#We can do this together/Bet you feel better when you’re dancing

[reflections-of-mobius]

The floating city of Rooftop Run- it wasn't exactly the best named city out there, but it was close to the heart of New Sapotonia. The city soared just-barely below the clouds, stars visible ever-so-faintly in the sky, even on the brightest of summer days. And what a summer day it was- with streets bustling with tourists and residents, shop owners grinning as they sold their wares. The clatter of many footsteps on the metal ground resounded, quiet beneath the murmur of the people it carried.

Amongst this chaos, on one of the quieter streets in the city, two mobians walked side-by-side. One tail was rapidly waving from side to side, nearly fast enough to blur- the other still, twitching only occasionally as its owner kept their head lowered.

"I saw a restaurant based on Kurina a few blocks back, y'wanna eat there?" Bless offered quietly. His ear flicked, a soft smile on his face as he squeezed his partner's hand. The sun was bright, today- and sunglasses in the city were a must, lest one suffer from the magnified sunlight. "It didn't seem all that crowded." The hedgehog hummed. He kept himself close to his partner, nearly like a shield from the hustle and bustle.

Sweat beaded along both brows, Bless' favorite gear- the Blue Star- waving back and forth with each step as he walked.

"....sure." Node's own response was quiet- their voice barely above a whisper. Bless pulled Node a little closer, ready to whisk the mobian away from the crowd- when he stopped. Node stopped as well- as did several other mobians throughout the street. The air crackled and vibrated, practically glowing green as many took steps back- while Bless and Node took a step forward.

However, the two battle-ready mobians were not met with a threat- no, as the green coalesced into a crack in the air, it spat out two rather small mobians- the shock in the air practically palpable as the crowd stared.

"Talk about making an entrance!" Bless chuckled. The crowd's energy- previously one ready to form a mob, or perhaps flee in terror, relaxed. "You kids okay?" He took a step forward, a helping hand offered. Out of everything in his life... Kids falling out of a green crack in the sky (one that burned with Chaos Energy) somehow... Felt relatively normal to the hero.

[@bundlesofchaos | Chatted for a starter!]

[galaxies-unknown]

[ @familylightfox​ || Asked...]

🎁🎁 cuz Harmony and Volt wants to know what to get Bless and Node.

[Send 🎁 for my muse to reveal something they’d like for Christmas.]

“I’ve been running low on incense lately, and it’d be nice to have a hanging board I could put my wood-carving tools on when I’m not using them...” The hedgehog hummed. “...and I know it’s kind of expensive, but...a flower in glass would be cool. I’m a bit worried it might break though, considering how I seem to get into misadventures every other year or so.” He chuckled, scratching the side of his head and not quite making eye contact, emerald hues glancing to the wall instead.

“Lemme check my list...” Node pulled out their phone, trying to avoid eye contact. They did this every year- started their list in September, because they knew if they were asked in December, they’d forget anything they wanted. This... Skipped the embarrassment for them. “...an art desk, but that’s heavily expensive so no. More mechanical pencils, anything moon/nighttime related...ah--” They paused, looking up from the list. “...I probably have too many already, but another necklace’d be nice?”

“No such thing! Just like how there’s no such thing as too many chilidogs~.” The hedgehog’s words were met with a groan, and he grinned back at his partner. “--but anyway. Guess that’s a few things we’d want for Christmas!”

[cinna-wanroll]

Kenobi Script

Heavy panting and clanking of soldier’s footsteps.

J-Cut:

Camera on white armor-clad feet, running.

 Scale up on bodies with blasters against a tan backdrop.

A voice accompanies the scene as we continue to pan through a series of shots of the soldiers running through indistinguishable sand buildings.

A few splashes of color pop from signs and banisters, resembling a street chase.

Voice (V.O.)

Hiding. That is what my days are like. Alone, perhaps to die, although I hope not. I can’t. The galaxy rests on my shoulders now, even though I’m not certain it always hasn’t. I meditate just to find myself broken inside, shards of memories finding their way to the surface, and my mind strays to fix the past- although my body has long since left the scene of who I once was. Now, I no longer reside on the front lines. No, I am refined to watch as the glorious Republic that used to be deteriorates around me. All that’s left of who I am- or who I was- are the sparks I can feel across the galaxy, dimming out quickly. And I can still feel their pain, too.

A brief pause as some action occurs on screen. Pan up to reveal dead end and a cloaked figure, chased by Stormtroopers. 

We see the figure draw a GREEN LIGHTSABER, ready to defend themselves.

Their face is in a fierce snarl, all calculated focus. And for a minute, the Stormtroopers hesitate.

Suddenly, the JEDI is lifted off the ground, choking. 

Pan down to ground as a dark silhouette approaches, and a RED GLOW ignites, a hum the only noise we hear.

J-Cut:

To black.

Voice (V.O.)

But however misshapen I may be, however hidden away I am, I cannot reverse my instincts- my purpose. I can hear it whispered to me through the Force, a tug in my spirit. Warrior. Fighter. And even though I go by a different name, it still finds ways to remind me of who I was- who I still wish to be.

Smash Cut:

On intense grey-blue eyes, opening as the camera focuses.

Voice (V.O.)

And it tells me I am still Obi-Wan Kenobi.

A beat begins to crescendo in the background as we cut away

EXT. TATOOINE- SUNSET

Soft hues melt into the horizon as Tatooine’s suns finish setting. We can see the shadow of a figure riding a measly mount in the distance, sand softly moving across the dunes.

Cut to a closer up of Obi-Wan, holding a pair of ELECTROBINOCULARS up.

We see into the green-tinted view, revealing THE LARS HOMESTEAD. We can see a soft light emanating from entryway, but nothing else. 

Cut back on Obi-Wan, taking the Electrobinoculars away from his face and looking thoughtful and frustrated.

Obi-Wan 

Well, Rooh, this whole surveillance business would be a lot easier if I could see anything.

He pats the eopie’s side gently.

Obi-Wan

(Sighs) I’ll just remember to get here earlier next time, then. 

He closes his eyes briefly and we see the wind blowing his hair gently, the breeze picking up around him. Soft drums in the background.

Obi-Wan

(Opening his eyes) I sense nothing of danger here. Some sand people to the north, maybe. But they’re not likely to come anywhere around here, at least not after last time. 

He leads the eopie away from the homestead and pulls his cloak tighter around himself.

Comp. as night begins to fall upon the desert, Obi-Wan riding silently across the dunes. 

Creature noises echo across the empty desert, and we see how truly alone Obi-Wan is out here.

Focus on Obi-Wan’s lightsaber as it clinks against his hip, silver and heavy.

Obi-Wan stops Rooh abruptly, pulling back on the reins, suddenly alert.

Obi-Wan (Whispered)

Easy girl, shh. 

He squints at the distance, hand shifted to his belt where his lightsaber rests. A small shadow approaches over the dune and out of the darkness, silently.

Obi-Wan remains quiet and calculated, trying to gauge if whatever it is is a threat.

 An ominous beat strikes up in the background.

We see a young Luke Skywalker, no older than six, approaching.

Zoom as Obi-Wan’s eyes widen in surprise.

Obi-Wan (Startled)

Luke!

The young boy gazes up at the older man, shuffling nervously with wide blue eyes.

He’s wearing simple, layered clothing and goggles that sit awkwardly upon his blond, ruffled hair. He has on a small orange and blue poncho, knitted and a bit large.

Luke

Do I know you?

Obi-Wan

Well no, not really. But I do know your parents. What in the blazes are you doing all the way out here?

Luke (suspicious)

Why do you wanna know? 

Obi-Wan

Because you’re a young boy out in the desert alone, at night!

Luke

Why are you out here alone at night?

Obi-Wan’s gaze hardens sternly at the boy. He’s not playing games.

Luke (crossing his arms, indignant)

Well, they’re not my parents, they’re my aunt and uncle, and I’m not alone.

Obi-Wan raises an eyebrow and tries to squint into the distance.

Obi-Wan

Who are you with, then?

Luke

Well… I was with my droid, but then I got lost and- well, I guess now I am alone.

His shoulders slump and his hands fall to his side as he yawns.

Obi-Wan looks at him with worried sympathy, his own face tired.

Obi-Wan (hastily)

Well, we best get back to your home then, your aunt and uncle must be worried sick.

He leans down to help Luke up, but Luke pulls away, pleading.

Luke

Wait, we have to go back for E6-97!

Obi-Wan (confused)

E6-9…

He realizes what Luke means, and we can tell he’s reminded of Anakin here. His gaze turns sad and dark. Of course, his expression seems to say, always with the droids.

Obi-Wan

No, no, there isn’t any time. It’s much more important that you get home now, and then perhaps you can look for your droid in the morning.

Luke takes another step back, stubborn.

Luke

I can’t! E6 is my best friend! I don’t wanna leave him out here to be destroyed in the sand, or scavenged by the Jawas!

Luke bites his lip worriedly. Obi-Wan can see that there’s no changing the boy’s mind, but he tries again with more force.

Obi-Wan

Luke, no droid is as important as a person. And right now, we need to get you back home. Like you said, it’s dangerous out here and-

He’s cut off by Luke, tears welling in his eyes.

Luke

How could you say that? E6 is just as much a person as anyone else! I won him myself, at Bestine in a dice match! I’ve had him forever now, and I can’t afford to lose him. He helps me and Uncle Owen run the farm, he tells us the weather and everything! Please, please, please, you’ve got to help me. If I lose him, I don’t think my uncle’ll buy me a new one.

Obi-Wan sighs, looking away.

Obi-Wan (softly to himself, cracking a smile)

I’ll bet that droid has a lot to report on the weather here.

Luke (crossing his arms again)

He does. He tells us when a sandstorm is coming. And if you don’t help me, then I’ll run away. 

Obi-Wan frowns and turns back to Luke, finally nodding.

Obi-Wan

Alright, since the last thing I want is to be on a wild goose chase while you run yourself into Sarlacc pits. But only on one condition.

Luke (hopeful)

What?

Obi-Wan

You can never, under any circumstances, come out here again without supervision, understand?

Luke nods vigorously, excited.

Luke

Okay!

Obi-Wan

Very well.

He hoists Luke up onto Rooh, who grunts under the added weight. He grabs hold of the reins and makes sure Luke is secure in front of him.

Obi-Wan

Now, which way did you go?

EXT. DESERT- NIGHT

Focus on Obi-Wan and Luke, riding together in silence as Obi-Wan picks up his Electrobinoculars every now and again, searching for Luke’s droid.

Obi-Wan (putting down his binoculars)

Why were you out here in the first place, young one?

Luke (sighing)

I got mad at my Uncle, so I said I was going to run away. He said fine, and that I should take my useless droid with me. That I should leave just like my father before he died.

Focus on Obi-Wan’s pained expression here.

Luke (cont’d)

 So I started to, but then my Aunt Beru told me that my Uncle was just being ridiculous, and that he would never want me to leave. So I decided not to go, after all. But then when everyone was about to go to sleep, I decided I would get out and explore a little. And maybe if I found some place better, I would stay there.

A brief pause as Obi-Wan furrows his brow, concerned.

Obi-Wan

Does your uncle not treat you well?

Another brief pause.

Luke (thoughtfully)

No, he does. Treat me well, I mean. My Aunt says that he really just wants to protect me. But he just doesn’t understand that I want some excitement every once in a while, ya know?

Obi-Wan gazes thoughtfully up at the stars, pan out for full sky view. Thousands of twinkling lights are scattered about in the dark, vast emptiness.

He knows, perhaps better than anyone what that feels like. But he also knows the consequences better than anyone, too.

Obi-Wan

Maybe your uncle has a point.

Luke (surprised)

What? 

Obi-Wan

Someone I cared about once craved the same thing you do. Change, excitement.

