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Post by Mirage on Aug 14, 2009 22:30:07 GMT -5
"Oh, it's still a threat, my lovely. Just potentially not as lethal of one," he says with a shrug."
"You were built to be a hunter, and a killer, and as I know you were built by someone, it can be concluded that you were built to kill and hunt for that someone," he says softly, neutrally. "Your special ability indicates that your builder or builders were innovators, experimenters. And you do not strike me as the type who would enjoy being someone's pet labrat."
A turn, another, and they are in a wide and mostly empty courtyard at the center of which is a large abstract fountain carved of crystal. It is lit from within and below. Off to one side, a small group of street musicians is playing, the music drifting softly through the courtyard.
"Now, if you have not decided to hate me for my insight, I owe you a dance lesson." He smiles up at her and offers her his hand.
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Oracle
Minor
The future is always in motion.
Posts: 426
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Post by Oracle on Aug 14, 2009 22:52:48 GMT -5
Chuckling softly and shaking her head, Oracle looks amused. "Not as lethal is a far cry from what I was worried about though." Usually reaching into someone's chest and pulling out something in the middle has a rather predictable and fatal result in her experience. Having that action be only a threat made it less of a worry, and yet more of one at the same time to her.
At his further conclusions, she gave a harsh bark of laughter and lightly tapped Mirage on the arm as she shook her head. "Partially right, but you missed one data point. I don't blame you though, so did they." With that cryptic comment, she didn't explain any further. He had the part about her builders being experimenters right, but not where he concluded it from. Her ability was as much of a surprise to them as anyone, much to her regret. The rest though...Mirage was lucky this wasn't Oracle's universe. By now one of them would be vanishing from the scene, if she was operating under her normal rules.
Their arrival at the courtyard shakes her from her dark thoughts, and she admires the fountain until Mirage speaks up. "No. I don't hate you. I reserve that for people that deserve it." Stepping in she takes his hand and waits patiently for further direction.
OOC: Permission to touch Mirage.
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Post by Mirage on Aug 15, 2009 10:16:32 GMT -5
He quirks both brow and lips as she takes his hand. "Of course, I am missing something, love. It is, after all, a quick sketch, and never mind that if I had not missed something of great import, I imagine you would be hard pressed to leave me alive to speak of my conclusions. Considering your survival instincts."
He pulls her closer in. He gently positions one of her hands upon his shoulder, one of his at her waist, and then raises their clasped hands just over shoulder height, classic waltz posture. It can be difficult for the shorter partner to lead, but Mirage as long ago become accustomed to doing so.
"The waltz is a three-count beat and step, and as simple as walking in rectangles." He smiles up at her, "Which is what we are about to do, really. Now, step backwards as I step forward, then step to my right, then forward, then to my left. Each step comprises a single three-beat bar, with beats two and three comprising the adjustment of feet and slight pause at each corner. Though as you become more proficient, once can add moves like turns and such to allow one to glide about the room."
He leans quickly forward then, to steal a slightly lingering kiss, before stepping forward and murmuring, still so close to her, "Step, two, three."
touching and manipulating done with permission.
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Oracle
Minor
The future is always in motion.
Posts: 426
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Post by Oracle on Aug 15, 2009 10:51:55 GMT -5
Making a slightly noncommittal noise in response to Mirage's assertion concerning her survival instincts, Oracle doesn't comment any further on that. What would she do, agree? Not very friendly, that.
Besides, the promised dancing lesson is much more interesting and she willingly lets Mirage position her the way he wishes as she tries to remember how she's standing. After all, it would be bad to forget the lesson and have to repeat it, right? After all if they had another lesson, something new would be better then rehashing old ground.
She's intent enough on trying to make sure she doesn't miss any of the instruction that she doesn't react before she gets kissed, not that she's really sure what she would have done in any case. Then of course before she can react to that the count starts and off they go. Well Mirage goes, Oracle sort of flails.
Shaking off her stunned startle and actually trying to waltz instead of just stumbling along with him, Oracle gives Mirage a brilliant grin and her teasing tone is at odds with her chiding words. "That was a dirty trick." She didn't mind the kiss at all, but couldn't he have timed that a little better, when she wasn't going to fall all over her feet the next moment?
Of course, now that she actually is focusing, falling all over her feet is the last thing she's doing. Maybe she isn't as smooth as she could be at first, but no amount of grace or ability to cheat on timing can substitute for knowing what you're doing. Still, she isn't dancing like a novice at all and the cheshire grin on her face says she's feeling a bit smug about why.
