sranks | ROLLING AROUND AT THE SPEED OF SOUND

[Oh, that's...that's actually kind of nice, and it gets Sonic to let out a small sound that sort of sounds like a relieved sigh. It's an attempt, at least, and Sonic briefly nuzzles Neo back before helping him off the bed.]

I think splitting up will do us more good, at least for now. We can get more information that way, and maybe we can find something to get us outta this.

Let's get moving, yeah?

[Of course, even as time goes on and Sonic asks around town--there's really not much that can be done right now. It seems like there's rumors about some kind of new monster that's been sighted that may have something to do with this. As much as Sonic wants to go after it himself, he knows he shouldn't; it isn't even confirmed, for one, and it'd be a waste of energy to go after something they don't know besides. But it'd be so much easier if they could just hunt it down themselves...

Sonic's definitely a little less happy by the time that he's back at the apartment; a lot of the methods he'd use to self soothe or even treat himself are completely unavailable, and in truth, he's hoping that Neo's at least managed to find something by the time he gets back. But Sonic still stops by a takeout place to pick up Neo some food; he's not sure if Neo would have had the hindsight to pick anything up given that he must have gotten hungry throughout the day.

Still, Sonic will get home first and...kind of idly start cleaning around the house, for once. He's not good at it by any means, but he's at least trying because he knows the day likely wasn't any easier for Neo.]

[And off they go. It's a little surreal to have an organic body like this, because all the things Neo takes for granted just aren't present in a form like this. His usual methods of keeping track of people around him don't work when you have to solely rely on eyesight. His field of view is much narrower than he's used to as well, and even just walking around for too long sees him feeling tired, which is a surreal experience. Of course, hunger is definitely playing into that, but Neo kind of forgot that organic beings need to eat, so you know. He's doing great.

What's even less great is that what little information he's managed to gather is entirely hear-say. Rumors of a beast that appeared around the same time this started, various increasingly bizarre theories as to what sort of ridiculous acts must be pulled off to undo this "curse", and just a lot of general confusion have made today long, tiring, and frustrating. It would have been more productive in his own body, but if he's feeling like this, then Sonic must be even more annoyed. Or maybe less, given he's in Neo's body, and he isn't used to feeling so much in the first place. Regardless, he heads home eventually.]

Ah, you're already back.

[Look at that, Sonic's even cleaning! What is it about being a robot that just makes you want to clean...?]

I would offer to take over, but I'm feeling... rather tired. Am I "sleepy"?

[no you idiot you need a food]

[Sonic isn't entirely sure, if he's going to be honest. He's never really felt his brain 'autopilot', so to speak, so maybe it's that...?

Still, Sonic...he wants to grin, to do something, but Sonic isn't able to do much other than tip his head a bit at Neo's entrance, his gaze briefly darting.]

Yeah, there wasn't a whole lot I could gather from everyone, so I figured I'd come back here for a bit. Kind of get the place back in order, y'know?

[Still, Sonic's a little surprised by the tired claim, but he does end up looking his own body over briefly, walking over to himself.]

I mean, you definitely could be. But my body usually doesn't get tired from just wandering around... [Still, Sonic will shake his head.] But if I had to guess, you might be hungry? People like me, we need food in order to give us our energy. We usually have to eat three meals worth of food for the best amount of it. I probably should've mentioned that, actually...

Lucky for you, I got a few chili dogs from one of the street vendors near the park in that bag over there! I thought this might happen. [Beat. Actually, now that he thinks of it...] Do you think you're gonna need any help with eating?

It seems neither of us found anything of use, then.

[Unfortunate, but not exactly surprising. Sonic then brings up eating and Neo blinks; his expressions are incredibly understated on Sonic's face, but then, he's never really had a face capable of having expressions before so perhaps that's to be expected.]

Ah, that would make sense. I completely forgot about your need to eat. I'll endeavor to take better care of your body.

[Three meals a day... That's so much time wasted... Organics have it rough out here. Though at that question, Neo inclines his head a bit.]

It seems as though your body is capable of doing many things without my input - I haven't had to worry about blinking or breathing, for example. I'm not sure if eating falls under that as well...

[In other words, he has no damn idea how the hell to eat. Maybe you should've started him off with something easy like soup...]

Let's see how this goes.

