[ti]Ep 3[/ti]The Second Circle (Closed | Pipette )

[Starkrieger]

Episode 3: Week 3 | Day 1 -late PM 
Training Room

---

After hours, a time for rest, when most good little 'Cons were cozied up on their berths in the middle of a sound powerdown. That wasn't enough to settle the black and white mass of wings and determination. Krieg had hung near the exit, acquainted himself with the washracks, and poked around the assembly hall. Disorientation in the unfamiliar base had nearly caused him to walk into the medbay. Close fraggin' call. One glance at the scanners, and whatever slag medics had slung about, and he turned walking right back out.

Despite the slight mishap, even the narrow halls of Blackreach wouldn't dissuade him from prowling. On the way to the training room, his EMF had elevated from a subtle tingle to a full on charge of restlessness. Seriously, he should have probably done something about that. If not for his systems being programed to ignore readings from his field, he'd be inundated with a solid wall of 'white noise'. Eh, not worth the effort.

What he needed was to come up on some poor unsuspecting brawler. The corner of his derma spread to a slow smirk. Brawlers were always the best to provoke into action, or to shock into silence. Problem though, it seemed the resident heavy hitters were currently no where in sight. How disappointing. Wings shifting down, his optics shifted as he took in his surroundings.

It was sadly clear of any viable opponents. Still, he entered wings twitching and angling as he inspected the space. The low amber light was no different the spartan nature of adornment equally consistent. The mech who put this thing together clearly didn't appreciate the effect of proper lighting and décor on a mech's processor. At least it was open, with room to move, but so painfully boring. Hmmm, was there enough clearance to test out stronger munitions? The second optic scan of the area was slower, that smirk reappearing, right until the question of structural integrity popping up in his processor. A shuddering of wings banished any thoughts of firing at random.

[Pipette]

Circadian rhythms were for other people, things adapted to live on some sort of day night cycle of a planet's revolution. Pipette spent just as much time in space on her little craft as she did on any planet's surface, and everyone of those was different. Her own rhythm lacked, well, rhythm. She recharged when she was low, attended to personal needs she needed, and mostly stayed busy when she could. Now was none of those things.

Pipette was bored. Bored like a neutrino in a vacuum. She liked purpose, it was built into her and the days in the Decepticon hideout had provided very little. She had actually been pacing, on filthy dirt no less, for sheer lack of anything engaging to do. She was actually bored enough to converse in casual conversation. That necessitated finding someone to talk to other than the vehicon troops. She had nothing against them, they had purpose and that was enough. But she had found their intellects to be less than stimulating for her, so she avoided undue interaction with them. 

Eventually her strides placed her in one of the training rooms. Inside, she noted by the silhouette, was a flier, and one she had not seen previously about the base. Perhaps therein was a dalton of possibility that the mech would be engaging.

"You, are there any chemical substances you are interested in? And also if you please, what is your preferred designation?" Appallingly to the point was the level of conversation skill Pipette currently possessed. 

[Starkrieger]

Taking the opportunity to clear his processor as proximity danger was no longer flooding in, Krieg had moved to the middle of the room. Ample room for the femme to enter without triggering his sensors before she spoke. Not something he was unaccustomed too in root. Primary wings that had stretched out and up to maximize the space they took up slowly lowered back into a more natural position. He hadn't yet turned, the idle twitch of those wings revealing little with the distance between them.

His field sparking with amusement he didn't bother to stifle. If she was assaulted by it, well that was her own fault for opening the dialogue. At least the dimming of his optics, and the not quite devious smile was outside of her field of vision. It was on the tip of his glossa, an inappropriate remark about interest in an exchange of 'chemical substances', but he would show some mercy, this time. Turning to face his fellow Decepticon, he hadn't fully tamed his expression.

