smashacademy | Video / action

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Video / action

[Not much preamble to the video.]

Happy New Year.

I got a piece of paper I need studied - I wanna know where it came from, who's touched it and pretty much anything else about it that might be unusual including whether it's been handled by a ghost or some other undead type person. Handwriting expert could be useful too because I wanna see if it matches the writing of someone who was on campus. Methods scientific or occult or a little column A and a little column B - Don't care. Just need results. I'm willing to pay.

ACTION! Choose your own adventure.

Scenario A: Knuckles is in the Gym in the afternoons beating the snot out of the training bag, or in the weight room, lifting the custom weights Max made for him in ridiculously high volume. He's less his normal cheerful self and it's pretty clear he's working through some frustrations but don't let that stop you saying Hi! He's more than happy of the company, honest! And if you're up for a spar, he would be more than happy to oblige you there, too.

Scenario B: Inbetween or after classes, you can find him in the halls or finishing up whatever work he didn't get done during whichever class you happen to share with him. He may also be walking inbetween buildings or across the quad or to the gym or anywhere else you may have reason to run into him.

Scenario C: In the city, at night. You're less than likely to spot him unless you're on the rooftops of FDC or doing something you shouldn't be doing and he happens to find you. He's been patrolling late evening through to very early morning, especially in the area near where they found Charlise's body, and wherever else recent violence has been reported on the six oclock news. Feel free to either be also inspecting and looking for clues, Oh Fellow Warriors of Justice. Or just be someone who happens to cross his path.

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[Knuckles opened the door and stepped aside.]

Huh. Human form? Wasn't expectin' thgat. Come in. You want something to drink before you get to work, man?

[Harley, of course, took immediate notice of the newcomer, scuttling over from where he'd been perched on the back of the couch. He was, as Knuckles had described, incredibly large, dwarfing the Echidna in his excitement to greet the visitor.]

And this is Harley.

Of course not.

[ Shadow slowly made his way inside, being careful not to accidentally step on Harley's little paws, talons, whatever they were. So, this was a spiderbird. It didn't look quite as odd as he'd imagined in appearance, but in size... Dayum. ]

Hn. [ He only gave the creature a curt nod of acknowledgment. ] I should hope he doesn't require walks. [ Knuckles would be the one walked in such a case. ]

He does. I used to let him wander around during the day by lettin' him out the big windows there before going to school or work. Uhh... we... we don't do that anymore. There was a spike in missin' dogs and cats in the area after we moved in.

[Because as friendly as Harley was with people or animals he knew? He was still a predator. And a giant one at that.]

Sure you don't want a drink? I got soda too if you don't want beer, though, I remember you bein' pretty fond of beer last time.

... Then let's hope he doesn't see you as prey one day.

[ Because really, he was a wild animal. Knuckles was smaller than him. What if he decided to turn on him?

Whatever. That didn't matter now. At the mention of beer, he frowned mildly. It was... okay, not the worst drink he'd ever had, but when he tried it on Angel Island, it sincerely could have been better. As for soda, well... ew. ]

I'm not very fond of either. [ He approached him, staring down at him with an expression that was as solemn as the rest of him. It could easily be misinterpreted as menacing because... yeesh. ]

Now, the note. Show me the very location you found it and the bottle.

Nah. I raised him since the day he hatched. He's just a big goof with people he likes.

[Harley butted his head into Knuckles' chest before reclaiming the back side of the couch. If Shadow were to look around, he might notice there was a beanbag chair set up in front of the TV too. Wonder where that came from it is a mystery]

Sure. Bedroom's this way.

[He crossed the living space and opened the door. The room was a little on the messy side though hardly terrible. Knuckles had left it just as Shadow had instructed.]

Did you want to see the Ketchup bottle too? I did pick it up and move it after finding it but haven't done anything else to it.

[ Good. Progress. Shadow was absolutely not here for small talk. He just wanted to get here, to his job, and get out.

