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Post by Rodimus Prime-3 on Sept 26, 2008 20:24:43 GMT -5
"Well, we'll keep an optic out for this Green Optimus," Rodimus replies, placing another armfull of cubes into his trailer. He straightens and looks around. By this point most of the cubes are cleaned up, but there are still a few scattered in more remote areas of the party area.
//Do you really think you're up to the responsibility of keeping a Dinobot?// Rodimus teases Mirage over the radio. Then, tone more serious, he adds, //And what makes you think you understand them better than Grimlock?//
Instead of going to gather another cube, Rodimus instead approaches Bambi and Grimlock. He ignores the commentary between Grimlock and Mirage, and instead crouches down in front of Bambi. "It's simple... Bambi," he begins, addressing her by her name for the first time. His tone, oddly, is not threatening, and would be more appropriate to an idle observation about the weather than to the words that actually come from his vocalizer. "Run away, and I will kill you." Then he reaches up and grasps her collar. He twists his fist, snapping it off, then studies the female Dinobot to see what her next move is.
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Mirage-3
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Post by Mirage-3 on Sept 26, 2008 23:20:07 GMT -5
Mirage had expected such a retort from his Prime, and so replies, teasing back at first: //I take decent enough care of you, don't I?// More serious then. //As for Grimlock...I'm not saying I understand Dinobots better. I'm saying that she's already decided to despise and dismiss him.//
The fingers of Mirage's right hand twitch at Grimlock's outburst, then, and the cold look he turns back to the Dinobots makes his anger clear. He crooks a very cruel smile when Rodimus frees Bambi of her collar, then moves just that much closer to his Prime.
"Oh, I am favored, Grimlock, and I am his hound, but I am far more than a mere pet." Mirage replies, almost purring, "You see, Rodimus understands that a good hunting hound makes a more valuable partner than pet. And that said hound often has to hunt ahead and away from its master to be most effective." Mirage glances at Bambi. "We are all his toys to play with or break as he likes. Even you, Grimlock."
Read between the lines, little Dinobot, and try and understand what Mirage can't say outright. At least not at the moment.
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Grimlock-3
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Post by Grimlock-3 on Sept 27, 2008 1:48:40 GMT -5
Grimlock would disagree - a good pet submits to its master, thus making it a subordinate in a technical sense.
However, Grimlock was referring to Slag, who this snooty spy was speaking of in a derogatory manner. Mirage may have issues with another reality's Dinobots, but if he keeps this up, Grimlock shall give him plenty good reason to dislike the ones here, punishment from Prime be damned.
Grimlock has a momentary inward smirk, seeing Mirage's twitch and glare. Hark, victory belongs to Grim--
Oh, smelt, he's smiling.
He crosses his arms, dropping the leash on the ground after Rodimus removes the collar from the smaller Dinobot. "Hrmph. I, Grimlock, am not interested in listening to you state the obvious. I am most aware of my place, or did you not hear me say that I do not need you to tell me how to do my job, wot?"
Hnn. Grimlock's pride takes a hit at Rodimus interfering with training Bambi. However, he will not speak up about it. Master knows best, after all...
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Bambi-3
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Post by Bambi-3 on Sept 27, 2008 22:15:03 GMT -5
Bambi transforms to her robot mode, standing straight and very not-tall. She's only a bit taller than Holi, really. She struggles with her inner fury and her desire to see every last Autobot die in a fire. Didn't she swear off that kind of thing? Therer's no point to it. Better to play the black market and make a profit so that she can live in comfort.
But this red prince, this cruel Alexander, he brings all her buried rage back up to the surface.
Bambi hates him all the more for it.
She executes a stiff, formal curtsey, a polite 'thank you' for the removal of her collar. So she can run, and they will take her life. If she stays, they will take her soul.
Mirage is clearly suffering from some mental disorder or other. He says he's a toy? He wants her to work for him? She prefers people who can pay, thanks.
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Post by Rodimus Prime-3 on Sept 27, 2008 22:38:43 GMT -5
Rodimus considers Mirage's words. Then he considers Grimlock's words, and the fact that Grimlock is a Dinobot. He rubs his chin and, still crouched, studies Bambi. Then he points to Mirage. Then he points to Grimlock. Then he points to Bambi. "Choose."
Welcome to Hell, Bambi. Which tormentor do you prefer?
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Mirage-3
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Post by Mirage-3 on Sept 28, 2008 10:27:54 GMT -5
Mirage's smiles grows just a fraction wider when Rodimus commands Bambi to choose. It matters little now who the tiny Dinobot choses; Mirage made his pitch, and if Bambi can't see the advantage of being tied to him, then small loss. Mirage rubs his chin. Still a loss though. A good scent tracker is hard to find.
