sparklermonthly:

Leaping from the couch the moment she heard the doorbell, Satsuki skipped to the door where she was met by Matsuo’s open arms. After a hug and the usual “How are you?” they went into the kitchen. Satsuki had just made cookies. They looked and smelled much better than her first few batches had. Stacking the cookies on a platter, they moved to the living room couch. Matsuo needed to move some of Satsuki’s toy spaceships―which she called Thunderbirds―in order to sit down, much to Satsuki’s distress.

Matsuo assured her that no harm would come to the Thunderbirds. Finally settled, Matsuo asked his girlfriend: “What’s the movie we’re gonna see?”

Satsuki looked as if she had been bursting to say it the moment Matsuo walked in. “Thunderbird 6!”

Matsuo looked confused. “Thunderbird 6? Why not start with Thunderbird 1?”

Satsuki told Matsuo solemnly that there were five Thunderbirds in the show. This movie introduced the sixth.

“1 is a jet, 2 is a cargo plane, 3 is a rocket, 4 is a submarine, and 5 is a space station. Each is piloted by one of the Tracy brothers.”

“I see. And they … fight evil?”

“Sometimes, but they usually save lives while risking their own. They’re superheroes without powers!”

Satsuki popped in a DVD, and turned on the TV. Matsuo was caught off guard by a voice bellowing “5, 4, 3, 2, 1 … THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO!” What followed was something bizarre. Matsuo realised in horror that the characters were played not by actors, but by lifelike marionettes. Certainly disturbing enough on their own, but even more so during a sequence where several of them laughed hysterically at another’s proposal of building a luxury airship. 

Satsuki seemed absolutely enthralled by every scene, pointing excitedly at each thing she found interesting. Matsuo wondered how many times she had seen this movie. Despite all its weirdness, he was actually quite enjoying it.

“Who’s your favourite character?” Satsuki had obviously been dying to ask this.

“I really like Lady Penelope and her chauffeur … what’s his name? They’ve got a cool car.”

“Parker. I always liked them and Virgil most. Virgil flies Thunderbird 2!”

As the movie progressed, the two ended up cuddling underneath a quilt. It was this time they spent together they valued most of all. Matsuo found himself more interested in Satsuki’s little comments than he was in the movie. Just being with her made him happy.

After a thrilling sequence involving the airship exploding, and the heroes escaping in a small propeller plane (shockingly, Thunderbird 6), the movie ended. Matsuo was confused and excited, but he noticed Satsuki seemed slightly sad.

“What is it, Satsuki-san?”

“Lady Penelope’s car … it was on the airship … Which blew up …”

A moment of silence followed. Satsuki looked at the brink of tears, but then Matsuo kissed her on the forehead.

“Thunderbirds are go!”

“Thanks, Matsuo-kun … !”

It was still early. They spent the rest of the night talking, and playing with Satsuki’s Thunderbirds.

The characters Matsuo and Satsuki are from a side project of mine called Yume no Uta : Song of Dreams. I love the characters a lot! Though I am male, Satsuki is kind of autobiographical in her geekiness and personality. The British TV series Thunderbirds has been a lifelong inspiration for my writing!

Whoops, this went out without the Sparkler note:

This is our first Sparkler Share Your World contest entry by Shoji Amasawa! If you’d like to enter, you have until June 30th - see details and prizes here, and don’t forget to include your name and contact (and a link for your characters, if they’re from your webcomic or something and you want other people to check it out).

There’s even a prize for the entry with the most notes on Tumblr, so submit your work and rack up those likes/reblogs for as long as you can!