red_diode_district | Everybody learns from *somebody*

Everybody learns from somebody

Passing the doors into the library, Megatron was pleased he had gotten the schedule correct as he saw who was sitting at the desk. If it had been completely necessary due to his own schedule, he'd have come here when he could. But since he didn't have to...

Ignoring the faint itch interfacing hadn't properly gotten rid off, Megatron approached the librarian at a lazy, casual walk. It was a pity he hadn't seen any signs at all that the surprisingly fine-lined truck-alted mech had the inclination he was looking for. Things would have been a lot easier (and, really, pleasing) if he had.

As it was, since there was no one left in the current arena circuit that he trusted with what he had to hand over, perhaps he would have to avail himself of one of the clubs. It made an irritable twitch slither down the treads on his shoulders, the thought that he'd have to do that.

It was ages since he'd had to go to an open venue like that to simply get his needs properly taken care of.

And he really would have preferred the librarian. Orion Pax - it hadn't taken anything to find out the designation when to found the schedule - was witty, somehow diplomatically argumentative and didn't give in if he knew he was right or wanted to stand for his opinion, actually had some smarts to go with said use of words and Megatron wanted to know more.

More, and more personally (most of the earlier he'd simply learned over the few times he'd been in the library when the mech was, but hadn't actually approached him). So this time, he decided to actually use the librarian's assistance in what he was looking for... and perhaps get something more out of it.

"Excuse me?"

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"Ah. Thank you for the...offer? I suppose it should be...helpful." He fought to keep a straight face and finally succeeded; even Orion could understand that it would probably be holo-porn, and coughed awkwardly.

"To be honest, he sounds like a terrible person to even be around, much less...trust with something like that." Orion huffed, frowning tightly. He wasn't entirely certain what else he could ask or say without treading even further on ground that was none of his business.

"It certainly seemed unpleasant, but it's hardly your fault I stumbled in on anything. And given what he was doing... I'm rather glad I did, if only to help break it up."

"I'll send it over." Megatron himself managed to keep a straight face as well, the issue partly being that he was offering porn in... well, educational purposes, and partly due to Orion's struggle to keep his expression straight.

And then he almost bristled at the implication that he might need the assist in defending himself. Almost, but... didn't. Because at that moment?

He had needed it, and Orion had further done it in a way that told of a certain mastery of the situation and himself - even if he didn't think so - that he probably hadn't been aware of. It hadn't been an interruption and breaking-up based on disgust, but honest worry and caring.

"As much as it... annoys me, I did need it." Megatron smiled, a short, sharp thing and rubbed the side of his helm. "Matches always drain you of energy, plus adds some, which sometimes makes it hard for me to keep out of a particular frame of mind." It was personal, yes, but he trusted Orion.

"And as for Maul... I met him in a location that made it easy to evaluate his... hm, particular skills in that area, but not much else." He wasn't going to say outright how, basically, charmed he'd been by the mech's particular skills as a dominant, even if it'd become quickly apparent other personality traits rendered those skills not just null and void, but dangerous for any submissive he might have.

Casually ignoring any further reference to the holoporn, Orion tilted his head as he absorbed Megatron's words, catching on to that bristling.

Yes, arena champion, saved by a tiny librarian. That would sting, wouldn't it?

"I certainly can't claim to know specifics, but I have no doubts that you could have physically defended yourself in a, ah, more normal situation? You really are quite good in the arena."

He wasn't sure he was up to asking for any further details on how Megatron had met Maul. It already sounded rather...private.

Maybe a little, in a normal context. But the situation hadn't been precisely normal.

"I have beaten Maul in the arena before, yes. Quite a few times." Megatron's smile was decidedly predatory before he took his cube from the table and drained the last of it, eyeing the faint shimmer on the bottom. "But yes, that wasn't... a normal situation that would lend itself to conventional defense, at least not in the frame of mind that I was."

He shook his helm and put the empty cube back on the table. Any further discussion should probably come when Orion had gotten a... slightly better idea of the specifics after getting some... education.

