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]

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.

[lordmegatron]

Waving Orion off with a shake of his helm, Megatron preceded his friend inside and went for the seating in the common area. For all that Orion's apartment was small, it was open and airy, leaving Megatron feeling not too trapped, especially as there was enough space for him to stretch his legs out if he wished.

"I'm unsure how you feel comfortable here, but I'll hardly be harmed by a bit of a squeezed drive here." Crossing his arms over his chestplates, Megatron cast a look outside before he looked to Orion, tilting his helm in obvious invitation.

"Sit down. I doubt you'll remain standing when I start explaining." Megatron's voice was dry and his expression amused, though not overly so.

This was serious after all, but he has no illusions of how Orion would react at first, regardless of if he might have some... inclinations or not.

Anything else required him to have severely misread the signs and what and how much Orion might know, and he doubted it.

[ichooseboth]

"I find it rather comfortable, myself," Orion said, securing the door and walking past Megatron with a teasing roll of his optics.

"In just a moment. Have you even had a single sip of energon since your match at all?" He raised an optic ridge, clearly not even waiting for an answer; he was already despising a pair of cubes for them both.

He offered the first to Megatron, before even moving to sit down.

[lordmegatron]

Of course Orion would, being more than a head shorter than Megatron was, and slimmer as well. Huffing, any intended reply got lost in a surprised shake of his helm. Taking the energon mutely, Megatron even drank half before he put it down and looked Orion up and down.

So, how to tackle this? It was, frankly, not the way he'd intended to bring this up, because Orion would now want a comprehensive explanation instead of this being taken in natural steps of exploration.

"What you saw when you walked into my room was Maul breaking a few rules, ostensibly 'for my best interest' which was why I had broken things off with him," Megatron said, voice dry and the upper edge of an optic arched.

"Remember that before anything else I say, Orion. There are rules. Non-negotiable rules. Maul will find himself quite unable to get what he wants when word gets around." The stare he gave Orion was serious, his red optics flat, but more in an attempt to instill in Orion that following what he was about to say, he was hardly without 'protection'.

And anyway, as an individual out of that particular situation, he was perfectly capable of enforcing said rules.

[ichooseboth]

Orion nodded in satisfaction after Megatron started on his cube, before sitting and sipping at his own.

"Alright..." he agreed cautiously, shoulders going a bit tense.

"Rules. Understood, though at this point, I'm not sure if you were in some sort of relationship or under a contract."

[lordmegatron]

Megatron had been eyeing Orion over the edge of his cube, about to drink but wanting to keep tabs on his reaction when Orion spoke.

It was probably lucky he wasn't drinking, because the burst of laughter would have sprayed energon all over his faceplates. Huffing and shaking his helm, Megatron held up a hand to hopefully stall Orion a little and straightened.

"I apologise, but yes. You're pretty much correct, Orion. It was a relationship, but it was also a contract." Red optics glinting with his humour, Megatron leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms over his chestplates.

"A relationship contract that was based on my obedience to Maul... in certain situations and contexts. Outside of which I had nothing much to do with him."Megatron paused there, both to allow Orion to think on it, and give himself a moment of how to proceed.

He was sure Orion wouldn't like what he was hearing, at least not yet, but he couldn't explain more into he knew how Orton would think.

[ichooseboth]

The laughter didn't bother him at all, and Orion chuckled ruefully in turn. The explanation, however, made the smaller mech's expression fall in surprise.

"Obedience?" He gapped at Megatron, cube forgotten in a surge of quite obvious confusion and concern.

"Whatever for?"

[lordmegatron]

Ah.

There they went.

Now, how to tackle this?

Megatron leaned forwards, letting his hands cable between his thighs and knees as he kept his optics locked with Orion's.


"Because I enjoy it, Orion." Simple statement, loaded with some serious weight. "In certain situations, the chance to leave all decisions to someone else, to do what they want in the aim of pleasing them, is not just very relaxing to me, it also gives me a certain... charge." It was probably lucky Megatron felt no shame in talking about this, but he could admit to a faint worry that Orion would want nothing to do with him at the end of this, being too uncomfortable.

Which didn't sit too well with him, as he certainly enjoyed Orion's company and mind.

[ichooseboth]

Orion's jaw clicked shut at Megatron's simple confession, processor whirling as he tried to think through the implications.

