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etrayamemes2025-03-28 09:16 am
etrayamods) wrote in etrayamemes2025-03-28 09:16 am
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TDM 007
content warnings for this TDM include: violence, potential death, body horror, physical transformation, loss of senses, loss of autonomy  ⏵ arrival⏴ Arrival does not happen as Aurora usually plans for it. New characters are introduced to the AI, then informed of a mission that they are required to participate in before they can return to their home base of Etraya. A world called Aphaia is falling apart, and while there is nothing they can do to resolve this broken world, they can participate in the Gamerunner's Stratagem. Their mission is simple: step through the glowing purple portal that Aurora creates once they've had time to listen to her, and survive until a similar portal reopens in front of them, allowing them to return to Etraya. The Gamerunner's Stratagem is something they have been working on building for quite some time. She informs all newcomers that they will not be present on this world that long: their exit will appear to them exactly when it's meant to, allowing them to meet the others who have been recruited to save their worlds. She provides each and every arrival with an earpiece, allowing them to communicate with the other Etrayans. Aurora suggests taking a bag full of supplies along with them, which she will fill with a few generic items as well as any specific items they may need: synthetic blood for vampires, protein bars for those who may burn through calories faster, medication for anyone who requires it.  ⏵ aphaia ⏴ Aphaia is a neon-lit, chaotic planet. Cameras are everywhere, every action and inaction is judged by the 'audience'. Towering holograms advertise upcoming events while flashing leader boards track the most "popular" players. Contestants are thrown into challenges, many of which are games of skill, survival, and deception all to keep the viewers entertained. Not participating is an option! However, avoiding playing along and not putting on a show will quickly cause participants' score to go down, and scores that reach zero? Well. Unfortunately, there are only so many resources left on Aphaia. Their wildlife has died off, their planet is falling apart, and most others in this galaxy were either destroyed from the inside out, or warring planets trying to gain control of remaining resources destroyed them to avoid others getting involved. Their natural resources are depleted, and only those who manage to keep their scores up are given the luxury of having any supplies. As soon as one steps foot on Aphaia, as soon as they breathe, they intake nanotechnology which tracks their oxygen consumption, their food, everything they do or need. As soon as their scores reach zero? They disappear. There one moment, and completely gone the next. Their communicators go offline, and while everything they were carrying will be left behind, no one will be able to find them. They are simply--gone, erased from existence. This is a death and counts as a death as outlined in the game FAQ! Please keep this in mind. "Points" that go towards their total score will be assigned to contestants from the moment they drop down on planet. This will be visible using the HUD on their earpiece, and will be randomized at the beginning. For the sake of the TDM, we ask that no one be assigned Paragon initially, but you're free to use other ranks! The possible rankings are: 100: PARAGON 99-80: LUMINARY 79-70: CHAMPION 69-50: CONTENDER 49-30: UNDERLING 30-0: SHADE Ranks may change daily, or even hourly depending on the kind of situation one has found themselves in. Are they having a very public break up in which it comes out that they wronged their ex? They may go from a Champion to a Shade before they can even blink. Did they save a defenseless reporter from the big bad villain of the week? They may find themselves quickly elevated up to Luminary and given all the benefits that comes with being upper class. The world is their oyster, they only need to figure out how they'd like to utilize it! Aphaia is broken up into four districts. The Colosseum is a dynamic battle arena where combatants fight for entertainment, with shifting environments controlled by the audience. Victories earn points, while losses depend on performance. The Symposium is a lavish social hub for top contestants, where alliances and betrayals are made under the audience’s watchful eye. The Agora is the public center of Aphaia, where contestants engage with the audience through polls, interviews, and challenges to maintain popularity. It also houses the contestants in high-rise apartments. And Backalleys provide hidden spaces with intentional blind spots for secret dealings, though the Gamerunner is always aware of what happens there.  ⏵ st★rlight soirée ⏴ Something special is happening in the Colosseum. Lights flicker as the arena shifts, rearranging itself into a grand, glittering ballroom - if a ballroom had stadium seating, paparazzi drones, and an ever-changing floor plan designed to disorient those within it. Silver chandeliers pulse with artificial starlight, their glow refracted through the crystalline floors. Music swells, but it sounds - unnatural. It thrums through your veins, setting your blood alight with the urge to dance. Why is the ballroom designed as if intentionally put together to throw off one's balance? Well, it's time for the Panopticon Prom, of course! The Panopticon Prom isn't just an adventure in dancing and impressing your most recent crush. It's a test of endurance, cunning, grace, and charm. The floor beneath your feet moves as if it has a mind of it's own, shifting to the beat like a living creature all of it's own. It tilts, undulates, even vanishing in sections to keep dancers on edge. After all, it's difficult to keep up one's pace if they're falling through a hole in the floor to the foam pit below. Drones zip through the air, catching every stumble, every misstep, and every attempt to throw off others on the dance floor. This is a competition, after all; and what fun is a dance battle without having the freedom to thwart someone else on their road to victory? The rules are simple:
 ⏵ casino royale ⏴ Out in the Agora, another popular quarterly event is being set up! The Casino Royale has been destroyed countless times, but it seems as if the Gamerunner just can't let it go - every time it gets knocked down, it gets rebuilt. There is one rule. One must take a turn at the revolving wheel just inside the door as their entry fee, and whatever the wheel lands on, they must maintain until they exit the building for the night. Sometimes, this is easier: an effect they have no control over and cannot undo even if they wanted to. Sometimes, this is more difficult: an assigned task they must complete. Failure to abide by the wheel once means receiving a penalty. Twice? Certain death if caught by any employee. The wheel's effects are as follows:
The casino is alive with the hum of conversation, the clink of glasses, and the steady whirl of the roulette wheels. Golden chandeliers cast a warm glow over velvet-lined tables, where fortunes are made and lost with the flick of a wrist. But something feels. . . off. The dealers never blink. The cards never seem random. And the house always wins - always. Maybe it's just paranoia, or maybe this casino is something more than just a den of chance. Tonight, you're not here just to play; you're here on a mission. You've arrived dressed to kill, blending into the sea of bodies filling the casino's floors. But you're not here to win points or boost your social standing - you're here to win intel. Somewhere in this casino is a single flash drive containing information on just how Aphaia maintains their system. The only problem? The House knows someone is coming for it. After all, they're well-aware of the game: whoever retrieves the flash drive will obtain information on how to flip the script, to change the rules of the game to fit their wants and needs, rather than following the current Gamerunner. After all, this is the Gamerunner's Stratagem that Aurora has sent them out on! Many apply for 'employment' within the Casino Royale in hopes of getting insider information on where the flash drive is hidden and what it looks like. However, it seems that even the employees have no clue where it has been hidden. This is an extension of our Aphaia Mission! We have included enough information in this post that catching up to current in game logs isn't necessary to play with it, but you are welcome to use any part of the Aphaia setting in your prompts as you'd like. Current players are also welcome to bring the events from this TDM into their in-game threads. This mission can happen outside of time as needed! Incoming characters will find themselves introduced to Aphaia as they arrive. Current characters may find Aurora calling on them to visit Aphaia after the current mission for the Gamerunner's Stratagem. Characters already in game are welcome to post to the TDM, too! Please mark them as current characters in your header. Threads can be kept as game canon as long as both characters get into the game! Please direct all questions relating to this log to our mod queries comment! All other questions can be directed to our FAQ. |
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Looking across the arena, she studies the example and the tiles. It's... intimidating. She knows she needs to be brave. She tries to think about winning and less how deep the fall might be. This is not the scariest situation she's ever been thrown into anyway! ]
Don't worry, Darkie. [ She says, even if he doesn't appear to display any sign of worry. ] I'll make sure you stay on your feet.
[ Then the spotlight takes her by surprise. ]
Me first? 'Kay! I... uh... [ The answer shouldn't be hard, but the sudden light briefly throws her off guard. The smile returns shortly as she tries to maintain composure for the cameras. ]
I've... always loved seeing the beautiful ballerinas in my picture books. So that's what I wanna dress in! A frilly and fluffy dress that's as beautiful as a ballet dancer's dress!
[ Fio twirls once in place while pretending that she's already donning a fluffy dress. It might not be special enough for the audience, but maybe she can use this small chance to experience an old daydream of hers, even if it's only temporary. If life had gone differently, perhaps she could have grown up to become a ballerina on stage. ]
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from the q&a, he grows bored, ready to leave her where she stands after she answers the question with that lilt of hope in her voice. ]
I've had enough. I'm leaving.
