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]

OH, but he could name some times...

Mirage kept his comments contained to a raised brow ridge that Cliffjumper thankfully could not see. That wouldn't help the situation. ...Maybe once they were back on Earth. Hmm. Something to think about.

::No, I haven't seen or heard anything. So please do not take it the wrong way or use it as an excuse. It is merely an option we must be aware of- so be aware and be careful.::

Seasoned soldier or not, Cliffjumper was still not the most physically imposing Autobot around. He could easily run into trouble, if said trouble even existed.

[cliffjumper]

Please do not, Mirage.

::Fine.:: He probably shouldn't sound so annoyed about that, because it was probably better this way. But with Mirage having brought up the possibility, Cliffjumper's processors were already working with all the possibilities and the additional enemy fronts they could end up having to deal with.

::I'll be on alert,:: he added after a moment with a brief huff, then rolled his optics as he turned away from a display of carefully cultivated crystal arrangements, ::though I doubt anything's gonna happen in a shopping district.::

Having taken a few steps, Cliffjumper paused and frowned. Turned back to storefront with the crystal arrangements and actually considered them. Mirage might actually like them.

They were utterly useless, delicate and, admittedly, pretty... And seemed like Mirage's thing. Frowning at them, Cliffjumper resolved to keep looking but put this shop as a tentative 'yes', if he found nothing else.

[lastonepercent]

::Good. I should hope not,:: Mirage agreed, already rolling his optics at Cliffjumper's tone. Then he paused.

Shopping? Cliffjumper? Whatever could he be looking-

Never mind. He probably did not want to know.

::Have a good shopping trip, then. Do try to enjoy yourself.:: He sniffed, ending the call to properly reassure the rest of the party what had happened with his 'partner'.

[cliffjumper]

::Who said I was shopping--!:: Cliffjumper's indignant sputtering got lost in the empty nothingness of a disconnected call, and he glowered with (undeserved) rancor the glittering display of ridiculous-looking jewellery.

Eyeing the strings of woven metal strands, polished jewels and crystals, Cliffjumper could see Mirage in something like that, too, especially around here. But he wasn't going to buy something like that; he didn't actually know Mirage's tastes, even if this was the sort of thing Mirage might wear.

He wasn't quite dumb enough when it came to stuff like this he'd buy it completely blind.

Which meant that he put the jewellery out of his mind and continued to look, though two hours later he'd almost resolved to backtrack to the shop with the crystal sculptures when he ended up in a small shop off from the main road he'd been following.

Everything in here seemed to glitter or pulse under his touch, and it took several minutes of appalled staring before Cliffjumper realised it wasn't actually glowing - what he was seeing was similar to the times Mirage had raised energy...

He shivered and almost stomped out immediately, but a delicate sculture-machine caught his attention. Mostly because it was the familiar arrangement of Cybertron with its moons.

Peering closer at it, Cliffjumper blinked. This close, even he could see what it was meant for; calculating and keeping track of planetary and lunar movements and events. Something he knew quite a few on the Ark had bemoaned their inability to do, since the crash had reset the Ark's memory and computers, losing the cybertronian date and counting forward from the crash.

It glowed like anything else in here, and Cliffjumper remembered more than one ceremony or holiday that was reliant on certain planetary or lunar events. Despite his discomfort with the place, he grabbed the delicate-looking (but surprisingly sturdy) and found an attendant.

[lastonepercent]

Mirage sputtered with laughter after he ended the call; Cliffjumper's paranoia was occasionally amusing.

"The shopping district-" he chuckled to himself, wondering what the minibot might actually end up buying for himself- if he bought anything at all. He hoped Cliffjumper actually found something he liked, rather than coming back with only complaints about how 'materialistic' the Paradronians were or something.

He spent the rest of the time Cliffjumper was away chatting up other ambassadors and reassuring the guards that no, Cliffjumper did not need to be tracked and brought back. Really.

Please don't.

[cliffjumper]

Even after getting what he'd intended to get (insofar as he'd intended to get a present), Cliffjumper lingered. Because now, having picked the thing up, now in a wrapped box, Cliffjumper was starting to feel both ridiculous and embarrassed.

