#I do like writing the sillier moments in the angst tho lol

[lexicorp]

Transformers Earthspark: Another Place, Another Prison

So this chapter is based round S3 E4, and his rising salt, anxiety, and denial plus partial acceptance. No soldier left behind my aft. That what they like to call /irony/ :)

I'm def hoping the pacing is still decent on this one, I kinda tend to style it in tandem with his train of thought and tendency to blank out lol.

Previous/First Chapter: The Need For Read

Next Chapter: Judgment Day

Chapter 2: No Soldier Left Behind

More and more of the sun’s annoyingly repetitive up and down cycle over the horizon has come and gone. Starscream had determined that he didn’t have to worry too much about energon for now, with the chaos energy seeming to work for him as a sort of supplement. Aftermath and Spitfire have even been rather entertaining these last few cycles, despite their acting being rather lackluster. Seriously, did he have to do all the work? He’s already orchestrating a hundred percent of the dialogue. 

Regardless, they were more fun than failing to break down the door, or the window, over and over again. Blasters didn’t work. Using the extractor didn’t work as some sort of remote like it did for Mandroid. The stupid door apparently only listened to Hashtag in that way. Why couldn’t he command energy into its circuits to yield to his will? What was the difference? And Primus, whose optics can handle so much punishment before cracking?? Why was it being this difficult? He should be out of here by now! As if this pathetic cage wasn’t the least of his worries with that damned dome out there that only the Malto’s seemed to be capable of opening. 

He tossed the spear back and forth in his servos as he sighed in frustration. Then, a shutter rattled up his frame from his peds to wings uncomfortably, yet familiar as the chaos energy electrified his senses from one of its unpredictable surges. He had in-vented harshly and held it for a considerable amount of time as his systems absorbed the fuel to rejuvenate whatever energon he had left. After it subsided, he shook out his frame and cleared his throat. 

Starscream's optics flickered with the crimson electricity, and with a shaky servo he rubbed them with annoyance. The odd side effects of this energy had started to become quite apparent to him, and they were… inconvenient. He didn’t need help feeling his anger, thank you, and the shaking. It made him too twitchy. He can’t make a fool out of himself by being a spazzy, erratic mess when the time came to face the others. 

Starscream glanced back at Spitfire and Aftermath. At least they couldn’t verbally make fun of him, but the looks on their faces at his state still managed to show judgment as the surge dissipated from their frames. His optic twitched to spite him as it turned red for a moment before he turned his heel in their direction, waving around the spear.

“Oh HA-HA go ahead and laugh, sure, what else can you do hm? At least I am trying to figure something out.” Starscream knew they were thinking it. Knew they thought he was pathetic. They thought it was funny that the door wouldn’t listen to him. Would it listen to them? Well they won’t even get off their afts to try! 

“Actually…” He started in thought as he strutted over to them with a little purr in his tone, “Maybe you could help. If it listened to the Terrans, perhaps it is simply a matter of CNA.” He picked up Spitfire and took her and the spear back towards the door. He carefully maneuvered the little drone to place her hand against it, then he injected her spark with more chaos energy to perhaps give a jump for it to receive the signal. The lights across the surface went red, but otherwise did nothing. Again. 

His servos and wings shook violently with frustration, but upon feeling the strength of his growing grip around the small mech in his servo, he stiffened. Then ex-vented into a laugh. “Well! We tried! Good effort Sprite! You did great, grade-A performance! We just have a bit of a tough crowd.” 

He reeled back around to the table and placed Spitfire back down to lean against Aftermath, this time arranging her arms to be crossed and one leg propped up. She kept tipping but he eventually got it to work. Then he pulled up Aftermath’s arm to try and have him lean his faceplace on his servo. This was even more precarious, but soon enough it was perfect. And they looked just a bit more like themselves, which made him smile just a bit more genuinely. He had even adjusted their optic lids to show a twinge of expression.

Why the surges hadn’t made them show some sort of signs of coming back online was beyond him. It’d been too long, some part of him knew, yet he still stubbornly thought they’d come to any cycle now. They’d be fine. Aftermath wasn’t nearly as likable or, frankly, bright, but he was certainly looking forward to hearing Spitfire’s snarky voicebox again. Even if she immediately overstepped her rank, which she would and possibly deserved too after everything, he wouldn’t care. 

