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Post by Mirage on May 27, 2011 23:24:08 GMT -5
Mirage smiles slightly when Rodimus bemoans his transparent emotions. He reaches out to try and gently clasp the Prime's hand. "You're still young, no matter what you've been through or done. It takes time to learn to balance such things. Also, your nature doesn't lend itself well to keeping such things hidden." Mirage's brow furrows a bit. "Actually, as I understand it you are quite young* depending on how one looks at things. On some levels, you are quite mature, yet on others...," he trails of and shrugs one shoulder.
"At any rate, you shouldn't berate yourself for the transparency. What's done is done."
The spy tilts his head a bit to the side as he listens to Rodimus talk about Springer. "If this one were more like yours, and he were interested in Arcee, that would allow you an excuse to step back and thereby keep her safe from being used against you. However, if that was the case, you would also have to deal more fully with your own attraction to Springer."
"As it stands now, you are more or less free from the complication of a triad. Yet, I think you might enjoy such a complication, perhaps wish for it."
"Am I wrong?"
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Post by Rodimus Prime on May 30, 2011 13:19:17 GMT -5
"I'm not that young!" Rodimus protests, as the young often are. He falls quiet, however, when Mirage summarizes his feelings concerning Arcee and Springer rather well. He looks down at the table, an embarrassed little smile on his face, the transparency he was berating himself over not moments ago returning quickly."
"Well. Maybe a little," he admits sheepishly. Then the smile fades. "But I... I shouldn't, anyway. I've got... more responsibilities now, I don't have the sort of time that Ho- that I used to have as Hot Rod."
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Post by Mirage on Jun 1, 2011 0:27:27 GMT -5
Mirage smiles and gives Rodimus's hand a squeeze at the Prime protests. When Rodimus starts backpedaling however, the spy adopts an obviously mock stern expression.
"Now don't start that again, Rodimus," Mirage says, "We've already established that you are more than entitled to indulging in whatever relationships you wish. Don't make me get stern with you." He winks, but his expression quickly turns thoughtful.
"Rodimus, sometimes you refer to Hot Rod as your past self, other times as a separate person. Which is it?"
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Jun 6, 2011 15:40:21 GMT -5
"Oh, the last thing I'd want is for you to be stern," Rodimus answers, tone serious but contrasted by the impish grin on his face. At Mirage's question, however, the grin fades into faint confusion. "I'm H- well, I mean.." he trails off, then he frowns and leans back in his seat.
"Well, both, really," he finally answers. "I am what the Matrix made out of Hot Rod."
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Post by Mirage on Jun 6, 2011 19:19:45 GMT -5
Mirage deliberately lets that likely unintentional flirtation go by without comment. It's terribly difficult for the spy to do so, but he manages.
He purses his lips and looks thoughtful for several moments after Rodimus's answer, then nods. Mirage leans one elbow on the table and rests his chin on the back of his hand.
"That makes sense, to me at least. I was not at Optimus's ascension, but I do know that Optimus Prime, while bearing some resemblance to Optronix, is not really that individual anymore. Bearing, attitude, presence- they all changed as well. Come to think of it, Optronix looked rather like the Optimus we have aboard ship now."
"I don't recall him shifting between past and present designations as you do. But it isn't as if I knew him well."
Mirage pauses, then asks, "Do you regret it?"
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Jun 6, 2011 22:47:19 GMT -5
The flirtation was very unintentional, and so Rodimus would likely be surprised if Mirage had responded.
"My Optimus didn't change that much," Rodimus says with certainty, despite the fact that Optimus had crashed on Earth before Hot Rod had even been built, never mind when Optimus got the Matrix. "He wasn't unchanged. You don't carry the Matrix, especially not as long as he did, and stay unchanged, but he wasn't reformatted to the level I was." He shrugs.
Then he tilts his head and runs his fingertips over the table as he considers Mirage's question. "Maybe sometimes," he admits, "but mostly not. I regret some of the things I've done since more." Like break the Matrix. He regrets that lots. "It was the right thing to do. I didn't know what I was getting into, but now that I do, if I had it to do again, I would."
He frowns down at the table and shakes his head. "I... I resent it more than I regret it. It was the right thing to do, but I resent being put in a position where the right thing to do was to... to give up who I was. I don't think I was Primus's only plan, I... doubt he was the sort to keep all his circuit paths on one board. I may not have even been Plan A. But I was a plan." After all, there were prophesies about it. "He sets us up to carry the universe on our backs."
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Post by Mirage on Jun 7, 2011 23:53:27 GMT -5
Mirage slips from his chair and kneels next to the Prime's, wrapping his arms around Rodimus as he does so and hugging him tightly. Perhaps it is inappropriate, given their previous discussion, but Mirage has never been one to care about propriety when someone he cares for is hurting.
He leans his cheek against Rodimus's chest. "Resentment is understandable, expected I would think. Though I am unsure if you gave up all of Hot Rod with the change. Your faith and care for your friends and loves obviously carried over." Mirage smiles slightly, "And as I understand it, your recklessnes and rakish good looks."
