red_diode_district | LET'S BREAK THIS THING IN

Waiting for him to sit down, Elita turned slightly in her seat to face the Prime, taking an experimental sip. Like all the other things offered at the function, it was... rather extraordinarily.

She'd have to be careful about how much more she ate or drank; even mid or low-grade energon could get you overcharged with enough of it (though usually the excess got expelled before you got overcharged...), and what she'd had available this night was anything but any sort of low-grade.

"Defnitely. Quite singular; it was a while ago I had the chance to taste anything like I've done tonight." Another small sip before she put the cube down to balance on her thigh and reached out to lay her hand on Optimus' thigh, closer to the knee than anything else.

"Thank you for including me. I know I already said that, but... I wasn't really expecting that."

"I...ah, y-yes." He shivered at the contact, unable to hide the reaction and immediately embarrassed by it.

"I'm glad to give you the...experience."

It was a struggle, but Optimus managed to (somewhat) reorganize his thoughts, even as he reached out to pat the hand on his thigh.

"Now that we are here, it is certainly safe to continue our...previous conversation. If you like."

Or anything else she wanted to do... Audials twitching, he managed a wry smile between sips of his cube.

If she knew, she would very much have wanted to dispel his embarrassment; it was quite charming. But as she didn't, all she had to go on was the stuttered sentence and that charmed her just as much, causing Elita to smile brightly.

She sobered, however, at what he said next and slowly shook her helm.

"Oh... That would indeed be interesting, but I'm unsure what other input I could give you that you would just as well not get elsewhere, and better. I'm a consort, not a politician or a clerk well-versed in Cybertronian policies and politics..." Elita smiled again, this time more dryly.

She was actually a Paradronian noble, but that was neither here nor there, so instead she leaned forward, tilting her helm up as she did so to be able to look Optimus in the optics.

"But if I can provide a sounding board, I'm more than pleased to do so, Optimus..." And she would be pleased to do so, since it'd give her more insight into this... both interesting and sweet - and young, apparently - Prime. "Otherwise, whatever else you might like." Her optics glowing softly, the fingers of the hand trapped under Optimus' on his thigh twitched against white plating.

"And yet you're the consort that led me to discover this in the first place. So I thank you." He smiled, audials twitching when her fingers tickled lightly against his thigh. Thankfully, the discussion was able to help ground him, and kept him from talking in unintelligible grunts.

"...Ah. Besides. Your function does not determine your intelligence...or creativity. But you have a point. Until I can talk to others to learn more, there is not much else to discuss."

It probably wasn't wise at all to discuss such a sensitive situation with someone outside his Intelligence staff, but he couldn't bring himself to cut her off completely since she had triggered the discovery.

"I would appreciate it if you kept it quiet for now, of course. Until I figure out who all was behind all this, I would rather they not get word that we suspect them."

She did not understand why she was pleased with being thanked and briefly looked away, not so much bashful, as confused. Rallying, Elita turned back to face Optimus and straightened up, nodding thoughtfully even as she wriggled her hand around to grasp his, and raised it to kiss the back of it.

Slightly forward, perhaps, considering their current surroundings, but a polite motion as well.

"Of course I wouldn't say anything... Ah." Pausing, a small frown formed on her faceplates; she was obligated by her current programming to say this, and breaking that would take too long and be too obvious, but it'd hinder her ability to forward the useful bits to her... collegues.

"You are in your full right to ask for an obligation of silence clause, as well. It's not unusual for clients to ask for this, so no one would be suspicious." As part of her introduction to being a consort, she'd been given examples of what clients could call the obligation of silence clause into effect over and it was...

Silly, as well as serious.

"...I would prefer it not be necessary, honestly." He continued as normal, but his optics were wide and pleased, locked on their joined hands. He couldn't help but turn his hand to give her's a (hopefully) reassuring squeeze.

"I would appreciate your silence, but it is only logical. I don't know what lengths those involved might go to in an effort to keep those who might find out about this silent."

...Which meant that he might have already placed Elita in danger. He made a face, hand twitching around her own.

At least it was an excuse to keep her around longer?

"But it might be." Elita filled in, fighting hard to hide her smile as she caught where he was looking. She should not be as pleased as she was by how he was being affected by her presence and such simple gestures, but she was.

It wasn't just embarrassing, but slightly worrying. If she could be sure it was "merely" the escort programming influencing things, that would be fine... But she couldn't be sure, and that meant she might be getting... attracted. Attached. Too close.

"I'll activate the clause, then. If anyone who would not be amenable about this discovery finds out you and I know about it, I'll not be capable of giving it out willingly." The decision was completely driven by the added escort programming, but Elita accepted it.

The mission had not just changed but become a lot more complicated, not just because they had failed to do what they set out to do, but due to this revelation.

