her comet, adrift

I'm sure there are already a few tutorials like this one out there, but hey, what can one more hurt?

What's this do?: Krita has features you can use so you can make quick edits to your icons all at once, and save them all out individually with the press of a button. It's a great time-saver, and gives you a lot of flexibility in your edits!

What you'll need:

Krita, a free and open-source painting / image editing program!

Icons!

Part 1: How to export your icons all at once.

( warning: long and image-heavy! Written with beginners in mind. )

Send Lore Drop! And I will talk about lore or a head canon regarding my muse.

Rex nodded along. Black Light spoke with wisdom, and held it in mind closely. Even if he did not know the particulars of her life or thoughts up to this point, the way she regarded things spoke to experience. And there is relief to meet a stranger inclined to benevolence.

"Then we're allied, on that front." said Rex with a nod. "I've been trying to think of what could be done. I do try to observe, look for what could be done and try to effect a solution-- sooner rather than later."

Further ahead, the city had taller buildings with colorful lights, one more jewel of the eastern coast. And in another direction, inland, towards the green countryside. This area was residential: colorful and lively in its own right, but worn and getting by.

"You're more prepared to act than I realized." Turning her chair, the old woman grinned, all wrinkles and mischief, "A stroll sounds perfect. My chair could use the exercise, ha!"

Introductions were a novelty to the Black Arms. A hivemind had no need to verbally exchange names when every mind was connected. It was arbitrary at best. Breath wasted on redundant information. But on Mobius it was more than just information, it was a welcoming sentiment. Acceptance. Shadow had bemoaned needing to achieve such a connection with the locals, but here the Deathling sat, utterly delighted to be included in the simple ritual.

Extending his hand, he proudly announced, "Eclipse! It's a pleasure to meet you, Malachite." His smile twitched, not quite falling. Guilt bubbled up when he saw his arm hovering between the two of them.

It probably wasn't ideal to be introducing himself without his disguise. Black Light had been adamant about keeping the cloaking active at all times. But... was there any harm in it? Malachite hadn't reacted to the Deathling's true appearance so far. An odd look or two, sure, but nothing overt. Maybe he was being naive. Or... maybe it was okay to be himself. To be honest.

Just this once.

⠀⠀⠀A firm handshake followed. Not firm enough to be threatening, nor a ply for domination. Just a respectful handshake, like two warriors who were about to fight. A small smile crept across the hedgehog's lips.

⠀⠀⠀"The world is full of ugly truths, Eclipse," he responded, the tiniest hint of warmth now accompanying his words.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

⠀⠀⠀"No sense hiding away from them, is there? Life should be lived to its fullest, warts and all." The hedgehog turned away once more, gazing out to the view in front of the pair.

⠀⠀⠀"After all... We can't enjoy the good times without the bad ones." ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

"I couldn't agree more," Eclipse sighed, his barbed tail gently swishing across the grass.

Malachite possessed a wisdom to rival that of a Lesser Mind. But more than that, his calm demeanor, his bold words, they created an air of authority the Deathling had only seen in Black Light. He lacked the words to voice it aloud or the means to project the impression to Malachite's thoughts. So instead, Eclipse followed the hedgehog's gaze to the landscape before them, letting the silence grow, enjoying the peace and life surrounding the two misfits.

The peace lasted undisturbed for a few minutes before an itch skittered across his mind. Black Light was sensing him, feeling his location. She was not so close to worry about being caught without his disguise, but the sensation was reminder enough that this moment couldn't last forever.

Humming quietly, the alien looked across to his new companion and smiled anew, "I'd like to continue seeing you, Malachite. Do you have a communicator?"

The outskirts of Westopolis, while far less populated than the rest of the city, still bustle around full of life. Citizens, along with tourists and those simply passing through, walk the streets. The majority of the population here consists of humans, as it is a human-dominant city, though plenty of Mobians can be seen as well.

Life on the planet has been relatively peaceful these past few weeks. Eggman has been quiet after his last defeat as he recovers and plans something new. This city in specific didn't require any recovery time as it fortunately had not been the target this time, allowing its people a somewhat normal, average life for once.

