lostcarnival | Caw-Caw

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Caw-Caw

Who: Starscream and YOU
What: Shistscram is freed from one kind of bird jail, but is still just as trapped as ever in the other. Er. He's out of his cage, but he's still trapped inside a tiny feathery body.
Where: Here, there and everywhere around the carnival grounds.
When: After the Matrix
Warnings: Nothing worse than a Rude Nasty Bird.

First the Ringmaster turns him into a crow, then he gets shoved into solitary for an extended period of time. Truly, the cruelty of the tyrants that run this place knows no bounds.
At least, that’s how Starscream sees it. Anyone sensible who actually has the full story would unanimously agree that he deserved it for being a wad, but, Starscream isn’t a Cybertronian known for taking responsibility for his actions.

Regardless, he’s back now. Free, in a sense… or as free as he can get when he’s bound to the carnival grounds. As soon as he’d been turned loose from the Ringmaster’s tent he’d taken wing and flown as high as he could get, circling several times around the carnival grounds before settling atop the peak of the Big Top. He’s been out of action for a while… the first thing he should probably do is get the lay of the land.

A. Somebody’s watching you…

Relative newcomers to the carnival scene may find themselves suffering under the uncanny sense that they’re being watched. That feeling can be traced back to a singular source: A large, black and grey crow that has been skulking around the fairgrounds, watching workers and guests alike with its beady little eyes. It doesn’t seem to be particularly malevolent, nor does it seem to want anything. It’s just watching you, far more closely than any regular crow should be. In fact there’s something unsettlingly intelligent about its gaze, even by corvid standards. Like it knows and understands far more than it should, or that maybe it’s capable of speaking to you, and just hasn’t spoken up yet.

Wherever you are, if Starscream doesn’t recognize you, he’s going to be watching you. Trying to size you up, and figure out if you’re the type of person who might be useful to know…

Bad Blood (closed to Veterans)

Likewise, veterans of the carnival who have been around since before the vampires attacked may also get that same feeling of being watched, but Starscream is being far more furtive about it with you. In some cases, depending on past interactions, he may even be avoiding you, cawing and flying away at first eye contact.

Basically this is a sort of vague prompt for establishing old CR and playing out reactions to seeing a known traitor and troublemaker out and about on the grounds once more. Starscream used to work as a scout before he hecked up and got a one-way ticket to crow town, so veterans from that area will likely know him as a former 30 ft. tall robot with a nasty attitude. He’s kind of a negative CR machine. Message me at

awkwardpossum if you want to set up anything concrete for this.

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It's only just outside of trailer #19 — home, for the time being — that Childermass picks up on being watched. He really isn't more than five steps out the door before he pauses, frowning thoughtfully as he tries to decide if he's imagining things or not. As he doesn't often imagine things, well, he'll settle on 'yes, I'm being watched'.

He'll reach into one pocket as he looks around, though for what, it doesn't quite matter. He won't get as far as to pull anything out, since looking around ends with him spotting the crow. So, just a bird... or is it?

"You're a big one..."

For now, let's assume this is actually a crow, so he'll talk to it as casually as one might a dog. This time, when he searches his pockets, it's for something else entirely. He doesn't have any food, but he did manage to get a few of the bigger sequins from wardrobe caught on himself the last time he visited. They're still in his pocket, his other pocket, so he'll fish out one of those. Usually, a bird will be more interested in food, but shiny things for crows works on occasion.

He'll hold up one of those, turning it in the sunlight to try and coax the bird down.

"You're too fat to be wild, so why don't you come down here? I have something for you."

He's likely never seen a crow look more offended. Starscream's feathers are, quite literally, ruffled. Weight is a non-issue when you're a robot, but he's figured out from context at this point that generally, people only ever say someone is 'fat' as an insult.

"Didn't anyone ever teach you that it's generally considered rude to provide unsolicited commentary on another person's appearance?" the crow growls, lowering his head and swaying irritably.

"Ah. Of course. You're a magical talking crow," is Childermass's first response after a moment of simply staring at Starscream. Yes. A talking crow. That makes about as much sense in this place as anything else, he supposes. "But no, it would seem I missed that day in school."

And any day in school, actually, but that's not the point. In any case, he's still holding the big gold-colored sequin aloft and he'll continue on like he hadn't just offended a chatty bird.

"So is that a no on wanting this?"

"I'll pass," Starscream says, trying and failing miserably at keeping the undertone of disgust out of his voice. "I think you will find that I'm not the sort to be easily swayed by shiny trinkets. You might do well to remember that if we're to... coexist, in the same space."

That's right buddy. MEET YOUR NEW ROOMIE.

