angleofscience | 005

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005 - [Video]

[Jetfire's found his own sack of 'gifts', and while he's kind of grateful, he's also confused. Gifts? Just like that? One of them also had him extremely curious, but it didn't take long to realize that it was merely an extremely simple drone.

But that led to actually wanting to understand how it worked. Which led to this; the video comes on with Jetfire sitting in his room, turning some tiny bit of electronics around in his hand before he looks up.]

Was anyone else gifted with one of these... hm, fake-furred... "drones"? And if you're not amenable to keeping them, I am interested in them, if you'd be willing to part with yours.

[He's not sure what he'll do with them, but if anything, something could surely be done... or they could maybe be used as bases for something else. ~~like spare parts, despite the lousy quality~~.]

... Starscream, stop that. I thought you weren't talking to me?

[Whatever the other Cybertronian is doing, and is doing in Jetfire's room, will probably go unanswered, as the video cuts when Jetfire closes the journal.]

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You can have mine if you want. I'll just end up breaking it.

[Because the damn thing wouldn't stop interrupting what little sleep she actually manages to get.]

[The reply comes some time later, as he's busy trying to handle Starscream. :|]

I've noticed the... tendency of it being noisy, yes.

[Which was partly why he'd opened his up to see how it work. At first it was merely to shut it up, and then he decided it'd be more interesting to see what Earth technology (supposedly) - no matter what variation of Earth that it came from - could do.]

But yes, if you don't want it, I can certainly take it off your hands.

Do you want me to bring it to you?

[Just get it out of her room before the sleep deprivation drives her to be violent for once in her life, even if the damn little thing wasn't alive.]

If you have time now, certainly.

[There's a brief look off-screen and Jetfire rubs the lower half of his faceplates, a faint, whistling noise coming from his vents; as close to a sigh as he can make.]

... Just ignore Starscream if he attempts to get the drone from you. He's being... difficult.

Is there ever a time when he's not being difficult?

[Because she certainly hasn't experienced that yet.

It only takes her a few minutes to show up, the furby jammed against her side to stifle its babble as well as she can. Knock knock, Jetfire.]

[He waits with replying to Jael's question until she appears at his door, and he has to admit to some amusement at how she has the drone tucked against her to muffle it.]

Thank you. I see you haven't actually listened to Starscream's attempts to make me out to be mechanoid-gouging raving glitch.

[Jetfire huffs and shakes his helm, not exactly angry... more like annoyed. It's expected, after all.]

And, while I'd like to say 'yes, there is', to answer your earlier question, Starscream tends to be difficult even when he's making an effort to be pleasant.

[Jael shakes her head, an amused grin on her face as she tucks the thing under her arm so she can sign at Jetfire.]

/You're much too nice to be anything like that./

[She tries to peer past Jetfire into the room, an eyebrow coming up.]

/Well at least I know he's like that with everyone. But here, go ahead and take this. Do whatever you like with it./

[She holds up her furby, scowling when it opens its eyes and babbles something in its nonsense language.]

I would like to think I would have more reason to kill a tiny mechanoid than for bad quality spare parts, and I did conduct some basic research first to see if it could be considered alive.

[He shakes his helm and takes the furby, tapping in on top of its head.]

If there was any doubt, I wouldn't have done it from the beginning. And yes... Starscream doesn't... perhaps unfortunately, miraculously change.

He has his good points, however.

[The last is said softly, and Jetfire's briefly staring just across the corridor, at the wall but not really seeing it, before he shrugs and refocuses on Jael. This is no time to be considering that, or what has changed.]

Thank you. No matter what I end up using the parts for, they might end up useful.

/I know you wouldn't be taking them apart if there was any remote chance it was alive. And unfortunately I'm becoming used to Starscream's tendency to be melodramatic./

[As quiet as Jetfire's words are, Jael's ears aren't just for show. She gives him a look but doesn't say anything.]

/You're welcome. I don't care what you do with it as long as it stops interrupting my sleep. I get very little of it as it is./

[He smiles slightly and shakes his helm.]

