bakerstreet | she acts like summer and walks like rain

she acts like summer and walks like rain

The Starlight Meme

It's a beautiful, warm spring night out on the hills, and all the stars are out. Aren't they beautiful? You've decided to get out that checkered blanket from the back of your closet and put it to good use. Are you just lying down, staring at the constellations? Are you propping up a telescope, searching the sky? Are you seated on the blanket, sharing a starlit picnic with friends? Whatever the case, you're under starlight.

what to do
- post your character, including name and fandom and prefs if you have 'em
- give a small set-up for what your character is doing
- others respond to your character
- those characters are watching the stars together
- have fun!

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[ Stars.

Shadow knew them well, in fact, aboard the ARK he could always stare at them, think about how far away they were or what universes they harbored. They often made him feel small, insignificant. Looking down at Earth was the same... He and Maria were so curious about what was on that planet that it never really dawned on him at the time that the people of Earth were always looking at the stars, wondering what was out there.

Now that he was on Earth instead of on the ARK, he found himself also looking at the night sky, searching for a deeper meaning. Sometimes he wished that he could ask the Professor just what he intended for him... He'd give anything to be able to see Maria and the Professor again. But he knew that wasn't possible.

Shadow wasn't one for unrealistic expectations. ]

[ If Sonic was known for anything besides his speed, it was enjoying the sights.

Many would assume that he'd just keep on running, that he'd keep going until the end of the hills or until he ran into something. And indeed, much of the time Sonic spent outside was running forward to some unseen X destination that ended up being nowhere. Being infamous for such an ability associated him with that specific image, no matter how true it was.

Little did many know, aside from Tails and perhaps Knuckles, that it wasn't.

In fact, at that very moment, underneath the swath of black that covered the night sky, Sonic walked. Walked. His pace was even, calm, tamed. Because, under the night sky, he was enjoying the scenery. There was no rush, because he was living in the moment. Right here, right now -- in a backdrop fit for a motion picture film.

He'd been so absorbed in the stars that he nearly bumped straight into the dark figure of equal height, and it was only by the flash of red stripes, those nearly hidden in themselves, that the blue hedgehog was able to spot him. He wasn't ready to become a crash test dummy when on an evening stroll.

It didn't take him long to recognize who he was. He grinned, and piped up, breaking the silence that surrounded them. ]

Whoa, hiya, Shadow! I didn't expect to see you here. What's up?

[ Of course.

If he had to be disturbed, then it was only fitting that Sonic would be the one doing the disturbing. It was something he'd grown accustomed to. Even before the blue hedgehog was close to him, Shadow had heard the sound of someone walking nearby...

His ears flicked. ]

The stars. [ He wasn't trying to be a smart-aleck, but he couldn't really give Sonic a better answer at the moment. Shadow had been consumed by his thoughts once more, and being called out of those thoughts left him at a loss for words. It happened quite a bit. ]

And what about you, blue hedgehog? What are you doing out here? Walking, no less. I didn't expect that from you.

[ Regardless if Shadow had meant to be a smart-aleck or not, Sonic snorted in response. What an answer.

His own ears twitched at the statements. He'd heard that before, but it still interested him how much others misinterpreted him. He rocked a little on his feet, hands behind his back, and the grin didn't slip from his countenance. ]

Enjoying the scenery! Stars are pretty cool.

[ He relocated his gaze to the sky, away from the hedgehog next to him, and tried to identify constellations as he continued. ]

It's like the perfect night for star-gazing, too. The sky's real clear.

[ Sonic hummed a little, clearly enjoying himself. Shadow's grumpiness didn't appear to dampen his mood in the slightest. ]

Is that why you're out here, then?

[ Well, that figured. Sonic seemed to love everything about the Earth, of course he'd love the view it had of space, too. Shadow was still deciding what about Earth he liked... because he still had his doubts about humanity, despite learning Maria's true wish.

At Sonic's question, Shadow folded his arms. If the sky had been cloudy, ther was no way he'd be staring at the stars, but instead of responding indignantly, the black hedgehog decided to actually give an answer with at least some substance. ]

... Aboard the ARK I could see stars whenever I wanted to... Night and day was something the scientists followed, but in space, the sun always shines while night is endless. There are no blue skies, and there's no cloudy weather. It's both night and day at the same time, always.

