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]

::One of the smaller conference rooms should be available at this hour.:: Mirage said, even as he pinged Teletran for confirmation of that very fact.

::...Conference rooms three and seven are both open, if you like?::

Finishing off his cube with in a long, inelegant draught, Mirage began to lead the way toward the door. Given the light of the rec room, the healing marks lining the noble's back were quite obvious now; the glyphs gone silver and shiny with fresh protoform free of chromonanites.

The look was very decorative, if you didn't know exactly how they were made.

[cliffjumper]

::Either works, I suppose.:: Shrugging, Cliffjumper followed after another moment of hesitation, though this time not because he was hesitating over the possibility of being mocked, but from the light winking over those silvered angles and half-loops.

Giving the glyphs all along the various edges and angles of Mirage's back a scowl, Cliffjumper lengthened his steps to catch up, keeping his half-empty cube with him.

He had no idea how to ask Mirage what he wanted to ask to get some proper comparison to what he'd experienced and if that was what should be or not. Perhaps he could just ask the mech to explain what he and whoever else was around would see?

Frowning as he walked slightly behind and to the side of Mirage, distantly annoyed by the way he had to walk faster because of Mirage's fragging long legs and stride, Cliffjumper slid his thumb along the rim of the cube as he thought.

Might work.

He also had to try not to glance up and aside too often, because he really didn't want anyone, even less Mirage himself to catch on to the glances he was throwing at his backside.

And not because of the glyphs, even if they did add a lght-catching distracting pattern. No, it was just because of the way he walked.

[lastonepercent]

::Sounds agreeable. Seven is closer:: He said, leading the way.

It was hard not to notice Cliffjumper's scowls and...stares. Mirage didn't get here he was simply by being unobservant.

Thankfully, he assumed only partially correctly, silently guessing that Cliffjumper was staring at the glyphs themselves. Which he carefully decided to ignore, at least until they reached the conference room. No reason to start arguing in the halls, or worse, scare the minibot away before they could have their obviously necessary talk.

They arrived fairly quickly, passing only a handful of other, mostly distracted 'bots in the halls. Mirage had already scheduled their visit with the ship, so the door slid open at their approach. Mirage gestured Cliffjumper inside.

[cliffjumper]

It was probably a minor miracle Cliffjumper had managed to hide his crush so far, but considering he was angry at himself half the time for having it or for doing something relating to it, he often ended up glaring, so...

It wasn't so strange that it might have been missed, or rather, overlooked.

Each mech they passed got a narrow, grumpy stare - though thankfully only one or two even looked up from their datapads or away from their own path to take notice of the mini glaring at them.

When the door opened and Mirage gestured him inside, Cliffjumper didn't let himself think about it or regret it, and instead stomped right on in. He'd get this done, get answers one way or another, and that... would be that.

Cliffjumper could admit he was surprised Mirage had approached him in public, even less suggested they go somewhere private. He'd managed to be a particular pain in the aft for the noble, even Cliffjumper could see that, but he still only regretted part of it.

It was probably just as well though, because like this Mirage would probably never pick up on that stupid, fraggin' foolish crush and Cliffjumper could just be ashamed of it on his own and try to get over it.

Shaking his helm at the thoughts, Cliffjumper stomped over to one of the chairs at the conference table and threw himself into it, the chair rising up in the air after he sat down, to match the height of the table.

He didn't care that it made his legs dangle in the air, and stared at the floor just so Mirage couldn't catch him staring.

[lastonepercent]

Mirage stepped inside after Cliffjumper, the door sealing behind him for privacy. The room was small, only able to host six hauler-class mechs at the table at maximum. Mirage choose a seat across from the minibot; at least he was still able to keep his feet on the ground, after the chair had adjusted for him.

"So. What sort of questions did you have, Cliffjumper?"

Casually, he folded his hands in front of him on the table.

[cliffjumper]

Having picked up his cube again, Cliffjumper twitched at Mirage's question, thumb running along the rim. What was he even... how was he supposed to say it?

Squirming, Cliffjumper scowled into the energon and tried to get the confusion over the situation a week ago to form into words.

"... What's it supposed to look like?" Glancing up at Mirage, Cliffjumper looked away almost immediately, frown forming as he spoke. "I mean, what are ya supposed to see, if anything at that ritual?"

There. He hoped that worked, because like slag was he going to try and explain what he had seen again without knowing what the... basic experience? was supposed to be like.

