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

[cliffjumper]

He grimaced again at that, but the implicit promise that talking about that could wait a bit was enough to make some of the tension in Cliffjumper's frame bleed out. Sure, they couldn't postpone all of the (other) difficult topics to right before they left or something, but at least that one shouldn't be an issue, right?

"Well, that and we are in a slaggin' war," Cliffjumper couldn't help but comment, rolling his optics. Mirage might never have been too enthusiastic about it, but he'd done his part, and especially on Earth he'd certainly had to participate in full-on battlefield combat.

"Not that I know much 'bout fox huntin', but I guess we..." had to pause there, forcing his field to still over the flustered wiggle it wanted to do when he said 'we'. There was no we, except for this... this pretend thing, so that his stupid fragging frame would react like that...

Somewhere, there was that sick twist inside, and Cliffjumper pushed it away and shook his helm.

"Uh, I mean, could've been doin'... something, like it? We've got a lot of space 'round the Ark, after all." Shrugging, Cliffjumper frowned. He'd never understood why fox hunting would be one of the things the nobles kept secret.

It wasn't the only thing, of course, and there were probably a lot most people didn't even know the nobles kept very quiet about their traditions and whatever else slag, but you'd have to have been newly sparked to not know about nobles and turbofox hunting.

Not that anyone, and of course not Cliffjumper either, knew more than that. He wasn't even sure if he should feel annoyed about it, or if he should think it was terrible... so he usually settled on his usual vague disdain over the nobles.

[lastonepercent]

"Shooting because 'we're in a war' versus because we might enjoy the practice are two different things entirely."

"There is," Mirage agreed, lips twitching, "The forests and mountain are perfect ground for hunts, chases, and seek-and-finds."

Mirage grinned, expression somewhat nostalgic; he'd once played every sort of hunting 'game' imaginable before the loss of the Towers and the start of the war. It was a silly thing to long for, of course, but...

He shook his head and glanced away, managing an apologetic shrug.

"They can be quite enjoyable. ...But yes, perhaps something more in line with your own interests as well? Or we could simply press forward to the more...detailed portions of our mission cover."

[cliffjumper]

"Do somethin' like that with Bee and sometimes Windcharger," Cliffjumper said with a thoughtful frown. Using the surroundings while chasing each other in a not-quite race was really fun.

"So I guess that could be something?" The thought of actually getting to do that with Mirage sounded fun, and just in a general way, disregarding anything else. It probably wouldn't ever happen though - this was just to establish what they would logically be doing if they actually were involved.

Then he just shook his helm and flashed a grin.

"Hey, if you're willing to watch... or, uh actually like those type of holos, I'm fine. And we both like racing... and well, I can even sit down for one of those slagging dramas, I do it for Bee. As long as ya don't make me play games," Cliffjumper said with a roll of his optics - mostly because every blasted game seemed to just be a variation on a strategy game, and that just wasn't Cliffjumper's... forté.

The type he did like were closer to human puzzles and those... were games for those who were newly sparked. Bee had given him a few human ones (like that coloured cube) and while most of them weren't particularly hard, they were still enjoyable.

... He might have been trying to ignore Mirage's mention of moving on to the more "detailed portions" of their mission, regardless of how flustered talking about this made him - or how it made his insides twist, since these were things he'd wanted to know, and now that he realised they might actually share some interests?

Well, it didn't make anything better. Cliffjumper also had to admit that, if he actually disliked Mirage a lot, he'd probably be more tolerant by now from this conversation.

[lastonepercent]

Hiding a snicker at the idea of Cliffjumper running wild with Bumblebee and Windcharger, Mirage nodded down at the smaller mech in thoughtful consideration.

"I would be willing to watch them," Mirage agreed quietly, surprised but pleased by Cliffjumper's slight mistake in his speech.

"We'll have to pass the downtime somehow, after all. Might as well be doing mutually enjoyable activities that also happen to further our cover."

He wasn't blind to Cliffjumper's deliberate avoidance, but he let it pass for the moment.