He followed closely behind, slipping his hands into his pockets to produce the gloves he brought along for the occasion. He pulled off his current pair with his teeth, holding them carefully there while he slipped the latex on. ]

Nn... [ He shoved his old gloves back into his pocket and immediately instructed him: ] Yes, give it to me.

[ He went straight to looking around the area, right for the dresser especially. There didn't seem to be much dust, and what was there didn't have fingerprints. Typical for a spectre. ]

[Knuckles dissapeared for a moment before returning with the bottle zipped up in a large sandwhich bag.]

Here it is. No markings, nothin' remarkable about the brand - you can get it most grocery stores in the area.

I hardly needed to know that much, but... thank you for trying to keep me informed, I suppose.

[ Dummy.

He snatched the bag and pocketed it (yeesh, good thing trenchcoat pockets are kinda deep). ] I will be sending this in for forensics. Now, remind me again:

What was the exact surface you found the ketchup on? [ He was going to have to swab a sample from there. Apart from that, he wasn't sure if it was just placebo, but he could have sworn he felt some form of strange energy ebbing from somewhere in the room... ]

[Knuckles shrugged in reply.]

If it was a hard to find brand or an off size of bottle, thatt'd lower the possible places she coulda swiped it from and I maybe could've gotten some information outta whoever's store it was.

[It made sense to him.]

It was right here on the night stand. My side of the bed, right in front of my alarm clock, blocking out the numbers.

[He pointed to the exact spot it had been sitting.]

[ wat. ]

There are far too many ways for someone to retrieve a bottle of ketchup. Narrowing it down that way is insufficient.

[ Whatever. That didn't matter now. What did was getting his samples. He took out a swab and a plastic zip bag, dabbing the cotton onto the surface in front of the alarm clock. ]

What you've given me now, however, is more than enough... for now.

[Geeze Mr. Ketchup expert over here holy crap. There were only like four ways to get a bottle of ketchup from a store and one of them was levitating it off the shelf with freaky ghost powers oooOOooeeeeooooo.]

Alright, well, if you want to check it out again let me know.

Sure you don't want somethin' to drink? Or a snack or something? I got plenty of coffee? Protein shake. Fruit, vegan pudding, icecream... well.. soy icecream.

[ No way he's Chaos Controlled ketchup before there are more ways you cannot combat the ketchup expert's logic you smelly egg-layer. ]

I doubt I will need to-...

...

Did you say fruit? Ice cream? Pudding?

[ OH NO HE'S BEEN PINGED. ]

Yeah, man! You hungry? C'mon.

[Knuckles ducked out of the bedroom and crossed over to the kitchen, opening up the fridge. It was pretty large - he ate a lot for his size and Goombella used a lot of different and exotic things whenver she cooked, plus Harley's food took up a lot of space.]

Let's see... tapioca pudding, blueberry tapioca pudding, banana pudding, and lots of fruit. A couple kinds of ice cream in the freezer, there. I mean, what do you like to eat?

[See, Shadow? See? This is how normal people do things. They go to each other's apartments and eat pudding. Doesn't this feel nice?

Harley ambled into the kitchen too at the noise of the fridge opening, only to be shooed out.]

Not your dinner time yet. Go-on, scoot. You don't even like pudding or fruit.

[ Oh Chaos, no. MUST RESIST. URGE. TO SAY. 'EVERYTHING.' No, really, that all sounds delicious. Blueberry tapioca pudding, however... That was a gooey confection that truly stood out. Plus, if Knuckles had fruit, he could add some more berries on top. That was just-- oh... ]

I... see.

[ Oh, no, oh no, how was he going to choose?! ]

Blueberry tapioca pudding would be nice. [ If he could purr in this form, he would be by now. ] Do you have any blackberries?

[ He fucking loves blackberries. ]

Sure I do - they're one of mny favorites.

[He rummaged around in the fridge for a minute before setting three cups of blueberry tapioca pudding on the counter along with a clear plastic tub of blackberries. Then, he grabbed shadow a spoon from the cutlery drawer and set it next to everything else.

