#skimmingthesurface

[sparkles-rule-4eva]

"An Unstoppable Force Between Static Stars" by @skimmingmilk

you have no idea how fast I whipped these up and how many tears I've shed thinking about this akmdjfjsnks the brothers ever help I won't be able to handle this fic there's only a prologue out and I'm already destroyed

GO READ THIS WONDERFUL THING THIS WONDERFUL HUMAN WROTE/IS WRITING

[sage-nebula]

Summary: “…it wouldn’t be right. Sonic needs Tails, and that’s just a cosmic truth.” -Ian Flynn Tails made a promise to himself that he’d always be there to help Sonic, no matter what. He just didn’t expect “no matter what” to extend to an older version of him from another timeline. But even if it’s a Sonic who seems a little different than the one Tails has grown up knowing — or, okay, maybe a lot different — it’s still his big brother underneath it all, so how could he not at least try to be there for him? Well, his Sonic might have something to say about that. When it came to protecting Tails, nothing was ever going to stand in his way. Including himself. A collab between @sage-nebula and @skimmingmilk Inspired by the “bad end” of the 8 bit version of Sonic 2 Companion piece to the “Sometimes the Picket Fence isn’t Perfect” series

Having a workshop actually turned out better than Tails expected it to. He was able to keep so many more tools and materials on hand. He could build whatever he wanted and not have to worry about it fitting in a backpack or getting stolen! Well, theoretically things could still be stolen from the workshop, but he’d already installed an alarm system and was planning on adding a more customized security system when he had the time to figure that out.

For now, he had a more important project on his hands.

For the past week, Tails had been working on making a Chaos Emerald detection radar for Sonic. While he knew Sonic could sort of feel their presence whenever they were close enough to one, that was the thing, they still had to be close enough to one. With this radar, Tails was hoping to be able to narrow down their search radius so it’d be easier to pinpoint where they were if and when Sonic needed them.

Even if Robotnik had been quiet ever since his last attempt to mess with them, that didn’t mean he was going to stay quiet forever. They had to be prepared for whatever he tried to throw at them next. Knowing where to find the Chaos Emeralds so Sonic could go super just seemed to make the most logical sense.

After all, he’d made a promise.

Tails looked up from his workbench at the wall right in front of him. It was fairly empty, a blank canvas that had the potential to one day be home to cork boards and mounted tools, with blueprints of current or favorite projects pinned over one another to compete for his attention. For now, only one thing hung from a simple nail and wire. One thing, front and center, he always wanted to be sure he could see. His certificate of guardianship: a reminder that he and Sonic were family and that they’d always be together. That Sonic needed and wanted him around just as much as Tails needed and wanted him to be there.

Tails had made a promise to himself the night he’d come home after running away. A promise that he’d always be there for Sonic. After seeing what missing him for two days had done to him, Tails wouldn’t leave him on his own again. He didn’t know what exactly it was that he did to keep Sonic’s spirits high, but whatever it was he needed from him, Tails was going to do his best to be that. It was what he deserved after he went through the whole ordeal of getting guardianship over him just so they could stay together.

Legs swinging back and forth on his chair, too high up for his shoes to even skim the ground, Tails smiled to himself as he snapped the back panel to his radar in place, then twisted a final screw in to secure it. It was ready. He powered it on by pushing the big blue button on the front panel. The screen blinked to life with an orange glow. 

His tails spun in a happy circle as it calibrated the energy signature in the immediate area. He needed to zero out what it considered to be a “default” energy reading. With a small ding it successfully registered an approximation of what average chaos energy levels were when no emeralds were present.

“Perfect!” Tails spun his chair around in his excitement. “Time for a test run!” 

He fiddled with the dials until he increased the radar’s search radius from one mile to five. That seemed like a good place to start. Hopping down from his chair, Tails hurried out the open airplane hangar into the summer air. He left it open for the sea breeze to cool the workshop now that the weather was getting warmer. He also liked to listen for Sonic when he was out on his runs, just to prepare for any surprise attacks he might unleash on him. 

Oh wait. Speaking of surprises, Tails didn’t want Sonic to wonder where he was in the highly probable chance that he made it back to the workshop before Tails himself did. Whirling around, Tails sped back inside and grabbed a sheet of paper to quickly scribble a note for him. 

Hi Sonic! I’m testing my new project in the jungle, but I’ll be back soon! Promise! Love Tails. 

[Continue reading on AO3]

[000marie198]

Very interested in seeing some more of The Sky and the Sea! Good luck writing!

Okie!

Miles sputtered as he came to, lying face down on a sandy shore and instinctively lifting a shaky hand to scrub away the wet sand lodged on his face. His shoulders and neck ached and his throat was scratchy and parched. He swallowed, the action serving little purpose as it failed to drive away the thirst. The midday sun beat down on him and Miles slowly registered a pounding headache that spread through his skull. His head felt heavy as lead and he lowered it back down with a pained moan, his features twisting up in a wince of discomfort.

Thanks for the ask!

