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Post by Rodimus Prime on Dec 7, 2011 20:17:58 GMT -5
Rodimus accepts the ticket, then finally approaches the other, catching some of the conversation. He gives Onslaught a confused look. "You wanted to hang back and 'contemplate' whether or not to make first contact? So how long were you planning on spying on the humans in secret, then?" His tone is completely innocent and vaguely confused.
He activates his radio to the other Autobots, // Emirate, is there any reason you came out here with just one guard to deal with three powerful Decepticons? // A moment. // They are all Decepticons, aren't they? Who's the guy with the great taste in paint jobs? //
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Slugslinger
Minor
And if it weren't for this blasted coin…
Posts: 388
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Post by Slugslinger on Dec 11, 2011 10:33:01 GMT -5
OOC: Onslaught has timed out; skipping.
Watching both Onslaught and Flame try to field their respective problems with the Councillor is just too good. Slugslinger couldn't possibly interrupt all this, especially not when Rodimus Prime strolls on up, pretty as you please, and piles on the pressure. Slugslinger does privately take a moment to look more closely at the Prime – and it is odd how he and Flame share similarities in design and colour – and he wonders if Rodimus doesn't look a bit older than the last time they met. But that can't be… can it?
Meanwhile, the cameraman makes a helpless noise and tries not to cringe away from the tweezers Pee-Dee just ripped from her own arm. His bespectacled fellow crew member leans over to whisper.
"…Was that a film quote?" he asks, baffled. Slugslinger decides to make himself a pest to the beleaguered reporting crew and, giving Pee-Dee clearance, very quickly drops into a crouch, hunched over the humans. Some of the news crews not given the exclusive scoop back away, though, at his sudden change in orientation.
"How come you're not tapin' the interview?" he wonders. Maybe the cameraman is too petrified of Pee-Dee, but he doesn't budge.
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Post by Onslaught/Octavian Comstock on Dec 11, 2011 10:54:49 GMT -5
Blast it, the Autobots are successful in their attempt to distract the human. This puts him in a tight spot. A tight spot that is starting to make cracks appear in his calm facade. Oh, how he would love to just tear that arrogant emirate's head off, not to mention finding out just how much it would take to finally kill the Junkion.
But then he notices that he is not the only one affected. Flame is appearing quite nervous, and the Emirate is putting him on the spot. Blast it! "Really, Emirate? Are you questioning the loyalty of your own troops now?" Even with the cracks, Onslaught still manages to sound quite full of himself. He glances back to the humans before dramatically sighing and standing up again, crossing his arms and glaring at the gathered Auotobts, especially Rodimus. "I could ask the same of you, Rodimus Prime. How long did you hide your own presence, before making yourself known?"
//Decepticons, it is time for a tactical retreat. We can not win this. It is best to leave while we are still on equal ground, and do not give the Autobots a chance to defend themselves.//
"I see now what it is that you are attempting to do. You are attempting to sully our reputations, when we have only come here to educate and amuse ourselves. How typical. But I will play no part in this. Apologies, miss Dutton, but it looks like we must continue this at a later time." He gives Dorie a courteous nod before glaring at Pee-Dee, a disapproving, rumbling growl vibrating through his chest. "When there are no Autobots around and we can have a fair interview, without one of their numbers blatantly trying to prevent it by distracting your colleague."
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Flame
Rookie
Causam ago dementia
Posts: 198
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Post by Flame on Dec 11, 2011 23:50:03 GMT -5
Flame has no idea how to answer the question. Not because he doesn't know where his loyalty lies; he knows that quite well. But he is supposed to be an Autobot in this farcical exercise, and there are still cameras about and filming. He can't very well answer with the truth or Onslaught will be angry, and he'll tell Spinister what a miserable failure Flame is at participating in team efforts. And then will come training sessions to correct the problem. But he's terrified of lying to maintain the charade, because what if the lie is considered a transgression on his part? A breach of the terms that assure his continued existence?
