#prior to tfp

[elreyesvidal]

After Hours (TFP!WheelRatch)

AN: I always thought Ratchet's reaction to Wheeljack showing up to help defend the base at the end of TFP season 2 was interesting. So here is my fic on my hc that they must've had some kind of conversation after the episode "Hurt".

Ratchet was confused, but he couldn't let his feelings cloud his mind, not when Bulkhead needed his full attention. Still, everyone at the base could tell the doctor's attention was split, despite the fact that he's been planted in front of the monitors all day.

The others had made their disappointment and anger at Wheeljack clear for bringing Miko along on his revenge trip. Ratchet was among them, but with all the commotion none of the others had realized just how affected he actually was.

It was no surprise, it's not as if the others knew about how they bonded during their excursion together. The two cybertronians had grown to respect each other after seeing the other work in their natural environment. They both realized the others capabilities and knew they could trust each other.

Or so Ratchet thought. He wasn't sure if his reaction was fair to Wheeljack. After all, everyone at the base, including the other humans, knew Miko had a knack for following the Autobots on their missions, even when told to stay. No, he shakes his head, still feeling disappointed, the right thing would have been for Wheeljack to inform the others of her whereabouts.

This confusion he was feeling, there was anger mixed in but it was mostly disappointment. He wasn't sure exactly what it is he expected of Wheeljack at this point in time. He couldn't have expected him to change after just one mission together. Maybe the issue was that Ratchet actually thought about Wheeljack being around base more.

Ratchet sighs aloud in frustration then, running a hand down his face before shaking his head slightly, as if that could clear his thoughts away. The motion doesn't go unnoticed by the others.

Arcee and Bumblebee, both concerned for their friends, look to Optimus, hoping to convey their thoughts with looks alone. He gives them a nod of understanding before making his way towards Ratchet.

Normally, he'd let Ratchet do his work undisturbed, however, with Bulkhead now stable, and Miko resting by his side, Optimus felt like he should encourage his friend to take a break. "Ratchet?"

Ratchet, having gone into hyperfocus mode, looks over in surprise before responding, "Yes? Oh, Optimus, I was just continuing to monitor Bulkhead's condition."

Optimus remains silent, allowing Ratchet to speak, "He will definitely need time to recover, but he's stable, there's been no drastic changes to his health."

"Then perhaps you would be willing to let us watch over him for a while?" Optimus gestures to the others spread out around the base.

"There's no need for someone to take over," Ratchet begins to turn back towards the monitors as he says this, hardly even looking to where Optimus had been gesturing.

"Ratchet, Bulkhead is stable, and there are others around who are ready to watch over him until he stirs. You mustn't push yourself. Take some time to rest, if only to clear your mind."

Normally, Ratchet would push to stay, knowing that bringing up his medical knowledge could convince Optimus to respect his wishes; but he did have a lot on his mind. "If you think that is best, Optimus. I will make sure to return with a clearer mind."

Optimus nods before taking over Ratchet's spot at the monitors. Ratchet looks over at Bulkhead and Miko once more before heading topside of the base. He's not one to really go on drives to clear his mind, but he figures looking out at Earth's night sky is better than looking at any more screens.

Once outside, he realizes there's another presence at the edge of the cliff. Wheeljack.

His ship sits on the opposite side of the cliff, answering the question of how he got up here.

Ratchet's mind becomes like static for a brief moment. There is a lot of confusion as he feels some of his earlier anger and disappointment that is mostly, but not entirely dulled. He didn't think he'd see him so soon, especially lingering atop the base. He thought he'd have more time to process the events of the past couple of days before seeing him again.

"Hey, Doc, fancy running into you here." Normally, Ratchet would react to the unwanted nickname, but he could tell Wheeljack's spirit wasn't into it. Whether he said it out of habit or because he wanted to rile him up, he's unsure, the only thing he is sure of is that he sounds just as defeated as he feels.

"What are you doing here, Wheeljack? You seemed uninterested in waiting around for Bulkhead to get up." Ratchet is unsure if perhaps he went too far by bringing up Bulkhead, the lack of reaction from Wheeljack concerning him.

After a pause, he responds, "I'm not sure. I know Bulk will be fine, he's in the best hands he could possibly be." Another pause as Ratchet joins him at the edge, neither look at each other, they just continue to look up at the stars.

"It's something the human said. Miko. She asked me, "Then why don't I feel any different", after we took out Hardshell and I told her, she'd make Bulkhead proud."

At this, Ratchet looks over at Wheeljack as he continues, "I hadn't thought much about her comment until after I took her back to base. The realization that Bulkhead would need time to recover and might not be the same again, brought her words back to my mind."

"Sure, I did feel satisfied taking down the 'con that attempted to snuff Bulkhead; but now what? It didn't help Bulk recover faster." Wheeljack looks down but still not at Ratchet.

"I presume you've never let yourself think on it too long before. Every time you've avenged your fellow Wreckers in the past, you've moved on, looking for the next, until now. Now there's someone who voiced the thought, the feeling, you've been avoiding, and there is no next one to look for to keep you distracted." Ratchet stops for a moment, again expecting some kind of reaction from Wheeljack.