That peace ripples momentarily as a blur of blue zips onto the streets. Anywhere else, this might have been a cause for concern. A potential threat, but within the past decade, this has become a strange normal of its own. Some stop to watch it pass, others pay it little to no mind, even as the wind it brings ruffles them.

The blur weaves between groups of people, buildings, and even cars seamlessly. A grin spreads across a peach-furred muzzle as his feet carry him through the outskirts. Nothing like a good run through a city every once in awhile. He had been passing by so he might as well come through. It's been a bit since he's last been here, after all.

He turns one last corner before skidding to a stop, his shoes protesting against the sudden halt. The area he came upon is one he often likes to visit when he's in Westopolis. A nicely kept square, out of the way from the far more popular ones further in. There's some good, locally owned stores and restaurants here, but his favorite part of it is the park.

The park itself isn't big, by any means, but it's full of various flowers you may only catch outside the city or in small patches in front of houses and buildings. They're well taken care of too.

Sonic approaches the park while greeting passerby, now walking rather than sprinting (or, well, his version of sprinting). Normally, this place would give him a sense of calm. Something to allow him to settle and relax for a few hours, but instead, he pauses.

His ear flicks. Something feels...off today. He can't quite place what it is. His brow furrows and he looks around. Nothing seems or looks off. He scoffs at himself.

❛❛ Relax, ❜❜ He murmurs, ❛❛ nothing big is going on today. No Eggman, no released deity, nothing. We're good. ❜❜ Though, despite himself, he keeps an eye—and ear—out anyway.

Ample humans meant Black Light had no trouble blending in. Her floating chair did draw attention, but never anything more than curious glances. Eclipse had taken to the city in no time, easily mingling with locals and tourists alike. This often kept him out for long hours with his new "friends". As for Shadow...

He was meant to socialize like his brother, but the underling was built for combat, not conversation. The thought of smiling and making nice with lower lifeforms make his skin crawl. And so, rather than mingle, Shadow positioned himself on the sidelines. The rooftops became his hunting grounds, safely navigating the city hidden from prying eyes. Scanning, tracking, waiting.

Sharp red eyes surveyed the streets from above. His ears flicked at the approaching footsteps. Fast. Too fast. Shadow spotted the blue streak weaving between the crowded streets and gave chase, mimicking every turn as they both rocketed through the city.

With the grinding halt of sneakers on asphalt, Shadow likewise came to a stop at the edge of a roof. Sonic the Hedgehog, the world's greatest hero. Mobians gawked and waved, pleasantly surprised by the blue blur's arrival. The Doomling could only scowl.

Their covers must have been blown. Why else would the hero of Mobius himself visit the city but to sniff out the alien intruders? They would need to regroup and move before this hedgehog became a problem.

Or... maybe he could use this surprise visit to their advantage. A chance to observe their biggest obstacle was too tempting to pass up.

For the first few, he forced himself to relax, or at the very least, seem relaxed. He couldn't cause concern in public when there didn't look to be anything to be concerned about. Last thing he needs is accidently creating panic as normally him showing any sort of edge would mean something is going on. One moment, it'll be a nice day for the people here and the next, they'll be scattering and looking around in panic for whatever the threat may be. That's completely ignoring the fact G.U.N. would want to investigate.

He bristled. G.U.N. Oh, how he dislikes them. They've caused him enough trouble in the past. He certainly doesn't need them on his tail about "disrupting the peace" again.

Pushing them to the back of his mind, he focuses on the greenery instead. They're nearing the end of spring so most, if not all, of the flowers have already bloomed. The grass was greener than it would be in the summer thanks to the usual spring showers. The trees were full of leaves, having recovered from shedding them last fall. A decent distraction, but it is simply not enough.

As time passed, maybe a few minutes at most, he grew further on edge as if someone was watching. Following. Planning. His hand twitches. Something is definitely up...

No longer resisting the urge, he swiveled his head around, ears standing tall in alert. Finally, his attention snaps to a particular figure that he hadn't fully noticed before now. Their movements and behavior looked off, not even mentioning the fact they looked to have been getting closer to him over time.

