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[ Orion comes into view with the unapproachable disposition that only radiates off the truly unpersonable and quarantined nuclear spill sites. In stark contrast to the point of defiance the woman seated next to him is a shining lighthouse set against her companion’s stormy mood with a bright, excited smile illuminating every moment she invades his personal space with her slender arms looped through his. ]

We're looking for an interior decorator. [ Orion looked to his partner almost pleadingly, it was obvious that ‘we’re’ really meant ‘she’s.’ Shockwave gladly took over from Orion, smile widening further. ]

Someone willing to deal with a few odd requests here and there. I have a number of ideas, of course, but my skills lie decidedly elsewhere.

[ Not for lack of trying, however, for Shockwave’s curious enthusiasm was nearly impossible to dampen. ]

Money is a non-issue, and we really would appreciate any help given while we try to consolidate our apartments into the one. Shockwave has some nebulous idea of what she wants but I might as well be banging rocks together.

And if anyone has some experience in construction, there’s an outer wall that needs replacing on the third floor and a garage door to be installed.

[ 100% Botcryption to: Tony Stark (616) ]

I need you to stop by and have a look at something concerning our previous concerns about this energy crisis. You'll make the time.

[ Shockwave shoots Orion a slightly exasperated look, smile still in place. ] What he means is that we think you'll find it interesting.

Blue = Orion
Purple = Shockwave

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( shockwave had previously been content to leave the interior decorating to those who'd found it their calling, but a change in scenery and the attempt at appearing human meant at least attempting new things.

but the talk of interior decorators brings someone to mind and shockwave just has to ask. )

There was an interior designer-- Atomizer? Whatever happened to him?

( don't do the stonewalling thing, orion. it's a safe topic. )

Last I heard Atomizer quit and started doing our wet work until late in the war after we put an end to that sort of thing. I don't think he's looked at colour swatches for a while now, to be honest.

[ Orion offered flatly, but hey at least being an assassin was certainly his choice and not something the Functionists decided. So, points for that? ]

Edited 2013-09-15 04:28 (UTC)

Ah.

( well that's. certainly a career change. shockwave paused, lips pressed together in a thin line. )

It seems foolish to hope that there was even one aspect of life that remained unchanged by the war.

( foolish maybe, but what was wrong with wishing for a hint of normalcy? )

[ To be honest, he expected some flak after revealing he had his own part to play in assassins filling his ranks a banal confession. Then again, all of this wasn't about him. This whole show of getting the apartment setup was more or less for Shockwave's benefit. ]

It is [ He didn't know whether to offer a smile of his hand so he tried for both, ] but foolish hope is the fuel that kept us going this long. We'll do what we can here, and hope it's enough.

( which shockwave took without hesitation, wrapping both hands around his one. )

And when our job here is all said and done? If our bodies are clones ( guess who's been digging through the network ) they've done an excellent job with spark integration as far as I've been able to tell.

( there's a beat or two, and then-- )

Assassins, Orion? Was that necessary?

( he's only let bits and pieces slip, and shockwave is still working on the full picture. but the idea of assassins made shockwave think of proteus and that sits poorly. the displeasure is clear in her tone, along with the frown. )

Edited 2013-09-15 07:33 (UTC)

For once I'm asking you ignore its exact science in favour of focusing on the very real goals ahead of us. We are duty bound to others here, and that's all we presently do not have the luxury to stress ourselves over instead of this theoretical future.

[ Holding Shockwave as they were; he and Shockwave both solid yet immaterial projections of the other made reality skirting true physical contact for superficial imitations. It always felt unreal, like he was pressed against glass trying to find purchase- cold and unfeeling no matter how hard he pushed on. Regardless, Orion pressed on and squeezed both hands surrounding his tight. ]

I took every tactical advantage I could without sacrificing the dignity of others. All I've only ever hoped was that you who set me on this course four million years ago would understand.

Edited 2013-09-18 05:19 (UTC)

You should know me better than to think I can simply stop being a scientist. ( said in good humor, because really. science is shockwave's first and deepest passion - beyond the politics and the teaching. ) I have been offered, and accepted, a position in Wayne Industries to help develop the technology here. Some of my plans require petitioning the Emperor herself, but I fail to see how she can oppose them in good faith.

( what resistance could be made to making the communication system far more efficient and portable? science is progress, and progress is good - it makes for foreigners who would be less likely to turn on their hosts if pushed too far. it's just one way shockwave can see this entire situation going, although it's been hard to settle on a definite course of action without going to meet the emperor. )

Understanding does not mean I approve. The goal was to be better than what came before, not use the same underhanded tactics to win.

