((Patrol, Dagger, Fallout, Darkraid, Lunar, Garrison)) (U,A,D,D,D,A)

Patrol walks in whistling.
Oracle is sitting at a table. She spots Patrol walking in and waves him over.
Patrol sees oracle waving to him and he walks over, "hiya."
You say, "Hello Patrol."
Dagger pokes his head in through the doorway, scowling somewhat as he scans for Decepticons.
Patrol sits down at the table with oracle, "So how are things?"
Dagger, seeing none, breathes a sigh of relief and saunters in, finding himself an empty spot at the bar.
You say, "Well enough. And how is it with you, Patrol?"
Oracle nods to Dagger as he makes his way to the bar.
Patrol shrugs, "ok I sappose. Things are the same around town, not much is going on."
Dagger blinks as Oracle nods to him, thinking, o O (She doesn't know me *that* well. Why's she being so friendly?) Then, he shakes his head when he realizes he's being too paranoid. (Gah, what's WRONG with me...) Finally, he returns the nod to Oracle and orders himself an enerbeer.
You say, "I always take it as a good sign when very little is happening."
Dagger mutters something about not getting to blow anything up for too long.
Oracle turns to glance at Dagger when she hears the muttering.
Patrol shrugs, "its too bad about the battle by that town, I wish I knew how to ge out there and stop the fighting."
Dagger hms. o O (Bet she's one of those pacifist types. Probably wouldn't wanna hear how I wanna crack heads so much)
You say, "I don't care for fighting much. though I should probably learn for my own safety."
Patrol blinks, "you dont know how to fight? In this day and age every one should know how to defend them selves."
Dagger wryly comments, "Defend yourselves? From which side?"
You say, "From the fighting in general. Neither side has any problems with me, but there are some individuals who..."
Dagger listens patiently.
Patrol looks over at Dagger, "Well lately the cons, but in my line of work I have to know how to take on both sides."
Oracle turns to Patrol. "No, I don't know how to fight. I have some offensive equipment, but I'm not really adept at using it.
Dagger says, "C'mon, I wouldn't beat up on civvie unless they fired first. 'Course, somethin's to be said for bein' prepared, just in case..."
Patrol hmmms, "i didn't say you would, But I have met memebers of both sides who were very volitile" he looks over at Oracle,"Well when i get some time I could show you how to use it."
Dagger frowns to himself. Crystal City's never trusted either faction, despite the pleading of the Autobots.
You say, "That would be greatly appreciated."
Dagger says, "Helps to start with the right equipment and bod'. Don't have that, well, then I hope your altmode's fast..."
Patrol nods, "Thats not always true. You just got to know what your doing and not fight what you cant win."
Oracle listens.
Dagger hms, and sips a beer. "Got a point, there."
Dagger says, "But... the better your gear, the better your chances."
You say, "I'm not planning on fighting any battles...I just want to better protect myself."
Patrol hmms, "is anyone in particulr giving you a hard time?"
Oracle hesitates. "No."
Dagger frowns again. He remembers how guilty Oracle was over ratting out other people.
Dagger says, "Well... you shouldn't worry too much. Seems almost taboo to wage war near Crystal City... but don't put too many creds on that."
You say, "Besides, how will I learn anything if I don't leave Crystal City every now and again?"
Dagger says, "Hm. Well, just try learnin' in quiet places... don't wanna get in nobody's crossfire, do ya?..."
Patrol hmmms, "if a person is threating you in Crystal city you should inform the militia its our job to protect citzens."
You say, "But it's not their job to look after me outside of the city, and I don't plan hiding away in it forever. It's best that I learn."
Patrol shrugs, "I could take up the body gaurding buisness."
You say, "Doesn't the militia need you?"
Patrol grins, "most of the time."
You say, "I don't really want to take up anyone's time. As long as I don't cause trouble, I'm sure I'll be fine."
Dagger says, "Some guys like to make trouble for no reason. Other guys get offended real easy, 'specially if you ask the wrong questions."
Patrol grins, "i am sure Brawl wouldn't mind protecting you."
