Hi, Blade! Hope your weekend’s been going well :D
This was originally going to be a reblog of a post I saw with me tagging…but as always, I have thoughts, so an ask would have to do. That said, I saw this alternate design of TFU Swagger a while back, and I was wondering what you’d think of it. I think you should check it out first before reading the rest of my thoughts, though.
With that out of the way, on to my thoughts!
I personally HC that to be Younger!Swagger when he’s still under (your) Drift’s tutelage, especially with the more noticeable Samurai aesthetics (he looks a lot like RID 2015’s Drift, Jetstorm, and Slipstream tbh, especially the helm crests. I’ll also be focusing on RID 2015 Drift because he’s in the Aligned Continuity, and that I’ll mention your version of Drift here and there).
(Note: This whole time I legitimately thought Swagger’s still a Samurai–in–training, when in reality, he’s a full–fledged Samurai. Never realized I’ve been disrespecting my boy this whole time…my bad *facepalms*)
Tying his design a bit into your AU, since he was on his own basically living on the streets after his father died…I also envisioned him being rather skinny/malnourished as a result. It explains the stark contrast when you compare it to Present!Swagger, who appears healthier and is more buff in comparison due to (your) Drift’s strict training regimen (and the fact that she basically raised him as well). Though, I do appreciate the artists’ depiction of a more trimmed down version of Swagger. Nothing against his OG build, he could still stay as is, but I would’ve liked it if he looked like this in ‘bot mode, especially since he’s a Two–Wheeler.
Diving a bit into angst territory…I feel like Swagger would intentionally lose the Samurai aesthetics after (your) Drift’s departure. While part of it was indeed due to how he didn’t want the ‘cons to immediately identify him as (your) Drift’s student…a much more personal reason would be how it reminded him too much of her.
On one hand he wants to distance himself from her influence and memory, mostly out of pure spite and hurt. Though, on the other hand…he COULDN'T. How could he…after everything they went through together?
It was also during this time he began to tinker with technology. Given her background, (your) Drift had to be crafty, and as a result, she also taught Swagger a thing or two about technology (even if it's not as often).
So, it came off as no surprise that Swagger picked up a thing or two from this non–combat/physical lesson. As an effort to distance himself/minimize over–reliance on martial arts/his katanas, he’d turn to technology, and managed to create some high–tech gadgets and make some modifications to his pre–existing weapons that’d help him out in battle. (Ex. His cloaking device, his retractable katanas and how it could electrocute his opponents, etc.)
As a result? At first glance, not many (me included) could tell he’s a Samurai. A borderline arrogant and cocky swordsmech? Sure. But a full–fledged Samurai? Even the revelation shocked the Arclight crew when they first found out, even more so when Swagger was comfortable enough to finally tell them who exactly his Master/Sensei is.
All in all, despite his boasting, one thing that Swagger often keeps quiet about is his Samurai background and the identity of his Sensei (even if his combat style and the way he uses his katanas are quite obvious to some Decepticons who pay close attention). It helps that he’s a Samurai who doesn’t act or present himself like a typical Samurai would, both appearance–wise and behavior/personality–wise.
In other words; Swagger is an unconventional Samurai. Sure, some more traditional Samurai/warrior (read: RID 2015 Drift, who gives Swagger a MAJOR case of déjà vu and is someone he actively avoids/is quite hostile to due to certain reasons) wouldn’t approve of Swagger’s methods…but hey, it’s not like his Master/Sensei is there to correct him Plus, it worked out well for him so far, so he’s going to keep doing it. Nobody’s the boss of him!
And honestly, I really like this contrast! It’s such a nice juxtaposition that you can’t help but wonder what was going on behind–the–scenes when Jagex was designing him and discussing what to do with his character. I mean, people are quick to point out and associate Prime Wheeljack with the “wandering Samurai” vibe due to his lone wolf persona (I’m aware of the “He should’ve been Drift” arguments/comments, but I digress). But I feel it’s a different case with Swagger, since you really can’t tell that he’s a Samurai at first glance, especially since his katanas are retractable and not visible like RID 2015 Drift and Prime Wheeljack.
That’s all from me, Blade! I took one good look at that fanart…and the thoughts and HCs just came flooding in, heh. Anyways, thanks a lot for reading my ask/ramblings, and I hope you have a great day, Blade! :D
(P. S. I don’t want to end this on a sad/depressing note…but given what we know of him, Swagger should’ve been classified as a Ronin instead of a Samurai. And apparently, Ronins are supposed to…well, snuff themselves after their Master is “gone”. This includes being abandoned by their master, btw. Just...wow.
But the thing is; Swagger’s bio and his weapons’ infos all describe him as a Samurai. So, what this tells me is that, despite his claims or thoughts of him hating his Master…he couldn’t bring himself to sever that Master-Student bond he forged with her. Swagger’s unsure if it was also (your) Drift’s intention to renounce him…but unless he directly hears it from her, his loyalty to her isn’t going anywhere. Is he in denial? Yes. Does he care? Nope.
There’s NO way this guys isn’t DEPRESSED after everything. That said, someone–yes, I’m looking at you, Arclight crew! Especially you, Showdown!–please give him some hot cocoa, a warm blanket, and a hug. Seriously, this guy needs it more than anything).
Hi Jazzi! It's been going pretty well, thank you. I hope yours is doing well, too!
Okay, I'll post the picture and give my thoughts on it since the original poster is deactivated now.
It's not that bad. Personally, I have a strong distaste for the art style of Animated, though I will admit that this kind of fits Swagger. He's scrawny enough that this, in regards to my AU, would fit him when he had been found by my Drift and taken under her (door)wing. And while I do like both the canon design and this one for their takes on his musculature, I do agree that something like the below would be better for him ultimately (thanks to @theangrycomet-art for creating such wonderful artwork.)
