|
Post by Emirate Xaaron on Jun 11, 2011 8:03:41 GMT -5
Month 5, Week 1, Day 1, Event Horizon, solid light simulation room, open
No one on the Event Horizon really does epee. Though there are those with blades, most of them tend to use the blades primarily for chopping or slashing. No one on the Event Horizon really does single stick, for that matter.
So Emirate Xaaron is facing down a copy of himself who is black where he's gold, gunmetal where he's silver, red in the optics, and detailed in violet and teal. His double is based off his own physical attributes, but it isn't set up to feel pain or emotions, so it transforms without hesitation and never so much as flinches at the worst of damages, and Emirate Xaaron cannot 'read' it and 'play' it as he might a more emotionally vulnerable opponent. It is programmed with everything the databanks have on epee, single-stick, and melee in general.
It demonstrates for him. It teaches him. It beats him every time.
Emirate Xaaron lands on his back in the hallway, perhaps startling anyone who was intent on entering the solid light simulation room for a spar. From the doorway, it stares at him, expression blank, waiting for him to cross over the threshold and return to it.
|
|
|
Post by Rodimus Prime on Jun 11, 2011 22:49:58 GMT -5
Rodimus walks towards the simulation room alongside Mirage, intent on getting in a sparring lesson and chatting with the spy as he goes.
Actually, gossiping with the spy about other Autobots as he goes.
At the moment, his brows are knitted together as though considering a matter that doesn't quite add up like he'd expect it to. He shakes his faintly. "Maybe, but if that's the case, he sure doesn't seem to be holding it against him. Actually, he seemed kind of... protective of him, really."
And then Emirate Xaaron lands on his back in front of the young Prime.
Rodimus looks down at the Autobot Commander, optics a bit wider than normal, but any surprise is mild.
"Oh, hi, sir." He looks up and into the training room, spotting Emirate Xaaron's sparring duplicate. "Decide you needed an upgrade in the evil alternate department?"
|
|
|
Post by Mirage on Jun 12, 2011 19:26:38 GMT -5
"Yes, well, I still say he's entirely too smooth to- oh well now." Mirage breaks off as he looks down at the fallen Emirate, "I've certainly had people fall at my feet before, and Rodimus is handsome enough to cause the same, but I'm fairly sure we aren't to your normal tastes."
The spy is teasing, and it shows in both voice and expression. Mirage's encounters with Xaaron hardly ever go well, and that is often due to the spy's innate stuffiness. However, Mirage is currently relaxed and at ease, and perhaps at the least arrogant Xaaron has ever seen him.
Xaaron can thank Rodimus for that, most likely.
|
|
|
Post by Emirate Xaaron on Jun 12, 2011 21:28:18 GMT -5
"Oh, I am certain that I am the evil one," Emirate Xaaron replies gamely, a sparkle in his optics. "I just wanted to see what my specifications could do unfettered by the burden of a personality."
He sits up stiffly, joints creaking, and then forces himself to stand. Rather blandly, Emirate Xaaron states, "I should be interested to hear what you think my type is, Mirage." He waves a hand dismissively. "Let me dismiss my fool's errand and allow you men at arms your practise."
|
|
|
Post by Rodimus Prime on Jun 13, 2011 8:06:54 GMT -5
Rodimus snorts in amusement as Xaaron declares himself to be the evil one, but then his optics widen as Xaaron attempts to bow out. "What? No! No reason us getting some practice in means you don't." Then he smirks and adds, "Besides, you need it more."
Jerk.
"Maybe we can give you an opponent? Sword's not my speciality, but I'm not too shabby at it, either. Besides, it's not like you're really going to spend a lot of time fighting someone who's using the same style that you are."
|
|
|
Post by Mirage on Jun 13, 2011 18:24:20 GMT -5
Mirage answers Xaaron blandly, "Oh, I think you'd either prefer artillery or someone exceptionally delicate. Besides, sports cars are rather passe for someone with your position, and you strike me as someone who'd prefer to stand out from the crowd."
"But Rodimus has a splendid idea. I've a little fencing skill- most gentlemen do, you know- but certainly don't have the skill of some," Mirage says, "Don't run off on our account, really." There's a twinkle- and a challenge in the spy's optics.
Is Mirage looking forward to potentially literally crossing swords with Xaaron? Why, yes, he just might be.
|
|
|
Post by Emirate Xaaron on Jun 14, 2011 14:13:06 GMT -5
"Fascinating. If you've considered the matter so much, I am half-surprised you haven't tried to play matchmaker, given your previous comment," Emirate Xaaron comments obliquely to Mirage, neither confirming nor denying any of Mirage's assertions.
My. But he does have two lovely, handsome Autobots who seem eager to give him a pounding, doesn't he? Emirate Xaaron simply must oblige them. He steps back into the sim room, and his dark duplicate is at him instantly, one hand at his neck.
"Command override: dismiss simulation," Emirate Xaaron manages to say, before his duplicate can do more. He rubs his neck and looks around the blank room and then back at Rodimus Prime and Mirage expectantly.
|
|
|
Post by Rodimus Prime on Jun 14, 2011 18:01:39 GMT -5
Rodimus, this Rodimus, does not normally carry a sword. His melee weapons of choice are his fists, and behind that, his buzzsaw. He loses the reach that others get out of their weapons, but if he can keep the fight in close (and he's generally quick enough to do this), his foes are then hampered by that superior reach. However, this doesn't mean he doesn't know how to use a sword. He's quite the generalist. And he had been heading towards the sim room intending to spar, anyway, and so, by chance, he happens to have with him an energy sword similar to the one his 'Perceptor Reality' counterpart is seen using against a training drone.
