angleofscience | 010 [Audio]

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010 [Audio]

A question, before I commit myself to an experiment that others might already have done, and gained some results from.

We're... requested to make some sort of entry into these journals once every thirty days, approximately, less the substance that make up the etchings we all have somewhere on our, ah... bodies start to spread. We all know this.

Has anyone presently knowingly declined to make a monthly entry, drawn it out, for whatever reason? If anyone present has, or know of such an incident... what happened?

[There's a few minutes of pause, as Jetfire's hesitating over something, before he vents, and releases a momentary burst of static.]

And, I know that most of the staff are... displeased, presently, but I'd still like to ask if there's some way to get... er... drunk? if you cannot consume alcohol.

[He hadn't planned on giving in this soon, but maybe it would help... both (all?) of them.]

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[PFFFFFT]

What?

... Yes, Kloe?

[All the world's patience if with a bit of mild dryness. Since, you know... He can't magically figure out what you mean from a single word.]

You want to get drunk?

[Dude aren't you made of metal or something that's hilarious.]

Well, I was mostly trying to use terminology that might be more easily understood; the more correct term would be 'overcharged'. It's merely imbibing more than needed of the fuel we usually require, which induces a state much like alcohol does in humans.

[Only Jetfire could reduce "this is how we get drunk" into something so... technical. There's a scrape of metal as Jetfire rubs his face.]

The question was mostly intended to help someone else. [He will still hold onto that, even if it would probably be easy to argue that he "needs" it as much as Starscream arguably does. He realises only after he's said it, that he used "mostly".]

[Huh. Interesting. She'll make note of that.

But Kloe is more interested in milking this.]

Oh, yeah, I'm sure it is. Tell me how that works out.

Yes. I've no idea why Starscream thinks it's a good idea to get overcharged here, in this situation, but I'm not intending on following him.

[She just can't let it go, hm?]

I'm sure you'll... hear about it in some way, if either I or Starscream is... er. Successful in finding something.

[He doesn't want to use "successful" about this... endeavour. Though anything involving Starscream could feasibly be considered an endeavour.]

[Yeah she's just. Laughing over here.

Give her a minute.]

[He'll just... vent again and shake his helm on his end, seen or not.

Take all the time you need Kloe. All the time you need. :|]

[Okay. Ahem. Cough.]

Well. Have fun, whatever you do. Really.

[Well, he have to admit, maybe it was somewhat amusing. Still, no need to laugh quite that energetically. He's smiling as he speaks, though.]

Thank you. It'll probably be not getting overcharged, but considering Starscream... I should probably not bet on it.

[He's more amused than exasperated, no matter that things have been kind of... personally depressing lately.]

Who the fuck is this Starscream guy anyway?

[And why do y'all have dumb names.]

Ah, well... You'll know if you've seen him... Most of his current design is from an Earth jet fighter, though I'm uncertain what model. He's white, red and blue. Got an... ah. rather forceful personality.

[Jetfire is diplomacy itself, truly.

And, hey, now, Kloe. Ruuude. It's just a courtsey, see; you wouldn't be able to pronounce their actual names!]

[The fuck is a jet fighter. Jetfire???

Whatever, she doesn't care.]

Interesting. Maybe I should be taking notes.

[Why do you people gotta live on worlds without modern human technology, Kloe!?]

I'm not sure it requires such dedication, truly. [He's smiling, though.] If you ever talk to him, though, I'd advice to attempt to keep your temper. He usually likes to be... ah, aggravating.

no one ha2 mentiioned tryiing iit, at lea2t.
all ii know ii2 that the iink wiill 2pread untiil iit cover2 your whole body, ii don't know iif anythiing happen2 after that but iit doe2n't 2eem liike much, 2o there mu2t be more two iit.

Hmm... all right. If none has, it seems an oversight not to attempt it, unless more caution is warranted...

[Which... he can admit it probably would be, considering the situation. He doesn't like that there seems to be no way of having some sort of failsafe in case of this potential experiment going wrong.]

Exactly. Ink spreading to cover your whole body, while... ah, annoying and perhaps slightly unsettling depending on the individual, is hardly harmful. I would of course be relieved to know that there was one thing that didn't incurr some sort of harmful punishment for failing to follow rules and requests but...

[His hopes are not high, so while he certainly wants to do this... he wants to have as good an idea as possible about it first.]

ii've con2iidered iit, but ii haven't triied iit yet.

*He's not eager to try another punishment, and he's certainly noticed that those who haven't talked in a long time seem to be gone. Sollux isn't willing to risk testing the connection there.*

There's certain indications it might not be a good idea, no, but the immediate consequences doesn't seem very... dire.

[With the sort of punishments here, Jetfire isn't either, really, but he's also curious about the "incentive" to make that entry; it really isn't that annoying or unpleasant (or even pleasant) enough to guarantee obedience...]

2adly that'2 all the iinformatiion ii wa2 able two get on iit.

I wouldn't expect anything more, truly... The initial prompt is both harmless and annoying enough it doesn't surprise me we have nothing else to go on, aside from the disappearance of those who haven't made an entry in a long while.

[... Jetfire grimaces slightly on his end behind the journal. Maybe it would be best not to try it, but still...]

[...He's not sure if this is helpful, but...]

There was a similar setup on the Elegante. If you didn't post to the network at least once a month, the comm would spray you with water. People who didn't post...usually disappeared.

[Because they were dead.]

Hmm, interesting. That was always the case, then? Those who didn't, had disappeared? No other possibility at all?

That seems, however, to be mirrored here... Those who have not made any sort of entry here within the required time, seems to disappear, one way or another... But would that be the necessary conclusion?

[The last is more of a retorhical question, Jetfire thinking aloud than anything necessitating an answer or reply... Though he wouldn't sya no to one, either.]

