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Post by Pee-Dee on Feb 26, 2008 22:22:09 GMT -5
"That's why wandering off without telling is rude," Pee-Dee comments brightly. Then there's some commotion over at the party center- Caused by that Nightbeat, from the looks of it. She scowls and breaks away from the group in this corner to go find out what's going on.
---
Pee-Dee is out of thread.
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Post by Long Haul on Feb 26, 2008 23:30:48 GMT -5
Long Haul accepts the glass rather happily. Woo-hoo! Drinkies! He notices Swerves grateful look, and gives a 'well, what can you do?' shrug when Mirage returns, anyway. He studies Firebolt and her 'music' rather curiously. Never having been to Earth, the techno dance sounds are... strange to him. Finally, he shrugs, looks towards the center of the party, and mutters, "Hnh. Wonder what's going on over there?"
Okay, he doesn't. He's just making conversation. This party is a bit stuffy for him, and he has his doubts he'll be able to finish the night the way he usually ends his parties: in a brawl.
Maybe he should go hang out near Grimlock...
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Firebolt
Major
Brutal Gladiator, Scarab Lord Firebolt of the Shattered Sun
Moving Violation
Posts: 575
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Post by Firebolt on Feb 27, 2008 20:39:05 GMT -5
"Well that's just some great shizz right there, buddy," Firebolt swipes a glass and then stares at it for a moment, before her mask slides off her face and she chugs it down. "Bleh," she says, before glancing over at the hubub that everybody seems to be attracted to.
"Meh," another -eh to add to her varied words as she leans up against some jutting up on the top of the roof. If it was important they'd be yelling for everybody to come over and see. And nobody she really knew was around, so it was just time to play DJ, choose good songs, and make sure people didn't whine about the tunes.
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Post by Mirage on Feb 27, 2008 22:15:26 GMT -5
Mirage actually sighs in frustration at Swerve's attitude, "Swerve, do you never relax?" Mirage reaches out, automatically trying to stop the constable mid-motion. Mirage's fingers just brush the pipes on Swerve's arm before he stops himself.
"Swerve?" Mirage's tone is polite, neutral, and low. Hooray for music nearby to provide cover. "I realize that you find being here uncomfortable, that you find us as a whole quite disconcerting. But we are doing our level best to show you and your Emirate we mean you no harm. This is not just a welcoming for Skyfire into our ranks, I think, but an event to recognize the unification of our various members along a common cause. You and your Emirate are not excluded from that."
Mirage takes a sip from his cup, "Drink or not, as you like. But really, if you're going to continue to stand there like all your joints need a good oiling and you find the sight of us distasteful, then perhaps we should leave."
Another sip, and Mirage smiles, "Otherwise, Grimlock might take it upon himself to cheer you up, and I somehow doubt you want to be pounced and hugged by several tons of drunken Dinobot."
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Swerve-3
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Posts: 169
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Post by Swerve-3 on Feb 29, 2008 18:28:38 GMT -5
Pee-Dee's meaning sails right on over Swerve's head, bolstered by his swiftly-growing discomfiture and flustered state. The commotion going on in the large group across the way and Long Haul's calling attention to it get little notice, either, as the constable pointedly withdraws from Mirage's reach before he can ditch the drink.
"Mirage," he begins, tone cool and too level, expression stern, "I'm afraid you seem to've misread my meaning. I don't think you're the only one at fault, and I'm sorry if I've done something to set off this misunderstanding, but the core of the matter is I don't find any of you 'distasteful'. Quite the opposite." And Swerve is genuinely grateful even if none of it seeps into face or voice. "You and yours have been nothing but welcoming and generous since taking in Emirate Xaaron and me. I appreciate that." Now, finally, he frowns, and seams no longer used to the downward pull draw taut. His back stiffens and his grip on his glass grows almost too tight, hand shaking. He mustn't lose his temper. "What I do not appreciate," he continues, dropping several decibels to keep himself from growing any louder, "is being threatened. Much less with Grimlock." That it could be meant in jest doesn't occur to him; threats could just as easily be delivered with a grin as with a scowl in Swerve's experience.
He stops there for a moment, patiently, carefully cycling air to rein himself in before it gets any worse.
"…And please don't reach for me again like that." The discomfiture and awkwardness are back, overlaying the anger and tinged very faintly with concern. "I don't appreciate that, either, and you might've accidentally got hold of my pipes."
