So I have a million things on my plate, but thats when, of course, you get the best ideas. Ideas for these pieces is to have the G1 Autobot+Decepticon “Big Base” robots facing off over 2 prints, covered in their respective armies.
I had many of the toys growing up , including the terracon base, lunchboxes with some super cool art on em, but only had access to part of the cartoon series on VHS tapes. When I get around to painting these, I’d love to buy binge the show.
Just a shot of Wheeljack; nothing that really shouts spoilers or encourages [tons of] speculation. I’ve placed it after the break just in case anybody would rather not see it before the episode Saturday.
I honestly don’t have much to say about this clip. Too busy reveling in Soundwave’s badassery. He’s been my favorite Con in this series for a while now (Knockout had beaten him on my list until Soundwave took Airachnid out in One Shall Rise), and all I have to say is that this is the best fight scene yet.
I have nothing to go on plot-wise except that neither Ratchet or Laserbeak are present, and Soundwave’s face is not yet cracked, which leads me to believe that Ratchet is searching for the relic, or is figuring out what to do with Laserbeak, who may or may not already be disabled.
Also, I can’t wait for some hi-def gifs of Soundwaves dancing dodges, and his nonchalant way of surveying Wheeljack’s sword. Once the point of spoilers for this episode is over, I’m definitely going to be sporting a Soundwave avatar.
My anticipation for this episode is through the roof. Since I can’t add breaks to embedded videos, if you don’t want the clip spoiled, don’t read below, because it contains wild speculations for things to come.
First off, we get to see Knockout again, and I’m assuming he hasn’t had time to buff himself off since the Tunnel Vision encounter - since Megatron is also already back in the Nemesis, he must have already finished his mission against Bulkhead in Toxicity. Since he’s yelling at K.O., I’m thinking that he did manage to get the relic, and he’s yelling at Knockout for being incompetent enough to not grab the New York one. I’m also going to believe that Dreadwing hasn’t returned from the Arctic relic hunt.
And Soundwave’s face gets cracked; I’m not sure how that affects him - is it just a faceplate, or is it his actual face? Because if it’s his actual face, that has to hurt worse than pretty much everything that’s happened to Starscream throughout the show. I’m not really sure where his sword comes from, though, Soundwave’s arms don’t look very transformable to me - I’d just assumed Laserbeak did all of the blasting. I’m excited to finally get a fight scene dedicated to Soundwave - we only got to see him against Airachnid and that was extremely brief, just the short acrobatics he shows off in the promo sets the bar way up high for him.
What concerns me is that Soundwave doesn’t have Laserbeak for any of his fight against Wheeljack - which leaves him seriously underprotected in his chest. I’m sincerely hoping the opportunity that Laserbeak’s deactivation provides isn’t the chance to kill Soundwave, but I doubt it since the last two seconds of the video offer a different idea.
It seems like Ratchet and Wheeljack have a short conversation about how much time they have to do something to Laserbeak. This is where my really wild speculations kick in. I’m not entirely sure of the complete sentience of Laserbeak in this continuity, is he just a Deployer that is given a mission to carry out, or does he have a choice in the matter? For this speculation I’m assuming the former. What if the orange fluid that Ratchet is holding in the preview is something similar to the concept of Predacon and Maximal cores, and it will essentially rewire Laserbeak to be an Autobot weapon?
Spoilers from “Triangulation” are below this line, to be added to my speculation.
Raf wasn’t there when Optimus called the base, and Bulkhead left before Optimus. I’m pretty sure this means that Raf ended up tagging along on the Ratchet-Wheeljack mission somehow, though I’m not sure how useful he’d be in that situation… Nevermind, I found Raf - he was hiding behind the giant green computer screen.
Me and @transformers-insanity made this AU where the Autobots/Decepticons were apart of fashion shows, strutting it on the runway and showing off pretty designs! Here’s how each of the characters would fit in this AU.
He doesn’t know how to feel. Not in a bad way, not at all in a bad way!
He finds the gesture so pure and romantic it just kind of stops his thought process for a split second.
If this is in public, he’ll kind of just stand there, not sure how exactly to react.
In private, oh my god, this mech has the most a-dork-able smile to exist.
Ultra Magnus:
Regardless of whether this is in public or in private, the reaction is literally the same. Confused stammering.
The BLUSH on this mech’s face puts his blue paint job to shame.
He will try so hard to compose himself, he really will.
Depending on if you soothe him or tease him for his reaction will depend on whether him composing himself works or not.
Ratchet:
He doesn’t get it at first. It’s a kiss, you’re just putting it on his hand, is it something special?
It kind of has to be explained to him. (I researched this to be safe) Most people in other countries use it as a greeting, but the way you did it is basically “I love you/I adore you”
That gets him blushing.