I think a design like Cliff's would work best for Swagger, as he's still small, but thickly built following his apprenticeship to my Drift.
Aww, thanks! I can see why - all the samurai themed ones (with the odd exception of Strongarm, but I don't want to go there) in RID 2015 had that head crest design, so it would make sense if Swagger picked up on that from my Drift. In fact, the art I used for my Drift kinda parallels that head crest, now that I consider it a little...
(Oh dang. I think I forgot that, too. So sorry, Swagger *hugs him* No worries, we both made that mistake!)
Yeah, Swagger is someone who had a rough time of it once his father was taken out of the picture. I do have to agree that he was shockingly malnourished when he and my Drift came across each other. Hard training and better food sources really helped him grow, though....maybe his growth would be permanently stunted? Come to think of it, while I feel he'll be taller than Arcee (and obviously beefier by comparison), Swagger might have lost any chance of growing taller from lack of food sources until he met Drift. She took care of him and all, but there's only so much you can do when undernourishment prevents further growth.
Definitely. Swagger would figure out after a short while that it would be a giveaway to not just who his sensei is/Swagger himself, but there were only so many times he could stand it whenever he looked at his reflection. The abandonment was still fresh, still sore, and it hurt Swagger too much to keep the samurai gear on.
But it was still her armor pieces he'd received. Still something he had of her, other than the skills she imparted to him. Swagger likely just packed it away and kept them close for the future. Or to look at when loneliness hit him like a meteor.
Ooo, that's a good point! Drift uses cunning as much as she does martial arts, so she probably taught him how to tinker with anything techy, as well as how to upgrade certain things. Was it as often as the martial arts training? No, in part because Swagger was at a stage in his life where he wanted to physically cause harm, not with guns and projectile weaponry. But it was there, and most likely often after a long day of training.
Yep: now on his own with nothing but himself, his gear, and his wits, Swagger took to improving the tools at his disposal to give himself a greater advantage in battle. Though even he has to admit that a part of it was because otherwise, he'd be too distracted by how he dedicated he was in following Drift's formula...
(Somewhere out there, Drift is proud of the only child she managed to raise.)
Absolutely! The skills are there, sure, but plenty of other Cybertronians know those forms, too. That, plus his arrogance and spite, means you don't give Swagger a second thought...until Anomaly saw a glimpse of the samurai armor pieces, and eventually the crew, after a begrudging, fiery confirmation of his samurai status, learned that ex-Decepticon Drift was his sensei.
"Boy kid, you disappeared into the mists well!"
Showdown after all's been said and done. There is no mistaking the pride in his voice.
Only eagle-eyed ones like Flamewar would take note of Swagger's particular moves, but otherwise? Virtually anyone, 'Bot or 'Con, would never stop to think that he was a full fledged samurai. He's got the skills, but so does Wheeljack, and Primus knows he's no samurai! And all of this is helped by the fact that Swagger, for all his cockiness, sharp tongue, and general attitude hides the fact that he was trained to become a samurai, and become one he did. Even Doubletake is impressed by the facade the young Two-Wheeler has put on.
Indeed! He's an unconventional samurai, but it works, so why change things up? Oh yes, RID 2015 Drift would grate on his nerves ("Why does he have to remind me so much of her?"), but he's not Swagger's sensei, and Swagger's not looking for a new one, thank you very much. If he meets THE Drift, his sensei? Then he might think about behaving as a proper samurai.
Till then, Swagger is his own mech, and no one will tell him how to live his life, including the code he follows.
Oh it's a beautiful contrast! I LOVE it! It really does make you wonder, especially since Jagex was obviously so loving of the source material, Transformers as a whole, and went above and beyond in their creation of all-new characters. I'm kinda familiar with the "Wheeljack should've been Drift" arguments, and while that's probably a topic for another day, I really disagree. Yes, we needed more of mad scientist Wheeljack, but his characterization in TFP was really good (and slept on, as I've said elsewhere.) So in light of that, Wheeljack's characterization was honestly good, if a little familiar to Western audiences (hey, he made the cut!) RID 2015 Drift and his students Jetstorm and Slipstream are the general idea of samurai in the West, which is fine, but Swagger really shook up that image we all have of the samurai. Man, I'd have paid good money to see someone write him intelligently as a honorable, code following samurai who didn't act the part and see how it went from there.
Thanks for dropping by, Jazzi! It was fun, and I'm pleased to share ideas about Swagger and his past in my AU with you and others! Feel free to drop by whenever you want to share more ramblings down the line. You're welcome, and I hope you have a great day, too! :D
(P.S. Same for Wheeljack, in my humble opinion. I mean the literal, non-kanji related translation is "drifter/wanderer", which fits both of them to a T. Yeah, that....the Japanese are hardcore, huh? 😅
So, if we translate the bushido code to Transformers, then Swagger not committing seppuku is a pretty big deal, especially since he could have been in a mental state where he would have done that. But, since Drift left him some provisions before suddenly disappearing without a trace, he could discern that she didn't actually disown/renounce her favor of him, and thus avoided seppuku that way. In short, there's enough evidence to support that, and unless and until he hears from Drift's mouth that she renounced her favor of him, he's not gonna do that.
Denial is stubborn, but so's Swagger. Nothing short of Smokescreen or Drift herself will really, truly, get through his thick helm on some matters such as this.
He's gotta be depressed. Good thing the Arclight crew takes care of their own, and that Showdown's Spark is as big as he is. Definitely get Swagger some hot cocoa, a blanket, and hugs. Boy needs it - Limelight, I think you can help with that, right?
Yay, she's on it!)