As for Grimlock- the Dinobot will likely do Mirage grievous harm at some point. But he survived his own Grimlock's brutish attacks and outbursts of temper; the spy has no doubts he'd survive this one's. Any punishment from Rodimus would likely be token as well. If the Prime has to heal Mirage after a dino-mauling, it just gives Rodimus a chance to tighten that collar one more notch, after all.
Mirage waits for Bambi to choose.
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Grimlock-3
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Post by Grimlock-3 on Sept 29, 2008 18:57:41 GMT -5
Grimlock will only do harm to Mirage if the spy continues to run his mouth.
Though he will start considering it a more viable option if Bambi does choose him.
So, what will it be, little Dinobot? The big bad brute, the sneaky pervert, or become a pile of slag if you run away?
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Bambi-3
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Post by Bambi-3 on Sept 30, 2008 11:33:09 GMT -5
If Bambi listened to modern music, which she does not, this would be playing in her mind:
It lies awake, yes, quite obsessed Making plans but It won't tell So longs to hear her final words: "I brought this on myself" The theory of futility Now you'll learn, so be prepared Enemies are equal to Wrath times the speed of fright squared
If you don't kill me I'm going to have to kill you... you-who
You must decide We're out of time No place to hide Your choice, not mine!
What a horrible, horrible choice! There must be some other option, some lateral move. Bambi wracks her processors.
There's that little blue and black fellow behind Mirage. Bambi reckons that the little fellow is probably a Bathory or a Vlad, but she doesn't know that for sure. If she goes with Mirage, she's going with someone who is clearly mentally disturbed. If she goes with Grimlock, she's going with someone who doesn't treat her like a person.
There is a chance, however, slim, that the blue fellow might be someone whom she can deal with. There is the greater chance that he's going to gut her and wear her head as a hat. However, Mirage and Grimlock are clearly unacceptable options, and if she goes with them, she's probably dead anyway, either in body or soul. She'll take the chance of submitting to a greater evil on the slim hope that the little fellow may actually be the lesser of the three evils.
Bambi stalks around Mirage, straight and dignified, and she points right at Holi with a flourish of her hand, declaring, "Him. He was included in your pointing, was he not?"
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Holi-3
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Post by Holi-3 on Sept 30, 2008 12:43:32 GMT -5
What? No, what? Holi sort of freezes, two full cubes in his arms, and looks back at the smallish Dinobot pointing at him. She has got to be kidding with singling him out. There's a joke he missed in all the talk of having to pick her tormentor and she's setting up for the punchline. Right?
…Right?
"Oh, nobody includes me," says the Micromaster instead, making it sound pleasant and bitter all at once. Nobody includes him unless they can use him.
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Post by Rodimus Prime-3 on Sept 30, 2008 19:13:57 GMT -5
When Bambi points at someone who had not even been an option, Rodimus snarls and lifts his hand, preparing to backhand her. Then his optics widen, and he smiles.
"So be it, Bambi," the Prime responds, lowering his hand and grinning, almost, from cheek seam-to cheek seam. He turns towards Holi and says, "Holi, Bambi has chosen you to indoctrinate her into our little... family. She is now your responsibility. Her wrongs will be on your head." Then he turns and glares down at the bambiraptor. "Do not interpret that to mean that you will not suffer for them, also, Bambi. In fact, I now also give you responsibility for Holi as well. You may both view it as a... learning experience."
In other words, if one screws up, the both suffer, and it will work both ways. Twice the suffering for half the punishments! A real deal!
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Mirage-3
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Post by Mirage-3 on Oct 1, 2008 0:06:11 GMT -5
Oh, that was well played. She's a smart little thing it seems. And then Rodimus actually grants her request. Oh, dear Primus...
Mirage is laughing, full out laughing at this odd turn of events. Oh, he does regret the loss of the tiny Dinobot's use; she has smarts and skill and could have been quite the interesting partner. But the look of blank, almost uncomprehending shock on that annoying Micromaster's face is just too much.
Initial bout of laughter winding down, Mirage waves a hand at Grimlock, still chuckling, "So much for that. We've both been shot down quite spectacularly. Apparently it's neither looks nor brawn that attracts her, but grudging subservience." The hound shakes his head, "A pity and a waste, but watching that pairing evolve should be worth a bit of bruised pride."
