Hello! Welcome to my silly blog where I talk about my hyperfixations and just decompress from daily life.
I also write, and this post serves as a sort of introduction to my writing.
You can definitely ask for my thoughts on something that can be turned into a fic, but I’m not sure if I’ll have the energy to make it into a full fic! I’m a full time student and I write fanfic just for fun.
I only ask for:
Being respectful in the asks/comments/reblog
Do not pretend fics from writers, nobody pays us, we do this for sillies and express ourselves
Do not even try to suggest the usage of AI in my fics. First because I don’t need that thing to do what I like, second because it fucking sucks
Anyway under the cut some fic I wrote and the fandoms I write for!💐
Fandoms I write for (they might change):
Transformers
No I’m not a human
Thomas the tank engine
Motorsport
Sleep token
JJBA
The band Ghost
Masterlist
Transformers
Let me see arch your back: Megatron x reader
In your arms I’ll always love you: Megatron x reader
It's been almost 10 years since I first came to the realization that I wasn't straight- a few less to discover what non gender conforming meant.
I never wanted to be a girl and feeling like I didn't belong In the body that was given to me: I remember myself being miserable when family told me, when my period came ever so young "you can't be a boy".
I guess they were, for just a small part, right: being a girl didn't suit me, but I also didn't belong into a boy's body.
Now at 22 years old, queer and gender non conforming person I feel on the right path.
It's still hard: my language doesn't have a neutral and a third gender isn't recognized. But deep down I know that it'll get easier, and as long as I'm okay with myself, then everything will be alright.
I'm not usually proud of what I am or what I do, but this is a small victory for myself. Accepting who I am.
I know that many people out there will celebrate this month in silence or in fear because they can't come out.
The only thing I can tell you is this: we see you.
We see your pain and struggle, but also the joy and serenity of being just ourselves.
During this hard times, with conservatism and censorship of queer history on the rise, we must remember as a community to stand together and support each other. Our differences are what make us stronger.
We are one and we shall stand against injustice.
Happy pride everybody🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
Hey!!!!!!! So I'm decompressing from college and have suddenly gotten really into ttte, and you are coming in so clutch with your driver!reader headcanons and short stories. The friendship dynamics are SO sweet and I'm absolutely living for them!! Thank you for doing what you do :)
Oh my gosh thank you very much anon!
I'm really glad that you enjoy the silly stuff I write🫶
I honestly don't how what they put in ttte to make it so nice to decompress (especially the first seasons with the train models). Maybe the colors and the slow storytelling? anyway it's an amazing show to watch even as adults.
I'll be sure to write more in the future, especially after I finish my uni thesis and start the new course after I'll graduate in October.
Hmm. Thinkings. The street performance / busking scene on modern Sodor is probably pretty lively, seeing as how the island is a bit of a hot spot for tourism with all the railways and natural scenery.
I think performers (well. competent ones at least) at the train stations are generally liked, even well-regarded in the more touristy spots, since passengers really enjoy the treat of live music. As long as performers don't cause problems, station staff won't chase em off.
Many of the engines also like the novelty, and bolder/more curious ones will sometimes talk to the buskers.
James once landed himself in hot water by convincing an unsuspecting violinist to play "flight of the bumblebee" on a day the express was delayed due to a swarming bee colony settling near a signal. Gordon did not think this was funny.
I wrote this in one day, pardon my poor writing
Diesel is so funny to write istg
Requests are open in case you want to!
Part three of the head canon will be coming in the following weeks!
Masterlist and rules for requests
Sugar is bad for engines.
It's one of the first things you learn when you study their anatomy and how they work: sugar clogs up their system, leading to sickness and necessity to clean the tank. It's a very long process that can make them out of order for a few hours or even a day if the damage is bad.
That being said the engines you work with are extremely curious about humans, but mostly what they consume. It's such a foreign concept to them — humans have infinite combinations of fuel instead of just a few options (coal, water and fuel)? And don't even start to explain them about taste buds and how different foods can have different taste (even the same food just in a different conservation state? Crazy).
Since you've been assigned as a relief driver, and one of the youngest people to be, you've became the number one go-to person to explain human nutrition to them. They're so passionate about everything but are afraid of overstepping their role of "very useful engines" by asking silly questions (and don't want to bother the older workers and drivers).
You of course indulge in every single one, using every opportunity to let them learn about human's food. The best time is when you get assigned a goods train filled with food, making it a teaching moment for whoever you're driving.
On the other hand you're also curious: yes, tecnically they don't eat because they use their type of fuel, but they seem to have every human's sensory imput: they can feel touch, see, listen, even smell! But taste? You're in the dark about it.
Well, until a certain engine himself gives you a chance you discover new stuff about them and himself.
"Ehy you, what are you munching about?"
It's late that night but the dieselwork is still buzzing with activity. There are few employees around, some just doing normal maintanance others leaving. You're sitting on a crate filling an incident form from earlier today. It's been a long day and you haven't eaten anything since a light lunch you had around eleven, so you're snacking one of your favourite snack: biscuits with a layer of dark chocolate on top, a staple of your childhood that your parents sent you in a care package a few days ago.
You look up at the black engine, already smiling.
