#nikkimna

[altraviolet]

Just for funsies while the next chapter comes out, here are the notes for almost every Toaster appearance:

Chapter 15:

"It means I taste-test everything first and if there's something wrong with it, we know right away, cuz I'm so small!" Toaster pounded a tiny fist into a tiny palm. "Unsung hero!"

Not main plot related, just the introduction to Toaster because I like him. I love that he wasn’t stuck in there with SW, SW was stuck in there with him.

Chapter 21:

Toaster wielded a spoon like a sword and whacked Soundwave's shins. "Put him down!"

Toaster being this incredibly brave against Soundwave is amazing and hilarious. There is s reason he survived the DJD.

Chapter 23:

Toaster had made a curious request, but whatever Toaster wanted, Toaster got.

As he should, he’s our hero.

Soundwave was there, too, squished against the window between Rodimus and the wall, because Toaster had specially requested his presence.

I’ve not a clue why Toaster requested SW be there, but this is hilarious.

"Chin up!" Toaster whacked Ultra Magnus's knee with the scepter.

Random character development moment that doesn’t have to do with Rod or SW, Toaster in the fic Cone, was intimidated by Ultra Magnus for both his being an important autobot and his size but thousands of years later he does not care.

Chapter 44:

Toaster wriggled out of Ambulon's grasp and fell to the floor. "Scraplet this!" He kicked Ambulon in the shin.

Iconic Toaster moment, he fears no mech, monster or god. Very cute he feels comfortable to just climb the bed and talk to SW (latch on to Lazerbeak too) but then again why would he hesitate to do whatever he wants? He’s Toaster.

Chapter 47:

His curse-laden muttering softened as he swung an apron on. It was painted with a crime scene style outline of Toaster's body. Scrawled inside the outline were the words, HEro Of THe sHip And THis Is WHat You Do To ME.

This is hilarious and Toaster does NOT deserve this. I wonder how many times weekly he has to wrangle Grimlock with his tiny self.

LOL xDDD it's so fun you've kept track of Toaster ahahaha

also, for the record (I'm not sure if it's clear or not), Toaster made the apron Grimlock is wearing

thank you! glad you have enjoyed Toaster so much =D

behind the cut is a behind the scenes Toaster factoid & spoilers for Cone, which is a humorous short story about a mech who survives the DJD. check it out if you'd like HERE

The reason why Toaster wanted Soundwave with him in the Snowbeast and the reason he has a fondness for SW, is because Toaster is also an ex-Decepticon. at one point he tells SW he is "The student who will someday become a master." this is basically his way of saying "someday you'll grow out of the Decepticon stuff and become like me- no longer a Decepticon, but who you are meant to be." and who is Toaster? the hero of the ship, of course ;)

#nikkimna #toaster #echo garden related

[altraviolet]

I saw someone ask about the joint door, decided to share my notes on chapter 21 about said door— I find it sort of as a tool (? Not sure if that’s the right word for it) to show Rodimus’ growth specifically but that’s just my interpretation, I could be mistaken ofc:

This was the door to Drift's room.

No, this was the door to Soundwave's room. The one they shared. The one Rodimus had sealed up over and over. He lowered his hand. Wrong door.

I love that as his feelings for SW grow his hesitancy to open the down vanishes. Here he’s still a little hung up on Drift because he has never been able to vent about the gray years yet, later when Soundwave is ignoring him after the Stardrive incident he sneaks in the room— Update: In chapter 46 he just bursts in there and it is implied he comes through there all the time to be with Soundwave. I have the suspicion he barely leaves SWs room at this point.

Would love to hear more about your thought process including the door<3

First, the fact that you took notes and put down your thoughts concerning this detail makes my heart really happy, thank you for sharing 😭❤️

Second, you're spot on! The 'relationship' between Rodimus and the door changes as we move through the fic, and what you've stated above is correct. I'll admit, while writing, it wasn't cemented firmly in my brain in actual words. I just knew that the door would be ready when Rodimus was, and he'd use it.

Though! It might interest you to know that in my mind, for most of the fic, it was about Rodimus getting over his unhappiness with Drift. So, while you phrased it as, "Rodimus becomes more comfortable with Soundwave, so the door opens more," which to be clear IS TRUE, in my mind it started as "Rodimus becomes less uncomfortable that the room used to be Drift's, so the door opens more." There's a definite distinction there, but the two things happen to go hand-in-hand. One can't happen without the other.

