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Post by Sable Conolly on Sept 1, 2008 18:06:33 GMT -5
Shockwave can get in line behind Needlenose, who already covets Scourge's datascreen.
Scourge explains, "They formed Ruination, a super-warrior controlled by Mega-Octane, my second in command."
He finds it interesting that Shockwave considers Scourge's reality to be unique.
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Post by Victoria Raines on Sept 2, 2008 12:07:24 GMT -5
Shockwave idly taps his stylus against the table as he considers Scourge. The tanker's Decepticons are a combiner team, and Scourge leads them but does not combine with them. Scourge answers to his Megatron, but gives the impression that he answers to no one, even when accepting orders from his "superiors" here. In some ways, Scourge reminds Shockwave of his own security commander. The baggage doesn't match, but it's baggage all the same.
He half-sits on a bench behind him, pulling a few more tools from subspace and placing them carefully beside him. "Are there any injuries you sustained or issues which need addressing in regard to your systems that have not been tended? Also, have you observed anything of note since the end of the battle?"
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Post by Sable Conolly on Sept 2, 2008 21:38:04 GMT -5
Scourge is black, not white, but he is every inch a soldier and a professional, all the same.
Were his Megatron to arrive here today, Scourge would answer to his Megatron as his faithful youngest son.
Were his Megatron to arrive here in a few months, Scourge would answer to him less keenly, but loyally, all the same.
Were his Megatron to arrive here in a few years, Scourge would sharpen his blade, that he might stab him the moment his back was turned.
Scourge presumably got his repairs offscreen, for Grimlock righteously thrashed him. He replies, looking Shockwave up down with a sort of hungry curiosity, "The Prime and his Mirage are room mates."
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Post by Victoria Raines on Sept 3, 2008 10:29:22 GMT -5
Having all visible injuries tended is not always the same as having all issues tended, a distinction with which Shockwave is quite familiar. So he asks, and in receiving no answer can draw two possible conclusions: either Scourge had no such issues or does not yet trust Shockwave enough to allow him to tend them. Either would be a perfectly acceptable possibility, and if it is the latter, Shockwave would simply chalk that up to good sense on the tanker's part.
But Scourge does want that vocal command bit dealt with. Which means he'll find himself on Shockwave's table eventually. All things in their own time.
"They are more than mere roommates, if the behavior I observed last evening is any indication," Shockwave mutters. He chooses a fine tool with a crooked end, then pulls the module he removed over into his lap. As he starts to work a panel loose, he continues, "Foolish of him, indulging in such relations. A weakness."
Shockwave raises that impassive yellow optic up to meet Scourge's curious gaze, "But you seem to have questions of your own to ask. Feel free to do so. I am in an indulgent mood."
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Post by Sable Conolly on Sept 3, 2008 14:40:40 GMT -5
Scourge has no issues he feels can be rectified prior the fight, anyway, and going under the knife with Shockwave before a fight does not strike him as the wisest thing to do.
He looks just a little confused, and he replies slowly, "They're... friends?"
Yet, Scourge is not a dullard, and something finally occurs to him, and he throws up his hands. His optics widen, as if what he is thinking is rather uncomfortable to him, and he would rather not be thinking it. He hisses out, "Or, do you think that they're like..." he twiddles his fingers together, "...like Sideburn and his unnatural, perverse attraction to red cars?"
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Post by Victoria Raines on Sept 3, 2008 22:20:35 GMT -5
Shockwave for his part manages not show how very surprising Scourge's reactions and questions are, not even with a flicker of his optic. There are advantages to not having a face. The only tell is a pause in his work, which could easily be overlooked, or explained away, and Shockwave continues to work after that brief halt.
"I would say they are a good deal more than mere friends. I imagine that Mirage is a toy of the Prime's, one that has the dubious honour of sharing his berth and providing pleasure. I have not been around this Mirage enough, but the Mirage with which I am familiar could easily fall into such a position."
He stops again, tilting his head up at Scourge. "I am not familiar with the mech you just named, so can not speak as to the similarities. But why refer to such attractions or relations as perversion? They are an indulgence, yes, and the emotions which often accompany such things are a weakness to be exploited; however, it is not an unnatural thing, and can be beneficial to some, seeing as it is a form of relaxation."
The irony of Shockwave defending the rightness of sex to Scourge, where not that long ago the gun-former had been defending his own reasons for not indulging to Hook, is not lost on Shockwave. He is beginning to wonder if caring for Optimus Prime repaints with repression issues is part of his lot as decreed by Primus.
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Post by Sable Conolly on Sept 4, 2008 8:08:40 GMT -5
It could be worse, Shockwave. There could also be Rodimus Prime repaints with repression issues running around to vex the Cyclops.
Scourge stalks back and forth, hands behind his back, like a newly caged panther - uneasy and ill-pleased. He skips a single beat in his march when he notices that pause in Shockwave's work, antennae laid back.
He waves to his datascreen, and he pulls up a copy of Sideburn's dossier. Sounding perturbed, Scourge insists, "He is attracted to cars. Terran cars. You may have never been to Earth, Commander, but Earth is my home, and allow me to tell you, sir, that Terran cars are beyond stupid. They are not even possessed of the base awareness of animals. They are mindless machines that require an organic driver to do anything. This weakness of Sideburn's has been exploited in the past." He points to another note in Sideburn's dossier.
Scourge looks rather twitchy and distinctly uncomfortable, and he gives the distinct impression of someone who wants to spork out his CPU without even understanding why.