[ shadow will not be stuck here playing dress up, it was already a bad idea letting her follow, and now this is the mess she's getting him into? turning away, he begins to make his way back to the flight of stairs until the spotlight falls on him next.
"ohh, sorry little guy. you must stand next to your partner to choose! don't worry, we'll pick. this'll go great with a ballerina!"
when a small breeze that blows past them, fio will find herself donned in a new outfit much different compared to what she walked down in. what may be a surprise to fio is how her head feels a little heavier, and a pair of floppy, bunny ears... real? or maybe they're fake... hard to tell to the audience in the way they move to match her animal companion.
as for him, his wardrobe change is a full plate of armor. his ears twitch underneath the helmet, groaning in another wave of irritation as the host pulls further away from the arena to display their outfits to the crowd. they appear on the big screens gaining all sorts of praise.
"sooo what do you think? have i outdid myself or have i outdone myself!!! ha ha ha!!" ]
...Damn you.
[ shadow growls, the extra added weight onto his body isn't a problem, but it's real. it clanks under his footsteps which after the third step, the hedgehog lifts his hand to raise the visor to show crimson eyes glaring at the screen. annoyed, he attempts to try and remove the helmet, but it just won't come off. ]
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...Bunny ears? [ Fio smiles nervously and waves to the crowd. It's both for the audience and fondness for the new fit. Even if the new set of ears are really distracting. ] Yeah... it's great. Thank you. [ Yet, her animal ears stick outward, clearly alarmed. As if it wasn't already easy enough to discern her feelings. It is a nice dress though. Fluffy and cute, with a pretty color. Something that she never thought she'd see herself wear, until now.
Hearing the clank, she drops her gaze to look at Shadow. It's an adorable outfit, like a little knight! Or perhaps he would prefer to be called "cool"? First, she does need to express her disapproval at him for trying to leave. ]
Darkie. Don't... leave yet. You can't leave now. [ "Don't abandon me," she almost wants to say. The bunny ears droop, flattening behind her head. ]
You have to get through this. Just do your best to get as many points as you can. It'll be okay! I'm sure this won't take much longer.
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[ his points lowering as they do don't scare him, as the ultimate lifeform, he's able to withstand anything that comes his way. the only reason he's here is because the young girl wouldn't leave him alone. even underneath the plate of armor, it doesn't hide his irritation in his voice or conceal his body language either. shadow stands much like someone who is ready to turn their back and leave.
it's childish, there are other things that warrant his attention, and even as he turns away with arms crossed, the hedgehog glances at the crowd before him. from the looks of them, they aren't impressed by his actions, and by his unwillingness he can hear the less-to-be-surprised beeping in his ear about how his points are dropping, but since this is a partner activity.
...fio might also hear her points dropping from the ear piece.
one quick glance to the monitors above that displays the footage of what they're doing, he can see their numbers dropping down at the same pace. annoyed, the tips of his fingers curl into his gauntlet's palm, metal clinking together at the underhanded plays of this world. if only he could kill every single one then he would at the expense of himself, but no one needs to be dragged down with him.
he can't leave now. ]
This is pissing me off. [ the hedgehog turns to look towards the young girl now dressed in something different. with a sigh, shadow closes the distance between him and fio, with a tilt of his head up, the hedgehog stares at the girl through the visor before extending his hand for her to take. ]
I want this over with.
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[ By volunteering him into the competition, whether he liked it or not.
Once again, his grumpiness reminds Fio of a friend that's incredibly dear. A sad gaze drifts over to his quills sticking out from underneath the helmet, first at the black fur and then at the bit of red color. It's also his unpleasantness that more closely reminds her of a lonely girl, one whose hatred became far too great that she sought out to extinguish every last bond of humanity. And that other girl's anger also reminded her of—
Herself. In her worst state. She too had nothing. She thought she had nothing. Still, she can only continue to guess at the reasons for Shadow's own behavior, left to wonder what his actual reasons are for acting the way he does. ]
I really wanna understand why you're so grumpy. And I'm still hoping we can become friends...
