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Post by Rodimus Prime on Jun 24, 2010 8:25:40 GMT -5
Rodimus stares at the Arcees as he's told 'last we checked.'
"... Wait. It changes?!" Wonderful. Like gender's not already confusing enough as it is!
The young Prime's attention is caught by Mirage's radio message. More particularly, by the tone of that message. //Happy to be of service,// he answers casually enough, although for someone claiming to be happy, he sounds strangely sad.
When Springer first switches his attention from Mirage to Rodimus, then asks about having screwed up, Rodimus bursts out in a quick bark of good-natured laughter. "I don't know, Springer, I think you're making what you find 'attractive' pretty clear." He glances at Mirage and observes, "You keep asking him to assess someone's appearance apart from combat capability, then asking what he finds appealing. I think what we're missing is that for him, the two are tied together. Trying to feign interest in qualities that you don't like, but that you've noticed a lot of other people like, is a bit more advanced."
Then he rubs the back of his head and adds a bit sheepishly, "Not to mention, coming from him, saying he'd consider someone for a Wrecker is about as high a compliment as you can get from Springer."
Rodimus falls short of admitting that he feels a bit flattered by the Triple-changer's appraisal.
Just.
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Post by Arcee (RotF) on Jun 25, 2010 17:50:18 GMT -5
Charm to disarm? Catchy. Made quite a bit of sense too, but it only leaves her wondering just what gave rise to these lessons in the first place, and what Mirage has in his arsenal that makes him qualified to teach them. "Gotcha. That's a pretty clever idea." Though the execution of it was another matter entirely. Hopefully, it'd work out. Arcee turns to address Springer, not wanting to talk about him while he's in the room, and grins playfully. "If you're anything like the Springer I know, if you can manage to turn on the charm half as well as you fight, you'll be knocking 'em dead." she says encouragingly. It was the truth, too. Maybe some things never changed, even across universes. Imagine that.
They can't help it--they all break into chuckles at Rodimus's reaction. As they recover, Chromia's lips quirk for a moment, as if meaning to speak before she stops short and looks a bit sheepish, and Elita-1 cuts in instead. "That isn't what I meant, but funny you should mention that, because it can change. Here." She reboots her OS, et voilĂ , male BIOS. "And done." he says, grinning. There are no changes to her frame, his robo-lipstick (such as it is) doesn't disappear, and there is no dropping of chrome bearings, either, he sounds exactly the same as just a moment ago. Everything is nearly the same as just a moment ago.
This will either help to clear things up or break Rodimus into several very amusingly confused pieces.
Rodimus's reaction, funny as it was though, raises questions. "How does it work in your universe?" Chromia asks curiously.
"...and what's a Wrecker?" Elita-1 adds.
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Post by Mirage on Jun 25, 2010 22:43:19 GMT -5
Mirage quirks a browridge, first at Springer's attempt, then at Rodimus's reaction (which tells Mirage entirely too much), and lastly at the way Arcee also provides an excellent example of how to compliment another.
Mirage is getting a rather nasty headache, truth be told. Still, Rodimus has given him an idea, and he makes a quick radio call.
Mirage turns to Springer as he does so, smiling, "Actually no, you didn't screw up. That wasn't bad at all." His smile turns to a smirk, "But I have to ask if you even realize that you find combat capabilities attractive, because I don't think you do-"
His head switches around to stare at Chromia, "You can change your gender at will? How interesting." Indeed, Mirage is finally giving the triplets more than token attention now.
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Post by Springer on Jun 27, 2010 22:34:41 GMT -5
Springer is rather relieved to find out that his sad attempt was passable, and maybe a little proud. He grins, and ...huh. "...another Arcee that knows me in their universe. He ponders a moment. "That's two now, and if I recall right," he adds, looking at Rodimus, "You said that I was acquainted with an Arcee in your universe too, right?"
Springer just stands there for a moment. "Maybe my universe is the oddball one."
Attention back on Mirage and Rodimus now. "I...guess I might be 'attracted' to it, by your standards? I do know there's more to life than combat, but really, since I've come to this universe, this is the most downtime I've gotten - stuff was normally pretty rough back home most of the time. No real time to dabble in this kind of stuff. Real foreign territory."
And at Chromia's gender change, Springer just stares at her--now him. "...huh." As for his question - "Well, to put it at the most basic, The Wreckers are a special task force who are called in when the slag hits the fan. We take bad situations and fix them."
