capeandcowl | ✈ voice ✈

Entry tags:

† n/a | starscream

✈ voice ✈

[The noise of wind whistling, quite loud, like the recorder is up somewhere high, with the very faint sounds of traffic down below. The comm is registered to "Marc Brut".

Starscream has been in the City for several hours, now. Hours of not posting with distressed vocalizations or angry threats, no demands. No begging for help. Hours of holding himself back from emotional systems collapse while he maneuvers the demands of an entirely new universe is no mean feat, but he doesn't expect a medal (it'd be nice though).

For a moment there's only a soft tapping, and then a voice, pitched evenly with rehearsed-sounding tones. Edged calm. Keeping things level, but under the veneer is the shadow of distress.]

I propose an informational bartering session, with whoever is on the Network--with whoever can speak to me who is in charge.

I - have invaluable data. You won't be disappointed.

[a few moments pass in silence, and then he ends the post. But a minute later, he's clicking it back on, unable to resist the urge to add]

And if you're ignoring my hails on purpose, you know who you are, so help me--!

[hanging up again hastily before he wrecks everything]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[and this is an opportunity to test his human vocal chords with a girly squeal, grabbing onto Skyfire with far more than the requisite grip necessary.

Heights? Heights are nothing to a Seeker. They come into their own in the wide open air, with the wind all around them whipping against them, freefalling, swooping, aerial maneuvers so tight and precise they're an art form.

But that's flying. With wings, the wings of a jet--the body of a sophisticated biomechanical machine capable of precision to within a microsecond's flaw. And this, this being frail and human and at the mercy of a single misstep, this is to flying what drowning is to diving.]

What are you doing are you trying to terminate us both?! For Primus's sake!

[Right in his ear, and a little louder than necessary, before he closes his eyes and clings tighter, somehow.

BEING STARSCREAM SUCKS.]

Primus?

[Skyfire muses as they bounce over another roof.]

I don't believe he exists.

[Another bounce.]

And cool your thrusters or I will drop you.

[He's not serious, but he's hoping the threat is enough.]

[of course, of course, this was just an elaborate game to get him helpless and play some sick twisted Autobot game with his head as revenge, for a petty score, oh it had been a fantastic ruse and he'd fallen right into the trap, and his fingers, his poor stubby useless human fingers had a white-knuckle deathgrip grab on the other cybertronian-turned-human's shirt, but it wasn't enough, it wouldn't be enough, and dying by falling for him was not the way he wanted to reunite with the Allspark.

He whimpered.]

[And as soon as he began, he's landing in the street in front of the Autobot base and setting Starscream on his feet.}

There we go. Not so bad, right?

Come on. We'll get you some food and get you cleaned up.

[He's not going to make the same mistake.]

I can't believe you--[wait what, is this...comfort, what is happening, this is emotional whiplash just torture him already.] I-... [he's shaky and whiny and staring for a good few indignant seconds, trying to connect what just happened with what he did wrong, there must be some correlation. He shakes his head.]

I didn't leak.

[there is no dignity left. None.] --After you.

If you insist.

[He opens the door and peeks inside. No sign of Vector. Looks like they have the place to themselves for a while. He waits for Starscream to follow before closing the door.

Upon entry they are greeted by Aurex, Vector's cat who only deems it necessary to appear because her dish is empty, meowing and winding between Skyfire's legs and then Starscream's before scampering toward the kitchen.]

Yes, yes, Aurex I know we just starve you, don't we?

[He hangs his coat and motions for Starscream to sit wherever he pleases.]

Hold on, I'll make you something you'll like. I have to let the ducks out, first.

[Yes, really. The ducks belong to him, and he lets them out of the bathroom. Four of them, three females and a gimpy looking male with a limp all waddle after him as he goes to prepare a small meal of stuff a mech would find easy to consume.]

[For his part, looking around half nervous, half incredulous, the Seeker feels like he's about to come out of stasis and describe to the first person he can pin down to listen to the horrible nightmare he just had where he "was human and there was this variant of Jetfire and he owned ducks, and also he worked in a dance club, and the whole thing took place in 'The City'".]

...I'll... have a look around. [a not-unpleasant numbness has sunk in now, a kind of tolerance of events until he can regain the equilibrium to sort them out later. He wanders over to the living room, glancing around for something to focus on, eying the cat thoughtfully. Skyfire has clearly gone native, here.]

What are the animals for?

[Honestly he kind of has. Gone native that is. Two years will do that. His life cycle has sped up, and two years is a long time to a human. In a way- it's sad.]

Pets. The cat, Aurex belongs to Vector. She's not friendly unless she wants something. The ducks are mine. I raised them because their mother died.

That's Cyrus, Sir Freckles Speckles Fred, Laserbeak and the one with a limp is Starscream.

[There's an awkward pause.]

I let other people name them.

Ugh. Naturally they named the broken one after me. [He doesn't want to dwell on what that could mean. Pity? Remembrance? ...fondness. Only a few possible uses. More likely humiliation, which never gets old.

After a minute he's antsily coming back over to the kitchen to hover (figuratively) over Skyfire's shoulder and observe what he's doing. So the organics aren't for eating. Good, that would be pretty gross seeing as how they're still alive, and everything. He nudges the little male duckling away from him a bit as it threatens to come too close, leaning an elbow on the counter.]

Your generosity is unparalleled, Skyfire. What are you making?

Flattery now, hmm?

[He can't keep the smile from his face.]

Just some easy to eat fruits, toast, peanut butter, juice.... things you'll like.

