#sparkbonds

trick or treat!!

Of course it's still possible!

This snippet is from one of my favourite scenes ever. And, though it's still going to be a while until I'll get around to sharing the chapter it's from, I'm already so excited for it. ^^"

Here you go, Happy Halloween. :3

“Bumblebee.” Ratchet suddenly called out for him. The medic had been staring at him for quite a while now. He had done his best to ignore it as the feeling in his spark had pulsed anxiously. It didn’t like Ratchet looking at him too closely. Had never liked it. But that cycle it was even stronger than usually. “Where is Optimus right now?”

::Jasper:: he answered without hesitation as he made a deliberate effort to concentrate even harder on the maps of the Nemesis’ layout he had been studying. Maybe, if he was busy, Ratchet would leave him alone and the feeling would leave him alone and then he could stop feeling this anxious. For once, he was yearning for numbness.

Besides him, Arcee suddenly looked up from her own datapad. He hardly noticed. He felt like crying, optics stinging with lubricant, yet could not say why.

“What is his current status?” asked Ratchet after a short pause. He shuffled his weight slightly from one pede to the other. The medic’s gaze, filled with an array of emotions he could and did not want to decipher, was still resting on him, burning a hole into their backstrut.

::He is… very weak...:: He had to pause and reset his vocoder as he steeled himself for his next words. Nevertheless, the following beeps were weak and quiet, easily betraying his pain. ::Close to the Allspark. I… don’t know how much longer he will be able to hold on. But… right now he is resting.::

Overall, it depends on the bond (for both questions).

There are two main categories that bond types fall into: Chosen (bonds that are the result of two or more already-created mecha bonding with one another) or Creation (bonds between two or more mecha that are present within the mech at the time of creation). Some bond types can fall under both categories, usually due to any manner of cold-construction related fuckery.

I suppose you could compare chosen bonds and creation bonds to romantic/patonic and familial relationships respectively, but I find that reductive and not entirely accurate.

As for the bond types themselves;

Conjunx/Amica bonds (chosen bonds between two mecha) can be forced, but with the way sparkbonds are formed, it would take a lot of time. Chosen sparkbonds take multiple, frequent instances of merging over about a vorn to permanently form--and even longer still, if one party is unwilling. It's still possible though--sparkbonds are as much about feelings as they are about spark biology; spend enough time with your spark shoved against another's, and something's going to happen.

(Fun fact: There is no physical nor physiological difference between a conjunx and amica bond, only cultural differences. Both require the same method of creation, and both have the same effects on the bondeds.)

Trinebonds (chosen bond between three mecha, with all members bonded to the others) are much the same, though with a few differences. It generally takes longer for a full trine bond to form than a binary bond, since there are three sparks involved instead of two.

(Fun fact 2: 'Trines' are not seeker-exclusive, nor even flight-frame exclusive! The formation of a three-way bond has nothing to do with frame type. Three-way bonds weren't very common, nor did they have a common name, before Nova Prime and the creation of cold-construct seekers. With the original seekers, they were pre-bonded to each other in groups of three, due to a prevailing theory that mecha bonded to each other would function better during battle, being able to more effectively account for the actions of the other 'trine' members [this same logic was applied to created gestalts, up to its logical extreme]. The association between seekers and bonded trines stuck, even after they were released from Nova's jurisdiction. Thus, trines are: 1. seen as a flier or seeker-specific bond type, and it's generally disrespectful to refer to non-flier three-way sparkbonds as trines for history's sake, and 2. trinebonds are culturally regarded as more gestalt-like than as conjunx or amica, which only adds to culture-shock-related confusion between [non-gestalt] grounders and seekers.)

Guardian bonds (chosen bond between an adult mech and their charge, typically a youngling) can technically be forced since they're also chosen bonds, but that's practically impossible due to the mechanics of forming the bond. Unlike the first three bonds, guardian bonds do not form via spark merging, instead by vorns (as in 10+ vorns) of near-daily close contact (youngling plating very thin, allowing more spark radiation through to those around them and more easily facilitating guardian bonds to form; this is also why youngling em-fields are so disregulated), and are far more reliant on emotional reciprocity than other chosen bonds. Guardian bonds are the natural result of grown mecha taking care of newsparks and younglings from hotspots and/or other (non-carrying) sources. To 'force' one, the only way I'd think would be for an adult mech to manipulate a youngling into considering them their guardian, but that isn't quite forcing in the way you mentioned it.