You say, "Yes, but I can't always prey on his time either. He does have duties to preform."
Fallout walks in and goes up to the bar.
Fallout orders an Icee.
Darkraid steps in and heads to a relatively quiet corner booth.
Fallout arches an optic ridge as Lunar enters. "Lunar.. did Razelore ever find you?"
Dagger hears people stomping into the bar, and his expression quickly sours. "Aw, slag...," he mutters. "Just when I come in when there aren't any cons, they just stomp right on int..."
Patrol sitting at his table, he looks up and sees people enter, he sees luanr and he grins.
Lunar looks at Fallout. "He got his message through." He sits down at his normal table, looking around first. He hesitates only slightly as he sees Patrol and Oracle, then sits anyway.
Oracle nods to the flow of people that come in.
Fallout smiles to herself and glances around, nodding to everyone except Dagger, since he looks and acts so grouchy.
Dagger looks away from the cons in aggrevation.
Patrol sees fallout and gives her a grin, "hi there."
Oracle falls suddenly quiet.
Darkraid nods to Oracle and Fallout before pulling a rifle out of subspace and setting it on the table in front of him
Darkraid drops Antique Rifle.
Fallout smiles and decides to sit with Patrol today. "Hey."
Oracle glances at the rifle.
Dagger's arm reflexively twitches as he sees Darkraid pull out the weapon, out of instinct.
Darkraid looks over the show piece and nods mostly to himself
Lunar notices Dagger because of his reaction to the weapon.
Fallout drinks her Icee.
Oracle glances at Lunar a couple of times.
Darkraid handles the rifle very carefully as he inspects it.
Dagger wonderss what the smeg Darkraid's doing for the neutrals, but doesn't want to have to ask a Decepticon to find out.
Oracle watches Darkraid handle his rifle, a curious expression on her face.
Lunar lets his gaze pass over the crowd. It hesistates a while on Oracle, then moves on.
Patrol hmmms and mutters to himself, "I wonder if...Razelore is still....lunar."
Oracle walks over to Darkraid. "Hello. Haven't seen you in a while Darkraid. How are you?"
Fallout says to Patrol quietly, "Hard to tell."
Fallout gives Lunar the 'grow up' look.
Darkraid sets the rifle back down and glances up at Oracle, "Well enough I suppose."
You say, "That's good to hear."
Darkraid shrugs and motions to the empty seat near by, "Care to have a seat?"
Patrol goes over to fallout, "So hows it been with you?"
Fallout says, "Alternating between lots of activity and incredible boredom, but that's army life for ya."
Oracle sits next to Darkraid.
Fallout says, "how about with you?"
Dagger grips the handle of his beer mug a bit tightly as the neutrals hang out with the cons. o O (They just don't know who they're dealing with..)
Darkraid takes the rifle back in his hands and nods again before placing his attention squarely on Oracle, "So how's things with you?"
You say, "Oh, pretty good."
Darkraid nods, "So I've heard...."
Patrol shrugs, "not much happening today, cept the refugee thing."
Fallout nods.
Oracle quirks an optic ridge at Darkraid. "What have you heard?"
Darkraid shrugs, "Not a whole lot."
Patrol hmms, "Well this is my off time i will worry bout the war when I am being paid too."
Patrol orders himself an enerwine, and looks over at Fallout, "want anything?"
Fallout grins. "Just another Icee."
You say, "Have you been busy lately? Or have things been pretty relaxed?"
Patrol orders an Icee for fallout, "So is being a con any easier then being a milita memeber?"
Darkraid says, "Things have been pretty relaxed for the most part. Except for that game of pool last week.""
Fallout says, "I doubt it. It all depends on who's your commander, really."
Oracle nods. "Sounds like a good highlight instead of a bad one."
Patrol grins, "I answer directly to Bracer so I don't have to worry bout Pahlanx yelling at me."
Darkraid blinks, "When you're playing for 800 creds and a some really high stakes? That was a tense game."
You say, "Oh? Who won?"
