#i am not meant to write things

[where-does-the-heart-lie]

There’s gonna be a wittb chapter break this week, but only cuz im working on a real big post i hope to post on Halloween so stay tuned :3c

[purpleelephantsocks]

Oh god, oh fuck, oh no; the parallels between Jean at the beginning of tsc panicking and telling Wymack "I want to go home" and Jean at the end of tsc falling apart after finding out his baby sister has died, telling Neil the same thing.

"I want to go home."

He is only nineteen

[starburstminibot]

Ok, seeing the post about the playlist, you mentioned how Breakdown only gets his act together after finding out that Bee was carrying

So it got me thinking (and this has actually been in my mind since i first came across the au tbh), but how was it while Bee was like, carrying?? There's the fact that, at first, many of the bots probably don't like Breakdown too since, well, he was not the best bf let's be honest.

Idk, I'm just curious to how things were before Breakcheck came to see the world

(Im going out of town for a week and cant draw so im just answering this with a straight up fanfiction-esk paragraph I’m so sorry wish I could be artistic for you anon)

Long story short: the Autobots are very forgiving but they can also be petty motherfuckers.

I mean they welcomed Megatron among their ranks and treat him (for the most part) as an equal and sometimes even a friend. Of course, Megatron earned that trust after years and years of repentance.

I imagine Breakdown is going through a similar arc. He’s never really been THAT loyal to the Decepticon cause. He just… kinda ended up there and didn’t care enough to do anything about it. He views Autobots as these goody, righteous people that he doesn’t feel like he belongs with. So really… what’s left besides Decepticons (considering yourself a neutral at one point was pretty much a death wish. A faction was the only way to acquire any sort of Energon or medical attention. Something Optimus tried hard to avoid, but the reality was safety in numbers.) the only kinship Breakdown ever felt was with the Stunticons… and they’ve been scattered to who knows where… if they’re even still alive.

Except he did have one friend. A friend he’s somehow managed to keep despite being on opposite sides of the war. He tried to convince Bee to join the Decepticons a few times but it was never with genuine intent. Bee was too good for the Cons; Breakdown knew that. He asked to get a rile out of him more than anything. Of course Bee would retort with his own argument of why BD should defect. He was serious about it… but Breakdown knew his place. He’d already done too much…

Now the war is over. And the leader of his faction doesn’t even believe in the cause anymore. Now, Breakdown’s never been a fan of Megatron anyways, but he sure as hell is pissed off when he abandons them to go be buddies with the Autobots. Maybe Breakdown is a little jealous (Of course, he’d never admit it) That Megatron, possibly the cruelest and most unforgiving of them all, is allowed to be redeemed.

He feels betrayed. All the Decepticons do really… He feels like he was led down a path that would only end in self destruction and at the last moment, the one who was paving the way jumped ship, leaving them all to suffer the consequences alone.

He never even wanted this.

But it’s way too late now. He dug this grave and he’s going to see to it that he’s buried in it. But despite the betrayal, and most of the Decepticons now stabbing each other in the back, trying to claim whatever power they can while holding on to this flimsy cause they can barely call a functioning faction, he still has Bee… who is maybe more than just a friend at this point but that’s a lot of feelings Breakdown isn’t ready to unpack.

And he still runs every time it feels a little too good to be true. Still proclaims his loyalty to the Decepticons because he’s too stubborn to admit he’s on a sinking ship. And he still keeps his distance because he refuses to take Bumblebee down with him when it finally goes under.

And maybe they’ve got a fling going… and maybe the autobots start to catch on. It doesn’t matter though, Breakdown doesn’t stick around long enough to see their sneers.

Until… he finds out Bee’s carrying that is… because damn he may not be the best bot in the galaxy but he’s not a complete deadbeat.

And when it hits him… that he’s going to be a sire… well maybe… he start’s sticking around to see the sneers. He hears the mumbles of disapproval. And boyyy does it make him so angry at first. How dare these holier-than-thou bots. They don’t know him or what he’s had to do to survive. How many comrades he’s lost thanks to them. They don’t know what Bee means to him. They don’t know just how much he loves Bumblebee. How he would lay down his spark for him in a klick.

Then Breakdown questions… Does Bee even know that?

From then on… Breakdown realizes, preserving his ego isn’t worth this. He has a chance now. A real honest chance. To do better… to have the life he actually wants… with the one bot who hasn’t ever given up on him.

He wants it so bad.

So he puts up with the comments and the obvious distrust. Because he’s willing to put in the work it takes to earn it. He’s going to prove how much he wants this. He’s going to prove how much he cares. He’s going to prove he is capable of doing better… and maybe along the way he’ll learn… he’s deserving of better too…

Breakdown is lucky Bumblebee has always been a little spoiled because it didn’t take too much convincing for the autobots to give him a shot. To attempt to accept him into their ranks.