Mirage turns his gaze back to Rodimus, smile just as wide as his master's. "If you don't need me any longer, I'll start making some perimeter sweeps. I'm still not convinced we don't have company, but these tracks are are simply too muddied to read properly."
Referencing Holi's expression ok'd by his player.
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Grimlock-3
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Post by Grimlock-3 on Oct 2, 2008 4:37:39 GMT -5
Grimlock finds himself at a loss for words, just staring back and forth between Holi and Bambi for several seconds, then at Mirage and his laughing.
Oh, this is worse than if she'd picked Mirage. Bruised pride is one thing. Bambi just kicked Grimlock's pride in the ball bearings and pranced off giggling.
"Mmmph. I, Grimlock say: If you ever come crawling back, I will not be very forgiving of this...if at all."
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Bambi-3
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Post by Bambi-3 on Oct 2, 2008 6:58:05 GMT -5
Bambi does brace herself for a smack or some sort of violence, but she does not cringe. If they're going to kill her, she will see them maimed before she goes. Her pride demands it.
Then, Rodimus Prime puts a sentence upon her head that is.... quite workable. Holi is no master if she's co-responsible for him, is he? She hates relying on others, and she will have to make sure that this Holi is neither a masochist or trouble-maker, but she really does think she can work with this situation.
Or maybe Holi really is a mass-murderer who will wear her as a hat. That's still possible.
Bambi bows with a flourish before Rodimus Prime and assures, her big, cherry-red optics shining, "Oh, you will not be disappointed... sir." Perhaps her first act of deference and secretly quite insincere.
She tries to stifle rage at Mirage for suggesting that her choice was based on attraction. How dare he suggest that she stoop so low! She is about to snap out a biting reply when she reminds herself that emotions are naughty, naughty things, best kept under lock and key. Instead, she smiles cryptically and comments, "Have you not ever heard that women love a man in a uniform?" She tilts her head curiously to the side, looking at Holi a bit more closely. "Police, is it not? I, Bambi, cannot quite place the prefecture, I, Bambi, am afraid. A bit too recent to be my field."
She circles and turns her gaze back up to Mirage and comments cheerily, in the tone of one offering friendly advice, "Are you quite certain that the ones you track cannot smell that pretty, pristine titanium dioxide white that you wear? I, Bambi, would think it would stand out from a few kilometers away. More than enough time for your prey to scurry down into a little hovel."
No, she does not track. The world simply has trouble keeping secrets from her.
To Grimlock, that brute, she has no reply at all. She will never go crawling back to him.
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Holi-3
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Post by Holi-3 on Oct 2, 2008 10:17:50 GMT -5
Holi's shell-shocked expression at the Prime's directive very quickly transmutes itself into a most placid and self-satisfied sort of smile that manages to maintain itself through Mirage's mocking and Grimlock's growling.
"Understood, sir," he chirps. Inwardly, he's caught between screaming rage and wailing terror. He's stuck with a Dinobot. That's as good as a death sentence as far as he's concerned; they're an ill-tempered and violent bunch no matter how many airs they put on. She's probably already plotting the Micromaster's messy murder, trying to decide if his tensor cables would make better garters or his head a better drinking mug. That blather about women liking men in uniform is so not helping. Holi just bets she likes men in uniforms. Roasted on spits.
Not one bit of this gets anywhere near the surface, though. Holi can't afford that sort of slip-up. He just shrugs off the question of prefecture.
"I didn't need one," he informs her simply, as if it's only as important as the current weather conditions. "Just plastering on 'POLICE' was enough." After all, everyone trusts a policeman. He shifts his burdens a little to keep them from slipping and pivots to resume his trek to the Prime's trailer. "Now, I have work to do," he adds, then pauses; his smile takes on a slightly sharper edge. "And so do you."
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Post by Rodimus Prime-3 on Oct 2, 2008 18:17:19 GMT -5
The Prime tilts his head back, shaking it very very slightly at Bambi's cute little thank you. Then he stands upright and waves Mirage away.
"Yeah, yeah. You're dismissed," he grumbles. Then he tuns towards Grimlock. "Don't worry, Grimlock. You've always got the challenge of finding some way to motivate that lazy slagger, Slag. By the way, we'll need folks of your strength and... demolition capability at the south tunnel entrance. If we're going to figure out which tunnels our alternates fled through, we've got to get them dug out first. I'll be meeting you down there."
Finally he turns to Holi and Bambi. "You two finish getting these cubes up. Remember, priority is cubes with energon in them." Then Rodimus grins wide and points at his trailer. "And remember, I can see and hear through that."
OOC: We seem to be reaching a good point to wind things up with, for the most part.
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