Darkraid says, "I did"
Fallout grins. "Bracer seems like he'd be a nice sort to work for."
Oracle smiles. "Good for you! Who did you play against?"
Darkraid says, "Revamp"
Dagger guzzles away at his beer, his grip on reality slowly loosened bit by bit...
You say, "Poor Revamp. Was she a good loser?"
Darkraid nods, "Yeah especially since I bought her a round with some of the winnings."
Patrol nods, "oh yhea hes great. Takes a lot of crap for me from Phalanx, I screw up alot."
Fallout says, "Really?"
Patrol grins, "Well I get in trouble for excessive force from time to time. but other then that I am a great guy."
Dagger sighs. Once more he sees signs of the Autobots getting all soft for the cons.
Fallout gets a glint in her optics. "Never trust a mech who says he's a great guy."
Oracle smiles cryptically. "If only the war could be won over a game of pool." Sighs. "It's almost amusing how well some members of the opposite factions get along while they are in this bar."
Lunar keeps looking around the room. Apparently Oracle's the only one for whom Lunar exhibits no open revulsion . . . and even with her his optics glint with cruelty.
Patrol grins, "You can trust me. Honest."
Darkraid nods and finally slips the rifle back into subspace, "Yeah well I'm not on duty when I'm here...."
Darkraid takes Antique Rifle.
Dagger grumbles quietly, "Downright revolting, more like..."
Oracle overhears Patrol. "Yeah. He's trustworthy...enough."
Fallout grins over at Oracle. "Well, if you're willing to back him up.."
Oracle quirks an optical ridge at Dagger. "What's revolting?"
Lunar quirks an optic ridge at Dagger himself, but says nothing.
Oracle turns back to Darkraid. "I suppose we're all transformers in more ways than one." She smiles slightly.
Darkraid nods slowly, "Well yeah...I mean it's not like my creators were Decepticons."
Dagger glances back at Oracle. "Hm? Nuthin'."
Patrol's grin grows, "oh yhea see everyone trusts me. So You come to The blaster often?"
Fallout says, "Every once in a while.. when I want to get away from Polyhex."
Oracle nods. "True enough Darkraid. My creators were Autobots, but I don't follow them. I guess creators don't dictate who we are too much."
Patrol winces at the sound of polyhex, then puts his grin back on, "Oh yhea you work for polyhex, huh? What do you do there?"
Fallout says, "The usual stuff."
Darkraid chuckles, "Doesn't seem that way...."
Fallout smiles wryly in Oracle's direction at her last statement.
You say, "Then again, some people are highly devoted to their creators, or at least their cause."
Darkraid says, "Yeah well I guess I just got caught up in the games.....it's what actually got me interested in the Decepticons."
Patrol shrugs, "The usual stuff huh? They blow things up in polyhex?"
Dagger says, "So why didn't you follow your creators, then, Oracle?"
Fallout arches an optic ridge. "Why do you ask that?" She seems genuinely surprised at that particular turn in the conversation.
You say, "I had no faith. I have no faith in factions or war."
Dagger says, "Did they try at all to make ya have faith, or letcha go your own way?"
Patrol shrugs, "Well you told me your name was fallout last time we talked. I assume that means you blow stuff up."
You say, "I was allowed to go my own way. I must admit that the Autobots are much more forgiving of those who wish to leave them than the Decepticons are. They don't rule by fear as much."
Lunar snorts and mutters to himself.
Lunar mutters to Lunar: "No they rule by the chaos theory."
Fallout grins. "It's true that's my specialty, but it's not what I do all the time."
Darkraid glances at Dagger for a brief moment before looking at Oracle, "I've not seen many Decepticons who choose to to rule by fear, admittely there are some."
You say, "Most of those with lower ranks seem nice, but many of your high rankers have odd ways of looking out for the welfare of their people."
Dagger nods. "I see..." He steals a quick glance at the cons--particularly Darkraid--to see their reactions.
Fallout seems to be concentrating on her conversation with Patrol and attempting to stay completely out of the other one.
Darkraid shrugs, "It's not so bad."