How the frag was he supposed to give Mirage this thing, anyway? The mini was also not dumb enough not to be aware that doing this, even under the guise of buying something for his 'bonded', would be as good as yelling about what he felt for Mirage.

Which made him want to go and return the thing. Why had he thought this was a good idea, anyway? But, he already knew Mirage didn't have any feelings for him - why should he? - and at least like this, there would be no one else around to witness his fragging dumb impulse.

And he did still want to give Mirage something he might enjoy - had wanted to for a while, but Earth hadn't really lent itself to that, and it would've been hard to do something like that and not have someone he didn't want to find out do exactly that.

So with a huff, Cliffjumper reluctantly returned, pretending to ignore the escort he gained a few streets away from the building that was his goal - at least this time he did notice them.

Didn't mean he didn't end up staring at the door to their quarters for several moments before he could go in, uncomfortably aware of the fact that his optics were too bright, already.

[lastonepercent]

Mirage heard the relieved pings when Cliffjumper was returning long before the minibot actually got back. He made sure to thank the protective detail for their diligence, passing it along up the ranks to the ambassadors.

A lot of fuss for one little adventure, but it would be worth it if Cliffjumper actually managed to enjoy himself for once.

"Welcome back."

Mirage called from his seemingly relaxed lounge on the settee, across from a freshly-used table setting.

"You just missed the ambassador. They seemed to assume we'd need some 'private time' after your outing."

[cliffjumper]

"Uh--- yeah," Cliffjumper muttered, aware that wasn't very polite, but unable to care at the moment. Especially when Mirage said 'private time'. Sputtering, Cliffjumper ducked his helm and grit his teeth, feeling his EM field flex uneasily.

That was the last thing he needed to hear, especially right now. Normally he would just have rolled his eyes and hidden a slightly sullen thought of how something like that would never happen.

Right now, however, and well aware more than a few people had seen him coming back with his wrapped box, Cliffjumper didn't need to hear something like that. Though... it was perfectly possible that this was the reason why the ambassador and whoever else thought they'd need 'private time'...

Engine revving unevenly, Cliffjumper huffed and stomped across the room, only putting the box down on the low table carefully because he didn't want to jostle what was inside.

Scowling from the box to Mirage, Cliffjumper felt like hiding... but he also wanted to be nearby enough to get an idea of what Mirage thought of it...

His solution was to whirl around and walk over to the huge window.

"Well, I hope that went well, whatever it was you did. That's for you, by the way," Cliffjumper said - or rather, said and then mumbled the last, so whether Mirage had heard it or not was a good question.

[lastonepercent]

Mirage hid a smile behind a polite hand when Cliffjumper's field flexed and went fluttery. Poor minibot. He still didn't seem to know what to do with himself in the face of the ambassador's expectations.

Good thing they were alone.

But his amusement vanished at the words from Cliffjumper that he barely managed to catch.

"...What? For me?"

Glancing between Cliffjumper and the small box that had suddenly appeared on the table, Mirage cautiously approached, kneeling down alongside the table to pick the package up with thin, questioning fingers.

[cliffjumper]

Stiffening a little at Mirage's tone, Cliffjumper ducked his helm and scowled down at the buildings below them outside the window. This had been a bad idea, and he almost wished to turn around, snatch the dumb thing up and storm out.

But he also still wanted Mirage to have it.

"Yeah, for you," Cliffjumper muttered, crossing his arms over his chestplates. He should've waited a few more days before he did this, probably. But he hadn't been able to help himself, when the opportunity presented itself, even if he hadn't initially left with the idea to go buy Mirage something.

[lastonepercent]

Glancing between Cliffjumper and the box again, Mirage beamed, spinning in place with the present clasped in his hands.

"Oh! Well then- Thank you."

Honestly surprised and not quite sure what to think, Mirage quickly moved to unwrap it. He started out quick, almost rushed in a surge of excitement- but the closer he got to the gift itself, the more carefully he handled it.

Until the moon-path sculpture was resting gentle in his open hands, glowing faintly.

"Oh, Cliffjumper," Mirage gasped softly, awed and touched as it watched the delicate model move.

