Familiar Face (Whiplash)

[Jessica Ross]

Jess didn't bother to stop the eye-roll that time with the sarcasm. She did continue petting him, however, and she seemed to be enjoying the fact that she was petting his horns, deriving a sort of calming influence from the soft motion. It wasn't just this or that or something that made her smile, it....well, it was something that made her almost as calm as Whips, in a way. She was already calmer then him, but the action seemed to somehow make her even calmer.

"Humans take time to become adults to, just less of it," she responded calmly, as if just reminding him of this fact would keep him at least slightly humble. It wouldn't, and Jess knew that, but that didn't change the fact she liked to remind him of certain things; such as the fact that humans and Transformers were not that different, despite longevity.

And one species being giant, alien, robots.

"And no, I guess there wouldn't be an age limit on that. You're born into...factions?" she questioned, obviously pausing in her wording before choosing one.

She wasn't really sure what to call the Autobots and the Decepticons as a whole.

[whiplash]

“Depends. If your genitors are both Autobots, then you’re probably gonna be one, too. Same with Decepticons. If your parents are neutral, then Primus help you.” He added this last a touch bitterly. “I don’t know if there have ever been any cross-faction sparklings, but… weirder things have happened.”

His optics were beginning to shutter again, despite the potentially-distressing nature of their conversation. Whiplash would probably have been amused had he known that he was having a calming effect on Jessica. It seemed that this little moment was therapeutic for the both of them. “So how old are you, anyway?” He asked, the thought suddenly just occurring to him.

He guessed that she was near his age--or the human equivalent of it, anyway. She seemed to be coming into her adult configuration, as far as he could tell, but he was no expert on human anatomy.

[Jessica Ross]

Jess gave a nod in agreement, thinking of the things she was picking up throughout this conversation. The factions was the most interesting one and she wondered what they worked for. The black and white paint good and evil was never what she wanted to hear. She wanted to know the goals, the thoughts, the everything of the two factions. The heart of them, followed by who worked under them, and build up what each faction represented, truly. She wanted to figure it out for herself.

She really had nothing else to do when her "school" was done that day.

At Whiplash's question, she smiled. "I'm fifteen years old, Whips," she answered calmly, still running her fingers down his horns. It was something that was...nice for her. She would admit that much, to herself.

But the part about it that made her smile, that made her happy to do this, was how relaxed Whips got through her doing this. It was almost like...he was allowed to let go of the rage her purposely held onto or something.

It brought a bit of happiness to her life that she was able to help Whips in some way.

[whiplash]

“Huh,” was Whip’s response to her age. Well, they were pretty analogous as far as that went, weren’t they? He had nothing more to say on the matter, and let himself settle into comfortable silence, watching the rest of the movie.

Whiplash would probably be happy to share what he knew with Jessica, but his views were, of course, going to be skewed. He didn’t really believe in the Decepticon cause, whatever it might have been during the beginning of the war. He’d simply chosen what he thought to be the winning side. It would be difficult for him to explain the intricacies of the political power-play between the Autobots and the Decepticons.

That could wait. For now, he was content just to lie there in the deepening dark with his human, watching a fictional hero battle a fictional villain on the silver screen. When the movie finally came to a close, he stirred slightly and looked her way. “Wanna stick around for another one?”

[Jessica Ross]

Jessica looked back forward. They had enough of the heart-wrenching and heavy conversation for the night. She settled more onto the ground and closed her eyes for a moment, before she focused forward and on the screen in front of them. Once again, the movie pulled her along and she was calm once more. Her fingers continued to work along Whips's horns and she ate more beef jerky. It was a simple arrangement and it was something she was enjoying.

She hadn't been able to enjoy such a thing since her brother left. She missed him greatly, now that she was back in his place that had once been just their's, once upon a time. However, that time no longer existed; five years was a long time, apparently, and she had last heard from him on the day of the argument.

The day she met Whips actually.

"Yeah. Let's stay for the next one," she answered and carefully finished off the bag of beef jerky.

[whiplash]

The young Decepticon was quiet during the intermission, though he did pull his head away to ask if Jessica needed to use the bathroom. “I know that’s one of those human things, and I was told that sometimes you guys get all embarrassed about stupid stuff like that.” His only education on human behavior came from VC-866, who Whiplash suspected might not be the most reliable of sources.

He took care of whatever business Jessica needed taking care of, and regardless of whether they needed to move, they were back in their spot by the time the second film’s opening short started to roll. He settled himself properly and decided to give this movie a real effort, concentrating on understanding the confusing images scrolling past him.

