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]

Other than a tense twitch of his audials, Orion didn't physically object; though his frown still deepened.

"...If you think it is necessary..."

His sigh wasn't very unenthusiastic, and with a final spurt of the airbrush, he finished up the first leg deco.

"...There. Next leg, please." He eased Megatron's huge foot out of his lap, stooping to reach the other.

[lordmegatron]

"If I actually thought it might do you harm and you'd learn nothing from it, I wouldn't suggest it. I'm pretty sure you could do reasonably well without it, but," Megatron paused momentarily and shifted sideways so that Orion could reach the side of the leg he needed to, "sometimes you end up realising a few things about yourself when put in situations you're unfamiliar with."

Megatron's smile was dry, and there was definitely a shade of 'I know because that happened to me'. Better they find out early if such a position would affect Orion or draw something in particular out than it building and being pulled out later.

[ichooseboth]

Placing Megatron's other foot up in his lap, Orion listened with half an audial; he really wasn't enthused with what Megatron was discussing. The main reason he wasn't objecting outright, beside Megatron's greater knowledge on the 'subject', was that it had a innate measure of...'fairness' that soothed some of his internal objections about the entire hypothetical side to their relationship.

If Megatron wanted to kneel at his feet, it was only fair that Orion do it at least once.

Right?

Even if it made his internal mechanisms squirm uncomfortably.

"...I can imagine so." Orion sighed and nodded, resuming his painting. He was getting faster with the decals and details, at least.

"You sound like you learned from experience?"

[lordmegatron]

"Indeed I did," Megatron said, dry enough to make paint shrivel up and flake off. He quirked a smile, but it was more sharp than dry or even guilty. "I was having... ah, difficulties accepting what actually gave me the most out of a relationship like that, and, after a few pointers I was given the chance to do what we're going to have you do... though in reverse."

Grunting quietly, Megatron paused and briefly looked away. He wasn't really feeling guilty over it, more annoyed and frustrated he had failed to be able to stand on both sides with equal skill.

"My dom at the time was going to do this sooner or later, of course, but either way, the point is that we'll keep it short not just for you, Orion." Optics darkening, Megatron looked back at the smaller mech that had one of Megatron's legs in his lap. "The longer a scene goes on, I tend to lose the correct focus of a proper dom. I can manage it in short bursts, but I'm not going to repeat the mistake of what I did to the third in my relationship of the time." He was not going to repeat that mistake, especially not with a mech as unfamiliar with this lifestyle as Orion was.

"It did not cause any damage or resentment then, and it mostly bruised my ego at my failure, but given your inexperience I don't want to chance anything. You... meant too much for that." Shrugging, Megatron's smile was lopsided and faint, but the glow of his optics was far more sincere.

He was... a shade... nervous, but he wouldn't let that show. Hopefully that knowledge wouldn't chase Orion off. He could understand if Orion would prefer to simply refuse to have anything to do with that, but he would at least hope he wouldn't leave.

[ichooseboth]

At least it would speed up the drying time. Orion merely paused in his work yet again, lifting an optic ridge in question.

"...I'm sure this might be a stupid question, but I'm afraid I have to ask anyway since I really don't grasp your meaning. How does one...'lose focus' in such a- ah, situation?"

Orion frowned, obviously perplexed as the darker implications flew right over his helm.

[lordmegatron]

The smile that slid over Megatron's faceplate at that wasn't mocking, merely sharp, and he reached out to briefly squeeze Orion's shoulder. In some things, the mech was very... ah, innocent. And not just because he was unfamiliar with the ins and outs of this particular topic.

"I don't meant losing focus as in letting your thoughts wander. Domming, Orion, requires you keep the submissive's comfort and limits in mind at all times. If you at any point forget to put that and their needs before your wants..." He shrugged, optics darkening.

He knew he could lead perfectly well, and he was a passable dominant... as long as he didn't forget what he wasn't supposed to forget, which perhaps meant he'd need somebody to check him. But listening to something like that...

Megatron shook his helm and met Orion's optics.

[ichooseboth]

He nodded at the touch, suddenly awkward and somewhat embarrassed.

"Ah."