Now the pride he felt about his handiwork was tainted by some odd feeling in his spark that made him think of that Terran Hashtag. He certainly hoped she was not damaged in his efforts to forge New Cybertron. He wished it had been her that came with that other troop cycles ago, then maybe she would have… No most likely not. It’s dangerous in the dome, and she didn’t trust him anymore. Smart. She shouldn’t try and come here. Watch out for herself instead.

Starscream slid down to sit his back against the table towards the window. Primus he wished he could fly more than useless circles in this cramped place. Instead he prodded at the tip of the spear to feel the controlled little pricks against his plating. The sensation was something to focus on besides the dull faces of the chaos kids, Hashtag’s betrayed expression, the Decepticons, Autobots, G.H.O.S.T; he didn’t want to think about any of it. 

Then he heard the blazing fire of a crashing ship, and saw it shoot across the Titan’s view to ram across the Earth’s surface. Starscream gasped in surprise and shot to his peds, “How did it not just hit the barrier…?” He vented with an air of bafflement, and glanced up at the sky to barely see it reshaping itself after apparently just opening for this thing. Too bad Warp or Nova weren’t there to take advantage of it. Alas, all that came through was a busted up ship. How was that going to be useful? Especially with an unknown mech, or more inside. He supposed the Decepticons could commandeer it and Shockwave could surely make the necessary repairs. Oh but the Auto-glitches would certainly come prancing in here to ruin that plan.

Starscream scoffed as he turned away from the window to pace again. “Good luck with that,” He voiced bitterly. It wasn’t his problem unfortunately, seeing as he still couldn’t get out of his current mess. He whacked Aftermath over the helm playfully, “Hey what do you want to bet that the Autobots will blow that thing up rather than let the Decepticons leave the planet?” He bends down to nudge Spitfire, “Oh you want to wager that they’ll try and reason with the cons to let them take the ship! Never going to happen. You’re insane, little Sprite. And I’ll bet 5 energon cubes–or… we don’t have that but still– that they’ll start shooting at each other immediately.” With such glorious stakes, she had no choice but to be absolutely riveted by his proposal. 

Starscream sauntered away from the two in the anticipated victory to lean against the optic window with one leg lifted slightly. His wings naturally maneuvered out of the way, and he adjusted his optics to focus in as much as he could at what could be happening at the downed ship.

Eventually, the smoke subsided and the Decepticons were the first to arrive, apparently under the direction of Shockwave. It of course made the most sense, yet his spark ached to be down there in his stead. Surprisingly, the cons decided to shoot at the ship quite quickly, even before it had begun fighting back. Why would they want to damage it further? The idiots. They should have at least focused fire on the door. It wasn’t his mission to handle though, and Shockwave obviously wasn’t used to giving clear direction. 

Soon enough, the bots did arrive. Accompanied by Megatron. How fun. Starscream’s favorite part was when the ship of course began to target the fool due to his insignia. Or when he and his precious Prime squabbled about him staying behind, and then him defying it. Seeing Megatron behave as a rebellious little miscreant was quite amusing, he will admit. Yet his spark burned with the thought that Megatron wouldn’t get an axe to the helm for such a crime. Megatron would never understand, and will never be made to will he? Of course he was allowed to question Prime. Of course he just got to waltz around with them. Halfheartedly fighting off his former fellow Decepticons like he cared. Pathetic. 

Use your gun. Starscream thought bitterly at Megatron as he behaved so disgustingly tenderly with the cons. He should just shoot them, like Prime. Why did he just grab at Ravage? He didn’t even toss her aside! 