He says the words as dryly as he can, trying to convince Luke that he believes what he’s talking about, that he is immune to the pull of adventure. His tone is sad, remorseful as he pulls his gaze back down and nudges Rooh forwards again. 

Obi-Wan (Cont’d)

So he kept craving more and more. He danced with danger.

A fire ignites in Obi-Wan’s sad eyes, memories you could almost touch.

Obi-Wan (saddening)

But then, it was easy for him to believe in the next adventure, and he forgot all about the real reason he was there in the first place. 

Luke looks back at Obi-Wan, curious.

Luke

Why?

Obi-Wan

Because he was different than most people. He needed to be somewhere with people who understood him. But the more time he spent venturing further, the more people he found. And some convinced him that he wasn’t where he needed to be, even though he was. He left his place.

Luke

What happened to him then?

Obi-Wan (softly)

I had to leave him, too.

Luke (disappointed)

Oh, that’s sad.

 Obi-Wan nods and lifts his Electrobinoculars up again, hiding his expression.

Obi-Wan

A little adventure goes along way, Luke. But if your spirit leads you somewhere, follow it. Just remember who you are and try not to stray off your path.

Luke nods, serious.

Obi-Wan looks back and smiles weakly.

Obi-Wan

I think I’ve found your droid.

Luke (perking up)

Really? Wizard! Lemme see!

Obi-Wan hands Luke the Electrobinoculars and guides his direction, until we transition into Luke’s POV.

Back in the green-tinted view we see a SMALL, SEMI-CIRCLE DROID whirring across the top of a nearby ridge.

Focus back on Luke, grinning from ear to ear.

Obi-Wan

Is that it?

Luke nods and turns around to face Obi-Wan and hand him back the binoculars.

Luke

What are we waiting for?

Obi-Wan can’t help but return the boy’s smile.

Obi-Wan

Nothing, I suppose.

Beat picks up

Pan out back view of eopie and riders, until we see the large expanse that lays before them.

EXT. DESERT- NIGHT

Obi-Wan and Luke approach the ledge that we previously viewed, the wind speeding up and the outcropping jagged and rocky, rough terrain. Luke has donned his goggles an Obi-Wan has lifted a hand up, shielding his eyes.

Obi-Wan

We’re almost there. Can you see anything?

Luke

Not yet. (Pausing) I wanna go home.

Obi-Wan’s facial expression is the definition of an inaudible groan.

Obi-Wan

We shouldn’t turn back now.

Luke

I know, I just wish I hadn’t left.

Luke wraps his arms around himself, shivering in the cold.

Obi-Wan takes off his cloak and wraps it around the young child, bringing Rooh to a halt. 

Obi-Wan

I’m going to check the motion scanner on here, give me a moment while-

He’s interrupted by the distinct sound of a TUSKEN RAIDER CALL, extremely close. His face falls.

Luke whimpers.

Obi-Wan (seriously)

Stay here.

Luke tries to protest, but stops as Obi-Wan begins walking away.

Invisible cut through sand:

Obi-Wan comes up on a patrol of three TUSKEN RAIDERS with their bantha mounts, prodding at E6-97, which moves uselessly in circles around them. They turn to see them, raising their weapons angrily and calling out.

Obi-Wan (calmly)

Hello there, friends.

The Tuskens don’t pick up on his friendly demeanor, instead focusing on his lightsaber. They howl in fear and rage and hold their GADERFFII in defensive positions. Obi-Wan winces.

Obi-Wan

Listen, that droid there-

He points to E6, which stops abruptly.

E6-97

Yes?

Obi-Wan

It’s mine. And I require it. It’s of great importance to me. I would be happy if you could let me take it and leave, and I’ll promise not to come near your territory again.

E6-97

I’m flattered, but I’m afraid I belong to Luke Skywalker, who won me fair and square at a dice match on the-

Obi-Wan

 Do hush.

E6-97 shuts up, and we wait for the Tuskens’ response. 

One of the Tuskens lashes out at Obi-Wan, leaping with their Gaderffii and almost striking Obi-Wan, who dodges swiftly but does not ignite his lightsaber. Instead, he grabs hold of the Tusken’s Gaderffii and uses it to knock them off of their feet. 

SLO-MO.

His gaze is intense as the wind slows around the scene, stars decorating the background and the distant sounds of animal life echo around the cavern. We hear the breaths of the Tuskens and Obi-Wan, almost unified in a way. A haunting beat plays as we get a taste of the force, the energies from both sides intense. 

Obi-Wan (still calm, pleading) NORMAL SPEED

I do not wish to hurt you!

Back to SLO-MO

TOGETHER. The Tuskens move as one towards Obi-Wan, bringing their Gaderffii above their heads and howling.

Obi-Wan closes his eyes and reaches out towards the two with one hand, stopping them mid-air. The hang there as he repeats himself again, the sound echoing across the expanse of the desert and reverberating around. The banthas groan in fear and buck.

The music swells.

Obi-Wan

I do not wish to hurt you! Lay down your weapons and seek peace. I’m only here for the droid.

He sets them down gently, and no sound is heard. 

NORMAL SPEED.

The Tuskens are shocked, shaken to the core.

It’s quiet as they put down their Gaderffii and mount their still alarmed banthas, riding away into the distance. 

Obi-Wan breathes a sigh of relief.

E6-97

Thank you, sir. Whoever they were, they were quite rude. However I’m afraid I cannot go with you. 

Obi-Wan looks at the droid flatly and says nothing as he hoists it up into his arms and carries it away.

E6-97

Or I can, but I would prefer not to. I must warn you I’m a rather old model so be careful please. You might not get as much use out of me as you think.

Obi-Wan

I’ve no use for a droid. I’m bringing you back to your owner.

E6-97

Oh really? Thank you! Of course, no one of mature age really needs a droid if it’s not in their line of work. Often times companion droids like myself aren’t needed because you have people you can hang out with. I was programmed to play with children, mostly. But I can do some organizational things and give relevant reports, so-

E6 pauses. Obi-Wan looks forward in focus, fighting against the wind.

E6-97

Oh, sorry. I didn’t realize I’d lost your interest.

Obi-Wan (chuckling)

Well, that would be the first time a droid has ever said that to me.

E6-97

I am programmed to pick up human emotions through my receptors and sensors. I could also tell that you’re upset, but I didn’t want to say anything.

Obi-Wan

I’m not upset.

E6-97

Okay.

A beat.

Okay so this is a first draft cuz I had no time to edit but I hope you guys enjoy!

[idealisticrealism]

Blindspot 3x01 recap

Okay so honestly, until the episode actually aired I wasn’t sure this recap would happen. This hiatus has been all too easy for me, because the finale-- or, specifically, the time jump paired with the realisation that Weller really was going to have a kid-- really made me question whether this was still the show I fell in love with, and if I really wanted to dedicate any more of my time to it. Plus, since I avoid spoilers, there were some serious concerns-- for example, whether Weller even knew why Jane left-- that I had, that I didn’t have the answers to yet.

Which meant that basically I went into this episode not really expecting to feel particularly positive about it. But instead-- like with the second half of S2 after that rather unpleasant start-- damn Gero managed to pull me back in, as he somehow always does.  

So here goes. Recap time. But fair warning: this review is about my personal feelings towards the show, and therefore you may not agree with what you read. Feel free to come and talk to me about it anyway.

Honestly I (like everyone else) knew a wedding was coming, but unlike everyone else I wasn’t all that interested to see it. I mean, I’m happy for them and all, but I’m more interested in seeing the being-married part than the actual getting married. But then the flowers, and the music, and the family looking so beautiful, and Patterson OFFICIATING, and Hirst and Stuart being there (side note: I am only now recognising Stuart as an actor from Gero’s old show the LA Complex, along with about six other actors who have been on this show over the years lol). But anyway, considering my biggest problem with S2 was the baby fiasco, I was expecting to feel the same nausea when seeing the baby onscreen as when I thought of it at any other time (it’s literally one of my least fave tropes, guys, so I’m sorry but I will always hate the existence of the baby), but it was fairly easy to just ignore it. I was bummed not to see Sarah or Sawyer, who would literally have never missed this wedding and tbh would have been a waaaaaaaay better inclusion in S2 and 3 than the unwanted offspring, but whatever. #Foreverbitter

That said, seeing the team laughing and dancing and having an amazing time was just the best. And of course the Jeller lovey-doveyness was so great, and maaaann I really wish we could have heard those speeches. Reade and Tasha dancing was a little bit borderline for me-- they’re so cute and I love them as best friends but PLEASE GERO JUST LET THEM BE BEST FRIENDS. DON’T PUT THEM TOGETHER. PLEASE DON’T.

Ngl I don't at all like that Jeller moved to Colorado. Big nope for me, though I understand why it happened, and god I did love the scene with the fam helping them pack and then tough-as-nails Tasha crying??? Let me die. But I also identify with her the most rn, bc she GETS it. With Jeller gone, their family will never be the same. The roadtrip montage was cute, and the carrying over the threshold???? Ughhhhh save me. I love that they took on the project of the house, the two of them making the perfect team (was there a baby in this montage? Nope, not that I saw. No babies here. Maybe just Allie’s new puppy that they look after from time to time. Yeah, let’s go with that. Bethany is a puppy they babysit and no one can force me to view it as anything else).

So as much as I’m enjoying this montage of domestic bliss, I’m kinda ready for it to end because GUYS PLEASE I’M TOO USED TO ANGST AND SLOW BURN, YOU CAN’T OVERLOAD ME WITH FLUFF LIKE THIS.  And then phew it ends, leaving us in the new Jeller residence with Weller just returning from napping in the laundry beside Bethany’s basket because she still howls when she’s left alone and so he had to pet her until she fell asleep. Awwwww, so nice of these two to look after Allie’s puppy while she works nightshift. I love that Jane cooked dinner-- I bet Weller’s been teaching her and lots of sweet and sexy kitchen times have ensued. Jane gushes about the puppy’s cuteness and Weller suggests maybe they should get one of their own. Good thing they’re talking about a puppy and not a child because wow “one of our own” sure had a very exclusionary implication, like Jane was not at all connected to any other puppies/babies that might exist. But anyway I gotta move on before the world I’ve carefully constructed in this Matrix starts glitching. Saved by the bell, or rather the phone-- it’s Keaton with a warning that their lives are in danger, and here’s yet another topic that threatens to glitch my reality. Keaton tortured Jane for THREE MONTHS. Brutally and without true remorse. He should be persona non grata with literally everyone (the team and the fans alike), but instead the writers have turned him into the team’s new buddy. This is the biggest issue I’ve had with the show, I think-- not Keaton specifically, but what he represents. Because honestly when I think about certain plot points in theory, I feel very strongly and very negatively about them; but when the show goes “no it’s fine everything’s actually great” it somehow sucks me in and I just go ‘oh okay cool everything is great, that’s good then’’, and I just?? For example, I really enjoyed watching Keaton in the finale, and then I thought about it after the episode ad was like ‘wait no I hate him, how did I forget I hate him?’ Like I stg Gero is a wizard, and like anything truly magic related, that’s both a good and a bad thing. But anyway rn I’m appreciative of Keaton because he just helped save Jane and Weller’s lives. So I guess he gets points for that, though technically Jane has saved his life a couple of times already now. Jeller proceed to beat the crap out of their attackers, and aaahhhh, isn’t this so much more THEM than painting walls and picking out cushions? Their Colorado life was a nice little holiday but it wasn’t them.  Naturally the gunshots wake little puppy Bethany who is now barking in distress, but they check on her and she’s fine. Keaton rocks up to explain that some Sandstorm member has put out a hit on Jane for $10M, and now no one can stop a shit-ton of mercenaries from coming after Jane. Keaton and Jane are in agreement about putting Jane into a version of WitSec-- hopefully with much more comfortable lodgings than the last time she was put up by the CIA. (#Yesstillbitter).  Weller tries to reject the idea, then decides he’s coming too, bc “You’re my wife” ughhhhhh, but Jane can’t let him walk away from the rest of his life. She knows what that’s like, after all, though lbr giving up her life as Remi was the best thing she ever did. Unfortunately for Weller, he has a very hardheaded wife and he sleeps very heavily when he’s cuddling a fluffy puppy, so Jane bails in the middle of the night, and nope nope nope  I never needed to see her crying as she pulled off her wedding ring, thanks Satan (I mean Gero). But lbr, Weller is Jane’s everything, and she would do anything-- including break her own heart-- to keep him safe. Oh, Jane, you noble idiot.  At least this whole scene has allayed one of my concerns going into this season-- Weller definitely knows why Jane had to go, so he knows it was done out of love, and not for the lack of it.  I still think she could have kept the ring, but I suppose by leaving it she was telling him that she was okay, that she was leaving of her own accord and hadn’t been kidnapped or murdered or anything.