Alarm bells rung loud in his head. This individual has to be the one putting him on edge. He's not quite sure why, but it's enough reason for him to be weary. Despite it, he keeps his quills flat rather than allowing them to bristle like they itch to do.

A smile crosses his face and, maybe a bit recklessly, he decides to approach them, closing the gap that had been inching closer without his prior knowledge. He walks as though simply passing by before stopping a few feet off.

❛❛ The park's pretty great around this time of year, huh? ❜❜ Sonic casually starts, similar to how he had greeted some citizens earlier, ❛❛ Say, I don't think I've seen you around here before. You new? ❜❜

Sonic is not one to be cautious like this, but most of those he's faced have been more upfront about being trouble. This newcomer, on the other hand? Creeping around and setting off every single one of his "something bad is about to happen" tingles.

He could also be completely wrong and be bothering some random innocent person. Oh, will the governments love that if they hear about it. He'll just have to tell them "better safe than sorry" and move on with his day. And maybe think about hiring a lawyer.

The hero was alert, that much was clear. The little twitches, the hidden flexing of quills, invisible unless you know how to look for it. And it was impressive how casual the hedgehog managed to appear despite the tension held just under the surface. Honestly, he hated to admit it, but Shadow envied the blue blur. The Doomling existed for aggression and domination. It lived in every inch of him. Every drop of blood. Relaxation was more than a luxury. It was abstract. A thought experiment for those that could afford to waste time doing nothing. What would it be like? How would it feel to-

Sonic's head turned, ears perked, and Shadow swiftly snapped his head down to stare at a patch of purple and red petals. He'd been so caught up in his thoughts, the Doomling had almost been caught staring. Admonishing himself for losing focus, Shadow turned sideways and watched his target from his peripherals.

He was too close to just turn and walk away without drawing attention. Likewise, he couldn't be certain continuing to walk past the hero would be safe either. It was too public to spread his wings or take off running. Mind racing, the Doomling peeled his eyes away from his target to assess his options.

Another lapse in judgement, and this one was costly. He had no time to retreat before the hedgehog walked up and addressed him directly. Caught off-guard, the alien growled, "No. I mean- yes. I-"

He needed to get himself under control. This mission would not fail because a Mobian surprised him with small talk. Swallowing his frustration, Shadow started again, "I am new. Moved into the city last week. So, no, you likely wouldn't have seen me before."

His eyes flickered to the side, seeking an exit or distraction. The link he shared with his kin was strained across the city, allowing little more than impressions to be sent across. He could send a distress call, but not yet. No, he could handle this. He was of Black Doom's blood, the first Ultimate Lifeform. He switched tactics.

Sonic blinks as if slightly surprised by the growled response. He shouldn't be too taken off guard, he was already suspecting this person to be a threat, but to say he wasn't expecting a far more calculated response would be a lie. Yeesh, this person is not at all what he typically expects out of someone who could be trouble.

He couldn't hold himself back from grinning at the other's obvious stumble. He'll give him the benefit of the doubt for now, acting as though the previous slip hadn't happened.

❛❛ I figured about as much. I might not know everyone, but I've seen most people from this area at least once or twice. ❜❜ He's not exactly lying, he does recognize most of the people here. Many are locals and those who aren't he's sure he's maybe seen in passing before. Or maybe he's simply imagining that he's seen them before. Kinda hard to keep track when you're speeding around at several hundred miles per hour on average.

Sonic's gaze flicked across the newcomer at the sudden change in demeanor. Huh. Didn't entirely expect that.

He chuckles in response after he listens to what he has to say. His arms come back, resting behind his own head. If he's gonna pull a move like that, Sonic might as well pull a move of his own to keep the conversation from quickly spiraling into a fight, ❛❛ It's all good. I'm pretty used to it at this point. ❜❜

Seriously, can a hero go a day without stares? Nah, not really. He's learned that the hard way. The more you do, the more people stare. Doesn't matter if your deeds are good or bad, or even somewhere in between. You're always going to have eyes on you. The first few years, he both reveled in it and hated it. Soaking it in when he wanted and then taking off when it became too much. Now? He doesn't care for it.