"My full designation is Starkieger. but Krieg will do" The shuttering of his optics was slow, as he looked her over. Ground pounder obviously, possibly a scout? The style of her plating would have suggested high class if not for the utilitarian mask and color scheme. Alteration perhaps? She had asked about chemicals, one of Shockwave's subordinates maybe? Either way, he should be cautious. Femmes could be so particular, and were deserving of a measure of respect.

"...and who might you be, Schätzchen?"

Or he could be an aft, and see how quick she'd have her weapon discharging at his faceplates. Whatever livened up the evening really. As if he wasn't being smug enough, Krieg decided plant his left servo at his hip platting. Seeing as that was the side that boasted his weaponry, he was inhibiting his ability to quickly return.

[Pipette]

Pipette watched the flier’s body language and mannerisms with intellectual curiosity, trying to tie them together with what little field of his she could detect. It wasn't that his field was weak, just that for her species, she was insensitive. It was all a foreign language to her, and since her reintegration, she had chosen to make an effort to learn it. After so many eons on her own, such common social skills had atrophied utterly. Not that hers had ever been great, or so she recalled. She knew enough that the mech's wings lowering, and thus making his silhouette shorter, was usually a signal of peace. This coupled with what she thought was mirth was enough that felt safe enough in progressing the dialogue further.  

It was that dialogue in particular however that temporarily set her processor into a null-logic loop. The single word change in language barely used a clock cycle. She had received a standard language pack and as such could translate the german word with negligible conscious effort. The issue she had was with the translation. That anyone would deliberately address her in such a manner was so alien, she just could not accept the possibility. Reaching for the only logical conclusion, she theorized that this Starkrieg had a glitch. Pipette was fine with this, as she was in no position to judge, and only sought perfection inside a laboratory and very rarely anywhere else.

“Greetings comrade Starkrieg, I am designated Pipette. I am a chemist by profession and passion.” Pipette thought for a cycle and decided that it was correct for her to explain herself. "I have finished all my assigned tasks and I am currently restless and looking for further engagement and stimulation." She stood there still, almost stiff, hand to her side and head tilted slightly up at the taller mech. Her field was shifting in restlessness with undertones of nervousness. 

[Starkrieger]

No move to aim her weapons at him? Krieg identified that as something of a win. There was also the matter of the way her optics focused on him. As one who rarely broke a shared gaze, and often allowed his own to wander, he was hardly bothered to be studied. Quite the contrary, the flier's chassis rose, while his wings remained in place. Regardless of the reason Pipette had to look him over, Starkrieger had no shortage of confidence in his appearance, or value as a companion. Whether she would agree or not, well that was a minor detail his ego didn't concern itself with.

Then she spoke and by Primus it changed everything. Her tone struck him as direct, not unfriendly but not exactly inviting either. It indicated to the flier that his attempt to get a rise out of her by displaying such bold familiarity had fallen flat. As she continued, his secondary wings shifted, drawing back till they were nearly straight behind him, as he considered her. Krieg's field had settled, but hadn't retracted, and was fully receptive to the spikes in hers.

He was still amused, though his optics were no longer dimmed in suggestion.

"Sweetspark", as he began, leading with the familiar term, the nature of the endearment took on a softer vibe. Indeed, if he wasn't aware that it was unlikely she was his junior, or if so it would be by little, he would have chosen youngspark instead. "When a mech addresses you as I did, you should be more careful about how you respond.  He probably would take it as an invitation to offer you 'further engagement and stimulation' in the most inappropriate way. Someone less genteel than myself might try to touch."

The seeker let that sink in, before a light chuckle slipped out that bore no mocking bite.

"It'd be unfortunate if you had to shoot a Dummkopf, to correct a misunderstanding, Ja?" He didn't sound like he thought it would be that bad. If the femme decided to attack some idiot, especially if the idiot was himself, it could be amusing.

He would have left it at that, kept her hanging to see what she would do. The tension in her EM, however encouraged his altruistic side.

"So Pipchen, do you have a preference in 'engagement and stimulation'", he was teasing a bit, the purr as he quoted her this time was exaggerated just enough to indicate he wasn't being too serious. If she perceived it or not would have to be seen.