But here, the change greatly affects everyone. I can only gaze at the stars at night... Compared to looking at them from aboard the ARK, time here is so fleeting.

[ Shadow pauses, realizing he was nearly rambling, and he clams up, turning his head away, somewhat embarrassed. He was getting too used to opening up to Sonics... and though that might not be a bad thing, he didn't like it. Part of him still clung to the notion of being alone, and doing things on his own. ]

[ Sonic kept his eyes on Shadow, ear tilted toward him as he listened to his rambling. It's interesting; he didn't remember the black hedgehog having ever told him about the ARK and experiences he'd had there, even if the younger had some idea of what had occurred there. The night and day being the same relation made Sonic tilt his head; he'd never given it so much thought, but then again he'd never known much different, aside from Eggman's theme park located in space and the brief time he himself had spent in ARK. He supposed time on Earth was... disorienting for Shadow, since it wasn't anything like the space colony he'd been raised in.

His lips twisted thoughtfully. Fleeting, time, huh. Sonic always thought it depended on how one looked at it. After all, time seemed to drag for those who waited, while it ended far too quickly when one participated in something he or she enjoyed. Time could be increments, or it could be fluid. It could be night and day, or it could be hours and minutes. ]

Well, that's why you live in the moment. Nothing really lasts, so you gotta enjoy it while it's there.

[ Then his lips turned upward in a smile. ]

I think this is the first time I've heard you talk so much. Prime example on how things change. [ He wasn't mocking. Teasing, maybe, but there was no mean spirit inspiring it. ] You think a lot about this stuff, huh?

[ For Shadow, the realization that nothing lasted came all too soon aboard the ARK. When the military landed on the colony, his perseption of time, and the rest of his life had changed dramatically. If it were to change again, it would take a very long time.

Hearing Sonic comment on how much Shadow had spoken, the black hedgehog's ears folded back against his head. It became apparent to him now that this was definitely not a Sonic he'd spoken to before... There was really only one Sonic he'd opened up more to, and this clearly wasn't the one, but...

Even though this Sonic wasn't mocking him, he still felt embarrassed. He wasn't one to wear his heart on his sleeve. ]

I was sealed away for 50 years. A lot of things have changed since my imprisonment. If I don't think about these things, or remember the past, there won't be anyone to give the past the respect it deserves.

[ It was obvious that humans were ungrateful for what the Professor had done for them... A colony dedicated to searching out scientific methods that would benefit mankind, and yet they attacked him for it. Now it felt like no one really remembered the Professor as anything more than a terrorist. Humans were so easily persuaded and open to suggestion. He hated them. ]

Not even the Doctor knows what really transpired up there. [ Words on a screen could only denote so much. ]

[ Strangely enough for Sonic himself, he went quiet at that. Yes, the past deserved respect. He knew that much -- with losing Emerl, with what happened to Gamma, and of course, and this not being the least of the list just because the hedgehog was standing right next to him, what Shadow had done for Earth...

And it'd been forgotten, he remembered. When next he woke and the black hedgehog found himself lost without his memory, G.U.N came after him irrationally, even though if it weren't for him all of them would be gone. Sonic had no idea how they'd possibly forgotten something so monumental, but regardless it spelled for extra stress and disaster on the black hedgehog's part. The hero was only lucky that his friend had actually decided to listen to him when he'd tried to steer him away from those paths, letting the memory come naturally as he told him what to do.

Sonic would never forget, most certainly, even if the others had. He remembered fighting alongside Shadow as if it was yesterday. And even though he wasn't one to dwell in the past, he knew how important it was. And for someone like his dark counterpart, who had lost much of his, it was all the more important. ]

Well, I can't remember fifty years back since I wasn't there, but I'm not gonna forget all that resurfaced. And I'm also not gonna forget that there's a living source if I wanna know more.

[ This time, he tried to meet his eyes -- his smile was gone, replaced with musing, almost brooding, which looked strange on his face. Hey, he could think sometimes. He just chose not to. ]

But still, we can't just stick in the past all the time. We've gotta keep moving forward. If you stay longing for what once was, you won't appreciate what is.

