Backdated to several days before the start of the event

[aerospacecommander]

WHO: Starscream and Jetfire
WHERE: Jetfire's room
WHEN: Several days ago
WHAT: Starscream's needs come first
WARNINGS: ... Starscream's ego?



Starscream had been avoiding the topic -- mostly because he wanted to avoid a lecture, but the feelings of discomfort hadn't gone away. And well, they needed to change that. So he broached the subject the best way he knew how.

He opened the door to Jetfire's room and strolled like normal. And gave the large jet a very serious look before he spoke.

"We need to move."

That was it, no other explaination. Hopefully Jetfire would just say 'okay' and they could get this done without any questions pertaining to 'why.'

Comments

[angleofscience]

Carefully putting the ore sample on the desk, Jetfire turned around fully to face Statscream properly, cocking his helm.

"... And what did you do to make staying here an unsuitable situation?" Because yes, that 'explanation' was suspicious and also severely lacking in context and elaboration.

Giving the Seeker a thoughtful look, he shook his helm slowly. What had Starscream done, anyway? They'd been here for a good while now, and there'd been no issues...

"I might not mind moving, Starscream, but I'd like to know why."

[aerospacecommander]

"... Why do you immediately assume that I've done something?"

Though, he had actually done ... something. And that something was the reason they needed to move.

But it wasn't what Jetfire was thinking.

"Besides, why does the 'why' matter so much? Can't we just move and talk about it later?"

Like move and never talk about it.

Starscream shrugged his shoulders, because honestly this wasn't that big of a deal.

In his mind.

[angleofscience]

Leaning back in his seat and crossing his arms as well, Jetfire just stared quietly for a moment. If this wasn't Starscream who was asking, he might've gone along with not too much inquiry.

But it was.

If they hadn't been sharing his room for as long as they had, he might have gone along with... less questioning than he was doing right now.

But they hadn't.

"If you haven't done something, or something hasn't happened to change the situation, why are you so reluctant in explaining why you'd like to move, and why we need to move at all?" He's just not going to comment on that 'talk about it later' because if he let Starscream get away with this now, he'd have an even harder (if not to say impossible) time finding the reason out.

[aerospacecommander]

"I ... er. I just need to be closer to Megatronus' temple due to my new position."

Which wasn't exactly untrue. But, he normally wouldn't have cared and preferred to have around twenty different places around the planet in which to stay.

He liked having his secret bases after all.

It was just so hard for him to admit that he really felt uncomfortable away from the temple. He didn't like that feeling.

[angleofscience]

"Right. That sounds... ah, reasonable," Jetfire said slowly, leaning back in his seat and crossing his arms. He's not sure that's enough, though, because it does sound like a reasonable explanation.

Entirely so, which pings a whole lot of warnings and why would Starscream be so reluctant to admit to that?

But.

Optics narrowing, Jetfire put that aside for the moment, because maybe the two were related in some way and asking for one would lead to answers to the other.

"New... er, position, though? Starscream, what have you been doing?" He knew perfectly well Starscream didn't like Megatronus, so what was going on?

[aerospacecommander]

"Oh you know the whole ... initiate thing ..."

No big deal or anything. Starscream shrugged attempting to look as relaxed as possible about it all. No reason for Jetfire to know exactly what was going on.

Even if they were living together and stuff.

"It would just be better if I was closer. I'm sure you can understand."

[angleofscience]

"You..."

No, of course he didn't need to know things like that. Obviously. Huffing, Jetfire resisted the urge to drag a hand down his faceplate and just looked at Starscream. He didn't look different, so whatever the initiation meant it didn't change anything physically visible.

"Why?" He was just not going to point out he was right in that Starscream 'had done something'. That would get them nowhere even if it was the truth. "And while that sounds reasonable, what else does initation affect?"

It was quite obvious they were going to have to move. Oh, technically they didn't need to live together but Jetfire... in spite of Starscream (and because of him) would rather they do so.

He just wanted more information now, and he wouldn't reveal his agreement to that moving question until he had them. Otherwise he'd never get them, especially as Starscream's reluctance so far was... suspicious.

To say the least.

[aerospacecommander]

"..."