WIP Wednesday

[neurotypical-sonic]

For the WIP Tag Game: gotta go for something called "it gets worse" :) how can I not be intrigued?

"it gets worse" is the actual title instead of being a place holder for once! from the song it gets worse by mindless self indulgence

It's about Nine, growing up in new yoke city. The little summary I have written for myself is "Tails flies for the first time. Nine does not. Tails learnt to fly to keep up with Sonic. Nine learnt to fly out of desperation." I am hoping to finish it within a week actually!

I still havent written a lot yet ajdsjf and what i have is kinda bare bones atm

When the crocodile slams the lid to the dumpster down, it’s not with enough force. The lock doesn’t latch. Miles watches, waiting for the crocodile to notice and correct his mistake, but he’s already hurrying back inside. Miles waits a minute, then two, then five, waiting for him to come back. He doesn’t. Running as quietly as he can on shaky legs, Miles reaches the dumpster and claws his way up, tails hanging uselessly below him.  The lid to the dumpster is ajar enough that Miles can stick his fingers between the gap. It’s just enough. (In another world, Tails rummages through the undergrowth. There’s dirt underneath his claws and burrs tangled in his fur, but he pay that any mind. He’s just trying to find some- There. A cluster of mushrooms, growing under a bush. Cream in colour, speckled with blue spots. They look meaty, nice and plump, and when he digs a handful out of the ground, they feel firm in his grasp. He lays them out on the grass, tilting his head as he compares them. He picks up the second biggest, brushing dirt from its stem. 

[marinaiguess]

Hi! One of the most memorable scenes that you've written to me is the very end of your Sonic Riders Zero Gravity fic "black holes can be just as scary as your big brother," when Sonic finally gets Tails to smile after reassuring him and they hug <3 it warms my soul and is the Sonic Riders content we all need in our lives!

BLACK HOLES CAN BE JUST AS SCARY AS YOUR BIG BROTHER IS SUCH A GREAT TITLE OMGOSHHH (edit: I really thought Steph came up with that title.........I forgot that's literally the title of the fic on ao3........)

anyway. this means a lot so thank you :) sonic riders zero gravity is underrated (and so is that one fic LMAOO) so I'm very happy (and also a little surprised) that this one stuck out to you <3

[sylwritesstuff]

Because I know your original plan for your current wip... #21 for the fic writers ask :)

It's rude to call out your friends like this 🤣🤣

21. Do you prefer writing chaptered fics or oneshots?

I prefer writing oneshots. But I very clearly CANNOT do that 🤣 It's a true tragedy, but I have that wordy birch disease and I also want to know what happens before and after those oneshots.

[twigwing]

honestly i find and have always found aosth to be. not Boring but very un-engaging for me to watch it’s just never been my speed. however aosth is Unmatched for the way sonic and tails’ initial dynamic is characterized. honestly my fav part of aosth is the sonic says segments. say what you will about characterization and their actual effectiveness of their messages and whatnot but they so often focus on sonic teaching tails how to be safe and it makes me feel so 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺

[domi091]

My toxic trait is wanting to shamelessly tag my favorite writers and tell them to not ever stop writing the same thing.

it's me , I've read the 59 fics , I've memorized seven....

[aziraphales-library]

Hi! First of all: Thanking all the Mods for all of your hard work, because I love and appreciate this blog and everything that goes into it!

Second: Can you recommend fics where Crowley and Aziraphale go house hunting, either individually or as a pair?

Hello! We have some house hunting fics here, and I've got some more now...

A Cottage, a Couple, and a Day in the Life of a Real Estate Agent by AnonymousDandelion (G)

Lori hadn’t even realized she had any clients on the schedule for this afternoon — all her other appointments had called to cancel at the last minute — until the calendar notification had popped up on her computer reminding her that she had not one but two showings coming up soon. Thank God for calendar reminders, because there was no way she'd ever have remembered on her own; embarrassingly enough, even after the reminder, she still hadn’t recognized either of the names. Clearly, both clients must have independently scheduled their appointments over the phone — Lori had no communication record in her email, just their names and contact info in the calendar entry — but apparently she’d been so fully zoned out that not only had she taken no notes and accidentally double-booked without realizing it, the entire conversation had completely and utterly slipped her memory. Five years working in real estate, and this was the first time this had ever happened to Lori. She really needed to start getting more sleep. ~ ~ ~ In which Lori shows a cottage in the South Downs, and has a Time of it. No human realtor should have to deal with these two clients. Lori does her best.

Selling South Downs by Pixiefairy15, Slurpi13 (T)

For Sale: Beautifully maintained 3 bedroom thatched cottage nestled in the heart of the South Downs. On paper, they were perfect. A middle-aged couple, looking for a holiday home in a quiet village in the South Downs. Picky was the wrong word to describe what they were. They were never impolite or demanding, never threw a tantrum over something outside of my control like some previous clients had. They were just… odd. An estate agent helps Aziraphale and Crowley search for their dream home, becoming increasingly exasperated at their nonsensical requirements and strange behaviour as they reject house after house.