[Pipette]

This time Pipette did not miss the endearment for what it was. It made her feel flustered as she had no real experience in dealing with such terms. She could no longer accurately gauge what was going on in the dialogue and was feeling rather lost. She would have been quite content to transform and roll right out of there but such an action was rude in a society that functioned on certain rules. She steadied herself and sought a path through the diatribe.

"Yes, I concur it would be a waste of ammunition to shoot a dummkoph...plus resources spent in containment and cleanup" Mixing languages just felt unruly but she persevered. "But I do not understand why any comrade would desire to touch me however." She was actually quite accepting of physical touch between two enamored individuals, but she was most certainly not one currently. 

Her stiff wooden monotone slipped as her natural professionalism was worn away by her nerves under Starkrieger's approach. She chose to ignore the abusement to her own name. If it became too much, then she would correct the mech. Her emotions, so thoroughly controlled and hidden normally were starting to show in her voice alongside her field. "I was interested in whether anyone had any projects or plans that would require my chemical engineering skills." She shrugged, a rare but slight show of emotion. "Or other mental engagement, my own interests do cover most sciences." Pipette looked around the room, finally taking in exactly where she was, and noted it one of the training rooms. "Are you here to practice physical combat Starkrieger?"

[Starkrieger]

He hadn't missed the mark, not from what he saw. The femme's demeanor suggested that his audacious tenancies were beyond her scope of social expertise. Optic ridge raising, the flier's gaze shifted to study the features of her faceplates, the shifts in her stance.

"You don't?", he asked the question softly, refraining from shaking his helm at her. "You're an attractive femme. " For all his previous suggestion, this he offered as an objective statement. His right servo raised to issue an easy dismissive flip, not a typical go to gesture, but he was familiar with. "A little rough around the edges, but we all are, in our way." It was the first time his optics moved from her, and it was to inspect his claws that were now at the proper height for such a task, The end of his thumb tested each digit in turn as he gave the poor scientist a small break from...well... him.

He was still listening though, his attention returning to her in due order. He caught her shrug, as note worthy as the way her tones were shifting from formality toward emotion. It settled his faceplate into an easier expression, the subtle smirk he often bore mellowing out into an absent smile. Krieg wasn't really one for the sciences, but she clearly was. There was a certain intrigue in that, a mech or femme speaking about something they held a passion for, that could make the irrelevant meaningful.

Her question was met with a different change. His gaze turned to the nearest wall, moving upwards towards the ceiling.

"Actually, I was merely wandering the base, and ended up here... " His voice trailed off, as he angled away from her, just enough so that as he drew himself up taller, and his wings rose and spread it might be clear it wasn't in response to her presence. Despite the fact that he was too far from the walls to receive proximity pings back, they were angling slightly. It was odd place to be, his sensors telling him there was plenty of room, while his optics reminded him that there was no sky, that he was closed in. Normally it would not be concerning, but in the context of engaging in combat, even if only training, surroundings became critical. When in a structure, there was physical integrity to consider. As his processor warred with itself, his hold on his field remained lax. His EM started to prickle with nervousness. Perhaps it wouldn't be noticed, as he wasn't exactly distressed.

"I don't suppose your interests extend to geology and structural engineering?" He'd meant to say it jokingly, but it came out serious, thoughtful. Of course, the Commander would never accept a substandard base, and the designer would know what he was doing. That logic, however, wasn't having much of an effect on the part of his processor that was governed by his senses, less so paired with his survival instincts.

[Pipette]

Pipette momentarily spluttered at the earnest compliment, her circuits shorting for a second as she was unable to process. She didn't consider herself attractive, or otherwise, she simply just existed. The chemist gathered her derailed thoughts one more time and noted to research this further at some later point. No doubt she wouldn't be recharging soon with her curiosity piqued with a new avenue of knowledge to pursue.

