|
Post by Mirage on Jul 13, 2010 18:02:27 GMT -5
Rodimus is basically running right for Mirage. Automatically, the hunter brings his rifle up. A well aimed shot or two....
Mirage stiffens as Rodimus's own rifle is brought out, prepared to dodge if need be. Then the Prime fires at the cliff wall, and Mirage has something else entirely to worry about. A glance shows that Mirage isn't in danger of being immediately buried. Knocked around a bit, maybe, but not buried.
He decides to take his own shots, mere minutes before the Prime would reach Mirage's position. Again, Mirage tries to take Rodimus's knee out from under him, the same knee he wounded previous.
|
|
|
Post by Rodimus Prime on Jul 13, 2010 18:18:55 GMT -5
This time the shot towards the knee hits almost dead on. With all that's going on, even the best of shots might be a bit off. Either way, Rodimus immediately tumbles forward, his photon eliminator skidding across snow and ice.
He hisses.
He'd done better than this against Death's Head, damn it.
He shifts onto his side and pulls his knee towards him, taking a moment to tie two important wires together and knock one of the struts in place. The quick fix won't last for long, but maybe now, at least, it'll get him to the end.
Maybe.
He grabs back up his photon eliminator and manages to pull himself to his feet before he starts up the new landslide he had created, using both hands and feet (and hands more than injured leg) to try to pull himself up the unstable slope he just provided for himself.
|
|
|
Post by Mirage on Jul 13, 2010 18:46:30 GMT -5
Death's Head couldn't turn invisible, though.
Death's Head also wasn't half in love with Rodimus and therefore wasn't squeamish about hurting him. Mirage could have had Rodimus down well before now, if he wasn't so tetchy about shooting the young Prime.
Or so Mirage believes, ever confident in himself.
He fires again, this time at Rodimus's hand, hoping to further impede the Prime's climb. Then Mirage springs forward and starts to follow Rodimus' up. Mirage is still cloaked. He's hoping to get right up on Rodimus, maybe even around the Prime, before he's noticed.
|
|
|
Post by Rodimus Prime on Jul 13, 2010 19:12:44 GMT -5
The shot misses, but just barely, hitting the cliff side in a spot where the hand was, only moments before.
It knocks a chunk of icy-snow loose, which knocks another chunk loose, and another, in an area already made unstable by Rodimus's landslide earlier.
As agile as Rodimus is, with one lame leg, even he's not able to avoid the second landslide. Both Prime and snow go tumbling down the mountain side. This lesser avalanche is not as massive, but it still finishes with Prime back at the base of the cliff, partially buried with ice, snow, and dirt.
|
|
|
Post by Mirage on Jul 13, 2010 19:37:45 GMT -5
Mirage hadn't gotten too far up the slide before the second starts, and so the spy throws himself to one side, catching an outcropping with one hand. He takes the time to cycle his cloak as he hangs there, taking a few knocks from stray rocks and watching Rodimus tumble back to the canyon bottom. The spy is frowning. He knows it's all simulated damage, but...it doesn't stop him from worrying.
Mirage cloaks again and, drops back to the ground, landing lightly next to the slide. He pads around to where Rodimus is half-buried, slips behind the young Prime's head and places the barrel of his rifle against his helm.
Were this a kill game, a shot now would go straight through Rodimus's brain module.
Mirage doesn't ask if Rodimus yields. He'll be surprised if the Prime does, actually, and Mirage is tense, ready to spring back if necessary.
|
|
|
Post by Rodimus Prime on Jul 13, 2010 19:55:45 GMT -5
Rodimus Prime looks up at Mirage and gives him a genuine smile. What's more, it's a genuinely impressed smile. "Oh, very good. You caught on fast!" he compliments.
Then the smile turns to a smirk. "But we're not done yet."
He forces his good leg further down into an empty section he had felt, collapsing the newborn mound of ice and snow they had been atop. This drops Rodimus Prime down, and on the down side, makes it even more likely that he may be trapped.
On the up side, it should at the very least throw Mirage off balance, and may drop him down as well.
|
|
|
Post by Mirage on Jul 13, 2010 20:23:15 GMT -5
Mirage smiles back, a sad edge to the expression- not that Rodimus can see it. Mirage is actually quite glad of that fact. He knows that their conversation, that telling Mirage no did hurt Rodimus. Mirage doesn't want to twist that knife any deeper. Not right now.
He does open his mouth to retort, but finds the ground falling out from under him before he utters a syllable. Mirage pitches forward, hands scrabbling to grab the edge of the hole and keep from tumbling down the hole after Rodimus. The edge crumbles, and Mirage falls...
...directly on top of Rodimus, who is rather more pinned than he was earlier. Mirage lands practically straddling the Prime, chest-to-chest and face-to-face, Mirage's cloak knocked off by the sudden jarring stop.
Mirage grins down at Rodimus. "You were saying?" he drawls, tapping the side of Rodmius's helm with his rifle barrel.
