[action] backdated to Christmas...

[espio]

Of all the things...

[Espio isn't currently within the Garden. Nope. He's standing outside, in human form to protect himself from the relatively mild cold, up to his knees in snow and staring at a thing. A big thing. A really big thing, ie one that can easily be seen from... Well, just about anywhere in the vicinity, given that it's both giant and purple.

Mysteriously plonked in the snow is a whopping great big airship. Like so.]

I'd rather have my own Ragnarok, but I guess that'll do...

Comments

[redcinemareel]

[Grell comes about, wanting to see what this large contraption is. Does it belong to Espio...?]

All I got was a lousy hat! [Although the hat came from Madam Red, it pales in comparison to that ship.]

[espio]

[Grell... Where did you pop up from? WHY ARE YOU THE FIRST ONE HERE?! And... Yeah, okay, that assumption about it being Espio's was correct, but... Too distracted by SHIP to connect it with HAT.]

Sorry, what?

[redcinemareel]

[Grell is ALWAYS there, Espio. Making your life nothing but suffering. She points to her new hat in disdain.]

[espio]

What about it?

[fierybluebird]

So is this from home?

[espio]

Where did you come from?

[Shrugs, and looks back up to the ship, partly to hide the grin.]

Yeah, that's my - well, Chaotix's airship. It can't rival the Ragnarok, but that doesn't mean it's no good!

[fierybluebird]

Well you see, when a man and a chicken love each other very much...

[Yeah, no, just ignore that deadpan quip.]

Eh, what makes the Ragnarok better?

[espio]

Aside from having an incredible design, you mean?

It's faster, has considerably greater maneuverability, more fuel efficient, is capable of space travel - that is, vacuum-space rather than Special Zone space - and is equipped with a particle cannon and secondary weapons, whereas this is unarmed.

[fierybluebird]

Right... you've mentioned the space thing before. [The rest was just "blah blah ship stuff blah blah," to Marco.] And weapons maybe.

What would you even use canons for here?

[redcinemareel]

It's not as extravagant as an airship! [She wants one!]

[espio]

...you can't even fly an airship.

[espio]

Blowing stuff up. Getting into the Lunatic Pandora. Fighting particularly oversized monsters when punching would only break a claw. There aren't many applications, but at least it's flashy.

[redcinemareel]

It doesn't mean I can't appreciate one! [Grell looks up at the ship.] How advanced is the technology on this?

[corruptedsouls]

[...Whoa.]

That's... really big.

[espio]

It's pretty high-tech. I mean, the Ragnarok easily outclasses it for speed and style, but the Ragnarok remains the most advanced airship on this planet.

[espio]

[THANK YOU TOBY, for that wonderful observation!]

No. You think?

[corruptedsouls]

What is it?

[espio]

It's an airship.

Specifically my airship. Well... Chaotix's, anyway, but I end up flying it a lot.

[corruptedsouls]

Wow! You have an airship?

[He looks all amazed.]

That's cool!

[espio]

Not so cool is the fact last time I saw it, it was covered in robot spiders, and then it crashed.

[But still...]

It's a little bit of home, though. And it's useful! Even if the Ragnarok does completely outclass it!

[corruptedsouls]

But it's yours, so it's still better! Right?

And home's always good.

[...Huh? He's holding some sort of doll in his arms.]

[espio]

I dunno...

[Quite frankly, Toby, the Ragnarok is your rival for all of Espio's love.]

What have you got there?

[corruptedsouls]

A Ninetales doll! It was one of my Christmas presents and I got a lot like it.

[Yeah, but can the Ragnarok be adorable as all get out?]

[espio]

[IT COULD BE with the correct artist! ...although it isn't warm and cuddly and alive.]

Ah, that reminds me, I got you a present. I'll give it to you at dinner, okay?

[corruptedsouls]

[EXACTLY.

Tobias' eyes light up.]

Okay! I'll give you yours, then, too!

[espio]

Okay!

Wanna go check out the ship?

[corruptedsouls]

You bet!

[espio]

[With a grin, Espio enters in a passcode, and the two enter the airship, but as they walk to the bridge Espio seems to have gone strangely quiet, slouching a little.]

[corruptedsouls]

[And despite the SQUEE AIRSHIP mentality, Tobias notices this.]

Espio? What's wrong?

[espio]

Ah. I was just remembering something.

[As they walk past a door, Espio stops and lays a hand on it.]

My last memories of home were on this ship.

[corruptedsouls]

Oh...

[He falls quiet, then.]

[espio]

[Shakes his head and starts back off to the bridge.]

I'm fine. Let's keep going.

[corruptedsouls]

Are you sure? I can go back...

[espio]

Hey, I'm the one who asked you on board! Don't feel like you have to go. The bridge is just this way - we can sit down for a bit. I... probably won't fly it just yet though.

[corruptedsouls]

Okay.

[...You can tell he's resisting the urge to run off and poke into EVERYTHING.]

[espio]

[Espio, for his part, is checking out any room they walk past. Just in case, you know, they have some unwanted guests. In the form of robot spiders. It doesn't seem like Time Compression brought them along, though, which is a relief.

Finally, they reach the bridge, where they can see outside to the snow.]

It's cold in here!

[redcinemareel]

Care to show me, then? I've never had the chance to see the Ragnarok system, since I'm no pilot.

[As he pointed out.]

[fierybluebird]

Why fight monsters with a ship if you can do it with kicks? It's more fun claws on.

So how fast is this one again?

[corruptedsouls]

It's winter!

[...Did he... is trying to tease you?]