Origami Around
occasionally subtle
PUT YOUR BEARD IN MY MOUTH
@theartofmadeline
2025 on Tumblr: Trends That Defined the Year
ojovivo
Jules of Nature
Misplaced Lens Cap
Peter Solarz
we're not kids anymore.
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KIROKAZE
Cosmic Funnies
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Discoholic 🪩
h
#extradirty
hello vonnie
trying on a metaphor
Cosimo Galluzzi
seen from Canada
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@ask-infinite
Salutations, Tumblr.
I have heard that the hedgehog and his friends have been increasingly active here, and with my return, it is time for me to join this website myself. My ask box is open, I will answer your questions about me, the ultimate mercenary.
You... no...
... how is there two of us?
If you're not interested in possibilities, you had the wrong thing embedded into your chest.
Maybe this is a better drink.
🧃
Yummy :3
Why are- why are you built like that?
Oh by the way I almost forgot to mention I totally kicked Infinite’s ass yesterday
LIAR.
YOU COLLAPSED.
I WAS GLITCHING.
THAT’S NOT AN EXCUSE!
I HAVE. A CONDITION.
I HAVE ONE, TOO, YOU IDIOT! WHAT DO YOU THINK MY INHIBITORS ARE FOR? DECORATION?
AT LEAST YOURS CAN BE INHIBITED.
I’D BE ACTIVELY DYING WITHOUT THEM.
I AM ACTIVELY DYING, YOU FUCKI-
( Fell over, body wracked with a virtual glitching effect, pain wracking his body as technological shudders shake his form, his body trying to drag him back to Cyber-Null Space. )
Oh shit.
Shadow stood up, ignoring his aching injuries, and rushed over.
Infinite. Can you hear me?
Ä̸̧̺̰͙̺̮̼̣̹͕͚̦̓̾̊͑́̅͊Ą̷̯͇̐̃̆̈́́́͗̇̇͠͝A̷̯̝̤̳̖͔͈͒A̷̛̺͇̯͔͂̆͊̑̀̉̕͝Ă̶̧̧͈͜Á̷̘͎̂͛̏̎͝A̷̧͇̳͉͆́Ą̸̛̖̘͉̮̳͕͉̹̟̪͎̰̀͛̂̉A̶͖̼͔͈̦͕͙̅͑̈́̄́̌͆͛A̴̖͍̳̪̺̮͖̘̘̬̹̥̫͖̎̚A̶̧̞͓͔͚̰̍͆̈́̐͑̈́̇͗̒̂͌̉̐̽
( Struggling to his feet despite the pain, the Jackal, still glitching, and weakly shoved at the hedgehog, golden hue glaring through red glass. )
J̵̩͎̥̩͚͉̣̭̈́̎͐̈́͂̆͐́͗̔͘- Just leave me a-a̵͇̤̥̍͊̀̃͆͋̈̍͠͠ḷ̴̡̨̞̲̮̥̞̈̉̏̿͌̀͌̌̇̊̀͘͘͝ǫ̴̨̲̲̘̤̙̩̙͎̇n̴̡͈̞͕̣̗̜̦̗̟̳͕̬̲̈́͜é̶̡̨̢͚͓̩̞̫͈͚̩̟̝̍̓̔́̍̂͛͐̇̽͗̃͜͠...
Hey. Easy. I’m just trying to help.
Breathe. Breathe.
( The attack begins to subside, the jackal gasping for breath as the glitching slows, now localized mostly to his hands as he stands, shaking. )
Nice and slow. There we are.
Take it easy. Don't strain yourself.
Every second I exist I am straining myself. Have you any clue how painful that is, to have a body incompatible with the world around it, to have a body that rejects its own existence?
( A cough, as he pushes his mask back up on his face. )
It is a hell like no other. A hell you contributed to putting me in. You and that blue clown. I am weak now, but when I regain my strength, you and he will both pay for that. I swear it on my squad.
...You are in pain and have been for a long time. You are angry. That's understandable.
You are not the Infinite from my realm. I had no intention of making you suffer in any way.
Nevertheless, I apologize.
Is there anything I can do? Any relief I can provide?
...why...?
( The Jackal stares at the hedgehog, his glare softening for once. )
...Why are you...
( Another cough escapes the jackal's throat. He falls to a sitting position. )
...why are you being so... kind to me...?
Because it's the right thing to do.
..pfah. I have wasted enough of my time. Stand aside.
( The Jackal again stands, clutching his ribs, and begins to limp away. The attack had aggravated his wounds. )
Hey, now. You’re still injured.
I have survived these injuries this long. I will survive the trip back to the Eggperial City. Farewell, Shadow the Hedgehog. When next we meet, I will not be so ki-
( Once again, the glitch overtakes him, and he falls to the floor. The corruption visibly spreads, the same red and black effect that took over Sonic a few months back, during the Starfall Incident, spreading across his gloved hand. )
Shadow reacted immediately. Again, he rushed over, this time draping Infinite’s arm behind his own back, hoisting him up by the shoulder.
I’ve got you.
Shadow began walking towards his couch, careful to step slowly so Infinite wouldn’t collapse again.
( With the corruption wracking his body and stealing his strength, he was unable to pull away from the hedgehog. The pain that was ripping through the jackal was immense- and only going to get worse as time went on. )
T̷̝̪̖̦̼̳̱̘͇̓̑͑͌̓̃͆̀̂͐̂͘͝a̸͚̣͆͋͝-Take your h-ḩ̵̦͕͕͓̟̠̹̌̈́̒̌͛͊ͅa̷̹̙̫͖͎̓̈́͒͘͜͠n̶͎̊͊͗̚d̵̳̬̣̥͕̣̀͐͒͂͒͛̒̆̕̚s̵̡̛͕̞̭̪͓͖̹͙̅̓ͅ off of me...
Shadow ignored this, gently lowering Infinite onto the couch.
It amazes me that you need help this much and still insist on being at odds with me.
You and I are from different realities. I have done nothing to truly harm you, and I will continue to uphold that.
Ȇ̴̲̫͉̻̭̟̭̭̼̼͑̈́̎̊̃͆͆͐́̈̒̀̚̕v̸͔̜͙̼̥̪̱̳̰͂-Even if y-y̷̡͙̺̠̠̺̠̙̝͊̈́ơ̶̦̗̐̈́̈̂̑͆̒̒̈́̃́̚͝ū̷̢̝̫̝͔̟͕̘̖̟̺͔̮͋̈́͑̕͠ͅ are not my S̶̨̢̫̜̯͓͇̖̙̟̩͕̯͗̋̾̃͒̋̓̒͊͂͜h̴̢͉̹̗̑̎̈͊̈̀͠-Shadow the Hedgehog, you share his f-f̴̡͚̯̙̖͎̞̥̔̒͊͒͑̃̋̀̍a̸̢͚̪͒͒̏ç̵̢̡͔͍̱̪̪͖͙͍͈̑̓ḛ̵̢͔͚̹͔̩͚̘͛̅̍̊̿̓̄̌̕͘.
( He winced, trying to sit up despite his broken ribs. )
Even just l-l̶̗̲̩͔͓̭̃̇̕͘͝͝ǫ̴͉̼̰̠̯̳͕͈̫͆̊̅̎̆̽̆͒̌̾̓̚̕̕ố̸̰͗̃͑̈̐̀̄͗͝k̵̛͈̞͖̐́͂̌͒͌͆͘̕î̴̢̡͈̹̺̜͍͓̖̥̥̭͙̋̓͐̌̈͗͗̓̚͘͝͝ņ̴̰̖̹͙̱̠̜̍́͒̽̋͝g̶̛̛͙̉͑̎̈́̊̂̽̎̍̌͒̓̓ at it p̷̨̛͎̜̘͑i̴̡̢̨̹͙̥̠͓̳͎̹̪͋̓͒̈́͗̽̐̒͗̅͘͘͝ş̶̲̙͇͈̠͊̑̇̄̿̓͌͐̔̋̚-pisses me off...
Again, understandable.
Don't sit up. Just relax.
I'll get a medkit.
Wh-Ẃ̶̧̼̗̾̊̋̑͑͑͠h̴̢̧̰̦̱̳̙̽̏̑̏͒̈́͌̑̚͝y̶̯̖̦̙̾̓̀͋͊̾ do you i̶͓͒͋͘͠ǹ̷̢̙̇̋̑͒͛̚ş̵̳̳̩̩̪̞͒̋̔̎̾̒̂́͂̓̚̚͜͝͠i̷̢̼͔̇̉̑͋͋́͆̌͑̾͘͜͝-insist on try-t̸̨̜̘̥̳͙͇͉̗̥̮͙̭̝͆͐́̆̿̈́̍̅͜r̴̤͔͚͈̰̥͔̋̅̊̀́͜͜y̵̢̛͎̖͖̣͔͚̼̣̗͋̅̿̈͑̄̎̄i̸̞͋͐̾͊ň̷̛̬͓͔̈̑͌̄̽̽̇̅͂͘g̷̢̠͖̬̩͖̟̪̭̻̭̪̻̑̓͗̒͜͝ to h̴̟͚͇̪̠̙̱̀̋̾̐͊͆ͅȩ̷̬̖̣̫͉̭̩̱̦̬̫̯͐̊͛͒̏l̶̨͍̳̱̳͈͙͕̱̺̗̝̩̽̌-help me when I have ma-m̶̨̥̙͔̩̩̝̝͕̠͐a̶̬̬̳̗͌̔͑̋̌̿̐͒͒̎͊̚͘d̵̨͕͖̣͎͓̤̙̂͒̄̌̅͘͝ę̷̭̠̯͙̼̂̓̓̒̊͠ my intention to harm you so ç̴̛̩̮̫̯̬̭̣̋̀͜l̷̨̩̝͕̰͔̠̹̪̔ę̶̢̧̠̟̭̙̼̮̦̬̀͂̓͑̒͆͗̕͜ͅ-clear?
If you were here to kill me, you would've done it already. You and I both know that.
You assu-a̸̛̱̮̖͔̅͌̃́ṥ̶̢͓̲̣̬̜͖̟̝̣̠͎͛̂̈́̂͌̊̋͘ͅs̶̨͇̪̠̟̮̗͒̐̔́͌̓̿̀̄͒̈́̎̉͝u̴̡͍̗̣̦̺͈̬̘͊̒̑̾͒͌̑̒̂̉m̸͖̯̗̙̗̙̫̘̱̲͛̅̓͛͌͗̈͑̈́̈̕ȩ̴̡̠̪̹͓͙̰̠̣̊̈̿͘͠ I would not, were I not c̵̫͍͉̿͒̃̂̓͑́͋̂̆̔̕͝u̷̡̩̜̍͊͝r̸̫͎͚̮͎͈͓̤͖̆̂̿̐̿̑̆͝ŗ̷͍̳̤̻̘̄̇͐ę̵̺̗̏̾͛̈́̎̆̀̒̏͝n̷̻̗͔̓̉͑̓̆͌̀͛́̈̿̈́͘͝-currently suffering this corr-ç̷̱̲̗̩̯̞͕͍͙̻̠̔͜ͅͅo̷͓̜̞̠̙̥̥̦̦͔̤͈̤̳͌͌͗͌̆̄̆̓̐̕͜͝͝͝͠r̴̢̛̞͈̯̾̌̎͗̐ȑ̷̡̛̭̠͓̜͍̝͎͚͊̔̉̄̓̓̔͝ͅͅͅu̴͎̟͎͓͊̓̇̑̽̈́͛̾̆̚p̴̧̧̫̭͓̥͍̖̼͈̘͖̈́͂̈́̊͗̓̕t̴̛̪̙͈͊͒ͅȉ̴̥̩̤̑́̃̀̇̈́̽͑̐̚͠ö̷̫̮̫͕̭͇́̃͑̊͜ṅ̷̞͓̝̯̬͉̖̎̀̽̓̈̈́̑͘̕͘?
Precisely.
Shadow returned, carrying a first aid kit.
What can I do?
...fi-f̸̢̟͙̰̜̻̣͕̞̭͐̉̀̎͂̋͌͑̌̑͒͐̽͠i̵̛̟̯̙͔̹͈͍̪̞̙̊̎̄͂͛̐͌͊̾͛̆͠n̴̛̛̙̠͖͇͙̰͓͎͂̆̈̔̎̒̆̓̕ͅͅe̴̛͓͍̫̹͎̔. If you insist on this. My ribs are b̵̡̗̭̒̂̊͊̒͂͊́͑̿̓̒̕͘͝ṛ̸͈̹͈̩̘̬̌͆̂̅ͅo̵̢̤̫̙̲̽̕͠-broken. My ankle sprained.
...Alright. I can help with that.
You just relax.
Will the corruption calm on its own?
It should...
I'll keep an eye on it.
You are certain there is no treatment?
( A pause. Scowling through his visor for a moment. )
...yes, I am certain. There is no cure.
…I’m so sorry.
Shadow sighed.
Try your best to hold still. I’ll get you patched up the best I can.
...don't apologise. It's a waste of your time, and mine.
( He sighs, hand reaching for his mask, ensuring it remains secure on his face. )
Oh by the way I almost forgot to mention I totally kicked Infinite’s ass yesterday
LIAR.
YOU COLLAPSED.
I WAS GLITCHING.
THAT’S NOT AN EXCUSE!
I HAVE. A CONDITION.
I HAVE ONE, TOO, YOU IDIOT! WHAT DO YOU THINK MY INHIBITORS ARE FOR? DECORATION?
AT LEAST YOURS CAN BE INHIBITED.
I’D BE ACTIVELY DYING WITHOUT THEM.
I AM ACTIVELY DYING, YOU FUCKI-
( Fell over, body wracked with a virtual glitching effect, pain wracking his body as technological shudders shake his form, his body trying to drag him back to Cyber-Null Space. )
Oh shit.
Shadow stood up, ignoring his aching injuries, and rushed over.
Infinite. Can you hear me?