Just as well. "Melodramatic" isn't something Starscream can stop being, even if he would try to.

[Compared to another few of his behaviours.]

I promise to use it to best effect.

[Another brief smile, which slides into a frown at the mention of sleeping problems.]

What have you tried to alleviate it?

[He's uncertain what organic species can, or would, do if they have a glitch in their recharge proto--- er, problem with sleeping.]

[Jael can't quite suppress a grin.]

/Well I suppose he could be worse. I can live with the dramatics./

[For a second she doesn't reply.]

/Nothing, really. I guess I just sort of adapted to not getting much sleep. And now I can't really get myself to sleep for too long unless I've overexerted myself./

[The problem is, he can and could most definitely be worse. Both in good ways and bad ways, but Jetfire doesn't express this thought, merely nods.]

Ah, maybe you won't be quite as lenient in a month or two... His is a special sort of melodrama. [And maybe make a comment or two about Starscream's tendency for drama.]

I see... You've managed to overcome the need for a minimum amount of sleep?

[Jetfire's uncertain if this could be done, but he's certainly curious.]

/Well, I'm used to dealing with obnoxious people. I'll just have to keep my exposure to Starscream to a minimum./

[Jael frowns slightly.]

/Sort of. I mean, it would be better for me to get a full night's sleep, but I can function well enough on the few hours of sleep I get./

That might be for the best, however... challenging that might be, considering the limited space available to avoid him in.

[There's a dry, amused tone, and a very knowing look over Jetfire's faceplates. Not that it would be impossible to avoid him, but Starscream could make himself very hard to ignore or avoid, if he wanted to.]

As long as it works for you. Though perhaps... there are healers here, yes? Medics? Maybe one of them could help?

[If she wants and needs that help, that is. She must surely have thought of that option, but he will still suggest it to be sure.]

/I can be good at avoiding people when I want. But he doesn't bother me that much yet./

[Jael grins.]

/I'm not sure it would help. But I guess it won't hurt to ask the doctor here./

I'll just hope he won't be able to "bother" anyone else a lot either, but considering Starscream...

[Jetfire trails off with a shake of his helm and a huff.]

It might not, no. However, it would be a pity to not exhaust the resources and opportunities available to you, if one of them can help.

[He'd attempt to help her if he could, but Jetfire has no idea about humans and their functioning yet, even less Jael's species, even if they seem close enough to be virtually the same.]

/Well the people here are more than capable of taking care of themselves, Jetfire. /

[Jael smiles widely at Jetfire.]

/Don't worry, I will look into it. Even if nothing comes of it, I will at least have tried./

Maybe so, yes. I don't mean to put down anyone's... capabilities, but Starscream... is a special sort of, mmm. Aggravating.

[Not just that, of course, but also dangerous. Just because he liked the mech didn't mean Jetfire was the least bit blind to how much of a threat Starscream actually was.]

No matter if that will resolve anything, I hope you can get better sleep soon.

[He frowned slightly, though returned her smile - if in a smaller variation.]

/Well so far he's just been annoying. If he gets any worse, I'll just have to do my best to avoid or ignore him./

[Unfortunately, Jael just things he's highly annoying and mostly harmless. Hopefully she never finds out just how dangerous Starscream can be.

She inclines her head at Jetfire in gratitude.]

/Thank you./

If we're lucky, you, and anyone else, won't need to.

[It's a hope Jetfire has as well... Considering what he's seen, even if the punishments have been decidedly geared towards organic creatures, there must be a method to do the same to them and he's not sure he could stand to see that happening... But he already hates what's going on, but unsure how to deal with it - or fix it.]

No need, Jael. Though thank you - even if you're doing it mostly to get rid of an annoying thing - for giving me this.

[Jetfire holds up the furby and it's been suspiciously quiet... but that's because Jetfire managed to connect to its wiring and shut it up.]

[Jael grins and turns to leave.]

