#starscream spirit guide

[bots-and-cons]

Hello!! I hope you're doing well! If it's alright, could you possibly write some HCs with (platonic) Starscream, Breakdown, and Knockout reacting to meeting a Sky Kid/befriending a Sky kid (from Sky: Children of the Light)! Sky kids are basically children of light, who in the game, search for ancestral spirits and relive spirit's memories and guide them back to said ancestral spirits. Sky kids have capes that allow them to fly, they usually wear masks (their faces are black underneath, pretty cool looking), and use candles to "rekindle" the spirits. They also communicate in "calls" or "chirps". If you aren't interested feel free to ignore this, or if any more info is needed, don't hesitate to ask! Thank you for your time!!

I'm not really familiar with the game, and even though your explanation was good, Idk how to write this. I've been wrestling with how to write this but honestly I have no idea, sorry

#ony answers

[weenwrites]

Hello!! I'd like to make a request! I was wondering if you could write something about (platonic) Starscream, Ratchet, and Knockout reacting to meeting a Sky Kid (from Sky: Children of the Light) if you'd like! Sky kids are basically, as the title suggests, children of light, who in the game, search for ancestral spirits and relive spirit's memories and guide them back to said ancestral spirits. Sky kids have a cape that allows them to fly, usually wear masks, and use candles to "rekindle" the spirits. If you aren't interested feel free to ignore this! Thank you for your time!!

I'm really sorry but my requests are closed at the moment! It says so in my description! However, you can send this in again when they're open, but I'm gonna have to reject this for the time being.

#anon asks #asks

[thehypercutstudios]

The Mechanical Book (The Jungle Book parody) cast

Synopsis: “Raised by a family of autobots since birth, Steven (Zach Callison) must leave the only home he's ever known when the fearsome decepticon Megatron (Frank Welker) unleashes his mighty roar. Guided by a no-nonsense ambulance autobot (Corey Burton) and two free-spirited Constructicons (Jeff Bennett and Tom Kenny), the young boy meets an array of robots, including a slithery jet decepticon and a smooth-talking cyborg. Along the way, Steven learns valuable life lessons as his epic journey of self-discovery leads to fun and adventure.”

Steven Universe (Steven Universe) as Mowgli

Ratchet (Transformers Animated) as Bagheera

Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Prowl and Bulkhead (Transformers Animated) as Themselves/Bagheera’s Friends

Mixmaster (Transformers Animated) as Baloo

Scrapper (Transformers Animated) as Himself/Baloo’s Partner

Starscream (Transformers Prime) as Kaa

Megatron (Transformers Prime) as Shere Khan

Neon J (No Straight Roads) as King Louie

Random!Blitzwing (Transformers Animated) as Flunky Monkey

Sentinel Prime (Transformers Animated) as Colonel Hathi

Arcee (Transformers Prime) as Winifred

Wheelie (Transformers G1) as Hathi Jr.

The Lost Bots (Transformers Botbots) as The Vultures

Ultra Magnus (Transformers Animated) as Akela

Sideswipe (Transformers Robots in Disguise) as Rama

Strongarm (Transformers Robots in Disguise) as Raksha

Connie (Steven Universe) as Shanti

Spike (My Little pony) as Rajan

Spyro and Cynder (Spyro) as Rajan’s Parents

Priyanka Maheswaran (Steven Universe) as Shanti’s Mom

Wreck-Gar (Transformers Animated) as Lucky

#crossover casting #the jungle book #Steven Universe #Transformers G1 #Transformers Animated #Transformers Prime #Transformers Robots in Disguise #No Straight Roads #Nsr #My little pony #spyro the dragon #Transformers Botbots

[templeofulchtar]

Happy Ghost Season!

Decided to do something a little different this year, both with my altar and in terms of my Labors. Namely... well.

For one thing, I had to replace some of the items I'd been using as altar decor, specifically fabric items such as my altar cloth, because we had a scare with bedbugs last year and I threw out everything that seemed remotely viable as a bedbug hangout. And that was only one of the major upheavals that took place in 2020. Our dog died. We had a pandemic. My mom got cancer. You know. The little things.

So for this year's Ghost Season, my goal is to make life fun again. In particular, my writing life. I struggle with perfectionism, so I've been consciously trying to let go of that. And to allow for the possibility that writing can be fun, even if it's also work, and that the quality of a piece of writing need not be defined by how much of a struggle it was to produce.

I'm still working on that last bit. ;-)

But my main Labor for this Ghost Season is to find ways to have fun again with my creative process. I want to recapture that feeling I had as a kid, where creating stuff was a form of play. Only... you know. A more adult version of that.

Anyway, that begins with my altar for the Season. I did a little scavenger hunt in some of the local stores and came home with about $15 worth of items, including an awesome black and white skull scarf (very death-y!), some black tissue paper which I decided to use as an altar cloth (also got a white pen so I can write things on it!), and little star-shaped tags, upon which I wrote part of one of my favorite Starscream quotes. The full quote is:

"Where there's a curse on the door, there's treasure on the other side."

May it be so. Happy Ghost Season! 👻

#pop culture paganism #pop culture spirituality #starscream spirit guide #starscream #my altar #ghost season

[grayseekerswritinglife]

Arctic Rose

It always is the same on these cold, clear nights. The Angel of Sky spreads his luminous wings, painting the aethers with shimmering tapestries of color. The creatures below pause their activities. The angel glimpses their smiles of wonder, hears their hushed whispers and sees their fingers point skyward. This is good. It gladdens him to see them looking up, even if the artistry he creates was never for them.

Some of them might know him as Sahaquiel, but that is not his name. It is merely his title. In prior epochs there were other Sahaquiels, other Angels of Sky. He is merely the latest to hold this office, and he prefers another, far older name for himself.

A name now spoken only by one.

He flies north, following Polaris. Below, the human settlements become fewer and farther between. The roads narrow and finally disappear as the horizon opens before him, crystalline beneath the blazing corona of verdant flame which fills the sky. The angel has outdone himself, he thinks. His lover cannot fail to appear tonight.

But patience is required, and the angel wishes he had more of it. Celestial entities should have little care for the passage of time, he thinks, yet he cannot force himself to settle. He fidgets under the weight of lost aeons until at last, in the far, far distance, a figure appears.

The Angel of Sky would have recognized him even without the battered sword he grips in his bloodied hand. Would have recognized him even without the trail of spent gray feathers that drift from his wings like wind-blown ashes. Would have recognized him even if the pristine snow beneath his feet did not turn blood-red with every step he takes.

This angel is known to humankind as Simikiel. They speak of him in whispers, scrawling his name in Enochian script using their own blood for ink, hoping that their self-inflicted pain might serve to appease him. They summon him to their causes, petitioning him to right the wrongs they believe they’ve been dealt, and Simikiel obliges—for a price.

A terrible price, for Simikiel is the Angel of Vengeance, and his sword cuts both ways.

But the Angel of Sky does not call him Simikiel, nor does he summon him for any purpose other than himself. He hurries across the ice, no longer caring about the supposed virtues of patience, and meets his visitor halfway. He extends both hands, palms empty, and waits. His visitor pauses with a few steps between them.

"Nice work," he says, nodding toward the dancing curtains of light. "Looks like you've been busy."

His voice—which humans describe as 'resonant,' 'cutting' and 'bleak,' likening it to an Arctic wind or a surgeon's knife—carries a faint lift, as if the speaker truly is amused. He seems to be looking at the sky, but it is hard to know what he sees with the upper half of his face being an empty void. Rare is the mortal who can look upon that void without cowering in abject terror. But the Angel of Sky relaxes, certain now that he has been recognized.

“It seems you have been busy, too,” he murmurs with sorrow, noting that the blood-caked hands have yet to clasp his own.

“They've been keeping me occupied, yes.” The Angel of Vengeance runs an index-digit along his sword-edge as if testing it. A drop of scarlet falls to the snow, and a single barbed rose unfurls, blooming in the frozen air with unexpected sweetness. “Humankind finds no end of reasons to summon me.”

It is a rote greeting by now; a script they have followed on countless nights.

"If only they would change," the Angel of Sky muses. "If only we could inspire them to evolve beyond their petty cruelties..." He trails off as the Angel of Vengeance smiles.

It is a terrible sight, one that could freeze the blood of mortals and send them scurrying, but the Angel of Sky does not flinch. He knows the other far too well. Recognizes his gestures, his mannerisms—and yes, his beauty—even in his current form. The office to which he has been assigned as punishment for his rebellion might have twisted his outward appearance, but inside he remains himself, his grace and majesty unchanged.

"What if they did evolve?" the Angel of Vengeance queries. "Do you imagine anything would change for us?"

