[ Acid Storm probably has no context, but that Starscream asked about something as frivolous as a name for a stuffed animal is actually a positive response. He searches his recollection for the name of the planet that he and Acid Storm had gone flying over, when he'd asked if she wanted to come with him. Seeing her excitement over flying across such a pretty environment and the first time he'd realized how extensive her interest in photography went, as well as her allowing him to see her files. ]
Etanu's a very nice name. That was a nice planet, too.
Oh! Before I forget, here's the pictures I got of you from the air show. Also, if any pictures of the Brigade Starscream start flying around that are, uh, less than flattering... It wasn't me, okay?
[ Stormie will just... Very quickly upload the photos to distract from that little tidbit of information. It was very much her, at least in taking it. It's fine. ]
It was indeed pleasant. A good atmosphere for flying, and interesting sights. Hopefully we pass another like it soon.
[ Starscream will peruse the photographs that have been sent and have a good (and somewhat mean, but not terrible) chuckle at the ones that might later catch his counterpart unawares. ]
Did you have fun too, sir? The air show did look like a lot of fun. I didn't see you around the stalls though, but I guess I don't know what your holoform is... If you have one that is, sir!
It'd been ages since I'd last used mine. It was kinda fun breaking it out again.
It's been a while since I've flown with a full squadron. Even at Air Command, I don't typically drill with a whole wing at once, I leave that to the Wing Captains.
Honestly, most of my recent challenging flying hasn't even been alongside another Cybertronian.
I do have one; its present template is more or less human. I don't have cause to activate it often, as I don't have the frame capabilities for long-range usage, but it has made getting around some parts of the Eos Station easier.
[ Starscream, you have activated Excited Nerd Mode. ]
Oh, it's an Ekelkytra! In my world they're known for their organic technology and metal exoskeletons, we had some dealings with them when we were out on the Void's Spiral- Oh, the Spiral's a black hole, but it's still got the corona of a star it ate and will for a long time, so there's a few worlds habitable for organic species in the area. The Ekelkytra are just the major one; there's also these things they call Sentinels, but nobody really knows the names of. I got to try to talk to one, which I think was the first time I ever came across another non-organic species.
It's a really fascinating area of space, honestly. There's so many cool local myths about how the corona's been stable for that long, and I took a bunch of readings on the black hole that were pretty wild! I also got my hands on a bunch of books on Ekelkytra tech when we were there, it's really interesting stuff.
[ Acid Storm's effusive excitement is so easy to see, even across text. For a moment, Starscream is powerfully reminded of Thundercracker, gushing about some obscure scientific fauna he'd read about and decided to research. Of a happier time in their aerie, the memory anchored by the sounds of Skywarp's bawdy holonovellas, Thundercracker's piles of datapads on every surface, and warm Vosian breezes at sundown. Starscream has to take a moment to center himself again, to put his mind back aboard the R2, before he responds. ]
Perhaps you should see if the Ekelkytra exist in this world as well. You could continue your study of them.
I could. It's not as useful as digging into the details of how their tech works or whether they live in a similar place, but I'd be interested in seeing if the myths are the same too. As, y'know, something to do for fun. Maybe if they have another version of Lyaphos Eats the Sun I could compare them.
[ Her excitement rolls on, unaware of her Commander's nostalgia. Maybe too wound in her own nostalgia, of a different kind. ]
Oh, I should probably finally hit some of the unoccupied labs. I think I'm finally ready to start work. [ The confidence! Hesitant, but there! ]
[ A careful phrasing, to not make it seem like an order. The mention of the labs though, that surprises him. Even though he'd brought it up a while ago, she has almost immediately shied away from the idea, and he hadn't pressed it. ]
When you decide which one you wish to use, let me know. I will have specific security protocols made for the space.
[ It won't lock it out from others the way the Brigade's lab is — although if she asked for that, he probably would — but it would give her some control over who was authorized there. ]
[ She had, but... She thinks she's ready now. Not for whoever's in charge of her. For herself. It's been too long since she's worked in the field she's actually comfortable in- And it'll be weird in a good way, working without Shockwave hovering over her to criticize her every move.
Stormie's ready. She thinks, anyway. At least she can claim one of those labs for herself to start with, right? And then she can take things at her own pace. ]
I'm gonna have a walk around at some point and check them out I think. Not alone! I'll take the orange Starscream, or Skywarp. Just in case?