[cliffjumper]

The admission made something twist warmly inside - and then Cliffjumper had to push it down with a vengeance, because it was just for the mission. Primus, he hoped he ended up having the crush chased out of him...

Otherwise he might just end up confessing to get Mirage to turn him down and maybe then he could stop being stupid. But the thought of confessing his feelings made him want to go bang his helm against a wall or something, so it wouldn't happen any time soon.

"Yeah, I guess..." pausing, Cliffjumper realised something, "I guess we could... I dunno. Walk around too? I mean, it's not gonna be like Earth, I assume, and while it ain't gonna be Cybertron..." shrugging, Cliffjumper suddenly realised - and was rather taken aback by the thought, somehow - that they'd be on a planet not caught in war.

A planet with a normal, functioning society and all what that meant.

There'd actually be more things to watch than ruins and the threat of attack - Earth was somewhat similar, but while, okay, the various environments were interesting, it just... wasn't the same.

[lastonepercent]

Resetting his optics, Mirage nodded slowly. Of course, he knew Paradron was a untouched colony world. That was half of the reason they were doing this in the first place. But hearing Cliffjumper say it, mentioning that they could just go for a stroll down a normal city road...

Mirage grinned, wide and honestly, nostalgia and hope making his spark warm in his chest.

"Yes... Yes, that is something we can most definitely do." He perked up, voice brightening with pleasure.

"Sightseeing is surely already on the list, as the Paradrons will want to show off their colony... But I'm sure we can explore on our own as well."

[cliffjumper]

"If we can't, I think that'll be a warnin' bell on its own," Cliffjumper said with a snort and a roll of his optics, looking away from Mirage's wide grin because otherwise he'd stare.

Slag it all.

And then, if only to get something else to distract him... though he was curious, honestly...

"Wonder what Paradron looks like..." he sort of both hoped and dreaded the thought that it might look similar, if not identical, to Cybertron. That would... hurt. But it'd also be nice, to be able to walk somewhere that was familiar again, and not this organic mudball that Earth was, no matter that it did have its bright points.

[lastonepercent]

"Exactly," Mirage agreed, though he highly doubted such an event would occur. It was possible, of course; Cliffjumper wasn't completely paranoid, but he seemed to have a knack for finding the worst possible scenario in any idea he didn't like. Mirage couldn't help but wonder if the minibot's suspicious mind wouldn't be useful picking apart some of the more reckless of plans.

Cliffjumper, Red Alert, and Prowl in a room together. The idea forced him to hide a snort that he covered up by fumbling for his subspace.

"Well, that I can help with, a little."

He pulled out a holocube, placing it on the nearest flat surface between them.

"The Paradrons did want to show off their home a little bit, to entice us to visit of course."

He activated the cube, throwing up a small projection of what the Paradron's considered their most beautiful or most famous locals.

[cliffjumper]

Frowning at the cube, it didn't take long for Cliffjumper to scoot off the berth and cross the room to get a better look at the shifting display of environments showed off.

"'Look, our completely unravaged and resource-rich planet, isn't it pretty?' The 'Cons must be slaggin' glitching at the thought..." the mutter wasn't particularly vicious, more distracted, really, as Cliffjumper focused on the cube.

Glittering cities with crystals set at focal points or decorations in buildings; delicate spires and swooping arches, somewhere the buildings themselves seemed to be arches.

A literally floating garden of crystals and rock covered in various moss - well, Cliffjumper thought it was moss, anyway, as it looked kind of similar to the Earth versions of that, hanging high over a plaza dotted with pools and fountains.

An intricate, interconnected array of pools and waterfalls - he wasn't sure if they were natural or not - rainbows glittering in the light that fell from three suns.

Terraces covering the side multicoloured mountains - that was familiar, at least. Cliffjumper hadn't been, not even during the war, but he certainly knew about the bismuth terraces of Tetrahex, or the similar (but of different materials) terraces found in the Manganese Mountains where they ran through Tarn.

Deep canyons with giant waterfalls bursting from the top or through the cliff, falling miles and miles down below where crystal and rivers glinted.

