o14 ★ PHILOSOPHIZING

[electrowhipit]

It's amazing how, one day everyone can be going on about... uh... female... body parts... and one day people can be talking about morals and choices, and going home.

Whatever happens, I just hope there's a way for everyone to get what they want- whether it's a way home, or a life here. There's no reason why we have to fight each other in order for that to happen, right? I know I don't want this to become a battle. I've got one of those waiting for me at home already.

[ FILTERED TO OLIVIER ]

Olivier? I have those nails you asked for. Did you want to meet somewhere?

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[electrowhipit]

It's probably not something a lot of people like to talk about. Ten years in this place took its toll.

[ He quirks an eyebrow ] Investigating? Find anything interesting?

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[thenorthernwall]

Wait. It made it seem they'd been here ten years? I don't know what I thought you meant, but it wasn't that. [NOW she looks horrified.]

I haven't found out much. I've scouted locations, acquired a map, done some basic strategic planning for various offensive and defensive maneuvers. It'll be difficult to stage anything large-scale, though. That's the worst thing I've learned.

And... I've started remodeling my kitchen.

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[electrowhipit]

Ah. Yeah. Whoever runs this place tosses around some serious power. [ as if she didn't know that by now ]

You've found out more than a lot of people- or at least you've done more planning. [ he eyes the bag of nails ] And forgive me for saying so, but you really don't strike me as the type to do much remodeling.

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[thenorthernwall]

[She calms a little as it sinks in. This place is not only horrific, it's chaotically so. It's discomfiting.]

I can't help planning. A soldier without a war... where I'm from, it's hard to imagine anything besides conflict. My country has been at war for many, many years.

[And as for that last bit... She smiles and holds out her hand to take the nails.] It's a special kind of remodeling.

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[electrowhipit]

That's... that's about the same for me. All I've ever really known is war. [ he rubs the back of his head, looking a little sheepish. ] I just don't ever do much planning.

[ he raises his eyebrows, but hands over the bag ] That's vague.

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[thenorthernwall]

I've lived this long because I plan. I'm a front-line General, too. Then again... Some of my men do things by the seat of their pants, too. We all have our own way. My adjutant is more like I am. One of my Captains, though, is--was just lucky to make it through on sheer guts.

[She takes it and slips it into a purse she's carrying JUST FOR THIS.] I'll invite you to see it when I'm done.

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[electrowhipit]

And I suppose I've lived this long because I don't. [ he smiles a little ] But you're right. There's only a few of us back home, and the way we approach things is very, very different.

I'll hold you to that. [ a pause, and he leans back on the bench, trying to appear casual ] So I hear you've been talking with Sideswipe.

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[thenorthernwall]

A real army works on the combined strength of its men, no matter what style they choose. As long as they fight their hardest and follow my orders, I have no problem with the details. [Glances at him.]

Yes, I've spoken with Sideswipe. It was one of the less productive conversations I've ever had. How did you know?

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[electrowhipit]

[ He's sort of wondering how Olivier would get along with the others- Prime and Major Lennox especially. ]

He told me. It didn't sound like it was an enjoyable conversation for either party.

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[thenorthernwall]

[She relaxes a bit, staring off at the sky. She really misses the mountains, at this point. And for every soldier she speaks to, she misses her men a little more. She'd been forcibly parted from them and sent to Central for quite a while, but it didn't stop her from missing them when she needed them. And now? She could really use their combined strengths.]

Does he always talk in circles, or was that a special performance just for me?

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[electrowhipit]

Ah, that's just Sideswipe. [ frown ] He didn't have some very nice things to stay about you.

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[thenorthernwall]

He wasn't even listening, in the end. [She looks away, trying to keep the annoyance balanced.] So, what did he say? You seem to be leading up to a question or an interrogation.

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[electrowhipit]

I just wanna know what you talked about.

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[thenorthernwall]

[She crosses one leg over the other, ankle to knee, and sits like a man. This is serious mode.] We discussed the potentials of leaving here. And what I would personally do if anyone tried to threaten the efforts.

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[electrowhipit]

What would you do?

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[thenorthernwall]

[She resists the urge to roll her eyes. Really, more ideology arguments?] I wouldn't hesitate to stop someone who stood in the way of everyone going home. I cannot stay in this place, or ignore the lies it tells. If they don't wish to leave, they can stay out of the way, away from harm, like good civilians. But I am a soldier, and I will fight.

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[electrowhipit]

... That's all I wanted to know.

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[thenorthernwall]

And I assume you're going to judge me based upon that. What did he tell you we discussed?

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[electrowhipit]

[ sigh ] Look, I trust Sideswipe with my life, but I'll be the first to admit he can get kind of... dramatic. He made you out to be some kind of lunatic, but I had my reservations.

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[thenorthernwall]

[She laughs. It's like the way someone's mom laughs before she gives you grandma's meatloaf recipe that she won't even eat.] I've been called much worse things for much better reasons.

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[electrowhipit]

[ The laughing throws him. Sideswipe did liken her to a Decepticon, but he supposes that word doesn't carry as much weight for her as it does him. ]

Look, all I know is I'd rather work with you than against you.

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[thenorthernwall]

[If she doesn't know the word, she won't get offended. Here, let's offend her!]

Well, what's your own assessment? And... [She thinks back...] Who is this "Megatron" he was talking about? And "Optimus" for that matter?

You and he could both be valuable in this fight, and I'd rather have you both unequivocally on my side.

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[electrowhipit]

... That's a loaded question. I don't suppose Sideswipe mentioned that we're not... usually... human?

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[thenorthernwall]

He did. That's why I think you'll both be valuable: He said you were built as soldiers.

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[electrowhipit]

We were. Built as soldiers in a millenia-long war. Optimus- Optimus Prime- is our leader. Megatron leads the opposing faction. I don't know what Megatron's deal is, but he's willing to destroy entire planets, entire races without a second thought in order to get what he wants.

Optimus... well, he's willing to do whatever it takes to see that Megatron and his Decepticons don't destroy another life. Even at the cost of his own. The rest of us just follow him as best we can.