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sonicfemslashweek · 16 days ago

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Pursuit of Resolve and Perserverance

go go rarepair yuri

does anyone like archie sonic characters like I do

@sonicfemslashweek

“Why did you initially join Eggman?”

Lanolin had let her curiosity get the best of her.

She had heard of Jian through the extended branches of the Restoration. That is, through word from the original headquarters of said organization. Apparently, she and some others had helped Sonic in Chun-nan when the world had split apart. Jian made it no secret that she joined Eggman during the war. She wasn’t the only one of course—a lot of people did.

They wanted to live after all.

Now, Lanolin finds her in the private training room in a spare Restoration housing she and Jewel were sharing with others. Jewel, as the former director, had her own space of course but she had asked that the sheep stayed close to her as well. She was confused at first but soon understood that she wanted someone she knew to be nearby.

What made Lanolin so curious about the white tiger was that she got away. Yes, Eggman lost his memories for a while and was out of commission until Starline showed up (she learned about this through Belle). But Neo Metal Sonic had readily taken the mantle quickly and the unfortunate few that weren't saved from the clutches of the madman scientist weren’t quite so lucky.

It’s interesting that Jian was one of the people who were.

However, Lanolin is not someone considered to be social. Nor smart in that area. So this leads to a peculiar situation where this sheep can say the wrong thing and need to endure the embarrassment from something she caused.

Jian looks at her, surprised at being addressed so suddenly. That immediately has Lanolin backpeddling.

“Sorry, sorry.” She hisses, flushed. “You don’t have to answer that, I just–.”

“Is it that obvious?”

The sheep’s rambling immediately halts at the sound of her voice. Lanolin looks at her and sees no judgement. Only neutrality.

“...Your tail gave it away.”

Sighing, Jian nods. “Right.” She regards the end of her tail–where metal shined and a blade was embedded, sheathed–with what Lanolin thinks is disdain.

“Again, I'm sorry.” Lanolin tries to distract herself with some barbells. She was here to in fact train. “You don't have to answer my question if you don't want to. Especially not to a stranger.”

“...Not exactly a stranger per se.”

Lanolin blinks. Then looks at Jian with confusion.

“I saw the Clean Sweepstakes. I saw you. You looked… pretty important up there.” Jian informs.

It's not easy to conceal a wince. After that whole debacle, Lanolin was hoping that if she kept her head down long enough, no one would recognize her. Less out of embarrassment, more out of shame.

Just ask Tangle and Whisper why.

“It seems you've left an impact.” Jian comments.

Lanolin scoffs. “A real bad one.”

“An impact nonetheless.” The tiger fiddles with some sports tape before strapping some on her hands to her wrists. “Maybe you could show me.”

“...Huh?”

“We both came here for a reason, no?” Jian asks, stepping over to the floor mats and gestures to join her. “Let's spar. First one to hit the floor gets her question answered.”

Well, she did have a point. It's also been a while since Lanolin actually practiced with anyone else. Of course, badniks and the like may not come close in terms of similarity but it's not as if badniks will always be what Lanolin fights.

Plus, she has Maggie for badniks. Problem solved.

“What's your question?” Lanolin asks with a raised eyebrow, joining the tiger on the mat.

“You'll find out if I win.”

Jian takes up a fighting stance. Lanolin follows not soon after.

Once they begin, it's not hard for either of them to realize who was more trained and experienced.

See, Lanolin has more or less been practicing a boxing style in fighting. It just fit her stature more than trying to practice kicks. Sure, she could potentially manage it but let her work on what she feels like she can do.

Jian, on the other hand, makes her feel like she’s fighting her mentor in karate or something. Meaning, she is absolutely kicking Lanolin’s ass right now.

She’s speedy on her feet and like Tangle, apparently, is able to make good use of her tail in combat. Thankfully, her’s isn’t large, long, and fluffy like the lemur’s. It still stings though. Whenever Lanolin thinks she has an opening, Jian just ducks, dodges, or redirects her attack with her tail.

Lanolin has already nearly fallen to the floor like five times now.

That isn’t to say she hasn’t managed to get a few licks in. (Not literally. Punches. She gets a few punches in.)

Every time she does so, Jian seems to stagger for a moment. It seems like she isn’t quite used to taking hits. Or maybe Lanolin is that strong? She’s not sure. Though, the tiger’s body build allows her to take those hits gracefully and bounce back. To be expected of someone who fought in the war.

Actually, they were pretty similar in terms of build, Lanolin notices. They both had equal bits of weight and muscle to them.

Wait, why am I deliberately noting that – ? Oh shit –

Lanolin ducks under another swinging kick. Leave those kinds of thoughts for later!

“Whatever you’re thinking—best save it for after, 兵家!”

Jian keeps the onslaught going. Dive kicks, hand jabs, even axe kicks. Damn. Just who has this girl trained with? Why did she train for this?

“Keep focus!”