He was now clenching his hands but otherwise no verbal reaction, so Ratchet continues, "Revenge may feel satisfying, but when you realize it doesn't help the person you're avenging, it takes away that satisfaction. What are you left with then?"

Wheeljack's hands relax then, "A lot of thoughts I'm not ready to deal with. I need more time to think, away from here."

"Wheeljack, I know you think working alone is less complicated, but working as a team, with a team, is worth the complications."

He looks over at Ratchet then, thinking of their first mission together. "Don't get soft on me now, sunshine."

Ratchet scoffs, "I would do no such thing. Besides, I doubt there's changing the mind of someone so stubborn and insubordinate. "

"And here I was, just getting used to your understanding side. I suppose there's no changing you either." Wheeljack steps closer into his space, enjoying his reaction.

Ratchet is not sure what it is about Wheeljack that makes him so reactionary. It's as if there was something drawing him to him, despite the irritation he causes him at times.

"It's not the same thing, and you know it," he finally responds while refusing to back away.

"You know, Doc, we could-" Wheeljack's interrupted by Ratchet's comm piece going off.

"Ratchet, Optimus thought you should know, Bulkhead's awake." With their proximity, they both heard the message clearly.

Ratchet responds while maintaining eye contact with Wheeljack, "I'm on my way back, Arcee."

The space between the two begins to grow slowly, neither really sure what to say.

Finally, Wheeljack says, "Bulkhead needs you more than I do right now, you should go. I know he'll be in good hands."

There's a new kind of disappointment emerging in Ratchet's thoughts, but he doesn't have time to process them right now. "You're still adamant on not wanting to see him in this state?"

Wheeljack nods, "See you around, Ratchet." He makes his way to his ship then, not really waiting for Ratchet to give any response.

What could he even say? He can't ask Wheeljack to stay, not if he's not ready. He also knows he wouldn't ask him to go with him, but a part of him wondered, if they weren't at war, if there wasn't a patient that needed tending... what then?

Ratchet watches him leave, not going back down into the base until his ship is no longer visible.

[noodleblade]

I know you said that the one night stand was the starting point you kept landing in when it comes to KOBD, but is that the case in “Congratulations”? Or do they have another story there 👀

Hmmmmmmm. I think for that one it’d be different origin, since it was more of a friends to lovers situation in that fic;) (link here if you havent read it:3)

I think I probably come up with a different origin for any fics of them getting together in the fic. Any of them established, well, it probably defaults to the one-night stand.

BUT!!! I uhhh wrote a little origins of how it could happen for "Congratulations", It also this got stupid long so under the cut it goes.

I imagine them meeting somewhere casual, like a bar. Breakdown goes with his crew after work to have a drink and blow off some steam.

Its out of the way, hiding in the lower streets of Delta and opens its doors to all, even if mostly bigger, bulky mechs are the ones coming through. Occasionally you get the random speedster that finds their way in to try something new, occasionally there are med students that looking to get as drunk as they can at the lowest cost possible. Knock Out happens to be both in this case.

Knock Out goes with his fellow peers from university but has little interest in anything they say. Not as soon as his optics land on Breakdown and his inebriated processor can think of nothing else but him. Naturally, he approaches.

It doesn't go as Knock Out pictured. The big mech doesn't swoon over him, doesn't pick him up and carry him out of the bar, doesn't even get flustered when Knock Out purrs into his audials about the night they could have.

Instead, the mech, Breakdown, give him a friendly smile and invites him sit with his group, orders him a cube of energon to settle his overcharged systems, and politely tells him no. Knock Out, drunk and with little shame, pouts but takes what he can get which is all of Breakdown's attention and a nice warm arm draped over his shoulders.

They exchange numbers. Knock Out sends a few inappropriate messages that night until he passes out. And then a very embarrassing apology late the next morning once the helm-ache subsides and the events of the night hit him. Breakdown responds after work with easy forgiveness and they just...keep chatting. Just as friends.

Over the course of weeks, they chat about random shit and meet up for drinks. At some point, Knock Out says he is going to join one of the minor league races and tells Breakdown he has to come. The timing doesn't work out, unfortunately, but Breakdown races home after work to watch the recording.

Soon enough, a pattern arises. Knock Out enters more races and Breakdown does what he can to watch them. Occasionally, opportunities arise where he can...actually be there. In person. But he never goes. The very idea of sitting in the cramped stands, far, far away from the actual track makes him anxious. The idea of everything wrong that can happen and ruin things for Knock Out keep him conveniently too busy to be able to see the races in person.

It's okay though! Knock Out doesn't seem to mind. Then again, Breakdown doesn't really know about the tickets Knock Out reserves for him at the booth, or how mid-race he throws a glance up to find them devastatingly empty. But that's fine. That's okay. Knock Out gets it. He can brush away his own disappointment. Besides, the few times Breakdown invites him over to watch the recording of his race together more than makes up for it.

Even if it is just as friends. Even if that's all Breakdown will ever allow them to be.

[tomatoshapedstars]

FR FR!!!