Swooping rock formations that sort of looked like some of the sandstone configurations here on Earth.

"That canyon reminds me both of the Sonic Canyons and the Grand Canyon, same with those rock formations..." Cliffjumper didn't even glance back at Mirage as he spoke, almost transfixed.

It was silly, really, but seeing something that was so similar to home, but not ravaged by war? It both hurt and made him want to go, regardless of the unpleasantness of the mission itself.

Before the war, he hadn't really even travelled much; something like this wouldn't just have been an impossibility, it was something he'd never even considered.

[lastonepercent]

He'd already watched it once or twice, but the holodisplay was still amazing to behold. The sight of a truly Cybertronian world untouched by war made him ache inside.

"It does, doesn't it?" Mirage smiled faintly, glancing away from the wonderful (nostalgic, painful,) holographic sights to watch Cliffjumper's wide-optic'd wonder.

Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all?

"The architecture reminds me of Crystal City the most, but it is still rather unique. I look forward to seeing it in person."

Pausing for a moment, Mirage silently moved the cube toward Cliffjumper in offering.

[cliffjumper]

"Wouldn't know, but if ya say so..." trailing off as he continued to stare, comment offhand and completely lacking in any of the annoyed or accusing huffiness it might otherwise have had, Cliffjumper finally looked back up at Mirage when the cube was offered to him.

"... sure that'd be okay?"

It didn't mean anything, but even just such a simple, and vague, offering had a little surge of charge flare through him, making his fingertips tingle. Of course, he'd rather, like anyone else, have had such a lovely display from pre-war Cybertron, but this?

It was nearly as good, and it was surprisingly fascinating and captivating to be seeing images from a planet that was so definitely cybertronian without being Cybertron.

[lastonepercent]

Nodding, Mirage gestures with his hand, motioning the cube toward Cliffjumper before pressing it into his palm.

"Of course. I've watched what I needed. It should be good to let you enjoy the preview of what you'll be seeing in person at your leisure."

And should help to keep Cliffjumper's newfound excitement for the mission up.

"If nothing else, it would make for a nice decoration," Mirage chuckled.

[cliffjumper]

Fingers closing about the cube automatically, smiling in surprise as he pulled it closer and, after standing there for another moment, unsure of what to do, went back to sit on the berth again.

"More'n I got now, so while it ain't home... close enough I guess," Cliffjumper said with a lopsided grin as he put the holo cube down beside him on the berth, trailing his fingers over the surface before dropped them on his lap instead.

It'd always frustrated him he hadn't either had, or managed to pick up, some form of holo display from Cybertron.

Glancing down at the cube, Cliffjumper gave a grimace and turned back to Mirage with some reluctance.

"So what now?"

He knew there was more, and perhaps it was better they get on with it, even if he really didn't want to.

[lastonepercent]

"Well..." Mirage started, oddly reluctant to break the calm peace that had descended on them. It was nice while it lasted.

"Beyond what we've already discussed, everything else is a bit more difficult."

'Difficult' and unpleasantly for them both, it would seem.

"We will still need to discuss how we will have to act toward each other because of our supposed bonding - and the more intricate details that will be required for you to pass as a Sensitive bonded to a Priest. Unfortunately."

The second part made Mirage frown. He still did not want to share further Priest details with Cliffjumper, given his constantly restated reluctance to have anything to do with the more religious portions of the ability. But for the sake of the mission, which Prime was already making hinting noises about...

Mirage felt he was going to have little choice but to give Cliffjumper more information that he would have normally been allowed.

[cliffjumper]

Cliffjumper would rather have had that nice moment stretch out longer himself, but he'd had no idea how to do it, and he was also uncomfortably aware of the things they hadn't talked about yet.

Like that.

He was blushing before he knew it and angrily shook his helm to chase away the bright optics and twisting EM field.

"Why'd we gotta discuss that!? Why not just... try to avoid fights and it should be good, right? Not everybody likes to be... uh, demonstrative in public," Cliffjumper said, having to lower his volume when he realised he was speaking way too loudly, and had to try not to blush again when he said 'demonstrative'.

