[locked]

[raceme]

Who: Cliffjumper and Starscream
Where: Trion's library
When: Night
What: Blurr's playing matchmaker.
Warnings: Probably really flustered robots.

Observing others was something Blurr was more than passing familiar with. He was a spy and most of his missions involved a lot of long days doing nothing but reading body languages, studying speech patters and paying close attention to conversations.

Some behaviours were more familiar than others and he noticed the way Cliffjumper and Starscream bantered, chatted and looked after each other. It almost seemed like they were the only ones who didn't see what was in front of them. He didn't know Starscream all that much yet but he liked to think that he knew Cliffjumper well enough to tell when the mech needed a little push.

And thus a plan was set. Blurr asked each one of them to meet him at Trion's library. Blurr told Starscream he wanted to show him some science books he had found. Cliffjumper received the message that Blurr wanted to practice his powers some more.

He wouldn't be there when they arrived but one of Blurr's firelizards would make sure to lock them inside once they were in the same room. Blurr hopped that Trion wouldn't be too bothered by the fact he used one of the tables to set a dinner for them.

On the table there were also two envelopes with their names written on the outside. Inside, there was a small note. Starscream's one read 'Say yes' while Cliffjumper's had 'Ask him out' written on it.

Comments

[loyalflier]

[ Starscream arrives early, if only by a few minutes. he's the punctual sort, so this really shouldn't be surprising. by now he considers Blurr a friend thus spending time with him suits the flier just as well. being asked to come to the library? nothing could be better.

what he's not expecting? a table set up rather beautifully, one might say. it doesn't dawn on him what could be going on here. perhaps someone has put it there for a reason.

his task though? to find the little blue mech. ]

Blurr?

[ or is he here too early? ]

[cliffjumper]

[Cliffjumper doesn't turn up until a short bit after the set time - just a minute or two later, peering into the library first before walking in when he can't see the mech.]

Blurr?

[He's not sure why the slag Blurr would choose the inside of the library to train, wouldn't outside, or an empty room, be better? He ignores the table and looks around, casting a frown at the little blue dragon that darts past and out of the room.

That ought to mean Blurr is here if his firelizard is, but...]

... Starscream?

[Okay, what's going on?]

[loyalflier]

[ looking around, he still can't find the other mech. maybe he has the meeting time wrong... maybe the other forgot? Starscream is tempted to comm the other when he also sees that thing skitter out towards the door.

and, much to his surprise, there is Cliffjumper, who is also here? apparently! ]

Cliffjumper?

[ the ominous click of a door being locked echoes in the room. something is clearly going on here...

but at least he can chuckle. sort of. ]

Come here often?

[ no, seriously. just what is Blurr up to? what had he planned!? ]

[cliffjumper]

[Whirling around as the door closed behind the little firelizard, Cliffjumper threw an arch stare over his shoulder at Starscream as he went back to the door.]

I can't fraggin' believe you just said that... What the slag. [Scowling at the very much closed and locked door, Cliffjumper kicked it. What the frag was going on?]

So what're ya doin' here?

[loyalflier]

[ Starscream gives a chuckle, even though he has no idea how appropriate such a line is in their present predicament. ]

You're in a library. Surely it must be a rare phenomenon so I had to ask.

[ now he wanders over to the door, applying some pressure to it. it's not going to give. they'll have to ask someone to let them out. ]

Hmm? [ oh the question. ] Blurr said he had something to show me. Yourself?

[cliffjumper]

Why the slag is the door fraggin' locked? And I do read ya know! [Cliffjumper huffs and the only reason he's not - yet - feeling really angry over being locked in is that it's not as if help isn't technically very close by.]

... Blurr... said he wanted me to be here so he could practice his power... [Cliffjumper says slowly and then turns around to lean against the door as his glance goes from Starscream to around the room to---

Table.

Very. Nicely arranged. Table. He couldn't be fragging serious.]

[loyalflier]

[ he just continues to smile pleasantly even as Cliffjumper huffs, chuckling to himself.

though the moment that the red mech mentions that Blurr had also asked him here, his processor starts to catch up. he's looking over everything just like Cliffjumper is.

this is so cliche that it hurts.

instead of getting upset or angry, or even flustered, Starscream just laughs. all of this work, just to set them up. it's pretty funny, if not cute of Blurr. ]

[cliffjumper]

... Why are you--- this ain't somethin' to laugh about, Starscream!

[Well, maybe the cliché is, but Cliffjumper's not ready to look at it that way - all he's seeing is right now making him want to throw something. Or a punch.]

He did--- Where the slag did he get the idea!?

[Anotehr stare to the table and then Starscream and then Cliffjumper abruptly looks away, glowering.

This is stupid and Blurr had no fragging idea what he was doing and this wouldn't lead anywhere! It was Starscream---

Well, yes. It was Starscream. This Starscream. Cliffjumper's engine revved in angry frustration.]

