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Post by Perceptor on May 23, 2011 16:05:05 GMT -5
Perceptor listens patiently, finding himself wondering just how it is that communication can be so... confusing. He prefers science, with it's precise measurements and objective data. Interpersonal relationships, communication, all of it is all so terribly... subjective and so very messy.
When Mirage confesses to his loneliness, though, Perceptor leans closer, and tries to put his arm around the spy, to pull him closer, to comfort and simply be there. Part of him wishes that everyone could be as open with their affections as Mirage. There are so many individuals here whom Perceptor has become fond of, whom he wishes that he could gather together simply to comfort and share physical affection with. Mirage, Drift, Ultra Magnus, Swerve, even Xaaron at times. But none of them besides Mirage would submit to such a thing, or rather, none besides Mirage would share.
Perceptor spares a moment to consider that he has become... a very tactile mech since arriving here, it seems. And then he focuses upon Mirage again, to offer what comfort that he can.
"Words can be so messy, sometimes," is all he can think to say. "I will speak to Magnus, if you wish?"
Something occurs to Perceptor then. Something about Mirage's confession... "I don't understand what happened during that entire exchange. I truly don't. I do know that it has been years since I have wanted to do such violence as I wished to do after that argument."
"Mirage? It... Would you allow me to perform an in-depth scan of your core programming? It is an incredibly small likelihood, but... there is that small chance that I could offer you an explanation for your reaction." He never did, exactly, figure out when Shockwave had begun implementing that malicious bit of aggression coding, after all.
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Post by Mirage on May 23, 2011 19:10:47 GMT -5
Mirage never says no to cuddles!
He leans into Perceptor and sighs contentedly. The scientist's normally calm presence always makes Mirage feel relaxed. He never feels as if he has perform for Perceptor.
"Hm?" Mirage looks up at Perceptor, "I thought you did that after the incident with the Quintessons." He smiles, "Admittedly, I was rather out of it at the time. You certainly may, if you feel it necessary."
Though Perceptor won't find any errant code. What he will find is the base aggression coding that is a part of every Transformer of Mirage's Cybertron. Raw, instinctive code that was the building blocks of Shockwave's tampering, but is obviously intrinsic to Mirage's makeup.
"As for Magnus- I will deal with the situation in my own time. I... try not to force myself where I am not wanted."
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Post by Perceptor on May 23, 2011 19:34:14 GMT -5
Mirage should come hang out with Perceptor the next time the scientist is on the edge of a breakthrough on some project or another. "Calm presence" is not normally the adjectives used to describe him when he is like that.
"I did," Perceptor agrees. "However, I was looking for particular aberrations at that time. More recently, a concern from individuals from your specific reality has, ah, been detected. I doubt that you would be affected, however, I would rather be over-cautious, than not."
He shifts, turning to rest his chin upon the top of Mirage's head as he holds him closely. "I should drag you both to a room and mediate for you, honestly." There's the humor of amusement in his voice to indicate that he is joking. Although, if he thought it might work, he would actually do exactly that.
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Post by Mirage on May 23, 2011 22:18:46 GMT -5
"Xaaron tried that," Mirage says dryly, "The mediation, anyway."
He shakes his head minutely, careful not to disturb Perceptor's overmuch. "No, I'll not put you in the middle of it. He can hate me all he likes. It isn't as if I'm not used to the emotion."
Mirage's voice is tired, resigned. He is used to it. He just hates it.
Then the other items makes it through his processor. "Wait, what concern?"
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Post by Perceptor on May 24, 2011 11:27:59 GMT -5
"Xaaron," Perceptor replies just as dryly, "is a politician, and cannot truly master the art of looking pathetic and miserable until you both behave yourselves." Perceptor adopts a rather convincing moue - easy enough to just put himself back into the last few days of being miserable and alone and abandoned in his lab - before flashing Mirage a grin and tugging the spy back against him.
"You do not deserve hate, Mirage. It bothers me to know that you receive it."
He sighs and offers a small shrug. "Aggression coding," he replies softly. If it were not that Mirage were from the same reality, he would not feel comfortable even discussing this issue, ultimately Ultra Magnus' issue, with him. "Or rather... enhanced aggression coding. I have not yet determined when Shockwave made the alterations."
