ROLLING AROUND AT THE SPEED OF SOUND

[metaloverlord]

( catchall for some dumb hedgehogs
also seasons tdm link for reference! )

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[lovesadventure]

[Sonic's always had a pretty easy time rolling with the punches of life. As someone who lives for himself and those he considers his friends, it's always been pretty easy to adapt to new situations. Ending up in a strange world like this, one he's not familiar with at all? If anything, Sonic welcomes the change of pace; sure, it'll be a bit to adapt to, but he's always been a helpful guy. What's one more world to save, even if Sonic doesn't understand anything he's been told? He'll find it out along the way.

It's nice, honestly. Definitely better than dealing with Eggman's latest attempts at world domination.

Strangely enough, it's long after the hedgehog has settled down from partaking in some nice water balloon art projects that he's about to head home--he doesn't exactly have many regrets to burn, after all, and this seems more suited for someone like Knuckles or Shadow. But a familiar, metallic glint in the distance catches Sonic's attention and...

Huh. That sure is a lot of smoke. Sonic isn't exactly surprised that Metal's got a lot to burn through, but maybe this is his own way of getting it out of his system. Sonic should just leave well enough alone.

...But he's never been one to leave well enough alone, and this is interesting. Of course Sonic's going to walk on over, though he keeps at least a few paces away from Metal for a couple of reasons. No need to cut himself on those edges.]

Huh. Didn't take you for the kind of guy with this many regrets. Finally found a new way to have fun, Metal?

[metaloverlord]

[The routine of writing something down that he would very much like to rid himself of and then setting it ablaze would be comforting to a lesser being. Neo Metal Sonic is incapable of such feelings, of course, so this is merely something he's doing to better understand the locals and their traditions; after all, the best way to gather information is to study it all first-hand. If he's to be trapped in this world, then he will do what he can to make the most of his time here, and that starts by gathering data on everything he possibly can.

Neo is aware of someone approaching, but it isn't until that familiar, loathsome voice reaches his auditory processing that it really sinks in: Sonic the hedgehog is here.

He determined as much earlier today, of course; a conversation with someone had let it slip and Neo has had plenty of time to determine the best course of action. It was also during that conversation that he came across the only real snag to his usual plan of "beat that blue blur into an unrecognizable pulp" - death in this world is meaningless, and those who die merely return afterward.

So though his head snaps toward Sonic, it isn't immediately followed by Neo Metal Sonic charging him down. Instead, those red optics remain fixated on the doppelganger as he quickly processes his options.

Given that they are surrounded by civilians in a world that is not their own, throwing down would prove to be a monumentally stupid idea even if Sonic could be killed. There's no reason to turn half the population against him immediately when he needs to rely on others to get his bearings here. Likewise, fighting Sonic would only prove a hindrance - though he is far more powerful in this form, his speed suffers and that alone will give him a disadvantage against the hedgehog. Furthermore, he has no means of repairing himself, should Sonic manage to severely damage him, and relying on the kindness of strangers to fix him makes Neo want to cringe. Absolutely not.

So fighting is simply out of the question. The tension coursing through him preparing him like a spring about to snap slowly fades; the mental math not visible at all on Neo's face or in his words when he responds after a moment too long of glaring staring.]

I do not have "fun".

[...off to a fantastic start already, i see.]

[lovesadventure]

[Sonic blinks, briefly, when Metal doesn't immediately launch into a fight; it's about the only modicum of surprise that the metal doppelganger gets out of Sonic before the blue blur starts to laugh in earnest, the sound bright and unrestrained.]

You could've fooled me! Can't say you're making a show about being sad about all of this, and people don't just keep doing the same thing for no reason, you know?

[Seeing as he isn't getting his ass beaten, though, Sonic chances a few steps closer towards the fire with a piece of paper in one hand and a pencil in the other, whistling at the fire with idle attention, though he glances at Metal for a moment after.]

But alright, alright, I'll bite; what are you doing this for, huh?

[metaloverlord]

[Though he may not be the best at gaining information from organic sources, Neo Metal Sonic has quite the easy time interfacing with the technology. There are some organic lifeforms who respond decently well to his distant manner of engaging with this world as well, and between both sources, he's come up with quite the wealth of information.

Of course, some of this is better kept to himself. Information-gathering is first and foremost for his own benefit, and freely handing it to his enemy is a foolish move that he won't be making. Proving he's superior to Sonic is important, but not nearly as important as having the upper hand in the long run. If they're to be stuck here for some time, then he needs to keep his eyes on the future and not just their initial clash.

On the appointed day, at the appointed hour, Neo can be found in the appointed spot. It's a(n objectively) nice park with plenty of open space and several people milling about, though nothing that particularly stands out to Neo. It's still early on in the day, with plenty of time for Neo to get back to researching the history of this place and its inhabitants - particularly those brought in to "save the world". His studies have primarily been focused on the magic at play and the new powers manifesting, though he's been unable to draw a definitive conclusion on whether or not a robotic being will be able to utilize that magic or not.

It hardly matters if he cannot, after all. He's already far stronger than Sonic, and no amount of magic will change that.

...Speaking of. Where is that blasted hedgehog?]

[lovesadventure]

[Sonic's not the greatest with technology; that much is a fact. Sonic's always left that much to Tails to explain and translate into terms that Sonic could understand properly, but it turns out that being a laidback guy who's willing to help others out has it's perks. People are typically pretty open to being chatty with the guy who's helping out with their little side quests and chores, after all; it gives Sonic something to do while he continues to play the game he and Metal set up.

It's a pretty neat deal, all things considered. He's honestly kind of excited to share his findings with Metal; he hasn't exactly found anyone else he's familiar with here, and even if Sonic's able to make friends with just about anyone, it's been nice to have someone here who's willing to push him a bit. Keep him on his toes. It's a pleasant familiarity in an unfamiliar situation, and while Sonic is adaptable, he would've missed having something like this if Metal weren't here.