[loyalflier]

Calm yourself, Cliffjumper.

[ he waves the angry mech off, drawing closer to the table. chances are that if they really want out, they can get out. then again, Blurr is likely watching this if he went through all this trouble to set them up. ]

I'm sure he means well... And has likely watched one too many romantic comedies while being on Earth.

[ not like those work in REAL LIFE anyway. ]

Of course, if being in a locked room with me bothers you so much...

[ yes, he had been going for fake hurt, but he can't hold it in. his processor isn't quite up to speed about what Blurr might actually see in this. right now, he's assuming it's kind of a gag. or a trick. a prank maybe! wait until he gets to those cards. his tune will change. ]

[cliffjumper]

[Cliffjumper let out a vent rather more explosively than needed and then grunted, pushing away from the door.]

Yeah, yeah. You're right. And I totally think he has done that too.

[Waving a hand in the air dismissively, Cliffjumper took another measured vent and then approached the table as if it was going to blow up. At least he had calmed down.]

Only 'cause if you'd get bored, there'd be nothin' to distract ya with, but there's a whole slaggin' library in here, so I think we're good.

[He grins and then stops at the table, eyeing the arrangement.]

... At least we ain't gonna need to refuel any time soon.

[loyalflier]

It won't bite you, Cliff.

[ the table, that is. slowly, Starscream circles it, taking everything in. Blurr certainly is thorough. there's a thought to how long the little mech had been planning this. everything is set so neatly...

then Cliffjumper pulls him out of his thoughts with that comment and the flier rolls his optics. ]

I am not the one with a short attention span, thank you.

[ now he's going to sit down. NOT GOING TO LET ENERGON GO TO WASTE, NOPE. ...even if it does taste a little odd. ]

Frankly, I am just hoping there's no high grade involved with this.

[ Starscream can't hold it, man. ]

[cliffjumper]

How do you know? [Cliffjumper had stopped by the chair that was apparently "his" and then froze, optics narrowing and pulled between annoyance and amused outrage.] I can concentrate just fine! And if I got tired of pickin' apart my guns, there's a lot to read here...

[Trailing off, he sat down, feeling like he was walking right into what Blurr had planned, and that brought up his annoyance again even if it also was sort of funny.

Starscream's comment briefly distracted him from the note that seemed to come with the seating, and he'd have to turn it over to read it.]

If there is, I promise to hold nothin' against you.

[He grinned then, sharply, but certainly meant it. He was not petty enough to bring up something like that against a friend... Which Starscream certainly was no matter how odd that was to think sometimes.

But it seemed Blurr had gotten strange ideas from somewhere, and Cliffjumper wasn't sure how. It wasn't like he... he sharply shook his helm and shrugged.]

[loyalflier]

[ he just chuckles at the bristled mech and his responses to Starscream's friendly joking. however Starscream does notice the note. curious, he flips it over to read it before even touching the energon.

'say yes' it says. say yes to what exactly. his optics dim in confusion before he shrugs and sets it aside. the implication isn't likely to hit him until later. besides... he's distracted by Cliffjumper's words. ]

I'd certainly hope not! I will admit that I can't hold it well. It's why you don't see me indulging.

[ that and, well. being overly affectionate isn't likely a good thing, now is it? ]

[cliffjumper]

[Cliffjumper just shrugged at that.]

Valid reason as any. Not like it matters much. Think this is pretty standard grade, though, so no reason to worry... [Poking the cube in front of him in emphasis, Cliffjumper picked up the note.

Read it twice and then had to swallow the outraged squawk that probably would've sounded like a broken tea kettle, but there was nothing to do about the sudden rev of his engine or flaring optics.]

Blurr!

[This was just--- Why was he--- Cliffjumper threw an immediate "what the FRAG!" over the comm to his friend, but considering what was going on, he didn't expect a response and instead jerked off his seat and stomped off.

He couldn't just sit there and what the slag was Blurr thinking!? It wasn't like he---]

[loyalflier]

[ all the more reason for Starscream to look at a cube before deciding that, no, it's not going to come back to haunt him later. he picks it up, taking a drink as Cliffjumper starts to sputter and get riled up.

usually, it's kind of a funny/amusing thing to watch. this time, Starscream is just a little confused. maybe concerned. ]

Cliffjumper?

[ now the smaller one is huffing and walking away more like stalking. venting a sigh, Starscream decides to get up and try to soothe the ferocious little beast that is the minibot. ]

Dare I ask what that is about?

[cliffjumper]

Blurr. He--- I just--- [Have some (not so elucidating) wild arm gestures with those clear and well-reasoned one-word explanations.

And then when Starscream comes up beside him, Cliffjumper comes to an abrupt stop, stares up at him and blushes, field flexing erratically.]

