generic-sonic-fan

[generic-sonic-fan]

Metal Sonic goes through all the effort of getting deprogrammed and redeemed and afterwards Sonic asks "hey do you wanna be friends now?"

And Metal replies "No. I never want to have to think about you ever again. You are just Somebody to me now. Goodbye."

#this post is like an archeological artifact #it shows just how long ago I had the ending of Complex Inquiries in mind #complex inquiries

[generic-sonic-fan]

If you care to entertain the thought:

The Finnish language has a gender neutral 3rd person pronoun for people and an "it" pronoun for objects & animals = not people. In official/book language at least. But 90% of the time in casual speech, we use "it" to refer to people as well. (It feels like night and day to use "it" in Finnish for people compared to English.)

Do you think Neo would thrive off of hearing people refer to it as "it" so casually if it interacted with (& translated) language speakers with this type of convention? Or would "it" being used like a "3rd person pronoun" feel strange/not fulfilling to Neo, due to the lack of distinction unless written down? (I assume "neutral 3rd person pronoun", by itself, might be like they/them for Neo?)

Similarly; you hc Omega with a strong he/him preference &, IIRC, an even stronger distaste for it/its. Would he tolerate a language that uses "it" so casually when meaning *3rd person pronoun*, not meant to sound objectifying in any way? + All while only having gender neutral pronouns in the first place, even if one was speaking properly (or in writing) & actively not using it/its. >No existing masculine pronouns to affirm gender anywhere (not counting using "Mr/Ms" type of titles).

I suppose it's up to interpretation on how difficult/easy it would be for them (compared to organic characters), to adjust to different language conventions like this, but I'm curious if you have any thoughts?

Ooooh, this is a fantastic question.

I think that Neo would be flattered with either pronoun! Sounds like both forms of "it" within the Finnish language lack a gender or pluralness- and gender is what Neo is seeking to avoid. It would be very pleased with this, and it would also wonder why it was programmed to think in a language as silly as English instead of the clearly superior Finnish. Neo's a bit more, shall we say, cerebral than Omega. I think it would adjust to the different language conventions very quickly.

Omega, meanwhile, would definitely have a preference. He would not tolerate the pronoun that's meant for objects and animals. He'd see it as incredibly demeaning, and you'd have to have a long talk with him to explain that the inanimate pronoun is not demeaning in the context of Finnish culture. He's got a little bit of a self-centered view of the world and doesn't handle the idea of different traditions very well? Mostly he just thinks they're weird and perceives himself as not being a part of any culture (despite that being untrue. He's kinda got the stereotypical American thing going on lol.) He's already a bit of a rebel in his own cultural context, let alone understanding the connotations of different cultures, if that makes any sense? He wouldn't adjust to the different language conventions very easily is what I'm saying.

Thank you for sending this ask!

#not me flavoring omega as an ignorant american lol #but of course the gun/explosion-loving robot is American #please also keep in mind that I am an American! My answer to this ask AND my interpretation of these characters is through that lense #please feel free to correct me if I've interpreted the Finnish language rules incorrectly lol!! #complex inquiries

[generic-sonic-fan]

D.... do robots have gender

based off this;

#complex inquiries

[generic-sonic-fan]

I am so glad people are enjoying Complex Inquiries, but there's just one teeny tiny minor problem that I'm seeing.

(I want to clarify that I'm not offended or ungrateful for my lovely readers! Absolutely not! I love you all so much and I mean that, no matter what your take away was from the story.)

But having a small portion of people gender Neo as he/him in their comments after I wrote a very clear scene where Neo explicitly states it wants to be referred to as it/its or at the very least, anything other than he/him is. . .

. . . a little disappointing?

I worked SO hard to ensure that any time the word "it" was used in my manuscript only ever referred to Unit MS-1/Neo. This was something I kept constantly in mind when I was writing my prose to make sure things were never unclear in the narration of events. Not changing Neo's pronouns from it/its was a very deliberate narrative choice and not one I took lightly.

Neo is explicitly nonbinary, not because "it's a robot", but because it is art. And it is not Sonic.