Sonic's at the park long before Metal, though he's only here for one reason at first; there's apparently some really good food here being served over at the other end of the park, and Sonic's a sucker for anything that can satisfy his appetite. Street vendor food has always had a way of being the best food, and while it seems like Sonic is initially fashionably late by the time he spots Metal in the distance, he winds up coming behind his Metal doppelganger with a grin on his face. And. Some crumbs from the sweet treat he's just about to polish off, don't judge--]

Hey, there you are! Kept you waiting, huh?

[metaloverlord]

[Neo turns when he hears familiar footsteps approaching, eyes immediately locking onto the crumbs that explain his doppelganger's lateness.]

You are three minutes and fifty-three seconds late. I was expecting you to keep me waiting for longer.

[Sheesh.]

You are prepared to share your findings, I take it?

[lovesadventure]

[It's been a long month since that quest, and Sonic's finally recovered to a point that he can actually walk around the town again. To everyone, he's back to his jovial self; why wouldn't he be? It's not like any of that mattered. Neo's decisions are his own to make at the end of the day, and yet, thinking about it for too long just makes Sonic wishywashy and not himself. So he elects to ignore it entirely. He's always let these kind of things go, what's one more? He doesn't need to think about it for too long. He doesn't need to acknowledge it, no matter how many of his friends ask about the weird metal hedgehog he totally doesn't know.

It's fine. Sonic's fine. He's always been able to go with the flow, and the only acknowledgement he even gave to Neo was seeing him and tossing his key at him at least a week back. Not even a word exchanged; it's like nothing ever happened, and Sonic didn't even acknowledge Neo in the slightest. It's not as if he has any shortage of friends, after all. Even if he doesn't really see any of them as a rival anymore; he pushes himself for his own sake now, and it's fine like this. There's quests to undertake, things to deal with at his own pace, and...

Today, one of those things is bunnies.

It started as one of those silly little bunnies that were around from the last month, and Sonic chuckled seeing one. They were still trying to get people to kiss and couple up, but while one's no problem--hell, Sonic even gives one a dandelion and pets it, one soon becomes two. Two becomes four. Four becomes...eight, and they're doing a damn good job of cornering Sonic...]

Heeey, hey, woah--easy guys, you're gonna have to let me pass you to get those dandelions, okay? I'm not exactly a kissy kinda guy, you guys probably want Amy, come on--

[He's utterly naive to the fate that awaits him. He's certainly not alone after all.]

[metaloverlord]

[There is no reason to pursue this further.

That's what Neo decided the moment he left his apartment, and that's the thought he keeps returning to every time his thoughts dare circle back to... well, any of that. It doesn't matter what Sonic decides to do in this world, because it doesn't matter. What matters is that they'll return home eventually and then they'll pick up as if this never happened at all. Neo will come up with a better plan and he will successfully kill Sonic, and that will be that.

Or he'll lose again and be repaired by Eggman, and maybe he won't remember any of this at all.

(And maybe that would be a mercy.)

So as the minutes became hours and hours became days, and those days became weeks, Neo has staunchly refused to consider any of it any further. There isn't a point to it. Why waste his time when he has so much still to learn about this place?

(Ah, but he never did tell Sonic about what he'd learned, did he? It doesn't really matter, but... it means he certainly lost that little competition of theirs. Not that it's really surprising. What's one more loss, anyway?)

He spends most of his time holed up around the familiar sounds of machinery, whether that's computers and the information they hold or the few mechanics in this place who might stand half a chance of repairing minor damage done to him, if necessary. Saying Neo's made friends, would be a stretch, but there are some organic lifeforms he doesn't exactly mind spending time around.

Though he gave them all a wide berth after Sonic suddenly appeared, tossed him his key, and vanished. He hadn't even properly had the time to check on the hedgehog's vitals - knowing Sonic, he likely hasn't been resting as he should be—

But what does it matter, anyway? Nothing Sonic does here matters. If he dies, then that's his own damn fault.

When he isn't spending all of his time working with machinery or studying, Neo spends his time on quests. Fighting is one of the things he is best at, after all, and occasionally he branches out into less physical quests, like this one. It was supposed to be an easy job of rounding up some of these fairy bunnies that have apparently been making a nuisance of themselves, but... well...

Neo might be in over his head.

He's gathered quite a large crowd of them and they've pursued him far enough into the city that he's managed to get himself cornered. Worse still, there's a very familiar voice nearby...

...Oh no. He can see where two and two is about to make four, and he wants absolutely no part in it.

Though he'd been purposefully avoiding bringing any harm to the creatures before now, Neo decides that playing nice is no longer an option. He shoots a laser from his core at the bunnies in the hopes that it'll get them to disperse so he can go back the way he came instead of letting them block him in down the alleyway toward where Sonic clearly is, but instead, the bunnies just take this as a personal insult. Neo is suddenly trapped in a magical forcefield - manifested by the very bunnies who followed him in here. No amount of claw slashes are getting him out of this one.]

[lovesadventure]

[There's an all too familiar sound of a laser attempting to fire off--it shouldn't be so familiar to Sonic. It could be literally anyone. But Sonic makes the frankly stupid decision to turn around when he hears it, and all he can do is take a page out of a friend(?)/rival(???)'s book.]

Damn--

[and now this post is pg13. shock and horror! a sonic character has said a swear word!

At any rate, though, Sonic sees where this is about to get stupid and he's about to dart off himself--unfortunately, he absolutely hasn't been taking care of himself as well as he probably should, and it winds up creating an opportune moment for the rabbits when Sonic tries to spindash out of dodge, hoping his speed will get him away before the rabbits can do anything--unfortunately, eight on one isn't exactly fair, and Sonic winds up coughing hard when he goes for it and one of the bunnies jumps at him, causing him to stumble back...

And. Into that very same barrier that Metal is currently housed, and no amount of hitting the barrier is actually helping. The bunnies watch them both like hawks, and Sonic gives up when he winds up coughing hard again, groaning like he's done absolutely nothing wrong ever in his life.

