*gnaws on metal*

Heyo, welcome to my sideblog where i post my unhinged thoughts and feelings about transformers that lives rent free in my mind.

Cringe is dead, e.c.t. Feel free to yap back at me trough asks or dm. I write a little, though they will be drabbles at best. I might post some sketches too. Keep in mind that, i am an university student so i will be going on hiatuses here and there with little warning.

Some guidelines:

Nonbianary, Pronouns are they/them

Not a native english speaker so some mistakes might happen.

My main interest lies with cybertronian and human interactions/relationships, of all kinds really. My soft spot mainly lies with the qpr or bff variety.

Might dip into some other giant robot media, though this will remain primarly transformers focused.

I don't take direct writing requests, but i might be inspired by an ask and write something for it.

Feel free to get inspired by my ideas, i put them out cause i want to see more content like it after all. If you're adapting an idea directly from my posts just put some credits at the end is all. Mostly just so i can read them :) too.

I am an adult and there will likely be adult content of some kind here every once in a while, i tag those with #nsft and #valveplug for filtering

As such please do not follow if you are a minor i will block if i see any following

I used to watch transformers media as a kid but have only recently found a renewed interest so im a relatively new fan in the fandom as a whole, currently reading the Skybound comics.

Series list

☆ Currently writing a longform skyfire x oc fic, see #fic: the Navigator's Star

!Nsfw specfic rules!

- I am kinky, but also aroace, so while i will not post anything overtly romantic (things like marriage, e.c.t) or resembling classic human sex, i will indeed post things of the more robofuckery variety very occasionally. Keep in mind the only reason i dont have a seperate blog for this is beacuse i am rarly in the mood for it and so i wont answer asks about it often either.

- Adding to the above if sending asks please do not send anything involving PIV on the humans side, it's a squick.

- No anything involving Sub! Or bottom! humans or reader.

- If/When i make (and or reblog) anything 'spicy' it will be about topping the robots

- No incest, noncon and ecspecially no underage

Still, the other shuttle–Astrotrain, they suppose he still deserves the basic courtesy of a name even when he's a decepticon–does have a point in noticing. They'd usually not be as obtrusive without warning, but they're also in a bit of a life or death situation here. Some discomfort is worth it when the alternative is to be blown to smithereens. 

"Oh shut up! Do you want to explode? I need to concentrate for the shots to miss, for all you know flying with humans is always like this.”

While they might be biased–Astrotrain's interior is harsh and uncomfortable, purely utilitarian. Though strangely themed after human spacecraft, it's a bit baffling that the Decepticons de facto shuttle happens to have a human made vehicle disguise where Jetfire does not. They'll have to ask him about it later. Though disguised or not it's clear that, where Jetfire made deliberate modifications for human comfort, any of Astrotrain’s is purely by happenstance.

A gruff mean cackle rings out from the panel before them, lighting it up in red, completely ignoring their warnings of course. "Oh, I've had enough humans on board to know the difference. You're an outlier."  

While the message is concerning in itself, it's interesting how the Decepticon says the word "humans" without any of the usual disgust others of his group have shown. It's more indifferent, matter of fact, like he couldn't care less one way or the other. Though Avila could do without the interest in themselves.  

"Just concentrate on flying straight and maybe we'll survive long enough for you to figure it out." They hiss, earning another condescending chuckle. 

Avila lets themselves indulge in a petty mental shove against the contained mind besides them, taking vindication in the startle–acompanied by the audible swears–risks be damned. They haven't fully connected, doesn't want to either—they already have a partner thank you very much—luckily they need no direct mental link to do some limited manipulations. Most importantly for the situation being the protection granted by their "blessings", though they had forgotten how much harder it is to maintain a solid grip when the actual ship in question is actively pushing them away. Even if it were only an involuntary reaction to a foreign presence. Their time with Jetfire has really spoiled them.

And Astrotrain is clearly uncomfortable even as he hides it under all the mean bravado. 

