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lets-try-some-writing · 1 year

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The TFP autobots learning the meaning of the children’s names and the autobots teaching them about the meanings behind their own names

Raphael= god has healed

Jack= god is gracious

Miko= like the traditional clothing called a Miko

I looked it up and Miko actually means beautiful child/shrine maiden in Japanese so imma roll with that instead. I will stick to the two other name meanings you have kindly provided though. Though I will say, be warned, I kind of fell down a rabbit hole with this idea. I hope you still enjoy what I came up with!

Misunderstandings

Names are something that hold increadible importance to Cybertronians. A name defines a bot's entire being, to know their true and undiluted name is to practically be handed a piece of their spark. A name is sacred and only something shared with those closest to them. As such, most Cybertronians have nicknames, a shortened or less meaningful version of their true designation.

Coming to earth and having to interact with the local population meant that the Autobots needed to pick new names, a task that was rather hard considering the simplicity of human languages. Thankfully they eventually managed to pick designations that somewhat captured the meaning of their true names. However they honestly had no idea how human naming customs worked and have had several misunderstandings on the matter.

Agent Fowler gave the bots a rather skewed idea of what human naming conventions look like. He always asked to be referred to by his title of Agent, and the bots simply assumed that "Fowler" was another part of the title, even if they didn't understand what it meant. They never really figured out the difference between first and last names and went about believing that titles and last names are the same thing, much like how "Prime" was the title given to the Matrix bearer. Hence they also came to believe that a human's first/full name is, like on Cybertron, considered sacred, or at least important enough to only be shared with trusted confidants.

Since the only humans they ever interacted with regularly were Agent Fowler and other military personnel, team's misunderstandings with names did not really become an issue... until the kids came into their lives.

The kids gave the bots their first names and since those names were so simple, the team just went along assuming that those were their nicknames or placeholder names until the kids were grown. It was the biggest shock of the century for them when June waltzed on into base and called the children by their full names loud and clear for everyone present.

The bots may have had no idea what the names meant or even if June actually called out their true names. But cultural differences and the deeply set sense of sacredness associated with names struck before reason, and so the panic was immediate. Ratchet and Bulkhead looked downright scandalized as they threw their servos up against their audio receptors and looked at June in horror. Optimus dropped whatever he was holding with a loud crash and stood there looking like he had just witnessed a murder in broad daylight with the perpetrator dancing over the corpse. Bumblebee's voice went to static and he ran out of the room frantically while Arcee almost had a spark attack, tripping over her own pedes in shock.

The humans did not understand in the slightest when the whole team began chastising June for calling out the children's names so boldly and muttering something along the lines of "We heard nothing" to the children before hurrying off.

The misunderstandings only became more obvious when Rafael asked the bots to help him write his name in Cybertronian. He told the team his full name, Rafael Esquivel, and was promptly met with immediate shock. The whole team looked at him like he had scraplets crawling out of his ears before the waterworks started, or at least the Cybertronian equivalent. Bumblebee's speech became indecipherable as he gently hugged Rafael with shaky servos, his doorwings fluttering happily as he tried to keep himself from dancing around. Bulkhead and Arcee struggled to keep their cool as they also tried to maintain some form of composure. And Ratchet and Optimus took being told the name incredibly seriously and looked at Rafael with opening adoring optics.

Rafael did not understand at all as the team made swore their oaths to never tell a spark before helping him write out his name in Cybertronian with utmost reverence. However at the time he did not question it, too wrapped up in the alien writing and sudden affection to give their reactions much thought.

Jack had a similar experience late one night while he was working on a project. He needed the team's help preparing his project and once finished, he asked Arcee to write his name on his creation while he put away some things. When asked what he wanted her to write, he replied with his full name, Jack Darby, and was met with similar reactions to what Rafael received. Arcee kneeled down in front of him and very gently, oh so gently, hugged him as she shook with silent sobs. Bumblebee joined in on the hugging once Arcee had her turn and Bulkhead stood a little way's off looking like he had received the greatest gift in the world. Optimus and Ratchet patted Jack's head carefully and thanked him earnestly for his trust in them, both with large smiles and completely starstruck expressions.