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Jun 27, 2010 23:10:31 GMT -5
Rodimus stares at Elita-1. No, his mind isn't broken by the matter - it takes quite a lot more than this to break the young Prime's mind! - but he's certainly not any less confused. He frowns and studies him, trying to investigate him from different angles. Finally, he observes, "But there's no difference!" "As for how it works in my reality, I... really don't know that, to be honest. We didn't really have the idea of gender on our own, but we... well, to most of the species we encounter, we look and sound male. Some of the humans were upset that we only had males, and it's important that we get along with them, so Optimus had Arcee built. I know she's female, but..." Rodimus shrugs, admitting, "I don't really know what makes her female. I mean, she's a good warrior, valued adviser and... and close friend, but I really don't understand what the difference is." As he talks, he moves towards one of the room's terminals and brings up a couple of images. "Now, Jazz said he thought it might have something to do with the design of the upper chassis, but, well, this is our Jazz," Rodimus points to one picture, "and this is our Arcee." He shakes his head. "Point to any one quality in her chassis design that makes her 'female,' and I can think of a half a dozen males who share the quality without trying." OOC note: if the images don't show, they can be found here for Jazz and here for ArceeFor one thing, she's much flatter than the male who was making the comments. He turns towards the triplets and shrugs. "I actually have an easier time with organics, but that's because that's been a part of them for as long as I've known about them." He pauses a moment and frowns, glancing towards the ceiling and looking thoughtful. "Although Carly never did let me live it down that first time I guess wrong with her..." he shakes it off. "Anyway, it just... doesn't come naturally to me to apply that to us, I guess." He turns towards Springer when Springer asks about his Arcee, and his optics flicker brighter for a moment. "Acquainted!? You were more than just acquainted! You two were... very close."
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Post by Arcee (RotF) on Jun 29, 2010 22:59:22 GMT -5
Arcee is terribly sorry about the confusion, Rodimus! Really! Even if the reason why is mostly because he finds it rather funny.
"Yes, we can." They all reply in unison in response to Mirage's question. "Guessing it's not the same in your reality, either?" Elita-1 queries.
The blue-Cee gives an easy shrug. "Looks like mine's the odd one out in this too, Springer. At least with this, anyway," she tilts her head in consideration, "...and the other dozen or so things, I guess." Even if his rational mind was finding out more and more just how things didn't (or sometimes did) hold true for all the realities, his knee-jerk reaction can't help find this bit weird. Just all part of the multiversal culture shock, he supposes.
Elita-1 chuckles, but otherwise holds still and lets Rodimus indulge his curiosity. "Not on the outside, there isn't. It's all up here." he says, tapping a finger to his head twice before elaborating, "Difference is in the BIOS I'm using. In my reality, it's not at all unusual for 'bots to have been programmed with both."
"In fact, it's rarer that they aren't, though, more often than not, everybody just sticks with their factory defaults and don't bother themselves with switching. Usually." Chromia adds with a little grin.
Arcee finishes with "All it takes is quick, soft reboot." Fast as thought, he reboots his OS again, and he is once again a she. Soft reboots never took all that much time to begin with, but ever since her change, it's gotten a lot quicker. Everything has. "There, done again. No downtime needed." No freakish, forced operations resulting in insanity and murderous rages needed, either! She pays close attention to Rodimus as he explains the circumstances of Arcee's creation. It was...very strange to listen to somebody talk about you while not meaning you at all, but somebody else. From another universe. She was getting used to it though, and it doesn't throw her off now; she keeps up with what he's saying...and a bit of what he might not be, if her instincts aren't off.
So that was Rodimus's Jazz, huh. She could see her own Jazz in him a bit, even if it was just the helm. And their taste in alt modes. Before she knows it, a small smile tugs at her lips. Jazz was alive here, and she'd do all that she could to make sure her friend'd stay that way, this time. At Rodimus's comparison, Arcee snorts in good humour. "Upper chassis notwithstanding, her frame has a few things in common with human females. It's more rounded out in places, curvier. More soft edges and angles than straight, hard lines. The hips are noticeably wider than the waist as opposed to more or less tapering off, too." She makes sharp and straight as well as hourglass-like gestures with her hands, hopefully to drive the differences home.