I also want to acknowledge that "it" can be a very difficult pronoun for some people to use because of past trauma. I absolutely want to respect that. Neo gets a little pedantic about they/them pronouns but that doesn't mean you can't use those pronouns for it. Please feel free to use they/them pronouns instead if it/its doesn't vibe with you.

#god I really hope I'm not coming off as 'that guy' #I know that this is a nitpick #but it felt important enough to post #I know that things get confusing with Metal Sonic's pronouns in general because of the prevalence of fan headcanons #but I'm talking about for my fic specifically where its gender and pronouns are explicitly stated #there's a full scene where Neo decides what pronouns to use #if I hadn't been so direct about it I'd be happy with all pronouns #that's why I'm being a stickler about it #oh and. guess I should put a warding spell on this post just in case: #TERFS BEGONE #delete later

[generic-sonic-fan]

🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

(For anyone wondering the time and scale of a project like this! Note that the word count is a little inflated from the AO3 word count because there's other text on the document, like the summary and little notes to myself and otherwise.)

#complex inquiries

[generic-sonic-fan]

The epilogue.

This fic is now complete. You could call it my magnum opus.

A huge thank you to @neoncherryblossom for being my beta reader for this project. And another huge thank you to everyone else who supported me along the way!

#complex inquiries #IT'S DONE!!!!!!

[generic-sonic-fan]

Sorry to not go for Omega with this but I have GOT to go with "assimilated sonic AU." I must know what you are cooking!

Ack! That WIP seems to be a really popular pick! You're one of three people to send me an ask about it.

This post right here pretty much covers the gist of it. This fic would be my maximum gratuitous angst fic, where bad things happen to Sonic and all of his friends (and his enemies) have to come together to help him.

It's arguably my most self-indulgent fic idea? It's just a lot of hurt/comfort and friendship. Which, if you couldn't tell, are my two favorite genres of fic to write. Even Eggman gets in on some of the friendship happenings, as a sub-arc for the fic would be him and Tails comparing and contrasting themselves to each other only to find out (in horror) that they're not so different after all.

Which means that, yes, the fic would contain an Eggman redemption arc of all things. What can I say? I'm a slut for redeeming autistic-coded characters. I cannot change. I'm the writer and in my little universe I just want everyone to be nice and get along 🥺👉👈

#ask game

[generic-sonic-fan]

I'm curious about Assimilated Sonic AU!

Oops! You and everyone else, it would seem! You're one of three people to ask for this one.

This post that I made a year ago tells you how long this idea has been bouncing around in my head. Pause here to read it, and then come back to this post.

I must say, since you're my Metal Sonic mutual, you've reminded me that I actually haven't made any plans for him to appear in this story idea! Sage is the one featuring super prominently, but Metal is nowhere to be seen.

This is because this fic idea is an artifact of the time on this blog before I discovered that Metal Sonic and Omega were my favorite characters! Isn't that crazy? I didn't even know of Omega's existence at this point, lol.

I'll have to brainstorm a way to include Metal in this story. AKA, what kind of dad Eggman is. And that reminds me that I also should really write at least one more chapter for A Father's Embrace. . .

#ask game #man I've got a lot of proto-longfics in my drafts! this is getting out of hand

[generic-sonic-fan]

what's the assimilated sonic thing?

Oh dear! At least two other people besides you have asked for this one, lol. Unfortunately, it's the one that I've worked on the least, as I've been meaning to beat the new ending of Sonic Frontiers before really writing it.

Longtime fans of this blog may recognize this post, where I outlined the idea over a year ago. It's still sitting around in my drafts- it was going to be my original attempt at a longfic for this fandom before Complex Inquiries grabbed me by the neck.

I still really really like the idea of sending Sonic on a sort of amnesia time travel trip- he remembers different things at different times. Sometimes he'll wake up and the last thing he remembers is "Sayonara, Shadow the Hedgehog" and at other times he'll wake up, be completely mute, and not even remember Tails. But I also like the idea that throughout all of these, the only person he really clearly remembers is Sage- something something they experienced the unique agony of Cyberspace together something something.