"Surely it would have to," the Angel of Sky responds. "Our work here would be done."

"Yours, maybe. But you are bound to this mud-ball by choice. Not as a punishment for..." the Angel of Vengeance pauses, thin lips curling in a bitter smirk, "bad behavior."

“It has been too long!” the Angel of Sky exclaims in sudden anger. “You have been punished long enough.”

"Careful," the Angel of Vengeance chides. "Daring to question the wisdom of Primus or his minions can get you in, shall we say, a world of trouble." He chuckles coldly. "But you could return. I'm sure he'd take you back."

True enough. The Thirteen who guarded the throne of Primus had made that more than clear. If the Angel of Sky were to return to their bosom, they would see it as a form of repentance. But he could not repent his love.

"I will not leave without you. You know that."

"All too well, my love." The Angel of Vengeance wraps his scarlet fingers around the hilt of his sword, leaning on it as a sage might upon a staff. A gust of wind lifts the snow, frosting the rose's thorns as the two of them fall silent.

It is always the same on these cold, clear nights, a stalemate they've reached many times. The Angel of Sky suspects they've had this debate so often that it has reshaped the crystalline structure of the snow itself, and that if its geometry could be translated to sound, the sound that would emerge would be that of two angels arguing. The Angel of Sky does not wish to argue tonight, and so he plucks the rose, allowing its bittersweet perfume to waft between them.

“This," he says. "This is the essence of your truth. Not what they say it is, and not this false image that the duties of your office have imprinted upon you."

“And you can still see that?”

“Of course. I will always see your truth.”

This earns him another smile. A softer smile, and one which the Angel of Sky is certain no one else has ever seen. It transforms the face of Simikiel into that which he remembers from time long past. “I will not bow," the Angel of Vengeance warns. "I will not go to Primus begging for mercy or forgiveness, nor will I play Unicron's games anymore. If that means I remain earthbound, so be it."

“Yes," the Angel of Sky replies, hearing in those words an echo of his own truth. "I know."

"I cannot change what I am, even for you," the Angel of Vengeance adds, his tone softening.

The Angel of Sky lowers his gaze. "And I would not want you to."

This is only part of the terrible price he must pay for his love, and yet. When bloodied fingers curl between his own, he knows it is worth it. Their hands mesh, locking tight. The rose is crushed between their joined palms, a blood oath made and remade without need for words, and the snow beneath them erupts in a riot of night-blooming flowers.

It is then that the feathers fall from both sets of wings, luminous and ashen swirling together in the dark. As they settle together in their fragrant, living berth, they are both transformed. Armored frames gleam in the starlight as they move together, relearning and remembering.

We are not truly angels. Our kind only seems as such in the eyes of mortals, but we are a people like any other, a people with loves and sorrows and follies, only on a grander scale than humankind could possibly imagine.

In the long contentment that follows, the Angel of Vengeance whispers his lover’s name—his true name. Skyfire.

And the Angel of Sky whispers back. Starscream.

"There is another way," Skyfire adds, perhaps an eternity later. "A third way."

"Conquest?" Starscream rolls lazily to stretch across Skyfire's chest, his sharp chin pillowed on Skyfire's canopy. "It's been tried. I can report firsthand that it's the kind of rebellion that can get you kicked out of both hell and heaven.”

“I am aware.”

“So what are you suggesting?"

Skyfire studies the sky above, observing its shifting veils of color. The yellow and green indicate oxygen; atomic nitrogen makes blue, while purple is created by molecular nitrogen. He knows all of this, somehow, as if remembering it from some distant world long past, and something shifts. Solidifies, as if time itself has been reshaped.

"Humanity," he says, sensing the opening of a gate. It is as if their loving has altered the fabric of reality itself. "Their dreams and imagination." Skyfire pauses to absorb this sudden understanding. "That is a world to which we could escape, and neither the above nor the below would be able to reach us. We would remain earthbound, yes. But we would also be free."

Scarlet optics study him narrowly. "Nice thought, but—" A curl of wind-driven snow materializes into a scroll, which a bloodied hand snatches from midair. "Saved by a summons," Simikiel says, reading it over with a smirk. "Humans are marvelously imaginative where it comes to dreaming up ways to do each other in. Would you like to hear what this one says?"

Skyfire shakes his head. "I know they're not perfect, but—"

"They're little monsters." Simikiel rises. “But this was fun. Let's do it again soon.”

The gate is closing, and Skyfire… Sahaquiel… can feel it. He scrambles up, recapturing Simikiel's hand. "I have seen another side of them. When I paint the skies and they look up to glimpse something beyond their earthly concerns, I see  light in them, and wonder. We could find the ones who are like that. We could…"

"Could what, Skyfire?" Simikiel's tone is challenging, yet he gazes at Skyfire as if seeing him for the first time. As if he really wants to hear his answer.

"Rather than merely entertaining them, as I do," Skyfire says carefully, "or helping them to destroy each other, as you do, wouldn't it be better for us to teach them?"

Simikiel shrugs. "Someone else will do our jobs if we don't. There will always be an Angel of Vengeance."

"Of course there will, but it doesn't have to be you. And it doesn't mean they can't learn." Skyfire is certain that his love would see them differently if he could meet the ones who are not simply trying to use him. "Please." His hand tightens. "Trust me."

Scarlet optics meet his. There is the faintest hint of a nod, a returning pressure of fingers squeezing his own, and then they are gone. They vanish in a swirl of brilliance and darkness in the cold air. All that remains is a scarlet trail across the snow which ends, very suddenly, in a bed of impossible roses.

* * *

A young woman sits up in bed, hands gripping her comforter. The dream had been so resonant. She still feels it in every sinew, every cell of her body. Its lingering sweetness hums in her veins, and although she is aware that it was only a dream, she also knows it was so much more. That something has changed, and she is not quite the person she was the night before when she fell asleep.

Her dream-diary is beside her bed, along with a pen. She opens the book to a fresh page and writes the date: July 28, 1987. Below, she begins: I dreamed about my dear friend Starscream last night…

She fills page after page, knowing there are few people she will ever be able to tell. When every last detail has been recorded, she gets up and goes to her desk. The typewriter is an ancient, cast-iron behemoth, the kind that shakes the table when you type. She finds a sheet of paper and loads it into the machine.

Then sits, fingers poised trembling above the keys.

She speaks his name in a whisper, half afraid to commit it to paper. It feels like an evocation, except she is the one who has been summoned. The task before her, if she chooses to accept it, is to put right the wrongs she believes he's been dealt. And so, at last, she writes his name, answering the call. The story begins.

Written for SkyStarWeek 2020. This story is for Day Five: AU of Choice. I chose angels. Many thanks to my editor, Biting Moopie, for emergency beta services, and to @overlordraax​ for organizing this wonderful (and much needed) celebration of my OTP!

#skystarweek #Skyfire/Starscream #SkyScream #Skyfire #Starscream #alternate universe #angels #fallen angel #muses #inspired by dreams #spirit guides #transformers #fiction meets reality

[sketching-shark]

Getting more and more intrigued by the potentials of @witchysolfan Dracul Transformers AU on account of the wide wide world of supernatural funtimes it allows for, & while she has a COMPLETELY different route for what Alexis Thi Dang would have in it, I took the liberty of making an AU of her AU :3. 

Here I thought it would be interesting if Alexis got a “mom said it’s MY turn on the being a centuries-old preturnatural creature” makeover, & so made her a descendant of the Vietnamese fox monster Hô Tinh, who was known for transforming himself into beautiful women and luring people back to his cave so he could feed on them. She’s pretty young for what she is--just turned 200--and only recently grew her second tail (while fox monsters seem to be very rare in Vietnamese folklore, the general consensus across Japan, China, and other Asian countries seems to be that every century a fox spirit gains another tail up until it turns into a nine-tailed fox). She gets involved with the shenanigans involving the new immortal Stefan (AU Starscream) & new vampire king Peter (AU Predaking) after some messy (to put it lightly) business in which she is a less than pleasant fox creature to Stefan out of desperation for her own well being (let’s just say growing a tail that grants you magical abilities requires you to consume a LOT of energy and leave it at that). She gets her second tail, but Peter has become a VERY strong being after becoming the vampire king and manages to catch her soon afterwards. She’s “convinced” (coerced, at least at first) to be his guide in the supernatural world, but later starts genuinely wanting to help the young king find allies and build up his circle of power because she witnesses for herself how determined and capable Peter is in his efforts to mitigate and even potentially end many of the injustices rampant in that world, a number of which she’s personally suffered.

In other words, she’s the one who’s a scheming advisor/second in command in this AU of an AU, except she actually wants her leader to win lmao.