[So off he goes to get the chili dogs! They smell amazing, which is the first time he's ever thought that about anything in his life, which certainly adds weight to Sonic's theory that he's hungry. Looking at the chili dogs, though... How is he supposed to eat these. They're so messy... Maybe he should cut them up? Would that help?? Man. Things he did not think about until literally this moment but now he wishes he could forget about: eating. He cannot wait to go back to never thinking about it again.]

How do you usually consume these...?

Other than a rumor of some kinda monster hanging out by the lake or something, but I wanna wait until we've got something more concrete before going out on a hunt...

[Still, it's the only tangible lead they have which doesn't involve any of the weird other theories and ideas people have brought up to switch back. As Sonic listens to Neo, he's quick to put down what he was cleaning and lets out another of those weird, staticy sounds that's about as close to a chuckle as Sonic can manage.]

Eating's usually something you gotta take care of on your own. Your body will let you know when it wants something, usually by making your stomach growl at you or have it start hurting. Or you just get really crabby until someone shoves a candybar in your face, and--

[...

Neo, sweet boy, you--Sonic will walk over to try and help Neo a bit with the chili dog, just--]

You don't gotta think about it too hard! Just take it out of the little box and put it into your hand--then just guide it into your mouth and chomp down! And uh, make sure to chew. If you swallow something too big, you will end up choking, and I'm not sure if either of us have the experience to help someone with that...

[Sonic makes it sound so simple, but also: that is absolutely going to be messy. Sonic's sorry in advance. (He's really not, it's never been a concern for him--)]

My databanks should contain information on basic medical knowledge, should it be necessary.

[Not that it's particularly reassuring either way, but...??? Anyway. Are you just going to watch him struggle with this, because this is sort of embarrassing...

But after a very tentative and careful (and small) bite, Neo's eyes widen. Somehow, it never really occurred to him that taste would be an absolutely fascinating sensation. It's the one sense he literally doesn't have at all, so he doesn't have anything in his databanks or memories that he can compare it to. It's sort of impossible to tell if he likes it or not, because the flavor is absolutely overwhelming. Thankfully, Sonic's body retains enough sense to know when to chomp down for decently-sized bites, because Neo sure doesn't have that knowledge. He is not going to choke on a chili dog today. He is going to practically inhale the damn thing, though, because this is absolutely fascinating.]

[...LOOK, HE DOESN'T KNOW IF IT'D BE MORE EMBARRASSING TO TRY AND FEED NEO OR NOT, THAT JUST FEELS WEIRD--

But Sonic does keep an eye on Neo for the moment, though, because if he really does need it he'll choo choo train the goddamn chili dog into his mouth--but Sonic watches Neo take that first bite, watching his eyes widen, and he finds himself wishing he could grin. Wishing he could do much more than watch Neo eat for what's likely the first time ever, because it's not like Neo's ever had the ability to eat. Guy doesn't even have a tongue to taste things with. How wonderful of a sensation is it, especially since Neo's eating one of Sonic'd favorite foods? Sonic can barely imagine how much of a delight this is for Neo, and...

He's making a lot of assumptions about all of this, but he at least assumes Neo is enjoying himself a bit.]

Oh, you were definitely hungry. There's a couple more in there if you want to have 'em now. [Sonic is keeping a careful eye out, though, and while he's thinking of it...] You don't have to eat it too fast, though. If you wanna take your time and enjoy it, you can go ahead. It must be a pretty new experience to be able to eat like this, huh?

[Oh right, there are other chili dogs in here...! Neo wastes no time in grabbing a second one, only pausing as Sonic continues.]

I don't have any frame of reference for it. Even if I had asked someone to describe taste to me, I couldn't possibly have understood. Though this experience is... different, I suppose I am thankful for this opportunity to understand.

[All of that is a lot of words just to say "chili dog good" which he then proves by wolfing down the second one. So much for not eating fast... How is he supposed to take his time and enjoy something so unique???]

[neo you are so lucky he's 16, scarfing them down like that is a one way ticket to heartburn on anyone else--]

Then I'll have to see about getting some new food for you to try, for as long as you're housed in there. May as well give you some nice data to take with you for when you get this one back, yeah?

[And there goes another chili dog into the void...a sigh comes out of the machine which sadly only sounds like a particularly exasperated set of static, but Sonic does at least start running his claws through Neo's quills.]

