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Post by Mirage on Mar 25, 2012 12:49:40 GMT -5
IM7W4D2-MLP3 set, semi-private. Presence of Nimbus mentioned w/ permission.
Shahar would probably be pleased to know that her visit has the desired effect of making Addison feel terrible about the situation with Skyblast. Addison still feels like he did the correct thing, the safest thing for Skyblast, but Shahar's comments on Skyblast's sadness continue to rattle about in Addison's head and tear at his heart. She gave him Skyblast's first name, and Addison knows Shahar's last. It is enough to go on. Certainly, Mirage has followed less of a trail before.
It takes him longer than it should. A few days to eliminate possibilities, and more to determine if he should really do this. But Addison Payne is ever led by his heart, and his heart tells him he should find the skypainter.
He looks up, regarding the slight painter on the scaffolding for several moments before speaking. "Good day to you. I understand you are responsible for some of the more impressive works on set. I wonder if you have ever done murals, and if so, would you be interested in a private commission?"
Addison reaches up and props his left hand on the scaffolding, exposing his wrist. On that wrist is an elaborately braided leather band made of blue, white, and grey strands, and worked into the center of the band is a familiar ring.
His knuckles are white as he grips the scaffolding. "I have some time at the moment, if you would like to discuss the matter." The expression on Addison's face is pleading, almost beggi
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Nimbus Tsura
Major
Secretary to Mr. Breakaway
Sky-Painter Extraordinaire
Posts: 735
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Post by Nimbus Tsura on Mar 25, 2012 14:28:27 GMT -5
"I'm working," Nimbus starts to say curtly. He has to get this done, because he can be fired for any reason, which means that he can't afford to talk to passers by when he is working.
Then his supervisor catches his eyes and makes a jerky gesture. Nimbus whips his head around and looks coolly at the speaker. Ah, the Royal Payne, he thinks first, how lovely. So he'll have to speak with him, because the stars must be humoured lest they throw a hissy fit, and he'll be docked an hour's pay at least, and he'll have to stay late finishing what he was doing, meaning that he'll miss his ride with Rodney, meaning that he will have to take the bus home today, which will likely be packed full. He nods to his supervisor and dismounts the scaffold with an acrobatic flip. Nimbus lands lightly on his feet and bows elegantly to the star. His movements are just a bit too fluid to be human, and Nimbus does not care, right now.
His second thought is that this is Mirage - he should not be so uncharitable in his thoughts. His third thought is that Mirage is a race car. This is just a human, and Skyblast has never liked humans much, and neither does Nimbus.
His eyes rove over that bracelet. The tabloids have speculated so much about Mr. Payne and Mr. Pryor. Nimbus still does not understand all of the symbolism of rings, but perhaps as a part of their cover, Rodney has proposed. Good for him.
A fourth thought is that this is a spectacularly beautiful human. Nimbus has never really looked at him before, and now he wonders if perhaps there is hope for the species. Drawing on his showman's skills, he tenders, "Apologies for my earlier rudeness, sir. I was unaware of your identity. I am, of course, at your disposal, sir, but I cannot say that I have ever attempted a mural."
Nimbus does not mean it as he says it, but as soon as it is said, he finds himself meaning it. He blinks uncertainly.
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Post by Mirage on Mar 25, 2012 14:58:32 GMT -5
Nimbus needn't worry over loss of pay or job. Addison will see that the painter loses nothing material due to this encounter. Even if Nimbus must stay late, he needn't take the bus; Addison perhaps ought not to drive Nimbus home himself, but he can send the painter home via driver.
It takes a great deal of effort not to embrace Nimbus, to touch him, hold him. Addison-Mirage has missed the graceful little jet so badly, a feeling made sharper by both being once more in Skyblast's vicinity and by the cool reception given Addison.
Should Nimbus pay close enough attention, he'll see that it isn't just "a" ring worked into the band. It's identical the ring on Nimbus's finger and to that worn by the painter's wife.