[lastonepercent]

Golden optics resetting in surprise, Mirage's jaw clicked shut before he could comment.

He expected to have to bring that up with Cliffjumper himself, to settle his own professional curiosity.

"Well...it depends on what one can see. Given the relatively minor nature of the ritual you...were part of, most wouldn't be able to see anything. It's not like a Prime-ascension or Matrix-led rite or something that is obvious to everyone."

He gave Cliffjumper a significant look, terribly curious about what the minibot did see himself.

"However, those that can, like priests and their chosen acolytes, could see the Light of the various spark energy produced by the rite."

Mirage managed a wry smile.

"As I recall, it was rather bright."

[cliffjumper]

Cliffjumper missed Mirage's look as he was, by now, glowering at the table. He did visibly twitch at the comment of seeing the light of various sparks however, optics narrowing and darkening a little.

"It kinda was," Cliffjumper muttered and then snapped his mouth shut, vocaliser briefly going into neutral before resetting properly. He hadn't intended to say anything yet.

But well, he had to at some point so maybe it was kinda moot?

He wasn't sure.

"... Like a web? Mostly from and around ya connectin' the glyphs to your... spark." That, despite the fact that he hadn't actually seen so much as a flicker of the spark energy that had been closest to Mirage's spark since he'd had his back to the berth, had Cliffjumper ducking his helm in embarrassment.

He hadn't even thought of the fact that he'd sort of... well, whatever.

"Are you supposed to not be aböe to fraggin move?" He didn't want to admit it, but that had honestly been sort of terrifying - Cliffjumper still hadn't been able to figure out how he'd suddenly just been able to see of that light and not be able to move.

[lastonepercent]

Whatever he had been about to say, Mirage's vocalizer froze up as he could simply stare for several seconds.

"A...web. You saw the spark-energy web?"

He gaped, before shaking his helm. Obviously he had, if he was able to describe it at all.

"You were somehow able to get into a meditative trance state. Untrained and accidentally?"

He waved a hand in the minibot's direction, openly incredulous.

"Cliffjumper. How were you not snapped up by the Priesthood again?"

[cliffjumper]

The silence just made him scowl and when Mirage finally spoke again, Cliffjumper bristled at the disbelief he could hear, whipping up straight, but he didn't get to do more than growl before Mirage continued.

"Trance?" Defensive anger dispersed by mouthing out the unfamiliar word - he knew what it meant, of course, but it was just a word... except apparently not. He'd always thought that was fragging exaggerated scrap.

Shaking his helm, Cliffjumper huffed as he looked up at Mirage again, clutching the cube as if it was somehow a defense - as if Mirage would drag him off to a priesthood that didn't exactly exist in an organised fashion anymore.

"Probably 'cause I avoided the temples like acid rain?" Pausing, Cliffjumper grimaced and, looking away, decided he could just as well tell Mirage since he already knew half of it. "It happened at one of the holiday ceremonies I went to. Not like what happened a week ago, but... uh, similar? Avoided goin' after that."

It was probably just as well he'd never been overly religious or invested in going to the holiday celebrations, really.

[lastonepercent]

"...well. That would explain a lot."

Mirage shook his head, amazed.

"If you had mentioned it to someone, with that sort of innate ability you would have been trained. I'm surprised you managed to avoid getting noticed in the first place. But slipping into a trance without preparation..."

He made a face.

"I can imagine that wasn't very pleasant."

[cliffjumper]

Cliffjumper stared at Mirage for a moment and then snorted.

"I was in a fraggin' crowd, Mirage, and about as far from the front ya can get. I'm a mini. How much was there to notice?" If he abused the cube's forcefield much further, it'd probably destabilise right there in his hands, but Cliffjumper didn't even seem aware of the cube right now as he scowled at the table's surface and then, slowly, his expression softened as he thought that first event over.

"Didn't last long that time... I don't think, anyway. Not as long as this did. Thought I'd glitched, went to a medic later and there was nothing wrong so I ignored it. Just didn't watch any more religious stuff in person." Shrugging, Cliffjumper grimaced, glancing up at Mirage and then away.

He wasn't sure he wanted to admit how much it had freaked him out when it happened a week ago, even if he hadn't exactly been able to feel it right then when it happened.