Ä̸̧̺̰͙̺̮̼̣̹͕͚̦̓̾̊͑́̅͊Ą̷̯͇̐̃̆̈́́́͗̇̇͠͝A̷̯̝̤̳̖͔͈͒A̷̛̺͇̯͔͂̆͊̑̀̉̕͝Ă̶̧̧͈͜Á̷̘͎̂͛̏̎͝A̷̧͇̳͉͆́Ą̸̛̖̘͉̮̳͕͉̹̟̪͎̰̀͛̂̉A̶͖̼͔͈̦͕͙̅͑̈́̄́̌͆͛A̴̖͍̳̪̺̮͖̘̘̬̹̥̫͖̎̚A̶̧̞͓͔͚̰̍͆̈́̐͑̈́̇͗̒̂͌̉̐̽
( Struggling to his feet despite the pain, the Jackal, still glitching, and weakly shoved at the hedgehog, golden hue glaring through red glass. )
J̵̩͎̥̩͚͉̣̭̈́̎͐̈́͂̆͐́͗̔͘- Just leave me a-a̵͇̤̥̍͊̀̃͆͋̈̍͠͠ḷ̴̡̨̞̲̮̥̞̈̉̏̿͌̀͌̌̇̊̀͘͘͝ǫ̴̨̲̲̘̤̙̩̙͎̇n̴̡͈̞͕̣̗̜̦̗̟̳͕̬̲̈́͜é̶̡̨̢͚͓̩̞̫͈͚̩̟̝̍̓̔́̍̂͛͐̇̽͗̃͜͠...
Hey. Easy. I’m just trying to help.
Breathe. Breathe.
( The attack begins to subside, the jackal gasping for breath as the glitching slows, now localized mostly to his hands as he stands, shaking. )
Nice and slow. There we are.
Take it easy. Don't strain yourself.
Every second I exist I am straining myself. Have you any clue how painful that is, to have a body incompatible with the world around it, to have a body that rejects its own existence?
( A cough, as he pushes his mask back up on his face. )
It is a hell like no other. A hell you contributed to putting me in. You and that blue clown. I am weak now, but when I regain my strength, you and he will both pay for that. I swear it on my squad.
...You are in pain and have been for a long time. You are angry. That's understandable.
You are not the Infinite from my realm. I had no intention of making you suffer in any way.
Nevertheless, I apologize.
Is there anything I can do? Any relief I can provide?
...why...?
( The Jackal stares at the hedgehog, his glare softening for once. )
...Why are you...
( Another cough escapes the jackal's throat. He falls to a sitting position. )
...why are you being so... kind to me...?
Because it's the right thing to do.
..pfah. I have wasted enough of my time. Stand aside.
( The Jackal again stands, clutching his ribs, and begins to limp away. The attack had aggravated his wounds. )
Hey, now. You’re still injured.
I have survived these injuries this long. I will survive the trip back to the Eggperial City. Farewell, Shadow the Hedgehog. When next we meet, I will not be so ki-
( Once again, the glitch overtakes him, and he falls to the floor. The corruption visibly spreads, the same red and black effect that took over Sonic a few months back, during the Starfall Incident, spreading across his gloved hand. )
Shadow reacted immediately. Again, he rushed over, this time draping Infinite’s arm behind his own back, hoisting him up by the shoulder.
I’ve got you.
Shadow began walking towards his couch, careful to step slowly so Infinite wouldn’t collapse again.
( With the corruption wracking his body and stealing his strength, he was unable to pull away from the hedgehog. The pain that was ripping through the jackal was immense- and only going to get worse as time went on. )
T̷̝̪̖̦̼̳̱̘͇̓̑͑͌̓̃͆̀̂͐̂͘͝a̸͚̣͆͋͝-Take your h-ḩ̵̦͕͕͓̟̠̹̌̈́̒̌͛͊ͅa̷̹̙̫͖͎̓̈́͒͘͜͠n̶͎̊͊͗̚d̵̳̬̣̥͕̣̀͐͒͂͒͛̒̆̕̚s̵̡̛͕̞̭̪͓͖̹͙̅̓ͅ off of me...
Shadow ignored this, gently lowering Infinite onto the couch.
It amazes me that you need help this much and still insist on being at odds with me.
You and I are from different realities. I have done nothing to truly harm you, and I will continue to uphold that.
Ȇ̴̲̫͉̻̭̟̭̭̼̼͑̈́̎̊̃͆͆͐́̈̒̀̚̕v̸͔̜͙̼̥̪̱̳̰͂-Even if y-y̷̡͙̺̠̠̺̠̙̝͊̈́ơ̶̦̗̐̈́̈̂̑͆̒̒̈́̃́̚͝ū̷̢̝̫̝͔̟͕̘̖̟̺͔̮͋̈́͑̕͠ͅ are not my S̶̨̢̫̜̯͓͇̖̙̟̩͕̯͗̋̾̃͒̋̓̒͊͂͜h̴̢͉̹̗̑̎̈͊̈̀͠-Shadow the Hedgehog, you share his f-f̴̡͚̯̙̖͎̞̥̔̒͊͒͑̃̋̀̍a̸̢͚̪͒͒̏ç̵̢̡͔͍̱̪̪͖͙͍͈̑̓ḛ̵̢͔͚̹͔̩͚̘͛̅̍̊̿̓̄̌̕͘.
( He winced, trying to sit up despite his broken ribs. )
Even just l-l̶̗̲̩͔͓̭̃̇̕͘͝͝ǫ̴͉̼̰̠̯̳͕͈̫͆̊̅̎̆̽̆͒̌̾̓̚̕̕ố̸̰͗̃͑̈̐̀̄͗͝k̵̛͈̞͖̐́͂̌͒͌͆͘̕î̴̢̡͈̹̺̜͍͓̖̥̥̭͙̋̓͐̌̈͗͗̓̚͘͝͝ņ̴̰̖̹͙̱̠̜̍́͒̽̋͝g̶̛̛͙̉͑̎̈́̊̂̽̎̍̌͒̓̓ at it p̷̨̛͎̜̘͑i̴̡̢̨̹͙̥̠͓̳͎̹̪͋̓͒̈́͗̽̐̒͗̅͘͘͝ş̶̲̙͇͈̠͊̑̇̄̿̓͌͐̔̋̚-pisses me off...
Again, understandable.
Don't sit up. Just relax.
I'll get a medkit.
Wh-Ẃ̶̧̼̗̾̊̋̑͑͑͠h̴̢̧̰̦̱̳̙̽̏̑̏͒̈́͌̑̚͝y̶̯̖̦̙̾̓̀͋͊̾ do you i̶͓͒͋͘͠ǹ̷̢̙̇̋̑͒͛̚ş̵̳̳̩̩̪̞͒̋̔̎̾̒̂́͂̓̚̚͜͝͠i̷̢̼͔̇̉̑͋͋́͆̌͑̾͘͜͝-insist on try-t̸̨̜̘̥̳͙͇͉̗̥̮͙̭̝͆͐́̆̿̈́̍̅͜r̴̤͔͚͈̰̥͔̋̅̊̀́͜͜y̵̢̛͎̖͖̣͔͚̼̣̗͋̅̿̈͑̄̎̄i̸̞͋͐̾͊ň̷̛̬͓͔̈̑͌̄̽̽̇̅͂͘g̷̢̠͖̬̩͖̟̪̭̻̭̪̻̑̓͗̒͜͝ to h̴̟͚͇̪̠̙̱̀̋̾̐͊͆ͅȩ̷̬̖̣̫͉̭̩̱̦̬̫̯͐̊͛͒̏l̶̨͍̳̱̳͈͙͕̱̺̗̝̩̽̌-help me when I have ma-m̶̨̥̙͔̩̩̝̝͕̠͐a̶̬̬̳̗͌̔͑̋̌̿̐͒͒̎͊̚͘d̵̨͕͖̣͎͓̤̙̂͒̄̌̅͘͝ę̷̭̠̯͙̼̂̓̓̒̊͠ my intention to harm you so ç̴̛̩̮̫̯̬̭̣̋̀͜l̷̨̩̝͕̰͔̠̹̪̔ę̶̢̧̠̟̭̙̼̮̦̬̀͂̓͑̒͆͗̕͜ͅ-clear?
If you were here to kill me, you would've done it already. You and I both know that.
You assu-a̸̛̱̮̖͔̅͌̃́ṥ̶̢͓̲̣̬̜͖̟̝̣̠͎͛̂̈́̂͌̊̋͘ͅs̶̨͇̪̠̟̮̗͒̐̔́͌̓̿̀̄͒̈́̎̉͝u̴̡͍̗̣̦̺͈̬̘͊̒̑̾͒͌̑̒̂̉m̸͖̯̗̙̗̙̫̘̱̲͛̅̓͛͌͗̈͑̈́̈̕ȩ̴̡̠̪̹͓͙̰̠̣̊̈̿͘͠ I would not, were I not c̵̫͍͉̿͒̃̂̓͑́͋̂̆̔̕͝u̷̡̩̜̍͊͝r̸̫͎͚̮͎͈͓̤͖̆̂̿̐̿̑̆͝ŗ̷͍̳̤̻̘̄̇͐ę̵̺̗̏̾͛̈́̎̆̀̒̏͝n̷̻̗͔̓̉͑̓̆͌̀͛́̈̿̈́͘͝-currently suffering this corr-ç̷̱̲̗̩̯̞͕͍͙̻̠̔͜ͅͅo̷͓̜̞̠̙̥̥̦̦͔̤͈̤̳͌͌͗͌̆̄̆̓̐̕͜͝͝͝͠r̴̢̛̞͈̯̾̌̎͗̐ȑ̷̡̛̭̠͓̜͍̝͎͚͊̔̉̄̓̓̔͝ͅͅͅu̴͎̟͎͓͊̓̇̑̽̈́͛̾̆̚p̴̧̧̫̭͓̥͍̖̼͈̘͖̈́͂̈́̊͗̓̕t̴̛̪̙͈͊͒ͅȉ̴̥̩̤̑́̃̀̇̈́̽͑̐̚͠ö̷̫̮̫͕̭͇́̃͑̊͜ṅ̷̞͓̝̯̬͉̖̎̀̽̓̈̈́̑͘̕͘?
Precisely.
Shadow returned, carrying a first aid kit.
What can I do?
...fi-f̸̢̟͙̰̜̻̣͕̞̭͐̉̀̎͂̋͌͑̌̑͒͐̽͠i̵̛̟̯̙͔̹͈͍̪̞̙̊̎̄͂͛̐͌͊̾͛̆͠n̴̛̛̙̠͖͇͙̰͓͎͂̆̈̔̎̒̆̓̕ͅͅe̴̛͓͍̫̹͎̔. If you insist on this. My ribs are b̵̡̗̭̒̂̊͊̒͂͊́͑̿̓̒̕͘͝ṛ̸͈̹͈̩̘̬̌͆̂̅ͅo̵̢̤̫̙̲̽̕͠-broken. My ankle sprained.
...Alright. I can help with that.
You just relax.
Will the corruption calm on its own?
It should...
I'll keep an eye on it.
You are certain there is no treatment?
( A pause. Scowling through his visor for a moment. )
...yes, I am certain. There is no cure.
Oh by the way I almost forgot to mention I totally kicked Infinite’s ass yesterday
LIAR.
YOU COLLAPSED.
I WAS GLITCHING.
THAT’S NOT AN EXCUSE!
I HAVE. A CONDITION.
I HAVE ONE, TOO, YOU IDIOT! WHAT DO YOU THINK MY INHIBITORS ARE FOR? DECORATION?
AT LEAST YOURS CAN BE INHIBITED.
I’D BE ACTIVELY DYING WITHOUT THEM.
I AM ACTIVELY DYING, YOU FUCKI-
( Fell over, body wracked with a virtual glitching effect, pain wracking his body as technological shudders shake his form, his body trying to drag him back to Cyber-Null Space. )
Oh shit.
Shadow stood up, ignoring his aching injuries, and rushed over.
Infinite. Can you hear me?
Ä̸̧̺̰͙̺̮̼̣̹͕͚̦̓̾̊͑́̅͊Ą̷̯͇̐̃̆̈́́́͗̇̇͠͝A̷̯̝̤̳̖͔͈͒A̷̛̺͇̯͔͂̆͊̑̀̉̕͝Ă̶̧̧͈͜Á̷̘͎̂͛̏̎͝A̷̧͇̳͉͆́Ą̸̛̖̘͉̮̳͕͉̹̟̪͎̰̀͛̂̉A̶͖̼͔͈̦͕͙̅͑̈́̄́̌͆͛A̴̖͍̳̪̺̮͖̘̘̬̹̥̫͖̎̚A̶̧̞͓͔͚̰̍͆̈́̐͑̈́̇͗̒̂͌̉̐̽
( Struggling to his feet despite the pain, the Jackal, still glitching, and weakly shoved at the hedgehog, golden hue glaring through red glass. )
J̵̩͎̥̩͚͉̣̭̈́̎͐̈́͂̆͐́͗̔͘- Just leave me a-a̵͇̤̥̍͊̀̃͆͋̈̍͠͠ḷ̴̡̨̞̲̮̥̞̈̉̏̿͌̀͌̌̇̊̀͘͘͝ǫ̴̨̲̲̘̤̙̩̙͎̇n̴̡͈̞͕̣̗̜̦̗̟̳͕̬̲̈́͜é̶̡̨̢͚͓̩̞̫͈͚̩̟̝̍̓̔́̍̂͛͐̇̽͗̃͜͠...
Hey. Easy. I’m just trying to help.
Breathe. Breathe.
( The attack begins to subside, the jackal gasping for breath as the glitching slows, now localized mostly to his hands as he stands, shaking. )
Nice and slow. There we are.
Take it easy. Don't strain yourself.
Every second I exist I am straining myself. Have you any clue how painful that is, to have a body incompatible with the world around it, to have a body that rejects its own existence?
( A cough, as he pushes his mask back up on his face. )
It is a hell like no other. A hell you contributed to putting me in. You and that blue clown. I am weak now, but when I regain my strength, you and he will both pay for that. I swear it on my squad.
...You are in pain and have been for a long time. You are angry. That's understandable.
You are not the Infinite from my realm. I had no intention of making you suffer in any way.
Nevertheless, I apologize.
Is there anything I can do? Any relief I can provide?
...why...?
( The Jackal stares at the hedgehog, his glare softening for once. )
...Why are you...
( Another cough escapes the jackal's throat. He falls to a sitting position. )
...why are you being so... kind to me...?
Because it's the right thing to do.
..pfah. I have wasted enough of my time. Stand aside.
( The Jackal again stands, clutching his ribs, and begins to limp away. The attack had aggravated his wounds. )
Hey, now. You’re still injured.
