archived.

"...You know what area to come back to if you wish, I'm fine with you hanging out, chillin'. That kind of thing?" Zeena was worse than dislike, it was apathy to things she had no real interest in. But would pay attention to probably only forget something she saw as non-important, but... that was simply how life was for this vain creature.

Nonetheless, thievery of food, odd things and of the like. Perhaps a few times major damage was caused in the city by the Zeti, Zeena would remain aloof, a ghost and what seemed to be a loner.

{➹} – "I'M FLATTERED." Actually, she really was. She could tell the Zeti wasn't the greatest people-person but they seemed to have hit it off a little bit that afternoon, and Mina would take it. it was certainly a good story to tell her husband, if nothing else. She had to wonder if he knew of Zeena and her kind.

Probably. Sometimes it felt as though Sonic knew everything and then some when it came to stuff like that.

The child took a couple steps back as Arrow started to rev up before watching in wonder as the hero easily tore the boulder into pieces. Andie's mouth opened up, amazed at the feat he just witnessed. "That's amazing!" He shouted, giving a laugh and a little giddy jump.

"Years of practice an' a few refined hedgehog qualities," he replied easily, grinning even as he raised a brow in the other's direction. "And usually I don't teach kids something like that unless they have a good reason. 'Sides, I reckon it's pretty impossible for just anyone t' learn unless they have the speed t' put behind it."

Harley could soon hear voices and footsteps, followed by seeing Charlie and the stranger exit the cave. The opossum wasting little time in standing up and rushing over to her husband to give him a hug. Not saying anything, just holding him tight.

"Tracking, huh...? That might just work." He already had a few people in mind to introduce the other too, but again it could wait a few more minutes. Stepping out of the cave and back into the sunlight was a little jarring, it always was, but the hedgehog's eyes adjusted in time to see the couple reunited.

Okay, so...I've decided to basically archive this blog and switch my boy over to another one entirely. I'm not resetting anything but I am switching him to private so I can control my space a lot more than I have. I won't make the full move until the end of the month and I'll try to wrap up threads in the meantime. But yeah, I'm only going to interact with the people I really vibe with on the new blog so I don't get a repeat of how I've been feeling lately.

"No clue what a zone is, though I can say for certain that I'm staying clear of any caves for awhile." Charlie wasn't going to assume every cave out there was dangerous like this one, though had his fill for the time being. "Shame I can't relax just yet. Don't wanna waste time with hunting for a job. Not to mention trying to find some place to stay." The opossum had a lot on his plate now, along with having to learn about the place he was at now. At least the exit was close.

  {➹} – "JUST THINK OF it as a county or area, an' you'll be fine." That's all there really was to it. Mobius had some odd terms but they were simple enough with a little research and practice. The hedgehog was confident Charlie and his wife would pick up on things in no time. Even when it came to lodging and work, the hero thought it all to be rather simple.

"Well, what sort of things can you do? I know a few people who could always use a hand with one thing or another." With the amount of friends and acquaintances he had, finding one who was looking to hire someone with the right skills was a bit too easy. But he supposed they could discuss that much in a few minutes given that the next corner they rounded soon displayed the telltale stream of daylight.

Then again, maybe it really wasn't that bad. He could imagine Omega easily destroying the giant rock. "How are you going to move it out of the way?" He asked as he followed after Arrow.

"Move it?" He chuckled, waving a hand nonchalantly as he walked up to the boulder. "'M not going t' move it, Kid. I may be strong, but 'm not that strong. I have a different method of going about things. Just sit back and watch the show."

Something that people seemed to forget about the hero was his first line of defense: those blue quills of his. Relaxed more often than not those days they were still more than capable of cutting through solid metal. Rock? It was all too easy. Thus, in one fell motion, the hero had curled up in that way particular to hedgehogs before spinning over and over, revving in place before shooting forward. Not solely through the rock but rather all over it, until it was cascaded in a blue blur.

