#-= stardusted heart =-

[stardusted-hearts]

@ultimumvitae has made a choice! There's a great amount of hesitance before Shadow, awkwardly, hugs him. This lasts all about two seconds before he pulls away, stiff and uncomfortable. ---

At first he's just... perplexed. Shadow sure is stiff despite being the one who initiated the hug. Which Sonic would have returned if the other hadn't pulled away so quickly.

"Heh... what'd I do to earn that?" A little chuckle. A second of observation was enough for Sonic to see how tense Shadow still was, and hoped to lighten the mood. "'Cause I'll do it again~"

[jeonseoguu]

how far will you go?

[stardusted-hearts]

The moment they walked into Volt's bedroom Sonic felt immediately a little more at ease, and even more so once that window was shut. The warm light of the lamp was comforting too, but it all paled in comparison to how soothing it felt just to have his hands in Volt's, with the hybrid's thumbs rubbing circles against the back of them. It stole Sonic's focus for a few moments, but that may have been a good thing as it allowed him to straighten out his mind a little.

He leaned into the hand cupping his cheek, shutting his eyes at first, but opening them again to meet with Volt's and catch that smile. It sparked a glimmer of warmth in his chest, just enough to tug at the corners of his own lips for a moment. "Thanks, Volt..."

Slowly, however, the smile faded into something that was almost less of an expression and more of him just looking... tired, and peridots drifted downwards. Logically, Sonic knew there was no chance of Infinite finding him here, even if he was alive. Yet his grip on Volt's hands still tightened. "But... it's more of an issue of what he's already done."

With reluctance he took his hands from his friend's, so that he could unzip his jacket and take it off, followed by his shirt, revealing the somewhat strange looking brace-like thing he was wearing around his lower torso. A few tiny glowing lights on the front of it switched off as Sonic began undoing the fasteners that kept it wrapped tightly around him.

The expression or lack-there-of on his face hardly changed, but the hedgehog did shiver as the brace was removed. Now his brows furrowed, ears twisting back slightly. A moment of hesitation, and a deep breath, and Sonic turned around. Showing Volt the four long, very deep, scars that ran diagonally down his back.

"I... tried to tell you before. But I..." Once again, words failed him. What excuse was there? Other than being weak... He decided to skip to the next part. "I've had two surgeries on them, not countin' the rush job Eggman did when it happened."

It was easy for Volt to realize that the emotions in the room had shifted. How could he not when he could literally hear it in his friend’s voice. Brows creased as he tilted his head and tried to make sure that their eyes continued to meet. Although quite a bit of his own expression changed at the mention of that name. Despite having ended that maniac in the world they were in, that one name was more than capable of drawing a low growl.

Thankfully he was able to choke it back quickly enough that he could listen to Sonic continue talking. Violet eyes moved to the shaking hands and he quickly took them with his own and nodded at the request. “Sure.”

He got to his feet and kept a light hold on his friend’s hands as he moved over to his bedroom. The room was mostly dark due to the time of night and Volt led them over to sit on the bed before he turned on the lamp on the bedside. It cast the room in a warm glow and he went over to close the window that he usually left open for another layer of privacy before returning to Sonic’s side and taking his hands again.

Mismatched thumbs rubbed small circles in a small attempt to make things easier to talk about.

“Take your time Blue… Breathe.” Volt stayed calm and kept his voice calm as well. There was no need to rush as they had already agreed that Sonic was going to be spending the night, if not a few more than that. But he did want to make one thing abundantly clear.

“You’re safe here.” Taking back one hand, it was used to cup Sonic’s cheek and draw his gaze up so their eyes could meet. He offered a small smile. “Sternenberg is safe and that bastard will never touch you again. I promise. Especially not while you’re here.”

[halyasgirl]

I’ll be brave for you someday.

[m4rs-ex3]

there's an instinct,

a moment of truth.

and in that moment,

you hesitate.

[septembersghost]

the reprise of "you were the sunshine of my lifetime, what would you trade the pain for? i'm not sure" in the closing title track is glorious and makes the album feel like an odyssey through so much of their career and their transformations as humans and in music and storytelling, sealing the hurt and the cracks with gold, always persevering and building on the past without forgetting its resonance, reaching for something in that swirl of cosmos and chaos. the kind of pain you feel to get good in the end/i'm pretty positive my pain isn't cool enough. so what's it for? it's uncertain, and maybe that's how it's supposed to stay. they keep asking and keep reaching towards it. smash all the guitars 'til we see all the stars. that stardust symphony keeps singing.