I have survived these injuries this long. I will survive the trip back to the Eggperial City. Farewell, Shadow the Hedgehog. When next we meet, I will not be so ki-
( Once again, the glitch overtakes him, and he falls to the floor. The corruption visibly spreads, the same red and black effect that took over Sonic a few months back, during the Starfall Incident, spreading across his gloved hand. )
Shadow reacted immediately. Again, he rushed over, this time draping Infinite’s arm behind his own back, hoisting him up by the shoulder.
I’ve got you.
Shadow began walking towards his couch, careful to step slowly so Infinite wouldn’t collapse again.
( With the corruption wracking his body and stealing his strength, he was unable to pull away from the hedgehog. The pain that was ripping through the jackal was immense- and only going to get worse as time went on. )
T̷̝̪̖̦̼̳̱̘͇̓̑͑͌̓̃͆̀̂͐̂͘͝a̸͚̣͆͋͝-Take your h-ḩ̵̦͕͕͓̟̠̹̌̈́̒̌͛͊ͅa̷̹̙̫͖͎̓̈́͒͘͜͠n̶͎̊͊͗̚d̵̳̬̣̥͕̣̀͐͒͂͒͛̒̆̕̚s̵̡̛͕̞̭̪͓͖̹͙̅̓ͅ off of me...
Shadow ignored this, gently lowering Infinite onto the couch.
It amazes me that you need help this much and still insist on being at odds with me.
You and I are from different realities. I have done nothing to truly harm you, and I will continue to uphold that.
Ȇ̴̲̫͉̻̭̟̭̭̼̼͑̈́̎̊̃͆͆͐́̈̒̀̚̕v̸͔̜͙̼̥̪̱̳̰͂-Even if y-y̷̡͙̺̠̠̺̠̙̝͊̈́ơ̶̦̗̐̈́̈̂̑͆̒̒̈́̃́̚͝ū̷̢̝̫̝͔̟͕̘̖̟̺͔̮͋̈́͑̕͠ͅ are not my S̶̨̢̫̜̯͓͇̖̙̟̩͕̯͗̋̾̃͒̋̓̒͊͂͜h̴̢͉̹̗̑̎̈͊̈̀͠-Shadow the Hedgehog, you share his f-f̴̡͚̯̙̖͎̞̥̔̒͊͒͑̃̋̀̍a̸̢͚̪͒͒̏ç̵̢̡͔͍̱̪̪͖͙͍͈̑̓ḛ̵̢͔͚̹͔̩͚̘͛̅̍̊̿̓̄̌̕͘.
( He winced, trying to sit up despite his broken ribs. )
Even just l-l̶̗̲̩͔͓̭̃̇̕͘͝͝ǫ̴͉̼̰̠̯̳͕͈̫͆̊̅̎̆̽̆͒̌̾̓̚̕̕ố̸̰͗̃͑̈̐̀̄͗͝k̵̛͈̞͖̐́͂̌͒͌͆͘̕î̴̢̡͈̹̺̜͍͓̖̥̥̭͙̋̓͐̌̈͗͗̓̚͘͝͝ņ̴̰̖̹͙̱̠̜̍́͒̽̋͝g̶̛̛͙̉͑̎̈́̊̂̽̎̍̌͒̓̓ at it p̷̨̛͎̜̘͑i̴̡̢̨̹͙̥̠͓̳͎̹̪͋̓͒̈́͗̽̐̒͗̅͘͘͝ş̶̲̙͇͈̠͊̑̇̄̿̓͌͐̔̋̚-pisses me off...
Again, understandable.
Don't sit up. Just relax.
I'll get a medkit.
Wh-Ẃ̶̧̼̗̾̊̋̑͑͑͠h̴̢̧̰̦̱̳̙̽̏̑̏͒̈́͌̑̚͝y̶̯̖̦̙̾̓̀͋͊̾ do you i̶͓͒͋͘͠ǹ̷̢̙̇̋̑͒͛̚ş̵̳̳̩̩̪̞͒̋̔̎̾̒̂́͂̓̚̚͜͝͠i̷̢̼͔̇̉̑͋͋́͆̌͑̾͘͜͝-insist on try-t̸̨̜̘̥̳͙͇͉̗̥̮͙̭̝͆͐́̆̿̈́̍̅͜r̴̤͔͚͈̰̥͔̋̅̊̀́͜͜y̵̢̛͎̖͖̣͔͚̼̣̗͋̅̿̈͑̄̎̄i̸̞͋͐̾͊ň̷̛̬͓͔̈̑͌̄̽̽̇̅͂͘g̷̢̠͖̬̩͖̟̪̭̻̭̪̻̑̓͗̒͜͝ to h̴̟͚͇̪̠̙̱̀̋̾̐͊͆ͅȩ̷̬̖̣̫͉̭̩̱̦̬̫̯͐̊͛͒̏l̶̨͍̳̱̳͈͙͕̱̺̗̝̩̽̌-help me when I have ma-m̶̨̥̙͔̩̩̝̝͕̠͐a̶̬̬̳̗͌̔͑̋̌̿̐͒͒̎͊̚͘d̵̨͕͖̣͎͓̤̙̂͒̄̌̅͘͝ę̷̭̠̯͙̼̂̓̓̒̊͠ my intention to harm you so ç̴̛̩̮̫̯̬̭̣̋̀͜l̷̨̩̝͕̰͔̠̹̪̔ę̶̢̧̠̟̭̙̼̮̦̬̀͂̓͑̒͆͗̕͜ͅ-clear?
If you were here to kill me, you would've done it already. You and I both know that.
You assu-a̸̛̱̮̖͔̅͌̃́ṥ̶̢͓̲̣̬̜͖̟̝̣̠͎͛̂̈́̂͌̊̋͘ͅs̶̨͇̪̠̟̮̗͒̐̔́͌̓̿̀̄͒̈́̎̉͝u̴̡͍̗̣̦̺͈̬̘͊̒̑̾͒͌̑̒̂̉m̸͖̯̗̙̗̙̫̘̱̲͛̅̓͛͌͗̈͑̈́̈̕ȩ̴̡̠̪̹͓͙̰̠̣̊̈̿͘͠ I would not, were I not c̵̫͍͉̿͒̃̂̓͑́͋̂̆̔̕͝u̷̡̩̜̍͊͝r̸̫͎͚̮͎͈͓̤͖̆̂̿̐̿̑̆͝ŗ̷͍̳̤̻̘̄̇͐ę̵̺̗̏̾͛̈́̎̆̀̒̏͝n̷̻̗͔̓̉͑̓̆͌̀͛́̈̿̈́͘͝-currently suffering this corr-ç̷̱̲̗̩̯̞͕͍͙̻̠̔͜ͅͅo̷͓̜̞̠̙̥̥̦̦͔̤͈̤̳͌͌͗͌̆̄̆̓̐̕͜͝͝͝͠r̴̢̛̞͈̯̾̌̎͗̐ȑ̷̡̛̭̠͓̜͍̝͎͚͊̔̉̄̓̓̔͝ͅͅͅu̴͎̟͎͓͊̓̇̑̽̈́͛̾̆̚p̴̧̧̫̭͓̥͍̖̼͈̘͖̈́͂̈́̊͗̓̕t̴̛̪̙͈͊͒ͅȉ̴̥̩̤̑́̃̀̇̈́̽͑̐̚͠ö̷̫̮̫͕̭͇́̃͑̊͜ṅ̷̞͓̝̯̬͉̖̎̀̽̓̈̈́̑͘̕͘?
Precisely.
Shadow returned, carrying a first aid kit.
What can I do?
...fi-f̸̢̟͙̰̜̻̣͕̞̭͐̉̀̎͂̋͌͑̌̑͒͐̽͠i̵̛̟̯̙͔̹͈͍̪̞̙̊̎̄͂͛̐͌͊̾͛̆͠n̴̛̛̙̠͖͇͙̰͓͎͂̆̈̔̎̒̆̓̕ͅͅe̴̛͓͍̫̹͎̔. If you insist on this. My ribs are b̵̡̗̭̒̂̊͊̒͂͊́͑̿̓̒̕͘͝ṛ̸͈̹͈̩̘̬̌͆̂̅ͅo̵̢̤̫̙̲̽̕͠-broken. My ankle sprained.
...Alright. I can help with that.
You just relax.
Will the corruption calm on its own?
It should...
Oh by the way I almost forgot to mention I totally kicked Infinite’s ass yesterday
LIAR.
YOU COLLAPSED.
I WAS GLITCHING.
THAT’S NOT AN EXCUSE!
I HAVE. A CONDITION.
I HAVE ONE, TOO, YOU IDIOT! WHAT DO YOU THINK MY INHIBITORS ARE FOR? DECORATION?
AT LEAST YOURS CAN BE INHIBITED.
I’D BE ACTIVELY DYING WITHOUT THEM.
I AM ACTIVELY DYING, YOU FUCKI-
( Fell over, body wracked with a virtual glitching effect, pain wracking his body as technological shudders shake his form, his body trying to drag him back to Cyber-Null Space. )
Oh shit.
Shadow stood up, ignoring his aching injuries, and rushed over.
Infinite. Can you hear me?
Ä̸̧̺̰͙̺̮̼̣̹͕͚̦̓̾̊͑́̅͊Ą̷̯͇̐̃̆̈́́́͗̇̇͠͝A̷̯̝̤̳̖͔͈͒A̷̛̺͇̯͔͂̆͊̑̀̉̕͝Ă̶̧̧͈͜Á̷̘͎̂͛̏̎͝A̷̧͇̳͉͆́Ą̸̛̖̘͉̮̳͕͉̹̟̪͎̰̀͛̂̉A̶͖̼͔͈̦͕͙̅͑̈́̄́̌͆͛A̴̖͍̳̪̺̮͖̘̘̬̹̥̫͖̎̚A̶̧̞͓͔͚̰̍͆̈́̐͑̈́̇͗̒̂͌̉̐̽
( Struggling to his feet despite the pain, the Jackal, still glitching, and weakly shoved at the hedgehog, golden hue glaring through red glass. )
J̵̩͎̥̩͚͉̣̭̈́̎͐̈́͂̆͐́͗̔͘- Just leave me a-a̵͇̤̥̍͊̀̃͆͋̈̍͠͠ḷ̴̡̨̞̲̮̥̞̈̉̏̿͌̀͌̌̇̊̀͘͘͝ǫ̴̨̲̲̘̤̙̩̙͎̇n̴̡͈̞͕̣̗̜̦̗̟̳͕̬̲̈́͜é̶̡̨̢͚͓̩̞̫͈͚̩̟̝̍̓̔́̍̂͛͐̇̽͗̃͜͠...
Hey. Easy. I’m just trying to help.
Breathe. Breathe.
( The attack begins to subside, the jackal gasping for breath as the glitching slows, now localized mostly to his hands as he stands, shaking. )
Nice and slow. There we are.
Take it easy. Don't strain yourself.
Every second I exist I am straining myself. Have you any clue how painful that is, to have a body incompatible with the world around it, to have a body that rejects its own existence?
( A cough, as he pushes his mask back up on his face. )
It is a hell like no other. A hell you contributed to putting me in. You and that blue clown. I am weak now, but when I regain my strength, you and he will both pay for that. I swear it on my squad.
...You are in pain and have been for a long time. You are angry. That's understandable.
You are not the Infinite from my realm. I had no intention of making you suffer in any way.
Nevertheless, I apologize.
Is there anything I can do? Any relief I can provide?
...why...?
( The Jackal stares at the hedgehog, his glare softening for once. )
...Why are you...
( Another cough escapes the jackal's throat. He falls to a sitting position. )
...why are you being so... kind to me...?
Because it's the right thing to do.
..pfah. I have wasted enough of my time. Stand aside.
( The Jackal again stands, clutching his ribs, and begins to limp away. The attack had aggravated his wounds. )
Hey, now. You’re still injured.
I have survived these injuries this long. I will survive the trip back to the Eggperial City. Farewell, Shadow the Hedgehog. When next we meet, I will not be so ki-
( Once again, the glitch overtakes him, and he falls to the floor. The corruption visibly spreads, the same red and black effect that took over Sonic a few months back, during the Starfall Incident, spreading across his gloved hand. )
Shadow reacted immediately. Again, he rushed over, this time draping Infinite’s arm behind his own back, hoisting him up by the shoulder.
I’ve got you.
Shadow began walking towards his couch, careful to step slowly so Infinite wouldn’t collapse again.
( With the corruption wracking his body and stealing his strength, he was unable to pull away from the hedgehog. The pain that was ripping through the jackal was immense- and only going to get worse as time went on. )
T̷̝̪̖̦̼̳̱̘͇̓̑͑͌̓̃͆̀̂͐̂͘͝a̸͚̣͆͋͝-Take your h-ḩ̵̦͕͕͓̟̠̹̌̈́̒̌͛͊ͅa̷̹̙̫͖͎̓̈́͒͘͜͠n̶͎̊͊͗̚d̵̳̬̣̥͕̣̀͐͒͂͒͛̒̆̕̚s̵̡̛͕̞̭̪͓͖̹͙̅̓ͅ off of me...
Shadow ignored this, gently lowering Infinite onto the couch.
It amazes me that you need help this much and still insist on being at odds with me.
You and I are from different realities. I have done nothing to truly harm you, and I will continue to uphold that.
Ȇ̴̲̫͉̻̭̟̭̭̼̼͑̈́̎̊̃͆͆͐́̈̒̀̚̕v̸͔̜͙̼̥̪̱̳̰͂-Even if y-y̷̡͙̺̠̠̺̠̙̝͊̈́ơ̶̦̗̐̈́̈̂̑͆̒̒̈́̃́̚͝ū̷̢̝̫̝͔̟͕̘̖̟̺͔̮͋̈́͑̕͠ͅ are not my S̶̨̢̫̜̯͓͇̖̙̟̩͕̯͗̋̾̃͒̋̓̒͊͂͜h̴̢͉̹̗̑̎̈͊̈̀͠-Shadow the Hedgehog, you share his f-f̴̡͚̯̙̖͎̞̥̔̒͊͒͑̃̋̀̍a̸̢͚̪͒͒̏ç̵̢̡͔͍̱̪̪͖͙͍͈̑̓ḛ̵̢͔͚̹͔̩͚̘͛̅̍̊̿̓̄̌̕͘.
