#whereas tfp optimus does not

[grimxark]

IDW and tfp op, IDW Prowl and Megatron Mlp designs for the au that lives in my head. Well not tfp op he’s just there bc I wanted to show different personalities

[fictional-love-is-my-life]

I just realise one thing that only on bayverse and only Michael bay and brave enough to make film that autobots got hunting by humans, I meant if we look in previous cartoon even the ones that considering as dark and mature ones they never dare to make autobots vs humans.

Also so far i know there's like never government decided to hunting autobots like they are evil like decepticon, like in bay films. So far the only tension in cartoons about autobots and humans have different opinions and end up argued to each other but never 'autobots are evil like decepticon, so let's hunting them like animals and do genocides to them' and even go wrong autobots only end up cutting from government and government mostly leave them alone.

So bay really have balls to make story about what if humans betraying autobots after everything they done for them. AOE definitely heartbreaking film, specially for optimus and Joshua said humans no need autobots anymore, I was like ' bitch, if you no need them again then send them away and don't kill them. How ungrateful are you'. Seriously AOE definitely for so many hate from fans (mainly because they killed ratchet and how ungrateful humans are)

AOE definitely went all out, and it made me sad. Still a good movie, but it was quite heartbreaking.

Bay was able to do that because of its rating. It's a PG-13 whereas I think a lot of TV shows are supposed to be for little kids, so they can't exactly do things Bay does.

Putting the rest under a read more for TF Prime SPOILERS. Do not read if you don't want TFP spoiled.

However, Transformers Prime was the only other show at least that I know of currently, that had more mature themes. And at one point did have a human vs Autobots part.

I mean TFP has Silas and his group that somewhat 'hunted' the bots. I mean they captured bots, and they stole Bumblebee's T-cog.

It's been a while since I watched TFP but I'm pretty sure they experimented on Breakdown.

The Bay movies were the only ones allowed to show such horrible stuff such as hunting the bots and killing them off, because the rating allowed them. But TFP (to me) is a close second in maturity level.

[brandwhorestarscream]

More tfp prompt, starscream and optimus prime switch bodies, starscream is surprised how tall and heavy he feels while optimus is in extreme pain due to starscream chronic pain from years of megatron abuse.

Oh 🥺 oh ow 🥺🥺

He aches all over; his wings feel pinched and tight from constant stress, there's a sharp point in his left ankle that hurts and sends pain flaring all up his leg everytime he takes a step. Almost every joint is tender, and he wonders briefly just how Starscream can walk like this. Transforming pinches and prods in all the wrong places; everytime his plating shifts it sends a quick rush of pain all over his body. No matter what action he takes, it hurts. It's incredibly debilitating. Even lying completely still, the pain throbs endlessly. How does Starscream live like this??

Starscream, on the other hand, can't figure out how to fucking walk because he's used to being top heavy and very light on his thrusters, whereas one of OP's legs is like ⅔ of his normal body weight XD lugging this new form around takes so much stamina, and he can forget about having any sort of contact with the autobot team

[cosmicswritings]

Hey I'd love to hear more about Megatron and Starscream's daughters! Whether your tfp version or Idw version of them. I don't think they've been in any of your fics yet ❤️

To add to that I'm so curious in what their creators feel about them. I think you've mentioned that Megatron carries in every other relationship except with Starscream, so I'm super interested in knowing Starscream's experience with carrying Megatron's sparklings with all the violence in their pasts and how they both feel about their daughters? And a little bit about their daughters' personalities too! If that's okay with you.

so tw for like sparkling/carrier death but they get brought back to life so it's all good.

Oh thank you so much I dont think i talk about them enough. So in all my aus when Starscream and Megatron get together officially and have their daughters they are already good. Like their relationship has been mended and they've been together for quite some time. It is post war, and peace times. And even in my aus where the war IS happening the two would have a good relationship.

But their daughters names are Megatronia, Nebula and Andromeda.

Tronia is the oldest and is most like Megatron but resembles Starscream the most. She has more of the 'leader' personality and in many of my aus takes over megatron's affairs after he retires. And in my idw aus, she and her half brother - Kaon - become leaders of Cybertron together. Kaon looks like Megatron's twin, she looks like Starscream's twin, so it's kinda funny. Tronia is a military strategist and likes fighting. She also really likes children as well given she cannot have her own. She trains under Megatron but also her tfp trains under Airachnid. Tronia is also close to Optimus.

then there is nebula who is more of a free spirit, who looks more like megatron but acts like an airhead in a good way. she loves flying but she also loves singing and dancing. she is also very courageous. Her idw counter part is an accidental time traveler, acutally, so is her tfp counter part. TFP counterpart accidentally goes back in time and befriends Miko while her idw counterpart befriends Tailgate. She and Tronia do not get a long like at all.

Both girls have cybertronian jet alt forms whereas Tronia's is more lik megatron's, Nebula's resembles starscream's.

next is andromeda who is the scientist of the family and has a lot of megatron's smarts. She also looks like starscream but a bit more 'bird like' and that's because she's partially an experiment. She was a still born and starcream actually died when he had her. Luckily, Shockwave was able to save them both. In order for Andromeda to survive however, Shocwave had to mix her CNA/Coding with predacon coding, and he also had to do the same to Starscream. Starscream's biology isn't affected but Andromeda's (and later his final child, Atlas) is. Andromeda unlike her sisters has a harpy eagle like alt form. She is incredibly smart, due to Megatron's genes. She is also the one he babied the most out of the girls and for the first year of her life she wasn't allowed to leave his subspace or play with any one, not even her siblings. Megatron had to go to therapy for paranoia after that. But she is very very sweet and kind. If she had a personality it would probably be Megatron's personality before he became a gladiator.

Starscream is actually very happy too be a carrier despite the major repercussions it has on his body. He doesn't care after a while. In my personal AUs, Seekers aren't supposed to be able to carry or have sparklings simply because of how they are created. They are only assembled to fly and fight and nothing else. Carrying was always a dream of Starscreams but he was told that he couldn't do it, and if he tried then it would injure him/possibly kill him. And it eventually does.

That was so traumatic to Starscream to hear so for millions of years he just pretended he hated sparklings and was against the idea of carrying them when that was one of his greatest desires. So when he and megatron are on good terms and are together, it is something he wants to try. Starscream has four sparklings and nearly loses his life every time, but it's still something he wants, well he does die after he has Andromeda but is revived. Because of how he is constructed, it is very difficult for sparklings to grow to full term so he has a lot of complications but all his daughters are healthy, just small but they grow fast. Starscream's last child is his son who is not born small at all and does not have the 'seeker' frame which is very difficult on him.

Megatron makes sure that is the last child they have together for Starscream's own health and benefit. As traumatized as he is with Andromeda he is even more traumatized that Starscream went through all of that, and still wanted to have more sparklings. So he puts an end to it because Starscream's body physically wouldn't be able to take anymore - whether we talk about his tfp or idw counter part.

[darkstarofchaos]

So when I first started reading TF fics, I had a weird relationship with MegaStar. I sort of liked it, but also didn’t want to like it because of the abuse, and even went so far as to claim that I could never ship it because of said abuse. It took years (like, seven or eight of them) to get to the point where I can say I sort of ship it, and even that is circumstantial; ironically, I don’t enjoy portrayals where they’re super lovey-dovey and never antagonize each other.

With MegOp, I never had that reservation. There are probably a few reasons for that, but the biggest one is that I was mostly working with G1, where they had no relationship prior to becoming enemies. To me, the ship was straight enemies-to-lovers, and any hurtful behavior was coming from an inherently different place than abuse.