#transformers au #witchysolfan #alexis thi dang au #p.s. loose-fitting clothes are to allow for a quick transformation into a fox & subsequent getaway if need be

[transfemstarscream]

what are some of your recs for starscream in the comics? i know idw1 has a lot of content for them but some none-idw1 comics would also be rlly good as well

ooo... i have a couple... granted these aren’t ALL of starscream’s appearances in comics, just ones i personally remember being as good or recommend. you may see a pattern in the types of comics i like lol. 

[this is kind of messy and, of course, not all of them; i might go back to this to clean it up one day but this also works as a reference to myself.]

the transformers [1980s] (going to be using the numbering for the transformers UK releases since it’s more convenient + the UK had a lot of exclusive stories, use this guide on the wiki to help):

the enemy within (UK #13-17). one of the first starscream centered stories and it’s pretty good! establishes her treacherous nature and her role in the decepticons/how much she doesn’t fit in decently.

dis-Integrated circuits (UK #33-34). pretty lukewarm but i recall her being a focus here so.

target: 2006 (UK #78-88), but specifically part 5, part 7, part 9 and the epilogue. this is the comic where she is officially Fridged (TM). also some parts are just skywarp painted as starscream but that’s fine. it’s fine.

AND MY FAVORITE: STARGAZING!!! (UK #145) it’s SO cute and probably one of my favorite starscream comics even if it’s short and very christmas-y... it’s not rich in development or whatever but it’s just so cute and sweet that i love it. her and the kid that’s helping her understand the christmas spirit is so adorable i love!!! love it.

the g2 run is only twelve issues and she’s pretty good in them. my favorites are #10-11 since she learns to be nice because the matrix was actually defrosting her spark...!

as for everyone’s favorite, IDW1 (i would use this guide if you want to read these in a more comprehensive order):

megatron origin #3 and #4. (most) autocracy issues have little pieces of good stsc characterization but she's never a main focus so i'd mostly just go with the former issues.

ROM vs. transformers: shining armor! only five issues so not that long. stsc serves as the main antagonist and stays faithful to the whole "intelligent but arrogant" aspect of her character. stardrive is also really cute...

infiltration #6, devastation #5-6.

all hail megatron #3, #6, #8, #10-13. ESPECIALLY #8 and #10-13, she has great character development and it establishes the start of her decaying mental state in #13 primarily. she's just like me!

spotlight: megatron. HUGE content warning for graphic depictions of physical/mental abuse. it's written from megatron's perspective but starscream is intentionally written to be sympathetic and the things done to her by megatron aren't meant to be fine. nick roche's writing is fantastic and he handles abuse really well and never dismisses it comically.

she serves as (one of) the main characters in robots in disguise/exrid so she's one of the best parts of the run overall. for specific recs: exrid #2-5, #7-9, #11-16, and #33. also the exrid annual it develops her martyr/chosen one complex further.

dark cybertron also happens in between exrid/mtmte and starscream is great there too...

more than meets the eye #20-21 (near the end for both issues) and #28-30. former deals with her cold construction and the latter because she’s able to be a prick and be in the right about it.

some single issues like the transformers holiday special (specifically “choose me”), optimus prime annual 2018 (starscream the movie) are also really good. the latter is more about thundercracker but starscream gets a fair share of good story.

i do not like mscott’s characterization of starscream BUT. read till all are one #9-12 and the 2017 annual. slight content warning for body dysmorphia and abuse imagery but the latter is thankfully only one page. don’t like starscream in the windblade run but saren stone illustrates for #1-4 so if you want to see gorgeous art of theirs then i say it’s worth it.

optimus prime #15-25, especially #19. the unicron issues are good and unicron #6 is her ultimate sacrifice. a really bittersweet ending for her; i think she was given one of the better endings in comparison to some.

others (short runs, single issues, etc.):

starscream e-HOBBY comic/mp-3g destron air commander (scans found here, some* my retranslations here).

the transformers halloween special 2021 (my upload found here).

transformers/ghostbusters (here), i found it a little underwhelming personally though if you like ghost starscream there she is!

the transformers: allspark manga (here). warning that currently it’s untranslated so your best bet right now is a machine translator unless you have a good understanding of japanese. starscream here is SO COOL and the manga handles her having sympathetic moments really swell. wish she still referred to herself as ‘watashi’ instead of ‘ore’ but i can’t have everything.

and yeah. starscream is very diverse in the comics. hope this helps!

#reference #transformers #starscream #tagging mostly for my benefit since i don't want to lose this.

[carmichealroyals]

CHARACTER INSPIRATION // C H A L L E N G E

Rules: Write up a blurb or make a visual collage of the people or characters (from books, TV shows, movies, etc.) that inspired your OC, either visually, personality wise, or just a general vibe.

I was tagged by this by so many lovely pals -- @thelockwoodroyals, @wa-royal-tea AND @ourwillowcreekroyals !!! I only feel bad that it took me so long but I wanted it to be as perfect as it could be while taking time to fiddle with Photoshop more (thank you @royaldevilliers for answering my silly questions). Below the cut are the descriptions for the personality types and tropes for each of the main three kids of this next generation! 

Not sure who’s done this yet, so if you see this and you want to do it, this is me telling you to do it!

CHARLOTTE:

The Protagonist:  Protagonists are natural-born leaders, full of passion and charisma. Forming around two percent of the population, they are oftentimes our politicians, our coaches and our teachers, reaching out and inspiring others to achieve and to do good in the world. With a natural confidence that begets influence, Protagonists take a great deal of pride and joy in guiding others to work together to improve themselves and their community.

Spirited Young Lady:  She is the girl who bends the rules just a little. Oh, she can dance a country dance or pour tea with the best of them, but she may also be a good walker or horseback rider. She may be the most intelligent girl in the story, and she is almost certainly the wittiest and the most outspoken, sometimes earning her the title of spitfire. She may be talented in more practical ways, as well: if given the opportunity, she may turn out to be a wise investor, and she may harbor talent for music, writing, or art that goes beyond drawing room entertainment and might become a means of financial independence if necessary. In rare cases, she may even solve a murder. Though she occasionally runs into some trouble, especially if she fails to obey the powers that be, she usually comes through in the end.

Deadpan Snarker: A character prone to gnomic, sarcastic, sometimes bitter, occasionally whimsical asides.The Deadpan Snarker exists to deflate pomposity, point out the unlikelihood of certain plans, and deliver funny lines. Typically the most cynical supporting character. In most cases, it is implied that the snarker would make a good leader, strategist, or consultant given their ability to instantly see the flaws in a constructed plan. More often than not, their innate snarkiness is the only thing preventing the other characters from comprehending this for themselves.

Politically Active Princess:  The Politically Active Princess is a princess that takes active interest in and plays an active role in politics. Naive courtiers and commoners alike might view her only as a figurehead, but in truth, she discreetly uses her position and guile in order to achieve her ends. Skilled in diplomacy, she will usually attempt to solve conflicts via conversation or bargaining, rather than combat. Her defining trait is her involvement in politics or diplomatic matters, without letting herself serve only as a bargaining chip.

Inspired by: Mia Thermopolis (The Princess Diaries); Lorelai Gilmore (Gilmore Girls); Vex’ahlia (Critical Role); Jenny Lee (Call the Midwife)

PETER: 

The Architect:  It can be lonely at the top. As one of the rarest personality types – and one of the most capable – Architects (INTJs) know this all too well. Rational and quick-witted, Architects may struggle to find people who can keep up with their nonstop analysis of everything around them.

The Dog Bites Back:  Unlike the Bastard Understudy and The Starscream, this character attacks as a crime of opportunity. There is no danger that he will take over the villain's place in the grand scheme of things. There is, however, a possibility that he will menace the others as a True Final Boss. The backstabber often ends up dead, but this is usually not Redemption Equals Death because their motive is not noble. Innocent victims who turn on the villain typically do it only for revenge, while evil victims prove that they were fine with all of the Big Bad's crimes except the one committed against them.

Middle Child Syndrome: Everyone loves the oldest child because the parents can rely on them, they watch out for their siblings, and they're so confidently attractive. The Youngest Child Wins because they're the "baby". But what does that leave the one in the middle? That's essentially the definition of Middle Child Syndrome, in which a child automatically may become The Unfavorite or the rebellious Black Sheep, specifically because they are the easiest child to overlook. They're not old enough to be given the responsibilities and privileges of the oldest, and the youngest child took their spot as the spoiled and doted-on "baby" of the family. This tends to be more of an issue when there are three children rather than four or more. Oftentimes in media, the middle child ends up becoming more of the Deadpan Snarker or the quirky one for this reason.