"And I'd explain what I mean, but it'd probably be easier if you... hm, educate yourself on the basics first, which I'm sure the library wiould assist with, beyond what I'm going to send over. I can elaborate later." Somehow, Megatron managed not to give Orion another shark-like grin and stood up, slowly stretching himself out despite the slightly limited space - he hadn't had the chance earlier.

Orion laughed out loud at the confession, taking a far more vicious pleasure than he probably should have out of the idea of Maul getting battered in the arena by the very mech he had pushed himself upon.

"Well. I can finally say I would like to attend one of your normal matches, so long as you are scheduled to fight him." His engine rumbled out a mock growl. He waved his empty cube.

"And yes, I will...give this the proper research it is due. Whatever that means," Orion finished with am amused snort.

Pausing right in the middle of stretching with his arms up over his helm, sparklight flickering, as Orion expressed his desire to see Maul getting a beatdown, Megatron stared for a moment and then laughed.

"I could probably have an invitation arranged for that, if it happens." Shrugging and walking up to the window in the sitting area, Megatron crossed his arms over his chest. He really did sort of want to just explain everything right now, but Orion wouldn't know what questions to ask, and Megatron wasn't actually good at teaching.

He could do a passable job if someone already knew the basics, but Orion didn't yet even know that, despite what he'd already told him.

"Trust me, it'll be easier if you know the basics, and you can absorb and categorise it at your own pace."

"I would thank you for the chance," Orion admitted, a part of himself entirely too pleased with the possibility of seeing the crude mech humbled.

Despite carefully shifting his gaze from Megatron to his empty cube under the gauze of chuckling, Orion had not missed the huge mech's stretching display. Even if he suddenly wished he had.

The shifting exposed both the strengths and vulnerabilities of the gladiator's frame; the power was obvious, pistons shifting effortlessly under massive armor plates, while simultaneously showing off the tiny gaps baring delicate cables and circuits that were surely protected viciously in combat.

Given their conversation topics over the past several moments, it was...distracting.

"Understandable. Like I said, I will properly research the subject, even if it is somewhat, ah, daunting. I am certainly capable of that much."

Giving Orion a sharp smile over his shoulder at the declaration he'd be pleased to get to see Maul being defeated, Megatron then turned fully around and snagged up Orion's cube.

"Would you like more?" He wouldn't say that he'd been surprised and sort of pleased when Orion had just handed one to him at the start - mostly because apparently he'd still been vaguely in that particular mindspace before, when there was no reason to interpret Orion's offer as anything but normal politeness.

It was a bit frustrating, actually, but at least, regardless of their discussion, he was firmly out of it now. It had simply stirred the pleasing feeling of being cared for, but that didn't belong here and now.

"I'd think so, yes. Being a librarian and all, since otherwise I'd wonder about your qualifications." Megatron said with a smirk, gently teasing as he picked up his own cube with Orion's, to put back or fill up depending on what the mech himself said.

"Yes, thank you," Orion said with an amused snort as his cube was snatched away. At least it would give him a moment to calm his racing fuel pump and rein in his field, which tended to flare when he got a bit too worked up.

"Hrmh. I should hope you'd have enough faith in my abilities by this point. It may be a rather awkward topic, but it is something that is more easily looked up and studied than discussed. I have no doubts about finding comprehensive data."

Orion crossed his arms over his chest in mock challenge, trying not to be miffed over some simple teasing.

And it'd been such a pleasant push against his own field, and it proved Orion was indeed not completely disgusted with the topic. Embarrassed, yes, but he didn't really expect anything less - he would have been exceedingly surprised if Orion had just turned around and taken it all in stride.

Which might be a rather telling prejudice and assumption of Orion's personality, but since he'd been right...

"I know you're quite skilled, yes," Megatron said, giving a teasing drawl to his tone while he shifted his shoulders to get rid of the slight tension from Orion's flared field. He filled up Orion's cube and, after casting a brief attention at his internal chronometer, merely put his own cube away, to be dispersed and re-solidified for next use.

He needed to move along briefly, even if he wouldn't have minded another cube and to sit and talk some more, whatever the topic they chose.