Lunar chuckles at Oracle's statement.
Patrol hmms, "What else do you do then?"
You say, "I can't completely agree with that. If I were to swear alligence with anyone, they wouldn't be someone who would use me to their advantage without giving me an advantage in return. I don't believe in blind faith....I don't want to sound harsh, but I can't follow a leader I have no faith in"
Fallout says, "Paperwork and patrols."
Lunar raises an optic ridge.
Darkraid says, "Why do you think I requested my assignment?"
You say, "What is your assignment?"
Darkraid says, "Polyhex Security"
You say, "So you guard the city, much like our militia guards this city?"
Darkraid nods, "Pretty much, yeah. That and patrol the border."
Dagger decides he's guzzled enough beer, and hoists himself up onto his feet, and abruptly starts to walk out. Hrm, he wasn't quite in the mood for good-byes...
Oracle waves to Dagger as he leaves.
Patrol grins, "We have the same job almost."
Fallout says, "Almost?"
Dagger blinks again as Oracle waves to him. o O (Well... REAL friendly. Heh, might as well wave back...) And he does so courteously, stomping off again, not quite sure what to make of Oracle.
Fallout's optics sparkle.
Lunar watches Dagger as he leaves, his optics cold.
*Dagger leaves*
Oracle stands up. "Well, Darkraid, it was nice seeing you again, but I think I'll catch some air now. Talk to you later."
Lunar cocks an optic ridge, then stands and follows Dagger out, without a word.
Darkraid nods, "I do hope so."
Fallout says, "Lunar.. stay out of trouble this time."
Patrol eyes lunar, mencingly.
Oracle waves to everyone else in the bar and heads for the door.
Lunar comes out of the bar, heading for the shadows.
Oracle is looking at the sky.
Lunar stops as he sees Oracle. He frowns and walks towards her, then shakes his head and adjusts his course to head to the shadows again.
Oracle sees Lunar and nods to him.
Lunar stops and sighs. oO(Slag. All I want is to sneak quietly into the shadows, but nooooooo.) He nods back in acknowlegement and continues on his way.
You say, "Good night Lunar."
Lunar stops. "Is it?"
You say, "You always ask that. Why?"
Lunar says, "Because no one ever thinks about what they're saying. No, it's not a good night. In all probability I won't have a good night. You know both of these facts, yet you still say good night, just because it's what 'proper people' do."
Oracle gives a half-smile. "Maybe if I say it enough, you will have a good night."
Lunar sighs. "That's not only idealism, it's moronic idealism."
You say, "Well, /this/ moron happens to like being idealistic. I can't change, just as you can't change."
Lunar snorts. "I suppose you have me there, Oracle, though I suspect you don't believe that any more than I do."
You say, "What, that you can't change, or that I can't change."
Garrison leaves the Blaster, with an odd look on his face. He's definatly disturbed, but, accompanying the frown, is a look of... resolve. He seems to be too wrapped up in himself to notice good, or evil. Just his shade of dark grey.
Oracle takes a moment away from the conversation with Lunar to smile and wave to Garrison.
Lunar looks towards the Blaster and snarls. "Slagging Bots. I'm gone."
Lunar heads towards the shadows.
Garrison looks up, at Lunar's words, "Look at me, and say that, <f****r>." his fist clenches, and he nods to Oracle.
Lunar enters the shadows . . . but not before saying, rather ironically, "Good night, Oracle."
Oracle seems puzzled. "Good night." She says again, her words sounding lame.
Garrison sighs, "Pardon my... language." he seems intent on exiting... he offers a nod to Oracle, and replaces his mask.
Oracle turns to Garrison. "You seem to be rather down tonight."
Garrison shrugs, "Well. Just been... thinking."
You say, "About what?"
Garrison looks back, "My job. My morals. My conduct. My life..."
You say, "You know I'm always willing to listen."
Garrison shrugs, "It's not important."
Oracle looks concerned. "If it puts you in this poor of a mood, then it must be signifigant. Besides, you shouldn't down-play yourself so much."
