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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In the end, it'd amount to the same thing - at least given the way Megatron would be teaching it, and what he would be teaching, but if it made it easier for Orion to swallow, that was all that was needed to justify phrasing it as "self-defense" instead of "combat training".

Engine revving briefly and a slight twitch running through him at the pinch, Megatron chuckled and then gave Orion an arch stare.

"Oh, I promise I'll be gentle, Orion." And really, if need be, he'd be as careful and slow (and gentle) as was necessary to let Orion learn and then slowly step things up, but he didn't think he'd need to go to extreme lengths. Despite that, he grinned sharply again as he spoke.

Orion laugh, finishing off the current dance with a bold flourish he wouldn't have been capable of before tonight.

"Can't be too gentle, or else what is the point?"

Orion stared back up at Megatron, his own grin as toothy as he could manage with his civilian-class frame. He was largely unaware of Megatron's scheme, of course; but he wasn't entirely naive.

"The streets can get a little rough - but I thank you for not deciding to treat me like a new gladiator with double my weight in armor plating."

And here was the part of Orion that came out sometime - or parts of it, anyway, that was definitely another angle to why they fit so well together even with their different make.

"I'll make sure to check in each time to see if I should use more strength and force, then," Megatron said with another laugh, shaking his helm, "on the other hand, maybe I should treat you like that... you might be surprised at yourself."

Of course, he wouldn't. Orion was a civilian, and while not all gladiators were of military make, a lot of them were - those who weren't, needed to learn like Orion would have to.

"Surprised at how many dents my frame can handle before I fall over, you mean?"

Orion chuckled, shaking his head with obvious reluctance. He was confident about any number of things, but handling himself in a fight? Not even.

"I would definitely prefer the force-checks, thank you," he said primly, even as he gave way to let Megatron take the lead again.

"Actually, yes. I'm pretty sure you would be, considering everything." It was an honest appraisal - Megatron was pretty sure Orion would start out with (and might always carry) a dislike and reluctance towards hurting others physically, but that was entirely removed from the ability to take more (physical) punishment than Orion thought he could take.

There was just something that pinged Megatron that convinced him Orion was the type that wouldn't let injuries stop him and would stubbornly keep going.

He almost, briefly, as he took over for the next dance, wished to see Orion in such a situation.

But considering that would require real life-and-death most probably, it would doubtfully happen. Even if he ever pushed along the vague plans he was considering, Orion would be kept out of that for as much as possible... at least the fighting, anyway.

"Hmmm, perhaps you're right about that, however. We'd need to put you in Apex armour or get some serious combat-grade upgrades if you're to handle my full strength without lethal injuries," Megatron said with a chuckle and a none-to-sweet smile.

"I doubt that-"

Orion sputtered a laugh, startled enough to freeze briefly in place, fouling up the rhythm of the dance for a moment.

"Me in Apex armor!?" He laughed again at the idea, squeezing Megatron's hands.

"Now that is a funny mental image. But yes, if by some terrifying chance you got your hands on Apex armor, I would happily -heh- test it in a fight with you."

Orion teased, snickering. Because of course it would never happen...

Smiling at Orion's surprise, Megatron laughed quietly and then nodded.

"Why not? That would probably be what would be necessary." An exaggeration, maybe, but it was mostly for fun, so why not continue the thread?

"Not that it'd be any easy getting my hands on Apex armour, and if I did I'd want to try it out myself first. After that, however, we could test it with you in it," Megatron agreed with another chuckle. The thought of Apex armour brought up the thought of what he could do with it and what it might do for any future possibilities.

But, either way, that was just flights of fancy that didn't have any place here and now.

"I'm not surprised in the least," Orion huffed, rolling his optics at Megatron's 'plans'.

"You of all people hardly need any more armor..."

He paused, and his grin grew sly; Orion pressed his frame against the larger mech's, leaning up to steal a kiss.

"I certainly wouldn't even be able to kiss you if you were any bigger than you are now."

Oh, if Orion knew the full extent of the actual plans Megatron was slowly working out... As for the ones he was now aware of, Megatron just grinned at Orion's huff.

"You never know when more armour might be useful..." trailing off into the kiss, Megatron leaned down slightly, smile growing again against Orion's lips, "I guess I'd just have to lift you up in that case, now wouldn't I?"

Giving a nip to Orion's lower lip since he still had his faceplate bared, Megatron chuckled.

"Mhmm. How embarrassing for me that would be." Orion hummed, making a face before returning the kiss, hands slipping around Megatron's shoulders.

"That would be completely unfair and you know it."