"Fair enough. If that is the case, 'm sure you two will have a better time 'round here. Well...not here, exactly. Mystic Cave's not for everyone as you just found out but there are plenty of zones 'round that are less adventurous and bizarre." In other words, perfect for a couple trying to get away from unpleasant things and relax. Speaking of which...

Thank Chaos it wasn’t as nasty as the last time and his own healing ability had already kicked in. A gentle nuzzle was given when his partner began to relax, shifting the way he was crouched to be more comfortable and actually sitting on the ground behind the hero.

Right in time for the Chao to join them. He smiled and gave a few light pets to those that were close enough and willing. The look hadn’t been missed and he gave a subtle nod in answer.

He knew. He just didn’t regret what he did in the least. Never would.

“Personally I think we take a page outta these guy’s book and relax. Enjoy the nice weather we got before we’re gonna have t’ deal with the bumps and bruises our daughter’s gonna be comin’ t’ lunch with.” A partial joke. Hopefully. Volt rested his chin on his partner’s shoulder and had no intention to move for the time being.

Needless to say, it worked. The hero only looked at his partner for a moment more before mentally dropping the subject. Plus he knew Volt was right, they could use the time to relax before his brother and their daughter came back and they could all eat. If nothing else, they were in one of the most beautiful areas of the island so they might as well enjoy it.

"I think that's a wonderful idea." Leave it to Tikal to change the subject to something entirely peaceful, and even Chaos nodded at the idea. Their eyes lingered on their pupil for a moment before they gave what Arrow always assumed to be a smile before going to their usual spot on The Shrine's steps. A few chao followed, but most seemed perfectly fine there with the hedgehog and hybrid.

The former of whom didn't move, content there against Volt, just as much as Tikal was against the tree that was her usual spot. The air around them all seemed to shift to something more agreeable, and it was Chaos who broke the momentary silence, looking at the couple but namely Volt.

Okay, so...I've decided to basically archive this blog and switch my boy over to another one entirely. I'm not resetting anything but I am switching him to private so I can control my space a lot more than I have. I won't make the full move until the end of the month and I'll try to wrap up threads in the meantime. But yeah, I'm only going to interact with the people I really vibe with on the new blog so I don't get a repeat of how I've been feeling lately.

"Other than feeling like shit? I thought that was obvious enough."

There was a slight hint of annoyance still in his voice that seemed to gradually fade as he spoke, now that the smaller hedgehog was feeling some relief, not being near the emeralds. Still, he wasn't mentally all there at the moment.

"Sorry, didn't mean to get all snippy. All that influx of energy back at your friends' base seemed to have been really messing with my head. I couldn't keep any thoughts in my head long enough. Still trying to get my head all cleared up."

He would take a chance to find a spot to sit and close his eyes. Perhaps he shouldn't have been letting his guard down so easily, but with Arrow around he felt like he could. Seems like he still wasn't able to completely think clearly at the moment. Or perhaps he trusted the other enough to take them somewhere as safe as the headquarters.

Unphased by the other's tone Arrow just watched them, listening as they spoke. More than willing to let Lil vent a little bit, and he was glad he did. He hadn't known the feelings were that bad, and a part of the elder felt guilty for not offering the other a chance to clear their head sooner.

"Our base," he corrected, not bothering to point out the whole place had been his idea, and a place he had called home for quite a while as a child. That was beside the point. "And...'m sorry about that, but it sort of comes with the territory these days. We can't move them, not even for a few days."

It would be too risky. Especially now with Chaos-knew what out there. Other than The Chamber, there was no way to hide the emeralds' signature.

she doesn't deserve to be treated this way…

[ 🩷 ] >>> ❝I… I SAID, STAY AWAY. THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO, AND IF THEY SEE YOU HERE…❞

her monotonous voice has soon shown a subtle shiver.

"And what's going t' happen t' you if they find you?" He didn't really expect an answer but there was something in his tone that said he already knew.

Her attitude alone told him all he needed to know. More reason for him not to leave her here. He had no plans of doing so.

