Who: Shadow the Hedgehog and whomever I've plot things with. Status: Closed Where: Wherever the prompts take us. What: Catch-all for the month. Warnings: Potential violence, murder, warm fuzzies and still being an asshole.
[It's always one thing after another with this place. If it's not robots to worry about, it's some strange...plague befalling the people around here. Let's call it a plague, because he doesn't really know how else to describe what he has been witnessing.
A strange symptom, where a black substance starts dripping from people's eyes. Others, turning into strange phantom monsters themselves if left untreated. Did this all have any relation to Elah...? Even more frustrating, he's unable to do much against the phantoms, potential victims themselves. But if it's irreversible...they can't be allowed to spread further.
No, he needs to figure out where they're all coming from. Taking out the changed doesn't fix the ones already infected. He stops at a trail of ink left by the passing phantoms. Taking out an empty vial, he carefully starts gathering a sample without getting any on himself.
His ears twitch at the sound of movement. Brows furrow as he sees a few phantoms start to slowly make their way towards him. Great.]
[ it doesn't feel much different from those times with the moths, really, and weren't they harmless in the end?
first, it's one or two, only in the peripherals of his vision, and only now and then—inky black shadows that seem to disappear as soon as kit turns his head to look. but slowly, more and more of them begin to appear, creeping around the edges of his vision increasingly as he spends time apart from surge. they inch closer, they grow bolder, but it's hard to say how harmful they really are.
they haven't done anything to him yet, if you don't count those pitch dark circles that are beginning to gather around kit's eyes like a raccoon's mask. his eyes feel wet, and he brings one paw up to rub at them again, his glove coming back stained black once more. it seems like he's only succeeded in spreading the ink around with that.
but as he—and his shadows—make their way, kit finds himself face to face with someone he hadn't expected to see, drawing to a stop as he finds his path obstructed. ]
... [He's not particularly looking right at Kit, but at the phantoms that were lingering near the fox. Eyes then land on the familiar black ink around Kit's eyes. He straightens up, sealing the vial and carefully putting it back in his satchel.]
She's not with you? [There's a rather noticeable lack of loud and sparky with the fox. Eyes move between the fox and phantoms around them, keeping track of their positions.]
[ kit's answer is short and sharp, returning a question of his own. ]
Why?
[ so that he can know how vulnerable kit is? just because surge isn't here though, doesn't mean that kit is defenceless. his eyes narrow, and the phantoms that lurk just at the edges of the sidewalk seem to loom closer to his figure.
still, it's clear enough that he doesn't have company, so: ]
[They're hardly ever apart, so it's an odd sight when they are. The fox in particular, devoted to the other's every whim. Investigating on her behalf then? And now, the ink showing under the other's eyes...he huffs irritably. This can become a problem later, knowing how explosive these two can get. But it is uncertain if he has the means to prevent their condition from worsening at this juncture.]
Are you feeling all right? [He knows there are phantoms lurking behind him, but his eyes are on the ones lingering near Kit.]
[ at first, there's an expression of surprise, something like doubt that flickers across kit's face, just for a moment before it returns to wariness. expressions of concern are foreign to him—even surge, his own partner, is unlikely to check on his wellbeing with words. his brows furrow, but despite shadow lacking the manners to answer his question, kit will give his. ]
I'm fine.
[ aside from being a little lonely, maybe, a little bitter, he feels no different than he ever has. ]
They're hunting. [Eyes falls back on the fox.] They've marked you. [And him, presumably. But he's not showing symptoms like Kit is. Not yet.] Do you want know what could happen?
[ they've went through a few boxes at first to make sure that she's actually missing what she's talking about. gemstones with magical properties are one thing, but for someone to come into this place and take majority— all of them is another. surge calls this carelessness, and it really is the woman's fault for what happened because why isn't she paying attention to her product?
luckily kitsunami does the talking because while surge is closing the final box, the tenrec is already rolling her eyes as she's partially grumpy with what's going on. this mission is so barebones that she'd throw up if she could, how boring can things get? even more boring, she notices. with a sigh, she's shaking her head as she waits for kitsunami to finish up conversation before she makes her way over. ]
I checked every one, and some stink and others smell sweet, that got anythin' to do with somethin'...
[ with some boxes covered in a putrid scent that would drive away most adventurous noses, there's a few that's actually worth coming close to. she's asking for a second opinion, and kit's nose is way bigger than hers. ]
Maybe... they're not here? Um—I mean, maybe we should look somewhere else.
[ as reluctant as kit is to say it... it feels like they've turned this entire island upside-down, scouring this place and that, shaking down whoever might have even an inkling of an idea of where they might need to look next. most of them have only pointed to other ports and warehouses, but some? there are at least a few who have suggested they might be searching on the wrong island completely. ]
If-if you want to, Ma'am!
[ who is kit to be telling surge what to do, after all.
still, he'll spare an anxious glance around the perimeter, as if that's going to do anything if they've missed something. ]
[ that's an idea, but where would they even go and how would they even get around to checking? clicking her tongue, surge is quiet as she starts stepping out of the building with the fox following behind her. ]
Well, we can't break into anyone's damn house and check first, so we'll do that second...
