To say that falling asleep and waking up with a bunch of new memories was disorienting was, well, a fair bit of an understatement. While of course he wasn't slacking in his training, Knuckles had taken to spending a little more time simply... wandering the city, trying to sort his thoughts out. Given that this required a lot more thinking than he typically spared for anything that wasn't training, combat, and combat training, this rendered him rather more preoccupied than usual.
Which was exactly what he was doing when he rounded a corner near the edge of the park and saw a dark shape heading towards him. Blinked. Paused. Double-taked, then finally called out as recognition hit.
[Shadow meanwhile was still acclimating to this world as a whole. Waking up after he rightfully should have been destroyed with the Eclipse Cannon. Or maybe not given who he was. What he was.
Shadow wasn't exactly seeking the Echidna out intentionally, just learning the ley of the land since the snow's cleared and he'll need to find a place away from Vash and his vagrants.
So when the hedgehog spotted him, he also skidded to a halt in his run and gave a long, hard staredown.]
You... you're one of his friends. You're here too?
[Given their first encounter, any lack of hostility is an improvement. Even Shadow's stance was his usual level of guarded and hence his version of "casual". It wasn't as though the Echidna stood a chance against him.]
... By all accounts, I should have. [He'll say that straight out, it is what it is.] But I woke up here instead around a week ago. Inside of one of those Labyrinths.
Knuckles might not be inclined to put a whole lot of thought into many (most) things, but in some ways his black ad white views were useful. Shadow had clearly sided with and helped Team Sonic in the end, therefore he was no longer an enemy.
"Then you arrived here in the same manner I did." A beat. "But I did not die."
Well, this was awkward. Or would be, if Knuckles had even remotely enough social sense/caring to realize that. Which he didn't. So, when he responded after a moment of thought, it was in the same, overly serious manner as always.
"Though we first met as enemies, you chose to help us at the end, which makes us allies. This Earth is much like the one from which we came, however there are also many strange and different things here. If you have questions about this place, I promise I will do my best to answer."
He did, admittedly, also really want a rematch. But Knuckles was nothing if not absurdly strict about his own personal code of honor, and right now that meant offering assistance to the new guy.
[There are two mutant animals in this conversation. One is aware of social norms relatively but opts to not use them. The other has no awareness whatsoever.
They might both be some flavor of queer.]
I can handle myself. [...] But if the time comes that it's really necessary and not a moment sooner, I might call. Don't count on it.
[Which isn't a no.
Either way, Shadow crossed his arms as Knuckles spoke.]
We're in a city located in America called Kaisou in the year 2025 on an alternate Earth. Rifts in the Spirit Vein cause people from other worlds to be brought here without most of their powers. They'll return after time along with potentially new abilities through the "magic" this world has. And the bunch of fools in this place communicate over the phones through "apps" called Libra and Gemini.
[In other words, Shadow got the gist and probably fundamentally understands it better than Knuckles in a week than he has in months.]
If Shadow was trying to make a point that he understood matters better than Knuckles, well, it just flew well over Knuckles' head. Even if it was true.
"There are also times when portals to other worlds within the spirit realm appear, usually due to some problem that must be fought."
There was absolutely more to it than that but that was as far as Knuckles' really gave it any thought. Doubtless Shadow already understood that better too. He was clearly more mature and not prone to doing things like running off on his own in a snit because he didn't like what he found and heard on arrival--oh wait.
Knuckles had rather enjoyed that one, himself. Not the blizzards, but the fact that he got to help pummel a couple of giant mechanical owl monsters into scrap. Boy, had that felt good.
That said, clearly Shadow was caught up on the main details, and Knuckles had gone and done the proper thing of offering his assistance. So, with all of that out of the way...
"In any case, since you are here, why not have a match?"
You can't be serious. Even if I'm not at full power, do you really think you stand a chance against me?
[Little did he know Knuckles would get bodied at least a little slower this time, but Shadow still had him beat technique wise and had his teleport again.]
"You are mistaken if you believe I have neglected my training during my time here. I have learned much, and I will not be defeated so easily."
Or so he thought. Not that getting his spiny butt kicked again would really do much to dampen his enthusiasm. Just spur him on to train some more and try yet again.
voice; un: captainkenway; couple of days after the event log
Oi, Shadow, little hedgehog fellow, did you find shelter? I'm sorry I didn't call sooner, there was a mishap with my—turtle-cat-cake thing, he hid my phone, the little shitbird.
You didn't, but I saw your post on the app. And I ain't calling you "ultimate lifeform," that's a mouthful.
Oh, good! The snow ought to be letting up now, but if you need anything, let me know what it is and where to drop it off.
[A snicker.] All right, hang on, I'll send you a picture. [And in a moment's time, a picture pops up on the screen: an adorable little blonde-furred catke with a startling resemblance to Edward in his blue-and-white robes, peering down at the camera from the top of the fridge. It looks like it's considering jumping.] He's fine, by the way, I caught him. He does this often.
Is there a reason you're a hedgehog who stands on two feet?
[He's just saying. But anyway.]
Tell you the truth, I know only a little. A friend of mine, his name's Ratio, he's mentioned these cats come from his world, and were a product of someone's experiments. You'll want to ask him about them.
That being said, they're fairly harmless! At worst, Junior here is a menace to my curtains.
[So yes, there Is a reason for him. But not for the cat shells. But Edward just said something... quite alarming.]
A product of...?! [Shadow was experimented on too, it shouldn't shock him that such things were created from someone else's science but... well, regrettably he's had some time to think on that happened outside of his Earth's atmosphere.
For now, he bit that sensation of alarm back. Harmless, huh?]
... That's something an ordinary cat would do. [As far as Shadow knew anyway. That's what cats in movies did.]