TL;DR: The End isn't even really the main focus on the fic. The focus is on Sonic, but also on Eggman, as he's forced to have proximity to all of his nemeses as everyone comes together to try and prevent the End from taking over.

Aaaah, maybe I'll finish it someday. Right now I've only got a few rough rough rough first draft chapters.

#ask game

[generic-sonic-fan]

#no comment #if enough of you spam me with asks about this I WILL write a short blaze x omega fic #that is a threat

[generic-sonic-fan]

I realised I asked in the wrong place because I'm stupid - but I would like to know what Omega is doing in the basement?

You are not stupid! In fact, I was just preparing to answer your comment on the post when you sent this, lol.

To answer your question- what is Unit E-123 Omega doing in the basement? He would sure like to know the answer as well. His wonderful creator, the brilliant Dr. Ivo Robotnik, said that he was the most powerful of his creations- so why is he waiting around in a basement with nothing but a glowing green capsule for company?

(TL;DR: this fic is my idea for novelizing Omega's origin story. It would be very much in the spirit of Complex Inquiries, exploring the slow and steady character development of how Omega went from Eggman's most praised creation to hating everything he stands for. The fic would take place within a single room- the room containing Shadow -which I have jokingly dubbed "the basement" in my notes for this fic.)

As for an excerpt of this fic, you've already read one- I used my idea for a first chapter for this fic within my Team Dark Week Day 4 fic. The fic will be structured with "MEMORY LOG 0XX" format.

#ask game

[generic-sonic-fan]

✨Eggman destroying hours✨

#destroy eggman wednesday #it's been so long!!! i'm so sorry omega

[generic-sonic-fan]

Premature congratulations on graduating, & a tip of a hat to the bold move of prioritising important irl things over being online !! Grindset and all that.

And for the ask game on another hand:

Both "Family fight" and "Eggman apologises" intrigued me at first glance, so you can tell of whichever you're more passionate about at this time. 👀

Thank you!

I'll answer this ask for "Family Fight".

TL;DR of the thing is that I'm busy making Team Dark fight each other again. The long answer is that this is my long-hinted at piece of headcanon Team Dark lore that I've had bouncing around in my head for a long while now.

Shadow crosses a line. Omega responds violently. And Rouge is left to pick up the pieces, walled off by two teammates who refuse to talk out their differences. Worst of all, GUN is breathing down her neck to determine if Omega is "safe to continue operation".

. . . it's hitting her harder than she expected.

--- Excerpt below ---

In her hands Rouge held the fragments of aluminum alloy; alloyed with what, she couldn’t determine, as the scraps were still stained with Shadow’s blood. Titanium and a pinch of merge steel, if she had to guess. Typical for missiles. She was a jewel thief, not a weapons specialist, though she certainly still knew her way around metals. 

She’d asked for the fragments from the surgeon when he had finished the job. Keepsakes, of a sort. She was sure she’d find a place for them back in her apartment. Whenever she’d have the chance to return there, that is. 

Shadow laid on the crisp white covers of the hospital bed.

. . .

“Where’s Omega?” Shadow muttered.

“Quarantined, of course.” Rouge replied. “We were hoping you could tell us a bit more about what happened. Not every day Omega gifts you with a new hole blown straight through your chest.”

“It was an accident.”

“An accident?” The GUN officer said. “Agent, our analysis shows that E-123 hit you with a direct missile blast.”

“An accident.” Shadow repeated. 

“Really. An accident. Care to elaborate?” Rouge asked.

Shadow glanced at the officer. “Nothing more to say.”

#ask game

[generic-sonic-fan]

A while ago you mentioned how you were going on a temporary hiatus. I just wanted wish you the best of luck with anything going on in your life and hoping you’re doing okay.

Thank you for sending this ask! It means a lot to me.

I'm kind of in a weird spot right now where it's the calm before the storm. I'm out of my previous life troubles, but in a few weeks things are going to really ramp up for me and I might not have much time to be on here. The TL;DR of it is that I'm preparing to graduate college!!! Very exciting stuff, but a lot of work that needs to go into that.

