Can you see all of me?

#dashboard commentary #blue wind of mobius #theultimatehousewife

'Dear' alternate? That's a good one.

Hello. It's a pleasure to meet you.

Before we go anywhere with this conversation, may I ask -- what is different about your Zone?

#theultimatehousewife

Yes, alternate, trust him, he's not.

“In this case, it does!” Tikal chirps, giggling. “Since you’re really neutral about things, you know? Getting you to smile is honestly one of the best things, since it shows just how into you are with what you’re talking about, or doing… I’m probably wording this all wrong, but I’m sure you know what I mean. It’s like a reward! It’s really special, and since it’s so rare, I treasure those moments.”

She gives a tiny huff at his next words, folding her arms. Thankfully, she’s still smiling. “Of course I mean it. I don’t give empty compliments, Shadow, you know that.”

"Ah... I know." He sighs, but not necessarily out of exasperation. Tikal's interestingly forceful about affection around him -- it's something he finds strange, because he's not considered, in his opinion, the most affectionate guy she can talk to. He doesn't mind it, necessarily, just can't find any reasoning behind it.

'Neutral about things'. Well, that's one way to put it. He likes to think that he's level headed; someone has to be when Sonic's running around all over the place. That boundless energy has to be counteracted somehow. "I suppose...I've never been much of a smiler. Maybe it is simply me, but I find perkier attitudes such as yours more attractive." 'Attractive' in a completely platonic way, of course.

Oh. Curiosity sated for the moment — Well, not really, Shadow’s just made it clear that now is not the time to talk about this — Tikal inhales deeply and rather reluctantly continues her story.

“W-Well, first it tried using my past against me… It taunted me for doing nothing for my mother when she was dying… I was five, though, how could I?! Honestly… But thanks to having talked to you about all that, it didn’t work… I told it so, too. So it… it resorted to… Nnnngh…”

Do not cry in front of Shadow, Tikal. You do that too much. Instead, look away. Don’t let him see your face. Yeah, that’ll help.

“…It was really dark, and I couldn’t see anything. B-But I could hear a Chao crying… It was so scared, but I couldn’t… I couldn’t…”

The black hedgehog blinks as he watches her divert her gaze, knowing full well that those minute tremors in her body are an indicator of crying trying to be held back. He doesn't mind, really; it's got to come out some way, and if this helps her in any way, then he'll allow it. Still -- his eyes narrow -- still, it's not as if he can hold onto her. Even if he felt comfortable with the idea of initiating a hug, he's not feeling well enough to support her.

As usual, it seems as if he's going to resort to words. In a way, it's frustrating. The ultimate life form, and yet he has to be a walking dictionary in order to get anywhere...

"That's its scheme, then," he says quietly. "Emotional manipulation. It wants to control you through that. As you recognize it now...do you believe that focusing on what you couldn't or could do might help? It's what it wants from you." To break her down. Though, from what Shadow remembers, the Tails Doll had been benevolent; he wonders what had changed. "Fear is natural. If you need to work it out of your system now, you may. But after that, that's it, Tikal. Don't let yourself be caged by it. Let it free."

Score. O-oh wait, no. That was embarrassing. Tikal averts her eyes. Thinking of a good comeback is hard. Oooooh, wait.

“No, yours. Because it’s so much rarer, so it really stands out when you do. Also, that look you have in your eyes when you’re interested in what someone’s saying. It’s really sweet, haha.”

So they had been playing a little game, but Shadow's eyes light up a little when she says that. He's not used to being complimented anything other than being 'awesome' so much...

"... Rarity does not mean quality, necessarily..." he murmurs hesitantly. He takes a second, then asks, genuinely, "Do you really mean it?"

“Want to know what else is kind of cute? And by kind of, I mean absolutely adorable? Your smile.”

Two can play at that game.

Nooooo. Noooo.

Shadow tries not to frown out of embarrassment.

"Yours is far more."

kira-moony

shadowedterios replied to your post: “That’s kind of cute.”

“Shadow. No.”

"I mean the clumsiness, not cutting your finger."

He's grinning.

She can’t help but chuckle weakly at the thought. “Ah, I see… Do you not need to or just… Not? Could you if you wanted to? S-sorry, I’m curious now. B-but anyways… Yes, I did. It was harassing Knuckles earlier, so I went to go check on him, right…? Knuckles was really shaken up and sorta injured but I calmed him down in the end, and while I was on my way home, the thing, it… it cornered me.”

She looks down, hands clenching. Keep it together, Tikal.

Shadow shrugs again. "Can't and don't have to, both."

Right now he doesn't want to focus on his sleeping habits. Tikal's clearly perturbed by whatever it is the Tails Doll did to her, and it's only fair to address that. He resists tilting his head to the side (for the first time) and urges her, "What did it do to you?"

“You slept all day? Geez, Shadow… You sure you’re going to be all right…?” She trails off, sighing. No matter how much she’d stall and stammer, the hedgehog would end up hearing the story in the end. He had that effect on her. “…Have you ever heard of a Tails Doll…?”

"Not necessarily slept. I don't sleep." He shrugs. Instead, he'd be staring at the ceiling or reading a book, just essentially clearing his mind. He's gotten good at it over the years.

He rubs his temple thoughtfully at her question. "... Vaguely. I remember speaking to one in the past. You spoke to one yourself?"

“Did you check your mailbox? You weren’t home, so I left them there… B-but I’m fine. Y-yes, I’m fine… J-just had an… experience, is all.”

Shadow stretches languidly. "I'll look later. I just climbed out of bed." He tilts his head as his ears twitch, the stutter not missed on him. Tikal has a way of pushing things away; it's to a much lesser degree around him, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen. "Tell me about it." His voice is gentle, but firm.

thatsonicblog-blog

~ aimf

placeofvoices replied to your post: My head aches… How is everyone else doing?

“Hey, you… You got the cookies, right?”

"Don't remember if I have.

"... Say, are you all right?"

treasurehunterrouge

I AM A ROBOT.

... Magic Anonymous?

#treasurehunterrouge

My head aches...

How is everyone else doing?

Silly Shadow, everyone knows THERE IS NO ESCAPE FROM THE HUGS. Well, unless you’re Sonic, possibly. But you’re not Sonic, you’re Shadow!

She lets go after a moment, still chuckling happily, and takes a step back. She can’t help but be a little confused by what her friend means by ‘a day like this’— aside from the holiday it seemed like any other day!

“You’re not too tired to spend some time together, are you? It’s been a really long time since we’ve actually gone out and done something… It could be fun!”

Shadow has no skills in dodging hugs. It's unfortunate, but he has not practiced in the skill of hug-dodgese.

Or maybe it's fortunate. Depends on how you look at it.

He shakes his head, then winces. "I'm not too tired as long as we don't do too much. What do you have in mind?"