Starscream’s lax posture had broadened as he now fully faced down the scene and growled, “What was that Megatron?!” The chaos energy flickered from the window and across his frame, illuminating his optics in crimson light. His wings vibrated in his growing anger. “Oh what– you know how to not shoot or punch your way through an interaction now!? Since when?! She’s your opponent! Shoot her! Hit her against a rock! Do something!” He watched on silently for another moment as the slagger of course heard none of his ramblings. Then he chuckled darkly before slamming a shaking fist against the window. “Oh yes, I get it now. I’m just special. Tch. Right. I could try to take it as a compliment, I really could. But you know what? No. It’s stupid. So. Unbelievably. Stupid.” He in-vented sharply as he tried to settle down the fire in his spark from the energy gripping it. He held his helm and growled. Starscream had a right to be angry, but it didn’t help. He couldn’t shoot Megatron himself from here. He couldn’t even tell him off. Starscream was, quite literally, talking to a wall. He hated it. He wanted to destroy it. Destroy him. 

He wanted to incinerate all of them.

More of the chaotic crimson lightning converged on him like his violent thoughts were a light it flocked to. It dug into his spark like it was nestling into a little crevice made just for it to make its home. His vents began to quicken as his whole frame rattled erratically as it tried to distort his vision.

He hated it. He didn’t actually want to destroy everything and everyone, that would be moronic! He liked at least two of the people that could be down there right? And destroying it all wouldn’t leave much to govern over. Why did the stupid corrupted Emberstone power have to behave like this?

As Starscream fought against the urge to blast everything in sight, he vaguely felt himself ram against the wall and slide down to the floor. He could hardly think with the screaming in his processor, and audials now that he mentions it. It was probably him. He was the only vocal one there. But he couldn’t let this Primus forsaken power control him, he controlled it, slag it all. 

Yet eventually, his optics flickered online and he flapped out his wings in tune. When he looked around, there were blast marks everywhere, mainly at the window as smoke still hovered around it. Frag. Even poor Spitfire and Aftermath were now somehow thrown against the wall instead of their proper positions. He found himself staring blankly at the little dents in their frames as they laid crumpled on the floor. He just stood there with wide optics. He had done it, all of it, but he didn’t remember. Was that what had happened before? Could the power also rob his memory? 

Starscream’s servo mindlessly reached to cover his mouth as he finally looked away toward nothing else in particular. That was until he remembered the ship. He should probably continue monitoring that… right.

As he approached the window, Spitfire’s twin flew across with something trailing behind her. They were near him! What were they doing? He pressed his servos against the glass and watched intently. Perhaps their plan was to use the chaos energy around the Titan to boost the downed ship to get it out? Yes, that was it. They were to use that string as a sort of cable for their engine. Apparently the cons and bots were all fighting again. Good. But who was going to get the ship if that Terran was the one who obtained its power? Now this could be interesting. He wasn’t sure either him or Spitfire were going to win that bet now. 

It seemed like it was quite the effort, but the Terran Twitch and whoever else did manage to charge the ship. He was a bit disappointed that she hadn’t at least stopped by the Titan’s optics for even one moment to try and talk to him before leaving. Too focused on the mission he supposed, he could respect that. Then as it turned out, the Decepticons got a hold of the ship! Although the Prime and Megatron ran a bit of interference… and Megatron jumped ship for the Prime… what in the Pit.

Starscream's optics narrowed at this but snapped open at the realization that he was going to be left behind. “WAIT!” He slammed a fist against the glass in an effort to elicit sound to the outside. “WAIT WHERE ARE YOU GOING? Swing by this way–come ON you useless slagging idiots! Don’t– they can’t leave the barrier right?? Or is that ship just privileged?” It in fact, was. “No no no no– Wait!! Don’t leave me here you ungrateful rust buckets!!” They didn’t listen. The chaos powered, last hope of getting off earth rapidly disappeared into the atmosphere without care of his plight. “GET BACK DOWN HERE!” He banged uselessly over and over again as he screamed at the sky. 

The crimson lightning came flickering through his wings and guiding his peds yet again. He was too distracted. Starscream was beyond frantic. He shot at the walls again. He tried to pull the plating off of any surface he could reach. He kicked, punched, screamed, flew and rammed against the window. 

He should have been able to get out. He should have been able to go with them. He should have been able to beat the slag out of Megatron, and command the Decepticons to victory. He hates this planet. He wished the war never landed on earth. They shouldn’t have been here. Starscream shouldn’t be here. The Terrans could claim it all they wanted. He just wanted OUT. Out of this room, off this planet, away from this invasive power of Quintus’ creation. Why had he thought this was a good idea? Trying to use it like it wouldn’t blow up in his face like everything always did. Why did magic always have to be so weird?!

