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Post by Rodimus Prime on May 18, 2011 14:37:47 GMT -5
Rodimus... can't really argue that Mirage is good at upsetting people. After all, he's found himself on the receiving end of that particular trait. He nods and straightens back up in his seat.
"All right, if that's what you want. But... if that's the case, I need to ask something from you."
He looks at Mirage. "I'm willing to keep quiet on this like you asked me, as long as it proves to be an isolated case. Mirage, gathering information is your business. If you're working that closely with Sentinel, it should be easy for you to keep an eye on him."
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Post by Mirage on May 19, 2011 0:20:39 GMT -5
Mirage smiles at Rodimus's request. "My dear Rodimus, doing exactly that has as much to do with my choice to remain as my own motivations. Trust that Sentinel Prime will have all of my attention when we are in the same company. Even if it seems my attention is directed elsewhere."
He props his elbow on the table and his chin on the back of his hand, "He behaves oddly, though. His moods- they shift with a thespian's grace and ease. He will be a challenging study, certainly," Mirage muses, gaze unfocused. After a few moments, the spy's attention obviously returns- and focuses on the still-young Prime before him.
"Rodimus, how have you been faring?" Mirage reaches out and tries to lay a hand on the Prime's arm. "Ever since, well... I worry for you."
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Post by Rodimus Prime on May 19, 2011 14:13:42 GMT -5
Rodimus grins faintly as Mirage speaks of his intent to keep watch on Sentinel. "All right, thanks." One might consider it odd that he's so willing to set Mirage spying on one of his own subordinates, but Rodimus has ever had an underhanded streak, one that dates back even to Hot Rod.
At the spy's question, he gives a reassuring grin and a slight wave of his hand. "Oh, the Cosmic Rust? Don't worry. Perceptor and the others cleared that right up." Then he rests his head against that same hand, slumping a little. "Though I really think Perceptor kept me in medical way longer than I needed to stay," he complains.
It's entirely possible that the misunderstanding of Mirage's meaning is intentional.
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Post by Mirage on May 20, 2011 10:57:48 GMT -5
Mirage smiles slightly at the mention of Perceptor, "Yes, well, Perceptor takes his job perhaps a it too much to heart. He is often overcautious with others. Though in mu opinion he could stand to be more cautious with himself."
"Your illness was a worry yes, but I was confident you would recover from that," Mirage continues, "That isn't what worries me now."
He looks down at his hand where it sits on Rodimus's plating. Gently, almost absently, he traces circles there. "And I think you know that."
"I understand now, I think," Mirage looks up and tries to lock optics with Rodimus, "and I'm sorry."
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Post by Rodimus Prime on May 22, 2011 22:24:05 GMT -5
"Yeah, probably," Rodimus agrees with Mirage's observation that Perceptor could stand to be more cautious with himself. "A lot of Autobots tend a bit too much towards the 'self-sacrificing' side."
Rodimus is most certainly not talking about himself. At least, what he says is deadpan enough that it could be a totally serious and not self-referential statement.
Then he hehs softly, and nods. "I, erm, I guess I did." He rubs the bavk of his head. "It's... there's no need for you to feel sorry. You've been... good to me, and the thought... the intent... that's helped. I'm... I'm glad you understand, though."
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Post by Mirage on May 22, 2011 23:26:47 GMT -5
"It does seem to be a pretty standard trait, doesn't it?" Mirage says when Rodimus talks about self-sacrifice. The knowing look the spy gives the Prime gives no doubt as to how Mirage took the comment.
"I understand your hesitancy even more now, yes. Certainly, dealing with the one ghost in your head was enough to make you wary of me, but having to deal with that as well...."
Mirage tilts his head slightly, and as he does so he catches sight of his hand where it continues to traces along Rodimus's arm. With a stifled sigh, the spy starts to pull his hand back.
"No, I should be sorry, because understanding the situation doesn't keep me from wishing it were otherwise. And apparently doesn't keep me from taking liberties you've made it clear before you didn't wish me to take."
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Post by Rodimus Prime on May 23, 2011 17:28:11 GMT -5
Rodimus shakes his head. "You can't help what you feel, any more than... probably less than I can help my situation, actually." He grins sheepishly. After all, every 'unwanted passenger' within the Matrix is the result of Rodimus's own actions, even if the alternative was let Unicron loose on his own universe, and the flaw was the result of his own anger.
Then he looks down, though still smiling, still sheepish. "I've... been considering your advice, though."