Err, that is until G.U.N. comes into play. Yes, he will continue to complain about them.

He pulled himself out of his thoughts. Right, he's got to poke around a bit, see if he can figure if he's truly bugging a regular citizen or not, ❛❛ Anyhow, what brings you to Westopolis of all places? Job opportunity? ❜❜

He winces internally. He is not good at this. By now, he'd be running off to do his own thing, but he's got the feeling he may not be left alone right off the bat if he does. Again, if he's not just having a really weird day thinking random people are threats.

The hedgehog hadn't backed off as much as Shadow had hoped by playing the faun but backtracking now would only raise suspicion. Maybe the hero hadn't yet seen through the disguise, but he was looking closely for the seams. Shadow needed something to repel his scrutiny.

An idea came to him, inspired by advice Black Light had gifted him during his training aboard the Black Arc: The best lies are built out of truth.

"No, and I don't intend to find work here. I'm nomadic. I have been since my-... ahem, my father almost killed me. "

It felt like swallowing acid to admit something, however vague, so vulnerable. Some body language could be faked but the most reliable kind would always be a natural reaction. Shoulders tensed, eyes averted. Let the hero look, all he should find was grief and shame.

In all honesty, Shadow didn't truly consider the Professor to be a father-figure. Of course, it was his original design that had inspired Shadow's creation in the first place. Creator was perhaps more fitting. Or architect. But to Shadow, he would always be traitor.

The human had attempted to murder the Doomling in cold blood. Beaten bloody while still in incubation. A coward's strategy, a disgustingly shameful choice in Shadow's opinion. And worst of all, it had almost worked. The Ultimate Lifeform nearly fell to the weakened hands of an old man before taking his first breath. It spit in the face of everything he was created for, and he seethed just remembering it.

Sonic looks on in surprise. Out of everything he was expecting him to say, that was amongst the last. Seriously, how many times do you hear someone openly admitting to you that their father almost killed them the first time the two of you talk? Crazy first (and probably last) conversation, he'll say that much.

❛❛ Uh, Chaos, I'm sorry to hear about that, ❜❜ He replies a bit awkwardly cause how are you supposed to respond to that? ❛❛ I can get that, though. Not the father almost killing you part but the nomadic part. ❜❜

His arms dropped back down to his sides, unsure on what to do. Now he felt a bit...bad? It's become painfully obvious to him that the other has been struggling with the whole thing. A massive part of him itched to take off, but that'd be a bit rude when such a thing was admitted to him.

Okay, time to swerve the conversation elsewhere. He could easily start talking about life as a wanderer as that looks like something they have in common. Just to settle the topic and slide into a less awkward goodbye. At this point, he's beginning to piece together that he might have just been picking on some innocent nomad.

He can hope at least. Please don't let this person be someone with ill intentions because he was REALLY hoping for a somewhat peaceful week. Just one week, pretty please. Unless this person decides to report him or something. After this week? Yeah, sure, whatever.

❛❛ Hoping you're liking the traveling so far. Lots of great places to explore. Westopolis isn't exactly anywhere near my top ten, but it pretty nice here! That is when it's not under attack, y'know? Hard to enjoy a place when you're busy fighting. ❜❜ He rambled mindlessly. If there is something he's good at, it's running his mouth.

❛❛ Guess I should be glad that won't be happening today. Fingers crossed. ❜❜ At that, he crosses his fingers. He doesn't think Eggman will pop up anytime soon, but you never know with that guy. He pops up when he wants to, Sonic's learned.

❛❛ Anyhow, this your first stop or have you been anywhere else yet? ❜❜ Sonic questions to keep it going. He can't run off with a goodbye just yet. May look a tad suspicious. Can't be having that, can we?

The Doomling nodded along to the apology, smoothing his quills back to quell the lingering feelings that plagued him from his admission. "I have been enjoying it. And Westopolis has been welcoming. No... attacks so far." He refrained from asking about the nature of these attacks. If Sonic was involved, then surely there was a log of news articles the Doomling could use to gather more intel. Though he can't help but wonder if that second comment was a hidden threat. Perhaps his admission hadn't entirely dispelled all suspicions.