[ There's more that she would like to say. And ask, even if he refuses to give a proper answer. Her thoughts are interrupted by the ticking coming from the earpiece causing her to tense. She casts a worried glance up at the monitor. As if their rank as Shade wasn't already dreadfully low enough. She begins to wonder if the points would've taken less of a nosedive if she hadn't tried to volunteer. Too late for her to feel guilty about it now.
Fio takes a firm hold on his hand. She would squeeze tighter if it weren't for the gauntlet. Another deep breath, squaring up her shoulders and injecting more confidence in her voice. ] We got this.
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[ there's no need to think that they'll become friends, if anything, this is business of sorts. he's helping her with the points she has, and her with his, and after that they have no reason to speak at all. even with her hand in his own, the game wastes no time to begin with the floor generating new colors underneath them. some areas only allowing one step, some allowing three, but the one that they stand on shows that one they move... it'll disappear from how see-through it is.
shadow stares at the young girl before him, not moving himself as though waiting for her to be the one who leads this.
if under other circumstances, maybe he would have been able to follow through, but this seems like a waste of his time if it's only to humor the monsters that watch. ]
We aren't going to be friends, ever.
[ she doesn't know what she's asking or what she wants, the fact that she only wants to understand him because of his previous words doesn't make sense. why does she care? he's only a stranger. he's never understood why these types of people feel so inclined to intrude on lives of others, but there's only so much thinking he can do with the loud cheering that's insisting that they go ahead with this. ]
You're better off using me for points, make this transactional, and you won't feel bad.
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[ She wonders if he even understands how much better it is to have company. A friend. Has he ever smiled before? Seeing his stare, she realizes it's up to her. And she doesn't complain that she may be the one pulling all the weight.
With how the floor beneath them is close to fading away entirely, she needs to think quickly. There appears to be a good solid row of bright, vibrant tiles nearby. ]
I don't know what the word tran-zak-shual means! [ She calls out through the audience's cheering. That's a big vocabulary word! ] Let's go, Mr. Ultimate Lifeform! [ A grin. She still does not know what that is either. Oh well. Maybe, she should try to have a little fun... or try to teach him how to have fun, all while trying her best for the both of them. Because having fun is what friends do together! ]
Hop. This. Way!
[ White flo-wer. Mentally counting the three row tiles ahead in beats of three, counting with flowers in the same way she used to practice dancing a long time ago. She doesn't really need to call out, because she's going forcefully to try to tug the little hedgehog along with her as she starts doing little bunny hops. She has bunny ears now... so why not? ]
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Transactional.
[ he repeats, more focused on the girl's very horrible pronunciation of the word. while he should be focusing on the dance, going with the flow with the cheering of the crowd who are excited to see them either fall or worse; it really isn't shadow's concern. ]
Tran-zak-shuh-nuhl.
[ the worst part is that she doesn't even know what it means which makes it that she can continue asking of things from him. with a sigh, he takes a step forward, physically for her to move backwards because the tile behind is darker and less susceptible to disappearing after a few steps. ]
It means when you give me something, I give something back in return. That's what we're doing.
[ like how he's making sure that the surrounding panels are safe to be on no matter where she hops to. ]
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And now her attempt at pronouncing a new vocabulary word... ]
Tran-zak-shual. Tran-zak-shul- shuh- [ A pause as she attempts to slowly sound the whole word out. Almost there. Grinning, a little too delighted over learning a new term. ] Nuhl. [ And it still sounds horrible. Now she just needs to use it properly in a sentence, and practice how to say the word fluidly without the strange pauses in the between. ]
So it means we're helping each other out! That's what friends do. You teach me a new word and I... teach you a ballet step! Would that be... um, tran-zak-shuh-... nuhl?
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[ she can try all she wants, but he's not interested. besides, teaching her how to understand proper words and have a conversation shouldn't warrant it. ]
Being oblivious only brings a bad end. Keep in mind what's taught to you.
[ coming down here was basically his payment, but now she's adding to the pile. truth is, she doesn't have to teach him anything because when would he ever ballet step again? he follows her step only to make sure she doesn't fall, if she tries to go too far to one side, he's quick to pick her up in one fluid motion to set her down.
he knows that one of the rules is that they must keep one hand on one another. ]
I don't need anything from you after this dance.