By this point, they had pretty much stopped dancing all together. Rumbling contently against Megatron's frame, Orion gestured back toward the tables with a tilt of his helm, reluctantly breaking the kiss.

"Want to sit back down? I think the dancing is done for the moment. Feel like a drink?"

Trailing his hands down Orion's frame before he stepped away, Megatron grinned.

"I don't see anything unfair in using any advantage given when it's presented itself," he was amused, but there was still a note of seriousness in Megatron's voice as he nodded and led the way back to the same booth they'd occupied before, still empty, "that's something to learn, Orion, in general."

Glancing back, the glow from Megatron's optics was low, muted, despite the light tone he was using.

"Don't think of it as unfair when you find or are otherwise presented with something that would put yourself at an advantage over others..." trailing off, he gave a small one-shoulder shrug, "unless you're involved in a competition and that advantage is against the rules."

Of course, depending on what the circumstances were, he might use such a thing anyway... but that would undermine his point at the moment and wasn't anything Orion needed to know anyway.

"And what would you like?"

Orion laughed, turning to lead them both to a comfortable, out of the way booth that left them with a good view of the rest of the room. He still wanted to look around, after all...

"You wouldn't. But if that's how you win arena matches, I'm not really going to complain about it."

He shrugged, flicking idly through the menu. Under the table, he curled a foot over a tread affectionately.

"Hmm. Perhaps the Triple-mixed blend. Looks...colorful."

Orion had a pretty good knack for choosing good seats, so Megatron slid in after Orion had sat down with a pleased huff. Well, mostly pleased because the dancing was over. He didn't need too much more of that.

"Sometimes. The rest of the time it's skill," Megatron said with a sharp, proud smile. Advantages were advantages, but he won most of his matches by pure force and sheer skill. Mostly skill. Merely applying force would simply get you beaten rather quick.

"... Hm. I think you can hold up with that, so that would be a good choice," Megatron said while he slowly spun his tread to basically stroke against the armour of Orion's leg, "wouldn't want you keeling over in here, even if I can carry you home with no problem."

Pleased with his view from the seat - if still affected by residual embarrassment, given the sight of nearby kneeling subs and gently affectionate doms - Orion purred at the contact. Angling his leg, he rubbed spinning tires in counter-direction to Megatron's treads, creating warm friction.

All the while he huffed, mock-offended.

"I'm hardly going to keel over from a drink or two. We should be more worried if you overindulged. I don't think I could haul you back, even if I was towing your alt."

He gestured to a nearby waiter who ambled on over. Orion gave Megatron a glance, allowing his field to flex back out gently over the gladiator's.

"You know what you'd like?"

"I guess not," Megatron said, mock-innocently and all too agreeable, engine dropping half a pitch in pleased reaction to the friction and pressure from their treads and wheel interacting.

And briefly, his optics flickered dark and offline as Orion extended his field out. He hadn't really expected Orion to try anything like this, here, in a situation he was unfamiliar with, but he wasn't at all displeased.

"If I really did, you could always get help," not that he ever drank himself into a stupor - he really preferred to remain alert. Especially when there were unknown factors involved... and whyever would he want to drink himself unconscious when he had Orion right here?

"And I believe I do," Megatron said, not quite meeting Orion's optics, rather keeping his glance around Orion's mouth.

"Well, I would prefer to avoid subjecting us both to that particular variety of humiliation. But I suppose I would if I had to."

Then he sputtered, when he finally caught on to just what Megatron was staring at.

"And I meant what drink!" Orion laughed, nudging Megatron's leg, his own gentle scheme already undone. He gave the waiter an apologetic glance, before handing over a credit chit.

"The triple-mixed blend, and a side order of mineral sticks for me. and you?" He gave Megatron a pointed stare, leg trailing up to a thigh.

"I did too," Megatron said, his expression completely (perhaps exaggeratedly) sincere even if his optics were bright with amusement. He had meant it too, whatever Orion thought he'd meant by averting his gaze from meeting Orion's optics.

Didn't mean he couldn't have fun anyway.

But now that they were apparently playing it this way, Megatron kept still as Orion's foot wandered upwards... merely widening his thighs a little.

"Plain kalisian." Megatron met the waiter's gaze with a little tilt of his helm and a quirk of his lips, before turning back to Orion as the mech left.

"Good," Orion snorted, amused that they even had to clarify such a thing in the first place.

The waiter simply nodded and went on his way - likely all too used to such shenanigans in the club, if not blind to them entirely. Once he was away, Orion engine settled into an open, loud purr, foot taking advantage of the provided gap-

By settling on the inside of Megatron's knee.

