1st Bite [Video]

[dirge]

[The screen flicks on, but there seems to be something wrong with a it. A long crack runs down the right side, fragmenting the image. The color also seems off, though its hard to tell if you haven't seen the speaker's paintjob before.]

Oh, you do still work. Hm.

[A big seeker of a less boxy variety than most leans in and raps on the screen with a knuckle, sending the drone drifting backwards with a distressed beep.]


I'll have to go find a bigger rock.

Comments

[knight_light]

You're trying to break your comm drone?

[dirge]

[He pauses in his search for a rock when someone addresses him via the drone.]

I am! It's surprisingly resilient.

[knight_light]

[What? But...Why?]

Any...particular reason you're trying to destroy it?

[ye_olde_engineer]

You break that on purpose, pal, an' I'm not replacin' it.

[dirge]

Not destroy it. Just break it. They said I would be issued a new one if my current drone got damaged.

[dirge]

But then how else will I communicate? [Pout.]

[deadlydoctor]

Now you seem like a special one. I'm probably going to regret asking but what are you doing?

[dirge]

Special in what way? [Dirge is immune to sarcasm, Doctor.]

And I'm damaging this communications drone, isn't it obvious?

[10_20_15_5_50]

[Okay Sam, be cool.]

[It isn't as if you're expecting to see Rod Serling step out of the shadows any second, is it? It isn't. You're half-expecting to see Rod Serling step out of the shadows any second, and anticipating the notes which normally announce him.]

[Be cool; start small.]

That's... surprisingly durable.

[notyourblueangel]

Sorry to break it to you, but the comm drones don't have built-in ARSs like the rest of us.

[He peers a little closer - you have wings.]

You a Seeker of some kind?


((ooc: Quick note, not that /Dirge/ would know anything about it, but TC's turned Neutral at this point, so he doesn't have the Con brands on his wings. =3))

[ye_olde_engineer]

Morse code? At that rate...

[But Wheeljack can't play bad guy for very long - he's terrible at it anyway. He sighs, running a hand down his face.]

What exactly are ya tryin' ta prove or test anyway? Whatever you wanna know about them, I can tell ya. I built 'em.

[knight_light]

[Wing gives him a funny look] If you wanted a new one you just had to take that one to the Chief Engineer.

[dirge]

It is, isn't it? Much more than an organic such as yourself.

[He hefts another rock, testing its weight.]

And I hear it takes around nine months to replace a human. That seems like an awful long turnaround time for something so fragile.

lack of sigils noted!

[dirge]

Oh, good. I was hoping they didn't.

[He grabs the little drone and shakes it, causing the screen to go all fuzzy with static for a few seconds.]

And of course I am. I have the same body as Starscream, after all.

[dirge]

Test? No, I'm not taking it apart to find out how it works.

I was told if mine became damaged I would be given another one. And that is exactly what I want.

[dirge]

[He's pretty used to getting funny looks from other cybertronians.]

I'm not going to give this one back to him! [Dirge looks appalled at the very thought.]

No, he can bring a new one to me. And I will keep them both.

[10_20_15_5_50]

...Or any of the devices I'd normally handle.

[So she's never had a Nokia]

[She makes a small noncommittal sound---no worse than neutral, and almost amused. Here they are, several sentences in, and she has no idea what to make of this exchange, or the... individual on its other end.]

Takes nine months, technically, but if a new human is going to do much of anything independently... it's more like fourteen years. Minimum.

[knight_light]

[Dirge.....you're a special kind of strange.]

And...you never considered just asking for a second one? Rather than damaging one? Then you'd have had two that worked...

[dirge]

Oh, I did! Right after they gave this one to me. But they said I could only have another if this one was damaged.

[Now do you understand, Wing? Dirge thinks its a pretty simple concept, but everyone has been so confused by his behavior.]

[dirge]

I assume you mean human made machines. Earth metals seem flimsy. They taste nice though.

[Dirge has that effect on everyone, not just organics.]

Fourteen? That seems excessive! Then why are humans not rarer? [They seem to be everywhere, from what he's seen.]

[10_20_15_5_50]

I---yeah, I do, and I don't mean to be rude but... you can taste? You eat?

[That could be comforting. Kind of.]

I don't doubt it---it does take human beings a long time to mature. But...

[Sam considers, then snorts and shrugs.]

We don't know when to quit? Humans are pretty good at figuring out how to make a go of most environments, and it's a rough 'fourteen' only for independent action.

[deadlydoctor]

All th ways, apparently. [He will try harder, then!]

I can see that. The main question is why.

[knight_light]

[Well...what does he say to that?]

Why do you want two?

[dirge]

Why wouldn't I? Two isn't all I want though. I'd like to get my hands on many more.

[He clasps his talons together, looking quite pleased by the prospect.]

[dirge]

[Thinks about that for a second.] I am a clone, and thus rare. So I suppose special also qualifies.

So they'll give me a new one, of course.