Thankfully, Starkrieger gave her a new topic of conversation to follow, and it was one she had passion for. "Of course! Geology itself lends so much to chemical composition and molecular arrangement. These very walls, floor and ceiling," She indicated with a wave of her hand "Are almost entirely basalt rock laid down by numerous lava flows during times of volcanic activity. The high magnesium content ideal for mining, and the intrinsic structural integrity due to interlinked crystalline molecular structures are most likely strong reasons why Pyrotech developed what was likely a lava tube. Most other mountainous rock formations carved out to these size rooms would be at risk of collapse without sufficient structural supports which in turn would hinder our throughfare." She barey paused as she continued with enthusiasm.

"Most structural engineering is highly dependent upon chemistry as well. The mechanical properties, and corrosion resistance all come down to molecular makeup and structure. These are usually well documented for most common materials so logistics largely determines material usage. It is only at the fringes of what materials can do when limits are being pushed does the truly exciting research take place. The humans of this planet are just discovering how to create carbon nanotubes in usable sizes and quantities, taking advantage of the massive availability of carbon present on this organic planet.  From what I have been able to ascertain with my own brief research, the are still far from mastering the techniques I know for mass manufacturing. Though the chemistry of all oxygen utilising lifeforms hinders their lifespans, unlike us, they seem to be..." Pipette waved a hand as she floundered for the right word "inventive and persistent. As a race on the whole, their knowledge of chemistry progresses with alacrity."

She paused just long enough that someone might think she was done, but then she did finish with a question. 

"What is your personal view of humans and how we should interact with what is the dominant sentience on this planet?"

[Starkrieger]

It would appear he landed on a subject of interest. It wasn't really the Seeker's intention to have her gush over Geology and Structural Engineering. Though he wasn't stupid, Krieg lacked scientific knowledge, and had abysmal instincts when it came to mechanics and structures. Worse, as Pipette spoke, she inadvertently did the opposite of what he had been secretly angling for.

'Risk of Collapse', stood out in his processor. Wings lowered and drew towards his backstruct, flattening slowly as much as they were able, his gaze slipped to the ceiling. Solid, ominous, heavy enough to crush a Cybertronian, to bury one alive till the intakes clogged and caused overheating. Dense enough to smother all semblances of light, or fresh air. Krieg could feel his field shifting as his intakes hitched then switched into a sharp reboot, running louder as his EM started to prickle with discomfort. No, no, she had said 'other formations', or something like that right? As in not this, meaning these ceilings were not likely to fall on them... or at least were not as likely.

Slag it, no the Commander would not tolerate being underground if that was possible. Despite what ignorant grounders thought, he had greater concern for his troops than that.

The tension in radiating from the forced position to his backstrut was getting to him, the continued calm of the femme's voice returning his attention to her. His wings fluttered and shifted to relieve mounting strain, before raising to a more natural, albeit still subdued angle, EMF settling at an equally slow rate. Even as regain his inward composure, he'd intended to allow her to continue going on, until she asked for his input.

"The humans?" Maybe not a brilliant start, but Starkrieger didn't sound unsure, but rather, thoughtful.

"If you mean in regards to their sciences, I don't know enough to have an opinion. As a species? They are not so different from any other, they are gifted in some ways and deficient in others. Inferior to our own, but no doubt many of them would see us the same way." Certainly MECH didn't escribe value to them as living beings, treating them as they would their ridiculous Earth vehicle, to be carved up, used, and discarded as they saw fit. His secondary wings flicking back hard, the primaries rising, as he cut off his field. Whatever memories were provoked, he kept to himself however. She wanted to discuss the humans, and Krieg wasn't exactly eager to talk about the darker places his mind sometimes went. There was a pause as the Seeker reached for a switch in topic to shake off the darkness that had settled in his spark.

"Have you encountered any? "

[Pipette]

She wasn't being insensitive to Starkrieger's body language; far from it actually. She could detect his emf and certainly noticed his wings as they elegantly fluttered between positions. It just took her some time to process the data, which she did even as she spoke. Though she rarely split her focus, she was entirely capable and she had chosen to do so as she learned.