He thought Optimus would be the worst of it. The one who practically raised the bot Breakdown knocked up. And for a while it is. Optimus lectures him every chance he gets. Any small hiccup, any little mistake. He doesn’t go easy on breakdown. Optimus at least pretends to be polite about it, or at least professional.He doesn’t yell, or make unnecessary insults. His words are always very honest (which makes them that much harder to hear) but Breakdown will take it… he’ll sit through it, no matter how hard he has to bite his tongue against saying something he’ll regret. He knows how thin the ice is. But he’ll do it for Bee.

The others are a little more brutal… Elita especially so… they are more sharp with their words (and sometimes their blasters) letting him know just what they think of him.

But no… the worst of all… is Megatron. Because Megatron is probably the only bot in the whole faction who looks at him and empathizes. Breakdown doesn’t want empathy. Especially not from the damn bot who betrayed him. Megatron doesn’t give lectures, he doesn’t verbally or physically abuse him when he steps out of line. He barely even raises his voice. And it pisses Breakdown off more than anything. Sometimes he slips up in front of Megatron just to push his boundaries, just to see if he can break this peaceful facade the ex-brutal-dictator seems to be taking. He’s witnessed the warlord beat bots into scrap for far less… and yet… Megatron won’t. Megatron seems to be attempting to guide Breakdown, to offer a new start to their relationship, and Primus Breakdown wants nothing to do with it. He’d rather be lectured and assigned extra training.

And it takes a long while… longer than Bee’s carrying term, and a little while into Breakcheck’s sparklinghood for the Autobots to really start to come around to him. Optimus’ lectures seem to have a bit of fondness to them. And perhaps Breakdown listens a bit more earnestly and takes to heart some of the genuine advice the Prime gives him. And maybe the sparring with Elita has turned less from a one-sided fight and into an enjoyable workout. And MAYBE… he doesn’t intentionally push Megatron as much, and has come to a realization of his own that his Megatron… is nothing like the one who betrayed him… and perhaps there is more in common between them than he’d like to admit.

And when people look at him now, he’s not just the Con Bumblebee has been sneaking around with. He’s a Sire… and a devoted Conjux…

And maybe this is what he’s always wanted. And he can be deserving of it too.

[umblrspectrum]

hi heres my ramblings about a md rain world au i made up in like a day bye

[viserya-firstofhername]

I'm fine. It's fine. Everything is fine.

[fluffydice]

The biggest tragedy of Teruhashi is the fact that she could be up there among the best examples of a complex female character that guides the audience through an understanding that characters don't have to be all-or-nothing when it comes to their moral alignment to be considered 'good' or 'bad' or something else--and then isn't because this is both a gag anime and she wasn't written by a woman

[arsenicflame]

every time i think of izzy hands i just have to 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰 for a second

[spikeisawesome456]

While watching the new Sonic movie earlier today, I noticed something and was curious, and figured I would ask Tumblr in a poll.

(Note: the public indecency one is indicating that you sleep in the nude or nearly nude, if anyone is confused. 😉)

I was just curious, since I noticed a bunch of people wearing PJs when I saw Sonic, and I was all… huh. I’d never considered wearing PJ’s to the theater before. But the more I thought about it, the more sense it made, and I was curious if anyone else wears their PJs to the movies, or if I’m just late to party, ha.

[deceptionpasses]

:( </3

[broareweabouttoviberightnow]

song for the fic!!

"C'mon Pony, you know this." Darry can feel himself gettin' agitated. He wasn't meant to be a teacher. He didn't have the patience. He sighs, stands up from the table 'n runs a hand down his neck. The more frustrated he gets the antsier Pony became. Maybe they both just needed a break.

"I just don't get it!" Pony slams his pencil against the table 'n drops his head into his hands. Darry rolls his eyes, crosses over to the sink 'n tries his best to bite back on an almighty sigh. Glory, the kid was prone to dramatics.

It certainly didn't help that it was, for all accounts 'n purposes, a beautiful day. Probably the first warm one of the year. Soda 'n Steve, on a rare day off, were hangin' around the house, Two comin' to join in sometime after lunch. 'N it was clearly makin' Pony fidgety. But if the kid hadn't wanted to spend the weekend at the kitchen table, he should have done his goddamn homework last night when Darry had told him to.

Darry blows out a long breath, white knuckles the sink. The kid wasn't workin' his nerves on purpose. He was just frustrated.