/Well, I'll leave you to do whatever it is you're doing with those things. Have fun, Jetfire./

Take it.

[A bit later, due to what's going on in the room courtsey of Starscream;]

Certainly. Did you find yours in your room, or did someone come by with it?

[Since Jetfire can't see any other way for Ironhide to have gotten that "gift sack", really.]

Would you like me to come by and fetch it?

[He doesn't... really want to explain how he happened to get the thing.]

Not important.

[A pause.]

Yeah. You probably should.

[Jetfire just dips his helm in acknowledgement of Ironhide not wanting to tell; it's not, truly, important or germane to this discussion that he know, so he will not press the issue.]

I'll do that then... Ah. Have you just been ignoring it, or, mmm, found a way to quiet it?

[Since he'd noticed they could be... loud. That, along with the fact that it seemed to slowly learn or rather exchange, words in its own "language" (which wasn't really one) for English was what had him first scan it.

Sure, after that, that it was no more than a simple, and simplistic drone of some kind, he'd picked his apart.]

Left it in the bag. Shut up pretty quick.

[That, and he left the whole sack shoved in a corner, so.]

Mmm... Didn't think of that, but then, I wanted to see what actually made it speak. But that would be a rather... effective way of quieting it, clearly.

I'll be over shortly.

[Which he will indeed be, as there's a knock on the door a few minutes later before Jetfire comes inside.]

In that, I assume?

[He'll just... head on over to the sack and peer into it, too see if Ironhide took out the other stuff in there.]

... How's your self-repair managing with those injuries?

[Because he can't not ask.]

I will be here.

[Because where else is he going to go?]

[He's propped up against a wall and will not be budged. His shoulders drawn up, and a scowl on his face.]

Yeah. That there.

[Everything is still in the sack, too. He hasn't touched it, short of tossing it into the corner.]

Fine. Everything is fine.

[Really, Ironhide? You need some sort of attempt to repair you, not sitting here and sulking.]

... And for how long will it continue to be fine? If your self-repair can't take care of that, you won't be able to move around easily... or at all.

[Jetfire is, however, not looking at Ironhide as he speaks, which might allow the other mech some ability to ignore what he's saying if he wants to. Instead he simply picks out the wax and the cloth and putting it down, then pulls out the furby, gives it a frown and then shrugs before turning to Ironhide again.]

The quality of the electronics inside is really abysmal, but it might be useful.

... Unless Starscream gets to them first...

[That last might have been muttered.]

Leave it alone, Jetfire.

[He sounds more tired than anything. His hand scrubs over his face. How many more times are people going to snap at him for not doing something he doesn't think is possible.]

... What about Starscream?

[Jetfire nods, merely giving Ironhide a last, concerned frown.]

... Starscream saw fit to make an over-dramatic statememt about me murdering these things.

[To demonstrate, he holds up the furby.]

He's promised a human girl who was quite... distressed at Starscream's proclamation that he'll "save" any other ones.

[Jetfire huffs amd shakes his helm, both frustrated, annoyed and amused.]

Did you hit him?

[Because clearly, that's how you solve your problems, when your name is Ironhide.]

[Especially when the problem is "Starscream".]

... What?

[Give him a moment to stare, and then a shake of his helm.]

No, of course not.

I... try to... refrain from violent response unless we're actually involved in a combat situation.

I did not say hit him hard. Just... cuff him one.

[Smacking someone isn't violent, Jetfire! What are you talking about?]

... I, er...

[Jetfire stared, and then collected himself. It wasn't so much the suggestion of using violence against Starscream that surprised him - many would probaly resort to that - but the idea that he use that (against anyone, without reason or a combat situation) that had thrown Jetfire off.]

Thank you for the suggestion, but I... have never considered to deal with people that way, and I don't think it'll help anything, either. If Megatron hasn't managed to get the behaviour out of Starscream that he wants with violence, I doubt anyone else would succeed either.

[Jetfire's voice, after the initial surprise, was now dry; not so much amused - Megatron and his behaviour wasn't a particularly amusing subject - as bemused.]