Garrison sighs, "Look... I'm just... wondering if I should do more, regardless of how obsolete I am."
You say, "Obsolete? Who told you that?"
Garrison smirks, under his mask, "Hey... I did. I can tell."
You say, "Why do you think you're obsolete?"
Patrol comes walking out of the blaster with a grin on his face.
Garrison smirks, "Newer mechs. Uproar. Example. Smarter, more tactical minded, faster, stronger, more efficient... uh. And, now, the new guys are all like him."
Patrol keeps walking down the road.
You say, "You're a sentient being. You'll never be obsolete. Besides, everyone matters. People aren't judged solely on their physical, or even mental, prowess."
Oracle nods to Patrol as he walks out of the bar.
*Patrol leaves*
Garrison shrugs, "In a war, it matters, sister. That's all I'm saying. I've been replaced."
Oracle shakes her head. "Ask for an upgrade then...if it will make you feel better. Has anyone told you that you were 'replaced'?"
Garrison snorts, "I know it, anyway. Upgrades mean jack. That'd be a waste of resources... to upgrade me."
You say, "You're too hard on yourself. I'm certain your faction would miss you if you left. Besides, despite the fact that the war is so influential, it isn't everything."
Garrison shrugs, "I'm not leaving. I'm just... thinking about lying low."
Oracle shakes her head. "Isn't that counter productive though?"
Garrison shrugs, "Not really."
Oracle pats Garrison on the shoulder. "You really seem to care about working hard for your faction. I'm sure that counts. Any group trying to accomplish something needs that kind of attitude."
Garrison shrugs, "Yeah. Thanks. I'm going home, now..." he walks off, after nodding.
You say, "Have a good evening...and remember, I'm always here to listen."
Garrison nods, "Yeah. Thanks..." he wanders off...
*Garrison leaves*
Lunar peeks out from the shadows . . . watching.
Oracle sighs to herself.
Lunar, seeing the Autobot gone, moves a little more out in the open, still remaining completely in shadow, however.
Oracle turns her optics skywards again. "I wish....I wish the war would stop."
Lunar narrows his optics and continues watching.
Oracle is still for a while, watching the sky. Then she moves towards the Esplanade at a brisk pace.
Lunar lurks in the shadows, yet moves along a parallell course.
Oracle moves towards the Courtyard.
Lunar moves faster, towards the gates.
Oracle heads on towards the gates, slowing her pace slightly.
Lunar comes out of the darkness, allowing himself to be seen at the gates to the city. He looks at Oracle, then enters the shadows again.
Oracle catches a glimpse of Lunar in the distance, and moves ahead to see if she was just imagining things or not.
Lunar appears again, outside the gates to the city. He waits long enough to catch Oracle's gaze, then disappears again.
Lunar can be seen, walking towards Crystal City Highway.
Oracle, lured in by Lunar's unexpected, 'Good night', proceeds past the city gates.
Lunar keeps his distance, occasionally fading into the shadows only to reappear, moving towards the junction with the Production highway.
Oracle hesitates...then remembers the "Good night."
Lunar makes sure Oracle can see him, then enteres one of the few still intact buildings.
Oracle walks in, no further than the doorway, not liking it's instability.
Lunar is not to be seen. Despite the fact that the building is in one piece, the dilapadated inside leaves plenty of room to hide.
Oracle looks around, but doesn't move any further into the building.
Lunar picks up a loose piece of debris . . . and throws it. It clatters in the back of the building.
Oracle peers deeper into the building, taking only one, small step inside to see what made the sound.
Lunar tosses another piece of debris. Another clatter. Then all is silent.
Oracle takes two more steps, still not seeing what is causing the sound.
Lunar realizes he needs something more. Slipping silently through the shadows in the building, he purposfully makes audible footsteps in the back. He then silently slips back to his position.
Oracle calls out a "Hello." Her voice sounds pitifully small and empty in this building.
Lunar says nothing, silently willing her to go on, to continue into the dark building.
Oracle takes a few more steps into the building, moving her further from the door. She calls out once more.
