#riprap

What are they both like (personality, interest etc.)?

Riprap's an extrovert. He's brash, a bit of a hothead, loud and opinionated, but exceptionally affectionate and deeply loving. He owns a construction company and is always working right alongside his employees, no matter their rank. He'd be the kind of boss to drop everything if one of his employees had a family emergency to help as best he could. On days that he has off from work, he likes to explore Cybertron's growing organic flora population on the surface, or to simply spend time with his partner and son. It's noted in one of my recent fics that his favorite place to go on dates with Facade is a local park :)

Facade is deeply introverted. He is pensive, aloof, emotionally reserved (but emotionally stable and mature) and guarded. He is better at controlling his temper than Riprap, but when he becomes angry, his anger is cold, vicious and does not cool down easily. (He was a former pit fighter and was forced to kill many of his opponents by the people who built him into a full adult frame from the onset [Made To Order frames as I call them]. Facade has become a pacifist and does not enjoy violence, so when he does chose violence it is always in the worst situation.)

As an architect, he likes to draw even when not working. He will spend time wandering Iacon (where he and Riprap moved to) to draw whatever he sees. He's also the one who usually attends parties and high caste balls, but he mostly stands in the back and observes.

Like how'd they meet/ got together?

Facade was a former pit fighter who escaped that life and became an architect. He became very well regarded for his work, due to how well he worked with customers and his ethics and worksmanship. Riprap, who already owned his small construction company was looking for an architect and decided to shoot his shot with the famous Facade.

Facade agreed, though he was very distant and quiet for a long while. Riprap was the one who fell first, finding Facade mystifying and beautiful in nature. Riprap did not approach Facade with his feelings for some time, until they were no longer working on a project together. When he did, Facade agreed, out of curiosity.

These two found common ground in their beliefs about the government's need for change (both believe in the words of Termagax, who espoused the need for the people to change their government and change Cybertron for the better) as well as their hard working, grounded natures.

Facade is aroace and had never dated before, nor did he have much experience with romantic feelings or gestures, but Riprap's patience and honesty won Facade over in the end.

When, why did they decide to have Hook?

They were long into their relationship when they decided. They had discussed building themselves a child someday early on (out of a desire to raise a Cybertronian and because they felt their family would be truly complete once they had a child), but neither wanted to until they had all the means in the world to give their child the best life growing up. They had become famous around the entire planet for their skills and prowess at rebuilding and building, as well as their design work, and were both around eight million years old when they finally believed they were ready to. They wanted to hand build their first offspring, wanting to fully bring him into the world on their own, but would have adopted or taken in any new protoform seeking a home if they'd run into one.

What was their reaction when Hook came online?

Oh, they loved him immediately. They'd already built him with so much love and care but once they were able to get the permission to use Vector Sigma to ignite his spark, they were... scared. Worried. Anxious. Excited. Riprap definitely was the most expressive with his want to meet whoever the protoform they built would become. Facade was quiet up until Hook's spark was ignited and then he was gentle and soft as he touched and held the little guy. Riprap cried when Hook first looked at him and called him by his name after a few moments of processing who he was as a person and being.

What would they think of the war and how it changed him?

Now... I have always seen it that they do believe the government needs to change, but just recently (literally yesterday) decided that they follow the old beliefs Termagax (a character originating from IDW2019) and her writings on how the government needs to be overthrown (without violence) and changed to better the lives of all who live on the planet (as I use functionism/classism in my fics/headcanons). They would disapprove of the violence of the Decepticons, and especially how Megatron has taken and twisted Termagax's words and writing into his own and become so desperate for power and to abuse those who oppose him.

They would be scared, most especially, to see how Hook's changed. How angry and bitter and nasty he has become. How the rest of the Structies have changed too... They're scared. Or... they would have been.

What would they think of the other Structis and Devestator?

They love them!! Devs is their big son and I know they would have been in awe of him. That their son had this in his spark and part of him his whole life? Imagine them giving Devastator chin scratches a lot.

They love Scrapper. He's like another son to them, and they both are so grateful he befriended Hook.

Riprap gets on very well with the aggressive Bonecrusher and would have helped him hone his anger a little to be controlled and less outright explosive at everyone.

Scavenger is also another son to them. They would have tried to help him with his anxieties and fears as best they could. They would always be there if he needed to talk (and they would confront Hook about how cold he is to Scav).

I think Mixmaster and Facade would be close, both are distant and off in their own world at times.

They care about Long Haul too, but his whining does get on Facade's nerves at times.

Do you have any stories or ideas about the family and their dynamic?

I have Facade here in Quibble :)

They are all very very close. Due to how long and lovingly Facade and Riprap made Hook's protoform and forged his sparkcasing, they formed an unintentional sparkbond with their son once Vector Sigma ignited Hook's spark. Even when Hook was older, he would still come by and visit his parents, and would share their berth often. They are a very loving couple to each other and to their son, and they show Hook so much understanding and will do anything for him...

Just for it all to be torn from Hook.

When they are killed, Hook has never once lived without his parents. He does not understand how to adjust to life without them. He sells their house that he grew up in his whole life, and flees Iacon, not desiring to be part of the high caste.

Riprap is a huge softie on Hook. He definitely teases him a little and will give him forehead kisses (even in public) and would be the one usually taking Hook to school and always the one to confront any bullies who picked on his kid.