SUPER BARBECUE SUPER BARBECUE SUPER BARBECUE [open as heck]

[hugling]

Who: SUPER HEROES!!!!!
Where: Ernest E. Debs Regional Park!
When: Sunday!
What: SUPER BARBECUE
Warnings: Superheroes...



It's a pleasant evening at Ernest E. Debs Regional Park, just a couple miles from downtown LA, which can be seen through the haze. Late March means spring is just arriving in LA and the trees are just starting to bud. Unfortunately, the grass is still kind of dead and dry.

The barbecue and picnic area isn't too busy, though the park does have the usual assortment of joggers, dog walkers, and cyclists. There are some balloons tied to picnic tables, and strung between two trees is a very homemade "SUPER BBQ" banner, courtesy of Hulkling and Starbreaker. There's still glitter glue on Milly's apartment floor. There's another posterboard with the rules written on it in big bold sharpie letters nearby, just in case anyone forgets:

• Don't be a jerk!!!
• Keep your weapons holstered please.
• Do not trash the park!
• ABSOLUTELY NO FIGHTING
• Anyone caught fighting will be asked to leave!
• Really don't be a jerk!

[OKAY GUYS!!! mingle! have fun! maybe some THINGS WILL HAPPEN, whoooo knows!]

Comments

[thanksoptimus]

Orion has broken away for the moment, trying to get a closer look at the gang of hoodlums surrounding the large man in the spiky cape. He's not sure if he's just more invested in his perceived observation than he should be, or even if he's hoping that's who he thinks it is. There's no reason to want him there, even if it was reasonable. That is foolish nonsense. Stupid.

From the outside he just appears to be a jadeblooded troll woman stalking some human guys, looking kind of awkward and embarassed.

[deadpartners]

A superhero party seems like a decent place to keep up with her data-gathering activities, but ever since her run-in with Starscream -- and then Airachnid -- she's been keeping an eye out for holomatter avatars. There's an Alternian woman who sends up red flags in Arcee's scanners and nearby him she sees Magdal, Orion's friend -- it seems reasonable enough to assume for now that it's Orion's avatar.

Of course, his isn't the only one that comes up on her scanners. She directs her attention to the group of men hovering around the guy in the obscenely spiky costume, and -- she recognizes Starscream's avatar before she even has a chance to register that the big supervillainous looking one is most definitely Megatron. And the other two...they must be more Decepticons. Great.

So she waits to approach Orion until he's broken away from Magdal and looks to be on his own, more or less safely out of Starscream's avatar's line of sight. Arcee assumes he'd recognize her if he saw her again; she doesn't want to take that chance.

"Orion? Is that you?"

[thanksoptimus]

He jumps a little when she speaks to him - or, more accurate, he very suddenly straightens his back and comes to attention as soon as it becomes clear that he's being watched. Despite his initial reaction, though, it only takes a moment for him to calm down. Though he still looks troubled.

"Yes. I mean...hello. Yes." He blinks. "How did you know?"

He's a little worried he's been too careless in coming here.

[deadpartners]

"I didn't mean to startle you. Sorry." Arcee glances over in the direction Orion had come from, arms crossed over her chest -- less confrontational, more guarded. She knows they're not the only Cybertronians at this party, and even though her avatar's just a projection, she feels oddly exposed here. "I met your Alternian friend there the other day, and I've been keeping an eye out for other holomatter projections. Wasn't that hard to put two and two together."

She looks back at him, studying the unfamiliar face that she doesn't have much trouble recognizing all the same. Last time they'd met she'd given him a lot to think about, and she knows things can't have been easy for him. "How are you holding up?"

[thanksoptimus]

"Knowing how to use my holomatter avatar has made my time in the city considerable more enjoyable," he says, getting himself together enough to smile a little. He has her to thank for that, among other things. "It has also allowed me to gain some...perspective, in regards to Earth culture."

He glances over in Magdal's direction fondly.

"Magdal's companionship has been an enormous asset as well."

But besides the good news, inwardly speaking, seeing Megatron has done a lot to remind him how unresolved everything still is. His smile fades a little.