He starts doing it, saying that it’s “to properly greet you” but everyone knows it’s him always saying he loves and adores you.
Bumblebee:
Bumblebee loves kisses, getting them and giving them. But there was something about the way you took his servo and kissed it that drove him nuts.
It opened a whole door for him, he swears, it’s like kissing is his own love language.
The hand kiss is probably his favorite since it’s one that gets the door wings flapping the fastest.
When he can finally speak again? Those kisses always come with him saying “I love you”.
Arcee:
Do this and watch her optics start darting back and forth. She’s screaming internally. In joy, granted, but screaming.
At first you think you shouldn’t have done that, but she reassures you that she liked it, adored it at that.
Arcee would class herself as a “tomboy”, but there’s something to that kiss that makes her feel special, especially hearing it’s sometimes called a “princess kiss”.
She’s not the best with words, but the soft kiss to her servo says more than she could ever come up with.
Bulkhead:
He doesn’t quite understand.
You explain it to him, yes, but it’s a kiss to him. He loved it! Don’t get him wrong!
Any kiss from you is just as loving and tender wherever it’s placed.
He’ll do it back to you though because it meant something to you, your reaction is what keeps him doing it.
Wheeljack:
“My lips are up here, Firefly.” Wheeljack teases. He does understand that it was a more special term of endearment, but he just had to be cheeky.
Wheeljack is the type to take something like this and use it against you.
He starts to do it, but it leads up your arm, to your neck, and finally, your ear/audios.
On one hand, you hate that you encouraged this, on the other, you hope it never stops.
Smokescreen:
You have no idea how special that makes him feel, like oh my god.
The mech still has a bit of a destiny complex, so the kiss makes him feel super important.
Especially since this is his significant other doing this, it makes him feel like he’s your world.
It’s only right that he returns the favor and does the same thing to do. You’re his world too, you know.
Cliffjumper:
He’s a flirt to the max, it’s more likely he did this to you first and you’re getting back at him for it.
Granted, he wasn’t expecting it, so he’s a bit blue in the face when you kiss his hand.
He’s the type of mech to be cheeky and tap his cheek wanting a kiss.
It’s always the highlight of his say when you kiss his hand. He likes being caught off guard.
DECEPTICONS
Megatron:
PDA is nonexistent, so good luck doing this when he’s busy. In private though? The warlord will let you get away with almost anything.
So when you suddenly take his hand and place a kiss on it, something clicks in his mind.
He’s killed so many bots with these hands and the fact you’re showing affection to them makes his spark flutter.
He gives a soft smile and caresses your face before kissing your cheek.
Starscream:
“What was that?” “Affection.” “Disgusting…do it more.”
If you do this on one knee like an actual Prince, his wings will flutter.
In his mind, the gesture makes him feel like you’re putting yourself below him, and deep down he feels like he doesn’t deserve it.
When he’s really down, he does it to you.
Soundwave:
Not gonna lie, when you’re alone and do this, he starts to hum. Specifically, “Once Upon a Dream”.
Soundwave, to me, is the type of soft romantic mech. He won’t get caught off guard because he knows a lot of romantic gestures.
He’s daydreamed of doing it to you before, but you beat him to it.
He works a lot with his hands all day, and it’s nice that you show attention and affection to them every now and then.
Knockout:
This mech will swoon if you do this to him. I kid you not.
He’s more of a spicy romantic than a sweet one, so when you do soft things like this? It really gets his spark going.
“Oh, lovely…you’re too good for me.” He gets the softest look in his optics as he says this.
He does tease using this method, tracing kisses up her arm and to your neck. You gave him the idea.
Breakdown:
A mix of Bulkhead and Knockout. He doesn’t quite understand it at first but becomes a blushing mess when you properly explain it to him.
He’s a soft mech deep down, you know this to be a fact, so the gesture gets to him fast.
The only issue is him returning the gesture. He gets so awkward when he tries to do it back to you, he feels like he’s doing it wrong.
The fact he’s trying at all is what gets you the most. Regardless of it being a kiss or something more.
Shockwave:
He’s so confused. Your gestures of affection always leave him with questions, but this is a new one for him.
Hearing you explain it basically means “I love you/I adore you” leaves him curious. You? Adore him? He knew you loved him, but there’s something about the other bit that gets him.
That’s the one time he wishes that he had a mouth so he could return the gesture.
Underneath all that intelligence and hardiness, is still a spark, and it does adore you.
Skyquake:
Skyquake is a lot about actions, and there’s something about you kissing his hand that…gets this really soft curiosity out of him.
He asks what brought it on, and you respond that it was just another way for you to show your affections.