"... No one knows you've found this out, however, and I would assume your rooms are safe. So how could they find out?" She squeezed her hand with his as it twitched around hers, more as a response than in true worry.

The only other way she could see anyone finding it out, was to be capable of listening in on private comm. conversations, like the one they'd had. Not many could do that, and fewer still unnoticed by those having the conversation.

"If you prefer... One can never be too careful. I would not be surprised if someone for the mods for private comm decryption was present at the party, no matter how restricted they are here." He didn't realize he was repeating her thoughts out loud, but the idea of such information being forced out of her...

The cruel realities and threats of being Prime were all too clear to him, but he had not yet had potential friends threatened, even in talk.

"...How long is your contract for?" It would spoken before he could think about it, and despite his own surprise he did not want to take it back. She was a pleasant femme, one who's company he would like to enjoy for longer than tonight...even if nothing happened, either way.

"It seems better to pre-empt it... And, either way, as soon as yuo reveal this to the proper mechs to help you, they would suggest you ask for the clause to be activated." She shrugged and then frowned as he repeated her thoughts, and wondered.

They'd both thought of it. He knew his senators and nobles better than she... Did someone already know, then? She might still be beneath notice, however. She'd wait and see, she supposed--

His question made her start, optics briefly wide and bright, before she smiled, amused and... flattered. Unless this merely had to do with a misguided wish to "protect" her, but she wasn't convinced that was so.

"Only for the evening, Optimus. You would like to extend it?" To emphasis the question, Elita raised their linked hands and placed a kiss on one of his fingers... She was somehow surprised at how small her own were in comparison. Maybe it was because he intermittently seemed so young.

Idly, she wondered what else she could do to bring forth that stuttering, nervous young mech that very clearly was hiding underneath the layers of Prime.

"Ah...well yes. If you like?"

He shrugged, that awkwardness surging back as she had hoped. He hesitated at giving her orders of any sort - it felt off to him, despite her intended function.

"...You are welcome to take some time to consider it, of course. Like I mentioned earlier, I am sure you have friends that are concerned. I've already been informed that the news has already picked up on the attack earlier." He gestured awkwardly to his audial, shrugging.

She chuckled and then shrugged since it was too late already. This was important, and her own knowledge of "state-level" secrets and governmental procedures in general (if not the main Cybertronian one in particular) worked against her to give her a situation where she couldn't not activate it.

"This is important, so it's probably for the best, no matter what I think." Idly raising her other hand to follow the gaps in the armour between knuckles and the seams in the armour of his hand, Elita tilted her helm.

"I have a few I should inform, yes, but I don't really need time to consider it. If you would want to extend it, I am both... amenable to it, and obligated to extend it." She raised her optics to stare into his, glow bright, and hoped the emphasis was obvious enough that he would understand.

She might currently be oblibated, as she'd said, to extend it, but she would... certainly not mind to spend more time with him personally.

The 'obligated' part of all that didn't appeal, but the first part gave him a sudden, unexpected surge of hope. With that and the touches to his hands - armored like a Prime or not, Consorts knew their way around around such things, and a shiver worked it's way from his arm up his spinal struts.

"Ah...I would indeed, then." Audials twitching, he fought the urge to look away from the bright glow of her optics, managing a pleased smile.

Her smile deepened a bit at the shiver, and she let her hand linger on top of his, thumb angled into a seam and stroking slowly, the movement light enough that there was no emphasis on what she was doing, but it would be quite impossible to completely ignore it.

"I would like that... And consider it done. For how long?" ELita's optics dimmed and she cocked her helm as she accessed the correct files and scripts, ready to edited what had previously been sent to her on file.

"Ah... I have no idea. How long would you like?" He rubbed his free hand over his helm, chuckling awkwardly. How often did a escort get to set her own time, anyway?

"It isn't like I commission consorts often or anything. I hardly know the habits or protocol."

Or ever. He had to be forced into this one in the first place, after all.

That... while sweet, wasn't very helpful at all. She floundered a bit, frowning slightly and then just shook her helm, squeezing the hand she was still holding and then kissed his index finger before she straightened up again.

"I can't answer that. I don't have any other scheduled appointments currently after yours, which, as you are the Prime, you would have been in your right to cancel if you would have wanted to extend the contract either way." Elita shrugged, idly tracing a pattern over his hand, digigng into gaps or stroking along seams a little more firmly as she came upon them.

Seemingly a random pattern, but rather well-thought out, really.

"As long as you - if that would please you - would give me a chance for some off-time, you are free to extend it for however long you wish."

He'd feared as much.

The special treatment irritated him, and not even the pleasant touches could completely prevent his sudden frown. He wanted people to seek him out on his own merits, make time for his own conversation or personality or even his appearance. Not because he happened to be the Prime. Optimus tried not to sigh, and managed some resolve - he should not have expected anything more, really. Foolish mech.

