smashacademy | Action -> Video

[Action!

So, you know that new Floating Island, hovering around up there above the school? Yeah, that one. Some guy just jumped off of it. And sort of floated down to the ground in a slow, spiral glide. Now he's standing there, looking around.

You might recognize him. But he, unfortunately, probably won't recognize you. (Unless you're Sonic or Eggman.)

Feel free to approach, though!]

[There's a new video on the Network.

The first twenty five seconds of it are some kind of black, triangular nose on the end of a peachy colored snout. It moves around and the microphone stutters and wheezes and whoever this nose belongs to can be heard muttering something unintelligible.

Then, a violet eye stares into the feed, blinks several times with a big, red eyelid. Then he draws back so you can see his Echidna-ey face in its full glory.]

First off, I ain't wearing this uniform thing. I was hatched with fur. It's good enough for me, it should be good enough for you.

Uh... anyway. I'm Knuckles. Knuckles the Echidna.

Hmmm...

[He's sort of run out of things to say. He has questions, but he's not really used to talking to a computer. He's used to smashing them to gain extra lives and shields and stuff.]

Anyone know anythin' about the Floating Island above this school? It's kinda important. If you've got info on it, I'd like to know.

So. Thanks in advance.

[You are now treated to over a minute of closeup footage of his white-swooshed chest as he tries to figure out how to turn the computer off.]

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[It was inbetween her time at the library and her time at the nurse's office that Vianca saw him. She was on her way to one or the other. It did not really matter which once she had caught sight of him, as he was more than enough of a distraction.

Normally it was the Echidna that went of his way to approach her, but Vianca could make an exception for a reunion. He was one of the precious few people she could call a friend.

And so a tiny girl that was just barely taller than the echidna walked over to where he was scoping things out.]

... Hello.

[Knuckles had been sort of meandering around, looking the place over. He'd been surprised by that one blue haired Human telling him he'd been here before. But maybe that guy was just crazy. He hadn't been assigned a room or even enrolled yet, so, he was still in the 'wandering around to get bearings' stage.

This smaller Human, though, seemed far less enthusiastic than Michel had been.]

Hello.

[He offered the white haired girl a small smile.]

I'm Knuckles the Echidna. Nice to meet you.

[Ah.

She knew what had happened before he had even said anything. There had been no recognition in his eyes. That smile was not the one of a friend that tried so earnestly to get her to smile along with him. A foolish part of her dared to hope that she was wrong, but... well... Her mouth felt dry and her chest felt tight.

This had been what she had wanted. She got it. There was no reason to feel sad.]

... Are you lost, Knuckles?

[She was pretty good at not showing her feelings. He had no clue as to what she was thinking when she asked him if he was lost. As much as he hated to admit it, he did feel kind of directionless.]

Kinda. I just got here, so, I really don't know where much of anythin' is. I was hoping people would know something about that Island up there.

[He pointed to the Floating Island, looking up at it and shading his eyes from the sun.]

You know anything much about it?

[Her lack of emoting was something she could count on, in times like this. As long as she said nothing, there was no way for this person that looked like her friend to feel unnecessary guilt for not being the person she had hoped to speak to.

Vianca followed his gaze towards the island, grimacing ever so slightly as she shaded her eyes. Looking up wasn't something she did outside much when the sun was so bright.]

... It appeared a bit over a month ago. There were monsters up there, I heard. A few people went to investigate it.

I showed up there a couple days ago, moved from my world.

[He frowned.]

You heard right. There's monsters. And I watched people from down here go up to look around. I thought if I followed them down here, I might be able to figure out why I was taken there. Weird to know it's been there for a month...

[If he was supposed to do something up there, why hadn't the Master Emerald brought him sooner? It, like him, wasn't supposed to be here, it sounded like.]

Anyway, thanks for the information. I appreciate it... Uh? I didn't catch your name.

Edited 2014-09-23 07:05 (UTC)

[It was her opportunity, she realized, to do things over. She could be the friend to him that she hadn't been before, despite all of his efforts. He deserved a good friend that would talk with him and help him. They could start from square one. It could... it could be nice.]

It's not important.

[She was not a good friend. Vianca turned slightly, pointing towards the school.]

I don't know anything else, but R.O.B. made a post a little while back that made it seem like he knew more about the island. He's a robot student. The beep boop looking kind.

Oh? Uh... if you say so?

[He scratched at the back of his head with a knuckle. Why wouldn't it be important? She was taking the time to help him out, after all. Felt weird saying 'thank you' to 'It's not important'.]

A Robot called R.O.B., huh? Got it. I'll see if I can find him. Hopefully he's not the 'shoot at me with laser canons or missiles' kind of robot. That's the kind I meet most often!

[That was what passed for a joke with him, and he smiled at her again. Man, she was kind of a somber kid, huh?]

[Vianca was super fun to be around. Very talkative, very friendly. In some other timespace.]

No, most of those ones were here last year. They're gone now, I think.

[Wwwwhhhooooosh went the joke.]

Oh! Well. That's... good.

[It wasn't a great joke to begin with. He understands. Mostly. You sort of had to know his history with freakish deathbots to get it.]

Thanks for the information, and all. So, you mentioned this R.O.B. guy is a student - Guessing you are, too?

[Actually her student status was altogether unclear at this point. She had to pause and think about it.

... Loosely speaking, you could say that. I primarily serve as librarian.

Oh! That's cool. I have a buddy back home, always got his nose in a book or some machine he's fixing.

[Oh Tails. Your nerdiness finally proves useful: As a conversation topic with a really quiet kid.]

You got any books on the ancient cultures of this world? Ruins and stuff? I'm a treasure hunter, and kinda an archaeology buff. It would be neat to check out the kinds of places that exist here for a guy like me to look into.

['I know' almost slipped out of her mouth. She could have mentioned the club and all of the times he had looked for her in the dusty parts of the library to ask her to come along. There were treasures in the bank that he had helped her find and take care of. But she didn't of course. There was no point.]

... We have a collection for this world and others. I do not think you'd find them lacking.

Cool! I'll be sure to come and check them out.

[And he would. He wasn't a huge reader, but it was easy to get hooked on books that covered topics he found really interesting. Ruins and temples and treasures and ancient tongues were all cool.]

Thanks a lot for the information. I appreciate it a bunch... You sure you don't wanna tell me your name? Feels weird thanking you when I got no clue what to call you.

Action -> Video

breaks pikmin over my knee as we [action]

Also breaking: My Heart

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