angleofscience | 010 [Audio]

Entry tags:

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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only