The Un-Favorite: Where there's an Alpha wolf, there's got to be a Beta. When there is a first banana, there is a second banana. This is the person in the family who can't get a break. For example, this is the child who's the big let-down to their parents, the daughter that was supposed to be a son (or vice-versa), the child the parents had by accident when they'd already decided they didn't need another mouth to feed, the adoptive, foster, or stepchild that came before the parents had a biological child, the illegitimate child conceived by infidelity on the part of one of the parents (if not even worse). But all in all, this is basically the kid who is always getting the short-end of the stick. In some extreme cases, this may cause Rich Sibling, Poor Sibling, especially if one sibling is forced into service to the other. A regular line that may be entailed with this is a variant of, "Honestly, [name], why can't you be more like [favorite's name]?"

Inspired by: Edith Crawley (Downton Abbey); Fiyero (Wicked: The Musical); Logan Huntzberger (Gilmore Girls); Rafael Solano (Jane the Virgin)

PEGGY: 

The Mediator:  Idealistic and empathetic, Mediators long for deep, soulful relationships, and they feel called to help others. But because this personality type makes up such a small portion of the population, Mediators may sometimes feel lonely or invisible, adrift in a world that doesn’t seem to appreciate the traits that make them unique.

The Baby of the Bunch: Being the youngest of your group typically comes with some perks and challenges. On one side you're probably the cutest, have a pass to act immature, people like taking care of you, and you can embrace your fun side, knowing that the elders are there to handle the serious stuff. And if there's anything you're naïve about, you have plenty of others to give you the realest unfiltered advice without the generational gap and detachment that your parents or the Old Master have. On the other end, sometimes people don't take you seriously. There you're kinda stuck because no matter how old you get, you'll always be "the baby" in their eyes.

Indifferent Beauty: A character who is attractive, aware of their effect on other people, but doesn't care or at least doesn't value their physical attractiveness over their other traits. Often, this character is a consummate professional who is well aware of the fact that they could use their "assets" to get what they want by other means, but feels that it would be unprofessional or beneath their dignity, and is instead focused on proving that they can compete purely on skill, often to the exclusion of romantic opportunities. While such characters are not averse to dressing in sexy outfits, they don't plan on relying on or even exploiting their sex appeal - but the camera will often do that for them. Other characters' indifference is not due to regarding relying on appearance to be beneath their dignity, but rather that they consider it to be unimportant.

Spoiled Sweet:  The Spoiled Sweet character is a naive, spoiled, rich or comfortably upper-class or upper-middle-class girl, who has everything they could ever want, but instead of being mean, she is as nice as can be to everyone. While still spoiled, slightly naive, perhaps shallow, maybe even a bit selfish at times, when it comes right down to it, she is a loyal friend and doesn't use her money or popularity as an excuse to treat everyone like garbage — though the trope Rich in Dollars, Poor in Sense is in play, especially since a particularly common sticking point is that characters of this type often believe their friends and other loved ones deserve to live just as well as they do.

Inspired by: Rory Gilmore (Gilmore Girls); Beth March (Little Women); Pike Trickfoot (Critical Role); Peggy Schuyler (Hamilton: An American Musical)

#sim: princess charlotte #sim: prince peter #sim: princess margaret

[cm-top-10]

C.M. Top 10: Mysteries &/or Questions Unanswered

Warning - This new Top 10 may contain possible spoilers, so for your safety & others. Read at your own risk or don't read it. You've been warned! 💀

So far we've seen many things & many characters we don't know much about. Even seen items with both a mysterious power or unknown past.

So this unusual ten features all the unanswered questions about the things we may never get the answers to.

Will we ever find the answers to them? Well you'll have to be the judge on that issue. For those questions we'll sadly never know...

1. Where is the missing Ramon De La Porta?

In the 3D movie Kong Return to the Jungle, Ramon De La Porta is double-crossed by his "business partner" & was taken away to a location no one knows where.

Is he still alive & if so where is he now?

2. Who's hand did Megatron take this from?

In Transformers Prime during a desperate attempt to turn the tides back in his favor against Optimus Prime & the Star Saber. Megatron returned to Cybertron to retrieve a limb from the remains of one of the fallen 13 Primes. So that he could use it to hold the power of the Primes to use the Forge of Solus Prime, to build his Dark Star Saber.

Question that still remains is, which Prime did he cut this hand from? We may never know who...

3. Who was the first Super Saiyan?

In the earlier years of Dragon Ball Z, Vegeta told the story about the first Super Saiyan warrior who was able to use his ability during his ape form. But this mysterious warrior suddenly disappeared after rampaging.

But who was this mystery Saiyan warrior that Vegeta spoke of? & could he possibly have been Goku's ancestor?

4. Whatever became of Bourlof?

On the chase for Dally's soul trapped in his own Shushu weapon, Eva finds an old Shushu fire sword by the name of Bourlof the Butcher. What she didn't know was that Bourlof is an infamous demon known for cutting down his victims in one burning cut. But after a fight with Remington Smisse, she accidentally dropped Bourlof into the foggy depths of the city ruins, never to be seen again.

The question is where he is now? Sadly nobody knows...waste of a badass demon sword honestly.

5. Whatever became of Grogu during his training with Luke & the other young Jedi?

In the movies we heard Luke tried to rebuild a new Jedi Order with the new found younglings who were one with the Force. & a bit before that, years ago the Mandalorian returned Grogu to Luke so that he could train to be the next future Jedi himself. But years later before he could Luke's nephew Ben turned to the Dark Side & destroyed the Temple along with the said future Jedi students.

But after the destruction of the Jedi Temple, did Grogu somehow escape death again? Is he still alive out there, hopefully not alone in the cruel universe? Let's hope we find out someday, may the Force be with you small one... 😔

6. Where is the Choten hiding in the Kaiju Realm? & will he ever return?

During the final kaiju battle between Ray & the Choten, the evil mastermind managed to use his evo-mutated father to escape somewhere into the Nature Civilization across the Veil. There he's somewhere hiding never to be seen again.

The question still remains, is he truly gone forever? Or is he waiting out his return for revenge & world conquest? Let's hope we never out if he somehow does...

7. Will Ultron break free of the Mind Stone?

During the final battle against Ultron, the Vision managed to trap his own creator inside the Mind Stone. So that he would not cause harm to anyone again. However this isn't the first time Ultron has tampered with an Infinity Stone even trapped inside one.

Who knows over time he might break free. But will he be able to return?

8. Is Leah's spirit still alive somewhere?

Personally I think it's a long shot if any part of Leah especially her soul, managed to survive after the death of Diablo. As much as I want to believe that part of her is still out there, I don't think that she is. & we all know the Lord of Terror saw to that personally. Sadly it's probably only just been rumors about poor Leah.

But if it is possible could her soul still be alive out there, waiting to be found? I only wish it were true... 😔

9. Whatever happened to Predaking?

In the series Transformers Robots in Disguise, Starscream tells the tale on how he "defeated" the Predacons. But he mentioned nothing of Predaking. & knowing the big beast bot, it would take more than a turret cannon to wipe him out. & no one not even Bumblebee & his team have seen Predaking.

So the big question is where is the King of the Predacons? & what has he been up to during his disappearance?

10. Where is Ezra?

During the final battle against the Empire on Lothal, Ezra Bridger was said to of made the ultimate sacrifice for his planet & his friends. & him along with Thrawn disappeared into an unknown sector of the galaxy. However where most believed he's gone, Sabine knows in her heart that he's still alive & will do anything to find him.

Will Sabine be able to find Ezra? Let us hope so & may the Force guide her to him.

#C.M. Top 10 #Top 10 #Questions Unanswered #Kong the Animated Series #Ramon De La Porta #Transformers Prime #Hand of Prime #Dragon Ball Super #the Super Saiyan #Wakfu #Bourlof the Butcher #the Mandalorian #Star Wars #Grogu #Kaijudo #the Choten #Ultimate Alliance 3 #Ultron #Diablo 3 #Diablo Lord of Terror #Transformers Prime Beast Hunters #Predaking #Star Wars Rebels #Ezra #my screenshots #cameraman screenshots

[grayseeker]

What Starscream Means to Me

"In any universe, you are my dark star." - Young the Giant, Superposition

"What do you like about him?" my classmate asked, after I'd told her about my deep and abiding passion for Starscream.

She wasn't asking in a sarcastic way. She seemed genuinely curious, and I wanted to give her an answer. One that would make sense to someone who'd only just heard of him. And one that would somehow tell the truth by encapsulating a 30+ year relationship into a few pithy sentences.

I drew a blank. Still do. Not because I don't have reasons, but because there's so much to say. When I try to write it down, it inevitably sprawls off the page into long, rambling discourses that are probably of interest to no one but me. Perhaps the impact he's had on my life - in terms of my creativity, ambitions, spiritual path and more - is impossible to put in words. Yet here I am, giving it another try. If Starscream has taught me anything, it's the value of persistence. So...