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Post by Long Haul on Feb 29, 2008 19:00:00 GMT -5
The Constructibot listens to the music for a moment, then his shoulders lower. "There's no trumpets involved in that music at all, is there?" Why is it that even among other Cybertronians, they don't get to listen to Cybertronian music?
Come to think of it, of the four over in that area, only two of them have actually been to Cybertron, haven't they?
Long Haul shrugs and is just about to trundle off when a change in nearby tone catches his attention. Maybe the brawl won't be near Grimlock, after all. "I... erm... you guys gonna be all right?"
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Firebolt
Major
Brutal Gladiator, Scarab Lord Firebolt of the Shattered Sun
Moving Violation
Posts: 575
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Post by Firebolt on Mar 2, 2008 11:54:19 GMT -5
Trumpets eh? Well, the only songs Firebolt knows that have trumpets are orchestrated songs and...
"AH HA!!" She half jumps as she snaps her fingers and starts playing a very swing-esque song, known famously on earth as 'Swing de Chocobo'. It was very party-friendly music, considering it was swing.
"Anybody favor a dance?" She called out, completely oblivious to the anger that was heating up nearby.
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Post by Mirage on Mar 2, 2008 14:24:40 GMT -5
"I..."
The look on Mirage's face is combination of embarrassment, self-annoyance, and, oddly enough pity. That a random comment could spark such a reaction, send the normally collected constable into such a state. It never occurred to Mirage that something so obviously said in jest could be taken as a threat.
"I did not mean it as such." Mirage continues softly, "Teasingly, jokingly...not threateningly. I thought to put you more at ease, not more on edge. I...am sorry."
At Long Haul's question, Mirage turns, that polite smile settling once again on his features. "It will be fine, Long Haul. However, if you are looking for orchestral music I would be happy to share my library with you at some point. I have several recordings of that focus on brass instrumentation."
He sighs a bit before taking another sip of his drink, glancing sidelong at Firebolt. "It would certainly be better than whatever that noise is," he mutters.
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Swerve-3
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Posts: 169
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Post by Swerve-3 on Mar 2, 2008 22:00:39 GMT -5
"You take Grimlock as a joke here?" Swerve asks Mirage, probably a little too harshly, but leaves it at that. This is supposed to be a party, a happy gathering, a celebration. Mirage, poor sense of humour aside, does have a point; Swerve can't in good conscience let himself sour the mood any more than he already has.
So, with some effort, the constable gets himself back to a calmer place. A little more work brings back his smile, thin though it may be, and he turns to Long Haul.
"Nothing to worry about," he reassures the Constructibot, adding after a moment's pause, "We had a great marching band on Velocitron, but… I don't have any recordings. I'm very sorry, Long Haul." And he really is sincere; it wouldn't exactly be Cybertronian music, but it would certainly have trumpets! Of course, that leaves the question of whether or not Long Haul would actually like it, or if anyone else would, had he any to share like Firebolt.
And she sure is trying, isn't she? The music is, of course, strange to Swerve, but he can try to be a little more gracious about it than some. He doesn't have Mirage's worldly experience by which to judge.
"I'm afraid I'll have to decline," he tells Firebolt apologetically; he doesn't really dance. Or, in fact, know how to dance. Only after the mouthful is down and the aftertaste strong on his sensors does he realise he's just taken a gulp of his drink out of sheer nerves and old habits resurfacing, and inwardly he grimaces. He doesn't need the drink. In fact, he needs to not drink any more tonight. But he finds himself trying to justify it – just the one, for appearance's sake and to keep Mirage off his back about it. If he's very careful with it, he can nurse it all evening. Surely that would be all right, he muses, casting a careful, worried glance toward his Emirate Xaaron. It looks like Perceptor there with him… should Swerve intervene? The body language is uncertain and he's already starting to doubt his own judgement; he doesn't want to cause another, possibly more serious misunderstanding.
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Post by Long Haul on Mar 2, 2008 22:36:44 GMT -5
"I, erm, don't really know how to dance to that sorta stuff," Long Haul excuses. "And I haven't had enough to drink yet to attempt it anyways. Thanks for the, uhm, trumpets though."
He nods to Swerve as the other assures him that there's nothing to worry about. "Arright then. S'good to hear." He takes a long sip of his drink, then says, "S'think I'm gonna trundle elsewhere."
And then he does just that.
OOC: Out of thread unless stopped.