"Couldn't fraggin' move, so you can guess how fun that was!" Huffing, he glanced up at Mirage again, optics narrowing. "'Sides, it was your fault. Was fine until you made that... chant... stronger." The 'accusation' carried no actual weight or resentment, because Cliffjumper remembered perfectly well why (no matter how embarrassing that was) Mirage had done it, so technically it was his own fault for being upset at the pain Mirage was experiencing.

But like slag he'd regret being upset when someone was in unnecessary pain like that.

[lastonepercent]

"You'd be surprised what the Priesthood was able to notice..." Mirage murmured, shaking his head.

"But that is understandable, I suppose."

He gave Cliffjumper a long look, before glancing away, expression chagrined.

"Well. Had I known what an effect it would have had on you, I would have avoided it - or at least warned you. The deeper Song is meant to relax. It has a pleasant effect on those not as sensitive as yourself - and those who are, are usually trained and know how to channel it so they are not locked into an unwilling trance."

[cliffjumper]

Scowling, Cliffjumper finally emptied the cube and slapped the emptied container down on the table, then crossed his arms over his chestplates and leaned back in the seat. He wanted to be annoyed, angry even, because if nothing else maybe it could help distancing himself from this situation and from Mirage.

There was, however, absolutely no way he could be angry at what Mirage was saying, even knee-jerk. Well, maybe there was some part that was annoyed he hadn't checked, but if he was fair (kinda) being... sensitive was probably rare and he wouldn't even have known what Mirage was talking about, so the point was moot.

"Coulda asked, ya know! But..." With a grunt, Cliffjumper shook his helm and watched his feet dangle. "I probably wouldn't have known what you were talkin' about, and since ya did it to be--- uh... because I... 'cause you thought it'd help, it's... okay." It shouldn't be that hard to admit he'd needed it, but slag, it was.

"... What the frag do you mean they might have noticed anyway, though? I was never close to any priests at all back then."

[lastonepercent]

Mirage's tires twitched when Cliffjumper slammed down the cube; he'd been somewhat expecting an explosion from the smaller mech since they started all this, and when it didn't come it left him even more confused than he was before.

"Ask...what exactly? 'Do you have any concealed abilities that might hinder or harm you in the course of this Rite'?"

Mirage snorted.

"You should have been spotted and brought in. Most if not all usually were. They - we - tended to watch the religious events for just that purpose, when we could."

He shook his crested head, waving a hand in the red mini's direction.

"Sensitives are rare, Cliffjumper. Rare and too valuable to be 'wasted' doing menial, average work."

[cliffjumper]

"Yeah, maybe you should have," Cliffjumper muttered, voice nearly waspish, his lingering annoyance with having to find out something he'd rather not have bleeding through and overcoming his common sense.

Then he huffed and kicked his legs again, squinting at Mirage and distinctly relieved he hadn't been spotted. He'd hardly have fitted in at any temple or whatever, and while things hadn't always been easy, they'd been... adequate.

"Even if we'd rather do that sorta work? What's the fraggin' use anyway, of bein' able to see a stupid lightshow? Since it's kinda obvious you wouldn't need someone else to tell ya the rite worked." Even trhat oblique reference to Mirage's... overload... had Cliffjumper's optics brightening and he looked away, static softening his grumpy tone.

[lastonepercent]

"I'm afraid that isn't exactly the standard spiel we give new participants of the rites. It's never been needed before."

Mirage frowned, helm tilting to the side in obvious bemusement.

"Prefer normal work? Over life in a temple?" He asked, as though Cliffjumper was speaking another language.

"I can't see why. There are far more benefits than simple 'light shows', Cliffjumper."

[cliffjumper]

Cliffjumper just snorted at that and shook his helm, then looked back at Mirage with exasperation. He should've guessed somebody who'd been a noble, and, apparently, also a priest wouldn't get why some people might be perfectly fragging satisfied with what they had.

"Yeah, why not? I mean sure, it wasn't the most amazing work ever or anythin', but I chose to do it. Why'd I want to do just what someone else told me to?" With a huff, Cliffjumper leaned back in the too big chair, tapping the underside of the table with a bumper.

"Shoulda guessed someone like you wouldn't understand." Pausing, his optics narrowing, Cliffjumper looked at Mirage. "So, what would be the other benefits? Not like it slaggin' matters now, but I can't see what they'd supposedly be, or what you'd even need somebody capable of seein'... all that for."

Oh Mirage, he is so blind at times~

[lastonepercent]

He really, really didn't understand it.

"And what is that supposed to mean?"