[ it comes as a growl, and his glare hidden behind the visor of the mask. ]
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Hm...
[ He can growl as much as he wants, but she continues to be unfazed. She would be more rattled if he was someone who would try to outright physically harm her.
However, she takes his intense glare as a sign to lay off on any further talk about friends or friendship. Of course the thought of it continues to linger around her mind. That's not going to stop her from wanting to help him, even if they never become friends. It's out of her own kindness that she wants to help others. Making anything "transactional" was never on her mind in the first place. ]
Yeah. Being o-bli-vious would be really bad. [ A nod. "Oblivious" is another word that's not of her usual vocabulary, but she seems to have an understanding of what it means at least. ] Thank you for teaching me a new word! [ She manages a polite smile, despite his irritation. ] I'll keep it in mind.
[ The colorful squares continue to dazzle, blink, and fade beneath her feet. After a couple more hops across the tiles, she does realize there's no chance she'll ever fall with Shadow's assistance. For the next set of squares, she tries to dance more freely without worry of falling, less bunny hops and implementing more little ballet skips and runs. ]
...You're really strong, huh. So, what are you planning to do after this dance?
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and it's with confidence: ]
Of course. I am the Ultimate Lifeform.
[ people cheer, he can hear the robotic voice in his ear say things like his points shift up and down because of reluctance, but also his participation. he doesn't dance, rather, he doesn't want to. from the look of things, it'd be easier to follow her movement to make this quicker, but he doubts it's on whether they finish or get tired... it's the music, they have to go along with the sound of the music. ]
A way to leave.
[ shadow doesn't want to stay here, has no reason to. returning back home is much more important than residing in a dying world. he heard the notice that they'll be returning to etraya soon enough, but that's not where he's from, and so another alternative of getting home is his goal.
whether the girl wants to stay here is up to her, but shadow won't share that sentiment. ]
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Leave? [ She doesn't understand. ] Miss Aurora said that we'll be going back to a place called Etraya soon...
[ There is a world that she needs to return to as well, but she needs to protect it first in order to have a place to go back to. She prays that the one that she left behind is able to wait a little longer. Currently, she believes that going along with Aurora's instructions is the only way before she can finally head to Earth. And she's too kind to allow for the destruction of other worlds. ]
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[ remaining here, going to some place he isn't familiar with... that's the last thing he wants. he will not be forced to be somewhere he has no connection with, and his old home has problems that have yet to be solved. ]
You shouldn't trust someone so willingly, especially when they've dragged you from where you're from.
[ another word of advice because she's a stupid girl who doesn't know better. it's as the music begins to stretch to a close, they can hear how the beat slows down underneath their feet, and as the finale, shadow dips the young girl back on one of the panels where a gaping hole lingers behind her.
the crowd "oh's" and they "ah" until he pulls her back into him. ]
have you seen the sonic & friends chicken and banana dance w/ shadow.. i think it's like this thread
Then suddenly, Fio is back upright on her feet.
He got his point across. If Shadow just dropped her right there, it wouldn't be her first experience with betrayal. It takes her a near minute to recover, to process the words and for the scare to subside. Again her words are slow as she gathers her thoughts and while she knows she has a difficult time expressing herself at length, not as eloquent as an adult, she tries. ]
If... a stranger tells me that my world is in danger and that I have a chance to save it, then... I'm willing to take that chance. [ She won't deny the possibility that Aurora may not be as trustworthy as she seems. This isn't the first time that she's been pulled from her world by someone that she barely knows. Even back then, she was betrayed and put through too much pain. And yet, it was also around that time that she was able to truly find a place to belong. ]
I want to protect everyone else's worlds, because even if I've never seen them, I know they're precious to someone. I'll protect yours too. I'm sure it's a very special place to you and many others.
If there turns out to be another way to return home, then I'd love to learn about it.
[ ...For now, she will take the risk of trusting in Aurora.
Clearly still shaken, but she masks it with a weak smile. She stands straight, grabs the edge of her fluffy dress and looks out towards the audience. She curtsies. ]
Hehe. I think you outshined me... I hope you earned lots of points for that stunt, Darkie. I hope it'll help you in your goal.