Great. Now he's stuck with the guy who he hasn't wanted to talk to in weeks. Metal's got his own life to lead, why should Sonic care? It's not like Sonic actually wanted to be friends. It's not like Sonic cared that much.

...]

...How'd you end up getting cornered by a bunch of rabbits, anyway?

[Sonic doesn't even turn to face Metal, just kind of resting his hand on the unbudging barrier and catching his breath. Give him a moment.]

[metaloverlord]

[Neo Metal Sonic is the perfect machine. He was created with the sole goal of killing Sonic the hedgehog. He has obtained information from a great variety of lifeforms including the one known as the Ultimate Lifeform and the being identified as Chaos. He is capable of a great many things, and even though he has not defeated Sonic yet, he undoubtedly will become strong enough to do so in the future.

So why, exactly, is Neo unable to keep his thoughts from circling back to that damn incident with that damn hedgehog?

Analyzing the data of that incident meant going back through all of his other records of interactions with the hedgehog, at first simply those in Ellipsa and then even further back, searching for some sort of explanation as to why any of that happened and why Neo was fine with it happening. Logically, he can understand that a kiss was the most effective way to break the barrier. Had he been stuck with anyone else, that would have been his suggestion. It doesn't have to mean anything.

But it's them. Sonic the hedgehog and his counterpart, Neo Metal Sonic. It can't simply be nothing. So then the question becomes: why didn't Neo stop Sonic?

Did he enjoy it?

And, the inevitable and even more terrifying follow-up question: does he like Sonic the hedgehog?

A kiss is not solely indicative of feelings. As previously established, the circumstances may have forced Sonic to act for his own freedom. It would be ridiculous to assume that the hedgehog harbors feelings for him, so that thought is immediately cast aside. The problem is Neo's own feelings on it. Which he doesn't have, of course.

And yet he keeps coming back to it. He doesn't have feelings. He didn't mind it. He doesn't have feelings. The proximity was acceptable. He doesn't have feelings. He wanted to keep Sonic there, just for a little longer. He doesn't have feelings.

So why is this so agitating?

The solution is the same as the one he came to before that incident: all of this will go away and everything will return to normal the moment they return home. So Neo Metal Sonic has decided that enough is enough; he's wasted far too much time on pointless frivolities when he should be focused on finding a way home. This world can rot for all he cares, it's his own that matters more.

And once he returns, things will go back to the way they should be, and he will never have to think about any of these pointless things ever again.

His first thought was technology. Of course it was, Neo is the pinnacle of technology. He's certainly not Eggman - he couldn't create from scratch anything like Eggman can. He can't even compete with Tails when it comes to that; the fox is clever and capable of moddifying Eggman's technology to alarming degrees. But Neo has an innate understanding of technology and even though much of what is on offer here differs from Eggman's, he can get it to work with only a little studying.

Creating a portal to return home was his first thought, and one he poured hundreds of hours into before eventually realizing the simple truth: it isn't possible. Not with his current knowledge and skillset. If he were a genius on par with Eggman, it likely would be trivial, but he simply isn't. Technology may be able to bend to his will, but that does not mean he can create. Finding a way to hop between dimensions is something Eggman hasn't even managed - otherwise Metal Sonic likely would have been deployed elsewhere to spread Eggman's conquest beyond the borders of their own world.

So the only other option is the one he had sorely hoped it wouldn't be: magic. Magic is unpredictable and unknowable in a way technology isn't; Neo does not have any natural advantage over it. In fact, it would seem he's at a disadvantage, given that he still hasn't been able to make use of any of his seasonal powers here. Admittedly, he's given up on his attempts quite early on to focus on things that are more immediately beneficial, but it goes to show that magic is something he simply cannot control like technology.

From what he's gathered, no one truly understands the magic that was used to bring them to this world. A stupid, infuriating, human thing to rely on unstable and unknowable forces to bend the world around them in a desperate bid to save themselves, which only makes his job harder. Neo has been hard at work gathering damn near every single tome on magic he can get his claws on within the city, reading through each and every single one in the hopes that something will stand out and enable them to return to their world.

The only other thing he does - aside from routine maintenance - is hunt. Marks are taken and dispatched of for coin, which is then spent on books to further this desperate bid to find a way back home. It will be worth it, though; every single hour he's used on this will be worth it. It has to be.

It's been a week since the incident. Neo has not sought out Sonic since. Why would he, when they have nothing to discuss?

Neo's apartment stands empty and abandoned; if Sonic swings by, he'll notice the place has only been emptied of Neo's spare parts with no other change to the place. Instead, he's taken up residence in one of the local workshops - he has no need to use one of their bedrooms, so he spends the majority of his time in the workshop itself, holed up with his books in the back corner where the familiar and comforting sound of machinery at work drones in the background.

It hasn't been all that long, but he's beginning to show wear. Though the dent in his arm was patched up, Neo can't quite get at all the spots that have been damaged - he's sporting some dents and even a missing screw in one of his back panels; the wiring there is also in need of some fine-tuning, but that's unfortunately in a spot where he can't reach on his own. He could ask for help, yes, but it isn't so drastic that it must be done right now. He has more important things to focus on. Getting home is a bigger priority.

The workshop isn't particularly hard to find. There aren't very many large ones, let alone ones where the workers can also stay on a permanent basis. Neo also stands out quite a bit - just asking around will point Sonic in the right direction eventually, and you'll find the workshop is empty today, save for Neo and his absolute mountain of carefully-maintained and chronicled books. He's seriously taking over this entire corner of the workshop, someone please stop him.]

[lovesadventure]

[Sonic keeps waiting for a knock at the door. He figures that Neo will need some time to himself, and if anything, Sonic needs time to himself to process all of this. For what little it's worth, he actually does take the time to rest to try and recover a little bit. Doctor Weissman isn't entirely pleased by the progress, but Sonic at least explains the situation a little bit and the doctor is willing to give him a little bit of grace in regards to his status. The healing magic is at least doing it's job of keeping him in order, and Sonic is at least resting himself some between doing some easier tasks to keep himself afloat...

