sranks | ROLLING AROUND AT THE SPEED OF SOUND

[Oh, Sonic's heart rate increased... Did he like that? Something to keep in mind, certainly...]

I'll look forward to it, then. But for now.

[His optics follow Sonic's gaze. DDR is a game he knows of, but Neo hasn't actually played it before. It's not hard to see that his boyfriend is eager to play though, so Neo takes Sonic's hand again and tugs him toward the machines.]

You seem interested in this one. I won't keep you waiting.

[Though... Hmm. Given his weight and the nature of the game, there is a very real chance he will slam his foot straight through and break the machine. Not that Neo has difficulty controlling his strength or anything, it's just that this form is suited for battle, not games like this... He inclines his head a bit as he thinks, before Neo lets go of Sonic's hand. He doesn't explain what he's doing, but Sonic likely recognizes the usage of Neo's shapeshifting powers - the way his body ripples and distorts, seemingly almost melting before reshaping into something very familiar.

Metal Sonic now stands next to his boyfriend, absently checking over his appearance as if to make sure that he got it right. Of course he did; he knows this appearance just as well as his Neo version. Did you know he could still do this?? Because he sure as hell hasn't mentioned it before now and never takes this form.]

This should be more suitable for this game.

[Thankfully, he's kept his voice, so at least he doesn't have to communicate with beeps and boops.]

[You know, it kind of hits Sonic while he's thinking about it that Neo might have a harder time with this than he imagined; the machines are usually pretty durable, but if they do a more difficult song, this could be a problem for Neo especially. He knows Neo will be careful, but it makes Sonic almost want to change his mind...

And then Neo lets go of his hand, getting Sonic to tilt his head before it finally hits.

Sonic...kind of got so used to seeing Neo in his other form that he forgot the other hedgehog could shapeshift like that. It's been a bit since he's seen the original form of his boyfriend, and it kind of hits just how much Eggman tried to emulate Sonic himself in making him. Honestly, he didn't think he could ever actually shapeshift back, and he wasn't sure if Neo would ever want to. Neo's been himself for so damn long, and it's...

Sonic smiles a bit at Neo's original form, and perhaps the biggest worry of them all was made moot by Neo speaking; the last thing Neo wants to lose is his voice, Sonic assumes. But Sonic grins a bit, going over and giving his boyfriend a kiss on the cheek in this form, too.

May as well let him know he's loved no matter what form he takes, right?]

I wasn't sure you'd ever wanna go back to that, if you want me to be honest. But hey, you ain't gonna find me complaining; you were always faster like this, right? It'll make for an even more fun match. I'm looking forward to it.

[Thankfully, Sonic says that a little quieter, and it's lost in the cacophony of this place; he imagines Neo doesn't want the whole damn world to know about it all, and Sonic is for once using his brain. Be thankful.

Anyway, Sonic's happy to hop on the machine now, and he'll start pressing through the song list...]

So, how difficult do you want your first try of this to be? We can do a best two out of three on this one--maybe more, if you're feeling up to it?

[...]

Unless you want to start at the most difficult song, but I am gonna warn you: you might end up hitting the floor if we go for that one.

[Sonic is, in fact, already on that song. You know it, you love it, it's Pluto Relinquish.]

I wasn't sure I would want to.

[It's an easy admission because Sonic understands why. This isn't the form he chose for himself, and in many ways, this form is representative of his life before he became Neo. A life that was strictly tied to Eggman's orders and plans, and one that couldn't even voice his objections if he'd had them. Though he could have taken on this form at any point, it was difficult to even consider it early on, for reasons he didn't understand.

But here and now, it's an easy decision to make. The only hesitation he had at all was in seeing Sonic's reaction - and the kiss from his boyfriend makes it clear that Sonic doesn't mind it. It feels like a weight's been lifted from his shoulders.

Neo steps onto the second pad, optics flicking to the song selection screen before returning to Sonic.]

You'll regret saying that.

[So yeah. Let's Pluto Relinquish. There's no way in hell this can possibly go poorly, right!!]

[As long as it's Neo's own choice, as far as he's concerned--then there's no problem with it at all. Sure, he's more attractive with the other one, but he's plenty cute like this, too.

And plenty competitive, it seems. Sonic laughs, bright and unrestrained as he stretches for a brief moment before clicking the song.]

