Transformers Mansion

Knowing who's inside, Fallstreak has to assure his better instincts he wouldn't be walking in if he hadn't brought Optimus. Even so, it's a twisted comfort to the Decepticon to know he's already dead and his day's unlikely to get more painful.

The light blue and white mech hesitates just inside the door, realising that Optimus was right: that really is his universe's Starscream at the console. Or close enough, anyway.

Fallstreak glances at Optimus, relieved of taking the initiative himself by the fact it's her prerogative. Assuming she doesn't do something Autobot like smile and shove him in the firing line... ~~waitanano there.~~

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Since there's no firing line in this room, Optimus does indeed smile and give him a very small shove so that she can follow him inside. And then she puts her hand on his shoulder and gives it a comforting squeeze. "What do you think, Starscream?"

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Pausing and pulling his attention away from looking over the training programs as he heard a voice behind him, Starscream turned and slowly looked the pair of unfamiliar Transformers up and down, narrowing his optics thoughtfully.

"What do I think? Well, telling me you two are would be nice"

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~~Aaaahh she totally did it!~~

Fallstreak glances at Optimus in surprise, as if he can't imagine why she's squeezing his shoulder. Well, if he hadn't had so much time to study Autobot behaviour, he wouldn't know.

Almost immediately his attention is back on Starscream and not looking like an idiot in front of one of the greatest Decepticons in history. He knows that's not going to come naturally. He's trying not to fidget as he stands beside Optimus and waits for her to answer.

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"Sorry." The tall femme gives the Seeker an easy smile, her yellow optics twinkling as she puts her hands on her hips. "I'm Optimus Prima, and this is Fallstreak."

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"Starscream" the seeker replied quietly and simply and eyed Fallstreak, before glancing over his shoulder at the computer as his curiosity and desire to keep his fighting skill up to his personal standards tugged at the back of his mind "And how may I help you?"

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Fallstreak attempts to look smart as Starscream's gaze turns his way, but isn't good for much else. Much as he's been trying to reform, being extraneous is an old, old habit.

But mostly he can't help with that question because he doesn't know the answer.

Aaand he's not sure his vocaliser will work for him just yet.

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"I was wondering if you'd like someone to monitor while you go through your simulation," offers Optimus.

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"Alright, if that is the done thing here? If so, who would you recommend" Starscream replied, his attention moving away from Fallstreak as he eyed Optimus.

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Fallstreak can see about two possible outcomes here, and while he's not in a position to forecast which... he does anyway. Taking into account Optimus's behaviour patterns and the utter weirdness of this situation...

He looks back to Optimus while he privately places his bet.

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"I'll do it." The tall femme returns his look quizzically.

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Starscream nodded at Optimus, then turned to choose a program before throwing a quick look over his shoulder at Fallstreak "Will he be joining me?"

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Fallstreak looks startled, and slightly uncomfortable. "I'm, um... not much of a combat unit, I'm afraid... at least, not at close range."

Which isn't a great admission for a Decepticon. In hindsight, his brother might have had some grounds for his disapproval after all. But Optimus never did ask his function.

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"Hmm." Optimus walks over and looks at the console, checking to see if the selected program is combat or obstacle based.

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Starscream nodded at Fallstreak, then moved to let Optimus pass, looking thoughtfully. It would be kind of nice to do a training simulation under one's own steam and not because Megatron decided or ordered it.

"In which case, perhaps you would join me in a non-combat based training exercise"

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Not to look a total coward, Fallstreak nods, glancing at Optimus. "I'd be honoured, sir."

This is too bizarre. A megacycle ago he was planning his report to old Retort. He wonders what's going on back there. How they'll fill his post. If they'll fill it.

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The femme looks up in time to catch the look and gives him an encouraging grin before turning her attention back to the controls. "Great. Should we start it at a lower level and then increase it as you pass each one?"

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"Works for me" Starscream called back to Optimus as he headed for the door to find a way down and into the empty metal room.

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Fallstreak follows Starscream, still trying to pretend to himself that it's the start of a normal afternoon. And Starscream is Retort and Optimus is just Exche... It's not working very well.

"Focus, idiot," he mutters to himself, and scans the walls around them to get an idea of where they're going.

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Down some stairs and over to one side is a set of big doors, and through the doors is... well, it's a jungle now instead of the metal room; a jungle big enough to fly through.

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Finding and entering the room, Starscream narrowed his optics and took in the holographic setting warily, then shifted to his jet form and waited for Fallstreak before starting the exercise.

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"Oh!" Fallstreak stops, optics flickering in a blink. "More trees." He's used to city and space and endless barren ocean, and the idea of 'forest' as a kind of terrain makes him stare for a second, until he realises Starscream is waiting.

He quickly transforms, revealing that he has an Earth-style alt-mode of his own. "Ready when you are, sir," he lies.

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