He'd definitely have learned a lot of ways to keep his outlier ability from triggering due to stress, but all of those ways involve isolation to a degree.

I wanna say that he also learned how to fight from a few Wreckers (cough cough Kup) prior to joining the Elite Guard. Which makes him a bit unconventional when it comes to fights.

Anyways I do also wanna make it so that maybe he also knew Tailgate, and thus Arcee being a jerk to him is 100% breaking him because she was the one who was with Tailgate when his spark got snuffed. But of course he's never gonna reveal that unless he has an emotional breakdown or if someone roots around his memories with the cortical psychic patch.

I think for the TFP Hot Rod AU, he would 100% be freaking out the second he's on the Nemesis. He wants to be NOWHERE near that slaggin ship and would be dead silent the entire time they're interrogating him and getting the omega key while he's trying to think of a plan.

Granted, he'd be resistant and would smack talk a little but he's not about to risk getting blasted in the face.

He absolutely would!! Imagine waking up to Knockout’s creepy “wakey wakey” and finding you’re helpless while Megatron himself is interrogating you for the omega key you didn’t even know you were carrying 😭 Even more reasons he doesn’t want to be anywhere on the Nemesis.

Plus the cortisol psychic patch they do afterwards! Poor Roddy would be so traumatized from Megatron rooting around in his memories.

Kinda off topic to but: I think Hot Rod would probably have much more self esteem issues than Smokes, most of it stemming from his outlier ability. Imagine growing up, and as cool as his outlier may be to some people, others may also look/interact with him with judgement, or flat out refuse to interact with him because of his outlier altogether (or worse, bullying like “don’t touch him or he’ll set you on fire”, etc).

Hence here on Earth, it’s another reason why Hot Rod loves that the kids are so awed by his outlier so much!! Heck, they’re even showing him movies where “human outliers” are featured as cool and unique!

That said, the part where Arcee would yell at him for not being a team player (leading to his capture), specifically with the “Stop trying to be the hero, and start being an Autobot” line would drag up those ol’ self esteem issues up again, because it implies he never had “Autobot qualities” to begin with. A total punch in the gut that 1000% explains why he’ll run away.

[witchofthesouls]

so if we're going with the energon-are-depressed-version-of-tellytubbies-soup. Send a chef reincarnating into a cybertronian, thus blessing Cybertron with more varient of cuisine rather other than bland energon. Or something alike like that.

Heads up, this is mainly going to be commentary.

I actually did have some thoughts along this ballpark. One concept was a college student taking a break to clear her head and finding out she inherited a magical farm in the middle of nowhere and finding out some Cybertronian squatters (one adult and two kids) in the barn.

It was basically a slice of life between the two trying to get the place up and running. Human is getting access to supernatural crops and space farm animals that the sparklings adore, and the miner is getting access to a safe haven with a variety of food that she wouldn't have dreamed in her entire functioning.

(I really wanted to do a take on mechanical chickens and sheep. Potentially go into how Cybertronian domesticated animals may still exist because of trade before Cybertron and its colonies were consumed by warfare, strife, or other means. Go into crossbreeds and all that jazz.)

Other storylines were humans-into-Cybertronians (Welcome to Noctem residents, Grandma Darby, or an old friend of June/Jack's honorary uncle) with some subplots on what TFP Cybertronians were missing out on the food scale since they mainly subsisted on the equivalent of Pedialyte/Ensure gruel sprinkled in with some "Earth is Space Australia"/"humans are space fae" to play on the Earth-is-Unicron subplot, like those ex-humans able to straight up consume hots spring water without issues. Just for Ratchet to significantly test it out and find out hotsprings can help hydrate Cybertronians since they can filter out a lot of the rich minerals. Think of it like coconut water. Very rich in electrolytes. The Autobots would get a speed run on humanity's way of doing cooking. (Imagine if Ratchet, being the very conscientious scientist he is in TFP, needs to interview an Asian ex-human that prefers a more intuitive cooking style instead of exact measurements. Or a homecook that doesn't own any kind of exact measuring tool and just eyeballs/ratios it.)

So going back to it, if a chef was one-wayed ticket via Truck-kun to Cybertron, then they would honestly have an easier time with the Wilder tribes as those mecha would have some sort of cuisine as a massive FUCK YOU to the city-states, Quintessons, and Functionists. Same if they landed somewhere in a Lost Colony. Meanwhile, a bartender/chemist would have an easier time adjusting to the city-states. It would be interesting to explore a duo between the chef and a forager or even the chef with a folklore historian that's been discredited because they had the ball-bearings to publish (now banned) works about early Cybertronian cuisine prior to Quintesson occupation. There's one pairing that's relatively rational with their experimentation and other pairing are just fucking madlads that veer into culinary food crimes.

Guess which is which?

[transformers-spike]

I’m currently getting my car inspected so my brain has time to think (despite just waking up maybe 30 minutes prior to getting here lol).