The windows open 'n the kind of soft breeze they waited all winter for 'n dreaded missin' once the summer set in is whisperin' around the curtains. Soda's out in the yard, crouched down in the dirt, Steve 'n Two hoverin' over him. Steve's got his face all screwed up in disgust 'n Two's grinnin' so hard his mouth hurts. Darry sighs, some kind of longin' for bein' a kid crawlin' unpleasantly up his throat.

Pony, who'd been peekin' out at him from between his fingers, presses his palms against his eyes 'n groans. "C'mon, Dar, I'll do it later. I promise." He blinks up at Darry with big, wide eyes 'n Darry frowns at him sternly. He'd give anythin' to just let the kid rip the stupid math homework in half 'n call it a day.

"No, Pony, you said that last night. In fact, I remember you promisin' up 'n down you wouldn't bitch about it today if I let you go to the drive-in." Pony at least has the decency to look a little sheepish but he doesn't stop him from lettin' out a long, wordless whine. "C'mon, let's get it done."

Outside, Steve yowls 'n Two cackles. Both of them glance to the window again. It didn't matter how many years separated them, there's a common thread that connects them: the ache of missin' out on the first day of summer when the laughter slides under the door 'n the sun beats down onto that faded square on the wood floor 'n you'd do anythin' to throw on untied shoes 'n run out into the street, knowin' that there'd always be someone waitin' on the porch for you.

Glory, how had their parents done it?

"Look, just finish up this sheet." He wasn't as strong as their ma. 'N he would never claim to be. Pony pouts but sits up again, puttin' his pencil back to the paper. "So, if you-"

"Oh, you won't." Soda giggles from the lawn 'n Steve yowls.

"So if you-"

"Oh, I will." Someone tackles the other to the ground. A heap of freckled laughter rollin' around 'n grindin' grass stains into fresh white shirts.

"If you carry the one here-"

"I double dog dare ya!" That phrase never bode well in the Curtis gang 'n it's just enough excuse for Darry 'n Pony to blink at each other once 'n race to the front door. Pony gets there first, swingin' the screen hard against the house 'n trippin' out onto the creakin' porch. Darry's not far behind him.

Steve's got grass in his dark hair, vest bunched up high around his waist, legs stretched in front of him in the leaves, scowlin' at Soda in disgust 'n pure, childhood curiosity. The kind you get when you'd dare a friend to ride down the hill everyone was a lil' too scared to try 'n a little too proud to admit 'n watch as, for a moment, he rode on air. The closest a kid could ever get to the back of a lightnin' bolt. 'N then he'd bail 'n break his leg 'n you'd suddenly realize there was a reason everyone was scared of that ol' hill.

Two's on his knees, grass stains smudged across the places where they dig into the dirt, a dollar scrunched up in his fist, face split in eager anticipation.

Glory, Darry thinks suddenly, I remember when I'd've done anythin' for a dollar.

'N he had.

He glances down at Pony, the wind pushin' his bangs off his forehead 'n thinks about that hot July day a ten-year-old Soda 'n a thirteen year old Darry had convinced Pony that if he jumped off the porch railin' with a sheet he'd fly.

He'd busted his mouth. Darry 'n Soda had hastily paid him every nickel to their names in the form of hush money. Seven dollars 'n thirty-two cents.

God. But that had been a million years ago.

"Soda?" Pony calls 'n Soda whips around. He's danglin' a worm, wrigglin' 'n squirmin', over a mouth stained with strawberries 'n grinnin' wide, toothy smiles.

Hadn't Darry done that once? Caked fingers in mud 'n scraped soil from his nails? Had laughed 'n swallowed ants off the sidewalk whole for nothin' but the chance to stick out his tongue 'n say he had?

"Bleugh Soda that's gross!" Pony leaps the railin', swingin' his body straight up 'n over 'n for a second Darry could swear he was flyin'. 'N he lands on his feet 'n tackles Soda straight to the ground 'n for a second Darry cringes 'n thinks God, he was never gettin' those stains out 'n Pony's gotta get that math done 'n they were all too old to be horsin' around in the dirt like boys.

But then Soda's howlin' 'n he's lookin' over Pony's bony shoulder 'n grinnin' so wide it's like he was seven again, too many teeth in his mouth 'n too many feelin's in his heart 'n Steve 'n Two-Bit are laughin' 'n jumpin' in 'n Darry stops thinkin' about all of it.

He hops the railin' 'n when he lands he doesn't bail. It was the first real day of summer. Everythin' else could wait.

[jackels-in-space]

Oh Lordy the AI “writer” is like “I spent 15 hours editing and getting rid of any OOC”

So…my fellow authors…how long would it take you to write and then edit it out 9k words?