No. No, he can't possibly answer the question. There is no correct answer. There is no safe answer. He says nothing, but his strained, terrified expression speaks volumes. And he would gladly, gratefully take cover behind Onslaught and leave with the other Decepticons – how does that work, he wonders, if he's supposed to be an Autobot today? – if only he could make his legs work. But he can't. Another Autobot has his attention now; another Autobot who looks like himself in a strange, distorted mirror.
His mind feels like it's twisting in upon itself.
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Dec 16, 2011 22:27:48 GMT -5
//Pee-Dee's not my guard. I haven't actually asked her why she came here.// Whoops. //He is a Flame but not mine. I am not sure if he is a captive Autobot with a touch of Stockholm and we should be getting him out of here or not.//
"My troops?" Emirate Xaaron inquires, "Flame here is not my 'troop'. At the very least, I would have made legal arrangements to get him a provisional driver's licence and tourist visa if he was, as I have with all of my other road-inclined troops who want to go planet-side."
This is true and traceable. Emirate Xaaron has put a ridiculous amount of paperwork into letting his Autobots and Maximals wander around.
"Is he yours?"
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Post by Pee-Dee on Dec 17, 2011 22:59:54 GMT -5
//Onslaught annoys me,// Pee-Dee says by way of answer to Rodimus and Xaaron. //Xaaron, life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get. Your life, on the other hand, is like this box of active grenades.1//
She carefully slips the tweezers back into her arm, fiddling with things a bit so they hold tightly to the GFPAK. It wouldn't do to lose it!
Then she tips her head up and blinks her optics at Onslaught. "Who's trying to distract the cameraman? Harvey just got here."
At his pointed look, she puts on a baffled expression. "Me? Normally I'd say, 'Lay off the sauce, you drunken fish of the cloth!'2, but since you're a Decepticon... If I was trying to distract the cameraman, I'd be much more interesting than this."
They see me trolling, they be hating.
1. Family Guy
2. Bonefish Grill radio commercial
Posing of Onslaught with player permission.[/i]
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Dec 18, 2011 18:24:01 GMT -5
"Well, you could ask me that, sure," Rodimus allows in response to Onslaught, tone cheerful and upbeat, "but then everyone would see that we've got no problem immediately answering, 'We announced ourselves as soon as we arrived,' rather than doing the evasive, 'answer a question with a question instead of actually answering,' thing."
//Wait. Wait. You didn't come here with any guard at all?// Rodimus exclaims over the radio. // To deal with two Decepticons? Three Decepticons? Two Decepticons and a potential captive? // Rodimus, like the others, is still not really certain what to make of Flame. He waits for Onslaught's answer to Emirate Xaaron's question with interest, since, if this guy has been with the Decepticons, he'll no doubt need some help now.
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Post by Onslaught/Octavian Comstock on Dec 22, 2011 7:08:14 GMT -5
Blast it all to the five corners of the Tenarium system! He merely wishes to make his escape while he still can, but these Autobots are intent on making things difficult for him! Against his better judgment, he stops in mid stride and brings a hand up to pinch his brow in frustration, the fingers of his other hand tapping on his metal hip.
"No, he is not."
At least he can answer this truthfully. Flame is not a Combaticon. But he is reaching the limit on what he can take with the rest of their hounding. Oh, how he just wants to shoot them all...
...Wait a second. Of course. Of course! This is incredibly risky and could go either way, but if his suspicions are correct, then this could work immensely in his favor.
"But! You are correct. He is, indeed, not one of yours. For a very good reason, is he not?" There's an ominous glint in his optic band as he looks right into Xaaron's accursed, mocking yellow eyes, before he turns to face Flame. "My friend, wish it did not have to come to this, but the Autobots must not be allowed to spread their lies further. Why do you not reveal the truth about them....Reveal to us all, to Cybertronian and humans around the world alike, why you left the Autobots."
//That was an order, Decepticon.//
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Slugslinger
Minor
And if it weren't for this blasted coin…
Posts: 388
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Post by Slugslinger on Dec 24, 2011 22:22:02 GMT -5
With Pee-Dee distracted and the promise of real drama to air, both Dorie and the cameraman turn their attention back to Onslaught and the bright red and orange fellow beside him, who looks fit to panic at any moment. His resemblance to Rodimus doesn't go without a very quiet aside comment from Dorie, covering her microphone with one hand and keeping herself just out of frame, though she maintains her professional integrity and doesn't speculate publicly. She's all business once she enters the frame, though she remains quiet, letting the cameraman record whatever it is going on between the robots.