But it's during the downtime that Sonic thinks about the kiss. Things about how hard Neo's grip was on him, how he didn't push him away. How he...enjoyed that, actually, despite the fact that it was just to get Neo to shut up and hopefully think about what Sonic was saying. He doesn't know if Neo actually even bothered, really, but Sonic's mind is surprisingly clear about all of this. He knows (thinks) he can't be a good boyfriend(?) to Neo--he's not willing to be tied down to one place, and he opposes Eggman. Even in the best case scenario of Neo taking him up on something that ridiculous, Sonic doesn't know the first thing about being a good boyfriend. He's rejected Amy for so long because he doesn't want to break her heart, among the many other reasons he's rejected her over and over again--he can't do that to Neo. He just can't.

But his mind still wanders to that day. To the whirring of Neo's machinery as they settled in close, to how much Sonic wanted that moment to last forever. To how much Sonic wanted to kiss Neo while he was warm instead of cold, and Sonic can't deny the fact that he honestly did enjoy this way more than he wanted to. It's something he can't have, but he enjoyed it. He genuinely did.

It's when a week passes and Neo hasn't shown up that Sonic takes matters into his own hands.

Those smaller, less straining jobs have been learning about technology--he's still not great at repairing items, but careful guidance has seen him able to do much better than he thought he'd be able to. He's been able to learn about how to repair stuff, and it is something he'd wanted to show Neo when he came by. That way he could take care of Neo a bit when he got injured next time they clashed, or they took on a job, or competed in something inane, but Sonic hasn't seen hide or hair of Neo at all, and he wants to find him.

Thankfully, the townspeople can easily point him in the right direction, and Sonic--carrying a set of tools with him, opens the door to the workshop without even a second thought, spotting Neo over in that corner and his bright voice all too clear.]

Neo! There you are--you got a way of making a guy worry a bit, you know!

[i'm sorry neo. you deserve better.]

[metaloverlord]

[Time passes in Ellipsa, and Neo finds it's far easier to adapt now that he has Sonic to look after. Or maybe it's the other way around. Regardless, someone needs to keep their shared space tidy and ensure they have a steady source of income, and Neo is nothing if not consistent in both. He takes on hunts regularly, only occasionally coming back with enough damage where Sonic needs to help him fix it. He knows better than to worry his rival too much, after all. Nothing else is allowed to take him out.

It would seem that the people are particularly excited about some sort of holiday and festival that happens around this time of year; it seems to have something to do with couples and romance?? So who cares. Certainly not Neo, who cannot feel a single thing, especially not anything like love. Though he does occasionally ask questions to better fill in his databanks about these feelings this whole song and dance is completely beyond him. He has no idea why so much time and effort is being spent on romantic feelings. Truly baffling.

But the festival is not only for lovers and supposedly has some attractions for families and friends as well. It's quite the big event, with numerous people volunteering to help out with the stalls and booths, as well as decorations and the fireworks display at the end of the night. Neo has only vaguely kept tabs on this as again, it doesn't really have much to do with him, and he only really started paying attention when Sonic mentioned that maybe they should check it out tonight.

Today has also brought with it a strange little snag in the form of a bright red string that has wound itself around Neo's claw. Sonic had one on his finger as well this morning, and both of them had assumed this was yet another strange event happening in Ellipsa. Like the fairy bunnies, though hopefully less stupid. Not that he'd be opposed to having Sonic kiss him again, though? He finds he rather likes kisses.

Regardless, the festival is now in full swing and... Neo feels really out of place here. Sure, this world is mostly populated by humans, but that doesn't concern him; the problem here is that he's been waiting for longer than the usual fifteen minutes Sonic keeps him waiting. It's very rare for Sonic to be this late. Sure, he's an organic being and thus can lose track of time, but what was he even doing today that would distract him from the festival that everyone's been talking about nonstop for the past several weeks? It simply isn't adding up.

...

He wasn't taking on any hunts today, was he? Did he manage to get himself injured? No, he's overthinking this. For now, Neo will scour every inch of the festival again to see if he's simply missed the blue blur; because surely he wouldn't get stood up by his rival??]

[lovesadventure]

[It's honestly been nice, having Neo to live with in the apartment. Managing a space for two has been a little easier on Sonic, if little else because Neo is far more organized than Sonic has ever been. Neo both consciously and unconsciously helps Sonic keep the apartment clean and organized, but it's actually been far nicer than he's expected. It helps that in private, they're as cozy as peas in a pod; Sonic doesn't always try to steal Neo's warmth, but they're comfortable in private with each other and that's what matters. They still hunt together, while Sonic goes around town often and just helps for the sake of helping. He's learned more about robotics and the like this way, too, and it's been a definite boon in keeping Neo in top shape. Life is pretty good for them, but today's been...a little different.

Sonic's been content to not really think about what his relationship with Neo actually means for a while, and he's been pretty good even today at not letting those feelings really show. They're rivals. They're rivals, who cuddle with each other and Neo lets him kiss his face, and he lets Neo pet him and run his hands through his quills, and it's fine. It's fine, isn't it? That's just what two rivals do. They still push and challenge each other, but that's just the way these things go. It's nothing deeper than that. Right?

It all started this morning with a strange red string that connected him to Neo. Which wasn't a problem, honestly; Sonic had laughed it off easily, just thinking that it was due to their closeness that they got connected. The string thankfully extended long enough for them to go their separate ways, but Sonic was excited for the festival tonight. He was going to go help get some of the booths set up, and he had asked Neo to accompany him to it so they could have some fun together. He would teach this robot to have fun if it killed him, but...