[cliffjumper]

Listening to Mirage first rip into the wrapping and then start to slow down, Cliffjumper shifted on his feet.

Bit his lip and felt his optics brighten and his field twitch at Mirage's gasp and the tone of voice, and he chanced a glance over his shoulder and cursed himself for looking.

Mostly because it was such a sweet expression, and he really didn't need to add that to things he'd seen.

(Yes, he did.)

"... you're welcome," Cliffjumper muttered, staring hard at the view out the window.

[lastonepercent]

Admiring the beautiful, sturdy-yet-delicate device for a long moment, Mirage finally moved to set it carefully on the table like a precious thing. He stared for a long moment. Then Mirage rose to his feet, and strode silently over to where Cliffjumper was staring out the window.

With the lighting as it was, Cliffjumper probably couldn't catch his reflection- which allowed him to slip up behind the minibot- stooping down to press a light kiss to the crown of his helm.

"Really. Thank you. It's lovely, and it was nice of you to think of me on your shopping trip."

[cliffjumper]

Cliffjumper noticed when Mirage got up from the couch and came up behind him, of course - that was completely impossible to miss, even if he was distracted. Definitely impossible to miss because he was almost always aware of where Mirage was if they were in the same room. And if Mirage wasn't intentionally trying to go undetected, since then not many would notice him.

"What'd y---"

The light brush of pressure was basically nonexistent, and the static was negligible, but Cliffjumper felt it like a spike through him. Exaggeration, of course, but he blushed fiercely, opened his mouth, closed it, then sputtered.

"I--- it's--- nothing. Nothing big," Cliffjumper finally managed, wanting to demand why Mirage had had to do that, wanted to leave but couldn't get his legs to obey.

[lastonepercent]

Mirage chuckled softly at Cliffjumper's reaction, hand resting briefly on a red shoulder before he pulled away.

"It does not matter. Big or small, I'm still grateful you thought of me."

Really, he hadn't expected it - and it was very, very telling, for Cliffjumper to do such a thing.

Perhaps he needed to rethink a few things.

[cliffjumper]

He was as aware of that hand on his shoulder as he'd been of the light, nearly non-existent kiss, and only barely managed to rein in his EM field before his blush registered in it as well (again).

"Yeah, well--- I'm---" Cliffjumper muttered, gritting his teeth and feeling not just flustered, but utterly embarrassed.

Even if Mirage had clearly liked the gift and that had been the fragging point... Unable to take it any more, Cliffjumper whirled around, intent on escaping and locking himself in one of the other rooms they had available when the door chime sounded and shortly after two people entered.

"Uh...?" Frozen between one step and the next, Cliffjumper scowled, his embarrassment doused cold in surprise.

"Honoured," the taller, slender one that shared some interesting similarities in look to Mirage, murmured, bowing briefly and shooting her companion a thinly veiled frown, "we wanted to make sure you arrived back safe, and it seems that was the case. Though, perhaps, you would allow yourself a guide next time? We could even arrange a tour, since with local knowledge interesting places to visits could be arranged as well."

Cliffjumper huffed and shrugged, glancing over to Mirage's gift where it was on the table, to Mirage, very, very quickly, and then back to the two by the doors.

"Uh, yeah, I'm fine."

Not the most diplomatic response, really, but he was too frazzled for anything else.

[lastonepercent]

Mirage reset his optics in surprise, faintly irritated by the sudden arrival- and very nearly late ping they had sent.

Cliffjumper had really worried someone, for them to rush up here like this and barely skirt the edges of formality.

"A pleasure," Mirage said, sweeping over in apparent welcome, sadly leaving Cliffjumper and their lack of discussion until later. Golden optics glancing between the two arrivals, Mirage bobbed his head at the polite offer.

"So good of you to come. I know it may may a bit alarming, but Cliffjumper's free to come and go as far a I am concerned." He clucked lightly, fingers lacing together as he took a polite- but firm- stance on the subject.

If Cliffjumper needed his few freedoms in the place to keep the peace between them, Mirage could hold on to that for him at least.

"A tour, though. I'm sure that will be lovely, the next time my dear Cliffjumper is feeling up to a day trip." He grinned, glancing back over his shoulder toward the frazzled minibot.