[stardusted-hearts]

"H-heh... no way! That wouldn't be a.. win," Sonic retorted with a shaky smirk that quickly morphed into a wince. Chaos, he hated this. He just had to go and push himself too far and ruin their good time. So frustrating...

"Y-yeah, I'm... It'll be fine, it's just a... not-so-old injury from the war actin' up." Placing one hand on his back, Sonic carefully and slowly got to his feet, using the tree for extra support. Fortunately this spasm wasn't the worst he'd experienced, meaning he still had the ability to move, and he would do so in the direction of the house.

"I just need to take some medicine and sit back for a while. But! Not until after I make that tea. You won after all, and I have my pride, so..." Yeah, his back was screaming at him, but he wasn't about to let that stop him. Tea wasn't hard! It's the least he can do for letting his eagerness to win get the better of him.

    {➹} –THERE WAS ONLY a bold laugh from the elder at the other’s indignation. Truthfully Arrow was sure that Star made tea just fine but, then again, he couldn’t be entirely sure until he had firsthand experience. Not that he really cared who won or lost, it was all about the fun of the moment.

Especially after the pair hadn’t seen each other in so long.

A part of the accented hedgehog would always enjoy it too. Back home there wasn’t anyone who could give him a run for his money, except for one black hedgehog who was often MIA more than not. Even so, Arrow had never been able to coax Shadow into a race, not by asking nicely or trying to rile the other up. Part of him had to commend the other for sticking to their ways. Other parts? They were convinced one race wouldn’t kill the black hedgehog. But the hero digressed.

He had his race now, and he was enjoying every moment of it. Of the wind in his quills, the laughter between the two of them and, surprisingly, the foreign plains. Even if he had pulled forward Arrow had fully expected the other to at least be on his heels mere moments later, all while shooting more quips than ever.

But the cry of pain had him stopping nearly on a dime, had him turning around with a speed that would have no doubt injured any regular Mobian. Arrow was far from it, however, and wasted no time backtracking to the other. For Star to have gone from racing to prone in just a few seconds was alarming. And even that was putting it lightly.

Seeing that the other wasn’t outwardly injured was a small relief but still had several questions flaring in the elder’s head.

“Don’t give me that look…I’ll give you the win if you want it that bad.” A, hopefully, harmless joke as he came to crouch near the other. Despite his tone, there was worry in his eyes. Genuine worry that soon had his small smile fading. He knew this wasn’t as standard as he was hoping it was. “’S probably a dumb question, but are you alright…?”

[pixelpastry]

🌊friendly smiles..!

for @crispy6usiness and @jununy !

[tropicalhigh]

Stardust's trick to calming Horizon down 💙

[maudiemoods]

I DID IT!! I ACTUALLY DID IT!! And I did it all in one night?? What the hell? References for the old crew!! YAY

ALL OF SUN AND MOONS OLD CREW MATES!!! Plus eclipse before he cannibalized them ❤️

I'll be adding them on art fight later today!

[stardusted-hearts]

"Yeah, you can-"

Sonic's expression falters for a moment. Caught off guard by those words and the anger that stirs in his stomach- all of which is of course directed at the people who think they can tell Shadow who to be. It was a never ending problem for the dark hedgehog. But it only lasts a second before Sonic's usual smile is back.

"That's an option too, ya know. Havin' no gender- I've heard it called agender, but labels aren't required. It's okay to just be you. Whoever or whatever you are." A beat, and his grin turns a bit mischievous. "And if anyone tries to argue with ya 'bout that let me know and I'll personally kick 'em in the head."

          ╳ ┊ u l t i m a t e  »  Non-binary? "I didn't realize you can change it." Then again Shadow has never really given gender much thought. Mostly because he could never escape people trying to tell him what he's supposed to be anyway.

          "You use those pronouns?" A pause. "I'll always be an 'it' to them and 'he' to others. I'm both a weapon and the Ultimate lifeform. I might as well be above gender." Or maybe he's not some..thing that can have a gender. He certainly felt that way too, sometimes.

[stardusted-hearts]

┉┅╍─ ✨ ─╍┅┉

What started out as a quick run through the forest had suddenly taken a dangerous turn for Sonic. At the very corner of his vision he saw the glint and shine of glitchy red cubes. It stopped him dead in his tracks as his heart jumped into his throat, quills and fur on end.

"No... no you're seeing things," Sonic tried to assure himself before shaking his head, but the visions kept popping up.

"I'm still in the cage." There was so much sadness in his voice.

"NO! I'm not- don't-" Hands clasped the side of his head, shutting his eyes tight.

