Oracle
Minor
The future is always in motion.
Posts: 426
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Post by Oracle on Aug 18, 2009 0:23:45 GMT -5
Like being built a Seeker and now among Autobots? She could very safely tell Mirage that friendly fire wasn't, from personal experience. Oracle didn't though, and simply shrugged. He was more than intelligent enough to know why she had said what she did, and why she would also understand what he had said. Absently that made her wonder how much of their conversations took place without words and between them as much in what was actually said.
Oracle didn't like that tinge of sorrow much, it didn't suit him, but at the same time the play of emotion was interesting. Not distracting enough she wasn't almost stunned by what he said though and she replied on autopilot. "Just be sure that curiosity isn't your end one day, because you simply had to satisfy it." She puts on a passably teasing grin as she contemplates the rest of his comment.
That musing has to go on a secondary process as he continues though, simply so she can keep up. "I don't see why. In your own way, you're quite honest about what you do and at least among allies I haven't seen anything truly malicious about it. As long as one understands that, what's the problem?" She really didn't get it, though to be honest she was still trying to fit the knowledge that he wasn't actually going to be reporting back things she told him, assuming she had really understood him right.
Ironically, she's far more off balance by something he's already said than either of his attempts to deliberately shake her. His comment about having been kissed simply gets an offhand shrug and a dismissive, "nothing worth counting before now."
The question of whether she's considered killing him that night gets a bit more consideration and a penetrating look. Does he really want the answer to that? Probably. "A few times. But you knew that already, didn't you." In a way, it's as much a test as it is an answer.
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Post by Mirage on Aug 18, 2009 10:04:43 GMT -5
Mirage pays more attention to what is not said than what is said. For actions, even the most minute, often speak louder and with more truth.
When she so guardedly admits that she has contemplated his death, he actually chuckles. There is nothing mocking in the sound; it is just the laugh of the self-assured, of one joyous in having been proved correct. He tries to cup her cheek tenderly for a moment, just brush his thumb over her lips before he takes her arm again, urging her walk beside him once more.
"Of course I did, my deadly beauty. You are an assassin, and as such the idea of anyone knowing even a portion of your secrets would be horribly worrisome. Especially since you do not trust me not to leave this tryst and go directly to command, eh?" He quirks a brow and a smile as he looks over at her.
"Tell me, do you like the opera?"
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Oracle
Minor
The future is always in motion.
Posts: 426
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Post by Oracle on Aug 18, 2009 21:28:02 GMT -5
Oracle would say that depended. Actions can also be used to lie quite handily sometimes, while words tell the truth. But that of course is an entirely different game.
One she certainly isn't playing as her nose wrinkles in annoyance even as she leans slightly into the touch against her cheek, her actions syncing with her emotions quite well. The finger brushing across her lips gets a similarly mixed response, she doesn't pull away but gives it a semi-playful nip instead. A bit of her miffed feelings over his amusement expressed, she is content to take Mirage's arm and let him guide her along to whatever their next destination is.
Until he opens his mouth again.
To spite all the dancing around the subject, having things stated so openly still makes her twitch. But she did want to correct him on one thing. "It isn't trust exactly Mirage, not the way you think. More that I expected you would because it's what you do." She shrugged faintly. "I did say I didn't really understand the problem people had with you being a spy, didn't I? I just didn't realize how much you didn't report."
She still hadn't answered his last question though, but at least it was an easy answer. "No idea. I only vaguely know what one is to be honest."
OOC: Nipping with permission.
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Post by Mirage on Aug 18, 2009 22:47:54 GMT -5
Mirage actually looks affronted.
"While I may be a spy, I am not some gossip ready to tell tales out of school. And just because I spy upon our enemies does not mean that spy upon our own." Even though he does, after a fashion. But so far, none of those in command have thought to utilize Mirage in such a way.
He guides her back onto another busy street. "Well, then next time, I shall have to program in some of my favorite performances, and see how you like them."
"Now," he stops and bows low, waving one arm in a flourish to indicate the busy shopping district they were now in. "What is my lady's pleasure? Nothing is too expensive or rare if it pleases your senses. Or we can stop at the cafe and continue our talk."
He smiles, "You have asked but one question to my several, after all."
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Oracle
Minor
The future is always in motion.
Posts: 426
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Post by Oracle on Aug 18, 2009 23:44:06 GMT -5
"I never thought you went 'telling tales' as you say, but I did think it was part of the job of a spy to watch for sedition and other things command might want to know about among their own troops as well. Hardly the same thing." Oracle is quite calm as she points this out, seeming vaguely amused she has managed to rile Mirage for once. It's something of a change after all as he seems to make a habit of pushing her buttons.
So far though, the pleasure of his company has outweighed the annoyances, and she does wish to keep a close watch on him anyway. Thus the mention of a 'next time' simply results in a small pleased smile.