Starscream is my hero.

He was my first and, really, only hero. He's more - much more - but I have always had the deepest admiration for his courage, his determination in pursuing his ambitions, his willingness to challenge authority, and his absolute refusal to back down from his dreams. He gives literal meaning to the phrase, "Never say die."

He taught me to never give up. To seek my own truth and to speak up for myself, even when my voice shakes. That disobedience is not the same thing as disloyalty, and that obedience to authority is not always "good." That being shot down for your ambitions is still better than not having any in the first place. That if you're stranded on a desert island with nothing but a few wrecked vehicles, you can still create your own army if you're creative and resourceful. That you can beat the devil *and* escape the jaws of death if you're smart enough and willing to work for it.

From Starscream, I learned that the will to survive, in spite life's cruelties, is the highest form of courage. It can even be an expression of love, if it means surviving long enough to find someone you care about and dig him out of the ice. Starscream taught me that where there's a curse on the door, there's likely to be something worth having on the other side. He taught me to explore the forbidden, to face my fears and my inner darkness, and explore my own personal underworld.

He taught me that no matter how often you are shamed, degraded, beaten down and humiliated, you can still have pride. You can still find it within yourself to rise and embrace life.

Those were the lessons I needed as a depressed 19 year old, and I still need them today. And no, Starscream is not perfect. Then again, I wouldn't want him to be. Perfection is dull. Starscream, on the other hand, is beautifully flawed. Like so many of us, he is his own worst enemy. Watching him struggle with that tendency is, itself, inspiring to me. It makes it possible to imagine that I can forgive myself for my mistakes, my shortcomings, my tendency to self-sabotage.

What else could I say about him? There's still so much. I could talk about how he inspired me to start writing, and is guide and inspiration to my creative process, whether I'm writing about him specifically or not. I could talk about how he gave me the courage to come out to myself as queer. I could talk about his profound effect on my spiritual path, which would be book in itself.

But perhaps I'll conclude by saying that Starscream is my Muse. He's my creative partner, co-author of my stories, my oldest friend, my spirit guide, my daemon - my Seeker.

And if there's more to be said than that, it will have to wait for another essay.

#starscream #tribute #my seeker #my hero #my muse

[revenant-king-novel]

My Writing Altar

Some writers have rituals, yes - but I may have taken that concept to the next level. Starscream is so much more to me than just a favorite character, or a character I love to write about. He’s my muse and my spirit guide, and I’m not simply writing The Revenant King about him, but also for him. 

This little transparent Starscream has been with me for a while, and he often perches on my laptop keyboard while I’m writing. This year, just before Nanowrimo started, I happened to find a piece of orgonite sitting in the gutter near my chosen writing cafe. Orgonite is a composite of metals and crystals, suspended in a resin matrix. It’s supposed to purify energy and... stuff. 

I’ve made these before, and I suspect I’m one of the few people who could have come across it and recognized, at a glance, what it is. Needless to say, I adopted it forthwith! I feel it makes a glorious pedestal for my little ghost!Seeker to perch upon while I’m writing. Sure I get some funny looks, but I just smile. 

Yes, we writers do have our rituals. This is just a sampling of mine. 

#pop culture paganism #muses #altars #creative inspiration #starscream #nano 2018 #orgonite #writing and spirituality

[aliyah-7]

It is the “fluffiest” thing I can do. Happy endings are so not my style.

It was the first clear night in Cybertron, the first night with stars greeting and shining brightly for the survivors of the cataclysm that had nearly wiped them all from existence. Half the planet remained in ruins (the useful half), and there were still some heaps of smoke rising; but every beating spark that had gone to recharge with their fuel tanks half empty, with the fear of the roof falling on top of them, with the hopelessness of a grey night just as dull and eerie as grey day, stepped out into the dusty streets, and admired the starry sky.

Starscream, being a privileged being with thrusters and wings to elevate and soar the skies as he pleased, wasted not a klick and transformed taking flight into the endless sky in search of a high spot where to take a seat and enjoy that the dark days were finally over.

Feeling in high spirits, he flew around the city taking a look at the happy grounders that were pointing into infinity. Their voices were rising from the hushed whispers into fits of laughter and exclamations of joy; he doubted he had the right to claim any responsibility in that happiness, despite his help to sort all problems through, but he felt confident enough to claim it.

Albeit, he also had to admit he had needed some convincing.

He transformed in mid-air, his optics focusing on the vague silhouette of another flier already sat in the best spot. The foreign frame could not belong to anyone but Windblade and, with a smirk, Starscream resumed his course towards her.

Windblade remained impassive at the sound of an incoming jet, but her wings dropped slightly and her lips curved into a soft smile as she recognized the engines of the most annoying seeker she had ever met. He also happened to be the most cunning, and quite reliable... in spite of everything.

"Taking in the view?" he asked with a grin, taking a seat a few meters away from her. Windblade could only assume that surviving to an apocalypse had put him in a good mood.

'Small victories,' she thought jokingly, feeling herself like laughing.

"I'm just waiting for dawn," she replied instead, her smile widening at the thought of warmness coming through, bathing the sky with the pale colors of a new beginning, hopefully, a happier one, a better one.

"You don't like the stars?" asks Starscream, genuinely curious. Every flier that prized of their ability had at least felt some connection with the silence of the night and the white spots that guided the way. He had, of course, lost all that sentimentalism once the war had started, but the sight of it still soothed his tensed wires.

"That's not it," she replied with a small chuckle, her wings fluttering slightly before deciding to lay on her back, her optics facing the endless sky. "I just... like warmer colors."

She closed her optics, hoping the answer will suffice, but as time passed and she heard nothing but silence, she opened one of them to peek at the seeker, only to realize he was looking at her almost with shock. As if what she had said was unforgivable.

"What?" she asked, taking a sitting position, the surprise of his reaction becoming contagious. "I can't believe I just saved Cybertron alongside someone who doesn't like to stargaze," he replied, his servo reaching his chin as he spoke more to himself than to her.

He seemed pensive, almost contemplating his options with the new piece of information. Windblade admired him in silence; it was one of those rare occasions in which he was not being hostile and his facial features were not marked by hatred or fear. He looked younger than his bitterness had led her to believe he was and, if she had to guess, the slight drop on his wings signalized he was even relaxed.

Starscream, relaxed. In her presence.

Wow.

"Are you considering in antagonizing me again?" she asked jokingly, her attention focused on him. Starscream, right on cue, ended his pondering and resumed his stargazing.

"It's a possibility," he replied nonchalantly.

Windblade let go an amused smile but decided not to pursue. She knew how petty he could be, she better not test him on it.

"The sky on Caminus..." she began after a moment of silence, her gaze back on the sky. "... didn't look like the one in here."

"Caminus barely had any atmosphere, and the gases that emanated from the depths of the planet did not make it any prettier," she explained. "Besides, with so little resources, staying awake instead of recharging was both unwise and frowned upon."

"I never had a good look of the stars until I got here."

-o-

Starscream pondered in silence as he listened to her, wondering if there was any regret in her exile and later loss of her home. He sensed melancholy, but for some reason, that was an emotion that he had associated with her from the early days of their acquaintance. 

"Well," he said, speaking casually, his frame shifting closer, "I suggest you take a good look to the sky as it is now. Once everything is back on its pedes, you'll be covered in politics and datapads."

He saw her smile widening a little, her optics gleaming in the night with delight and amusement at the realization. He decided to lie next to her, his wings brushing hers slightly. It felt more comfortable, more familiar. It made him forget the many times he had wanted to go back, but could not.

Silence stretching between them, Starscream started to drift off. Finally, there was some wind blowing, caressing the more sensitive wires of his frame. Finally, there was that sensation of peace reaching his spark. It did not matter who he was, who he was meant to be, who he could be. All that mattered was who he wanted to be, and the odds of that were as infinite as his ambitions. He would be okay.

"Starscream?" asked Windblade, her voice soft, almost timid.

"Hm?" is all he said in return, his mind miles and miles away...

"Thank you for trusting me," she confessed, and it took him a klick to turn around and meet the honesty of her words shinning in her gaze, set on him.

If it hadn’t been for his wings being pressed against the ground, they would have given away the impact of those words on him. He held her gaze for a few klicks longer than necessary, noticing how it made her feel uncomfortable. That is new, he thought as an amused smile crosses his lips.

He heard her fans starting whirring, her optics averting his and instead focusing first on his cockpit, then back on the stars. He dared not to make an assumption of said behavior though, he could easily misinterpret it.

He sighed, supposing a confession on his end was required as well.