[lastonepercent]

"We need to lay down...boundaries and expectations." Mirage waved a hand, trying to explain.

"While we can play it as though we are currently 'on the rocks', the goal is to out up as much of a front as possible. We need to be able to play along if the unexpected happens."

The spy huffed, giving Cliffjumper a serious look.

"While we have a good deal of intelligence, it is entirely possible that we will have to come into the most basic of physical contact with one another. It may not be ideal, but it is possible. So we need to be able to tolerate it."

[cliffjumper]

Blush still lingering, Cliffjumper suddenly huffed sharply.

"I ain't gonna fraggin' explode if ya touch me, Mirage," shaking his helm, Cliffjumper shifted a little on his seat, to try and ease out the pricking, claw-sharp tension suddenly tightening his cables, "I don't really... like public stuff, not the big stuff, not even to see other people do it, but as long as I know what you're doing'..."

Trailing off, Cliffjumper pushed down his unhappiness to give Mirage a questioning look that wasn't quite a scowl.

"Are you gonna claim you can do 'whatever's needed if the mission demands it' or do ya have some preferences as well?" Cliffjumper, probably not overly kindly, tried to imitate Mirage as he spoke.

He knew he should be less abrasive, especially as they'd just had a pretty nice moment, but he was being torn between an ugly sort of giddiness at the thought of being able to touch Mirage casually, semi-intimately, and the twisting, sick feeling that it wouldn't ever mean anything,

[lastonepercent]

Mirage gave Cliffjumper a wry glance.

"Good to know. I would hate to have gained a touch-sensitive bomb in place of a partner for this mission." Grimacing, Mirage waved a hand, already mourning the loss of the calm and reasonable minibot.

His own calm was going to quickly become a loss as well, if the trend held steady.

"And I will do whatever is needed for the sake of the mission, to the point that Prime has directed. I do, however, also have preferences. I hardly mind public displays, and mild ones may sometimes be required, but I am perfectly capable of keeping your preferences in consideration."

[cliffjumper]

He didn't really laugh at the little dig, but Cliffjumper snorted in vague amusement - already feeling twitchy or not, he could recognise something being at least somewhat funny.

"Great," Cliffjumper said and rubbed a hand over his faceplate. He hadn't actually thought about it much, but even if couples were being discrete, he realised there were many little touches you might end up giving each other.

It wasn't that much different from being friends, after all, and while he wasn't very randomly "touchy", Bee was, and thinking of all the little things his friend did... and then the thought that that might apply between him and Mirage for the mission...

There was another half-giddy, half-sick twist to the remaining contents of his fuel tank. He wished for the grumpy acceptance he would most probably feel if he just disliked (or didn't have much of an opinion at all) Mirage, but that... well, it wasn't to be.

"Right. Okay," another scrub of his faceplate before a thought that, regardless of what he felt about Mirage, was funny enough he smiled as he glanced up at the noble, "ya don't seem the type to like hand-holding, so I guess we're saved that awkwardness, huh?"

The thought of Mirage resting a hand on his shoulder, though...

[lastonepercent]

"You are mostly safe, yes..." Mirage started, pausing and going quiet in confusion when Cliffjumper unexpectedly smiled.

...Right. Well.

A cough.

"Given the behavior of the ambassadors to each other, you shouldn't have to worry overtly much. They were not terribly demonstrative, but it is still good to be prepared. A diplomatic meeting is greatly different from a meeting of Priests, which is different from the more casual meetings that will surely occur on Paradron itself."

[cliffjumper]

He couldn't help grimacing at the mention of the possible differences and another realisation of why he'd rather not do this popped up; all the slagging nonsense about etiquette and proper behaviour and whatnot.

What the rusted scrap did he even know about things like that!?

"I'd be more worried 'bout stupid noble pedantry and scrap," Cliffjumper rolled his optics, but for all that was almost teasing... and then froze, optics widening as his processor actually caught up with what this actually meant.