"Oi! Quit that!! Keep your gross organic mind scrap to yourself! I'll eject you, just see if I don't."  He snaps with a creaking shudder. 

Avila rolls their eyes at the empty threat. "And lose your lucky charm? Uh-huh, as if." They drawl sarcastically, eyeing the seatbelt next to them as it starts twitching like a sad flattened snake looking to strangle prey. 

They aren't overly concerned, they know he knows that harming them in any way will lead to a break in the barrier and while they have never had cause or opportunity to; Avila gets the feeling they can give a nasty shock if the sentient ship their on starts getting...violent.  

They'd probably continue snipping at each other in perpetuity, if the shuttle didn't suddenly veer dangerously close to the gargantuan cave wall, nearly throwing Avila out of their seat in the process. 

Rocketed by a solid canon blast of plasma that not even Avila could fully redirect, taking all their focus just to simply preventing the heated volley from eating through armoured metal and nicking the life-giving core underneath. 

There's a painful scraping sound echoing all the way to the cockpit and Avila senses it even before Astrotrain starts swearing up another storm. Something on the control panel blinks on in alarm, confirming what they already know.  

"Looks like you have a tear in your engine compartment." They state, raising their voice to be heard over the profanity. 

"How in the fuck do you know– actually, y'know what? Sure! whatever glitched psychic rules you run on, why not. Wanna guess another thing? I cannot fly if my main engine goes down! another hit and were screwed." There's a very well hidden hysterical note creeping into the decepticon's voice. Avila is reminded once again of how they found the shuttle when they'd stumbled upon the other cell. He was already in a bad condition. It's honestly a miracle nothing gave away sooner. 

Pushing themselves up from the seat they'd commandeered, Avila quickly takes stock of whatever tools they carried on them that survived the abduction. 

"Then hold on for a minute and I'll fix it the best I can. You'll have to manage without the barrier though, I'm not sure I can split my focus like that for this. You're very....differently built than Jetfire." They hadn't really meant to say that last part, but a rare spot of apprehension is making them loose lipped. They really didn't think they'd be performing what amounts to emergency surgery on another shuttle when they first learned the mechanics.

"What- ..Oh." There's a dry huff Avila is not really sure how to interpret. "Makes a lot of sense now. Of course the nerdy dolt got some kind of freaky organic Crewmember. You're too comfortable flying and the dork has been annoyingly perky lately. Letting a miniature organic do maintenance? Sounds like the Autobot brand of crazy."  

A second passes. "And you're damn right I'm different!" Then there appears to be a moment of internal debate, time Avila's about to remind him that they really can't afford to spend. Before a frustrated groan reverberates through the center console. "Urghh! Alright, fine! Not like we have a choice, I'd rather not crash and I doubt you would survive even with your whole…freakyness."  

Avila very carefully refrains from informing him that they survived an fiery airship crash as a fragile 6 year old and is likely to do so again now that their abilities have grown. They would rather not test that theory today. 

"Listen up now! I ain't letting you get your weird little servos on my parts before I know you wont do anything stupid. You may have experience with Jet-nerd, but I ain't some fancy smanchy scientist. What you see before you is solid, practical, y'hear?  You only need to touch what I say you do, I ain't gonna fall apart like some delicate little bauble just cause you forgot to disconnect a million unnecessary sub-components. So don't touch anything else, got it?"  

———————

Tuning out any insultingly simple directions given, Avila easily finds the narrow room allowing access to the engines, senses loud and clear where the issue is. They really are lucky it wasn't an energon vein that ruptured. The sparse protective equipment they do have would have been not nearly enough. No, rather it was a major coolant line, cooling fluid rapidly draining onto the floor. Explaining the boiling heat blanketing the whole room, radiating from the poor overheating engine. If they don't fix it soon, it runs the danger of shorting out. 