I really do mean it, though; slow down and try to enjoy it a bit. It's not every day you get to experience something completely new like this, and eating isn't meant to be done at peak efficiency. Most of us, we eat when we have an opportunity to rest; sure it's meant to keep us energized, but we do it for enjoyment, too.

[...It makes Sonic consider something, though he elects not to bring it up just yet.]

Maybe with any luck, you'll find a favorite food of your own. I figured I'd just pick my favorite for you to start it off.

[listen,,,]

Enjoyment... I suppose I can see that. I imagine there are a great many types of flavors.

[After all, he's seen all the restaurants and stalls, there's all sorts of food here. He's admittedly quite curious about what everything else tastes like, but for now he'll follow Sonic's advice and take this last chili dog slower. Neo doesn't exactly know how to savor food, but he's doing his best.]

I wonder how much of this data I'll retain... Does it trouble you that you can simply forget the things you've learned?

[Because boy does that trouble him, actually!!]

There definitely are! Not quite my expertise, but that just means we'll have to go out and take you on a bit of a proper food tour before this is over.

[That question, though...it gets Sonic to pause a bit as he considers it, but he finds himself shaking his head.]

Not all of the time. But I won't lie, there are times where I wish I could recall stuff that's just long gone to me. But it just means I'll have the opportunity to learn it again, and I never forget anything major that's happened to me. Or anything about the people I care about; I try to keep all of the important stuff, and some of the rest of it falls into the cracks...

[It's the exact opposite of Neo's memory. He's kind of quietly hoping to go through and see if he can delete some of his own thoughts while he's been in here, just for when Neo gets his body back, because he doesn't need Sonic's inane thoughts on how his functions work, but--]

...Does it bother you? Not being able to recall everything.

Yes.

[The response is immediate, certain. Of course it bothers him, because that simply isn't how he works. It must be different for organic beings, who have never retained everything to begin with. Neo has no doubts that Sonic does retain the important things, and that he wouldn't mind relearning things if he needs to, but...]

Everything I have learned serves a purpose. If it does not, I can simply archive it. Having access to everything at all times is what I'm used to, but it's also... important to me. I wouldn't want to forget any of the lessons I've learned here, no matter how difficult they may be.

[There's also the lingering fear in the back of his mind that he is a machine. He can still be programmed and changed against his will, and the information he's gathered and memories he's made can be altered or removed entirely if the wrong person were to get their hands on it. His loyalty to Eggman is nonexistent now, but he doubts the Doctor would be willing to let his finest creation run off with his hated enemy.]

Forgetting anything, no matter how small, simply shouldn't be possible for me. So it's...

[He trails off, taking another bite of the chili dog while he thinks about how to end that. "It's scary", perhaps. It isn't often that Neo feels as though being a machine is a problem, but... Well, his way of thinking is so drastically different from an organic's in this regard.]

[Sonic listens, and it at least makes sense when he thinks about it. Knowledge has always been something Neo has always had for himself; it was something he could gather, something he could have for himself. And it's...

Well, Sonic's gaze darts briefly while he thinks about that. Man. Living like he does really would be hell for Neo, compared to everything he's known.]

...It's scary, isn't it? [Sonic's not sure if he's reading the intent right, but as he continues to gently run his claws through Neo's newly organic quills, it's the first thing that comes to mind.] I think I get it. All of this stuff, it's yours. It's what you've held onto, that nobody can really take from you.

[And even then, how true is that? If Eggman were to get his hands on Neo again, he doubts he'd just let him go free and build something else. If that happened, what would happen to them? What would happen to the Neo he knows and loves, that he couldn't protect? Sonic doesn't live anywhere, after all, and he doubts that Tails or anyone else would be willing or able to hide him, it's--

There's that overthinking whirr of machinery again that isn't stopping, and Sonic has to close a few pop-ups to try and keep his brain calm.] ...I dunno if it'll help, but at least for now...do you wanna pick up a couple notebooks to keep stuff in? Do you think something like that could help for now?

[He's worrying Sonic, isn't he? That familiar hum of machinery means that he's overworking himself and Neo desperately wishes he knew how to make that stop. Unfortunately, he's never had any luck actually getting himself to settle in any meaningful way; Sonic's always the one who's had that skill, not him. He leans into Sonic's touch and moves to rest a hand against his boyfriend's cheek, to get Sonic to keep his eyes on him.]

I would like that. It would be a suitable alternative for keeping information.

[But that's almost an aside, because for as terrified as he is of being stuck like this...]

