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]

"Different planet, different customs, different type of ship," Mirage said mildly, giving the ambassador a matching smile and the minibot a playful nudge.

His private comm, however, was not nearly so cheery.

::Haven't even taken off the ground yet and you- I do hope this isn't going to be a running theme.::

Physically, the only sign of Mirage's ire was a slight twitch of the fingers on Cliffjumper's shoulder.

"After all, we've been on the same ship for quite some time. But really, it is always quite fascinating to see the different ways technology and aesthetic design can diverge from one another throughout the ages."

[cliffjumper]

::What? It ain't like anything happened,:: Cliffjumper snapped back and tensed a little at the slight twitch of tightening grip, ::and you're laying it on a bit thick aren't you?::

He couldn't help rolling his optics, and - unfortunately or not, the ambassador caught the gesture while she dipped her helm in a nod, and then raised a hand to cover the slightest twitches of a smile at the corner of her mouth.

"I wouldn't have taken our mode of transportation to be of interest, but if you are curious, like I said, we would be happy to show you around. I can have the pilot head the tour; he's an engineer as well and will be able to give further insights."

Turning around, she waved them on down the corridor while the floor trembled underneath them as the ship went through start-up routines and the engines warmed for takeoff.

"In the meantime, I'll show you the cabin. It shouldn't take more than three jumps to get to Paradron."

[lastonepercent]

::I don't care if 'nothing happened' - I'll have to lay it on thicker if you keep testing their tolerance.:: Mirage twitched, pulling away from the red mech under the guise of gesturing toward their host.

"I would be delighted. Engineering is not my specialization, of course, but comparison insights - and simply knowing about ship carrying us - is always interesting enough."

Bustling them down the hall toward the cabine, Mirage almost missed the mentioned time frame.

"Three jumps, you say?" he asked, surprised.

[cliffjumper]

::I wasn't doing anything!:: Cliffjumper snapped, annoyed and starting to get a bit angry. So the comment hadn't been completely innocent, but he really didn't think it was as awful as Mirage was painting it as.

Not when she'd not shown the least bit annoyance!

And he still thought Mirage was being ridiculous and if he wasn't fragged off, he'd feel more embarrassed for him.

But Cliffjumper tilted his helm and looked up to the ambassador, also curious as to the answer, because that didn't sound like how they did space travel.

"If that surprises you, I suppose we don't travel in the same way. We use stationary space bridges for transwarp jumps at calculated distances," she said as she gestured out at the space outside a porthole they passed, "it takes a bit longer given that we can't make a single jump and we need to physically travel to each of the bridges for a given distance, but it cuts down on energy used, both for ships and the space bridges. I assume you do it differently?"

Cliffjumper almost replied, but then, with a dirty glare at Mirage's back, decided not to. He was always up for an argument, but the risk of being overheard in some way was sort of nerve-wracking, and right now he was pretty slagging sure Mirage would take fault with whatever he said.

[lastonepercent]

Mirage's reply - or rather, lack of one - was nothing more than a brief, wordless burst of static.

Nope. Wasn't going to respond to that.

"Huh. Well then. Learned something new already," he laughed, expertly hiding the fact that it was completely forced.

"I didn't even know there was still an active space bridge network. I'd thought most had been shut down, cut off, or simply lost. We haven't been able to utilize such things in some time, so we've been traveling via other means."

[cliffjumper]

Cliffjumper's glare intensified and it was really hard not to give the exact same thing back, because what the flying frag. Mirage could be really slagging childish---

That realisation alone was enough to smooth over at least a little of Cliffjumper's building ire. At least enough to not do anything more than roll his optics again, and given that he was the shortest mech on the ship as far as he'd seen and there was no one else right by the three of them, no one saw it.

"I don't know about Cybertron's space bridge network, but we used the one on Paradron as the starting point and went from there, when we were finally ready to try for space travel again," the ambassador said with a shrug and a small smile.

[lastonepercent]

"Ah. Well, good to hear. Our own hyperdrive ships generally only require one jump, but are likely more energy consumptive." Mirage didn't bother mentioning that at least part of the 'Paradron' network was more than likely part of the original Cybertronian network. A colony planet would have had access to any older gates in the area before it was forgotten, after all.

"Perhaps if the old network is ever repaired they could be used to extend the range and ease of both parties travels," he added diplomatically.