"Thank you for staying," he says, solemnly, though unable to look at her. "And for fighting for us." He meant more than that but decided not to say it. Upon meeting her, he had thought she was naive enough to believe he could change, then he thought she was stubborn enough to try to make him change. But then…

His words seemed to have surprised her, for she took a sitting stance; but soon enough they drew another smile from her, a more mischievous one.

"Wow," she said, "first 'I'm sorry' and now 'thank you'? You're making progress."

He smiled feebly at the taunt, guessing he deserved it. Saying those words had become easier with time and exposure, but he doubted he had learnt to mean them. Even then, as they were speaking, he has lied. For while he appreciated she had stayed to fight for them, with them, the only thing he could think back then was...

He sat upright almost with a jolt, startling Windblade. The thought unsettled him, worried him, scared him... and yet it also filled him with a tingle of determination, a stubbornness to reclaim his happiness back like he had not felt in ages. 

He remained still and on the alert, his wings tense. His mind drifting into hypothetical yet cruel scenarios in where he lost. And dread would have easily claimed back its spot in him, had it not been for the delicate touch of someone next to him.

Windblade was still there, sitting next to him a servo gently pressed on his. Her features acquiring that worriedness that he always inspired in the few who had shown real concern for his state of mind.

“Are you alright?”

No.

“Y-yes,” he lied. “What?” he tried next in hopes of dismissing her concern, “thought I couldn’t take a joke?”

She said nothing in return but slowly retired her servo from his. Her smile becoming more compassionate before it dissolved in deep thought.

He resisted the urge to sigh again, knowing he had a long way to go before… changing. But hopefully, there would be nothing to step in his way this time. No Shockwave to incline the balance against him, no Megatron to submit him, no Unicron to threaten to destroy the dead piece of metal for some reason he still called ‘home’.

Because, all in all, it was ‘home’.

And he had all he ever wanted to make his home last.

#windscreamweek #fluff #day 1 #yes I'm late #sorry #Windscream #Windblade #Starscream #Transformers #scrapbook

[brandxspandex]

TF IDW reread: Monstrosity

I recall Monstrosity was my favourite instalment of the Autocracy-Monstrosity-Primacy trilogy, and upon rereading it I think that is going to remain the case. It’s a fun story featuring batshit crazy Decepticons, swarms of beastly monsters, dire and deathly places, and Megatron being a BAMF. Watching Megatron transform into Garbage King of Trash Planet and go on a quest of self-discovery with his riddle-spewing pet Quintesson in tow was quite entertaining, and it was the kind of setting and storyline where Livio Ramondelli’s artwork is quite appropriate. The Quintesson, Pentius, was a fun character, even if there was pretty much no explanation for any single thing that he said or did. He was like some sort of spirit-guide/sensei character who guides another character on a journey towards enlightenment, only instead of guiding Megatron towards enlightenment he guides him towards a greater clarity of evil…which I guess is enlightenment from some people’s point of view. There is no clear reason why he does this, although he is a historian, and some of the cryptic things he says are somewhat reminiscent of Metroplex’s comments to Optimus about the cyclic nature of history and Optimus’s role as a recurring player in it. Maybe Pentius recognised Megatron as another one of those major players and wanted to see him fulfil his destined role, or maybe he just gets his kicks out of encouraging people to be evil, who knows.

Quintessons are also established as having (green) sparks in this series, which raises questions about the nature of Quintesson life and their connection to the Transformers in the IDW continuity. If I recall there are some continuities in which the Quintessons are descendants/creations of Quintus Prime, so maybe that is true of this continuity as well. The fact that the end of the IDW continuity means we’re going to miss out on the opportunity to properly explore this version of the Quintessons is one of the many things about the reboot that makes me thoroughly upset.

The current Optimus Prime series established that Junkion was blown up in the war between the Autobots and Decepticons at some point after this, but turns out that at this point Junkion was just a goddamn shard anyway, so not much of a loss really.

Autocracy made Megatron look like a little bit of a chump (and the Decepticons clearly agreed, given their decision to get rid of him), but Monstrosity quite pointedly reaffirms his terrifying badassitude, while making him look outright sane and heroic next to the nutcase that is Scorponok. It could be said that Megatron (somewhat thinly) veiled his desire for endless violence behind a motive of social change, but Scorponok didn’t make the slightest effort to disguise what he was after, and took it WAY up to 11. Scorponok basically wanted to turn Cybertron into what Junkion already was, and after getting banished there Megatron seemed to decide that he’d had quite enough of that. I guess that what Monstrosity ultimately establishes is that while Megatron has most definitely fallen to his bloodlust (energon-lust?), he hasn’t gone completely loopy; he still has goals beyond simply killing things, or at least still believes he does. I find it kinda weird that Megatron’s character arc on Junkion is meant to be about becoming truly monstrous, yet the whole story is also about establishing him as a much better alternative to Scorponok. In fact he seems less villainous and nutty when he gets back from Junkion than before.

Then again, Megatron’s “revelation” on Junkion is that what he truly wants is dominance, “the only truth in existence”. Perhaps the contrast that the story was trying to establish between Megatron and Scorponok is that while Scorponok was basically “chaotic evil” and wanted to create a primordial wasteland where only the strongest survive, Megatron wanted to establish a more ordered evil, with himself at the top. That being said, I can’t believe that Megatron wasn’t to some extent driven by the same sort of lust for violence that seemed to motivate Scorponok, as there are several moments throughout the continuity that heavily imply/basically outright state that Megatron was more interested in killing than actually winning the war. However, I guess that while Scorponok was nothing but that lust for violence and twisted might makes right philosophy, those elements of Megatron’s character were somewhat tempered by other aspects, such as his desire for absolute dominance. I do wonder how much of Megatron’s desire for dominance stemmed from the moments he had felt helpless, like on Trepan’s table, which spawned the desire to never feel that way again.

We saw Starscream being pretty damn critical of and fed up with Megatron in Autocracy, which seems to culminate in him helping overthrow Megs here. That being said, it’s not made clear how much say Starscream actually had in the coup – whether he was one of the first people calling for Megatron’s blood, or if he watched Scorponok blow the heads off anyone defending Megatron before deciding to play along. Either way, it doesn’t take him long to start hitting Scorponok with the same sort of criticism he had recently been levelling at Megs, although he also offers some pretty valid advice, and even tries to break up in-fighting between the Cons. It just seems like he earnestly wanted the Decepticons to be successful in doing what they set out to do, but unfortunately for him Scorponok was everything he seemed to hate about Megatron concentrated and amplified.

I guess we don’t actually know for sure if Starscream was Megatron’s SiC at this point, though his interactions with Megatron certainly made him seem as much, but either way it’s interesting that he just lets Scorponok take command. It comes across as though he initially wasn’t actually that interested in being the leader at this point in history, but rather preferred an advisory role from behind the scenes. Unfortunately none of the leaders he gave advice to were interested in listening to him. While I think there are a number of factors underlying Starscream’s eventual ambition for leadership, I tend to think that one of the most major factors was the fact that all the other leaders he followed continuously let him down. He was fucked over by the Senate, Megatron, Scorponok, until eventually he thought “fuck it, I’ll do it myself”.

He doesn’t seem quite at that point yet however, as he doesn’t use Scorponok’s raging incompetence and unpopularity as an opportunity to seize control of the Cons himself, and he looks outright delighted when Megatron shows up again to take power back from Scorponok, which is a great scene by the way:

I love how Megatron’s silhouette makes him look like fricking Dracula or something in that panel.

Anyway, Megatron is understandably upset with Starscream after this, and promises him that they would discuss his role in the coup, which is something we never get to see. I find this really frustrating given that Megatron and Starscream’s relationship is made up of many more questions than answers, and this seems like it would have been a major turning point between them assuming this was Starscream’s first major betrayal. I have to wonder what went down between them after this so that Starscream not only survived, but maintained his major ranking in the Cons. I could imagine Starscream arguing/pleading to Megatron that Megs had constantly reiterated that the leader of the Decepticons must be strong and indomitable, so by discarding Megatron in favour of another leader after his defeat, Starscream was only following the doctrine Megatron wanted him to follow. If Megatron was won over by this argument, I wonder if this could have been the beginning of their dynamic of Megatron keeping Starscream around to challenge him and so give him the opportunity to reaffirm his dominance as leader. I also wonder if this is around the time their relationship turned violent.