Jetfire was giving him that look. The one that moms usually give their children when they want to know what trouble they got into.

Starscream hated that look.

"Well, it's just that ..." He paused, not sure how to really put it without sounding like it was some sort of weakness. It was more of an annoyance anyway.

"... The further away from the temple I am, the, uh ... stranger I feel."

[angleofscience]

Starscream deserved that look.

Jetfire stayed quiet, waiting for Starscream to decide how to phrase himself with a slight tilt to his helm. At least Starscream was actually talking, which sometimes couldn't be made to happen at all.

"... So you're tied to the temple." Jetfire said it flatly, stating the fact it was as he rubbed his chin. It didn't really matter in what way Starscream was tied to it, or what the effect of it was.

"Fine. We'll move." He wasn't impossible, and he'd come to like sharing a room with Starscream despite how... difficult he could be. "But why did you think that was a good idea? Are you all right otherwise?"

This information, however, just cemented Jetfire's decision to not ever take Liege's offer of becoming an initiate, unless it somehow became necessary.

[aerospacecommander]

Starscream moved across the room to sit down on the berth with a shrug. Did Jetfire have to honestly ask that question? He should know the answer by now.

"You know me and offers for power. Besides, this is an opportunity to increase my status and become more than anyone ever dreamed."

Don't worry, he manages to stay seated and not pose in an overly dramatic fashion when he speaks.

"But yes. I am fine."

[angleofscience]

"Yes, I do." At that, he sighed, static escaping. Beceause he did know, but he'd sort of hoped Starscream would've, at some point, not just reach out and grab. "But I'd also sort of hope you'd examine said offers of powers for... ah, questionable consequences. Like, say, being constrained to one area of the Haven only."

He couldn't quite help the arch look he gave Starscream, but at least he managed to hide his unfortunately fond amusement for the underlying melodramatic tones in Starscream's voice and choice of words.

Why he found that... endearing he didn't know, but it was part of why Starscream was Starscream and why he... was so fond of him.

"That's good." Then, shaking his helm, Jetfire stood up, crossed the room to the berth, and, partly leaning on it with his left hand on the berth behind Starscream, leaned down to kiss the top of Starscream's helm. "I merely hope for your sake you haven't accepted more than you'll... er, regret later."

The right hand was now resting against Starscream's knee and thigh.

[aerospacecommander]

Starscream mentally cursed the fact that Jetfire could stir emotions deep down inside him. It was far easier to view the universe through a thick veil of hate.

Jetfire made things complicated. Even now, small hints of guilt crept up.

"There are consequences to everything. I know that quite well."

Considering how many times he's tried to off Megatron during any given year.

"I'm not stuck in one area it just ..." Oh, he still hated this sort of conversation. "I feel ... uncomfortable the longer I'm away."

That last part was one of the hardest statements he was ever forced to admit.

[angleofscience]

"And yet you never stop," Jetfire hummed, staying where he was. Regardless what the words might imply, there was no accusation or exasperation... or even judgement in Jetfire's tone.

He might be exasperated and frustrated and sometimes angry (very angry) at Starscream's quick switches and constant reaching, but if he actually would ever find Starscream's ability to continue trying, then it'd be time to stop.

He might not agree with what Starscream did with his ambitions, or how, but the fact that Starscream never stopped was, honestly, one of the things he liked. Was attracted by.

... He just wished his idiot Seeker would sometimes stop and think instead of going for the first best thing that seemed to get him what or where he wanted to go.

"Hm. Thank you." Oh, yes, he knew exactly what that had cost Starscream to say, and his thumb briefly stroked the metal underneath it. "That's still far more... ah, restrictive than I'd consider reasonable, but not as bad as I thought."

I figure this should end in fade to black

[aerospacecommander]

Thinking that far ahead was normally something Starscream could not do. If he did, he'd just be ... Shockwave.

And no one wants that.

Starscream huffed and reached up along Jetfire's sides in order to grab a hold of him. Oh, why did he put up with this overgrown space jet?

"Well, we don't have to move right this moment."

He spoke in a sly tone as he tugged on the larger mech to pull him down. They could spare a few moments for other things.