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Post by Leda on Aug 1, 2009 0:07:13 GMT -5
While Espio didn't have external ears to turn, he did have scales to shed, which at that moment he began to scratch at once more. "Me too... I didn't mean to upset you." "It's okay," Tikal assured, sitting back down -- but facing both this time, rather than between them. "I don't understand... You care about each other and you both want the same thing. Why do you keep trying to hurt each other?"
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Post by Lans on Aug 1, 2009 1:00:45 GMT -5
" I don't," Manic said. "...Well, except maybe to knock some sense into Rainbow butt to, like, get him to see reason."
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Post by Leda on Aug 1, 2009 9:09:49 GMT -5
Her expression a little forlorn, Tikal countered, "Would you say mean things to me if you felt I was being unreasonable?" "..." Well, he'd intended to fling a retort at Manic, but it seemed their female companion had beat him to the punch -- and with a much better comeback than he could ever come up with. Trying not to look pleased, Espio glanced aside and busied himself with making a pile of grass.
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Post by Lans on Aug 1, 2009 17:52:02 GMT -5
"What? No!" Manic protested, completely shocked at the idea. "It'd just..." he paused trying to figure out how to word things, "Esp has a thick head, so it, like, takes more to get through to him."
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Post by Leda on Aug 3, 2009 0:23:58 GMT -5
The echidna simply frowned, and glanced aside. That apparently wasn't the answer she was hoping for.
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Post by Lans on Aug 3, 2009 0:38:58 GMT -5
"It's not like we haven't fought before!" Manic protested, "I mean...there was this one time we got caught spiking Rob's tea, and we got caught cause he couldn't keep his beak shut!" He grinned at the memory...and the look on Rob's face when he had a sip of that tea. "We, like, didn't talk for almost a week, but we made up."
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Post by Leda on Aug 3, 2009 0:54:36 GMT -5
Tikal nodded, but failed to make eye contact. In a strange way, she felt a little as though she'd just had a dream broken; this was a very ugly side of Manic that had started to come out. The nasty things relentlessly said about his own friend... Not only intentionally tainting someone's drink, but then looking so pleased about it? Suddenly he didn't seem quite like the kind, generous person she'd seen him as, and the revelation tugged at the depths of her heart. With an ever-growing pile of grass, Espio had zoned out of the conversation for a bit, but seemed to snap back into it when he caught the heartbroken expression on the echidna's face. "Hey, c'mon, don't do that," he suddenly spoke up. "Manic's not a bad guy. He's a dummy, but he's not bad."
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Post by Lans on Aug 3, 2009 1:03:25 GMT -5
The look on her face immediatly wiped the smile off of his. His ears flattened in a combination of sadness and anger at himself. "Yeah, I'm sure that helps things Esp..." he said a little sullenly. He stood up. "...I'm just gonna go head back to bed. Sorry," he said, before turning and walking off.
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Post by Leda on Aug 3, 2009 19:18:44 GMT -5
Watching the green hedgehog shuffle away, Tikal's vision became smeared, and soon following she buried her hands into her palms. It really hurt to think that Manic wasn't the person he'd appeared to be, as she was so desperate for someone like that in her life. It was even more painful to have to admit that her father had been right: about non-echidnas, about her judgment, about everything. It really is true... I really AM too stupid to handle people. She only wished she hadn't gotten herself so happy before crashing back to reality. As the priestess wept, Espio frowned, and uneasily twiddled his index fingers. What should he do?? Try to assure her again? Hug her? Just sit with her but leave her alone? Give her privacy? "U-Um..." he awkwardly began, "I, er.... Anything y'need? ...Y'know, that I could, like... get? Or do?" Shaking her head, Tikal wiped her damp muzzle and wearily pushed herself to her feet. "No... Thank you." The echidna sniffed, and barely managed to choke back a noisy sob. "I... I'm just going to go back to sleep." "I'll walk with you," the chameleon quickly replied, jumping to his feet alongside her. As they began to walk in a heavy and uncomfortable silence, however, Espio frowned and scratched his head; he had to at least try to make her feel better. "Uh... Thanks for, y'know, tryin' to defend me back there. It's nice feeling like someone's on your side." "Y-You're welcome," Tikal sniffled, wiping away a few more stray tears. Well, that seemed to be a good start, but clearly not enough. Quickly brainstorming over what he'd seen Rob do when Rouge was upset, Espio then reached out and rubbed the scrawny echidna's back. "Don't worry, Tikal. Everything'll be okay." To his great surprise, the priestess responded by abruptly turning and clinging to his shoulders, her tears gearing up all over again and flowing from her fur to his scales. Espio wobbled slightly under the added weight, and part of him wanted to peel her off, but instead he frowned and gave her a return embrace. Something about Tikal stirred up his sense of empathy, and to see her in pain made him feel lousy as well. It didn't seem like she would wind down anytime soon, but for once, he had the patience to not be bothered; he just continued to hold her and rub her back.