Lunar slips out silently, moving behind her. "Welcome to my home away from home, Oracle," he says softly.
Oracle, startled, whips around to face Lunar. She seems uncertain, but whether it's the building, or Lunar, is unclear.
Lunar closes the door and takes a step towards Oracle. "So, what do you think?" he asks, sweeping his hand in a gesture than encompasses the whole room. The fading light glints off his claws, fully extended. "Not exactly the ritz, but it used to be a bit nicer in my pre-Decepticon days."
Oracle says, "It doesn't look very safe." But she isn't sure what poses more of a threat, the building, or it's occupant.
Lunar smiles darkly. "Don't worry. It's not safe, but I've been around these buildings long enough to know when to get out."
You say, "Are you certain? Getting killed by a toppled building isn't my idea of a fitting end."
Lunar laughs, the cruel sound echoing through the building. He leans forward and points at Oracle with a clawed hand. "Don't worry, dear Oracle, I have a different fate in mind for you."
Oracle glances at the clawed hand, as though looking at something alien. She says nothing, lapsing into a silence that tells nothing.
Lunar takes another step closer. "Poor, dear, idealistic Oracle. Only now do you understand the warnings I tried to give you."
Oracle takes an involuntary step backwards, trippig over a piece of rubble. She tumbles to the ground. As she hits, she looks up at Lunar, her optics wide. Still, she says nothing.
Lunar takes this opportunity to pounce. He leaps forward, crouching low. He stabs his claws for her throat in what would be a killing blow, but stops with perfect precision before his claws penetrate her armor. "I tried to give you a chance, Oracle, but you never listened to me." He smiles wryly. "Too late now."
Oracle shuts her optics and trembles...she starts to speak, but only a small sound comes out.
Lunar sneers. "Yes, all your courage, your optimism, your idealism, it's gone now, isn't it. Now, finally you understand what true evil is, and you sit there cowering like a child."
Oracle attempts to move from under Lunar, saying nothing.
Lunar puts slight pressure on one of his claws, causing a small bead of mech fluid to rise up. "Don't move. You may speak, if you have the courage, but don't move."
Oracle musters up enough...courage...to say something. "And is this going to make you happy?" Her voice wavers slightly, but it doesn't completely falter.
Lunar shakes his head. "Of course not, you're more intelligent than to think such a line of thought will distract me. I do this because this is what I am. Oracle, I am a monster. That's what I've been telling you, that's why I tried to keep you away." He leans closer and whispers, "One problem. In this fairy tale, the beautiful maiden doesn't set the beast free."
Lunar sighs. "Oracle, you're a fool. You were looking for a fairy tale, you saw the evil creature that was me, and you wanted to make me good, just like the heroine. It doesn't work that way in the real world."
You say, "Never?"
Lunar shakes his head, frowning and narrowing his optics. "Never, Oracle."
Oracle lapses into silence again, her face still ponderous, though fear keeps creeping into it.
Oracle keeps her optics on Lunar, watching, waiting. She seems almost calm.
Lunar smiles. "No witty repartee? No idealistic platitude? Ah well. I would make this quick and painless, but that's no fun for me. A little torture first."
Oracle narrows her optics. "There's nothing more for me to say. I doubt I'll ever convince you." She keeps watching Lunar, her optics never blinking, never looking away, never changing.
Lunar blinks, confusion flicking across his features, but then the cruel amusement returns. He runs a claw down her cheek, not with any pressure, gently. "Such a pretty face. Remember, when I spoke with you in the bar, I said your face would be the first thing to go." He puts a bit of pressure on the claw, still not enough to penetrate the armor, but enough to make its presence uncomfortable. "Now, Oracle, I'll teach you to fear the darkness. There is no good in me, Oracle, as you will learn."
Oracle still doesn't move her optics from Lunar's face. She remains quite, but her silence seems to bore into the air. She only moves slightly from under Lunar's grasp.
Lunar narrows his optics. "I said don't move, Oracle."
Oracle goes back to being still, only her breathing moving her.
