Day 41: Breakfast

[oftemptation]

Endrance turned his head to look at the intercom, giving it a look that would wither an entire rose garden in an instant. He would never get used to ending up in his room again from somewhere else in the Institute

Comments

[oil_connoisseur]

There were few circumstances in the entirety of his existence that had left Megatron genuinely bemused - the knowledge that he was not the only Decepticon idiotic enough to get caught by the Quintessons was certainly one of them. The astonishment did not outwardly show, but he could not entirely conceal the tensing of his muscles.

Megatron had been disabled by stasis lock in order to be captured. What was their justification? Even more problematic was that the subordinates in consideration were apparently behaving blatantly enough to spread themselves throughout the human faction. 'Subtly' was not necessarily a trait found in most of his Decepticon warriors, but secrecy certainly needed to be.

"Decepticon. I am used to my reputation proceeding me, but not usually to... such an extent," he told Luxord dryly, beginning to drum his fingers against the table again as he mused on this new revelation.

Leaning forward, Megatron braced himself against the table and considered Luxord. "I don't suppose you would know which of my 'little robot friends' in particular?"

'Little' robot friends, indeed. An oxymoron if he'd ever heard one. As engaging as this 'Luxord' seemed to be, if Megatron were in his usual Cybertronian body, he would have no qualms of squashing him underfoot. In the name of the All-Spark, he would even delight in it.

[clockmongler]

And if Luxord had his powers, he would delight in turning the other into a die and punting him off a cliff, so it appeared they were at an impasse in that regard.

He shook his head at that question, however. In between all the 'slag this' and 'SLAG THAT, DISGUSTING HUMANS' and the occasional 'sex auuuuuugh sex', X never bothered paying much attention to their names. "Perhaps you should inquire on the bulletin board? They enjoy spamming the poor thing, so it should not be difficult to find your answers."

His bacon was going to grow cold if he did not eat it, but he could not bother with it at the moment. There was something about the idea of eating in front of others that the blond did not like.

Megs = an air-borne dice // Luxord = more squished than the Wicked Witch of the East. Going well!

[oil_connoisseur]

"Bulletin Board?" Megatron inclined his head in acknowledgement. "Appreciated."

Noting Luxord’s scrutiny with his food, Megatron reluctantly turned back to his own. He was thankfully starting to gain a little more dexterity as he became gradually used to using muscles over hydraulics.

"Even though it is not necessarily within the boundaries of your ‘rules’ from earlier - approximately how long have you been a captive with in this facility?" Megatron quired after a moment, observing Luxord out of the corner of his eye. He offered a condescending smile to the other man. “Of course, you are more than welcome to say 'no'."

The only way the Quintessons could have sourced such a large quality of humans was if they had obviously been to Earth. Considering Luxord was clearly quite resigned to the entire situation, he wouldn’t be a recent addition to the kept herd... surely there must have been multiple excursions to the backwater planet? Megatron supposed he could see why, as humans were lacking in stature even in comparison to something as diminutive as a Quintesson - with decent cloaking technology, it must have been an easy task to collect them by the dozen.

What made him furious was that they could have been in his vicinity for nearly half a meta-cycle without Megatron having any idea whatsoever. If the Quintessons had been keeping watch on the movements of the Earth-bound Decepticons, it would have been easy to see a profitable opening when the spacebridge malfunctioned.

...and judging by Luxord’s description of the proceedings with this 'Bulletin Board', it wasn't hard to guess who they had also captured in the process.

Obviously BFF material~*~*~

[clockmongler]

"Four weeks, two days, three hours, and twenty-nine minutes." He was asked about his precious Time, after all. How could he say no? That condescending smile sent his way was only dealt with via a shit-eating grin, though. If Megatron had found himself in this facility, he was obviously no better than the Gambler. "I consider myself within Fortune's favor, however. Most barely last three days before disappearing back into the nothingness or being slaughtered violently."

He began rolling the die across his knuckles once again, examining the light reflecting off of its surface as he spoke. "Shall we make a wager on your survival? You act competent enough to last at least a week."

They should get matching rings! It would be so... creepy.

[oil_connoisseur]

Slaughtered. They were not keeping them? Did that mean it was likened to a gladiatorial event? The humans were only sufficiently entertaining for a few mega-cycles before they annihilated them, and a new batch was brought out? After spending stellar-cycles of his youth within a fighting arena, it was not a scenario Megatron was unfamiliar with, but it was certainly not one he had ever expected to find himself in ever again.

