Everybody learns from *somebody*

[lordmegatron]

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?"

Comments

[ichooseboth]

"And how was I to know if this Maul was not holding some sort of rank or authority over you?" Orion grumbled goodnaturedly, quickly stepping back up to Megatron's side and following him out the door.

"I am, however, quite sure of your rather formidable ability to defend yourself from physical threats."

[lordmegatron]

"Ah, true," Megatron said, amused and quietly impressed he'd even though of that, more because of how sheltered Orion was in general than anything else.

"That would indeed have been gross abuse of authority and very unprofessional behaviour if that was the case." Nodding, he led them outside and gestured down the corridor. "Nothing too interesting here, but all the gladiators in this corridor are highly ranked enough there's private washracks attached. Repair basis are all found clustered around the corridors into the attends, for safety's sake."

[ichooseboth]

"Well it certainly seemed like an inappropriate something, given how he disregarded your opinions," Orion huffed quietly, before letting the subject drop. They were in the public halls now, and Orion could tell that is would likely be a sensitive topic.

...Though that still didn't explain the other gladiator's reactions before he had entered Megatron's quarters. He resolved to get that cleared up with Megatron as well before they were done.

"That sounds reasonable." He glanced down toward the medbays, giving the other gladiators passing by a sidelong stare as they went.

[lordmegatron]

Megatron grunted, but wasn't about to go further into it than that; he didn't mind discussing it in general, but that was a bit too personal.

And well, Orion was correct. That tendency to not respect his decisions and limits was why he'd put his foot down, no matter how good a dom Maul had been.

"There's a mess hall down that way, which is included like the rooms, no matter your rank," said Megatron as they walked, tipping his helm down a corridor they passed by. The gladiators around gave Orion frank, flat stares or more arched one, though some seemed to look the two of them over with more intent than the others, seemingly judging or openly surprised.

"If there's anything you're curious about, feel free to all," Megatron said with a shrug.

[ichooseboth]

Orion was terribly curious about the open stares and odd looks, but quietly delegated it to the later conversation they would surely have.

"I admit, it seems...surprisingly comfortable down here. It's not what I was expecting," Orion confessed wryly. Not that the lurking gladiators made it comfortable, but still. It was surprisingly organized and not what the rumors and stories made it out to be.

"You have a room down here and everything; is this your 'home' arena, so to speak?"

[lordmegatron]

Megatron laughed softly at that, shaking his helm and leading them down another set of corridor.

"Whole some arenas are worse than others, they all have the same amenities; at least one in every city-state is required to for the sake of the state games." He waved a hand nonchalantly in the air as they stepped out on a walkway above a large, open room, set up as a training hall.

"Training area, and large arenas like this usually have more than one," Megatron said as he nodded to some of the mechs who looked up at them.

"And no, it's not. I'm from Kaon, and that is technically my attend still as I'm still a citizen of that city-state. I'm here on a type of sponsorship, however." Megatron's expression turned sharply and cynically amused. "It's a simple was of gaining standing for the arena the city-state you belong to, by 'borrowing' high ranking gladiators from other arenas.

[ichooseboth]

"Oh. Well that is good to know." Orion said, relieved that gladiators like Megatron had some sort of guaranteed amenities.

"Ah yes, you've mentioned Kaon before, of course."

His grin turned a bit sly and he leaned up on his struts teasingly. "Someone I met in the audience mentioned something about you being a multi-time champion of various state games. Among other things."

[lordmegatron]

"That is why quite a few attempt or do become gladiators; guaranteed amenities even if they can sometimes be rather worn and run-down." Not that all made it as gladiators, but a steady supply of energon and a place to recharge plus a small but chance to be larger pay made the injuries seem worth it.

Giving Orion a dry look, Megatron nodded.

"Indeed I am, otherwise I wouldn't be here... 'Other things', however?" He tilted his helm down at Orion, the upper edge of an optic arched. Not that he thought it possible Orion had picked up on his... Personal preferences or something, otherwise his reaction regarding Maul and what he'd been doing would have been different and not quite as... naïve.

That did leave the question of what those 'other things' were however.

[ichooseboth]

"It sounds like it could really be beneficial to some," Orion conceded, despite his dislike for the fighting itself. War-mechs without duties were the largest caste of Cybertron facing hard times and government downsizing, given the lack of ongoing warfare. Despite the brutality inherent to the arena, the librarian certainly wouldn't begrudge the poor mechs a source of room and board.

Orion chuckled at Megatron's look, not bothering to hide his wry smile as the tone abruptly shifted.

"Oh, this and that. Something about an 'honor greeting'?" The smaller mech gave Megatron an amused stare.

"I wouldn't have been surprised if the mech was simply winding me up, but he did seem to know that I was invited here, simply based on where I was sitting."

[lordmegatron]

At least none of the matches were to the death, except in the few cases and city-states where criminals got such a punishment.

Megatron gave Orion a dryly amused stare at his chuckle, waiting for some sort of explanation, and when it came his smile turned more genuine.

