Hello, Dahrlings, the names Knock Out and I shall grace you with my presence.
I've seen every bot flock to this site, and from what I have been informed, I'd like to watch every bot crash and burn...
𝒯𝒶𝑔 𝒮𝓎𝓈𝓉𝑒𝓂:
𝙺𝚗𝚘𝚌𝚔 O𝚞𝚝'𝚜 𝚃𝚊𝚐𝚜
#knock out stands - Knock Out stand posts.
#doctor’s notes - Knock out makes posts
#answering appointments - Knock Out answering the ask-box.
#documenting - Knock Out reblogging posts with no commentary.
#conversing - Knockout conversing with others
𝙼𝚘𝚍'𝚜 𝚃𝚊𝚐𝚜
#mod answering appointments - Mod answers the ask-box.
#mod informing - Mod informing serious topics
#mod rambling - Mod rambling off-topic
#Eclipse's prescription notice - Mod organizing and update announcements
𝒪𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝒮𝓉𝒶𝓃𝒹𝒾𝓃𝑔-𝐵𝓁𝑜𝑔:
The Winning Side:
@acidstorm-standing
@breakdown-standing
@megatron-standing
@standing-nightbird
@shockwavestanding
@soundwave-standing
@starscream-standing
@sunstorm-standing
@skywarp-standing
@the-real-skywarp-standing
@thundercracker-standing
The Losing Side:
@alpha-trion-standing
@arceestanding
@cliffjumper-standing
@cosmos-standing
@beachcomber-standing
@blaster-standing
@blurr-standing
@bulkhead-standing
@bumblebee-standing
@dinobot-standing
@elita-1-standing
@grimlock-standing
@hound-standing
@hotrod-standing
@longarm-prime-standing
@jazz-standing
@jetfire-standing
@moonracer-standing
@optima-standing
@prowl-standing
@prowling-prowl
@ratchet-standing
@red-alert-standing
@tracks-standing
@shredhead-standing
@ultra-magnus-standing
@wasp-standing
@whirl-standing
@wreckgar-standing
Neutral Factions/Others:
@allspark-floats
@buster-standing
@shadowstriker-standing
𝑀𝑜𝒹 𝐼𝓃𝓉𝓇𝑜
Hello! This is mod Eclipse! We/us, they/it. We've been wanting to make a Knock Out blog for a while now and finally found the time! We're a bit rusty when it comes to rp'ing so please be patient!
𝐵𝑜𝓊𝓃𝒹𝒶𝓇𝒾𝑒𝓈
No NSFW (Flirty comments are fine but nothing that goes into an sexual encounter)
No Discourse (keep politics away from the robot roleplay)
No LGBTQ+ Hate (and we mean ALL hate)
No Racism (AND no xenophobia)
No Misogyny or Hate Crime of any Gender (including general and directed transphobia such as: transmisogyny, transandrophobia, exorsexism, and so on and so forth)
No Generative AI Is To Be Used On This Blog. (No scrapping to train c.ai, no using ai generated images*, no using ChatGPT to write out questions and replies for you.)
*I do, however, understand it is getting much harder and harder to spot. In that case, it'll be a more gentle reminder since it wasn't intentional. Additionally, PLEASE tell me too if I make a mistake with that rule!
in which Shredhead makes a friend(?) at the drive-in.
Relavent to the Viole(n)t Conflict arc on @knockout-standing, though not required reading.
Shredhead is open for asks again <3
Shredhead's holoform leans back in the seat. Carly half-lays in the passenger seat, asleep, using her bright orange vest as a pillow. It was an anniversary movie night at the drive-in, she insisted on getting dressed up for it. Shredhead… didn't really get it. But they thought they looked good in a lab coat.
Carly had seen the movie about a dozen times before, so they didn't think to wake her. The theater is playing the whole series, so she has more than enough time.
A car, some sports model, rolls into the parking. Late arrival. Or early, if they wanted to catch the sequel. Their engine is way too loud. Their paint job is flashy, beautiful, and entirely out of place. They situate themself right next to Shredhead. They're glad they already had the holoform up.
Not that it matters much, the sports car's windows are tinted with so many layers they're surprised the driver can see at all.
Oh, this is the part Carly said to wake her up on, right?
Shredhead does exactly that, she points out little facts here and there, and then the real important part comes up, and she hushes them both (Shredhead… wasn't saying anything. But they admire the enthusiasm!)
The movie wraps up, they have a few minutes of credits, so Carly stretches, and hopes out to grab more snacks. The second movie, according to her, is a mess, her favorite, and she just needs to be awake for Shredhead's reactions.