Neo's likely been able to feel a sense of anxiety and slight distress as the day has worn on. It ebbs and flows, becoming more muted the further they're apart, but this close, it's becoming clearer slow but sure as Neo makes his way through the festival.

No. No, that's wrong, this is wrong.
There's no way that's right.
There's no way I can do this.
This isn't right, is it?
There's no way.
There's just no way, it's not--that's not it--

It started with making idle conversation with some of the ladies running a love compatibility booth. The ladies themselves were very nice and only needed a little bit more help, but they couldn't help about inquiring into Sonic's little string incident. He didn't think it meant anything, of course; it was just something silly, right? But the ladies were quick to explain that this wasn't the case. That the red string meant you'd found your soulmate; the person you were destined to fall for. Sonic laughed it off at first, talking about Neo a bit and explaining things, but the ladies weren't deterred. Not even slightly, actually; they kept teasing him, pushing him more and more about it, and once he was done, he was quick to leave them both in the dust, ready to drive that out of his mind.

And then it kept happening. Everyone had a different sort of explanation for the red string, but it all tied back to that damn four letter word that Sonic didn't want to think about. That Sonic didn't want to consider. No, because he couldn't love Neo, could he? The guy who was going to kill him? That's his rival, his precious rival, his irreplaceable rival, that's not--he's not--

Neo will eventually find Sonic, coming out from one of the booths with a look on his face that looks probably the most genuinely stressed he's ever looked. His thoughts are a whirling mess, and he looks around the festival for a moment only to see the guy he's been desperately trying not to think about, even if he's the reason that Neo is here. Because of course he is.

...

No, no, nonono--
I gotta get outta here!

Sonic doesn't stay still for a moment once the two of them make eye contact, and it's as if an anxious spike gets sent through the string, and Sonic proceeds to flee from Neo into the wilderness.

...Neo, I'm so sorry--]

[metaloverlord]

[As it turns out, "dating" is a far more complicated concept than Neo was expecting. Granted, he hadn't exactly figured that his talk with Sonic would lead into confessions about their feelings and thus leading them down this path, but it isn't as though he regrets it any. He's comfortable around Sonic. He likes Sonic. So he wants to do what he can to prove that.

It's remarkably difficult to just... say it, though. Sonic is affectionate enough for both of them, as well as being very open about his feelings in general even without speaking them aloud, but Neo? He's the opposite. Hell, he didn't even recognize he had feelings until that conversation, so how is he supposed to express them in any significant way? He truly misses the emotional connection, because then Sonic would know and he wouldn't have to feel like he's doing a terrible job at this.

And he is doing a terrible job at is, as they've settled back into their usual routines without actually... going on a date. From his observations and inquiries, it seems that "dates" are meant to be activities shared between two partners that are outside the norm of regular interactions. So simply cuddling on the couch is not a date, as much as Neo enjoys it. Most "date" ideas he's heard have been... rather lackluster, in his own opinion, but if that's how dating is supposed to work, then he needs to accept it in order to be a good boyfriend.

(Though just the term "boyfriend" always makes him feel a little... flustered, maybe. That is what Sonic is to him, right? They're boyfriends. They're dating. Because they have feelings for one another. That's how this goes, isn't it? And yet he's never really asked in so many words...)

Regardless, whatever anxieties he might have about this are firmly crushed today because they are going on a date. One of the most common date ideas is taking one's partner out to a nice restaurant. Which is a stupid idea given that one of them can't eat and the other seems to genuinely enjoy takeout more than anything else, but this is how dates go. Maybe they're supposed to be mildly uncomfortable. Hell if Neo knows. Part of dating also involves dressing up, but... well. Look at them. What is Neo supposed to do here?? So he's decided to ignore that part of the dating protocol and if Sonic wants to wear something different, then that's his own business.

He left a note for Sonic this morning in the apartment telling him where and when to meet; the restaurant is one of the nicer, more upscale ones but certainly nothing overly fancy or pricey. Neo still has some sense, after all, and he'd rather not spend that much of their hard-earned money. So this is the compromise, but it was recommended to him as a good option, so it'll probably be fine...?

(Notably he kind of. Forgot to mention that this was a proper date in the note? It was basically just an address and time and he's assuming Sonic will somehow intuit his intentions from that alone, because Neo is Like This.)

...Though now that he's waiting out front for Sonic, arms folded behind him as he scans the crowds of people, he's really starting to think this was a terrible idea. Again, he's a robot who can't eat. Maybe typical dates just aren't what they should be doing. He'd much rather race Sonic or fight something together or... just cuddle on the couch.

But! He's going to be a good boyfriend!! If it kills him!! So he can suffer in silence and make sure Sonic has a good time!! Do not screw this up, Neo!!]

[lovesadventure]

[Sonic never thought he'd be a boyfriend to anyone, honestly. It's something he never really learned how to be, and he's glad that if nothing else, he's doing this with a guy who has exactly zero experience in this department. But it makes Sonic want to work harder, to do just that good of a job for the guy he...well, that four letter word still remains hard to say, but he cares about Neo dearly and that's what matters most of all. Neo may have a hard time with expressing stuff, but that bond proved beyond a doubt that Neo can definitely feel, he just has a harder time realizing and expressing it back. Sonic doesn't mind; he's happy to initiate cuddling and smooching sessions with ease, and express himself as best as he's able, but it probably won't feel like enough for a while.

(He's even been reading books about the subject. Him! Reading! Dotty's already poked enough fun at him about that, even though she does the exact same thing. He's taking this as seriously as he can, honest.)

He's read a bunch of times that you're supposed to take those you like on dates; little outings between the two of you to be more affectionate, publically or privately, and it confuses Sonic more than a bit, honestly. Aren't they able to do this at home? The idea of being perceived like this still makes Sonic nervous because he doesn't want to do a bad job (he's Neo's first boyfriend, first experience, he should try to make it as perfect as he can--), but it means Sonic's absolutely dithering on actually taking the initiative for once.