( He winced, trying to sit up despite his broken ribs. )
Even just l-l̶̗̲̩͔͓̭̃̇̕͘͝͝ǫ̴͉̼̰̠̯̳͕͈̫͆̊̅̎̆̽̆͒̌̾̓̚̕̕ố̸̰͗̃͑̈̐̀̄͗͝k̵̛͈̞͖̐́͂̌͒͌͆͘̕î̴̢̡͈̹̺̜͍͓̖̥̥̭͙̋̓͐̌̈͗͗̓̚͘͝͝ņ̴̰̖̹͙̱̠̜̍́͒̽̋͝g̶̛̛͙̉͑̎̈́̊̂̽̎̍̌͒̓̓ at it p̷̨̛͎̜̘͑i̴̡̢̨̹͙̥̠͓̳͎̹̪͋̓͒̈́͗̽̐̒͗̅͘͘͝ş̶̲̙͇͈̠͊̑̇̄̿̓͌͐̔̋̚-pisses me off...
Again, understandable.
Don't sit up. Just relax.
I'll get a medkit.
Wh-Ẃ̶̧̼̗̾̊̋̑͑͑͠h̴̢̧̰̦̱̳̙̽̏̑̏͒̈́͌̑̚͝y̶̯̖̦̙̾̓̀͋͊̾ do you i̶͓͒͋͘͠ǹ̷̢̙̇̋̑͒͛̚ş̵̳̳̩̩̪̞͒̋̔̎̾̒̂́͂̓̚̚͜͝͠i̷̢̼͔̇̉̑͋͋́͆̌͑̾͘͜͝-insist on try-t̸̨̜̘̥̳͙͇͉̗̥̮͙̭̝͆͐́̆̿̈́̍̅͜r̴̤͔͚͈̰̥͔̋̅̊̀́͜͜y̵̢̛͎̖͖̣͔͚̼̣̗͋̅̿̈͑̄̎̄i̸̞͋͐̾͊ň̷̛̬͓͔̈̑͌̄̽̽̇̅͂͘g̷̢̠͖̬̩͖̟̪̭̻̭̪̻̑̓͗̒͜͝ to h̴̟͚͇̪̠̙̱̀̋̾̐͊͆ͅȩ̷̬̖̣̫͉̭̩̱̦̬̫̯͐̊͛͒̏l̶̨͍̳̱̳͈͙͕̱̺̗̝̩̽̌-help me when I have ma-m̶̨̥̙͔̩̩̝̝͕̠͐a̶̬̬̳̗͌̔͑̋̌̿̐͒͒̎͊̚͘d̵̨͕͖̣͎͓̤̙̂͒̄̌̅͘͝ę̷̭̠̯͙̼̂̓̓̒̊͠ my intention to harm you so ç̴̛̩̮̫̯̬̭̣̋̀͜l̷̨̩̝͕̰͔̠̹̪̔ę̶̢̧̠̟̭̙̼̮̦̬̀͂̓͑̒͆͗̕͜ͅ-clear?
If you were here to kill me, you would've done it already. You and I both know that.
You assu-a̸̛̱̮̖͔̅͌̃́ṥ̶̢͓̲̣̬̜͖̟̝̣̠͎͛̂̈́̂͌̊̋͘ͅs̶̨͇̪̠̟̮̗͒̐̔́͌̓̿̀̄͒̈́̎̉͝u̴̡͍̗̣̦̺͈̬̘͊̒̑̾͒͌̑̒̂̉m̸͖̯̗̙̗̙̫̘̱̲͛̅̓͛͌͗̈͑̈́̈̕ȩ̴̡̠̪̹͓͙̰̠̣̊̈̿͘͠ I would not, were I not c̵̫͍͉̿͒̃̂̓͑́͋̂̆̔̕͝u̷̡̩̜̍͊͝r̸̫͎͚̮͎͈͓̤͖̆̂̿̐̿̑̆͝ŗ̷͍̳̤̻̘̄̇͐ę̵̺̗̏̾͛̈́̎̆̀̒̏͝n̷̻̗͔̓̉͑̓̆͌̀͛́̈̿̈́͘͝-currently suffering this corr-ç̷̱̲̗̩̯̞͕͍͙̻̠̔͜ͅͅo̷͓̜̞̠̙̥̥̦̦͔̤͈̤̳͌͌͗͌̆̄̆̓̐̕͜͝͝͝͠r̴̢̛̞͈̯̾̌̎͗̐ȑ̷̡̛̭̠͓̜͍̝͎͚͊̔̉̄̓̓̔͝ͅͅͅu̴͎̟͎͓͊̓̇̑̽̈́͛̾̆̚p̴̧̧̫̭͓̥͍̖̼͈̘͖̈́͂̈́̊͗̓̕t̴̛̪̙͈͊͒ͅȉ̴̥̩̤̑́̃̀̇̈́̽͑̐̚͠ö̷̫̮̫͕̭͇́̃͑̊͜ṅ̷̞͓̝̯̬͉̖̎̀̽̓̈̈́̑͘̕͘?
Precisely.
Shadow returned, carrying a first aid kit.
What can I do?
...fi-f̸̢̟͙̰̜̻̣͕̞̭͐̉̀̎͂̋͌͑̌̑͒͐̽͠i̵̛̟̯̙͔̹͈͍̪̞̙̊̎̄͂͛̐͌͊̾͛̆͠n̴̛̛̙̠͖͇͙̰͓͎͂̆̈̔̎̒̆̓̕ͅͅe̴̛͓͍̫̹͎̔. If you insist on this. My ribs are b̵̡̗̭̒̂̊͊̒͂͊́͑̿̓̒̕͘͝ṛ̸͈̹͈̩̘̬̌͆̂̅ͅo̵̢̤̫̙̲̽̕͠-broken. My ankle sprained.
Oh by the way I almost forgot to mention I totally kicked Infinite’s ass yesterday
LIAR.
YOU COLLAPSED.
I WAS GLITCHING.
THAT’S NOT AN EXCUSE!
I HAVE. A CONDITION.
I HAVE ONE, TOO, YOU IDIOT! WHAT DO YOU THINK MY INHIBITORS ARE FOR? DECORATION?
AT LEAST YOURS CAN BE INHIBITED.
I’D BE ACTIVELY DYING WITHOUT THEM.
I AM ACTIVELY DYING, YOU FUCKI-
( Fell over, body wracked with a virtual glitching effect, pain wracking his body as technological shudders shake his form, his body trying to drag him back to Cyber-Null Space. )
Oh shit.
Shadow stood up, ignoring his aching injuries, and rushed over.
Infinite. Can you hear me?
Ä̸̧̺̰͙̺̮̼̣̹͕͚̦̓̾̊͑́̅͊Ą̷̯͇̐̃̆̈́́́͗̇̇͠͝A̷̯̝̤̳̖͔͈͒A̷̛̺͇̯͔͂̆͊̑̀̉̕͝Ă̶̧̧͈͜Á̷̘͎̂͛̏̎͝A̷̧͇̳͉͆́Ą̸̛̖̘͉̮̳͕͉̹̟̪͎̰̀͛̂̉A̶͖̼͔͈̦͕͙̅͑̈́̄́̌͆͛A̴̖͍̳̪̺̮͖̘̘̬̹̥̫͖̎̚A̶̧̞͓͔͚̰̍͆̈́̐͑̈́̇͗̒̂͌̉̐̽
( Struggling to his feet despite the pain, the Jackal, still glitching, and weakly shoved at the hedgehog, golden hue glaring through red glass. )
J̵̩͎̥̩͚͉̣̭̈́̎͐̈́͂̆͐́͗̔͘- Just leave me a-a̵͇̤̥̍͊̀̃͆͋̈̍͠͠ḷ̴̡̨̞̲̮̥̞̈̉̏̿͌̀͌̌̇̊̀͘͘͝ǫ̴̨̲̲̘̤̙̩̙͎̇n̴̡͈̞͕̣̗̜̦̗̟̳͕̬̲̈́͜é̶̡̨̢͚͓̩̞̫͈͚̩̟̝̍̓̔́̍̂͛͐̇̽͗̃͜͠...
Hey. Easy. I’m just trying to help.
Breathe. Breathe.
( The attack begins to subside, the jackal gasping for breath as the glitching slows, now localized mostly to his hands as he stands, shaking. )
Nice and slow. There we are.
Take it easy. Don't strain yourself.
Every second I exist I am straining myself. Have you any clue how painful that is, to have a body incompatible with the world around it, to have a body that rejects its own existence?
( A cough, as he pushes his mask back up on his face. )
It is a hell like no other. A hell you contributed to putting me in. You and that blue clown. I am weak now, but when I regain my strength, you and he will both pay for that. I swear it on my squad.
...You are in pain and have been for a long time. You are angry. That's understandable.
You are not the Infinite from my realm. I had no intention of making you suffer in any way.
Nevertheless, I apologize.
Is there anything I can do? Any relief I can provide?
...why...?
( The Jackal stares at the hedgehog, his glare softening for once. )
...Why are you...
( Another cough escapes the jackal's throat. He falls to a sitting position. )
...why are you being so... kind to me...?
Because it's the right thing to do.
..pfah. I have wasted enough of my time. Stand aside.
( The Jackal again stands, clutching his ribs, and begins to limp away. The attack had aggravated his wounds. )
Hey, now. You’re still injured.
I have survived these injuries this long. I will survive the trip back to the Eggperial City. Farewell, Shadow the Hedgehog. When next we meet, I will not be so ki-
( Once again, the glitch overtakes him, and he falls to the floor. The corruption visibly spreads, the same red and black effect that took over Sonic a few months back, during the Starfall Incident, spreading across his gloved hand. )
Shadow reacted immediately. Again, he rushed over, this time draping Infinite’s arm behind his own back, hoisting him up by the shoulder.
I’ve got you.
Shadow began walking towards his couch, careful to step slowly so Infinite wouldn’t collapse again.
( With the corruption wracking his body and stealing his strength, he was unable to pull away from the hedgehog. The pain that was ripping through the jackal was immense- and only going to get worse as time went on. )
T̷̝̪̖̦̼̳̱̘͇̓̑͑͌̓̃͆̀̂͐̂͘͝a̸͚̣͆͋͝-Take your h-ḩ̵̦͕͕͓̟̠̹̌̈́̒̌͛͊ͅa̷̹̙̫͖͎̓̈́͒͘͜͠n̶͎̊͊͗̚d̵̳̬̣̥͕̣̀͐͒͂͒͛̒̆̕̚s̵̡̛͕̞̭̪͓͖̹͙̅̓ͅ off of me...
Shadow ignored this, gently lowering Infinite onto the couch.
It amazes me that you need help this much and still insist on being at odds with me.
You and I are from different realities. I have done nothing to truly harm you, and I will continue to uphold that.
Ȇ̴̲̫͉̻̭̟̭̭̼̼͑̈́̎̊̃͆͆͐́̈̒̀̚̕v̸͔̜͙̼̥̪̱̳̰͂-Even if y-y̷̡͙̺̠̠̺̠̙̝͊̈́ơ̶̦̗̐̈́̈̂̑͆̒̒̈́̃́̚͝ū̷̢̝̫̝͔̟͕̘̖̟̺͔̮͋̈́͑̕͠ͅ are not my S̶̨̢̫̜̯͓͇̖̙̟̩͕̯͗̋̾̃͒̋̓̒͊͂͜h̴̢͉̹̗̑̎̈͊̈̀͠-Shadow the Hedgehog, you share his f-f̴̡͚̯̙̖͎̞̥̔̒͊͒͑̃̋̀̍a̸̢͚̪͒͒̏ç̵̢̡͔͍̱̪̪͖͙͍͈̑̓ḛ̵̢͔͚̹͔̩͚̘͛̅̍̊̿̓̄̌̕͘.
( He winced, trying to sit up despite his broken ribs. )
Even just l-l̶̗̲̩͔͓̭̃̇̕͘͝͝ǫ̴͉̼̰̠̯̳͕͈̫͆̊̅̎̆̽̆͒̌̾̓̚̕̕ố̸̰͗̃͑̈̐̀̄͗͝k̵̛͈̞͖̐́͂̌͒͌͆͘̕î̴̢̡͈̹̺̜͍͓̖̥̥̭͙̋̓͐̌̈͗͗̓̚͘͝͝ņ̴̰̖̹͙̱̠̜̍́͒̽̋͝g̶̛̛͙̉͑̎̈́̊̂̽̎̍̌͒̓̓ at it p̷̨̛͎̜̘͑i̴̡̢̨̹͙̥̠͓̳͎̹̪͋̓͒̈́͗̽̐̒͗̅͘͘͝ş̶̲̙͇͈̠͊̑̇̄̿̓͌͐̔̋̚-pisses me off...
Again, understandable.
Don't sit up. Just relax.
I'll get a medkit.
Wh-Ẃ̶̧̼̗̾̊̋̑͑͑͠h̴̢̧̰̦̱̳̙̽̏̑̏͒̈́͌̑̚͝y̶̯̖̦̙̾̓̀͋͊̾ do you i̶͓͒͋͘͠ǹ̷̢̙̇̋̑͒͛̚ş̵̳̳̩̩̪̞͒̋̔̎̾̒̂́͂̓̚̚͜͝͠i̷̢̼͔̇̉̑͋͋́͆̌͑̾͘͜͝-insist on try-t̸̨̜̘̥̳͙͇͉̗̥̮͙̭̝͆͐́̆̿̈́̍̅͜r̴̤͔͚͈̰̥͔̋̅̊̀́͜͜y̵̢̛͎̖͖̣͔͚̼̣̗͋̅̿̈͑̄̎̄i̸̞͋͐̾͊ň̷̛̬͓͔̈̑͌̄̽̽̇̅͂͘g̷̢̠͖̬̩͖̟̪̭̻̭̪̻̑̓͗̒͜͝ to h̴̟͚͇̪̠̙̱̀̋̾̐͊͆ͅȩ̷̬̖̣̫͉̭̩̱̦̬̫̯͐̊͛͒̏l̶̨͍̳̱̳͈͙͕̱̺̗̝̩̽̌-help me when I have ma-m̶̨̥̙͔̩̩̝̝͕̠͐a̶̬̬̳̗͌̔͑̋̌̿̐͒͒̎͊̚͘d̵̨͕͖̣͎͓̤̙̂͒̄̌̅͘͝ę̷̭̠̯͙̼̂̓̓̒̊͠ my intention to harm you so ç̴̛̩̮̫̯̬̭̣̋̀͜l̷̨̩̝͕̰͔̠̹̪̔ę̶̢̧̠̟̭̙̼̮̦̬̀͂̓͑̒͆͗̕͜ͅ-clear?