This time when his processor was returned to him, the Earth’s star had been hidden from view and the only light that remained came from the ruined city and the dim green spark that still evaded complete annihilation. This time, Sprite and A.M were spared further damage, but his own frame was not so lucky. Although they were superficial at best. Some crushed plating from… maybe ramming the door somehow? A bent wing, an aching helm, scuffs all over his peds and servos. All things he could manage and no spilled energon. 

Starscream’s wings twitched as a bit of lingering lightning flitted through them, and his hands did a little of their own little spazzes. Ugh. He was tired. So he sat unmoving, much like the Terrans who laid across from him, for quite some time. Apparently enough for the sun to return. He sighed and pulled himself up to approach the other two mechs. 

“Alright kids, looks like it’s officially just us now. Won’t that be fun?” Starscream managed a fake little smile. He nudged Spitfire to the side first before hoisting Aftermath’s arm over his shoulder and led the big lug back to his seat. Then retrieved Spitfire, simply laying her down gently on the table. 

He glanced around the room before blankly staring out the window again. He began to laugh, just a twinge manically. “They surely are missing the uniquely rowdy parties we’re having in here now, aren’t they? Of course, this is the ultimate place to be right, kids? We have the best seats in the city! And besides, who needs those other guys when we have each other and all that disgusting autobot slag. Ew, I can’t believe I even just said that.” He slumped a bit before dancing around his little crew. “Yet alas, you may be mad at me, but we’re stuck so you have no choice but to adore me. A glorious fate, really, I assure you! Oh what was that? You never even want to leave now? Oh shut up idiot, you suckup.” He backhanded Aftermath on the shoulder plating. “Sprite here knows we’re doomed and it’s all my fault.” 

 Starscream froze a moment at the fact his glossia had uttered his fictional dialogue to proclaim such a thing. He then chuckled emptily in a way that begged to devolve further. “Woah what was that? I didn’t hear anything. It must have been the wind. Of which, definitely can get in here.” 

No one’s coming, they’ll never get out.

The best time to have a fake little party to boost morale! 

His vast imagination had never steered him wrong before, although perhaps Quintus had other ideas, as for a moment he swore he heard Spitfire give a little, “Sure, keep talking ya nutjob.” Even as her eyes remained dead, and her glossia never moved.

Right. The wind.

[trobedgirldads]

Hey, I'm working on my Cooliver fic. Do you have a list of episodes that are best to rewatch to get their personalities and dynamics?

okay first of all i’m honored that you thought to ask me. second of all, i’m sorry i took forever to reply but i realized i didn’t have a list so i put one together lol

the otto motto (s1 e18) is the first time the idea of oliver being gay is mentioned

the walk (s1 e 20) is sooo important for cooper. first time we see his real personality instead of just his cool kid facade. also iirc this is the first appearance of “move on to your next point”

boo-who? (s2 e5) is pretty good for early oliver. it’s got his sass, some insecurities, a touch of scheming and ofc his iconic scream. cooper’s not in it tho.

blondetourage (s2 e11) is so iconic for them. the sneakers, the phone scheme. “i’m already riding bitch on your vespa.”

all coupled up (s2 e17) is their first big fight, so if you’re writing a fight/argument this is a good one. also some good cooper & katie moments.

it’s hard to say goodbye (s2 e19) is another one without cooper, but if you’re writing sad oliver this is such a good reference; he’s really well written and acted in this episode. the cgi tears take me out tho 😭😭

here we go again (s3 e2) has them work through conflicts and like resolve a fight without intervention from katie/greg. i love them <3. absolutely banger episode for each of them individually, and them as a duo.

enemies: an otto story (s3 e4) has a good oliver scheme, and he gets cooper in on it. cooper talking about tagging along to boarding school with him makes me feel things.

