re_alignment | 02 || OTA Video / Private for DW Starscream

Entry tags:

tangled | rapunzel

02 || OTA Video / Private for DW Starscream

[Hello there, Cybertron. It's been a bit too long since Blondie here last bombarded you all with questions, hasn't it? Well, fret not, for she has another, and this time... it has less to do with technical difficulties or new arrival syndrome and more to do with art withdrawals.]

So, I've been thinking. Paint --well, oil paint-- is basically just pigment and medium, so it really isn't hard to make. Sure, it takes a while to dry but... I'm kind of used to having a lot of color on my walls, and it feels gloomy living without them.

[Actually, the entire city could use more color in her opinion, but that's a bit rude to say aloud. Best to start off with her own living quarters.]

Does anyone know what I could use for pigment and quick-drying oil? Back on Earth, most of the ingredients were plant-based and well... that seems like a bad idea here.

[She doesn't want to raid the pantry and waste perfectly good food just for the sake of her art. That's just thoughtless and selfish, and she certainly wouldn't be able to bring herself to do that.

So, who wants to help little miss painter here make some art?

After the video, she quickly switches the feed so it's no longer public. Did she do it right? She hopes so. Well, here goes nothing.

Private to Starscream:]

I'm sorry I took so long to call, but people were acting funny for a while; I thought it would be best to wait until things calmed down. But um... I'm ready for that tour whenever you're free.

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Oh...

Um, well, I know lead isn't good to be around. But most of the time, at least what I've ever known, most things are only toxic if ingested. And lucky for the both of us, I don't eat paint.

Not ever.

[Paint be gross, yo.

She offers a reassuring smile.]

Besides, if I do get poisoned, I'm... a little different from other humans. I wouldn't be sick for very long.

[That sounded far better than he thought the situation might be, though lead was only one thing to worry about on Cybertron.]

That's good. I have less extensive knowledge of human biology than what might be safe in extended circumstances, so I prefer to take some... ah, care rather than not. And I'd trust you'd know what to eat and not.

[He smiles a bit dryly at that, and then tilts his helm.]

You wouldn't? Not for reasons pertaining to normal human... er, immune system or your body repairing itself, I take it?

I think that's perfectly reasonable... especially since who knows if half the stuff here even exists on Earth. So I guess there might be some trial and error. But everything will be okay so long as I'm careful, right?

[Right?

Gosh she truly hopes so.

Rapunzel laughs a bit bashfully; three people already knew of her secret, but Elsa was a special case and well... the others happened in her attempts to heal Sora. For the time being and until she could figure out what's the best way to handle talking about her power, she reckons it's best to keep it on a need-to-know basis.]

Um, nope, not exactly. But I'm not... really at liberty to talk about it right now.

[Jetfire would believe so, yes.]

Considering you're aware of the need for caution, I believe you are already a step ahead from others I... could name. [he won't give any names, though, just a faint smile.] But yes, the possibility of certain elements or chemicals being present here that aren't on Earth is my greatest concern.

[Then he nods. he's a faint bit disappointed, but it's her body... ability... power? Either way, he won't push.]

That's perfectly understandable, but I'd be... interested, if you'd ever be willing to explain.

What should I do about that, then? I mean, if something does end up being toxic.

[Should she throw it out? If so, where? Or maybe that would be bad for the environment or anyone who would stumble across it. Sure, she could heal herself if she ended up hurt or poisoned, but that will only do so much if she has to handle it to get rid of it.]

Maybe one day. I guess I'm just a little, well, a little uncertain about spewing a secret I've kept for eighteen years, you know? It's nothing personal, I promise.

But I can promise that if I ever do feel comfortable making it common knowledge, you'll be one of the first to hear about it.

[That seems fair, right? Right.]

Don't worry about it. [Jetfire smiles with a tilt of his helm.] Scientists just happen to be curious about everything.

As for if you end up with a toxic substance... removing it from your immediate vicinity would be a start, and since it will most probably not be toxic to any given cybertronian, ask one of us to toss it away.

If it proves enough to affect us too, there's ways to discard hazardous materials without leading to injuries, so don't worry too much about it.

Well, curiosity is a great thing, so I guess I can't really blame you.

[She 110% endorses curiosity. After all, it's the main reason why she left her tower in the first place.]

And that sounds like a good plan, though I really hope it won't ever come to that. Especially since I'd really rather not have anyone get hurt because of me if it's bad enough.

[Not that she couldn't heal them, but she wouldn't want them to be in pain in the first place.]

It's... ah, quite useful in a few instances, yes.

And I doubt it will. Better to have a plan for the circumstances if things do go wrong rather than stand there not knowing what to do, even if the chance that they would go wrong are minimal.

In a lot of instances. I mean, no one would want to learn or try anything without it.