Have I mentioned lately how much I really hate time-jumps??? After the finale, I desperately hoped that they had been married the majority of that two year gap and that their separation was only like three or so months. I even mostly-completed a oneshot postfinale fic along those lines, but then we found out about the 18 month thing and I was like “well screw you too, show” (#yepdefinitelybitter) and abandoned the story entirely. Plus, it’s been otherwise proved non-canon now, so that was rather a waste of time. But anyway, it’s now 18 months after Jane disappeared (undoubtedly aided by Keaton) and you just know the whole family will have been scattered to the winds. Another reason to hate time jumps. Speaking of the team, Hirst shows up at Weller’s apartment-- which he somehow still has; renting it out, I guess?? But damn he’s clearly richer than I thought he was. He’s about to sell it though bc he’s spending all his time and money searching for Jane, just as he has for the last 18 months. And on one hand, I can totally be like “awww he loves her so much” but on the other hand I want to be like “wtf you sadistic writers, you’re literally going to rip apart a couple who loves each other for A YEAR AND A HALF, which is a FREAKING LONG TIME (seriously where were you 1.5yrs ago? Think about that and how much of forever ago it was) and then also literally have the love of Weller’s life disappear into thin air, when he had already spent 25 years of his life searching for the last person he loved who disappeared, and OH YEAH, WHO TURNED OUT TO HAVE BEEN DEAD THE WHOLE TIME???” Legit, if you actually take two seconds to think about it, this entire plotline is freaking awful and upsetting and yet the show will literally brush it off like it’s nothing, or merely a tiny insignificant blip in their lives. Just watch. And so again, this is one of those moments where Gero bedazzles us into not being upset by things which very much should upset us. But ANYWAY, Hirst is there because the team has been kidnapped, and I use the word ‘team’ lightly here, because they literally haven't seen each other in like a year because everything fell apart after Jeller abandoned them to go puppysit in Colorado. Anyhow, a mysterious box with Jane’s name on it (or her maiden name at least, no one can convince me that the woman for whom Weller is her home wouldn’t have taken his name and the belonging that went with it) was left in Reade’s apartment, likely because he’s the only one left in NYC because all the others bailed. Seriously I feel like this team’s breaking apart has given ME abandonment issues, so I have no idea how they’re all managing. But anyway the other nifty thing about the box is that it has coordinates on it, very possibly leading to Jane’s location. Congrats, Weller, looks like you don’t have to sell your apartment after all. And you totally have all the info you need to go find Jane, plus an excellent excuse, given that only she can open the box and help them save their friends (who they completely ditched two years ago). Fun times.

Jump to Nepal, and the scene from the finale. Now we know for sure that the hug was because Jane had never wanted to leave him, which is nice. Also that whoever left the box (lbr we all already know it’s Roman) literally made it so the two of them HAD to solve this together. Looks like someone ships his his sister and brother in law lol…  Aaaand okay now Jane is glowing. She admits that it must have happened when she was in an accident some months ago that had her in and out of consciousness for days, and wow how must that feel for Weller? Hearing that she literally almost died months ago and he would never have known about it? Dammit Jane, I know you suffered without him too and that you were doing it for ‘good’ reasons, but I still think you were wrong to do it. If anyone has a time machine up their sleeve, please donate it to these guys so they can go back and make better choices.

But all realistic feelings aside, the pair are straight back into tattoo solving mode (admit it guys, you’ve missed this) and quickly figure out that the first clue is a reference to the place that Weller proposed to Jane-- St Mark’s Square in Venice. Which on one hand is ugh so sweet and romantic but on the other is… kinda unoriginal? Lol. But regardless I need to hear more about his proposal. How long were they in Venice? How long had they been together? Did he intend to propose the whole time or did it just happen? Why did they holiday in Venice as opposed to other locations? Tell me EVERYTHING, GERO. But anyway Jane’s like ‘It’s happening all over again’ and it’s easy to assume she’s unhappy about that, but then again, maybe she’s actually not? Technically working with the team on the tattoos was the best time of her life (with some exceptions here and there). Weller offers for her to stay out of it if she wants to-- which is big of you, Weller, it really is. I mean we all know you're desperately hoping she comes with you, but then again you want her to be safe, so… this must be conflicting lol. But of course Jane is down to rescue their best friends (again, friends that they abandoned #irrationallybitter), and lbr is probably super sick of climbing that damn cliff, PLUS can’t face leaving her hubby a second time, so together they set off to Venice. Yay!

Weller has taken some full-body shots of the new tatts (I feel like that had to be slightly awkward for both of them) and sends them through to the lab, where they are received by Stuart (onya for moving up in the world, buddy), Hirst, and… RICH DOT FREAKIN COM. I mean, we’ve all known for a while that he was returning, and suspected long before that, but honestly this is the moment that makes the episode for me. My fave is back and is making jokes about nudes, and all is right with the world.  Jane is like ‘wtf’, and so Weller gives her a rundown on all she missed-- namely, that her entire ‘family’ has become estranged-- Reade is working in a position that tbh feels above his ability and experience level, give that his predecessors are the superhuman Mayfair and the wonderboy Weller; Tasha the CIA-hater is now working for the man who tortured Jane; Patterson has literally moved as far across the country as she can, to do work as far from their FBI work as possible. See what happens when parents abandon their children, Jane?? Everything falls apart, so you better go fix it. Also, two things: first, I wanna know all about Rich’s dealings with the FBI in the last two years. Give me a spin off just about that, please. Secondly, did Rich and Patterson try to find Jane after she disappeared and how did they feel about their (apparent) lack of success?  But anyway ugh literally every line of Rich’s is pure gold. I love that he’s staying in the same safe-house she did?? Keeping it in the family lol.  And then ugh for all his jokes about the nudes etc, you can tell he’s legitimately concerned that they’re about to walk into a trap. Oh my baby loves and misses his friends and wants them back in one piece and I juST LOVE HIM SO MUCH

Meanwhile, in the fun bunker, Reade and Zapata wake up after being drugged, and while he’s all business, she’s like “it’s good to see you, even if it takes being kidnapped for it to happen” and we discover that they haven't spoken at all in the year since Zapata went to the CIA. Dammit Jeller, see what you did??? Everything is broken!!!  And now a long-haired Patterson is herded into their cell, and is understandably all ‘wtf’ about it. Well, at least they’re all in the same room again, right?

Seeing Jeller in Venice is weird. I walked right there in the spot where they're walking, many times. I saw everything they’re seeing now. And ugh Jane says it seems like forever ago that they were last here, whereas for Weller it feels like it just happened. Which subtly demonstrates how they’re no longer in sync, and then ugh Weller tells her that this was the first place he came to after she disappeared, going straight to the place that only they knew about, hoping that she was waiting for him. But she wasn’t, and ugh you can tell how much that hurt him, realising that she was never going to come. How long did he wait for her before he realised that?? Ugh. But I appreciate that she immediately stops to apologise and try to explain herself, including making it clear that her love for him was the driving factor behind everything she did. The choice of language by the writers is clever, though, because we (and Weller) hear her say ‘loved’ and neither of us know for sure if that love is still present tense or not. Which of course it is, but still, the suspense… But ugh poor Weller. He’s still so hurt. Jane can you just give him another hug please? For longer this time? Like, say, forever?  

Also sidebar: I’m holidaying in Vanuatu atm, and there’s an old guy swimming in the pool that I’m sitting beside, and he looked up at me as I was writing that last sentence and at first I thought maybe it’s because he’s a man and I’m female in a bikini, but then he goes (in a cute, accented voice) “Don’t work so hard. You’re on holiday! You should be relaxing!” hahaha. Don’t worry, buddy, I’ve been lazing by this pool for hours now, and I’m currently writing about some of my favourite fake humans. I’m all good.

Meanwhile back in the Blindspot world, Jeller find a case on the roof that has her tattoo on the side, and while Weller is all ‘wait for the bombsquad!!’ Jane ignores him and immediately opens it. Ah, Weller, did you miss this? I mean it’s just like old times.  Inside the case there’s a phone, and Jane calls the number, and Roman answers almost too eagerly. He’s clearly pleased to be interacting with them both, and proud of himself for his genius plan for ‘tormenting’ them (while also bringing them back together, freeing Jane from the hit on her, and giving him an excuse to interact with them whenever he wants). Aw, my psychopathic lil boy just misses his family. Honestly it sounds like he’s gone through a fair bit of trouble to get to the guy who holds the hit out on Jane and give them a way to take him down… a way that involves kinda almost killing Jane but eh, could be worse? And then ooooh they realise from the bells that he’s right there in the square too, and omg as Jane is asking him how they get their friends back (answer: apparently they don’t) she’s spinning around looking for him, and right behind her is a walkway with a snack bar on one side of it, and man I have such clear memories of walking along that walkway to our hotel or stopping into that snack bar for gelati. Ugh, I miss Venice. And then he says her name again (dude it’s Jane WELLER, not Doe) and she spots him and takes off after him and Weller suddenly panics because he doesn’t know where she is (ugh my poor boy) but luckily he manages to take the exact right turn to find them (do you know how easy it is to get turned around in Venice?????  He’d have never found them) and he jumps onto Roman’s getaway boat which is badass, and after what seems like several minutes of an unpleasant upper-body workout he manages to pull himself up on the boat and attack Roman. Meanwhile Jane, who got left behind earlier, has managed to just about catch up to them despite having commandeered what appears to be the Italian version of a motor-pontoon.  Also Roman manages to keep his sunnies on throughout their fight which is pretty damn impressive considering that Weller has bodyslammed him a couple of times as well as punching him full on in the face more than once. But eh. Weller does manage to dislodge Roman's jacket as he gets literally kicked off the boat, though. Good thing Captain Jane and her trusty vessel aren't far behind, and pick him up. I like that she called him Weller; that’s right Jane, just because it’s your name now too doesn’t mean you can’t still call him that. Oooooh but rather than being grateful for the rescue, Weller is too busy being upset with Jane for ditching him, which he’s understandably just a tad sensitive about these days. Looks like these guys have still got a little bit to go in terms of getting their groove back. And while Jane is lamenting Roman’s escape, Weller shows her the phone from the pocket of Roman’s jacket, his voice all proud. Yeah, son, you did good.