He was just going to have a banana, being he didn't want to spoil his dinner.]

Enjoy, man.

[ Sweet success. Take that as literally as you'd like.

Shadow snatched the first container of tapioca he could reach and tore the top off, leaving its scent wafting to him. Oh, delicious, tooth-rotting pudding, how he loved thee so. ]

Mm...

[ He dabbled a nice sprinkle of blackberries on top (only about six or seven, probably) and, for the first time in his life, he tasted blueberry tapioca with blackberries.

Yep, watch out, because he's in Heaven. ]

... Prr.

[ Oh, hey, he could purr in this form, just weakly so. NEVER MIND. ]

Heh... Guess I never figured you were such a sweet tooth, man. I got a couple more blueberry ones and some regular ones too so if you want more than the three, just say so. I keep a bunch around because they're good for a little quick energy in the mornings before I head in to campus.

[It was pretty much impossible to just eat one. Knuckles parked his butt on one of the stools at the counter and ate his banana.]

[ Ha. Never figured he was such a sweet tooth? Knuckles really didn't know him that well, did he? Silly echidna. ]

My body can eliminate wastes easier than any creature. I could feasibly eat pudding all day and not gain a single problem.

[ A pause, and a darting of eyes in his direction before Shadow dove back to his pudding. ] ... For the record, that was hypothetical.

[Pfft. Shadow. Ten bucks says Knuckles knows more about you than you do. He's met your Dad
after all.]

I'm glad it was hypothetical. I mean, I love pudding, but I couldn't stand eating it all day every day. I guess I like a little more variety.

[ Oh no, Knuckles. Oh no, we don't talk about you-know-who-the-alien-bastard-child-of-Boring-and-Cliche. pls. ]

The phrase... hm. [ He clicked his tongue -- rather, he tried to, as his mouth was all gooey from the sugary goop. ] 'Variety is the spice of life'. Agreeable enough.

[ Wait, he already finished that pudding cup and was going for another? oh.

DAMN. ]

[Dude your Dad hangs out with a floating starfish eyeball. That's pretty badass.]

That's how I see it. Balanced diet n all that other stuff.

[He finished his banana and tossed the skin in the trash can. Scoooore.]

You sure you don't want somethin' to drink too? You don't want beer or soda, but I can make coffee or tea or whatever.

[ More like TOTALLY STUPID I mean look at it, it's a starfish eyeball. That is not cool or threatening at all. That is just dumb. ]

I didn't take you as the type to drink tea.

[ Beer? Soda? Yeah, sure. Coffee? Uh, maybe. Tea? Well, he didn't see that coming. He didn't mind or anything, though. Tea was good for you, and Knuckles being into it meant general-hospitality-tea for him. Yes, good. ]

[It's pretty threatening when it's stuck to your face implanting you with generations of new starfish eyeballs.]

You kidding? I've been to tea socials, man. I used to drink tea with Princes and Princesses at school. All high-class herbal stuff you drink with your pinky sticking out.

[He mimicked the gesture required. Ettiquette bro. Stone cold ettiquette. He missed Marth and Poo and Peach. Aww.]

I got a few kinds - ginger, lavender and chamomile, mint. I drink more coffee lately but if you want some, I'm happy to get the teapot out and make us some.

[ Oh, well, he can agree with that. ]

I... can't say I've ever had lavender and chamomile. [ He swirled his spoon into the next cup of pudding. He didn't bother with the blackberries this time. He just wanted the pudding. Delicious pudding. ]

Brew that.

[ Also he's had tea parties with Maria. Does that count as a fancy tea social? ]

Alright. You got it.

[He slipped down from the stool and set about making the tea.]

This is one of those relaxation type teas. Supposed to make you feel more mellow. You take honey in your tea normally or not? I prefer it without but I can put some in your cup.

[He set about boiling water and locating the teabags.]

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AHAHAHHA OH NO

HIDE YO CAT, HIDE YO DOG, HIDE YO CAT, HIDE YO DOG...

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