So instead of the tfp bots and cons becoming human, imagine their humans becoming Cybertronian for a brief time. (Likely from some bs that Mech/Silas was working on)

Like…imagine the mind fuck it would be for them to realize “frag, do I even find my own kind attractive anymore?”. Like, their humans are finally on an even playing field, they look good, they’re fucking hot, but where’s my soft and squishy? My pookie is no longer a small, warm, fuzzy little thing, they’re still sexy but not the right kind of sexy. Y’know?

I just thought it would be funny, the chaos that would ensue, ESPECIALLY with the Decepticons (queue the montage of them teaching reader how to be a Cybertronian in cheesy movie fashion).

- Predaputhy

(Also, my phone now has an autofill option for Predaputhy and that’s so fucking funny to me)

(lmaoooo dying over your phone accepting you as Predaputhy)

I love the idea of a montage. If you're Megatron's especially, he's going to have EVERYONE teach you how to handle being a Cybertronian. They all start off annoyed, but it sort of derails and turns into a comedy where they're rediscovering the joys of life despite being in a war for longer than humans have existed

Also i'm DYING at the bots missing you being soft and squishy and tiny. They miss their special little human

[bones4thecats]

Sorry, maybe you can do, Tfp Predacons x Predacon femme reader, where the Predacons compete for the reader's love

TFP! Predacons Fight for Predacon! S/O

Characters: POLY! Predaking, Darksteel, and Skylynx Requester: 🐻Anon A/N: I'll call you 🐻Anon just because I like bears and they fight more than a dove or dragon do (I use character emojis first, okay?!) Anyways, hope you like this!! ⚠️ Spoilers/Trigger Warnings for: Just fluff <3 ⚠️ P.S: The Predacon! Reader is based on a Chimera (specifically two pieces of art I found on Quora and InCryptid Wiki)

╔══════════════════════════════════════════╗

╚═════ Predaking + Darksteel + Skylynx ═══════════════╝

🐉🐻🕊️ This was getting very annoying for you. You, as a fellow Predacon, understood that having a more rough-and-tumble personality was normal for your kind. But the way that these three were handling it was beyond you

🐉🐻🕊️ You were in your alt-mode, one resembling a 'Chimera' as Raf once said, just watching as the trio 'play fought'. But you of all beings understood that with each hit they laid on another another, they meant everything personally

🐉 You were closest with Predaking. He was created a little while before you, and since you both arrived to serve Megatron together, your bond was by-far the strongest out of all other Cybertronians you had met and befriended

🐉 Unknowingly to you, the self-proclaimed King of Predacons had begun to see as more than an ally and fellow Predacon. He began to see you as a potential sparkmate, not because of his dream of your kind rising back up, but because he loved you

🐻 Darksteel on the other hand, was a pain in your aft. He would constantly mess with your different appendages. And I mean that

🐻 This guy would sneak up behind you whenever you were resting and just randomly mess with your horns, serpent-like tail, and your hooves. And whenever he wouldn't stop, you would snap your deadly tail at him, which made him laugh, say bye, and fly off

🕊️ Finally, with Skylynx. He did not like you at first and the same went with you, you kinda hated him. Not as much as you did Megatron for keeping you hostage and trying to kill Predaking years prior, but it still wasn't a small hatred

🕊️ But, as time passed, you both grew to enjoy one another's company. You would fly by and talk about how you were on your last nerve with Darksteel and how you were so close to beating him to scrap-metal, much to the lighter-Predacon's amusement

🐉🐻🕊️ To sum it up; Predaking liked you because you grew together and were really close, Darksteel liked you because you could be kind-yet-deadly when provoked (entertaining), and Skylynx liked you because you shared some things in common yet were different enough to be fun around

🐉🐻🕊️ But, as you grew close with the trio, they began to notice how they treated you. Predaking would be around you the most, huddling up next to you in your alt-modes to recharge, Darksteel would play-fight and fly around with you, and Skylynx would spend more time talking and acting like best-friends with you

🐉🐻🕊️ Unfortunately for you that day, the three mechs all asked you observe their strengths and deem one the winner. You knew what they really wanted, they wanted you to watch them fight for dominance and pick one to bond with. That all leads you to now

🐉🐻🕊️ As they all put their full-potential into this fight, you heard an engine rumble behind you. You stood and saw that it was the Autobot you were closest to, Bulkhead, driving towards your form

"Bulkhead. It's nice to see you after a while." You said, a playful smirk coming on your face.

"Yeah, same to you, Y/N." He replied.

🐉🐻🕊️ Your smirk turned into a genuine smile as you sat back down, this time in your bipedal-mode and patted the spot next to you for him to sit down and speak

🐉🐻🕊️ Bulkhead sat down and looked as the three Predacons continued their fight, they tails, wings, or claws swinging left and right as they either dodged or got hit. He chuckled as you groaned in annoyance

"Now you know how Ultra Magnus felt whenever Jackie did something against his orders." He joked.

"I suppose."

🐉🐻🕊️ As you and Bulkhead spoke about the finalization on territories for the Autobots and Predacons, the mechs had finally narrowed themselves down to their final attacks. Darksteel and Skylynx attempted to hit Predaking, making him transform and pin them down with his large clawed-feet

"Well, I guess you have a winner now." Bulkhead announced, making you look up and down at the three mechs' final stance.