Back at the lab, Stuart is still being antagonized by Rich, who I have to say pulls off those flowered shirts better than I would have believed possible. Though lbr, I gave up on trying not to be inexplicably attracted to Rich a long time ago. While they’re cracking the encrypted phone, Jeller go ahead with Roman’s plan to get rid of Jane’s bounty. Not that the munchkin is happy about it, of course, but Jane is determined to have her life back-- lbr, after getting to see Weller again after all this time, there’d be no way she could ever let him go again. While Weller’s super against the death-mimicking drug, it gets support from Stuart and Rich, the former in simply confirming that it does what Roman says it does, and the latter detailing his own uses for it which include faked-death border crossings and, of course, ‘some sex stuff’. Not sure I wanna hear the sex stories, but the border crossings one sure has me intrigued. The guys do bring up one catch: if she doesn’t have the antidote within 90 mins, she’ll actually die.  Weller is NOT down with that, but before he can even get past the opening statement of his list of all the reasons why this is a Bad Idea, Jane stabs herself in the leg with the needle. His face is the most hilarious thing, like ‘Aaaaand she did the thing. Of course she did the thing. Why do I even ever try to talk her out of the thing, she always just does it anyway.’ lol. But let’s not forget there, he could literally grab the antidote right out of that case and stab her with it right now, completely counteracting the drug’s effects and preventing the plan from being able to go ahead. But she begged him to do it for her-- for them-- and there’s nothing he wouldn’t do for her. Especially if it gives him the love of his life back. And come on, it’s not a true Jeller moment until one of them does something the other tells them not to, nearly dies, and is saved by the other, so…

In the fun bunker, the (now loosely defined) team is trying to figure out where they are (no clue), and why they were taken, and Reade immediately assumes it’s something to do with Zapata’s work at the CIA, and the two of them are immediately at each other’s throats about it before Patterson plays mediator, trying to get everyone to focus. On one hand I agree with Reade, bc the CIA is pretty shady and I don’t trust them, but Zapata’s probably right when she says that it must be about their time in the FBI since all three of them are here. However some Spanish-accented military dudes appear a moment later and tell them to break into a fancy safe or die, and hmmmm that is not quite what I expected. While Patterson assesses the crackability of the safe (fairly easy apparently, and dude how could I ever forget how much I love Patterson) Reade gets his wet-blanket on, and starts preaching about how they shouldn’t open it bc it’s a government safe and might have dangerous secrets inside etc, whereas Zapata is all “pshh, that’s a problem for another day. Today’s problem is not dying” which I fully support. And then they’re at it again (and not ‘at it’ in the sexy way, which in this moment would be uncomfortable for all kinds of reasons) but in the squabbly bickery way, but Patterson interrupts with some much needed truth bombs: Reade is mad at Zapata for leaving, Zapata’s mad at him for freezing her out after she left, and the team fell apart after Jeller left and they’re all still trying to deal with that loss. And ughhh everyone missed each other and they’re all unhappy in their separate lives and clearly the solution here is for everyone to come back to the team and stay together forever and never let Gero break them up ever again ugh. But anyhow, like all Patterson rants, this one results in everyone being like ‘sorry mom what do we need to do’ and ugh I’ve missed themmmmmm

Back in Venice, Weller is rolling a duffel bag with his estranged wife’s death-adjacent body inside. Act natural, Weller, because this would be a really awkward time to get stopped by the cops. Also sidenote, he’s rolling that bag like it doesn’t weigh much at all, which I'm going to pretend is just because he’s jacked and not because there’s actually nothing in the bag that they filmed with lol. Anyhow, the bag is now up on the altar in a church filled with bad guys, and time is running out before Jane needs the antidote. Of course the bounty guy is late. Thanks for my blood pressure issues, Blindspot. Also another sidenote, but the guy who greets him is totally a silver fox. Too bad he’s soon to be either arrested or dead. Finally his boss arrives-- he got caught up watching a glassblower, which tbh I completely understand, bc that kind of thing is awesome-- and then lolllll he listens with a stethoscope for like 2 seconds and then does a blood pressure and then declares Jane dead?? Um, no. As someone who has certified the deaths of many people in the last three years, and also interacted with a lot of death-adjacent people, let me tell you that a) a blood pressure is useless, b) he would need to listen for at LEAST two minutes with the steth, and c) there are several other simple checks he should have done that totally would have given Jane away.  But whatevs, his lack of any medical understanding totally works in our favour.  Weller is all “cool I love that she’s dead and that I’m getting all the moneys for it, hey can I have a sec with the body please?” but nope, the dude has his cronies ready to take her to the in-house crematorium (wow, talk about a one-stop shop) and Weller’s al ‘coolcoolcool’ *punches the dudes out and stabs Jane’s body right through the bag before being pulled away and having his ass handed to him*. And okay Jane would not have woken up instantly like that but DAMN if it doesn't look cool with her slowly emerging from the bag like an avenging angel (cool parallel with the pilot, of course) and then she’s all ‘how dare u hurt my man’, leading to a shot like in those cartoons where two characters are brawling inside a closed room or building and all you see is like the door bending outwards and clouds of dust puffing up and windows rattling etc, and then BAM BABY, JELLER IS BACK AND KICKING BUTT and also looking like they’re both a little turned on by it which is kind of awkward but at the same time I fully support it and Idk there’s just a lot of emotions going on rn

Rich excitedly confirms that Roman’s plan actually worked and Jane is now free, and ugh I like to think that it’s not just because he can’t believe it worked but more that he’s just really happy for them bc he ships them so much and it also means that they’re going to be coming home and basically I just  want the whole gang back together ugh. That might be a little difficult though, as Rich informs them of the not-so-good good news-- Roman sold the other three into slavery, but thankfully he’s freaking awesome (and knows it) because he’s managed to figure out where they were taken. Lol at Weller's “Ugh he’s worse than Patterson” hahahaha. Ugh I just LOVE THESE GUYS. And so the others are apparently being held by the Venezuelan government, and Rich tells Jeller where, but they can’t have any official help (Oh Stuart: “shouldn't we just call the president or something?” my sweet summer child) and so Keaton is there to hook them up with some of his contacts and goddammit why is hating him so damn hard. And awww I love that lil baby Stuart is getting to play with the big kids these days, and awww Hirst is determined to get their ‘friends’ back (not their ‘agents’ or their ‘team’) and ugh this FAMILYYYY. It’s becoming increasingly apparent that the original family of five has now been joined by the cool wine aunt, the awkward and often annoying but also kinda useful uncle, the wacky flamboyant cousin, and the shy young nerd cousin now added into the mix.

In the fun bunker, Patterson is casually cracking the safe while snacking on her MRE, while Reade whines about his own food and Zapata messes with him for entertainment. Ah, good times. Then Patterson opens the safe-- literally the others seem to be barely there for anything other than moral support-- and they realise that  the safe contains a government computer, probably with a bunch of dangerous secrets on it. Uh-oh. Before they can argue more about the merits of dying for the cause, though, the baddies arrive. They want Patterson to decrypt the computer which is gonna take a hella long time. Awww ‘we paid for the best computer specialist in the FBI’, and ughhh she really is. And then it turns out that Reade and Zapata are literally just there as incentive for her to get crackin’ or they’ll be killed. Eeeep. But our Patty Pat is a genius, and the baddies made the epic mistake of providing sustenance in the form of MREs. Basically if they use the hot packets from the food to turn the computer into a flashbang, they can distract the baddies long enough  to overpower them and escape. Ugh I’m so proud of my lil baby genius. And she makes Reade apologise to the food for badmouthing it hahaha. Man I have missed this lil team so much!!

Up in the sky, Jeller are rushing to save their buddies, but also having The Talk-- aka the ‘what are we now?’ talk, bc lbr Jane so desperately wants their life together back, both as a married couple and as kickass FBI agents, but she doesn’t know if she has the right to have it back or if it's even what he wants, and then he’s all ‘yep let’s be married again we can just sweep this past 18 months under the rug please I’m good with that let’s just do that’ and ugh Jane admits that leaving him and their life was the hardest thing she’d ever done, but-- and man does he feel the ‘but’-- she really found herself after she left him. Oh man, what a kick in the guts. I totally get what she’s saying-- it’s not that she doesn’t want to be with him, or that she can only truly be herself without him, it’s that the puppy-sitting life in backwater Colorado is just not for her (Well, duh). She did it once to make him happy, but she can’t go back to it again or she’ll go stir-crazy. Well, good thing these new tattoos have given them both the perfect excuse to go back to their lives of kicking ass in NYC! Poor Weller though, he doesn’t understand yet, and the way his voice gets a little choked up just kills me. Oh Weller, just because she discovered who she is as a person without you (bearing in mind that pretty much her entire life that she can remember, you’ve been there), doesn’t mean she doesn’t love you with all her heart!

Now Jeller are at the compound, about to search every building individually when the others save them a bunch of time by causing a hell of a ruckus (exploding computers, gunfire, all-round hell breaking loose-- you know, the usual) and so Jeller have to adjust their plans. In a big, kick-ass way. I love the three making their big escape and then seeing the tank a roll up and aim towards them and they’re all ‘shit alright you got us geez we surrender’ and then BAM, the tank destroys the bad guys’ vehicles and probably everyone’s eardrums as well. I just love the wtf moment that these three must have when Weller suddenly pops up out of the tank-- dad’s here guys! Time to go! And then they’re inside and mom is driving and they all probably think that they’re hallucinating from something in the Mexican Style chicken stew and ughhhh they must be so relieved and Jane literally drives over a car bc ain't nothing getting in the way of getting her family to safety. Also lol Patterson must have been raking it in with the app designing because she’s all ‘I gotta buy me one of these’ haha. I’d love to see her cruising around NYC in one hahaha. And then ugh Jeller are all in sync again , taking out the baddies following them and the team is half-confused, half-happy and they have so many questions and then Reade’s “We got time, this tank is slow as hell’ lolllll. Well he’s not wrong…. wonder how long it took for things to get awkward??

Aaaand the team is safely back at the NYO, and Jane is in the scanner again, and Keaton is there again for whatever reason-- oh, because he wants the CIA to take the tattoo cases, while Hirst is all ‘bish please” in her excellent southern accent. So lemme guess, this is about to be a joint task force… and yep, Reade is all ‘this is the most sensible option’ like he totally doesn’t just want Zapata back. Haha yeah Keaton, you get me on this. It’s nice to see Reade stepping up and going head to head with the big kids, though I still don’t think he’s ready to be in this position (Are we forgetting the whole Jones thing and the drug binge??). But whatevs. Reade goes to tell the team about the joint task force and they’re like yeah duh, we’re all already in’. Well, except Patterson, who is playing a little hard to get. Maybe she’s still struggling to deal with all the Sandstorm trauma? And then omg “Rich is gonna brief us in Stuart’s lab” was the perfect sentence to say right then to convince her to stay haha. Well played, Reade. Patterson is not happy at all about Rich being involved, though Reade defends him which feels kinda weird but I also like it. I wanna hear more about their interactions. Again, spin-off, anyone?? Weller is all ‘oh god please where is the briefing just give us the briefing’ so after a lil more Patterson/Rich bickering (ah how I’ve missed that), Stuart tells them what they already know-- lots of tattoos to crack, so they better get…. Cracking (*insert finger guns here*). Patterson is now all in, refusing to leave this to Rich and Stuart (“No offense Stuart” hahahaha), and Jane is in too, despite Hirst offering for her to be free if she wants. Aww, Hirst. You are a sweetie pie. And then Rich: “Backstreets back alright! Six best friends and Stuart!” And UGH YES. Give me all the Rich, and all the Patterson and the Stuart and the ughhhh all of it. I do love that all joking aside, Rich does very genuinely tell Jane it's nice to see her again. He loves his Jane and he would do anything for her ugh

Oooh Jeller in their old apartment, and he’s all unsure whether she really wants to be there with him and she makes it clear that there’s nowhere else she wants to be, and yaaaas my boy acknowledges that the move to Colorado really didn’t fit her and that she’d given up a lot of her own happiness and personal meaning just to make him happy. So now they just need to strike a balance, which is all she wants-- to be there with him and be happy and in luuuurve while also kicking butt and saving people.  And then ugh he pulls her ring out of his pocket and he’s been carrying it EVERY DAY since she left and he rushes to tell her that she doesn’t have to put it back on until she’s ready and ugh she takes it and kisses him and then lord save me from how husky her voice goes when she tells him she’s missed him so much and ughhhhh he’s missed her too and ugh my babies are about to have reunion sex on multiple surfaces in the house and I’m so happy for them. Damn Gero yet again you have managed to make the thought of 18 awful months completely disappear in the face of this excellence, and it’s all too easy to just let you make me forget, and ugh I want to stay upset about it but I just can’t. Damn it you crafty wizard, how have you gotten me so under your spell….