[Okay the peanut butter is mostly for his own amusement, watching Starscream realize how it sticks to your mouth will be wonderful.]

I never flatter. [this is purred, silky soft] But if you remain unaware of your virtues it's best that I continue... elucidating.

[totally unaware, picks up one of the fruits--an orange, staring at it quietly. He has no idea how to eat this. Maybe if he gives one to the cat, it'll eat it for him and he can look generous and learn how this scrap works at the same time]

Aurex. Here, girl.

Mmmhmmm.

[Suck up.

He walks over, gently takes the orange and replaces it with a cat-treat, pulling Starscream's hand down, palm open so the cat can reach. She walks over, sniffs at it and snatches it, scampering off.]

See? There, you've made a friend.

[He casually leans back, peeling the orange and pulling a section off.]

Here. Put this in your mouth and chew.

[ugh what oh--oh, all right. The cat eats specific organic stuff this is complicated but he can handle it.]

Yes, well, I doubt the cat will be much good against Decepticon retaliation. [just loosely alluding to using a cat as a meatshield against Megatron. He puts the slice of orange into his mouth, rather intelligently adding]

Mmfg.

[experimentally chewing. Well it's citrusy. And oddly pleasant. Especially since he was prepared for something grotesque and miserable so he could whine about it.] Wh'gh'cahh'ihs? [pointing at the orange for identification's sake so he can demand another one later]

Starscream.

[A beat.]

She's a cat. [He just shakes his head and has the other half of the orange.]

This is an orange.

[He points at a plate of fruit he'd been slicing.]

Those are strawberries, raspberries, apples, bananas and mango.

Haha. No wonder these organics haven't advanced hardly at all, technologically. They're too busy naming their sustenance. [humans let Screamer show you how it's done ok, first you just have to figure out how to live on, be powered by, utilize in all your weapon and explosive and fuel sources, one single thing

THEN YOU WASTE THE THING UNTIL IT'S ALL GONE]

Hmm. [he goes for a banana slice next, adding] Exactly how much of this do I have to eat to stay alive?

Human fuel comes in way more varieties than ours.

[He strokes a hand over his chin, thinking.]

Three meals a day is the suggested amount. But you can't just have fruit, you need a balanced diet of various nutrients.

Or you'll get diseases.

...What kind of diseases. [oh sweet spark why do humans exist why is this a thing he has to do. He chews up the banana slice cautiously. Is this going to react badly with the orange...]

You don't have decontamination baths in this ... "apartment" of yours.

Oh there are all kinds of diseases you can get if you do not keep clean and healthy.

[He shakes his head slowly.]

Mmm... we have a bath tub, yes.

Come to think of it you could probably use one.

[Maybe you smell.]

[the slow creeping flush is back] What? --I... [embarrassment is something he has in spades, quietly] Yes, well. I'll--take care of it. [SOMEHOW. He starts shuffling towards the living room again and shrugging at his coat uncertainly, before stopping. If he were the type to burst into helpless overload fluid leakage from his optics THAT'S WHAT HE'D BE DOING. But since he's not he just kind of stops and puts a hand to his temple. Baby's first headache.]

[Sigh.

He's so helpless. Skyfire follows him after a moment and puts the plate of food on the counter should he want it later.

A hand rests on Starscream's shoulder and he gently pushes him toward the hall.]

Come on.

[he's not going to convince Skyfire he has better things to do than help him learn to swim in the deep end of the organic pool, even if it is mortifying to be this way, to feel like a youth with all the awareness and experience and ego of an older Seeker. He rubs his neck.]

I'll learn quickly. [said like a plea and a promise, with a hair of defensiveness, like he's trying to remind the other he's not a total scrapheap at everything he does. Glancing over--kind of relieved, when he semi-recognizes the room as kind of looking like a decontamination chamber is supposed to look. Almost. And moving in, glancing at himself in the mirror and doing an alarmed doubletake.] ...By the Allspark, this is going to take so much getting used to.

Mmmhm.

[Don't mind him, he's just going to lean in the doorway and see how long it takes you to need help.]

[he knows a challenge when he sees one. And he's shrugging at his jacket and pulling it off, figuring it's probably not kosher to get fluid on that, right? Eying him. Then glancing down again. He's totally dressed, his human form has a preset clothes...thing... and he's not sure how it all comes off. If he had his claws he's just rip that shit off but he doesn't, so he's struggling to climb out of the shirt for a good twenty seconds before he impatiently looks over again.] Don't just stand there. This--thing--needs two people to remove it, clearly.

[Well that was fast. He shakes his head, wanders over and smiles gently.]

Arms up.

[Once he's been heeded he lifts the shirt off and grabs his belt, pulling it loose so he can pull his pants down.

Shy? Please. He's not particularly attracted to humans, and the implications aren't exactly first and foremost. He hangs out naked all the time. Clothes suck.]

[Screamer has spent his entire existence of eons' worth naked, and he can't say he's ever given a thought to concealing anything that isn't sensitive internal equipment, though he does avoid looking at the mirror because the more clothes he takes off the more obvious it is that his human body is drastically different from his robot one.

Ugh there are layers why are there layers.

When he's done he looks down at himself with a critical air, not exactly sure what to look for, but quite sure he could do better. He doesn't feel sleek or aerodynamic at all, he feels clumsy and in dire need of a complete recalibration. Still thinking like a robot clothed in human flesh, he casts a look around the bathroom like the haughty BSer he is.]

All right. Now what?

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