The thing about holoforms, they need stretching too. Unfortunately. The cramped feeling Shredhead has being stuck in their alt mode for so long is getting to them, and manefesting its way into their much smaller, much less familiar mode.
The driver of the car — Ashton Martin! — next to them steps out at the same time as them. They make eye contact.
Shredhead tries a smile, a wave, and tries to mimic the motions Carly made. It doesn't give a lot of relief. They can feel the driver's eyes lingering. Oh Primus they hope the driver is just here for the second movie and they wont have to sit in silence together for so long…
They shoot a glance over their shoulder… okay, he's stretching too. He doesn't care. Okay good. This should not be getting to them.
As much as they want to get back into… themself… their holoform wants to be standing more. It's fine, they have time. Carly will be back soon. The other driver will get back into his own car.
"— the gold." A voice says from their left — wait, had he been talking the whole time?
Shredhead looks back, blinking. "Hm? Sorry?"
"Your earrings. They're nice. The gold looks good against your lightning." He repeats.
Right, they'd asked Carly to help them with a lightning design for their make-up, the colors matched their paint and was, coincidentally, the same as a flag for humans similar to them.
"Thanks," Shredhead says. And they panic, briefly, trying to find something to compliment him back on. "I like your jacket. It's like a Formula-race thing, right?"
The corner of his mouth twitches, something in his eyes flicker like fire, before he laughs it off, schooling his expression. "NASCAR, but close."
Another bit of silence. Oh Shredhead failed that one didn't they. Quick, something else, his car, sweet ride? Nice tires?
"Uh- sweet rims." Shit, that sounds like they're coming onto him— wait no he's human he wouldn't—
The driver coughs, off guard. "Right. Ah- you as well. Your van looks pretty sturdy. Paint's nice too."
Ok, you're fine, Shred. Just breath. "Thanks. A friend did it for me. Yours too, I like the flames."
That brings a smirk. "I like them too." Ok he's calm we did it.
Even more silence. The driver leans against the side of his car, looking up into the night.
Shredhead looks up too. There's… not as many stars as Cosmos' spot. There's not as many as what little they saw on Cybertron. But there's still enough that they recognize. They're trying to find this one shape Cosmos told them about when they hear a small, almost imperceptible sigh.
Hm. They could ignore it. They don't know him. But… they sense some type of sadness. One that Optima carries with her. One that Cliff carries with him. One that Carly and Spike carry with them when talking about certain memories. One Carly carried in with her tonight. One that haunts them deep in their spark for reasons they can't remember.
… screw it.
"Find what you were looking for?"
The driver startles, head snapping towards them.
"The stars, I mean. I know a thing or two about them, or well, a close friend of mine does. I can help, if your lost."
"Oh. Right. No, no need. I was just thinking of someone. A… close friend who knew about these stars too."
There it is.
"Couldn't make it out tonight?" They give him an out. The look in his eyes says he knows.
"Not tonight, no. Yours?"
"Not tonight. Ze was busy. But another one — the one who did my paint job — she's here. Getting more snacks."
"Planning on watching the whole trio?"
"Yep. Don't have work tomorrow, so might as well, you know?" Half true. They don't have patrol until the afternoon, and for a few hours shorter than usual. Ever since the semi-stand still in the war, security has gone a bit lax for the Autobots. They just haven't needed it. There's still an underlying paranoia, Hot Rod hasn't been seen in a while, nor Prowl, but… nothing to tick the radar, either. "And you?"
"Planning to. Missed most of the first, but no matter—" he makes a waving-off gesture, "— I've already seen that one with my pa—ah…" his voice catches. That same sadness. It never left, but it now it was more noticeable.
Shredhead could tell he was trying to fight it. They could see how much even the slightest mention of that sadness would make it all fall apart.
"Uh— yeah. My friend had already seen them all, but I haven't. I missed a lot of the 'classics', so we're making up for lost time." They force their tone more casual, which the driver leans into. They know he won't say it, they're strangers, but they could tell he's greatful.
"Then you've picked the perfect time to get caught up," he says. "Movies nowadays are just so…" one arm tucked beneath the other, gesturing to try and grasp the words from the night around them.
"Inauthentic?"
"Yes, exactly that!" His arms fly out wide, before going back to a similar position as before. "It's almost as though they're scared to let the film truly be its own reality, instead trying — and failing — to ride off of this one. No one watches movies to see the world around them, they—"
"—watch to escape it!" Shredhead finishes. "I don't think it's wrong to want to have a realistic movie…"
"… So long as they do it right. Yes, it's set in this world, but at least lean into…"
"… the idea it could be so much more, even if it's just that for two characters."