Lol Aunty Hirst checking in with Reade, seeing if he’s okay with all his fam coming back, but also warning him (and us) that none of these people are the same as they were two years ago. And to prove that point, uncle Keaton and Zapata are having their own, much shadier  little conference about one of the tattoos, one that clearly points to something related to either them or the CIA in general, but it’s something they’re both very familiar with and won’t let the others find out about. Oooh, secrets. Speaking of secrets, Rich and Patterson have apparently been interacting regularly over the last two years??? And before anyone goes there, NO, I  I don’t think their relationship is at all romantic or sexual. I think they’ve been business partners of a sort (probably with Boston as well, since he and Patterson kinda became buds) and I also think that Patterson has been secretly helping Rich help the FBI with their cases. But again, I want to hear ALL about whatever they’ve been up to bc ugh I love these two and their dynamic though I also kinda wanna give Rich a hug and tell Patterson to be nicer to her weirdo cousin haha. Oh wait, you thought we were done with the secrets???? Nope, Jane is looking unhappy and  hiding a bunch of passports (probably given to her by Keaton) away the moment Weller leaves, and he steps outside their (apparently-renovated) building and immediately encounters Roman, who basically blackmails him to help him with tattoo-related stuff or he’ll tell Jane about ‘what happened in Berlin’. Weller is agrees to help immediately, which kinda makes it seem like whatever happened in Berlin was really, really bad. And again NO IT WAS NOT SOMETHING ROMANTIC OR SEXUAL. Geez, people. Neither Jane nor Weller would have slept with anyone else during their separation. To think so would be to have no understanding of either of the characters, or their character growth. Far more likely Weller did something that would be considered illegal or amoral, like killing someone, or something. Personally I think he and Roman encountered each other in Berlin and had an altercation wherein Weller injured and very nearly killed Roman, and Roman only survived by pure luck? That feels like a thing he’d want to keep from Jane, that he nearly killed her only family? Plus then he would kind of ‘owe’ Roman as well,. But idk, maybe it was something even shadier. Guess we’ll find out….

And so okay, I admit it. You've won, Gero. You’ve done a ton of things that have upset me or that I object to on multiple levels, but try as I might I can’t escape from your web. Looks like I’m stuck with this show, which means you guys are stuck with me and my recaps...

[reflections-of-mobius]

Type: Plot Progression Universe: Sandstorm Location: Jade Hills

No...NO-

Hazy hazel flickered open, registering the darkness around them. Their hands were clutching something tight, refusing to let go. For a few moments, all they saw was inky blackness- the last of the nightmare drifting across their thoughts.

Another one...

In the past, it had only been flickerings- warped memories of their alternates' sufferings that plagued their sleeping mind...but this time, it had been their own- not quite a memory, but something abysmally close.

Bless, laying in a pool of blood- his own blood- emerald orbs as dull as stone. A single red optic in the darkness, taking the form of a knife- cutting downwards. The memory of being unable to move, unable to so much as breathe struck them.

They didn't speak as they dragged their body closer on the circular bed, comforted only by the steady rise and fall of their boyfriend's form. He was alive... He was okay.

The dull ache of their injury thudded in their side, healing ribs and tissue pulsing steadily, in time to the throb of their heart. They said nothing as they buried their nose into Bless' back- careful to avoid the explosion-like scar, still healing beneath the mobian's quills.

Bless shifted- turning over silently, wrapping his arms around his smaller partner with a quiet sigh. That was all Node needed to realize that he hadn't fallen asleep earlier...but neither was willing to so much as whisper, instead holding one another close.

[reflections-of-mobius]

@familylightfox asked:

🎲 for Node and Bless. From Volt.

[Kiss Roulette! | Accepting!]

Number Generated: 16.) A kiss in the rain.

Under a cut because stars, I took this and ran.

[]

"..just gotta...get through another day." Node chuckled softly. Their eyes were downcast, ears pricked for the tell-tale sounds of breathing nearby. They'd begun to smell petrichor a few minutes ago- one of the reasons they'd meandered outside, beyond joining the others in the garden. Their absence hit them especially hard, these days.

They tried not to think about it- but they'd gone missing from Volt's life, so soon after his encounter with the mad doctor...and it hurt Node to consider that they'd never visited- rarely wrote letters- and then, when they came back into the hybrid's life....their own world had fallen under a crisis.

Their hand shifted almost imperceptibly, dropping from its subconscious hanging spot around the mass of burnt skin. Ever since that day...the thought they'd abandoned Volt when he had been in pain- when he had been recovering- struck them quite harshly. 'Rebuilding their Mobius' felt more and more like an excuse. They'd been able-bodied, even if exhausted..

And now here they were, injured, recovering...and hiding at the hybrid's inn, as if they had the right.

"You're tellin' me...! I can't wait until I can stretch my legs properly again." Bless kicked his legs out for emphasis, on the other side of Volt- eliciting a soft snicker from the hedgefox. The hedgehog grinned, grateful to at least get a smile out of one of his partners. "I mean, bedrest is nice n' all...but lounging all the time? Ahgggggg..."

The speed demon was accustomed to the wind- to racing and running and surging over hills and blurring by cities...this... 'Resting' business was more trouble than it was worth- but he wasn't about to risk aggravating his injury mid-run. A few shoots of grass had begun to quiver in response to the mobian's anxiousness, though he didn't seem to notice as he turned his head towards Volt.

"Can we at least work on the kinesis stuff?" For someone who did yoga and meditated every day...he was still quite impatient- perhaps a trademark for him, since time passed far slower for Bless compared to his allies.

They could feel the first drop as it splashed against their head. Node breathed in, trying to calm their heart as it ticked up a beat. Bless and Node had been there for Volt for a time, sure- but they hadn't been there for months. Compounded with the current situation, the fox felt they were a burden- to both their partners.

"Cause sometimes, when I walk around outside, dandelions sprout up- it's the craziest thing, V." Bless continued his slight-ramble, seemingly unperturbed by the drizzle. Node was sure when they all went back inside, they'd be soaked through- which wasn't ideal, since the weather was beginning to get colder in the fall months. The fox's hand finally found the metallic edge they'd been searching for- fingers intertwining around Volt's prosthetic.

They didn't speak, letting Bless continue his momentary barrage as the rain continued to fall. Despite that...despite them vanishing for months, Volt had still come to the two's aid...he'd helped them- fought for them- literally took a bullet for them- despite the unintended disappearance.

They pulled Volt's prosthetic slightly, resting their head against the now-wet metal as the drizzle began to grow heavier. Node didn't dare look the hybrid's way- though they'd heard Bless let out a confused hum.

"...thank you." Their voice was barely a murmur under the gentle patter of rain. Volt...Bless....what would they do without both of them? The fox slowly shifted- until they were no longer sitting on the rock beside their boyfriends, but instead standing- just tall enough to reach both's faces with their own. They'd let go of Volt's cybernetic by then.

The males had gone quiet, violet hues flickering with gentle mirth and curiosity as emerald flashed with knowing.

"....thank you....so much...." The past was the past...and while it would take Node time to come to terms with everything- their injury, Bless' near-death, Volt's kidnapping, them and Bless disappearing from the hybrid's life for months...they were here now. A bit more roughed up than before, but Volt hadn't greeted them with anger, now had he? It had been open arms, as Bless had figured- and even though the timing was horrible...they'd all made it through the Backstory Event okay. And at the end of the day- wasn't it enough to just be alive, to have each other after all that?

They may have been gone for a time- but that meant they weren't going to waste a single second, anymore. A hand moved, softly caressing each mobian's cheek- Node didn't wait for the emotion burning in their chest to fizzle out before gently pulling Volt into a kiss- pressing their lips against the hybrid's, praying they could somehow communicate their gratitude to their partner. Gratefulness that he was alive- that he was there.

"How come V gets the first kiss?" Bless' question caused Node to chuckle, finally separating from the hedgefox, hazel hues flickering with a faint light that had been missing ever since they'd all come back from fighting Eggdata.

"C'mere, genius." Node caught Bless in a kiss next- just as long as the one given to Volt, though interspersed with giggles. The hedgehog was always so impatient...even at the best of times, it was one of his weak suits.

They finally pulled away- a hand extended to each of their beloveds. Their fur was a hint wet, but the rain was getting heavier.

"...anyone up for a snuggle, inside?" Their question was full of gentle laughter, eyes closing for a moment as Node smiled.

"Of course, love." Volt's words made Node's heart feel light, but not as much as the sensation that came after- two hands, one in each of their's...as the rain continued to patter, and the trio made their way inside.

Thank you both- for everything.

[reflections-of-mobius]

Type: Plot Progression | EVENT: "There One Moment, Gone the Next" Universe: Sandstorm Location: Botanical Kingdom

[Part One | Part Two | Part Three]

"He should've been here..." Node's murmur filled the clearing, just beyond the bush's inner edge. Cream-yellow ears twitched, hazel hues dashing from one empty patch of grass to another. Their anti-gravity skates pushed down the grass with each step, the night's dew gathering in droplets on the soles. The moonlight was barely able to get through, here- making it impossible to ignore the blazing light.

Their hands slowly rose to their head, pushing down as if they could squeeze the fear out of their thoughts. Where was he? He wasn't here,-

"NODE!" They didn't have enough time to react before they were slammed to the ground, encased in bulky, furry limbs. "Thank Chaos,- you've been getting faster on those skates!" His laugh had tears brimming in Node's eyes. They buried their face in his chest, powdery-blue fur brushing against their nose. They didn't even care that it tickled as they wrapped their smaller arms around whatever they could reach- pulling Bless close in a hug as they shook.

"Oh my God,- Sonic..." They whimpered. A bright green light was in their vision- burning through their closed lids. He'd been hit, too.

"I'm fine- didn't even feel a thing." Bless was quick to reassure, slowly standing up with Node still in his arms. He chuckled quietly as he set them down. "...you're all wet, Nodesy." He retracted his hands- only to be met with watery blood. The werehog's eyes flashed towards Node. "...what happened?" And yet, he spotted that light- a different color from his own, but blazing in Node's chest, only barely dimmed by their dark tank-top.

"I'd guess the same thing that happened to you..." Their hand pressed into the center of the ring on their boyfriend's chest. Two rings... Two lights from the sky. "...I can't teleport, Bless." The words were met with a momentary silence- before a small smile crossed the other's face.

"...it's gonna be alright, Node." He squeezed them once more- this time, careful not to pressure the injuries on their back. Node, for their part, had yet to flinch- but it wasn't the best feeling in the world, all the same.

The two went still.

Vrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr....

No words passed between them- just a glance.

"C'mon, c'mon c'mon c'mon--!" A woman's voice- a rather familiar woman's voice- yelped. Pink fur crashed through the bush's inner edge, nearly barreling into the pair. She only stopped at the last second, bright-pink metal flashing in the moonlight as her board suddenly upturned. The mobian jumped off, revealing the hedgehog as she landed and picked her board out of the air.