[cliffjumper]

"I don't see why it wouldn't be on the table for discussion at least," the ambassador answered with an equally diplomatic response and a small smile, before she stopped and gestured to the door they were outside, "your room, yours to use as you see fit for the duration. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."

Cliffjumper, peering around the hall and at the door, was surprised they didn't have a 'security detail' yet. But, given that they were on a ship, that would probably not happen until they were on Paradron itself.

He wished command could've sent a few of theirs along besides the two of them, because only the two of them on an alien planet? Cliffjumper really didn't like that.

[lastonepercent]

"Thank you," Mirage said with a small bow of his helm, stepping close enough to activate the sliding door. The room inside looked comfortable enough - but he wouldn't be able to check for traps or bugs with the ambassador around.

"Perhaps we will take a little bit to get settled before touring the decks?" He suggested politely, gesturing Cliffjumper ahead of himself as he looked to the ambassador in askance.

[cliffjumper]

"Most assuredly. The intercom is right by the door, so when you feel ready for the tour, just use it." With a smile and quick bow, the ambassador turned around and left, being met up by an aide who'd been standing a polite distance away, and now handed her a datapad.

Cliffjumper suppressed a growl at Mirage gesturing him onwards - he was way too on edge to feel any sort of indulgent exasperation at such domineering behaviour! With a huff as the ambassador turned around, Cliffjumper stomped inside, giving the room a quick walk-around and briefly pausing at the window before he sat in a chair.

He would have thrown himself into it if he was capable, but it was set too high for him to do that.

[lastonepercent]

"Of course, thank you." Another matching head bob, and Mirage readily allowed the doors to close after the ambassador, slipping into the room.

Without saying a word or acknowledging Cliffjumper's obviously huffy behavior, he began a quick sweep of the room only passably disguised as interest, checking for bugs and monitors hidden among the decorations with ruthless efficiently.

...His own lingering displeasure made keeping the charade up behind closed doors a challenge, despite the obvious risks.

[cliffjumper]

Cliffjumper, even if he wasn't spec ops, realised what Mirage was doing and kept his vocaliser in neutral, instead staring out the wide window. He wasn't sure if he hoped it'd take as long as possible to get to Paradron, or as little time as possible.

The cabin had only one berth, which was okay since it wouldn't take more than a day to get to Paradron - but he sure as slag hoped there'd be more than one berth available whereever they'd get to recharge on Paradron.

... Not because the thought of recharding next to Mirage was awful or anything, but he was caught between that vague flutter of embarrassing attraction and them grating on each other.

Glancing at Mirage as he made his way around the room, Cliffjumper half hoped he would find bugs so they'd be forced to continue to dance around the half-confrontation earlier, and half-hoped he wouldn't so they could yell at each other because he wanted to do that too.

[lastonepercent]

Despite his own suspicions and a very thorough check, Mirage didn't find a single sign of monitors or listening devices.

It was almost a pity - he was almost looking for an excuse.

Reluctantly, taking a little longer than needed, Mirage straightened back up and turned to address the red minibot.

"...We're clear."

However much that meant. It could be entirely different once they actually made it planet-side.

[cliffjumper]

"Great," Cliffjumper muttered and then narrowed his optics, "what the flying frag is your issue, Mirage?! With the whole... thing---" unable to grasp what he wanted to express, Cliffjumper just threw his arms up and vaguely gestured in the air, letting it substitute for a properly worded explanation.

He felt vaguely better (and a little smug) he'd managed to get the first word in here, even if it might just end worse than it started. He really didn't care, because rusting honestly what was the issue?!

[lastonepercent]

Tall frame starting with surprise - he hadn't expected such a quick 'attack', though he really probably should have at this point - golden optics narrowed irritably.

"...And what what is that supposed to mean?" Mirage snapped with a huff, arms crossing over his chest.

"My 'issue'? You mean where I was trying to keep you from bungling the entire operation five minutes in?"

[cliffjumper]

"Except you fragging didn't have to, did you? It was just one comment and she wasn't offended or anything!" growling, Cliffjumper thrust his chin out and scowled, "wasn't like I insulted anything to do with their belief or what the frag ever, but you still..."

Scowl deepening, Cliffjumper sneered. He didn't even care by now that a small part of his anger was because Mirage had seemed so ridiculous, saying those things like that. He was just angry Mirage had felt the need at all, considering the ambassador's reaction.

Or rather, lack of it.

[lastonepercent]

"I did," Mirage snapped back, bristling.

"Did you know she wasn't going to be offended? Did you know pushing it would turn out well? No!"

