Chapter Text
Not to lead anyone on or disappoint you, but this isn’t a real chapter! However, it does contain some very important information and clarifications before you read, so it’s still worth skimming at the very least. I’m already anticipating a lot of questions so I’ll try to answer the ones I predict here! However, feel free to comment throughout the fic and I’ll address additional questions in the chapter notes.
1. Rarepairs
I know my ships are weird. Rare pairs and crack ships are my guilty pleasure, and I don’t plan on changing that. That being said, I’m also a multi shipper who will support any ship as long as it is legal and doesn’t romanticize abuse! If you want a separate fic with your OTP I will definitely write requests, but for obvious reasons I can’t give you every possible ship just in this fic. Also….
- NSFW (or a lack thereof)
I DON’T WRITE SMUT! I think the Sonic fandom is sexualized way too much, so you aren’t reading the right fic if you want that kind of stuff. Sorry. I may allude to sex at best, but it makes me feel uncomfortable because they’re animals and that’s gross. I also cannot take things seriously, especially smut... you wouldn't want to read my rendition of sonic lemons... sincerely, someone on the ace spectrum
- OCs
I don’t like using OCs. I have some minor ones like motel owners and pedestrians, and I need to create some jackal personas for *spoiler* when Infinite returns back home for certain reasons, but I generally hate having to include my own characters in fics. This is nothing against people who have OCs, I don’t have the right to discredit someone else’s characters! However, besides Infinite's family and filler characters, don’t expect any OCs.
- OC Cameos
On that note, if you want your OC(s) to be a background character, let me know! Keep in mind they won’t be written about for more than a few sentences, but it’s a small thank you and an acknowledgement to my readers that I would love to include in my fic! I have to write in background characters anyways, so a nod to a beloved reader is okay with me despite my distaste for plot-centric fan characters.
- Upload Schedule
It might be good to know that I don’t write my chapters in order, so I can’t exactly give you an update schedule. I also have fic abandonment issues so you really have to comment and read to motivate me because I’m lazy and have zero confidence! It sounds needy (because it is) but it speaks volumes for the snail pace uploads you are about to encounter. I'm also in school all year round (speedrunning my BA atm) so it's hard to make time, but I will do my best!
- Song-fic(?) & Playlist
This is somewhat of a song fic! I probably won’t include lyrics unless I snatch one to use for dialogue, but each chapter will have at least one song that inspired it! I have a playlist on Spotify, but it is due to change so be sure to check in once in a while if you remake it yourself in another app!
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7KabMGCzhe21A110mI0GNd?si=d8EJB5cVSbKXarMEeWUDRg
- Georgia, Baby!
The jackal culture is something I made up entirely, and since I’m Kartvelian I decided to make their official language Georgian, and draw on bits of Georgian culture to add some flavour. I think the country is very underrepresented so I’m using its alienated and interesting circumstances as a base for the jackals, but there’s a slight problem! I hardly speak Georgian. I’m doing my best with what I know but if by some miracle someone reading this speaks Georgian…. PLEASE LEND ME A HAND! MESSAGE ME ASAP! I could really use a Georgian ghostreader, but considering how rare that would be to find, can everyone at least not make fun of my awful Georgian? Most of it is just Georgian names and occasional untranslated words (which I will translate in the end notes for non-speakers) but my grammar probably sucks. Sorry in advance I guess?
- Extended Universe
I have many spin-off fics planned that focus on other characters, so if you like my take on the Sonic universe let me know who you want the next fic to be focused on! I can try and write multiple fics at once to give me options and make me feel less trapped into one set storyline, but I can’t promise fast results for any work considering I have two jobs and am taking summer school; I’m not busy, just emotionally drained if you know what I mean?
- LGBTQ+
I’m not here to debate the lgbtq+ representation in my fics. Not everyone has to be cishet! At the same time, there is a lot of fetishization of mlm and wlw relationships which I hate, and don’t even get me started on trans narratives because in my opinion, so many of them are written poorly. BEING A PART OF THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY IS NOT A PERSONALITY REPLACEMENT FOR CHARACTERS! You can write about the hardships and low moments because they do exist, but don’t make an character based exclusively on their gender or sexuality. Write them three dimensionally just as you would with any cishet character!
- Characterization
My take on the characters isn’t fandom typical. Shadow in particular is more talkative because I based his personality on the SA2-06 era which was basically just an introverted Sonic with PTSD. So as of Forces… just an introverted Sonic. F in the chat for our blue boy! He’s not your typical edgy hedgy, but I personally don’t consider Shadow OOC by any means. Still, if you want me to write like the new Sonic writers, you’re going to be disappointed because I refuse to stoop to that level! He’s allowed to smile and have friends, no matter what SEGA might be trying to say.
Also, things are going to be awkward and maybe even memey for 90% of the fic! This is partially because I don’t take myself seriously as a writer, and also because I think realistic slow-burn needs to be awkward, especially when it’s enemies to friends to lovers.
ART
Okay, this has two parts. One, if you also like drawing and feel like making something based off this fic, please do it! If I have your permission I'll post it under this heading right here, and as long as you credit my fic as inspo you can post anywhere you want :) Second, I draw! Art might be in some chapters, but no promises since most of my drawings are unfinished wips because once again, abandonment issues ;)
Aight, I wish you all well and hope to see you in the near future with a new chapter!
-Izzie <3