The Start of Something Interesting...

[lastonepercent]

The day was calm, with no recent Decepticon attacks, and none suspected to be incoming for some time.  The cons were too busy licking their wounds from the last battle, one that the Autobots had decidedly come out ahead on.  The celebrations had gone on long into the night and the recreation room was already a mess.

Thus, it was the perfect chance for a lone Autobot to slip casually outside.

Mirage had no shift currently scheduled, so he was free to spend his time as he pleased.  He certainly made no move to hide his departure, greeting his comrades in the halls on the way out, but the box in his hands remained unopened despite any passing curiosity.  It was quietly shifted into subspace before long, and  the former noble shifted into alt mode just as smoothly when he reached the doors.  Despite the completely inappropriate earthen race car mode, the mech had little trouble self-adjusting before driving off into the forest covering the mountain, for business unknown...

Comments

[lastonepercent]

"No, not really."

Not at all, Mirage refrained from saying, biting back the snappy remark. He stretched his long frame, rolling his shoulders in faux nonchalance.

"But it is hardly your fault. I've allowed myself to be hoisted by my own struts, in this case."

It was the ambassadors, and his own.

[cliffjumper]

Apologetic or not, it was hard to hold onto the feeling when Mirage stretched and rolled his shoulders. Cliffjumper tried to look away, really, but he was stuck staring slightly angled at Mirage from the edge of his vision with his helm turned down slightly.

Mirage was, after all, very good looking, and while Cliffjumper might always scoff about the delicate lines and armour Mirage sported, the long, slender cut of him was distracting.

Very, very distracting, especially when he did that, and Cliffjumper had to duck his helm further and look away less his blush give him away, though the slightly stuttered, quiet reset of his vocaliser was probably... revealing.

Cliffjumper hoped not.

"Uh, well, think the ambassadors are kinda at rusted fault too, since if they hadn't found us, this wouldn't be happenin'," Cliffjumper offered with a snort, shifting in his seat on his berth.

The mini still wasn't sure if that was a good idea or not, though allies of any sort would obviously be a Primus-sent gift.

But if they actually were or might turn into allies, that was what Cliffjumper was doubting at all.

"We just gotta... get through this." Cliffjumper couldn't manage a smile, not even a half-hearted one, and a grimace slipped out instead. Not just because of what they were going to have to pretend and the fact that he didn't trust the Paradronians, but also...

Well, he sure hoped Mirage would still even vaguely tolerate him by the end of it all. Some small, tiny part was hoping for more, but it was ruthlessly squashed.

[lastonepercent]

"True. But then again, we wouldn't be in the midst of our chance to ally with a lost colony, either."

Another pop from resettling shoulders, before Mirage gave Cliffjumper a shrug.

"That will make it all worth it in the end."

It would have to. Giving Cliffjumper a lingering stare, Mirage nodded, resigned and serious.

"I'm sure we'll manage."

[cliffjumper]

"True," Cliffjumper muttered, "if that's even what they're gonna turn into..." grimacing, Cliffjumper fingered the datapad he'd been given. This was stupid, but it was happening.

They wouldn't, at least, be completely alone on Paradron, even if the Ark crew couldn't spare too many others either, which was understandable. They would, either way, be out-numbered.

On the other hand, none of the Paradronians were probably combat-trained, like the Autobots (and Decepticons) were, so there was that.

"Somehow, anyway," Cliffjumper agreed and rubbed the side of his helm, then looked back at Mirage, "you gonna sneak out of here the way you came?"

He wasn't sure what he thought about Mirage having sneaked here invisible, though.

[lastonepercent]

"Mhmm no," Mirage shrugged again as he stood up, heading toward the door. Palm on the exit pad, he turned long enough to flash Cliffjumper with a dimmed optic in a teasing wink.

"If we're supposedly 'involved', I imagine it doesn't matter if I am seen slipping out of here at all hours, now does it? I'll see you again for the launch - don't forget to memorize that data pad, and upcoming datapacket! I should have that ready for you by morning."

Chuckling, he stepped out into the hall, door whooshing shut behind him.