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...

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[cliffjumper]

Cliffjumper froze at the polite little chime and he wasn't ready, but there was nothing to do about it, was there?

With a stuttery little noise from his engine, Cliffjumper grimaced and got up from his seat, following Mirage to the door.

Outside, the ambassador stood, a small smile on her faceplate, which widened at the sight of them, optics flickering between them both before she went through the greeting.

"This will be relatively short, but it is important to go through the proper forms for an arrival as auspicious as this is. If you'll come with me?" she said and smiled, waving them on.

Cliffjumper would rather not. He also would rather pretend he hadn't just stepped a little closer to Mirage, but if he took even half a step away that'd be even more noticeable.

[lastonepercent]

Mirage dipped his helm at the ambassador and returned the greeting with a pleasant tone.

"Of course, of course. Anything to help us get off to a good start. Please lead the way?" He said, brushing Cliffjumper's elbow in a pseudo-comfortable touch, giving him a disarming grin.

"Shall we, dear?"

[cliffjumper]

"Of course," she said, nodding to them both, and turning around. Cliffjumper twitched at the address Mirage used more than the brush against his elbow and cursed silently. If Mirage hadn't already figured some of it out, he probably would have now, anyway.

He wasn't doing a very good job of behaving unaffected and this was so rusting embarrassing.

"Yeah. Sure," Cliffjumper muttered and tried to relax. It wasn't easy.

"There will be a greeting cup, and after that..."

Cliffjumper tuned the mech out. He knew he shouldn't, but he did it anyway, frowning at their surroundings as they walked.

[lastonepercent]

"A greeting cup and a shared rite sound like the perfect start," Mirage said graciously, continuing on to confirm the smaller details of the rites he'd seen from the vid-files.

Mirage mentally compiled a note as they talked - Cliffjumper's obliviousness wasn't as completely hidden as he might have thought - such a serious frown! - but Mirage suspected it was only due to the fact that he knew the smaller mech that he even had a hunch. He didn't think the happily talking ambassador even noticed.

He spared a moment to be mildly bemused over the fact that he knew Cliffjumper enough at this point to make that distinction... But he had been watching the mech for some time.

He was a spy, after all.

::Just like the videos I showed you, then,:: Mirage commed him privately. ::You'll be the go-between for the cup, passing it between myself and the ambassador.::

[cliffjumper]

Somehow, Cliffjumper managed to not twitch when the comm went through, though more thanks to military protocol and the fact that giving away your position by twitching unexpectedly was a no-no in combat.

::... Great.:: Cliffjumper felt like his spark had just squirmed and quickly flicked through some of the videos again, biting his lip. ::What if I mess up?::

... Why the frag did he ask Mirage? He didn't want to show Mirage more of how very much not okay with this that he was, and nervous. He didn't want any pity, or sympathy, or even a snooty 'you better not' comment.

He didn't want Mirage to see him weak - something which had very, very little to do with what he thought of and felt for the mech. This was just Cliffjumper in general.

[lastonepercent]

::You won't. It is very simple,:: Mirage soothed, managing to keep any 'you better not mess up' out of his tone.

::And if you somehow do...::

Well.

Mirage didn't honestly know how badly they would take it. It certainly wouldn't look good for their cause at the very least.

::You are clearly new to all of this, so they shouldn't take much, if any, offence.::

[cliffjumper]

::I guess,:: Cliffjumper muttered over the comm, and despite being sure that Mirage either hadn't meant it but was, for some reason trying to be nice or just keeping the peace, or actually trying to make him feel better, did feel a little better about it.

Not that that actually helped, at all, when the ambassador stepped aside with a smile, waving to a pair of doors with two guards on either side.

"In a moment, the doors will open. We're coordinating with the arrival of your counterpart; he'll enter through another set of doors."

It was a near thing, but Cliffjumper managed to not grimace at the roundabout mention of Thundercracker. Still couldn't believe they'd actually decided to invite a Decepticon too; that wouldn't end well.