A smile which both widens slightly and turns wry as Mirage gestures around the shopping district. "I think, though I might enjoy looking, I would find myself quite lost within these shops. I'm not exactly materialistic." Even if these things would last outside the sim room she probably wouldn't want anything more then the crystal she had already been given. She simply wasn't the type to collect things that didn't have some sort of real sentimental value to her.
"Perhaps we should simply talk, however more dangerous that may be." That smile is still wry and tinged with a bit of amused resignation. "I still have a few questions for you, but I suspect the ratio will continue remain uneven. I never developed quite the curious streak that seems to drive you." She had a mild one sure, but she preferred to focus herself on other things. Besides, most of her questions right now, she had already said she would ask later.
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Post by Mirage on Aug 19, 2009 22:01:40 GMT -5
"As you like, my lady," Mirage says, before once more tucking her hand under his arm and leading her past a few of those shops. If she shows any interest in the wares on display, he will stop. Otherwise he continues on until they come to a charming little sidewalk cafe.
He seats her first, of course, then himself. In short order drinks are brought; it is the same pale mixture which they enjoyed on the penthouse balcony.
"Ladies first." Mirage smirks, "I am at your service. Ask away."
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Oracle
Minor
The future is always in motion.
Posts: 426
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Post by Oracle on Aug 21, 2009 13:11:09 GMT -5
While Oracle may occasionally glance at something as they pass, it's much more likely to wondering bemusement rather then any sort of interest to possess. She doesn't show any interest in pausing though, let alone stopping.
Once they settle in at the cafe and have received their drinks, which she is privately amused to see is the same rather potent mixture of before, she considers what to say.
Lightly circling the edge of her glass with a finger without even picking it up she attempted to phrase the question she had for Mirage correctly. "You have been more sanguine about what you've managed to discover then I expected, even considering circumstances." He's a spy and somewhat experienced, she didn't exactly expect him to have a clean view of the world. "Is that just you, or something related to your universe? Whichever it is, is there a particular reason?" She was badly wanting to know if this odd apparent acceptance was a Mirage trait or there was something else going on. Either way she would learn something about him, one was just slightly more direct.
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Post by Mirage on Aug 21, 2009 19:41:49 GMT -5
Mirage takes a sip of his drink, then smiles. "A fair enough question."
"Why should I judge you for past deeds, when I, myself, can not claim a clean past?" He shrugs, "I come from early in the war, Oracle. Alliances were still shifting, and many...many had not even chosen."
"My own Grimlock was one of Megatron's earliest recruits, and yet he is now leads a skilled special team. Our Optimus was, but a few hours before my removal, a file clerk who thought Cybertron was not worth fighting for. We had no brands or factions before the war, Oracle, none."
He leans his elbows on the table and steeples his fingers. "And while I will fight valiantly to avoid the title sniper and killer, I can not avoid the fact that such positions are necessary when fighting a war. Why should I judge you for having temperament and willingness to do what I would shy away from, under guise of it being beneath me?"
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Oracle
Minor
The future is always in motion.
Posts: 426
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Post by Oracle on Aug 21, 2009 21:20:09 GMT -5
A sharply amused chuckle escapes Oracle before she picks up her own glass and takes a sip. "Anyone claiming a totally clean past is either new built or a very odd individual. Or lying." The rest of what Mirage said she considered for a long moment in silence before she said anything else.
"Though you may have surmised a few things, you don't really know much of my deeds. Be wary of assumptions." She waved a jokingly chiding finger at him. "You're probably safe though." About not judging her anyway, Mirage would probably be surprised by a few things he was wrong about, in addition to what she had already laughed at.
Settling back in her seat after a moment and taking another sip before she continues, there's no joking in her voice when she does speak again. "I do have to say though, that is a different communal state from what I was accustomed to. Not so black and white indeed." Or rigid it sounded like, but she supposed one would have to live it to know for sure.
Shifting slightly in her relaxed position, a faintly sharp grin sneaks it's way onto her face. "Ironic, don't you think, that you say you work to avoid the title of sniper but yet you nailed me with assassin just the same?" Sauce for the goose and all that.
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Post by Mirage on Aug 21, 2009 22:55:13 GMT -5
Mirage winks at her. "You could always tell more about yourself. Then I need not make assumptions."
After all, the night's talk has centered about his conclusions regarding her, not his actual questioning of her past. He wonders if she realize that he has actually been curbing his curiosity quite a bit.
And, oh, but she's trying to turn the tables is she? Mirage smirks, optics narrowing a bit as he studies Oracle.
"There is a difference, love." Mirage settles back in the chair and takes up his glass. He swirls the pale liquid about, watches how it catch the light.
"You were made to kill, and that can not be denied. Not-," he holds up his hand to stem any possible protests, "-that you are actually denying it at all. You may not like such a label, but it is who you were, in part who you still are."
