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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Jun 13, 2010 20:25:29 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron doesn't have a Matrix to draw upon for strength. He just has himself. He lends what he can, but he's going cold to the touch, save for his helmet, which is hot and lightly smoking from trying to process too much at once, too much that he can't even begin to understand.
His 'aura', such as it is, is a shifting, squirrelly thing, deceptive. Liar, liar, but deeper down, there's something solid, because Emirate Xaaron's never been quite a good enough liar to lie to himself, something hard-edged and sharp, high contrast, bleak, terrible, and wonderful. Things as they actually are.
Tiny keens a bit and sniffs over at Emirate Xaaron, then pulling away and looking up at Rodimus Prime, obviously confused.
We can't help anyone if... if...
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Jun 14, 2010 13:27:45 GMT -5
Without stopping to think, Rodimus reaches over to grab Emirate Xaaron by one arm and Botanica by the other. It's not until he's actually in contact with the two that he processes why he did that - Botanica's crying out, the smoke from Emirate Xaaron's helmet, even Tiny's confusion, and... and...
Something. Rodimus will worry about that later.
"Enough of that, both of you," he snaps worriedly as it all catches up with him. "If you don't have your answers by now, you're not getting them by... by..."
"Just- back to reality!"
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Shanodin
Major
The Chamberlain, Her Chivalrous Immensity, Lady Botanica. The Unyielding Vanquisher of Weed Killer
This is NOT her field of dreams
Posts: 700
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Post by Shanodin on Jun 14, 2010 23:18:27 GMT -5
Another wave of screaming from the planet makes Botanica stagger again. She's retreating even before Rodimus touches her, or at least trying to. It's much harder than it should be, as the planet is grabbing onto her like a child to its mother's skirts, pulling on her. Pulling on Xaaron, too, by association. A lot of Botanica's strength is going to shield the Emirate as best she can from the weeping green, but there is surely more spillover than she is sensing.
That touch on her arm causing two reactions. First, the immediate and instinctive attempt to tap into that strong field for more stability- and running hard into defenses stronger than any she's ever felt. It's that which slams her back into her body as much as Rodimus's words and touch, and leads to the second reaction.
Botanica gasps and her eyes open wide, her skirt vines recoiling swiftly from the ground. She sways in a half-faint and curls up on her side on the bench, pulls her vines up as compact as she can so that no part of her touches that poison ground.
She's still holding onto Xaaron's hand, and will continue to do so until he drops hers, but their more intimate connection is closed.
She's crying.
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Jun 15, 2010 10:13:12 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron's optics flicker, and he shudders.
He spends a few long moments staring off at nothing... nothing and everything. Tiny nudges his side, gently at first and then more insistently, until she's fairly shaking him.
Finally, he snaps, "Ow."
Emirate Xaaron looks over at Tiny and grimaces, pushing her muzzle away, grumbling, "You're getting to be a worse worry-wort than Skater, Tiny."
Botanica's... crying. Emirate Xaaron's expression turns a bit strange and a bit concerned. Crying. Feeling a little helpless, he tries to haul himself back up into the bench, joints creaking, and he tries to offer her a hug.
Hugs are good for any occasion, even firing squads. Should be acceptable now, yes?
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Jun 15, 2010 21:41:21 GMT -5
Damn it, Rodimus still didn't get this right! He stares over at Botanica worriedly, starts to reach for her, then pulls his hand back - it didn't help before, why should it help now? Best to let Xaaron deal with it. The Emirate is better about hugging, too.
"Botanica," he asks softly, "What is it? What's wrong?" He looks between her and Xaaron, optics wide and expression baffled. "What happened? What's going on?"
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Shanodin
Major
The Chamberlain, Her Chivalrous Immensity, Lady Botanica. The Unyielding Vanquisher of Weed Killer
This is NOT her field of dreams
Posts: 700
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Post by Shanodin on Jun 15, 2010 22:31:23 GMT -5
Botancia accepts that offered hug, leans into it even, curling up against the mech who had walked in fear next to her. Later, perhaps, she'll be upset with herself for allowing her emotions to override propriety, but after what they have been through, a hug is most welcome.