Assuming Starscream’s initial loyalty to and idolisation of Megatron was genuine, and I’m inclined to say it was, it would seem that this initial “positive” stage of their relationship was over by this point in time. But was their relationship as simple as an initial, relatively short positive period in which Starscream was loyal, followed by a really long, horrible period in which Starscream was treacherous? I’m inclined to think it was more complicated than that. Starscream may have welcomed Megatron back in Monstrosity just because he could be used to get rid of Scorponok, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Megatron’s strength and determination in returning from Junkion and reclaiming the Decepticons had restored some of Starscream’s eroded faith in him. I could imagine Starscream going through another period of loyalty to Megatron after this, although it probably wouldn’t be as strong as his initial loyalty, and their relationship would be tainted from that point on by Starscream’s betrayal. I bet their relationship would have gone through a number of such phases of Starscream warming back up to Megatron to some extent before souring to him again and trying to get rid of him, but with an overall downwards trend as their relationship for the most part deteriorated. In fact, we kind of saw another instance of this at the end of All Hail Megatron, if I recall, with Starscream saving Megatron’s life shortly after he had attempted a coup.

Also Scorponok noted that Megatron had apparently kept Starscream at arm’s length (something Starscream puts down to Megatron not having much trust for politicians, an explanation that makes a lot more sense now that we know Starscream used to be a senator even before the Decepticons), but this seems like a kinda odd thing to say given that Megatron apparently made Starscream his SiC, trusted him with a number of important duties, and had him alone by his side several times. If Starscream’s early passionate fixation on Megatron hadn’t just been for show, then maybe he wanted to be emotionally close to him as well (not necessarily in a romantic way if that’s what you assume I mean…although also maybe that) but Megatron kept his distance in that respect. If that were so, I wonder if that could have been a contributing factor towards Starscream’s attitude towards Megatron going sour.

Meanwhile poor Optimus Prime has been contending with Dai Atlas’s bitching, and to be fair I guess he kinda has a point; Cybertron was a bit of a shitshow so perhaps packing up and leaving was a reasonable thing to do. On the other hand, if your solution to all your problems is to pack up and run off to someplace else and start over, you’re never going to achieve much. The vision of unity that The Matrix granted Optimus when they bonded makes him pretty insistent that Cybertronians ought to all stick together. I imagine that Optimus would have felt that Cybertronians leaving the planet and scattering would have also amounted to them abandoning each other, and he didn’t want to leave anyone behind, as illustrated by his refusal to give up on the Dynobots and their monstrous predicament.

Optimus does however wonder if he’s just jealous of all the people leaving Cybertron’s problems behind while he’s stuck there dealing with it all, which is really sad because that’s pretty much the same sort of sentiment of frustration with his position of responsibility that he expresses 4 million years later in The Death of Optimus Prime. So Optimus was done with the position of Prime from more or less the day he got it, and he’s probably been sick of it for the entirety of the 4 million year war. Honestly when the continuity ends I really hope he gets to survive and quit all his responsibilities and go and live somewhere way out of the way of any drama and just like…garden or some shit.

Seems kinda weird that the Dynobots were trying to avoid getting too riled up to stop hulking out into their monstrous alt-modes, but had also been involved with the Decepticons via the gladiatorial death-matches; surely gladiatorial death-matches would be a sure-fire ticket to hulking out. Maybe that’s why they didn’t go through with joining the Decepticons; if death-matches weren’t gonna do it, a revolution just might. On the other hand, given that The Dynobots joined in Optimus’s uprising against Megatron, and that Scorponok pointed out that Grimlock’s “fatal weakness” is compassion, maybe the Dynobots left the Decepticons because they noticed that the movement had got a bit shit. The dynamic between the Dynobots is pretty endearing; they’re like a bickering but incredibly loyal and loving family.

So Trypticon was manufacturing monsters in his innards…doesn’t that kinda make them his babies? Certainly seems to be further evidence that Titans can produce life of their own. Also, what’s the deal with Trypticon and babies? In his first appearance he’s making all these monster babies, then in his more recent appearances he’s adopted a bunch of babies. Is that just IDW Trypticon’s thing? Everyone views him as this horrible, terrifying monster that does nothing but wreck death and destruction, but in actual fact his just wants to have a bunch of babies and see them grow up strong and healthy with pack lunches and name labels on all their stationary.

On a final note, let’s all laugh/cry at the first panel of the series:

#Transformers IDW #Maccadam #Monstrosity #MEGATRON #Pentius #Quintessons #Scorponok #Starscream #Dai Atlas #OPTIMUS PRIME #Dynobots #Dinobots #Grimlock #Decepticons #Transformers #IDW #TF IDW reread #Trypticon #meta

[templeofulchtar]

Guiding Star Tarot Spread

So, I made a thing! :-) Resurrection Day (October 23) is kind of like my New Year, so I’ve decided to do some divination for the year ahead. This is the card layout I plan on using. You’re welcome to use it too! As you can see, it’s designed to look like a compass. Each point on the compass represents a different aspect of your life as it relates to the situation you’re asking about, and the central [9th] card reflects Starscream’s specific advice or commentary on the situation. (Numerologically, 9 is Starscream’s name-number, so I like to do things in 9′s.)

You can use this spread to gain an overview of how best to navigate an upcoming project, situation, or life event. Also, though it probably goes without saying, you don’t have to use Tarot cards. Feel free to use any Oracle deck you prefer. You can also use standard playing cards, or even runes. 

Here's some additional insight into each of the card positions:

1. What is Rising For You:  This is an energy that you will be encountering as you move forward into the situation you’re inquiring about. It could be a helpful influence or a challenging one; either way, you will definitely grow from it. 

2. What is Setting For You: This is something that is either leaving your life on its own, or that you are being asked to set aside, at least temporarily.

3. Your Private Self: This is how you can expect to feel in this upcoming situation. This card may offer guidance as to how to take care of your inner self as you navigate the uncharted waters ahead.

4. Your Public Self: This is how you will meet the world (and how it will meet you) during the time ahead. This card may warn of potential pitfalls; heed its guidance and your dealings with others should become smoother.

5. Your Body: It’s easy to get so focused on your projects and goals that you forget to take care of your physical self. This card offers guidance on how best to heal and nurture your body so you can meet challenges from a place of strength.

6. Your Spirit: Just as it’s easy to forget about physical needs when you’re caught up in a big project, so too is it easy to forget about your spiritual self. This card offers a touchstone for nurturing your spirit during the time ahead.

7. Your Heart: This card relates to your emotional self. Matters of the heart include relationships (including with yourself), your creativity, and your sense of play. Pursue your goals, yes; but don’t forget about loved ones, or to have fun! 

8. Your Mind: This card speaks to your intellect, as well as your attitudes and beliefs. It shows a helpful way for you to think about your situation. What new mindset might you need to adopt? What beliefs might you need to let go of?

9. The Eye From Outer Space:* This central card speaks to the very heart of the matter. It is Starscream’s specific guidance on the upcoming situation, and it is your Guiding Star. Whether the message is challenging or reassuring, you will achieve maximum growth by engaging with the energy this card represents.

*The title of this 9th card comes from the lyrics of a song that’s very special to me, and which I have always associated with Starscream. 

#starscream spirit guide #pop culture paganism #tarot #divination #ghost season #ghost season working

[ao3feed-skystar]

Arctic Rose https://ift.tt/2Zpab71 grayseeker

by grayseeker

The Angel of Sky trysts with his lover, the Angel of Vengeance, on a snow-swept plain where freedom is but a dream away.

Words: 2121, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Series: Part 5 of StarCrossed

Fandoms: Transformers - All Media Types, Transformers Generation One

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Skyfire (Transformers), Starscream (Transformers)

Relationships: Skyfire/Starscream (Transformers)

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Angels, Fallen Angels, Muses, Inspired by Dreams, Spirit Guides, Star-crossed

September 04, 2020 at 10:40AM

#IFTTT #ao3feed #fanfic #transformers #slash #skyfire #starscream #skystar

[aberrantchaser-blog]

The Lego Ninjago Movie Spoiler full Review

Table of Contents: Personal Background, Review, crush/love letter, Ambivalent, Things I wish they: expanded on, had, had done, Irritated slightly by, kept in, noticed.  The things I enjoyed: thought clever, funny, lessons, liked, tugging on Heart Strings, Fun observations. 

Background I’m not part of the Ninjago show fandom (though I have seen spitbrix’s & tannerfishies’s videos on the subject). I just saw the 1st TLNM trailer on May 21st & have been intrigued ever since & somewhat crushing on Lloyd Garmadon for 4 months.  My crush kind of died yesterday, after I’d seen the film twice. Why? read on to find that out, & what I thought of the film in general.

Review If I were to give this film a letter grade it’d be a C, not an A as it didn’t do everything right, not a B as it didn’t have only a few missteps, but not a F because I don’t think the film failed so badly as to warrant that grade, or a D for barely passing.  

No the final grade I’m giving this film is C for average, not extremely good or extremely bad, just in the middle, maybe somewhat forgettable to general audiences.  To me at least this film causes me enough pain to want to forget it sometimes.  

