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Post by Jazz-3 on Apr 14, 2008 21:49:19 GMT -5
"That's the problem. Chaos never goes away. It merely bides its time until an opportunity arises." Jazz shrugs. The shadows can conceal the small, the weak, and the cowardly-- who cannot fly.
Ok. That was funny. That bit about the Prime. And that choked sound is something extremely rare-- at least for Jazz..
Laughter.
"And if it were not for your presence, for the oddities of this place--- I would not believe you." There is a sobering, the rare laughter dies swiftly. "So the Prime of this place defies Gods as well. That is useful to know."
And knowing the luck of the universe, the Jazz in this universe will be the same way, and /this/ particular Autobot won't survive an encounter. But then again, where there is life, there is opportunity...
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Fleetwind
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The Chancellor, His Eminent Grandeur, Marquis Fleetwind. The Insurgent Subduer of A Non-Threatening Cute Little Furry Kitten
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Post by Fleetwind on Apr 15, 2008 7:17:05 GMT -5
The words 'as well' go unremarked on, but are noted none-the-less. It's something of a slip, calling into question Jazz's feigned ignorance of Unicron.
Ah, well. All he can do is report the facts. Judgement calls are for someone else. Oh, he makes his own, but those are kept to himself.
"Mmmm," answers Fleetwind, looking towards the sky. "I imagine."
Then he looks at Jazz. "I suppose there are other things I could be doing, after all. It's been... interesting talking to you." Polite, even now. Best not to give allies more reason than necessary to shoot him in the back.
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Skyfire-3
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Post by Skyfire-3 on Apr 16, 2008 11:34:26 GMT -5
Skyfire noted the familiar yellow profile of the dangerous Decepticon jet Fleetwind watching from a nearby crag. Icy blue optics narrowed; he'd long wanted to add the excessively brave, graceful Seeker to his collection. To have Fleetwind bow before him and minister to his every whim would be exquisite--almost as good as taking Starscream.
Rodimus Prime would never let him have Starscream as his own plaything; the Prime reserved that pleasure for himself. Fleetwind, however, was low enough ranking that Skyfire might be able to claim him, if it amused the Prime.
Jazz, ever-elusive and shadowy, was talking to Fleetwind. Wasn't that interesting? Still, this was a different Fleetwind, as these were different Decepticons. In what way might he be different?
Curious, Skyfire strode toward the foot of the low crag Fleetwind was perching on.
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Post by Jazz-3 on Apr 16, 2008 12:10:43 GMT -5
Jazz, the ever elusive and shadowy, is out in the open.
Fortunately, not scared witless by the presence of Fleetwind, who does not know of the Prime's habit of boasting about defeating gods-- and assumes that Jazz is lying about the images in the sky.
He may be correct-- however that particular time in Jazz's memory banks is a bit fuzzy anyhow. Probably something to do with Perceptor's 'tender merciful care'. A polite smile crosses the face, as the visor studies the yellow seeker.
"As there are for me." Jazz says, "It has been fascinating. Perhaps..."
Heck. If the Prime can claim and hold leadership, perhaps this Fleetwind wouldn't need to be Skyfire's 'pet' in order to survive. That is, if the Prime doesn't just want to destroy every one of these Decepticons when their usefulness is done. The thought of that destruction doesn't make Jazz's smile change, however...
"Perhaps we could speak again."
Oh crap. It's Skyfire. Jazz starts backing into the shadows yet again.
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Fleetwind
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Post by Fleetwind on Apr 18, 2008 8:57:00 GMT -5
"Perha-" Fleetwind cuts himself off at Jazz's suddenly more abrupt scramble back into the shadows, and his left foot, slightly lifted in preparation to take to the air, touches rock once more.
He turns, optics narrowed. Thundercracker's 'owner,' is he? Fleetwind's wings twitch lightly, and there's a subtle shifting to his stance, indicating a readiness to suddenly spring away. This is not the fool who disobeyed his directives and attempted to 'rescue' Long Haul from Omega Supreme, but he is the shuttle who put a good sized hole in Fleetwind's torso before turning tail and running.
As for Fleetwind himself, and how he compares to his other, it would easy to state the difference between the two graceful Seekers as akin to difference between the grace of the hunting cat and the grace of the fearful doe. Easy, but also inaccurate. After all, even the feline, hyper-evolved hunting machine that it is, is oft given cause to flee when met with a larger, more dangerous foe. And Fleetwind, though fearful, is still a warrior, a weapon. This coward cat may be more watchful, more wary than his cousin, but he is a hunter still, and claws are just as sharp.
"Skyfire," he greets, tone on the chilly side of neutral, as his clamps careful control over his flight-or-fight instincts. If the truce is to hold, he shouldn't have to do anything, but if survival says to be prepared to do either, even so.
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Skyfire-3
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Post by Skyfire-3 on Apr 18, 2008 9:18:43 GMT -5
"Fleetwind," Skyfire replied with a friendly smile. "Sorry about blowing a big ugly hole through you--you're much too pretty a jet to suffer that--but we weren't allies then. How fast things change! That's politics for you."
"Getting acquainted with your new allies? I'd think you'd want to talk to the aerial units; you're more likely to be working with them--or have you already?" Skyfire asked, regarding Fleetwind thoughtfully.
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Fleetwind
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Post by Fleetwind on Apr 18, 2008 9:42:14 GMT -5
So, the one who 'owns' a Thundercracker starts with a friendly, casual reminder that he can do a considerable amount of damage to Fleetwind, moved on to describe Fleetwind as 'pretty,' then suggested that he should be spending more of his time conversing with the Autobot aerial units. And, of course, by striking coincidence, Skyfire is, himself, an Autobot aerial unit.