Jack, totally clueless as to what was going on, looked at Arcee and the team with eyes the size of dinner plates. However before he had the opportunity to ask what all the fussing was about, June came and collected him for the night, leaving his question unasked and unanswered.

After a while, Miko, after hearing about Rafael and Jack's experiences with the bots and their names, decided to figure out what was going on. She had her two friends stand a ways off as she hopped onto Bulkhead's shoulder, and then suddenly proclaimed her full name, Miko Nakadai, to the whole base. The reaction was once again immediate as more than one bot dropped whatever they were doing to stare at her in shock. Bulkhead quickly moved and took Miko down from his shoulders before holding her gently as he did a little spin with her in his servos. Bumblebee and Arcee gave Miko little pats and adoring looks while Ratchet and Optimus warned her about giving away her name so freely while also making sure to let her know that they appreciated her trust.

And just like that, everything began to click into place for Miko, Jack, and Rafael. It suddenly became obvious that Cybertronians put some sort of emphasis on names and were likely obliviously applying their worldviews to human naming conventions.

Explanations

After the bots had settled down a little, the children began asking questions, eventually learning from the bots that names are incredibly sacred to them. They also learned of the bots skewed views on naming and how the bots had been assuming quite a bit about it since no one had bothered to correct them. This was quickly rectified once the children sat them down and explained human naming conventions to them, answering all their questions patiently.

The bots were instantly embarrassed due to their rather over the top reactions, however the kids made them feel a bit better by letting them know that humans do sort of have a true name if one were to look at the deeper meaning.

Intrigued, the bots asked the children for the meaning behind their names, as long as it did not make them uncomfortable of course. Happy to oblige, Rafael stepped forward first and explained the meaning behind his name.

Rafael explained that his name means "God has Healed". The bots were a little confused due to the simplicity of the name meaning, but ultimately shrugged it off. They mostly found the name to be endearing, and despite not knowing of or caring for the human creator god, all the bots agreed that it suited Rafael well.

Jack went ahead next and explained that his name had a similar meaning, boiling down to "God is Gracious" when one looked at the origins of the name. Once again the bots were left a bit bewildered at the lack of deep meaning usually present in Cybertronian names. However they all also came to agree that the name also suited Jack well enough, although both his and Rafael's names could use some work by their standards.

Lastly came Miko who explained that her name means "Beautiful Child" when derived from the Japanese translation. While still rather confused by the lack of deep meaning, the bots came to like the name. It was simplistic by any standards from Cybertron, but it fit Miko and for that the bots liked it.

Overall the whole team, while still rather embarrassed at their behavior, still couldn't help but feel proud to have been given the children's full names and the meaning behind them. The children's guardians, Bumblebee, Bulkhead, and Arcee were still especially pleased with themselves. Although the whole team still agreed that if the children were of Cybertron, they would have received names with so much more meaning behind them and far better suited to the children's personalities.

The Bots and their Names

Eventually the children would end up having their curiosity get the better of them, and despite knowing that names are a sacred thing to Cybertronians, they would at some point, ask the bots for their names and the meanings behind them.

The bots would be a little dubious about the request, after all, names mean a great deal to them. But after some private discussion they came to the conclusion that the English translation of the meaning behind their true names wouldn't be able to encompass everything anyway. And seeing that the children have no way of replicating the sounds necessary to even begin to pronounce their names, they agreed that there was no real harm in telling them as long as none the children recorded anything. And so after yet another moment of deliberation, it was decided that one bot would speak to the children at a time. Each uttering their true name where only the children could hear and explaining it before fetching the next bot in line.

