Looking for a Rock in a Crowded Plaza

[Mirage]

Day 3, follows Made to Measure. Semi-private

---

Mirage does not hurry after the frightened Rock Lord. Instead, he moves casually through the marketplace crowd. Mirage isn't sure which way Pyrite went when he ran off after all.

After a short while, Mirage comes to a slightly more open area in the market place. In that open area is a conspicuous and sparkly lump of pyrite that very much matches Pyrite's own "skin." Mirage tilts his head and studies the out of place rock formation for several seconds, then smiles.

Mirage sits down on the sidewalk next to the rock and leans back against it. For now, he doesn't say anything.

---

Locating/leaning on Pyrite ok'd w/ the Scenemod.

[SceneMod]

Pyrite is just a rock when he transforms. One wonders why he would even bother or what use it could possibly be.

Pyrite just sits there in silence, an unmoving rock, while Mirage leans against him.

He lets it go a few minutes.

He finally asks, hesitantly, "Please don't look?"

At what?

[Mirage]

When Pyrite makes his entreaty, Mirage leans forward and away, clasping his arms around his knees. The spy assumes that Pyrite is going to transform and is shy about that transformation. Mirage does not turn around, honoring the Rock Lord's request.

"I am sorry he frightened you so badly, though I imagine it was not just Grimlock's belligerence that sent you running. We have more or less commandeered your presence from the off, haven't we?"

Mirage's tone is conversational and slightly coaxing, as if he's dealing with one of his hounds that was spooked.

"It was poor form all around, and again, I apologize," Mirage sighs, "I would have let you be, but I really do want to help you find your sister."

[SceneMod]

Pyrite rises up into his robot form and puts his clothes back on. He dresses quite quickly, actor that he is.

He seems just fine with being spoken to like a dog, not bothered at all.

Pyrite seems ready to say something, when what Mirage has said last finally hits him. His look is odd, one part disbelief, one part... oddly haunted. "I'd tell you not to trouble yourself, but I... really need help." He seems a bit pained to admit as much. "I don't... I don't have money, and the pay from my gigs... phft. So. So uhm. Consider me at your disposal, if you'll have me."

He says 'disposal' rather oddly.

[Mirage]

Once Pyrite is dressed, Mirage turns around, still sitting on the cobblestones. He seems unworried about what the street dust may be doing to his clothing (mainly because he isn't used to having it to worry about!).

Mirage is very, very observant though, and now that they are no longer in mixed company he feels safe enough to mention the hints of emotional pain he sees on the Rock Lord's face, hears in his voice.

"Pyrite, dear, just what do you think being at my disposal means? Do you think that I shall take some untoward advantage as payment for helping you or some such? For really, if you think that, then I will be most hurt, even if it would be the normal conclusion to draw on this world."

Mirage reaches up and out to try and grasp Pyrite's hand.

"I really do just wish to help you, no strings attached."

[SceneMod]

Pyrite suggests hesitantly, "You really might want to get off the street. You'll get dirty..."

Almost like he's avoiding the subject.

There is no such thing as untoward advantage, on Pz-Zazz. Only advantage.

Pyrite's hand is taken. He doesn't feel tense - rather, limp like a doll, like a puppet with the strings cut. Pyrite finally asks, "Oh no, I wasn't trying to offend you! Really. But I have to ask. Do you run a circus?"

[Mirage]

Mirage looks down at his pants and notes how the dust is sticking to the material. "Ah, I suppose you do have a point, and this probably does not clean so easily as metal." Mirage carefully rises- without pulling on his companion's hand at all- and uses his free hand to brush away the dust.

It's as he's doing so that he realizes exactly what Pyrite has asked him. "A circus? No, why do you-," and then Mirage smiles that handsome smile and laughs lightly, "Nevermind. We did seem a bit of spectacle group there didn't we?"

"But no, no. We aren't in a circus," Mirage sighs, "We are, however, merchanting here. Some of us at least."

Pyrite's limpness worries Mirage, the way the Rock Lord just allows himself to be pulled about like a ragdoll.

"Pyrite," Mirage's thumb rubs a light circle into Pyrite's palm, while the spy's other hand moves to try and gently touch the other's cheek, "You are avoiding my question. Is there something untold that you feel will make me revoke my offer?"

[SceneMod]

Pyrite stiffens ever so slightly. Perhaps there is some life in him, after all. A small smile quirks at his mouth, and he tries again, "Gypsies?"

Some are... 'merchanting', after all.

See, he's saying things that could be very insulting to Mirage! Clearly, that means that he is feeling more comfortable. Or just that he's acting like he's more comfortable.

He raises his free hand, not quite touching the hand on his cheek, just letting it hover there. "Nothing but the feeling you're too good to be true."