"Ehy Diesel, just some biscuits I got from my parents. I haven't eaten yet but I'm hungry so-"
"Gimme one"
You stare at him. "Why?"
"Because I want one, now gimme!"
You giggle nervously, Diesel can be very silly sometimes.
He's not and he just glares at you. He's dead serious.
"Absolety not!" you exclaim, rising from the crate.
"Wha-WHY NOT?" he shrieks out, his faceplate going red from indignation as if you've just told him that there isn't anymore fuel for the day.
"Diesel you can get sick, it's not good for you!"
"Says who?"
"Oh nobody, just every manual and lesson about diesel engines I took for this job!"
"I said I want one!"
You sigh. He's a real headache, the devious Diesel.
You had your doubts about him for the longest time, mostly influenced by the steamies you have driven over the course of your employment on the Sodor's Railway system.
Everybody knows Diesel and try to steer away from him as much as possible.
Rude. Sly weasel. Proud. Dangerous.
You heard and still hear these adjectives thrown at him sometimes — to be fair it's not like it's not true, but it leaves out a big chunk on why he's like that. The treatment that diesels, even the nicer ones, get while working on the railway it's always a topic of conversation among the workers: used mostly as shunters they also show inner social class conflict among themselves, especially those who can take passengers and more important jobs.
Already under steamies by number they also fight among themselves.
You've witnessed it pretty well, resulting in workers and drivers getting involved when things were getting out of hand and wheel.
You got assigned Diesel a few times and it had been rocky: he knew who you were, and worst of all he always saw you working with the steamies. With Duck.
You knew that their relationship was bad at best, with the green engine ignoring the diesel as much as he could, which was one of the reasons you were a bit weary about him.
He wasn't entirely happy about you too, refusing to talk and cooperate; that was until you put your foot down and reprimanded him gently, asking to just do his job and that after you wouldn't bother him.
Well, it seemed to have worked pretty well because next you know he's vouching for you to all the other diesels to treat you with respect. Apparently it doesn't work on him.
"Diesel what it's all about? Do you even eat? I mean, you have a mouth but…" you ask as you lift the crate and putting it on the tracks in front of Diesel. He huff and rolls his eyes at you, rolling along until he reaches you, his buffers in front of you.
You smile as you stroke him, knowning it brings him a lot of comfort.
"Well no we don't but-"
"Then I kinda can't give it to you Diesel, what's the point?"
"We can taste things! But not eat like that, it's- urgh!" he growls and looks away, seemingly embarassed.
You giggle. It feels like talking to a child sometimes.
"Diesel look, talk to me. I can't understand unless you tell me what's bothering-"
"It's unfair!" you jump at his outburst, clearly unexpected, "I saw yesterday that Thomas getting offered coal and eating it. And he boasted about it!"
Ah. Well, now everything is more clear.
"Diesel… are you jealous?"
"Never say that word! Me, a diesel, jealous of a steamie? No chance!"
"Ok ok!" you laugh, scratching his buffers, "Regardless, you could still have your fuel put in your mouth right?"
"Yeah but it's not the same! I-" he looks down at you, eyes shifty before he mutters something that you swore you would've never guess could come out of his mouth.
"I would like to eat with you. Like, munching, or whatever you humans do."
Your heart skip a bit and you feel all giddy inside.
Diesel, THE Devious Diesel, wanting to eat with you? Unbelivable. You should've recorded it.
You laugh, which is not the reaction the engine expected.
"Ugh, forget it! You silly human!"
"No no Diesel come back!" you plead with him as he pulls away slightly before stopping, "I'm sorry, i didn't mean it. Thank you."
"For what?" he scoffes, eyes looking at anything but you.
"For your honesty. I would love to eat with you, next time you just have to ask. I don't think it's possible to make your fuel as hard to bite it, it might clog your system...I could ask for a tank of fuel and a straw, it could be like drinking a cocktail? I'll find a way don't worry"
You smile softly at him as a deep red climbs all over his faceplate and nods, all flustered. You must've done a great job if you've managed to get him out of his comfort zone to open his black heart to you.
You need to pat yourself on the back.
Since today it's my birthday (22 years, omg) I'm indulging in some engines x relief!driver before i go back to study.
Being autistic on your birthday can be very difficult so I wrote this for some comfort, I hope some people can relate to it.
"What do you mean that tomorrow it's your birthday?!"
You close your eyes, wincing at the engine on your right who decides that shouting at roughly six in the morning is a good idea.
"James please, it's not a big deal-"
"Not a big deal? C'mon, it's your birthday!" Thomas chimes in, all happy and letting out steam.
"Yeah, birthdays are fun!" Percy adds. "We all saw Sir Thopam's birthday a few months back and it was amazing!"
"Percy, Sir Thopam is an important man, of course he's going to have a very special birthday."
"But that doesn't mean that you shouldn't have the same treatment!"
"Emily it's okay, I don't care about it."
"But it's an important day too!"
You sigh, checking Edward's wheels to try to distract yourself from the discussion. You really hoped to not let the engines at Tidmounth's shed know about it, to let it pass silently on the background of the busy railway like every year.
But Paxton, oh ever so sweet Paxton, had come by just a few minutes before to tell that Sir Thopam Hatt sent his deepest congrats for your birthday since he would be extremely busy the next day. You couldn't blame him honestly, but you wished that the timing had been better.