[You're a model of social interaction, Ironhide!]

Edited 2012-01-04 12:55 (UTC)

[He watches it with a tilted head, an expression suggesting a raised eyebrow.]

Hmnf. Point. Getting smacked around with his own limbs never taught him anything... How could you?

[He doesn't make it sound like an insult. It's not meant to be one. Just that Jetfire is about as far from Megatron as he can think.]

[Jetfire doesn't take it as an insult; there was no reason to, because yes, indeed, he is most certainly very far away from being even remotely like Megatron. It isn't a bad thing.]

Quite so. Not that I've understood why he wouldn't change tactics if it wasn't working--- Smacked around with his own limbs?

[Jetfire looked up from looking the furby over - he'd of course studied his own before opening it up, that didn't mean he was going to neglect checking this one (or Jael's). Anything less would not be correct - confused. Had Irohide's Starscream been... hit with his own limbs at one point?]

The Decepticons never were that smart.

[He catches that look, and shrugs.]

Yeah. Megatron would take his parts and beat him with them. Happened sometimes.

[He says it so simply -- it's just a part of the war he was all too familiar with.]

[That gets another slightly brighter-opticked than normal look and then Jetfire shakes his helm.]

While Starscream would complain - justly so, however - of Megatron's use of pain as a method of conditioning, I don't think he ever actually... beat someone with their own limbs.

[The differences to Jetfire are both facinating and confusing.]

[Ironhide scoffs.]

Not like Starscream never deserved a beating or two. Would have done the same to him, if I could.

[Because the Starscream he knew was guilty of more atrocities than Ironhide could count. There was a reason he served the Decepticons as he did.]

Yours maybe just got lucky.

... Maybe so. But if it serves no use, results in no appreciable change...

[Jetfire shrugs. He's not going to take that further, mostly because his angle would be "why not just kill, if you're willing to merely administer a useless beating", which... isn't an angle he wants to introduce into this conversation.]

Perhaps. There are other punishments he probably got, however.

[Jetfire has no idea what they might be, and isn't going to speculate... and even so, he wouldn't go around revealing them. Since if he knew them, Starscream would have told him, and he wouldn't break such trust.]

I will say it again. Decepticons are stupid that way.

[Or insane -- after all, doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting things to change... that's some kind of sign of insanity, isn't it?]

Yours or mine?

Both. While I was thinking of... mine, mainly, I'm sure they both took part of punishments neither you nor I know anything about.

[And it was disctinctly strange to call Starcsream "his" even if it was in a merely practical, definition-by-universe way.]

And I am happier, that way. No sense dwelling on cruelty you have no cause to fight against.

[As far as Ironhide was concerned, the Decepticons could all bludgeon each other into scrap metal, and he wouldn't care one bit.]

[There were enough atrocities inflicted on the innocent, without worrying about what the other side did to its own.]

Don't take them all, some of the rest of us might want something to try and use too.

*Granted 'drones' weren't really his thing, but it was better than nothing and it had a sort of computer in there somewhere.*

If I get any greater number of them, you're welcome to have some. I simply thought it prudent to ask before people get rid of them in other ways, if they're inclined that way.

[Oh, there's definitely some bits of electronics in here, but woefully inadequate and the quality isn't the best.]

Er, right.

*They were better than the other stuff they had here! Well, mostly cause Sollux wasn't going to take apart the rest of the gaming stuff.*

[The larger golem knows something about the smaller ones apparently.]

[........makes sense.]

"Drones"? Is that what they are?

To be perfectly honest with you, no, I'm not sure that's what they are. They're not Cybertronian, though. Might be from Earth, however.

[There's a shrug as he turns over some bit of electrnics or other.]

I would hesitate to call them drones since they seem to lack even the basic functionality and artifical intelligence of drones as we define them, but that's the closest I can compare them to.

[That was, have a longwinded explanation for "no, they aren't and I have no idea what they are, but here, let me give you my theories".]

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