"Ah, yes, that. An honour greeting is exactly that, partying respect to a particular individual... It can be fine for your opponent, someone important presiding over the attends, or chosen members of the audience, for... various reasons." Megaton shrugged, giving Orion a side-long glance as he leaned against the railing of the walkway.

Did he want to go too deep into that..? Well, it would give a chance to introduce some possibilities to Orion, perhaps.

"Usually, but not always, it would be given to family members, or love interests... And as for him knowing, you're quite obviously not used to visiting an arena, and yes. The seat you got are one of the ones held reserved for those thus invited." Starting down at the floor beneath them, Megatron changed subject nonchalantly, not lingering on the question of who might get an honour greeting or not.

He would not push, regardless of if anything might lead to what he might need our not. For now he could do with merely being allowed closer.

[ichooseboth]

'Various reasons'? Orion blinked, nearly cutting Megatron off with further questions when he wasn't being specific enough for his tastes. Thankfully, he continued and...Orion had the sudden, dawning sensation that he might be missing something very, very obvious.

"...Love interests?"

He reset his optics again, startled. Surely not...?

[lordmegatron]

"Love interests, yes. And close friends, sometimes, though an honour greeting is usually considered more... intimate than that, when it's not being gifted to those of outstanding authority." Megatron kept his optics on the mechs below them for a moment longer before he turned to look at Orion.

"Or lovers, but that doesn't apply here." Yet, anyway. Frowning, Megatron looked Orion up and down and then meet his optics, glow dim and surprisingly soft.

"Think on it."

[ichooseboth]

"...Ah." Orion vented a sudden, unexpected huff of overheated air in embarrassment, unable to help glancing away from Megatron's suddenly soft look.

That...

He didn't...

"I...will think on it." Orion admitted, already doing just that. The idea that Megatron - Megatron - was actually interested in him had never even entered his processor. Why would it? He had little to offer the several-time champion of every damned title ever. Not to mention, his own frame was rather pitiful in comparison.

No, the idea had never occurred to him. But he was quickly coming to the realization that the idea was...certainly not unpleasant.

...And this was the entirely wrong place to even be considering such things. Orion straightened up with a nod, meeting Megatron's red optics before venting a cough that was several degrees higher than normal.

"Right then. G-good to know."

[lordmegatron]

Megaton shook his helm, laughter spilling out as he turned to gesture Orion out of the walkway around the training arena.

He shouldn't, but he couldn't help it because Orion was being... Well, adorable. Not that he usually cared much for such stuttering and awkward shyness, but since he knew Orion had not just more sides to him, but edges as well, it wasn't annoying.

"That's all I ask, really. And remember this have nothing to do with the explanation you'll get later, regarding Maul and what happened in my room." Which... was something of a lie, but he'd gone before without having that particular need catered to, and he could do it again.

"I also believe there's no matches currently, so let me show you the podium and arena floor." It was one thing to see the arena from the audience stands, and quite another to see it from these angles.

[ichooseboth]

Orion audial nubs twitched in remaining embarrassment, but he managed a wry smile nonetheless. At least he was no longer feeling the need to hide away with mortification.

"Right." Odd. He still wasn't sure what had happened there, but really, now wasn't the time. Smiling in growing relief, Orion nodded and readily moved to follow.

"I imagine it must be impressive, to be in front of all those people."

[lordmegatron]

Laughter having died down, Megatron's lips twisted into a smile at the twitching audials as he guided Orion away and up. The corridors getting slightly more well-kept but not by much; it was obvious Iacon only prioritised its arenas only so much, keeping them reasonably clean and repaired but not in outstanding shape.

Of course, when they got to host the state games, that would probably change.

"Out here," Megatron murmured, keying open the for them, revealing first an empty office. "And it can be quite a rush, on the podium or on the floor... You'll probably get an idea, even with no audience present."

The wall and door opposite to the door that led to the office was a full-window one, showing a view of the shadowed podium outside, and beyond, the rows of seats.

The armour-glass for opened as they came close enough, and Megatron stopped right beyond the door, giving Orion a wave to walk out to the edge of the podium first.

[ichooseboth]

With a glance at Megatron, Orion stepped out under the heavy lights of the stadium. The view was...impressive. And intimidating, even with the crowds gone for the day.

Orion didn't think he could every enjoy such a thing. It probably suited Megatron perfectly.

He looked back at Megatron, waiting for the large mech to join him.

"Were you nervous? The first time you fought in the arena?" He gestured toward the stands.

[lordmegatron]

If Orion thought it intimidating to be standing at the head of and on to of the arena, one could wonder what he'd think of standing in it.

Coming up beside Orion, Megatron cast a glance around the arena spread out before them and the empty stands surrounding the it. Hands clasped behind his back and optics soft, he finally nodded.

"I could of course say I wasn't, but rare would the spark be who isn't, if just the first time, bent towards show and drama or not." Pausing, Megatron turned his helm enough to give Orion a dry, arched stare.