"Guys can we please just- forget about it?"
"Nonsense!" chuffs Gordon, rolling his eyes, "It's a year passed alongside us, not to mention every single year you didn't tell us, it would be disgraceful not to celebrate."
You pinch the bridge of your nose, a raging headache forming right on your temple. You really don't want to deal with this.
"Guys please, let's not get ahead of ourselves and bother them…" You silently thank Henry for trying but that only makes the others bicker between themselves about what to do.
"Maybe a party?"
"Wait we could invite Duck and Oliver"
"Maybe we could get the master to leave the shed open for the night for-"
"Would all of you please fucking stop?"
You didn't even realized you opened your mouth, still staring at the blue wheels in front of you. An eery silence now interrupted only by the sounds of the nearby yard, trucks and engines stretches in the shed. You look around at the engines, who are looking more shocked than you.
"I-I'm sorry guys, I didn't mean to snap… Please do not speak about it again, I hate it and I don't care."
You don't hear their responses because Edward's fireman arrives to help light Ed up, and nobody dares to speak up.
--------------------
It's tense, Edward and his fireman can feel it from a mile away. They're old and wise, they know that something is wrong: you haven't spoken a word all morning beside a few words, focused on Edward's levels of steam and the road. But they don't know what's the problem.
"Ed do you know what's up with them? They have such a long face today."
They've stopped on a siding and it's only the two of them while you're in the bathroom at the station during the midday break.
"I really don't know… since this morning they've been so down."
His fireman hums, then adds: "Did they say something this morning? I can only assume it happened before I arrived at the sheds."
Ed shallows and takes a deep breath.
"Do you promise not to say anything?"
"Of course Eddie, what's up?"
"We found out that tomorrow it's their birthday. The others were insisting on celebrating but they exploded, telling everyone they don't care and hate their birthday… Fireman, what could that be about?"
The man's eyes widens in surprise: you're not the type to blow up to anyone, especially engines, so it must be something very deeply personal. He sees you walking back and he gets out of the cab, giving Edward some comforting strokes.
"Old friend, try to talk to them. They probably feel really bad enough for this morning and they trust you well enough. I'm going to get some tea."
He walks away, smiling at you when you come back.
"Sorry Ed," you say, not looking up to him and focused on some notes in your notebook, "there were many people for the bathroom, and the Toby stopp-"
"Driver are you okay?"
You immediately look up to him, shocked by the question. Edward can clearly see you eyes red and puffy, probably from crying in the bathroom, which makes him feel bad.
"I'm so sorry for this morning, I should've put a stop to it when I had the chance. They didn't mean to make you upset, they were just really exctited to celebrate you. They didn't know, I didn't know that such topic was really hurtful to you and I should've told the others to quit it."
"Edward it’s okay-"
"It's not dear. I can see that it troubles you in some way. I just want you to know that you can always talk to me or fireman about it. We're friends, and friends help each other."
There's a moment of silence, then you murmur something.
"-the stares…."
"Sorry dear, what did you say?"
"It's- the stares Ed," you repeat yourself more clearly, your gaze now focused more on your hands twinsting in front of you, "I hate them so much."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I mean exactly that… It's being watched, judged- sorry it's really hard to explain."
"Don't worry, we have plenty of time. Take your time to gather your thoughts, I'm not going anywhere."
That's one thing you like about him, and probably the reason why most engines come to him for advice, vent or simply talk. But it's difficult to explain it to him, he probably doesn't even know what you're talking about.
You take a big breath before speking up again. There goes nothing.
"I fear being percieved- there's such a pressure to perform during that day: smile for the camera, the songs, the stimulies, textures. And don't get me started on faking expression of gratitude when somebody gifts you something so bad you want to curl up and cry- god forbid that people actually get you things based on what you like and your interests."
You chuckle sadly, leaning on his buffers during your rant, arms wrapping around you. He hums but doesn't dare to interrupt you.
"Did you ever tell anyone about how you feel?" he tries gently after a few seconds of silence between the two of you.
"Tried once, what I got was being grounded and something along the lines of 'grow the fuck up'. So i stopped all together, it didn't feel like celebrating anymore, more like an animal at the circus," you finally look up to him, tears already streaming down your face, "It simply doesn't feel special anymore."
Edward feels his core trebling with sorrow seeing you like this. He can't imagine how difficult it must be to open up about such a delicate topic.
Oh how he would love to be able to hug and comfort you, but he can't and he feels at a loss on what to do. He's sure that himself and the other engines want to be able to show their appreciation in some way.
That's when an idea pops into his funnel.
"How would you like to spend your birthday?" he asks suddenly.
You turn around with a confused sad look, finding him staring at you with soft but determined eyes.
"N-Nobody has asked me before" you admit while trying to dry your tears, "well, they did but didn't listen."
"I'm listening now. If you could imagine a perfect birthday for you, how would you describe it?"
"A quiet night with friends, maybe a gift and sweet treat." you say it wthout thinking.
He smiles softly and slightly bumps you, making you giggle in the process while you dry your tears.
"Then that's what you'll get!"