I SAWWWW ITTTTTT shadow did NOT want to be there did you see the other one
Foolish.
[ entirely foolish, something he doesn't understand as to why she would say with nothing confirmed. she's willing to count on something fed to her, something... of peril with a resolution as long as she follows these missions? so trusting, so willing to help some people who hardly deserve that sort of patience. it gets under his skin, it annoys him, it feels to familiar to something specific in his life that he relinquishes his hand from her own, then they come to his chest crossed as he turns away.
she did do what she promised, his points are out of shade, no longer dangerously close to where they were at the start.
making his way away from her, the hedgehog stands at the flight of stairs that leads them up from the arena. ]
Come.
[ from how he's been so far, one would think that he was prepared to keep distance from the young girl. he doesn't wait though, he's already making his way up expecting her to follow, considering she followed him here all the while anyway. ]
if you mean the other dancing one i just looked it up too :') small shadow so annoyed and cute...
Approaching the edge of the stairway, her dance fit dissolves as well, bunny ears vanish, and her entire form reverts to looking more like herself: just a little girl wearing a tattered white dress and black cuffs. There's a delay as he makes his way back up, then before long, Fio's legs budge, trailing along not too far behind in slow, easy steps.
Very little time for breaks. She could use one, but she doesn't complain or plead for him to wait up. She keeps going. ]
he hates them all.... but he never leaves..... i wonder why!!
that doesn't seem to be happening anytime soon, but the direction that shadow seems to be going is towards symposium. a place that allows certain individuals entry depending on how high their points are. it's not a location that shadow has went to alone, and this would be his second time even venturing there.
in their silence, he does keep an ear out for whether she lags behind or for anything odd happening around them. ]
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She's unfamiliar where they're headed exactly, though she assumes it's somewhere that he may find clues to assist with his goal.
The silent walk is soon disrupted by an alien reporter, shoving a device at Fio's face that seems to broadcast her footage across any nearby monitors. "Aaaand here we have one of our contestants from the earlier dance contest! Great dancing out there! Fio, was it? So Fio, looks like this was your first challenge. What did you think? Any upcoming plans? Thoughts on your dance partner? Little guy looks like he hated it!"
She stops following, suddenly. That's a lot of questions at once. ]
Uh...
[ Does she have time to answer? The last time she fled from an interviewer, she wound up damaging her rank as a result. She glances between the reporter and Shadow's back as he grows farther away. ]
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it doesn't take long for him to disappear, leaving behind the young girl to the eager reporter. does she have time to answer? probably. it's not like the hedgehog is anywhere around for her to follow!
what will fio do now..... ]
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The recording device remains shoved at her face, waiting eagerly for a response. She'll answer. ]
Um... the dance... it was really fun! I was super nervous 'cause I never danced in front of a whole crowd before. It's been a long time since I danced ballet, so I'm happy I got this chance. And my... partner—Darkie. [ Oops, she still doesn't know his actual name. This answer is turning out longer than she expected. Shadow is likely too far away by now that she believes she's completely lost him at this point. A pause, briefly glancing at her image on one of the nearby screens before turning back towards the reporter. ]
He's not a cat, by the way. I'm not sure what animal he is... but he calls himself the Ultimate Lifeform. I think that means he's super strong or something...? [ Putting on a big smile for the broadcast. If he's gone now, she can just help him from afar in this way by enthusiastically talking up the hedgehog. ] 'Cause he is! Did everyone see that cool dip he did at the end? That's why we won. He's kind of scary too and... he doesn't really pay attention to me. [ A small hint of sadness behind her voice, but she does somehow manage to maintain a smile and quickly restore her enthusiasm as she resumes speaking. ] But I thought it was nice that he stayed and danced with me. I'm glad I wasn't alone back there. I hope I can talk to him more someday.