Nothing! He's bein' stupid and--- [Another expansive wave of his arms before he jerkily crosses them over his chestplates and scowls, looking off.]

[loyalflier]

[ oh yes. he can totally understand what Cliffjumper is trying to tell him. Starscream is great at charades. watching the smaller mech just flail about isn't really going to tell him anything other than Cliffjumper is embarrassed. this could be from a multitude of things...

usually when he's caught unawares or when emotions are involved. ]

Stupid, hmmm?

[ it's a tone that indicates Starscream doesn't quite believe that. whatever Blurr had to say must've been impressive to make him shut down like that instead of just, well, ranting and threatening the little spy.

so he takes a stroll, back to the table. to Cliffjumper's card. he flips it over to read. once... twice... three times.

then it's Starscream that sputters, grip on that card tight. ]

B-Blurr!

[ IS HE SUPPOSED TO SAY YES TO THIS???? ]

[cliffjumper]

I'm gonna fraggin' murder--- don't look at that!

[The dark mutter with accompanying glare that went between floor and door rose abruptly as Cliffjumper caught Starscream going back to the table and then he just...

Groans and hides his faceplate in his hands.]

Told ya to fraggin' not... look.

[Starscream is sort of adorable when flustered thugh--- WHAT THE FRAG is he even thinking!?]

[loyalflier]

[ even Starscream is trying to shoot Blurr a message. it ends up as multiple messages, if only because he's stuttering so much and going 'why why what are you thinking' since this is a set up. like.... a legitimate set up.

Starscream's just so stunned that he can't even process this. his wings are as tense as they can be and he can't even look at Cliffjumper now... ]

I-Is this w-what I should be saying yes to? Why would he think-

[ ah ah ah what's going oooon. ]

[cliffjumper]

Don't look at me, I don't slaggin' know!

[Not that Starscream is looking at him, but, you know. He throws is hands up in the air and then grumbles, trying to get control of his field and bright optics.

At least both of them are flustered and confused by this and he's never even thought about Starscream in this capacity (why would he) so where the slag did Blurr get the idea---

With a growl and an accompanying near-roaring rev of his engine, Cliffjumper stomps back to the table, giving Starscream a rather wide berth just to try and hide his still-fluttering EM field, and collapses heavily back into the chair.]

UGH. Whatever.

[He still can't look at Starscream though.]

[loyalflier]

[ yeah well Cliffjumper isn't the only one trying to calm down either. he hasn't quite thought of his friend that way - not that the mech isn't good enough! he doesn't think that he's done anything for Blurr to think that they'd be interested...

not that they don't work well together, they do and -

and going back over to his side to sit, elbows on knees and just putting his face in his hands. ]

Walked right into it too...

[ they had. both of them...

now how awkward could this get. ]

[cliffjumper]

[At that, Cliffjumper snorted, a noise between a laugh and an exasperated growl as he tilted his helm back to stare at the ceiling.]

... Yeah, we did didn't we. Ya know it doesn't... I mean. We can just---

[Sliding down in his seat, Cliffjumper lowered his gaze back down to fix it on the energon cube, reaching out to fiddle with it because what's he supposed to say?]

[loyalflier]

[ he raises a hand at this, still not meeting the other's gaze. ]

We're both equally flustered, Cliffjumper.

[ don't start digging your own holes. the flustering is sort of adorable, yes, but encouragement... comfort... suggestions.... don't really need that right now. just one step at a time. calm down... ]

This is just ridiculous...

[ why, though, is it embarrassing - that's the ridiculous part. shouldn't they just be laughing this off and carrying on? it isn't like they haven't done this before, really. they've shared plenty of meals. does the setting really make the difference? or is there something they can't see but someone like Blurr can... ]

I need a drink.

[ he's thinking too much, basically. stop him. he's trying to apply science to this. ]

[cliffjumper]

[Starscream interrupting him was probably just for the best, because he still had no idea what to say or where he was going with what he was trying to formulate. At the last he glanced up and barked a laugh, quite surprised it slipped out.]

Well, luckily, we've got energon right here in front of us.

[Tapping the cube he had been fiddling with, Cliffjumper picked it up with a hesistant but lopsided grin and eyed it.]

I mean, it'd be kinda a pity... I suppose, to let it go to waste.

[The next vent in was deeper than usual, and he still felt... unsettled, antsy. Flustered, but Starscream's comment had managed to pull him away from the immediate burning churn of it.]

[loyalflier]

[ Cliffjumper's sudden laugh has Starscream jerking upright. it's not something he had been expecting - the surprised look on his face plates likely showing his shock.

then it falls into an easy, but exasperated smile. shaking his helm, he chuckles. picking up the energon once more, there's a nod in Cliffjumper's direction. ]

One good thing about being locked in here, right?

[ his nerves are still pretty frazzled though. ]