Or worse, what if they took up with the 'Cons, despite that they seemed to have taken a shine to Mirage and his position as Flame of Cybertron?

Then the doors opened and Cliffjumper reflexively straightened up and had to still the rev his engine wanted to do as nervous energy flooded his systems.

[lastonepercent]

"Of course," Mirage agreed, settling in to wait without any visible reaction toward the mention of their 'counterpart'. It certainly wouldn't end well - on that front, Cliffjumper and Mirage were in complete agreement, even if they did not know it yet.

::I realize,:: he started, only for the doors to open before he could finish the thought.

::Hmm. Nevermind. I will mention it later, at a better time.::

Drawing himself up and wearing his glyphs like a robe of dignity, Mirage regally strode through the doors to the cheers of the waiting crowd.

[cliffjumper]

::What?!:: Cliffjumper hissed it in pure reaction, then cut himself off and didn't prod for a more elaborate answer as they walked inside and the room - more like a hall of some kind - was huge and the crowd was... not insignificant.

Cliffjumper might have winced, and then scowled before he caught himself and - he hoped - schooled his expression into something a little more neutral at least.

Watching Thundercracker approach from the opposite end of the room gave him something to focus on at least, though not frowning was hard, especially when he saw the very... strange glance that was flicked from Mirage to him and back again.

He didn't like that at all, whatever it was, but then, the Seeker was a Decepticon; it didn't matter what it was, it'd be bad by defintion,

[lastonepercent]

Calmly, with a carefully-crafted mild smile in place, Mirage followed their host to the center podium. It was lavishly decorated, with a chalice for a Primal Flame unburning and empty in the center.

Thundercracker was led up as well, with only the primary ambassador ending up between them - and Mirage couldn't resist giving the Decepticon an overtly-polite smile as he waited for the Paradronian ceremony to begin.

See what he thinks of that.

[cliffjumper]

Thundercracker stared blankly back, then focused on the ceremony with the pinched concentration of someone who wouldn't be messing up, but who also was very, very uncomfortable.

Cliffjumper could've sympathised, if he was laid towards sympathy for a Decepticon. Which he most definitely wasn't. But it was frankly circuit-tangling to wait as the chalice was lit, passed to Thundercracker, who made the show of 'drinking' from the chalice, then it was passed back, handed to him---

There was a critical, joint-locking moment where Cliffjumper just... froze, optics wide - and then he handed the thing over to Mirage.

[lastonepercent]

There was a tense moment were Mirage's optics widened fractionally at Cliffjumper's shock, though his fixed smile never wavered. After a lingering, outwardly calm moment, Mirage gently plucked the chalice from Cliffjumper's fingers.

Natural confidence returning, Mirage turned to face the crowd. Claiming the head of the podium, he launched into a brief chanting prayer of welcome and thanks, before drinking from the chalice.

Or at least, making it really, really look like he somehow managed to drink flame.

The runes still carved into his frame even seemed to effect a mild glow, dramatizing the event to new heights. The moment Mirage placed the chalice down on the podium, the crowd burst into highly-ritualized applause.

[cliffjumper]

Glancing at Mirage, mostly because of the suddenly glowing - or at least they seemed to glow - runes, and how did he do that, Cliffjumper resisted the urge to cross his arms. That would probably not be taken very well at all, being in full view of the whole crowd as they still were.

The ambassador, having taken Thundercracker's hand in one of hers, came around the altar and held out her hand for Mirage in clear offer. Cliffjumper took half a step back, relieved he'd probably be following a little behind them for whatever was supposed to happen next.

He was short enough that even a little was enough to nearly hide him, especially next to these taller mechs when no one else seemed to be as short as he was.

[lastonepercent]

Still glowing faintly, Mirage accepted the ambassador's offered hand - and implied balance with Thundercracker - readily enough. Helm inclining formally to the crowd in time with their little group, he allowed the ambassador to lead them all off stage.