Thank you for worrying about me, and for trying to help. I know this isn't easy for you either. What can I do to help you?

[It's easier to focus on Sonic's problems and trying to help him than it is to focus on his own, after all.]

Good. I'll go find you some tomorrow, then--

[The hand against his cheek startles him only slightly, mostly at how...muted still, it feels. Sonic leans into it nonetheless, though, optics closing briefly before opening back up.

Oh, this feels like a mistake right now, but Neo's got him to where he can't exactly separate without it looking weird. That machinery hasn't died down at all, and he wishes he wasn't so damn obvious like this. A clawed hand goes up, gently touching Neo's more fleshy one for a moment.]

...I don't know, Neo. [It comes out surprisingly soft.] I really don't. I just...the more I start to understand about you, the more worried I get. 'Cause I mean...if you're there, right now in my body, that has to mean you've got a soul and heart of your own. Here, it isn't a problem because nobody can really use it against you, and I'd kick their butts if they tried. But...

[Can the same be said for back home? Will the same hold true even when they get back, where Eggman's likely going to want to--]

Sorry. I shouldn't be worrying about that kind of stuff. You've had to live it, and you've got your own issues to worry about, yeah?

[Sonic tries to deflect once again, but it's less good than his last attempt. If anything, the machinery noises are getting worse despite Sonic's best attempt.]

[A soul and heart of his own. Yes, he supposes that must be true, because otherwise how could he be in Sonic's body? The things that make him Neo are still present here, even without the physical attributes. So he can't argue that - and frankly, he doesn't want to. The idea that he exists beyond just a machine is... well, it's a complicated web of emotions that he doesn't really want to sort through right now. Besides, Sonic's suffering from chronic Neo-brand overthinking, which is much more pressing at the moment.]

And what if I want to help you with yours? I know better than anyone how easy it is to get trapped in cycles of repeating the same information over and over again, coming to the same conclusions you can do nothing about, and yet being unable to entirely dismiss it as a pointless worry.

[Maybe there's something to be said about having too much information and not enough time to process it all, or maybe it's just some fundamental flaw in Neo's design. Regardless of what it is, he understands.]

You're worried about what will happen when we return home. I've considered that repeatedly as well, but for right now we don't have a way home. It isn't even guaranteed we will be returned home. It's a factor outside of your control. Spending all of your time fretting over it will only cause more problems. Focus on the immediate concern.

[That's how he gets through things like this. Sometimes you need to shut out the bigger picture. It's a straightforward, but unemotional appeal to logic that might help, but this is Sonic, so...]

...And besides, you do know that no matter what happens, I will fight to remain at your side. I do not want to leave you; I'll be careful. I won't let anything happen to me.

[Sonic really can't help but think that he's overthinking all of this; he knows that, honestly, and he finds his gaze averting again as Neo reminds him of that. He's getting stuck in his own head, but it's hard not to be, when he can't feel, he can't taste, he can't do much of anything except thing or fight and--

Is this what Neo faces on a daily basis? Because Sonic can firmly say that he hates it.]

...It's hard. I know you won't let anything happen, and I believe in you. I really do. But I think that's just...part of it, maybe.

[But that really isn't the root of the problem, even if it's part of it.]

I guess, more than anything, it's just...how do you distract yourself so you aren't in your own head all the time? [Sonic actually looks at Neo at that, and he can't quite convey the urgency or the distress in his expression, but--] I've been trying to do that all day, to just...get out of my head, to distract myself with something, but I feel drawn back in every time. I don't know how to handle any of this in the ways I'm used to. And I know you don't really make yourself sleep or anything, and I just...

...I've never known how to sit still, and I've always run from anything more complicated, thoughts-wise. I'm the kind of guy who just puts things out of his head and hopes for the best, I don't...think hard about stuff or get lost in my head.

[A part of him wants to ask if that's something he can delete. If there's something he can do to just...force it to stop for a bit so he doesn't have to think, so he doesn't have to get overwhelmed with information, maybe he can just delete these overbearing thoughts, but--

He really doesn't want to hurt Neo in the process, and Sonic's grip on Neo's hand is tight.

Please don't leave. You can do whatever you want, whatever you wanna say I'll hear, but please don't leave.]

...Sorry, Neo. I know it's not easy. I'm...not sure if there is a way to make it easier. But...you being here, it is helping. Don't think for a second that it isn't.