It's when Sonic comes home today from some more machine learning that he finds a note from Neo on the counter, perking up immediately. He must've found another cool mark to go and take on--Sonic's been eager for some action for a bit since he's gotten the clean bill of health from Dr. Weissman, so he winds up making it there on time for once in his life, grinning a bit when he sees Neo.]

Neo, hey! [Sonic thankfully skids to a nice, easy stop when he sees Neo--though, not without giving his boyfriend a nice, cute little peck on the cheek. Sure, he probably shouldn't do it in front of a fancy place like this, but who cares? He doesn't. This place won't be their problem in a moment anyway.] There you are. I got your note; what are we doing today, huh? You find anything interesting?

[...Sonic is none the wiser to the actual intent behind this, he is dressed as normal as ever because surely Neo wouldn't try to go to a weird place like this. Right??? Neither of them are fancy enough for this.

Your boyfriend may be stupid, bottom text,,,]

[lovesadventure]

[Sonic's been looking forward to this date for a fair bit; between living both of their own lives when they aren't together, they've had a lot to do leading up to this point, and it's been kind of nice to settle into a rhythm. Neo usually takes on a fair bit of work, but Sonic's no slouch either; he usually just balances it out by helping his other friends out and learning more about proper machine maintenance when he's got the time to do so. They always find their way back into their new normal by the time the evening comes around, and it's been very nice.

Sonic's always worried about becoming bored with being tied to someone, but with Neo? That's never an issue. Neo has a way of keeping him on his toes, and Sonic finds immense comfort coming home to find his boyfriend waiting every night after their long days outside. They're not any closer to finding a way home, but honestly, Sonic's fine with that. This place is still so beautifully new, and there's plenty to explore and learn with the time they have here.

And speaking of...they've arranged for this well in advance, and Sonic's finally done with the stuff he was helping out with in the winter district--the spring one feels almost balmy in comparison to the constant cold, and Sonic doesn't mind it at all. He's not surprised people like it here, but he's here for one reason and one reason alone.

He was promised a challenge at some arcade games today, and as Sonic waits outside of the arcade for Neo, he's practically giddy with excitement. He's not familiar with all of the games here, but that just means there's going to be all sorts of new experiences to have with Neo here, and he's more than ready for this.

Where is Neo, right about now?]

[metaloverlord]

[It's strange, Neo never could have imagined that he would actually settle in to life here in Ellipsa. Searching for a way home had taken up so much of his time that it had consumed him; but he's since let that go in favor of enjoying his time here with Sonic. After all, things may not go back to the way they were when they return, but things will certainly be different when that day comes. It isn't something he's ready to face yet. So why not slow down and enjoy their time together here, just for a little while longer?

Of course, today is their first real date, which means two very important things. One: Neo must ensure that everything goes well. And two: Neo has to kick Sonic's butt. When else is he going to get the opportunity to do so?

Neo's a bit surprised to find Sonic waiting for him for once, instead of the other way around, but that just makes him all the more excited. He approaches and reaches for Sonic's hand without a second thought, public displays of affection be damned.]

You're early. Are you that excited to lose?

[He doesn't have a mouth to smile with, but the words sound amused nonetheless.]

[lovesadventure]

[So admittedly, the matchmaking...well, it went some kind of way, though Sonic's admittedly not entirely sure how it went. He did try to nudge Dorothea a bit and she seemed a little receptive, though hesitant. Hubert, on the other hand? Outright denied it. Said there was too much to do to focus on things like that, he had to help Lady Edelgard with the war, after all. But he has absolutely seen the two of them at least holding hands once, so maybe there's progress to have been made here...

Either way, life carries on. Sonic's still got a lot of work to do to help out around Ellipsa, and he's the sort of guy who's always kind of a busybody in general. At the very least, he's finally met Princess Camilla and Beruka, and he definitely sees why Neo and them are friends. Dealing with Camilla calling him cute made him want to Die a bit but Beruka's at least pretty cool. Absolutely kicks the butt of anything that the Princess can't.

But it seems another one of those monthly events are happening, and it starts with a shift in the weather; the autumn leaves have popped up even in the winter district, and something seems to be shifting in the air. It's caused Sonic to be on the lookout, at least for a bit, for anything weird and unusual. But it's not like anything weird could happen to them, right? He and Neo could roll with whatever punches came at them both, and he was confident nothing would happen.

It's when Sonic wakes up this morning that something's up. He wakes up from being curled against Neo, stretching his limbs out a bit before the sound of something metallic hits his ears. That's...weird, but Neo's right on the...bed...

...

Sonic looks down at his own body below. Looks at himself, his hands, those sharp claws he loves so much, and he hears the hum of machinery responding to his panic as it seems to go wild and oh god oh geez what the actual heck is going on--

Sonic reaches one of those clawed hands out and starts to shake...Neo? Oh dear god he hopes he just swapped with Neo here, please don't--]

Uhhhh, Neo?! Neo, Neo, you gotta wake up, this is bad--!!

[metaloverlord]

[Time passes in Ellipsa, and Neo still finds himself marveling that he's settled in as well as he has. He focuses his attention on hunting, housework, and picking up new and useful information, though he's started to try to reach out to others more. He still spends most of his time with the people he's already bonded with, but there's no harm in getting to know others here and learn their stories. He certainly can't make friends like Sonic can, but there's always someone new and interesting to meet, and that's worth something.

Of course, he's been aware that things have been quiet for too long... meaning that something is bound to happen. It's hard to predict exactly what it could be in a place like this, which is rather frustrating, but whatever it is shouldn't be too difficult to handle. He has Sonic at his side, after all. Even if he struggles with it, Sonic will pull him from his thoughts and center him, as he's gotten very good at doing.

So imagine his surprise at waking up. The feeling of haziness and disorientation as he gets his bearings instead of rousing from a perfectly ordinary battery-saving resting period in which he spends his time sorting through information and ensuring he's running at peak performance. Instead he opens his eyes (which he can feel himself doing??) and stares at... well. Himself.]