Casually staring, pursing her lip slightly as they went on, "I don't know what some of those are, but I honestly don't care either. There's enough of what I understand that we could do at least." Patriarchy? Family? Coffee? Music? Shopping? They hadn't a clue to these concepts other than shopping... vaguely music.

{➹} – MAN, DID SHE have a lot to teach the Zeti. A challenge the mongoose was glad to take on. Even if Zeena didn't like some of it a few lessons in Mobian culture wouldn't hurt. If nothing else they would be entertaining to see. Of course Mina may have been seriously overestimating her own ability to keep the other in check.

Live and learn.

Oh he gladly tries one of the lovely guitars and just strummed a few keys idlily. He perks up out of focus and listening to the other and now retaining more information why the studio is filled with intention and so much care. "Wow...that's actually awesome! I bet the touring is pretty fun for anyone. Heh...Mine was made out of love too, it was a lot of help thanks to my little bro Tails. It may be small, but I'm proud of what both of us made."

He starts to strum a familiar melody and starts to hum a long with a certain song.

   {➹} – OUT OF THE FOUR guitars there in the room, the red one that had been picked up was without a doubt the elder's favorite. And the oldest, having been given to him when he was about five years old. A simple acoustic, it was well-loved and had been through almost as much as its owner. Seeing it in the hands of another blue hedgehog was almost too fitting.

"It can be, but touring tends t' get a little harder after you've had a kid. Luckily she loves spending time with her uncle up on Angel Island, or with her grandparents here in the village when need be." So it gave her parents a little more freedom there, but that didn't mean they didn't miss her terribly some of those nights.

And it seemed that this 'Eggton' was no exception.

"...No."

A direct, decisive answer upon being asked if Sonic could figure out a sewing machine. He had such a straight face on as he immediately said it, too. It was a bit unlike him, the look was more for shock factor. Kounosuke's grinning, all the same. It took some effort to hold back a laugh.

"It's the most simple form of tailoring. My mother taught me."

From the kit, he took out a thread, a deep shade of crimson. The thread had to match the fabric, so it was only natural he have a select few colors available at all times.

"You put the thread through this tiiiiiiiny hole..."

Which the tanuki demonstrated, appearing to do so with zero difficulty. He'd done this a lot of times, not just so his clothes would cover his round torso. It was also for costume parties, people held them even on regular days. It was for fun, and Kounosuke was unashamed of dressing up sometimes.

"That's called threading the needle. Then you poke the fabric like so..."

Which he did, pulling it through as to connect them.

"Lather, rinse, repeat until they're securely together!" Now he really did laugh. "That's why a sewing machine is so much faster than a Beastman's hand."

Carefully, he places hands over the needle.

Heck, he preferred it.

And he never minded learning, watching as the tanuki pulled both thread and needle and showed him what to do. Seemed like an easy enough first step. Luckily the hero had sharp eyes and steady hands. It was what made him such a good archer. Though now that he was thinking about it he didn't know if Kounosuke knew about that little skill of his.

Something to address next time as he took both items and gave them a quick once over. This part he was familiar with, having watched a certain woodchuck do it countless times.

"How many times do you have t' put it through before it actually stays?"

"I have zero idea," Charlie said as he began to follow Sonic. "Some bright light, then we're in the middle of forest. Don't know what a Mobian is, though we're from Flora if that helps." The opossum honestly had zero clue how he and his wife ended up wherever they are nor what a Mobian was. "Honestly, ending up in a place you don't know sucks, though if it gets us away from that crazy sheep, I'll take it." As long as this place wasn't anywhere near Flora that is.

  {➹} – "BRIGHT LIGHT, HUH?" He didn't even sound remotely surprised to hear that, in fact he only shook his head looking somewhat amused. It figured, and the opossums weren't the first to have ended up on Mobius in such a way. It was odd that it happened so randomly, however, but the hedgehog wasn't worried. It wasn't anything he couldn't sort out or handle.

Though this was one of the first cases he had where someone didn't seem to want to go back home. How odd.