Small steps, Orion. Small steps.

Public 'affections' or not, Orion wasn't about to jump into anything intense.

Well, that they had was entirely on Orion since he'd misconstrued why Megatron had lowered his optics. Though maybe he needed to find a better spot than Orion's lips, whenever he had his mask withdrawn, as a response to Orion lightly flexing his dominance.

It was a thought.

And he probably shouldn't, but he still burst ought laughing quietly, engine rumbling along, at where Orion settled his foot.

"So, what were you trying for right before our little... misunderstanding?" Megatron asked, leaning forward slightly and optics glittering, even as he kept his thighs parted.

Shy or not, he was certainly going to encourage each and every little step Orion chose to take.

"Well..."

Orion shrugged, audials twitching as he struggled to hide his sudden embarrassment that rose up again. He vented a hot breath, arms crossing over his chest.

"...Nothing huge. I'd hoped to simply order for you."

"... Ah." Shaking his helm slowly, the grin on Megatron's faceplate turned softer, even if there was still amusement in his voice. Also understanding. Oh, Orion.

"It seems we worked against each other here, not picking up on signals, but... next time, you might want to say something, Orion," Megatron said dryly, lifting a foot enough to nudge the leg between his own legs before he dropped it again.

"I certainly wouldn't mind indulging you, but if I'm not expecting it..." trailing off, his smile turned somewhat sharper, and definitely dry, "that does make it rather hard to comply."

Especially as Orion had misunderstood Megatron's response to his little field-flexing and all.

"I was going to say something. But then the waiter showed up, and it was...kinda pointless."

Orion shrugged again, apologetic. He started slightly when Megatron nudged his leg-

Well. If you insist.

He simply smiled and slid his leg forward, heel pressing up against the larger mech's pelvic paneling.

"But...I agree. Our signals could use a little...work."

He grinned wryly.

Megatron twitched when the foot slid up against his panelling, arching an upper optic ridge... and saying nothing about it. Rather he just widened his legs a little more and grinned faintly.

He hadn't actually thought Orion would go further than he already had, after the foot landed somewhere as relatively innocently as the inside of his knee.

Apparently he'd been wrong.

"Comms. Orion. Or you could have repeated my order to him - he was actually looking at you right before he left." Megatron didn't recognise that waiter, and if Orion's field hadn't been flexed out around and towards Megatron, the mech might have assumed he was the dom in this relationship... and there was currently, no way for anyone who didn't know otherwise, and held foolish assumptions, to assume anything else.

Orion sighed, giving Megatron a wry smile but not moving his foot any more from where it rested. He hadn't planned on going as far as he had, but he was letting Megatron goad him into doing things.

...He should probably put a stop to that. Megatron could just deal with his foot where it was - flush up against his panel, and vibrating ever-so-slightly with the reverberations from his engine.

"All true."

Orion shrugged, acknowledging the fumble, even as his audials resettled, his embarrassment mercifully fading.

"I'll have to remember it for next time I actually attempt something." He managed another grin, field rustling.

When Orion didn't move his foot, either to withdraw in embarrassment over having been goaded into going further, or continuing in the same vein, Megatron both cursed quietly to himself, and settled in.

This wasn't an unfamiliar game, after all.

"A good idea... and I'm looking forward to it," Megatron said with a chuckle, and didn't squirm. Not yet. It'd take far more than this brief moment, but Orion also seemed very... comfortable, as he was.

"This is going well, Orion, even with this little... mishap," he grinned in amusement as the waiter reappeared and gave them their drinks, "just so you know."

Orion starting to flex his field and the faintly vibrating foot right up against his panel, the friction from it slowly, sweetly, warming the metal, was testament to that.

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Megatron haz plaaaanzzz

that he doeessss ;D

Orion has 'planz' now too... /eyebrows

He *does*, hmmmm?

The most mundane of plans - mostly snuggles

Gotta be a bit more *ambitious*, Orion!

His ambitions are too mundane

Even those mundane ambitions could be far more *ambitious*.

Everything is ~ambitions~ with you Megatron...

Of course it is! What else should it be?

Enjoyment of what you have?

Of course, but that won't get you anywhere.

Not entirely...

See? So he's right!

...no.

That's all right, you don't have to admit it for it to be true.

Orion has his own goals, thank you.

Hmmm gotta step those goals up, then. Think a little BIGGER.

He likes his goals as they are, thank you 8[

/SIGH fine 8v

He does, hmmmm?

Gotta be a bit more ambitious, Orion!

Even those mundane ambitions could be far more ambitious.