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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"Of course, of course," Orion laughed.

His determined stride through the twisting halls of the barracks and armories of the arena slowed somewhat; enough that he could still hold something resembling a proper conversation while still applying subtle arm pressure.

"Well. While the previous arcs take a certain...liberty with the history of the area and the First Forged alike, the symbolism of Helix is still presented quite well." Orion glanced back, giving Megatron a rueful grin. He could go on about the literary tropes and classical interpretations of the historic gardens all day, but he did not want to bore the mech.

He knew Megatron was quite clever, but he didn't imagine that his interests could lie in the area of literary and visual media analysis.

"And besides. The story and characters are really compelling. I'm dying to find out what happens with Solder, Flux, and the unnamed Prime-Consort."

As Orion would... soon, find out, Megatron dipped his fingers, processor and nasal ridge in nearly anything that might be interesting or of use to understand their world and themselves. For now however, he tilted his helm and pursed his lips thoughtfully, keeping his tone teasing as they stepped out of the arena.

If they'd exited from the audience entrances and exit, they'd have been on a level where the fading sunlight of the two suns would've painted everything in burnished bronze; right now they were a level below that, however, and while the artifical lighting down here was set to the same shade, it wasn't quite the same.

"I see. I hope you aren't choosing this because it might be easier to follow and interesting regardless of education?" He was just yanking Orion's wires now, but the thought of giving him a proper surprise of what he did know entertained him.

"Easier to follow?" Orion paused in his trek within sight of the exit archway, giving Megatron a bemused glance.

"I chose this because I dearly want to see it, and it is something that I hope we will both enjoy."

He frowned, thoughtfully. "Though I admit, there are others I want to see as well, that I have not suggested because I doubted you would enjoy them."

Orion always tried to err on the side of honesty within a relationship, even if the answers might not be to anyone's liking.

"You might be surprised." Giving Orion a dry smile, Megatron shook his helm and got them moving again. "Either way, I hope you won't be disappointed... and we might want to take this route to the hall; it should cut down on travel time despite the fact that we'll mostly be walking."

Pinging Orion with the route he'd mapped, Megatron pointed a hand down to indicate the way they should start off first to follow the fuller instructions. It was merelt practicality; Orion could gain quite respectable speed, but Megatron was a tank, and tanks usually weren't overly fast.

He wasn't recharge-inducingly slow, either, but his top speed was mostly useful on straight runs because maneuverability wasn't one of his strong points in altmode. Hence they'd be walking, which they'd usually done so far, unless they didn't have a time to match and could take the time.

"Oh?" Orion reset his optics in surprise, before grinning.

"Perhaps I would be, but I can assure you, it would be a welcome surprise. I just generally try to avoid assuming people will automatically enjoy my interests."

He laughed, even as he automatically adjusted his path to the indicated route.

"Is there anything else you would like to see, sometime?"

"There was a few things that might be interesting, but I'll make a decision after I've seen this one." Truth to be told, he'd never actually seen a performance like this; he'd read the script to several of them, both for the insight into cultural movements other than the gladiator games and because sometimes there were details that were true.

But he'd never actually been to a live performance and seen the script actualised, which might or might not suit him. He could analyse the script, the way it had been written, what the themes were... but a perfomance added another layer.

"I believe we've already talked about the regional history museum at some point..." Pausing, Megatron hummed softly, glancing off down a more darkened street thoughtfully. "What do you think about spelunking? Depending on how deep you go, you can learn a lot about the city..."

Orion laughed. "I meant shows or plays, but that works as well."

He shrugged, casual. "I can recommend others, after we see this one."

Walking on for a few moments silently, Orion rubbed at his chin, audials twitching with some slight anxiousness.

"I definitely want to go to this museum, but spelunking? I've never even considered it before. It sounds rather...intensive."

And dangerous. And possibly more than his smaller frame could handle, but he's not going to suggest that out-loud.

"Ah. Well, I'm not sure how this will translate, so you'll have to wait for my verdict if I'd be interested in others... and even if I'm not, I'd go if there's something you'd want to see." Looking down at Orion when he hesitated, Megatron laughed and squeezed their joined hands.

"There's always a chance for new things, and you might see things you wouldn't find in museums..." As in, things that might deliberatedly have been left behind or kept where it was because it wasn't 'supposed' to be seen.

"Besides, you need to get out more." An unrepentant smirk flashed over Megatron's faceplates, his optics flaring bright.

Orion managed a somewhat wry smile, returning the squeeze at the mention of Megatron accompanying him even if it was not to his tastes.

How could Orion do any less? He could at least try the spelunking idea...

"...I suppose I could give it a try. If you enjoy it." Orion allowed, biting his lip.

"Have you done it often? Is it safe?"

