Lugnut
Minor
Broken.
Posts: 268
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Post by Lugnut on Jun 11, 2010 11:00:40 GMT -5
Sending someone ahead to watch them in secret makes sense. Megatron would have done the same, after all. But that still doesn't mean that Lugnut has to like it. With a rumbling growl he follows Shockwave again, keeping his side optics fixed on the rooftops.
-------
Timeskip is good with me as well.
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Post by Victoria Raines on Jun 12, 2010 18:53:27 GMT -5
Timeskip ahoy!
It does not take too terribly long for Shockwave and his Brute Squad to reach the restaurant where this meeting is to take place. The trio is shown immediately to a private room, a very spacious room that only has one table in the center. Currently, that table is unoccupied, but the group is not invited to sit.
The room is well-lit, yet still dark due to the decor. The walls are a deep wood paneling, the floor exceptionally thick, dark red carpeting. There are no windows, and only two doors: the one through which the trio entered, and one on the far side of the room.
Some might be able to tell that this room's walls and doors are reinforced, stronger and thicker than the rest of the structure. The room is also soundproof, and the trio will find their radios useless while in the room.
It take more time than Shockwave would like before the door across the way begins to open. He can be terribly patient, but he detests wasting time.
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Post by SceneMod on Jun 12, 2010 21:31:37 GMT -5
A being that looks something like a Minotaur in a dark business suit comes striding purposefully into the room, flanked on one side by what appears to be a floating pillar of flame, and on the other side by a large, white, muscularly-built humanoid rabbit, also in a business suit, his long ears laid back on his head.
The Minotaur settles casually into his chair. The rabbit remains standing. The fire... stays on fire. He leans back into his seat and looks up at Shockwave, then gestures towards the seats at the other end of the table and says in a smooth, deep, cultured voice, "Have a seat. Please. And call me Bovos."
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Hellbender
Major
Mecha-Shai-Hulud
"Seriously."
Posts: 892
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Post by Hellbender on Jun 13, 2010 19:11:30 GMT -5
Hellbender likewise remained standing, arms loosely folded as he flanked the door they came in by. He didn't have orders to sit, one didn't sit before Lord Shockwave did, and it would be poor security. He noted the disturbingly thick walls, mapping the reinforcements and conduits with a sonar scan. The sound-absorbent nature of the walls was quickly apparent, foiling in-depth study of the structure.
Hellbender tried to radio Shockwave privately, but the dead air and utter lack of the usual signal handshaking told him radio just wasn't functioning here. He muttered in his "native" Kaonian dialect of Cybertron, <Boss, Lugnut--this room is a potential trap. Reinforced walls, sound-proofing, and radio-cancelling. On the up side, reinforced walls would reflect Lugnut's blast punch back onto anyone fool enough to start a scrap with us--no frangible surfaces to direct the blast away safely from them.>
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Lugnut
Minor
Broken.
Posts: 268
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Post by Lugnut on Jun 14, 2010 7:35:11 GMT -5
Lugnut may not have the same sensors as Hellbender, but he is no fool. The layout of the room alone leaves him paranoid, checking all of his weapon systems, though he rechecks the turrets on his chest. If this comes to a fight those will give him the element of surprise, concealed as they are by the clothing.
The zealot does not sit down either at the offer, and instead remains standing at Shockwave's side. Then he hears Hellbender speaking and he becomes all the more paranoid, though the bit about his weapon stings. <'The weapon is no longer in my possession.'> Lugnut answers with his own Kaonian dialect, though his sounds a bit different from Hellbender's.
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Post by Victoria Raines on Jun 14, 2010 9:41:22 GMT -5
Shockwave responds to his companions concerns in a similar dialect, though it also varies somewhat. <Duly noted. Thank you.> His tone belies the words though, a tone that should give observers the slight impression that he is admonishing his bodyguards for speaking out of turn.
He seats himself, seemingly relaxed, in the indicated chair across from Bovos. "And I am Shockwave. I am certain we shall come to a very mutually beneficial understanding."