"This is stupid! Like I know slag about stuff like that," Cliffjumper burst out and for once, regardless of the way he'd phrased it, wasn't angry at Mirage, or even said noble nonsense - only that he didn't actually know it (not that he wanted to) and that it was sort of necessary.

This did seem to be like it was supposed to be a right proper diplomatic mission, which meant it'd be happening on a different level completely than what Cliffjumper was familiar with.

[lastonepercent]

Mirage sniffed, barely fighting the urge to take true offence to the slight against his own culture - he could tell that it was meant as a joke, after all.

"You hardly have to pretend to fit in with all that. Making you out to be a noble on top of everything else would be foolish and doomed to failure."

Mirage waved a hand, attempting to preemptively block any possible indignant outbursts.

"One cannot fake a lifetime of upbringing with just a week to prepare, after all. No, you will be who you are and where you are from. The only thing we are faking is your slightly greater experience with all things Sensitive and 'spiritual', and the bond."

He calmed a little, venting deep and hard. It really, really wasn't Cliffjumper's fault. He had to remember that.

"You will do your best and memorize the data given to you, and they in turn should be relatively understanding, provided they do not figure out the spark of the ruse. Really, few minor flubs with the cultural etiquette are to be expected with the first contact between worlds. Especially when the 'bonded Sensitive' is not a trained diplomat. It's the mistakes of major Priest matters - things that I know that you seemingly do not - which may get us into trouble."

[cliffjumper]

"Oh." Relief washed through him at that, open and fierce. That didn't do anything for the vague thought that he'd probably mess up at some point, but it was underscored by the petty petulance that they could take it.

... not that he might not feel embarrassed, as well.

"Yeah, yeah. Ya don't have to fraggin' grind it in!" Cliffjumper waved what felt like a command off with a gesture of his hand, trying not to let the annoyance at Mirage's commandeering get to him. Trying and probably failing at least somewhat.

"... you sure me not knowin' anything 'bout diplomacy not gonna mess something up?" Cliffjumper finally asked, frowning.

It wasn't like he would want to totally ruin their chances or anything, if the Paradrons showed to be genuine. Nevermind all the sensitive stuff. Why did he need know anything about that?

Cliffjumper was pretty sure he'd find out soon.

[lastonepercent]

Mirage frowned at the other mech, helm tilting in thought even as he was relieved. At least the minibot was giving it some consideration.

"Cliffjumper. While there is no telling if there is some tiny, little thing the Paradrons may take massive offence to - something that neither of us may be able to avoid - so long as you use your head we should be fine."

Mirage leaned back in his chair, limbs splaying out in a brief stretch.

"After all, we will be doing our best to prepare you. The datapad has enough of the basics, while we will be going over the rest. Just try re refrain yourself from insulting anyone or making any off-color jokes. Essentially: if you think that anyone could possibly be offended by a comment you might think to make, simply refrain. And politeness, even feigned, goes a long way in such dealings."

[cliffjumper]

"... I suppose," Cliffjumper said, grumbling a little as he looked away. He was pretty sure his temper was more of an issue than his common sense or even any jokes he might make.

He wasn't exactly prone to joking around after all, especially not with people he didn't know.

Kicking the berth, Cliffjumper refrained from snapping anything about keeping from making comments might be the actual hardest thing. He was pretty sure Mirage (and everyone else) knew that.

He was also pretty sure Mirage would probably have taken pretty much anyone else but him along on this if he could choose. Not that he felt particularly offended by that; there were at least a handful Cliffjumper was pretty sure were far more qualified by experience and knowledge for something like this than he was.

"Easy peasy," Cliffjumper said with a roll of his optics, the English term feeling somewhat odd through his vocaliser and in his mouth, but he felt it encapsulated his slightly churlish feelings about the whole thing.

Then he just sighed and grunted, giving the berth another kick.

"... so what do I need to know 'bout the whole sensitive stuff? Why do I even need to know more? I mean, ain't it enough that you're... uh, apparently bonded to someone who's sensitive?"