"It's a lighter frame, built more with agility and grace in mind, trading in less bulk for more speed and maneuverability." Elita-1 turns to the Wrecker and adds in Springer-ese. She should know, her old body was similar in many of the same ways. It still was, in a few ways, though the differences were hard to miss.
Arcee watches Rodimus watch Springer for a moment and takes note of yet another hesitation...ohh.
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Post by Mirage on Jun 30, 2010 12:22:10 GMT -5
Mirage rubs his temple. Yes. Definitely a headache of colossal proportions. It's distracting, and he's getting annoyed because his "training session" is being derailed by gender confusion, by cross-reality differences, and by Rodimus's very presence. There's entirely too much that still needs saying between Mirage and the Prime, things that probably will never be said.
He isn't distracted enough to not notice Rodimus's careful phrasing of Springer and Arcee's relationship, though. With his shortened temper, he can't help pushing.
//Your Springer took over where you left off after you decided you couldn't care anymore, didn't he? I have to wonder which loss upset you more, him or her.//
Mirage shakes his head, "I'm not sure it works that way in my reality or no. I've always identified male. I'm not sure that just doing a BIOS switch would change that." He frowns, "I can see where I might be able to do it, but something seems lacking. I wonder...." Mirage trails off. This bears some investigation, but not now.
He turns his attention back to Springer, giving the triplechanger another appraising look. Mirage sighs, "You really are rather attractive. Not to my normal tastes, but you have a certain strength and edge to your features that certainly makes you pleasing to consider. A pity your good looks have been so wasted up 'til now."
"Try complimenting our unique trio here, each in turn, with a least one thing you find attractive about him or her."
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Post by Springer on Jun 30, 2010 19:14:25 GMT -5
Springer's well enough to let the various conversations go on, until Mirage addresses him again.
"A pity your good looks have been so wasted up 'til now."
Springer homes in on that, missing the request to compliment 3cee. His jaw clenches, and optics narrow at Mirage, then he jabs a finger at the spy, an icy, snapping tone in his speech. "I already told you once that they weren't needed before, so don't go telling me what I've wasted and what I haven't!"
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Jun 30, 2010 21:58:58 GMT -5
"Hmmm, I suppose I can see your point, but the hip thing isn't a reliable identifier, either. There's Override, for instance..."
He shrugs it off and starts to turn back towards the others to watch the lessons - at least until he gets a certain radio message from Mirage.
He protests, glaring at the spy, //I do still care about them! And I am happy for them. They both deserve better than our damn war.//
He forces himself to calm down and looks around the room at the others. "I've should probably get back to work," he says, voice faintly strained. Then he turns to leave, despite the new bout of trouble brewing with Springer, though he pauses at the door. "Good luck with this nonsense, Springer. You got my sympathies." Sympathies... although even as angry as Rodimus is, he still can't help but admit it's kind of funny, if only to himself.
And then he steps out.
OOC: Out of thread.
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Post by Arcee (RotF) on Jul 2, 2010 22:07:25 GMT -5
Arcee follow Rodimus's glare before staring after him with worry as he leaves. What just happened there?
Each one of the trio blinks, frowns and winces at Mirage's words, and at Springer's reply, Elita-1 and Arcee move to stand in front of him while Chromia faces the spy, all of them keeping calm and easy. Nothing's happened yet, and she doesn't want to give the impression like something's about to either--that won't help things at all--but if it does, she'll be ready for it.
"I'm sure he didn't mean it like that, Springer." Elita-1 says evenly, giving the Wrecker a small smile. At least she hopes so, anyway. She can't say that she'd be too happy herself if she were in Springer's pedes, but if things continued on as they were, these lessons just might not end up being in flirting as much as they might be in pain management, with Mirage being the student and the volunteer.
While her other selves deal with Springer, Chromia shoots Mirage a somewhat pleading look that seems to say 'Cut him some slack.'. She can't help but wonder, though; Mirage seems reasonable and intelligent, and he no doubt has a better understanding than most on how to read people--he's teaching Springer how to charm other people, after all--so what gives? Is he doing this on purpose, does he just not know what he's saying, what?
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Post by Mirage on Jul 2, 2010 22:51:54 GMT -5
Mirage meets Rodimus's glare, returning it with an (almost) neutral gaze. As the Prime leaves, as Springer rails and the Arcees implore, Mirage's optic shutters close and he cycles air, once, twice.
It isn't working. Mirage has been holding in a good mad for several days now, and it's threatening to come to a head. It's irrational, and he knows it, and that just makes him angrier.