"Edward you don't have to-"
"We want to celebrate you dear driver, you deserve it. Besides, Percy and Thomas would never let you live it down if they couldn't celebrate you in some way."
You smile fondly at the thought of your engines caring about you so deeply. In the meantime his fireman had come back from the bathroom and is now in the cab.
"C'mon you two, we have deliveries to do today!"
You nod before giving Edward a stroke around his buffers and getting into the cab to beging work once more.
That night after you go back home, Edward and the other engines don't waste a single moment into planning something for you.
The next day is exactly how you can imagine it: you go to the shed to be greated with many "happy birthday's" and whistles from the steam team. The day goes smoothly without any interruptions, no troublesome trucks and annoying passengers.
But when you get Edward to the sheds in the evening the engines welcomes you with a pretty wrapped package (which ends up being a couple of books who wanted to read) and a box from your favourite bakery.
You nearly cry as you thank each one of them and spend the early night in the shed, chatting and laughing with each one of them about anything and nothing.
You can't think of a better way to spend your birthday.
Just a very short one-shot I had in mind and wrote during some down time I had between lessons
It's all black around you and you can't move.
You can feel your entire body hurting like hell, your muscles on fire and sore at the same time. You can also hear a faint rhytmic sound coming from afar, alongside something else. A voice maybe. You can't hear what it's being said, it's all too blurry.
You can't exactly figure out what would've put you in this position to be honest, your memories a complete blur of images. The last thing you remember is being on the comms with Tailgate, talking about the movie night happening at Swerve's and judging his poor taste in human's cinematography.
Then nothing.
You try to move again, even just a fingertip, a toe, something.
Maybe it does work because the only steady sound keeps playing wherever you're laying, the voice now quiet. Then something is squeezing your hand slowly: once, twice, three times. An unspoken declaration of love.
Megs.
You don't know with what strengh but you move your eyelids, and your eyes open slightly just to close from the excessive light in the room.
Okay it really hurts, you have to admit.
But you have to try harder, staying in this abyss of darkness is making you panic and surely Megs is worried.
You try again but this time slower: bit by bit you open your eyes, white lights coming right from the ceiling. It must the medbay, you think to yourself, since the other parts of the Lost Light have a different tone.
You see an servo coming towards your face.
"MAX STOP, IT'S M-"
You move out of the way from reflex. Wrong move.
A scream comes out of your mouth, like an animal whailing in pain, while you grab your side. Everything is burning, like you've been engulfed in fire. Your mind it's spinning, high on the sudden adrenaline. You try to get up, pushing with the only arm you don't have in a cast, causing more pain that shoots through your entire back.
"No no no, don't try to get up, you're still weak-!"
He's trying so hard to be delicate with you, especially in such a frail moment like this; but he's panicking inside, his system going crazy inside of him, protocols popping up that he has to turn off frantically.
His servo comes down to grab your hand, thumb stroking the back of it, hoping that the action will help you focus. He looks at the monitor worried, the numbers on the screen too high for his liking.
"My light I need you to take some deep breaths, you're working youself up too much."
You try, focusing on him and his red optics looking at you so worried, but it's very difficult. You lean back, moaning in pain and moving your gaze around the room.
"Megs- O-god Me-ghs-"
"Shh, you're okay my love, you're safe. Nobody will hurt you now but you need to calm down-"
"M-My ar-m, M-Megs-" you cough and pant in pain, every single action making your chest hurt.
Megs hurries across the room and in a few seconds he's right beside you again, a glass of water in his servo. He slowly brings it up to your lips, his other arm supporting you back without hurting you. You slowly drink, each gulp feeling like ambrosia for the gods, then you lean back, eyes closed.
You hear him move around before he settles down and takes your hand again.
"I commed Ratchet, he should be on his way."
Humming your head lulls to the side before you open your eyes to look at him again.
"What happened? Why am I…Are you okay?"
You see his optics shifting towards the floor, his other servo in a fist, slightly trembling
"I'm fine, but it's not necessary to talk about it now-"
"I-I have a right to know Megs, I can't remember what h-happened."
He sighs, knowing he can't lie to you, your stubborness is one of the traits that made him fall in love with you in the first place. But he's delicate about it, trying to soften his voice before speaking.
"Max got you during one of his episode, and squeezed. Hard," he states, gaze still on the floor, "By the time I got there, you were… I'm so sorry, it's my fault."
You sighs, your thumb stroking his servo. You know Max and what he's been through, but also the amazing progress he's done with Rung in therapy.
"It's not your fault, anybody could've been there-"
"But it was you! You-" he bites his derma, trying to calm his rage and frustration, "you're not made of metal, you're not a Cybertronian, you can't get parts here-"
He finally looks up to you and you can clearly see coolant around his red optics.
"I can't fix you, and I'm afraid you will die."
You know absolutely well why he's having this reaction: his beloved's a human, one of the species he's tried to destroy during the war without much care. He's become to understand the fragility of human's life, how precious and short it is. And now he was incredibly terrified for you. You smile softly at him.
"Megs, I promise you that I won't leave you anytimes soon. We'll just have to be careful. It's not anybody's fault for today, especially not yours."
He's not too sure of it by the look on his face, so you continue.
"I'm here, I'm speaking to you. What did Ratchet say about my diagnosis?"