Orion went silent for a long moment, audials twitching in thought as he dropped his optics to stare at his ongoing artwork rather than to hold Megatron's stare; silently debating continuing the line of questioning.

In the end, his innate curiosity and stubborn desire to actually learn more about all this madness won out.

"...I assume, since you mentioned damage, it ended badly? Or could have?"

The risk of accidentally harming a partner had not occurred to him since the very beginning, when Orion had first learned of the strange sort of concent rules underwritten in the entire style of relationship.

[lordmegatron]

Megatron stayed quiet, and when Orion's gaze dropped, let his own wander up towards the ceiling, optics dimming. The question was expected, but at least it seemed... open enough.

"Could have, yes. Besides the fact that there was a third party present that cut things short because he knew what to look for, I am not the type of individual to ignore a safe word, which would've ended up being used," Megatron said with a grunt and shook his helm.

"Not because I was actively inflicting harm with my loss of proper focus yet, but because Shadowplunge was experienced and knew both his own limits, and what was happening, and knew to put a stop to it before it could go that far."

It was still a sore point, but he'd learned from it - knew not to put himself in the position, or if he did, only with experienced submissives who could and would use their safeword with confidence.

He was no Maul, but he wasn't exactly proper dominant material either.

[ichooseboth]

"The fact that you could - and were willing to - call a halt in the middle of things says a lot about your personal restraint, at least."

Orion's lips twitched, and he glanced up, a hint of teasing returning to his tone and expression as he met Megatron's optics.

"I er. Still can't exactly yet imagine how such a seemingly small thing would make such an obvious difference 'in the act', when Some of the stuff I watched..."

His uneasiness was thankfully slipping away as fast as it had arrived, even as he made faces at the memory of some of his 'research file browsing."

[lordmegatron]

Smiling at Orion, Megatron chuckled and didn't bother to reply to that. He did have some restraint, yes, and no wis´h to hurt people who were important to him.

Orion's question brought another, more lopsided, grin to Megatron's faceplate as he reached out and tapped Orion's crest.

"Consent, Orion. It's all about consent and what has been agreed upon. Unless you stumbled into... less savory parts and found such things that ignore that, in which case it's not the same thing as what we're talking about now any longer." Optics darkening, Megatron hoped that Orion hadn't managed to trip into the truly dark parts of certain sparks' imagination and proclivities, and it was merely his... hm, proper nature and lack of knowledge that made it look worse than it was.

"As long as everybody has agreed to what's going on, while it might look terrible, no one's getting truly hurt."

... After a fashion, considering some practises did involve actual injury.

[ichooseboth]

Chuckling at the tap, Orion nodded once more, reassured.

"Definitely an important distinction to make."

He shrugged weakly after pulling back from the still-damp art, faintly embarrassed.

"I don't honestly know? It seemed a little - or a lot suspect at the time, but perhaps it was part of that 'play-acting' bit?"

He vented hot air, awkward but resolved to slog on through anyway.

"Either way, I am reassured since you've been so forthright about it."

[lordmegatron]

"Mhm. Hopefully it was all part of a normal - if extreme - scene then," Megatron said with a shrug, even if he had no idea what Orion might actually have seen and how extreme it actually was. "But there are, of course, people who create content of all sorts where actual consent, no matter the acts performed, aren't much of concern to the creators."

With a snort, Megatron shifted to sit properly again, both feet down on the floor and shook his helm.

"I try. Like you... reminded me, trust and communication." A lopsided, dry little grin. "Feel up to doing the last bit?" At that, he tapped the crest of his helm.

[ichooseboth]

"...I'll go with that assumption for now. It should keep my processor intact at least." He shook his helm, ready to put such thoughts and ideas out of his head for the moment.

"Trust is very important," Orion agreed with a wry grin, pleased by the effort at least.

"And yes, of course. Let's get this wrapped up - I think we've gotten so distracted we're cutting it close enough as it is."

Orion stood, gesturing toward Megatron's helm with the airbrush.

[lordmegatron]

"A little, perhaps," Megatron admitted with a nod and slid up to the edge of the berth, reaching out with a little smirk and drawing Orion close by the hips. "There we go. And I wouldn't worry, even that should dry in time."