Pipette looked to the side in thought for a moment before she continued to look up at Starkrieger’s face. "No, not in person yet, though I believe I would use my holo-avatar for such an encounter. I have met a plethora of other sentient species however and the humans are... I suppose they are average in most ways. Their combination of traits is unique, but not the traits themselves. I have not bothered to quantify further." Much like in chemistry, elements and all their combinations were unique but their properties followed patterns. Unlike in chemistry however, free thinking creatures were not always predictable in their behavior.

Finally after a minute, she put 2 and 2 together in a way that seemed to fit. Though Krieg seemed to have relaxed again, she had noted his change when she was previously talking about the structural makeup of the Decepticon base. "Does being underground, enclosed by these rocks walls make you feel claustrophobic? I have heard that is the norm for those of us who possess the ability to fly." As far as she knew, Pip had no phobias. Her fears were entirely rational, though she had noted her base instincts as occasionally disproportionate to statistical probability.

She was nervous because there was a high statistical chance of some misunderstanding, which in itself had a high chance of negative consequences. Her base instinct was nervous due to an unconscious fear of rejection after she had chosen to rejoin the main Decepticon army.

All this made her seem stiff, more so than usual. Normally she was just plain stiff to avoid being a klutz.

[Starkrieger]

She had to bring up the rock again. At least the second incident was less distressing, mildly inconvenient though it was. The Seeker was in the habit of answering honestly, avoidance was another option. He knew regularly admitting weakness in the Decepticon army was a bad idea, but Krieg had little shame, even in his deficits. Besides, his precious scientist was no threat, being a comrade who seemed unlikely to try to offline him.

"I suppose that would depend on perspective." There was a certain ease in his voice, yet the tones became more serious, thoughtful as the mech slipped his arms behind his back, lightly taking his left servo in the right. The limbs were loose as he set aside his defenses both physical and social. "We are often labeled as claustrophobic by grounders." His tone was not harsh, nor was defensive, but that didn't change the words. The lack of animosity or blame sometimes contradicted the way he so naturally distinguished grounders, and fliers as them and us.

"A room such as this, in their optics is simply a source of shelter. For us it comes at the cost of our best means of offense and defense. There is also the restriction to our natural movement. They don't typically contend with a loss of their ability to move forwards, backwards, or to either side. For a true flier up and down are equally essential. So, what to a grounder is adequate can be detrimental to a Seeker's chances for survival. "

He wasn't discussing himself was he? She had asked about him as well as referencing the norm for flight capable Cybertronians. He'd needed the time to decide if he would sidestep the question entirely. Perhaps Seekers, in general, didn't always display an overabundance of intelligence in the academic sense. However, the facts were, even the simplest of them had processors that had to be up to the task of collecting, interpreting, and responding to a barrage of data at high speeds for something as simple as a quick circle around the base. Multiple targets, enemies, and homing munitions had to be tracked and monitored, weaponry timed to accommodate minimum distances as well as maximum. Thus, It was easy for Starkrieger to process an internal debate as he philosophized on the perspective of his kind verses that of the terra bound.  Sadly, emotions were a matter of the spark, rather than the processor. 

His optics slipped away head tipping downward, a subconscious effort, to allow his gaze to lose it's focus, and minimize the effect of his wings dropping a fraction.

"That said... I would be classified as phobic by any standard." When the Nemesis rescued him, his extrication from the escape pod hadn't exactly been graceful, and if not for Lockstep he probably would have inadvertently self terminated. Well, that or managed to free himself and become lost in the void of space. He owed the sub commander his function, and evoking her memory caused his shoulders and wings droop briefly in a moment of silence.

He left the answer at that, returning his wings to their default position, as he drew a long intake. The whys were a mixture of his personal specifications and experiences. The former was likely to be dry and drawn out, while the latter he didn't wish to face this evening. That, of course, assumed he could manage to avoid it. On that note.