Instinct tells them where the tear are, though Avila still needs a proper visual to patch it up correctly. Stepping through the icy blue coolant puddle, following the pipes until…yep there it is. It's nasty looking for sure, it seems the shock and pressure made the place where the line feeds into the interior of the engine give out. There was already some shrapnel damage present, creating the hole they were looking into to see the line at all. probably the initial attack that downed the con in the first place and the patchjob done after were..sloopy at best. 

Pulling on their protective gloves Avila readies the only modified welder they still thankfully had on them and duct tape, literally the only sealant currently available. It'll have to do, as it's the only thing outside a pitiful wrench they've still got on their person. Bracing a gloved palm on the side for balance and to keep anything more vulnerable from being burned at the heated metal. It's nearly unbearable even with the heat-proof material in-between. If Astrotrain had anything else they could use stored somewhere, he hasn't elected to mention it. Besides, they doubt he would know what safety measures a human needs, or care for that matter. 

What they're about to do would not pass any OSHA standards, but it's that or possible fiery death and/or capture. 

"Remember now, if you kill or injure me you lose the only thing currently keeping you free from more holes." Avila warns darkly, hand already reaching into the gap. Any wrong moves on Astrotrain’s part and its bye bye hand. 

"Tch, what do you take me for? Some kind of uncivilized scraplet? Space cadet ought to have informed you by now that the shuttle code of conduct forbids the harming of someone currently performing maintenance." Astrotrain sounds genuinely offended, much to Avila's surprise. They didn't really think there were any decepticons who...well cared about such concepts. 

"Besides....killing passengers while they're onboard?...s'just wrong..." he grumbles, it sounds reluctant, like he can't really help himself from acknowledging it.

Thinking back on it, Avila remembers Jetfire saying things of similar nature. Avila's beginning to wonder if this is something most Shuttles share. Is it...some kind of programming? They've gathered so far that cybertronians seem to operate along computer terms at times. They don't exactly have organic brains, now do they. Though, what separates it from instinct? Avila wonders. 

The absoluteness of it all, maybe. 

"But don't go thinking you won't be on thin ice once you're out if you piss me off!" Astrotrain quickly backtracks, all defensive bristling. God forbid they start to suspect he has something like a moral code. 

———————

About 5 minutes into careful welding of any leftover metal and haphazardly trying to staunch the continued flow of coolant with copious amounts of duct tape. Avila finally cracks, the silence bringing the knowledge that their pursuers are likely only falling back to regroup and ready another canon. 

"Im actually a bit surprised you're taking this all so relatively well, your fellows had me believe you'd develop the ability to get hives if anything organic so much as graces you." 

They talk, mostly to keep the nerves to the back of their mind. Their usual foresight has been frustratingly vague about what's going on outside for the moment. More preoccupied with the Damage To The Ship than anything else. This kind of stress is an unwelcome novelty.  

An irritated click answers back, a distinctly mechanical gesture. "I ain't got the time to be a priss. Don't get any ideas now, doesn't mean I like you. I just don't care. All passengers are annoying, one brand or another, at least you can't stomp around and scrape up my interior. Others can be precious about it all they like, this disguise ain't any different from before, just a new coat of paint on the same scrap.” A pause. “At least you've got good taste in locomotion, only good thing about this Primus forsaken planet." The decepticon shuttle trails off again, muttering what Avila could have sworn sounded like "pit-damned hypocrites". 

It's interesting, how the otherwise stoic con quickly breaks his surly silence whenever they ask about..what, his opinion on something? He's surprisingly talketive like that, like people don't often let him just speak about what's on his mind. He's not exactly a chatterbox as a whole, brutally direct and blunt, but still. 

There's an urge to frown there. It doesn't sound much like the Decepticons treat their main option of transport that well. Like...what? Do they only order him around to do manual labour without complaint? Like some kind of workhorse? That's kind of...sad.

Avila shakes their head in bemusement. They really can't imagine treating a transport who's carrying you all these miles so disrespectfully and the ships they're used to aren't even sentient!