"I am not a religious mechanism, really, though perhaps I am more so now than I was upon my arrival on Gillanan." He tilts his head up so that he can look up at Rodimus, "Partially your fault, that. But I... am not inclined to look favorably upon a god who would create a race for the express purpose of using them as cannon fodder."
OOC: touching w/ permission
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Jun 8, 2011 11:54:51 GMT -5
Rodimus does not pull away from the hug, though he accepts it more as a comforting gesture from a friend than anything deeper. A faint smirk and a slight nod show his agreement with Mirage's observation about his 'rakish good looks.' Sure. Rodimus can agree with that, even if the Matrix gave him wrinkles and more junk in the trunk.
At the spy's last observation, however, he lifts his right hand and slips it behind his neck, looking almost embarrassed. "The thing is, I still don't see myself as very religious. It's... the stuff I talk about, it's real, almost solid for me. Not believing would be like not believing in the table," he gestures towards the conference table. "It doesn't take religious faith. But..." he shrugs. "I guess in the end, it doesn't matter anyway. Whether this stuff was arranged or not, things are like they are, and I'm just going to keep dealing with them the best that I can."
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Post by Mirage on Jun 8, 2011 21:35:55 GMT -5
A comforting gesture from a friend is exactly how Mirage intended the hug, so all is well and good in the world.
Well. At least in his and Rodimus's relationship.
Mirage gives Rodimus one last squeeze of reassurance, then returns to his seat. "I can respect that, " he says, quirking a smile, "I don't understand it, but I respect it."
"Ah, but we always turn to such heavy topics when we talk. You mentioned Arcee- you and she are reaching an understanding of sorts?"
Of course, that topic isn't likely to make Rodimus feel any less uncomfortable.
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Jun 9, 2011 7:12:15 GMT -5
Still uncomfortable, but Rodimus's embarrassed smile suggests that it's still a more pleasant enough one for him. He rubs the back of his head. "Yeah. Well... more or less. It just sort of happened. We didn't actually talk about it."
When it comes to Arcee, Rodimus has always been more of a 'things happen' over 'talk about things happening' sort.
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Post by Mirage on Jun 10, 2011 22:05:33 GMT -5
Mirage quirks a browridge, then chuckles, "Sometimes 'just happened' is the best description for such things." Mirage and Skyblast's relationship certainly could fall under that umbrella.
"You just need to decide how much you want to rely on 'just happened' or if you want to pursue it a bit more in earnest."
He smirks, "Though based on how you seem to feel about her, I think that is already decided- once you deal with the other internal concerns."
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Jun 10, 2011 22:33:45 GMT -5
Only a faint shadow flickers across Rodimus's features as Mirage mentions 'internal concerns,' not even strong enough to dampen the embarrassed smile. He lowers his hand to the table and lightly taps it with the palms of his hand.
"I suppose so, but I think I'll stick with 'just happening' for awhile. I mean, it always worked for me before!" he finishes with a shrug.
Of course, one of these days he should probably actually sit down and ask Arcee how much other 'Just Happening' she tolerates.
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Post by Mirage on Jun 11, 2011 10:59:21 GMT -5
This time Mirage out and out laughs. "You are such a conundrum. At times you seem older than the stars, and others, young as a new build. Knowing the reason for it doesn't stop it being a puzzle." He give Rodimus another long, appreciative look. "And I do so enjoy a lovely puzzle."
"But seriously, in my experience, people with true interest in each other soon grow tired of leaving things to chance. If you really do want her, you should tell her, and let her decide from there. After all, just because Springer doesn't seem interested now, doesn't mean he won't be later, especially if there's attraction on both sides. You may be perfectly willing to share, but...," Mirage spreads his hands
"Not everyone is. A fact I've had made plain to me recently," Mirage finishes, a touch of something like regret in his expression.
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Jun 12, 2011 0:37:44 GMT -5
Rodimus sighs. "I'll talk to her. But later. I'd rather take it slow for now. Let things develop, you know? I'm still getting used to the idea of this... of us being, well, you know, attached like that again myself." He frowns for a moment as he tries to puzzle out his own feelings. The truth is, he doesn't actually want to keep her from Springer, either, but that's all mixed up in the awkward feelings he has for his own Springer.
The frown remains but changes in nature at Mirage's last comment. "Something wrong, Mirage?"
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Post by Mirage on Jun 12, 2011 19:49:09 GMT -5
"Hmmm, no not really," Mirage replies, waving off the Prime's concerns, "I've simply been learning lately that my views about open relationships seem to be the exception, rather than the norm. It's odd for me, because it has never been an issue for me before."
He shrugs one shoulder, "It isn't as if I don't have amicable lovers here, but...." again, a shadow of regret, or perhaps sadness falls over Mirage's face," I know it likely sounds terribly greedy and arrogant."
"I'm actually quite particular about my long-term partners, Rodimus, and I have to be truly drawn to someone to consider it. I'm... not used to being turned down as much as I have of late."
Mirage smirks and shrugs again, "I will soldier on gallently, however"
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