It takes a few minutes more before she can compose herself, but she does. Botanica straightens, trying to keep on hand lightly touching Xaaron as she reaches the other for Rodimus in an attempt to reassure him.
She's still not properly grounded, but until she can actually touch ground-that-isn't-Pz-Zazz that isn't going to happen.
"I'll..be all right, Rodimus. It wasn't you," she says as she wipes at her eyes. "You did just what was needed." She gives a wan smile. "Perhaps in a bit rougher manner than I'd have liked but that might have been for the best."
"The planet is frightened near to death. That fear may actually be what's strangling it so. So much pain...so much fear...." her voice catches and she blinks back more tears.
"I've never felt the like."
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Jun 16, 2010 9:25:11 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron shifts one of his arms and tries to scoop Botanica up, which is a bit awkward, given how tired and achey and sick he's feeling right now. He says rather firmly, in a tone that will brook no nonsense, "I'm taking you back to the ship to recover."
He looks over at Tiny and then over at Rodimus Prime, and he asks sheepishly, "Can you get Tiny? And I just... never did very well in xenobiotics. Wasn't my field. Cooked a few processors trying to make sense of it all, I think."
Emirate Xaaron concludes, "We need to regroup and approach this from another angle. You two can keep looking into the more... esoteric ways to help this planet, if you wish. We still need to get the Decepticons off it, and that's what I will be working on." He smirks, despite his exhaustion.
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Jun 16, 2010 13:48:41 GMT -5
Rodimus gives a confused frown at the 'rough' mention. There's a gentle way to get someone out of something like that? He shrugs it off, however, and nods, both in response to Botanica's description and Emirate Xaaron's request.
"Sure, I'll get her," he says, standing up and taking the dragon's leash. "C'mon, Tiny," he says soothingly to the not-so-little dragon. He pauses and glances back at the others. "I'm going to go ahead and finish her walk. I'll join you guys on the ship later."
Emirate Xaaron's mention of getting the Decepticons off Pz-Zazz elicits a frustrated frown from Rodimus. "Yeah, good idea. After all, we brought him here by crashing." The frown turns grim as he starts to tug on Tiny's leash, and he adds, "A story that's way too familiar."
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Shanodin
Major
The Chamberlain, Her Chivalrous Immensity, Lady Botanica. The Unyielding Vanquisher of Weed Killer
This is NOT her field of dreams
Posts: 700
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Post by Shanodin on Jun 17, 2010 12:31:51 GMT -5
Botanica makes a weak sound of protest as she's picked up. "I can walk...," she starts, then sighs and simply shifts her weight to be as little a burden as she can on the Emirate, "but the idea of doing so on this ground makes me even more ill than I am. I am sorry to be so much trouble."
She leans her head on Xaaron's shoulder, eyes closed. She's exhausted, and she knows the Emirate has to be as well, but she can't refuse the help.
"Don't take the blame for their being here, either of you. They quite probably would have come here one their own."
"Also, Xaaron, if you want lessons in xenobiotics, I'd be happy to give them." It's an attempt at teasing, but her voice is entirely too weak.
Looks like we're moving to a thread wrap?
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Jun 17, 2010 13:39:32 GMT -5
"Thank you, Prime." He nods his head and looks to Tiny, encouraging, "Be good for Rodimus Prime, now, Tiny."
Then, Emirate Xaaron insists back to Botanica, a little crossly, "Sure, you can walk, but it doesn't mean you should."
Besides, Botanica's not heavy, she's Emirate Xaaron's... botanist. Kind of bottom-heavy, though.
He sighs and replies seriously enough, "I suppose that I should." It'll be like watching teevee with Pee-Dee! ...it'll be nothing like watching teevee with Pee-Dee.
Sure.
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Jun 17, 2010 14:33:07 GMT -5
Rodimus returns Botanica's reassurance with an uncertain smile. He's not good at not blaming himself.
By now, though, he's gotten far enough away from the other two that he'd have to talk louder than he wants to in order to answer, and so he goes to finish Tiny's walk.
OOC: Aaaaaand wrap!
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