What.

[It sounds all wrong - because it is. The voice he expects to hear - his own - comes out of the other Neo on the bed who sounds far too panicked to ever actually be Neo, which means that—

Oh. Oh, he does not like what this means. His gaze drops to his (gloved) hands and his eyes widen in... shock? Terror? Some hideous combination of them both? Unlike in his own body, the feeling is damn near overwhelming, like its setting all of his nerves (which he now has?) on fire and the end result is that he just wants to get up and run. Is this Sonic's default reaction to a terrible situation or is this his own?]

It's— Yes, it's me. I don't... How did this happen?

[He doesn't imagine that Sonic has an answer any more than he does, but who else could it be trapped in his body when he's trapped in Sonic's? And oh the feeling of blinking and breathing is so horrifically surreal. It's a good thing Sonic's body does both automatically without having to think about it, because Neo absolutely wouldn't have otherwise. His breathing is as quick as his heartbeat and he can feel where the blankets are tangled around his legs, the press of metal against Sonic's fur and...

It's damn near overwhelming, really.

(How many times has he wondered what it would be like to be an organic being? How many times has he wondered what it would like to truly be Sonic? And now, here he is, in the exact position he'd dreamed of, once, and—)]

There... There has to be a way to reverse it. There always is. There's some trick to it that we have to figure out and then we'll be back to our usual selves. Don't panic; we'll figure this out.

[...neo you're literally the one physically panicking right now—]

[lovesadventure]

[It takes about a week of digging before concrete evidence of a monster comes out.

Sure, it's not a bad week; Sonic doesn't mind letting Neo have all of the time of his life taking him out to some of the food stalls that he enjoys, and letting him experience all sorts of new and amazing things that Sonic commits to Neo's databanks. It really is so nice to see him free like this, but given the problems that this bodyswapping poses, it's definitely appreciated when they get an actual lead.

From what the lady at the church and her friend said--apparently her name is Amaya, but she'll always be 'church lady' to Sonic, he never caught the tentacled man's name, though it didn't matter much when they were swapped--it was a rather fearsome foe with very powerful magic. A few more experienced outsiders have already tried taking it on, to ill effect, but Sonic could already tell that they didn't have the synergy needed to make a proper team. It was unfortunate, but there was a lot of info to be gathered that Sonic could store in those databanks for Neo and pass on.

They're outright suggesting that only the best of the best fight this thing, and it doesn't take long for Sonic and Neo to come up with a plan. After all, who could be more synergistic than the two of them? Two rivals, one literally made from the data of one, and the other literally the fastest thing alive who's taken on world ending calamities? Including his boyfriend? This'll be a piece of cake for the two of them, and they can reap a nice reward to go out to the arcade again. Win win situation!!

Sonic's still getting used to using Neo's jets to travel around, but of course, Neo gets to the monster's location before him--just a little ways away from the strange, new monster. It almost looks human, but with multiple arms and many magical weapons in it's hands--it almost looks like some kind of fucked up centaur, really.]

Alright, so. Go over the plan one more time with me, Neo. I've got myself primed and ready to go, so you just say the world and we'll send this thing packing back to the farm.

[metaloverlord]

[Neo had hoped he'd be back in his body within a matter of days, but as time passes... he's starting to find it easier to adapt to Sonic's body. Sure, there are still plenty of fundamental problems he's not sure he could ever get used to - he is so woefully inefficient with needs such as hunger and sleep - but being able to feel and experience so much is truly wonderful. He tries new foods with Sonic, he goes out to practice running - actually running instead of using his jets - and it doesn't take him long at all to replicate Sonic's spin dash, as easy as if he'd been doing it his whole life. It feels amazing.

...Some part of him doesn't really want to go back, if he's being completely honest with himself.

He could never admit that to Sonic. He could never be that selfish to begin with either; it's merely a passing thought that terrifies him and one that he's quick to put out of his mind. They're going to return to their original bodies, and they'll put this behind them just as they always have. There's no point in dwelling on it, or wishing that he could keep parts of this for himself.

Truthfully, Neo's been so distracted by all of these new experiences that he hasn't really been focused on gathering information. He can't help but feel bad about it when Sonic comes through with a possible solution, and feels even worse when he considers telling Sonic that it would be smarter for someone else to take this thing on. Sure, they're an effective duo, but they won't be fighting at peak efficiency in each other's bodies. It would be smarter to have someone unaffected take down the monster, or at least a larger group to fight alongside.

Or maybe that's just how he's justifying it to himself to stay in this body for just a little longer. It's that thought that spurs him to agree and formulate a plan. So here they are, with Sonic arriving after him. He's certainly going to miss Sonic's speed, and the feeling of the wind blowing through his quills...]

Of course. From what I've been able to gather, our foe excels at both ranged and melee combat, switching between its weapons as needed. The best way to handle it would be to force it to switch between the two - it will leave us an opening to attack. As such, drawing its attention would be the best way to proceed.

[Usually that would be his job, because he's slower and bulkier; he can even shrug off magical hits fairly well. But...]

I'm not entirely sure how hard it hits. We'll need to be careful.

[lovesadventure]

[Life has finally begun to settle again after the body swap; it may have taken at least a week for Sonic to actually want to be separated from Neo for any amount of time, but he's finally accepting that Neo is back, and Neo isn't going anywhere this time. It's been a lot off of Sonic's shoulders as well as Neo's, and life has begun to settle back into something of a rhythm.

What's shaken it up this time is only a good thing, for once; Sonic doesn't always check the new arrivals when they come on it, but a familiar mass of black fur had arrived and Sonic had been outright jazzed to see such a familiar face.

Shadow seemed to be from a further point in time than Sonic when they got the chance to talk, but that was fine; Sonic didn't mind finding out about some of the other things that had happened. Wild shit, just another day ending in Y for Team Sonic, if he's being totally honest. Still, even he couldn't hide his excitement at seeing an old friend, and he was more than happy to help Shadow get adjusted. Along with an apartment for himself; the landlady's at least happy to have a slightly less chaotic hedgehog to have to worry about, if nothing else.