I honestly can't remember labeling the door as a symbol in my brain early on while writing (some things are definitely Symbols and other things just Become Symbolic When I Look Back At Them), but if I had sat down and thought about it, or been directly asked, I would've realized that it is xD It's a literal door opening onto a new part of Rodimus's life, where he has let Drift go and welcomed SW in. By degrees, of course. There are a lot of messy feelings still, regarding Drift. And it's not always easy to let people in... we'll see more next chapter about that ;)

I'm trying to think if there was anything else about the door... oh yeah, he definitely used it when Drift lived next to him. For nighttime visits xD That's why he was so bitter about it later and had it sealed up. Those things aren't directly stated in the fic, but I'm hoping they don't have to be. It's all implied and follows the internal logic, so I hope folks picked that up.

And oh yes! One other thing. Folks may remember we got a description of Rodimus's room early on. I'mma copy paste that here as a reference for the next thing I wanted to share. Oh oh but while we're here:

The walls didn't answer. They did erupt into shifting holograms, photos and looping videos. Some were of Rodimus posing for the camera, action shots of him in battle or meteor surfing. Over the years, most of the solo images had been replaced by grinning selfies with friends, arms around shoulders, hoisting up a minibot or two.

The above, actually, isn't door related. I just wanted to say that the bolded sentence was meant to show that Rodimus had matured a little since LL #25. The tolls of their journey had forced him to recognize others above himself, and we see that reflected in the decor he chooses to display in his private space. OKAY back to the door:

Across the room was a collage of special images. Rodimus with the original crew of the Lost Light. Individual pics of him with 0001 Mirage and 0001 Trailbreaker and 0001 Skids. A pic of 0001 Ambulon with the rest of the medic crew. Tripodecta, Shock, and Ore sitting down for a drink together. Rodimus didn't have a picture with 0001 Atomizer. He did have a security footage loop of him and Whirl sneaking down a hallway. As always, Rodimus's gaze shifted from the photographs to the section of wall they adorned. It had once been a door. A door between his and Drift's room.

The door, very very specifically, is where he displays pictures of the mechs who died during the LL's canon adventure. These are the mechs he's always looking for. The ones he's already found, of course, are Trailbreaker, Ambulon, and Mirage.

So the door symbolizes not just his past with Drift, but his failures (in his mind) as a captain to keep those original crew members alive. That detail was deliberately chosen to link all those things together. No one's ever asked about it or mentioned it, as far as I can recall, but now you know :)

Woo, that's a lot of pressure for one little door!

So swinging back to your ask, in Ch 21 Rodimus was so excited to talk to Soundwave, he momentarily forgot how much he hated that door, and went right for it. And yes, when SW was avoiding him, he sneaked in that way (since there's a camera in the hall). And yup, he does spend quite a few nights at SW's now ;D

Hmmmmmmm... ok, I think that's it for the door! If you have any other questions just let me know. Thank you again for the interest in my writing!!

#nikkimna #echo garden related #ask #secret door #secret door lore #long post

[altraviolet]

Sorry about the bad news! I decided to gather some out of context TEG notes from my document in hopes to cheer you up a little:

Chapter 1:

First impressions, they find each other strange looking. Rodimus finds SW creepy and SW finds Rod gaudy in amount of pieces and color scheme. This is fun to watch change later on.

Chapter 13:

Rodimus is the first person Soundwave opens up to willingly without being forced to answer. He doesn’t even like Rodimus but the fact Rodimus is only one giving him a chance already makes him more willing to share internal stuff.

Chapter 16:

First instance of SW feeling good things in general (in a non-malevolent way, since the incident) but also feeling good things towards Rodimus. Also first time Laserbeak flutters against his chest in response to Rodimus.

Chapter 19:

Soundwave experiences whimsy. While still anxious and easily irritated with the LL crew, he felt comfortable enough at his party to laugh. In this same chapter he is bothered by being the most hated mech on the ship too. He has nothing left to loose at this time and is settling into life there whether he consciously admits it or not.

Chapter 21:

He’s making fucking friends, let’s go!!!

Chapter 22:

(1) Nautica is naturally friendly, quite like Tailgate, they don’t really have a reason to like SW at all but they want to try regardless. She is very excited to meet SW and I get the sense that while wary of him of course, she believes Soundwave to be gentler than he is— that he just hasn’t had the chance to show it yet.

(2) SW is being a supreme dumbass this chapter.

Chapter 23:

You could cut that tension with a knife, ease up girls.

Chapter 24:

He’s feeling guilty for what he did! Huzzah! Yes you are an asshole!

Chapter 25:

(1) TENTACLE WIGGLIES.

(2) Call back to when they first met, Rodimus did indeed punch him then and it was hilarious.