Another part of it (for me) is that I’ve never been sold on Megatron and Optimus being friends before the war, never mind romantic partners. We’re told that they were great friends, of course, but when it actually appears onscreen, such as in the Exodus novel, they feel more like business partners than people who would enjoy each other’s company. So even when their conflict is deeply personal, like in TFP or IDW, it falls flat. It doesn’t feel like abuse so much as two incompatible people developing an intense hatred of each other.

(Well. I’m not sure how often Optimus actually hates Megatron, so much as he hates what he does. But Megatron definitely goes to unwise lengths to make Optimus suffer, which I’ll come back to in a minute).

There’s also the fact that Optimus has an unwavering support system in the form of the Autobots, whereas Starscream rarely even gets sympathy in canon, never mind friendship. Not to mention, Optimus and Megatron’s relationship is defined by their being mortal enemies, while Megatron and Starscream are supposed to be on the same side. And then there are countless scenes of Starscream being afraid of Megatron or craving his approval, which you simply can’t have with Optimus because he’s Optimus. He’s the Hero who can never show fear unless it’s for someone else, and he certainly doesn’t want Megatron’s approval when he knows their values are so dissimilar.

Everything about their circumstances is just so different, it’s easy to look at the two ships as having entirely different dynamics. And, I would argue, they do have entirely different dynamics, which is probably part of why the toxicity of MegOp gets dismissed. It doesn’t look like how abuse “should” look, so it can’t be abusive.

All of that being said. I have a weird relationship with MegOp. On one hand, I suppose I ship it. At very least, Optimus has the honor of being one of only two characters I can handle pairing with Megatron. On the other hand, I find the ship infuriating in any context other than G1, because most of the time, Megatron doesn’t deserve a second chance. Not from a relationship standpoint, anyway. I can’t look at someone like IDW or TFP Megatron, and the way he specifically wanted Optimus to suffer, and enjoy any sort of reconciliation between them. Maybe I’m just a cynic who believes love doesn’t conquer all, but there are some things you don’t forgive and some people you don’t go back to. And in most canon, Megatron crosses that line. Repeatedly and deliberately.

(To be clear, I feel the same way about MegaStar. If the line is crossed, the line is crossed).

At the end of the day, I can see how easily it could feel like MegaStar is abusive but MegOp isn’t. But I can also see an argument for both pairings being messed up beyond repair. Either way, it feels reductive to say MegaStar is “just” abuse, or to ignore the toxicity of MegOp. Both pairings are more complicated than that, and the characters are all more complicated than that. And in both cases, I’d rather read one really good story that explores that complexity than a hundred stories where everything is perfect.

complex megop opinions below!

Not necessarily positive or negative, just a very objective view of it and how fandom sees it vs. other ships with a similar dynamic. 

This isn’t ship hate, because it’s my OTP. It’s just a realistic look at MegOp spurred on by the fact that I tend to see people overlook the obvious issues for moral points. Meaning, I’ve run upon some sort of hate towards megastar shippers from megop shippers, usually with people accusing the former of being unhealthy and abusive, and i’m like, the latter isn’t? 

And not just the ship, but people too. 

I credit most of the great development and realistic approach towards a positive MegOp portrayal to fans, given that in most media we have of them, their relationship starts out great and disintegrates into one of the most tragic relationships of all time. Not only because they fall out, but because they hurt each other, drastically. Megatron, arguably more. Not only does he hurt Optimus, he targets him by harming those close to him. Whether it’s children or his closest friends, he personally hurts those around Optimus.  

In Prime, it’s arguably worse. Because it’s not just physical, but it’s psychological too. Especially during the Orion Pax saga. 

And the same could be said about Optimus to Megatron as well. Initially. Just in a different light. Optimus, a privilege mech, using his position and power to speak over Megatron, to dismiss his want to use violence and overthrow a government who abused him, etc., is a great example of an abuse of power. 

And I always stand by the fact that Megatron was 100% within his rights to want to use violence to hurt those who hurt him. 

In IDW both have an entire conversation about how badly they’ve hurt each other, Megatron flat out admits to wanting to hurt Optimus by hurting people around him. He knows what emotionally fucks with his closest friend, and proceeds to do it on a galactic level. Repeatedly. 

But people aren’t supposed to interact with megop shippers because they ship megastar? On the basis of abuse and/or an unhealthy relationship? 

What makes them different? A lot, i’m sure. There’s an arguably closer work relationship with Megatron and Starscream, the abuse is physical and psychological. There’s a larger power imbalance, and it’s over the span of a longer time. Starscream has less of a chance to fight back as opposed to Optimus, and the relationship between Megatron and Starscream is not always as equal as Megatron and Optimus’s. 

So it’s much easier to say “This is an unhealthy relationship”. 

But that’s canon. Shippers and artist work very diligently to change it, fix it, and write happy endings to it that end pretty well. They’ve worked to create complex endings to an abusive ship, very similar to how canon and fanon writers have done the exact same thing to Megatron and Optimus. 

But the bottom line is that both ships are very unhealthy. At least a a point. They don’t start that way, and they might not end that way, but a significant chunk of time, they are very, very unhealthy. And the even bottomer line is that fans work very hard to give it a healthier ending–both ships. 

And that said, I don’t understand the vitriol that comes from MegOp shippers to Megastar shippers, especially when both ships have similar dynamics. 

I guess the argument is that “well, one ship is more abusive/unhealthy than the other”, but you get in a weird space when you start to say one version of abuse is more valid than the other. 

And don’t get me wrong, there are stark differences between both ships. I do think Starscream is in a place where he experiences abuse more, but that doesn’t make Megop unhealthy or a morally superior ship. It doesn’t it any less hypocritical to add  “megastars dni/megastars get hit by trucks/i hate megastar shippers” on your profile on the basis of abuse or unhealthy relationships if you ship MegOP. 

I think it’s just dismissive of what both megatron and optimus go through during their time together, because their unhealthiness is acceptable. And that leaves a very sour taste in my mouth. 

So yeah, those are just my thoughts. I welcome another perspective, just be kind about it. 

And I love MegOp. Megatron and Optimus are my favorite characters. but I also know the ship is the most complex ship, imo, to date in transformers. and it’s not without it’s fair share of pain and agony. But why is their dynamic okay. why does it give is the right to be crappy towards other shippers who ship a similar dynamic to ours? 

[nevis-the-skeleton]

What or who are each Decepticons loyal to in TFP?

Hey ^^! Today the question is: What or who are each Decepticons loyal to in TFP?

Because, it's a question that we can think while seeing the series. The question for the Autobots is not really to ask, because we know what they are loyal to: The Autobot cause.

The Decepticons, on the other hand, is another story. We will see here for each character, because none are really loyal to the same thing.

*

Megatron: The cause or rather himself...

Sad to say but I sincerely doubt that Megatron is really loyal to his own cause anymore. Let me explain, in the beginning of season 1, he comes back with Dark Energon. So, that originally he had gone to find an army of Decepticons.

But, it seems that rather than the army to definitively defeat the Autobots, Megatron preferred to return with an unknown substance that has the reputation of giving great power, but also very dangerous for the species of Transformers. The leader of the Decepticons no longer really serves his cause, he's only looking for power to defeat Optimus Prime.

Exactly, Optimus, let's talk about him. Megatron has a clear obsession with him, no doubt. To the point that it made him forget the cause, since he kinda chased the Prime to planet Earth. Whereas, technically, the Decepticons somehow won the war (even with the destruction of their planet).

Because, technically, the Decepticons are more numerous, better armed, and not lacking in energon. On the other side, the Autobots are scattered all over the universe, less well equipped, and always in need of food. Normally, the Decepticons should have declared their victory a long time ago. But, they didn't, because for Megatron it won't be a victory until he kills Optimus.

But, there is another problem that adds up, and that is that Megatron doesn't seem to want to kill Optimus either. At least not by any means possible. When Starscream is about to fire a missile, to eliminate the Prime, Megatron stops him, preventing Optimus' death in the process.