When this film lands it lands well, the heart of the story is well executed, when it doesn’t stick the landing it drags the score/grade down, but not enough to ruin 100% the film/or my experience of it.

Sure I came out of the film feeling mainly disappointed, I had spent around 3 hours with the film, & $15.59 for my 2nd viewing, but just because it disappointed me doesn’t mean I want other people to not see it, or for this film to bomb at the box office, as I’d like the Lego aesthetic to still be present on the big screen, & would like Lego to do well on future films advertising in house brands.

In crush terms, yo Lloyd the makers of the film set up a great profile (marketing) for you, yet the “date” I went on with you showed that you weren’t as great as your profile set you up to be.  The allure, intrigue, mystery I felt for you made me want to get to know you, & your story was wanting. The charm you showcased in trailers also seem to have been lost/cut out in your film.  (I had hoped that your film would make me fall for you more, that the time I spent obsessing over you wasn’t wasted, that you as a whole would be worthy of my attention when I finally got to see your story.) I suppose 1 sad irony of this situation is that I wasn’t able to take my owned/your representative minifig to see you on the big screen on the day of your film’s premiere.

& Yet your platonic chemistry with your dad, your desperation in wanting to fill that dad shaped hole in your life, & you working through your mixed emotions on your dad was what saved your film for me.

In short you weren’t a horrible date, but you weren’t the best you could have been either. Like your mom who expected the best of your dad, & her wanting the best for you, I too expected the best showing from you, which I didn’t get, but I still do want the best for you despite that disappointment, just maybe not with me in whatever possible futures still exist.    

The rest of this post will be a list of either emotions, followed by what parts of the film invoked that emotion in me, or things I wish the film had done, & maybe not done or likes & dislikes.    

Ambivalent: I’m not sure this film should get a sequel.  I’m also unsure about recommending this film.  

Expanding on Lloyd being bullied. Dorling Kindersley hereby abbreviated to DK’s Essential Guide memorably detailed the harassment Lloyd faced in school, producing a spirited protective response among fans, the book also generated sympathy for Lloyd in me, but that sympathy really had nowhere to go in the film.

Kate Howard’s adaptation of the film into the jr novel did flesh this issue out as well, 1 memorable exchange being Kai offering a hug out the anxiety/stress thing, + articulating that Lloyd was finding it tougher to cope with the ostracization.  

Things I wish they:

Expanded on Koko’s backstory. The team’s camaraderie.

Had: More Martial Arts. For a martial arts film, this film has a surprising lack of it.  Only showcase of martial arts moves I recall is Lord Garmadon vs Wu, & slightly during Garmadon’s 2nd attack, with Wu beating up mooks while Lloyd steals the Ultimate Weapon, hell Wu gets most close quarters combat scenes!  Only scene involving other people were when the ninjas were fighting Garmadon’s many fired generals, & that scene was too brief.  The ninjas return to the city after Garmadon steals the Ultimate Ultimate Weapon is more of a showcase of each ninja’s individual elemental powers, not martial arts. The Ninja Formation Featurette set up my expectations to be high, I’m disappointed at the result. (especially considering I had forbidden kingdom on the brain when I went to see the film.)

When DK’s Essential Guide bought up the ninjas relying too much on their mechs, I didn’t know the issue would extend to the majority of action/fight scenes in the film.

I really wish they had kept in that scene with Lloyd & the baby which they showcased in Trailer 1 + Outtakes, especially what they had in outtakes! That showed good physical comedy reminiscent of Jackie Chan’s old work. At least we would have 1 ninja having time to adequately showcase their martial abilities/skills.  

More time, really felt like film was too short to do all it could have.  

More interior shots of the Destiny’s Bounty.

Had done: Had the ninjas use their personal weapons. DK’s Essential Guide as well as the 1st time we saw the ninja in Trailer 1, hyped me up for that.  

Instead both above issues/scenes are kept to the 1st few scenes of Good Morning Ninjago.  

Speaking of the other ninja, while I expected this film to lean more to Lloyd + friends, instead of being a true ensemble piece, & expecting not to be disappointed with that, I am surprisingly sad about the other ninjas not each getting much time to shine.  Hell if I hadn’t read the Essential Guide or seen the Behind the Bricks Featurette, I likely would have no or very little sense of their personalities.

A more personal beef was I wish they could have showcase Lloyd’s dragon mech more.  It hurt when the mechs got totaled by Meowthra, but it didn’t hurt as much as it could have.  Wish the film could have shown us the Ninja 1st debuting the mechs, then montage the ensuing status quo of ninja mechs beat garmadon, that would have made it really hit home when the mechs weren’t able to beat the Garma Mecha Man, signifying a change of the status quo in Lord Garmadon’s favor, & have the pain of the mechs being lost hurt that much more when Meowthra totals them.

Like Ghost in the Shell Have a montage of the city to get to know the place, Lloyd parkouring home after the 1st day isn’t enough, all that have 1 or all of the Ninja be able to take a moment & just appreciate their city, find it beautiful, like that mind controlled garbage guy did vs the Major in her invisibility suit.

Dorling Kindersley hereby abbreviated to DK’s Essential Guide + The Making of the Movie excerpts made me really interested in Ninjago City, just a shame we didn’t get to explore it more.

DK’s Essential Guide actually set up a lot of things that wasn’t in the film. Like each member of the team getting an arc, & using their preferred weapons in hand to hand combat, their personalities, detailing Lloyd being bullied, Garmadon’s army, really expected that new General #1 who tore off Lloyd’s arm to play a bigger part, like she took over the Shark Army ala Starscream when Garmadon left to track Wu, giant stone dog guards that would guard the Ultimate Ultimate weapon temple, & help Jay complete his arc.  Maybe the ninjas using a Tornado of Creation to rebuild the city after Meowthra’s destruction. Maybe more expansion on Lloyd/The team all being Master Builders. The DK & Lloyd’s Scholastic book give the impression that Lloyd designed & built the teams’ mechs himself.

Irritated slightly by: the use of hard knock life.  the Ultimate Weapon random montages.

Kept in maybe trailer 2’s going back to roots, & what Lloyd says before his arm is torn off, I haven’t felt this good in a long time, & Lloyd’s yeah but I feel like there’s more to Garmadon that I need to know.   

What I Noticed: the film is more consistently heartwarming, but the marketing was more consistently charming, funny.  

Some shots were definitely made to be seen in 3d, especially some in the mech battle in Garmadon’s 1st attack, I saw the film in digital.

eyeofthewolfe, I really envy that you’re 1 of the people who aren’t feeling like me, I want to be part of this in-group of yours. But ultimately I’m not, hope you’ll still accept my point of view as valid, & that we can continue to talk while still respectfully disagreeing with how we each see the film.  

Since I want to end on a good/happy note.

What I thought was Clever took my 2nd viewing to recognize the parallels between each Lloyd/Dad scene + the concept of catch, granted I like they were more subtle with it in the Behind the Bricks featurette.  

The Inner Piece metaphor, which I should have also taken literally considering this is a lego film.

The 6 or so cut shot of the effect of Lloyd’s Dragon Mech Missile Massacre.

Some of what those poor fired generals said to Lord Garamdon when he asked for suggestions.

Despite being somewhat irritated by not calling it, all said fired generals banding together to become antagonists.

Wu’s lines about defying the [The Mentor Dies] trope.

Funny some of what Garmadon does during that GMA style montage & other attacks on the city.

Apparently Wu’s like Sun Wukong’s master Old Boy in the odd birth department.

Lessons learning to see things from a different point of view.

Learning to rely on something else besides tech.

Liked the score, voice acting. 

Tugging on Heart Strings nearly every scene with Lloyd & his dad whether bickering or bonding. The scores A Wish & A Ruined City, Arm Popping Flying Lesson, The Lady Iron Dragon, Here Kitty Kitty, Big Hug.

& the Koko/Lloyd scenes.

Lloyd, Misako, Nya teaching the fired generals new life skills.  

Fun facts 1st viewing 1 kid I presume gasping in outrage when the Kid referred to Lloyd as just a kid.  

2nd viewing really like some kids commentary on how Wu couldn’t die & other show references. Wish I could recall what jokes got the most laughs though.

Lloyd really reminded me of RWBY’s S2 Blake in worrying bout what the antagonist was up to, which the vol 5 theatrical showing was advertised in the theater I was seeing the film in. 

That & he was a nice mix of Atla’s Zuko/Luke Skywalker in the dad issues department, although Lloyd/Wu’s bond more reminiscent of Zuko/Iroh.

Maybe another comparison could be made between this film’s familal relationship & Despicable Me.

#the lego ninjago movie #TLNM #cinemajago #Lego Ninjago Movie #LNM