ORION OPEN LOG 2: NOW WITH DUDE

[thanksoptimus]

Who: Orion Pax and YOU
Where: Around the city.
When: Late March, basically whenever.
What: Having recent discovered that he has a holomatter avatar, Orion is now roaming the city like someone's confused dad.
Warnings: shrrruuuuggot. perhaps gay.

Exploring the city would have been a lot easier had Orion known how to do this earlier, but he supposes there is no point regretting wasted time now. Unlocking his holomatter avatar has given him a pleasant alternative to sitting in a parking lot and boredly zoning out into a haze of stress and confusion, and so he is happy to use this human shaped form to explore all the places he hasn't been able to previously.

While he technically does look like a middle aged man (who is not Charlie Swan), everywhere he goes he is followed by a constant air of curious bafflement, like a parent is when going to places they don't understand purely for the sake following their kid around. There is a lot of squinting and fondling going on in every one of these options.

A) Various book stores:

The most notable feature of this man's bookstore experience is that he appears to mostly be reading entire books whole while standing in front of shelves - very quickly, at that. The subject matter varies wildly, but he doesn't seem to be at risk of getting bored any time soon, nor do his legs ever appear to get tired.

Perhaps he has yet to catch on to the fact that reading whole books in bookstores is generally considered to be bad etiquette.

B) In which he goes AFK:

And here is that same man, standing in the middle of the street doing nothing. It isn't the busiest of streets, but he sure as fuck is just standing there while the world continues to go on around him, ostensibly while he stares into space and ignores the thread of oncoming vehicles.

This is actually happening because something distracting is happening wherever Orion's actual body is. Perhaps a sudden carjacking. Perhaps animals. It is a mystery.

C) In which Team Magma happens:

Team Magma can frequently be found doing something stupid, and in this case the stupid thing is trying to steal a bunch of lorries from a truck stop for unknown reasons. The rush the parking lot in a group of about twelve. Most of them are firebending.

Orion is just kind of standing around in the parking lot when this happens, not fully realizing what's going on until there are like a dozen costumed people throwing fire around aimlessly and yelling things about being TEAM MAGMA. Even after a moment of letting it sink in his expression is still more incredulous than anything.

He can not even believe this.

Comments

[thanksoptimus]

"Yes," he says. "I receive sensory feedback to my processor. It is not quite the same as being in my own body, but it is enough. I am presently parked somewhere a distance away."

[scribes]

She let go of his hand, wondering how that worked. It was so beyond anything she understood, that was something she saw as a challenge. Her interest in Cybertronians had sky rocketed since first meeting Orion, even more so since meeting Breakdown and talking with Orion again. She'd learn more in time.

"Well, it is good to see you again, in whatever form it may be. What do you have there?" She couldn't help but be curious as to what had caught his attention so much.

[thanksoptimus]

He glances at the book he's been holding, and then back to her. When he speaks up about it, it's in the lively tones of someone who is talking about something they find very interesting.

"It is a book about the history of the human species - the nation of the United States in particular. They have also historically suffered from a large scale civil war, and I am keenly noting what cultural similarities I can find between the two. Interestingly, the keeping of slaves was an important factor in both conflicts. Though in human history it was less of a regimented caste system, and more directly the result of human trafficking from another culture."

He frowns, glancing down at the book with an expression of empathy for things far out of reach.

"The ramifications of that theft are...very grim indeed."

[scribes]

One of the things that Di found so fascinating about humans was just how diverse they were. Unfortunately, instead of celebrating such diversity it seemed it simply made them divisive. Di couldn't quite bring herself to judge, trolls had enough hang ups on blood alone, but it had been disappointing, if somewhat unsurprising to find out.

What Orion spoke of was a clear example of this. "It seems like many species, at some point in their history find whatever reason they can to view their fellows as lesser for the most insignificant reason. Human, Alternian, Cybertronian, it didn't matter.

"But it seems like here, at least, they have made progress towards righting things." Di had come to find out that there were many things still wrong, but progress was something.

"What happened during this war?"

[rememberyousoon]

Well, that makes her feel kind of bad. She's still a bit put off and not entirely sure that this isn't just a dumb prank, but she'll give it one last go. He seems genuinely befuddled.

"Well, they generally prefer it when you buy the book before you read the whole thing," she says, trying to sound sympathetic and helpful.

[thanksoptimus]

He looks back to her, eyes widening a little with surprise. And then narrowing with concern. This presents some considerations he hadn't really taken into account, but none that he can do much with.

"Oh. I...seem to have mistook this building's purpose, as well."

He crosses his arms awkwardly and steps away from the shelf. At least she isn't mad about it, apparently. He'd thought, perhaps stupidly, assumed that this was an archive.

[thanksoptimus]

He flips through a couple pages, rereading bits of information to make sure he has it right. From the speed he flips the pages, though, he's reading it extremely quickly.

"Though there were miscellaneous other factors, a primary motivator for the conflict was over whether or not the keeping of slaves should be legal. The North believed not, and the South believed so. Particularly, the slaves were of a specific race of humans - those with darker skins. Given the prevalence of power among the lighter hued humans over the years, it has led to discrimination against those that once were slaves even to this day. The Civil War ended with a victory to the North, and slaves were made illegal, but such prejudice continues to trouble America's people to this day."

"Strange to me, however, is that by all accounts there is few if any key biological differences between different 'ethnicities' of humans, that means they all excel to approximately the same degrees. Caste in this nation appears to be entirely aesthetic, which is a sharp contrast to the functionalist regime of Cybertron, where one was put to work at whatever their build was deemed most effective at regardless of their personal agency or desire, with those of supposedly 'lesser' functions treated extremely poorly in societal matters."