"I'm not surprised. He won against them last time, why would this time be any different?"

"Fair. Anyways, I should get going. Ultra Magnus said that he would bring by the territory-mapping for you guys to finalize in about a cycle, is that okay?"

"Yep. See you, Bulkhead!"

"See ya', Y/N!"

🐉🐻🕊️ You looked back at the guys and sighed, noticing how they were now beginning to wrestle on the ground, screaming about how they would win the spark of yours no matter what

🐉🐻🕊️ Rolling your optics, you transformed and began flying down to where they were before lifting your back legs, kicking Skylynx away, taking your claws and scratching Darksteel while punching him back before using your serpent-tail to grab Predaking and take him down to the floor before transforming once more

"Quit your bickering, you sound like a bunch of sparklings." You demanded.

🐉🐻🕊️ The three each groaned in pain as your tail swayed and and you walked away to where the remains of Team Prime were working, leaving the guys to heal themselves

"They like me best."

"They do not!"

"Yeah, they like me best, Skylynx!"

"Shut up, Darksteel!"

[asimp4bee]

we need RID angst

here’s the question, Does bumblebee ever experience traumatic episodes infront of his team?

perhaps he activates his weapons systems with the thought he’s still in the war?

would he mistaken others for decepticons who hurt him?

night terrors perhaps?

would he lash out if someone gets too close to his neck (voice box) or his spark chamber without permission?

I'm going to end up binging RiD again because of yall HSHSHD

Neways; I like to believe that he'd get the occasional episode when something triggers that memory. I don't know about pulling weapons out on his team but if he was spooked enough, then for sure he would. (He'd be absolutely apologetic about it and he'd feel terrible, then comparing himself to Optimus again in regards to keeping his emotions in check.)

As I mentioned in my last post, I'd headcanon that he gets night terrors from the events in TFP and prior.

I don't think he'd lash out per se if anyone got close to his voice box though it depends on who it is. Like if it was one of the team, he'd be uncomfortable and try to divert the attention away from his neck but if it's in battle, yes, he'd lash out and shield his neck at all costs which would leave him vulnerable in certain attacks.

I also wish they had touched more on how Bumblebee literally DIED in TFP then just came back to life,.... Like that's gotta leave some deep thoughts like bb just died, you can't tell me he didn't have a momentary crises about it 😭

[altraviolet]

Just reread the echo garden again and I must say that Soundwave’s character development throughout the story has been both beautiful and extraordinary! (Even I was proud of him)

There is something that I’ve been curious about tho. What if Soundwave somehow got the chance to reunite with his universes Megatron at some point after the events of TEG? What might a reunion between them look like?

Thanks for the reread! =D

This is a popular question! I've been asked several times: it's something people are definitely curious about.

I never had an answer because I always knew we wouldn't be going back to SW's dimension in the fic. And even if we did, his Megatron would be dead or altered beyond recognition, due to the internal logic of the universe. I never needed an answer. And it felt like it would be very complicated and Too Much Work to figure out.

Unsatisfying but true, lol.

But, okay, let's do a little mind experiment. Off the cuff. No prior planning. Let's say that, somehow, SW's Megatron is preserved and in a recognizable state, and that the last we saw of him in TFP is also true in universe. And for some reason, SW wants to go back. And for some reason, they've run into each other.

The last we saw of Megatron in TFP, iirc, he'd just been freed from subjugation under Galvatron, and he stated that he never wanted to feel like that again, and he would not do it to anyone else ever again.

So disregarding RiD2015 as any possible source of further characterization...

...I feel like this Megatron would avoid Soundwave and the other Decepticons for a long time. He really sounded like he wanted a Very Long Time Out. His character change was stark, in those last few on screen moments, and there isn't much to go off of, regarding what New Directions he would head down.

He had a very calm air about him when he said it... but he's not an innately calm character. He's been driven by anger for a long time. He had expectations of being fully obeyed for a long time. He has just been handed the reveal of his life: that everything he did was extremely awful and he's only learned that because it happened to him.

So we have a character in an unknown state. How much growth will there actually be? Or will there be a backlash, a backslide into something similar to what he was before? There are no real answers (as far as I know of, in canon), so this becomes the domain of the fic writer.

And that's what I mean when I say this sounds like Too Much Work xD How do I proceed with an arc that feels Megatron-y, doesn't copy any other arcs we've seen, feels authentic to the character and world... what happens when you push a character to the destruction of their core values? How do they build themselves up again?

I don't know :D I'd have to rewatch TFP and then sit and think about it for a long time, and I'm not interested in doing that. I see several courses his arc could take, but I'm not sure which one is the most 'authentic.'

But, okay, people keep asking me.

Let's say TFP Megatron has been scrounging around, somewhat pathetically, on Cybertron (I honestly don't remember what state Cybertron was left in, at the end of TFP, but we're far into the future so uhhhhhh idk it's rebuilding), and our main characters meet because SW has returned to his home dimension for supplies. I assume SW would be accompanied by a few friends, probably including Rodimus.