[cliffjumper]

Frazzled didn't even begin to describe it, and it didn't get any better when Mirage called him that.

It was just for show. For what they were doing, for what they were pretending to be. Nothing else. The litany sounded flat in Cliffjumper's processor, which wasn't helping. It was true, after all.

He manages a shrug at the ambassador, who nods, smiling faintly.

"Of course. Could we beg a warning off you, next time, however?" A slight little bow as it's spoken slowly and with understanding. Completely ignoring the increasingly annoyed-looking mech beside her.

[lastonepercent]

"We can certainly try," Mirage said with a teasing lilt to his voice, glancing back toward Cliffjumper for a moment.

"I can always give the guards a ping, if that would reassure you?" He glanced between the two Paradronians, noting the annoyance of the second.

"Is there anything else we can help you with at the moment?"

[cliffjumper]

"That would certainly suffice, honoured," the ambassador said with another bow, then sorted softly and straightened up. Cliffjumper need she was doing a very good job not glowering at the mech beside her.

"For my sake? No, certainly not, but I imagine Crushlight here had something he wishes to relay. Good day, honoured." She bowed again and left, leaving the messenger to straighten up, with a very quick glance at the door before he turned back to Cliffjumper and Mirage.

"The esteemed Highvolt has an invite for what she hopes would be a most delightful evening, if it pleases you, honoured."

Cliffjumper was barely able to hide his grimace at that. What 'pleased' him would be to say no, but he was sure Mirage world say yes

[lastonepercent]

Mirage returned the bow as the departing Paradronian turned to go- before facing the impatient messenger.

"Ah, thank you. Crushlight, is it?" Mirage gave them a polite bob of the head, though he didn't go quite as deeply as he could have, given their obvious impatience.

"Highvolt, you say?" He asked, rapidly doing a search on the name- it was familiar, but not enough to know well without more information.

"An honor, to be sure. When is the invitation for?"

[cliffjumper]

'An honour'. Cliffjumper could barely keep from rolling his optics. Was Mirage doing the necessary 'diplomatic' slagdripping, or did he actually know who this Highvolt was? Cliffjumper wasn't sure - either was probable, since if Highvolt was important enough she'd probably have been at least present and introduced, probably after he'd left.

"Tomorrow evening, honoured."

Cliffjumper had a feeling that that was a barely polite stretch of time to extend an invitation, probably too close to the event. But there was probably one million different reasons for why said invitation had been given now and not a little earlier, somehow.

Still, Cliffjumper glanced to Mirage to try and gauge his reaction, even if the mech was good at controlling himself when he really had to.

[lastonepercent]

Cliffjumper would be correct, if Mirage knew. It was polite by only the thinnest of margins. The priest raised a brow ridge, but nodded slowly.

"Hm. I should be able to attend, though my cohort may already have plans for the evening...?"

Mirage turned to glance over at Cliffjumper, seemingly in casual askance.

::It's your call. They aren't an ambassador, so you can blow it off if you feel the need.::

Giving Cliffjumper an out for a unimportant event and saving the minibot's patience for something that was actually crucial seemed a bit more wise.

[cliffjumper]

::What if you need backup?:: Cliffjumper didn't like the thought of having to attend anything, didn't like that he'd left Mirage earlier, but his patience had been out - but at least he'd been there for most of it.

Leaving Mirage with no 'back-up' for a whole evening, Cliffjumper didn't know if he liked that at all. On the other hand, Mirage was more than capable and would probably be in his element. Irritated, but in his element.

Cliffjumper briefly wondered how Mirage would handle that, but then huffed mentally at himself; he probably wouldn't recognise or notice even half the things Mirage would do.

"I'd have to... uh, check," Cliffjumper finally said, the words feeling clumsy and inadequate to the turns of phrase having been used so far, by basically everyone that had been in the room in the last breem.

[lastonepercent]

::I should be fine even if everything does go to the pit, you know. Which is unlikely. But I'm not completely helpless.:: Mirage almost snickered.

::Just decide quick.::

"Please do, my dear," Mirage added out loud, giving Crushlight a charming , if very fake, grin.