Slugslinger, in the meantime, deciding he'll just enjoy the complete clusterbomb of a mess from a safe distance, has sidled back to hassle one of the other news crews.
"Hey," he says in a low, conspiratorial tone, "wanna interview? Without all the interruptions?"
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Flame
Rookie
Causam ago dementia
Posts: 198
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Post by Flame on Dec 29, 2011 19:29:06 GMT -5
As Onslaught speaks, Flame looks increasingly distraught. By the time reveal leaves the Combaticon's vocal processor, Flame can only make small, muted noises of fear. His gaze darts from one shadow to another, expecting Spinister or Needlenose or Starscream or Scourge to appear suddenly and put him down for speaking out of place. What should he say? Should he say anything? He can't disobey an order – if he doesn't want whatever hellish punishment Spinister concocts for him in the middle of his rest cycle – but is it his place to talk about this on national media?
"I… was offered… sanctuary," he says in a strangled voice. And it is the truth.
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Jan 1, 2012 22:03:53 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron likes grenades, though, so he doesn't exactly get Pee-Dee's point. He replies to Rodimus Prime, not really getting it, //Yes.//
He points out, "You know, sanctuary just means there were Autobots after you, Flame. It doesn't mean you did anything right or wrong. Personally, I don't know why Autobots were after you. Do you want to be here, with the Decepticons?"
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Post by Pee-Dee on Jan 5, 2012 22:10:33 GMT -5
Pee-Dee listens to all of this with a look of "wow, this is only slightly more interesting than watching paint dry". She's about ready to see if she can start a poking fight with Harvey Dent and/or etch Onslaught's leg.
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Jan 6, 2012 20:31:28 GMT -5
Rodimus grins as Onslaught doesn't respond to his mark, turning one of his most amused, photogenic smiles in the direction of the nearest camera. He quiets and listens with interest to the conversation going on now between Onslaught, Emirate Xaaron, and Flame, faint puzzlement tinging his features.
"Why would you need sanctuary?" he asks, genuinely baffled. That's not the first question that popped into his head, however. That question is, What did you do?
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Post by Onslaught/Octavian Comstock on Jan 6, 2012 20:46:30 GMT -5
Oh, please, keep smiling like that Rodimus. Onslaught could use more reasons to justify punching you right into that brilliant sparkling smile of yours.
Flame's response is....Not what he expected. Awfully short. But oh so very effective. Though it would help if he knew what, exactly, Flame did so he could push him in the right direction. But while the Emirate is not affected, Rodimus most definitely is! Oh, it's a good thing that he has an eternal pokerface, because the shit eating grin he would have without it would not have looked good on cameras. "Yes. Please, elaborate Flame. Elaborate on why you needed political asylum to protect yourself from the Autobots."
//Or don't. Your silence might be worth more. Let the humans interpret your nervousness as PTSD. That will do wonders.//
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Slugslinger
Minor
And if it weren't for this blasted coin…
Posts: 388
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Post by Slugslinger on Jan 8, 2012 9:47:11 GMT -5
He's bugging the humans and nobody's yet called him on it. Onslaught's trying not to squirm while hanging onto the unravelling threads of his clever plot, Flame's shutting down, everything's on camera, and he gets to poke the fleshies uninterrupted. Slugslinger thinks he must be dreaming.
"Hey," he prompts a little more loudly, "I asked if you guys wanted an interview." The crew he's singled out look at each other uneasily.
Dorie, in the meantime, has the feeling that she's stumbled into something rather too big even for her. She covers disasters, wars, special events, but her stories have never been quite so personal as what she sees unfolding before her. The Autobots appear genuinely curious, as if they have no idea what Rodimus's lookalike – Flame, he'd been addressed as Flame – could have done. Flame looks like a war veteran on the verge of a breakdown, and the idea that she and her crew are involved leaves a bad taste in her mouth.
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