"Depending on how deep you go, safe enough," Megatron said with a shrug, optics dimming in thought. "It was merely by accident the first time, but I enjoy the thought of exploring where others may not have walked in a long while, and finding things that have been... forgotten." Lips twisting in a dry smile, Megatron would still think it was only partly because there was no reason for anyone to go that far down anymore.

"I think you might enjoy finding out what your frame can do, and not in a combat situation. Some locations do require some imaginative maneuvering, after all." It would also let him see how far Orion could go, or might be willing to push himself, and to tailor actual combat ('self-defense', he'd probably coin it) training for the mech.

"So...it is basically vertical exploration?" Orion chuckled, even as his processor whirled.

"I don't know if I could manage much myself, but that...honestly sounds fascinating."

He continued walking on with a shared hand squeeze, but his pace was slower now that he was distracted, optics constantly flicking over toward Megatron in obvious interest.

"Have you found anything interesting before? Anything forgotten?"

"Don't sell yourself short, Orion." Megatron shook his helm and, as Orion slackened in interest, sped up to compensate, pulling the mech along. Orion would, after all, be quietly upset and attempted-stoically accepting if they missed anything of the performance.

"You'll probably be surprised. And it is interesting, if only to see the layers left behind and not in use any more... Even if it might require some inventiveness to pass 'security' measures put in place after a certain depth." Snorting, Megatron glanced back at Orion with a smile. "And yes... hints of what seems to be an alien invasion at some point... which I haven't been able to match up to any point in time, as there seems to be a lack of sources."

Whether that was because it was too far back, or because of a wilful destruction of said sources for some reason, he didn't know.

Orion came to a dead halt when the magic words 'alien invasion' come out of Megatron's vocalizer. He stumbled forward several steps when Megatron's weight caught up to his arm, and he quickly started back up again with an excited hand squeeze.

"Really? We've only read of barest hints of something like that, in the oldest, most restricted archives-!"

He wasn't even watching the path any more, optics bright with feverish excitement as he stared up at the larger mech; relying on their joined hands and Megatron's path to lead the way.

"I need to see this sometime!"

"So there is something mentioning that somewhere..." But Orion's comment about 'barest hints' and where those hints had been located explained why he'd never been able to find anything about it.

With a huff that was partly annoyance (and some suspiciousness) over that and amusement at Orion's reaction, Megatron gave a squeeze back and kept them moving.

"If it's possible, I'd like to see those hints in some way." Whether by Orion merely repeating what he'd seen or with actual copies, Megatron didn't care.

"And getting back there won't be an issue..." he paused to glance back at Orion, an upper optic ridge arching a little. "At least insofar as I can certainly find the level, and I've got faith in your ability." He couldn't help the smirk, but it was true; getting there would require some climbing and similar maneuvering.

"Ah yes," Orion said abruptly, looking rather abashed. His audial nubs twitched downwards and his voice dropped.

"I should be able to transcribe what I recorded for you. It's really not much - I have a suspicion that we wouldn't even have that much if the records were actually...more well known."

More like known to exist at all, but that was not something to blather on about outside of safe halls. How lucky that his mentor, A3, was such a secretive old mech...

He straightened up, getting his excitement under control thanks to the abrupt reminder that this might not exactly be a safe topic. He gave Megatron a significant look.

"Perhaps it is a topic we should discuss elsewhere? After the show? But it is safe to say you've solidly won me over on that idea..." He managed a wry smile.

"Point. Later and elsewhere might be a better time and place, even if I don't believe we're in much danger of pointed audio receptors down here," Megatron murmured, having lowered his voice somewhat even with his assertion that they probably didn't need to worry.

Had they been walking across one of the squares, or even the plaza in front of the High Council Pavilions, it might be another matter.

"But it doesn't surprise me there's not much... I would assume what I've found has simply been left behind because it is so far down, and those areas are closed off due to 'safety precautions'." Another snort and shake of his helm.

Safety issues, his aft. While some of the areas might be difficult to navigate, and a few others might, maybe show some structural issues due to (battle-derived) damage, if those places hadn't collapsed by now there would be no problem.

Orion nodded in agreement, reassured.

"Thank you. I look forward to after the show as much as seeing it, now." He gave Megatron's hand a squeeze, before picking up the pace once more.

Orion checked his internally chronometer and winced, and adjusted his speed a bit further.

"Speaking of, we should hurry. Just a few more blocks I believe?"

He could see the radon lights in the distance, but Megatron knew the path better than he.

"We should get there in time, but if you want to run, we can do that." It would be a bit of a squeeze, though, Megatron noted as well. It was a good thing he'd said they ought to take this route instead of going up to the surface level and walk from there.

If they had, with their distracted conversation, they certainly wouldn't have been in time.

Eyeing the lights filtering down from above, Megatron tilted his helm.

"Might not need to run, though. I believe it's just around the corner and then we should have an elevator that'll take us up to the level the entrance is at."

"Just a brisk walk should suffice," Orion laughed, giving Megatron's hand a teasing tug.