[alecscudder1987]

ive just had a thought. see ive been joking as much as the next person about the ineffable beurocracy getting their shit together after 3 dates while it took aziraphale and crowley since literally before time was invented BUT it's quite literally just privilege.

you saw the shot where aziraphale grabs crowley's shoulder just after beelzebub and gabriel declare their love--this level of visibility is unprecedented, and something he and crowley have never been able to afford. while they (and we) might have softened to not-gabriel throughout the season, the second gabriel is gabriel again, he uses his position and leaddrship weight as archangel to fuck right off with his beloved. which, good for him.

but to aziraphale and crowley, this is fucking bonkers information. they spent their entire existences compromising on their relationship in order to not...be compromised. and gabriel just up and speed-runs dating the enemy because the worst consequence he faces is getting fired. gabriel and beelzebub never face consequences for their relationship, so of course it goes off without a hitch. no one looking over your shoulder because you're the guy looking over everyone's shoulder.

while im thankful they fucked off to alpha centuri so i don't ever have to see gabriel's smug face again, i do wonder if the "going off together" is really the good relationship A & C ought to model. if it's a happy foil to miserable wee morag and her girlfriend from the minisodes, it's still not what i believe crowley and aziraphale are going to do.

they've spent all of time becoming increasingly codependent, and while that's fun and all for a while, crowley and aziraphale really need their little human mundanities. going on walks. getting dinner. going for a drive to blow off steam. their path is getting distinctly more human-looking, and i think someday they're going to have to reckon with the idea of letting other people into their lives.

to bring it back to my first point, i've just been thinking about WHY crowley and aziraphale are Like That, when we've been presented with a new couple who most certainly isn't, and it made me think about it in terms of power. they have leverage, but they built it for themselves by learning everything about earth their superiors didn't know, getting a leg up anywhere they can. gabriel and beezlebub don't need a leg up. they have it. they're stepping on your chest and brushing dust from their costs as you try to climb past the first stone.

you could also look at it like queer versus straight relationships. queer relationships are often by circumstance somewhat secretive and full of codes and longing glances and not-talking-about-your-feelings BECAUSE it might get you into trouble. straight relationships often don't have this problem (though they might have others relating to other intersecting & marginalized identities) so they can get straight away into the declaring it part.

TL;DR beezlebub and gabriel got hitched immidiately while it took crowley and aziraphale all of time to kiss because the ineffable beaurocracy has about a million times more power and a billion times less consequences for getting caught about it than the ineffable husbands do.

[takaraphoenix]

It is both funny and frustrating to me how predictable my unpredictability is becoming.

(My fic.)

(It's running away.)

(I'm running after it.)

[borrelia]

posting at a stupid hour oh well. feedback on how to write--especially how to better pace and detail descriptions--wanted pleassee.

guys being dudes sonknux thing ft rouge trying to get to her beautiful wife (the master emerald)

Even in the middle of summer, the forested side of Angel Island never really got hot.  The sun beat down bright and warm, but the thin air couldn’t hold its heat. Under the shade of the dense trees and in the shadow of the towering Ice Cap, the air stayed chilled for much of the island’s orbital path.  Out in the open, the ever-constant breeze tugged body heat away from anything more than a foot above the ground.  Only close to the ground in the direct light of the sun could one warm under its rays.  There, or near the Master Emerald, its odd internal light radiating its own kind of heat that seeped into the carved stone shrine like hot coals in a furnace.

Sonic and Knuckles sat at the edge of the shrine, Sonic kicking his legs over the side as they warmed their backs and took in the view.  Birdsong traveled up from the forest below, oddly deadened by the thin air, but beautiful all the same.  The two of them were lightly scuffed, fur sticking out at odd angles and prints of dust on their sides where they’d tapped each other—playfighting or real fighting, it was difficult to tell with these two.

Sonic stretched his arms back over his head with a groan.  “Well, I’d better get going.”  He moved to stand and Knuckles stood with him,

Knuckles folded his arms and raises an eyebrow playfully.  “Someone else needs you to annoy them today?”

“Something like that!” Sonic smiled, matching his gaze.  Then, instead of extending an open hand or even a friendly fist, he leaned forward and casually said “Hey,” slipping a hand up to tangle in Knuckles’ spines, “Gimme a kiss.”

Knuckles’ arms remained crossed as Sonic gently pulled him down into two quick kisses, chaste and playful, then smoothly backed away with a satisfied smile.  Knuckles’ face noticeably reddened, but his eyes remained humorful, his fond smile only barely wider.  

“Don’t come back too soon, hedgehog,” he said, his forceful bravado clearly a routine act, the affection underneath readily apparent.