trust me (s3 e5) is the absolutely iconic scooby-doo halloween costumes/making out practice episode that every cooliver writer has written about. i think it’s the first time cooper is seriously brought into the whole “oliver might be gay” bit, but i might be wrong about that (i know cooper’s mentioned the first time it’s ever brought up, but i think this is the first time he really seems like a piece of the puzzle)

body image (s3 e6) again, no cooper, but very good for insecure oliver

mo’ money, mo’ problems (s3 e13) is also so iconic in my brain. idk how genuinely important it is to either of their development, but it means a lot to me. i can’t remember who it was, but someone on here posted a really good analysis of cooper in this episode and how he’s lying to try to get oliver to not go to the party, which could be useful depending what you’re writing. also this is the first time cooper calls katie and greg mom and dad :(

insta-friends (s3 e16) is another big fight for them, and also some serious cooper daddy/mommy issues. this one isn’t super helpful for individual oliver, but it’s great for individual cooper and their dynamic when they’re mad at each other

field trippin’ (s3 e20) is a much sillier, fluffier episode than a lot of what i have on this list. silly lil scheme gone wrong. cooper’s really only in the first like half of this one tho

a mom’s parade (s3 e22) ok so hot take i don’t really like this episode that much… you can do you is very queer coded tho so it’s going on the list lol

girls’ night out (s4 e6) is just so awesome. oliver’s really sweet towards the end, and it’s bcuz of cooper. cooliver/triplor double date mention!!! tiny touch of cooper angst. greg implying that cooper holds a similar role in the family to trip. just all of it is so perfectly cooliver. this is one of their best episodes imo

hip to be square (s4 e9) is the i love you episode!!!!!!!!!!!! them fighting and then saying they love each other!!!!!!!!!!! so interesting for their dynamic!!!

a very english scandal (s4 e14) is the one where the whole school thinks oliver is gay. the one time cooper denies being oliver’s boyfriend. overall very gay episode.

all is fair in love and war reenactment (s4 e17) is a good one for them supporting each other, but not enabling each other’s shitty behavior. really good for their dynamic, and cooper’s got some good layers in this episode

senior prank (s4 e18) ohhhhh they’re such big brothers in this one i love it so much. if you wanna write them as parents this might be a decent reference. also, not cooliver related but franklin is just so iconic in this.

vacation! (s4 e19) i’ve said it before and ill say it again: this episode feels more like a cooliver fic than an actual episode. so good for both of them as individuals, their dynamic as a couple, and how cooper fits into the otto family as a whole.

prom (s4 e20) is another one that i think is good for oliver as an individual and their relationship as a pair. also big brother cooper crumbs!! (they’re very small but they’re there and they’re important to me 😌)

graduation (s5 e1) is ofc so good if you’re writing some angst. seeing how they deal with issues involving them that seem out of their control. also more cooper fitting into the family as a whole <3

psych (s5 e2) is really good for later-seasons oliver and his need for validation. also supportive bf cooper :)

coupling (s5 e3) is the episode i show ppl if i want to get them into the show bcuz it gives such a good overview of all of the characters and their relationships with each other. more cooliver fighting if you need references for that. the couple coding in this episode is so intense.

kids these days (s5 e5) is sooooo good for their dynamic bcuz it really shows how they support each other without enabling each other. i love cooper so much in this episode. “our family” <3

mother’s little helper (s5 e6) is pretty good. shows off that no matter how much they’ve grown, they’re still just dumb teenage boys.

encourage, discourage (s5 e8) is soooo good for cooper fitting into the family as a whole.

the heist (s5 e9) chef cooper origin!!!!! oliver being a supportive bf!!! i love them!!!

getting frank with the ottos (s5 e10) is a big turning point in their relationship. once again, supportive bf oliver!! they’re so cute.

the election (s5 e13) i feel like their dynamic is a little bit weird in this episode (oliver’s like weirdly chill abt once again being confronted w the idea of cooper moving, but ig it’s bcuz he has his own stuff going on) but it’s so good for sad cooper/daddy issues cooper. this is definitely a huge one for cooper angst references

okok so this is a really big list. obvs i don’t know what the plot of your fic is or when it’s set, so some of these might be much more helpful than others depending what you’re writing. these are just my suggestions of the ones that stand out as important for them as individuals and as a duo. hope this is helpful!!!! i’m excited to read your fic if/when you post it :)