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Post by Mirage on Aug 15, 2009 12:40:00 GMT -5
Mirage laughs as she too quickly adapts. "Oh, you are cheating, my lovely! You are anticipating my movements via your ability. Hardly sporting that. How am I supposed to judge my worth as a teacher?"
He leads her in the standard box step a few more times. "If you listen to the music, you will always hear that same one-two-three beat, and if you misstep, it is easy to regain your footing and rhythm."
He then tries something, curious. First, he focuses his thoughts and intention on keeping to the same step. Then, as he steps right and they hit the second beat, he smoothly twists that move into one of the aforementioned turns, shifting their position at right angles to their previous box.
Or he tries to. If he succeeds in confusing her, they might wind up in a pile.
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Oracle
Minor
The future is always in motion.
Posts: 426
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Post by Oracle on Aug 15, 2009 13:01:00 GMT -5
Her grin sliding from impish to a little sheepish, Oracle shrugs and looks utterly unapoligetic. "I think you're teaching just fine, and at least we get to skip the fumbling stage?" Well, minus the first few seconds, but that doesn't count.
Besides, not having to concentrate so much on not messing up means she can pay more attention to Mirage, and she says as much. "I'd much rather be able to pay more attention to you then think about which way my foot is supposed to move next anyway." She does see what he means about the repeating beat of the music though, and syncs her movements a bit more smoothly to it, taking a bit more of the rough edge off her steps.
If she had any idea of the little test he was performing, she probably would have been amused, but as it was Oracle was simply pleased at the new twist Mirage had added to their dance as she followed him through the turn. More complexity was fun, though if he got too fancy it might end in disaster.
So no, they didn't end up in a pile, or even tangled up. Looks like she saw that turn coming and wasn't expecting the same box step.
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Post by Mirage on Aug 15, 2009 21:54:52 GMT -5
Well, scratch that thought. Obviously, her precognition works in a different way. He shall have to work harder then.
"Very good," Mirage smiles up at her, "But I still say it's cheating."
He leads her in the steps again and again, occasionally throwing in more turns until they have made it halfway around the courtyard. From time to time he corrects her timing or form, but for the most part he is quiet.
Oracle might notice that he has that thoughtful look on his face again though. They continue dancing and then he speaks again.
"So, Oracle, I think it only fair to allow you some time to get to know me, since I have at least a fair handle on you. Ask away. I am not shy."
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Oracle
Minor
The future is always in motion.
Posts: 426
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Post by Oracle on Aug 16, 2009 19:04:11 GMT -5
Oracle is rather bemused he's apparently stuck on the thought she's cheating, even if it seems to be in jest. It's not like she can help it really, though she supposes he doesn't know that.
She's enjoying their dancing, committing the corrections to memory and content in the momentary peace between the two of them until she notices the look Mirage is wearing. Then she gets curious.
His comment though, is still startling. After a moment she supposes it really isn't that surprising on the other hand. The question then becomes if she's figured out what to ask by now, and if she's more interested in who he is now or how he got that way. It really isn't that much of a question at all after a brief consideration. "I admit I'm not nearly so good at discerning things as you are, but I am curious. How did you handle going from this," she gestures vaguely with her head to their surroundings, "to the war? I can't imagine it was easy." She doesn't have a real frame of reference, but that had to be some serious culture shock. She doesn't imagine he had much of a choice either, but she still wanted to know.
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Post by Mirage on Aug 16, 2009 21:28:33 GMT -5
The music comes to a soft end, and Mirage brings the dance to a gentle stop. He steps back from Oracle, her hand still in his, bows low, and presses a kiss to its back. He then straightens and leads her over to the fountain.
He watches the gently flowing water. The expression on his face has none of the teasing, not of the gentleness that is usually present. Just a neutral expression, almost cold.
"It was not easy. For a long time, the war was not even The War. It was just a far off thing happening away from us. Many refused to choose a side."
"I refused to choose, as well, until it was almost too late. So, no," he shakes his head, "It was not an easy transition."
He then turns his head and smiles up at her, all ease once again. "But I am nothing if not adaptable."
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Oracle
Minor
The future is always in motion.
Posts: 426
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Post by Oracle on Aug 16, 2009 22:19:33 GMT -5
Smiling slightly at the bow and the kiss to her hand, Oracle joins Mirage in gazing into the fountain. That doesn't mean she misses his change of expression at all, but she is polite enough not to focus her attention on it.