That being said, Megatron used to be in possession of a fusion canon and swords to defend himself. He was now left with easily broken bones, flesh, and not a single combat simulator to speak of. There was not a chance that the Quintessons would transfer him to his Cybertronian body without a fight before Megatron found himself on the scrapheap.

...he would have no qualms about tearing a few of them apart first.

"So I suppose I should say your survival rate is most impressive," Megatron reflected, eyeing Luxord carefully. The human was apparently more capable than he let on.

"I’ve never been one to turn down a challenge, but -" Megatron spread his hands with an amused tilt of his head, "-it would seem I have nothing to wager in my livelihood on. Unless, of course, you’re particularly partial to half-eaten breakfasts."

Matching earrings, maybe? Luxord can always use some more.

[clockmongler]

If by "capable," the Decepticon meant "extremely stubborn, strong willed, and allergic to the very notion of physical effort and therefore escape attempts as well." Or simply "rolls with the punches." Either or. Then yes. Luxord was very capable.

He could almost hear Xigbar chastising him for being lazy. He was not lazy, he would have to say in response. He was only unmotivated and did not like straining himself over something that did not seem worth it. Gambling, on the other hand, was always worth it.

"I've been offered worse," he said plainly, attention mostly absorbed by the die dancing across the back of his hand. He rolled it back onto his palm before letting it fall against the table with a little clatter. Ugh, two. "Perhaps you may come to possess some interesting items or insight during your stay here. One can never be too sure in a facility such as this." X leaned in and narrowed his eyes as he spoke, almost as if he were talking to the game piece resting on the table instead of the man in front of him. With more effort than it took during the night, the die moved, flipping once onto its side until only one little white dot was facing upward. That was much better. Luxord sat back up and continued grinning at Mr. Megatron. "Surely you will find something of worth. I can only hope Lady Luck is on your side as much as she is mine. I would loathe to see you vanish before then."

A pretty girl like Luxord can never have too many! …Megs needs some Decepticon-bling.

[oil_connoisseur]

"Very well. I will indulge in this wager, and I will contact you with bargaining material once I find something of worth," Megatron agreed, noticing the motion of Luxord’s tiny cube moving across his hand. "I must admit, I’ve finding myself quite curious to what I would receive in return for a week-long survival rate."

Bargaining with humans. How the mighty have fallen. In the end, though, Megatron knew full-well that survival was more significant than pride.

"I’m sure I will enjoy my captivity at a far greater capacity now that I know one such as yourself is looking out for my well-being," Megatron replied, eyebrows raised at Luxord’s little ‘trick’. Magnetized?

Megs' just jeluz of Luxord's mad lady-nabbin' skillz. >[

[clockmongler]

Luxord had to laugh at that, regardless of whether or not it was meant to be taken seriously. Him? Looking out for someone else? "I never claimed to be doing as such, Mr. Megatron. I simply wagered on your death, nothing more. Playing a role in the outcome would be cheating, would it not?" To think he would be helpful to the other was just plain silly and deserved to be laughed at.

Though the man did bring up a good question. Staying in his room as he did, the Gambler hardly had anything of use... His hand found its way to his chin again as he thought. "What would you wish for?"

You mean Luxord’s ‘dude-looks-like-a-lady’ nabbin? Poor Grell! Luxord, you man whore, you! :D

[oil_connoisseur]

"I suppose it would, yes," Megatron agreed dryly, finishing off the last fragment of pancake with an expression of disgust. Hopefully all human fuel wasn't as horrifically sweet.

What would he wish for? Of course, he could answer that question in a plethora of ways, but Luxord wasn’t thinking in as grander scale as the annihilation of the entire Autobot faction.

Megatron looked down at himself with a grunt. "I think the answer to that one is implied, don’t you? Since I am doubtful that you could actually retrieve my body, let alone transfer my processor - an object that could be used as a weapon might be of interest."

He was not the least bit impressed with the miniature sword he had been given to consume fuel with. Megatron efficiently wiped it on the side of the plate, before pressing the slightly serrated edge against his forearm. When he removed it, there was only a slight indent, but no cut, no blood, and therefore utterly useless. He let the knife fall back against the table with a sharp clatter.

After a moment, Megatron looked back up at Luxord, contemplating. The light reflecting off Luxord's die caught his eye.

