[Video] - Vector's temple

[cliffjumper]

[Some of you might be familiar with the noise of metal crunching as it hits something after falling at least a short distance, and Cliffjumper grunts, swears and, after a few moments, gets the video on.

It's mostly Cliffjumper's faceplate and upper torso that can be seen, plus a view of the sky and some spire-tops of Vector's temple, though he's looking slightly... wild-eyed.]

... Slaggin', rusty, scum-spewin' scrap! [The view wobbles as Cliffjumper changes his grip, then stabilises again.] Anyone else got stuck with somethin' new poppin' up courtsey of your glyphs?

Blurr, how the frag did ya get a handle on this?

[... there's a pause, and Cliffjumper half looks like he's about to say something more but then closes his mouth. Not yet. He'll... Well.]

Comments

[cliffjumper]

[Being flustered doesn't make him adorable okay!

Huffing at Starscream's dig, Cliffjumper just muttered something that wasn't even anything legible as Starscream turned the Link off. Optics narrowing at Starscream when the mech came flying up to hover beside Cliffjumper's chosen (more like fallen into) spire, Cliffjumper scowled sourly.]

This ain't funny. So maybe I oughta asked as soon as I could stop myself from flyin' off further up, but I wanted to get down. Wasn't fraggin' gonna wait...

[Which he should have, but he'd actually been pretty startled and stunned enough he'd not thought much.]

[loyalflier]

Need I remind you that if the situation were reversed, you would be yelling at me until you popped your vocalizer?

[ because Cliffjumper would be. something like this is pretty much has Cliffjumper's seal of ACTIONS UNAPPROVED stamped all over it.

it's all right though. Starscream drifts closer, arms out and waiting. ]

[cliffjumper]

I--- [Pause. Mutter.] Maybe. But only if ya did it intentionally.

[Eyeing the gap between them, Starscream's outstretched arms and all that air beneath him, Cliffjumper grimaced. Technically he was now fully (sort of) capable of closing that distance without issues, but...]

Ugh... I'd kinda hoped I wouldn't get what Blurr got.

[Shaking his helm, Cliffjumper considered again, then narrowed his optics, let go of the spire, and basically threw himself into Starscream's arms. Doing it fast rather than hesistating was better.]

[loyalflier]

No, I think you would huff and puff like the big bad wolf either way.

[ and Starscream is patient. he can wait for Cliffjumper to gauge the distance and sort himself. at least the minibot knows that Starscream isn't about to let him fall. that he can be trusted...

so really it's all about himself. ]

Flying of your own accord could come in handy, Cliffjumper.

[ thus when CJ practically leaps into his arms, Starscream catches them, but with an OOOF and a bit of sagging. ]

...Could have warned me.

[cliffjumper]

... Sorry. Caught me though, didn't ya? [Shifting, Cliffjumper cocks his helm to glance up at Starscream and then shrugs. Or well, as much as he can while holding onto Starscream.]

My jetpack's handy too. [Muttering, he glanced down at all that air and then looked back up. He didn't feel comfortable with this stupid power.]

And as if you wouldn't do the same if I'd actually been in danger. [Nevermind the dents in his side!]

[loyalflier]

I'd be a bad, erhm, friend if I didn't. [ still unsure what to call this thing between them, even if he does lean down a bit to bump their helms together. ]

Naturally, I would. If you had been in any real danger.

[ which this doesn't really qualify as. but for now, Starscream starts his descent. they'd be on the balcony soon enough. ]

[cliffjumper]

Or one with bad reflexes. [Cliffjumper doesn't know either, so even as he grins and pushes back into the gentle tok and slide of their helm together, his optics brighten a little.

And it's embarrassing he needs the help to get down, regardless that he technically doesn't. At least he'd have had Blurr to help if Starscream hadn't been here, but that would still have been embarrassing, so when Starscream's landed on the balcony, Cliffjumper wastes no time in getting down.

Even if it was kind of nice.]

And I don't fraggin' care how useful this is... I don't like it. At least I can control the blasted jetpack and it ain't gonna just start on its own!

[loyalflier]

Don't make me drop you, Cliffjumper.

[ just teasing, of course. and naturally will release the other as soon as they are on the ground.

...he'll also just ignore the fact he sort of likes holding the other, all right? all right. ]

You just need to learn how to control it, is all.

[cliffjumper]

What would Megatron say?

[He just smirked up at Starscream, unrepentant, before he grimaced and turned around to lean with his back against the balcony's railing.]