[Of course Sonic is suffering. He's never been the sort to be stuck in his thoughts, always preferring action over planning and preparing. That's one of the many things Neo likes about him and one of the things he's good at - he helps push Neo forward and draw him out of his own thoughts, but now that their roles are reversed, he's not sure how to do the same. Overthinking is his thing, after all.

His free hand circles around Sonic's back to pull him close, nuzzling against his boyfriend's chin.]

Then I'll be right here, for as long as you need me. I've always found your presence comforting during moments like this; I'm pleased you feel the same.

[As for the rest...]

It truly is unfortunate that this seems to be an inherent part of my design. It certainly wasn't intentional on my part.

[And somehow he doubts it was on Eggman's. What purpose would there be in giving a robot the ability to think if it's just going to have a crisis??]

Perhaps putting yourself in stasis for a bit will help. It serves a somewhat similar function to sleep; during this time, I sort through information and catalogue it - filtering out the unimportant to be archived or deleted.

[This is what he does while Sonic sleeps; Sonic's likely noticed that Neo always seems to be "awake" before him and is always the first one aware of anything happening around them, regardless of what he's in the middle of doing. It isn't truly sleep in that your brain doesn't shut off, but it does serve to shut down several less-than-vital functions, which may help Sonic in blocking out some of that information that's undoubtedly making this harder for him.]

Come with me.

[First things first, he does have to let his boyfriend go in order to unfold the couch, but once that's done, he gestures for Sonic to join him.]

Focus on calling up the "stasis" function. This will shut down several background analytics - my assumption is that it will make it easier for you to focus if you have less running.

I know it isn't. Hope it doesn't sound like I'm blaming you for it, because believe me, I don't. If anything, I'm choosing to blame the Egghead.

[Sonic hates this feeling. He hates wallowing like this when he knows there's nothing that can be done, but he does find his free arm wrapping around Neo in kind when he feels him nuzzle into him, and it's nice. Muted, even still, he hates how muted everything feels, but it is nice and he returns it for a bit while he listens to Neo.

The idea of stasis is genuinely interesting, at least--anything to help turn off what feels like the overwhelming amount of popups and reminders. It probably isn't even that overwhelming to Neo, really, and that's what's making Sonic sulk most of all. It kind of worries him, in a way, that he's hurting Neo by being like this, but...

He walks over to the bed and joins Neo, and he's...not altogether sure if he should lie down for this. If he's gonna be the more aware of the two, he should sit up, right? There he goes overthinking again, gah. Sonic listens to Neo, though, doing his best to focus on finding that function. It takes a bit--mostly to will down Sonic's nerves enough to go digging in the first place, but he does and...

...Oh. Neo can watch as the nervous whirring comes to a stop, and Sonic...well, his eyes widen a little bit, but he feels...]

...Oh, this is much better, I think. [Neo can just. Do that??? What the fuck, why doesn't he have this--] ...Thanks, Neo. Sorry for being such a big baby when it comes to this, but...I really do appreciate you looking out for me. Feels less like I'm getting poked and prodded with a stick by my own brain.

[listen he just feels like he's in a sensory deprevation chamber while neo's EXPERIENCING HUMAN LIFE??? he feels like he's complaining for nothing.]

I know you aren't.

[He understands how difficult it is for Sonic to adapt to this, because he's likewise struggling adapting to being organic and all the struggles that come with that. The things he finds comforting and familiar are strange and alien to Sonic, and are likewise upsetting - for good reason. Thankfully, stasis seems to help, as the whirring slowly ceases and Sonic seems to relax - as much as he can in a robot body, anyway.]

You don't need to apologize to me. We operate very differently; it's only natural that there would be some difficulties adapting.

[Though he is relieved that stasis was the right call. He only uses it while Sonic's asleep because he prefers to have full control over all parts of himself, but it makes sense that Sonic doesn't need to see everything. Having a good amount of it simply shut out and operating as intended without further input is good enough.]

I'm pleased it's helping. I don't want you to struggle with this any more than you have to.

[He nuzzles against Sonic's chin again as if to confirm that. Or maybe it's just because the contact feels nice with an organic head and quills that can properly feel it.]

I know you don't.

[And that much honestly makes Sonic wish he could smile and express that much in his usual way, he still really can't...but he does bring Neo closer, managing to see if the heating works in stasis mode and--there it is. Sonic starts to run his hands through Neo's quills again, nuzzling him in kind from below and holding him close.]