Lunar nods. "That's good, Oracle." His voice becomes very soft, almost gentle. "That's very good. This is going to hurt, Oracle." He takes a single claw and runs it down the side of her face, piercing the armor there.
Oracle breathes in deeply, then stops, trying to stiffle a scream and blot out the pain. Her optics flutter as she resists closing them. She continues to stare into Lunar's face.
Lunar continues, extending his claws to their full length and slashing across her arm. "Don't try resisting the pain, Oracle. You can't. Eventually it will become too much."
Oracle's throat moves convulsively, and she starts to shudder from beneath Lunar. But still her optics don't falter and no sounds comes from her. Her face starts to crumple in pain, but she obsessively persists to resist.
Lunar nods. "Incredible. Your resistance to pain is greater than I would have expected." Lunar's calm manner shatters as he snarls, burying his claws into Oracle's shoulder.
Oracle emits a low moan and her body tenses up, but she keeps her optics steady.
Lunar chuckles. "Still no pain? Come now, Oracle, you can't hold on . . ." he twists the claws in her shoulder, "Forever."
Oracle's voice is strained. "I can try...."
Lunar's optics bore into hers. He continues twisting his claws, reveling in the feel of mechfluid as it dries on his claws. "Why do you keep fighting it, Oracle? Give up! Give up while you still have a chance, slaggit."
Oracle lets out a wail of despair, her face turning to the side as she winces. She is shuddering more violently now.
Lunar blinks, his optics suddenly filling with pain. He blinks again and the expression of cruelty is on again like the mask he wears. He drags his claws out of her shoulder, raking them across her side.
Oracle twists to the side in pain. She is silent again, but her optics close. Her breathing quickens.
Lunar frowns. "Oracle?"
Oracle's optics remain closed. "Yes." Her voice is now quite feeble.
Lunar narrows his optics to slits. "Are you afraid, Oracle?" His voice is heavy with threat.
Oracle is still for a moment. "Afraid of what?" There is no hate, anger or fear in her voice. She only sounds tired...very tired. She doesn't open her optics to look at Lunar...she just lays still, her breathing slowing and becoming shallow.
Lunar says, "Of me."
Oracle still sounds tired. "Does it matter?"
Lunar nods. "Yes."
Oracle pauses. "I'm afraid of the pain."
Lunar growls, putting on his best evil voice. "Are you afraid of ME?"
Oracle is quiet for a long time, her breathing sounding like she's in a sleep, a very troubled sleep.
Lunar says, "Oracle?"
You say, "mmmmm?"
Lunar says, "Are you afraid of me, Oracle?"
Oracle sighs. "Do you want me to be?" She asks the question as though she's in a dream, like none of this is real.
Lunar pulls his claws out and retracts them. "Slag."
Oracle lets out a loud cry of pain as the claws leave her body. It's followed by a soft, tired sigh of relief.
Lunar frowns. "How do you feel."
You say, "It...hurts."
Lunar stands up. "Just lie still." He crosses the room, and as he does he mutters, "And pray Hellstreak's stash is still here."
Oracle remains still, half-opening her optics to watch Lunar.
Lunar feels his way along a wall. Suddenly he smiles and extends his claws. He easily shreds the unstable and decaying material, and then reaches behind to pull out a small box. He crosses back to Oracle.
Oracle just watches Lunar mutely, only a spark of curiosity in her optics.
Lunar kneels down beside her, opening the box. "Slaggit, Oracle, I should kill you just for this." His voice has no threat to back up his words.
You say, "For what?"
Lunar pulls out a bottle and a roll of something. "For actually making me stop killing you," he hisses. "Slag you." He no longer sounds cruel, but very angry. "This will hurt." He pours some of the contents of the bottle onto a strip of adhesive, and gently lays it over the still bleeding wounds on her shoulder.
Oracle sucks in her breath as the contents of the bottle sting her.
You say, "I didn't make you do anything, Lunar."
Lunar snorts. "You think I would have spared just anyone? You're mistaken."
Oracle nods her head weakly.