"And for the love of Pr- all that is good in the world,"
"Stop using cgi when practical effects are right there!" Both shout in unison, laughing as they realize the synchronization.
"You're very passionate. Good." The driver compliments.
"You too." And the silence, for once, settles comfortably.
There's not much else to look at, the movie credits still crawling as slow as possible up the screen, Carly still not back yet. So they both look back up at the stars.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, that one's Orion, isn't it?" The driver asks — Shredhead should really ask his name soon.
Their gaze drifts to where he points, head tilted. "Hmmmm…. yep! The butterfly, you can see its wings right-"
"You mean the archer, right?"
Oh.
"I… didn't realize…"
"… I believe it's supposed to be an entire myth."
Thank Primus Cosmos isn't here to see this.
"… right."
"Right… You said you knew these stars."
"I said my friend knew these stars. I know bugs." Their chest puffs out a bit as they defend their honor.
He holds up his hands in a placating manner. "Oho, of course now. My mistake." His eyes clearly do not believe he's made a mistake.
"Hey, you asked." They remind, and he rolls his eyes, sighing.
"Yes, that I did. I only expected you to help. Sorry."
If he wasn't a human Shredhead would offer to settle this with a duel.
Quiet. Again.
Shredhead doesn't have much else to say… they aren't sure they want to continue conversation with him after that.
He's the one who breaks the silence next.
"Well. The next one should be starting soon. You might want to check on your friend."
Don't tell them what to— he's right. Carly's been gone too long. "Right, I'll send her a c— a text."
A beat, then two, then,
"I'll be seeing you." He says, not asking.
Shredhead raises an eyebrow. "Will you?"
"Well, like I said; Perfect time to get caught up. This place always plays the classics you've been missing." And with that, he opens the door to climb back in.
Shredhead would be lying if they said they didn't want to last word. It's petty, they're aware.
"I'm—" Frag, what's a human enough name… "Sh- uh, Lightning." That is not a standard human name.
The driver hesitates. "Call me K."
"Enjoy the movies, K."
He gives them a half smile and click of his tongue, then descends back into his car.
Shredhead (Nono, Lightning as they so geniusly thought) turns their attention to the building off in the distance, ready to head in and find out what's taken Carly so long, before spotting her headed towards them, carryingfar too many items for her to hold on her own. She calls out, and they jog over to help.
-
Knock Out allows his holoform a few more moments to exist, leaning forward against his steering wheel, head ducked. He isn't even sure why he went tonight in the first place. Maybe he wanted to feign normality for one night, just one night to relax, away from his plans, away from everything. But everywhere he looks, the universe is intent on reminding him—
Stop. Stop thinking about it. About him. Just stop. You can't. Not here.
He almost let himself, though. When Lightning and he were talking. He almost let himself slip. And he could tell they noticed. The fact they didn't point it out was even worse than if they had tried pressing him. In that scenario, he could snap, the leverage of them being strangers. But they didn't.
They jog by him, off to help their friend with her snacks. He steals another glance at the designs on their van… there's something familiar about it. Something he can't quite place…
It doesn't matter.
The holoform fades out of existence right as the new movie begins.
He can't stand it. He's so painfully aware of—
No. No, he won't. Not now. He has work to do. But first he has to get out of here.
Lightning and their friend climb back in finally. He waits a few more minutes before reversing, and driving off. It was stifling, anyways. Being stuck in his alt mode for so long to watch movies he's already seen? Why would he subject himself. He has more important things to be doing.
*makes an appointment but I just ask you about your pronouns*
Of course, the age old question. Step into my office.
Short answer: he/him works fine enough by your standards.
Long answer: you humans think too rigidly when it presentation. Even you, who, like me, choose to reformat. Not everything in the universe follows those rules you've made for yourselves, let alone cybertronians. If you had to directly translate the language we use in our native glyphs, you'd find something closer to it/its or they/them, regardless of more "masculine" or "feminine" frame types. I fall within your standards for "man", but when reformatting I still kept certain aspects of my "fem" frame. And somehow, humans don't enjoy that very much, when on cybertron no one flickers an optic. And that's just on a cultural level, let alone bio-mechanical.
I do, however, if despite myself, hold an admiration for those of you who recognize this unhelpful structure. And your pride for who you are, and the visibility of your transformations.
I know what I'm not, which is what I drew away from. I know what I am, which humans do not understand for their constant need to place things within a box.