(3) Rodimus definitely likes cuddling. He made the moves to lean against slenderman.

(4) SW that’s called being happy.

Chapter 26:

He’s learned earning things is more satisfying than taking them, especially when it comes to making Rodimus happy. Regardless for a while he still struggles between what’s good for the ship, what makes Rodimus happy and his own hunger to know everything and do things that only benefit him.

Chapter 27:

(1) My king that’s called enjoying a conversation.

(2) Whirl is crazy!! Slay!!

(3) Whirl is spitting bars actually.

(4) SW literally risks being lost to space to retrieve the vial, the life threatening fight looses priority against the promise Rodimus made him.

(5) TG being a fucking boss. SWs realization that such a small mech can restrain him and that he’s greatly underestimated TG is hilarious.

Chapter 28:

Dude you are so in love.

Chapter 29:

Yes, SW, that’s how making friends works.

Chapter 30:

(1) This is funny to me, some security mechs have noticed the frequency in which Soundwave and Rodimus are seen together but they have it wrong here. It is Rodimus who brings SW along whenever he can, SW doesn’t believe he has the agency to follow Rodimus around without Rodimus asking first.

(2) Less swagger, more purpose is a hilarious line.

Chapter 31:

Do not take Rodimus away from his creepy shadow. He cannot stand being separated from his creepy shadow— he is lonely.

Chapter 34:

(1) I am going to die of heartbreak.

(2) Rodimus you’re behaving like a toddler.

(3) Mirage doesn’t speak of Skywarp here because for some reason he still believes he will face repercussions for loving a decepticon. Meanwhile, Rodimus (the autobot co-captain of the LL) is glaring at his decepticon boyfriend for ignoring him.

Chapter 35:

Yes, Rodimus your boyfriend is creepy. What else is new.

Ok that’s enough!! Hope they’re entertaining<3

aww thank you!! I definitely smiled all through reading that =D

#ask #nikkimna #echo garden related #mmm reader's notesssss #brain nom nom nom

[altraviolet]

Random question— I just remembered Mirage didn’t like it when Rodimus would copy his arm-over-chest motion he did when trying to feel Skywarp’s gems. Did Mirage just not like it because it felt like mockery or is there like some cultural reason he was offended by Rodimus copying the motion back to him?

Oooh nice question :D

Mirage didn't like it because it felt like mockery. No specific cultural transgression, more like, Mirage knows that Rodimus doesn't know why he's doing it, and that's insulting in and of itself. It's a gesture Mirage did to quell anxieties or unhappiness and to try to feel closer to Skywarp. Rodimus has no idea about any of that and copying the motion just felt insulting. Like if someone was limping due to a wound and someone else copied the limp right next to them, but they were not wounded.

#nikkimna #ask #mirage #although now that you've asked me #a cultural reason would be really cool xD #but in the spirit of full disclosure #'it's insulting' was what I had in mind when I wrote it #echo garden related

[altraviolet]

This is kinda random but it’s been on my mind for awhile, I really like Chapter 38!

It’s the one where SW and Rodimus get into the fight about Mirage and trust. I know it’s a tense and difficult moment between them and I definitely FEEL that but I can’t help but find it a little funny— it’s just always read to me as a lover’s quarrel even though they’re not even together that way yet.

There were so many mechs around them to witness it but none of them would even remotely think that and it makes me cackle. They don’t have the intimate view the reader has of the relationship/dynamic between Rodimus and SW so they have no idea what the fight is really about—they didn’t even question it aside from Mirage giving them a weird look and this bit with Nautica that makes me laugh:

Rodimus turned and yelled, “Nautica! Show Soundwave something on that harp that'll make him stop being pissed off.”

Nautica approached with an utterly confused expression. “Erm, I have that song...”

She has absolutely no idea, anyways, I’m excited to see how or whether the rest of the crew’s understanding of them changes. It is so entertaining to me!

Get well soon<3

aww, thanks very much! I'm glad you enjoyed that chapter :D I found it rather difficult to write and I wasn't sure if people were going to like it. I'm glad you did!

and yesssss... it's very fun when you, the reader, know something that the characters don't 😄 it's like you get a sneaky secret, hehehe. this concept is called 'dramatic irony'

quite a few people have commented that they're looking forward to the crew's reaction, if/when this relationship comes out... I've been so brain-deep in our main characters I honestly haven't thought about that much. time to think about it!

thanks for the nice ask! ^u^

#nikkimna #ask #Ch 38 #dramatic irony

[altraviolet]

Just wanted to say I’m loving all the contrast between SW now and at the beginning of the fic. The latest chapter got me to start re-reading the fic again and this time I’m cataloguing stuff like when was the first time SW felt this or that or trying to pinpoint when exactly either of them started having romantic feelings for each other (it’s so much fun and my gf gets to hear me comparing notes literally everyday)

Anyways, I love seeing these two quotes together:

(Chapter 1): “Soundwave twitched, loathing the touch of the Autobot.”