Mirage stood, stalking over with a shaking finger pointed at Cliffjumper's chest.

"You do not take such casual risks - not at first! Not until you've got a better read on their temperaments! You may have proven that this ambassador is calm-minded," he allowed quickly, grudging even if he visibly chafed under the acknowledgement.

"But we cannot afford to insult someone inadvertently! I thought I made that clear before!"

[cliffjumper]

"Back off," Cliffjumper snarled and didn't just slap the offending finger away, but pushed Mirage out of the way to jump out of the chair and stomp away, because like frag was he gonna stay trapped during an argument.

At least not with their differences. Wasn't like he would've minded had it been Bee - well, sorta.

"And it was just a fragging comment about the ship! Who'd ever slaggin' get offended at that?!" It was so hard not to yell outright, though revving his engine was a passable substitute and he whirled around, throwing his arms out.

The little allowance would have been a victory, however small, if he cared. Right now he was just angry and incredulous.

[lastonepercent]

Mirage hissed but - gratingly - allowed Cliffjumper to push him away without shoving the smaller mech back. He had been crowding the bot- but slag it all, this was serious!

Instead, Mirage let out an inarticulate snarl, spinning in place to glare at Cliffjumper's stomping back.

"Do I really need to list all the times embassies and negotiations have failed because of stupid, pointless things? Making stupid jokes before we have access to a full cultural archive download is risky. I thought this was clear beforehand!"

[cliffjumper]

"Not like that!" Cliffjumper snapped and whirled around, not about to back down yet. Because while, sure, things like that had been brought up in what he read, but not quite showing the inanity of what could be constituted as offensive.

In his defense, Cliffjumper had only had a week and a single datapad to read, most of it about the mission itself.

"That's just fragging ridiculous!"

He almost yelled that Mirage was also ridiculous and stupid, but managed to - barely - swallow that behind a growl and tightening his hands into fists at his sides.

[lastonepercent]

"Well it is ridiculous!"

Mirage threw his hands up into the air, giving the floor a petulant stomp.

"I am perfectly aware that the lengths we have to go to avoid the possibility of mistake are ridiculous! I know! But so are cultural taboos and cultural insults and offensive turns of phrase that could bungle this entire mess!"

He spun in place, turning his back to the smaller mech, arms crossing over his chest with a clang.

"But I am not going through all this fuss only to have a joke or a gesture or our optical flickers ruin this entire endeavor!"

[cliffjumper]

"Well, they can't just fraggin' expect us to know things we can't slagging know!" It seemed supremely unfair that they would have all that weight on them when they could impossibly know everything that might be offensive or whatever.

"And you can't be slagging serious with the last thing, not like that's anything anyone could do anything about!" Cliffjumper scowled, engine revving and tightened his fists until they shook before he relaxed them and jerkily crossed his arms over his chestplates.

That was just all... expectations no one could hope to fill!

[lastonepercent]

"Oh, but they can. At least when it comes to taboos and insults," Mirage scoffed, glancing back over his shoulder.

"And I am. You should look up the Cybertronian-Ferralian relations some time. Negotiations with their planet stalled for vorns because the ambassadors kept stomping off in a agitated, offended huff, claiming they were being threatened!"

He waved a hand, optics rolling dramatically.

"Turns out, our lack of liquid-based optical sensors - and the fact that we don't need to blink like organics do - is a threatening gesture. As soon as we began imitating it with optical flickering..."

He shrugged, hand flapping in a 'there you have it' gesture.

[cliffjumper]

Cliffjumper just stared, a half-static, incredulous noise slipping out as he listened, because what the frag? He was still annoyed, put-out frustration burning along his circuits, but Mirage's little elaboration was enough to be distracting.

"That's slagging dumb!" Cliffjumper finally burst out, shaking his helm.

Technically, it probably wasn't 'dumb' that the organics had found the lack of blinking threatening, but not realising they don't do that, or bring it up or whatever seemed very much to be so, to Cliffjumper.

And once more (if he ever stopped) he felt completely out of his depth, flopping back in his seat and crossing his arms, looking away with a scowl.

[lastonepercent]

"I know," Mirage grumbled, fighting the urge to let amusement at Cliffjumper's dramatic response soften his lingering irritation with the minibot. Petulant flopping and commiseration or not. He did gracefully sprawl out unto the nearest chair, though.

"But it is obviously true all too often, so it is important that we keep such possibilities in mind. At least until we have better data."