Especially since this blasted hedgehog just seemed full of endless questions. Shadow had never realized just how exhausting it was to actively speak aloud to another. Or maybe this hedgehog was especially tiresome.

Shaking his head, Shadow answered, "Yes, this is my first stop. I was..." Looking around, his eyes landed on the restaurants behind them down the path, "Coming to eat. I haven't had the food here yet."

Another half-truth. Maybe he hadn't arrived here specifically to eat, but Shadow hadn't yet eaten anything that day. Now that he mentioned it, his stomach clenched in that empty pain that accompanies hunger.

It was a familiar feeling. With food so scarce aboard the Comet, that pang had nearly become a part of him. Here on the planet though, surrounded by fresh meals and new flavors, it had gotten stronger. More insistent. The smell of spices and bread became far more distracting. Stars, how was it making him hungrier?

"Well, ma'am. It's a precious resource here. Not impossible to find, just... never really in the amount we'd all like."

It's not a completely cynical dismissal of Black Light's observation. But it is a realist's sympathy for a very, very tired people living in a concrete jungle. Cities weren't so bad, it was more like what priorities were placed upon them. Made the already difficult task of carrying on through life much harder.

She was fortunate, in comparison. Her comet breathed and hummed, a living beast to shelter her. Comfort her. Take the burden of living when she grew weary. Iron and concrete had no such heartbeat within them. It could only hold what was already present. What would they do when the well ran dry?

The outskirts of Westopolis, while far less populated than the rest of the city, still bustle around full of life. Citizens, along with tourists and those simply passing through, walk the streets. The majority of the population here consists of humans, as it is a human-dominant city, though plenty of Mobians can be seen as well.

Life on the planet has been relatively peaceful these past few weeks. Eggman has been quiet after his last defeat as he recovers and plans something new. This city in specific didn't require any recovery time as it fortunately had not been the target this time, allowing its people a somewhat normal, average life for once.

That peace ripples momentarily as a blur of blue zips onto the streets. Anywhere else, this might have been a cause for concern. A potential threat, but within the past decade, this has become a strange normal of its own. Some stop to watch it pass, others pay it little to no mind, even as the wind it brings ruffles them.

The blur weaves between groups of people, buildings, and even cars seamlessly. A grin spreads across a peach-furred muzzle as his feet carry him through the outskirts. Nothing like a good run through a city every once in awhile. He had been passing by so he might as well come through. It's been a bit since he's last been here, after all.

He turns one last corner before skidding to a stop, his shoes protesting against the sudden halt. The area he came upon is one he often likes to visit when he's in Westopolis. A nicely kept square, out of the way from the far more popular ones further in. There's some good, locally owned stores and restaurants here, but his favorite part of it is the park.

The park itself isn't big, by any means, but it's full of various flowers you may only catch outside the city or in small patches in front of houses and buildings. They're well taken care of too.

Sonic approaches the park while greeting passerby, now walking rather than sprinting (or, well, his version of sprinting). Normally, this place would give him a sense of calm. Something to allow him to settle and relax for a few hours, but instead, he pauses.

His ear flicks. Something feels...off today. He can't quite place what it is. His brow furrows and he looks around. Nothing seems or looks off. He scoffs at himself.

❛❛ Relax, ❜❜ He murmurs, ❛❛ nothing big is going on today. No Eggman, no released deity, nothing. We're good. ❜❜ Though, despite himself, he keeps an eye—and ear—out anyway.

Ample humans meant Black Light had no trouble blending in. Her floating chair did draw attention, but never anything more than curious glances. Eclipse had taken to the city in no time, easily mingling with locals and tourists alike. This often kept him out for long hours with his new "friends". As for Shadow...

He was meant to socialize like his brother, but the underling was built for combat, not conversation. The thought of smiling and making nice with lower lifeforms make his skin crawl. And so, rather than mingle, Shadow positioned himself on the sidelines. The rooftops became his hunting grounds, safely navigating the city hidden from prying eyes. Scanning, tracking, waiting.