But Sonic has also let Shadow kind of do his own thing, too; he knows the guy will need to get somewhat adjusted to this place at his own pace, no matter what that takes. But today at least, they've arranged some time to spend together while Neo goes out to do something with Beruka, so!

Have one knock at the door, Shadow.]

Hey, Shadow, it's Sonic! You in?

[thehedgehog]

[Shadow isn't exactly pleased to be here. Sure, he understands the people of this world need otherworlders to help them, and he could have been dragged here at a worse point in time, but that doesn't change the fact that he's entirely out of his depth. This world is home to a great many more humans - so much so that it's a little surreal. He almost misses Rouge. And Omega. He definitely misses home, because at least things made sense back home.

But Shadow keeps his thoughts to himself (though they are clearly visible on his face) and does his best to understand the situation here in Ellipsa. Returning home isn't an option until the world simply decides to send him back, so he may as well get comfortable.

Some time ago - a time that isn't really all that long ago, all things considered - he would have wondered why he was called here to save this world. Now... well, he supposes he understands. He is pretty powerful, after all.

Thankfully, there's one familiar face here, and Shadow was perhaps a bit too relieved to learn that Sonic has been dragged to this world as well. Sure, things don't exactly line up neatly - he doesn't remember several events that Shadow does, after all - but he's here and he's still Sonic, and that alone means this world is in good hands. Not that Shadow would ever freely admit that, of course, but who can argue with Sonic's track record of saving the world?

Sonic's also been content to allow Shadow to approach this at his own pace; the hedgehog never smothers him and doesn't drown him in information. Shadow is ultimately fairly similar to a cat; he likes his space, and if he's choosing to share it with you, then that means he likes and trusts you. It seems even without all of his memories, Sonic understands that much.

They're supposed to meet up today, and Shadow gets the door when Sonic knocks.]

I am, yes. Did you think I would stand you up?

[He rolls his eyes at that and pulls the door in, you can come in, if you want. Or we can go out, he's not picky.

It probably isn't a surprise at all that Shadow's room has barely seen any changes from the default. He hasn't really been here long enough to decorate it, and even then he prefers utilitarian spaces over anything remotely "homey". The couch may have more blankets and pillows than are strictly necessary, though.]

[phantomruby]

[What an absolute disaster this week has been. Ever since Infinite has arrived here, he's been beset with one inconvenience after the other--his powers haven't worked in the slightest, and most everyone who has encountered him so far hasn't given a single bit of useful information in getting home. How annoying, deeply annoying--even moreso is that purple haired wretch who keeps getting in his way. She barely acts affected by his threats against her, and the blue haired woman beside her only gives him a passing glance now. It's infuriating to be seen as weak like this, that this weakness has returned and there's nothing Infinite can do about it.

He needs to learn more of this world's magic. Yes. He needs to seize it, seize it completely and finally do something about this, and perhaps he'll finally be able to make something of this...borderline peaceful existence. Sure, he's not the only person here who's rather surly; that pink haired woman who arrived recently has a nasty bite for someone who dresses so primly. That blue haired swordsman, too. Infinite is hardly the only difficult person here, but they clearly have adapted.

He has to, as well. Infinite will not be weak, even if right now, he certainly is.

There had been rumors for a week or so now, of a woman in red in the mountains who's been driving people from going too deeply after some of the monsters there. A quest had popped up to look into this rumor and see what was going on, and Infinite took it without thinking. He isn't expecting the green haired woman to actually put up any sort of fight, but her power is too great; she barely breaks a sweat as she brings him down the mountain, sighing gently and picking up her red dress as she puts him on the ground.

Please, you must endeavor to be careful. If that monster had been any stronger, you would have had the misfortune to die up there...]

I would have been fine without your useless meddling, you wretch! Keep your hands to yourself or I will remove them if you try that nonsense again!

[He's not nearly injured enough to not consider attacking, but the woman in red seems to startle as she sees someone...someone she recognizes? Either way, she floats away and practically flees, and Infinite turns his head to see...

...

Infinite's eyes widen. A part of him wants to believe he's mistaken, but Infinite chuckles outright at the sight of his mortal enemy in front of him.]

Well, look who's decided to come and vex me once again.

[thehedgehog]

[Saying Shadow has totally adapted to life in Ellipsa is not exactly the truth. Sure, he is settling in rather well, but there are some things that are simply difficult to handle. Like the fact that this world is mostly peaceful outside of the occasional weird event (that he has not experienced yet) or stray monster that someone has put a quest in for. Shadow is used to fighting. It's what he's done most of his life. So he takes quests, and he hopes that maybe this time, the threat will be great enough to pose a proper challenge.

He's made some friends along the way, of course. It would be hard not to. One of them is Hina, and on seeing the quest, he immediately set off to go check on her. After all, if there's trouble up in the mountains, he can handle it. Hell, he's looking forward to handling it; he owes her for the last time he was fighting up that way and she swooped in to help mop up the remainder that would have blindsided him otherwise.

But she startles and takes her leave, and he isn't exactly confused as to why when he sees a certain someone.]

...Infinite.

[Why the hell is he here? This world called for heroes, didn't it? Even if Shadow is a questionable pick for it, he's infinitely (heh) better than Infinite. Then again, Neo Metal Sonic wasn't a hero either, so perhaps this world just has a terrible habit of grabbing ill-fitting villains...

Regardless, that isn't the point right now. It's likely only the injuries Infinite sustained that keeps him from launching himself at Shadow right away. Not that it would matter much, given that Shadow has a Chaos Emerald in his quills and is certainly capable of using Chaos Control to stop the jackal in his tracks if necessary. Though why would he, when a fight with the jackal would almost be fun?

...He'll maybe examine that thought later (no he won't), but for now...]

When did you get here?