The Emperor might be a problem; she and I suffer a terminal difference of opinion. [Their artificial forms made physical contact strange - like trying to touch someone through glass. And as quickly as he allowed himself brief contact he was on his feet and pacing. Whatever good humour Shockwave brought was dissipating in the thinning air around them. ] I spoke with her during the last audience, and made it clear I had no intention of allowing ourselves to become involved in her affairs when it could prove disastrous. Barely got a word in edgewise before I was escorted out, leaving us both hot under the collar.

[ Speaking of hot under the collar, Orion leveled his gaze at Shockwave. Already have spent any time with Shockwave was an uphill battle overlooking the laundry list of war crimes and scientific horrors that lay dormant under that veneer of morals. Being told Shockwave, who no was not part of that war, that his methods were comparable to those of the Senate - even if she didn't say it outloud. Put him through the roof. ]

Well [ His voice chilled to subarctic ] Then it should help that I wasn't looking for your approval.

So you've burnt the only bridge we could have used to our advantage.

( shockwave matches his stare, although hardly the picture of icy indifference. instead the holoform is a clear mix of offended and angry - less bubbling to the surface and more direct. )

Do not forget that I was the one that made you capable of having the authority to wage a four million year war in the first place, Orion Pax. ( said with far more fire than orion, as ever incapable of masking emotions. shockwave certainly didn't save his life for him to abandon all the principles that made him worth saving in the fist place, let along make him capable of carrying the matrix. ) Whatever happened to me, it's unfortunate that it left me incapable of expressing my displeasure.

( still sitting, although the holoform's hands clenched into fists in some misplaced attempt to keep shockwave's temper under control. if finding shockwave's own decapitated and empty head tested the holoform's ability to cope with sadness and panic, then this conversation was testing its ability to accurately portray the burning anger. )

I circumvented an opportunity to turn us into bipedal warheads. [ Again. ]

[ Orion already starts to loss any sense equanimity in favour of falling back on his famously ill temper in the face of vilification. His holoavatar has Shockwave matched for height but he still finds a way to tower over her if nothing else than in presence and intensity. ]

Do not [ In a show that he is walking the fine line between contained and explosive, he clenched one fist while the other hand held a pointed finger in Shockwave's direction. ] think you can weigh that against me; I do not require your censure when there stands this much time between us. You do not know what I have been through or the choices I was forced to make along the way. What did you think was going to happen? The Matrix would come to me and everything would, what, fall neatly in line behind me?

[ The space between them was at the same time boiling and ice cold as their matched tempers clashed in the tense atmosphere. After a moment, Orion lowered his voice to a dull roar while never breaking eye contact. ]

What happened to you was most unfortunate for you, and then everyone else after that. And if Zeta was proof of anything is that your sentiment is about as dangerous as brutality.

You make it sound as if we don't have the self control to prevent that in first place. Has four million years brought your opinion of our own species that low?

( shockwave stands, an accusatory finger of shockwave's pointed in his direction, refusing to back down. one doesn't get to be an accomplished politician famed for a temper and emotional displays by letting themselves be impressed by displays of power. )

You cannot blame me for making judgements on what little information you've so generously provided. Am I to thank you for keeping me into dark? What purpose does that serve here when this is, by all accounts, the only thing left for me? ( he has no right to turn this against her when he's constantly stonewalled every attempt shockwave has made to understand what he's been through. what shockwave does not know, shockwave cannot use. ) As if I could be so naive. Do you honestly think I didn't think it through?

Zeta! ( hands thrown into the air in exasperation and anger, for it always came back to this, even as shockwave's voice rose in volume. ) Primus knows there was no way I could have seen what he'd become, and you're a fool if you think I would have allowed him to ever become Prime had I known. My actions have always been motivated by my desire to help Cybertron in any way I can - how dare you insinuate that I would damn it so easily. You were my choice, Orion - from the moment you stormed the Grand Imperium!

( dai atlas had warned shockwave of the potential for darkness and cruelty, and shockwave had constantly brushed it off as impossible. never, shockwave would say, i would never. to have what was meant to be a step away from the errors of nominus prime thrown back in her face as if shockwave would willingly stand for it - how dare he. nothing mattered more.

and orion was the one who saw it all fall apart - he should have prevented it. he should have stopped it once it had begun. he should have done something since shockwave could not. )

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