Well, so far you tell yourself that he has a little hatred against Starscream, logical, huh, Starscream tried to kill him a little. But, there is something that is disturbing, it's that he prefers take revenge on Starscream, rather than ending the war by killing Optimus who is still on the ground.

I can more or less understand that he doesn't want Starscream to kill Optimus, and that he wants to teach him a lesson for trying to kill him. OK, I can conceive. I think that I too would have a little hatred if someone tried to kill me. It's totally logical.

But, in any case, Megatron does not kill Optimus! He has the greatest opportunity in the world, and he doesn't! Like… WTF, what exactly does he need to decide to kill him? Optimus needs to be up and running, like, to have the perfect fight or what? Seriously, he stopped the Decepticons from winning the war… Clearly. You see the enemy leader down, you kill him, you win the war, end of the story.

That's why I don't think Megatron is ever loyal to the Decepticon cause… Because, if he was truly loyal to it, he would have forgotten his wish for revenge against Optimus to focus on the goals of the Decepticon cause .

No wonder there are so few who believe in the cause, if even the leader is no longer loyal to it...

*

Soundwave : Megatron

Soundwave doesn't seem exactly loyal to the Decepticon cause, but rather loyal to Megatron. Because, even though Megatron does some shit sometimes, he always follows him. Afterwards, maybe he's actually loyal to the cause, but it doesn't seem like much.

It's for example to Megatron that he made his vow of silence, and not especially to the Decepticon cause. He never disputes a single order, even if it's sometimes a little wonky. And also does everything possible to keep Megatron alive.

He refuses to unplugging Megatron when he was in the coma. He squarely fights Airachnid when she tries to take control and leave without Megatron. Also in RID15 (which is the "sequel" to TFP), as soon as Soundwave gets out of the Shadow Zone, the first thing he tries to do is contact Megatron.

Megatron is his friend very clearly. And even though Soundwave followed him in his idea of ​​revolt, because they had the same ideals, I really feel that he too forgot the real objective of the cause.

*

Starscream : Cybertron

Starscream doesn't really seem to believe in the Decepticon cause, I feel like he sees it more as a means to achieve his objectives. There are two :

1- Become the leader of the Decepticons or Cybertron (it depends on the ambition)

2- Restore Cybertron.

Already, in the aligned novels, it's explained that Starscream's goal is to bring Cybertron back to the Golden Age. He sees that Cybertron is going badly, and he wants to fix things, which is why he is interested in the Decepticon cause.

Well, it's completely screwed up, since Cybertorn dies… Something he regrets bitterly.

But, it seems like it's a goal he still hasn't given up on. When he discovers the true power of the Omega Keys, and retrieves one, he thinks of a way to bargain with the Autobots or Decepticons.

Then, he thinks about the fact that he could restore Cybertron by himself, and become the leader. Except, that he realizes that he has absolutely no way to succed… He has no army, no energon, and not really any material. So, it's a bit complicated to take control of Cybertron...

Because of that, he returns to the Decepticons, and gives the keys to Megatron. But he's not stupid, he realizes that if he does that he can never rule Cybertron. So that means he's overstepped his dream of conquest and glory. His wish to save Cybertron was apparently outweighing his pride.

Moreover, we see that the save of Cybertorn was really close to his Spark, because he's one of those who is most distressed by the loss of the Keys and the Lock (like Ratchet). Unlike KnockOut (who actually allows himself to make a joke) or Megatron. The two seem to really not care.

Just see Megatron's priority, he would rather cyber-form Earth to hurt Optimus, than save his own planet. Starscream obeys, OK, but at the same time, if he doesn't, he wil be hit. So, well, yes, he accepts. He really doesn't have much choice.

Starscream can't be loyal to Megatron or the cause simply because he sees that it's not the same as before, and he doesn't have hope that it will be again. He, perhaps, never really believed in it. The only thing he had hope for, was that Cybertron would one day be restored and saved.

*

KnockOut: Opportunist

Honestly, KnockOut clearly doesn't care which side he's on. I think the reason he joined the Decepticons was simply because he saw that was the side that was winning so he figured that was the one he should choose.

In fact, he's a pretty detached character, who kinda doesn't care when things don't work out in favor of the cause. As long as he has energon and security, the rest is a little above him.

He's not a character who's loyal to anything except himself and his own survival. Just see in Predacons Rising. Well, the Decepticons lost, in which case I'm going with the Autobots. Basically.

He doesn't join a side because he believes in ideals. He joins a camp according to what the camp can offer him.

*

Breakdown: The Cause

I think Breakdown believes in the cause. He knows which side he's on, even when Bulkhead comes to help him against the MECH. He decides to stay a Decepticon, whereas Megatron left him to his fate.

He's not a bad mech, he just fights for the cause, he does his job, without being vicious or sadistic as some can be. So, yeah, he's violent and all, but that's kind of the environment he lives in.

Breakdown is a follower, not a leader or an opportunist. He follows a cause he believes in and that's it. He's not interested in complicated high command stuff, and just does what they asked.

As long as it serves the cause, he does.

*

Dreadwing: The Cause

Much like Breakdown, Dreadwing is loyal to the cause. He follows when given an order, and worries about his leader, because Megatron is the one representing the cause.

But unlike Soundwave who follows Megatron's orders somewhat blindly, Dreadwing can disobey if he deems it necessary. Like when he goes to look for Megatron, when the latter goes to fight Airachnid and his Insecticon. While his leader had told him not to intervene.

The only thing that can get him out of the cause is his wish for revenge for Skyquake's death. But even that, he tries his best to control. He's an honorable robot, who believes in a cause he always thinks is right. His code of honor shows that, for him, the Decepticon cause is an honorable thing, which must have a certain code of honor and values.

Dreadwing's problem was that he failed to notice that the Decepticon cause was no longer what he had known.

*

Airachnid: Herself

Well, no surprise. She is loyal to nothing but herself. She was with the Decepticon cause for a while, probably because unlike the Autobots, the Decepticons allowed more things in terms of torture and death.

In TFP, Airachnid is presented as a sadist who took advantage of the war to do evil around her, without suffering the consequences. If she left the Decepticons for a while, it's probably because she had to do things that even the Decepticons thought was overkill.

She's not on any side. And unlike Starscream (who trades with everyone) or KnockOut (who is just opportunistic), she attacks everyone without distinction. She's the one who basically has her own side.

*

Shockwave: The Science

For Shockwave it's frankly not easy to know. Above all, it seems that he just wants to carry out his experiments without anyone disturbing him. The war was just an opportunity for him to conduct more experiments, and to have access to experiments subjects.

During the war he was able to: recreate the space bridges, create the cortical psychic patch, several diseases, surely many weapons, the Vehicons, the Insecticons, and the Predacons.

The Decepticon cause had more resources, so he joined it. It's logical. It's just Shockwave being Shockwave.

[earthstellar]

The Cybertronian Class System in Transformers Prime

We know very well about the class system in IDW Transformers and how that contributed to the societal tensions that led to the rise of the Decepticon movement, but what about the Aligned Continuity? 

Novel: Exodus 

We know there is a dual caste and guild system in place. 

The caste system referenced in Exodus is directly stated to be determined through a process in which a new spark is encouraged to take its most natural alt-mode form as soon as it is able. The alt-mode is then used to rank them in society. 

Guilds are less well defined, but appear to be structured around further classification of bots by their relative position within their caste. 

The scientific/academic guilds are stated to be of a very high rank, whereas labourers and manual workers are towards the lowest rank. 

There isn’t much more detail than that, so that is almost all of the information we have to work off of in terms of the TFP Cybertronian social structure.

