capeandcowllogs | (no subject)

WHO; Vector Prime & the Fallen
WHERE; Vector’s apartment in the nigh-empty Autobase
WHEN; AT NIGHT.
WARNINGS; ~~Sibling rivalry~~ possible violence/language.
SUMMARY; Fallen’s wondering what Vector’s been up to. Vector is more concerned about the safety of his cat than sharing that information.
FORMAT; Paragraph.
NOTES; Breaking hiatus just a bit. >>

Progress, however small, was something Vector was pleased with. His latest experiments - small in themselves - were proving some theories he had formed over the time he’d been here, and retreating from the world at large was something he was willing to do in order to chase further knowledge. Really, he’d been only coming back to the City as of late to sleep, eat, and tend to Aurex.

He felt a bit bad, keeping her cooped up, but...she was an immediate reminder of Safeguard, now gone for some time. Perhaps he had grown soft from his partnership with the Minicon, but he couldn’t quite find himself willing to just...turn her away. Perhaps not soft, then, but selfish.

As she bumped up against his legs with a low yowl, demanding he set down his papers and give her some time, he chuckled to himself. Selfish indeed, but he could be allowed some vices in this dimension of all places. He reached down to stroke her fur, briefly considering asking Shockwave if it would be wise to obtain another, to keep her entertained...

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Vector's recent lack of activity in the City proper hadn't escaped the Fallen's notice. It had become increasingly diffcult to catch him at home, let alone anywhere else in the City; more often than not, the former mech just wasn't around. In fact, he hadn't seen him in some weeks and the Fallen had started to wonder exactly what was consuming so much of his time. Although his once-brother had always preferred to keep his hands out of the affairs of his lessers as much as possible, this near-perpetual absence was becoming increasingly suspicious.

Today, it seemed, was one of the rare occasions Vector was at home, presenting him with an opportunity to satisfy his curiosity.

He leaned over the back of the couch, crossing his arms along the top. (How are those scars of yours feeling, Vector?)

"You've been absent as of late," he said, conversationally. His sudden appearances in Vector's personal space were one of the hazards of knowing a teleporter and had become fairly routine - at least in his mind. Few and far between were the people who considered a visit from the Fallen 'routine.'

Vector didn't so much startle as stiffen with Fallen's appearance, the palms of his hands twinging pain.

"I sincerely hope you feel every ounce of hate I poured into the creation of this blade..."

As Aurex hissed at the new voice and fled, he shook his head wearily, straightening up. "I've been occupying myself elsewhere," he answered, giving the other Original a disapproving look. "If you wish to speak with me, the communicators work better than waiting here."

And disturbing his haven.

Fallen copied the motion, leaning back and standing up to his full height, for all the good it did him: even in these forms, Vector was taller than him. Unfortunately for the other man, the Fallen wasn't one to be impressed by his stature. He tilted his head and smiled, the expression void of the warmth it would have held on anyone else's face.

"I never wait; I conclude my business and leave," he said. Exactly what that business was (usually 'borrowing' something from Vector's possession purely to set him on edge) he would wait to elaborate on until Vector had offered the same information. "Occupying yourself with what, exactly?"

Vector narrowed his eyes at the Fallen before turning away. "My function," he answered shortly, pleasant mood all but vanished due to the other's presence. How was it that Fallen could destroy so much without even trying?

(Arguably worse was that Vector /let/ himself be bothered, but...it was impossible /not/ to be.)

The Fallen smirked at him in response. Clearly he hadn't lost his touch over the last few weeks.

"And how are you serving your master from within this prison? You're of little use to him without your powers," he pointed out, seeking a sore spot to worry.

"I'm not quite certain how that is any of your concern," mused the jet. While the reminder of disconnection was an unwelcome one, he didn't let it show; he'd worked without Primus' direct order for Vorns at a time, before, and while he had always felt the connection there he had reasoned that since it would be a much shorter time here, it was hardly any different.

Really.

"Dare I ask what you have been doing?" he asked, trying to push the ball back to Fallen's court. Since he was here, he might as well try to learn something...

"You're a greater fool than I ever imagined if you expect something for nothing," the Fallen responded sharply, refusing to let Vector shift attention back onto him. He stepped forward into the other's personal space without really having to think about it, the threatening gesture coming easily to him. Trying to intimidate the followers of Primus was a habit of his that was easier to indulge than to bite back even if it rarely worked on Primes. "Are you hiding something, Vector?"

Unconsciously, Vector tightened his grip on the papers still in hand. The only thing he was worried about was them being lit on fire in a fit of spite, but...he could, if nothing else, repeat the experiments. "Are you the only one allowed to hold such expectations?" he queried, standing his ground with a mildly annoyed expression.

Having Fallen this close made his hands hurt all over again. Wonderful.

"-and far from hiding, I am simply wondering why you are taking such an interest. Are you up to something, or simply bored?"

"I hold no expectations. I make demands, and the universe generally complies." There was a touch of humor in his smirk now that only managed to make him look meaner. Seeing movement, his gaze flicked down to the papers in Vector's hand for a moment, but he was quick to return to staring him down.

"Simple curiosity. You rarely act; I wonder what motivates you to do so now when you've been so useless thus far," he said, his tone casual and dismissive. It was certainly possible that Vector was up to something that would be either useful or disruptive of his own activities, but in the end it would matter little; as a whole, the efforts of the Primes were little more than stalling tactics against the inherent chaos of the universe.

Vector held his gaze.

"You of all people know the worth of biding one's time," he answered with an edge of sharpness, the 'useless' comment stinging but not lingering. He let it go, knowing to fully rise to the insult would only invite more. "If you think I have been idle, then you are sorely mistaken - as much as I imagine I would be to assume the same of you."