"No apologies are necessary. It is I who is interrupting your day for personal reasons, and I understand that said interruption may be rather unwelcome. However, I think your skills make you uniquely suited to the decorating task I wish to undertake."
Addison looks over at the supervisor. "Don't worry about your income. You'll lose nothing for this interruption, not even your lunch hour." The supervisor's lips draw down in a frown, but he nods minutely in understanding.
"We're not far from my trailer, and I've sketches and swatches on my laptop for consideration," Addison smiles his trademarked dazzling smile, "Admittedly, I've no skill with a pencil, so my efforts with a stylus are certain to horrify you."
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Nimbus Tsura
Major
Secretary to Mr. Breakaway
Sky-Painter Extraordinaire
Posts: 735
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Post by Nimbus Tsura on Mar 25, 2012 18:22:13 GMT -5
Nimbus wears an aerospace grade titanium ring with a circuitry pattern on it. He is not yet aware that there is anything particularly unusual about it. Certainly, he has seen more gold rings than titanium ones, but he can't make the mental link there that Addison's being the same model as his means anything.
Feeling somewhat off-balance, Nimbus assures, "I do not think anything you could do would horrify me, sir," and again, he finds himself meaning it. Nimbus almost feels drunk, though pleasantly, almost floaty, or like he's sitting in the backseat while someone else pilots his body. He'll follow Addison to his trailer eagerly, without protest or complaint.
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Post by Mirage on Mar 25, 2012 20:17:40 GMT -5
Addison's expression turns a shade concerned at the way Nimbus responds, but the model stifles the reaction for now. Addison is oddly quiet as they make the trip to his trailer, though, and it isn't until he closes the door behind Nimbus that the model speaks anything of consequence.
"I....Skyblast, I have missed you."
He can't stop himself any longer. Addison bundles the painter into his arms, holding him tightly, face buried against Nimbus's neck. If Nimbus feels moisture against his skin, it is better not to speak of it.
"As much as I am loathe to speak of it," he murmurs after a moment, "If you feel an odd desire to please me, it is likely falsely induced. I seem to be descended from a creature with such an ability. It is not something I can turn off."
Might as well get that out now. Addison wants honest conversation tonight. Skyblast loves him, or did, and how might this... ability of Addison's affect such an emotion?
OOC: snuggles with permission
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Nimbus Tsura
Major
Secretary to Mr. Breakaway
Sky-Painter Extraordinaire
Posts: 735
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Post by Nimbus Tsura on Mar 25, 2012 21:44:24 GMT -5
Nimbus listens, and his hands search for pieces of Mirage that Addison doesn't have. What a wonderful, incredible creature this human is!
Falsely induced desire? That's why Nimbus feels off, then? Still, what he says is, "I should have gone looking for you," and he sounds abashed.
For now, Nimbus means it.
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Post by Mirage on Mar 25, 2012 22:32:56 GMT -5
Nimbus may mean the words, but nice as the words are, they tug at his heart. Skyblast would be very unlikely to say such a thing. For one, the jet is almost as proud in his own way as Mirage. For another, Skyblast can barely voice his caring for Mirage on a good day.
Reluctantly untangling himself from Nimbus, Addison steps back. He tries to stroke his hand through Nimbus's hair, then gestures toward a sitting area with both a loveseat and a chair. There's a few feet between the two pieces of furniture, and Addison will sit upon which ever one that Nimbus does not choose. Kate did not seem to be affected until she was within touching distance. If that holds, maybe Addison and Nimbus can have that honest conversation.
"I was told you were trying to maintain a low profile. As a spy, I understand what that entails, and so didn't want to call undue attention to you by association with myself. It has... been recently pointed out to me that I may have done you a disservice, though I had the best of intentions."