"Broken arm and bruised ribs-"
"A broken arm heals, and the ribs—well, those are going to hurt for a while but soon i'll be better. Don't think about me dying just yet, we have so much to do together ok?"
He chuckles, his servo drying his tears: "How would I live without you my love?"
"You couldn't, like I wouldn't live without you," you chuckle as well but stop when you feel pain shooting through your entire chest. But you keep smiling and so does he, his servo never leaving yours.
"Do you need something love before Ratchet comes in and kicks me out?"
Here it is, the second part for this series! Again I apologize if I didn't write a specific situation for an engine but I haven't had the time to watch any more episodes.
This will be the last for the series for a few weeks since I have exams and a trip to Budapest coming up, but the next in line are Diesels!
Have a good reading!
Engines: Hiro, Bill and Ben, Spencer, Rebecca, The flying Scotsman, Nia, Rosie, Porter, Victor
PART ONE--PART THREE
Engine 51: Hiro
- You couldn't believe your ears when Sir Topham asked you to be Hiro's driver for the week: THE Master of the Railway, the strongest engine on the island, and you get to be his driver!
-When the two of you meet you feel like throwing up and can't stop shaking from excitement. He simply smiles and welcomes you aboard, thanking you for helping him for the week. He's very happy to have a new driver and to show you around.
-Even tho he's one of the biggest engine on the island he's the calmest and kindest out of all of them. You're amazed at how chill he is, never yelling or getting excessively angry at someone.
-He likes a nice and quiet break so he takes you to his favourite part of the island, usually forests and the countryside, to relax before taking more trains or trucks
-He'll introduce you to Thomas and will tell you how he saved him a long time ago and everything that went down with Spencer. You're pretty disturbed at the actions of the private engine but Hiro reassures you that he had been forgiven already; they don't talk much nowadays but there's no hate whatsoever.
-The two of you spend a lovely time together: you ask him many things about his time on the island and his homecountry Japan and he will ask about your job and your life as a worker of the railway. He loves talking about Japan and its beauty, you can see a certain light shine in his eyes when he speaks about it.
You ask him once if he would like to go back and he smiles back.
-"My dear driver, Japan is my homecountry, which I love dearly. But Sodor it's where my home and friends are."
-When his driver is back he now considers you as a dear friend and would love to have you again on board.
Bill and Ben
-Another set of brothers! Of course, like Donald and Douglas, both of their drivers are also related and both got hit with the flu one week after the other.
-The first day you meet the engines they both try to confuse you by pretending to be the other but you don't fall for it easily.
-Now these two are the definition of menaces that can put cheeky Thomas and Percy to shame: they love playing games in the harbour and at the clay pits, pushing empty trucks between each other or bumping them towards other engines. Their teasing is endless too, they pick the smallest thing about someone and turn it into something to make fun of.
-You have to admit it's not an easy two week assignments: at first it's fun, sure, but after a few days it becomes an headache. You can understand why most of the engines steer away from those two.
- One day you're on a break in the yard when a certain blue tender engine approaches you alongside a green diesel. Seeing how miserable you are they try to cheer you up and reassure you that they may be cheeky and troublesome but there's no real harm.
-The breaking point is during a extremely busy day at the harbour. it's raining pretty hard and you, alongside the other driver and fireman, are telling Bill and Ben for the hundred time to slow down and stop pushing carts carelessly. But they don't listen to any of that, and in a second a train filled with coal pushed by accident by Bill crashes into Ben, sending you and the fireman flying in the cab and falling on your asses. Nobody's really hurt of course but the twins are reprehended severely by workers and other engines.
-That evening when they're back in their shed they apologize to you and the crew. You tell them that it's for everybody’s safety to not play in busy areas but you're not mad and won't ask to stop your job with them to Sir Thopam Hatt.
-From that point both of them are on their best behaviour, or at least they try. You can clearly see a switch when they're on break and when they need to work. You also can feel them tense up when Edward is nearby.
-When nobody's is sick anymore and you're not needed they're a bit sad but will likely be asking for you again (you're not sure you could do it again tbh).
Spencer
-Sir Thopam had recieved the request from the Duke and Duchess for a relief driver for Spencer during one of the busiest weeks of their schedule and your name popped up.
-You had been warned about him but not by your human coworkers: as soon as word got out (and it travels really fast thanks to very chatty engines) it seemed like everyone you met the week before your assigment warned you about the type of engine you were going to work with (Thomas and Gordon seemed very keen to talk your ears off about the private locomotive).
-But even with all the warnings you got you want to make your best impression to such important people that you put those comments at the back of your mind.
-He's not happy to have you, full stop.
The two of you don't get along over the course of the first days, his spiky personality making it difficult to work with serenity: at the end of day one you end up with a pounding headache and he is more nervous that he was in the morning
-You notice something when working with him: nobody talks to him, even in busy stations or along the tracks when the two of you cross ways with another engine. Worst of all, everytime a locomotive recognises you, they dare to whistle at you or talk to you, he makes a face like somebody scratched his paint and puffs until he can go.
-On the forth day you have to wait until midnight on the mainland because the Duke and Duchess went to the theater. His fireman is getting something to drink and you're there with Spencer, exhausted by the day you just spent. He had been pretty snappy all day so you decide to be bold and ask him what's wrong.