Sonic laughed and started down the shrine steps, hopping down sideways and backwards so he could continue his conversation facing the top.  “That hurts, Knuckles!” He was almost yelling as he talked, projecting his voice too loud in his usual way.  He only got louder as he put more distance between them.  “You’ll be missing me soon enough!  I know you were dying of boredom up here without me before I got here!”

Knuckles yelled back “You know that’s not true!” and waved a fist in what was quickly becoming genuine frustration, but Sonic mimed not being able to hear and playfully waved him off.  At the bottom of the shrine, still definitely able to hear Knuckles’ aggrieved shouting from above, Sonic took off in a bolt of blue.

The Tornado was parked not too far off, in a grassy clearing marked by ancient worn stones, tucked behind a copse of thin trees.  Wood slats were laid out in a makeshift runway for the little prop plane, its own dedicated tarmac begrudgingly constructed by the island’s caretaker.  

Sonic hopped out of his sprint meters away from the shining red plane, aiming his momentum just right as he turned mid-air to effortlessly plop halfway into the cockpit.  His legs hung over the edge of the plane for just a moment, before he pulled them in, adjusting himself to sit upright.  Sonic hummed happily as he pulled a water bottle out from under the seat and took a swig, swaying to the music in his head.

It was then that the bat decided to reveal herself.  Rouge slid out of the shadows of the trees and with a flick of her wings slipped up to the top of the Tornado’s wing.  Rouge of course prided herself on her ability to move stealthily, sitting on the plane with crossed legs and barely a whisper of fabric on metal, but it was hardly a difficult thing to do when it came to the ever-distracted Sonic.

“Didn’t expect to see you here, Blue.”

“Huh-? Rouge!” Sonic jolted and dropped his water bottle as his eyes snapped up to see her.

Rouge couldn’t help but snort at his surprise.  When his mind was somewhere else, that hedgehog could miss his own nose in front of him.

The shock soon faded, however, and was replaced with a friendly grin.  “Can’t say I expected to see you either.  If you’re hoping the emerald’s unguarded today, you’re out of luck.  I just left Knuckles up there a minute ago.”  Sonic’s gaze ducked back down as he spoke to fish the bottle out from where it had rolled under the seat.  He struggled with it for a moment before successfully recovering it and looking back up at her.

Rouge sighed wistfully, looking back over her shoulder to where she knew the shrine to be, despite the forest and the hills hiding it from view.  “Well I’m sure he can’t stop me from stealing a glance or two while I’m here.” She paused for a moment and glanced back at Sonic.  “I already got a few earlier, but I saw you two were having a moment together and didn’t want to interrupt.”  

Sonic didn’t seem to notice her unasked question.  He took a swig from his water bottle and set it down on his knee.  “Thanks. He’s all yours.” Sonic made a sweeping gesture with his arm, a playful smirk on his face.

Rouge pursed her lips, regarding Sonic pointedly.  “Well I’m sure if it was Knuckles I was after instead of the emerald, I’d be devastated to find out he’s already taken.”

Sonic’s brow wrinkled in confusion.  “What?”

“It’s no problem to me,” she continued, “I’m just a little nosy by profession.  Though with you, I’m not sure knowledge of your little tryst would work as useful blackmail by any means. It’s too bad, I was hoping I could go home with an emerald today.” 

Again, she sighed theatrically, this time much more for Sonic’s benefit.  He loved helping pitiful and sad things, right? Maybe one day she’d convince him her cause was an appropriately pitiful one to drop his guard and let her at those emeralds.

No such luck this time, by the way Sonic smirked and leaned back.  Well, she could see the lightswitch flick behind his eyes as he finally picked up her meaning. 

“Tryst, huh?” He said, folding his arms. “What exactly gave you that idea?” He had that look in his eyes that Rouge had seen when he was negotiating with Eggman or teasing Shadow:  he’d found a new game to play.

Rouge smiled.  Finally he was on the same page.  “Well, I never imagined you were so sentimental about goodbyes.”

Sonic rolled his shoulders. “Only as sentimental as a handshake!”

“A handshake, huh? A secret one just for you and Knuckles?”

“Nah, not ‘just.’” He rubbed his nose idly, then turned that mischievous smile back to Rouge. “Why, you feeling left out without one?”

“I’ll pass,” she said.  She shuffled her wings and leaned back on her hands, appraising him.  “But I’m supposed to believe you’re handing out goodbye kisses like candy and I haven’t seen it once until now? C’mon Blue, you can do better than that.”

“Hey,” Sonic gave a big what-can-you-do shrug, “Just because you don’t see it doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen!  Not like you’ve been trailing me trying to catch me in the act.” He paused, then raised an eyebrow at her.  “You haven’t, have you?”