And thank you, sir. I'll make sure you're the first one I tell once I figure it out.
[ Starscream is of the opinion that any work accomplished without Shockwave hovering is good work. As someone who's also been in that unenviable position, albeit thankfully not for very long, he certainly would have no desire to try it again. ]
Whomever you feel comfortable with, Acid Storm.
[ He doesn't know a lot about the younger version of himself, but what he'd overheard was that he was impetuous and impatient, and not very bright. Skywarp at least, while skittish, was more likely to err on safety's side than not. ]
You won't mind if I let Starflight in these labs sometimes, right? I promised him I'd let him watch me work sometimes, and loan out some of my engineering texts to him. Nothing classified, sir! Nothing like, uh, what I showed you. Just y'know. One engineer to another sort of stuff.
[ Best to ask, first. Though suddenly - but not for the first time - Acid Storm is struck with the thought that she would not have told Slipstream. Maybe- Maybe she should ask Starscream something else, too. ]
Also... Sir... If it's no trouble, if, uh, I wanted some upgrades authorized... [ A swallow, thankful he can't see it. ] Would you authorize them for me?
[ On his end of the text conversation, Starscream is resisting the urge to pinch his helm crest. ]
I'm not telling you who you can and cannot choose to accompany you in the lab, Acid Storm. If you want to invite the young dragon, then do so. The only 'restriction' I asked was regarding *that* data because we are both well aware it is not something which should be trusted to the wider populace of this ship.
[ Her other question has him frowning in confusion however. ]
Upgrades for what? Your frame? You don't need anyone's permission for those— wait. You are not thinking of going to that witch, are you?
[ THAT, he does not want to allow her to do. She took Slipstream's memories of the other Starscream, and this Starscream does not want to face the same possibility of that happening to Acid Storm. ]
[ Or: she has to check, she has to, because of course that would have been controlled for her too. Just a Seeker, after all. No telling what one of those could bring in when unattended.
His confusion is mirrored too, Stormie hesitating before she answers. ]
What? I- No. No sir. I would like to get some heel thrusters from Knock Out. I just- I have to get permission? Why wouldn't I need permission?
[ Please don't make her get it from Slipstream. She doesn't want to talk to her. ]
[ Starscream is silently counting to ten, because he has to remind himself that her circumstances — Seeker circumstances — are so very, very different where Acid Storm is from. And that she has had many, many millions of years (he reels still, to think of the difference in their lifespans) of being treated in a way that will be hard to break. Isn't Starscream himself still trying to break bad habits enforced on him from even just a few million years? ]
Acid Storm... given that I had to go behind the Parliament's backs to get my own modifications done because my censure still restricts me from changing my frame, I am the last mech who would tell someone they cannot alter theirs because they want to.
You don't need permission for something like that, it is your frame and you can do what you want with it. But... I know you are used to requiring it. So with the caveat that I am telling you that you could do it regardless, yes you may get heel thrusters or other such changes.
Oh, okay. Thank you, sir. I'll, uh, keep that in mind for next time. [ She scratches a little at her face, and is again relieved he can't see it. Man, and she'd thought she was over thinking that the Air Commander was kinda weird. Good-weird, course. Acid Storm wouldn't have him any other way. ]
Is it okay if I still let you know when I'm going in for the modifications? I wouldn't want you to need me and not be able to raise me.
[ She almost adds that she'll let Knock Out know that Starscream likes his work, but... Nope! Not something you say to a superior officer. Maybe she'll just let Knock Out know anyway, though. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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Etanu, then. A fitting reminder.
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Oh! Before I forget, here's the pictures I got of you from the air show. Also, if any pictures of the Brigade Starscream start flying around that are, uh, less than flattering... It wasn't me, okay?
[ Stormie will just... Very quickly upload the photos to distract from that little tidbit of information. It was very much her, at least in taking it. It's fine. ]
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[ Starscream will peruse the photographs that have been sent and have a good (and somewhat mean, but not terrible) chuckle at the ones that might later catch his counterpart unawares. ]
It's good that you enjoyed yourself at Mirzam.
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It'd been ages since I'd last used mine. It was kinda fun breaking it out again.
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Honestly, most of my recent challenging flying hasn't even been alongside another Cybertronian.
I do have one; its present template is more or less human. I don't have cause to activate it often, as I don't have the frame capabilities for long-range usage, but it has made getting around some parts of the Eos Station easier.
What species was yours sourced from?