Just Right by EdosianOrchids901 (T)

Inspired by newfound freedom and his deepening relationship with Aziraphale, Crowley longs for more space. He suggests that they buy a cottage together, and Aziraphale is thrilled at the idea. But can they find a cottage that is just right?

The Wanting Comes in Waves by skimmingthesurface (T)

Looking at cottages in the South Downs should be fairly simple for one angel and demon who've seen their fair share of residences across centuries, but although they want to take this step to bridge the two halves of their side in the years after stopping Armageddon, there's still a wanting that's tucked away, that they wouldn't dare let see the light of day just yet. Though, their estate agent believing them to be married might not give them much of a choice in the matter.

post-professional endeavours by darcylindbergh (T)

Retirement is a four-letter word.

A Narrow Escape to the Country by shaggydogstail (T)

Crowley and Aziraphale appear as house hunters on BBC daytime institution, Escape to the Country. They are incredibly annoying. Sympathies, please, for the unlucky producer who is not getting paid enough to put up with their nonsense.

- Mod D

[star-stages]

@skimmingthesurfaces

doodle for the new chapter 🥲

[sparkles-rule-4eva]

Drew a simple lil comic version of a scene from @skimmingmilk 's/@skimmingthesurfaces 's fic "Where Water Wears Away the Stone" on AO3. It was just a little scene towards the beginning, but I absolutely LOVE all the scenes with Sonic and Tails communicating in sign language and learning sign language and aaaaaaAAAAAAAAAA this fic in particular stood out to me and was just so good and the amount of love I have for these brothers is so unbelievable GO READ IT OK

Go read it here go read it NOW I DEMAND IT

I'm gonna digitalize this too, hopefully soon haha

[starrycat123-blog]

Heck yeah!! I love Pantalion's works!! This one is one of my favorites too.

This is the most busted fanfic I’ve ever read in my entire life. 1 chapter.

It’s a character study on Tails and Shadow and it’s fucking incredible please take 6 minutes out of your day to read this,

it will NOT disappoint.

[sage-nebula]

Hey I was wondering if ur ever gonna update beyond oblivion :(( it's one of my fav sonic n tails fics and I need moreeee >:( (I don't wanna seem rude if u don't wanna write it that's fine ibjust wanna know cus i love that fic smmmm very yummy :))

Yes, absolutely! Chapter four is currently in progress. I've been experiencing some medical issues which make sitting at a computer for long stretches of time difficult, which is complicated by the fact that my job requires me to sit at a computer for 40 hours per week (8 hours x 5 days). So it has slowed down progress considerably. But chapter four is in progress and I already know how the fic ends in my head, so rest assured, we'll get there! Thank you so much for your interest!

[eclecticjace]

My piece for @sthbigbang! I worked with @skimmingmilk (X), @manicpanic-arts1 (X), and @verocitea (X)

so excited for everyone to read an Excellent piece of writing and see all the sick art :0

[dorliart]

Crowley sat atop the stone, staring out where the horizon met the tops of trees, and where the chalk hills rolled beyond them. An unlit cigarette rolled between his fingers, as if he couldn't decide if he wanted it or not.

When he was close enough, Aziraphale cleared his throat. "Hello," he started, throat going tight at the sound of his own voice amidst the quiet fields and trees. "It's me."

"Hi, angel. He looked back at him, noting the plate, and hesitated a moment before he tapped the spot at his right. "Sit for a minute?"

Sometimes there's moments in stories that just stick in your brain because they're so good. This was one of these moments.

From the incredibly lovely Divine Restoration and Repairs 🌿

by @sylwritesstuff and skimmingthesurface

Also I thought this would lend itself well to being a picture they hung up at some point, writing notes under it and of course, bickering.

Also hi, if you see this skim, yes I referenced your sims build as closely as I possibly could and tried to get all the details I could find. It’s very lovely.

[tornado1992]

Was rereading @skimmingmilk’s awesome picket fence saga and found this starting finders keepers

“There was the slightest of reassurances that child "protective" services wouldn't be able to track them in their systems. Since they hadn't revealed Tails's birth name as Miles Prower, they wouldn't find heads or tails of him in any database. Tails as he was today had only come into existence the day Sonic met him. They wouldn't know to look for Miles”

The understanding of the unbreakable bond community of Tails and Miles being the same kid but not being the same person will never disappoint.

We were just making content about it a few days ago, about how Tails and Miles feel different from each other, how Sonic can still see some of Miles in Tails but hopes Miles can feel as loved as Tails is; we were just talking about what Miles means for Tails, both at a physical, spiritual and emotional level.

Tails was born the day Sonic met him. He named him, he saved him, he became his family and the kit became his. It was a choice even more than it was destiny, because Sonic the Hedgehog doesn’t follow anyone or anything, not even fate, and Miles Prower didn’t even had a future, a path, or a will to seek.

The cosmic truth was something they sought. The unbreakable bond was something they decided.

Linked fates are strong but forged bonds are unbreakable.