[ Shadow looked at Sonic, looked into those eyes but said nothing for a long while, just thinking about what was being said to him. Part of him wanted to shake the hedgehog, tell him he didn't understand, but Shadow had never taken the time to ask Sonic what he'd seen or been through.

Besides, yelling at this kid wouldn't change anything. That would just be a waste of time and effort. Instead, he just stared at the blue hedgehog for a long time, his gaze drilling him.

It's another moment before Shadow looks away again, back up at the stars. ]

What should I appreciate then.

[ The way he says it almost doesn't make it a question. More like a flat statement, that he doesn't expect there to be an answer to it. It was true that Sonic (one of them) had told him that he was a friend, and that he'd be there for him, but it felt strange to want to appreciate him. The hedgehog was often more of an annoyance than a source of support.

He was still filled with hatred that it conflicted him inside, especially since he had a will to live now, to want to move forward, but really no one had told him to forgive humanity, no one explained to him how humans functioned or why they behaved in a certain way. His specific point in the timeline meant that he didn't get the wake up call he was supposed to, instead he's been given informaton from a variety of sources, and understand that he can't destroy the world, but he also still hates its inhabitants. Being so conflicted inside was making everything harder. ]

When I look at the stars, I think of my home. Where I was created. Being here is... [ He's not sure how to voice his thoughts on this matter. He didn't function the same way Sonic did. Living for the moment wasn't something he could do so easily. ]

[ Sonic candidly shrugged at his question. ]

I don't know, you tell me. I don't know what you've been through and what you're going through now, and I'm not gonna start pretending I do.

[ It was almost an invitation for Shadow to open up to him, to start actually talking to him. The tease earlier wasn't going to repeat itself. He did, honestly, want to know more about this mysterious black hedgehog who was now sharing the night sky with him, the nuances of his past and the extra facets of his personality completely eluding him. It was a subtle subtext, wreathing underneath simple words strung together and giving them significance. To his roots, Sonic simply wanted to get to know Shadow. Befriend him, but mutually. ]

Here is a beautiful planet filled with a lot of different animals, plants, and humans. Or, here is a wasteland filled with greediness and anger and hatred. Either way you take it, that's what here is. It's up to you how you wanna view it.

I personally like to give this planet a chance. Not everyone's good, but not everyone's bad, either. How should I know? I'm not some all-knowing powerful being. I'm not perfect in any way. I'm just Sonic the Hedgehog, hero and defender. And... honestly, that's all I really wanna be. If I knew everything, how boring'd that be? I'd be expecting... everything.

However you look at it, nothing's the same. Nothing's universal. You and me -- we're different. So why can't we say that humans can be different from each other, too?

There's my speech of the night. [ He snorted. ] Hey, you're smart, you don't need me telling you what I mean by that, or what that implies I know about you. Let's just assume I know nothing. Would you tell me? I'm curious. I wanna listen.

[ Shadow listened. There wasn't much else he could do, and he wasn't in a mood to just run off or be instigative toward the other, so he let him talk. The words he was saying about humans... Shadow knew he had to give them a chance eventually.

Give them a chance to be happy... Let them live for their dreams.

For a moment, his eyebrows crease, a look of deep sadness showing on his face, but he turns his head away so Sonic can't see his expression, not wanting to show weakness before the other. He'd regained his true memories of Maria's wish within the last year, or more than that. He knew she loved Earth, and the humans that live on it. Despite what they did to her... To the Professor...

Shadow, I know you can do it. That's the reason you were brought into this world.

To help. To benefit mankind. To protect. He knew it in his heart that's what he had to do, but despite that, he still harbored anger towards the humans. And that's what was conflicting him so deeply... Protect the planet Maria loved... And save the humans which he so deeply loathed.

But at Sonic's last questions, Shadow turned back to look at him. It wasn't the first time a Sonic had wanted to know more about him... he'd already let a previous one in at least a little. ]

What do you want to know? [ Even he didn't really know all that much about himself. Maria told him that he was created to give humanity a chance-- to live. To protect them, but he'd never received an answer from the Professor. Why did he have to protect humanity? It was humans that attacked everyone on board... ]

Why do you care?