"Incoming!!!" From above, a blur of yellow just barely avoided crashing into the ground- a familiar bright-yellow fox just barely stopping his Extreme Gear- a standing platform of sorts- before it would have crashed head-long into the dirt.

"Bless? Node?--- What're you two doing here???" Amy's words were stopped by the sight of a certain ring... Glowing bright red in her hands. Unlike Bless and Node- she wasn't inhabited by it.

And Tails- the two-tailed fox that was just beginning to stand... Had a bright blue glow in his chest.

"We could ask you the same thing!" Bless scratched his head. "What were you guys running from?" Amy's eyes narrowed in on the matching rings of light on both mobians, as did Tails'.

"Why are your chests glowing???"

"You guys too????"

"If I knew, I'd tell ya, n' yes!" Node ran a hand down their face. "---Guys,- why were you running?" The hedgehog at least seemed to pause for a moment, bright-green hues sliding between the two as understanding dawned.

"....We were being chased by Meteo-Tech guards..."

"...was it only after you got those glowing rings?" Bless nodded towards the thing in Amy's hands. It looked to be made of metal- with varying areas on it that glowed a rather bright red. Almost like glass, but there was a strange fluid within... Though it wasn't anything Bless could make out, not even with squinting. Tails' ring was pulsing, probably to his heartbeat- a bright blue glow, like the ocean reflecting sunlight.

"Yeah- they kept saying they were 'the Ark of the Cosmos' or something like that." Amy shook her head. "...when we didn't turn them over, they started shooting- I had to get on my board and escape...."

"And now they're in the Botanical Kingdom..." Bless sighed. The sound of engines flew overhead, momentarily freezing the conversation into silence. Only when the sounds had gone, did the trio dare to so much as move- let alone speak- again. "Whatever's going on, Meteo-Tech seems to have a hand in it."

"Then we should just head for Meteo-Tech Tower." Tails hummed. "...If we all went top speed..." Her tails had begun to wave in the air, slow but steady. "It'll be a few hours... Node, I'm guessing you can't teleport?"

"Correct-o..." Node mumbled.

"Then Amy, Sonic, you two'll have to be on defense, in case any 'bots show up...with any luck, we'll make it to Meteo-Tech Tower before dawn..."

"You got it."

The rumble of engines overhead was getting louder.

"RETURN THE ARK OF THE COSMOS."

Node was halfway through a turn when Amy's voice caught their attention.

"Node!" Amy had thrown down her board. Node snapped their own gear into the ground, hearing the skates power on. The fox wasted no time jumping into the air. Tails had already gotten back on his hoverboard. Bless was on all fours again, eyes narrowed.

"BOLT!" The team burst through the bush, twigs scratching at fur and skin, thwacking metal.

Chaos filled the air as Bless and Amy both jumped, one using claws, the other her hammer- bashing the attacking 'bots into the dirt mid-flight. Tails leaned forward, pouring on the speed.

"Ring!" Bless hit a golden ring towards Tails. The ring vanished in a flash of sparks- and Tails' board sped up. Node breathed in, slow and steady. They'd be running for a while- no doubt about it... "Ring!" It hit Node's skates, only to vanish in another flash. Node's ears flattened as the wind blew them down.

"RETURN THE ARK OF THE C--" CSH!! Another 'bot fell to Amy's summoned hammer.

"Next stop, Meteo-Tech Tower!"

[reflections-of-mobius]

Type: Drabble Universe: Sandstorm Location: Jade Hills

"..heyyyy, blue boy~...." Node murmured as they poked Bless' ear. They were careful to keep their touch feather-light, their words coming before they got within an inch of him. The hedgehog mumbled and murmured as he drifted from the realm of sleep, emerald hues flickering towards the fox lingering over him.

"...wha's'up...?" He slowly sat upright, the blanket falling to rest at his waist as his partner hopped off the bed. For a moment, their loose tank flared up- revealing soft cream-yellow fur, and a large blast of a scar. "...did y'get more Jujutsu Kaisen merch...?"

"Funny, but no, Bless." They snapped close- pecking the hedgehog's lips with a small giggle. Wait...what day was i- "Okay, I can't hold off any longer...!" They held out their hands, and in a moment, the aroma of chili, onions, and cheese filled the bedroom. Resting atop the food was a single candle- '23', the numbers slightly merged, the end of a wick poking out the top...and currently alight with a very small, flickering orange flame.

"...happy birthday, Bless." Their smile was light as they offered the chili dog to him. "-And don't worry about the blanket, I'll be washing it later anyway. There're a few presents waiting for you in the living room- from the others, of course. And when you get done with it, I've asked Inari, Prim, and the others if they wanna ra-"

The fox's excited ramblings were cut off as, in the blink of an eye, they were trapped in a certain blue hedgehog's embrace. His chili dog was now resting in a plate on the nightstand, the air from his quick dash rushing through the room. Stars danced in his vision, the faintest pain burning in his head- but he still grinned as he pulled Node flush against him, their back pressed into his front.

"Relax, Nodesy~...and thank you..." He pecked their cheek, letting the fox go. Their muzzle was now stained a light pink, a hand raising to their cheek. "...I've got the best gift on Mobius right here...so why don't you lay in bed with me for a while? Rest of the day can wait."

[reflections-of-mobius]

"I know we can't really do much for Halloween, what with the recovery, but..."

"But?..."

"...white whistle delvers."

"So long as I can carve the whistles, sounds like a plan!"

[reflections-of-mobius]

Type: Plot Progression | EVENT: “There One Moment, Gone the Next” Universe: Sandstorm Location: Hospital

[Part Seven | Part Eight | Part Nine]

FINAL PART!!!....and then I'm taking a break from writing events for like- a month- because this took me several and I went so slowly. Anyway! ENJOY! All threads sent to Bless and Node will officially take place post-event, and sometime in the next two days, I will update their combined document to match the full details of current events.

[]

Beeping...steady, monotonous, a tune unchanging in their ears. Slowly, the fox drifted back to consciousness- hazel flickering open to a sterile, white room- an IV bag hung nearby, fluid steadily dripping down into an elongated tube. They followed its path- eventually ending at the inside of their elbow, where the thing disappeared under fur and skin.

They weren't in any pain...but they couldn't feel, either. A good chunk of their chest felt like a strange void, as if only their arms and legs were connected to their head. They were dressed in a standard hospital gown, their fur clean of all traces of grime and blood. Last they knew,...

"Ugh..." They couldn't even sit up, right...they just laid there- counting the moments. Eggman-- Eggdata- the brain in the jar, shattering glass, screaming sirens,...

Bless' bloodied body sliding to the floor.

Their hands clenched on reflex, the image causing their fur to raise. He'd been hurt. They reached out for the hive memory- praying they would find some solace, some explanation--- please, they nearly wanted to whisper. Tears brimmed in their eyes.

[]

Inari had only had moments to get the teleporting pad ready.- But she'd managed, his eyes flicking towards Prim in the last second as she carried Node and Bless' unconscious bodies towards where everyone had appeared, when they'd been teleported aboard the space station. Sirens blared and screeched, warning of the station falling out of orbit.

A bright light had filled the space- just moments before the crashing sound of screeching metal, the roar of flames, and heat strong enough to melt iron blazed through the station. Inari, Prim, Node, and Bless all tumbled back onto the floor of the control station for the Tower...a few furs singed, but alright...relatively speaking. Prim's dress was stained with red, Node was wheezing for air, Bless was unconscious, blood continuing to drip from his wound... Prim and Inari had taken it into their own hands to get Node and Bless to the nearest hospital in record time.

Being sent to a specialized burn unit for their injuries...watching Bless being carted down another corridor...

[]

Statistics flashed behind Node's eyes, the silent comforting words of their others hollow in their mind. They'd lived....they'd...lived....

The fox closed their eyes, not wanting to see the hospital ceiling above them any more. Bless had lived... Bless had lived...their own survival felt secondary, the faintest joy crossing their thoughts. He was alive....they'd won.

They would probably be discharged once Bless woke up...knowing him, he'd wake up- and the second he was cleared, rush to get Node cleared as well. For now...they could only wait, each breath a nonexistent tug of strings in the abyss.

Underneath the cloth, the ring that had started it all pulsed, faint but steady- in time to Node's heartbeat.

They'd survived...

[reflections-of-mobius]

Type: Plot Progression | EVENT: “There One Moment, Gone the Next” Universe: Sandstorm Location: Unknown Space Station

[Part Seven | Part Eight]

"You're dead---!" Bless was the first to speak, his eyes wide as he stared at the machine before him. "-we left you in the void!" A singular red optic, burning with anger and intelligence, glared back. The light of the rising sun shimmered and reflected off a red chassis, the form of a being that none of the group thought they'd ever see again burned into their minds.

"Eggman..." Node's voice was a hiss of a whisper. The robot- with the voice of the scientist himself- laughed, vocals a perfect imitation of the scientist that had haunted them all for so many years.

"Not quite! I'm Eggdata,- you see, I found a way out of that hellhole you and your friends call 'the void'..." He started, raising a metal hand as black as his heart. He clenched it tight, optic behind a rimmed 'glass' burning.

"You sent those robots after all of us! You hijacked Meteo-Tech!!" Inari growled. The robot snickered, taking a step back from the irate two-tailed fox.

"Not quite...you see, I own Meteo-Tech."

"YOU WHAT?!" The team's voices all echoed. It was that moment that various compartments in the metallic ceiling clicked open- and several of the robots from the factory fell in, their peds slamming loudly against the padded floor.

"Oh, don't worry. I already have so many cities hostage..." Eggdata hummed. The thought of the Arks had been completely forgotten by the team as their muzzles paled. There were more floating cities than there were actual cities on Mobius, these days- if Eggdata were to cut the power to all of them-- "So, be good little rats and give me those Arks..."

"...." Bless had opened his mouth to speak, but he couldn't find anything to say. That had to be over 90% of Mobius' population...held captive, and they didn't even know. "--what do you even want with the Arks..." Mobius held captive... Node's broken body... He gently set them to the side, seeing their faint wobble out of the corner of his eye. No, he wouldn't let Eggman- Eggdata- whatever- win.

"Hm?- Oh, well...they're incredibly powerful sources of energy! Nothing on par with the Chaos Emeralds, but I figured I could get them before you mutts...obviously I was wrong, but no matter." A servo waved in the air, as if to brush aside that fact. "If anything, it worked in my favor! Now...you'll all lie down like dogs and die....or every flying city on Mobius falls." Eggdata took a step back, towards a control console that had been hidden behind his frame- a single digit hovering over a giant red button.

Claws dug into hands, nearly drawing blood as fangs pressed into teeth. Fur and quills bristled in equal measure. He was holding Mobius hostage- the sun was rising...a familiar pain was roiling in Bless' gut- if he moved fast enough...

"EGGMAN!!!" Bless charged, purple smoke enveloping him as he bolted forward. Padding shredded, revealing metal underneath as the mobian charged. He was almost entirely obscured in purple smoke- pain burning as he tried to run mid-transformation.

"YOU'RE GOING DOWN!!" His voice was caught, partway between the gruff roughness of his werehog form, and his day form.

CRCK!!!

The hedgehog's body went soaring. It happened in a second- he'd been running, caught between forms...and the next, Eggdata's servo was pressed into the hedgehog's head, clutched around his face. Crimson splattered the space station's wall behind where Bless was pressed against it. The last bits of smoke began to clear, revealing the hedgehog in his true form- blood staining his quills, his limbs limp.

The servo let go- and with a wet sliding sound, he fell to the floor, face-first. Blood was all over the back of his head and upper back, the smell of iron filling the air.

Hazel hues had narrowed as the robot began to laugh. All of his subordinates had trained their guns on the small team. Prim's face was full of shock, Inari was stock-still, her eyes still locked on Bless' body...and Node had closed their eyes. A tear was burning at the edge of one eye, the thought of losing him...

