2nd Bite [Video]

[dirge]

Sam human, I have located two of the data p- books, on your list of wishes.

[He opens his palm revealing a worn copy of The Diary of Anne Frank and a newer looking copy of The Colour Purple. He has since stopped damaging his drone, so the picture is clear again.]

Also, this is to let everyone know I'm moving into the warehouse. Everything in there is mine now. Take anything and I will know.

[If he ever finishes doing inventory, which might take him years at this rate.]

Comments

Re: [action]

[dirge]

And why should I care what humans need to function socially?

Hm, I see... That sounds very important, actually. How does one [he grimaces because he is about to say a word he does not like] give respect?

Re: [action]

[10_20_15_5_50]

[Sam flicks her hands to the sides; they stay spread at shoulder-height for a sentence.]

I said people. Human people, Cybertronian people, other people, whoever's here. We've got a sort of standard for civility; there's not a great deal of difference there.

[Her conversation with Predaking was proof. They'd both been understandably upset by being misplaced persons, but throughout that conversation they'd both been courteous---and easily at an understanding.]

Respecting others, you treat them as equals. You take their wants and needs and feelings into account; you try to compromise if there's a conflict; you don't treat anybody as just a means to an end, and for fuck's sake you don't eat anyone.

Re: [action]

[dirge]

How do you know anything about Cybertronian moral c- Wait a minute.

[Dirge's huge red optics narrow.] I know exactly where I've heard things like this before. You sound just like an Autobot.

[And didn't they team up with humans all the time?]

I am not an Autobot, and I will eat whatever I please! [He hisses, for his tank is nearly empty, which always tends to amp up his aggression levels.]

Re: [action]

[10_20_15_5_50]

I've been talking to Cybertronians, that's how! You, Predaking and Wing from my first friggin' day!

[Now she's throwing her hands up---or, at least, beginning to, before planting both on her hips instead. It's a little awkward, what with the books, but still, that stance should confirm Dirge's suspicions: despite being so much smaller, Sam isn't entirely afraid of him. She's aware he's a potential threat (of course; it's conspicuous) but so is she.]

Oh? No-one's ID'd this accent. I'm just me---and I'm not saying you're anything!

[except for "an asshole," if anybody asks]

So cool it for just a split second, okay?

[She's hoping he will, even as she's striving to scan his rough read for any flicker of intent.]

If that 'whatever' is including people, there are going to be problems. Not just with me, though by god I'd give you grief, even if I don't really want a beef with you. I'd rather talk this out.

Re: [action]

[dirge]

Hmph. Neither of them come from the same place as I do. [Dirge folds his arms, wings flicking. No one this small has ever bothered to try and argue with him like this. She really isn't afraid, either because she doesn't expect him to actually harm her, or because she has some trick up her sleeve.]

What problems? [He snaps, because talking is swiftly becoming something he is not interested in doing anymore.]

Re: [action]

[10_20_15_5_50]

[A bit of column A, a bit of column B, and it's exacerbated by the minor madness common to all adepts.]

Aside from immediately-pressing practical problems, like angry mobs and people out to avenge others? You don't care for the dignity of persons, but you care for yours; holding a captive population or just up and eating people, you are going to reduce yourself to an obstacle, and lose out on a lot. Potential allies. Information. What peace of mind you might've had, since people who resent something strongly enough will, for spite, do things that are absolutely insane.

Re: [action]

[dirge]

I'm not afraid of being attacked by humans. [He illustrates this by stomping his massive foot very near her. How many humans were even here? He's only met Sam, so far.]

But I don't like losing out- on anything. [He contemplates this for a minute or two. Were humans worth more as allies, informants, or fuel for his body?]

....I will have to think about this.

Re: [action]

[10_20_15_5_50]

[For a moment, Sam freezes, her shoulders hunched; although an adept, she is largely sane, and should like very much to live.]

[...still...]

[Still, that stomp tipped the scale. Sam straightens, glaring first at the offending foot, and then up at Dirge. If he wants to throw his weight around, fine---she can answer in kind.]

Think about this: if you eat anyone, I'll witch your ability to taste away.

[Can she? She doesn't know for a fact---it's something she's never tried to do. Given the amount of unspent ink she has on her person at present, though, it's plausible. That's good. What's better, though, is that she says it with a cool and complete confidence.]

Don't think you have an easy out, either. Not with a stamping, not with anything else. Dying curses are notoriously difficult to counter---you'd have us both hooped, and I'd haunt you.

Re: [action]

[dirge]

[Her flinch brings a smug grin to his long face. And that would usually be the end of any argument.

Except it isn't. Dirge blinks when she doesn't go running for the hills.]

You'll what?! [Can humans do that? It's his turn to cringe now- just contemplating the possibility scares him.]

Haunt me...? What does that even entail? A transparent version of you hanging around while I recharge?

Re: [action]

[10_20_15_5_50]

[The golden rule is well and good, but there's Sam's silver: if pushed, push back.]

You heard what I said.

[She stares up at the clone, serious, her free hand fisted at her side.]

Humans, merpeople, anyone at all---j'men calice. [Quebecois would roll their eyes since it sounds something like 'j'meh-calee,' but the sentiment behind the sacre comes through clear.] I'll stand by it.

My haunting you would mean this ball of malice hanging around, spiriting away most of your stuff---phenomenon's well-documented as 'asports'---and wrecking what remained. I'd be angry enough to make everything awful.

Re: [action]

[dirge]

[He swallows nervously and audibly... She doesn't sound like she's bluffing. Maybe he should be careful until he can confirm her claim one way or another. Well, any other way then possibly inflicting it on himself, that is.]

Spiriting away my- and wrecking it? That IS awful! No, no I cannot let you do that!

Re: [action]

[10_20_15_5_50]

It would be. I'm not much for half-measures.

[Sam crosses her arms. Her expression is still serious, but the noise of that nervous swallow is remarkably satisfying.]

You won't have to worry about that, though, if you don't eat or otherwise murder anyone.

Re: [action]

[dirge]

[Dirge actually backs away a step, staring as if analyzing her for a moment. For now it seems he must take her seriously.]

Unless this restaurant serves live meals, I don't think you need to worry about it.

[After he ate, the jet resolves to go back to the warehouse and try to find some information on this 'witching' thing. And haunting too.]

Re: [action]

[10_20_15_5_50]

[Despite having the advantages of size, and speed, and strength, he's stepped back---from her. Just her. Sam manages to maintain her mien on account of the situation's stakes, but causing that motion is something she can carry as long as she has a hide.]

I'm happy to hear that.

[She may worry a little anyway, but she's certainly not going to show it. Instead, she'll nod to Dirge---civility, see?---and moves to the Gateway. Now that she has her books, she has about six hundred pages to prepare for use; it's time to get going.]