Landing on, posing of Rodimus done with permission.
|
|
|
Post by Rodimus Prime on Jul 13, 2010 21:02:54 GMT -5
Rodimus smirks confidently up at Mirage. "I was saying..." he starts, bringing his hands up to push Mirage off...
... or not.
He tries to bring his hands up to push Mirage off of him, and finds that they're trapped by ice and snow. Given enough time, he's still strong enough to get himself out. Given strong enough motivation, he's rather certain he'd find a way.
Of course, sometimes 'a way' means escaping later after you're taken captive. Rodimus knows that score.
Rodimus's smirk remains, but he barks a quick laugh. "I was saying that I seem to be trapped."
|
|
|
Post by Mirage on Jul 13, 2010 21:24:49 GMT -5
Mirage smirks back, face inches from Rodimus's, "So you are. I believe that means I win."
A shadow flickers through his optics for a second. Just a second, and then it's gone. His hand replaces the rifle barrel at the side of Rodimus's head.
"I'm going to be an aft and make you formally yield," Mirage says, still smirking. Then he adds softly, "It was a good hunt."
|
|
|
Post by Rodimus Prime on Jul 13, 2010 21:54:48 GMT -5
Rodimus looks up at Mirage, being unable to do much else. The smirk stays in place, the right corner of his lip pulled up slightly higher than the left.
"If you're waiting for a formal admission, we're in for a long wait." he answers jauntily.
"Hope you're comfy!"
|
|
|
Post by Mirage on Jul 13, 2010 22:27:20 GMT -5
Mirage quirks a browridge in a mirror of Rodimus's smirk.
Deliberately, Mirage stretches and adjusts himself where he sprawls upon Rodimus's chest, settling himself a bit better.
"Oh, I'm perfectly comfortable. I can certainly think of worse people to be using as a bed," he purrs.
Mirage automatically starts to close that slight distance, intending to add a teasing kiss to his words just as he would with any other he flirted with in the same manner. He catches himself, just barely, just before doing something that would certainly not be welcome. His optics shutters closed as his head drops to Rodimus's chest.
After a few minutes, with a distinct note of sadness in his voice, Mirage speaks again.
"End simulation."
|
|
|
Post by Rodimus Prime on Jul 13, 2010 22:49:40 GMT -5
Rodimus falls to the floor, though the distance proves to be small. He grunts. With the end of the simulation, his simulated damages fade, too.
His right hand goes up to lightly touch Mirage's shoulder and he stifles a sigh. Then, he attempts to gently grab hold of Mirage to move the spy off of him.
"Good hunt," he says softly, agreeing with Mirage's earlier assessment.
|
|
|
Post by Mirage on Jul 13, 2010 23:06:56 GMT -5
Mirage is already rolling off Rodimus when the Prime makes to move him. He sits on the floor next to Rodimus, one leg tucked under him, the other bent at the knee, arm propped on that knee. He reaches out to try and just touch Rodimus's arm.
"It was. Rodimus...please, I want you to know that I'm not actually upset. I'm saddened yes, and more than I expected to be. There's something about you...," Mirage shakes his head, "I just don't want to accidentally upset you by doing what comes naturally to me. I almost kissed you just now, and...I doubt you would have appreciated it."
"I really do understand. But... Rodimus, if not me, then go to one of them, at least. Let one of them be your companion, if not your lover. Let them lend you strength. It isn't good for you to exist in such pain and loneliness."
|
|
|
Post by Rodimus Prime on Jul 14, 2010 8:11:23 GMT -5
Rodimus pushes himself up to sit on the floor of the training room. He allows the touch, and even smiles faintly at Mirage.
"I'm not upset." He pauses. "Well, not now. I can't just say you'll never upset me." He rubs the back of his head and smiles a bit sheepishly. "Though sometimes, that's just class differences clashing, and doesn't even have much to do with... well, all of this. But right now, I'm not upset."
He falls silent a moment, considering the rest of Mirage's words. Finally, he says, "I'll... think about it. That's about the best I can promise. But... I'll think it over." He pushes himself to a standing position and looks down at Mirage.
"Thanks."
Then he turns to leave, and still thinking.
Maybe he could stand to spend more time with Blurr. It's been painful, but if he lets this slip away...
... Yeah. He should definitely find some time to talk to Blurr.
|
|
|
Post by Mirage on Jul 14, 2010 13:50:47 GMT -5
Mirage quirks a smile, "Rodimus, if we ever started to get along perfectly and without conflict, I'd seriously wonder if you were not yourself." Mirage stands as well. "And as I observed before, I think you'd be bored to tears with a relationship that was so insipid."
He doesn't try and stop Rodimus from leaving, in fact moving up to walk next to him, "That's all I ask, Rodimus. Just think about it. Think about it, and don't be afraid to try."
Mirage stops at the door, indicating that Rodimus should exit first.
"And remember, I'm here, even if all you want is to talk a bit every once and awhile."
|
|