Sharp red eyes surveyed the streets from above. His ears flicked at the approaching footsteps. Fast. Too fast. Shadow spotted the blue streak weaving between the crowded streets and gave chase, mimicking every turn as they both rocketed through the city.

With the grinding halt of sneakers on asphalt, Shadow likewise came to a stop at the edge of a roof. Sonic the Hedgehog, the world's greatest hero. Mobians gawked and waved, pleasantly surprised by the blue blur's arrival. The Doomling could only scowl.

Their covers must have been blown. Why else would the hero of Mobius himself visit the city but to sniff out the alien intruders? They would need to regroup and move before this hedgehog became a problem.

Or... maybe he could use this surprise visit to their advantage. A chance to observe their biggest obstacle was too tempting to pass up.

For the first few, he forced himself to relax, or at the very least, seem relaxed. He couldn't cause concern in public when there didn't look to be anything to be concerned about. Last thing he needs is accidently creating panic as normally him showing any sort of edge would mean something is going on. One moment, it'll be a nice day for the people here and the next, they'll be scattering and looking around in panic for whatever the threat may be. That's completely ignoring the fact G.U.N. would want to investigate.

He bristled. G.U.N. Oh, how he dislikes them. They've caused him enough trouble in the past. He certainly doesn't need them on his tail about "disrupting the peace" again.

Pushing them to the back of his mind, he focuses on the greenery instead. They're nearing the end of spring so most, if not all, of the flowers have already bloomed. The grass was greener than it would be in the summer thanks to the usual spring showers. The trees were full of leaves, having recovered from shedding them last fall. A decent distraction, but it is simply not enough.

As time passed, maybe a few minutes at most, he grew further on edge as if someone was watching. Following. Planning. His hand twitches. Something is definitely up...

No longer resisting the urge, he swiveled his head around, ears standing tall in alert. Finally, his attention snaps to a particular figure that he hadn't fully noticed before now. Their movements and behavior looked off, not even mentioning the fact they looked to have been getting closer to him over time.

Alarm bells rung loud in his head. This individual has to be the one putting him on edge. He's not quite sure why, but it's enough reason for him to be weary. Despite it, he keeps his quills flat rather than allowing them to bristle like they itch to do.

A smile crosses his face and, maybe a bit recklessly, he decides to approach them, closing the gap that had been inching closer without his prior knowledge. He walks as though simply passing by before stopping a few feet off.

❛❛ The park's pretty great around this time of year, huh? ❜❜ Sonic casually starts, similar to how he had greeted some citizens earlier, ❛❛ Say, I don't think I've seen you around here before. You new? ❜❜

Sonic is not one to be cautious like this, but most of those he's faced have been more upfront about being trouble. This newcomer, on the other hand? Creeping around and setting off every single one of his "something bad is about to happen" tingles.

He could also be completely wrong and be bothering some random innocent person. Oh, will the governments love that if they hear about it. He'll just have to tell them "better safe than sorry" and move on with his day. And maybe think about hiring a lawyer.

The hero was alert, that much was clear. The little twitches, the hidden flexing of quills, invisible unless you know how to look for it. And it was impressive how casual the hedgehog managed to appear despite the tension held just under the surface. Honestly, he hated to admit it, but Shadow envied the blue blur. The Doomling existed for aggression and domination. It lived in every inch of him. Every drop of blood. Relaxation was more than a luxury. It was abstract. A thought experiment for those that could afford to waste time doing nothing. What would it be like? How would it feel to-

Sonic's head turned, ears perked, and Shadow swiftly snapped his head down to stare at a patch of purple and red petals. He'd been so caught up in his thoughts, the Doomling had almost been caught staring. Admonishing himself for losing focus, Shadow turned sideways and watched his target from his peripherals.

He was too close to just turn and walk away without drawing attention. Likewise, he couldn't be certain continuing to walk past the hero would be safe either. It was too public to spread his wings or take off running. Mind racing, the Doomling peeled his eyes away from his target to assess his options.