No...

They swore, they'd keep him safe...

No....

And yet there his body laid, bloody- too far away to tell if he was even breathing.

No...

The Chaos Energy in the station began to warp, the glass separating them all from the cold vacuum of space on the left trembling. The robots' guns were all at the ready as Node's hands began to shake. The glow in their chest grew brighter. Their hair began to rise, the tear they'd shed being joined by others...that started to float in the air around them.

A yellow hue burned all along their body, the hazel in their eyes disappearing into twin white voids.

I REFUSE.

"Kill them, but don't damage the Arks." Eggdata hummed. The fox's tantrum meant nothing. Soon enough, they'd all be dead- and he would have his power sources...and enough hostages to demand whatever he so pleased from Mobius.

The bang of guns firing never filled the air.

Inari and Prim began to tremble. The air was getting heavier- more oppressive. They found it difficult to stand- Inari far more than Amy. Tails fell to the floor, his gloves pressing against the ruined padding. Prim was still standing, but Node was unaffected.

"Node--?!" Inari's voice landed on deaf ears.

Without so much as a blink, the robots all crunched- smashed into razor-thin plates that fell uselessly to the ground. Eggdata took a step back, optic flaring with panic.

"Wait-- you shouldn't be able to--!"

Node took a step forward. The space station groaned. They were wobbling- barely walking, but they still took another step forward. Eggdata backed up against the wall, red optic panicked.

"No- please don't- I can still- I'll drop all the citi-!" As he'd reached for the button, his servo had been hit by a wall. The metal and wiring snapped as immense pressure shot through the elbow.

So many of them...

So much rage...

The amount of lives they'd lost- so many of them, burning behind their eyes. A million memories crashing back in as Node continued across the station floor. Eggdata was scrambling, trying to get away- and that was when his peds broke through the floor. He fell partway, metal frame lodging in the wiring of his facility.

"Stop!! PLEASE!-" Node took the final step. Their own charred skin felt like nothing compared to the agony in their mind.

Bless...

They'd lost BLESS.

Node reached down- bitten nails clutching at the metal framework of their enemy. They could barely see him. Barely see anything beyond the red in their head. You killed him.

Their fangs were bared. Node was never strong- but in that moment, their grip was bending the iron, snapping it with creaks that warned of its destruction. They ripped off the plating at the top of Eggdata's body, feeling an odd, mortifying satisfaction as the scientist screamed.

"MERCY-!!!"

Their hands began to claw, to tear at the armor plating- ripping away layer after layer. They weren't sure what they were searching for as Eggman's synthesized screams filled the space station.

This was what it felt like, wasn't it?

To lose what one cared about.

To watch it be taken, to know the source...

To want REVENGE.

They didn't care what it took.- He would pay, with his life. Shreds of reflective, durable material cut away as Node's Chaos Energy dropped- their rage the only thing fueling them to keep going. It wasn't until they found something spongy and pinkish-red, at the core of the monstrosity, that they realized what they'd been looking for. A variety of tubes were plugged into the flesh, feeding it data as it twitched. It was surrounded by a thin-looking glass dome, only the wires allowed entry.

Inari and Prim had finally broken free from their frozen shock.

"NODE NO-!" A wall of gravity blasted towards them, pinning them against the opposing wall of the station. Node roughly yanked the brain out of its compartment, Eggdata's cries going silent as they ripped off wires. The source of their torment, resting in their hands. Coated in oil, rage burning--

"....node..."

They froze. They were shaking, now- expending so much energy, they were sure if they weren't careful, they would die shortly. Pure-white eyes, glowing with malice and hatred, flickered over to the broken form still laying on the floor. Bless had somehow lifted his head, blood seeping over one eye. A torn glove outstretched, hand reaching for them.

"....don't...y-u're n...ot...."

The container dropped. The glass shattered on the ground.

"...it's o'ay..."

The glow began to fade as Bless' head slumped back down to the floor. In one last burst of energy, Node raced for his collapsed body- black spotting their vision. They collapsed partway there. A hand outstretched, the glow in their chest barely visible. Their vision was flickering in and out.

"...n...jus' got you---back,---" Tears were falling more freely from their eyes, now. The space station creaked- an alarm began to go off, but Node couldn't hear it. They were falling away from their body, eyes locked on their other half. "...Bless..." Their eyes slid closed.

Gravity reverted back to normal, freeing Inari and Prim. Overhead, the station's automatic alarms were going off.

"WARNING. SERVER HUB MISSING. SYSTEMS IN CRITICAL FAILURE. EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY. WARNING-"

Sparks flew from the destroyed machines.

"Amy-!" Inari turned- but Prim was already racing for the collapsed bodies of their friends.

"I'm on it, get the teleporter back online!" The station began to tilt, alarms still blaring. They were falling out of the sky.

[reflections-of-mobius]

Type: Plot Progression | EVENT: “There One Moment, Gone the Next” Universe: Sandstorm Location: Meteo-Tech Tower/Chemical Plant Island -> Unknown

[Part Seven] All other parts are linked in Part Seven!

Node didn't regret it. Even as the pain flared, fire sweeping through their nerves and dulling their thoughts- they didn't care. Bless was safe. Bless was alive.

As the team jogged to their next destination, their hazy eyes flickered towards their boyfriend's face. Usually bright, playful emerald hues narrowed to murderous points- his eternal smile marred, charred into a frown.

I'd do it again.

Memories of their parents, of their siblings, of friends and rivals, everything….

And it was all gone.

They would never be like their others... They wouldn't hesitate where their others had...they had learned their lesson, seeing the memories of so many versions of them- those who weren't willing to pay the ultimate price.

Their hand raised, pressing against the faint, near-constant green glow of their partner's chest. Their burnt fingers pressed gently into off-white fur, the faintly-blue tinge so familiar. Their mouth was pressed into a line, teeth nearly grinding together with each jostling step.

"How much farther?" Bless' question filled the metallic tunnel. The clanking of footsteps continued on even as Inari glanced back. Her goggles flashed.

"Just around the next turn." His words were clipped. The team continued on. Bless' vision slipped down for a moment- that combat-frown fading into a relieved, if pained, soft smile.

"...don't do that to me again, Nodesy..." He nuzzled their head, continuing to jog easily. Node didn't reply- they couldn't. Bless sighed. He clung a little tighter to Node's frame. He didn't care what it took...he wasn't going to ever see a scene like that again.

They all rounded a corner- the massive vault-door hiding the core of Meteo-Tech Tower sliding open easily. Inari was the first in- her twin tails flicking to and fro as he shot to the nearest terminal. The glow of her goggles increased as she set to work.

Bless slowed, gingerly setting Node down. The space itself was rather tight- there was room enough for a human to walk comfortably, but only one. The room was round, with numerous screens flashing in dull green and faded brown hues. Resting in the center of the round space was a massive chamber- something within glowing. Bless began to feel a strange pressure in his chest.

".....I don't regret it." Node's voice was quiet as they spoke. A hand immediately moved over the smoking flesh. The fur gone, the blaze of the laser-cannon nearly fresh in their mind... But they had to say it, all the same.

"...it's not happening again." Bless wasn't as quiet. Amy's ear twitched- the hedgehog turned her head, forest-green hues resting on the two. "...I won't let it..." His hands clenched into fists, pitch-black claws faintly reflecting the surrounding screens. "Node, I--...if you'd..."

His ears fell against his head, worry etching itself onto his features. Node's foot tapped against his leg, far weaker than usual. Their eyes were half-lidded, a sorrowful smile given to their other half.

"....I know...." But they would have done it, anyway. They wouldn't be able to live with themself, if-...if Bless had...--

It still came as the faintest shock that he felt the same. The werehog shifted to sit beside Node, cautious in an attempt to sling his arm around their shoulders. Node had to move forward for a moment- their muzzle twisting in agony. Damn. The pain started afresh- blazing through them.

"Uh oh--" Inari's voice was accompanied by the room beginning to flash.

"What 'uh oh'?!" Amy's voice rang out. Bless' grip on Node grew tighter.

"--BRACE YOURSELV--!"

Weightless. The sensation of the world shifting underfoot, everything going dark in a brief second as Chaos Energy flooded the world. Everyone knew what that feeling was- but none of them wanted to voice it.

A few seconds after the feeling started, it ended- Inari's tails snapped into formation, spinning to keep him from hitting the new floor. Prim landed on her feet, a hand outstretched to keep herself balanced. In her other hand, she summoned a new Piko Piko Hammer.

Bless had pulled Node close in that split-second before the dark grabbed them all. The feeling of burnt skin pressing into his fur made him shudder. He knew that wouldn't help Node's pain. He landed, clutching the fox tight in his arms. The sun was nearly fully risen- he probably had a minute, maybe two, before he would revert and lose his strength.

A loud clank resounded throughout the space- bringing every mobian's attention forward.

To meet a blazing, deep-red optic...

And an impossible voice.

"Sonic the Hedgehog, how nice of you to waltz right up to my doorstep, with exactly what I need..." A pause. "...and you're still alive...how infuriating..."

[reflections-of-mobius]

@familylightfox asked:

“We’ll would ya look at that.” Volt smirks.

[Node n' Bless Bingo! | Accepting!]

"Can't say I'm surprised...Bless, tell the hedgefox what he's won!"

"Three hours of uninterrupted cuddles and face-pepperings!" The hedgehog bolted forward, quickly pecking Volt's nose- moving to retreat before the hybrid could counterattack. "And you can claim it any time you want~."

"....I'm...really glad we met..." Node murmured, their own kiss far softer. "...I do warn you, though...when you do claim your prize..." The faintest hint of a smirk crossed the fox's face. "...I won't go easy on peppering your handsome face in kisses."

Both mobians' tails were wagging.

[reflections-of-mobius]

"My type can be summed up in a few phrases: "Do you have a pulse", "Could you kick my ass in a fight", "Do you have a good heart", "Can you put up with my humor", "Can you put up with me as an individual"- because let's be honest, not everyone wants to put up with somebody who zones out and goes nonverbal when they're stressed."

"I don't know that I'd be willing to kick your ass in a fight, Nodesy...but I'm pretty sure I check all the others." Bless hummed. "....I've only got one requirement...." He picked up the fox, giving them a kiss on their nose- and watching as their pale muzzle began to burn red. The hedgehog smirked. "--does my little fox approve of 'em?"

[reflections-of-mobius]

Type: Plot Progression | EVENT: “There One Moment, Gone the Next” Universe: Sandstorm Location: Meteo-Tech Tower/Chemical Plant Island

[Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four | Part Five | Part Six] At this rate I really just need to make a 'master post' and link there because good LORD-

Claws slowly reached out- blackened tips brushing along the burnt edge of Node's injury. Smoke rose, the sound of the laser still reverberating in his ear. In other situations, he might have laughed at the silly noise- but he didn't, here. His ears were lowered, his eyes wet from glistening tears. The first fell.

His voice was failing- cracking even as he tried to whisper their name. He had promised- promised...and now, their body was as still as death- acrid black smoke rising from the injury they'd sustained, eyes closed, mouth open in a silent cry. I promised...

Bless cautiously moved Node's limp form, resting his head on their chest. His eyes closed, not wanting to see the sight of his deceased partner.

A cough- wet, but there.

"Hhhchhh....." The voice was quiet- but it had Bless instantly shooting his head upright, emerald hues flashing over the battered body in his arms. The ring- he hadn't even realized- it was still pulsing, the glow barely visible, but there. Node coughed again- crimson spilling from their lips.

"Node...." He cradled them close, wiping away some blood from their mouth with a finger. Only then did it hit him- they'd coughed up blood. "Node--!"

