Reflecting and Thankful?

[neutralchaotic]

[Laying back on a sunny patch of grass, looking up at the sky. He chose this area because it was quiet. The quad is too noisy for quiet reflection.]

The Time Compression has a sick sense of humor...

[Looks over to a few flowers swaying in the wind, thinking back on her death. Yes, definitely grateful she's alive. She can see the world he's trying to protect.]

Comments

[heartcorrupt.livejournal.com]

[And who happens to be passing by but Tobias himself? He stops at hearing Shadow speak, peering curiously and somewhat fearfully at the hedgehog from behind a tree.

He trusts Espio, for sure, but still, Shadow doesn't seem like what he insists....]

[neutralchaotic]

[Sighs and looks up at the sky again. Something didn't feel right to him. Sits up abruptly, looking about.]

...who's there?

[heartcorrupt.livejournal.com]

[ACK SPOTTED.

...it's not exactly hard to see the boy behind the tree, especially since he hasn't been thin enough for this sort of stealth in a while.]

[neutralchaotic]

[Spots the boy, noticing it's Espio's friend from before.]

Why are you spying on me? Afraid I'll kill everyone here, too? [Sarcasm, he knows it.]

[heartcorrupt.livejournal.com]

[There's a bit of a pause there.]

...I don't know. Espio says you did, but back home, a lot of people said that I was an evil monster that killed people for fun too. It wasn't true for me, so I don't want to believe that about you without knowing for sure either.

[neutralchaotic]

[Looks over the youth, as his story seems farfetched. But he knows better than to underestimate people.

Goes back to his sky watching.] Believe what you want. I'm not from the same continuum as Espio, though.

[heartcorrupt.livejournal.com]

You don't have the feel of an evil person either.

[neutralchaotic]

[...what?]

...then how do I feel?

[heartcorrupt.livejournal.com]

....Kind of like Silver.

I don't really know what to think of you.

[dreamsofworlds.livejournal.com]

Shadow!

[And here's the young woman in question, running over with flowers in her hair and --

-- oh shit, that looks like a you-sized crown, Shadow.]

It's so beautiful out here!

[neutralchaotic]

[Faintly smiles at her presence.

...oh, he sees that little crown. He'll hope in vain, again, that it's not for him.

Mentally, he disagrees. The scenery only appears that way because of her. Far too reserved to state that aloud, and will just nod.]

Thought a change of scenery was needed.

[dreamsofworlds.livejournal.com]

[She settles easily beside him, still absolutely beaming. His hopes are dashed as Maria attempts to fit the crown on his head.]

I love it. I still can't get used to seeing so many flowers!

[neutralchaotic]

[Ducks the crown by moving his head to the other side a bit.]

ARK certainly did lack flowers.

[dreamsofworlds.livejournal.com]

[She looks slightly disappointed, but places the crown on her lap and leaves him be.]

And grass, wind.... sun.... it still feels strange, but in a wonderful way.

[neutralchaotic]

[Not in public, anyway. He'd gladly wear it if it was just them. In closed quarters. With no windows.]

The Garden may not be what you'd think it would look like from it's name, but it has a lot more than what you're used to. So does the surrounding city.

[Pauses, looking to the flowers she arranged. Their crowns matched.]

Have you traveled around much yet?

[dreamsofworlds.livejournal.com]

No, not really. I've still got to be careful to take the medicine I need, and I've been feeling a little tired after my classes.

[She pauses, fixing the crown in her lap a bit.]

And I'd rather travel with you.

[neutralchaotic]

Maybe one day, when you're feeling up to it, I'll take you out to the city.

[Doesn't even realize he's sort of asking her out on a date. Doubtful if he will realize it.]

And when this time compression business lets up.

[xpwnsporcupines.livejournal.com]

[ Keywords, Shadow. But yes, this youkai's apparently appeared out of nowhere, having been interrupted by her stroll upon hearing what he said. ]

It's a curious thing, time compression. Still haven't managed to figure it out no matter how far I've gone around this world and back.

[neutralchaotic]

[Looks over to the new voice and stands up, giving the instructor a proper salute.]

I doubt it will be figured out anytime soon. It's been happening for decades.

[xpwnsporcupines.livejournal.com]

[ She gives back a nod of her own. There are just some things you can't unlearn from being royalty no matter how long ago it's been, it seems. ]

Causes people to come and go, the distortion of reality itself, practically makes the universe haywire.

What are your thoughts on it, apart from it being a bitch?

[neutralchaotic]

[Smirks faintly. He always did like her.]

It bothered me very little before, but now that it has chosen me as a play toy, I'm starting to actually care.

[Crosses his arms in thought.] The imbalance, though, makes everyone one outside of Garden wary.

[xpwnsporcupines.livejournal.com]

[ Ah Shadow, how you remind her of someone back home. Black and spiky too. Just like him.

She glances off into the distance, seemingly distracted by the students racing by. ]

It's enough to make anyone wary, even myself, I have to admit. Though I have high hopes that perhaps some of our students will be able to find a solution to this problem.

[neutralchaotic]

Point taken. [Tries to catch where her gaze is, noting it's nowhere and anywhere.] A lot of them probably have places they want to be, so it will further drive them to solve the mystery.

[xpwnsporcupines.livejournal.com]

[ People watching makes for awesome hobbies, specially when your mind wants to remain focused. But she returns her gaze to Shadow, the faintest smile playing on her lips. ]

And you? Do you have somewhere you want to be?

Or have you, as they say, gone native after all this time?

[neutralchaotic]

Do I look like I've gone native? [He's...a HEDGEHOG.]

No, I have no place I want to be. It wouldn't matter if I was there or here. It's all the same in the end.

'Hunted down, wanted for dead. At least Maria is here. It's all that matters...'