But they really did need to finish, even if what he wanted to do was kiss his way up Orion's frame until he hit his mouth. Alas, not now.

And, despite the hurdles, Megatron was rather pleased with how this morning had gone and what had been said, because it was out there, the things that should be, and some more exploration on a topic which Orion still needed.

[ichooseboth]

Orion chuckled at the tug in his hips, his own engine rising to to a muted rumble as he clanked up against Megatron's sturdy frame. But he kept it at that, as they couldn't afford any further delays.

Still, when he reached over to grasp the edge of Megatron's helm to angle it for painting - he was pleasantly able to note that, thanks to the berth, they were almost of an equal height - he couldn't resist allowing a brief lingering of thumb over cheek and jawline, before tilting the heavy helm as he needed it.

Engine still purring, Orion applied the last of the decals, fingertips curled gently against warm neck cables.

[lordmegatron]

They really couldn't, no, but he'd take his pleasure from Orion standing as close as he was, that heavy field of his pressing close and mingling with his own. He really did hope Orion soon learned to let go of his field more often. He didn't deserve to have to keep his field restrained.

But that was a thought for later, and Megatron smiled at the brief caress over his cheek before relaxing enough to let Orion tilt his helm as he wished. He wouldn't necessarily say it, but allowing even such a simple thing sent a warm curl along his circuits.

And while Orion hardly would, the fingertips against the cables and lines resting against his throat gently pinged pdanger proximity alerts which sent a different thrill entirely through him.

... Useful for the fact that he was going to be fighting in the arena soon, but for the moment his optics were offline and he was soaking in the faint rumble of Orion's engine, matching his own engine to that rythym, and the feel of their EM fields so close.

[ichooseboth]

The only reason Orion wasn't holding his field in...was because at this point, he simply forgot about in Megatron's presence. It was quite distracting, after all.

He didn't much think of the need to move Megatron's helm around; not consciously, at least. Sure, it gave him a warm glow around his spark to be so familiar with the huge mech- and it did feel terribly nice to have him so malleable under his fingertips...

But he focused on finishing up the paint work with quick, professional strokes, pulling back with only a lingering brush of fingers on faceplates.

"There. Ready to go."

He smiled with mild pride, stepping back enough to give Megatron room.

"You might want to check it in the mirror to make sure it's right."

[lordmegatron]

"I would trust you to get it right, but perhaps I should... at least for this first time," Megatron said with a tilt of his helm and a quirk to the upper ridge of one optic as he stood up.

There was even a mirror in the room, for the moment presenting a picture of a view of the Sonic Canyons. With a flick to the control panel beside it, the image faded away to let the surface become reflective, and Megatron gave a quick once-over.

"I think you pass," he grinned, casting it at Orion without turning around with the help of the mirror, then shifted his shoulders and hips, loosening the cables in the limbs. "Thank you for the assistance, Orion."

[ichooseboth]

"Of course." Orion smiled at the implication that this could and would happen again in the future. It wouldn't be able to happen all the time, of course, but he had enjoyed assisting Megatron and would readily help again when they both had agreeable schedules.

"I'm glad to hear it." He glanced up and down Megatron's frame, impressed despite himself at the overall look. He gave Megatron a nod, gesturing toward the door.

"Be safe out there."

[lordmegatron]

Laughing, Megatron shook his helm.

"I'll do better than be safe, Orion, and say I'll get nothing more than a few inconsequential cracks. If it's more than that, I'll give you permission to choose what sort of recompense I should give you for lying and for worrying you more than I promised I would," he gave the smaller mech a wink as he spoke, then turned around to attach the shield that had been resting against the wall by the door to the arm that usually carried a cannon, and then picked up the sword.

"Do you have time tonight? This shouldn't take too long."

[ichooseboth]

"...I wish I had your unbound confidence, but alright. I can agree to that."

Orion managed a smile that turned slowly to a smirk at that wink. Well. If that was how Megatron wanted to play it.

He passed the gladiator with a lingering hand to the shoulder, fingers ticking along treads trailing off and heading to the door.

"I'll be back tonight then."

He sauntered out, carefully hiding his worry.