//We all deserve better, Rodimus. Every damn one of us, including you.//
His optics open and he's looking down into Chromia's face. "My dear ladies, I'm sorry but none of you have even the slightest idea what I might mean by any words that I might say,"- Primus, he sounds haughty, even to himself, "You have interacted with me for a mere handful of minutes."
"I meant exactly what I said- his looks have been wasted. He doesn't even know how to react to being looked at with appreciation," he glares over Chromia's head at Springer, "It doesn't matter if you've never needed to use your looks before; you ought to at least be aware of your own damn likes and desires, but you aren't. I think the Micromasters might know more about realtionships than you do."
"And if you can't handle offhand biting comments without violence, then you'll never be able to manage in even the basest of social situation."
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Post by Springer on Jul 2, 2010 23:12:15 GMT -5
If looks could kill, Springer would be in a room full of dead robots.
A quick glare down - "You three, butt out - this is between me and fancyplates."
Then an even worse glare back at Mirage. "That is, if he can pull his head out of his actuator for a couple cycles and quit talking down to people! You call what I did earlier violent? You haven't seen violent out of me yet! And I am aware of what I like, and the only relationships I need is a couple of good 'bots watching my back in a combat zone!"
He draws back a moment at the last bit. "Yeah, maybe I won't manage - I don't need to manage. We've got other 'bots for scrap like that." With this, Springer crosses his hands in front of him, then waves them outward. "I'm done with this. Tell Xaaron I'm not interested in being a square peg he's trying to fit in a round hole."
Springer turns, and heads out of the room unless stopped.
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OOC: Out of thread unless stopped.
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Post by Arcee (RotF) on Jul 5, 2010 23:45:01 GMT -5
They all begin to stiffen as Mirage speaks, though the other two remain facing Springer. "I was trying to keep things from getting out of hand,"--Which was going very well--"and I was hoping that this was all just a misunderstanding and that you weren't talking down to him." Chromia says, voice clipped.
"Can't imagine where he got the idea that from." Elita-1 snorts as she looks over her shoulder. Between Mirage's insults, and condescending words and tone, it was really hard to see otherwise. She wasn't angry a minute ago, but she sure was now. Honestly--where did he get off?
Arcee and Elita-1 glare back at Springer, ignoring his order. For all that she was right ticked, she still didn't want a fight to break out, and she didn't know that that wouldn't happen.
When Springer turns to leave, Arcee reflexively starts to raise a hand at the Wrecker's back before lowering it back to her side and clenching it for a moment. She shouldn't try to stop Springer, he's almost definitely had more than enough of this to last a long while. Probably for the best to leave him to his own devices.
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Post by Mirage on Jul 6, 2010 10:39:40 GMT -5
"I was not talking down to him!" Mirage snaps, "It is a true shame that his looks are wasted, and that he's only known war in his life! That he's been so twisted by the conflict in his reality that he can't even recognize when another finds him attractive! It is not my fault that he's so thick-headed that he reads the expression of those facts as an insult!"
Mirage's turns on his heel and begins to stride toward the door. "I am most sorry that on our first meeting you have seen me at my worst," he says over his shoulder, "But I am, after all, just an arrogant aft with a bit of money and breeding, neither of which anyone gives a damn about here." Are those words bitter? Oh yes. Very.
Mirage is out of thread. I'll leave the thread open in case you want to have 3Cee get in a final response.
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Post by Arcee (RotF) on Jul 6, 2010 18:39:41 GMT -5
Arcee clenches her fists. Elita-1 vents a frustrated sigh. Chromia stands her ground.
"Maybe he wouldn't parse what you're saying as insulting if you didn't insult him!" The blue bike snaps back. Honestly, it's not that Mirage doesn't have a point in there, somewhere--he might, but it's like his vocalizer has a "Jerk" filter installed in it.
She watches Mirage leave and then mutters to her selves, "I'm sorry, too." Sorry that this just all just went to the smelter and made itself a nice, little home there. Whatever. She'll deal with it later if she has to.
Right now, though? Right now, she either needs to go shoot things for a while, go for a long drive, or hit the washracks, maybe all three at the same time--something. But before anything else happens, she needs to get out of here. She'll figure the rest out afterwards.
And so, she does.
_______
OOC: 3Cee is out of thread. Feel free to wrap it up!
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