Bumblebee went first, being far too eager to be held back for long. When he arrived in front of the children he was nervous, fidgety, and refused to meet their gazes for a time as he composed himself. His name was only known to Optimus and Ratchet, the two most important mechs in his life. As such he was a little on edge, never having revealed his name to another before. But after a moment he forced his torn voice box to function, and while staticky sounding and rather painful to produce, Bumblebee managed to utter his name.

To the children with their organic and far duller hearing, Bumblebee's name sounded like the chiming of bells mixed with the soft sounds of shifting gears and static. He then explained quietly to them through his binary speech that his name when translated to the best of his ability, meant something along the lines of [Golden-Hope-of-the-Future-Guiding-Light-within-the-Dark]. He then hurried off feeling a little lighter than before.

Bulkhead went next. He was far calmer as he approached and only slightly fidgety as shown by his laced digits and occasional shifting. He went quiet for a moment before speaking, his name sounding like the shriek of tearing metal alongside the steady sound of feet beating on the ground. He explained that his name translated to mean [Strong-Foundation-Immovable-Shield-Protector-of-the-Innocent]. He then patted each of the children on the head and thanked them for sharing their names with him before heading off to collect the next bot, content in knowing that he and the children were bound through the sharing of names.

Arcee shuffled forward after Bulkhead, a lot more confident than him and Bumblebee but still hesitant. She looked each of the children in the eyes and told them very sternly that names are precious and should not be shared. And after gaining their oaths that they would not speak of hers or any of the other's bots names, she swapped to Cybertronian and practically sang her name. To the children it sounded like rain on a window alongside the whistling of the wind and the crunch of gravel. An odd mix, but one that pleased their ears.

Arcee then went on to explain that the meaning of her name went along the lines of [Free-Sparked-Child-Pure-Minded-Warrior-of-Justice]. She then gave the children as much of a hug as she could manage with their difference in size before heading off, feeling a little better knowing that her name was known to someone again.

Ratchet came not long after, his steps, posture, expression, and general disposition surprisingly relaxed as he approached. He was not hesitant, instead he seemed determined as he spoke his true name. The sound of it being akin to the hiss of cooling metal, the constant thrum of an engine, and the quiet chirping of a bird all combined into a strangely satisfying symphony. Ratchet then elaborated on his names meaning being best described as [Healer-of-Broken-Sparks-Watchful-Caretaker-Keeper-of-Difficult-Truths]. The medic then thanked the children quietly for helping them in a battle not of their world and for sharing their names before leaving without so much as a peep.

Lastly came Optimus, striding forward as regal and noble as ever. He stopped before the children and told them that he had two names, one from his time as Orion Pax and another given to him after his ascension to Prime. He told them that he would allow them to hear both on the condition that they also swear and oath to him not to share his or any of the other names revealed to them. The children agreed and uttered the oath, the completion of it leading Optimus to become far more relaxed. A small smile graced his features as his spoke his first name, one which sounded like the quiet lullaby sung in a long forgotten tongue and accompanied by the low growls of creatures of the wilds. The meaning of the name was revealed to be [One-who-Knows-and-Seeks-Truth-Bright-Sparked-Wild-Born-Bringer-of-Change].

His second and current name sounded like a choir of hundreds of voices accompanied by the heavy sounds of drums and mixed whispers from a variety of potential sources. Optimus then went on to explain that the meaning of his name roughly translates into [Perfect-Vessel-Chosen-Champion-Keeper-of-Wisdom-Pure-Decendant-Protector-Leader-Guiding-Light]. The Prime then smiled at the children's shocked expressions from hearing all the names from the bots before patting them softly with one large digit and then wandering off.

#maccadam #transformers prime #transformers #tfp kids #optimus prime #bumblebee #arcee #bulkhead #ratchet #transformers ideas #yeee more made up lore #gotta love all the random stuff I threw into this headcannon soup here #I wrote this way too late at night #I can see the kiddos suddenly wanting cybertronian names #especially after hearing the pretty sounding names of the bots

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