There'd be some kind of first contact scene, but the thing the readers most want to see is SW and Megatron alone, so we'd have to plot for Rodimus & friends to go somewhere else (be amenable to giving them alone time, or get distracted by something, etc). So now we have SW and Megatron. And they're staring at each other.

SW is looking at the mech who destroyed him, rebuilt him, and then used him for millions of years.

Megatron is looking at the ultimate example of his tyrannic rule: a mech he shaped into a perfect servant.

SW sees Megatron as a pitiful thing, obviously living off scraps [since in this character arc branch we won't let him backslide into dark energon use or his tyrannical tendencies], obviously alone and doing terribly.

Megatron sees SW as a faded and scratched up, but obviously healthy mech, who initially arrived with allies. Allies who wear the Autobrand.

What next?

Well... I don't know. I'm going to give you some possible reactions Megatron has to this:

-immediately starts calculating how he can use Soundwave to his advantage. this Megatron IS clever enough, in my opinion, to possibly recognize that SW's associates are not Of This Universe. perhaps, he thinks, he can appeal to SW's loyal nature

-truly feels sorry for what he did to SW: either does or does not know how to apologize for it

-"Even you, Soundwave?" though Megatron has sworn off his old ways, he's still disappointed that his most loyal soldier has switched sides. it's a reminder of his own weakness and failure. he couldn't even keep Soundwave loyal

Some possible reactions SW has to seeing Megatron:

-!!!

-correctly recognizing him as the pitiful figure he is, and perhaps even going so far as to identify with the long process Megatron has ahead of him for healing, should Megatron even be able to find people to help him through it

-anger. despite the pitiful appearance, Megatron still did bad things, and unlike 0001 Megatron, never apologized or made any amends

-perhaps the most biting response: SW could look at Megatron for a moment and then just walk away. maybe Megatron calls out to him, but he keeps going. he lets Megatron see that he's healthy and thriving, and that he doesn't need Megatron, and that he doesn't care about him. he doesn't even need or want an apology, or any kind of response. he assesses and moves on, like Megatron is just another piece of scrap

or, of course

-some kind of hilariously inappropriate troll response, lol.

so yeah. as you can see, anon, there are quite a few ways things could go. there's an infinite number of ways things could go!

the way you choose which thing to do would depend on what you want the story to say. is there some kind of message about forgiveness? or is the message that there are some things you just can't forgive, and so you must move on for your own sense of self and preservation? cut ties, and so forth

and so that's the answer: there are too many answers and I'm not particularly interested, at this time, in figuring out which one is the best. I always say, hey, you never know: if I ever do feel like writing out this scene, I will

hope you enjoyed ✨

[crimsonmonsoon]

TGCF transformers AU?!

I'm gonna yap about my AU for this below as if I'm ever gonna actually make anything for it.

Okay, firstly, you may be asking: Why is Hua Cheng a human/not a transformer? Well, that's because I think it would be cute AF and what are you gonna do about it, stop me? Make me design a Hua Cheng Transformer??? Hah.

Now, someone did suggest to me he could be somewhat cyborg, maybe he got into an accident as a kid. And I think that is brilliant. I drew the sketches above like over a month ago so I hadn't brainstormed much yet but now I'm thinking, yeah, cyborg Hua Cheng. He felt othered as a kid, that would definitely play a factor into it, right? And said accident could literally be when Xie Lian saves him from falling. Maybe something already happened of maybe being caught in a giant metal hand also fucked him up. Xie Lian was trying his best rip :(

Okay, secondly, what are their names? Glad you asked. I put a poll up so y'all could determine what Xie Lian's name might be. I put Scrap up twice because its a swear word (haha funny) and because he's the scrap collector. Scrap did win so I'm thinking he had a name, but everyone started calling him Scrap in a sort of jabbing way, so that's just his name. But perhaps Hua Cheng renames him something more beautiful or finds out what his original name was.

Also this AU is modern. It's not for any one specific TF universe. I somewhat had TFP in mind but that was mostly for his design aspect. But yea, this is set in current day.

More about Xie Lian:

He was a former prime. Idk what happened to him but he definitely fucked that up and lost his prime-...ness.

I never came up with a prime name for him but his name prior to being a prime would have been Flower Crown?? Or something else idk. Maybe Hua Cheng names him that. Or names him Xie Lian. I mean he could just have a normal name. Idk.

He turns into a tractor/truck. Any vehicle that's really known for helping or farming, but I'm open to ideas. I'm thinking big tractors, cause this version of him is very huge, being that he used to be prime and all that.

Now what about Qi Rong on my Qi Rong enthusiast blog? Originally I was gonna just have all the gods be transformers but my beautiful boy Qi Rong is actually his cousin, ya know? It wouldn't make sense if he was just a human like Hua Cheng. So I may come up with a TF design for him too, give me your ideas. Idek what his alt mode would be.

I don't have much of a story concept yet. Idk what I'm actually going to do with this beyond designing and doodling but, who knows. Maybe I'll make something cool. This might be too niche tho, like how many TGCF fans are also transformers fans???? Raise your hand if you are.

