#there are things behind the scenes that've been taking up more time

[a-leg-without-fear]

I'M NOT DEAD!!!!

i have been working on my mental health/the big fic coming out at the end of the month. i PROMISE i haven't forgotten tuna tober, OR any of the other series i have on my page. to help remedy the lack of content, i've been uploading more things to my redbubble!!! feel free to give it a look if you so choose :) i love you all SO FUCKING MUCH!!! thank you for supporting my work and just generally enjoying my content.

[valeria-fortnite]

*Do you even comprehend? How long I've been alive?*

*"Love, you must understand that I will live long after you grow old,"*

Excuse me?

*Her tone is sharp and her resolve completely snaps in half.*

How DARE you. I have been surrounded by men like you my entire LIFE, I SURROUND myself with men that've lived just as long as you have if not longer! I'm well aware of what my lifespan is compared to you, to everyone I have ever grown close to! Why do you think I sought out the fucking box in the first place!?

You have lived so long you've forgotten how terrifying it is to know the people--the person you love will move on without you, maybe even long before you die when you begin to show wrinkles or aging because they--they are so beautiful and I--I--

Do you know how terrifying aging is? How horrible it is to be mortal when you love something so grand?

*They take a sharp inhale through their teeth as tears threaten to pool once again, the pain in their heart reverberating through their entire body and pulsing through the relic under their coat. Valeria tries desperately to cling back onto her common sense, her need to hide behind coy metaphors but it's too late and the tsunami begins.*

You left your loved ones behind, haven't you ever wondered if they tried to follow you? What they'd do to get there?

*His words about fighting for the island, the people on it seem completely lost on her now as she spirals. The only positive so far being that she hadn't tried to physically attack him yet.*

*Maybe she doesn't if only because he brings up Hope again, what she deserves and his attempts to keep her safe. Even she can't deny that to an extent, she knows nothing would've stopped Hope from this the moment the Oracle put it into her head but...she also knows there's more to it than that. Things that are her fault that she hadn't had the chance to own up to due to her death.*

*Things that she owned up to with pride and smugness when she did emerge rather than regret. Because she doesn't regret things...not usually.*

Hope deserves better than this island, better than what it could give her.

*By the time Jones has finished talking all the heat has left the space and Valeria is left looking...exhausted and conflicted, tears streak her face as she snaps her fingers and instantly Arnold is at her side with a small package. He hands it to Jones before returning to the SUV.*

If you truly mean what you say then consider us allies from now on. But, if Hope dies due to your fault, like the sun chases the moon to kill him for taking her light, I will chase you from every island to every reality you run to and i will fucking kill you.

*With the threat settled she plucks out a hand mirror from her pocket and a little bag of wipes, fixing her makeup with a precise hand as if she hadn't been crying. Though it's clear the action wasn't of a woman dropping her crocodile tears but rather one who simply...was so used to having to fix herself up in seconds before she was seen in disarray.*

The package is for Hope...let me know if it fits her, it's been a while since I've knitted.

*Makeup fixed and entire breakdown seemingly erased from the scene, Valeria takes a deep breath and steam pours out of the coat when she exhales.*

Thank you, Jones.

*They offer no more than a polite nod, eyes still bloodshot from crying, before getting into the SUV and pulling away with a lot to think about.*

*The SUV, heavy and armored, is very much heard before it’s seen as it follows the worn path to the Roost. Though it does make a shortcut or two through thick bramble and bush as Valeria glares down at her unfinished reply to Jones on her phone, ultimately leaving it in her drafts when the old building comes to view. Her mood couldn't be worse at the sight of it.* *Two grunts slip out of their seats in the back and one rushes to open her door, to which she kicks it open the rest of the way as she swings her feet off of their resting spot on the dashboard. The other works on unclipping the back seats as she steps out, heavy black boots replacing her usual heels but her otherwise usual Stygian-styled attire. Maybe an extra accent or two of gold but who's counting?*

Okay, Arnold stay here. You two can enter the building only when it's time to grab my things, keep an eye out. *Then, with a polite smile, she finally makes her way up the steps after only a heartbeat of hesitation. Their eyes dart wildly from window to window, as if worried about catching sight of someone. Nonsense! Valeria presses the bell and waits as patiently as she can, even if she's already tapping her foot.*

He better not just leave me out here to wait, I swear-- - @valeria-fortnite

*the door slides open smoothly. Jones clearly hasn't slept in a few weeks, but his voice is still clear*

.. And stop asking me how they do the color thing, Wade, I can't *see* the "dialogue."