Voice huffing in affront, Mirage shook his head.

"Serving as a priest of Cybertron is an honor! Of course I would prefer it over any more mundane work, as one should. It is a Calling!"

Mirage had to bite his tongue to launching into a debate; defending his culture and beliefs in that manner had never ended well, leaving him with his current, 'spoiled, pampered noble bastard' reputation with the bulk of the crew.

And he hardly wanted yet another argument with the minibot in front of him. Even if he was completely blind to Mirage's point of view.

"Sensitives like you are rare. And they are useful because someone has to lead the Rites and preform the Holiday Celebrations. Everything from minor site blessings to reading the health of the local sector to finding the next Prime is our task!"

Indeed he is XD

[cliffjumper]

"Uh-huh." Cliffjumper just stared flatly at Mirage, arms crossed over his chestplates. "Just 'cause it works for you don't mean everybody would wanna fraggin' do it." And if he'd ever gotten that "calling", he'd obviously missed it big time.

Sure, a steady supply of probably far better energon than you could get on the regular would have been nice, but even the cheapest energon wasn't bad and trying to imagine himself doing... anything of the things that Mirage was recounting just made him want to laugh.

Or rolls his optics, which he might actually have done, though he couldn't feel regret for it.

"Great. Fraggin' fantastic. I still don't get why you'd need someone who's... uh, sensitive to do any of that, can't you do it?" Pausing, Cliffjumper cocked his helm and stared at Mirage. "Now look at me and tell me you could see me do that. Any of that, whatever the fraggin' reason is me bein' able to see the... spark energy or whatever would be useful."

;D

[lastonepercent]

Mirage could only raise an incredulously brow at the assertion that someone might not want to.

He wasn't touching that one.

"Me? Of course I do. Did. I started out as a 'mere' sensitive myself. Priests train up other sensitives to become acolytes or even full priests when they follow the Call."

He shook his head, stunned that he even had to explain such a thing.

"But there are never enough. Sensitives are too few to pass up any who are found."

[cliffjumper]

He just stared back, the glow of his optics steady. Yeah, he was being absolutely serious here.

"I still don't fraggin' get why, Mirage." Throwing his arms up, he then slumped back and crossed them over his chestplates, feeling frustrated. "If those who can't see all that slag can do all the stuff anyway, what the slag are... 'sensitives' needed for then?!"

Not that he'd ever had agreed to stay and be trained if he'd been found out back in the day. Would he have had a choice? Eyeing Mirage, Cliffjumper decided he didn't want to know if he'd have had a choice regarding to stay and be trained or not.

[lastonepercent]

Mirage couldn't help it. He pressed a palm to his forehead in exasperation, slowly dragging his hand down his face.

"That's just it. They can't. 'Normal' Cybertronians may participate in the Holiday rites, but they can't be more than Acolytes and Devout Low-Priests, no matter their faith."

He shook his head, gesturing with his free hand passionately.

"Full Priests have to be sensitives. They cannot do all those tasks I mentioned without the Sight."

[cliffjumper]

"... Oh." Staring, Cliffjumper was caught in a brief moment of open, wide-optic surprise and slow understanding as things actually started to make sense. Well, at least Mirage's kind of huffy insistence and whatever did, not his confusion over why someone might not want to be a priest.

"Still wouldn't make a good priest, or want to be one," Cliffjumper finally said with a huff, grimacing as he turned his helm aside in stubborn refusal. Not that it mattered, now or in the future, but Cliffjumper felt it had to be said.

Mirage was pretty and not actually a bad Autobot or soldier (or friend, but Cliffjumper couldn't judge that, really), but in some things he could be kinda dumb.

"... Is there any way to make me not able to see this scrap? Would rather it didn't happen again." Turning back to face Mirage, Cliffjumper frowned, expression plaintive rather than accusatory or impatient.

All this made him fragging unsettled and he could really do without risking something like this happening again if he ever was close to another ceremony or holiday celebration done properly or whatever.

[lastonepercent]

"You want to-"

Mirage's jaw dropped, face twisting with horror. He jerked back in his chair, shuddering at the very idea.

"Of course there isn't! The very idea is- is just horrifying! It's heresy."

It was the only word he could think of strong enough to encompass his utter rejection of the suggestion, and he still sputtered, field going erratic. Why would Cliffjumper even?

"You may not like the idea of the holiday rites or the priesthood, but for Primus' sake, why would you want to cull a part of you?"