::Stay close,:: He pinged Cliffjumper quietly, ::keep to my right, just behind us.::

[cliffjumper]

::I can do that,:: Cliffjumper muttered, and if there was a pause somewhere there, well, he'd just ignore that.

Walking down the steps was the most awkward, but, honestly, also the most easy. From there they circled the altar, and Cliffjumper was glad they were walking slowly. Otherwise he would never have been able to keep up, nevermind keep the spot Mirage wanted him to.

Three times, and Cliffjumper almost had enough time to descend into a sulk again and forget about the crowd, about doing this properly, but then they suddenly veered off at the end of the third pass, walking down a path in the hall that neither he and Mirage nor Thundercracker had come into the room through.

At the end, Cliffjumper thought, looked to be an energon pool.

::What now?:: he hissed, and tried to look like he wasn't almost stumbling as he settled himself back properly at the spot Mirage had indicated earlier.

ENERGON MOONWELL

[lastonepercent]

Thankfully, the ambassador was considering all the members of their party...or the walk was just naturally supposed to be slow. But anything that allowed Cliffjumper to keep his dignity was a plus in Mirage's book.

::Hmm. Wait,:: Mirage said, taking a moment to project calm and definitely not let anyone know he was frantically checking additional Paradronian ceremonial videos.

This part had not been in the earlier vidfiles, and he wasn't sure which one of two rites it would be-

Mirage carefully held back his vent of relief as the ambassador lead them straight into the shallow end of the pool, stopping when the glowing energon lapped at their ankle joints. His hand was released right on cue.

::Step in behind us, just stay a few paces back,:: Mirage sent quietly, as he knelt down in the energon, rite already singing forth.

Whether through the words - or a little static trickery - Mirage's palms flashed as the brushed the surface of the liquid. The energon lit up in a wave across the surface, sending up motes of light as the top layer of the pool discharged it's energy all at once.

:D

[cliffjumper]

Cliffjumper wasn't sure whether his annoyed - nervous - assent was a very quiet verbal noise, or only over the comm. He couldn't tell. Maybe it was both. If it was the latter, it was at least quiet enough no one ought to have heard, especially as the path given to them now was wide enough there were several meters on each side of them to the crowd.

Cliffjumper stepped in and then stopped, the energon just barely wetting the underside of his feet and his wheels. Which made him very aware of the fact that he (and Mirage) both sported Earth altmodes.

Nothing bad with that, but they stood out badly - though Thundercracker did as well.

Glancing up, Cliffjumper bit the inside of his cheek not to smirk at the Seeker's stiff back. He could easily imagine the uncomfortable, stiff look on Thundercracker's face... which wouldn't be that different from his usual expression, just dialled up---

And then Mirage knelt, a rite humming already over his lips, and Cliffjumper frowned.

The flash of motes turned into glittering lightning in Cliffjumper's senses, and he could see... frowning, he wasn't much aware of tilting his head and raising one hand, and as if in answer a couple of the motes slowly drew together and fell down into the palm of the minibot's open hand.

Something which, of course, wouldn't normally have happened, even to charged energon which had been pumped full enough with an extra charge to discharge it as flashily as Mirage had induced it to.

[lastonepercent]

Still kneeling in the now-glowing energon, it was too bad Mirage's back was turned toward Cliffjumper. He missed the unexpected - highly unusual - display entirely. But his field twitched the slightest bit; he could feel the faint whisper of something happening behind him, but was helpless to turn and check, bond to hold fast until the end of the rite.

Indeed, Mirage did not make to move again until after the floating motes dissipated, voice falling silent, and leaving a peaceful, ringing silence in the air after them.

Then he slowly spun around and bowed to the ambassador and the crowd in turn- and reached back, bowing to Cliffjumper as well, with a hand held out in offering.