However, it is worth noting that Functionism in the IDW Transformers comics was developed prior to TFP’s writing, and TFP borrowed the concept of alt-mode determination from the comics. So we can assume that many elements of Functionism are shared one to one between these continuities, although the Functionist Council does not exist in the Aligned Continuity. 

Interestingly, Megatron and the beginning of his social revolutionary efforts are based around the same similar initial core beliefs in both IDW and TFP:

I talk more about how class differences between Orion Pax and Megatronus are largely what caused the war in TFP in this post. 

TFP: Deus Ex Machina 

The episode opens with Miko in trouble at school, when she is picked up by Bulkhead after detention is over. He takes her back to base, and they have a discussion about Miko’s future.

Here’s the relevant dialogue: 

Bulkhead: “Look, Miko. Before I became a warrior, I was a labourer. Construction. I can build stuff, I can break stuff. And that’s it!”

Miko: “I love breaking stuff! I wanna be just like you, Bulk.”

Bulkhead: “Ugh... Why would you wanna be like me, when you could be a... A medic, like Ratchet!”

Two things here stick out to me, the first being that Bulkhead thinks very little of himself, and has class related trauma that likely resulted in his generally low self-esteem. He always claims he isn’t smart, isn’t clever, and so on. But building and construction takes significant skill and knowledge on a material and conceptual level. 

The second thing is that he immediately jumps to using Ratchet as an example of what Miko should aspire to be. Ratchet, of course, is a medic-- Remember the guild system in TFP, where scientific class bots were deemed amongst the highest in social capital and relative value. 

The Wreckers and the Class System

I get the feeling this is why Wheeljack doesn’t like Ratchet very much (at least at first), and why Wheeljack resists Ultra Magnus outright. They are both higher class/upper guild bots who would have been a part of the system that likely kept Wheeljack down. 

We don’t know what Wheeljack’s background is in TFP, other than the fact that he’s a Wrecker, but I get the feeling that the reason why he’s not first and foremost a scientist/engineer in this continuity is because he was likely prevented from joining the scientific guild because he was ranked into a lower class due to his natural alt-mode. 

There’s nothing that supports that in canon, but it makes a lot of sense. 

We also know that Bulkhead and Breakdown know each other, and we don’t have all the details there, but it seems likely their relationship to each other may pre-date the factional divide and they may have been from the same class/caste or guild. 

TFP: One Shall Fall 

The episode opens with the kids erasing photos of Bumblebee from the internet; Infamously, this leads to Jack asking Optimus if he wants to see the cat gif that made Ratchet laugh, to which Optimus replies with a flat no. 

This leads Ratchet to mention that Optimus wasn’t always like this, and he was very different before becoming a Prime, leading to the following dialogue: 

Raf: “Optimus wasn’t always a Prime?”

Ratchet: “On Cybertron, one isn’t born into greatness; Rather, one must earn it.”

I think it’s interesting that as he says this, he takes the posture above: Looking up, even though the kids are all far below his line of sight and off to the opposite side of his gaze here. Like he’s repeating it from memory. And that’s possibly exactly what this is; He’s repeating what he was always told. 

Of course, that statement contradicts nearly everything we know to be factual about Cybertronian culture, but it makes sense from Ratchet’s point of view.

We know Ratchet is old, walked across the Cybertronian continent to reach Iacon to study and train as a medic under Remedy, who was the CMO in Iacon at that time. 

Ratchet, while his spark originated in an undeveloped village, had to travel and work hard to become a medic. 

What he doesn’t seem to grasp, is that he’s quite possibly old enough to pre-date the caste and guild system on Cybertron. 

While we don’t have any definite dates, we do have eras for Cybertronian civilisation which I explore further in this post, and it is entirely possible Ratchet simply became a medic before he would have been defined by his alt-mode. Or perhaps his alt-mode was always some kind of Cybertronian ambulance, and it didn’t make any difference in his case because he wanted to become a medic anyway. 

It’s easy to see why his attitude might grate on bots like Wheeljack or Bulkhead; He’s either very old or very lucky or both, and while from his own POV he did have to earn his place to study in Iacon by way of having to get there first and prove his potential, that is a very far cry from experiencing systemic oppression. 

In Pre-War Cybertron, Ratchet had social privilege above every other Autobot we see in TFP.

I think in light of that, it’s very interesting that he yearns for Cybertron so severely. We know Ratchet cares about others and would not have supported the Functionist society if only because he feels all bots should have equal access to healthcare and a right to be well. 

But we also know he wants Cybertron restored, so much so that the destruction of the Omega Lock nearly causes him to collapse. (I might talk about that scene in a future post, too.) 

What we don’t know, is what Ratchet’s vision for an idealised, restored Post-War Cybertron actually is. 

Do I think Ratchet is a Functionist? No. He cares about his people, and believes in the Autobot key tenant that all bots are autonomous and should have the right to individual choice. (Something Megatron also believes, or believed in the beginning-- He is the one who first put the thought into Orion Pax’s mind.) 

But do I think that Ratchet has been heavily indoctrinated by Functionist beliefs due to his long-standing high ranking position in an intensely classist society? Yes. And I think he’s repeating something that used to be said in his pre-war social circle in the scene above, because surely, he knows better. 

[thenamesblurrito]

ladies and gentlemen this is ask dump no. 5

aw scrap here we go again!

answered asks include body modification as the opposite of empurata, Mutacons making bandages out of kibble, kibble used as furniture, numbers of Sweeps, a DILF alligator, RID15 Tidal Wave, a BIG infodump on dealing with the circus that is Iacon’s media, Cybertronian muppets, a WIP of Elita Infin1te (or rather her sword), and the many secret sufferings of Alpha Trion.

yea, sorta! body modification in SNAP is more limited than in canon. you can’t simply switch out your body like the total frame reformats of IDW or TFP, and losing a limb can be permanent if not healed in time. for the most part, the frame you have is the frame you’re stuck with, and those frames fall within specific parameters.

HOWEVER-

some modification and upgrades do exist! the most prominent here would be a prosthetic helm like Lugnut. if the processor is left intact and attached after a helm injury, a new helm can be sculpted, with extra optics to make up for the lower quality of artificial optics, and as visibly different as possible to differentiate from empurata. other replacements and prosthetics are common after debilitating injury where the original body part cannot be saved. whether or not the prosthetic is as good as the original depends on the individual and the specific injury. there are also functional medical upgrades, like thicker armor attachments, alt mode additions, etc. almost every upgrade is for the express purpose of improving one’s frame for their function, and there’s definitely a limit to them. you can’t give yourself new limbs if you only had four to begin with. a grounder cannot become a flier. the spark can only power so much mass in the frame, and some people have adverse reactions that mean the upgrades don’t take and must be removed.

this sort of relates to the next point here-

yes, with some caveats.

Cybertronians are a segmentary species, so they can detach some body parts for a bit without negative consequences, as long as that body part is reattached for revitalization and repair. many folks can do this without any medical assistance for the less integral kibble. for instance, Kup uses his tow arm as a walking stick, but he has to reattach it whenever he wants to go into alt mode, and if he doesn’t transform he still needs to reattach it for a couple hours every day at minimum. so if a Mutacon were to create a makeshift splint out of kibble and detach it, it would likely be fine, as long as they got that kibble back. otherwise, they’ve lost a whole chunk of their body that they can’t just regenerate.

for shifting armor to cover a wound without detaching it, that depends on the nature of the wound. if it’s ragged, large, or in areas with a lot of joints or movement, it might be difficult to shuffle around plating to cover it. a more superficial injury in a less delicate area would be easier

sort of! it’ll depend on the individual’s kibble, of course! double checking SNAP Bulkhead, i don’t think he could, because his kibble isn’t large enough. but Scylla could probably use her alt mode arms as a chair, Wreck-Gar has a built in backpack and belly bag, and of course the Necrobot uses his wingcloak as hands. different kibble with different bonus uses

the ideal number of Sweeps is seven, since less than that means they don’t have enough collective processing power to function optimally. more than seven, however, puts a strain on that collective processing power to smoothly operate so many at once. so there’s usually packs of as close to seven as they can get.

as to how many can just exist at the same time, it’s limited only by how many Scourge is willing to forge. he first invents them in s1e06 A Use for Army-building! An Upgrade to Sweeps. by the next episode they figure out that having dozens of them running around is... well it’s about as chaotic as having dozens of flying puppies with hands and weapons would be. in large numbers they’re very difficult to control. good thing Galvatron is excellent at commanding his new army!

