December 14th
((Darkraid)) (D)

Oracle walks into the Blaster, looking very much preoccupied.
Darkraid has set himself up at the bar.
Oracle doesn't seem to take notice of anyone as she makes her way to a booth.
Darkraid glances up momentarily and smiles in spite of himself. He grabs his F-5 and makes his way through the crowd towards Oracle.
Oracle nods wearily to Darkraid.
Darkraid says, "Something on your mind?"
Oracle ndos her head. "I have to make a big descision."
Darkraid says, "What decision?"
You say, "I had a meeting with Ghost. Apparently she doesn't like my associations with certain members of her empire."
Darkraid says, "Brawl"
Darkraid facepalms
You say, "I used the word 'member' in the plural form."
Darkraid nods, "So you did..."
You say, "Apparently she doesn't like my associations with Brawl, Lunar, or most likely any other male member of the faction."
Darkraid raises a single optic ridge, "Did she say as much?"
You say, "I got that impression. She doesn't like her members associating with unaffils it seems."
Darkraid says, "Not going to win the war without them"
You say, "I think she means associations on a ... deeper level."
Darkraid nods, "Can I join you?" He motion to the empty side of the booth.
Oracle nods her head. "Certainly."
Darkraid smiles and sits, "Ah well, that's Ghost for you."
You say, "What is?"
Darkraid says, "Overbearing"
Oracle nods. "She gave me three choises, and only three choises."
Darkraid says, "Which were?"
You say, "I can either forget Brawl, Lunar, and all other Decepticons as my friends, or she will destroy me."
Darkraid nods and hmmms, "None of which are very appealing...."
Oracle seemed to have left out the third option.
Darkraid does a quick mental count, "Wait what's the third?"
You say, "Join."
Oracle looks down.
Darkraid ohs and pauses for a moment
You say, "Can you see my dilema?"
Darkraid nods, "Yeah..."
You say, "Wll three options will involve great sacrifice. My friends, my life, or my freedom. But I am not sure which is more valueable."
Darkraid says, "Well the Empire isn't that bad"
You say, "Yes, but I will still be less free than I am now."
Darkraid nods, "WEll okay I'll give you that."
You say, "But I wonder which I would miss more."
Darkraid says, "I personally wouldn't want to give up my friends..."
You say, "Neither would I. But most people know that I have trouble respecting authority, and from what I've seen, your empire doesn't tolerate that."
Darkraid says, "This is true..."
You say, "Yet, I have more friends among the empire than I do among the Autobots, and possibly the members of Crystal City. But I don't think Ghost really wants me anyhow."
Darkraid says, "I'm sure we could use your talents"
You say, "Ghost didn't say that much, in fact, she said the opposite."
Darkraid blinks, "Well I've always found by studying past battles I learn more about what to do in the future..."
You say, "Perhaps. Oh, I just don't know what to do. And I only have one cycle to decide."
Darkraid says, "Maybe I could help you decide?"
You say, "How so? I know you would mean well, but you /are/ biased after all. An Autobot would say somthing different and so would a Militia member. And I have friends in all three areas."
Darkraid says, "Ummm...well that's true...but I know I can't use really big words so I wasn't going to try that..."
Oracle sighs. "But you're devoted to your empire. That would make you try to convince me on that account, but I'll listen to what you have to say."
Darkraid smiles and moves to sit by Oracle, "Well....ummmm....hmmmm...."
Oracle waits patiently...when faced like this kind of choise, there isn't much else to do.
Darkraid ponders for a bit, his optics scanning Oracle as much as the wall.
Oracle puts her head down on the table and closes her optics, almost as if the weight of her descision is manifesting itself physically.
Darkraid places a comforting hand on her back, "I know this isn;'t easy for you....I've had to face similar decisions myself."
Oracle nods her head, but doesn't open her optics or sit up straight again. "When?"
Darkraid says, "Well...when I've had to choose beween femmes..it's never easy."
You say, "Was it a factional problem ever?"
Darkraid nods, "Oh yeah..."
You say, "What did you do?"
Darkraid says, "The only sensible thing I could do"
You say, "Which was?"
Darkraid says, "Kept it quiet"
You say, "I don't know if that would work in this case."
Darkraid nods, "Well yeah...."
You say, "If someone meant a lot to you, would you ever leave your faction for them?"
Darkraid doesn't hesitate, "Yes."
Oracle sighs. "Then I guess I only have one problem left."
Darkraid says, "Which is?"
You say, "Whether or not Ghost will still leave that option up to me. She's already stated that she thinks it would be a bad idea."
Darkraid blinks, "You're going to join the Empire?"
Oracle looks determined, yet very tired at the same time. "If that's what it takes."
Darkraid smiles and leans down moving his arms so it's around her side and hugging her one armed, "Good for you."
You say, "Why? Because of my reason, or because it's the Empire?"
Darkraid says, "Your own reason"
You say, "I'm glad /someone/ approves. Everyone else thinks it's just melodrama...but I'm serious."
Darkraid nods and attempts to pull her to a sitting position, "That's a good first step."
Oracle sits up almost reluctatnly.
Darkraid says, "So who do you like enough to join the Cons?"
You say, "I will admitt that it's Brawl, but most of my other friends are also Decepticons, and I would deeply regret the loss of all of them."
Darkraid nods slowly, "I guess that's good to know."
Oracle smiles slightly. "Brawl's association with me seems to trouble a great deal of people."
Darkraid nods, "Well he's not all that bright, then again who am I to talk..but I guess they're just watching out for him
You say, "Perhaps, though I have my own opinions of the matter. Everyone belives that it's a bad relationship, but it doesn't take intelligence to have feelings, or deserve affection."
Darkraid says, "No it doesn't"
Oracle laughs. "I will admitt that when I first met Brawl I saw him as everyone else must see him."
Darkraid says, "A big dumb door opener?"
You say, "Something like that. He was rude and abrasive."
Darkraid nods, "That too..."
You say, "How strange it is that someone like myself is coupled with someone like Brawl...but he's sweet in his own way and he means well."
Darkraid thinks . o 0 (Must not bash in wall....) He nods, "That's Brawl for you...."
You say, "Yes, it is."
Darkraid thinks . o 0 (Urge to send Brawl to Monacus rising....) He just nods for the moment.
You say, "So, what have you been up to lately? It will be a nice distraction to hear about somebody else for a while."
Darkraid says, "Patroling and talking to Wildfire is about all lately..."
You say, "Wildfire?"
Darkraid says, "Yeah, Wildfire, Miltia member, femme...Phlanax's sister..."
You say, "I know. How is she doing? I haven't seen her for a while."
Darkraid thinks . o 0 (Hottie...great aft....course Oracle's isn't bad either....nice rack too.) He states realitively calmly, "She's doin' good."
You say, "That's good."
Darkraid nods, "Yeah..ummm..aside from that not a whole lot I guess."
You say, "Are you bored then?"
Darkraid says, "Yep"
You say, "At this point in time I would almost prefer boredom."
Darkraid says, "It's overrated"
You say, "Boredome is?"
Darkraid nods, "Yes."
You say, "I don't think so. I think I'd rather have peaceful boredom than all this chaos...but I suppose I'll have to change my way of thinking really soon."
Darkraid says, "Seems that way"
You say, "But I'm wondering how much I will have to change. You and Triage seem nice, but you still both think differently than I do."
Darkraid nods, "We've been taught differently than you as well."
You say, "That is true. But I had better be going. I must sit and think to myself for a while..."
Darkraid moves out of the booth.
Oracle stands up. "Thanks for listening." And with that she heads out.