It wasn’t he discovered, that hard to make sense from it. He became so focused that he wasn’t paying attention to Jessica’s fingers, whether they kept stroking or fell still. About halfway through the movie he glanced her way.

[Jessica Ross]

Jessica shook her head a bit. "No, I'm good in that department. And some humans get embarrassed by it, not all humans," she answered, deciding not to point out how silly that was. She was carefully as she began to, carefully, stretch out some sore muscles that were just tired from holding her up properly. The quick intermission was necessary for some, who were driving off or moving about below, but not necessary for some, who were silent and, practically, unmoving. She shifted a bit and, as the second short began, with Whips settling in, she began to pet his horns again.

However, she had underestimated the calming influence of petting Whips's horns. She yawned a bit, covering her mouth with her free hand, but it was the start of a losing battle. The movie wasn't even halfway through when she was settled against Whips more, carefully using the 'Con as a pillow, for lack of a better word. She was fast asleep by the time Whips glanced her way, unaware of how tired she had been.

Emotionally exposing conversations could do that to a human.

On the bright side, she neither snored nor drooled.

[whiplash]

Whiplash gave a soft huff through his vents and very carefully returned his attention to the movie screen. Well, that meant he wouldn’t be asking too many questions about the film, but he could handle it. Curiously, he found he didn’t mind that the little human had fallen asleep against him. She trusted him. He was surprised by how much he liked that idea.

Being around Jessica was a reminder that he wasn’t helpless, and it made him feel oddly… safe. A large portion of Whiplash’s life had simply been trying to survive the circumstances he’d been put in, but now he felt at least a little bit in control. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt so relaxed, the last time he’d been able just to sit without worrying about his survival. He liked that sense of control. He wanted to keep it. In some way, Jessica’s compliance, her trust, only reinforced that control. He couldn’t find peace when he wanted it, but at least, every now and then, he could make a little.

Whiplash watched the rest of the film silently, eventually resting his chin on his crossed arms. Only when it was over did he stir slightly. He extended a tentacle. The prong was inactive, but still extended (he was relaxed, but not quite relaxed enough to retract it) and he tapped Jessica on the head with a loop of tentacle so as not to accidentally cut her. “Hey. It’s over. Wake up.”

[Jessica Ross]

Jessica stirred slightly when he shifted, but otherwise didn't waken. She was tired and she settled more against Whips as the movie played on. She let out a low sigh as she snuggled with Whips, still asleep. in fact, she was asleep until she felt something tap her head. She let out a whine and snuggled closer to Whips. However, it was enough to wake her up some.

"Wha?" she asked and slowly sat up, rubbing at her eyes. She let out a yawn and continued to rub at her eyes before looking around, then noticing the blank screen. More people were leaving and she looked to Whips.

"I missed the movie?" she questioned, even if it was obvious she had. It was obvious her exhaustion had dulled her usually sharp wit.

Well, obvious to humans, but maybe not so for Whips. That would really depend on him.

[whiplash]

Whips was largely unfamiliar with the concept of snuggling, but he didn’t particularly mind that Jessica was doing it. Still, it was past time to go, so he knocked her again until the groggy girl stirred. As she tried to piece together what had happened, Whiplash chuckled. It was a startlingly honest sound coming from him. It wasn’t tinged with sarcasm, or particularly malevolent. He was just plainly amused. “Yeah, but you looked like you could use some recharge.”

He stretched carefully, arching his back like a cat once more. “Figure it makes up for what happened last time, eh? I figure, if I’m gonna keep ya.” He nudged her slightly. “Then I’ll take care of ya.” He lifted his head, blinking, and at the same time activating his holoform. The young helmeted man shook out his wrists and trotted over to Jessica, scooping her up with ease.

“Okay, now, uhh… Whiplash drew himself up; he was standing on two legs, but quite hunched over, with his hands dangling just above the ground. Slowly, he retracted his tentacle. “I… think I can get that sidecar back on.”

[Jessica Ross]

Jess blinked up at Whips as he stretched and he reminded her strongly of a cat. A very large, very scary cat. Maybe more like a panther, except that she wasn't entirely sure if that was how panthers did things like stretch like that. She couldn't help but watch and she jumped a little when he brought up her 'pet' status. She blinked and nodded a bit before she let out a squeak as she was suddenly lifted up into the air. She clung to the holoform and then gave Whips a look. "You think you can?" she questioned.