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Nimbus Tsura
Major
Secretary to Mr. Breakaway
Sky-Painter Extraordinaire
Posts: 735
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Post by Nimbus Tsura on Mar 25, 2012 22:43:38 GMT -5
Nimbus sits on the loveseat, clearly leaving room for Addison. When Addison instead takes the chair, Nimbus looks less than thrilled. He explains, "Mr. Pryor told me that you didn't want to see me or even hear about me, so I assumed that you had lost interest in me, and I didn't want to bother you." Skyblast is aloof. He would like to think he can tell when someone else is signalling lack of interest. "I love you. Why would I then try to see someone who so obviously doesn't want to be seen by me?"
He licks his lips and breathes, "But you're so magnificent to see."
Nimbus takes a moment to collect himself, looks at the bracelet, and asks, "Are you marrying Mr. Pryor, then? As a part of your cover?"
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Post by Mirage on Mar 25, 2012 23:13:42 GMT -5
Addison starts a bit when Nimbus looks at him like that and has to shift a bit in his seat. The model leans forward, elbows propped on his knees, forehead cradled in his hands. "Not enough distance, apparently," he groans before looking up and hastily following the words with, "Not that I want to be apart from you. I want nothing more than to take you to bed and.... But I don't want to take unfair advantage because of what this human body can make you feel."
He runs his fingers through his dark hair. "For Primus's sake, it made Kup want to bed me, and he likes me not at all. What it might do to someone who does want me...." He has some evidence of that in Rodney, who is at least attracted to Addison, but there has never been between Mirage and Rodimus what there is between Mirage and Skyblast.
"Skyblast, I love you as well. I'm not going to grow bored with you," Addison can't quite keep a bit of Mirage's exasperation out of his words, "Your interest in me is much more likely to wane before my interest in you does."
"As for this," Addison fingers the bracelet which he has taken to wearing only recently, "No it is not from Rodney. He could not even pretend to so much caring, even if things called for it." He starts to speak again, then finally gets up and moves to kneel in front of Skyblast. If allowed, Addison will take Nimbus's left hand in his and place it alongside the bracelet.
"Do you understand the meaning of matching rings like this to humans?"
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Nimbus Tsura
Major
Secretary to Mr. Breakaway
Sky-Painter Extraordinaire
Posts: 735
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Post by Nimbus Tsura on Mar 25, 2012 23:28:58 GMT -5
Nimbus looks stricken by the tableau of Addison with his head in his hands, but he cannot help but ask, "What if I'd like to be taken advantage of?"
If Addison knew Nimbus better, he'd know that's a very uncharacteristic thing for Nimbus to ask. The concept of human coupling repulses Nimbus.
"You sure acted like you had rejected me," Nimbus admits, "The Mirage I knew was stubborn to the point of defiance. If he wanted to see someone, he would see him, come Decepticon assault or AllSpark, abilities or no abilities. You're in every rag sheet with Mr. Pryor. What was I supposed to think? How could I risk annoying you? It's... you say one thing and do another." Nimbus looks guilty to say as much.
He's trying to hold onto his uncertainty. He's trying to hold on to his resolution to let Mirage go do... whatever it is Mirage is doing and just swear off romance for a while, but Addison is making this so hard!
"Uhm, Shahar has explained some of it. She and I both wear rings on this finger," he points his out, "because we're married." He looks embarrassed and ashamed at that admission. "I don't know what wearing a ring on a bracelet means."
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Post by Mirage on Mar 26, 2012 7:51:20 GMT -5
Addison looks down at the rings instead of up at Nimbus as the other man speaks, because Addison Payne is an actor, but he is not as good at keeping his true emotions from showing on his face.
"You could trust my word," Addison says stiffly, sounding very much like Mirage as he does so, "If I didn't want to see you, I would have told Rodney to keep my identity secret from you."
He tries to place a kiss on Nimbus's wrist before standing and returning to his seat. If allowed, Addison will just barely brush his fingertips across Nimbus's cheek before moving away.
He settles back into the chair and leans back. "A drink would taste fantastic right about now, but would be a terrible idea," he murmurs, eyes cast toward the ceiling. He again focuses his attentions on Nimbus.