"...th' He-ack-...hit me.." They were trying to move- a hand slowly sliding downwards. Bless was quick to pick Node up- thoughts frantic. Daytime was nearly here- he would be faster then, but the hit they'd taken...!

"Tails, have you got any-"

"No..."

"I do." Amy stepped closer, slowly reaching towards her back- and producing some gauze. "It's going to be patchy, but it'll work- just...give me a few minutes." She nodded towards the floor. "Put them down."

"I-"

"Bless." The look in her eyes stopped the werehog, his voice catching in his throat. He gingerly set Node back down- flinching as Node's jaw clenched tight. The ring's glow in their chest was slowly getting brighter-- a signifier that they were more awake, now?

He hovered as Amy set to work. There wasn't much that could be done, here- and with the threat of more robots should they attempt to leave... He couldn't get them to a hospital- not right away. They'd just have to figure out what Meteo-Tech wanted with the rings- and hopefully do it quick.

"...it's not fatal...but you'll need time to recover, Node." Prim sat back, allowing Bless access to his partner once more. He kneeled down beside them, fingers reaching- only to pause before they could touch. This is my fault.

"...t'bad the one thing I need...is the one thing I ain't got..." Node clenched their teeth, biting back a hiss as they tried to sit up. Bless didn't stop them, though his hands were directly before them- ready to assist if the task proved too much. "...can't stay here...n' can't be alone..."

Amy's lips pressed into a thin line.

"...you can't get into another fight, Node...these injuries-"

"--I'll be fine." The fox closed their eyes as they spoke, their side burning. It had been numb at first- but with each moment, the pain was blazing back. "...if I stay, I'm dead. If I go with you guys..."

"I know." Bless' reply was quiet. He cautiously moved his hands- helping Node to stand to their feet, much to Prim's disappointed scowl. "Look- we can't leave 'em here. And you and Inari are both in danger, so asking either of you to ta--"

"I get it, Bless." Amy rested a hand on the burly werehog's shoulder, even as another spark of snapping wires filled the air. "We should get going."

"...yeah." He cautiously tapped Node's arm. "...going up?" When he could see them reply with a faint nod, he lifted the fox- careful to keep their burned side as untouched as possible, even as he held them close to his chest.

The fire from the oil of the robots crackled and flickered. The tower's main floor had gone dark- but none of the team cared as they started for the exit Inari had pointed out earlier.

"...don't fucking scare me like that..." Even if it made him more top-heavy than before, Bless didn't care. He gingerly pecked Node's forehead, emerald hues softening. He didn't dare speak it, but the thought still crossed his mind- one that he knew could shatter his partner if it was uttered.

...I thought I lost you...

Almost imperceptibly, his claws tightened around Node's knees and shoulder.

He wouldn't let them get hurt-- ever again.

[reflections-of-mobius]

Type: Plot Progression | EVENT: "There One Moment, Gone the Next" Universe: Sandstorm Location: Meteo-Tech Tower/Chemical Plant Island

[Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four | Part Five]

A clawed hand slashing right. A board crashing left. Everything had devolved into chaos and split-second decisions.- Just how Bless liked it, honestly.

"BRING IT ON!" His roar was lost in the clang of metal on metal. Jet's gang had jumped into the fray as the robots descended. Everything was a blur of metal, wires, sparks, and fur. Bless spun, his black claws slicing through several attackers at once. Oil and metal shreds went flying, cutting through their compatriots.

Amy's hammer went crashing into a group of 'bots- only for a new one to reappear in her hand. Her usually kind, cheerful eyes were narrowed. Tails had released a swarm of her specially-made nanobots- clouding the attacking forces' optics. Jet's board nearly smacked into Bless' face. He just barely managed to dodge, sliding into a roll moments before the metal tips of the Extreme Gear would have cut into his face.

While on his back- he kicked up. The spiked soles of his shoes cut into the underside of the board, sparks and wires flying. Jet cried out as his board went careening. Bless didn't bother to see where the bird landed, a streak of green that almost-instantly vanished from his vision.

He didn't wait. Another three metallic attackers were crushed into sheets with the toss of a crumpled-mess of one of Amy's victims.

Node went spinning by- their body unfurling last-second to let their skates crash into a chassis. Bless smirked. He took off forward, arms outstretching.

P-P-P-P-P-P-P-P-P-P-P-P-

His arm swung out. Bless' fangs grit tightly together. Fire suddenly sparked in his nerves. These things were definitely a higher grade-

WHAM!

"BLESS!" His eyes had gone cross- the light still glimmering, but hazy as the werehog's body crumpled to the ground. Jet hovered above the dispatched mobian, his board crumpled around the end- in a shape that could neatly be related to Bless' head. "YOU BASTARD!"

"Oh, shut up." Jet's voice was nearly lost in the cacophany.

Bless tried to stand. Everything was spinning. He could taste iron on his tongue- an eye squeezing shut. Too bright.-

Jet didn't have time to react before the smaller mobian was launching at him.

"YOU SONOVA BITCH!!"

They'd jumped, their skates activating mid-air- the smallest push of the engine allowing them to kick with far more speed and strength than they could naturally muster. The metal sole of their left skate smacked neatly into Jet's chest- a fist colliding not a second later with his beak.

Blood splattered across Node's fist from the impact. Jet went soaring- his board slashing sideways. Node grabbed the edge before it could hit their stumbling ally.

"I gotcha!" They tossed the messed-up board to Bless, before jumping back into the fight.

"Thanks!" He hopped on the board. The fabric that the rider was meant to stand on ripped the instant he got on- but at the moment, he didn't care. He could reimburse Jet later... Maybe.

Bless soared back into the conflict, bright-green light bursting from the back of his board. Everything fell back into a steady rhythm- dodge, weave, hit with the board, punch, weave- his mind was in overdrive, thoughts a million miles faster than his body. It was all a blur of metal, sparks, wires, oil, fur, feathers...

"GUYS!" He spotted a break in the madness. A hole between enemies- leading towards a pathway down the right side... "THERE!"

"SONIC-!" Node's voice came too late. Bless was halfway through a turn, emerald hues just catching the edge. A 'bot had somehow snuck through his hyper-awareness... And it had a barrel- far bigger than that of its compatriots- leveled at him.

He couldn't move fast enough.

Cream-yellow fur speckled crimson blocked his view.

BZZZZZZT!-

Node's body went crashing to the ground.

The smell of burnt fur, skin, and boiling blood filled the air.

"NODE-!" One of the robot's metallic peds slammed into their body. There was an audible CRACK!, the mobian's body going limp. Blood splattered the robot's ped. Bless went stock-still.

"...node?..." There was no response. Their chest wasn't rising.

The Babylon Rogues slowly stepped back. More barrels were leveled, but all he could see- all Bless could wrap his head around... Was the broken body of his partner, now laying on the floor of the tower... The fur around their left thigh burnt to black, several new cuts on their back leaking still-warm life.

It was beginning to pool.

"Let's get outta here-" Jet hurriedly whispered to Wave and Storm.

"NODE!" Amy and Inari's voices filled the air.

Bless could only hear the roaring of blood in his ears. Another mechanical frame was beginning to lower. It was less than a foot from the corpse.

[]

"Hey, what's your name?"

"...Node." They had shuffled their foot- he found it rather funny, at the time.

...

"I- Sonic, I can see so much more, now- there's so many...so many memories- it's all me- I can't--"

"Don't worry, I've got you." Holding them close, smiling that soft smile of his- he realized in that moment that he didn't like hearing their voice twisted in fear. "Just hold onto me. I'm here-- you're here. I'm here...I've got you."

...

"I love you!" They'd laughed for a moment- until Bless held out a small carving of a heart, a smile on his muzzle.

"...I....really?" It had made his heart sink in his chest- but he refused to let it show, his smile forever on his face. "....I....love you, too, Bless."

...

"...Bless..." Their voice, so full of worry as he held them close. He'd been gently brushing their fur with his hand, claws dancing gently along the follicles. "...if- I..if another one happens.....I'm gonna die."

"No." He'd been so insistent. "You won't. You wanna know why?"

"....why?"

"Because I'm gonna keep you safe, no matter what."

[]

"STAY THE HELL AWAY!!!"

The entire tower rumbled, metal groaned and creaked- before the ground split open. The faint glow of Bless' eyes had gone wild- green overtaking white, a bright, brilliant light that burned, flowing out of him. No.-- NO.

Tears fell freely from his eyes. His mouth was wide-open in a silent scream. Bloodied cream-yellow, torn dark gray-- the smell of blood and burnt flesh.

Green shot from the depths of the facility. Vines as thick as trees burst through the floor, twisting metal this way and that. Bless didn't care. He jumped- claws and fangs bared for all the world to see as he landed on his first victim. The 'bot that had attacked Node- had killed them- would be allowed no mercy. All around him, the vines were stretching and winding- smashing straight through the 'bots that he could barely scratch.

Unbeknownst to Bless, his eyes had gone almost pure-light-green, emerald only at the edges, spiraling towards white the closer it got to the center. The army of metal minions were being ripped to shreds, sparks landing on the plants and setting them aflame. Bless only roared louder.

The pain in his chest- the pain throughout his very being- burned. It was an inferno in his soul, only one thing on his mind.

"Because I'm gonna keep you safe."

The flaming vines were growing faster than the fire could burn. Bless smashed into the 'bot that had shot Node- his claws almost snapping as they tore through material that should have been too strong. The glow of the ring in his chest was practically its own blaze, no longer pulsing as his screams of rage shook the building.

Even Amy and Inari almost froze. That wasn't just rage- it was grief. Black and grisly, swallowing his mind whole. He couldn't see- couldn't feel, anything beyond all-encompassing red and violence. His teeth sank into something- he could feel a few crack as they tried to puncture a material on par with them- but he didn't stop. His fangs tore into metal and wire, tasting acrid oil as it spilled into his mouth.

His scream was lost, his own ears deaf to all but the roaring. The blood pumping, the feeling just underneath- like rippling veins, nerves running deeper, far, far deeper than he could reach- responding to his violence, to his pain and his loss.

The vines had smashed all of the 'bots that hadn't been obliterated already together, crushing them into a massive pile. Pricks as sharp as iron dug into metal, tiny offshoots burrowing into wire and circuit alike. The 'bots were ripped apart from the inside.

Bless fell as the carnage raged around him. His soles cut into the tower's floor. Spikes and vines were still growing out of control, the faintest tinges of green blazing at the edges of his claws. He took a step forward- another. The robots that tried to round, to mount an offensive- were smashed by the rampaging flora.

Each step felt like an eternity. An endless, abysmal expanse separating him from the body of his beloved.

But, even that had to end.

He stepped up to the body. The smell of burnt hair and flesh made his nose run, his eyes water all the more.

"INT-" The robot was crushed by a falling shoot of blossoming green. Bless wavered. His vision blurred. His knees felt weak. He collapsed to them, emerald slowly fading back into view. The glow surrounding his body began to flicker and die- the ring in his chest returning to a pace that was slow for the werehog.

"....Node..."

All around him, sparks flew, oil drizzled like rain. The sound of snapping circuitry was lost on him. Amy and Inari were silent, their eyes flicking towards the destruction all around them. The once glowing factory floor had been flooded with plantlife- from blossoming flowers to threading vines to soaring tree trunks, each having impaled a robot- the oil drizzling down green and brown. The lights overhead flickered- several ceiling panels having come loose and fallen, green strings hanging from ruined tiles. Bless' voice failed him, his mouth opening mutely. Strings of saliva snapped between his fangs.

I'm gonna keep you safe.

Smoke rose from where they'd been shot- in the side, their tank-top incinerated, the fur all along their left side burnt to ash. Their eyes were closed, their mouth still open in an eternal, pained cry.

No matter what.

Soft sobs filled the ruined tower floor.