She really didn't like it when she heard 'think' in that sentence. She resisted the urge to sigh, but she did rest against the holoform. She yawned with a tiny squeak at the end and went back to being in a half-doze. "I know you can, Whips," she mumbled softly, already settling back into sleep.

She was happy and she was safe.

Her brother would kill her later, but for now...now was really nice.

[whiplash]

The holoform had been training his attention on Whiplash’s main body and the sidecar, but as Jessica shifted and spoke, he swiveled his blank helmet towards her, pausing to adjust his grip slightly so as to hold her more comfortable.

“Okay, give me a nanoklik.” Whiplash’s first attempt involved him trying to line up a part of his anatomy with the sidecar and then transform, and he very nearly got stuck between forms in the process. That was, needless to say, a disaster, so after that he had his holoform set Jessica down. Whiplash himself shifted to alt mode, and then used his holoform to carefully line up the sidecar.

There was a whirring sound as Whiplash carefully secured the struts once more, but in the end it was just as secure as before. “Ha! Knew I could figure it out.” His holoform then dutifully transferred Jessica to her rightful seat in the sidecar, and before too long, they were on their way. Whiplash carefully navigated his way down the hill, clearly in no hurry to be along. “Uh, so… am I going to take you straight up to your house, or d’you want me to drop you off somewhere, nearby?” He knew that her father wasn’t about, but Whiplash frankly would have preferred to avoid whatever family he could.

[Jessica Ross]

Jessica, with her moving about, was slowly forced to wake up more. Also, away from Whiplash's warm presence, she was getting cold, which helped to wake her up. She blinked a bit and barely managed to shake off some sleepiness before she focused on Whips, in time to see him using his holoform to attach the sidecar. It was very lucky for Whips that she hadn't seen his earlier attempt, or she probably would have made comments that bordered on just this side of sharp.

"Knew you could, Whips," Jessica answered and felt herself be transferred. She, carefully, reminded him of her wheelchair, not wishing it to be left behind.

She would demand he turn around and back for it if he forgot it anyway, so either way she was going to be keeping it relatively close. And, once on their merry way, she turned the question Whips had posed to her over in her mind. "Just drop me off at the corner. Mom will get upset for a little bit, but if I say something about how you're shy or something similar, she'll let it go," Jessica answered after some time.

It wasn't much, but it was the best Jess could offer at this point. It was practically the only plan she had, in an effort to keep Whips comfortable and, hopefully, not bring up too many questions with her parents.

Well, mainly mother. When her dad was around, it would be hard to hang out with Whips.

Very, very, hard.

[whiplash]

Whiplash’s holoform nodded in acknowledgement. He hadn’t considered the fact that Jessica’s family might be a problem. Based on what Jessica knew of his personality so far, she would probably assume that Whiplash would callously disregard their feelings in favor of serving his own will, and such an assumption would be a logical one. It was not the case, however--but she was not likely to learn this anytime soon.

The streets were relatively quiet so late at night, and Whiplash had an easy time working his way through the city and the suburbs. He didn’t do much driving for diving’s sake, and hadn’t really noticed how pleasant it was to drive through an Earth city at night. It clashing contrast of neon and dark reminded him of Cybertron, of a time before war had interrupted his life.

The stirring memory didn’t bother him, as he’d expected it would. It just made that long-forgotten peaceful feeling well up in him again. This probably wouldn’t be evident to Jessica, but Whiplash relaxed as he drove. In some way, he knew, Jessica was responsible for that. She had a calming effect on him.

He let her direct him to the specific corner she wanted, and pulled up, immediately parking and setting about getting her wheelchair ready for her. As he carefully maneuvered her into it, he asked, “You sure you got it from here? All on your own?” he sounded doubtful.

[Jessica Ross]

Jessica resisted the urge to shake her head at him. She was tired and she smiled in thanks at Whips as he helped her get back into her wheelchair. She still had her jacket and there was nothing left behind in the sidecar, so she was certain that things would be fine. She carefully situated herself in her wheelchair and then focused on Whips. She actually turned slightly to smile at the motorcycle. "I'll be fine, Whips, promise. My house is three down from here," she answered and she gently placed her hand on his holoform's shoulder.

"Thank you," she added softly and focused toward home. She smiled a little and let out a low sigh.

She then settled her hands on the wheels and began to, carefully, work her way down to the house. She then stopped and looked back at him. "See you at Christmas?" she asked.