re_alignment | [Video] - Bugs bugs bugs, but they glow, so it's like Christmas spirit?

Entry tags:

tf: dreamwave | jetfire (crau)

[Video] - Bugs bugs bugs, but they glow, so it's like Christmas spirit?

[The video comes on to Jetfire frowning thoughtfully at one of his hands, held up and... apparently crawling with pinpoints of moving lights. He shakes it, and there's a veritable cloud of winking lights exploding in all directions.

Some of them fly past the screen close enough to reveal they're tiny, dragonfly-like metal bugs. That glow.]

There was an accident, and the thirty of these that I had contained in my lab and were developing were let out. It seems their replication matrix is working, because they're certainly not thirty any longer.

I apologise if they are a... er, nuisance.

I am rather sure I can hazard a guess from a few cycles of observing that the replication matrix is working correctly though, since while they've become more as a response to the greater space available outside of the lab, I believe they're not replicating completely out of hand.

[He shakes his helm slowly, dislodging a crowd tiny bugs that has landed on his helm and nasal ridge.]

Hopefully they'll... spread outside of Haven soon.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Hurry up.

[He settles down slightly, but twitches every time one of the bugs lands on him. He was all sparkly and glowy and this was horrible.

Why did Jetfire have to make glowing bugs that liked people.]

You're going to have to leave as well, even if I get rid of these bugs.

[He was not smiling as he moved the magnet around and catching the bugs on it, the current too weak to affect either of them in any way except, perhaps, a brief tingling tug in their fields right where the magnet passed over.]

There.

[Because it was prettier than non-glowing bugs?

And Jetfire didn't immediately let Starscream go, keeping the Seeker in place for a moment, fingers idly brushing against Starscream's cockpit before he stepped back.]

No, I'm not. I'm staying in here until you get rid of the menace outside.

[Because they were out there and Jetfire didn't have a magnet big enough for all of them.

And in a 'I'm so not leaving' display of defiance, he walked over to one of the work benches and leaned back against it with his arms folded across his chest.]

You're... Starscream, while I technically don't mind, this isn't a living space.

[Jetfire gestured around them, still with the bug-encrusted magnet in one hand, pointing out the lack of any comforts of amenities.]

While we hardly need a lot of the things we use day-to-day, they do make things... simpler. Are you sure you want to give that up?

[Cocking his helm at Starscream's defiance, Jetfire's question is dry; he knows how uncomfortable it was having an extended stay in here. Courtsey of Starscream of course.]

[He huffs. It'd still be better than walking outside and dealing with the bugs. Horrible, horrible, glowy things.]

You can just bring me supplies.

[Tiny, glowing things. Completely harmless to armour or function. Starscream clearly needed to be a bit less worried about his supposed dignity if he was afraid glowing bugs landing on him would destroy that.]

I... suppose I could.

[Smiling, Jetfire briefly leaves to get rid of the bugs he'd caught, and then came back.]

But that would only be energon; you'd have to recharge sitting somewhere around here... And you're going to be bored, not leaving for a bit. I surmise it'll take them a few days before they might disperse to the rest of the planet, but they ought to do so.

[Another huff.]

And that's why you need to hurry up and get rid of this menace.

Besides, I can amuse myself by hacking into your computers.

I'm going to see if they'll disperse away from Haven on their own at first. After that I'll work on forcing them to disperse if they haven't on their own.

[A brief spread of his hands, palms up. That was probably not what Starscream meant by "hurry up". Then he crossed his arms over his chestplates.]

I would appreciate it if you left them alone, but if you absolutely have to... there's nothing exceptional in there at the moment.

[Starscream would probably not listen to him, however. Jetfire had tried (innumerable times) both the "there's nothing exciting on there" and "leave it alone, I have important things there" methods, whether it actually was "important" or not... and it never really mattered which was used to keep Starscream away.]

Why? What's in there that you don't want me to get into?

[At least he's distracted from the whole bug thing for the moment.]

[Small mercies.]

Given that it wouldn't matter if I said "yes, there is" or "no, there isn't"... [Shaking his helm, Jetfire put the now-empty magnet back on the nearest flat surface and walked up to Starscream, a faint twist to his lips.]

Presently, there's a list comparing found geological and ore elements on this Cybertron with what I have from ours, any difference in make-up between them and similar data points for comparison. There's also the very last version of the theoretical program framework and script matrix I imprinted on the nanites, as well as the blueprints for the hover discs I made.

[Briefly reaching out to gently tap Starscream on the front of his helm, Jetfire then folded his arms over his chestplates, helm cocked. He was probably going to delete the files that had to do with the bugs. Just to be sure, and it wasn't really Starscream he was thinking of here necessarily.]

[He shook his head at the tap.]