Oh by the way I almost forgot to mention I totally kicked Infinite’s ass yesterday
LIAR.
YOU COLLAPSED.
I WAS GLITCHING.
THAT’S NOT AN EXCUSE!
I HAVE. A CONDITION.
I HAVE ONE, TOO, YOU IDIOT! WHAT DO YOU THINK MY INHIBITORS ARE FOR? DECORATION?
AT LEAST YOURS CAN BE INHIBITED.
I’D BE ACTIVELY DYING WITHOUT THEM.
I AM ACTIVELY DYING, YOU FUCKI-
( Fell over, body wracked with a virtual glitching effect, pain wracking his body as technological shudders shake his form, his body trying to drag him back to Cyber-Null Space. )
Oh shit.
Shadow stood up, ignoring his aching injuries, and rushed over.
Infinite. Can you hear me?
Ä̸̧̺̰͙̺̮̼̣̹͕͚̦̓̾̊͑́̅͊Ą̷̯͇̐̃̆̈́́́͗̇̇͠͝A̷̯̝̤̳̖͔͈͒A̷̛̺͇̯͔͂̆͊̑̀̉̕͝Ă̶̧̧͈͜Á̷̘͎̂͛̏̎͝A̷̧͇̳͉͆́Ą̸̛̖̘͉̮̳͕͉̹̟̪͎̰̀͛̂̉A̶͖̼͔͈̦͕͙̅͑̈́̄́̌͆͛A̴̖͍̳̪̺̮͖̘̘̬̹̥̫͖̎̚A̶̧̞͓͔͚̰̍͆̈́̐͑̈́̇͗̒̂͌̉̐̽
( Struggling to his feet despite the pain, the Jackal, still glitching, and weakly shoved at the hedgehog, golden hue glaring through red glass. )
J̵̩͎̥̩͚͉̣̭̈́̎͐̈́͂̆͐́͗̔͘- Just leave me a-a̵͇̤̥̍͊̀̃͆͋̈̍͠͠ḷ̴̡̨̞̲̮̥̞̈̉̏̿͌̀͌̌̇̊̀͘͘͝ǫ̴̨̲̲̘̤̙̩̙͎̇n̴̡͈̞͕̣̗̜̦̗̟̳͕̬̲̈́͜é̶̡̨̢͚͓̩̞̫͈͚̩̟̝̍̓̔́̍̂͛͐̇̽͗̃͜͠...
Hey. Easy. I’m just trying to help.
Breathe. Breathe.
( The attack begins to subside, the jackal gasping for breath as the glitching slows, now localized mostly to his hands as he stands, shaking. )
Nice and slow. There we are.
Take it easy. Don't strain yourself.
Every second I exist I am straining myself. Have you any clue how painful that is, to have a body incompatible with the world around it, to have a body that rejects its own existence?
( A cough, as he pushes his mask back up on his face. )
It is a hell like no other. A hell you contributed to putting me in. You and that blue clown. I am weak now, but when I regain my strength, you and he will both pay for that. I swear it on my squad.
...You are in pain and have been for a long time. You are angry. That's understandable.
You are not the Infinite from my realm. I had no intention of making you suffer in any way.
Nevertheless, I apologize.
Is there anything I can do? Any relief I can provide?
...why...?
( The Jackal stares at the hedgehog, his glare softening for once. )
...Why are you...
( Another cough escapes the jackal's throat. He falls to a sitting position. )
...why are you being so... kind to me...?
Because it's the right thing to do.
..pfah. I have wasted enough of my time. Stand aside.
( The Jackal again stands, clutching his ribs, and begins to limp away. The attack had aggravated his wounds. )
Hey, now. You’re still injured.
I have survived these injuries this long. I will survive the trip back to the Eggperial City. Farewell, Shadow the Hedgehog. When next we meet, I will not be so ki-
( Once again, the glitch overtakes him, and he falls to the floor. The corruption visibly spreads, the same red and black effect that took over Sonic a few months back, during the Starfall Incident, spreading across his gloved hand. )
Shadow reacted immediately. Again, he rushed over, this time draping Infinite’s arm behind his own back, hoisting him up by the shoulder.
I’ve got you.
Shadow began walking towards his couch, careful to step slowly so Infinite wouldn’t collapse again.
( With the corruption wracking his body and stealing his strength, he was unable to pull away from the hedgehog. The pain that was ripping through the jackal was immense- and only going to get worse as time went on. )
T̷̝̪̖̦̼̳̱̘͇̓̑͑͌̓̃͆̀̂͐̂͘͝a̸͚̣͆͋͝-Take your h-ḩ̵̦͕͕͓̟̠̹̌̈́̒̌͛͊ͅa̷̹̙̫͖͎̓̈́͒͘͜͠n̶͎̊͊͗̚d̵̳̬̣̥͕̣̀͐͒͂͒͛̒̆̕̚s̵̡̛͕̞̭̪͓͖̹͙̅̓ͅ off of me...
Shadow ignored this, gently lowering Infinite onto the couch.
It amazes me that you need help this much and still insist on being at odds with me.
You and I are from different realities. I have done nothing to truly harm you, and I will continue to uphold that.
Ȇ̴̲̫͉̻̭̟̭̭̼̼͑̈́̎̊̃͆͆͐́̈̒̀̚̕v̸͔̜͙̼̥̪̱̳̰͂-Even if y-y̷̡͙̺̠̠̺̠̙̝͊̈́ơ̶̦̗̐̈́̈̂̑͆̒̒̈́̃́̚͝ū̷̢̝̫̝͔̟͕̘̖̟̺͔̮͋̈́͑̕͠ͅ are not my S̶̨̢̫̜̯͓͇̖̙̟̩͕̯͗̋̾̃͒̋̓̒͊͂͜h̴̢͉̹̗̑̎̈͊̈̀͠-Shadow the Hedgehog, you share his f-f̴̡͚̯̙̖͎̞̥̔̒͊͒͑̃̋̀̍a̸̢͚̪͒͒̏ç̵̢̡͔͍̱̪̪͖͙͍͈̑̓ḛ̵̢͔͚̹͔̩͚̘͛̅̍̊̿̓̄̌̕͘.
( He winced, trying to sit up despite his broken ribs. )
Even just l-l̶̗̲̩͔͓̭̃̇̕͘͝͝ǫ̴͉̼̰̠̯̳͕͈̫͆̊̅̎̆̽̆͒̌̾̓̚̕̕ố̸̰͗̃͑̈̐̀̄͗͝k̵̛͈̞͖̐́͂̌͒͌͆͘̕î̴̢̡͈̹̺̜͍͓̖̥̥̭͙̋̓͐̌̈͗͗̓̚͘͝͝ņ̴̰̖̹͙̱̠̜̍́͒̽̋͝g̶̛̛͙̉͑̎̈́̊̂̽̎̍̌͒̓̓ at it p̷̨̛͎̜̘͑i̴̡̢̨̹͙̥̠͓̳͎̹̪͋̓͒̈́͗̽̐̒͗̅͘͘͝ş̶̲̙͇͈̠͊̑̇̄̿̓͌͐̔̋̚-pisses me off...
Again, understandable.
Don't sit up. Just relax.
I'll get a medkit.
Wh-Ẃ̶̧̼̗̾̊̋̑͑͑͠h̴̢̧̰̦̱̳̙̽̏̑̏͒̈́͌̑̚͝y̶̯̖̦̙̾̓̀͋͊̾ do you i̶͓͒͋͘͠ǹ̷̢̙̇̋̑͒͛̚ş̵̳̳̩̩̪̞͒̋̔̎̾̒̂́͂̓̚̚͜͝͠i̷̢̼͔̇̉̑͋͋́͆̌͑̾͘͜͝-insist on try-t̸̨̜̘̥̳͙͇͉̗̥̮͙̭̝͆͐́̆̿̈́̍̅͜r̴̤͔͚͈̰̥͔̋̅̊̀́͜͜y̵̢̛͎̖͖̣͔͚̼̣̗͋̅̿̈͑̄̎̄i̸̞͋͐̾͊ň̷̛̬͓͔̈̑͌̄̽̽̇̅͂͘g̷̢̠͖̬̩͖̟̪̭̻̭̪̻̑̓͗̒͜͝ to h̴̟͚͇̪̠̙̱̀̋̾̐͊͆ͅȩ̷̬̖̣̫͉̭̩̱̦̬̫̯͐̊͛͒̏l̶̨͍̳̱̳͈͙͕̱̺̗̝̩̽̌-help me when I have ma-m̶̨̥̙͔̩̩̝̝͕̠͐a̶̬̬̳̗͌̔͑̋̌̿̐͒͒̎͊̚͘d̵̨͕͖̣͎͓̤̙̂͒̄̌̅͘͝ę̷̭̠̯͙̼̂̓̓̒̊͠ my intention to harm you so ç̴̛̩̮̫̯̬̭̣̋̀͜l̷̨̩̝͕̰͔̠̹̪̔ę̶̢̧̠̟̭̙̼̮̦̬̀͂̓͑̒͆͗̕͜ͅ-clear?
If you were here to kill me, you would've done it already. You and I both know that.
You assu-a̸̛̱̮̖͔̅͌̃́ṥ̶̢͓̲̣̬̜͖̟̝̣̠͎͛̂̈́̂͌̊̋͘ͅs̶̨͇̪̠̟̮̗͒̐̔́͌̓̿̀̄͒̈́̎̉͝u̴̡͍̗̣̦̺͈̬̘͊̒̑̾͒͌̑̒̂̉m̸͖̯̗̙̗̙̫̘̱̲͛̅̓͛͌͗̈͑̈́̈̕ȩ̴̡̠̪̹͓͙̰̠̣̊̈̿͘͠ I would not, were I not c̵̫͍͉̿͒̃̂̓͑́͋̂̆̔̕͝u̷̡̩̜̍͊͝r̸̫͎͚̮͎͈͓̤͖̆̂̿̐̿̑̆͝ŗ̷͍̳̤̻̘̄̇͐ę̵̺̗̏̾͛̈́̎̆̀̒̏͝n̷̻̗͔̓̉͑̓̆͌̀͛́̈̿̈́͘͝-currently suffering this corr-ç̷̱̲̗̩̯̞͕͍͙̻̠̔͜ͅͅo̷͓̜̞̠̙̥̥̦̦͔̤͈̤̳͌͌͗͌̆̄̆̓̐̕͜͝͝͝͠r̴̢̛̞͈̯̾̌̎͗̐ȑ̷̡̛̭̠͓̜͍̝͎͚͊̔̉̄̓̓̔͝ͅͅͅu̴͎̟͎͓͊̓̇̑̽̈́͛̾̆̚p̴̧̧̫̭͓̥͍̖̼͈̘͖̈́͂̈́̊͗̓̕t̴̛̪̙͈͊͒ͅȉ̴̥̩̤̑́̃̀̇̈́̽͑̐̚͠ö̷̫̮̫͕̭͇́̃͑̊͜ṅ̷̞͓̝̯̬͉̖̎̀̽̓̈̈́̑͘̕͘?
Oh by the way I almost forgot to mention I totally kicked Infinite’s ass yesterday
LIAR.
YOU COLLAPSED.
I WAS GLITCHING.
THAT’S NOT AN EXCUSE!
I HAVE. A CONDITION.
I HAVE ONE, TOO, YOU IDIOT! WHAT DO YOU THINK MY INHIBITORS ARE FOR? DECORATION?
AT LEAST YOURS CAN BE INHIBITED.
I’D BE ACTIVELY DYING WITHOUT THEM.
I AM ACTIVELY DYING, YOU FUCKI-
( Fell over, body wracked with a virtual glitching effect, pain wracking his body as technological shudders shake his form, his body trying to drag him back to Cyber-Null Space. )
Oh shit.
Shadow stood up, ignoring his aching injuries, and rushed over.
Infinite. Can you hear me?
Ä̸̧̺̰͙̺̮̼̣̹͕͚̦̓̾̊͑́̅͊Ą̷̯͇̐̃̆̈́́́͗̇̇͠͝A̷̯̝̤̳̖͔͈͒A̷̛̺͇̯͔͂̆͊̑̀̉̕͝Ă̶̧̧͈͜Á̷̘͎̂͛̏̎͝A̷̧͇̳͉͆́Ą̸̛̖̘͉̮̳͕͉̹̟̪͎̰̀͛̂̉A̶͖̼͔͈̦͕͙̅͑̈́̄́̌͆͛A̴̖͍̳̪̺̮͖̘̘̬̹̥̫͖̎̚A̶̧̞͓͔͚̰̍͆̈́̐͑̈́̇͗̒̂͌̉̐̽
( Struggling to his feet despite the pain, the Jackal, still glitching, and weakly shoved at the hedgehog, golden hue glaring through red glass. )
J̵̩͎̥̩͚͉̣̭̈́̎͐̈́͂̆͐́͗̔͘- Just leave me a-a̵͇̤̥̍͊̀̃͆͋̈̍͠͠ḷ̴̡̨̞̲̮̥̞̈̉̏̿͌̀͌̌̇̊̀͘͘͝ǫ̴̨̲̲̘̤̙̩̙͎̇n̴̡͈̞͕̣̗̜̦̗̟̳͕̬̲̈́͜é̶̡̨̢͚͓̩̞̫͈͚̩̟̝̍̓̔́̍̂͛͐̇̽͗̃͜͠...
Hey. Easy. I’m just trying to help.
Breathe. Breathe.
( The attack begins to subside, the jackal gasping for breath as the glitching slows, now localized mostly to his hands as he stands, shaking. )
Nice and slow. There we are.
Take it easy. Don't strain yourself.
Every second I exist I am straining myself. Have you any clue how painful that is, to have a body incompatible with the world around it, to have a body that rejects its own existence?
( A cough, as he pushes his mask back up on his face. )
It is a hell like no other. A hell you contributed to putting me in. You and that blue clown. I am weak now, but when I regain my strength, you and he will both pay for that. I swear it on my squad.
...You are in pain and have been for a long time. You are angry. That's understandable.
You are not the Infinite from my realm. I had no intention of making you suffer in any way.
Nevertheless, I apologize.
Is there anything I can do? Any relief I can provide?
...why...?
( The Jackal stares at the hedgehog, his glare softening for once. )
...Why are you...