And believe me, I'm here if you need anything too. I really am glad I've got you here; if this had been anyone else, it'd have been even more of a nightmare.

[He can't quite kiss his boyfriend on the head, but he nuzzles into a spot on Neo's newly fleshy head and nuzzles into it--it's the best approximation he has for a little kiss. It does make him curious, maybe, about his shapeshifting capabilities. He's never asked Neo to try anything like growing something new, but...

...Eh, that's a question for another time.]

...How are you feeling, anyway? [It makes Sonic curious, more than anything. Have some ear scritches while he talks.] Have you found anything you like about being flesh and bone now?

[Oh, that's really nice... and getting that unconscious purring from him immediately. No wonder Sonic enjoys touch so much; these sensations are completely different from his more limited experiences. He is absolutely a puddle of hedgehog goo again. Boneless...]

Everything feels so much more... vibrant. Physical sensation like this [he bumps his head into Sonic's hand] is so much more intense than I could have imagined. It's no wonder you enjoy it so much. I've never felt this comfortable before.

[Physically, at least, because mentally is a whole different story! Put him back in his body, please.]

I might actually miss this when I return.

[He says it like it's a joke, but... well...]

It's pretty nice, isn't it?

[It gets another one of those strangely static sounds that Sonic's at least slowly getting used to; a laugh, if a little foreign to the ears. But honestly, while he might not like being in Neo's body, it really is worth it to see him like this. Absolutely flourishing and boneless. A puddle, even.]

That's one of the great things about touch, I think; it's why I like it a lot, too. Whether it's cuddling with you or laying out in an open field and feeling the grass on my skin or something, there's no shortage of great things you can feel.

[...Sonic thinks for a moment, considering something. He's not sure if he's gonna need to get out of stasis mode to try something, but he can focus on another thought first.]

...You think maybe we should see about trying to bribe these guys to get you a new body, if the day comes that we end up going home? Or at least see if like...I don't know. They can magic you up some extra settings to let you feel more things.

'Cause honestly...I don't mind sticking like this if it's making you this happy. You're being super cute right now.

[Oh, if only he could smirk.]

It sounds as though there's much I have yet to experience.

[Which almost makes him want more time in this body to have those experiences, at the very least so he can update his databanks accordingly. But he wouldn't dream of leaving Sonic stuck in his shell; it's obvious Sonic's not having a good time there, after all. For as complicated as being organic is, it really does seem like he has the better end of the deal here.

Sonic's question gets him to freeze though, eyes darting to focus on some point on the wall.

A new body. The idea hadn't even crossed his mind, despite the fact that he's fully capable of doing that himself, if he wants to. Sure, he couldn't make anything organic, but with enough trial and error, he might be able to replicate more intense feelings like this. Of course, that's a tall ask and one he's not even sure he could pull off, given he hasn't actually experimented with Chaos's power much outside of what was needed for his plans. Magic would likely be an easier solution, and with that he could keep these feelings, or maybe even be flesh and bone himself—

Ohhhh no, he does not like that idea. We are not entertaining that one. Neo shakes his head, though it's a mechanical, stiff motion as if he's forcing himself back into the moment.]

I could never ask that of you. Besides, there are a great many things I miss about my form; I couldn't part with them so easily.

[The scary thing is that organics are adaptable. They can get used to any situation if they're in it long enough. Would he likewise be able to get used to being in Sonic's body without his data and perfect recall, if he were stuck here for too long?]

[...Oh.

Sonic considers that for a moment, watching as Neo's gaze darts off elsewhere. For a moment he's wondering if he should drop the conversation entirely. The mechanical shaking of his head at least confirms that much, and Sonic's own gaze darts for a brief moment.]

I get it, yeah. I wouldn't want you to lose any of that. They're what make you, well, you after all.

[And he does mean that; he doesn't dare touch any of Neo's data or memory stuff because of that. Sure it kind of means Sonic's going to leave a mess behind for Neo to clean up, but...]

...Hey, Neo. I wanna try something--I don't know if I'll be able to get it right or succeed in it, but do I gotta be out of stasis to try anything to like...

[...How does he put it...]

...Formshift? I think that's the right word. Not something big, but I wanted to try something small that I've been kinda curious about, if you're okay with it.

[...He wants to try and smooch his boyfriend okay, leave him alone--]

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