She peaked her interest right from the start. Some of the tiger’s past was clear. She joined Eggman and then she left. Clearly not evil, if she and her friends were willing to help Sonic during the Dark Gaia crisis which is how Lanolin knew her name. So then why? What drove her to try and stand with the greatest and most powerful?

Just like I tried.

“Do as you’re told!”

Do as you’re told.

Do. As. You’re. Told.

A growl unconsciously rises in the sheep’s throat from those words.

Jian angles her body low enough floor and attempts to deliver a blow to the face with an upward kick.

But this time, Lanolin is ready.

She whips her head back but her body doesn’t follow the movement.

Then, she uses her foot to sidestep flick Jian’s foot she was using to keep her body balanced. Normally, this would be enough for Lanolin to receive the win and get her initial question answered.

However, Jian was no normal opponent.

Her tail moves in tandem, wrapping around her neck and uses whatever force she can to pull herself up.

In response, Lanolin does what she thinks is logical.

She grabs the feline by her tube top and brings her down with her.

THUMP!

Jian finds herself on top of Lanolin.

…

Well, isn't this quite scandalous? Though they don't seem to know it as they began to argue on who hit the floor first.

“兵家, you hit the floor first, I'm literally on top of you–.”

“Technically speaking, we're both on the floor–.”

“No, I'm on you, not the floor–!”

Click!

…THAT WAS THE DOOR. They both thought.

“Hey, Lanolin! Sorry if you’re busy, I just had some plans I wanted to go over with you real quick so–.”

Jewel finally looks up away from her papers and takes in the scene. Mhm. Yep. What a completely normal thing to find at a training area in the afternoon.

So. Jewel does what any normal person does when they walk in on two women on top of each other.

She flushes upon discovery, fumbles with the papers in her hands and stutters out, “OHMYGOSHI’MSOSORRYI’LLCOMEBACKLATERBYE!”

Lanolin immediately moves to action, shoving Jian off her—with the feline reacting with what might have been a hissy MROW —and yelling back, “WAIT WE WEREN’T–!”

SLAM!

The beetle has already fled the scene.

…Crap.

“How am I going to explain this…?” Lanolin mutters into her hands.

“By telling the truth.” Jian says, standing up. “Always the best place to start.”

“Yeah but it’s extremely embarrassing…”

“Maybe so. But admitting such will prove something.”

“...” Lanolin turns to her. “What?”

“That you want to extend that olive branch with her.” Jian says. Though, she looks confused. “That is the saying right? I’m not too familiar with most of these sayings from the mainlands.”

“Right, you’re from Chun-nan, one of the continents?”

“Mm.” Jian nods. She readjusts her gloves before turning to her. “Come find me on the roof by sunset. Preferably after your talk with the former director. I’d like to hear about it.”

She gives Lanolin a small smile before casually ushering out the door.

…Who is she?

After a semi-long conversation held with Jewel, one about the future of Emeraldville and what might have transpired back in the training room.

“Look, it's none of my business what you do in your free time–.”

“You're right but you weren't, like, intruding on anything–.”

“Okay, if that’s what you say–.”

“What do you mean by that–?!”

It was pretty humiliating. At least it made for a good story to tell?

Lanolin climbs up a ladder, making her way up the roof. In retrospect of her usual judgement, this was a bad idea. After all, going up somewhere no one can see nor anyone who knows where she is to meet someone she doesn’t know? It’s obviously a bad idea.

Unfortunately, after Mimic, Lanolin is now prone to second guessing and lacking any confidence when it comes to any decision making. It doesn’t help that a really handsome girl was asking her to do this. Ugh. She holds no resistance.

With a grunt, she finally reaches the top of the roof. Sun has set, the time Jian set.

WHOOSH!

Lanolin quickly sidesteps away from the lunge at her. She doesn’t bother trying to attack. She already knows who it is.

“Was that really necessary?”

Jian allows herself a small smirk. “I prefer to keep those in my company on their toes.”

“Yeah well, quit it. I’m on edge enough as it is.” The sheep growls under her breath.

These words wipe away the smirk on the tiger’s. “Is everything alright?”

Oh, this is a prime opportunity. And maybe Lanolin is feeling a little petty.

“Is that your question?”

The words confuse Jian at first, but it doesn’t take long for her to realize what she’d been asked. “So you’re admitting that I won our spar?”

“Is that your question?” Lanolin, honest to Gaia, smirks.

“...I’ll assume yes.” Jian huffs. She’ll allow that, seeing as how she attempted to scare her acquaintance with a little attempt at an “ambush” just moments earlier. She clears her throat. “I would like to ask it now, if you don’t mind.”

Lanolin drops the act, matching the fighter’s tone. “Shoot.”

“Why do you fight?”

…Huh?

“What do you mean?” The former leader asks. That sounds like she’s asking for everything and nothing about her.

Jian leans against a nearby slanted wall, looking towards the sun. It was beautiful and the time witnessing its descent was something beautiful and to be treasured. “I wasn’t lying when I said you left an impact at the Sweepstakes. Here’s the thing however; you were the only out of everyone of the Restoration or of Sonic’s friends that I did not recognize. That piqued my interest.”