Another lapse in judgement, and this one was costly. He had no time to retreat before the hedgehog walked up and addressed him directly. Caught off-guard, the alien growled, "No. I mean- yes. I-"

He needed to get himself under control. This mission would not fail because a Mobian surprised him with small talk. Swallowing his frustration, Shadow started again, "I am new. Moved into the city last week. So, no, you likely wouldn't have seen me before."

His eyes flickered to the side, seeking an exit or distraction. The link he shared with his kin was strained across the city, allowing little more than impressions to be sent across. He could send a distress call, but not yet. No, he could handle this. He was of Black Doom's blood, the first Ultimate Lifeform. He switched tactics.

Sonic blinks as if slightly surprised by the growled response. He shouldn't be too taken off guard, he was already suspecting this person to be a threat, but to say he wasn't expecting a far more calculated response would be a lie. Yeesh, this person is not at all what he typically expects out of someone who could be trouble.

He couldn't hold himself back from grinning at the other's obvious stumble. He'll give him the benefit of the doubt for now, acting as though the previous slip hadn't happened.

❛❛ I figured about as much. I might not know everyone, but I've seen most people from this area at least once or twice. ❜❜ He's not exactly lying, he does recognize most of the people here. Many are locals and those who aren't he's sure he's maybe seen in passing before. Or maybe he's simply imagining that he's seen them before. Kinda hard to keep track when you're speeding around at several hundred miles per hour on average.

Sonic's gaze flicked across the newcomer at the sudden change in demeanor. Huh. Didn't entirely expect that.

He chuckles in response after he listens to what he has to say. His arms come back, resting behind his own head. If he's gonna pull a move like that, Sonic might as well pull a move of his own to keep the conversation from quickly spiraling into a fight, ❛❛ It's all good. I'm pretty used to it at this point. ❜❜

Seriously, can a hero go a day without stares? Nah, not really. He's learned that the hard way. The more you do, the more people stare. Doesn't matter if your deeds are good or bad, or even somewhere in between. You're always going to have eyes on you. The first few years, he both reveled in it and hated it. Soaking it in when he wanted and then taking off when it became too much. Now? He doesn't care for it.

Err, that is until G.U.N. comes into play. Yes, he will continue to complain about them.

He pulled himself out of his thoughts. Right, he's got to poke around a bit, see if he can figure if he's truly bugging a regular citizen or not, ❛❛ Anyhow, what brings you to Westopolis of all places? Job opportunity? ❜❜

He winces internally. He is not good at this. By now, he'd be running off to do his own thing, but he's got the feeling he may not be left alone right off the bat if he does. Again, if he's not just having a really weird day thinking random people are threats.

The hedgehog hadn't backed off as much as Shadow had hoped by playing the faun but backtracking now would only raise suspicion. Maybe the hero hadn't yet seen through the disguise, but he was looking closely for the seams. Shadow needed something to repel his scrutiny.

An idea came to him, inspired by advice Black Light had gifted him during his training aboard the Black Arc: The best lies are built out of truth.

"No, and I don't intend to find work here. I'm nomadic. I have been since my-... ahem, my father almost killed me. "

It felt like swallowing acid to admit something, however vague, so vulnerable. Some body language could be faked but the most reliable kind would always be a natural reaction. Shoulders tensed, eyes averted. Let the hero look, all he should find was grief and shame.

In all honesty, Shadow didn't truly consider the Professor to be a father-figure. Of course, it was his original design that had inspired Shadow's creation in the first place. Creator was perhaps more fitting. Or architect. But to Shadow, he would always be traitor.

The human had attempted to murder the Doomling in cold blood. Beaten bloody while still in incubation. A coward's strategy, a disgustingly shameful choice in Shadow's opinion. And worst of all, it had almost worked. The Ultimate Lifeform nearly fell to the weakened hands of an old man before taking his first breath. It spit in the face of everything he was created for, and he seethed just remembering it.

Send asks, like aesthetics, engage with starter calls, fill out polls, write opens, post dash commentary, reblog promos! It’s so easy to let anxiety and the fear of “bothering” someone stop you from interacting, but all that does is make people feel invisible.