[deadpartners]

"She seems like a good friend." Arcee means that, too. She's a little suspicious of things on this planet, honestly, after what the last month has turned out like, but Magdal really seems like she means well. Like she cares. Arcee trusts her, to a point.

But it's hard not to notice the way his face almost falls. She steps in a little closer to his avatar, though her hands are resting reticently in her jeans pockets. "Is there anything I can do?"

[thanksoptimus]

He's quiet for a few moments, averting his eyes briefly as she approaches. When he looks to her, his expression is determined.

"Perhaps I should be asking you the same question," he says. "I have done not much of use since arriving here, and while I have no intention of fighting...I accomplish nothing while choosing not to act."

[deadpartners]

Surprise shows clear on the avatar's face as she blinks back at him. She knows she'd gotten through to him somewhat last time they'd spoken -- that he'd seemed to really believe her, for the first time, but...

"No one's asking you to fight," she says softly, her lips twisting slightly. Her expression is somber as she steps in a little closer. She knows Rodimus would disagree -- that they need Orion in the fight -- but she'd meant what she'd said about not forcing his hand. It'd be a disservice to him. "Not that we couldn't use your help in any capacity you were willing, but...are you sure?"

[thanksoptimus]

He's quiet for a moment, considering that question seriously. It takes a moment for him to come up with an answer.
 
"...No," he says. "But I suspect there are some things we can never truly be certain about. And I know that you and the other listen to what I say...while Megatron will not."
 
It's hard to get used to, that. They were each other's sounding boards for so long, the way that his words barely make a mark on Megatron now...it's all too much. It's useless.

[bigfuckinggun]

Megatron, as his outfit would suggest, is more here to try to get a first-hand look at what kind of individuals this world's 'superheroes' are than to scan the crowd for Autobot avatars. It's hard not to notice the apparent troll watching him, though. At first he doesn't make the connection: what Cybertronian would choose a non-native lifeform as their avatar, when it could only inhibit the goal of blending in and gathering information? But there is something familiar about the expression, and with that noticed it's hard not to see there's something familiar about the horns – and he has to laugh as he realises that Orion Pax, who is frustratingly honest, and terrible at lying, would choose a non-native lifeform.

He doesn't announce what he's observed to his underlings, just excuses himself and makes his way over to the supposed Alternian.

"I could not help but notice your... lingering attention." If Orion still had any doubt at this point, it can take a hike: Megatron sounds, unsurprisingly, exactly like Megatron, albeit without as much towering metal gladiator for the sound to resonate around in. "I take it you have heard of my exploits – perhaps I can offer you a signature?"

[thanksoptimus]

Oh no.

It's definitely Megatron, that much is clear. What isn't completely clear is if Megatron has recognized Orion, or if he's simply being...well...Megatron. Unfortunately, the avatar is wired in for maximum emotional realism, which means he has the worst possible reaction to this - a reaction he is completely unfamiliar with in his metal form - he blushes.

It's a faint jade over grey skin, and he doesn't even realize it's happening on account of the fact that it isn't really something that occurs to robots. He immediately averts his gaze and tries to make and exit, being sure to shift his avatar's voice a little further from his own before speaking.

"I...no. That is...alright."

[bigfuckinggun]

Fortunately Megatron has no idea what blushing is either. He has never seen an organic life form blush before, ever. Pretty much nobody in the universe blushes when confronted with Megatron. Perhaps this is some kind of fear response? Hmm.

"Oh, but I insist." He grins. There are no fangs involved at all. It is sort of uncanny. "I recognise a fan when I see one."

[thanksoptimus]

At that, Orion can't help but pause and stare for a few more moments, marveling over how strange a world where Megatron has normal teeth is. Also, where he's human in general, he supposes.

After a bit too much gazing, his eyes rise to meet Megatron's. His lips form a thin line. He must know. Does he?

"I am sorry, but you are mistaken," he says. "I am no 'fan' of yours."

[bigfuckinggun]

His smile stills; his joke suddenly slightly less funny.