( Another cough escapes the jackal's throat. He falls to a sitting position. )
...why are you being so... kind to me...?
Because it's the right thing to do.
..pfah. I have wasted enough of my time. Stand aside.
( The Jackal again stands, clutching his ribs, and begins to limp away. The attack had aggravated his wounds. )
Hey, now. You’re still injured.
I have survived these injuries this long. I will survive the trip back to the Eggperial City. Farewell, Shadow the Hedgehog. When next we meet, I will not be so ki-
( Once again, the glitch overtakes him, and he falls to the floor. The corruption visibly spreads, the same red and black effect that took over Sonic a few months back, during the Starfall Incident, spreading across his gloved hand. )
Shadow reacted immediately. Again, he rushed over, this time draping Infinite’s arm behind his own back, hoisting him up by the shoulder.
I’ve got you.
Shadow began walking towards his couch, careful to step slowly so Infinite wouldn’t collapse again.
( With the corruption wracking his body and stealing his strength, he was unable to pull away from the hedgehog. The pain that was ripping through the jackal was immense- and only going to get worse as time went on. )
T̷̝̪̖̦̼̳̱̘͇̓̑͑͌̓̃͆̀̂͐̂͘͝a̸͚̣͆͋͝-Take your h-ḩ̵̦͕͕͓̟̠̹̌̈́̒̌͛͊ͅa̷̹̙̫͖͎̓̈́͒͘͜͠n̶͎̊͊͗̚d̵̳̬̣̥͕̣̀͐͒͂͒͛̒̆̕̚s̵̡̛͕̞̭̪͓͖̹͙̅̓ͅ off of me...
Shadow ignored this, gently lowering Infinite onto the couch.
It amazes me that you need help this much and still insist on being at odds with me.
You and I are from different realities. I have done nothing to truly harm you, and I will continue to uphold that.
Ȇ̴̲̫͉̻̭̟̭̭̼̼͑̈́̎̊̃͆͆͐́̈̒̀̚̕v̸͔̜͙̼̥̪̱̳̰͂-Even if y-y̷̡͙̺̠̠̺̠̙̝͊̈́ơ̶̦̗̐̈́̈̂̑͆̒̒̈́̃́̚͝ū̷̢̝̫̝͔̟͕̘̖̟̺͔̮͋̈́͑̕͠ͅ are not my S̶̨̢̫̜̯͓͇̖̙̟̩͕̯͗̋̾̃͒̋̓̒͊͂͜h̴̢͉̹̗̑̎̈͊̈̀͠-Shadow the Hedgehog, you share his f-f̴̡͚̯̙̖͎̞̥̔̒͊͒͑̃̋̀̍a̸̢͚̪͒͒̏ç̵̢̡͔͍̱̪̪͖͙͍͈̑̓ḛ̵̢͔͚̹͔̩͚̘͛̅̍̊̿̓̄̌̕͘.
( He winced, trying to sit up despite his broken ribs. )
Even just l-l̶̗̲̩͔͓̭̃̇̕͘͝͝ǫ̴͉̼̰̠̯̳͕͈̫͆̊̅̎̆̽̆͒̌̾̓̚̕̕ố̸̰͗̃͑̈̐̀̄͗͝k̵̛͈̞͖̐́͂̌͒͌͆͘̕î̴̢̡͈̹̺̜͍͓̖̥̥̭͙̋̓͐̌̈͗͗̓̚͘͝͝ņ̴̰̖̹͙̱̠̜̍́͒̽̋͝g̶̛̛͙̉͑̎̈́̊̂̽̎̍̌͒̓̓ at it p̷̨̛͎̜̘͑i̴̡̢̨̹͙̥̠͓̳͎̹̪͋̓͒̈́͗̽̐̒͗̅͘͘͝ş̶̲̙͇͈̠͊̑̇̄̿̓͌͐̔̋̚-pisses me off...
Again, understandable.
Don't sit up. Just relax.
I'll get a medkit.
Wh-Ẃ̶̧̼̗̾̊̋̑͑͑͠h̴̢̧̰̦̱̳̙̽̏̑̏͒̈́͌̑̚͝y̶̯̖̦̙̾̓̀͋͊̾ do you i̶͓͒͋͘͠ǹ̷̢̙̇̋̑͒͛̚ş̵̳̳̩̩̪̞͒̋̔̎̾̒̂́͂̓̚̚͜͝͠i̷̢̼͔̇̉̑͋͋́͆̌͑̾͘͜͝-insist on try-t̸̨̜̘̥̳͙͇͉̗̥̮͙̭̝͆͐́̆̿̈́̍̅͜r̴̤͔͚͈̰̥͔̋̅̊̀́͜͜y̵̢̛͎̖͖̣͔͚̼̣̗͋̅̿̈͑̄̎̄i̸̞͋͐̾͊ň̷̛̬͓͔̈̑͌̄̽̽̇̅͂͘g̷̢̠͖̬̩͖̟̪̭̻̭̪̻̑̓͗̒͜͝ to h̴̟͚͇̪̠̙̱̀̋̾̐͊͆ͅȩ̷̬̖̣̫͉̭̩̱̦̬̫̯͐̊͛͒̏l̶̨͍̳̱̳͈͙͕̱̺̗̝̩̽̌-help me when I have ma-m̶̨̥̙͔̩̩̝̝͕̠͐a̶̬̬̳̗͌̔͑̋̌̿̐͒͒̎͊̚͘d̵̨͕͖̣͎͓̤̙̂͒̄̌̅͘͝ę̷̭̠̯͙̼̂̓̓̒̊͠ my intention to harm you so ç̴̛̩̮̫̯̬̭̣̋̀͜l̷̨̩̝͕̰͔̠̹̪̔ę̶̢̧̠̟̭̙̼̮̦̬̀͂̓͑̒͆͗̕͜ͅ-clear?
If you were here to kill me, you would've done it already. You and I both know that.
You assu-a̸̛̱̮̖͔̅͌̃́ṥ̶̢͓̲̣̬̜͖̟̝̣̠͎͛̂̈́̂͌̊̋͘ͅs̶̨͇̪̠̟̮̗͒̐̔́͌̓̿̀̄͒̈́̎̉͝u̴̡͍̗̣̦̺͈̬̘͊̒̑̾͒͌̑̒̂̉m̸͖̯̗̙̗̙̫̘̱̲͛̅̓͛͌͗̈͑̈́̈̕ȩ̴̡̠̪̹͓͙̰̠̣̊̈̿͘͠ I would not, were I not c̵̫͍͉̿͒̃̂̓͑́͋̂̆̔̕͝u̷̡̩̜̍͊͝r̸̫͎͚̮͎͈͓̤͖̆̂̿̐̿̑̆͝ŗ̷͍̳̤̻̘̄̇͐ę̵̺̗̏̾͛̈́̎̆̀̒̏͝n̷̻̗͔̓̉͑̓̆͌̀͛́̈̿̈́͘͝-currently suffering this corr-ç̷̱̲̗̩̯̞͕͍͙̻̠̔͜ͅͅo̷͓̜̞̠̙̥̥̦̦͔̤͈̤̳͌͌͗͌̆̄̆̓̐̕͜͝͝͝͠r̴̢̛̞͈̯̾̌̎͗̐ȑ̷̡̛̭̠͓̜͍̝͎͚͊̔̉̄̓̓̔͝ͅͅͅu̴͎̟͎͓͊̓̇̑̽̈́͛̾̆̚p̴̧̧̫̭͓̥͍̖̼͈̘͖̈́͂̈́̊͗̓̕t̴̛̪̙͈͊͒ͅȉ̴̥̩̤̑́̃̀̇̈́̽͑̐̚͠ö̷̫̮̫͕̭͇́̃͑̊͜ṅ̷̞͓̝̯̬͉̖̎̀̽̓̈̈́̑͘̕͘?
Oh by the way I almost forgot to mention I totally kicked Infinite’s ass yesterday
LIAR.
YOU COLLAPSED.
I WAS GLITCHING.
THAT’S NOT AN EXCUSE!
I HAVE. A CONDITION.
I HAVE ONE, TOO, YOU IDIOT! WHAT DO YOU THINK MY INHIBITORS ARE FOR? DECORATION?
AT LEAST YOURS CAN BE INHIBITED.
I’D BE ACTIVELY DYING WITHOUT THEM.
I AM ACTIVELY DYING, YOU FUCKI-
( Fell over, body wracked with a virtual glitching effect, pain wracking his body as technological shudders shake his form, his body trying to drag him back to Cyber-Null Space. )
Oh shit.
Shadow stood up, ignoring his aching injuries, and rushed over.
Infinite. Can you hear me?
Ä̸̧̺̰͙̺̮̼̣̹͕͚̦̓̾̊͑́̅͊Ą̷̯͇̐̃̆̈́́́͗̇̇͠͝A̷̯̝̤̳̖͔͈͒A̷̛̺͇̯͔͂̆͊̑̀̉̕͝Ă̶̧̧͈͜Á̷̘͎̂͛̏̎͝A̷̧͇̳͉͆́Ą̸̛̖̘͉̮̳͕͉̹̟̪͎̰̀͛̂̉A̶͖̼͔͈̦͕͙̅͑̈́̄́̌͆͛A̴̖͍̳̪̺̮͖̘̘̬̹̥̫͖̎̚A̶̧̞͓͔͚̰̍͆̈́̐͑̈́̇͗̒̂͌̉̐̽
( Struggling to his feet despite the pain, the Jackal, still glitching, and weakly shoved at the hedgehog, golden hue glaring through red glass. )
J̵̩͎̥̩͚͉̣̭̈́̎͐̈́͂̆͐́͗̔͘- Just leave me a-a̵͇̤̥̍͊̀̃͆͋̈̍͠͠ḷ̴̡̨̞̲̮̥̞̈̉̏̿͌̀͌̌̇̊̀͘͘͝ǫ̴̨̲̲̘̤̙̩̙͎̇n̴̡͈̞͕̣̗̜̦̗̟̳͕̬̲̈́͜é̶̡̨̢͚͓̩̞̫͈͚̩̟̝̍̓̔́̍̂͛͐̇̽͗̃͜͠...
Hey. Easy. I’m just trying to help.
Breathe. Breathe.
( The attack begins to subside, the jackal gasping for breath as the glitching slows, now localized mostly to his hands as he stands, shaking. )
Nice and slow. There we are.
Take it easy. Don't strain yourself.
Every second I exist I am straining myself. Have you any clue how painful that is, to have a body incompatible with the world around it, to have a body that rejects its own existence?
( A cough, as he pushes his mask back up on his face. )
It is a hell like no other. A hell you contributed to putting me in. You and that blue clown. I am weak now, but when I regain my strength, you and he will both pay for that. I swear it on my squad.
...You are in pain and have been for a long time. You are angry. That's understandable.
You are not the Infinite from my realm. I had no intention of making you suffer in any way.
Nevertheless, I apologize.
Is there anything I can do? Any relief I can provide?
...why...?
( The Jackal stares at the hedgehog, his glare softening for once. )
...Why are you...
( Another cough escapes the jackal's throat. He falls to a sitting position. )
...why are you being so... kind to me...?
Because it's the right thing to do.
..pfah. I have wasted enough of my time. Stand aside.
( The Jackal again stands, clutching his ribs, and begins to limp away. The attack had aggravated his wounds. )
Hey, now. You’re still injured.
I have survived these injuries this long. I will survive the trip back to the Eggperial City. Farewell, Shadow the Hedgehog. When next we meet, I will not be so ki-
( Once again, the glitch overtakes him, and he falls to the floor. The corruption visibly spreads, the same red and black effect that took over Sonic a few months back, during the Starfall Incident, spreading across his gloved hand. )
Shadow reacted immediately. Again, he rushed over, this time draping Infinite’s arm behind his own back, hoisting him up by the shoulder.
I’ve got you.
Shadow began walking towards his couch, careful to step slowly so Infinite wouldn’t collapse again.
( With the corruption wracking his body and stealing his strength, he was unable to pull away from the hedgehog. The pain that was ripping through the jackal was immense- and only going to get worse as time went on. )
T̷̝̪̖̦̼̳̱̘͇̓̑͑͌̓̃͆̀̂͐̂͘͝a̸͚̣͆͋͝-Take your h-ḩ̵̦͕͕͓̟̠̹̌̈́̒̌͛͊ͅa̷̹̙̫͖͎̓̈́͒͘͜͠n̶͎̊͊͗̚d̵̳̬̣̥͕̣̀͐͒͂͒͛̒̆̕̚s̵̡̛͕̞̭̪͓͖̹͙̅̓ͅ off of me...
Shadow ignored this, gently lowering Infinite onto the couch.
It amazes me that you need help this much and still insist on being at odds with me.
You and I are from different realities. I have done nothing to truly harm you, and I will continue to uphold that.
Ȇ̴̲̫͉̻̭̟̭̭̼̼͑̈́̎̊̃͆͆͐́̈̒̀̚̕v̸͔̜͙̼̥̪̱̳̰͂-Even if y-y̷̡͙̺̠̠̺̠̙̝͊̈́ơ̶̦̗̐̈́̈̂̑͆̒̒̈́̃́̚͝ū̷̢̝̫̝͔̟͕̘̖̟̺͔̮͋̈́͑̕͠ͅ are not my S̶̨̢̫̜̯͓͇̖̙̟̩͕̯͗̋̾̃͒̋̓̒͊͂͜h̴̢͉̹̗̑̎̈͊̈̀͠-Shadow the Hedgehog, you share his f-f̴̡͚̯̙̖͎̞̥̔̒͊͒͑̃̋̀̍a̸̢͚̪͒͒̏ç̵̢̡͔͍̱̪̪͖͙͍͈̑̓ḛ̵̢͔͚̹͔̩͚̘͛̅̍̊̿̓̄̌̕͘.
( He winced, trying to sit up despite his broken ribs. )
Even just l-l̶̗̲̩͔͓̭̃̇̕͘͝͝ǫ̴͉̼̰̠̯̳͕͈̫͆̊̅̎̆̽̆͒̌̾̓̚̕̕ố̸̰͗̃͑̈̐̀̄͗͝k̵̛͈̞͖̐́͂̌͒͌͆͘̕î̴̢̡͈̹̺̜͍͓̖̥̥̭͙̋̓͐̌̈͗͗̓̚͘͝͝ņ̴̰̖̹͙̱̠̜̍́͒̽̋͝g̶̛̛͙̉͑̎̈́̊̂̽̎̍̌͒̓̓ at it p̷̨̛͎̜̘͑i̴̡̢̨̹͙̥̠͓̳͎̹̪͋̓͒̈́͗̽̐̒͗̅͘͘͝ş̶̲̙͇͈̠͊̑̇̄̿̓͌͐̔̋̚-pisses me off...