They didn't either. [Man, space is full of funky versions of Earth animals.]
As far as I know. Again, if you want details, you'll want to ask someone else. Ratio, or someone else who remembers the cats. I just know they showed up one day and settled in like they'd always been there.
Aye, well, that's the point. He's smarter than any other housecat, but he's the same as them, otherwise. He means no harm, he thrives with attention and care.
Action; some time after Hunter's citation announcement
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Action, somewhere around the 24th-ish
Which was exactly what he was doing when he rounded a corner near the edge of the park and saw a dark shape heading towards him. Blinked. Paused. Double-taked, then finally called out as recognition hit.
"You!!"
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Shadow wasn't exactly seeking the Echidna out intentionally, just learning the ley of the land since the snow's cleared and he'll need to find a place away from Vash and his vagrants.
So when the hedgehog spotted him, he also skidded to a halt in his run and gave a long, hard staredown.]
You... you're one of his friends. You're here too?
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"I have been here for many months." Said like this should be obvious. "What are you doing here? Did you not die?"
Blunt much, Knuckles?
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... By all accounts, I should have. [He'll say that straight out, it is what it is.] But I woke up here instead around a week ago. Inside of one of those Labyrinths.
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"Then you arrived here in the same manner I did." A beat. "But I did not die."
He felt that was important to clarify.
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Clearly.
[He would have preferred literally any other of Sonic's friends by a small margin.]
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"Though we first met as enemies, you chose to help us at the end, which makes us allies. This Earth is much like the one from which we came, however there are also many strange and different things here. If you have questions about this place, I promise I will do my best to answer."
He did, admittedly, also really want a rematch. But Knuckles was nothing if not absurdly strict about his own personal code of honor, and right now that meant offering assistance to the new guy.
Besides, he could always ask for a fight later.
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They might both be some flavor of queer.]
I can handle myself. [...] But if the time comes that it's really necessary and not a moment sooner, I might call. Don't count on it.
[Which isn't a no.
Either way, Shadow crossed his arms as Knuckles spoke.]
We're in a city located in America called Kaisou in the year 2025 on an alternate Earth. Rifts in the Spirit Vein cause people from other worlds to be brought here without most of their powers. They'll return after time along with potentially new abilities through the "magic" this world has. And the bunch of fools in this place communicate over the phones through "apps" called Libra and Gemini.
[In other words, Shadow got the gist and probably fundamentally understands it better than Knuckles in a week than he has in months.]
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"That is correct."
If Shadow was trying to make a point that he understood matters better than Knuckles, well, it just flew well over Knuckles' head. Even if it was true.
"There are also times when portals to other worlds within the spirit realm appear, usually due to some problem that must be fought."
There was absolutely more to it than that but that was as far as Knuckles' really gave it any thought. Doubtless Shadow already understood that better too. He was clearly more mature and not prone to doing things like running off on his own in a snit because he didn't like what he found and heard on arrival--oh wait.
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The blizzards on the outskirts of town were directly related to the gate to another realm.
[He sure did. Also hey, don't blame Shadow for having his trauma button stomped on.]
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Knuckles had rather enjoyed that one, himself. Not the blizzards, but the fact that he got to help pummel a couple of giant mechanical owl monsters into scrap. Boy, had that felt good.
That said, clearly Shadow was caught up on the main details, and Knuckles had gone and done the proper thing of offering his assistance. So, with all of that out of the way...
"In any case, since you are here, why not have a match?"
Absolutely everyone should have seen this coming.
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[Little did he know Knuckles would get bodied at least a little slower this time, but Shadow still had him beat technique wise and had his teleport again.]
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Or so he thought. Not that getting his spiny butt kicked again would really do much to dampen his enthusiasm. Just spur him on to train some more and try yet again.
voice; un: captainkenway; couple of days after the event log
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But why is this man calling him? And for that matter...]
I don't remember ever giving you my name. [Shadow you said it publicly on the Network to Vash and the app logs every name.]
I found a temporary place. [And that's all he'll say on that. Little did he know, this was permanent whether he liked it or not.]
... Your what?
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Oh, good! The snow ought to be letting up now, but if you need anything, let me know what it is and where to drop it off.
[A snicker.] All right, hang on, I'll send you a picture. [And in a moment's time, a picture pops up on the screen: an adorable little blonde-furred catke with a startling resemblance to Edward in his blue-and-white robes, peering down at the camera from the top of the fridge. It looks like it's considering jumping.] He's fine, by the way, I caught him. He does this often.
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Because what on this assumedly green Earth is that cat. Yes, yes, pot meet kettle.]
Is there a reason your cat has a shell?
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[He's just saying. But anyway.]
Tell you the truth, I know only a little. A friend of mine, his name's Ratio, he's mentioned these cats come from his world, and were a product of someone's experiments. You'll want to ask him about them.
That being said, they're fairly harmless! At worst, Junior here is a menace to my curtains.
no subject
[So yes, there Is a reason for him. But not for the cat shells. But Edward just said something... quite alarming.]
A product of...?! [Shadow was experimented on too, it shouldn't shock him that such things were created from someone else's science but... well, regrettably he's had some time to think on that happened outside of his Earth's atmosphere.
For now, he bit that sensation of alarm back. Harmless, huh?]
... That's something an ordinary cat would do. [As far as Shadow knew anyway. That's what cats in movies did.]
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As far as I know. Again, if you want details, you'll want to ask someone else. Ratio, or someone else who remembers the cats. I just know they showed up one day and settled in like they'd always been there.
Aye, well, that's the point. He's smarter than any other housecat, but he's the same as them, otherwise. He means no harm, he thrives with attention and care.
Action; some time after Hunter's citation announcement
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