You have a good point; a backup plan will definitely help, even if it only makes me feel more confident experimenting with paint mixtures.

[Because let's be real; the fact that some substances could be incredibly toxic is unnerving.]

[That makes him laugh softly.]

True. Curiosity is rather... er, bearing in any inquiry.

Precisely, and it'll raise the chance you can act promptly, and thus don't waste what might be precious seconds in acting. Experimenting can be both very useful as well as interesting and even fun, and with a... ah, safety net it allows you even more freedom.

That it is.

[She made someone laugh? She made someone laugh. That brings a fresh smile to her own face.]

I never got to do too much experimenting back home. I mean, there were the crafts and the chores and... not too much else. Hopefully I do okay "experimenting" here, even with that safety net.

I'm sure you will. And even with a few mistakes?

[He shrugs, still smiling.]

Mistakes are learned from, which helps in not repeating it later.

You have a good point!

And you sound like you have a bunch of experience with experimenting. Well, with smart things in general.

[Let her admire you, Mr. Smart Bot.]

As a scientist, I would have to. But even so, admittedly, I probably have the type of... ah, personality that even if the sciences weren't my chosen profession, there would probably be experimenting and inquiries involved.

[Tilting his helm, he gives Rapunzel a thoughtful look.]

You seem to have something of an inquiring mind as well.

Then it's definitely a good thing you get to do what works well with your interests.

[Rapunzel doesn't know much about science beyond baking, some botany, and what she could teach herself of astrology, but it sounds like there's plenty for him to do with it.

O-oh dear, caught red handed. She grins, something of a bashful gesture, and busies her hands with stroking a lock of hair. It's a nervous habit.]

You wouldn't be wrong. Then again, I guess I can't help but be curious. Everything is so new. And I do mean everything, not just robots or this planet. I, um... kind of lived a sheltered life before all this.

Indeed.

[He smiles and then chuckles at her reaction.]

Had a... ah, caretaker? that was far too protective?

Well, she was protective for good reason. But yes, Mother made sure I was kept out of danger at all times...

[She hesitates.]

So I kind of sort of stayed inside. Every day.

[For eighteen years.]

[He stares for a moment and slowly starts to frown.]

That sounds... ah, a tad excessive, unless the climate and atmosphere outside was lethally dangerous and you had no protective gear or vehicle.

Actually, it was pretty mild every season except for winter. And I'm fairly certain there were no vehicles anywhere in the area.

[That really isn't making anything better, is it? She lets out a quiet sigh, momentarily pursing her lips as she tries to figure out how to best explain.]

Mother... she raised me in the best way she knew how. I know it seems really strange and extreme and odd to a lot of people, but for me... that was normal, you know?

I mean, I wanted to go outside... enough to where everyday I had to convince myself I didn't. There's no doubt I honestly wanted to see the world, and once I was able to, I didn't completely want to go back. But... I don't know... my tower still seems like a normal home to me, even when I'm farther away from it than I've ever been... and even after everything I've seen and experienced.

[Not really, and Jetfire's frown deepen somewhat before he shakes his helm.]

Best way she knew how, perhaps, but obviously not in a way that was suited to you or your development. It sounds like you were getting more of what you needed, though, before you got here, or?

Oh! Well, sort of. Yes.

[It really wasn't a conventional leaving of the nest.]

I was out of the tower for the first time ever on a journey to see the floating lanterns, but... the Lambda kind of brought me here before I could even reach the city.

Ah. Hopefully you'll be able to go back and finish that journey. Floating lanterns?

[Of course he understand the concept and general idea, but she's obviously talking about something specific.]

I hope so.

Oh! Yes, lanterns. I mean, I've never seen the kind used in the festival up close, but Flynn described them to me. They're kind of like... any of the small lamps here, but made with paper and wire, and they're lit with a small candle instead of... whatever powers the lights here. The heat from he candle causes them to rise, and the light of the flame makes them glow like a star.

[Which... reminds her of something, causing her to softly chuckle at the memory.]

Actually, when I was small, I used to think they were special stars that only appeared once a year.

[Her memory makes Jetfire chuckle as well, and he nods.]

I believe we have something similar as well. They haven't been used in a long while, as they were for celebrations like the lanterns you mention are, but they functioned in the same way, if made in other... ah, materials.

And as for what lights things here... Electricity is a form of energy, like heat.

[Extremely simplified, but hopefully that would work, and it was very difficult to keep it as simple as he just had.]

You do? What are those ones like?

[She wants to know, can you show her something familiar about the strangest lightning? Speaking of...]

Right, that stuff. It's supposed to be like lightning, right? Just made by something other than clouds.

[And way more impractical than fire in her 18th century mindset.]

video;

angleofscience - 2014-07-08 19:16 (UTC) - Expand

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