It doesn't mean they've forgotten about the things he's done, they've dug up the news and footage over the years, coverup attempts aside, even if they were in the less affected parts of the world for most of it. It's the same as any other deception has gotten up to since they woke up. 

Avila doesn't really hold any grand ideals of justice or anything, but they can't stand those who think themselves entitled to the world just because they are stronger, or hold influence. More importantly; they hurt Jetfire. 

Still, it's an interesting show of an internal pecking order. It makes them wonder why he even stays. It doesn't seem all that different from before, from what little they've managed to gather about the Cybertron Of Before. Perfect societies don't spark planet destroying civil wars. Jetfire really doesn't like to talk about it. From discomfort, grief or both, Avila can't quite tell. 

Frankly it reminds them of a crabs in a bucket situation, so desperate to gain any foothold you're willing to drag everyone around you down, never realizing you're trapping yourself in a self-destructive cycle. They've fished up many a crab during their stints at fishing vessels, but none quite as vindictive as the Decepticons. 

———————

Another few minutes of tense silence goes by and then Avila takes a step back, appraising their work. It’s messy and would never have passed any remotely competent engineering officer's inspection, but it's the best they can do with the tools available. 

Avila eyes the modest pool around them. Astrotrain had already informed them he has a backup reservoir he can reroute once the leak is fixed. Something they already knew from learning to fix Jetfire. Shuttle engines are so powerful they need the failsafe, otherwise they'd catch fire. Still, they hope it's gonna be enough, the engine is still dangerously warm.

Eyes catching on some of the other gouged metal they hesitate. “Should I….” Avila trails off, gesturing vaguely to the various holes around, knowing the shuttle can see them on one of the many internal cameras. 

“No.” Is the brusque answer. 

Alrighty then, his choice. As long as it won't hinder their mutual escape. 

Something about the engine keeps them rooted though….they can't quite put their finger on it. It’s very similar to Jetfire's, but there are these bits that kind of remind them of an….

It clicks and Avila bites back an amused laugh, careful to not aggravate the irate deception further than strictly necessary. Astro..Train, of course. They should have realized it sooner, they were already aware the shuttle in question supposedly has an additional form. Cybertronian naming conventions strike once again. It explains the earlier comment about locomotions. A spaceship that's also a train? A flying train? Oh, that's a delightfully fun thought. 

Astrotrain barks at them to get out and back to their “glitched psychic thing”. Avila walks back to the cockpit only because they have nothing better to do. 

Crossing the gloomy walkway they ponder if the con might secretly be a Train Guy. The hint of admiration they caught points to it. Maybe they'll get him to break the tough guy act with a bit of prodding. They've yet to meet a train enthusiast who doesn't become a huge dork when you get them talking about their interest. It'll at least be a good distraction from the ever present aura of doom hanging over them both until they're out of hostile territory–at least while they're not being actively shot at. 

Once in the cockpit they settle back into the human sized comes-with-the-disguise-chair with a little spin, only earning minor grumbling at the action. Seems like fixing him from overheating has mellowed the con a bit. 

It really is a shame he's a Decepticon, Avila thinks they might have come to kind of like the shuttle-train, if he didn't work for a violent tyrant with genocidal tendencies that is. In addition to also being kind of a bully. 

“You sure took your sweet time just staring into the air, doing nothing. Do You Want To Explode?" An belligerent shuttle throws Avila's earlier words right back at them. 

Avila only smiles back serenely, knowing full well it's just going to infuriate the guy even more. The part of Avila that always knows when sure sailing is ahead has taken forefront for now. So they aren't too worried at the moment. 

“Just focus on flying in a straight line and you won't have to worry about that.” They'll keep it to themselves for now, it might change and it would be best to keep Astrotrain on his non-existent toes just in case. Besides, temporary truce or not, Avila's not going to give him a reason to kick them out the second he doesn't need them anymore. 

He's probably going to forget they saved his sorry aft once they're back on safer shores. Enemies once again. A shame, but Avila won't be too broken up about it.