At first he grumbles something but at the end you're surprised at how he opens up to you. He tells you everything that happened, how much trouble he had caused to many engines (especially Hiro) and how deep down he thinks he deserves the treatment he gets. You're shocked to hear that he's jealous of you being friends with the other engines.
-After that evening you week improves significantly: to be clear you're not friends, but your relationship now is without hostility. During one of your breaks his fireman asks you how you managed to not get his engine to grumble. You don't know how to answer that.
-At the end of the week the Duke and Duchess thank you for the very good work you did. Spencer, even if he'll never admit it, feels a bit bad that you're not going to be working with him and that he treated you badly the first few days. You reassure him in private that you understand and hope he'll be nicer next time.
He smiles to himself thinking that there will be a next time.
Number 22: Rebecca
-She's very excited when she meets you and learns that you are going to be her driver for the week! She still has a lot to learn about her job but she's ready to do anything necessary to help.
-She's the most curious out of everybody about you: how's life on Sodor? Do you know every single engine that is on the island? You love her already and you chat about it non stop. She has a very honest heart and will tell you things directly and compliment you.
-Deep down she's pretty nervous about working on the island, being a new engine alongside well seasoned ones, but especially making mistakes and disappoint Sir Thopam Hatt. You make sure to reassure her and help out if needed.
-She discovered she loves taking trucks more than passengers because she enjoys bumping them at a high speed, especially going down hills.
The first time she does it you have a heart attack (she's faster and less cautious than Emily) but you get used to it and like to feel the wind blowing against your hand.
-You soon get roped into a weird friendship with the big tender engines Gordon and his famous brother Scotsman. It's difficult to catch the latter since he has got to do tours and stays on the mainland but the few times the three of them are at Vicarstown's station and are resting there's caos, endless teasing and laughter.
It's during this moments, seeing engines not working and being themselves fully, that you smile and understand how much this job is actually worth.
-When her driver comes back she's happy to have a new friend on the railway. She'll make sure to say hi if she sees you again and request you in case of another occasion.
The Flying Scotsman
-Now you really can't believe your ears. Apparently there was no one on the mainland who could help out and they desperately needed someone to drive him because he's got tours and visits all booked up for the week. So that's when you come in to help.
-He's surprised when you get assigned to him but very happy that he'll be able to boast about himself for the entire week to a stranger. He's pretty famous so obviously you were nervous to drive him but his personality helps you chill out.
-The schedule is very different comparing your time with the engines on the island: there's no trucks to take, no coal mines, no harbour or docks, just picture perfect landscapes on the mainland and part of the island along the coast for the tourists to admire when riding him.
-He needs to be on top at all times, especially in his appereance, so one of the first things you do in the morning after checking his system overall is making sure he's clean and polished; then in the evening he's rewarded with a long wash and polish. During the day you always need to have a rag and a spray bottle to clean small spots on him. He's very proud of his appearance and paint job, more than James.
-You get the opportunity to talk to him during breaks and the engine loves to tell you stories from his many years on the mainland, the tours overseas, the fame. You asks him if he sometimes thought about taking a goods train for a change and he almost laughs in your face. He's proud of his status as a historic locomotive and very much above goods trains.
-One thing he confesses is that he misses his brother Gordon very much. He hasn't seen any of his siblings in years because they were all scrapped, him and Gordon are the only ones left. Worst of all Gordon lives on Sodor and Scot on the mainland and the few times they do meet are rare.
-"I miss my little brother very much," he tells you one evening when you're watching the stars outside his shed, "but I'm very happy to know he's got friends that care deeply about him. I'll always be here for him not matter what."
-When his usual driver comes back he thanks you for the company and invites on your days off to get a ride on one of his historic coaches.
Number 18: Nia
- A new friend! She's pumped to work with you!
-She's a chatterbox and loves to talk a lot. Not that you mind, on this railway there are many engines who likes to talk, but she really enjoys it. She'll talk about her homecountry, her adventures around the world and alongside Thomas and her friends back home. Obviously she'll ask you all sort of questions about your life, family and friends, hobbies. She likes to know everything and you can feel that at the end of your first day with her you're already friends
-She loves her job, from taking goods trains to coaches, she does it without fuss. But the thing she loves most is working on the Sodor Animal Park: she gets so excited when there's a delivery for the Park, even more if it's some type of animal. The thing she whishes sometimes is to be able to enter the park and watch the animal as close as she did back home
- She's incredibly friendly with everybody, eager to lend a wheel to help out, sometimes forgetting she has her own tasks. You can tell that she's dear to many engines on the railway, especially when on your breaks some of them come to her to ask for advice.
-During the week you can see that it isn't all sunshine for her: she has her moments when you both sees some engines being in a group all together and happy (you happen to pass close to some of the engines from the Steam Team laughing about old times). In those moments she can only think about her home and how much she misses her friends. You try your best to console her, reminding her the biggest lesson she always tells people: distance isn't as strong as a deep friendship.
-When she's feeling insecure about being as good as other engines you let ehr vent and then offer some advice, or even some distraction, like cruising along Thomas or Duck's branch line.
