don't panic!

This is a roleplay blog for [Tailgate] from the IDW Transformers universe, affiliated with and locked to [Citta Alveare] .:.

[u-me-tarou-deactivated20230719]

RiD windblade→French fries

Tailgate→custard pudding

Twitterの#リプきたキャラにリプきた食べ物を食べさせる ってタグで描かせて頂きました！　いっぱい食べさせたい…

[powerpunchbot-blog]

{ @randomiistic liked for a starter

After a couple weeks of feeling out the vibe of the place, two things had become readily apparent to Tailgate:

1. At some point during the many months he masqueraded as a bomb disposal expert, he really could have stood to learn how to do more than bullshit his way through disarming the suckers.

2. He was going to have to learn to talk to humans, sooner rather than later.

Luckily, he had more of an idea for how to go about working on the second problem than the first; after all, the stroking of egos transcended species, and he had seen Back To The Future -- II, evidently -- and projected his consciousness into the form of a holographic human infant now and again, so he was practically a humanology expert.

Unfortunately, many of the smaller bipedal species looked human to him, so he called out as soon as he thought he was in the general ballpark, trying to flag down someone petite and purple.

“Hey! Hey, I really love your color scheme, is it new?” There, totally a human-worthy compliment. “And dresses, big fan of those! They’re so breezy and easy to move in!”

[powerpunchbot-blog]

{ @herokind​ liked for a starter

It was pretty tedious exploring a city this size on your own two legs when you were used to being able to transform into vehicle mode on a whim, and Tailgate was beginning to feel a touch grumpy. Back on his home ship, it hadn’t taken much for him to endear himself to larger bots and hitch a ride when it suited him, but it was becoming apparent that he’d have no such luck in Hive City, where the Cybertronians were just as tiny as him, and everyone else was even smaller.

Still, he couldn’t help the little hopeful whirl of his spark when caught sight of a pair of vibrant horns along his path, far too bright to just ignore, optics glinting covetously as he took in the size and shape; now nature was taunting him with those damn near perfect handlebars. His servos twitched at his sides. He’d made port on hubworlds before, and been advised of anti-mech sentiment, but oh, the impulse to grab on was so hard to resist, and he found himself naturally drawing closer through the crowd..

“S-Sorry!” He stammered, the bot coming back to himself just short of grabbing onto the unfamiliar alien, all ten feet of him now flailing apologetically. “I don’t mean to stare, really, it’s just -- ooh, I’ll come right out and say it: you look like you’d give phenomenal piggy back rides.” The way he said it, the stranger may as well have hung the moon and stars.

[powerpunchbot-blog]

{ ooc }

okay, so it’s my first time in citta and my computer gave up the ghost just after i joined, so i’ve been scarcer than i’d like and i would love to get some more threads going for tailgate here! 

if you have any interest in interacting with a naive, easily manipulable ten-foot robot who’s just happened into some yet-unmastered super strength, like this post and i’ll shoot a starter your way!! uncapped for now, check that desperation

look at him. look at this. this is what he thinks dancing looks like. he’s so ready to make friends and have a good time.

[ofsymphonies-blog]

{ @powerpunchbot }

“You know if I was given smaller limit to the Symphony Regalia, I bet I could take you on even with your size.”

[powerpunchbot-blog]

“Smaller limit to the.. er, that means something on your planet, right?” Tailgate, for all the size he had on her, startled at the organic’s combativeness, hesitantly adopting a defensive stance. It might have seemed ridiculous, but he’d heard stories of humans taking down much larger Cybertronians than himself.. 

“Look, no hard feelings, but I'm reaaaally not looking for a fight right now.” Current climate, and all.

[kokonehime-blog]

@powerpunchbot 

“Waah.” Wow. He’s very tall. She tilts her head back, looking up at him. “Do you wear stilts to get around in that?”

No, Athena - it’s not a suit…

[powerpunchbot-blog]

A human…? Well, he supposed that explained the voice at his hip level. He dialed up his audial sensitivity a bit, finally understanding that impulse taller bots had to bend down when speaking to him, but not wanting to be rude.

This is going to take some getting used to….

“Er, sorry, in.. what, now?” Oh, he really didn’t want to muck things up with his first ever human, but he had no idea what she was talking about. “Pretty sure I woke up like this, no further assembly required kinda thing.” Would it be rude to ask if they’re all so bright?

[kokonehime-blog]

! Her mother worked on robots - Ponco and Clonco had been like siblings to her, so it isn’t totally unreasonable that when he says that, she believes him.