"But we all have our limits." Turning around with a smirk and a glow in his optics, Megatron wandered up to Orion and offered the full cube, unapologetically continuing his teasing.

Orion accepted the cube readily enough, oblivious to Megatron's pleased reaction to his field. It was something of an old shame of his; learning to control his spark-field had been a long trial, and involved a lot of embarrassment and irritation on the part of those around him when he was first sparked.

It certainly wasn't a source of pride, not yet; not matter how useful it was in a pinch.

"Thank you." Orion grinned as he sipped at the cube, pleased by the compliment even as he raised an optic ridge.

"Do you think I will not be able to find enough information?"

That sounded like a challenge to him.

Perhaps Orion would end up learning that it was nothing to be ashamed of... but for now it would remain as it was. Megatron shrugged and then leaned down over Orion, casually resting a hand on the back of seat.

"Oh, I don't know... you might not be up for it," Megatron whispered right into Orion's audial, smirk evident. "And, since it might have gotten lost in in today's events... regardless of what you find you like or don't about this... thing, if you're interested I would not say no to something. Simpler."

That said, Megatron angled his helm aside and kissed Orion, pushing against the smaller mech he'd basically trapped against the back of and in his seat by now... Though, compared to the firm, nipping kiss, Megatron's field was surprisingly... quiescient.

"Of course I am-" Orion started, taking the words and sudden proximity at face valve; as a challenge to his ability to find information. It was his function, of course he could find proper data, even on the seedier topics of the world! He almost didn't hear Megatron's proposal.

"...wait, what?" He ended up talking right into the kiss.

Orion nearly nipped Megatron's lips in turn before his jaw fell open in surprise. By then he was already properly pinned in place, Megatron's lips on his, with that entirely too calm and placid field completely at odds with what he expected from the gladiator.

"...Oh," he breathed out, only for it to end up sounding more like moan passed between them.

Chuckling into the kiss, Megatron was shamelessly amused at Orion's offense to his baiting - it was a challenge, yes, but it wasn't as if he actually mistrusted Orion not to be able to find the information he needed (but perhaps didn't want, at least for now).

In fact, Orion would probably end up knowing more theory than he had at the beginning when they next met.

And that opened mouth was much too perfect of an opportunity; he wouldn't be who he was or be a champion gladiator if he didn't take advantage of opportunities when they rose. Pushing in to play with Orion's tongue and chase up static electricity, Megatron wondered how far he'd be able to push to get Orion's field back out...

He might not have the time, however, but he could give it a few more moments, optics dimming while, compared to the rumble of his engine or the angle of the kiss, his field stayed where it was, a faintly charged brush against his own armour.

He hadn't thought much about that even before knowing what he did now, because he enjoyed the sensation.

Shocked he may have been, but Orion had always been fast on the uptake. His immediate reaction, even before the worry or self-conciousness could kick in, was-

Yes, good.

He reached up without thought, hands automatically going to Megatron's jaw to turn into the kiss. Kissing wasn't a terribly familiar past-time to Orion, but instinct and a sudden, heated want guided his frame. Tongue lapping cautiously, Orion shivered with the jolt of charge that passed between them, field flaring sharply for a single pulse before he ruthlessly suppressed it back down.

So quickly, and so delightfully.

Megatron couldn't supress the protoform-shiver at the flare, and it wormed out to his armour, making it twitch and his treads shift. He leaned down, helm tilting with Orion's hand on his jaw with no resistance at all.

::Don't do that.:: Gently chiding as Orion yanked his field back in. ::I don't mind, and it's a natural response from you. If we go further, I don't ever want you to supress those, or you at least ask me first, alright?:: Whatever and however this evolved, that was one thing Megatron would expect, no matter what.

Honest reactions, and, if Orion was uncertain if he'd want something, to ask him.

The hand he wasn't resting on the back of the chair he laid on Orion's knee, pressing down against the joint and rubbing the heel of his hand into it as he hummed into the kiss.

Despite the pleasure of the kiss, and the touch, the chiding made Orion wince.

::Don't do- you mean my field?:: Orion asked, shifting against Megatron in a sudden resurgence of embarrassment. He pulled back enough to break the kiss, meeting Megatron's gaze with optics flickering as they reset to the sudden change in proximity. Just as quickly, he looked away, chagrined at himself for letting it flare in the first place.