Rodimus isn't fighting that drone now, although Emirate Xaaron is at least as likely to cheat. The young Prime draws his weapon and activates it, looking back and forth between Xaaron and Mirage curiously as he tosses the sword from hand to hand. "What are you guys talking about?"
|
|
|
Post by Mirage on Jun 14, 2011 22:52:58 GMT -5
Responding to a mental command radioed by Mirage, a small display of edged weaponry appears. He considers it for a moment, then chooses a long, thin, double-edged blade with an ornate basket-hilt. He tests the weight and balance, flourishes it a mite, then nods approvingly. The display disappears.
"It isn't a matter of much thought, but merely an exercise of skills so that they do not become stale," he answers Xaaron, smirking slightly, "I can become anyone that a person might desire, and until previous had but short time for either close study of a subject or to be that desire for them. Discerning a person's likes quickly and with small margin of error was akin to survival on some missions."
"And an excellent way to uncover intel. People do tend to be a bit too free with their tongues when they are trying to impress someone."
Mirage turns and smiles at Rodimus, "Oh, he merely references an old argument of ours. I am quite bolstered by the fact that we have reached the point in our relationship where we can joke lightly about it."
|
|
|
Post by Emirate Xaaron on Jun 15, 2011 17:51:48 GMT -5
That basket-hilt isn't much, but it'll give Mirage's fingers some protection, something that Emirate Xaaron doesn't have with his epee-in-a-cane.
He shrugs one shoulder and teases, "Or it all means so little that I see no harm in raising the subject matter again."
Then Emirate Xaaron looks to Rodimus Prime and explains, "Mirage believes that I ought to court a paramour." The way he says it, Emirate Xaaron appears to disagree with the idea.
Also, that's not exactly what Mirage said. Mirage was actually a bit... cruder.
|
|
|
Post by Rodimus Prime on Jun 15, 2011 19:47:35 GMT -5
Rodimus starts to circle, checking the general stance and defenses of the other two. He smirks at Emirate Xaaron's observation.
"Ah, yeah. He does that," he states. After all, how many times has Mirage pushed him to find someone, even if it isn't Mirage?
He adjusts his hold on his energy sword, attempting to use the thin blade as a fencing weapon, the way the other two are. Like any proper dashing hero, he can dramatically grab a foil and lunge and parry as needed, though, again, this is far from his usual combat method.
He doesn't wait for an opening. He just lunges forward, both testing Emirate Xaaron's defenses and giving Xaaron a chance to practice said defenses as he telegraphs his move.
|
|
|
Post by Mirage on Jun 15, 2011 23:40:55 GMT -5
Mirage tends to be a bit protective of his hands, hence the choice. They are a large part of his trade, after all.
"That is not quite what I said," Mirage corrects. Really, all this smirking and suggestive commentary would be such lovely blackmail material in the wrong hands. "I said you needed a good bedding, because you were certainly the most uptight mechanism I had ever encountered."
"But since then I have met Sentinel Prime, and my unit for measure has changed."
Mirage hangs back, several paces from Xaaron, and observes the Prime's attack. The spy's own sword is held at the ready, in case either party turns upon him.
|
|
|
Post by Emirate Xaaron on Jun 16, 2011 20:52:20 GMT -5
Being a single Autobot and flirting with other Autobots who turns into automobiles is hardly the most scandalous thing Emirate Xaaron could do. Autobots who turn into automobiles are like the girl next door: inherently wholesome until they get a nasty black deco with spikes.
"Is that your game, then, Mirage?" Emirate Xaaron inquires lightly, when he hears that Mirage has also been pushing Rodimus Prime to find a snuggle-bunny. "To have all of our chain of command pair off and drive the cons to incessant moping over their singlehood, so that we may easily mop up their demoralised shells?"
At the lunge, Emirate Xaaron steps a bit to the side and half-twists. This is far from inspired, but he's just learning, and it is a serviceable thing to do. Thusly, Rodimus Prime's blade ought to pass him by, provided that Rodimus Prime doesn't do anything fancier with that lunge. He then tries to extend his arm and dig that point into Rodimus Prime's wrist, which ought to be in range and is a quite good target, he feels, though it might require more point control than he can really manage.
He quips, "Primus forbid that I should compare unfavourably to Sentinel."
|
|
|
Post by Rodimus Prime on Jun 16, 2011 22:41:53 GMT -5
Rodimus doesn't try anything fancier with the lunge, but he does yank his hand back and jink it up just in time to avoid the return point, stepping back a moment.
"You told him what?" Rodimus exclaims, then his optics widen as Emirate Xaaron seems to express a desire not to be compared unfavorably to Sentinel. Does that mean Xaaron wants to take back top slot of most uptight Autobot? "Please don't get into any 'uptighter than thou' contests. I'm not sure the rest of us would survive the collateral damage that would cause!" He steps back a bit further and watches between Xaaron and Mirage, preparing for an attack from either.
|
|
|
Post by Mirage on Jun 16, 2011 23:13:32 GMT -5
Mirage turns an innocent look on Rodimus, "What? It certainly was true at the time, though his overall mood seems much more improved of late. Perhaps there is something to that transforming more business after all."
As Rodimus avoids Xaaron's counter-attack, Mirage steps in quickly feinting a stab toward Xaaron. At the last moment, the spy spins on the balls of his feet and redirects the attack toward Rodimus instead, stepping in closer than he probably should. Mirage is careful not to expose his back to Xaaron, but he is still open to attack from the side.
"The mood of command dictates the mood of the army. I'm merely doing my part as a concerned and loyal solider," Mirage says, in that same too-innocent tone.
|
|