Okay, that takes another few seconds to take in. He had found out before that the Doctor had decided to finally pull up his roots (metaphorical ones, thank God) and leave, but now he's been replaced with a talking crow? A very disrespectful one at that. Childermass does frown some at that, but it's not like anything can be done about it for now.

So he shrugs and returns the sequin to his pocket.

"Hm. I'll keep that in mind," he replies after, then tilts his head curiously to one side, looking between Starscream and the trailer. "And do you have a name or will I be sticking with Fat Crow?"

"It's Starscream, you insufferable--" the crow starts to Snarl, but he cuts himself off before he actually delves into any vicious name-calling. He gives himself a little shake, as if to recompose himself.

"My apologies, I... have been kept away from the company of beings aside from our illustrious Ringmaster and Warden for... quite some time now," Starscream huffs. "Captivity seems to have badly affected my temper."

In actuality, he's simply swallowing his anger at this human... but, he's already decided that it would not do well to get in the bad-side of someone he's doomed to share such close quarters with.

And Childermass waits out his huffing and puffing patiently, head still tilted ever so slightly to one side while he watches the crow. It makes for a very interesting sight, at the very least.

"Yes, it often does that to everyone," he'll agree as his own way of accepting the apology, though he's dealt with tempers like this before. He won't assume it's purely for the sake of appearances, but he also wouldn't be surprised. Anyway, he'll break away from curiously watching and gives Starscream a nod. "And I am John Childermass. I am not sure why a crow needs to live in a trailer, but I suspect we wouldn't get any sensible answer from the Ringmaster on that."

Probably because it seemed funny. Who knows? The bigger question here is why was he in captivity in the first place, but maybe he'll ask that another time.

"Indeed," Starscream agrees, and he dares to flutter down to the railing leading up to the door of the trailer. "As I'm sure you can surmise by my appearance, she and I have had our fair share of differences in the past. I've since found it's far easier not to question her decisions."

"So she turned you into a crow for your troubles," is what he can surmise, that's for sure. Childermass turns back towards the trailer, gaze following the bird down to the railing. "And what were you before that fair share of differences, Mr. Starscream?"

"A clever human," he says, with a respectful incline of his head. "I was once a proud Cybertronian, though it would not surprise me in the least if you have absolutely no idea of what that means."

Which is why he's going to explain it, whether Childermass asks or not. Also just because he loves talking about himself.

Starscream straightens up, looking about as vain and confident as a carrion bird can possibly get. "We are a race of cyber-organic beings, you see. Metallic in structure, with the ability to alter our forms to better blend in on alien planets. My true form is far more vast in height than this miserable body you see me in now."

That works for him since he's right. Childermass doesn't know and would have asked, so this streamlines the conversation wonderfully.

"Almost anyone would be far more fast in comparison to a crow," he does feel the need to point out, however. "Do you mean to say the Cybertronians are shapeshifters of a sort?"

"Of a sort," Starscream repeats with a dismissive shrug. "We are capable of scanning various modes of transportation and assimilating their designs into our own, allowing us to go unseen on alien planets."

Which is basically just a fancy way of saying they can turns into cars and planes and the like. I am very sorry about this stupid canon.

Something that's metallic in structure and capable of copying how modes of transportation work—

"You turn into cars," Childermass just says it outright. Yeah, he knows what those are. He's met them. He doesn't like them. Never apologize for your stupid canon, this is hilarious. "If that's the case, being a bird may very well be an improvement..."

Really, really does not like cars.

The crow makes an incredibly derisive noise, a scoff that sort of comes out as a half-baked caw. "Please, I'm not some sort of filthy grounder. I have much more pride in myself than that. No, my alternative mode was that of a military aircraft. Sleek. Powerful. Faster than you could possibly imagine."

He is of the firm belief that aerial modes are the only acceptable form for any self-respecting Decepticon.

Now there's a concept that he hasn't quite encountered yet. Sure, the Matrix did have airplanes, but he'd never had a chance to figure out what exactly those were flying by way up there. So, Starscream will have to forgive the ignorance, if he can.

"Military aircraft?" Childermass echoes the words, though they end as a question rather than a statement. "I am afraid I do not know what you mean by aircraft. Something that flies, I presume?"

It's a reasonable enough guess from how Starscream described it obviously not being something on the ground, that 'air' is in the name. It would also make sense to turn someone that can fly into a bird.

Oh dear. This one isn't even familiar with what airplanes are? How... sad. Tragic.

"You are correct. And I can assure you, it's a far more convenient -- and much more respectable -- method of locomotion than spinning your treads through the dirt and filth is."

"A good thing she did not decide to turn you into a mole, then, if that's how you feel about the ground," he can't help but add in a mildly amused manner.

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Caw-Caw

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sorry I am a SLOW BUTT

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