(Untitled)

[startactician]

Thrust is sitting at his desk, his head in one hand* I am a fool. A complete, utter, unmistakable idiot. I had everything absolutely perfect, Starscream was even impressed, and to get Starscream is to be three-quarters of the way there. I had the entire situation in hand.

And then I ruined it.*his fingers spread, revealing his guns, his own

Comments

[startactician]

*The entire proceedure would be somewhat amusing if Thrust was not so nervous. He steps up to teh Monitor as he comes out of commune and...freezes*

*After half a moment of not knowing what to say, he simply holds the datapad out mutely and trusts Dreadmoon will know what it means*

[princeofthesky]

*pushes himself upright and rolls his optics, mock-pained and trying not to snigger. He does, however, step back and fold his arms, letting the other two get on with it so he can try not to laugh out of thwapping distance*

[watch_in_shadow]

*resists the impulse to rub his optics, waiting on the tactician as patiently as possible*

*when Thrust just stands there, Dreadmoon blinks, not entirely sure whether to be irritated at the obvious hesitation or- Smug? No, not smug. Not satisfied either, odly. In fact the deviation from Thrust's normal smooth eloquence is...somewhat jarring, however disappointed Dreadmoon had been with him and however the conehead thinks he may react. This is faintly unnerving.

Dreadmoon swiftly decides he doesn't want to linger on that right now. He looks at the datapad, back at Thrust, then to the pad again and takes it delicately from his fingers to look it over. He glances quickly back at Thrust, pleased surprise colouring his voice before he can stop it* You sold the artwork.

[startactician]

*Thrust nods, trying desperately to recover his usual suaveness and trying to figure out why he just did what he did. His voice seems a little off, as if he's not quite sure what he's doing*

Yes. Sixteen thousand cubes worth. I might be able to get more at a later point; he seems particularly interesting in information. *he inspects Dreadmoon's face to see what his opinion is of the matter. Disparaging at the puny amount, most likely, but he might have won a little respect back for the gesture*

[watch_in_shadow]

((Dunno about Dready, but from where I'm sitting this is just adorable. X) ))

*is staring at the datapad as if he's never seen one before - or as if he's seeing past it, as visions of shattered towers and fountains dance in his head and a distant part of his processor is doing calculations like fury. Most of his capacity, though, is taken up by staring at the pad. His optics are a little brighter, a little wider, his face less tired than before, but he doesn't move or say anything aloud.

Starscream, though, can feel a flicker of - hope, and even excitement over the link, however much it looks as though the Monitor has turned into stone*

*his voice just about as calm and smooth as usual* What kind of information? *if there's one thing Monitors can trade in...* I may just be able to oblige him. *a hint, the tiniest hint of a smile. Thrust may make awesome mistakes, but he certainly knows how to try and amend them*

[startactician]

*Thrust is trying to gauge his reaction but it's not working. He doesn't seem upset, anyway, but Thrust can honestly not even begin to understand what's going through the Monitor's CPU*

I gave him one of the datapads I have on this universe, *Skyfire's, but he's not saying that* with a few additions from my own experiences. It was only a general historical and geographical overview, however, and more details might interest him. *he flicks a glance at Starscream for clues*

[princeofthesky]

((Ack, I've got to go. *scowls* More tomorrow? I'll have longer then... *clings to teh interweb*))

*the seeker grins inscrutably and shakes his head* Well...if that's all he wants, there's plenty of details we can wring out of this place. *optics flicker to Dreadmoon and he grins wider* We'll have enough energon to repopulate Cybertron, not only Kalis.

[startactician]

*Thrust looks a little hopeful* Then it is sufficient? *He honestly didn't think he'd get that much for the information alone, but he likes the look on Starscream's face*

((*clings* Yes, of course, my love. I shall see you anon. *blows kiss*))

[watch_in_shadow]

*optics flick to his face, and there's more warmth there than pieces of scarlet glass should allow for. Certainly more than when the tactician entered* It's an encouraging start. *whisper of a smile; the disappointment from before swiftly starting to disappate*

((And what happens when I say that? The power goes pthut! *rails* Primus Someone doesn't like me. X) *snugglesnuggles*))

[startactician]

*Dreadmoon's expression says it's more than just that. Thrust wonders if perhaps the exchange rate is different than what he thought it was* I'm glad to be of service then. *he makes a small bow*

((*hugglesclings*))

[watch_in_shadow]

*tips his head very slightly in acknowledgement, the smile faintly lingering*

If there's any particular area of information he'd consider worth purchasing, I'm sure we can come up with something appropriate. *querying look* *moves to stand and step away from the chair, rather more stiffly than usual. He hadn't been exaggerating, it was a busy shift for him*

[startactician]

He wasn't specific, but I think historical records might appeal to him. *his pose is a little more confident now and he seems more relaxed*

[watch_in_shadow]

*stretches unobtrusively, his wings arched and flexing gently as he steps over to a console near Thrust* Then we can definitely accomodate him. The Worldnet has a complete history of Cybertron's more recent history, as well as that of most of its colonies - however long abandoned they may be. I'm sure there are records that go further back but they are more unreliable.

*a cable snaps into his gauntlet and the Monitor looks up to the screens overhead, half-concentrating on the information flashing over them but his attention mostly on Thrust* I'm afraid the distant histories never were my strong point.

[startactician]

*steps over to him curiously, still amazed at how Dreadmoon is able to process information so quickly. He's dying to ask exactly how much the funds he provided can do, but restrains himself*

[watch_in_shadow]

*still looking at the tactician, but his optics are a touch dimmer than usual as he oversees all the files rushing past. The corner of his mouth quirks as he says, a little absently* I'd much rather have the means to pay the techs for the materials they'll need to bring as well as for their time...if they can connect up the rest of the city - as well as the Sector, with time - *sidelong, faint but warm smile* I'll be able to reach every part of my terriotory, and then... *trails off, and if you were paying attention you might notice the briefest flicker of light and water on the screen as Dreadmoon's attention wavers, then steadies back to information files*

[startactician]

*Thrust noticed* If the energon crisis is greater than I thought it was, then my contribution could be worth twice as much as it would be on my Cybertron.

*he glances sidelong at Dreadmoon. Perhaps he's given a greater gift than he thought* I am simply glad to have been of service. *and he wonders why that faint smile is giving him such a morale boost*