[rememberyousoon]

She looks around at the bookstore, confirming that it does in fact look like a bookstore and would be difficult to mistake for anything else.

"Did you think it was a library?" she asks, already pretty sure that that's not the problem.

[thanksoptimus]

That human word checks out definition wise - or at least, close enough. He nods a little. Part of him is wondering where she is going with this line of inquiry.

"Yes," he says stiffly. "Yes, I did think it was a library."

[scribes]

As he spoke Di gestured that he should follow, so they could take a seat at the table she had been at. She had completely forgotten about the books she was going to reshelf, lost instead in Orion's words.

When he came to the fact that humans didn't really seem to differ all that much in biology, she nodded in agreement. Diverse in culture, not so much in biology.

"It does seem that way, doesn't it?" Di did not like to speak in definite, considering that they were both outsiders but from what she had read, learned from humans, and sometimes witnessed herself it was hard not to agree with him.

"Alternia is the same as Cybertron in that regard. Maybe it's only because of that experience but when I look at the things humans hold as superior it's hard not to be," she trailed off. Disappointed? The pigment of someone's skin, when it effected nothing else about them just seemed such a petty thing to notice.

"I don't know much about how that discrimination begin but it seems now it comes from stereotypes that those in privilege more or less force the minorities to live."

[rememberyousoon]

She's skeptical, but she goes on anyway.

"Well, I think there's one a few blocks away. I can show you, if you like. After I buy this."

[thanksoptimus]

He follows her to the table almost as if he isn't fully realizing where he's going because he's too busy discussing the issue to do anything but go on autopilot. He sits down with the book still in hand.

"Indeed. It is a troubling circumstance to contend with - it is good to see that at least the modern culture of Earth is seeking to repair the damage that has been done, but when class differences are based on so little, it makes it complicated to understand the delicate interweaving of cultural precedent. I have also been reading about the dynamics between the two human sexes, which is perhaps more similar to Cybertron's functionalist history, but is still far more complicated than that."

He shakes his head, looking genuinely distressed by all this.

"I was able to choose my human form when setting up my avatar, but this information has caused me to question my choice. I had simply gone with an approximation of an individual I saw where my vehicle form was, but now I find myself uneasy with the concept of presenting myself in a place of social advantage due to my apparent sex and genetic heritage. However, I would also not want to appropriate the suffering of others by pretending to be in a place of social discrimination that I am not. The issue has vexed me for hours now."

[thanksoptimus]

He looks a little bit relieved by that offer, and nods his head enthusiastically.

"I would appreciate that very much, thank you."

[rememberyousoon]

She takes a deep breath. "Great, I'll just buy this then, and we can go."

She turns away toward the cash, not bothering to check and see if her new friend has followed her or not. She feels oddly responsible for him now, which is not a position she thought she would be in today.

[thanksoptimus]

He ambles after her carefully, as if trying not to impose upon her personal space while still keeping track of her. He stands near what appears to be the checkout, and hands out, looking more like someone's confused dad than ever.

[rememberyousoon]

Once she's paid and everything, she turns away from the checkout and nods toward the door to indicate that's where she's going in case he has not figured that out.

"So, I didn't get your name," she says, totally conversational.

[thanksoptimus]

"Orion Pax," he says simply, following her out. He glances over to her, looking her over. "And yours?"

[rememberyousoon]

"Nilin," she replies, choosing not to comment on the name. "And where are you from? It sounded like you were new to the city."

B

[cyborged]

Raiden's in a hurry. He's always in a hurry, he is a very busy man. Or rather He is a man with ample free time who treats everything he does like it is Very Important because what else is he going to do with his life.

He doesn't pay any mind to Orion on his first trip down the street beyond registering him as 'some asshole taking up space on a crowded street,' but on his way back it kind of gives him pause to see that same asshole just standing there. Staring at nothing.

It takes him a moment - mostly to get over how inconvenienced he feels - before he pushes through the undulating mass of Very Busy People to move to stand in front of Orion and try to get his attention. Mostly by waving a hand in his face and saying, "excuse me," impatiently.

[thanksoptimus]

"Ah..." Oh Primus he can't even remember any other city names right now, caught on the spot like this. "Yes, I am from...another city."

Perfect save.

[rememberyousoon]

She frowns at him again. While they leave the bookstore and head out onto the street she tries her best come up with a tactful way to ask what the hell his deal is, but this is Nilin and tact is not her strong suit.

"You know, if you're an alien or something, you're not doing a very good job covering it up," she says. She keeps her voice down, even though there aren't that many people on this particular sidewalk right now.

[thanksoptimus]

Without a moment's hesitation, he puts his face in his hands out of apparent remorse.

"I know," he says, defeated.

[rememberyousoon]

She's shocked, but really she just feels bad for him. She holds up her hands as if to comfort him, but hesitates and drops them again.

"I didn't mean to upset you... Please don't..."

This is such an odd situation. She's not sure she even expected him to actually be an alien, it was just the first thing that came to mind.

"Are you actually an alien?"

[chapterfiveversenine]

"Attempts to persuade criminals to halt criminal activity are generally unsuccessful," Legion informs Orion helpfully. They twist around and rocket into the fire. The flame scorches Legion's external shell, but does no serious damage, and in short order, the platform stop the group attacking Orion. "Inquiry: what is your view of civilian casualties among alien populations? If you were to fight a war, would they be relevant or irrelevant to your operations?"

[thanksoptimus]

He glances over to her, frowning. He doesn't seem to be distressed so much as frustrated with himself. Lying is not his forte.

"I am an alien in disguise," he says. "Unfortunately, my ability to play the part is only physical it would seem."