(the post this is referring to) @oldboyjensenhinglemeier​ thanks Dilf Waitress, i can always rely on you

(the post this is referring to) i think that’s fantastic, i’d love to see a Cybertronian whale. imagine the size of the holding cell you’d have to have for him!

oooohohoho what a sticky subject. here’s a quick rundown on faction ideology to give you some context for how they operate and thus deal with the media. the heroes aren’t referred to as heroes, but rather as vigilantes at best and violent gangs in a turf war at worst. Froid has remotely diagnosed them with pathological dissent. at the same time, some folks have jumped on the market to make hero merch, and it becomes a very lucrative business for some. public opinion is constantly torn between fear and anger at how they do whatever they’d like and gratitude and admiration for how they throw themselves in harms way to prevent disaster and save people. it’s really a giant mess all the time that changes by the day.

there is of course the whole snafu surrounding the media’s portrayal of the Elite Guard as a backup team for the Autobots, and Elita 1 as Optimus’ sidekick. and Elita 1 is Not Happy about that. Elita 2 is startlingly good at winding the reporters around her little finger and always seems to know just what to say, whereas Elita 3 just grumbles at the cameras, even sometimes demanding they respect boundaries or be locked in the nearest building with the use of her powers. Elita 4 barely notices them unless she’s in the mood to prank someone, and Elita 5 just avoids them, as they tend to dramatize her size and thus her danger. given their excellent teamwork and how they’re (mostly) in favor of reform instead of anarchy, the Elite Guard would actually have a good shot at getting along with the news, except they bow to precisely no one, including the people wanting to interview them, so instead they come across as a standoffish and self-serving clique with dangerous habits

the Decepticons are in the bad-boy limelight and they love it. well, at least Galvatron, Hellscream, and Thunderblast do. Galvatron takes advantage of every opportunity to pontificate on the evils of society and the right to rise up for freedom. broadcasters have learned to cut the cameras as soon as he starts speaking so his ideas don’t get the chance to spread too far. Hellscream cares less about principles and more about scaring the living daylights out of every reporter he sees, often leaving them with cracked equipment and ringing audials from the sheer destructive power of his voice. Thunderblast just wants to preen in all the attention and boy does she get it. Cyclonus actively avoids most gawkers, Scourge talks too long and complicated to make good news, Drift either ignores them or sends them away with some lofty spiritual advice, and Triptych is dangerously unpredictable so most reporters have learned to stay away from him.

the Predacons came into existence in a negative light, and they were grimly prepared for it. after all, Sixshot used to be a Decepticon, and their falling-out and defection caused quite a stir. when Abominus first appeared, the fearful reaction of the public to such an ‘abomination’ is actually how he chose his name in the first place. Airachnid loves tormenting reporters with nuclear-grade sarcasm and subtle threats, but if anyone makes her truly mad she’ll string them up in her web cabling and leave them hanging. she also flaunts that cabling by using her darts to knit nets, shawls, and other decorations, despite the fact that getting cabling tangled up in seams and joints can lead to something called entrapment protocols, mentioned in the seventh ask here. Enforcers use capture equipment designed to trigger entrapment protocols, so her mimicry of that as nothing more than a casual accessory is a big ‘frag you’.

Soundwave.... is a category of his own. he only comes into being in the fourth season, but the media soon learns to quake at the thought of encountering Soundwave, and his minicons are little better. there’s at least one instance where he Rosanna-rolls the entirety of Iacon.

the Autobots keep wavering between ‘the only true good ones of all these vigilantes’ and ‘the worst possible people in the world, hide the children, lock the doors’ in the eyes of the media. Optimus does his best to treat everyone fairly, and the Mistress usually has something encouraging to share. much like Galvatron but for completely opposite reasons, broadcasters have learned to cut cameras when Ultra Magnus starts talking, because his encyclopedic knowledge of law means he regularly lists every instance of malpractice, abuse, illegality, and disrespect that he sees in the average reporter, Enforcer, or politician, which is not the kind of upbraiding that would serve the propaganda machine. however, it does get him the attention of Tyrest, who leverages legality and public opinion to try and draw Ultra Magnus into an agreement during s3e03- A Councilmember’s Boon! An Upgrade to Legality. Rodimus is a chaos beast who has been known to snatch cameras for selfies. it’s kind of a tossup as to whether Cheetor will be going slow enough to show up in the footage or not.

now, i can’t talk about the media without mentioning the feral force of nature that is Rewind. the best of the best, he’s the only one willing to brave the battlefields for an up-close look, constantly endangering himself in order to get the freshest scoop. he might not always hold opinions in line with the mandated propaganda about these vigilantes, but the media lets him get away with it, since he’s the most successful at getting them more news. this has caused him to be targeted at least once, unfortunately.

love this question. love it. you know those lil remote controlled robot dogs, or things to that effect? i’m imagining that’s what Cybertronian muppets are like, since they can create robotics and animatronics with a lot more finesse and ease than we can. in fact, making fabric is probably harder for them than robotics, since they don’t have the same materials as we do to work with. but anyway, these muppets wouldn’t be limited by what a hand can do to puppet them around, being instead remote controlled from off stage, so i don’t know if they’d have that kind of visual gag. maybe instead there would be fourth-wall breaking where one muppet snatches the remote of another?

the painful thing about this answer is that i have a design i’m happy with EXCEPT FOR THE HELM i have sketched and resketched a dozen different ideas ugh. the body looks fine, all five of them combined in a way that makes sense to me, but i just CANNOT get the helm right i’m so angry. anyway here’s the Cyber Caliber, all of their swords combined into one massive weapon

the more accurate question is, what hasn’t happened to him. he’s been through a lot, the poor mech. but i’ll list some things for you:

that one time he had a sibling be erased from reality

that one time he had to murder another sibling because they decided evil was fun

that one time a fragging beachball stole his work

the fact he doesn’t know if his twin is alive or not

that one time he was a junker running for his life

that one time he was too late to save the Terminus Blade, and it was stolen

that one time his pride and joy, the Athenaum Sanctorum, was destroyed, and everything archived there was lost

that other time the same fragging beachball stole his work

that other time he was a junker hiding for his life

the fact that the theft of his diary started a whole new branch of religion and he has to read his own words as if they’re sacred

the fact that the title of Trion was in fact derived from his diary, and the sheer painful irony of being given the title of Trion.

that one time he had to rip off some fingers to fit in

that one time Trypticon showed up, awhile before the JAAT was founded, and he had to take it on alone

that other time Trypticon showed up when the JAAT opened and he had to hand out some precious relics to children to protect the school

aaaaand his current reason for drinking! the fact that of all twenty-something heroes running around, he only knows who THREE of them are because he only gave out THREE RELICS! and relics just keep disappearing from the collection he’s guarding

someone help him he is not having a good time. and it’s only going to get worse...

[ckret2]

re: your last answer about megastar (it's really cool!) - what are, for you, the most interesting things that Starscream finds objectionable about Megatron's leadership? i mean, one could headcanon SS as a totally delusional and self-serving power-grabber, or alternatively, say that Megatron has become a tyrant drunk on power and destruction - but, to me, smth more complex would be more engaging? for SS to have some valid points but also be wrong about some other things maybe?