-She's sad when you have to go but you reassure her that she can ask for you the next time her driver is sick.
Number 37:Rosie
-She's a bit nervous to be honest but tries to keep a positive eyes on the situation. She wants to prove that she can be a very useful engine even if she doesn't have her driver.
-She loves racing more than anything! Even if she's a tank engine she likes to push herself to her limits to feel the adrenaline. She loves the feeling she gets in her boiler as she goes down hills at top speed. If you have any problem with speed she will slow down but she'll probably beg to show off how fast she can go.
-If you two have time and another engine is available she'll ask to have a race. Only if everyone agrees (especially you and the crew) and the line is free you can say yes.
-Of course she's a hardworker who doesn't like screwing up so she is very serious about the jobs she gets assigned for the day. She's focused and tries to not get distracted or get roped by silly engine who only like to fool around (Bill and Ben are sneezing somewhere)
-She still gets teased about her supposed crush/situation/ship (?!) with Thomas and while you support her the best you can and defend her against those rumors you happened to notice how she blushes a little and you smile. Not because it's not true, but because it's always amazing how engines can be so close to humans yet so far away.
-Most of the time you pass together it's in the yard, either Knapford or Vicarstown, shunting trucks or coaches for the other engines to take, but other times you pull trucks to and from the docks (or even specials on peculiar occasions).
-She likes to have a good chat sometimes, especially to get to know you. Mainly when she's being loaded she likes to talk to you about anything, from how the work is going to even stories (gossips basically) from the railway. She likes a good joke and will make you laugh many times over the course of the week you work together.
-She's happy to have her driver back at the end of the week but she's grateful for your hard work. She'll ask for you again if the occasion comes.
Porter
-A change of scenery (and uniform)! instead of running all over the island depending on the day's tasks you're now working in the docks, salty (ahah) air filling your nose.
-Porter is happy to meet you and the two of you immediately hit off: he's a very friendly engine and likes to work with everyone (except Bill and Ben, you know why if you have driven any of them before).
-Being at the docks means longer shifts, sometimes stretching through the night if there are many ships to unload and deliveries to make. But Porter is a hardworker and no heavy load scares him.
-When the docks are still and no shunting needs to be made Porter and Salty beg you to stay for some stories from Salty's times on the mainland and on the sea before you go back home. So you stay under the shed and stars, listening to the diesel engine narrating his adventures while sitting close to your steamie. in the background you can hear Cranky snoring or see him focused on the story himself.
-Porter and Salty are very popular engines among the others on the island: they're the ones alongside Cranky that keep the docks running even during busy days. Porter, even if he is an new addition to the docks crew, fits incredibly well!
- He gets teased about his appearance sometimes and while he doesn't care about it he really appreciates when you stick up for him, repremanding every engine who dares to make fun of his (very functional) dome design.
-He tends to be a perfectionist, which is great during downtime when the docks aren't busy; but you have to remind him during busy times about the goal at stake, which is getting everything shipped as fast and efficiently, perfection doesn't exits in those moments
-When his driver is all better he's a bit sad but hopes that you'll be working on a engine in the docks so he can see you again!
Victor
-It's not often that you get to be in the steamworks: for engines it means hours or even days of not being useful, but for you it's a nice change.
-Victor is pretty happy to welcome you in the works but is worried that you could get bored by staying in one place for the entire week. Sometimes it can be pretty busy but also pretty quiet.
-During your first days he shows you everything that needs to be done daily, how engine parts' shipment needs to be stocked, the tools and diagnostics the workers uses to determine the engine's problems and how they can treat them.
-Of course you gain a new friend while driving the cuban engine: Kevin likes to talk your and Victor's ears off when things are slow. He's a clumsy sweetheart and chatterbox, but he can get pretty worked up at times. You always help him wind down and keep calm in case of busy days at the Works and Victor is incredibly grateful for it.
-During breaks you like you talk to him and listen to the stories of the many engine that come and go, but also about his own: the long journey from his island, the incident, his new assignment. He loves narrating the tales of recostructing a missing engine, meeting again the one who "knocked" him into the sea, naughty and good engines.
-During one of your shifts you actually get out of the Steamworks to visit the narrow gauges on their line and on the Blue Mountain quarry to conduct routine inspections of the small locomotives. You have a really pleasant day, especially when you get to finally meet Luke: the small engine is even smaller than a standard narrow gauge and you have to stop yourself to just go and hug him.
-Being at the Steamworks means that you'll see some of the engines you've driven for work. During some of your breaks you go to say hi and chat a bit, comforting them if they feel down for not being really useful.
-When his driver is back Victor will thank you for the good work. You'll probably see him if one of the engines you'll drive will break down and need to come to the Steamworks.
A preview of some wips that I have in my folder. I hope to finish them all before summer starts because by then I need to start writing my thesis😓
My inbox is always open for any requests!
What if I was writing a Oliver x Douglas fic...with insecure!Oliver...A hurt/comfort... with a side of Duck x Donald...trying to write a Scottish dialogue...and there's fluff...and kisses... and gay engines...
WHAT THEN?
(my hyper fixation is getting bigger, I can't and won't stop it)
"… And then they pulled me out of the barber shop while my faceplate was still covered in shaving cream! Oh how embarrassing that was!"