Uhm. Yeah. Not good.
The Seeker smiles just enough to be polite, but his tone is still decidedly guarded as he shakes his head faintly. "Not yet, no."
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Skyfire-3
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Post by Skyfire-3 on Apr 18, 2008 20:42:12 GMT -5
Skyfire glanced over to where Jazz had drifted into the shadows and lowered his voice slightly.
"Oracle is reasonable, you shouldn't have much trouble working with her. Skyblast fancies himself an artist with his foes' life-fluids as his medium. He's... excitable. Slingshot is a weapon; I'm not sure it's got a real mind. It sticks close to Skyblast. Be careful with those two." There was a note of warning in Skyfire's voice.
"You'll find I'm pragmatic and not hard to work with. I also protect those who work well with me." Skyfire's tone was genial and his smile broadened; so what if he said work with the same way he would say serve.
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Fleetwind
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Post by Fleetwind on Apr 18, 2008 21:11:37 GMT -5
As Skyfire warns about Skyblast and Slingshot, Fleetwind gives an absent half-shrug. The gesture itself is so casual, it seems at odds with the tenseness in how he holds his wings.
"I watch out for myself," he assures. Not 'I will watch out for myself.' It's something he's doing even now. "The warning is noted."
The Seeker looks over Skyfire with a considering gaze at the 'protection' comment. He purses his lips a moment, then nods. "Ah. I see. I take it, then, Synapse does not... work well with you?"
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Skyfire-3
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Post by Skyfire-3 on Apr 19, 2008 11:48:33 GMT -5
Skyfire's mouth drew down into a tight line. "Synapse and I do not work together. Our capabilities are somewhat redundant."
Then the big shuttle was all smiles again. "On the other hand, escort fighters are always helpful to have on hand. You never know what kind of trouble will turn up, or with whom."
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Fleetwind
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Post by Fleetwind on Apr 19, 2008 18:31:19 GMT -5
"Generally speaking," Fleetwind observes, "it's the task of the 'escort' to defend the 'escortee.' Is it not?" Not that Fleetwind was inclined to trust any 'protection' offered by this Skyfire in the first place.
"Is that why you... gather fliers of your own? Because the other Autobots won't... 'work with' you?"
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Skyfire-3
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Post by Skyfire-3 on Apr 19, 2008 18:56:55 GMT -5
"Of course."
Skyfire smirked at Fleetwind's next question. "They work with me just fine on Autobot missions. I just have a personal appreciation for fine lines and swift wings--even on enemies. I'd rather make them useful and keep them around than turn them into spare parts. That, and they make faithful assistants for my private enterprise operations."
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Fleetwind
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Post by Fleetwind on Apr 19, 2008 21:43:22 GMT -5
"'Faithful assistants,'" Fleetwind repeats carefully, as though tasting each word very carefully. A smile that refuses to have anything to do with the rest of his face graces the Seeker's lips.
"I'm not sure which of those two words strikes me as stranger."
The optics narrow and the smile vanishes. Jazz had said that Thundercracker 'belonged' to Skyfire. Fleetwind had made certain... assumptions based on that, based on what it would take for the Decepticons he knew to allow an Autobot to run around free. He turns a studious gaze on Skyfire.
"But is forced faith really faith at all?"
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Skyfire-3
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Post by Skyfire-3 on Apr 20, 2008 9:10:29 GMT -5
"An abstract philosophical question. I deal in practicalities and personal preference. 'Forced faith', as you call it, is at least reliable... unlike certain leaders assumptions that terrorizing someone into submission actually sticks longer that it takes them to get out of sight and run for it." A brief frown flashes across his face again, then it's back to his used-car salesman geniality.
"No, mutual self-interest or enforced obedience is more reliable. The former kind of people won't pull their own fuel pumps1 in a fit of misguided idealism, and the latter--can't."
--- 1 equiv. of "Cut their own throats"
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Fleetwind
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Post by Fleetwind on Apr 20, 2008 13:31:03 GMT -5
"Fear is only one tool, but it's more potent than you make out," the Seeker explains, tone and expression still coolly polite and neutral. His optics, however, scan the horizon constantly. "Before someone manages to 'get out of sigh and run for it,' they have to measure their chances of staying gone. Not all of us are spacecraft, after all. And then there's the question of solo survival versus group survival. This would be where the 'mutual self-interest' part factors in, of course, but I would not fault any leader who makes use of both tools. Frighten, though not so much that the individuals would rather risk it alone than accept the security offered by numbers. Remind that going it alone has its consequences, as do getting caught after making the attempt." The Seeker shrugs. "I've seen all these things used in combination more effectively than you imply they could be."
Of course, Fleetwind, ever ruled by his own fears, is a bit biased on that account. He sees nothing particularly odd in the idea that a leader should hold his position in part through fear, because it works so effectively on him.
The Seeker doesn't say anything one way or another about 'enforced obedience' or it's effectiveness. It, too, is another tool, but one that doesn't get used on him, and he fully intends to keep it that way, and so he is wary around this mechanoid with 'a personal appreciation for fine lines and swift wings'. Fleetwind muses on his own currently strong desire to 'get out of sigh and run for it,' and considers. Skyfire does not wield the tool of fear very well - perhaps that explains his strong preference for 'enforced obedience.'
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