Rouge scoffed. “Of course not.  I’ll leave that busywork to your private eye friends.  I’d only trail you if I thought I could steal something nice off you.  Which, for the record, I know I can’t today.  Nice job scattering those Chaos Emeralds after your last adventure, Hero.  I haven’t seen any of them pop up yet.”

Sonic rolled his eyes and mumbled something to himself about Tails—great idea, Sonic, she should go pester the boy genius for emerald information!—before addressing her again.  “Well believe me or don’t, it’s up to you.  I don’t see why you’d make such a big deal out of it, though.  Knuckles is my friend, it’s not a crime to show him a little love every once in a while.”

“No, I didn’t think it was,” Rouge sighed.  “I was just hoping if I couldn’t get any treasure out of you, I could at least get a juicy secret or two.”  She hefted herself up by her hands and pulled her feet in to stand upright on the plane wing.  She set her hands on her hips and fixed Sonic with an unamused stare.  “I still don’t believe you, for the record.  I just know when to drop a dead lead.”  

Sonic took her cue and turned his attention to the Tornado’s instruments, readying himself to start it up.  “You can ask Knuckles if you want, he’ll tell you the same thing.  And you know he can’t lie to save his life.”

“Thanks, but I didn’t need your permission.” Rouge flared her wings out dramatically and swooped up into the air just as she heard Sonic start up the motor.  She gained air until she could see the Master Emerald shrine over the trees and began to glide in its direction.

“Hey!” Sonic called from below.  

She stopped and twisted to look back down at him.

“Sure you don’t want that kiss goodbye?” Sonic tapped his cheek, a huge grin splitting his face.

“Hard pass!” Rouge yelled down.

The sound of Sonic’s laughter was drowned out by the sputtering start of the Tornado’s engine. Rouge shook her head and began her long descent across the island.  The sound of the roaring engine faded in the distance as Sonic took flight the other direction and the echo was swallowed up in the empty spaces between the air, leaving only the soft whispers of wind in Rouge’s ears.

She kept her flight path to the shrine less than direct, curving down to hide herself in the treetops in case the Tornado’s flight drew Knuckles’ attention in her direction.  She was in no rush:  unlike Sonic, Knuckles wasn’t going anywhere soon.  By the time she had made her way to the shrine and landed with a soft click of her heels atop one of the encircling stone pillars, the Emerald’s guardian had wandered away for a minute and left his post unguarded…. 

Well, she thought, getting blackmail material out of the echidna would be nice.  But an emerald in the hand is worth two in the bush…  

Rouge leapt lightly down from the pillar, smoothing her descent with her wings until she came down on top of the Master Emerald lighter than a feather, her legs kicked out behind her and her hands gently caressing its glinting faceted surface.  She laid down across the flat top, resting her cheek against it and sighing with contentment as she felt its thrumming warmth through her gloves.  

“Hello beautiful,” she crooned, closing her eyes.  “Did you miss me?”

“Not in the slightest.”

Knuckles’ flat voice jolted Rouge out of her reverie, her body stiffening and her head shooting upright.  Well, that didn’t last long.

“Now get off the Master Emerald!” Knuckles growled, his shoulders squaring up as he reached the top of the shrine’s steps.  

“Hey there, handsome!” Rouge smiled brightly.  “I didn’t expect you’d be back so soon!”

“Off!” 

Oh well, two in the bush it was.  Rouge kissed the glossy surface of the gem goodbye, leaving a perfect pink lipstick print, and gently lifted herself up to land lightly next to where Knuckles stood, gawking with a comically wide mouth and flushed face.  

“You—” he sputtered, looking between her and the Emerald, “You keep your mouth off the Master Emerald!”

“It was just a friendly kiss goodbye.”  Rouge pouted, but was unable to help the corners of her mouth from turning up into a wicked smile.  “You do it all the time, don’t you?”

Knuckles’ blush deepened and his spines puffed up around him.  “I do NOT kiss the Master Emerald!” He shuffled sideways to subtly (“subtly”) position himself between Rouge and the Emerald.  Rouge pretended not to notice him encroaching in her space and kept rooted in place, watching with amusement as it made him squirm.

“Well I’ve never seen you say goodbye to my emerald, but that’s how you say goodbye to your friends, isn’t it? Like Sonic?” 

Knuckles was exceptionally fun to tease.  If she spent enough time with Shadow, she could get some good jabs in here and there, but he never reacted as visibly and predictably as Knuckles.  Rouge could learn to read Shadow’s micro-expressions and his silent pauses to get a good sense of when she said something that hit close to home.  But Knuckles? The echidna wore his heart on his sleeve and his sleeve on his forehead.  Every thought that ran through his mind was as plain to see as the nose on his face—and Knuckles’ nose stuck out much more than most.