Well. Maybe only some of the implications. The idea of Megatron taking orders from that crass, sorry excuse for a mech made him feel sick inside. But the idea of Megatron, huge arena champion that he was, taking orders at all, willingly...

Orion was eagerly willing to blame his sudden shiver on disgust.

"So...It really is some sort of, ah, interfacing. Preference?" He asked haltingly, engine giving an embarrassed huff.

[lordmegatron]

If Orion thought Megatron would've missed the shiver, he was wrong. But Megatron didn't let himself interpret it too openly, merely noted it had happened and when, with a little pulse of the glow in his optics.

"Partly. Though some prefer not to involve interfacing at all, or only in some forms. I do enjoy it, but it's not necessary." Megatron shrugged, briefly looking down on his hands as he spoke, turning them around before he looked back up again.

"Some sessions have contained no interfacing at all, some have, and in some I've put that part of me aside because we weren't compatible. Maul was good at what he did, but he had... issues." The last was sneered, pure derision in Megatron's time and expression both.

[ichooseboth]

"...Ah." Orion muttered, settling back on the couch with his cube, looking even more confused than before.

"I understand that it...er. Pleases you, but I'm afraid I...don't entirely see the appeal?" He admitted haltingly, between sips of energon. It was sexual, except for when it wasn't? Orion made a face.

"Especially if someone like that Maul character was involved."

[lordmegatron]

"From which angle?" Megatron did his best not to smirk knowingly, merely tilted his helm in inquiry.

"Since the other half involves those who enjoy taking the lead, to care for the mech kneeling by their feet, when given permission." Treads shifting in their housings, Megatron looked up and out the window, optics sharp.

"Maul is an example of what not to do; he didn't respect my refusal. Up until that, he was... a good dominant. Good enough I missed some signs, as he did not just have the force of presence but also knew how far to push." At least he'd seemed to, since from this side it was obvious Maul was... not as considerate as he'd seemed.

Optics flickering, Megatron looked back at Orion with a shrug. He'd gotten a bit off-track.

[ichooseboth]

"Which angle?" Orion repeated, voice going high and staticy as his vocalizer glitched.

Permission? Dominants? Orion slumped in his seat, downing the rest of his cube. Primus, this was sounding more and more like an illicit holo-net story than real life by the moment.

"Er..."

Well, obviously, he found Megatron's role in all this undesirable to the extreme, immediately filling him with concern for the other mech's safety.

But the other 'angle'? He felt a bit too warm just thinking about it.

"I can't say what Maul was doing looked very appealing either, honestly."

[lordmegatron]

The lines of Megatron's faceplates softened from their previous sharpness at Orion's reaction, and he tilted his helm again.

"Because it was Maul, because he was doing things against my expressed wishes, or simply what he was doing?" Megatron looked Orion over and then met his optics again. "Consider the scenario that I've agreed, and it's not Maul in front of me..."

He didn't finish the statement.

He was pretty sure he wouldn't have to, whether or not Orion would definitely state he didn't like the thought at all, of would find he did - and then try to give that reaction or not.

[ichooseboth]

"...As opposed to whom?" He asked in a strangled whisper, optics wide with embarrassment.

But of course he already knew that he was supposed to imagine himself in a similar position. That was the point Megatron was trying to get across - it wasn't Megatron's fault that his frame was taking an entirely inappropriate interest in the scenario.

"Ah. Well... I imagine that, with your proper, ah, consent, it wouldn't be...nearly so. Alarming?"

[lordmegatron]

With Orion's reaction, Megatron was reminded that he'd managed to partly wander off-course from the explanation Orion had wanted...

"It doesn't matter who," Megatron said with a wave of his hand, even if he did rather hope Orion had put himself in the spot. He needed to stop being... selfish about this and get the discussion back on track.

"But going on the topic of consent, it all relies on that. Rules, like I said earlier. I and anyone who enjoys the same might temporarily give away the power to decide for ourselves and leave that in the hands of another, trusting them to take care of us, but it's only with our consent that this happens."

[ichooseboth]

"Right. Of course," Orion readily agreed, venting a sigh of relief.

"Well, so long as everyone involved is consenting, I couldn't have a problem with it. It...certainly wouldn't be any of my business, but that makes it seem far less. Ah, concerning. Maul made the entire...concept seem terribly nefarious."

Orion sighed. Whatever weird feelings he was getting from his mental wanderings, what Maul said and what Orion had seen him act like still left an unpleasant feeling crawling along his circuits.