"...Let's start with a deca-cycle for now and see how that works out. I am more than fine with you having time off scheduled within that timeframe, so long as it does not conflict with any functions I might need to attend with company. Agreeable?"

The special treatment would have come from anywhere, but compared to some others, most would probably not have revealed said special treatment, merely silently cancelling and rescheduling around the Prime's wishes.

Elita frowned to match Optimus, even if she was unsure what the frown was about, exactly, but nodded at his elaboration.

"It is, and gladly so... Now, Optimus. Since you encouraged me to speak my mind... What is that for?" At 'that', she raised her other hand to gently poke a finger between his optics, where his frown was.

Having the special treatment pointed out, while better in a way, still only emphasized the fact that he was being given priority.

Optimus blinked in surprise, rearing back slightly as he went briefly cross-opticed, trying to stare at her finger.

"...pardon?"

"The frown, Optimus." Elita frowned herself, tapping his forehead again, and then the top of his nasal ridge before she withdrew her hand.

"Did I... ah, do or say something?" Tilting her helm, Elita wondered if she'd gone too far in speaking her mind. He'd allowed it, but she might have exaggerated that allowance...

He blinked again, only to sigh. He would enjoy the familiarity she took if it were not for the situation.

"...I do not enjoy special treatment. Not in this, naive idealism it may be. Stay if you find it pleasing to be here, leave if you do not. Cancel appointments if you prefer this over them, not because the Prime might prefer it."

"I'm not sure it would help, but if there was no actual programming present, the only special treatment you'd get would be because I rather enjoyed the evening... Despite the revelation," Elita said with a frown, and then, with a thoughful expression, shifted her postion so she could lean up and press the fronts of their helms together.

"But I can tell you... honestly and without reservation... That I would be very pleased if you'd want me to stay, because I would certainly like to have the chance to know you better." Pulling back, still sitting on her knees to bring her face to face with Optimus, and even slightly taller than that, Elita shamelessly cradled his face in her hands.

"Do you want me to stay?"

Again, she managed to surprise him, and he allowed the contact, going so far as to lean into the touch. It was good to hear she wanted to stay, even if all he could do was trust her word that it was what she actually wanted. Consort programming wasn't something he'd thought much about before now

"...I do want you to stay. I would not have suggested it otherwise."

He pulled back enough to shake his helm, venting a sigh with a wry smile.

"Having company that does not want to be around simply does not appeal."

Sitting back to not crowd him when Optimus pulled back, Elita shook her helm.

"If I truly wouldn't want to be here, the best the programming could do would make me feel less inclined to leave, but you asked my opinion and what I wanted; I don't have to lie for that, especially..." Trailing off, Elita tilited her helm, looking up at Optimus from under the edge of her helm, optics glowing softly and a small smile on her faceplates.

"I haven't needed to lie, thanks to you. It's been... refreshing." It was irony to say such things, and it almost made her lose the mood and moment she'd managed to capture, but pushed it away.

It was, after all, true in all things except the overlying background reason that she'd been put here in the first place.

Everything, of course, but right now... that didn't, couldn't, matter.

While he could have easily remarked that she could easily be lying to him right now, he was quite tired of the circular logic.

And he was starting to actually believe her. It was easier to trust, anyway.

"...Good to know. Very good to know." Tentatively, he leaned back in, bumping their helms gently.

"I think this should work out pleasantly."

Believing that the programming wasn't that strong was good to hear - rumors and his own doubts easily exaggerated things. But he was still going to talk to his new medic about it once she was gone.

He could have, and if she was the least bit unwilling about staying right here if he'd asked it of her, the programming... would, as she'd said, made her inclined to stay, if not want to throw herself at his feet and worship him.

Rubbing her helm against his slightly as he bumbed them together, Elita peered at the Prime, considered what she knew, and then nodded.

"I believe so, yes." With a smile, she pressed the central ridges of their helms together before she tilted her helm, pressing a gentle kiss on his lips, then sat up straight, though leaned forward.

"Would you like me to continue..? Or are you in the mood for stimulating something else?" Her voice almost cheery, though she kept her smile hidden, Elita rested a hand on Optimus' thigh, quite far up.

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SUDDENLY, SAD PRIME

SUSH, PRIME. SHE DID SAY SHE LIKED YOU!

MAYBE IT WAS LIIIIIIES

THE ONLY LIE IS THE ONE SHE'S KEEPING A SECRET!

THAT ONE WILL KICK HIM IN THE SPARK, TOO :C

YEAH, WELL. WHAT CAN YOU DO.

NOT BE AN SEXY LITTLE LIAR 8C

WELL, THAT MIGHT BE A PROBLEM. ON ALL FRONTS.

TRU FAX

TRUER WORDS WERE NEVER SPOKEN.