Rattrap
Major
Sarcasm as a Lifestyle
Posts: 695
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Post by Rattrap on Jun 28, 2010 13:03:03 GMT -5
The image of Holi calling Xaaron "dad", fleeting though it is before amendments are made, is not one Rattrap needed. He glances to the side while Xaaron settles on the floor – whatever paddles his canoe, but Rattrap's long used to staring up at others – then shifts to a hipshot stance.
"Gotta say, only knowin' bits and pieces ain't exactly my favourite way of dealin' with 'em," he mutters. But he's also been ditching this command gig to take advantage of being on Pz-Zazz, which is a lot like a day at the fair for him. Bad Rattrap; no cheese. Except what you've stashed on the ship already, that is, but we aren't here to talk about that. "I think the spooky spider's up to somethin', but… eh, that's kinda par for the course with him." He makes a face like he wishes he didn't know that – he's seen the depravity Tarantulas gets up to in his cave – but not knowing would be worse.
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Jun 28, 2010 22:28:34 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron is a terrible father, but none of his many commissions are here to attest to that fact.
He raises a finger and inquires, "Which spider? I do believe they have several. And I would expect that they would be up to more than just that, anyway. If you need any assistance from the other divisions to get to the bottom of what the Decepticons are up to, by all means."
Emirate Xaaron would call Intel 'short-staffed', but he doesn't think Rattrap, Holi, Wheelie, or Spy Shot 6 would appreciate that.
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Rattrap
Major
Sarcasm as a Lifestyle
Posts: 695
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Post by Rattrap on Jun 29, 2010 10:46:27 GMT -5
Right, more than one arachnid. Rattrap's also too used to being around people who know what he means by his varied favourite epithets for this or that 'Con.
"Tarantulas," he says, sour expression lingering. "The freaky one wit' a taste for mech fluid. Though he's got himself a shiny makeover since the last time I saw him and I dunno what else comes wit' it." He waves off the suggestion of help from other divisions, shaking his head. "Appreciate the offer, but I dunno if anybody who ain't in my division's gonna be much help. Eight-eyes is roostin' in places sized for us so far." He won't touch Dinobot with a ten-foot pole, let alone think he'd be worth two shakes of Rattrap's dainty pink tail for investigations. Strong-arm robbery, maybe.
Man, but making with the strategic thing really isn't one of Rattrap's strong points.
"Guess I have to actually start readin' personnel files," he mumbles to himself through one corner of his mouth. Out loud, he adds, "Though if there's some level heads in those combat junkies, I ain't gonna sneeze at them lendin' a hand. We're, eh… a little bit on the short-handed side." Hey, if Xaaron won't make the joke, Rattrap will. "And more o' them means less of my skidplate hung out there all the time."
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Jun 29, 2010 12:42:37 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron makes a face at Rattrap, spreads his arms out, hands palms up, and sputters, "You mean you haven't already!? By the Celestial Spires, man, where's your sense of paranoia?"
Emirate Xaaron thinks a sense of paranoia is a very healthy and desirable attribute in anyone working in Rattrap's field.
He sighs and adds, "But the other things. If you or any of yours sight any of the Decepticon combiner pieces, particularly the Constructicons, I would like to be informed."
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Rattrap
Major
Sarcasm as a Lifestyle
Posts: 695
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Post by Rattrap on Jun 29, 2010 13:48:28 GMT -5
Note to self: Xaaron has ridiculously good hearing. Grumbling under your breath should be kept to a minimum.
"Eh… paranoia takes too much attention away from the rest of it," Rattrap says with a shrug. He says this knowing full well he tends to be more paranoid of avoiding serious maiming and/or painful, messy death while trying to do his job than he bothers being paranoid about his co-workers. Traitors and spies have ways of screwing up and outing themselves – himself included. Not even Rattrap was a master spy from the start. Besides, he gets the feeling there isn't really any decent dirty laundry in those files and that makes them a little less interesting to read.
He moves right along with the topic shift, switching his hands to his hips. That brow ridge rises again with curiosity.
"Sure thing, O Lustrous One, but if ya don't mind my askin'… why so interested in the neon scaffold monkeys?" he wonders. Afraid they'll tempt Long Haul away?
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Jun 29, 2010 22:17:56 GMT -5
The dirty laundry is probably all on Kup's sheet of metal, but no one can read that but Kup.