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Post by Mirage on May 26, 2011 14:45:54 GMT -5
When Perceptor mentions the enhanced aggression coding, Mirage pushes back enough to give the scientist a look that clearly reads "WTF?".
"Considering that I have never been in close quarters with Shockwave, I sincerely doubt you'll find anything amiss with me."
"But- are you saying that Magnus may not have been able to help himself? That his attitude and violence toward me are not necessarily of his own choosing?"
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Post by Perceptor on May 26, 2011 20:52:28 GMT -5
Perceptor sees that "WTF" and raises a quirked brow ridge and a solemn nod.
"As do I, however, it bears checking, just to be certain. Additionally... Some realities, I have been discovering, have inherent aggression issues inborn within base programming. There may be something of the sort upon which Shockwave based his tampering upon."
"However, yes. Magnus' reaction may have been heavily influenced, if not completely instigated by, the unwanted and illegal enhancements that were performed upon his base aggression coding. It... troubles him now, I think, to wonder what he truly thinks and feels, and what it is that Shockwave has instilled with his tampering."
So, yes, Mirage, it wasn't you, necessarily. Perceptor reaches down and grasps Mirage's hand to give it an gentle squeeze.
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Post by Mirage on May 26, 2011 22:17:27 GMT -5
"Ah."
Mirage disentangles from Perceptor and leans back against the wall. The reassuring squeeze from the scientist is returned, but the spy's thoughts are obviously elsewhere.
"That is not good. He is the type to take too much blame upon himself, I think. I wish...." Mirage shakes his head.
"You are helping him with it, I assume?"
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Post by Perceptor on Jun 8, 2011 19:28:19 GMT -5
Perceptor doesn't resist Mirage's withdrawal, and settles in beside the spy again, reclining back against the wall. "No, it is not. And yes, I agree; he is. But I am attempting to ferret out the code, to attempt to mitigate it."
"You wish... what, Mirage?" he asks softly.
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Post by Mirage on Jun 8, 2011 21:52:01 GMT -5
Mirage continues to stare across the room at nothing, but doesn't answer Perceptor- not immediately at any rate.
Eventually, he says softly, "I wish a lot of things. Not the least of which is that I had some say in who I felt drawn to, because it would certainly save me a lot of sparkache in the long run."
He shakes his head, "But no matter. Just take care of him, if he'll let you."
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Post by Perceptor on Jun 12, 2011 21:03:23 GMT -5
But who will take care of Mirage?
Perceptor frowns, wringing his hands together, wishing for... for a great many things, himself. Selfish, selfish scientist, to want more than he can grasp.
"I believe," he finally offers, "that is a fairly common complaint." Heart or spark, they are ever a complication, but one that makes them exactly who they are.
"Do not trivialize yourself, Mirage. Please. I only ask that."
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Post by Mirage on Jun 13, 2011 18:08:56 GMT -5
Mirage snorts. "My dear Perceptor, I am the most important mech in the universe and nothing about me is trivial. At least if you listen to other people's opinions, that is how I see myself."
He pats Perceptor's hand. "Don't worry your pretty little head over me. I'll be fine."
"But I should get back to my practice."
He's not dismissing Perceptor, not really, but if the scientist stays, Mirage's mask will eventually fully falter. The spy can't quite risk that with anyone yet.
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Post by Perceptor on Jun 17, 2011 14:43:19 GMT -5
If Mirage is attempting to soothe Perceptor's concerns away under that facade of devil-may-care flippancy, it's rather having the completely opposite effect. He's opening his mouth to object, in fact, when Mirage... makes his obvious retreat.
Mirage may not see it as a dismissal, but Perceptor certainly does.
"Oh. Ah, yes," he replies, stopping himself from reaching for Mirage's arm again. Rising from his seat, he hesitates for a moment. "Mirage? I..." Are we all right?
The words won't come, though. "If you have any more concerns about your cloaking device, please, come and see me."
--------
ooc: Out of the room unless Mirage stops him
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Post by Mirage on Jun 17, 2011 21:54:24 GMT -5
Mirage stands and answers Perceptor, "Of course," but does not actually stop the scientist from leaving.
The spy moves out into the room and resumes his practice, and if his movements are more forceful and emphatic than normal, there is no one to comment on it.
End Scene
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