[ she has a few people that she'd be willing to look into, but they should at least double checking some other places before pointing fingers. that didn't go well last time especially when they were right, and surge is always right. ]
Should we go check that memorial place we went to that one time?
[ could have some valuable stuff to steal there, too. ]
[ at first, kit's not sure about it, but then it seems like surge catches on to what he's trying to say here, and kit begins nodding fervently. he doesn't necessarily know if the memorial is where they might find the goods, but perhaps another island? populated or otherwise. the corsair base comes to mind, for one, but... hand to his chin in thought. ]
It's worth checking.
[ and from there, they'll move out and investigate some other places too. ]
But we'll need to find a way to get there. Um... I-I don't know if we can afford to pay, so...
[ they need someone with a ship to bully. does della have one? she seems the type... ]
What are you talkin' about??? We don't need to pay when we have one.
[ surge is already a few steps ahead, that's why she's bringing a hand to pat at kitsunami's fur like he did his best trying to find an answer to this. ]
We gunna take Darko's boat— which is technically out boat because everything we touch belongs to us!
[ from the sound of things whoever darko is, that's the only person— well hedgehog, they've got to visit to get themselves a workable boat. ]
For Cid (Eventually alluding into Lyric things, probably)
Aw right then! That should be the finishing touches, sir! In immpeccable timing if I do say so myself, hoho! [A birdfolk comes waddling up to say all this to a...Mr. Shadow. He just happen to be in the area to oversee the construction of this home. His home?
...Well, if he was into the cute and cozy cottage kind, then maybe? There was definitely a welcoming air to the home, built with care, meant to be lived in and utilized. It's location, prime spot to reach the shops of Shelton. Things that are not of interest to the Ultimate Lifeform who is constantly on the move.]
'Ere you are. Contract and deed to the home. Just gonna give the place a good sweep and she's all yours! Thanks for using our services. Your vision, our mission!
[He just grunts, no longer paying any attention to them and looking at the papers given to him.
...
He has no idea what to look for, but this is probably meant to be given to the owner of this home?]
[Cid only happened to be passing through the area when he happens to see a familiar hedgehog. Even if he knew Shadow would just brush him off, he would have gone up to him to at least greet before moving on, but then he notices that he seems to be meeting with someone and has...papers?
...In front of a rather quaint cottage?
He COULD just leave Shadow to his business, but he seemed to be contemplating something. With the birdfolk waddling back to check on things, Cid will make his approach.]
[How, does this man always manages to find him at the most inopportune time? When did they get here? His left ear twitch in an irritable manner, eyes still staring down at the papers.]
You have business with me? [Otherwise, go away >:( ]
Then continue on your way- [Something starts to beep on his personal. A quiet sigh. He pulls up his satchel, putting the papers away and pulling out a device instead. On the small screen, a dot is blipping, slowing moving off screen.
...
Cid still here, isn't here?] Are you aware of the robots that have been around the towns?
They are gathering for whomever they serve. [And still no indications of what that is, or where they're going with all the materials. Build more of them? Or something else? He starts to walk in the direction of the signal.]
I've been trying to track them back to their base. [He suspects there's a dropoff/pickup point. Though he hadn't had much luck, unable to catch one without needing to intervene, or they would lead him to deadends. One of these things has to eventually give him a lead.]
Analyzing their power source. The signature is similar to the crystals on that island. [The rest of the jargon is better left explained by the actual maker of the tracker. All he needs is for it to work.
The tracker will eventually take them down toward the shoreline. It was no where near the docks, somewhere out of the way. An ideal place for one's scheming, whatever that may be. There are visible footprints in the dirt though. Fresh ones. ]
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For Kit
A strange symptom, where a black substance starts dripping from people's eyes. Others, turning into strange phantom monsters themselves if left untreated. Did this all have any relation to Elah...? Even more frustrating, he's unable to do much against the phantoms, potential victims themselves. But if it's irreversible...they can't be allowed to spread further.
No, he needs to figure out where they're all coming from. Taking out the changed doesn't fix the ones already infected. He stops at a trail of ink left by the passing phantoms. Taking out an empty vial, he carefully starts gathering a sample without getting any on himself.
His ears twitch at the sound of movement. Brows furrow as he sees a few phantoms start to slowly make their way towards him. Great.]
no subject
first, it's one or two, only in the peripherals of his vision, and only now and then—inky black shadows that seem to disappear as soon as kit turns his head to look. but slowly, more and more of them begin to appear, creeping around the edges of his vision increasingly as he spends time apart from surge. they inch closer, they grow bolder, but it's hard to say how harmful they really are.
they haven't done anything to him yet, if you don't count those pitch dark circles that are beginning to gather around kit's eyes like a raccoon's mask. his eyes feel wet, and he brings one paw up to rub at them again, his glove coming back stained black once more. it seems like he's only succeeded in spreading the ink around with that.
but as he—and his shadows—make their way, kit finds himself face to face with someone he hadn't expected to see, drawing to a stop as he finds his path obstructed. ]
Oh.