Apparently she struck more of a nerve with that question then she knew she would. Still she was glad she asked. Though it seemed it was a rather painful topic in more ways then she understood even after his explanation. She wondered what happened to those that didn't choose, though the too late he mentioned...didn't make it sound like they had a chance to reconsider.
An enigmatic smile surfaced shortly before Oracle traced a gentle finger down Mirage's jaw. "Adaptable is one way to put it yes. A determined survivor another." Something she understood well.
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Post by Mirage on Aug 16, 2009 23:12:51 GMT -5
Mirage dips his head to try and kiss that finger trailing along his jaw.
"I have never claimed to be anything but a selfish individual, Oracle. So, of course, I did what is necessary to protect myself. I was courted by both factions." Ran between them, before he chose, but he isn't saying that. "And in the end, chose the one that best matched my own ideals."
He quirks a smile, "I may hide who I am from all, but I must at least be true to myself, you see."
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Oracle
Minor
The future is always in motion.
Posts: 426
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Post by Oracle on Aug 17, 2009 7:05:43 GMT -5
Her smile widening a bit at the kiss that catches her finger, Oracle then looks a bit wry as he continues to speak. "I understand." She really did. She was certainly never courted by either side but she definitely walked the grey line for a very long time before choosing anything, and had been willing to do whatever it took to defend herself in the meantime. And to keep her secrets.
Turning her face upwards toward the night sky above them, she has a rather absent look on her face, though her focused tone when she speaks makes it evident her attention is still on Mirage. "Being true to one's self can be harder sometimes then speaking what you believe to be the truth to others I think, so that isn't a small thing to claim. After all, not everyone has a taste for self reflection and what they might find there."
For instance, didn't he repeatedly query if she really wanted to know what he saw of her? Surely not all of that was caution about her reaction to possible information leaks.
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Post by Mirage on Aug 17, 2009 11:03:43 GMT -5
"It is hard, but it is necessary, love. If you don't know yourself, you can not live life as it was meant to be lived, even in the harshest of times."
"My life is a gift. I have no intention of wasting one moment of it."
Mirage turns into Oracle, arms wrapping around her as he stretches up to kiss her. It is a gentle kiss, searching not passionate. As if he is asking for and giving comfort all in one.
When the kiss is done, he settles back on his feet. "Nor should you let your worries over what you have done, over your past, over what people may name you force you to waste yours, Oracle."
Getting cozy done with permission.
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Oracle
Minor
The future is always in motion.
Posts: 426
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Post by Oracle on Aug 17, 2009 20:48:32 GMT -5
Looking back down at Mirage with a quirky grin, Oracle shrugged. "I'm not arguing, I prefer the same thing after all, I've simply found that some people seem to like their pretty illusions better."
She had no comment about life being a gift, but it seemed she didn't need one, since anything she might have said was swept gently away in his kiss. Oracle didn't think she would let Mirage know how many firsts he was managing to claim from her, but at least he was making them good ones.
She thought she might actually really regret it if he forced her to find a way to kill him, and wasn't that a frightening thought. Damn.
Tilting her head down, she stops just short of resting her forehead against his and sighs. "Easy for you to say. You have a gift for seeing in greyscale what I have noticed many still can't get beyond viewing in monochrome." Her usual habit of confirm and deny nothing, though honestly that was more for deniability then any pretense between them at this point. "I don't view my life as wasted though. Different sure, and I'm sure I've missed things you would consider important." She grinned faintly. "On the other hand I've probably seen places not a lot of others have for a long time." There was a reason Rattrap had called her a winged tunnel rat after all, not that she knew it.
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Post by Mirage on Aug 17, 2009 23:11:27 GMT -5
Mirage shrugs gracefully. "I am used to not being trusted, for whatever reason. I may not like it, but I am used to it." He sighs, "Being able to turn invisible, even for a short time, tends to make people leery of you."
That, and he doesn't fit in with the common crowd. He tries, but....
He smiles, and it is a touch sad, "And I am, as you know now, a horribly curious creature. I am an excellent secret keeper, for I'll not betray a confidence. But I will do what I can to ferret out such things."
"It's what makes me such an excellent spy, you see, that I am not afraid or ashamed to use any method at my disposal to get my answers. But it also makes me less trustworthy in the optics of my own."
He looks up at her, smile going from sad to sly in the a wink. "You have been kissed but rarely, if at all." Then, with barely a pause for her to start to answer, he continues.
"Tell me, how many times tonight have you contemplated ending my life?
She can see his moves before he makes them, but not hear his words before he speaks them. If he can't keep her off balance one way, he'll try for another. She still has secrets he wants to hear, after all.
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