I put this in my drafts and forgot about it for a couple of weeks lmao.

It depends on the continuity! Like, if we’re taking straight G1 cartoon, then I think Starscream’s only genuine objection to how the Decepticons are being led is that it’s not being done by him. Any criticism he levels at Megatron, no matter how accurate—and some are accurate—has to be read with the understanding that Starscream is only bothering to voice it because he thinks he should be in charge and wants to undermine Megatron. I think the same can be said of TFA Starscream too.

Other interpretations of Starscream have more nuance, and in them I think you can read more complex motivations/different reasons for criticizing Megatron. And in those, the dynamic I like best is that they’re equally good leaders, but in different fields. The dynamic I like best, and I think it can most easily be seen in TFP and in IDW: Megatron is a better general, and Starscream is a better politician.

Which is why Starscream always loses. As long as they’re at war, their dynamic will always be biased in Megatron’s favor. In a one-on-one fight, Megatron will always be able to defeat Starscream; and when their successes at leading the Decepticons are compared, Megatron will always pull ahead because Megatron is better at directing soldiers.

You can see this very well in All Hail Megatron. Megatron leads the Decepticons to a stunning victory over the Autobots. The main force on Earth crippled and banished to dying Cybertron, Optimus nearly killed, the Matrix stolen, every major Autobot base in the galaxy attacked at once; Starscream assisted with the ruse that let them attack Optimus’s force, but you really get the sense that this is Megatron’s victory. But Starscream is quick to point out that, once they’ve won, all the Decepticons are doing is replaying that victory—piddling around on Earth crushing human forces that really don’t offer any competition—and that soon the troops are going to get bored and ask for something more.

And he has a point. The Decepticons have had a military victory so massive that the war could very nearly have been called in their favor right then and there, but Megatron doesn’t know how to move forward, to transfer that momentum from a military victory into a political victory. He can’t consolidate power and leadership. He has to keep playing out the military side because that’s what he knows how to do.

Starscream, shrewd politician, not only sees that and calls out Megatron on it, he also demonstrates that he’s thinking about that future political victory, and he immediately takes action—like a politician would—to consolidate power for himself. He rallies nearly every heavy-hitter on Earth behind him to confront Megatron and try to seize power from him. And he does it by making bargains, offers, alliances, and arguments—whereas Megatron pretty much exclusively gets his troops in line under him through shows of physical dominance, beating them back in line under him (a la Spotlight: Megatron).

Starscream may well have seized power from Megatron at that point, if not for the return of the Autobots. And that swung the conflict back from politics into the military, Megatron’s forte. Starscream backs down, lets Megatron resume leadership, and Megatron acknowledges that someday—when they need political leadership, not military leadership—Megatron will go down and Starscream will rise up.

That’s indeed what happens. The second the war’s over, Megatron’s influence has waned. His last-ditch effort to conquer Cybertron his way—through force—is thwarted in one night, and in the very same night Starscream conquers Cybertron with a single assassination and a couple of campaign promises. Megatron himself marvels at how swiftly Starscream achieves exactly what Megatron set out to do, and he didn’t have to fight a war to do it.

Starscream himself certainly demonstrates a far greater aptitude for politics than for military leadership. Compare his depressed brooding while he wore the Matrix and led the Decepticons after AHM to his leadership in RID and TAAO. Even though he’s plagued by an array of insecurities and self-doubts in both cases, when he’s leading an army he’s paralyzed by the weight of the decisions he has to make, retreats to space, and spirals into a depressive funk while his soldiers cannibalize each other for fuel. When he’s leading a planet, he pushes through his self-doubts and constantly moves forward and upward, and leaves Cybertron in a far better position than he found it in.

We see glimpses of this potential in TFP, as well, although only obliquely. At the start of the series, Starscream’s been in charge of the Decepticons for several years, and what’s he been doing? Mining. His primary concern has been with gathering resources and maintaining stability, not with conquest and battle—and the Decepticons moved no closer to winning the war, but they did thrive, in their own way, under Starscream’s leadership. They even managed to kill one (1) whole Autobot, which, may I point out, is more Autobots than Megatron managed to kill in TFP. A concern for fuel/food and general stability seems to me much more like the focus of a peacetime leader than like a general, but it’s where Starscream’s strengths lie.

When Megatron comes back, shifts the Decepticons from defensive to offensive mode, then immediately goes comatose and leaves Starscream in charge again, Starscream repeatedly flounders in his efforts to earn any major Decepticon victories. (To be fair, Megatron’s victories never seem to stick either—but even at that, he does a better job at fighting than Starscream, both as a single combatant and as a military leader.) When Starscream does succeed, it’s generally through a combination of bargaining alliances, trading information and favors, and solo stealth operations that don’t rely on combat.

So: that’s how I read the dynamic between Megatron and Starscream when it’s at its best. Megatron as the master of military leadership, and Starscream as the master of political leadership—and both liable to falter and fail when they take their skills in their own realm and attempt to apply them to the other’s realm. In such a dynamic, when Starscream objects to Megatron, it’s coming from a place of looking at his actions like a politician and feeling like they’re flawed. In cases where Starscream’s thinking “this is fine in the short-term but when the war’s over—which could be soon—Megatron’s methods will alienate people, lead to anarchy, and/or leave us with nothing left worth ruling” those criticisms may be valid; whereas if his objection is purely to Megatron’s battle tactics, the odds are good that Megatron’s got a better idea of what it’ll take to win this particular fight than Starscream would, especially if Starscream is too caught up in the subtle power dynamics between the leaders and major players to play proper attention to the getting the right soldiers with the right weapons from point A to point B where they can mow down the Autobots.

[nazrigar]

So, after watching Bumblebee and LOVING it, it also made me think about something... Bumblebee managed to execute having a female main protagonist FANTASTICALLY (something achieved only by Transformers Animated’s Sari Sumdac), so I thought “how would other Transformers shows looked if they focused on female human characters as well? Especially if they were underutilized”. (Also an excuse to draw in a different style).

You see, when I was in high-school it always irked me that, in TFP, we were introduced to Sierra and the show promptly forgot about her roughly halfway through its run, because she looked like she might break away from a LOT of the common high school cheerleader stereotypes in cartoons at the time after Speed Metal aired.

Plus I liked her character design, I mean c’mon, she had a spiky ponytail.

So I decided, “Say, if I were to make a TF cartoon/comic, how about I’d make HER the human protagonist instead?”

So instead of just making her a satellite love interest to Jack, I interpret her as actually tries her best being a model student, and has a strong interest in chemistry, and would absolutely fascinated with trying to figure out what exactly is energon composed of given the chance. As the head cheerleader of Jasper High, she leads a very active lifestyle.

However, because of the pressure of being the model student, she relieves stress by having an interest in more dangerous after-school activities, like illegal racing (as shown in the episode Speed Metal)

After the initial shock, she’d actually be real fascinated by the concept of giant robots duking it out with other giant robots. Much to the surprise of Jack. 

Regarding Cybertronians, she’d love to know more about their society and how they function, not just because they’re giant robots. Since she has an interest in cars, I imagine she’d also be interested in how the inner workings of Cybertronians are like.

To compliment Sierra, I also wanna give attention to an under-utilized character in Transformers, Elita-1. Ever since I watched her in the original cartoons for the first time as a lad, she became one of my faves. Then I was disappointed, that, for the most part, her appearances were relegated to comics, and in TFA she became a villain (not hatin’ I LOVE her characterization there, I just miss heroic Elita). I became MORE motivated to try my hand in designing my own version of Elita after reading @robotsandramblings‘s post here.