[cliffjumper]

Cliffjumper was startled out of his stunned pose when Mirage turned around and ended up cursing quietly. Hopefully silently enough no one else heard. Hopefully it didn't matter that he was too distracted - too unsettled, it'd happened again - for bowing, and only took Mirage's hand after a moment of staring at it in empty confusion.

At least the other time this had happened there'd only been Mirage and Tracks, and Tracks hadn't even noticed what was going on. Now there was a whole rusting crowd behind him, and Cliffjumper didn't like this at all.

[lastonepercent]

Mirage clasped Cliffjumper's (finally) offered hand tightly without giving any outward sign of the brief, hesitant flub. He stared down at the shorter mech, calm smile firmly in place.

::I warned you about the kiss, did I not? Brace yourself - it's coming momentarily.::

He placed his other hand over their joined pair, reciting a few brief sentences in Primal toward the crowd. His hand seemed to grow warm between their joined palms. If he stretched out the rite just slightly, to give Cliffjumper time to react appropriately, no one had to know.

[cliffjumper]

He would not blush.

Cliffjumper ended up glancing away, and barely kept from grimacing (better than blushing), at the mention of the kiss.

::Great. Exactly what I've always wanted,:: he muttered and was glad (not relieved) that it came across biting enough it didn't reveal the sudden nervous flick of energy through his circuits.

It was nothing. It would just be a polite little brush and it didn't even mean anything. Cliffjumper didn't care if he looked far too steely for what was supposed to be a rite, when he looked back up again, but better that than he ended up looking like a soppy fool.

[lastonepercent]

Echoing voice falling silent, the priest glanced back down at the minibot who was 'supposedly' his partner.

::I'm sure,:: Mirage laughed over the comm line, a faint smile gracing his features outside it. Lifting challenging eyebrow, he could no longer delay- and stooped down, catching Cliffjumper's lips with his own in a brief, but solid kiss.

The small jolt of static at the contact was completely unintentional.

[cliffjumper]

If he hadn't been prepared, Cliffjumper might have pushed Mirage away out of pure reaction and surprise, regardless of the situation and his actual feelings. Since he was prepared, all he did was freeze.

Static brushed against his lips, and Cliffjumper cut off the little squeak that wanted to escape by resetting his vocaliser. Tightened the grip on Mirage's hand, and knew he was blushing.

Which, hopefully, wouldn't reveal that something was off to anyone, but why would a blush do that?

Cliffjumper clung to that thought and managed to not tilt into the brief kiss, or move at all when Mirage straightened back up again and the ambassador stepped forward, arms flung out.

"To a prosperous negotiation!"

The crowd, silent until now, cheered.

[lastonepercent]

Smiling to the crowd, Mirage tilted his helm humbly among the cheers.

::Good job. Don't let go yet - we depart hand-in-hand.::

Giving Cliffjumper's hand a return squeeze in attempted reassurance, he vented a silent but deep sigh of relief. They'd made it through.

He bowed to the ambassador - and then to Thundercracker, though it made his spinal struts itch to do so - before following the Paradronian slowly out of the energon pool. Now he only had to guide Cliffjumper back out through the rest of the temple, and they could go on to other, less formal activities.

[cliffjumper]

::Fine.:: Cliffjumper resisted the urge to grimace and shake his head, though it was even harder when Mirage had to bow to Thundercracker - even if the Seeker made a shallow bow back, unable to hide his sour expression as he did so.

And Cliffjumper really hoped he wasn't blushing just from holding fragging hands with Mirage - that wasn't just embarrassing, it was pathetic, and... might get people suspicious.

He probably wasn't, but he worried that he was.

And what was worse was that the evening wasn't, of course, over. The huge hall they stepped into after leaving the temple made Cliffjumper want to groan in frustration. Some sort of more-or-less formal dinner.

::How long do ya think before this is over?:: Cliffjumper hissed as he glanced around, once again feeling very much out of place in these extravagant surroundings.