Rouge watched in real-time as Knuckles’ expression shifted from teeth-bared indignation, to brow-furrowed disorientation, to wide-eyed realization, to flushed-faced panic.

“What!?” he sputtered. “No I don’t!”

Knuckles backed up half a step, surely unconsciously, and Rouge took the opportunity to more forward half a step, keeping the distance between them close.

“Really? Because I just caught Sonic on his way out.  He said you’re one of his friends he kisses goodbye all the time.  There’s no shame in that.”

Knuckles stiffened.  His cheeks remained flushed as he set his jaw and met her gaze.  “Well,” he started, “I meant I don’t kiss him.  He kisses me.  It’s different.”

Rouge hummed pensively, giving him time to second-guess his defense.  Which, of course, he did.

“I mean, you said I say goodbye to all my friends like that.  But I don’t—it’s just Sonic.  Because that’s what he does.  It’s Sonic’s thing.”

Knuckles seemed much happier with that answer, tilting his chin up to fix her with a challenging stare.  It was a much better defense, of course.  But Sonic was right:  Knuckles couldn’t lie to save his life.

“Really?” she pressed.  “So could I get a kiss goodbye if I asked nicely?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because Sonic is my best friend. And you,” he jammed a gloved hand to her chest, unable to unfurl a single finger for the gesture, “are a lying crook, bat girl.”

Rouge gasped and threw a hand to her chest in mock-dismay. “I resent that remark!”  She watched as her pitiful expression cracked his resolve, then smoothly turned away as if she hadn’t noticed.  

Rouge began to leisurely circle the Emerald, reaching a gloved hand out to run along its side.  She was careful not to let her fingers touch it, lest she raised its guardian’s ire, but she ran them close enough to feel a soft tingle of power emanating from the gem. “Just because I’m a crook doesn’t mean I have to lie to get what I want.” Necessarily.  “I’m always perfectly clear about wanting this emerald here, aren’t I?”

Knuckles pulled back his fist and raised it to his chin, clearly considered her words—as serious as ever. “Well I suppose you are.” He side-eyed her as she finished her lap around the Emerald.

“So could I get a kiss?”

“Still no.” Knuckles crossed his arms and narrowed his gaze. 

“Oh come on.” Rouge smiled.  “We’re friends, you can trust me.”  She continued before he had the chance to object, “So what is it? Am I not pretty enough for you?” 

“No!” Knuckles sputtered, flustered.

“No I’m not pretty enough?” Rouge pouted, unable to resist drawing out another reaction from him.

“No, you are, I—augh!” Knuckles pressed his palms to the sides of his head.  “You’re trying to get in my head!” His face scrunched up as he turned away, blocking her out.

Rouge laughed, dancing around to his front. She tugged at his arms with a sly grin.  “Oh come on,” she goaded.  “I’m not being serious.”

Knuckles cracked one suspicious eye open at her, and begrudgingly dropped his arms.  He was clearly more interested in getting her to move on than to continue with his theatrics.  But of course, she wasn’t planning on it.  She was getting that emerald one way or another.

“Sonic isn’t half as persistent as me,” Rouge said.  Her fingers remained brushing his arms where they’d fallen.  “I can’t imagine you’d hold out denying me, but cave to him.  You two butt heads all the time!  You really expect me to believe this is all Sonic’s idea?”

Knuckles’ expression softened as she spoke, then his eyes flicked downward.  He took a moment to think before letting out a steadying breath, resolving himself.

Gotcha, Rouge thought.

“It is his idea,” Knuckles said quietly.  “That really is just something he does with friends.  Just don’t—” he tensed “—tell him I like him, okay?”

Rouge cringed internally at the melodrama, but maintained her placid expression and nodded encouragingly.  Relationship drama like this never made sense to her.  But it wasn’t about what made sense to her, it was about what would get her leverage for that emerald.

“Of course I won’t tell him, sugar.”  For a price.

Knuckles awkwardly scratched the back of his head.  “Sonic’s friendship means a lot to me.  And I’m happy with what we’ve got.”  He stared off to the side, across the island and into the distant clouds.  “I don’t want to risk losing any of it by asking for anything else.”

Rouge couldn’t help the soft snort that escaped her—playing guidance counsellor was not her forte.  Knuckles looked up at the sound and she attempted to play it off by clearing her throat.  “Well you can’t get what you want if you don’t try, can you? Why all the secrecy? Just get it over with and talk to him or whatever.”

Knuckles shook his head.  “It’s not worth jeopardizing our friendship.  That’s what means the most to me.”

“Afraid you’ll lose your kissing privileges if he rejects you?” Rouge smirked.

Knuckles shot her a glare.  