"Your sanctum here is rather impressive," adds Shockwave, subtle commentary that the security measures are noticed.
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Post by SceneMod on Jun 14, 2010 22:27:52 GMT -5
"Eeeh, it's a bit old fashioned for company, and I apologize," Bovos answers with a casual wave of his fingers. "Sometimes you must make due with what you have, hmm?"
"But what we do not have is lunch, I see." Bovos lifts a hand, and a forth person enters, a well shaped humanoid female with distinctly bovine features. With a strange cow-smile she sets a menu in front of Shockwave, then two more down in the spots where Lugnut and Hellbender would be sitting if they had chosen to sit. "Please, choose what you'd like. It's on the house."
The menu is tailored to robots, though the Cybertronians will find them rather heavy on the additives for their systems.
The food here runs a bit spicy.
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Hellbender
Major
Mecha-Shai-Hulud
"Seriously."
Posts: 892
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Post by Hellbender on Jun 16, 2010 8:14:58 GMT -5
This time, Hellbender just glanced at the table and then at Shockwave. Message received: warnings are good, but be subtle. Not too dine with their host would probably insult him--on the other hand, what if he were trying to slip additives into the Boss's system, something to make him more submissive or otherwise incapacitate him? Was the bull going to eat something himself? If so, did that mean this meal would be some kind of diplomatic ritual? If not, were they being set up for the slaughter?
Decepticons: paranoia is a occupational requirement.
Hellbender kept one optic on Shockwave, waiting for a cue from his lord and master. To all outward appearances, he stood impassively at his post, watching everyone.
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Lugnut
Minor
Broken.
Posts: 268
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Post by Lugnut on Jun 16, 2010 9:49:03 GMT -5
Lugnut has no intention whatsoever of eating the offered food. It is just too obvious of a trap. He does not share Hellbender's worries about table manners and diplomacy, but if Shockwave commands asks him to eat something, he shall.
While Hellbender glances at Shockwave, Lugnut turns his attentions to the room that they are in. His side optics check for gratings, raised or lowered elements, anything that could be more then meets the eye. His main optic focusses on Bovos' bodyguards, sizing up the living flame and the bunny man. The latter will be simple to beat into a bloody pulp, but the flame could prove a bit more difficult. It's a shame that Blitzwing is not here; the triplechanger's ice cannons perhaps could have come in handy.
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Post by Victoria Raines on Jun 17, 2010 9:39:26 GMT -5
Shockwave glances at the menu but does not pick it up. "Thank you, but I do not require external fuels. I am independently powered, and consuming raw fuels is quite detrimental to my systems."
Honesty, for the most part, and phrased in a way which Bovos should not be able to truly argue over.
"Should the breaking of oil- or bread as the case may be- be required for our meeting as a nod to culture, one of my companions can serve in my stead with full authority."
And now to business.
"It is my understanding that you are looking for a partnership of sorts, preferably with a technological race o strength and with an...extensive ability to defend themselves."
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Post by SceneMod on Jun 17, 2010 11:43:55 GMT -5
Bovos does look faintly perturbed for a moment, but he shrugs it off quickly enough. "Eeeh, it is the norm, I admit," he rumbles, "but one learns to make allowances for other cultures here. You will excuse us if we have a bite." Bovos is not asking permission, though a moment later, his bovine lips pull back in a smile. "Well, not Helios here," he gestures to the pillar of flames. "His faith sustains him."
It's an offhand remark, and Bovos doesn't seem interested in specifying faith in what.
The rabbit sits down (the flame continues to, well, hover) as the first waitress scurries away, and two more arrive, setting plates in front of Bovos and the rabbit. The rabbit's plate is burdened with a large, rather elaborate salad. Bovos, also, is eating a salad, but, perhaps disturbingly, it appears to be accompanied by a steak.