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Oh, it's an Ekelkytra! In my world they're known for their organic technology and metal exoskeletons, we had some dealings with them when we were out on the Void's Spiral- Oh, the Spiral's a black hole, but it's still got the corona of a star it ate and will for a long time, so there's a few worlds habitable for organic species in the area. The Ekelkytra are just the major one; there's also these things they call Sentinels, but nobody really knows the names of. I got to try to talk to one, which I think was the first time I ever came across another non-organic species.
It's a really fascinating area of space, honestly. There's so many cool local myths about how the corona's been stable for that long, and I took a bunch of readings on the black hole that were pretty wild! I also got my hands on a bunch of books on Ekelkytra tech when we were there, it's really interesting stuff.
no subject
Perhaps you should see if the Ekelkytra exist in this world as well. You could continue your study of them.
no subject
[ Her excitement rolls on, unaware of her Commander's nostalgia. Maybe too wound in her own nostalgia, of a different kind. ]
Oh, I should probably finally hit some of the unoccupied labs. I think I'm finally ready to start work. [ The confidence! Hesitant, but there! ]
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[ A careful phrasing, to not make it seem like an order. The mention of the labs though, that surprises him. Even though he'd brought it up a while ago, she has almost immediately shied away from the idea, and he hadn't pressed it. ]
When you decide which one you wish to use, let me know. I will have specific security protocols made for the space.
[ It won't lock it out from others the way the Brigade's lab is — although if she asked for that, he probably would — but it would give her some control over who was authorized there. ]
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Stormie's ready. She thinks, anyway. At least she can claim one of those labs for herself to start with, right? And then she can take things at her own pace. ]
I'm gonna have a walk around at some point and check them out I think. Not alone! I'll take the orange Starscream, or Skywarp. Just in case?
And thank you, sir. I'll make sure you're the first one I tell once I figure it out.
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Whomever you feel comfortable with, Acid Storm.
[ He doesn't know a lot about the younger version of himself, but what he'd overheard was that he was impetuous and impatient, and not very bright. Skywarp at least, while skittish, was more likely to err on safety's side than not. ]
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[ Best to ask, first. Though suddenly - but not for the first time - Acid Storm is struck with the thought that she would not have told Slipstream. Maybe- Maybe she should ask Starscream something else, too. ]
Also... Sir... If it's no trouble, if, uh, I wanted some upgrades authorized... [ A swallow, thankful he can't see it. ] Would you authorize them for me?
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I'm not telling you who you can and cannot choose to accompany you in the lab, Acid Storm. If you want to invite the young dragon, then do so. The only 'restriction' I asked was regarding *that* data because we are both well aware it is not something which should be trusted to the wider populace of this ship.
[ Her other question has him frowning in confusion however. ]
Upgrades for what? Your frame? You don't need anyone's permission for those— wait. You are not thinking of going to that witch, are you?
[ THAT, he does not want to allow her to do. She took Slipstream's memories of the other Starscream, and this Starscream does not want to face the same possibility of that happening to Acid Storm. ]
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[ Or: she has to check, she has to, because of course that would have been controlled for her too. Just a Seeker, after all. No telling what one of those could bring in when unattended.
His confusion is mirrored too, Stormie hesitating before she answers. ]
What? I- No. No sir. I would like to get some heel thrusters from Knock Out. I just- I have to get permission? Why wouldn't I need permission?
[ Please don't make her get it from Slipstream. She doesn't want to talk to her. ]
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Acid Storm... given that I had to go behind the Parliament's backs to get my own modifications done because my censure still restricts me from changing my frame, I am the last mech who would tell someone they cannot alter theirs because they want to.
You don't need permission for something like that, it is your frame and you can do what you want with it. But... I know you are used to requiring it. So with the caveat that I am telling you that you could do it regardless, yes you may get heel thrusters or other such changes.
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Oh, okay. Thank you, sir. I'll, uh, keep that in mind for next time. [ She scratches a little at her face, and is again relieved he can't see it. Man, and she'd thought she was over thinking that the Air Commander was kinda weird. Good-weird, course. Acid Storm wouldn't have him any other way. ]
Is it okay if I still let you know when I'm going in for the modifications? I wouldn't want you to need me and not be able to raise me.
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[ She almost adds that she'll let Knock Out know that Starscream likes his work, but... Nope! Not something you say to a superior officer. Maybe she'll just let Knock Out know anyway, though. ]