"No," he says, rather more soberly. "No, I suppose you are not." He straightens up, his eyes a little narrower behind the mask as he looks contemplatively down at Orion. "A shame. But I had not expected to find you here – in this or any guise."

[thanksoptimus]

Megatron may have sobered, but Orion is still coasting on his own flash of anger at that mocking attitude. He had expected anger, perhaps, or aggression - but not this casual teasing, like this is supposed to be some kind of game between them.

"I hadn't known you had such an interest in toying with me," he says rigidly, his stare sharpening. "Though I suppose you must have developed one by now."

[bigfuckinggun]

Megatron frowns, his voice clipped: "I had no intention of toying with you. It was merely a joke. I had anticipated you might find it entertaining – clearly I was wrong."

[thanksoptimus]

Well MISTAKE NUMBER ONE, Megatron...

But Megatron speaking to him in that tone instantly derails the more stern approach Orion has been taking. He honestly hadn't expected the bot to sound upset...based on their previous conversation he had assumed that he would be angry at him, not trying to make weird jokes.

"...I thought you would be angry with me, given our last conversation," he says. "...Not trying to poke fun."

He's eyeing Megatron cautiously, but his tone is a little bit warmer now. He is confused on several levels.

[starscheme]

Okay, so Starscream might not have weird Orion Pax specific gay-dar like Megatron has, but he does know his master's creepy quirks and habits unfortunately well. So when he slips off towards an unidentified avatar without so much as a word, there's really only one logical conclusion as to who the mystery bot is.

He waits a while after Megatron returns watches for Orion to be sufficiently out of sight from the rest of the group before slinking off on his own to engage him. Normally he'd stay away, but they haven't seen each other since they were both locked in a sweaty metal jail cell together, after all, and his curiosity is piqued.

He sidles up to the troll casually, keeping an eye out for any other autobots in the vicinity and making sure Megatron isn't getting wise to to what he's doing.

"That's an interesting choice in avatar that you've chosen there," he says conversationally. "Isn't the idea to better blend with the local life forms?"

[thanksoptimus]

He's genuinely wary and confused for a moment, but the voice gives who it is away fairly quickly. He doesn't know how to react to that. He's been on generally good terms with Starscream, so far as he's personally concerned anyway. BUT WHAT NOW.

He doesn't understand anything.

"I found that deception was not easily within my ability," he says, after a moment. "Better to at least be honest about my state as a cultural outsider."

And all that complicated social justice stuff, but he's not getting into that.

[starscheme]

"Indeed. I'm impressed you still have a taste for interacting with these locals on any front at all. Any interest I had was burned very shortly after arriving here." He smiles placidly. Starscream is probably the only one of all of them whose bluffing abilities are actually improved by the avatar, since he is short a huge pair of mood telegraphing slabs of metal jutting from his back in this guise.

[thanksoptimus]

Orion regards Starscream for a moment thoughtfully before speaking.

"Did something happen?" he asks. "I have found my interactions with the natives to have been nothing but pleasant."

[starscheme]

"You're joking, right?" he drawls, and the placid smile turns wry. "I've had more than my fair share of poor encounters with humans, but they pale in comparison to... That AI was certainly of human make, that's more than enough for me."

[thanksoptimus]

"Having had more intimate interactions with the creature, of that I am not entirely certain," Orion says earnestly, though he has no specific proof of it. No one even really knows what happened to the thing afterwards, which is frightening to say the least. "I take it you have had your alterations removed, at least?"

[starscheme]

Starscream's expression turns sullen, not exactly keen to dredge up even more of those memories. "As swiftly as I was able, yes. But enough about that..." he brightens back up a bit. "How have you been since you departed from the Decepticon fold. Getting enough Energon? You haven't run into any trouble, I hope." All casual harmless questions, but he delivers them in such a way that he's waiting for Orion to ask something more direct so that he doesn't have to be the one to do so.

[thanksoptimus]

"I have found myself more troubled by the state of this war than anything else," he says, after a moment. "Both sides have my sympathies, in their way. I would expect that sounds as objectionable to you as it has the others."