"I'm still in that damn cage, I never got out…" Star continued to mumble to himself repetitively as he opened his eyes again, but they were horribly distant.

Lost in his confusion he began wandering aimlessly, the hallucinations becoming stronger with every step. Even the trees that normally brought him such comfort began to distort and resemble the bars of a prison cell.

Then he froze. Staring at a phantom of his greatest fear. All the color and warmth drained from his face, dizziness washed over his mind... and then he fell.

[captainshiloh]

it has occurred to me that i’ve never posted any of my art (or like anything at all) on here and i’ve been in the avantris fandom for two years now so uhh what better time to start catching up?

[eyefoes]

the egypt gang !! grown men version

[stardusted-hearts]

Tails wasn't expecting to be shooed away from the sink like that, and snickered as he dodged the soapy fingers. At least Greta was willing to let him help in some way, and he nodded. "Yeah, he wouldn't like that much," another chuckle as he moved to help. Large yellow ears twitching at the sound of the teens rustling around to make their nest.

Once that was done he joined everyone in the living room, but sleep was the last thing on his mind. Tails sat next to Sonic and Volt, opposite the side Shadow was on, and got on his laptop again. Doing what? Only he knew, but he stayed up late into the night. Meanwhile, his remaining drones kept watch outside the Inn.

Over the next few days Star rarely, if ever, left Volt's side. He stayed with him, being there for him, and bringing him down from the nightmares. The blue hedgehog was also... extremely protective. More than he ever had been. Almost every random sound that he didn't immediately know the source of was met with a snarl and raised quills, which a few times may have led to someone he cared about getting growled at.

Apologies flowed from his mouth every time. The last thing he wanted was to keep their friends and family away. Especially Harmony. It was just a knee-jerk reaction spurred by high anxiety, frayed nerves, and fresh trauma. He wouldn't let himself think about it. What he did. The fear it planted in him. Sonic kept it shoved far, far back in his mind. He was far more worried about Volt, and taking care of him was his top priority.

While the hybrid clung to any part of Star he could, the blue hedgehog would often be doing much the same. If they were sitting or laying down, his arms were pretty much always around his partner. Otherwise he'd be squeezing a hand, or have an arm hooked around the other's. Unless he was busy preparing food, or helping Volt with a daily task, in which case he was happy to feel a hand clinging to his hoodie.

The constant closeness was one of the only things that comforted Sonic right now. However, the warm light from the oil lanterns was soothing. Peridot eyes were taking in the way it played off Volt's brown and red fur, while hands worked gentle but firm circles into his partner's back.

"How ya feelin', love?" Star asked softly, hoping this massage was helping at least a little with Volt's soreness.

Whatever the two adults didn’t eat, Harmony finished off. If on,y to make sure that the bowls were easier to clean. She smiled at Tails when he came to join them in the spacious kitchen and handed the bowls to her grandfather as he held out his hand, dodging the other that went to ruffle her bangs with a giggle. The older goat took every bowl and placed them into the sink before shooing anyone away with soapy fingers.

“Unless you vant to be vashed vith the dishes, leave them for mein husband.” Greta warned, chuckling softly as said husband nodded rather proudly. “You may help me vith labeling leftovers. I do not vant Star to accidentally get meat stew.”

She always thought of others in everything that she did, was always two steps ahead. “[Little Fluff, I just did a load of blankets. Get the extra pillows from the closet and make your nest.]” Always two steps ahead. Harmony looked over and nodded, running off with some of her teammates in tow to grab the majority of pillows and blankets from the linen closet to surround the couch. After she picked up and carefully moved the coffee table out of the way. If the adults were going to be taking up the couch, the teens would take up the floor.

No one was going to get close to any of them without having to step over a teenager to do it. And the Gods help whoever might have been stupid enough to try…

Volt could only really watch through half lidded eyes, nuzzling the tan shoulder he was resting against at the kiss to his neck. Everything ached and protested movements so he stayed relatively still, save for his lone hand reaching to take one of his partner’s. The blanket added one more sense of security and a mumbled thanks was all he had managed before he gave in to the exhaustion.

The next few days would be hard.

Despite his rapid healing ability, Volt was still having to adjust. The nightmares were constant and far too often he had blown a nearby lightbulb in the process to the point that Greta had Edgar take the lamps out of the room they were in and instead used the old fashion oil lanterns. Not as much light, but added a warmth to the room that Volt found some solace in. He never strayed too far from his partner and usually had a hold of something of Star’s when moving around.

Be it a hand, or the sleeve of a hoodie.

[m4rs-ex3]

2x03 // 6x09

Why don't you just call him Dad? ... You're my daughter.