He notes the gesture at first and does nothing.
Only for him to do it almost every day to you.
Dreadwing:
Dreadwing, like his brother, is a lot about actions, but he’s more attuned to the meaning of certain actions.
He’s a soft romantic at heart, and when you place a kiss on one of his hands one day, his spark flutters.
It’s likely that he’s thought about doing it to you at one point.
Anything and everything he does with/to/for you is always special to him.
Arachnid:
She finds it so sweet and adorable when you do it.
The second you let go of her hand, she’s tracing it under your chin and leaning down for a kiss herself.
If you want a kiss from her, that’s a surefire way of getting it, in private or in public.
She has a thing for human lipstick and will ask you to wear it if you plan on kissing her at any point.
Hardshell:
Hardshell tilts his head at the gesture, he doesn’t quite get it, but he understands it as a show of affection.
He oddly thinks this is you asking for more affection from him, affection he’s more than glad to give to you.
The second you kiss his hand, he’s scooping you up or pulling you close and nuzzling you right there, not caring who’s there.
Definitely the most physically affectionate amongst the Nemesis.
PREDACONS
Predaking:
Believe it or not, Predaking almost feels guilty when you do this.
He feels like he’s not giving you enough affection when you do this. Is something on your mind love? Is he not paying enough attention to you?
You, of course, have no issue, but the best way to get him out of it is just to let him hold you close.
He does pick up the trick and does it to you as well, you’re his after all.
Skylynx:
Skylynx kind of needs it to be explained to him. He understands basic affection, but the kiss on his hand is new to him.
When you explain it to him, it clicks in his mind that there’s a whole new way of giving you affection. Kisses don’t just have to be on the lips!
While he loved the kiss on his hand and he does the same to you, he loves to kiss you along her back/neck.
When you get down to it, he’s very physically affectionate.
Darksteel:
Darksteel likes to hear you laugh, and when you get him flustered, it always lets out a giggle.
So when you kiss his hand and get him all flustered and confused, you can’t help but giggle at the reaction.
This does mean retaliation though, so beware.
It becomes a game to him, meaning out of the blue, he’ll grab your hand and give it all the kisses he feels like it deserves.
MY OCS (I got bored, sue me)
Spectrum:
“Quite the charmer, huh?” He’s very smooth and more than likely knows/planned on doing the gesture to you at some point.
After that, he calls himself “Your Prince Charming” and starts to relentlessly kiss your hand/arm.
In more serious and softer moments between you two, he’ll kiss your hand before placing it on his cheek.
Specs is a very serious romantic when he wants to be, especially for you.
Meraki:
Meraki is a femme that gets very easily flustered and any kind of physical affection can/will get to her.
So when you catch her hand and place a gentle kiss on it, she gets blue and starts to stammer so hard right there on the spot.
It takes her a bit of time to return the gesture because she feels so awkward about it. But she eventually gets the courage to return a kiss to your hand as well.
You’ll never get over how warm her lips are.
Cynosure:
It’s so hard to get Cynosure off guard, I swear.
Regardless, you still catch her hand and place a soft kiss on it. Her reaction is that of a soft smile and take your face and kissing it herself.
She won’t admit it, but kissing her hand made her feel really special.
She doesn’t like being the center of attention, but for you and that soft little moment, she likes to indulge.
Fenrir:
The Predacon has his own sense of affection, a lazy sense, but a sense nonetheless.
When you manage to grab his hand and kiss it, it confuses him for a moment before he takes your hand back and places a kiss upon it himself.
“Everything you give, I wanna give back to you.” Is his motto.
Lots of kisses and snuggles are exchanged.
Solyric:
Solyric has experienced a lot of physical attention in her years of a performer, but there’s something about the soft gesture of you kissing her hand that just sets off a light in her spark.
“Oh sweetspark…thank you so much.”
She tries her best to return the gesture to you.
But there’s just something about her expression that keeps you doing it more than she doing it to you.
Moonglade:
The Earthborn Predacon has seen the gesture and she would be lying if she said she hasn’t dreamed of it before.
You surprise her by taking her claws into your own hand and kissing her knuckles.
It delights her to no end and your affection is rewarded by nuzzles from the Predacon.
It’s been about a year since I was last able to do any of these but here’s another propaganda style poster along the theme of “loose lips sink ships”. I loved harking back to the very first TF episode with Wheeljack and Bumblebee and, of course, Soundwave’s Cybertronian form - some sort of weird lamppost…
“Cute hair ribbon. Where’d you get it?” / "Miko.“ / "Yeah, I got one too! Kid forced me to tie it on my rear view mirror.” / ” ‘Forced’ you? Right. You’d drive off a cliff if it would make her happy.”
