gay robot problems

[thanksoptimus]

Who: Orion Pax and Starscream, and later Megatron.
Where: The space boat.
When: While Megatron is out talking to Baelhaet.
What: Orion is getting restless and Starscream is getting annoyed.
Warnings: Robots.

Normally, Orion would be extremely hesitant to wander the ship without explicit permission. After all, he's been the one locking himself in his room lately, more than anybody else. But with Megatron off on other business...he feels like this may be an opportunity to speak of his issues covertly.

With Megatron out, he suspects that Commander Starscream must still be in. He isn't in any of the obvious places, and so he finds himself approaching some of the more obscure storage locations.

He considers calling, but the idea is nebulously off putting. So, instead he just moves in closer, listening for sounds of other robotic life.

Comments

[thanksoptimus]

Okay, well, whatever then. He'll read up about that later, since it sounds interesting. But for now, he falls into silence again for a moment, contemplating his next move.

"At any rate...I disbelieve that force should be required for Megatron and I to discuss our situation. He has never been one to fear conflict."

[starscheme]

"But what about you. Obviously you fear approaching him, or you would have simply done so by now."

He taps his claws on the top of the kennel, causing the creatures inside to skitter around nervously. He's eyeing Orion like a ferociously angry hawk, and though his posture is relaxed it belies the tension in his words. "What is it exactly that you want from Megatron, anyway?"

[thanksoptimus]

Orion blinks, that question totally stopping him in his tracks. It's not really something he's ever contemplated, because from his perspective the answer has always been obvious.

He realizes only now that it wouldn't be for Starscream.

He doesn't say anything, and then continues not saying anything for quite a while. In the end, he only inclines his head away from Starscream's glower, looking faintly embarrassed.

[starscheme]

As the silence stretches, Starscream stares, uncomprehending. It isn't until Orion turns away that it dawns on him with sudden clarity, and he feels almost foolish for not catching on sooner.

His initial reaction is fear, above all else. This complicates things even further in a manner that he is not prepared to deal with. Starscream's own position amongst the Decepticons was tenuous enough without the potential of Orion influencing Megatron, possibly making him waver in his cause, hovering overhead. It was unlikely, perhaps, but a possibility nonetheless. One that Starscream wasn't willing to leave up to chance.

He lets the silence stretch for a while longer before finally speaking up once more in a sympathetic tone, in what he hopes is a convincing effort towards politely changing the subject.

"You asked me if Megatron had changed in all the years of war. I did not lie to you. He's the same as I have ever known him. If you are having trouble reconnecting with him... perhaps you should consider what has changed in your own perception of him. Different perspective can bring different things to light, after all."

It was one of his more convincing acting efforts as of late, if he did say so himself. And with the added bonus of his words being completely honest. With any luck, this could start enough of a rift to make Orion visibly doubtful and set Megatron back on track to regaining his senses.

[thanksoptimus]

Orion frowns more deeply. He's relieved that Starscream appears to be having some compassion for the situation, but this kind of thing was honestly difficult and frustrating enough for him before the whole being possessed for thousands of years thing. This level of complication is unprecedented.

"What do you mean?" he asks, uncertain but earnest and inexplicably trusting in Starscream's advice. "Why should my perception have changed of him when...when I haven't been here to see it?"

[starscheme]

"Well it sounds to me like you just answered your own question right there. It's not Lord Megatron that's gone and changed," he says matter-of-factly. "It's you. Your guilt, your doubt.... they put a whole new spin on things, now don't they? Make you aware of aspects of his behavior that you've never noticed before?"

Starscream waits there for Orion to draw his own conclusions, his blank expression hiding the smug satisfaction he feels beneath.

[thanksoptimus]

It's hard to comprehend what Starscream is getting at at first - but it inspires him to think on it, which is more than enough to start bringing up latent worries. He's certain that what's been done to him is a complication, handling the guilt he feels has been difficult at the best of times, but that would be the cause of his own hesitation, not Megatron's.

"I have hardly had the opportunity to notice anything, thus far," he says with a note of stubbornness, mostly because inwardly he is trying to figure out what he's missing. He's now convinced that it must be something.

[starscheme]

If Orion was confused, then Starscream was succeeding. All he had to do was be painfully cryptic and stir up the Autobot's latent inquisitiveness, and the rest should take care of itself. If Orion started asking questions again and poking around where he didn't belong, Megatron would be forced to take action whether he wanted to or not, and Starscream would be proven right. It was a win/win as far as he was concerned.

"Well I'm sure locking yourself in the bowels of the ship certainly isn't helping that situation, now is it?" He says with a pleasant smile.

[thanksoptimus]

Is he saying he should be more assertive? WHAT IS HAPPENING.

On the outside, Orion gives him an uncertain look, but doesn't argue. At least not yet. He has to...think about this.

"You think I should seek him out more directly?" he asks.

[starscheme]

"Ah, now you're getting it." That pleasant smile is starting to look almost sinister. "Well, that's what works for me, at any rate."

[thanksoptimus]

Orion watches him carefully, trying to measure his words. Didn't he say before that there would be no point in forcing a confrontation? Maybe he means he should just be honest about his feelings?

Starscream is hard to get a read on. One second he seems genuinely helpful, and the next Orion is almost certain he's being mocked.

He sighs, his shoulders drooping.

"I suppose I haven't much choice," he says, glancing at the door apprehensively. He falls silent for another moment. "He hasn't...said anything, has he?"

He'd been willing to take Megatron's word that things were fine, but maybe that was unwise.

[starscheme]

"Said anything? I'm afraid not." He's starting to look bored, like he is suddenly uninterested now that he's said his bit. "Like I said, he's had quite a lot to cope with... direct confrontation initially seemed to be in bad form, but now that I'm more informed of your situation... if you're distressed about matters, well, there isn't really much you can do about that aside from be direct. It'll be better for you both in the long run," he sighs, idly inspecting the talons on one hand.

[thanksoptimus]

He contemplates asking more questions, to try to get more information out of the bot. But with the way Starscream is regarding him now, it seems that he must be done with him. So instead of pursuing it further, he nods his head.

"Thank you, Commander Starscream," he says.

[starscheme]

He shrugs nonchalantly. "Think nothing of it. I'm here to assist... I only wish you luck in your endeavor."