I would hardly call you 'dead weight'," he observes, but does not elaborate. He does, however, reach up with his free hand to offer Xaaron a soothing pat along one thigh, leaving his hand resting there in a comforting show of support. It cannot be comfortable pondering the circumstances of one's own demise, after all.
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