Yeah, maybe. That ain't gonna make me any more... comfortable with it, though. I just use the jetpack 'cause it's useful, doesn't mean I like it.

[loyalflier]

Who said our dear leader would need to find out?

[ it's bright and cheery, the way he says that. but in one swift movement, Starscream is in the air again. leaning against the railing from the other side.

he doesn't quite feel like being ground bound so soon. ]

You don't like flying at all?

[cliffjumper]

And you're supposed to be the nice one?

[He tries for scowling but ends up grinning, tilting his helm back slightly - and then turns around when he realises how close Starscream is.]

Not really no. [He glances away and frowns.] Well, it can be kinda fun sometimes, but I don't just forget all that air between me and the ground, ya know?

[Starscream, no matter how he started out, was apparently made for flying. Though maybe it was easier when you didn't start out with an altmode at all, but that just means he was as ground-bound as Cliffjumper's always been.]

[loyalflier]

I am the nice one.

[ all this teasing... but Starscream's just smiling anyway. it brightens a little more once Cliffjumper turns to face him. ]

That's sort of the point. It's liberating, Cliff.

[cliffjumper]

I dunno, think we need to have a discussion what 'nice' means then.

[He just grinned, and his expression widened a little in response to Starscream's brightening smile as well.]

For you, maybe, but it makes me fraggin' uncomfortable. Gettin' control of this or not, I don't think that's gonna go away really. If I lose control, or the jetpack runs outta fuel... that could be a long way to fall.

[The smile briefly falls away to a grimace.]

[loyalflier]

I'm not sure that this lesson should come from you, Mister Shoot First Ask Questions Later.

[ a chuckle. but by no means does Starscream miss that grimace. he can't handle it either. too good of a mood.

so one second as he drifts a bit closer to give a quick peck on the lips. ]

I'll be there to catch you.

[cliffjumper]

Well, we already know I ain't nice...

[Trailing off as Starscream drifted in, Cliffjumper caught on what was going to happen and neither backed down nor leaned away - rather he stretched up a little, into the kiss, however brief.]

Yeah. But when you ain't, that's when I'm gonna have a problem, and I can't always rely on you bein' around to catch me, can I?

[He huffs, but it's hardly displeased.]

[loyalflier]

Hmm.

[ he's just sort of... you know. happy. about all of this. about this little thing that they have and the fact it's definitely mutual. Cliffjumper initiates as much as he does. ]

That's what Blurr is for, yes?

[cliffjumper]

[Cliffjumper might be awkward about it, but it sure is.

The mention of Blurr has him snorting, smothering the admittedly amused noise beneath harsher static.]

Yeah, sure. But we ain't together all the time either, and what then? This flyin' thing suits ya far better than me, Starscream.

[loyalflier]

You don't know because you simply haven't given it a chance.

[ a roll of optics. maybe he'd have an easier time of it if he wasn't so biased! ]

[cliffjumper]

Well, I'm gonna have to give it a chance whether or not I want to. [Huffing, Cliffjumper reached up to tap Starscream's chestplates.] Since I ain't got no choice about it, but that doesn't mean I'm gonna be happy about it.

[loyalflier]

Personally, I kind of like the idea. I'd like to have a partner flying about with me - not that Thundercracker is poor company.

[ oops. now a smidgeon shy... ]

It would just be nice if it was you for a change, that's all.

[cliffjumper]

[Staring, Cliffjumper's vocaliser goes into neutral. Then he shakes his helm, field spiking unevenly before he huffs.]

And what, couldn't have done that - still could - with the jetpack? What's the difference?

[Even if he absolutely was... flustered... by the idea that Starscream wanted to fly with him. Normally he wouldn't be, of course, because that'd just be silly. This was... different though. The meaning.]

[loyalflier]

[ no actual answer here. Starscream just rests his chin on his folded arms. smiles.

there is a difference. so much of a difference. flying of ones own ability... so much different than a jetpack. ]

[cliffjumper]

[Optics slowly narrowing at Starscream's silence and the smile, Cliffjumper finally huffs and reaches out to poke Starscream's crest.]

Don't fraggin' gimmie a smile and sayin' nothing!

[loyalflier]

[ bats at that hand! ]

I can do whatever I wish, thank you.

[cliffjumper]

[Reflexively, Cliffjumper grabs the fingers of that hand, but then just stops there, squeezing briefly because what does he do with this now?]

Yeah, well, just smilin' at me ain't gonna make me understand slag.

[Snort.]