Alright, alright! Don't say I didn't warn you, though~

[The song begins, and were it pure speed, Sonic would almost certainly have this in the bag. It's those changes in speed that come up at different points that see his combo breaking a little bit, though; for what it's worth, he actually does manage to keep his feet where they should be, and Sonic's extremely focused on making sure he can keep up. He's doing pretty well, and is at no risk of failing the song at least. (11)

How's Neo doing? Sonic does take small glances at him while they play, which...probably also contributes to the losing of combos, but he wants to make sure he's there in case Neo falls--]

[The advantage of being a machine built for speed is that you are able to process things very quickly. While DDR in general - particularly with the hardest damn song - would be overwhelming for most people coming at it for the first time, Neo handles it quite well. In fact, his combo is perfect... up until the sudden drop in speed. It takes him a moment to catch onto what's happening and then he recovers quickly. Unfortunately, those sudden changes in speed are quite frequent in Pluto Relinquish hell, and Neo's score is absolutely suffering as a result. He's not at risk of failing either, but he is definitely lagging behind Sonic.

...He's also noticed his boyfriend is keeping an eye on him, so as the song comes to a close, he lands the final notes and then slips on the last one, purposefully losing his (otherwise very easily maintained) balance just so that Sonic will have to catch him. He's thankfully much lighter in this form, so the weight shouldn't be a problem for Sonic at all. If his boyfriend wants to worry over him, then who would Neo be to say no?? After all, this is a calculated move to distract from his loss.

And okay, sure, maybe he just wants his boyfriend to look out for him, shut up.]

[Sonic's almost got his focus back--they're practically neck and neck here, and it's exciting to finally be able to go all out even if it's clear he's gonna need to practice a little more. They're almost there, they just have to get through those final notes--

And Sonic's heart practically drops when he sees Neo begin to slip out of the corner of his eyes, heart picking up in pure panic, as he abandons those last few notes of the song to dart over and catch his boyfriend gallantly in his arms, holding him close and practically in a bridal carry (though. closer to the ground) and just taking a sharp breath as he checks Neo over. He's okay, he's--]

You alright, Neo? You didn't go and hit anything, didn't you? Do I need to check your knees out or anything like that?

[...he has not quite realize that he is, in fact, being punked, but he's holding Neo very close in his arms and fretting very hard, leave him alone,,,]

[Maybe he should feel a little bad about punking Sonic, but no, his boyfriend is cute and worried over him and how could he not enjoy that?? Let him bask in being worried over for once in his life!!]

You do know you don't need to worry so much over me, don't you?

[And he will absolutely take this opportunity to nuzzle his boyfriend. The proximity is so nice...]

I knew you'd catch me, though. Why do you think I let myself fall in the first place?

[He absolutely sounds smug about it. He may have lost the match, but this totally counts as a victory!!]

You--

[...Okay, no, Sonic can't even be mad about that because that was expertly played. Sure, the anxious beating of his heart hasn't exactly gone down entirely, but he finds himself chuckling as he nuzzles right back into Neo, sighing gently as he gets himself together.]

You jerk! I was actually worried for a sec, you! [WHAT IS HE GOING TO DO WITH YOU.........] Cut me some slack, would ya? I only worry cause I love you, y'know.

But of course, your dashing hedgehog savior's always here to help, even if you put yourself into peril, like the bully you are. What am I gonna do with you...

[O-Oh, Sonic said it... Of course he already knows that Sonic loves him, just as Sonic knows that Neo feels the same way, but hearing it always does something to him; he's already heating up again and his optics dart away for a moment before he corrects it. The L word is such a big deal now that he knows how important it is.]

A fall like this would only cause minimal damage, you know. Besides, I am built to maintain high speeds and severe impacts; there was never truly any danger.

[In other words: he's perfectly fine pulling a stunt like this when he isn't going to risk any serious harm, don't worry. Neo nuzzles against Sonic again, which is sort of an apology for worrying him, at least.]

You truly don't need to worry so much over me. [...] Though I suppose I can't stop you from doing so, and it is... nice.

[That someone will worry and care about him, should something happen.]

[There are a couple of blissful seconds where Sonic still doesn't realize that he's finally managed to actually say it to Neo. He's more distracted by the fact that he absolutely got positively got by Neo and chuckling over that, and then it hits.