"The gladiator fights aren't only about the actual fighting, Orion. A large part of it involves a certain amount of acting, of knowing not just what move to use against your opponent, but which will resonate the most with your audience." Sweeping an arm out over the empty arena, Megatron snaked his other out to grab Orion by the arm and pull him in front of himself.

It left Orion standing at the absolute head of the podium, right on the edge with a drop down to the expansive floor of the arena itself.

"Look at the stands, Orion. We're down there not just to bang each other senseless, but to entertain the crowds watching, as well." Leaning closer, Megatron murmured into Orion's audio receptor, enjoying the feel of armour against his hands where his hands rested on Orion's shoulders before he took a step back and gestured behind them.

"Let's go down on the floor."

[ichooseboth]

"So, it is as much about the battle as it is about...showmanship?" Orion asked, openly surprised.

"I had no idea." He paused, glancing at the mech looming so closely over his shoulder. Normally, he would not have given the close, nearly intimate proximity any thought; Megatron was a friend and one he trusted at his back, nothing more.

But now... Now he had reason to consider their interactions far more closely. Had he missed other signs? Was he previous oblivious, or was Megatron simply restraining himself? The touch itself was surprisingly pleasant, and he gave Megatron a smile before stepping down toward the arena floor.

[lordmegatron]

"Basically yes. In some rare instances it's more about the one or the other, but regular gladiatorial combat heavily rely on a level of theatrics." Megatron smiled dryly as he led Orion to the edge of the podium, beside the wall of the arena, where a staircase automatically folded out on their approach.

"These aren't to-the-death matches, after all." Not that that hadn't happened in the past, when inter-state games had sometimes been used as a way to settle or avoid conflict going into full-out war.

The floor of the arena was covered in a fine-grit gravel that didn't cause dust to rise up as they stepped out on it, the fine crystal fragments binding even the tiniest bit of loose residue and dust to the bigger fragments.

Megatron led Orion out into the centre before he stopped and spread his arms out in a silent gesture around them, inviting Orton to simply take it all in.

[ichooseboth]

Orion stepped down, idly tapping at the gravel-mix with a foot and carefully hiding his expression when he overturned a patch speckled with day-old energon. Non-death matches or not, Orion still did not enjoy the idea of unnecessary damage being done.

Especially to Megatron, despite the mech's enjoyment of the fight.

But he still stepped out into the middle of the ring at Megatron's urging, slowly taking in the massive stadium, the stand and lights casting the imaginary combatants...

He nodded back at Megatron. "It is...impressive. I imagine I would be overwhelmed in the same position."

[lordmegatron]

Quietly, Megatron looked Orion over and crossed his arms over his chestplates, partly obscuring the glow of his spark lights.

"I think you might be surprised." Casting a brief look aground the arena, Megatron didn't doubt Orion would probably be overwhelmed the first time he was put in the metaphorical spotlight, but from what he'd seen, he also didn't doubt Orion wouldn't be able to handle it.

"If you don't have any questions, I believe I'm done... Where would you like to go for the explanation?" Megatron tilted his helm and held out a hand to Orion, at the same time taking a sought step backwards and basically relinquishing control of the situation to Orion... though it was doubtful he realised it.

[ichooseboth]

Surprised, Orion gave Megatron a questioning look at the implied praise, before shrugging. He was hardly the type of person to enjoy attracting attention to himself - except perhaps when he was giving a lecture at the library or chasing vandals out of the stacks.

He shook his helm. "None that I can think of at the moment, but I am sure I'll think of more right after we leave." He chuckled a bit, wry.

"And I am fine with returning to your room - or we can go back to my own apartment, if you want some sort of distance." Orion was clearly oblivious to the shift in control, and even if he had been aware of it, he would have sought to give Megatron his choice.

[lordmegatron]

Megatron looked Orion over, glanced back to the arched exit that would lead to the backstage area and then shook his helm.

"While the rooms here have good soundproofing and are thus private, I think you'll prefer it if we go to your apartment." Because he just knew Orion would get uncomfortable with what he had to explain, at least to start, which meant it'd be better if they were somewhere Orion wouldn't feel trapped and would feel safe.

"So let's go back to yours, unless you want the explanation as soon as possible." Megatron said with a shrug and gestured Orion towards the exit they'd need to take to get out of the arena, no matter what Orion decided.

[ichooseboth]

"I don't mind returning then," Orion conceded, giving Megatron a nod before transforming to lead the way.

Thankfully, the drive wasn't terribly long; they passed the library Orion worked at on the way. Outside the core of the city was Orion's residential area, one with relatively tiny streets and one the librarian had only brought Megatron to once before. The tank was something of a tight squeeze; the scale of the area seemed more suited to minibots and low-haulers like Orion were at the largest frame-class that would be truly comfortable.

"Sorry about that," Orion apologized, same as before, gesturing Megatron inside his cozy but comfortable apartment with a wry smile.