"What would you say to getting out of here for awhile?" It was possible she wouldn't let him deviate from the topic, and maybe throwing the human subject back into play would have been the better tactic. He'd keep it on standby.

[Pipette]

“Hmmm.” Pipette pondered for a second. “I understand. Your ability to fly, and revel in open skies is as much a part of you identity as chemistry is for my own. I surmise that the protocol whereby we must remain hidden from the local sentients is of further hindrance.” Pip had never really had any previous reason to consider how the alt form or each individual cybertronian might affect their preference for environment when in their root form. She had spent more time in space than planetside, ans as she considered this, she realised her own viewpoint was heavily subjective. This was in spite of having to trade on various alien planets. She gave very little thought to the culture of the aliens she met other than their knowledge base. Size variation had been to most common concern.

“I am amicable to a change in location, if you would like to lead, I shall endeavour to keep apace.”  Pipette lazily waved a hand towards the exit. While she was definitely not considerate as a default, it was hard not to notice that Krieg was almost half again as tall as she was, and would thus have a longer stride naturally. Simple physics.

The conversation had barely got close to the subject of her preference, but she was finding that while she was engaged, she didn’t mind. Starkrieger was so far proving interesting to talk with, and since she quite literally had nothing better to do, she had decided to make this a learning experience for developing her subpar social skills and etiquette knowledge. After some more thought, she decided that Starkrieger was also not unattractive, quite the reverse, but she admitted to herself that her experience was still extremely lacking. After a million years with a million aliens, even Soundwave was attractive.

“What is flying like, under your own power with full instinctive control?” She had flown her own spaceships, but usually left the piloting to the much grater skill of the Auto. She liked to drive on occasion, but unlike Krieg, she could safely stop and not fall. Her two dimensional horizon was so simple relative to a fliers three, plus gravity to contend with. She actually slept in her altmode given the option, but that was preference for rubber on the ground rather than her plating.

[Starkrieger]

Excellent, his scientist was letting him get away with diverging, and it seemed she'd humor him with a little jaunt. Unclasping his servo, the Seeker bowed subtly, before crossing the room to join her. He adjusted his stride to help accommodate, making a point to fold primary wing down and back, granting her proximity.

"It's difficult to say." His optic slipped over, to catch a glimpse of her through its corner. "How it feels depends on why I am flying. In combat my focus is directed on the task, execution is methodic, precise, embellished only as needed for positioning, evasion and melee assault. " In an attempt to gather his thoughts, he allowed that a moment to register.

"What I feel is overridden by the influence of the battlefield, subdued by discipline. Free flight is another matter. " He paused verbally, his wings twitching despite their lowered position. "To fly is an expression of unity of the body, processor and spark. It is like initial surges and drops of ones spark. Which emotions varies, the swells of joy, the dimming of sorrow, that first squeeze of a shrinking field, or the sharp spike of thrill. We Seekers rule the skies, but not as oppressive masters. Flight is a dance with an old bondmate, with the fire of new love." His vocals remained level, contemplative as he tried to quantify senses that went beyond a language that was too restricted. Even 'their' shared Cybertronian standard was inadequate as there were concepts that simply had no place in the dialects of grounders. Regardless, his EMF remained at a steady calm with hints of eagerness at the challenge of articulating something so fundamental to his identity, to one who did not share it.

"It is acceptance, and oneness, our connection to Primus. Those feelings encompass others when we fly together, particularly as a Trine" His field chilled, hanging heavy around him before being abruptly cut off. Wings, already low, tucked in tighter, as Krieg pulled back his shoulders, thankful she might be spared the hardening of his optics.

"... But... that's just my perspective." He dropped his visor at those words, still closed off as soft clicks issuing in his pedes as their sections shifted. If she'd chosen to take the space beside him, he'd need to wait for clearance to ready his wings.