Another thing I've really been struggling with is my OCD symptoms and tumblr's dashboard system. For a long time, I felt absolutely horrid about myself if I didn't scroll all the way down my dashboard to catch up to where I left off the previous day. Eventually I missed a day, and then that day became two, and then it continued to pile up and I felt so bad about it I sort of left for a little.

Now I'm a few months behind the "current events" of the community. I've missed a lot of posts even from people I considered my closest friends on here and I'm trying to pick up the pieces. It's slow work and it still makes me feel nervous but I know I'll be okay. I've also been trying to take more breaks from the internet in general. You guys are an absolute blast, but I'm also enjoying spending my last few months with my college friends.

So I guess, much like Neo from Complex Inquiries, I'm working a bit on breaking my own internal rules for myself. That's my bit of honesty for today. Please remember that you guys are awesome and that none of what I am describing is in any way your fault!!! I always love to see your notifications on my posts and I always appreciate your support. It means a lot to me.

[generic-sonic-fan]

WIP ask game

RULES: make a new post with the names of all the files in your WIP folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. Let people send you an ask with the title that most intrigues them, and then post a little snippet or tell them something about it! and then tag as many people as you have WIPs.

Thank you to @neoncherryblossom for the tag!

---

In my WIP folder, I have 25 documents. This is insane. I am never going to finish all of them and I don't want to hype you guys up for something that will never exist. Instead, let me only share the titles of ones that I could be motivated to finish if someone prodded me enough:

Assimilated Sonic AU

Eggman apologizes to Omega

Family fight

Omega flicky whump

OMEGA PAINTBALL

omega basement fic

i was such a good sacrificial lamb (until you came along)

I'll go ahead and tag (but no pressure!) @wonderinc-sonic and @brucenorris007, and then I'll leave the tag open for anyone to jump on. Please tag me if you jump on this!! I'd love to see your work.

#I love that this WIP list is all omega until you get hit with the angsty title at the bottom that's obviously about someone's dead sister :) #ask game

[generic-sonic-fan]

#NEW SOURCE OF OMEGA ANGST DETECTED #prev tag was so genius I had to immortalize it #e-123 omega

[generic-sonic-fan]

Well, I started reading “The M Word” because of you, so congrats on that. Do you have any other fic recommendations that you feel are under rated or flew under everyone’s radar?

Hmm, sure, I can bust out a few real quick!

I would 100% recommend everything from @wonderinc-sonic. Literally their fics are so underrated it HURTS. My particular favorites are Serial Number, which writes Omega so well that I use it as a reference point for how I write him, and then their Post- Cyber Virus series. The latter is a very unique and hard-hitting series about the Sonic robots being forced to take organic forms, and let me tell you that as a mentally ill person who's always related to robots more than humans, reading how their struggles are written in this series quite literally knocked the wind out of me. Every time this author comes out with a new fic I am continually impressed with what they can do with their prose!!!

Other underrated fics I like from different authors are:

"Do Badniks Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Sinnamon, for some fantastic and very in-character Team Dark hurt/comfort.

"For the Best" by Imaginaria for an absolutely perfect hurt no comfort regarding Metal Sonic's voice (or lack thereof). I also like this author's other SFW fics, but if you check out their profile, make sure to sort by that!

"you made me, and i love you" by sketchjii, for some wonderful angsting about Maria (because that's the trend I'm on apparently)

"Beauty is in the Beholder" by Fumiku. Some of Fumiku's other Metamy works got the attention they deserve, but I feel like this one, featuring the rare take of Metal and Amy already being together when the story starts, is criminally underrated for its wonderfully realistic romantic themes.

"Chrysanthemum" by pastelspindash for an absolutely wonderful take on a more rebellious Maria and how Shadow remembers her as a whole person.

For my last suggestion, I'll recommend an absurdly good crossover that sounds insane but PLEASE trust me: "Hell on Mobius" by DoomFox. It's a Sonic and Doom crossover. Even if you hardly know anything about Doom, you have to read it. It's so fascinating with some genuine emotion in there. I love this fic to pieces and for how good it is it's criminally underrated.

#fic recs #sth