[tfp-miko-zine]

Hey do you mind if I ask, do you think Miko felt out of place I'm Japan. Like she was putting on an act and when she came to the United States she was able to act as her true self?

Hello again!

So I re-watched TFP, and probably one of the only times we got a glimpse of Miko's backstory was this bit from the Darkness Rising premiere (S1E2 I believe):

So, from the sound of things, Miko has a rather privileged upbringing. I'm guessing her parents work in the business field or somewhere elite for that matter for them to afford piano lessons and send her to an elite school, which is pretty typical here as someone who's currently living in Japan myself, and being able to speak to local youths in the area about something like this, and most agreed that they too had a similar upbringing.

For some who don't have that privilege like Jack, we think that sounds awesome, but then we get this response from Miko:

So, yeah, you're absolutely right about Miko feeling out of place and having to put on an act, probably because of her responsibilities (school, extra curriculars, school clubs, even going to school on a Saturday) and the pressure from her parents wanting her to go to a university (Bulkhead's conversation with her in the episode, "Deus Ex Machina"). Stuff like that sounds like a typical Asian stereotype, but it's true, sadly...

So, her jumping at the chance to study abroad in Jasper gave her freedom to really be herself, and it's something that she most likely didn't have back in Japan (possibly a societal thing too).

Things like: getting to wear what she wants to school instead of a uniform, being able to dye her hair, and not being bound by the shackles of her parents' presence, and feeling a little bit rebellious for once (possibly by the people she met at Jasper High prior to meeting Jack and Raf who knows).

This reminded me of a foreign exchange student from South Korea back when I was in high school in the U.S. and how he had that strict upbringing back home. Eventually, he became a jerk jock, became (for lack of a better word) "whitewashed," and occasionally got busted a lot, according to word of mouth at the time, and was eventually sent back home halfway of the semester 😬

Anyway...at least that didn't happen to Miko 😆

This is a long response, but I just have to share this. Thanks for your question!

💜 Mod KAJiRA

[lets-try-some-writing]

For the ask game, 10? I feel like you've talked about this before but i can't remember

Most disliked arc? Why?

Oh I've harped on it before, but I will gladly do so again.

The TFP Orion Pax arc. It was so underutilized I swear. It would have been a brilliant moment to see the differences between Orion and Optimus that didn't amount to sheer inexperience and a little pacifism. I would have given at least one finger to have seen Orion discuss old history, to bond with various Decepticons he knew prior to the war. Just give the mech FLAVOR. The whole point of the arc was to show off who Optimus once was, so DO THAT. Show us his sass, or his cunning. Give us his honor, or perhaps his obnoxious moral harping. Let us view him talking with Megatron, having a drink with Vehicons, or sitting with Soundwave.

He knew these bots. He should have shown how he knew them and had some effect on them due to his presence. Honestly it's just lost potential for me.

[legs-like-jelly]

consider: tfp soundwave being the most evil ler in the history of lers. he's got tentacles to keep mechs from fighting back and those thin fingers that would go CRAZY digging inbetween plating and into sensitive spots. he'd either be the most brutal teaser or absolutely silent while he's doing it except for a smiley face emoji on his visor

oh my god absolutely BUT BUT BUT hear me out just for a second here you know how other soundwaves have those soundpulses that come out of their canons/hands?

now hear me out. soundwave getting back at shockwave for all those little tickle experiments he did okay. he puts his hands on shockwave's waist and sends out little soundwaves from said hands. his conjunx is in shambles in mere seconds. even worse if soundwave put magnets on his servos prior so shockwave couldn't get away easily. chat are you picking up what im putting DOWN CHAT!!

[rustic-sh4rkboy]

TFP Smokescreen headcanon!!

(may or may not just be angst... i love him i swear)

Smokescreen is... not the best when it comes to processing trauma

to the point where he, in all actuality, doesn't process it at all. There have been many instances where he'll scrub his memory files of a traumatic event, whether it be subconsciously or otherwise. It really just depends on what happened.

A notable instance of this trauma response is after he used the Forge to rebuild Optimus. On purpose or not, he corrupted certain memory files containing the events of what happened prior to the aforementioned plot point. Almost completely changing the context in his mind, and the severity of the situation. He remembers Optimus offering him the Matrix, but he does not remember the emotions he truly felt in that moment. Basically, he picked out the parts he liked, and rejected the parts he did not.

He remembers the pride he felt. Originally, the feeling was faint, overpowered by fear, anguish, guilt, what have you. But his processor amplified that pride, because that's what he should've felt. It shouldn't have been serious, Optimus (a Prime!) shouldn't have been on the brink of death. So, in Smokescreen's warped perception of reality, it wasn't. In retrospect, if not at the time.

Smokescreen's coping strategies are... not the best, to say the least. It leaves a gap between himself and his own memories, of past events. He can't properly learn if he does not remember, and he never really does. It's a cycle of trauma, repression, and thus character regression, which someday will catch up to him. And Primus be with him that day, because it will not be pretty.

this hc totally didnt stem from me trying to cope with the character flanderization he suffers in the latter half of season 3. now why would you say that.......