Lanolin regards her with caution. “It did?”

“Mm. Seeing all these famous people race together—I even recognized the Guardian Angel and Tangle of Spiral Hill—and I didn’t know who you were. I thought you were a representative of the Restoration. But then I heard of this call-to-action team. And that you were leading it.”

“...What’s so special about that?”

“I had no idea who you were. It means that, should they try hard enough, anyone can stand with the greatest.”

Lanolin blinks in surprise. Surely it couldn’t be that noteworthy. She couldn’t even get the right guy in the first place.

“So let me ask you again; why do you fight?”

…

It’s a loaded question. Lanolin almost doesn’t know how to answer that. Almost.

“Peace.”

Jian hums, nodding. “A noble goal.”

“It feels like an impossible one too.” The sheep murmurs. She almost flinches then. She hadn’t meant to say that.

She can see Jian turn to her, seemingly about to ask what she means. Lanolin doesn’t want to elaborate. So…

“What do you mean by, ‘anyone could stand with the greatest’? I hardly even qualify for good. You saw the broadcast, I failed.”

Unwillingly, Lanolin feels herself coil up on the floor. The feeling of wanting to bury her face in her pulled up legs? That was great.

“...Maybe. But like I said. You left an impact.” Jian says. “Hardly anyone has seen the hero who saved Sonic during the war. Some say they’re still out there, helping. Some don’t believe they ever existed. But you? Everyone saw you. A nobody trying to help.”

“Wow. Thanks for the compliment.” Lanolin dryly deadpans.

“I’m not finished.” Jian rolls her eyes. “The reason I fight? Strength. I foolishly joined the Egg Clan in Chun-nan, hoping that if I were strong enough, I would live. Instead I paid a price I could never refund. That 坏蛋 ruined my life and I wanted so desperately to live a normal life.”

Lanolin doesn’t say anything. Something tingles in her chest. Deja vu?

“I had no one to fight for but myself. But you? You went out and did what no one else could. You tried to stand with them.”

…

Does it matter? I still failed. I ruined everything. If I had just been better…

Snap, snap!

Now, Lanolin flinches.

“Hey! I know that face you’re making, 兵家. Quit it.” Jian demands. “You may have messed up but you still tried to do good. That means something.”

The sheep scoffs, looking off to the side. “What could it possibly mean when nothing good came of me?”

“Because you tried. You made a mistake, yes, but that only means people know you’re just as much of a person as they are. Believe me, back on the continents, people aren’t that forgiving.”

Jian joins her on the floor. “You’re why I’m here on the islands actually.”

What?

Lanolin looks up, “What?”

“I first heard of you at the Clean Sweepstakes. I was curious as to who you were so I did a bit of digging.” The white tiger reveals. “Someone was putting together a team of people in response to action. I, admittedly, wanted to try to join.” The words make Lanolin wince, something that Jian catches. “Though it would appear that I was late for the auditions.”

“It’s a long story.”

“We have time. I don’t plan on returning to Chun-nan for a while.”

…

“Eggman pretty much ruined my life too.”

An ear of Jian’s flickers. It wouldn’t take a genius to figure out how so. Although there does lie the possibility of specific targeting but semantics.

“His badniks destroyed my hometown sometime after the war. And after that , it was disaster after disaster. The Metal Virus, Eggperial City, some zeti destroying my home again. It was getting too much.”

Lanolin has never really said this to anyone. Who could she share this with? Friends? She didn’t have any. Tangle and Whisper? Maybe comrades, but clearly not to a far extent.

“So, I wanted to do something about it. Hence, the team. It didn’t work out.”

“...Hm.” Jian hums. “It didn’t. But that doesn’t mean it can’t. ”

Jian holds a hand to the sheep.

“Perhaps you just… need to find the right people. I think. I’m… not sure.” Jian grunts. “But you can’t just give up. If you do, 兵家, then Eggman wins. And you can’t let him.”

Lanolin stares at the gloved paw extended to her.

…The Diamond Cutters fell apart because they weren’t united. Was that it? Partially, maybe.

She doesn’t know Jian. Not really. But… she could. Eventually. Trust is a risk. One worth taking.

Lanolin takes the hand in her own and feels herself being pulled upwards, making her stand. The weight in her chest feels less heavier than ever. She sighs. Not out of exhaustion or contempt. She breathes.

“The team is technically on hold… But I guess that doesn’t mean we can’t do some good.” Lanolin muses. “Welcome, Jian.”

Jian smiles. A true, fitting smile. “Thank you… Oh! I just realized.”

“Huh?”

“I… don’t actually know your name. I’ve just been calling you ‘soldier’.”

“...Pfft. My name is Lanolin. It’s nice to meet you, Jian.”

“Likewise.”

#Unprecedented levels of rarepair lanolin yuri this week and i am living for it #jiaolin #sonicfemslashweek25 #day 7

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