After those four, that leaves only the creation bonds, which are impossible to force in the typical sense (as in, one member of the bond forcing another. For some, it is possible to 'manufacture' creation bonds, though I don't suppose that is what you meant by force either.)

Gestalt bonds (A creation bond between two or more mecha that facilitates a combined form) were practically unheard of before (and say it with me now folks) Nova Prime and his cold-construction program. Gestalts were created after the pre-bonding of seekers was proven successful, and Nova's scientists devised of a manufactured squadren of mecha who were not only connected via sparkbonds, but literally connected in their ability to combine into a greater consciousness and form. Shockingly, this did not immediately brick the processors of all gestalt members, but the bandwith needed to process one's self, the selves of 5+ other individuals, and a giant frame you didn't have five kliks earlier was, naturally, more significant than that provided by the natural (or, more realistically, the cheapest Nova could afford) Cybertronian form. This results in the trend of combiner forms having sub-par mental faculties and/or severe personality quirks, but since they were good at blowing things up, Nova and his scientists didn't care. After a mech's creation, gestalt bonds cannot be formed; they require physical frame constraints that cannot be modded into a frame post-creation.

Carrier/sire bonds (creation bond between a carried sparking and their progenitors) is a naturally-occurring bond that forms when a sparkling, created via a spark-merge between two or more mecha, emerges. The sparkling's spark is automatically connected to their carrier's and sire(s), though if the sparkling is removed from one or more of their progenitors' at a great enough distance for a long enough time, this bond can dissolve on its own (more on that later). Carrier bonds are also formed by specifically cassette-carrier frames when they create sparklings on their own.

(Fun fact 3: Cassette carriers are the only Cybertronian frametype capable of true asexual reproduction [besides planetformers and titans, but they aren't technically 'Cybertronian'], and they are what carrying is named after!)

Twin bonds (creation bond between the resulting two mecha of a split-spark creation) are strange, since they aren't technically bonds at all; they're the physiological result of single spark splitting as it's created by the Allspark. A split-spark cannot be formed after creation (attempts to do so only result in a dead mech with a broken spark chamber), and all attempts to split frozen sparks to manufacture twins has also failed. No mech has ever been known to carry a true split-spark (though carriers, especially cassette-carriers, can carry multiple sparks at once, resulting in technical twins, but not split-spark twins). Split-spark twins each have their own frames, but share a spark between them, about half a spark to each mech. They are almost always smaller than the average of their frametype, barring frame mods, and are know to behave irratically when seperated from their other half. Common superstition reviles them as 'less-than' normally forged mecha, similarly to the cold-constructs of later times.

As for breaking bonds, chosen bonds can broken a few ways; death (the shock of which most likely resulting in reciprocal death of the other bonded(s), especially in well-established and healthy bonds), dissolution (a long period of sparse contact and intentional self-isolation; it's generally the least painful method overall, but it takes a while), and surgical bond severing (quick and non-lethal, but extremely painful and hard to perform; due to its controversial nature, few spark surgeons are trained in the practice). When wishing to be rid of an unwanted chosen bond, most pick dissolution.

Creation bonds are trickier; Twin 'bonds' cannot be removed--to do so would kill both mecha immediately. Gestalt bonds also cannot be removed without killing the mech getting the bond removal, though remaining gestalt members may survive being down a member, Primus willing. Carrier/sire bonds can be removed like chosen bonds as normal, though. Trine bonds made before creation can also be removed like regular chosen bonds.

Anyway, have some baby Sunny and Sides.

It’s a term mostly in fanon where it means to be bonded or “married.” Or that other bot is your soulmate/significant other. it’s popularly considered to be a binding and lifelong thing. I guess however it works is up to everyone’s personal headcanons.

nghgn this sounds like twilight

Yeah, it had those sort of.... awkward conservative and maybe religious upbringing vibes.

Also one thing that was noticeable was that when the character that got sparkbonded got pregnant (with children they definitely DID NOT WANT at the beginning), the idea of abortion was never brought up as an option. It was never even mentioned as a possibility.

Staggers back to my computer I liiiiiiive

A Seeker Trine refers to a very common form of gestalt bonding* that’s generally found among fliers who are built for two primary purposes: speed and enhanced sensory awareness- Seekers!** Now with a bunch of history that nobody asked for but I felt needed to be included anyways.

