Caw-Caw

[predaconchow]

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.

Comments

[predaconchow]

I mean. He does, absolutely.

"Every time I open my mouth actually, yes," he responds sarcastically. The urge to peck that stupid grin off of Joker's face is becoming increasingly difficult to resist.

[pipers_son]

“Then,” he says, settling his chin on the back of his hand, “ya should know why this is so hilarious. Ya used ta be big and bad and all metal, but now look at ya.” Joker raises his eyebrows up. “Yer a squeaktoy.”

[predaconchow]

To be fair, his voice has always edged into "pathetically squeaky" territory whenever he's gotten scared, even when he was still a giant robot. Not that he would admit that, nor does it make the comment any less irksome...

"Used to be and will be again, someday in the near future," Starscream hisses, doing his level best to look menacing. "I'd advise you to hold your tongue; I am maintaining a list of co-workers who have insulted me, so that I can revisit them once I've regained my proper form."

[pipers_son]

“Nah,” is the response, full of the kind of easygoing carelessness that says Joker isn’t liable to change his mind on this anytime soon. Smirking, he waggles his fingers a little bit. “Do ya really think yer gonna be changin’ anytime soon? This ain’t a temporary thing…” And his voice dips a little darker. “Not with what ya tried ta do. The only time you’ll stop bein’ a crow is when Koel makes ya dinner.”

[predaconchow]

Okay that comment scares him a lot more than he'd care to admit. He takes a step back, feathers flattening in a subconscious attempt to make himself look smaller. "That's a bluff," he snaps, wild-eyed. "She wouldn't dare."

[pipers_son]

Oh ho. Yeah, Joker thought that would get at him a bit. The stage manager’s smile gets a little sharper, a little darker all around the edges, not the kind of smile he usually shows around most folks. Best not scare his performers, after all. “Why not?” he drawls, vivid pink eyes glittering. “Ya broke one of the golden rules, didn’t ya? Or were fixin’ ta. Thou shalt not harm yer kin. When ya do that… Well. Can ya really be considered kin anymore yerself?” A wink that, in any other context, would be playful. “Ain’t nothin’ protectin’ ya, I’d wager.”