So here, if I were to make my own TF series, I re-imagined her as a mix between of her original G1 counterpart and her IDW counterpart (with a design taking major inspiration from her 2018 Power of the Primes toy), with some personal flavors:

Just like Optimus she’s a powerful warrior and leader, basically his equal in Autobot command, but whereas Prime is more diplomatic, while Elita usually prefers the more aggressive route.

When she was forged (I interpret her here as a citizen of Kaon), her chassis was colored pink/purple... a sign of bad luck/bad omens as it is the color of energon. She wears it with pride however, and much like many an Earth-animal, the bright color’s a sign that’s she’s not to be messed with.

Just a like her IDW self, her helmet’s missing a few bits on the right side (after a lengthy fight with several ‘cons), and she never fixed it. It’s a symbol of pride for her.

Just like in G1, her Conjunx Endurae is Optimus, whom she still calls Orion for nostalgia’s sake.

It was particularly scandalous because Orion Pax was the “good cop” and she definitely isn’t in this re-imagining.

She loves a good melee.

Beyond this, I don’t have much more to tell, besides perhaps Elita acts as the Autobot’s vanguard, arriving first to Earth before Optimus does to root out possible Decepticon activity.

...Also an excuse to finally show how big my interpretation of Blackout is for y’all.

[yes-i-write-fanfiction]

With a TFP human Daemon au, what are the autobots daemons like, and how do they get along with the kids, fowler, and June?

Optimus’ daemon is brave, kind and very gentle. She’s a bit of a worrywart though and tends to fret around her friends. Please don’t fight amongst yourselves, talk with each other and listen instead! Would much rather sit down and have a cup of tea than fight to be honest. Gets along pretty well with the humans. She’s very attached to the kids and while the concept of a mother is foreign to cybertronian society she quickly adopts the roll with ease. June may or may not have a crush on her.

Ratchet’s daemon is just as grumpy as he is. She is fucking tired and relies on coffee to keep herself going through the day. A big softy deep down though and she acts like a grandma towards the kids. Knows all about human anatomy (she’s a doctor after all) so whereas Ratchet takes care of the autobot’s injuries, she takes care of the humans. Has a real good working relationship with June and understands why Fowler is stressed all the time. She would be too if she was in his position.

Bumblebee’s daemon looks like a cinnamon roll and is a cinnamon roll but could also kill you if you try and mess with their friends. Normally super chill and nice but is one second away to stab a bitch as a warning. Mute, just like Bumblebee, and communicates via sign language but prefers to show her emotions through simpler means; flipping people of or giving a thumbs up. Is great with the kids, practically an older sibling and is especially close with Raf, just like Bee.

Bulkhead’s daemon could and will bench press agent Fowler. Is BUFF and at least 180 centimeters tall. She is pretty gentle though and while she likes to fight and wreck stuff at times she likes to relax and have fun even more. Learned how to play drums because Miko asked her too and now they jam out together. She is Miko’s female role model and she wants to be just as buff as her when she grows up. Really chill with the rest of the kids, protective over all of them.

Arcee’s daemon is a pretty quiet person. He prefers to listen instead of talking and silently judges everyone. Only time he really starts talking is when he scolds someone for doing something dangerous but he only does this because he cares. Doesn’t show a lot of affection but he really does care about his team and the humans. Acts like a big brother towards Jack and is the one he’s the most relaxed with.

Smokescreen’s daemon is ready to GO GO GO! Constantly itching to prove herself and get things going. Really fascinated and amazed by Earth and wants to know more about the planet. Especially Earth food. She’s always snacking on something and urging Smokescreen to go get her something from the store. Best friends with the human kids and likes to act like one of them. Likes to tease and bother Fowler just for the thrill of it.

Wheeljack’s daemon can be best described with two words; pure badass. Wears sunglasses 24/7, even indoors and at night, always carries about a ton of hidden weapons (I’m talking knives, guns, tasers, grenades) and always has something cool to say. Doesn’t know how to socialize though so she’s super awkward around the humans, especially the kids. Like, how is she supposed to treat them? There are no kids on Cybertron!

Ultra Magnus’ daemon is a party pooper. Can’t recognize a joke for the life of her and is serious all the time. Without her rules and schedules she becomes a bit of a mess, she needs them to feel in control. Gets along pretty well with agent Fowler and helps him whenever she can and respects June as a medical professional. Completely lost when it comes to the kids however. So fucking awkward. Tends to either talk to them like she’s talking to soldiers or like they’re  five years old, there is no in-between.

[zenxenophilia]

Doctor anon- *GROSS GIGGLING* OK BUT TFP AUTPBUTTS REACT TO HUMAN TRYING TO MIMIC THEIR VOICE

XD  I’m imaging that one scene from the TFA Halloween episode where Sari does her best Optimus impression.  (This is kind of a weird mix of scenarios and headcanons, because consistency is hard…)

Optimus:  “Autobots! Transform and roll out,” youshout in your best Optimus impression one day before a mission.  He gives you the dreaded, signature SkepticallyRaised Optic Ridge.  It’s a look that canmake even fully fledged Autobot soldiers feel like mere sparklings.  You flush in embarrassment and stare down atyour feet.  “Eheh, sorry, Optimus…” youchuckle nervously.  You hear him whisperto Ratchet just before he leaves through the ground bridge, “I don’t reallysound like that, do I?”

Ratchet:  One day, as per usual, Bulkheadaccidentally steps on an important piece of equipment while in Ratchet’s medbay.  Before the irate doctor can sayanything however, you instantly snap in your best impression of the grumpy bot,“Bulkhead!  I needed that!!!”  Everyone in the base immediately bursts outlaughing (even Optimus cracks a smile at that one).  Ratchet’s honestly too stunned for a momentto remember to be angry.  He grumbleswhen you turn back to him with a grin.  “That’snot what I sound like.”  (Yes it is,Ratchet.)

Bumblebee:  It’s… probably better if you don’t try tomimic his voice…  It’s a highly sensitivetopic.  Even if you do it on accident, he’llget mad and storm off for a bit until he’s had a chance to cool off.  You both reconcile later though, becauseneither of you can stay mad at each other for long.  Once he gets his voice box back, it’s a differentstory (although he’d still get annoyed if you made fun of his terrible rallyingcries.)

Arcee:  She overhears you complaining to one of theother bots about her one day as you put on your best ‘bossy-pants’ tone ofvoice.  “Rule number one y/n, no abusingyour power for personal gain and that includes horse power.”  She walks up behind you and smacks youlightly on the head.  “The rules arethere for a reason, smart aft,” she says with a wry smirk.

Bulkhead:  “Y/n! You need to be more careful,” Bulkhead scolds you after a particularlydangerous stunt.  “After all, I’m-“  “Supposed to be your guardian and that meansmaking sure you don’t get into any trouble,” you finish from memory, doing yourbest impression of the lumbering wrecker. Bulkhead blinks at you in surprise for a second before sighing anddragging a servo over his faceplates in exasperation.  “What? That’s what you sound like!”

Wheeljack and Smokescreen both have very similarreactions.  They’d be both amused andflattered if you tried imitating them, especially if you used one of theircatchphrases.  Wheeljack would be moreinclined to laugh however, whereas Smokescreen would just kind of preen.  (Yeah, they totally think I’m rad.)  You also have a habit of finishing theirsentences sometimes.  They both think it’scute.

Ultra Magnus:  No NOT try to mimic Ultra Magnus!  Do not even think about the possibility of mimickingUltra Magnus!  It doesn’t matter whereyou are, or how quietly you mutter under your breath.  He will find you.  And when he does, you better hope you’re afaster runner than he is.  0/10 would notrecommend.

[eyrmia]

TFP Shattered Glass bios incoming!

Though Team Prime is small, consisting of (at most) only eight bots (but highly trained, mind you), they have managed to ally themselves with the American government against the Decepticons.

