[Faith makes good on her word. She also spends the trip there wondering if this is about what she thinks it is. An apology? Or does he want to chew her out again? This time, she's in a better place, not waiting for her friend to be revived. This time, she won't argue with him.]
[ Ah... that was easier than he thought it'd be. It shows how much he expects from people lately. But he will not complain, even if he was ready to actually say please if Faith refused... Oh well.
Unlike her, however, he's not in a very good place. Not to say he hasn't come to terms that Kate is alive and well, but that hardly is just the tip of the iceberg, he's thrown away everything he had worked towards so far, and he doesn't want it back. But Kate had asked him to do this, and maybe, it was something he wanted to do as well.
Shadow waits for her, impatiently, he's got only so much time before Henry decides to track him down again after all. She may easily spot him—he's the black and red hedgehog!—actually sitting on one of those tall stools at the bar. A glass filled with an amber drink rests in front of him.
He's been wondering for the past ten minutes if he's going to need it or not... ]
[It's because she's better, because she's talked with Kate some, chatted with Crow, gotten her mind off the death part. Otherwise, Faith might've just not replied at all.]
Shadow. [Not 'Mr. Hedgehog.' Well, she's still hurt. What do you expect? She approaches him, taking the seat next to him. She will not be having a drink right now.
And yet, she still seems friendly, a slight smile softening her face.] Well, here I am.
Yeh. [Her smile widens as she lets that word sit for a second.] Typically, people have those. And you did, yeh. That was really nasty, what you said to me when Kate died.
[ Nasty or not, they could have done much more. After he says that, he shakes his head quickly as if scolding himself. ]
Ah--I'm not... [ good at this... Yeah, he needs the help. He downs the contents of his glass and grimaces at it. This is hard, Faith, please be patient. ]
[That's right. He's trying, and that does count for a lot with Faith. It also helps that he's really cute, trying to keep his tough hedgehog thing going.]
And oh dear... someone needs more practice apologizing. Faith could probably give him a bit of a lesson right now, but it's not the right time. It'll just make him mad or scare him away from trusting her. For now, the effort is good enough for her.]
It did. [She pauses for a second, lets that settle.] Apology accepted. And, erm-- sorry I said you didn't try to help us. You did.
[ Score!... ? Yeah, it works. From now on he shall apologize that way, forever. It wasn't so hard!
Then why doesn't he feel any better?
Maybe because what she says doesn't feel right either.
He did try. That's all he's ever done, try. ]
I--
[ He what? Gosh, everything about that day is just a big blur. He was so awfully tired and being stubborn about it. But he does remember Kate's dead (literally) weight in his arms, he does remember Faith's expression at the sight, one he wishes he could forget. The anger and pain in her eyes... in was just unbearable to watch. He could have done much more, or simply, do nothing at all. He could have, in fact, swallowed his pride and not try to play hero. He's never been one, anyway, he's not like Sonic. ]
[If he doesn'tt feel better, he feels guilty, which means he really cares. Faith would say as much if she knew, but they're not that close -- yet!]
Course you did. An' so did I, it just wasn't enough. [Even having gone full phoenix, Faith hadn't been able to kill the dragon.] Doesn't matter now, though. Dragons are gone and Kate's back.
[ Just as Faith had said, she doesn't know what he has to deal with; it was never just about Kate. He wishes it was that easy, to see the world in such positive way and to forget about the ghosts of the past.
But he's not there yet, and in all truth, he doesn't know when he'll be, if ever.
So, he simply nods, then motions whoever is in charge of the bar to refill his glass. ]
Anything else?
[ He doesn't look up at Faith, but it's obvious he's addressing her. He apologized, that's it, right? ]
[That's all they're going to get out of this, isn't it? That's all right. It's enough. He cares, in his own way. Maybe they'll get further in time, but for now, Faith's okay with this.]
Nah. [She smiles.] Gonna get back to the house now. See ya 'round, yeh?
[If there's nothing else, she'll wave and head off, feeling better overall because, in her mind, she's started to make a new friend.]