He sips his drink. "Whereas my skills were never meant to be employed to hunt my brethren. Perhaps I was gifted by Primus with abilities suited to such, but I was never trained for it. I do not have the proper temper for it." Again that odd, slightly sad expression. "I have killed. I will again. We are at war. But I will walk away from it all before I become naught but a killer on tap, before I become what my alternate was, honor-less and cruel."
Mirage tries to lock his gaze with Oracle's. "I have never enjoyed killing another Cybertronian. Can you say the same?"
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Oracle
Minor
The future is always in motion.
Posts: 426
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Post by Oracle on Aug 21, 2009 23:37:53 GMT -5
For fairly obvious reasons Oracle didn't return the wink, but her smile quirked slightly before falling back into more neutral lines. "I could." She probably would tell him more eventually, possibly now if he cajoled enough, but not with an open ended line like that.
Because curbing his curiosity or not, he was still slowly worming his way into truths she didn't much like having anyone other then herself knowing. But he's still talking, so she pays attention again even when he shushes her before she would have said a thing. She wouldn't have protested, and she only shrugs as he holds up a forestalling hand. It isn't that Oracle dislikes acknowledging what she is, simply that she doesn't find it safe to do so around others. As she's pointed out to him before, most aren't quite so blase about accepting what she is.
She does wonder at what causes Mirage's saddened expression, and perhaps at some point she'll actually ask him. At the moment though, her optics narrow slightly behind her visor. A killer on tap? She wonders than if that's all he thinks she is as well, his other lovely descriptors included. Well, she can be cruel she won't argue that, but she likes to think she has her own honor.
With those thoughts in mind she isn't exactly in the best frame of mind to receive his next question, and her answer has a slightly sharp edge though it is brutally honest. "No. But you at least suspected that or you wouldn't have asked."
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Post by Mirage on Aug 23, 2009 9:48:21 GMT -5
He reaches across the table to try and lightly capture one of her hands. If he does, he will gently run his thumb over the back of it.
"We are supposed to enjoy our programmed function, I think. It would be most difficult to live our lives hating ourselves, after all. I am not judging you for it, sweetheart," he says softly, soothingly.
"But I think you know that I am not. You just dislike my being so blunt about it, even in private."
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Oracle
Minor
The future is always in motion.
Posts: 426
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Post by Oracle on Aug 23, 2009 11:55:49 GMT -5
Oracle didn't stop him from taking her hand, but she didn't even try to fool herself that half of her motivation wasn't because that put him in literal striking range of some of her main weaponry. She didn't actually intend anything, but thoughts of easy violence kept her rather offended temper down to a low simmer instead of lashing out, verbally or otherwise.
So she was calm, if a bit icy when she spoke again after a pause to make sure what she said was civil. "That isn't it at all Mirage." No she's not happy about him being blunt true, but it's the rest of his assumptions, or what she perceives his assumptions to be that really get to her and she's not happy. Sure she had admitted to having enjoyed killing at least once, but she had never said she had enjoyed what she was created for. Oracle enjoyed fighting yes, but she just happened not to have the same hang ups over killing many seemed to. It wasn't the same thing at all to her.
"Blunt I can handle. I don't like it, but I can take it. On the other hand, it's just a job." Though from an outsider's point of view, which is worse? Enjoying it, or feeling nothing at all? She hasn't shut him out yet, but the coolness in her tone is a clear warning to him that he's missed his step in this verbal dance of theirs, and that he'd better find his footing again before she does shut the door in his face and he has to start the game all over again from the beginning of the evening.
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Post by Mirage on Aug 23, 2009 12:59:00 GMT -5
"Very well."
Mirage releases her hand and sits back in his chair again. He studies her for a few moments, taking another sip of his drink as he does so.
"If it's 'just a job' and you can handle blunt then why are you so angry with me, Oracle?"
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Oracle
Minor
The future is always in motion.
Posts: 426
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Post by Oracle on Aug 23, 2009 13:12:54 GMT -5
Pulling her own hands back and lightly clicking the tips of her fingers together in a more polite relic of an unpleasant habit she was trying to dismiss, Oracle favored Mirage with a rather annoyed look. At least it was annoyed and not icily furious. His questions she could handle better then his assumptions for some reason, go figure.
"If you had enjoyed killing once, maybe a few more times then that, whatever the reason might have been. Then someone took that and extended it to cover any further kills you made, how upset would you feel?" It's dodging the truth of the answer a bit, since while it is true it's not the whole of it, but that's certainly a large part of why she's upset. The rest of a truth was a great deal more complicated and not something she was willing to go into at all. "You asked if I had enjoyed killing. Yes. I have. Do I usually? No. I don't care. Your assumption on the other hand, bothers me." And that's why she's angry, not because he was blunt about what she did.
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