004 [Video/open commentlog]

[angleofscience]

[After helping Ironhide, Jetfire had went to get his journal. He'd merely intended to ask a question... But since he'd attempted to challenge himself again when it came to the absolutely dreadful weather, the image that pops up is simply of Jetfire standing at one of the entrances to the barracks, staring out at the snow, for several minutes.]I...

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[mutedmother]

[Jael is heading outside, a blanket wrapped around her shoulders since she doesn't really have any thick clothes. She perks up slightly when she sees Jetfire, but slows when she sees he is speaking into his record so she doesn't interrupt.

His tone of voice causes her to frown with worry, and when he's done she approaches and hesitantly touches his arm.]

[angleofscience]

[There's a slight twitch at the touch, but despite that there's faint surprise on Jetfire's faceplates as he turns his helm to look down at Jael, as if he didn't expect there to be anyone else around... Despite the fact that he'd just finished recording with the journal and knowing there would be an audience possible.]

... Jael. [That single blanket and the lack of clothes are registered.] Shouldn't you be wearing... more? Or does your species operate under different parameters than the human one, and are capable of handling cold better?

[mutedmother]

[Jael looks down at herself and shifts her blanket so she can sign at Jetfire without losing it.]

/It's been so long since I've been in a place that actually gets cold like this, so I'm a little unprepared. I'm heading out now to see if I can find something a little warmer./

[She waves a hand dismissively.]

/But never mind me. Are you alright? What's the matter?/

[angleofscience]

Ah, yes... [there's a brief glance cast out at the snow drifting down.] Someone else mentioned the weather here had been fair a majority of the time, and no one arrives with much, do they?

[That she then shuffles back to his problems with all this has Jetfire shifting a bit, frown deepening.]

Before I came here... Starscream had only just unthawed me. I've been... frozen... for at least several hundred thousand years. [There's a slow release of air from his vents.]

I wasn't expecting the weather.

[mutedmother]

[Jael doesn't quite understand how that works, but she does understand that Jetfire isn't dealing well with this. Resisting her normal urge to hug, Jael rests a hand on Jetfire's arm for a moment.]

/Staring at the snow won't make you feel better. Why don't you come back inside?/

[angleofscience]

[Obviously, he should go back inside; he knows this, he's just had trouble convincing himself it's the right thing to do. If he can't see all that snow it might just become enough to bury... Well, no. That's illogical and flat out silly, he knows.]

I was going to, yes... It's simply...

[Another vent and a shake of his helm.]

I didn't exactly expect it. But events were very hectic right before we appeared here, which, I suppose, pulled attention away from my earlier situation.

[mutedmother]

/I wish I could say I understand how you feel. I do on some level, but whatever I have been through pales greatly in comparison to what happened to you. But if you ever need to speak to someone, I will always be glad to listen, no matter what time it is./

[It's hard for Jael to know how to comfort Jetfire. Usually she's able to hug whoever needs it, but she doesn't want to do something to make Jetfire uncomfortable. So she grabs his arm again and tugs it to see if she can lead him a little ways away from the door.]

[angleofscience]

Don't worry. I'm uncertain I understand it completely myself.

[There's a faint smile here, as it is pretty incomprehensible. He remembers waking several times due to alerts being tripped, attepting to get out... There's brief, stuttered rev of his engine, and when Jael tugs, he comes. His intention after... talking? confronting? Starscream had been to go back in immediately, but he'd gotten stuck.]

And I do not think you can weigh one individual's experiences against another's... Obviously any experience of being buried alive would be pretty singular, but the scope... of it... Is of course a lot different.

[Since... any human, and most other species, wouldn't survive for as long as he did, and might have died to any number of things from the ordeal.]

Ah... Weren't you going to find more... appropriate clothes for the weather?

[He realizes this when they've walked away from the door and the falling snow and white sky isn't directly visible any more.]

[mutedmother]

/Yes, but it's not like I have any pressing engagements. I can do that at any time. But I couldn't just leave you there like that./

[Jael gives Jetfire a small smile.]

/What floor is your room on?/

[angleofscience]

Ah... Thank you.

[If he looks a bit startled, it's because while he's obviously had fellow Autobots inquire about his well-being it's been... perfunctorily at most. Of course, the members of his mission had to care, but then they had a falling-out. And Omega, while certainly caring had a very... particular way of expressing it. Efficient.

Let's not talk about Starscream.]

Three, if you feel like offering your company, otherwise I could probably... go up there. [He casts a brief glance behind him, not just for the out-of-view snow, but also for something larger and more colourful than that.]

[mutedmother]

[Jael tilts her head a bit at the look, but her smile widens a bit.]

/I'll go with you. It never hurts to have company when you're upset./

[angleofscience]

It doesn't, I've just... become used to making do without it. [Jetfire shrugs, though he does agree with that, and back at the Academy, even if Starscream had never been the most... supportive of mechs, he could do "incidental" company when one was upset.]

Thank you, Jael. I hope you... hm... usually have someone to go to too. [Jetfire smiles slightly and while his first steps are slightly hesitant, his gait smooths out quickly... though, of course, he still has to walk slowly so as to not force Jael to jog or run.]

[mutedmother]

/That's too bad, Jetfire. I'm always willing to help if you should ever need someone to talk to, or just need some company./

[Jael's smile slips just a bit. She used to have lots of people to go to if she needed them. Now...not so much.]

/I do./

[angleofscience]

[His smile widens a bit at that, but he looks quite surprised once again; partly it's simply because that being here is the first time he's been explosed to humans, so he's quite surprised she'd offer something like that.]

I... hope some of them are here? Or that you've managed to make someone here be that.

[He realizes slightly too late as her smile slips slightly that that might not been have the best statement, considering the circumstances. Because it would be exceedingly awkward and tactless of him if all those individuals were at and from her home, and none here.]

[mutedmother]

[If you were smaller or younger, Jael would consider you one of her unofficial children. As it is, Jetfire is firmly planted in Jael's friend category.

She shrugs one shoulder, trying to play it off as if it doesn't affect her that much.]

/I was in a place like this before I was brought here, and there were a couple people here that I recognized from there. But-/

[Jael pauses, not sure if Jetfire will believe her.]

/-they weren't the same. They weren't the ones I knew. Different versions, if you will./

[angleofscience]

[While he'd probably be very flattered with that category too, the 'friend' one might be for the best... It was literally millions of years since he was anything close to young, as per their species.

Jetfire pauses just as he opens the door to his room when Jael recounts that, frown on his faceplates. Two things stand out immediately to him.]

None, really, here then?

[He lets her go in first, but... there's no easy place for her to sit; most of the room is simply the solid platform-like thing that probably serves as a bed... and it might be slightly hard for her to get up on it.]

Mmm... If that is the case, either they are lying about our circumstances and the reason we're here for, or it might be a case of alternate realities. Which I've had proven upon coming here than they might be possible.

[There is no disbelief there at all, rather there's the greater confirmation of a possible lie... and simply another confirmation of a greater multiverse, for Jetfire.]