"Why not? It's far too...oppressive for that sort of thing."

He didn't try to keep Orion in place or force the kiss to continue, just gave Orion a serious stare, drumming his fingers on Orion's knee.

"Yes, I mean your field, and no. It's not. There's nothing wrong with a natural reaction, Orion. Just ask if you're uncertain... who told you it's oppressive anyway?" There was suddenly a slight, heavy rasp to Megatron's tone, and his field flared a little.

Because... well, all right, if someone had told him, he'd probably not do anything about it other than attempt to fic Orion's opinion and actions, but still. He was much too embarrassed and even downtrodden about it than what he needed to.

"I'm suprised you don't find it obnoxious as well."

Orion huffed out a sigh. He didn't particularly want to have this conversation, not with hands still held loosely around the back of Megatron's neck and the huge mech's fingers still tapping at his knee. That little flare of field made him perk up slightly.

"Hm. My caretakers, I suppose. I know my brother was somewhat bothered by it as well. I've learned to keep it...toned down."

If Orion ever used it during an argument, he'd find Megatron finding it quite obnoxious, but otherwise..? He refrained from pointing out why he wasn't finding it in the least obnoxious, but even without his preferences he wouldn't have denied Orion an honest reaction.

"Hardly. If you try to bludgeon me during an argument, then perhaps... And it seems your caretakers were a bit... careless." With a grunt, Megatron slowly and reluctantly straightened up. "Control is all well and good, but being embarrassed and considering it something bad isn't a positive, Orion."

Laying his hand on the wheel in Orion's shoulder and squeezing, Megatron frowned and shook his helm.

"Either way, I need to leave."

The librarian shrugged haplessly.

"I doubt I would need to, but I will certainly try to avoid it. I imagine that sort of thing is exactly what got me into trouble when I was young." Orion sighed, still glancing away- until Megatron's announcement, at least.

"Leave?" Orion repeats unhappily, before cutting off his vocalizer before he makes any more of a fool of himself than he has already. He nods, hands slipping from the larger mech's neck more quickly than strictly necessary.

"Leave, yes. I have an appointment to keep, unfortunately." Megatron eyed Orion and snatched up one of the passing hands before he could tuck them out of reach or against his chassis, squeezing the fingers.

"Which means this will have to be cut short, but I'm serious, Orion." He raised the hand he'd captured further, leaning down slightly to brush his lips over the metal. "Don't doubt that. And as for your field... If your caretakers weren't careful enough to make sure you knew when that sort of reaction was all right nor not, because it won't always be wrong, they were still careless."

Holding Orion's gaze, he dipped down again, mouthing along the back of the fingers before letting go and straightening up. Hopefully Orion wouldn't take it as a hit-and-run, because while he could have reiterated his interest at a later point, he didn't want it too 'contaminated' by the knowledge Orion now had and would further gain.

"...Ah. If you insist," Orion agreed, somewhat dazed by the attention. Dazed, flattered, and terribly charmed. It didn't mean he wasn't going to dive head-first into research the first moment he got a chance, of course; especially involving field harmonics as strong as his own.

He gave Megatron a firm nod, squeezing his fingers in return before the gladiator pulled away.

"Good luck with your appointment, Megatron."

"I do," Megatron said, and the smirk was undeniable, but at least it was absolutely sincere as he nodded. Orion seemed all right, and he both... looked forward to and perhaps was a tiny bit apprehensive about what Orion would think when he was done.

Of course, given what had been in evidence so far, next time he met Orion the mech might be bursting from the seams with concern for him or some other such unnecessary but admittedly sweet thing.

"Merely a medical check up." Pausing, he gave Orion another little grin and then turned to walk to the door as he continued to speak, waving one hand in the air dismissively. "Which I ran out of to have this discussion with you, but since I wasn't injured I didn't see the reason not to delay it. I'll give you a mega-cycle for your research." With that, a nod and a little flick of his raised hand, Megatron left.

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Everybody learns from somebody

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