[ That's all they are going to get out of this. He cannot understand why she's smiling, but if that makes her happy... Then everything might actually be fine, no matter what he feels, really. When has that mattered anyway? The sole person who ever cared no longer exists.
He observes as she leaves and stays at the bar for a couple of drinks more before he realizes that he doesn't want to deal with another hangover ever again. ]
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[Faith makes good on her word. She also spends the trip there wondering if this is about what she thinks it is. An apology? Or does he want to chew her out again? This time, she's in a better place, not waiting for her friend to be revived. This time, she won't argue with him.]
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Unlike her, however, he's not in a very good place. Not to say he hasn't come to terms that Kate is alive and well, but that hardly is just the tip of the iceberg, he's thrown away everything he had worked towards so far, and he doesn't want it back. But Kate had asked him to do this, and maybe, it was something he wanted to do as well.
Shadow waits for her, impatiently, he's got only so much time before Henry decides to track him down again after all. She may easily spot him—he's the black and red hedgehog!—actually sitting on one of those tall stools at the bar. A glass filled with an amber drink rests in front of him.
He's been wondering for the past ten minutes if he's going to need it or not... ]
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Shadow. [Not 'Mr. Hedgehog.' Well, she's still hurt. What do you expect? She approaches him, taking the seat next to him. She will not be having a drink right now.
And yet, she still seems friendly, a slight smile softening her face.] Well, here I am.
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I have been informed that you have... feelings and that I probably have hurt them.
[ ... That's a start. ]
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Yeh. [Her smile widens as she lets that word sit for a second.] Typically, people have those. And you did, yeh. That was really nasty, what you said to me when Kate died.
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[ Nasty or not, they could have done much more. After he says that, he shakes his head quickly as if scolding himself. ]
Ah--I'm not... [ good at this... Yeah, he needs the help. He downs the contents of his glass and grimaces at it. This is hard, Faith, please be patient. ]
I suppose I should apologise for that too.
[ He's trying. Trying counts, right? ]
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[That's right. He's trying, and that does count for a lot with Faith. It also helps that he's really cute, trying to keep his tough hedgehog thing going.]
I'd really appreciate it if you did.
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See him looking up at her, then giving another little sigh, this is hard! ]
I'm sorry if what I said hurt your feelings.
[ There it goes! ... Wait, that doesn't sound quite right. ]
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And oh dear... someone needs more practice apologizing. Faith could probably give him a bit of a lesson right now, but it's not the right time. It'll just make him mad or scare him away from trusting her. For now, the effort is good enough for her.]
It did. [She pauses for a second, lets that settle.] Apology accepted. And, erm-- sorry I said you didn't try to help us. You did.
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Then why doesn't he feel any better?
Maybe because what she says doesn't feel right either.
He did try. That's all he's ever done, try. ]
I--
[ He what? Gosh, everything about that day is just a big blur. He was so awfully tired and being stubborn about it. But he does remember Kate's dead (literally) weight in his arms, he does remember Faith's expression at the sight, one he wishes he could forget. The anger and pain in her eyes... in was just unbearable to watch. He could have done much more, or simply, do nothing at all. He could have, in fact, swallowed his pride and not try to play hero. He's never been one, anyway, he's not like Sonic. ]
I did not.
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Course you did. An' so did I, it just wasn't enough. [Even having gone full phoenix, Faith hadn't been able to kill the dragon.] Doesn't matter now, though. Dragons are gone and Kate's back.
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But he's not there yet, and in all truth, he doesn't know when he'll be, if ever.
So, he simply nods, then motions whoever is in charge of the bar to refill his glass. ]
Anything else?
[ He doesn't look up at Faith, but it's obvious he's addressing her. He apologized, that's it, right? ]
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Nah. [She smiles.] Gonna get back to the house now. See ya 'round, yeh?
[If there's nothing else, she'll wave and head off, feeling better overall because, in her mind, she's started to make a new friend.]
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He observes as she leaves and stays at the bar for a couple of drinks more before he realizes that he doesn't want to deal with another hangover ever again. ]