“!” It’s an actual sound. Something like a squeak. “You - you’re a robot!”

Don’t worry, though, Tailgate, it’s quickly followed up with, “Oh my goodness that’s SO cool! Wow, your speech is so good too!”

The idea of a sentient race of robots is a bit beyond her, though. That’ll need to be explained.

[powerpunchbot-blog]

“Aw, bless, that’s sweet! Patronizing, but sweet.” Tailgate fidgeted, thumbs whirring softly as he twiddled them awkwardly. He felt like he should be on his toes; race relations between Cybertron and organics at large really weren’t the best, and his experience of this strange city hadn’t exactly been peaceful so far, but well -- she seemed nice enough!  “Robot’s kind of a loaded word, though. Not too sure what it means to an, er, Earthlet? More like a drone than me, though, right? Like Back To The Future?”

Unable to help it, he brightened right up at the mention, forgetting to explain himself. “You know, things seem iffy with the humans around here, but I don’t see how a race capable of making a movie that awesome could be bad.”

[kokonehime-blog]

@powerpunchbot 

“Waah.” Wow. He’s very tall. She tilts her head back, looking up at him. “Do you wear stilts to get around in that?”

No, Athena - it’s not a suit…

[powerpunchbot-blog]

A human...? Well, he supposed that explained the voice at his hip level. He dialed up his audial sensitivity a bit, finally understanding that impulse taller bots had to bend down when speaking to him, but not wanting to be rude.

This is going to take some getting used to....

“Er, sorry, in.. what, now?” Oh, he really didn’t want to muck things up with his first ever human, but he had no idea what she was talking about. “Pretty sure I woke up like this, no further assembly required kinda thing.” Would it be rude to ask if they’re all so bright?

[powerpunchbot-blog]

After hours of single-minded wandering through this foreign, baffling city and its sea of strange organics, losing count of how many pings reminding him to refuel he’d dismissed by now, and so far turning up no sign of his crew mates, Tailgate’s processing was just a mite sluggish.

I didn’t hear my name, did I…?

Though it had dimmed quite a bit through the course of his little adventure on foot (his transformation cog having offered him no more than a single depressing ‘chug’), the soft glow of his visor steadily illuminated the interloper’s features as he faced them, and quite suddenly hunger was the last thing on his mind. 

“You’re Cybertronian!!” He exclaimed rapturously, his featureless visage lighting up with a spark deep pulse of excitement as he skittered forward and clasped one of the other bots’ hands in both of his, forgetting himself. It was a rare thing, not having to stand on tiptoe just to reach. 

“Or – Or Camien, maybe..?”He wavered, hoping he hadn’t presumed incorrectly or said anything rude, then pressed on hurriedly. “Either way, love the rose gold. Oh, finally, this is such incredible luck..! ..Or maybe just narrative contrivance.” A certain incident in his recent history flickered through his processor, and his visor warped into a slightly quizzical expression as he rambled on through his nervous energy, unaware of the two-wheeler’s inner turmoil. 

“Say, you wouldn’t happen to know any bots existentially depressed enough to accidentally cobble together this whole screwy city with only their mind and a pinch of holomatter, would you? Just checking for no good reason.”

[duowheeled]

     A SINGLE, painful stab resounds in the bot’s chestplate as the other begins to speak, her expression unchanging from that of shock.

     IN A way, Arcee couldn’t be sure if him not remembering her at all was a blessing or a curse. On one hand, he wouldn’t have to wonder just why she looks like she’s on the verge of tears and despair, but on the other… It’s incredibly painful to have someone you were so close to not even remember your name or what you looked like.

     UNSURE OF what to feel or how to even react, the Autobot barely listens to the other as he prattles on, only blinking in surprise upon hearing his last words. Looking at him now, she realizes that he seems a little… Different than during the time she knew him. Perhaps he comes from a time prior to when they met… And in a way, that seems to worsen the hurt the fembot feels.

     ❝ … Er… No. No, I haven’t heard anything like that. ❞ she starts with her optics closed for a moment, fighting back any tears she feels that may come to surface. She cried her spark out when Cliff arrived here and she doesn’t plan on letting that happen again… If only for Tailgate’s sake.

     ❝ You… Don’t know who I am, do you? ❞ it’s hard to hide her saddened expression and tone as she speaks once more, though she shakes her head in attempts to try and fake her normal attitude.