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Post by Victoria Raines on Sept 4, 2008 11:38:00 GMT -5
If there were an overabundance of Rodimus Prime repaints running around, Shockwave would be using any advantage he had to lead them straight into the smelting pools.
"I do not believe I ever stated that I have never been to earth, Scourge," Shockwave corrects, "And I am familiar with the the Terran vehicles many of our ilk mimic, and their lacks."
"So this one," Shockwave waves at Sideburn's dossier, "Has an almost neurotic attraction to a particular aesthetic. That he makes no distinction regarding intelligence or independence is a character flaw that perhaps speaks of a low confidence level. So to answer your earlier question, no, what is between Rodimus Prime and his pet is not the same."
He watches Scourge pace and twitch, notes the tanker's discomfort. "Why are you upset by this topic? Is it taboo in your reality or some such?"
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Post by Sable Conolly on Sept 4, 2008 17:14:43 GMT -5
Just wait until Titanium Menasor shows up, Shockwave. Just wait.
Someone will probably make him room with Scourge, too.
Was Scourge making a foolish assumption, or was he fishing for information? It's hard to say - ever an impetuous youth, ever dangerously intelligent, as Scourge is. He asks, "Ah, have you been to Earth, then, Commander?"
He then clenches his fists and insists, "I'm not upset! It just sounds... foolish." Scourge crosses his arms and looks away.
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Post by Victoria Raines on Sept 4, 2008 23:29:03 GMT -5
"I have," is all the answer Shockwave gives. His brief visit to Earth is no secret, after all. How much he has studied Earth is another matter.
One headfin flicks back, "You seem uncomfortable. Your body language speaks louder than your words, Scourge, and you do not present the picture of one who is not upset."
Shockwave settles back, leans more of his weight on the table. "Though the same might stem from a lack of comprehension or understanding. I will agree with you that it can seem a foolish pursuit. There are those who seek such pleasures to the detriment of their good judgement. It pleases me that such seems not to be a worry where you are concerned."
"But tell, me, why do you think it sounds foolish?"
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Post by Sable Conolly on Sept 5, 2008 19:28:26 GMT -5
"How did you find it, sir?" Scourge asks, quite interested. He has known no other, save this strange world. Perhaps it makes him seem backwater.
Scourge's shoulders hunch, and he mutters, "It just sounds stupid."
If he had a mouth, he would probably think kissing was icky, too.
More loudly, he explains, "Affection for another or an object means that other or object can be used against one. It is an unnecessary risk, and I see little gain to be had for the price." He turns a sharp gaze on Shockwave, and demands, "Why do you deem it foolish, sir?"
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Post by Victoria Raines on Sept 5, 2008 21:29:31 GMT -5
Shockwave tilts his head slightly as Scourge explains his point of view. Promising, that one so young can grasp such concepts, see the trap in allowing attachments to be formed. But it also gives Shockwave pause. Scourge has proven himself a warrior, and beyond that, he is a commander, a leader, one that could certainly inspire a following. Leaders inspire attachments, to varying degrees. Whether one wishes to pursue such or no, is one thing; understanding how to use such attachments to one's advantage is another.
The question becomes this: let Scourge blunder through such dealings on his own, or try and teach him instead. How much does Shockwave want to risk?
He bends back to his work as he talks, "I find actively pursuing such activities tiresome and foolish for much the same reasons you listed. Physical relationships are seldom tenable without emotional involvement, and I find dependence on emotion to be our greatest fault. However, it is necessary to have a base understanding of both the emotions involved, the physical aspects, and the reactions which can be coaxed. One need not become entrapped themselves."
Shockwave looks back up at Scourge, "After all, it would be a pity if one were not equipped to take advantage of such an obvious and widespread weakness."
Again Shockwave's attention turns downward, and he makes a small sound of satisfaction as he finally works loose a circuit panel. "As for Earth, I've little opinion. The humans are more problematic than one might think, but they are easily manipulated."
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Post by Sable Conolly on Sept 6, 2008 21:22:51 GMT -5
It is as if a lightbulb pops on inside fo Scourge's head, and he relaxes, immediately looking much more at ease. he waves a hand dismissively, and he replies, "Oh. It's just manipulation, then. That's easy."
Scourge rubs his hand together and looks around the laboratory, before moving to look more closely at Shockwave's work on the body, as if that whole awkward conversation had not happened. Idly, he adds, "Humans can be useful, although they are mostly annoying."
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Post by Victoria Raines on Sept 8, 2008 22:29:53 GMT -5
Easy is it? It is only easy when one knows what one is doing. Bumbling through an attempt at such manipulation seldom ends well.
A quick nod shows agreement with Scourge's assessment of humans, and Shockwave continues to busy himself with dismantling the dead Peceptor's core module. He is quite involved in his task, and while he has not forgotten about Scourge, it is several minutes before Shockwave addresses the tanker again.
"Have you anything else you wish to ask or report while you have the opportunity?"
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Post by Sable Conolly on Sept 11, 2008 21:26:10 GMT -5
Scourge isn't about to ask Shockwave for advice about love and lust when Shockwave has already agreed with Scourge that it sounds like a bad deal. He needs to ask someone trustworthy who has a different opinion on the matter or something who is vastly an expert in the area, so that he can obtain a balanced view on the matter. It'll make faking things a lot easier for manipulation purposes.
He watches Shockwave work curiously.
His reply is to put his hand one hip and to demand, "In two hours, you will tell Rodimus Prime that you are done with me. Sir."
Scourge then moves to depart.
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