...Yeah, Sonic's face is going a slightly impressive shade of pink here and his heartbeat is picking up while he chuckles a bit--a little nervous, but not as much as he could be. Because it's fine? Neo knows how much Sonic loves him, and Sonic really does adore Neo in kind, but verbing the noun has always felt like a hurdle. It feels...

It feels nice, honestly, and Sonic moves to take one of Neo's hands and lace their fingers together, kissing them gently.]

I know, I know. I really should give you a little more credit. [Sonic chuckles again, bright and chipper.] I like...caring about you, I think. I try to look out for the people I like, and while I'm not always the best at it, it's just how I show I care, y'know? 'Cause you are precious to me. Even if you give me a heart attack, sometimes.

[Sonic will help Neo up after that--he sadly can't carry his metallic counterpart very well at all, but he can manage this much.]

Did you enjoy the game, though? Do you wanna go another round, or did you wanna try something else?

[They should probably pick up their tickets when they have a second...]

[Cute... He really is quite lucky to have such a kind and caring boyfriend. It... sort of makes him wonder why Sonic would even be with someone like him in the first place, but that is a crisis for another day, thank you very much.

Neo gets back to his feet at that, still holding Sonic's hand. He's really reluctant to let go, but their date isn't quite over yet.]

I did enjoy it. Let's try an easier one; I want to see if we can get a perfect score.

[Not because he wants to beat Sonic this time, but because this game requires skills they both have. And if it's easier, then maybe this time he can watch his boyfriend instead of the other way around!!]

[Sonic grins brightly at that, getting up along with Neo and grinning brightly as he wills his stupid heartbeat down. God, he loves Neo, he loves him so much, he loves his stupid princess of an overcompetitive boyfriend so much he can't stand it--]

Alright, you're on! I know just the song we can do, too--this one'll be a piece of cake!

[Sonic picks another song, and perhaps thankfully, it's still enough to be fun while being much easier to focus on getting the perfect score. Sonic absolutely locks in on this one; his eyes focus on each of the notes and making sure he can hit every note perfectly, and it's as if he's in his own little gamer world.

This is absolutely child's play for the fastest thing alive, after all, but he's excited to see them both hit a perfect score, at the rate they're both going.]

[He finally lets Sonic's hand go so that they can take on this song - it's a good choice, as it requires speed, precision, and some amount of focus to keep them both on pace to get a perfect score. Neo sneaks glances at his boyfriend whenever he can, admiring how focused and intense his boyfriend is. Clearly this game was the right decision, as Sonic seems to really enjoy it. But then, of course he does, as he's really good at it.

The song ends with their perfect scores, though Neo's attention is on his boyfriend instead of the results screen.]

It seems you're having a good time.

[Which is exactly what he hoped for. Beating Sonic is important, of course, but ultimately what matters most today is that Sonic enjoys himself. His boyfriend deserves to have a fun date, and it seems like this is working out very well. Neo's always been drawn to Sonic - by necessity at first, but slowly that has morphed into something else - but right here and now, he can't imagine being any more in love with his boyfriend than he is right now.]

[Once Sonic sees that perfect combo confirmation and puts his name into the scoreboard, he's practically jumping for joy at the amount of fun he's having. His laughter is bright, free, and genuinely the most ecstatic he's been in a very long time.

That he gets to share this moment with someone he cares about so much is icing on the cake, and Sonic's quick to pull Neo into a firm hug after that.]

You bet I am! This is the most fun I've had not holding back even for a second--how could I not?!

[Sonic laughs once again, and their tickets start coming out in droves. Sonic isn't focused on that for a moment, though--he's got Neo here with him, they're here, and he...

He winds up enthusiastically picking Neo up into the air and twirling him a bit with that stupid, bright grin on his face. He does put Neo down gently after that, though, catching his breath for a couple seconds while he laughs.]

This is the best date I've ever been on--thanks, Neo. Thank you, for making this so much fun--I can only hope you're having fun too!

[Up he goes!! Neo's hands settle on Sonic's shoulders, and the sudden twirl gets a sound of static from him again. It's soft, unexpected, and pleased.]

I am. I absolutely am.

[His hands slide up to the sides of Sonic's face and once again he finds himself annoyed that he doesn't have a mouth to properly kiss his boyfriend to make that clear. For now, he's content just to watch his beloved.]

You make me so happy. I'm not sure how to handle it, in truth. I never would have thought I'd be capable of feeling like this.