"Ah, you are very direct. I like that, but I wonder if perhaps it is because you think you are too good to 'socialize' with the likes of me, mmmm? Eeeh, no matter." He absently waves the thought away. "What you describe is what we are looking for. If a man's character may be judged by his enemies, our character must be very great indeed, but these days there are, perhaps, a trifle few allies. Despite this, I think at the moment, you might need our... friendship more than we need yours, mmm? Though I suppose if we meet each others' needs, it would be foolish to argue about degrees."
Bovos takes a large bite of his steak and, despite chewing between words, continues on just as clearly as before. "The problem, here, is that we have no way of knowing that you really do meet our needs. You give the appearance." He looks up and between Hellbender and Lugnut. "You give the appearance very well. But appearances, sometimes they deceive, mmmm?"
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Hellbender
Major
Mecha-Shai-Hulud
"Seriously."
Posts: 892
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Post by Hellbender on Jun 17, 2010 19:11:50 GMT -5
Hellbender nodded in acknowledgement when Shockwave designated him as one of his two stand-ins for the dinner party... if necessary. Hellbender thought that it might be necessary--this guy was pushing slightly, trying to intimidate them a bit.
He drew out one of the chairs beside Shockwave and sat down, then pointed to something in the middle of the menu as the waitress came by. Bovos's dietary preferences meant nothing to Hellbender, except that the fellow wasn't a mech-cannibal. He politely slewed his shoulder gun to point down and away from the table--though it just happened to cover the door they came in by quite well.
"Ah stand at Lord Shockwave's right hand, and Ah am content to dine with you, suh," rumbled Hellbender in his deep Southern voice. "As for appearances, if they don't deceive, we're bein' too obvious, suh. We're supposed to look less dangerous than we are."
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Lugnut
Minor
Broken.
Posts: 268
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Post by Lugnut on Jun 17, 2010 19:37:03 GMT -5
The fire's faith sustains him? Fascinating, but if it comes down to it, Lugnut will show the fire the raging storm that is his faith in the Glorious Megatron!
Ah, that felt good, even if it was just a thought. Been a while since Lugnut was quiet for this long.
Hellbender may seat himself, but paranoia ensures that Lugnut remains standing at Shockwave's side. Those chairs look like they might have restraints build into them, waiting to be triggered, and the table might be bolted to the floor, to prevent it from being flipped.
But then, the zealot realizes something: if he remains standing he might not just piss their host off, but Shockwave as well. And pissing the cyclops off would be pretty much ensure that he would never be able to use his beloved Punch again. Frag. Lugnut leans slightly toward Shockwave and whispers, in the softest tone that he can manage: <"Remain standing, or sit down?">
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Post by Victoria Raines on Jun 19, 2010 13:36:34 GMT -5
<Sit down Lugnut.> Shockwave answers.
"As mentioned, my companions are free to dine, as their dietary restrictions are not my own." Hint, hint boys.
"Please pardon my directness, as it it not based on prejudice. Logistics is my specialty and I tend to handle business in as prompt and efficient a manner as possible. If, however, it is custom to make small talk before such negotiations, then I will make the attempt. Your option."
"I do agree, however, that so long as our groups meet each other's needs, then arguing about who needs who more is a fruitless endeavor." One of Shockwave's headfins twitches slightly, "If we prove incompatible, I assure you that we can manage quite well on our own."
Subtle threat that.
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Post by SceneMod on Jun 19, 2010 23:36:16 GMT -5
"And we will have to manage without you, mmmm?" Bovos answers, taking another bite. "Unless you intend to permanently set up here, and my impression is that you do not." He pulls his bovine lips back in a smile. "So we have established that we do not need each other, but, despite the talk of your comrade, we have not established that you are as... capable as you say you are."
He pushes his chair away from the table and stands up. "So you must forgive a small... test."
At the word 'test', the rabbit drops his fork and is over the table, leaping towards Lugnut in a flash, metal-knuckles already on his fists while Helios sends a blast of superheated flames towards Hellbender, drifting almost idly towards the Decepticon.
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