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Post by Lans on Aug 3, 2009 21:26:13 GMT -5
However, despite what he'd said, Manic didn't go back to the camp, instead he'd wandered off into the woods somewhere...and was now proceeding to repeatedly bash his head against the trunk of a pine tree. "Stupid...stupid...stupid...stupid!" How had things gone so wrong? They'd been having a nice time, sitting under the stars, comparing notes on their pasts... And then Espio'd had to show up and be a little prick, getting him riled up, and now Tikal probably hated him...
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Post by V for Vizetta on Aug 3, 2009 22:02:23 GMT -5
"The forest is suffering enough without you attempting to knock it down, Manic." Came a voice, quite suddenly, from behind the hedgehog. Its owner had noticed only a few minutes ago that all three younger members of the group had left, and gone looking for them. He'd been concerned about them getting into trouble, and it wasn't helping that he was finding Manic alone, attempting to bond his forehead to a tree.
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Post by Lans on Aug 3, 2009 22:34:25 GMT -5
Startled, Manic jumped and nearly hit his head on a low branch, but luckily just missed. "Oh it's just you..." he said...then stiffened in fear. Ohshit...
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Post by V for Vizetta on Aug 4, 2009 19:29:32 GMT -5
"'Just you'?" The elder echoed, taking a step towards the now terrified hedgehog. "I will let that slide, because I want to know the answer to one question." The echidna's grip on his cane tightened subtly. "Where is my grandaughter?"
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Post by Lans on Aug 4, 2009 20:19:16 GMT -5
Manic noticed this and cringed subtly. "...With Esp...I think," he told him.
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Post by V for Vizetta on Aug 4, 2009 20:32:23 GMT -5
"And why is that? If my memory serves, you've spent quite a bit of time with her. And it seems odd that suddenly she would be elsewhere."
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Post by Lans on Aug 4, 2009 22:19:24 GMT -5
"Er...well..." And the damn burst. "OK I SCREWED UP ALRIGHT!? We were just watching the stars and talking, and then Espio shows up and, like, was being a total jerk behind her back, so I, like, snapped at him and she got mad and probably hates me so I left, OKAY!?" He stopped for a moment to catch his breath. " Please don't hurt me..."
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Post by V for Vizetta on Aug 4, 2009 22:49:23 GMT -5
The elder listened to Manic's outburst, remaining quiet until the hedgehog finished. He hummed thoughtfully, before his response, his tone even. "I suspect Tikal isn't capable of truly -hating- someone." His grip on his cane had loosened to his normal grip. "What exactly happened? Despite all appearances, I only know almost everything."
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Post by Lans on Aug 4, 2009 23:49:53 GMT -5
Manic sighed, partially in relief, partially in resignation, and gave a brief recap of recent events.
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Post by V for Vizetta on Aug 5, 2009 21:50:22 GMT -5
The elder again listened quietly, raising his eyebrows slightly as Manic mentioned the spine petting. THAT would be addressed in a moment. But as Manic continued, the elder nodded, and, once the hedgehog finished, began to speak. "Something you must understand, is that Tikal has very little experience with others her own age... in fact, she's a complete innocent in many ways, it seems. She wouldn't understand why someone would enjoy causing someone even temporary discomfort." The elder was quiet for a moment, then continued. "While Tikal doesn't hate you, I imagine she is... disappointed to see this side of you." The elder turned, preparing to head back to camp. "But perhaps you could show her that isn't your dominant side." Or perhaps this will be good incentive to mature, and not feel the need to pull pranks."Oh, and by the way..." The elder glanced back. "An echidna's spines are sensitive. I would suggest limiting touching them unless you plan something I -would- cane you for."
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Post by Lans on Aug 5, 2009 22:59:41 GMT -5
"Yeah...maybe," Manic said, returning to a semi-depressed tone now that he was reasonably sure the old guy wasn't going to start whacking him. He was curious to know what he meant when he said that echidna spines were sensitive...but he was smart enough to realize that that probably WOULD get him whacked.
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Post by V for Vizetta on Aug 7, 2009 18:57:34 GMT -5
Of course, Athair showed no signs of explaining his comment to Manic, and instead just walked off towards camp, wordlessly beckoning the hedgehog to follow.
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Post by Lans on Aug 8, 2009 14:39:39 GMT -5
And Manic, with another sigh, follwed him after a couple moments.
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Post by Leda on Aug 10, 2009 17:39:49 GMT -5
And what they would find upon their return was the missing pair of youths curled up together under the green cloak.
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Post by Lans on Aug 10, 2009 18:10:51 GMT -5
And yeah, that did wonders for Manic's already oh so boisterous moral. He took one look at them and his earlier feelings that Athair had almost settled came back in full force. He turned and made his way to a place as far as he could from them without actually leaving the camp. There he lay down and silent curled up.
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