"I know you're married to Oracle. She tracked me down because she was worried about you. She, like you, seemed to think I was treating you terribly," he says bitterly. That isn't quite how she phrased it, but that is the takeaway Addison got from the discussion. "She gave me this," he indicates the ring, "Asked that I wear it for you, and for her. It took me some time to come upon a way to do so that would not make the meaning obvious." Wearing it still makes a visceral part of him twitch, but he doesn't say that. He doesn't wear it all the time, either.
"And now I don't know what to do. To be your lover now would possibly mean intimacy on a level which makes you uncomfortable." Human sex is messy, regardless of how intimate one actually gets with another, and Addison is pretty sure Nimbus wouldn't be keen on the idea if not influenced by the Magic Sexy Field. "The idea that I might be taking advantage of anyone, especially someone I care about so much, sickens me."
"There there is the issue that you seem to be jealous of my apparent relationship with Rodney."
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Nimbus Tsura
Major
Secretary to Mr. Breakaway
Sky-Painter Extraordinaire
Posts: 735
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Post by Nimbus Tsura on Mar 26, 2012 11:05:29 GMT -5
"Words don't mean anything unless backed up by actions," Nimbus argues, and that is something he will always mean. His wrist and his cheek itch where Addison touches him, and he looks visibly unsatisfied, perhaps in ways he does not quite understand at the moment. Then he looks confused, and he asks, "If you're thirsty, why don't you have a drink? I won't mind."
He stares bleakly as Addison explains what Shahar has done, his hands gripping the edges of the loveseat so tightly that they turn white. At the end, he raises one shaking finger and corrects, "I happen to owe her, but she was completely out of line there. I, ah..."
He looks down at his hand and fishes the ring off his finger. Nimbus sets it down on the other cushion of the loveseat, and he moves to wander off, clearly intent on leaving the trailer. Again, Nimbus may owe her, but his love life is solely his own business, thanks, and it would appear that is something he needs to make clear to her.
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Post by Mirage on Mar 26, 2012 19:35:29 GMT -5
Nimbus's so very deliberate removal of the ring startles Addison greatly, so much so that Nimbus may well be near the trailer door before Addison can react. Still, the model is up and moving toward Nimbus fairly quickly.
"Skyblast, please... don't go yet. Please."
Addison stops just shy of arms reach from the painter, hand outstretched but not touching. Addison might well do damage to himself if this thing of his persuaded Nimbus to stay when the painter doesn't wish to.
"Please," Addison repeats plaintively.
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Nimbus Tsura
Major
Secretary to Mr. Breakaway
Sky-Painter Extraordinaire
Posts: 735
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Post by Nimbus Tsura on Mar 26, 2012 19:53:25 GMT -5
Nimbus does not move like a human being. When humans are watching him, he does, but he doesn't move like that now. He pauses at the door. His bones feel too heavy when Addison tells him not to go, and he stops. Nimbus leans against the door, stretching himself out.
He says quietly, his voice tight with throttled anger, "It was none of her business. My love life is no one's business but my own. If you wanted to find me, you would have. She shouldn't have guilted you into it."
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Post by Mirage on Mar 26, 2012 20:55:21 GMT -5
Addison feels a sharp pang of longing as he watches Nimbus move. It is the way Skyblast moved, and drives home to Addison just how much he misses the skypainter.
Nimbus's words hit Addison like a slap. "Guilted? No... she didn't." But didn't she? "I wanted to see you! Skyblast, I'm not letting Rodimus tell me about hardly anyone because I am too public a figure! I am not what I was, don't have the skills I had. I just have a- a lot of money and glamour! How can I keep you- keep anyone- safe with just that?"
"You were... you were the first person I asked about. First of the very few...."
Addison feels shattered, and his expression shows it where Mirage's never would. Unbidden, it comes to him that he understands Shahar's insistence on the rings now, because watching Nimbus remove his tore at Addison's heart.
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