     ❝ … Anyway, you’re right; I’m from Cybertron. There’s quite a few of us here, unfortunately… But all the Autobots have been looking out for each other, so you don’t really have to worry too much. ❞

[powerpunchbot-blog]

Venting a relieved little burst of static, Tailgate tried to ground himself in his processor. Okay, so he still didn’t know where his friends were, but one less thing to worry about would make a world of difference, and it sounded like now he would at least have allies, and perhaps through them, a lead..

"Well, that’s about the best-worst news I’ve heard all day! I’m just sorry to have to say I don’t recognize you.." He replied a bit sheepishly; ugh, she was probably a key player in the war, because weren’t they all, and here he was again, the bot who didn’t know Optimus Prime from Starscream.. Embarrassing. "And I think I would remember a unique design like yours, but then again, full disclosure? I kiiinda don't remember how I wound up here to begin with."

Which is, sadly, getting to be a trend here... 

He shook his head of his wry thoughts, pulling back to leave a more appropriate bubble of distance.  "Er-- Not to mention, the whole Autobot-Decepticon war? That old song and dance? Missed that minor tidbit too, so I wouldn’t go feeling too down on my reputation. But hey, maybe I’ve heard of you! Or at least skimmed your Autopedia article. What’d you say your name was? I’m Tailgate, by the way, since fair’s fair."

[carissa3mae-deactivated20260219]

Whirl talking to Cyclonus about Tailgate:  “So why aren’t you guys a couple?” Cyclonus: “… … He deserves better. He’s kind. He cares about people. The more he’s pushed away, the more he reaches out.”

[duowheeled]

@powerpunchbot

     MISTAKES.

     IF THERE was one thing that remained constant within the eccentric city, it had to be it’s mirth in reminding Arcee of her past mistakes almost constantly. What with the arrival of Cliffjumper (alive and in one piece, even) a few months back and having to relive the pain of losing her other partner before him in some sort of strange event, the Autobot found herself in almost a constant state of stress.

     ON THE bright side, she supposes, that has been decreasing as of late; mostly thanks to the efforts of Cliff but also to another clad in red, as well. With things looking slightly up for the fembot, she decides to take some time to utilize her vehicle mode for as long as she can, attempting to make herself relax in any sort of capacity… Which is difficult since she’s Arcee, after all.

     AS SHE zooms past the many streets and shops within the Hive, the automaton begins to lose herself in her thoughts. While not entirely negative for once, she does find herself wondering just what course of action she and the other Autobots should make…

     AND YET as a familiar flash of white reflects in her rearview mirror as she passes by, the bot transforms almost immediately back into her regular mode, standing up quietly with some hesitance.

     THERE’S NO way that could be him… Could it? Finding herself frightened to the point where she refuses to turn around, the Autobot attempts to collect herself. Surely she must have mistaken that one’s colours for his… He couldn’t really be here… Right?

     AND YET as she slowly turns her frame to look at the other bot in the distance, she feels her entire system go cold. Once again she’s faced with a ghost of her past; one of which she had seen brutally murdered right before her very optics. Though she doesn’t want to approach, instead running away to avoid the truth that Tailgate is here, Arcee’s body begins to move on its own… And before long, she finds herself standing a few yards away from the other.

     ❝ … Tailgate…? ❞ is all she finds herself mumbling, words barely audible as she speaks.

[powerpunchbot-blog]

After hours of single-minded wandering through this foreign, baffling city and its sea of strange organics, losing count of how many pings reminding him to refuel he'd dismissed by now, and so far turning up no sign of his crew mates, Tailgate's processing was just a mite sluggish.

I didn’t hear my name, did I...?

Though it had dimmed quite a bit through the course of his little adventure on foot (his transformation cog having offered him no more than a single depressing ‘chug’), the soft glow of his visor steadily illuminated the interloper's features as he faced them, and quite suddenly hunger was the last thing on his mind. 

"You're Cybertronian!!" He exclaimed rapturously, his featureless visage lighting up with a spark deep pulse of excitement as he skittered forward and clasped one of the other bots' hands in both of his, forgetting himself. It was a rare thing, not having to stand on tiptoe just to reach. 

"Or -- Or Camien, maybe..?" He wavered, hoping he hadn’t presumed incorrectly or said anything rude, then pressed on hurriedly. "Either way, love the rose gold. Oh, finally, this is such incredible luck..! ..Or maybe just narrative contrivance." A certain incident in his recent history flickered through his processor, and his visor warped into a slightly quizzical expression as he rambled on through his nervous energy, unaware of the two-wheeler's inner turmoil. 

"Say, you wouldn’t happen to know any bots existentially depressed enough to accidentally cobble together this whole screwy city with only their mind and a pinch of holomatter, would you? Just checking for no good reason."