angleofscience | 004 [Video/open commentlog]

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004 [Video/open commentlog]

[After helping Ironhide, Jetfire had went to get his journal. He'd merely intended to ask a question... But since he'd attempted to challenge himself again when it came to the absolutely dreadful weather, the image that pops up is simply of Jetfire standing at one of the entrances to the barracks, staring out at the snow, for several minutes.]

I... That is...

[He seems to zone out again, having stretched out one arm outside the protection of the doorway, watching snowflakes melt as they meet his armour-plating.]

... Has anyone been here... for long enough to have the data to say for how long this weather is going to last? Or, if not that... The experience to extrapolate how long this colder weather and snow could last..?

[He's not once looking directly into the journal, and his optics are dim, nearly offline. It's hard to say what actually turns the image off when it ends, but whether anyone replies to this, or comes wandering around the barracks, Jetfire is probably quite obvious where he's standing.

He's at least pulled his arm in against his frame, though the small pool of water on the floor would reveal he apparently didn't do it until he got quite a bit of snow on it.]

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/I wish I could say I understand how you feel. I do on some level, but whatever I have been through pales greatly in comparison to what happened to you. But if you ever need to speak to someone, I will always be glad to listen, no matter what time it is./

[It's hard for Jael to know how to comfort Jetfire. Usually she's able to hug whoever needs it, but she doesn't want to do something to make Jetfire uncomfortable. So she grabs his arm again and tugs it to see if she can lead him a little ways away from the door.]

Don't worry. I'm uncertain I understand it completely myself.

[There's a faint smile here, as it is pretty incomprehensible. He remembers waking several times due to alerts being tripped, attepting to get out... There's brief, stuttered rev of his engine, and when Jael tugs, he comes. His intention after... talking? confronting? Starscream had been to go back in immediately, but he'd gotten stuck.]

And I do not think you can weigh one individual's experiences against another's... Obviously any experience of being buried alive would be pretty singular, but the scope... of it... Is of course a lot different.

[Since... any human, and most other species, wouldn't survive for as long as he did, and might have died to any number of things from the ordeal.]

Ah... Weren't you going to find more... appropriate clothes for the weather?

[He realizes this when they've walked away from the door and the falling snow and white sky isn't directly visible any more.]

/Yes, but it's not like I have any pressing engagements. I can do that at any time. But I couldn't just leave you there like that./

[Jael gives Jetfire a small smile.]

/What floor is your room on?/

Ah... Thank you.

[If he looks a bit startled, it's because while he's obviously had fellow Autobots inquire about his well-being it's been... perfunctorily at most. Of course, the members of his mission had to care, but then they had a falling-out. And Omega, while certainly caring had a very... particular way of expressing it. Efficient.

Let's not talk about Starscream.]

Three, if you feel like offering your company, otherwise I could probably... go up there. [He casts a brief glance behind him, not just for the out-of-view snow, but also for something larger and more colourful than that.]

[Jael tilts her head a bit at the look, but her smile widens a bit.]

/I'll go with you. It never hurts to have company when you're upset./

It doesn't, I've just... become used to making do without it. [Jetfire shrugs, though he does agree with that, and back at the Academy, even if Starscream had never been the most... supportive of mechs, he could do "incidental" company when one was upset.]

Thank you, Jael. I hope you... hm... usually have someone to go to too. [Jetfire smiles slightly and while his first steps are slightly hesitant, his gait smooths out quickly... though, of course, he still has to walk slowly so as to not force Jael to jog or run.]

/That's too bad, Jetfire. I'm always willing to help if you should ever need someone to talk to, or just need some company./

[Jael's smile slips just a bit. She used to have lots of people to go to if she needed them. Now...not so much.]

/I do./

[His smile widens a bit at that, but he looks quite surprised once again; partly it's simply because that being here is the first time he's been explosed to humans, so he's quite surprised she'd offer something like that.]

I... hope some of them are here? Or that you've managed to make someone here be that.

[He realizes slightly too late as her smile slips slightly that that might not been have the best statement, considering the circumstances. Because it would be exceedingly awkward and tactless of him if all those individuals were at and from her home, and none here.]

[If you were smaller or younger, Jael would consider you one of her unofficial children. As it is, Jetfire is firmly planted in Jael's friend category.

She shrugs one shoulder, trying to play it off as if it doesn't affect her that much.]

/I was in a place like this before I was brought here, and there were a couple people here that I recognized from there. But-/

[Jael pauses, not sure if Jetfire will believe her.]

/-they weren't the same. They weren't the ones I knew. Different versions, if you will./

[While he'd probably be very flattered with that category too, the 'friend' one might be for the best... It was literally millions of years since he was anything close to young, as per their species.

Jetfire pauses just as he opens the door to his room when Jael recounts that, frown on his faceplates. Two things stand out immediately to him.]

None, really, here then?

[He lets her go in first, but... there's no easy place for her to sit; most of the room is simply the solid platform-like thing that probably serves as a bed... and it might be slightly hard for her to get up on it.]

Mmm... If that is the case, either they are lying about our circumstances and the reason we're here for, or it might be a case of alternate realities. Which I've had proven upon coming here than they might be possible.

[There is no disbelief there at all, rather there's the greater confirmation of a possible lie... and simply another confirmation of a greater multiverse, for Jetfire.]

[Jael heads inside and decides to lean against the wall for now. If she needs to sit, she figures she'll just sit on the floor.

She hesitates for a moment before answering. Now that she thinks about, she really doesn't have anyone here that she's close to. Not like the Elegante.]

/Yes./

[She nods. The only reason Jael hopes Deior is lying is because she's hoping someone else she knows will show up in the keep.]