What do I want to know?

[ Sonic smiled broadly at that, despite the uncertainty that Shadow showed with him. He was pretty darn confident in his intentions and he was pretty darn confident that he wasn't going anywhere that would wind him in trouble. And he wasn't going to back away, not now. ]

Anything you can tell me, really. As I said, I'm curious. As to why I care...

[ It was at this moment that he shifted his hand and placed it lightly over Shadow's chest, feeling the tiny, even heartbeat from underneath his palm. He didn't move it for a bit, still speaking onward, his voice even, without any rush, without any doubt. ]

We share this in common, right? You live, I live. And, even though you grew up somewhere other than where I did, [ he gestured outward with his other hand, ] we share this same sky now. I wanna see what else we share in common. And what else is different, too.

You know... [ He withdrew his hand, turning back toward the stars, the smile not disappearing. It was a friendly smile, a promise of camaraderie, not mocking in the slightest. ] I never thought you were a bad guy, even when we fought. You went through a lot. Likely more than I have, and sometimes that can make you crazy. I know you've got good intentions somewhere in there. I mean, if you didn't, we wouldn't still be here.

Are you lost? I don't got a map, but that's never stopped me before.

[ When Sonic places his hand on his chest, normally Shadow would smack it away, but this time he doesn't move, instead continuing to watch the blue hedgehog.

He can't help but smirk at those words. ]

I am lost. I don't know what to do in this world anymore. I... had thought that if I destroyed this planet along with myself, then that would be what the Professor would have wanted. What Maria would have wanted...

[ He folds his arms. ]

But it's not true. The Professor lost his mind through grief... And I suppose so did I. All I could think about was getting even. Now that I'm not living for revenge, I don't know what to live for... But I will find out what to do myself.

I know you want to help me... You're not the first Sonic I've met to offer that much to me.

[ He shakes his head, staring up at the sky again. ]

But this is something I'll have to do on my own. If you want to know about me, you'll have to be more specific, because even I don't know all the answers. I was never told the reason for my own existence.

[ Sonic tilts his head as he listens to his friend speak. Not knowing what to do? Purpose? Reason for his existence? The blue hedgehog frowns. Those were never things that he himself had ever considered. It's reasonable, he supposes; Shadow was created for a specific reason, while Sonic was simply born. Still, that doesn't make Shadow any less of a free living being in his eyes.

He needs guidance, and the only two who could give it to him are gone. ]

If it counts for anything, I heard some old recorded video of Gerald and Maria both talking about how you were supposed to protect Earth.

It was the real thing, too.

[ He shrugs. It's not as if he's the one who determines Shadow's path. It's the other hedgehog's choice, but if he can help pick him up while finding out what to do, he's totally willing. ]

Hey, I don't know. All I'm saying is that you should give people a chance before judging them. And maybe think for yourself instead of wondering what others want from you. What do you think is right?

As far as anything you could tell me...

[ He places a hand on the black hedgehog's shoulder. ]

How was life with Maria like?

[ ... They told him he was supposed to protect Earth...? Why hadn't he ever seen this? Especially if it was recorded before they died? Why hadn't they just told him...

It was easier to judge all of the human race than give them a chance. But he knew he had to give them a chance. It's what Maria wanted. And even if he shouldn't just do what others wanted him to, he still feels indebted to her... She taught him what happiness was.

At the question, Shadow looks at the ground. ]

Maria was... my whole world. When I was created, she was there... She was sickly, fragile. But she had more life in her than anyone I'd ever met on the colony. She had dreams of wanting to go to Earth, and we both wondered what it was like there.

She was born on the ARK, I think... Like me. We spent most of our days looking at the Earth from the observatory. Even though we longed for it, we weren't sad... I cherished my time with her and the Professor.

She was the most pure soul... She had more kindness in her than the entire Earth together. Even when the military attacked us, she still wanted me to give humans a chance.

They didn't deserve her.

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she acts like summer and walks like rain

The Starlight Meme

Shadow the Hedgehog | Sonic Adventure 2

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