[Sonic feels Neo's hands on him, and god the temptation to take his boyfriend back home so he can just kiss his face again and again is so tempting. His heart feels light as air, beating fast but he's in no danger here. He's with the guy he loves, and...]

Heh, trust me, you aren't the only one. I feel light as air right about now, like I could glide through the sky on sheer will alone...I'm glad. I'm so glad you get to feel this too, Neo. You deserve it, you deserve to feel this so much.

[Sonic brings his face in close though, giving Neo a quick kiss--gentle, light, and held back just a bit because they're in public, but this truly is the greatest day he's had in a long time, himself.

And he's so glad to share that with Neo.]

So...what say you? Are you feeling up for a few more games, or do you wanna see what kinda prize we can get and cuddle up a storm at home?

[It's still such a surreal thing to think about: that he deserves to experience things like this because he's a person. Because he should have experiences like this too. Because Sonic likes him, and wants good things for him. It makes him feel just as Sonic described - light as air.]

As much fun as this is, I want to be close to you.

[Though they can cuddle whenever, Neo wants to do this right now. They can always return and play more games later, and he'd certainly like to, but right now all he wants to do is cuddle his beloved boyfriend.]

Let's go home. After you've chosen your prize, of course.

You've got it!

[With the tickets they've accumulated, Sonic's able to pick out something pretty cool--it looks like a mini model of a space ship from one of those little alien games that Sonic's never tried playing. Galaga was more Tails' speed, after all, but he's happy to spend his hard earned tickets on it, along with a few smaller things--he did at least insist that Neo pick something out, because he did such a good job too, but once they're out of there, it doesn't take them long to end up in the winter district and back in the apartment to unpack everything.

This is nice, honestly. It's so much nicer than he could've thought, and truly, he's excited for their next date. He feels himself starting to wind down from all of this, and yet he couldn't be more energized in this moment. He'll get the bed unfolded so they can both lie down and cuddle, but...]

Come over here, Neo. [It's Sonic's turn to do the holding today--he really wants to.] That was the best idea you've ever thought of--thanks for making this day unforgettable.

[Though Neo doesn't need any of the prizes, Sonic insists and so Neo ends up picking out some stickers to add to Sonic's apartment. They're bright, neon and silver and gold and flashy, and Neo thinks they'll look good alongside the others Sonic has collected. With their prizes picked out, they head back home, and Neo stays close to his beloved boyfriend.

Once Sonic has gotten the bed unfolded and asked for him to come on over, Neo does just that. He's transformed back into his Neo form, but even though he's larger than Sonic, he's unopposed to being held. He's mindful of his spikes and claws, as always, settling in against his boyfriend easily.]

I was going to thank you for the same thing. This is the best first date we could have had.

[Would it have been better had he soundly beat Sonic? Well... Maybe, but the important part is that they had fun together and were able to push one another to do better.]

So thank you as well, Sonic.

[If Sonic cares about all of the spikes and pointy claws, it isn't apparent in how Sonic holds Neo--wrapping his arms around him gently as he encourages Neo to lie down, and Sonic finds himself running his fingers through those metallic, unyielding quills of his.]

Heh, of course! When you said you wanted to compete, I knew I couldn't give any less than my best showing. It wouldn't be fair to you as a rival, nor as a boyfriend.

[Neo will get a smooch on the head after Sonic says that.]

It really is the best. I'm...really proud of you, Neo--you've absolutely bloomed as your own person, and you've really grown. It's real clear today, after seein' you get up into shenanigans! I couldn't be happier.

[Sonic sighs a bit, clearly content.]

...You really do seem like you've found your footing here. I really am glad to see it, y'know?

[Oh, that feels nice... Neo nuzzles against Sonic as if to ask him to keep going.]

I like your reactions. I always have; seeing your expressions and emotions in response to our fights and races. I always could take pride in my ability to rile you up, if nothing else.

[It was always something he had over Eggman. He could push Sonic to his absolute limits, while usually Sonic was too busy wisecracking at Eggman. That alone was something to be proud of, and in some ways, he still is proud of it. Though now, he can get more reactions from his boyfriend - reactions he never could have dreamed of before.]

That means a lot to me. I never would have thought that I could end up in a position like this, or that I could feel all of this. I don't have the words to express how important all of this is to me. Thank you... for everything, Sonic.

[Sonic will gladly take that hint once he realizes Neo's enjoying himself--have a few more kisses on the head, you. They're light and gentle, just kind of trailing all about him while he listens to Neo talk.