Again, understandable.
Don't sit up. Just relax.
I'll get a medkit.
Wh-Ẃ̶̧̼̗̾̊̋̑͑͑͠h̴̢̧̰̦̱̳̙̽̏̑̏͒̈́͌̑̚͝y̶̯̖̦̙̾̓̀͋͊̾ do you i̶͓͒͋͘͠ǹ̷̢̙̇̋̑͒͛̚ş̵̳̳̩̩̪̞͒̋̔̎̾̒̂́͂̓̚̚͜͝͠i̷̢̼͔̇̉̑͋͋́͆̌͑̾͘͜͝-insist on try-t̸̨̜̘̥̳͙͇͉̗̥̮͙̭̝͆͐́̆̿̈́̍̅͜r̴̤͔͚͈̰̥͔̋̅̊̀́͜͜y̵̢̛͎̖͖̣͔͚̼̣̗͋̅̿̈͑̄̎̄i̸̞͋͐̾͊ň̷̛̬͓͔̈̑͌̄̽̽̇̅͂͘g̷̢̠͖̬̩͖̟̪̭̻̭̪̻̑̓͗̒͜͝ to h̴̟͚͇̪̠̙̱̀̋̾̐͊͆ͅȩ̷̬̖̣̫͉̭̩̱̦̬̫̯͐̊͛͒̏l̶̨͍̳̱̳͈͙͕̱̺̗̝̩̽̌-help me when I have ma-m̶̨̥̙͔̩̩̝̝͕̠͐a̶̬̬̳̗͌̔͑̋̌̿̐͒͒̎͊̚͘d̵̨͕͖̣͎͓̤̙̂͒̄̌̅͘͝ę̷̭̠̯͙̼̂̓̓̒̊͠ my intention to harm you so ç̴̛̩̮̫̯̬̭̣̋̀͜l̷̨̩̝͕̰͔̠̹̪̔ę̶̢̧̠̟̭̙̼̮̦̬̀͂̓͑̒͆͗̕͜ͅ-clear?
Oh by the way I almost forgot to mention I totally kicked Infinite’s ass yesterday
LIAR.
YOU COLLAPSED.
I WAS GLITCHING.
THAT’S NOT AN EXCUSE!
I HAVE. A CONDITION.
I HAVE ONE, TOO, YOU IDIOT! WHAT DO YOU THINK MY INHIBITORS ARE FOR? DECORATION?
AT LEAST YOURS CAN BE INHIBITED.
I’D BE ACTIVELY DYING WITHOUT THEM.
I AM ACTIVELY DYING, YOU FUCKI-
( Fell over, body wracked with a virtual glitching effect, pain wracking his body as technological shudders shake his form, his body trying to drag him back to Cyber-Null Space. )
Oh shit.
Shadow stood up, ignoring his aching injuries, and rushed over.
Infinite. Can you hear me?
Ä̸̧̺̰͙̺̮̼̣̹͕͚̦̓̾̊͑́̅͊Ą̷̯͇̐̃̆̈́́́͗̇̇͠͝A̷̯̝̤̳̖͔͈͒A̷̛̺͇̯͔͂̆͊̑̀̉̕͝Ă̶̧̧͈͜Á̷̘͎̂͛̏̎͝A̷̧͇̳͉͆́Ą̸̛̖̘͉̮̳͕͉̹̟̪͎̰̀͛̂̉A̶͖̼͔͈̦͕͙̅͑̈́̄́̌͆͛A̴̖͍̳̪̺̮͖̘̘̬̹̥̫͖̎̚A̶̧̞͓͔͚̰̍͆̈́̐͑̈́̇͗̒̂͌̉̐̽
( Struggling to his feet despite the pain, the Jackal, still glitching, and weakly shoved at the hedgehog, golden hue glaring through red glass. )
J̵̩͎̥̩͚͉̣̭̈́̎͐̈́͂̆͐́͗̔͘- Just leave me a-a̵͇̤̥̍͊̀̃͆͋̈̍͠͠ḷ̴̡̨̞̲̮̥̞̈̉̏̿͌̀͌̌̇̊̀͘͘͝ǫ̴̨̲̲̘̤̙̩̙͎̇n̴̡͈̞͕̣̗̜̦̗̟̳͕̬̲̈́͜é̶̡̨̢͚͓̩̞̫͈͚̩̟̝̍̓̔́̍̂͛͐̇̽͗̃͜͠...
Hey. Easy. I’m just trying to help.
Breathe. Breathe.
( The attack begins to subside, the jackal gasping for breath as the glitching slows, now localized mostly to his hands as he stands, shaking. )
Nice and slow. There we are.
Take it easy. Don't strain yourself.
Every second I exist I am straining myself. Have you any clue how painful that is, to have a body incompatible with the world around it, to have a body that rejects its own existence?
( A cough, as he pushes his mask back up on his face. )
It is a hell like no other. A hell you contributed to putting me in. You and that blue clown. I am weak now, but when I regain my strength, you and he will both pay for that. I swear it on my squad.
...You are in pain and have been for a long time. You are angry. That's understandable.
You are not the Infinite from my realm. I had no intention of making you suffer in any way.
Nevertheless, I apologize.
Is there anything I can do? Any relief I can provide?
...why...?
( The Jackal stares at the hedgehog, his glare softening for once. )
...Why are you...
( Another cough escapes the jackal's throat. He falls to a sitting position. )
...why are you being so... kind to me...?
Because it's the right thing to do.
..pfah. I have wasted enough of my time. Stand aside.
( The Jackal again stands, clutching his ribs, and begins to limp away. The attack had aggravated his wounds. )
Hey, now. You’re still injured.
I have survived these injuries this long. I will survive the trip back to the Eggperial City. Farewell, Shadow the Hedgehog. When next we meet, I will not be so ki-
( Once again, the glitch overtakes him, and he falls to the floor. The corruption visibly spreads, the same red and black effect that took over Sonic a few months back, during the Starfall Incident, spreading across his gloved hand. )
Shadow reacted immediately. Again, he rushed over, this time draping Infinite’s arm behind his own back, hoisting him up by the shoulder.
I’ve got you.
Shadow began walking towards his couch, careful to step slowly so Infinite wouldn’t collapse again.
( With the corruption wracking his body and stealing his strength, he was unable to pull away from the hedgehog. The pain that was ripping through the jackal was immense- and only going to get worse as time went on. )
T̷̝̪̖̦̼̳̱̘͇̓̑͑͌̓̃͆̀̂͐̂͘͝a̸͚̣͆͋͝-Take your h-ḩ̵̦͕͕͓̟̠̹̌̈́̒̌͛͊ͅa̷̹̙̫͖͎̓̈́͒͘͜͠n̶͎̊͊͗̚d̵̳̬̣̥͕̣̀͐͒͂͒͛̒̆̕̚s̵̡̛͕̞̭̪͓͖̹͙̅̓ͅ off of me...
Shadow ignored this, gently lowering Infinite onto the couch.
It amazes me that you need help this much and still insist on being at odds with me.
You and I are from different realities. I have done nothing to truly harm you, and I will continue to uphold that.
Ȇ̴̲̫͉̻̭̟̭̭̼̼͑̈́̎̊̃͆͆͐́̈̒̀̚̕v̸͔̜͙̼̥̪̱̳̰͂-Even if y-y̷̡͙̺̠̠̺̠̙̝͊̈́ơ̶̦̗̐̈́̈̂̑͆̒̒̈́̃́̚͝ū̷̢̝̫̝͔̟͕̘̖̟̺͔̮͋̈́͑̕͠ͅ are not my S̶̨̢̫̜̯͓͇̖̙̟̩͕̯͗̋̾̃͒̋̓̒͊͂͜h̴̢͉̹̗̑̎̈͊̈̀͠-Shadow the Hedgehog, you share his f-f̴̡͚̯̙̖͎̞̥̔̒͊͒͑̃̋̀̍a̸̢͚̪͒͒̏ç̵̢̡͔͍̱̪̪͖͙͍͈̑̓ḛ̵̢͔͚̹͔̩͚̘͛̅̍̊̿̓̄̌̕͘.
( He winced, trying to sit up despite his broken ribs. )
Even just l-l̶̗̲̩͔͓̭̃̇̕͘͝͝ǫ̴͉̼̰̠̯̳͕͈̫͆̊̅̎̆̽̆͒̌̾̓̚̕̕ố̸̰͗̃͑̈̐̀̄͗͝k̵̛͈̞͖̐́͂̌͒͌͆͘̕î̴̢̡͈̹̺̜͍͓̖̥̥̭͙̋̓͐̌̈͗͗̓̚͘͝͝ņ̴̰̖̹͙̱̠̜̍́͒̽̋͝g̶̛̛͙̉͑̎̈́̊̂̽̎̍̌͒̓̓ at it p̷̨̛͎̜̘͑i̴̡̢̨̹͙̥̠͓̳͎̹̪͋̓͒̈́͗̽̐̒͗̅͘͘͝ş̶̲̙͇͈̠͊̑̇̄̿̓͌͐̔̋̚-pisses me off...
Oh by the way I almost forgot to mention I totally kicked Infinite’s ass yesterday
LIAR.
YOU COLLAPSED.
I WAS GLITCHING.
THAT’S NOT AN EXCUSE!
I HAVE. A CONDITION.
I HAVE ONE, TOO, YOU IDIOT! WHAT DO YOU THINK MY INHIBITORS ARE FOR? DECORATION?
AT LEAST YOURS CAN BE INHIBITED.
I’D BE ACTIVELY DYING WITHOUT THEM.
I AM ACTIVELY DYING, YOU FUCKI-
( Fell over, body wracked with a virtual glitching effect, pain wracking his body as technological shudders shake his form, his body trying to drag him back to Cyber-Null Space. )
Oh shit.
Shadow stood up, ignoring his aching injuries, and rushed over.
Infinite. Can you hear me?
Ä̸̧̺̰͙̺̮̼̣̹͕͚̦̓̾̊͑́̅͊Ą̷̯͇̐̃̆̈́́́͗̇̇͠͝A̷̯̝̤̳̖͔͈͒A̷̛̺͇̯͔͂̆͊̑̀̉̕͝Ă̶̧̧͈͜Á̷̘͎̂͛̏̎͝A̷̧͇̳͉͆́Ą̸̛̖̘͉̮̳͕͉̹̟̪͎̰̀͛̂̉A̶͖̼͔͈̦͕͙̅͑̈́̄́̌͆͛A̴̖͍̳̪̺̮͖̘̘̬̹̥̫͖̎̚A̶̧̞͓͔͚̰̍͆̈́̐͑̈́̇͗̒̂͌̉̐̽
( Struggling to his feet despite the pain, the Jackal, still glitching, and weakly shoved at the hedgehog, golden hue glaring through red glass. )
J̵̩͎̥̩͚͉̣̭̈́̎͐̈́͂̆͐́͗̔͘- Just leave me a-a̵͇̤̥̍͊̀̃͆͋̈̍͠͠ḷ̴̡̨̞̲̮̥̞̈̉̏̿͌̀͌̌̇̊̀͘͘͝ǫ̴̨̲̲̘̤̙̩̙͎̇n̴̡͈̞͕̣̗̜̦̗̟̳͕̬̲̈́͜é̶̡̨̢͚͓̩̞̫͈͚̩̟̝̍̓̔́̍̂͛͐̇̽͗̃͜͠...
Hey. Easy. I’m just trying to help.
Breathe. Breathe.
( The attack begins to subside, the jackal gasping for breath as the glitching slows, now localized mostly to his hands as he stands, shaking. )
Nice and slow. There we are.
Take it easy. Don't strain yourself.
Every second I exist I am straining myself. Have you any clue how painful that is, to have a body incompatible with the world around it, to have a body that rejects its own existence?
( A cough, as he pushes his mask back up on his face. )
It is a hell like no other. A hell you contributed to putting me in. You and that blue clown. I am weak now, but when I regain my strength, you and he will both pay for that. I swear it on my squad.
...You are in pain and have been for a long time. You are angry. That's understandable.
You are not the Infinite from my realm. I had no intention of making you suffer in any way.
Nevertheless, I apologize.
Is there anything I can do? Any relief I can provide?
...why...?
( The Jackal stares at the hedgehog, his glare softening for once. )
...Why are you...
( Another cough escapes the jackal's throat. He falls to a sitting position. )
...why are you being so... kind to me...?
Because it's the right thing to do.
..pfah. I have wasted enough of my time. Stand aside.
( The Jackal again stands, clutching his ribs, and begins to limp away. The attack had aggravated his wounds. )
Hey, now. You’re still injured.
I have survived these injuries this long. I will survive the trip back to the Eggperial City. Farewell, Shadow the Hedgehog. When next we meet, I will not be so ki-
( Once again, the glitch overtakes him, and he falls to the floor. The corruption visibly spreads, the same red and black effect that took over Sonic a few months back, during the Starfall Incident, spreading across his gloved hand. )
Shadow reacted immediately. Again, he rushed over, this time draping Infinite’s arm behind his own back, hoisting him up by the shoulder.
I’ve got you.
Shadow began walking towards his couch, careful to step slowly so Infinite wouldn’t collapse again.
( With the corruption wracking his body and stealing his strength, he was unable to pull away from the hedgehog. The pain that was ripping through the jackal was immense- and only going to get worse as time went on. )
T̷̝̪̖̦̼̳̱̘͇̓̑͑͌̓̃͆̀̂͐̂͘͝a̸͚̣͆͋͝-Take your h-ḩ̵̦͕͕͓̟̠̹̌̈́̒̌͛͊ͅa̷̹̙̫͖͎̓̈́͒͘͜͠n̶͎̊͊͗̚d̵̳̬̣̥͕̣̀͐͒͂͒͛̒̆̕̚s̵̡̛͕̞̭̪͓͖̹͙̅̓ͅ off of me...
Shadow ignored this, gently lowering Infinite onto the couch.
It amazes me that you need help this much and still insist on being at odds with me.
You and I are from different realities. I have done nothing to truly harm you, and I will continue to uphold that.