Agent Fowler is the Autobots’ liason to the government. He’s not very fond of them, but he does it because it’s his job. He has his suspicions, though, that Optimus may not be everything he says he is.

General Bryce is Fowler’s boss, and doesn’t appreciate the agent’s suspicions.

Silas/CYLAS is one of MECH’s top operatives. MECH is a somewhat anarchic organization that seeks to overthrow the government. The discovery of the alien secret has only spurred MECH on. They are enemies of both Autobots and Decepticons. At first, Megatron thought they could be an ally, as they attacked the Autobots, but then they nearly killed Breakdown.

Jack Darby is Arcee’s partner. He’s the only one of the kids who’s ever tried to leave. If Miko hadn’t convinced him to change his mind, he’d be dead right now. Sometimes he wonders about the ‘Bots, but Arcee saved his life from a Decepticon. She can’t be evil…right?

June Darby is Jack’s mom and is extremely protective. It gets on Arcee’s nerves. She seems to have connected to Ratchet, though. Ever since they’ve started talking, Optimus had noticed changes in his medic’s behavior. It troubles him.

Miko Nakadai is Bulkhead’s partner. The big lug treats her better than the other ‘Bots treat their companions, and she kind of likes him. Wheeljack creeps her out though. She gets the feeling he wants to dissect her…or blow her up. If the Autobots are bad, well…she refuses to see it. She’s finally found someone willing to be her friend, despite her oddities. Why would she give that up?

Rafael Esquivel is Bumblebee’s partner. He’s the only one who can understand the ‘Bots beeps, so they immediately bonded. His friend always pays attention to him, shielding him from the evils of the Decepticons and treating him like a true friend whereas everyone else just ignores him, so he ignores Jack when he tries to tell him his crazy theories.

Optimus Prime is the leader of the Autobots. Ever since stealing the Matrix of Leadership from Cybertron’s core, he’s been nearly unstoppable. He’s a master manipulator, having learned the art from Megatron himself, then mutated and perfected it. His actions have shown that there is no line he will not cross to get what he wants.

Ultra Magnus is Prime’s ruthless second-in-command. He’s powerful and cunning, and willing to do his boss’s dirty work. His loyalty to the Prime is undying, second only to his loyalty to the Elite Guard code. Before he reunited with Team Prime, he spent his days terrorizing the remaining inhabitants of Cybertron.

Ratchet is Team Prime’s CMO. Ever since the good doctor’s discovery of synth-en, he’s been hyping himself up on it, becoming a bigger issue for the Decepticons. However, he has also shown reluctance to heed his Prime’s every order, and the Decepticons suspect that he may be a potential ally. Is it possible the doc still adheres to medical morals, or does he have ambitions of his own?

Arcee may be more unstable than Ratchet. She takes special pleasure in slicing up her victims, but her mental issues may be caused by her losses. Her ex-partners, Cliffjumper and Tailgate, were brutally killed by two Decepticon soldiers. Now, she seeks her revenge on Starscream and Airachnid, going to any length to have her peace.

Bumblebee learned much of what he knows from Arcee, including his relentlessness. He seeks revenge against the Decepticon leader, Megatron, for his voicebox. It was ripped from his throat during a battle on Cybertron, and he has never forgiven Megatron, nor Ratchet, for his inability to repair his damaged organ.

Bulkhead is the Autobots’ muscle. He and his buddy, Wheeljack, make a nearly unstoppable duo. He may not be the sharpest pencil in the box, but he brings enough to the fight to stop Breakdown in his tracks, and maybe even Megatron.

Wheeljack may be a lone wolf, but he’s not one to back down from a fight. Some call him a coward for using grenades and other contraptions, but he’s just smart. He doesn’t get along with the rest of Team Prime, but when he does find himself operating with them, he wreaks havoc.

Smokescreen is Team Prime’s newest recruit. He seems to be obsessed with Optimus, to the point of it being kind of creepy. The rest of the Autobots don’t exactly like him (especially Arcee and Ratchet), but he doesn’t care. He may have tried to steal the Matrix once, when Prime was incapacitated, but no one can prove it.

Cliffjumper was Arcee’s partner, before his death at Starscream’s hands (literally). After, he was twisted into a zombie by Megatron and forced to attack Arcee.

The Decepticons certainly have the larger army, but they are at a disadvantage. Nearly everywhere on Earth is unsafe for them, with human governments hounding after them 24/7. They may not be incredibly fond of organics, but they will fight for a second chance for all beings.

Megatron is the leader of the Decepticons. He’s perfect by no means––he had the Matrix of Leadership stolen from his hands, fell victim to Unicron’s mind manipulation, overcame an addiction to dark energon, and now has to fight a war on a planet allied with the wrong side. But he’s kept his chin up through thick and thin, and his soldiers have always been there with him. He will not succumb to Prime’s darkness. He will fight against it, and bring Cybertron back to life.

Starscream is Megatron’s second-in-command. Sometimes his intentions have been questioned, but he is loyal to his friend and leader. He’s had his crises, but he always comes back. He took command of the Decepticons during Megatron’s absence, and suffered the wrath of his leader’s dark energon-addled mind.

Soundwave is the Decepticons’ communications officer and Megatron’s third-in-command. He may also be Megatron’s oldest friend. He hasn’t spoken since the day the war broke out, maybe longer, but he doesn’t need words. He was also friends with Ratchet, and believes the doctor may be persuaded to change sides.

Shockwave isn’t truly trusted by many. An empurata and shadowplay victim, the only reason he sides with the Decepticons is because it is the more logical choice. He has a strange fascination with Ultra Magnus, an obsession that likely stems from his days on Cybertron post-Exodus when his forces clashed with Magnus’s Wreckers in a deadly struggle.

Dreadwing is one of Megatron’s most loyal soldiers. He may be a tad too enthusiastic, but his spark is in the right place. Unfortunately, this has gotten him into trouble on several occasions, when his impulsiveness got him into a spat with Wheeljack or another Wrecker, or even Optimus Prime himself.

Airachnid was formerly Megatron’s second-in-command, taking Starscream’s place while he was gone. After his return, she left the Decepticons, believing it was better for her to strike out on her own. No one knows where she is now, but Megatron hopes the Autobots didn’t get their hands on her…especially Arcee.

Breakdown was the Decepticons’ counter to Bulkhead, up until his mysterious death at the hands of MECH. The big lug had a problem letting go of old friends, but he was a loyal soldier (even if he lacked in the intelligence area). He had a fondness for the drones that the other Decepticons didn’t share.

Knock Out is the Decepticon CMO. While he’s not the most skilled or most experienced ‘Con medic (or ‘Con in general), he puts his spark into everything he does. He can be a bit snappy at times (and vain, but for good reason), but deep down, he cares. The loss of Breakdown changed him, though, and he’s been quieter ever since.

Predaking is an experiment created by Shockwave. At first he swore loyalty to Megatron, but as his intelligence began to increase, so did his potential for mutiny. Then the Wreckers killed his still-growing brethren. Some believe the only reason he is still loyal to Megatron is because that is how he will enact his revenge against the Autobots. Megatron tries to discourage him from his dark path, but it doesn’t appear to be working.

If I were to ever write a fic about this…well, it wouldn’t be all sunshine and rainbows. I would want to portray the Autobots and Decepticons as human (as “human” as giant robotic aliens can be, anyway), with more issues than just the war. I don’t want anyone to be perfect or evil. That’s why I can see Megatron as a struggling drug addict, Starscream as a forgiving abuse victim, Bumblebee as a war-damaged child, Ratchet as a field medic with moral issues. I just hope I’d be able to do them justice.

None of these ideas are fleshed out or anything. If I ever wrote this don’t be surprised if things changed. Sorry if there are plot holes, bad ideas, etc.