[citrionil]

After giving some careful consideration to the thought I the only conceivable way I can picture an sg Optimus/orion tfp being a gladiator was if he was an absolute dogshit one who got beat to shit every time and never won a match everrrr. (Or orion tfp in general but this is specifically about shattered glass, because shattered glass is more open and viable to a wide variety of personalities on account of the freedom inherent in making some nebulous reverse au)

Prior to matrix acquisition he would presumably still be a middle caste archivist; while I could see him finding his way to gladiatorship either out of pure bloodthirst or as a punishment inflicted by the senate for being too nosy (with the full assumption that he’d die) I can NOT see his scrawny ass winning any fights. He would literally be the joke comedy relief character in the gladiatorial circles. He gets fucking crumpled every match but miraculously never dies (characteristic of Optimus). Gladiators would trash talk each other like you’re gonna look like Orion when I’m done with you. His matches are strictly relegated to pre main event entertainment to get the crowd going there is NO betting going on with his forgone conclusion ass.

Considering it’s sg it would be reasonable to assume if we’re sticking with megatronus the gladiator as the backstory that megatronus would be the only guy looking after him and going easy while whaling on him in the arena. I think sg orion would chafe against the pity and goad megatronus to beat the shit out of him but they’d become sort of friends after efforts on the part of megatronus, at which point they’d pick up the whole bonding over being revolutionary firebrands bit. Orion however would probably always predicate his relationship with megatronus off of an imbalanced power structure and pity were this the case then and develop the classic fascination hatred that people love to give his gay ass. When the matrix falls into his hands one way or another and he starts ripping and tearing until it’s done it’s as if the worlds worst sports team unexpectedly started not only winning every single game but also heading a very violent revolution to take over the government and the world at large, and being alarmingly successful.

Not an au I am interested in pursuing and no disrespect towards people who do characterize a hypothetical gladiator Orion pax in such a fashion sg or not but the idea of that guy being able to win any fight whatsoever pre prime days is completely infeasible to me. Even post prime his waist is thinner than mine and its only through some miracle of alien sci fi robot technology that he doesn’t just break in half the moment a blade is within a 10 ft radius of his body. This is the only way I can conceptualise of him as a gladiator whatsoever either he eats dirt every time or he dies instantly and the hypothetical plot ends before it even started

[witchofthesouls]

It's been long time since I raised it up, but y'all remember that TFP self-indulgent fic idea of my take of barbarians and city-dwellers where little D-16 gets to befriend trash panda feral pre-Orion (almost called Scraplet) and feral June?

Whelp, it's definitely a fantasy take. There are centaurs and mers and fae on Cybertron that descended from the Earth diaspora where the original groups attempted to hunt down Quintessons and ended up on Cybertron... Basically, the humans and their hybrids of the settlements mixed with the Cybertronian Wilders, which led to a whole new Blockade that was able to challenge Quintesson Occupation and the might of the city-states.

Because humans are considered Others, it definitely vibes on the 'Humans are space fae'/'humans are space orcs' where new Cybertronian folklore and tales are circled about eerie mecha that are monoformers but capable of withstanding a huge variety of extreme temperatures, climates, and diet and somehow, someway are capable of transforming without a T-cog and really good at mimicry.

Monoformers were a thing on Ancient Cybertron prior to the creation of the Well of Allsparks, but there would definitely be some wild (and let's be honest, very unflattering) takes in this particular timeline.

[melishade]

Not long ago you answered a question about what the late AoP Megatron would do if he met his TF Prime counterpart. Along similar lines, what would late AoP Armin and Mikasa do if they suddenly traveled back in time and met Eren? What would they say to their past selves? And what would Optimus do in the same situation?

AOP Megatron seeing TFP Megatron

They would do everything in their power to save Eren and stop him from going down a path of destruction.

See, AOP Megatron knows his younger self. He knows what he's capable of. He knows his cruelty and pride. He knows that TFP Megatron isn't going to listen to any amount of reason unless everything he has is stripped away from him and he is left with nothing. Not even his pride can save him. Which is why AOP Megatron would have to go for the kill. If he doesn't more people are going to die. TFP Megatron is cruel, violence is all he knows. He doesn't know love, or he refuses to accept it, seeing it as a weakness.

Eren does. Eren has known love and kindness, either through friends and family. But the weight of his power and the hopelessness of everything is what caused him to do the Rumbling in AOP. If Armin, Mikasa, and Optimus were at a point prior to Eren making that choice, I do believe that they could convince him to stop, especially once he hears that the Autobots do make it and Eren kills so many people, including Connie.

Optimus would be the most adamant in trying to stop the Rumbling before it starts because it means that Eren gets to live, the people get to live, no one has to die needlessly and they could find a way to end the power of the titans without killing Eren.

Megatron would tell all three of them to go the killing route, or depending where Eren's at, let Eren take his own life. However, Megatron refrains from do that unless Optimus, Mikasa, and Armin are unable to convince Eren to change his mind. If all options have been exerted, he will go in for the kill.