/It could be any number of things. Honestly I'm not sure what to think. One of the men I knew from before is part of the staff here, which is just confusing./

[That single affirmative has Jetfire briefly rest a few fingers on her shoulder as he passes to sit down on the 'bed'; being alone in such a way isn't fun, no.

But he's quickly distracted - except for noticing how much warmer it is in here compared to the outside, and a brief, irrational thought that hopes Starscream doesn't stay outside for too long - when Jael continues, his frown deepening, turning thoughtful.]

... Indeed? And this isn't in any way a variation of wherever this man claimed to be from when you talked to him before here?

[Jetfire sits down, crossing his arms as he talks... and for the first time since his wings angled down while talking to Starscream, they start to slip up closer to the usual diagonally upright position.]

Because unless the variation's close enough they can be connected, the odds for at least some parts of their... explanation... being a lie would possibly increase by a few percent, at least.

[That moment of contact is enough to cheer Jael up a bit.]

/I'm not sure. He never liked talking about his past. He seems to be the same as the one I knew. He acts the same as he did on the Elegante./

[She sighs. This is all starting to confuse her.]

/I've never been very good at this sort of thing. It all seems rather abstract to me./

Mmm... I see. There are of course a few things it could be. Simple era--- memory loss, pretending to not remember, or an alternate version... Though acting the same, or similar, wouldn't necessarily mean anything, since unless various points and cimcumstances are wildly changed, individuals who are the same but differing from what related reality they come from should act the same.

[Jetfire shakes his helm, rubbing his chin slowly.]

There's not much to do with as little data as is presented and capable of being found, truly, but it should add up and give a clearer set of parameters to work from.

/You are right. I usually just chalk to up to him being an alternative version./

[Jael nods, head tilting back for a moment as she thinks.]

/Over time, more information might come to light that might explain most of our questions. Until then, all we can do is guess./

It's a pity he preferred to not reveal anything about himself, then. Since the crucial point here would be whether or not this is his original world... or a variation of it. If it is neither, and yet he appears as something close to native here...

[It's a strange datapoint to have found; one would think the staff would all belong to this place and not be displaced themselves, but depeding on the truth that might not be the case.]

Unfortunately. Guesswork, while engaging the mind, ultimately leaves one unsatisfied and unable to draw correct conclusions or make analysis. The problem is that this situation isn't ideal or safe, which would mean information is crucial...

[Crossing his arms, Jetfire glances at the door, and then back to Jael. This is allowing some distraction from earlier - as much as he can be distracted, considering he's well-enough capable of leaving several trains of thought to be processed at once and looked over later - and he's grateful.]

How long have you been here, Jael?

[Jael just nods at what Jetfire says.

Secretly, she's rather glad for the subject change. Jetfire's critical thinking skills are leaving her in the dust.]

/I've been here for about 4 and half, maybe 5 months now./

[He had... begun to pick up on that (it had taken him a bit, though), and the change in subject was as much because of that as that he was interested.]

... If it's not too much to ask for... what has happened here while you've been present? If it's too much to retell easily, highlights, perhaps?

[A pause, and Jetfire's optics narrow.]

Is there always such... non-concern until the event can be cleaned up as what happened with the... Halloween happenings among the staff?

[He can further still not see any reason for it. Merely... torture.]

[Unfortunately, Jael isn't very educated beyond being able to read and write.]

/Not much beyond what happened at Halloween. There was an incident the month before, though. Some sort of disease spread throughout the Keep that made some of the people here crazed and violent./

[A thoughtful look crosses her face.]

/I'm not sure, actually./

[Not to worry, he's kind of used to being the only one either interested, or able, to follow these trains of thought.]

That's somewhat... encouraging I suppose, and while two incidents do not make a trend it does nonetheless indicate some unfortunate... inclinations.

[There's a slight huff and a flick of wings before he nods at what Jael says next.]

Hopefully, I am seeing things that are not there... Honestly, I would prefer if that was the case. [A slightly... tired look crosses his face before he shrugs.] The world... even one as... unusual as this one seems to be, doesn't need more needless cruelty.

/If the Keep is anything like the ship I was on, we'll be lucky if events like these only happen once every few months. They always seemed to happen /

[Jael looks down, looking a little lost in her thoughts.]

/Unfortunately, needless cruelty seems to always be present. For all we know, they really don't care. Or maybe they're just not allowed to act until afterwards./

[... He had been afraid of that.]

I see. I suppose it was too much to hope for, that it might be rare, exceptional situations.

[Rubbing a hand over his faceplates, Jetfire vents a slow sigh.]

Mmm... I don't understand what it has for reason; cruelty in and of itself will give you no differing result from your victims than if you had abstained. The only reason I can see if that the pain and psychological upset caused are a goal in and of itself, and pleasing to whoever initiates these sort of things.

[Jetfire scowled, having hoped to avoid such things here... Weren't the Decepticons enough?]

We shall hope it's merely a disallowance of acting until after the fact, or when it's too late, and not a true enjoyment of other's pain.

/Well, we'll just have to see how often things like this happen. We won't really know until we've been here for a while./

[Jael sighs and slides down the wall to sit on the floor.]

/I'll never understand how some can be cruel to others merely for their own enjoyment. I'll just have to continue to hope it is indeed because they aren't allowed to interfere./

Considering the time you have been here, and what have happened, they are hopefully few and far between.

[Jetfire frowns, displeased with this even needing to be considered, and then his expression grows somber.]

Indeed. We might be better off not understanding the enjoyment certain people get from such things; I know, or know of some mechs... individuals, who do, and even in its most "benevolent" form isn't not pleasant or attractive to see.

[At least Starscream didn't possess any greater affinity for such behaviour; he'd rather kill than torture, and frankly, Jetfire preferred it that way.]

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