[ said with all the enthusiasm of an "ugh". ]
It's you.
no subject
She's not with you? [There's a rather noticeable lack of loud and sparky with the fox. Eyes move between the fox and phantoms around them, keeping track of their positions.]
no subject
Why?
[ so that he can know how vulnerable kit is? just because surge isn't here though, doesn't mean that kit is defenceless. his eyes narrow, and the phantoms that lurk just at the edges of the sidewalk seem to loom closer to his figure.
still, it's clear enough that he doesn't have company, so: ]
Surge is busy right now.
no subject
Are you feeling all right? [He knows there are phantoms lurking behind him, but his eyes are on the ones lingering near Kit.]
no subject
I'm fine.
[ aside from being a little lonely, maybe, a little bitter, he feels no different than he ever has. ]
no subject
He points to the phantoms behind himself then.] You see them? You know anything about them?
no subject
No.
[ well, except for one thing: ]
They've been following me...
[ all day, ever since surge left. ]
no subject
surge / kit / shadow | vestment vendetta
luckily kitsunami does the talking because while surge is closing the final box, the tenrec is already rolling her eyes as she's partially grumpy with what's going on. this mission is so barebones that she'd throw up if she could, how boring can things get? even more boring, she notices. with a sigh, she's shaking her head as she waits for kitsunami to finish up conversation before she makes her way over. ]
I checked every one, and some stink and others smell sweet, that got anythin' to do with somethin'...
[ with some boxes covered in a putrid scent that would drive away most adventurous noses, there's a few that's actually worth coming close to. she's asking for a second opinion, and kit's nose is way bigger than hers. ]
no subject
[ as reluctant as kit is to say it... it feels like they've turned this entire island upside-down, scouring this place and that, shaking down whoever might have even an inkling of an idea of where they might need to look next. most of them have only pointed to other ports and warehouses, but some? there are at least a few who have suggested they might be searching on the wrong island completely. ]
If-if you want to, Ma'am!
[ who is kit to be telling surge what to do, after all.
still, he'll spare an anxious glance around the perimeter, as if that's going to do anything if they've missed something. ]
no subject
Well, we can't break into anyone's damn house and check first, so we'll do that second...
[ she has a few people that she'd be willing to look into, but they should at least double checking some other places before pointing fingers. that didn't go well last time especially when they were right, and surge is always right. ]
Should we go check that memorial place we went to that one time?
[ could have some valuable stuff to steal there, too. ]
no subject
It's worth checking.
[ and from there, they'll move out and investigate some other places too. ]
But we'll need to find a way to get there. Um... I-I don't know if we can afford to pay, so...
[ they need someone with a ship to bully. does della have one? she seems the type... ]
no subject
[ surge is already a few steps ahead, that's why she's bringing a hand to pat at kitsunami's fur like he did his best trying to find an answer to this. ]
We gunna take Darko's boat— which is technically out boat because everything we touch belongs to us!
[ from the sound of things whoever darko is, that's the only person— well hedgehog, they've got to visit to get themselves a workable boat. ]
For Cid (Eventually alluding into Lyric things, probably)
...Well, if he was into the cute and cozy cottage kind, then maybe? There was definitely a welcoming air to the home, built with care, meant to be lived in and utilized. It's location, prime spot to reach the shops of Shelton. Things that are not of interest to the Ultimate Lifeform who is constantly on the move.]
'Ere you are. Contract and deed to the home. Just gonna give the place a good sweep and she's all yours! Thanks for using our services. Your vision, our mission!
[He just grunts, no longer paying any attention to them and looking at the papers given to him.
...
He has no idea what to look for, but this is probably meant to be given to the owner of this home?]
no subject
...In front of a rather quaint cottage?
He COULD just leave Shadow to his business, but he seemed to be contemplating something. With the birdfolk waddling back to check on things, Cid will make his approach.]
Well, well, didn't expect to see you around here.
no subject
You have business with me? [Otherwise, go away >:( ]
no subject
I didn't initially, but I can always make it.
[What an annoying grin he has as he just peeks at those papers.]
Did you buy a home for yourself?
no subject
Where were you heading? [He folds up the papers just as he tries to sneak a peek.]
no subject
[Shadow may have tried to hide it, but he caught a glimpse of the title on it.]
no subject
...
Cid still here, isn't here?] Are you aware of the robots that have been around the towns?
no subject
The robots?
[He takes a moment before there's a look of realization.]
You mean the ones that have been a bounty? I've been busy with expedition work to really look into it further.
no subject
I've been trying to track them back to their base. [He suspects there's a dropoff/pickup point. Though he hadn't had much luck, unable to catch one without needing to intervene, or they would lead him to deadends. One of these things has to eventually give him a lead.]
no subject
You mean through that? How did you manage to track them?
[Yes, he is definitely joining Shadow—]
no subject
The tracker will eventually take them down toward the shoreline. It was no where near the docks, somewhere out of the way. An ideal place for one's scheming, whatever that may be. There are visible footprints in the dirt though. Fresh ones. ]
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