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Post by Mirage on Mar 6, 2008 11:08:25 GMT -5
OOC: Firebolt skipped due to timeout
The even smile on Mirage's face belies the fact that he really is still rather annoyed with himself. He should have realized that this Swerve wouldn't understand teasing, anymore than normal Swerve understands sarcasm. They both takes things too literally, it seems.
"I am sorry," he says again.
He indicates Arcee and Rodimus. "Arcee is not spending her time attached to your Emirate. If you would prefer time alone to mingle and acquaint yourself with the others, I imagine that would be all right. Just... let me know when you wish to retire."
Mirage sighs a bit as he watches the pair dance. It would be nice to dance, but he has no idea of the proper steps to this type of music.
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Swerve-3
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Post by Swerve-3 on Mar 7, 2008 21:22:33 GMT -5
"Right," and Swerve nods after Long Haul, "have fun." No reason to stop the Constructibot; Swerve guesses he makes terribly dull company at a party, if he's to judge by Mirage's reactions at all… not that that's particularly surprising, somehow. Relax and enjoy himself? Far too much to worry about for that.
Swerve heaves a very stifled sigh of his own, glances at his drink, thinks better of it for an instant… then surprises himself by taking a sip anyway. It is a pretty good mix, really. All the more reason to be careful with it.
"Thank you, but I think I'd rather stay over here," Swerve tells Mirage. It's a convenient location, far enough from the refreshment table to lessen temptation, near enough to the ramp in case he needs that egress, and situated so he has a decent view of the entire party. "If it's alright for us to split up, though, please don't feel boxed in here on my account." Really, Mirage couldn't make it any clearer that he'd rather be out mingling. This sort of thing really is his element, not Swerve's. If either of them should be making the rounds and enjoying himself, it should probably be the spy.
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Post by Mirage on Mar 8, 2008 12:00:50 GMT -5
Yes, Mirage would prefer to be gliding through the crowd, talking and teasing, indulging more than a few of his vices. The problem is that Mirage believes you shouldn't bring a guest to a party, then abandon them to their own devices indefinitely. It's rude. Even if technically, Swerve isn't Mirage's guest....
Oh well, at least the constable seems to be enjoying the drink. Perhaps the energon will relax Swerve where Mirage has failed. Though Mirage won't be forcing anymore drink on the constable unbidden; if certain people want Swerve's lip components loosened with drink, they need to do it themselves, or let the spy in on the plan.
"Later mayhap. I am hoping we might have some music soon more suited to a reel or a waltz. Though, given the huge Terran influence that seems so commonplace amongst us, I might just be wishing for stardust. I..." he breaks off as Perceptor starts dancing. "Well...at least he's not self-conscious."
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Swerve-3
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Post by Swerve-3 on Mar 9, 2008 23:41:44 GMT -5
Swerve isn't sure he wants to be enjoying his drink, really. No doubt he still looks as uncomfortable as ever standing there, back straight, glass in one hand, the other formally tucked behind his waist; that's all right, because he is still pretty uncomfortable. He's improved since his arrival – the high-grade no doubt has something to do with that – but he's still out of his element. And he seems to have lost track of his Emirate Xaaron with all the Autobots taking up dancing. This doesn't help.
It does remind him yet again how different they are from the Autobots he knows.
"Doesn't look that way, no," he agrees with Mirage earnestly, if flatly, glancing over the gyrating scientist while he scours the crowd for his leader. The closest Swerve has ever been to dancing, if he gauges by the goings-on at this party, are some of the finer racing manoeuvres in his slightly rusty repertoire. None of that will be happening up here. Absently, he adds, "Maybe Firebolt has something else you'll like…?"
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Emirate Xaaron-3
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Post by Emirate Xaaron-3 on Mar 10, 2008 7:32:22 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron manages to make his way through the crowd away from Botanica and Rattrap so that he can hide behind Swerve. All is well with the world, revelations of there being a giant Matrix design on the planet aside.
He glances around nervously. Rodimus Prime seems to be dancing with Arcee peacefully, although he isn't familiar with the style or the peacefulness, and Perceptor is... Perceptor is leading some of the other Autobots in some form of strangeness. Emirate Xaaron boggles. He looks over at his other self, and...
It's all Emirate Xaaron can keep to do from flailing. He points over at the other Emirate Xaaron and demands of Mirage, "Does he do that often?"
Pee-Dee made his life miserable! Why is that other him actually approaching her and - and - but the Botanica and Rattrap here aren't a couple, so...
Guh. Rodimus Prime is not the only one being mentally scarred, here.
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