As far as I know. Either way we never saw people who disappeared again. Unless they showed back up. And it was never the exact same person. They never remembered being on the boat before.

Hmmm. [Maybe... this isn't the best idea, but he has time to plan. He neither has to, nor will, do anything immediately.]

Thank you. If anything, I'll consider these points as warnings and factor them in as such when deciding whether to go through with this or not.

You're going to do it? Have you assigned someone to monitor your progress yet?

Undecided as of yet, and I should probably plan more, but yes... depending on preliminary results, it seems like something worth pursuing.

I'm sure Starscream would most easily be able to notice if something happened, or deviated from standard events.

I'm definitely interested in the results, if you do end up doing it. Who knows, we might get something important out of it.

[He hums.]

That's a good choice. You two are pretty close, right?

That is most definitely why I am considering it... Since lack of proof for anything other than disappearance following a too long silence isn't definitive proof... However, it is, of course, a risk.

[His vocalizer releases a fuzz of static, before he resets it and straightens.]

I would say so yes.

[He can't help but sound a little pleased at least, voice warming.]

What's life without taking a few gambles?

[As long as you're not the one taking them.]

That seems like a big achievement, seeing how he gets along with the others from your universe.

Perhaps, but taking risks without weighing - and knowing at least some of - the dangers is seldom a good idea. On the other hand, knowledge is also seldom furthered by no risks being taken.

[Jetfire would rather know what the risks he's taking are before he takes them, but he knows that it can't always be that simple or "safe".]

Different variations, but in essence, yes. But then, I knew him long before the war... Not that his basic personality has changed overly much.

You know, I actually might have a way to lower the risk. I'll start looking into it right away.

[It would be a pity to lose Jetfire, after all. He's one of the few people Shalnark can have reasonable conversations with.]

A war, so that's how the faction thing comes in. What was it over?

[Nosy Shal is nosy.]

Ah... you do? That would certainly be useful, if it pans out. What were you thinking of?

[Jetfire hums at the question, but he's not going to refuse to answer it... It's not exactly secret, even if the opinions differ depending on who you ask.]

Mmm, yes. It does, of course, depend on who you ask. Partly, it was always about power. Wanting and taking. Part of it was an honest desire in restructuring a corrupt society; the highest government instance was keeping things from the rest of us, and cutting off parts of the planet from us...

That, however, does not justify a desire to conquer worlds under the pretext of... "protecting" them.

Right or wrong, the Autobots at first simply stood against the Decepticons to preserve society... That has, of course, long since been exchanged for other reasons.

That part's a secret.

[Because his idea is really just to steal someone's journal and any subsequent replacement journals so they couldn't write in them if they wanted to, and he doesn't think you'd approve, Jetfire. And even if you did, there are still plenty of others who wouldn't.

Even telling you this much is taking a risk, but hey, Shal can't help himself. He has to brag a little bit, right?]

A civil war, I see. I'm assuming it's ongoing?

[If this was video, Shalnark would would see the flat stare that comment evokes... But even if he can't see, Jetfire's doing it anyway. And yes, he would certainly not approve if he knew.]

A civil war that turned galactic, and yes. Ongoing for several million years, as humans count them, now.

[It's frustrating and sad, really, but he'll do what he has to.]

W--

Several million?!

[Jesus christ that was a long time! And didn't Jetfire say he was around before it started, too? That means--]

You're ancient!

[Jetfire's quiet for a few seconds, and then laughs before reinging it in.]

Ah, well. Yes. I suppose... er, that from a human point of view, anyone of us would be. We do not exactly count or use physical age in the same way as a more shorter lived species understandably does.

You aren't planning on ignoring the record, are you?

And are you sure it's a good idea to get him drunk?

[She remembers Starscream's post asking about it. :|]

Ah... That was my thought, yes. But I won't do it immediately... And initial research does point towards it being a foolish idea, but it's hard to tell what's causation and correlation here.

[Jetfire pauses, and then there's a static sigh.]

It's not necessarily a good idea, no, but since I was planning on being present, I should be able to do damage control and keep things... minimally disruptive, if not completely contained.

[Nevermind that he doesn't know Starscream's wish for more energon is to overcharge him.]

Just, be careful if you do decide to go through with it. I wouldn't want you to end up hurt or something because of it.

I don't wish to sound rude, but I kind of hope it doesn't end up with you needing to keep an eye on him.

I will, don't worry. If anything, it'd be foolish to immediately attempt it... I will wait a bit, especially as the information I've been presented with. Well, I can admit it doesn't look like it's a good idea at all.

[Jetfire just chuckles.]

It's not rude, Jael, but well... Starscream usually needs an optic kept on him, no matter what. This would be no different.

Will you let me know when you plan on doing it, then?

[So she can make sure and keep an eye on him.]

Well, you have a point there.

If you'd prefer I do so, certainly. Having more than just one or two individuals aware of any attempt might just be prudent, either way.

[He's definitely still getting used to having someone inquire more closely... and want to keep an eye on him, but he doesn't mind. At all.]

It, ahh... gives me something to focus on, when there's nothing else. Of course, back in the Academy, that necessary focus was sometimes in the way. I learned to compromise and compensate.

[The smile can probbaly be heard, even if it's not seen.]

I would, that way I can come by and check on you every once in a while when it comes time for records to be made.

[Good thing, because Jael is a worrier. And she'll be especially worried if he goes through with his little experiment.]

I see. So Starscream has always been this way?

It will be welcome, most assuredly.

[You'll have to forgive him if he's a bit stilted and perhaps awkward about it, but it's certainly sincerely meant.]

Simply put? Yes. He can be brilliant, and is often unorthodox I think the term is, in his methods, but ah... no matter the circumstances, yes. This isn't a facet of him that has appreciably changed.

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