"Are your navigational systems functional?" His tone was more stern than he'd intended. "Mine are deficient, and I'm still unfamiliar with the area", he explained in a softer tone. His lacking skills were confirmed no sooner than the words had been spoken, the pair hitting the assembly hall...Oops .

[Pipette]

The grounder made room for the flier and fell in beside him and a little behind so that he could lead. She clasped her hands behind her back. The distance between them that she tried to keep was just out of arm's reach. It was a gap calculated through experience dealing with alien races, close enough to talk, far enough to be safe, not that she felt unsafe around Starkrieger...much.

“Your words are…” Pipette paused as she sought the correct words “articulate and eloquent. I might even hazard poetic, though I lack experience to fairly judge.” The way Krieg described flying was almost alien. “I confess I have never felt a similar experience from driving.” But now she wanted to. Pipette became contemplative which showed in her emf. Some research would be required but it sounded like it should be an enjoyable endeavor. There were of course factors beyond her control, like the fact that all available roads were of Human manufacture, and thus less than perfect. Fliers never had that precise issue.

“I do not possess a dedicated navigation system. I rely on my memory and observation to keep myself located.” Pipette looked up at Krieg as she pondered if he was new to the base this very day. She herself had no particular penchant for cartography or 3D visualisation, she simply studied a map and memorised all pertinent details she needed. It almost seemed silly that others could not do this. But then each to their own, Pip was at least openemind in accepting the strengths and weaknesses of others. Her experience in that at least was vast.

Her mind picked over the conversation for subjects to continue with and landed upon Krieg’s mention of love. “Have you had bondmates? What is it like?” Though she had a passion for chemistry, she was reluctant to call it love, again, not enough reference. In theory she was capable as she understood the emotion.

[Starkrieger]

Her place with him had become a bit unsettling, not the presence, but her placement. The space being occupied didn't always bother him, but with the subject between them it was different. Pipette wasn't the first to walk there, as he dwelled on bonds and flight.

"We will have to work together to keep our bearings then." Seconds of silence dragged on to a processor not often subjected to complete stillness. Had things gotten awkward? He only had himself to blame for that, he'd dropped off in conversation, his field still tightly closed as he tried to manage it. Turning from the assembly room to take to return to the halls gave him a moment to consider how he would get them back on track from there. Sadly, he had lingered to long, the question of bondmates settling heavier on his spark, then his earlier thoughts. His scientist seemed to have a knack for asking difficult questions. Part of the job he supposed.

"... Not exactly. " The admission was soft, but this time he had a mind not to risk continued derailment of the evening. He'd recovered and would resume channeling the discourse in more favorable directions. Hopefully his ability to navigate social engagements would continue to prove better than his talents of navigating the physical world.

His focus returned to her previous words.

"Perhaps there are other matters that have made you feel so moved. " Starkrieger hadn't forgotten the way she had been more animated, downright enthused as she spoke of her sciences. Of course, he would much rather she steered away from certain focuses, at least until they were it out of the base. Fortunately, she had already provided the means to try to steer clear of it. "I believe you mentioned that chemistry is a passion of yours."

"How long has it been since you have worked on a project because you wanted to, rather than to further the cause? Are there any you were looking to start? " As they rounded the hall, the reduced pace of the discussion had created the time they needed to find a familiar location. Certainly he'd committed to memory the look of the exits. He stepped away for additional clearance, his wings returning to their natural position in root. Relief at the prospect of escaping the stifling hold loosened his EMF again, though its strength was subdued in a lingering numbness.

While awaiting her response, his wings shifted and fluttered, experiencing greater relief than the Seeker himself it would seem. The exercise in freedom would give way to the shifting of maneuvering mechanisms, checking their range of motion and readiness. Even if this was not an official patrol, he'd be ready, particularly when escorting Pipette. Such outings would have to be rare to avoid exposure, and if too cavalier an attitude was taken; undoubtedly, stronger restrictions would be enacted.