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Post by Mirage on May 23, 2011 18:49:17 GMT -5
No, Mirage can't help what he feels. Mirage is drawn to Rodimus as he has been to few others. It is a bit worrisome to the spy that he can't seem to shake off this infatuation.
He gives Rodimus a curious look. "My advice?"
He knows what advice Rodimus is referencing; however, Mirage has been disappointed too many times of late. He'll not get his hopes up with so little encouragement.
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Post by Rodimus Prime on May 23, 2011 20:54:42 GMT -5
Rodimus shrugs and slumps back in his chair. Not a 'depressed' slump, just another of his usual position shifts. He looks down at his hands, and his fingertips draw absentminded designs, circles and swirls, on the tabletop.
"About not... not keeping the ones I care about so distant."
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Post by Mirage on May 23, 2011 22:00:46 GMT -5
"Ah."
Mirage casts his optics downward, watching Rodimus's hands.
"I'm glad. You should not be so lonely as you are, Rodimus," Mirage says after a moment, "You deserve happiness as much, if not more, than any of us."
Again, a few moments pass, then Mirage suddenly reaches out to gently cup Rodimus's cheek and tilt Rodimus's head back up.
"Rodimus?"
There's hope in Mirage's expression- and a little fear. Mirage isn't sure he can take another refusal from the Prime. But he can't not chance it.
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Post by Rodimus Prime on May 23, 2011 23:04:17 GMT -5
Rodimus lifts his head as Mirage cups his cheek, and suddenly his optics are opened wide, very much a deer in the headlights look. He shifts uncomfortably, and attempts to move his head away, to look down, to the side, anywhere but right back at Mirage.
"Mirage, I... I still... I need time, and... and I'm not sure how Arcee'd... I mean..." he stumbles out.
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Post by Mirage on May 24, 2011 10:14:17 GMT -5
Mirage's head drops slightly and his optics half-shutter. There's an odd, sad sort of smile on his lips. It was too much to hope, of course, but it is ever his way to take the risk.
"Arcee. Of course. I forget, sometimes, that not everyone has the same openness about relationships as I." Even if that point has been brought home to him recently. "And besides, you have history with her, and with others. Of course your first efforts would be with one of them."
He looks up at Rodimus. Mirage's thumb traces over the Prime's jawline for a few seconds before his hand falls.
"I have made you uncomfortable with me. I am sorry."
"I will go if you wish."
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Post by Rodimus Prime on May 24, 2011 13:54:18 GMT -5
"That's... that's up to you," Rodimus says carefully. He still won't meet Mirage's gaze, though there is a very faint, sad smile pulling at his lips. "I still... still enjoy being around you even if... if we just stay friends, but that seems to... I don't want to hurt you any more than I have." And now he finally does look up.
"I... I don't even know where this is going, anyway. In my own reality, she picked someone else." He lifts his right hand to rub the back of his neck, tilting his head to the left as he does. "They picked each other." Partially because he stepped back, partially because... just because. "But this Springer doesn't seem to have much interest in her- or, well, anyone- like that." He snorts faintly, the smile turning a bit wry. "I've kind of got mixed feelings over that, I'm afraid."
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Post by Mirage on May 26, 2011 14:57:25 GMT -5
Mirage relaxes slightly when Rodimus does not tell him to leave. Rodimus... didn't quite ask Mirage to stay, either, but the Prime's attitude seems to indicate that desire. So, for now, Mirage will remain. Rodimus is his friend above all else.
"I'm not hurt, Rodimus. Saddened, yes, a touch regretful, yes, but it would be quite hypocritical of me to be upset because you follow where your emotions lead. You care for her, and you are no longer hiding it. I'm glad."
Mirage smirks. "Not that you were that good at hiding it before." He's teasing now, back on familiar and comfortable ground.
The Prime's admission garners a thoughtful glance from the spy. "This Springer's idea of a hot date would be spending the night in the armory alone, polishing all the weaponry."
"You were close friends with him- your Springer- were you not?"
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Post by Rodimus Prime on May 27, 2011 17:32:49 GMT -5
Rodimus smirks as Mirage accuses him of doing a poor job of hiding who he's fond of. He rubs the back of his head and sighs. "Yeah, and I need to change that. Wearing my emotional circuitry on my forearm armor just seems to cause problems."
He pauses at Mirage's question, then nods faintly. "We were, yeah. Though sometimes he was more a rival than anything else, but sometimes... sometimes not." Then Rodimus smirks. "And don't get me wrong, the Springer I knew wouldn't mind spending a night polishing weapons, either. He just wouldn't mind company for it, either." Rodimus pauses. "Although I think he'd rather see those weapons get used instead."
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