Once they rounded the next corner, Orion spotted the mentioned elevator and eagerly led them inside. The upper level was, unsurprisingly packed with mechs milling about, lined up for their shows or awaiting admittance.

Given the time of their (nearly late) arrival, Orion and Megatron were immediately admitted.

"Oh, thank goodness..."

Taking his seat just as the lights began to dim, Orion was almost jittering with suppressed excitement. His field was all over the place; completely subdued one moment, and flickering out excitedly the next. Never too far, but with their joined hands, Megatron would be the one to notice.

He would have laughed at the twitchy excitement portrayed through the field as they sat down, except that would be the wrong tack to take. He doubted Orion even noticed what his field was doing - or that he still was excersising control over it.

Shivering at another wash of Orion's field as it flared out and then retreated, Megatron considered his options, but discarded most of them as they were not in private and hadn't quite gone... there, yet.

So instead he leaned in so he could murmur in Orion's audial. Sure, he could have used their comms. but where was the fun in that?

"Concentrate on the show, Orion, and, while no one's sitting close enough they'll immediately notice, I suggest you try to keep your field flared, and let it stay there." They weren't sitting in the most cramped part of the seating, but they had people on both sides and behind them that would end up noticing Orion's twitchy field sooner or later, if only through it's flexing.

Orion twitched more noticeably at Megatron's unexpected whisper, field instinctively being reigned in before the words hit home.

"Keep it flared?" He asked in a whisper, almost indignant. This was clearly too public - he shouldn't have lost control like that at all-!

Ah, yes. Their agreement. And the nearest mechs were probably far enough away to avoid field-exchanges.

He sighed, and attempted to relax. At least the show was starting...

"Yes, keep it extended." He couldn't quite keep his amusement out of his voice. "Because if you extend it and keep it extended, if anyone notices they'll notice it less than if you would continually flex it all over the place, or if you keep it reigned in most of the time and then flare it out - that will be much more noticeable."

Angling himself so that he could see the stage as well as still being turned to Orion, because he certainly was interested in the show, Megatron slowly shook his helm.

"How do you think anyone who hasn't been convinced like you have to keep their field in don't annoy people left and right? Most people won't notice more than briefly and then forget about it, until and unless you do something with your field." Which was why having a powerful field could be useful if you wanted control of a situation, or when otherwise making an impression.

It was also good for annoying people, or intimidating them, depending on who you were and who the surrounding people were.

"I suppose..."

With a sigh, Orion forced himself to relax. After all, he didn't have the time to be worried about his field - watching the show was clearly the important thing!

And he didn't really enjoy being reminded how 'deficient' he was in this particular area.

Thankfully, the show was a welcome distraction.

The opening preface was a nicely-done reintroduction to the story, which he hoped worked to fill Megatron into what he might have missed. It also set the scene, skipping the story ahead almost a vorn, into the more conflict laced future-past. Orion was immediately enthralled.

Turning back in his seat more properly, Megatron left the arm he'd rested against the back of Orion's seat when he'd leaned over where it was and actually concentrated on the stage.

It was... quite different from simply reading the story-script, which he knew he'd done at some point; all the cues written in were being acted out, simultaneously, to give a full if... busy impression.

They even had field amplifiers in place, which meant the actors were good enough to be able to not just act, but to make their fields react to things they weren't actually doing or feeling, no matter how good they were.

Sure, field control was a key point in a convincing performance, but not all were good - or actually convincing - with it.

Frowning thoughtfully, the hand not resting on Orion's shoulder drumming quietly against his own thigh, he had to admit it was... captivating. Though whoever directed it had chosen to focus more on story than the scripts original themes, even if they still were there, obviously.

How many in the audience would pick up on the allegory regarding the welding, and that if one of those items were taken away, the rest would fail... or result in an item of lesser quality? He briefly glanced at Orion, and then back at the stage.

Relaxing into the larger mech's touch, it didn't take Orion long to capture that drumming hand with his own, giving Megatron a quick wink before turning back to the stage. Despite the historical inaccuracies (almost always done for the sake of the drama,) the librarian was all too aware of, the story was well done enough to make Orion forget about them.

Even the set changes were seamlessly done; the local cityformer clearly had either more experience or was more properly rehearsed than the earlier venue. The scene that required the destruction of the historic Cityformer she was also playing drew genuine distress from the crowd.

...The fact that the very auditorium shuddered with the historical-fictional 'death throes' of the actor immersed the audience at a unexpected level. The applause and comm-crackles at the end of the act shook the building once more.

Orion was well aware of the allegory; he'd been expecting the revelation of the third triad member's name for ages, but in the climactic act of the Prime's Betrayal, the reveal of Eutectic was done dramatically enough to get a reaction out of him, even as the rest of the crowd gasped in surprise.

The bittersweet survival of the remaining broken triad ended the play and series in a down note, but it was a satisfying end nonetheless.

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