Oops! Hit the nail on the head!  Rouge pulled her hands behind her back and leaned away slightly, the fragile air of vulnerability clearly broken.

Knuckles remained still for a moment longer before looking away with a frustrated huff.  “I think it’s time you leave.”

Rouge hummed and turned to walk to the edge of the shrine.  She looked out across the tree tops to the empty sky beyond. “I suppose that’s enough catching up for one day.  But I’m not going without my emerald!”

She heard Knuckles shift behind her, probably squaring up once again. “What are you talking about, you crazy bat!? I said get off my island!”

“I’d be more than happy to,” Rouge purred.  “In fact, I’ll probably head straight to Prower’s workshop to look for more emeralds.  I might even run into Sonic while I’m there.” She looked back over her shoulder, a malicious glint in her eye.  “How important would you say it is that I not tell him about your crush? Enough to give me that big pretty rock behind you?”

Behind her, she could see Knuckles was indeed in a fighting stance, fist up in a threat.   He paused for a beat with that exaggerated frown on his face before he caught her meaning. His shoulders dropped and his eyes went wide.

“What-? You-! You said you wouldn’t!”

“I didn’t say for free—what do you take me for?”

Rouge shot upward with a powerful flap of her wings, narrowly dodging the twin spikes of Knuckles’ fist.  Knuckles whirled around and swiped again at her receding legs.  He missed, growling in frustration. 

“Grr—! You two-faced little cheat! I trusted you!”

Rouge landed lightly on top of the Master Emerald, her heels clicking gently over the smudged lipstick print.  “That’s your loss, echidna.” She dusted herself off and watched with amusement as Knuckles continued to growl and stamp his foot below.  “Now, how does that deal sound to you?”

Knuckles snarled, “I won’t let you have the Master Emerald!”

“Not even to keep my mouth shut to Sonic?  If you let me take it, I won’t tell him, promise.” She held her hands up in appeasement.  Her word was only ever as good as she wanted it to be; all that really mattered was that others could tell when she was being really sincere.  “You said his friendship was so important to you.”

Knuckles stilled. He looked down at the cracked stone ground, his fists limp at his side as he thought it through.  After a moment he sighed, his eyes softening in defeat. 

Yes!

“Fine. Tell him.”

No!

“What?” Rouge stepped back, bewildered.  “Did I hear you right?”

Knuckles scoffed, “Of course.”  He straightened up, raising a fist to his chest and meeting her gaze.  “My duty to the Master Emerald always comes first.  No matter what, I’ll endure it.”  His eyes narrowed as he pulled up his other fist, setting his weight back into his fighting stance.  “So don’t make me repeat myself again: Get off the Master Emerald and off my island!”

The two stood in the dead silence of the high air, the tiny scuffing of Knuckles’ shoes on rocks on rock the loudest sound between them.  Rouge broke the moment with a sigh and a dismissive slump backwards.  She hung one hand from her hip while the other gestured lazily at her side. 

“Well, it was worth a try,” she said.  “But what a waste of time.  Listening to all those feelings and not even getting a good payoff for it.  Next time I’ll just skip to snatching the Emerald while you two lovebirds are distracted.” 

Knuckles regarded her warily as she lifted off the Master Emerald and flew to just over the edge of the shrine.  She twisted back to look at him before she left.

“I meant what I said earlier.  Just take what you want for once, Knuckles.  That’s your problem, you know.  You don’t know how to live for yourself.”

Knuckles scoffed, turning to face her without dropping his guard.  “That’s your problem, Rouge.  You have no sense of discipline.” 

Rouge shrugged and turned to fly away.  That may be so, she thought, the sound of her wingbeats and the wind in her ears quickly becoming all she could hear in the empty air, but at least this I can understand:  I’d give up anything for that rock just the same!

[redbootsindoriath]

Apparently in my absence this post had its 1000-notes-iversary.

This time we get to see the culprit responsible for ruining our heroes' lives as well.

I've really missed you guys, by the way. I know I've said that already, but I'm serious. Once or twice this year I've been right on the brink of coming back but schedule stuff always keeps me from letting myself commit to that again, and that in turn has kept me from posting anything at all. But I've been in an unexpected drawing mood lately and so if I can get enough stuff to set up a queue we might pretend I'm back for a month or so sometime this year. Maybe. Hopefully. We'll see. No promises though. That's why I'm hiding this paragraph under the cut.

Transcription:

[Beren:] "Uhhh...barkeep...I think he's had enough now..." [Tolkien:] "No, I don't think he has...!"

[amtrak12]

When you know the fic will turn out so good, the writing, the characters, the humor, all of it -- but then you remember the effort that goes into writing epic-length 50k word fics