(Chapter 44): “Soundwave would just... check his vitals. Check his wounds. Hold his hands. Briefly. Very briefly. Just long enough to make sure the shapes were still correct.”

He went from probably wanting rip his own plating off when Rod touched him to going out of his way to seek it out. The character the development is so good and felt so natural, I swear I could eat your writing like a good bowl of cereal at 2am.

thanks so much! I'm glad you're enjoying the story and to hear someone is rereading and cataloging details is ❣️ a great compliment!

yesssss the change in Soundwave hehehe. he's been through so much. we're proud of him

and oohh. the turning point for Soundwave is very clear to me. Rodimus, not as much. by this i mean, i know the exact moment for SW but for Rodimus it was a couple tiny baby steps that I'd have to go back and find myself. I wonder if we'd agree on those points :D

happy reading and thanks for the kind message!

#ask #nikkimna #soundwave #echo garden related

[altraviolet]

Idk if anyone’s asked this before but how did you come up with Mirage having gems in his mouth? I forgot if the fic said wether more mechs in his dimension have them.

I recently had a dream where the scene where he gives one to SW played out but for some reason I was Mirage 0_o? You’re writing is really good cause the dream was very vivid.

Whoa OoO That's really cool, thank you for letting me know about your dream :D

No one has asked this before.

The thought process for "gems in the mouth" was something like this: the gems needed to be in a private place, but still accessible. I wanted a combination of intimacy and secrecy... but not impropriety, for lack of a better word, lol. His gems are his identification. So it's like a wallet. You want to keep it safe, but you also need to be able to get your ID out quickly and easily.

There's another reason, too... it's based on the mythology of his world :) There's only one line that references this (Ch 30):

“Our creation stories say we rose from the deep caves of Cybertron. The world beneath gave us all that we needed.” Mirage touched a biolight. “Here flows the lifeblood of the planet, from His veins to our own.” He touched the gems embedded in his arm. “The foundation of our culture, from beneath His tongue to beneath our own. When the war started, Megatron was light: piercing and scouring. He rose in power, backed by the brainwashed faceless.” Mirage's golden eyes flicked to Soundwave. “Faces replaced by monitors. Similar to the work of your Functionists, captain, but for very different reasons. Megatron was not satisfied with Kaon and Iacon. With Vos and Uraya. With Cybertron and its neighbors. With our solar system. With our galaxy. He wants it all. As we dwindling Autobots hid in the dark places between nebulae, we passed the worlds he terraformed in his likeness. To set down upon them is to step into an unimaginable desolation.”

And that is why, specifically, Mirage's gems are beneath his tongue (also Ch 30):

Mirage opened his mouth and lifted his tongue. Beneath it were two clear orbs embedded in his jaw.

As an aside, in Ch 30 we see Mirage talking more about his Megatron. Now you know why his Megatron was not satisfied with Kaon and Iacon. You know why he wanted it all. ;)

#ask #echo garden related #Mirage #nikkimna #gems beneath the tongue

[altraviolet]

Hi, I'm AltraViolet. The SW/Rodimus banner sketch was drawn by @themanlylobster. You can find me here as well:

AltraViolet on AO3

AltraViolet on pillowfort

AltraViolet00 on twitter

altraviolet on bluesky

I like robots, rarepairs, horror, worldbuilding... all the good stuff.

⚠️ In general, my content is neither tailored/suited for, nor intended for minors.

⚠️ Not open to beta unless I know you very well.

💜 I am friendly but I am also very tired. Please be nice to me.

📖 Posts!

Writing Advice:

Writing Advice & Resources

What Writing Program Do I Use?

How do you write a character's voice? (I want to expand on this in the future!)

A couple literary lols and why they Don't Work (examples of what not to do and how to fix them)

Echo Garden Related:

Am I a Real Writer?

Where did the idea for Echo Garden come from? / Why MTMTE Rodimus/TFP Soundwave?

Why did you make TFP Soundwave so tall on the Lost Light?

Did you ship Sound/Rod before or after Cyberverse?

Earliest Screenshottable Proof for MTMTE Rodimus/TFP SW (Jan 2017)

Tracking How Rodimus Feels About Soundwave, notes from nikkimna

#pinned post