He'll give credit where credit is due; Neo really is the only person who can get him so riled up and competitive. Eggman is more like a puzzle to dismantle who he has little respect for; given the way he treats those in his care, he's definitely less than fond of the doctor. And it's different with his other rivals, what with Shadow going his own way, and Knuckles being more focused on his job...]

Hah, you like 'em that much? You really are the only one who pushes me hard enough to get to those points. Eggman's definitely tried, but he's never been able to manage it. That's an honor reserved only for you.

[Sonic can't help but smile a bit as he holds his boyfriend, running a hand down his back--a similar mirror to things Neo has done. For all he knows about Neo, he still hasn't found a good method of making his boyfriend melt in kind, but...maybe he just needs time. Neo's still learning how to feel, and he'll be able to reciprocate in time.]

Hey, don't mention it, Neo. I'm glad you've made your own decisions and that it's working out for you so well. And...I'm glad to be a good boyfriend to ya, too. Heh. Never thought I'd be in this position either, honestly...

[It gets Sonic to chuckle a bit.]

There's a lot more of the world to explore, and lots of different people to meet, too. I can't wait for you to see all of it. [...Though you know, he is curious, and he'll plant another little kiss near one of Neo's ears before coming back up--] Have you met any other people who've been alright to you? I've wanted to ask about you and your friends for a bit; call me curious, but we really do lead pretty different lives when we aren't together.

[Neo nuzzles against Sonic at the kisses; they're nice, he always appreciates being kissed. The praise is also nice, and he makes a soft sound in acknowledgement. It's quiet, something a bit like the hum of machinery.]

I'm pleased you can be, then.

[Sonic is a great boyfriend, he's honestly not sure what Sonic was so worried about. Though when Sonic brings up friends, Neo's gaze darts.]

I have not made very many close friends. Though I imagine that isn't much of a surprise.

[He hasn't ever had the opportunity before, and frankly, he's not really sure how to do it in the first place. There aren't many people he talks to frequently, after all.]

There is a woman named Beruka who I find myself seeking out on occasion. She is an interesting person; a human who thinks more like a robot than anyone else. She does not fully understand emotions either and she is dedicated to her duty. She serves a woman named Princess Camilla. The princess is... something else.

[He doesn't sound annoyed, though; it's not like he dislikes Camilla? She just calls him cute and Neo doesn't know how to deal with it.]

She doesn't mind talking to me about these... emotional things. I asked her for date ideas, though she likely didn't realize I was asking about us.

[...]

I suppose I feel a little... overwhelmed discussing it with others. Though I should have told her from the start; she wouldn't have suggested something otherwise.

[After all, she's aware Neo can't eat.]

[The hum is definitely nice; Sonic's gotten fairly used to the sounds that Neo's machinery makes, and while he does keep his ears open for anything strange, it's those soft sounds that really do go a long way in making Sonic feel all warm and fuzzy inside. They're things that not even Eggman could have programmed, things that are Neo's, and they're really and truly cute things.

But Sonic listens as Neo talks about the few friends he's made, and he can't help but smile a bit. Though Beruka sounds...concerning, it must be nice to have someone who at least understands the difficulty in what Neo's going through. It's the second of those that get a pause out of Sonic, though.]

Princess, huh...she have long, curly purple hair by any chance? I think I met someone like that real briefly, but it was only when those bunnies overstayed their welcome...

[Nonetheless--]

So she's our little idea lady, huh? I can't say I blame you for being hesitant about discussing it--I didn't even bother discussing it with others, so you're...definitely not alone there...

[Though there were definitely people who needled a bit.] But Neo, that's great! Both of them sound like great ladies to know; I'm glad you're able to find some people you can talk to about this kind of stuff. It really is great having friends you can rely on, isn't it?

Correct. You've met her? She makes quite the impression.

[Did he have to kiss Camilla to escape the bunnies... that's kind of funny, honestly.]

It's... different. I hadn't really considered them friends until you asked.

[But that's the best way to describe them, isn't it? What else could they be, when they're the ones he finds himself seeking out most outside of Sonic?]

Tell me about your friends. You've made plenty here, I'm sure.

[After all, he's Sonic the hedgehog. Anyone should be honored to befriend him.]

ROLLING AROUND AT THE SPEED OF SOUND

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