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]

"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."

[cliffjumper]

Cliffjumper's response was a loud, frustrated groan and rubbing his hands over his faceplate. He still didn't think he'd been in the wrong and thought Mirage had over-reacted, but he did have a slightly better idea of how sensitive these things could be.

"This is gonna be terrible," Cliffjumper muttered into the shadow of his own hands, which he still had over his faceplate. He hadn't really intended for it to be loud enough to be heard, but he was still frustrated... and exasperated.

This was really not something he was made for - even less educated for.

[lastonepercent]

"...yes," Mirage sighed, slumping down in the chair. Cliffjumper's reaction was reassuring - and oddly tiring. At least he was finally beginning to understand, but why did it take so long for him to do so?

(It was going to be a long while before they were on the same page. On anything.)

"That it likely will. But we will get through it."

He flapped a hand carelessly, exhausted.

"I'm sure I'll think of...something."

[cliffjumper]

Maybe it was mostly because he was Cliffjumper, and maybe it was at least a little because he'd been thrown deep-end first into something he had no knowledge or experience for at all.

Engine grumbling, Cliffjumper dropped his hands and slid a little further into his seat, helm dropping back so he could stare at the ceiling.

"Not so sure about that, but I sure as slag hope so." If nothing else they would hopefully get through the official parts intact, but as for Cliffjumper personally...

Well, he was continuing to get a better idea of who Mirage actually was, beyond what he'd been able to see otherwise, and while it was annoying and definitely aggravating, it... didn't do much to stamp out the crush.

Cliffjumper wouldn't want to admit it - or even think about it - but unfortunately things might actually be 'helping' to mature the crush into something with more substance.

[lastonepercent]

"Well."

Good to see that their faith in one another's abilities was fairly evenly matched.

"Anyway. At least until we get planet side, do try to keep my advice in mind? I swear, once we can compile a list of all their taboos, you can joke as much as you please."

Mirage curled further into his seat as well, slumped and tired. It was much too early to be this tired of the mission.

[cliffjumper]

Truly. Not that Cliffjumper ever had had any great belief in how well he'd do or anything... The question leaves the mini grimacing up at the ceiling.

"As if getting planet-side's gonna make things instantly clear or whatever... And I fragging doubt jokes are gonna end up bein' the actual problem." Cliffjumper said with a grumble, well aware of his... ah, personal failings, even if he always started out feeling well in the right.

... Or just reacting to someone antagonising him, there was that too.

[lastonepercent]

"It's always possible. And no list of taboos will ever likely be complete, as the very act of noting them down might be prohibited, but it will certainly help once I have a more robust access to their systems."

Still curled in the (surprisingly comfortable) chair, Mirage waved a hand toward the rest of the room.

"Anyway. If that is settled for now, we should probably try to get comfortable and recover for a bit, before we take that 'tour'."

While thoroughly calming down already, he personally didn't feel like going out there while still hot and bothered, engine grumbling all the while.