[Mirage]

"Hmm, too good to be true?" Mirage chuckles, "My dear, you have no idea. Our professions, they are not so different, class distinctions aside." Then the spy's voice softens, "But my concern is genuine, and my offer sincere."

"And no. We are not gypsies, either," Mirage almost manages to keep his voice from going flat. Almost. Being thought circus folk is bad enough, but vagabonds and shysters? Really!

"If you must have a label, consider us refugees. We've a common home, but that home is lost, and we are few. Hence the wide variety in our company."

"Now, you were going to show me where to get the belt you recommended?" Mirage says, voice once more lightening in an attempt to change the subject.

[SceneMod]

Not so different a profession, class distinctions aside? Pyrite's head skews to one side, perhaps softly knocking into Mirage's hand.

No... erhm. No. Pyrite is not going to ask if Mirage is a male robot space geisha. Even if the thought did enter his mind. Because no.

Pyrite nods quickly and gestures down a way, explaining quickly, "It's little bit out of the nicer part of town, but it should not give you any trouble, this time of day."

[Mirage]

Pyrite said he was an actor! Mirage is a spy who impersonates people! Taking considerable license, they are similar professions.

Well, maybe not. But...but...Mirage isn't a geisha!

(No matter how fetching he might look in a kimono and facepaint.)

Pyrite's head does indeed brush Mirage's hand, and the spy's fingers curl automatically in, making a quick caress out of the motion before his hand drops and he looks in the direction indicated.

"Well, most everything here is 'out of the nicer parts of town' compared to what I'm used to, I must admit," Mirage says, shrugging, "In any event, I'm not helpless. I'm sure we will be fine."

He offers Pyrite his arm, "Shall we?"

---

Pyrite is welcome to drag Mirage along where ever.

[SceneMod]

Pyrite isn't overly fast, but soon enough, he should have dragged Mirage into a more... colourful part of town.

Colourful in that there is some really weird graffiti on a lot of the walls here, taggings of 'Klud roolz' next to a stylized picture of a cyborg whale, a half-squid woman weeping, some A for anarchies, some stylized pictures of beards and horns, slightly fewer stylized pictures of falcons, and all sorts of inane prattle along the lines of 'politicians have lost control' and 'Grokk wuz here'.

The area is noticeably dirtier, with more trash blowing about. Some of the buildings are boarded up or have broken windows.

Pyrite is moving towards a store called 'The Last Act'. The windows are quite dark.

[Mirage]

Mirage- with the dignity and fortitude only found in the highest of the upper classes- manages to only pause for the barest second as the scenery changes from tastefully expensive to urban grunge. Cavalier attitude aside, he is still not a local, is still carrying a lot of currency and (perhaps he should have considered this earlier) has not actually confirmed any of Pyrite's story!

But Mirage is no coward, and the spy is now quite committed to his task. This does not mean that he isn't paying attention. Mirage is near the best at what he does, and he quickly makes note of all areas of possible ambush as well as any people who might be loitering about. Even the rooftops get a careful look, and Pyrite might notice that for a few moments, Mirage's expression is both serious and calculating.

He pauses outside the store.

"Hrm. This is more than just a "bit out of the nicer part of town, friend. Is this place even open?" Mirage attempts to slip his arm out of Pyrite's and instead to just rest his hand at the Rock Lord's waist. If Mirage needs to disengage totally, he can do so easily, but such positioning still allows him to pull Pyrite in and cloak him, if needed.

[SceneMod]

Pyrite, it should be noted, doesn't particularly seem comfortable anywhere. However, he doesn't seem noticeably more uncomfortable here, either. Perhaps odd, that. He, unlike Mirage, hasn't boasted as to being able to handle himself, and indeed, if anything, Pyrite mainly seems to have proven that he really cannot handle himself at all.

There is no one noticeable up on the rooftops.

Down the street, there is an upset woman, railing at her male companion for his stupidity in getting pick-pocketed. A rather bored looking woman leans against a lamp post. Two poorly-educated looking youths are throwing rocks at each other. There's nothing openly threatening, but no one looks too friendly, either.

Pyrite's head tilts to one side, and he assures, "It's open. It's even open late, but I wouldn't come here then. The stage blood you can get after dark is... questionable."

[Mirage]

Mirage shudders inwardly at all the street folk hanging about. Even if they aren't really street folk, they might as well be to him.

"Right," he drawls out, "And the price of this item is going to increase threefold at least the moment the clerk gets a look at me. I'm probably worth more than his entire inventory."

"Oh well, we've come this far. Shall we?"

Mirage does take a moment to send Rodimus his location. Just in case.