"...on second thoughts, your little toy might be of interest," he offered, lips contorting in mirth, "I might need something to pass the time."

JUST BECAUSE GRELL'S A DUDE DOESN'T MEAN HE ISN'T A LADY

[clockmongler]

His die? He did have two spares and suspected there would be more in the Game Room, but was there any point in gambling if it did not hurt a little? The Nobody moved his hand in a sort of disinterested gesture and the game piece moved across the table and toward Megatron in accordance. "You may have it, if you wish. There are plenty others and it holds little value within these walls. A weapon, on the other hand..."

It might take him time to come across one, but it was only fair. Besides, who said the robot would live long enough to win this wager? Despite the fact that it meant X would not get his reward for guessing correctly (who would give it to him, with the other man dead?), it was still for fun.

Luxord nodded and smiled. "If you withstand this institute for seven days, I shall do my best to acquire one for you."

THAT'S A VERY VALID POINT! Luxord gets the best of both worlds...?

[oil_connoisseur]

Megatron smoothly caught the die before it tumbled off the table, throwing it up in the air and methodically catching. After rolling it once in his palm, he realised that his efforts had been in vain. It did not seem to be magnetized as he had suspected, so that effectively ruled out any attempts to disable security systems with the magnetic field. Then how had Luxord had originally managed to flip the cube without touching it? Humans did not have such capabilities.

...that would lead to the hypothesis that this ‘Luxord’ was apparently was not as human as he appeared.

"It appears we have an accord. Hopefully I can appropriate something of worth in return," Megatron said loftily, flicking the die with a finger. It collided with his plate and bounced, coming to a sharp stop. Six dots greeted Megatron when he lifted up to examine it.

Hmm.

"Staying online - alive, I should say - for seven days is not usually considered a difficult task. How have you managed to do so, when so many have apparently perished? The favor of Fortune aside."

damn straight he does >[

[clockmongler]

Luxord shrugged, that easy grin still in place. "Not taking Luck's infatuation with me into account, I truly cannot say why I am to survive when the others did not." With Megatron toying with the die now, the Nobody resorted to sliding a lone card from his sleeve to idly twirl between his fingers as he spoke. "It all seems to be within chance. There are those around who have been here longer than I, though they are rare and few between. Though, perhaps," he paused and laughed lowly before continuing, "Mr. Landel simply grows tired of some and dismisses them like childish playthings. Were that to be the case, I suppose those left within are more interesting than the other, unfortunate ones."

Which, obviously, was not the case. But he could pretend if it made him feel better.

There was, however, another important part to that. "I also do not make a habit of foolishly bumbling off into the night, unlike some other patients. That may help."

...well, straight wouldn't be the right word in context, would it. XD

[oil_connoisseur]

Megatron couldn not help but notice that Luxord seemingly had a compulsion to keep his hands in motion, or at the very least, needed to be constantly entertained. Megatron, in turn, dropped the die on the table as he mulled over what Luxord had said. This time it landed on three.

"You appear to not only be a suitor of Luck, but in the favor of this 'Mr Landel', too."

Mr Landel? A human, judging by the name, that had the technology to transfer a Cybertronian into an organic body in the process? Utter nonsense. There was the very real possibility that Quintessons had needed a front to keep the humans in line, but a human by itself having the capacity to do such things? Laughable.

"A sound strategy." If not cowardly. Unfortunately, it was not like Megatron could speak of pride and nobility when he was taking cues from a human and desperately consuming organic fuel in order to stay online. His hands, previously lying flat on the table, clenched sharply at the thought of the Sharkticons being let loose in the hallways to pick off the stragglers. They would have no trouble devouring any unsuspecting human that stumbled into the path.

Megatron was, under no circumstance, going to be one of them.

"So the death toll rises every night, hmm? Surely banning together would be more favourable," he said, pressing his fingers to his brow. Apparently human bodies could develop processor-aches as well. "I suppose strength in numbers can only go so far."

Hey, hey, hey. The pendulum swings both ways, bb. :]

[clockmongler]

...he'd not put it that way, but alright. Perhaps Mr. Landel just liked him.

He tried desperately not to shudder in disgust at that thought.

X was going to offer that a response, but it seemed time was up for this discussion. Nursey returned from wherever she had been previously lurking and pulled him up, reprimanded him for not eating his breakfast, and dragged him off. He'd not even a chance to say farewell...