Ȇ̴̲̫͉̻̭̟̭̭̼̼͑̈́̎̊̃͆͆͐́̈̒̀̚̕v̸͔̜͙̼̥̪̱̳̰͂-Even if y-y̷̡͙̺̠̠̺̠̙̝͊̈́ơ̶̦̗̐̈́̈̂̑͆̒̒̈́̃́̚͝ū̷̢̝̫̝͔̟͕̘̖̟̺͔̮͋̈́͑̕͠ͅ are not my S̶̨̢̫̜̯͓͇̖̙̟̩͕̯͗̋̾̃͒̋̓̒͊͂͜h̴̢͉̹̗̑̎̈͊̈̀͠-Shadow the Hedgehog, you share his f-f̴̡͚̯̙̖͎̞̥̔̒͊͒͑̃̋̀̍a̸̢͚̪͒͒̏ç̵̢̡͔͍̱̪̪͖͙͍͈̑̓ḛ̵̢͔͚̹͔̩͚̘͛̅̍̊̿̓̄̌̕͘.
( He winced, trying to sit up despite his broken ribs. )
Even just l-l̶̗̲̩͔͓̭̃̇̕͘͝͝ǫ̴͉̼̰̠̯̳͕͈̫͆̊̅̎̆̽̆͒̌̾̓̚̕̕ố̸̰͗̃͑̈̐̀̄͗͝k̵̛͈̞͖̐́͂̌͒͌͆͘̕î̴̢̡͈̹̺̜͍͓̖̥̥̭͙̋̓͐̌̈͗͗̓̚͘͝͝ņ̴̰̖̹͙̱̠̜̍́͒̽̋͝g̶̛̛͙̉͑̎̈́̊̂̽̎̍̌͒̓̓ at it p̷̨̛͎̜̘͑i̴̡̢̨̹͙̥̠͓̳͎̹̪͋̓͒̈́͗̽̐̒͗̅͘͘͝ş̶̲̙͇͈̠͊̑̇̄̿̓͌͐̔̋̚-pisses me off...
Quiproquo
Send 🗯️ followed by what your muse want to say mine... But it WILL be misunderstood by my muse, no matter what it is.
Oh by the way I almost forgot to mention I totally kicked Infinite’s ass yesterday
LIAR.
YOU COLLAPSED.
I WAS GLITCHING.
THAT’S NOT AN EXCUSE!
I HAVE. A CONDITION.
I HAVE ONE, TOO, YOU IDIOT! WHAT DO YOU THINK MY INHIBITORS ARE FOR? DECORATION?
AT LEAST YOURS CAN BE INHIBITED.
I’D BE ACTIVELY DYING WITHOUT THEM.
I AM ACTIVELY DYING, YOU FUCKI-
( Fell over, body wracked with a virtual glitching effect, pain wracking his body as technological shudders shake his form, his body trying to drag him back to Cyber-Null Space. )
Oh shit.
Shadow stood up, ignoring his aching injuries, and rushed over.
Infinite. Can you hear me?
Ä̸̧̺̰͙̺̮̼̣̹͕͚̦̓̾̊͑́̅͊Ą̷̯͇̐̃̆̈́́́͗̇̇͠͝A̷̯̝̤̳̖͔͈͒A̷̛̺͇̯͔͂̆͊̑̀̉̕͝Ă̶̧̧͈͜Á̷̘͎̂͛̏̎͝A̷̧͇̳͉͆́Ą̸̛̖̘͉̮̳͕͉̹̟̪͎̰̀͛̂̉A̶͖̼͔͈̦͕͙̅͑̈́̄́̌͆͛A̴̖͍̳̪̺̮͖̘̘̬̹̥̫͖̎̚A̶̧̞͓͔͚̰̍͆̈́̐͑̈́̇͗̒̂͌̉̐̽
( Struggling to his feet despite the pain, the Jackal, still glitching, and weakly shoved at the hedgehog, golden hue glaring through red glass. )
J̵̩͎̥̩͚͉̣̭̈́̎͐̈́͂̆͐́͗̔͘- Just leave me a-a̵͇̤̥̍͊̀̃͆͋̈̍͠͠ḷ̴̡̨̞̲̮̥̞̈̉̏̿͌̀͌̌̇̊̀͘͘͝ǫ̴̨̲̲̘̤̙̩̙͎̇n̴̡͈̞͕̣̗̜̦̗̟̳͕̬̲̈́͜é̶̡̨̢͚͓̩̞̫͈͚̩̟̝̍̓̔́̍̂͛͐̇̽͗̃͜͠...
Hey. Easy. I’m just trying to help.
Breathe. Breathe.
( The attack begins to subside, the jackal gasping for breath as the glitching slows, now localized mostly to his hands as he stands, shaking. )
Nice and slow. There we are.
Take it easy. Don't strain yourself.
Every second I exist I am straining myself. Have you any clue how painful that is, to have a body incompatible with the world around it, to have a body that rejects its own existence?
( A cough, as he pushes his mask back up on his face. )
It is a hell like no other. A hell you contributed to putting me in. You and that blue clown. I am weak now, but when I regain my strength, you and he will both pay for that. I swear it on my squad.
...You are in pain and have been for a long time. You are angry. That's understandable.
You are not the Infinite from my realm. I had no intention of making you suffer in any way.
Nevertheless, I apologize.
Is there anything I can do? Any relief I can provide?
...why...?
( The Jackal stares at the hedgehog, his glare softening for once. )
...Why are you...
( Another cough escapes the jackal's throat. He falls to a sitting position. )
...why are you being so... kind to me...?
Because it's the right thing to do.
..pfah. I have wasted enough of my time. Stand aside.
( The Jackal again stands, clutching his ribs, and begins to limp away. The attack had aggravated his wounds. )
Hey, now. You’re still injured.
I have survived these injuries this long. I will survive the trip back to the Eggperial City. Farewell, Shadow the Hedgehog. When next we meet, I will not be so ki-
( Once again, the glitch overtakes him, and he falls to the floor. The corruption visibly spreads, the same red and black effect that took over Sonic a few months back, during the Starfall Incident, spreading across his gloved hand. )
Shadow reacted immediately. Again, he rushed over, this time draping Infinite’s arm behind his own back, hoisting him up by the shoulder.
I’ve got you.
Shadow began walking towards his couch, careful to step slowly so Infinite wouldn’t collapse again.
( With the corruption wracking his body and stealing his strength, he was unable to pull away from the hedgehog. The pain that was ripping through the jackal was immense- and only going to get worse as time went on. )
T̷̝̪̖̦̼̳̱̘͇̓̑͑͌̓̃͆̀̂͐̂͘͝a̸͚̣͆͋͝-Take your h-ḩ̵̦͕͕͓̟̠̹̌̈́̒̌͛͊ͅa̷̹̙̫͖͎̓̈́͒͘͜͠n̶͎̊͊͗̚d̵̳̬̣̥͕̣̀͐͒͂͒͛̒̆̕̚s̵̡̛͕̞̭̪͓͖̹͙̅̓ͅ off of me...
Oh by the way I almost forgot to mention I totally kicked Infinite’s ass yesterday
LIAR.
YOU COLLAPSED.
I WAS GLITCHING.
THAT’S NOT AN EXCUSE!
I HAVE. A CONDITION.
I HAVE ONE, TOO, YOU IDIOT! WHAT DO YOU THINK MY INHIBITORS ARE FOR? DECORATION?
AT LEAST YOURS CAN BE INHIBITED.
I’D BE ACTIVELY DYING WITHOUT THEM.
I AM ACTIVELY DYING, YOU FUCKI-
( Fell over, body wracked with a virtual glitching effect, pain wracking his body as technological shudders shake his form, his body trying to drag him back to Cyber-Null Space. )
Oh shit.
Shadow stood up, ignoring his aching injuries, and rushed over.
Infinite. Can you hear me?
Ä̸̧̺̰͙̺̮̼̣̹͕͚̦̓̾̊͑́̅͊Ą̷̯͇̐̃̆̈́́́͗̇̇͠͝A̷̯̝̤̳̖͔͈͒A̷̛̺͇̯͔͂̆͊̑̀̉̕͝Ă̶̧̧͈͜Á̷̘͎̂͛̏̎͝A̷̧͇̳͉͆́Ą̸̛̖̘͉̮̳͕͉̹̟̪͎̰̀͛̂̉A̶͖̼͔͈̦͕͙̅͑̈́̄́̌͆͛A̴̖͍̳̪̺̮͖̘̘̬̹̥̫͖̎̚A̶̧̞͓͔͚̰̍͆̈́̐͑̈́̇͗̒̂͌̉̐̽
( Struggling to his feet despite the pain, the Jackal, still glitching, and weakly shoved at the hedgehog, golden hue glaring through red glass. )
J̵̩͎̥̩͚͉̣̭̈́̎͐̈́͂̆͐́͗̔͘- Just leave me a-a̵͇̤̥̍͊̀̃͆͋̈̍͠͠ḷ̴̡̨̞̲̮̥̞̈̉̏̿͌̀͌̌̇̊̀͘͘͝ǫ̴̨̲̲̘̤̙̩̙͎̇n̴̡͈̞͕̣̗̜̦̗̟̳͕̬̲̈́͜é̶̡̨̢͚͓̩̞̫͈͚̩̟̝̍̓̔́̍̂͛͐̇̽͗̃͜͠...
Hey. Easy. I’m just trying to help.
Breathe. Breathe.
( The attack begins to subside, the jackal gasping for breath as the glitching slows, now localized mostly to his hands as he stands, shaking. )
Nice and slow. There we are.
Take it easy. Don't strain yourself.
Every second I exist I am straining myself. Have you any clue how painful that is, to have a body incompatible with the world around it, to have a body that rejects its own existence?
( A cough, as he pushes his mask back up on his face. )
It is a hell like no other. A hell you contributed to putting me in. You and that blue clown. I am weak now, but when I regain my strength, you and he will both pay for that. I swear it on my squad.
...You are in pain and have been for a long time. You are angry. That's understandable.
You are not the Infinite from my realm. I had no intention of making you suffer in any way.
Nevertheless, I apologize.
Is there anything I can do? Any relief I can provide?
...why...?
( The Jackal stares at the hedgehog, his glare softening for once. )
...Why are you...
( Another cough escapes the jackal's throat. He falls to a sitting position. )
...why are you being so... kind to me...?
Because it's the right thing to do.
..pfah. I have wasted enough of my time. Stand aside.
( The Jackal again stands, clutching his ribs, and begins to limp away. The attack had aggravated his wounds. )
Hey, now. You’re still injured.
I have survived these injuries this long. I will survive the trip back to the Eggperial City. Farewell, Shadow the Hedgehog. When next we meet, I will not be so ki-
( Once again, the glitch overtakes him, and he falls to the floor. The corruption visibly spreads, the same red and black effect that took over Sonic a few months back, during the Starfall Incident, spreading across his gloved hand. )
Oh by the way I almost forgot to mention I totally kicked Infinite’s ass yesterday
LIAR.
YOU COLLAPSED.
I WAS GLITCHING.
THAT’S NOT AN EXCUSE!
I HAVE. A CONDITION.
I HAVE ONE, TOO, YOU IDIOT! WHAT DO YOU THINK MY INHIBITORS ARE FOR? DECORATION?
AT LEAST YOURS CAN BE INHIBITED.
I’D BE ACTIVELY DYING WITHOUT THEM.
I AM ACTIVELY DYING, YOU FUCKI-
( Fell over, body wracked with a virtual glitching effect, pain wracking his body as technological shudders shake his form, his body trying to drag him back to Cyber-Null Space. )
Oh shit.
Shadow stood up, ignoring his aching injuries, and rushed over.
Infinite. Can you hear me?
Ä̸̧̺̰͙̺̮̼̣̹͕͚̦̓̾̊͑́̅͊Ą̷̯͇̐̃̆̈́́́͗̇̇͠͝A̷̯̝̤̳̖͔͈͒A̷̛̺͇̯͔͂̆͊̑̀̉̕͝Ă̶̧̧͈͜Á̷̘͎̂͛̏̎͝A̷̧͇̳͉͆́Ą̸̛̖̘͉̮̳͕͉̹̟̪͎̰̀͛̂̉A̶͖̼͔͈̦͕͙̅͑̈́̄́̌͆͛A̴̖͍̳̪̺̮͖̘̘̬̹̥̫͖̎̚A̶̧̞͓͔͚̰̍͆̈́̐͑̈́̇͗̒̂͌̉̐̽
( Struggling to his feet despite the pain, the Jackal, still glitching, and weakly shoved at the hedgehog, golden hue glaring through red glass. )
J̵̩͎̥̩͚͉̣̭̈́̎͐̈́͂̆͐́͗̔͘- Just leave me a-a̵͇̤̥̍͊̀̃͆͋̈̍͠͠ḷ̴̡̨̞̲̮̥̞̈̉̏̿͌̀͌̌̇̊̀͘͘͝ǫ̴̨̲̲̘̤̙̩̙͎̇n̴̡͈̞͕̣̗̜̦̗̟̳͕̬̲̈́͜é̶̡̨̢͚͓̩̞̫͈͚̩̟̝̍̓̔́̍̂͛͐̇̽͗̃͜͠...
Hey. Easy. I’m just trying to help.
Breathe. Breathe.
( The attack begins to subside, the jackal gasping for breath as the glitching slows, now localized mostly to his hands as he stands, shaking. )
Nice and slow. There we are.
Take it easy. Don't strain yourself.
Every second I exist I am straining myself. Have you any clue how painful that is, to have a body incompatible with the world around it, to have a body that rejects its own existence?
( A cough, as he pushes his mask back up on his face. )
It is a hell like no other. A hell you contributed to putting me in. You and that blue clown. I am weak now, but when I regain my strength, you and he will both pay for that. I swear it on my squad.
...You are in pain and have been for a long time. You are angry. That's understandable.
You are not the Infinite from my realm. I had no intention of making you suffer in any way.
Nevertheless, I apologize.
Is there anything I can do? Any relief I can provide?
...why...?
( The Jackal stares at the hedgehog, his glare softening for once. )
...Why are you...
( Another cough escapes the jackal's throat. He falls to a sitting position. )
...why are you being so... kind to me...?
Because it's the right thing to do.
..pfah. I have wasted enough of my time. Stand aside.
( The Jackal again stands, clutching his ribs, and begins to limp away. The attack had aggravated his wounds. )