The way organic optics—and hes always found something unsettling in how 'eyes' never stop moving, twitching and changing—would subtly grow darker as the pupil widens unpromted. The human growing distant mid conversation, fixed on something he can't detect. It only lasts for less than a nano-klik, easily chalked up to a moment of distraction. If it weren't for the way they always switch tracks of thought after, if not verbally then in the way they will wander of with narry an explanation, mind firmly elsewhere.

Its in the way they never hesitate when walking around the Ark. Lacking any hint of the aprehension previous visitors have shown, in some form or another, with an unfamiliar and alien environment. Nor the way they barely glance around unless particular interested, showing no need to painstakingly memorize like how humans usually do. Yet, they never appear to get lost. He has not once caught them as much as asking for directions. And Prowl is well aware humans do not have any radars, sonars or built in navigational units of any kind.

From the moment he were properly introduced to them he knew they were lying. If not about their initial declerations then about something.

There's subtle tells for whoever goes looking for them. He's come to the unfortunate conclusion many of his fellow autobots are still so infuratingly naive about trusting humans. Thinking them completely harmless—How they seemingly miss that the human is clearly hiding things. The small pauses in conversations, the fact they sidestep any attempts to talk about their background. Throwing excuses and misdirections at every opportunity. They must think him more ignorant to this planets customs than he is, but he's long since made sure to inform himself in all matters relevant to spotting attempts at decepticon—a nesscary hassle for dealing with the far too many goverments of this planet. The holes in their story may be small, but oh so glaring to him.

Its a blow to his pride to admit it, that while he may see the excistence of untruths, he just can't seem to figure out excately what it is about. Have no solid grounds to accuse—hes not Red Alert. For all their more obvious quirks they are frustratingly good at obfuscating themselves. The amiable, mild, ditzyness may very well be a part of their overall persona. Crafted to distract from the moments where they sharpen, an foregin determination showing itself, directed with an unearned confidence. That from Prowl's vorns of experience borders on arrogance.

It sets every single one of his sub-protocols finely tuned for tactical blunders on high alert to see the Prime acquiescing to the human's requests. That he has yet to recive an satisfactory explanation on exactly why they were let into their current mission. What possible skills could they ever posess that wouldn't just make them a liability. "The matrix seems interested in them" is not a good enough reason.

Lately he's been catching himself near wistfully lamenting Jazz's absence—spec-ops duties keeping the sabtour uncontactable for the near future. With the unfornate timing of missing their new "ally". Despite the bot's inclination for causing annoyances, his particular brand of lowering gaurds may have been just what's needed to make the human slip up.

Say the spark itself is essentially their life source, their bodies are just empty shells without one. But that kind of technology and craftmanship couldn't have just sprung out of nowhere if you don't go with the "Primus snapped them into excistence with all nesscary technology pre discovered" route. So I propose they evolved from mineral based lifeforms instead, crystals form naturally around a spark over time, creating a shell, held togheter by veins of energon with the spark as the brain at the center.

When the shell is stable enough they crawl out of the earth, over time the crystaline structures got more and more complex, as civilization formed adults probably monitored the most active sites to pick up any newcomers. Mining and dropping raw material in the grounds for sparks to use. When the sparks burn out dying indeviduals probably instinctually returned to their "spawning" site so that the material may be recycled.

As technology grew metallurgy started to take off, more contracted efforts to grow populations led to the use of preshaped body parts of metal being dropped off and "encouraged" to be used. Perhaps its faster than slowly reshaping minerals over time.

Eventually electricity becomes more introduced and the natural conclusions of creating more complex eletronic shells became a factor. As well as excavating of spark "sources" and methods of transporting sparks without harming them. Taking over the construction of bodies instead of letting a spark naturally generate one itself.

Which ultimately–with the invention of proper spark chambers–concludes with what we know today, fully premade bodies with a spark inserted to bring to life. And once their fully electronic, well they just keep on improving on that formula as technology progresses.