[ The points aren't as grand as the previous challenge, but Fio's rank will rise just a little more for answering the interview. And wherever Shadow is now, his earpiece will beep with a very minor uptick in score. ]
no subject
what an annoying girl, so annoying and in her own head that shadow couldn't go too far. he now stands on the top of a nearby building watching where he had left fio only to make sure that nothing bad happens. normally, shadow would become aggressive and bare his fangs at the attempt of someone trying to intrude on what he's doing. though, fio seems like someone who engages in these situations, or maybe she's scared and will run. when she doesn't do the latter, he had thought that maybe the former was right.
he doesn't need the points, nor does he need her speaking of his good graces for she doesn't know that he's a horrible hedgehog with a violent streak. as much good as fio speaks, she's only wasting her breath.
what an annoying girl.
unfortunately for him, he knows better than to just leave her stranded, and while he wears a sharp expression glaring at the reporter for even being nosey. he already knows that she won't even know where to go, she'll get lost, run into another alien or someone will pick up the slack of where shadow leaves her behind at. no one around seems to have that thought in mind when the whole world is more so about entertainment and fun, it's why shadow remains on top of the building surveying fio's surroundings until she finishes up. ]
no subject
As much as she's uncomfortable with the reporter intruding on her space, she knows better than to flee in the same manner as when she first arrived. She hopes that she can give satisfactory enough answers before she presses on. Trying to appear excited for the broadcast is tiring and she's done enough of that during the earlier dance. Somehow, she continues to manage a meek smile throughout the interview.
A small crowd of aliens begin to gather nearby, a mix of those who recognize Fio from the dance battle and some who are simply just curious about the answers of one of the planet's contestants.
"Awww, sounds like you had a blast with the little fella! And my other question: what of your upcoming plans, hm? Gonna take up any more challenges?" ]
Well... I was hoping to find Darkie again. I know he's got a scary stare, but I'm worried he's a little lonely. Maybe I can help him out with... well, whatever he's gonna do next. Bet he's calling me foolish right now. [ There's some chuckles coming from within the crowd. ] Have any of you seen him? Black fur, red streaks... and shorter than me. He was walking this way... he must be far off somewhere else by now.
[ Several aliens in the crowd exchange confused glances. Some shrug. Just a little discouraging, but she won't give up. He's still on this planet somewhere!!! She responds, cheerfully: ]
That's okay! I'll just keep walking in the same direction I was going. Thanks, anyway. [ A pause. Right, her face is on the monitors all over right now... so maybe Shadow can hear her. She looks at the screen. ] Darkie! I'm gonna catch up to you soon!
[ Gosh, hopefully he heard that!
And she resumes her walk down the district, moving towards where she last saw the hedgehog. The interview doesn't seem quite over yet, especially with the audience she garnered."Miss Fio, Miss Fio! We have a few more questions!"
She's too friendly to tell everyone off, so she keeps walking along with a handful of aliens trailing both behind and alongside her... ]
no subject
it is somewhat one-sided as time goes on.
the smart choice is for them to grow bored of her and move on, but that's not what happens as he follows behind. they stay close, acting as if they're familiar with her throughout all their questions, and shadow stares at how persistent they are.
question after question, and he tires of it enough that he walks a little quicker to catch up, bumping into one of the aliens that does respond with a grunt as they turn to see what hit them. they sound a little disgruntled upon seeing who it is, referring to the hedgehog as a "pet" and even frowning because this would mean... ]
If you're going to follow me around, do better.
[ he doesn't acknowledge them because why would he? everyone is a nuisance that should be ignored unless there's something he needs from them.
his attention is on her, preparing himself for whatever expression creeps on her face when she turns around. shadow should have left her behind and went to mind his own business, but there's something oddly familiar in the way that she does things that it doesn't strike him as an immediate dislike.
all it does is make her even more tiring than anyone should be. ]
Don't waste my time.
[ in other, unspoken words: "come on". ]
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Her ears pick up on some chatter from behind and a familiar voice which comes as a shock. Because she was accepting the hedgehog had already taken off too far ahead without her, that she would have to be the one to find him first. Whirling around, she's visibly surprised to see Shadow. She briefly casts a glance at the alien, the one that had called him a "pet". At the same time, she resists saying out loud that he's a "friend" instead. By now, she knows he won't like it. So all the alien gets is a quiet look of disapproval.
Then of course, she puts on a smile when turning to Shadow, though it's mixed with both exhaustion and relief. However, a far more genuine expression than the feign joy that she's been putting on for the monitors. ]
Guess you found me first, huh? I'm sorry, Darkie... I'll do better.
[ She slips away from the swarm of aliens, to close the distance between herself and Shadow. She still wishes to accompany him. ]
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