*Gestalt Bonding differs from other kinds of spark-bonding in that members of a gestalt can typically trade overt information or communicate via their bond.

** “Seekers” refers to a range of different frames, but they all tend to share a fairly standard appearance and selection of altmodes and also meet the above criteria. Seekers tended to be incredibly plentiful because for one- they tend to be very useful and relatively power-efficient for fliers, and for two- because Vosnian cold-construction facilities put out seekers like a McDonalds puts out french fries.

That being said, Seeker Trines are initially a cultural aspect. It was considered standard (for lots of historical/cultural reasons, including the fact that 3 is a particularly fortunate number among Cybertronians) particularly in flier-heavy societies to form three-part relationships, both professional and otherwise, and that carried over into military tactics- units were generally grouped into threes. This provides stability and also makes for a nice triangle shape when flying. Very aesthetic.

Earlier in Cybertronian history, Seeker Trines generally weren’t gestalt bonded, but might be amica or conjux who fought together, however gestalt bonding in combat kept proving advantageous- this meant that a unit could trade information instantly and be aware of one another on a spark-deep level, making for uniform behavior and tactics.

Once mass-production became the name of the game, the prospect of creating artificial gestalt bonds with cold sparks opened up a whole new array of possibilities, and it became standard for military seeker units to come pre-bonded and in a convenient package deal. The newely-created constructed sparks are kept in close, continued contact immediately after creation, before they have settled, thus bonding together prior to being placed in prefab shells.

The major seeker trine in TF:Matrix; Starscream, Thundercracker, and Skywarp, is created this way. They have been linked together since moments after creation, and it would take incredible effort upon all their parts to break that link prior to their deaths. They’re pretty much stuck together, even when they don’t like it.

Other forms of gestalt units are created this way, or even made by splicing a single cold spark into multiple sparks, and naturally-forming gestalts do occur (as well as artificially converting mature sparks to part of a gestalt) but the sheer amount of cold-constructed gestalt units, Seeker Trines included, overwhelmed any of these. Trines are some of the most notable, however, as three individuals allows for enough balance that losing one member will not disrupt the function of the other two (as opposed to a two-mechanism gestalt, where losing one tends to render the other incapacitated at best) and it’s also a small enough amount of individuals that they don’t get distracted by their own gestalt, allowing them to stay present in the moment.

For reasons not entirely known, cold-constructed Seeker Trines tend to have particularly strong bonding, possibly an effect of Vosnian construction tactics/pre-programming or mandatory training, and thus they were one of the most commonly purchased form of military cold-constructed through most of Cybertron’s latter history! Seeker trines were everywhere. If they were lucky enough, they paid off their “construction debt” after a time and were free to pursue non-military aspects, but this was particularly rare and it was, unfortunately, in many territories of Cybertron entirely legal to maintain a military contract over them for the duration of their entire functioning.

Starscream, Thundercracker, and Skywarp are an excellent example of how a Trine can function at near-peak efficiency. Despite their differences, their frequent squabbling is more performative than anything else, and their way of relieving stress with each other. In combat, all three tend to operate in unison, processing information between the three of them. Starscream is ultimately analytical in abstract, while Skywarp is action-based, and Thundercracker tends more towards caution and planning. Between the three of them, they can quickly figure out the most efficient way to get a job done.

split spark twins right

but they're raised completely separately. don't know the other one exists.

but they Do have a sibling sparkbond

 So this is something I have been thinking of for a while now and I think with sparkbonds its a bond that grows stronger with time. in the beggining the sparkmates would be able to feel each others thoughts and emotions and but doing so takes some concentration and energy but as time goes on it gets easier and eventually comes to the point when it becomes second nature to them and they don't even spend that much energy.  

  When one of the pair is hurt or feeling a strong emotion that overrides the others I have this theory were their sparks will grow brighter but of course you can't see that because of the plating that blocks the light of the spark.  Also if the two are separated and one gets injured or is feeling a strong emotion the pulling feeling in their spark would sort of serve as a compass so that the two can be united and one be their to comfort the other. 

 Then my last part of the this headcanon. If one of the pair was to die wheather by natural causes or not then the one sparkmate still lived would be able to still feel the other almost like the phantom limp that people talk about if they lost their arm or leg. And depending on how long and strong the bond was the stronger that feeling is. Even at times one might here their sparkmates voice in their head or feel what they might have felt.