So why don't you want me on there? Don't you trust me, Jetfire?

[Loaded question, yes.]

[Silent for a moment, Jetfire slowly shook his helm and leaned forward, unfolding his arms to instead plant them on each side of Starscream on top of the workbench the Seeker had put himself up next to.]

Depends on what the situation is, honestly. [Honest answer. He'd still obviously be stupid to completely trust Starscream in certain situations. However...] But with my computers and their content?

Yes. I do. It was more a request for privacy, but as long as you don't change anything, if you actually hacked them, or looked while they were online, I'd hardly have a reason to be angry.

[Then he leaned down, briefly touching the fronts of their helms together before dipping down further and kissed Starscream.]

//I also happen to trust you with something far more important than my research, Starscream.//

[It shouldn't be too hard to figure out what that was.]

[Did Jetfire always have to abuse his size? Not that Starscream would reject the kiss or even disapprove. But that wasn't the principle of the matter.

He did kinda pull back after a few moments though.]

Do you always have to turn things into mushy, sentimental, slag?

[Of course, the only thing Starscream would ever do about that would be to complain. And Jetfire was used to that.]

[And even when Starscream pulled back, Jetfire remained standing where he was, hands planted on each side of the Seeker and leaning slightly over him. Apparently, today was "Jetfire uses his greater height" day.]

I could say yes, but I'm going to point out that you asked.

[By his tone of voice, Jetfire sounded blandly factual... As if he had no idea at all that Starscream's question hadn't necessarily been after such an answer.]

[He let out an overly dramatic and exaggerated sigh.]

This is what I get for hanging around an Autobot.

You knew that already, though, long before the factions appeared.

[Jetfire chuckled, leaning down to breathe the words into Starscream's audial as he raised his hands to close them around the bottoms of Starscream's wings, trailing his grip down along them before he stepped back.]

I'm going to go out and observe the bugs... see if there's any pattern to their movements or similar. I presume you're staying in here?

[Starscream just stares at Jetfire.]

Are you nuts? I refuse to go out there and be swarmed.

[Huffs and folds arms across his chest all defiantly]

They're very small and harmless and can do nothing to you, you know. But as you wish. I'll come back later.

[Jetfire shakes his helm and then actually just leaves, not reiterating the point about leaving his computers alone... Whether or not Starscream did, Jetfire was all right with Starscream looking, if he did.]

Hmpth.

[He said nothing and didn't move. But that wouldn't last too long. He had to peer out of the lap to see exactly Jetfire was doing.

Of course when he so much as even stepped outside a little, which he was just going to take a look -- several bugs landed right on him.

With a shriek and a flail he stumbled to the ground in a heap.]

[Jetfire hadn't gotten too far yet, really; just stepping out had made quite a few of the bugs outside land on him, the rest seemingly content to swarm around, which was curious---]

... Starscream?

[Turning back around and walking up to Seeker just after he fell, Jetfire shook his helm and offered a hand.]

Weren't you going to stay inside? Not that I mind the company...

[Not smirking at all, no.]

The door opened on it's own and I fell out.

[Right. Yes. Totally no following going on here.]

You just had to create the worst possible creatures.

[He doesn't take Jetfire's hand but he doesn't get up either. He's too busy, once again, trying to shake the bugs off his arm.]

I... ah, suppose that could've happened, yes. The door has been a bit finicky after the lock got repaired.

[Completely deadpan, and then he just reaches down and grabs that flailing arm, scattering bugs in his wake since if they'd stayed, they would have been crushed. Jetfire's hand does, after all, cover a large part of Starscream's arm.]

They're small, glowing bugs, Starscream. They feed on fumes, evaporating energon and various sorts of waste, not... er, dignity, even if they happen to land on you.

[With that, he simply hauls Starscream upright.]

[That is exactly what happened Jetfire. He wasn't following outside to see what was going on.]

They're an annoying, glowing, menace!

[He growls, but also kinda makes a yipe as he's just pulled upwards.]

Can't you make them leave me alone?! Somehow?!

[No, no, of course not. No following going on here at all.]

I don't think attempting to adjust your field or magnetising your armour to repel metal would be good ideas, but you could always pick up a magnet or two.

[Even if magnets wouldn't keep them off Starscream at all times.]

Or stay inside. As you said you were going to do.

[He idly brushes his hands down Starscream's arms, dislodging the bugs that had settled after Jetfire let go.]

Now that you're out here however, would you prefer to go back into the lab, or that we go back to either of the rooms?

[FLYING GLOWING HORRORS.]

I've had enough for today. I just want to go back to the room and pretend this day never happened.

[He will just go sleep from this nightmare.]

[Video] - Bugs bugs bugs, but they glow, so it's like Christmas spirit?

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