Emirate Xaaron wonders how close he should play these cards to his chest. He hasn't even ran this plan by Rodimus Prime. So Emirate Xaaron settles on smiling enigmatically, and he replies, "Oh, you can ask. If you find out the answer, I want to be the first to hear it."
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Rattrap
Major
Sarcasm as a Lifestyle
Posts: 695
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Post by Rattrap on Jun 30, 2010 11:54:25 GMT -5
That vague non-answer earns a narrow-eyed, speculating look from Rattrap. The 'Cons ain't the only ones up to shenanigans around here.
"…Yeah, I'll get right on that," he drawls. Less sarcastically, "Okay, so watch the 'Cons, figure out whatever they're up to, tell you, try not ta get us all fragged in the process. Nothin' can go wrong here." He even almost means it a little. Dubious of his subordinates? Heck, Rattrap's dubious of himself leading this pack of yahoos and kids. He crosses his arms again and continues, "I don't suppose a little subtle sabotage would be outta line?" Can he get unofficially official permission to mess with them? He likes unofficially official.
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Jun 30, 2010 12:07:26 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron smiles again. He's doing that a lot, and it's not necessarily a good thing. He rubs the back of his head and looks over Rattrap's left shoulder, replying absently, "The things about lines is that you can... move them. Or just walk around them. Or even redraw them, if necessary. So while something might be out of line from one perspective, from another, that line might be exactly parallel... or a drop line vanishing off to the horizon."
"The 'cons have already done what they can to make our stay uncomfortable. It would not be remiss to return that favour with interest, hmm? Just as long as we don't bite off more than we can chew."
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Rattrap
Major
Sarcasm as a Lifestyle
Posts: 695
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Post by Rattrap on Jul 1, 2010 10:23:26 GMT -5
Biting off more than he can chew? Come on, this is Rattrap you're talking to here, Xaaron. …Which, come to think of it, might not inspire all that much confidence. Whoops.
"Eh, I'm a rat," he says with a shrug, both hands in the air in a sort of helpless gesture. His grin can't be any better than Xaaron's at this point. "Nibblin' is somethin' of a specialty, you might say. So!" He doesn't clap his hands or rub them together, but were he that sort, this is where he'd do it. "What was that other thing you mentioned?" Rattrap got the good; this must be the bad. There's always a bad. Might as well get it over with already.
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Jul 1, 2010 18:39:36 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron's expression turns a bit a grim, and he observes, "We had retrorats and glitch mice on my Cybertron. They'd get in and nibble at a mech's feet and tyres. It didn't seem like much, but if a mech didn't pay attention, he wouldn't be going anywhere. I always thought there was a lot to be learned from those vermin." He tilts his head to one side and regards Rattrap thoughtfully, finishing, "So I'm glad you're on our side."
"But oh, the Decepticon combiner pieces were the other thing."
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Rattrap
Major
Sarcasm as a Lifestyle
Posts: 695
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Post by Rattrap on Jul 4, 2010 19:35:14 GMT -5
"Yeah?" Once more, that brow ridge goes up, but Rattrap's getting the idea that, like himself, Xaaron isn't in the business of spilling things he doesn't slagging well want to say. He can work with that. He plants his hands on his hips and takes a half-step back. "Anything else you're savin' for right when I'm about to walk out that door?" he wonders. That's how it always goes on-screen – right as the guy's about to leave, the boss always says one more thing.
But Xaaron isn't the typical boss, either. Rattrap still waits.
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Jul 4, 2010 23:28:58 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron does have some parting words!
But Rattrap probably wasn't expecting these.
Emirate Xaaron holds up a hand and bids, "Primus be with you, Rattrap."
Just hopefully not in the way that gets people killed.
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Rattrap
Major
Sarcasm as a Lifestyle
Posts: 695
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Post by Rattrap on Jul 5, 2010 0:16:11 GMT -5
…Definitely not a normal sort of boss. Rattrap doesn't brush off the blessing thing, but it's all kinds of weird for him. Nobody really does that kinda thing in his day. Nobody in his circles at any rate; he didn't make a habit of palling around with religious types. They tended to put off the good mood. He just sort of waves an acknowledgement as he turns and heads out.
OOC: And off he goes.
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