*turns to Valeria*

Ah, you're here faster than expected! Still, it's a good thing I was keeping an eye out.

*pulls out a clipboard*

Here's the things we recovered from the Reckless base. The furniture is still being packed up, and I haven't launched the investigation on your research, but if you'd please, I can get you to where the rest of your effects are.

*sighs*

Please ignore the Deadpool snapshot, he insisted on helping to "Get some work done on his arms." You're cleared to burn said arms off if he tries anything.

*pulls a lanyard out of one of his pouches*

Also, you'll need this. Do note that if you're found in any restricted areas, you will be ICED and escorted back to your vehicle. Niceties aside, we do have security measures to upkeep.

[primal-con]

@fanficmaniatic Literally exactly, I can't stop thinking about this?? And like there'd be so much narrative potential if the writers didn't keep fuckin demoting/sidelining Jazz at best or outright ignoring him!

Cause here's the thing, no Decepticon is more terrified of anyone than they are of Jazz, not even Optimus in some cases and the same can be said for Soundwave. There's borderline horror stories passed around about both of them. And we see that multiple times throughout several continuities! There's literally a scene in Cyberverse where all the Decepticons get taken down and Optimus is more afraid that someone managed to disable Soundwave than anyone else, including Megatron. And every Decepticon knows if Jazz is there to kill you you'll never even see him coming, his reputation is unparalleled.

And they both do the same things, like they work in the same field and are known for their intel, obviously they know about each other's work so there's gotta be some level of mutual professional respect there. Like they both recognize the other as their only equal essentially because there's no one else on either side who's skill in lurking behind the scenes can really compare.

Hell, Soundwave has that whole rivalry thing with Soundblaster and even then he doesn't recognize Blaster as his equal, he explicitly thinks of himself as the better of the two.

So basically they do the same thing in different ways and they're the only ones that can match the other's skill at it.

Then on a more personal level, they also parallel each other because like I said, they're basically the same person in different directions? Because Soundwave is shown to be the most loyal, by-the-books Decepticon who'd do anything for the cause, but he's also incredibly loyal in a more personal respect too. He either couldn't care less about you or he'd die for you, as we've seen with his cassettes. There's literally no one else he cares about more than them and he's hellbent on protecting them. He's ruthless but he's also endlessly compassionate towards those that've endeared themselves to him.

As opposed to Jazz who's explicitly a terrible Autobot. Like he's the second in command and instrumental to the cause but he breaks the rules all the time, it's basically his job. Whereas Soundwave prays on people's fear of him to gain intel, Jazz prays on people's trust towards him. He puts up this pleasant facade that people can relax around but he's secretly incredibly capable and generally very dark. He's willing to break his own rules and sacrifice his own morals to get the job done. He's kind to people but it's more of a mask than anything else, his actions in the field reflect his own deadly tendencies much more starkly.

So you've got these two people nearly matched in rank and skill who take on opposite personas for the same goal. Both are incredibly fierce and deadly and highly feared but they're also intelligent, compassionate, and willing to do whatever it takes to stand up for what they believe in. One's viewed as ruthless and has to hide his kindness and one's viewed as kind and has to hide his ruthlessness. And what you get is these two characters that probably understand each other better than anyone else but who never really get access to that understanding because they're on opposite sides of this war.

A musical warframe made to hate his own music because of the way it's been weaponized and twisted into something violent by war and a civilian who learned to love music as an escape from the violent and war torn person he's become. The same person in opposite directions. It is literally driving me crazy.

Ugh, thinkin about… Jazz and Soundwave narrative parallels. The most loyal and compassionate Decepticon vs the most ruthless and morally grey Autobot, among the most respected and feared of their respective factions. Opposing musical motifs and mastermind spy vs hands on spy and the way they’re practically like… the same person but in opposite directions?? Idk I’m having feelings, I feel like I could write a whole essay on these two skfjs