You laugh, your head peeking out of the cab while listening to Duck's story about his time on the island. To be honest everything's perfect: the sun high in the sky but not too hot, the work flow not too heavy or troublesome and your engine Duck telling you all stories.
You can't be more than happy about it.
You had been nervous when Sir Thopam had asked you to substitude Duck's driver for the week. Driving a Great Western would have put anybody on a spiraling mental journey, including you, but you were plesantly surprised when you introduced yourself to the green engine. Duck and his fireman had helped you get comfortable in no time and by the end of the first day you had everything under control.
"My god," you reply, going back inside to check the levels of steam and water, "you have some amazing stories don't you!"
"Well I am a well seasoned engine so it comes with it!"
"He's afraid of admitting he's getting old," the fireman chuckles while putting some coal in the firebox, "He saw at least two drivers retire."
"Hey I heard you!"
You laugh again and pat the inside of the cab like you're comforting him.
It's something that has always amazed you since starting your job on the railway, which you had heard the more experienced drivers talk about; they have complex personalities, can move on their own and experience touch like a human body does while being completely made of metal.
The others had told you that it's more complex than having regular human coworker—engines with emotions and ways so deeply rooted in society that they could be human too—but more about sharing a great experience of trust and hardwork. Touching your engine is a deep connection and a bonding moment of reassurance and faith.
The first time you had done it wasn't on purpose but it made Duck shiver a bit (he reminder you of a cat looking for pets); he didn't complain and, since his fireman had told you he was fine with it, you kept doing it.
Duck starts again after a few seconds.
"I'm a great western and we never get old for a-" a loud deep horn interrupts him.
You peek out of his cab to see who is: on the track beside Duck's, pulling some troublesome trucks, is a black diesel engine with a deep scowl on his face like he's annoyed. He's muttering something under his breath, gritting his teeth and scoffing.
You're trying to remember the engine's name since you mainly work with steamies when the two of you lock eyes. He snorts and roll his eyes, but before you can open your mouth you get all shaken up by Duck changing speed, which makes you immediately get back inside to steady yourself.
"Whoa Duck, you okay?"
He doesn't respond and just speeds up even more. You glance back again outside and the diesel gets further and further until you take a series of turns and you don't see him anymore.
You get back inside once again and look at his fireman, asking everything without opening your mouth. He sighs before putting in some more coal
"It was Diesel," he tells you while working, "he and Duck have…history."
"Like…romantic?"
"Goodness gracious no!" he barks out a laughs, holding his belly, "god don't let Duck hear you or you'll never get out of the headache he'll become."
You smile while stroking the inside of the cab. "Ok ok, but what happened? Seriously."
"Diesel came to the island a few years after Duck while he was in charge of the main yard," he started again, "he was very self-centered and angry deep down, his resentment for steam engines and their teams was, and still is, very present."
"Duck played a trick on him because he was boasting about diesels being better that steamies. Nothing devious but it made Diesel resent him, especially because the trucks begun teasing him, singing songs about him."
You gulp—knowing the reputation of those truck they can be pretty mean to humans, so you can only imagine how the behave towards engines of different kind.
"What happened?"
"Duck was telling you about the barber shop incident right?" He waits for you to nod before continuing, "Well it's directly related to Diesel. He spread false rumors to the trucks about Duck talking shit of the tender engines and they believed him."
"He did what?!"
"Yeah. For that Duck was sent to work with Edward in the other yard, which led to the incident… Sir Thopam sent him packing after that."
You snort. "But how it's possible that he's back on the island?"
The fireman sighs before patting the cab: "I don't know, something about giving second chances… Believe me when I tell you that Duck wasn't doing great those few months. I was appaled by the controller's decision, as well as other engines. You remember that big strike on the railway?"
"Yeah, the older drivers told me about it. Everything was blocked and many people who worked on the railway stayed home."
"Well it was organised by the scottish twins and Oliver, who were followed by the engines and their crews," he explains, "we made the demand that Diesel shouldn't work on the Little Western Railway anymore if not for extreme cases. I guess today was one of those."
"Did he… you know, had difficulties?"
"Yeah, but he's very proud so he didn't show it very much. Why?"
"I'd like to understand him more... I might be his driver again, so I need to know how to talk to him if something like this happens again."
The man on front of you smiles and pats you on the shoulder.
"You have a good heart, but don't worry. Just be there for him and listen. Or maybe you can ask Donald—those two have the real romantic history."
"Really? I wanna hear about it!"
"Oh now you don't!" you hear Duck squeak indignantly, his temperature rising in the small monitorns inside the cab, "Me and Donald? No, absolutely. Nah uh, nada, nothing! You two need to focus on work! Doing things the Great Western way! I won't have a crew doing things wrong!"
The two of you look at each other before you burst out laughing inside the blushing engine.
When you are a European Sleep Token fan and the merch isn’t great so you head over to the American one and find a great piece of merch but then you remember
The relief driver headcanons are wonderful! Thank you for sharing them and I hope you have a lovely week!
Thanks a lot! It was definitely something out of my comfort zone, considering I’m writing a fic with dark elements but I’m happy you enjoyed it. I’ll probably write something about those headcanons soon so stay tuned for more🫶
