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Post by Leedzie on Dec 15, 2008 10:49:23 GMT -5
Good question, Espio thought, gazing upwards to reflect. "I guess I'm getting close to 10 years now... I was 11 or 12 when I first took an interest."
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Post by Jamie Lee on Dec 15, 2008 23:25:40 GMT -5
"Cool," Midnight answered. "I always wanted to get into learning it myself. I just never had the opportunity." Finally her cave came into sight. Midnight wandered up to the front door and opened it, holding it out of courtesy for Espio.
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Post by Leedzie on Dec 16, 2008 14:00:39 GMT -5
He'd been hoping the mouth of the cave would be one of those wide, arena-like areas... but it turned out to be more like a mousehole in the side of a mountain. Espio's brows furrowed and he frowned, finding his muscles locked into place. Stop it, he silently scolded himself. I told her I'd help, and she's standing there waiting. I owe her at least this much. Yet several more seconds passed with little more change than a bead of sweat rolling past the chameleon's scaley temple. "W... What's it like inside?" he finally asked.
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Post by Jamie Lee on Dec 17, 2008 19:25:25 GMT -5
"Eh, it's a cave," the bat shrugged. "I wouldn't call it a huge place but it's spacious enough for someone with wings as big as mine are to move around comfortably," she gave them a flutter in emphasis.
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Post by Leedzie on Dec 18, 2008 11:21:59 GMT -5
The frown didn't leave his face. He really, REALLY hated this problem of his; it was not only a ridiculous phobia, but it made situations such as this one unnecessarily strenuous. Entering an unknown area should NOT be this troublesome. It's probably just fine. ... Well, it's probably at least managable.Espio released an abbreviated breath and glanced aside. He could practically feel the crack in his confidence wedging in deeper. Relax, dumbass, you're not even THERE yet. You've been through worse, anyway; this can't POSSIBLY be as bad as Harper's staff tunnels.Oh Chaos, Harper's tunnels. THAT sent a visible chill up his spine. In lieu of such a comparison, the chameleon gritted his teeth and trudged forward, although his feet suddenly felt very heavy.
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Post by Jamie Lee on Dec 21, 2008 22:14:01 GMT -5
Arching her brow at the chameleon, Midnight just shrugged, her patience for him reaching its end. Leaving the door open for him she wandered inside to survey over what needed to be done. Inside a small windowless apartment was revealed, stacks of boxes, some sealed and some not, sitting around.
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Post by Leedzie on Dec 29, 2008 15:46:42 GMT -5
Espio sucked in a long, slightly laboured breath, but for the most part seemed to maintain his composure -- or did so when one ignored the fact that his eyes continually darted around the room. "So... w-why're you moving?" he mumbled, suddenly taking great interest in the nearest box.
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Post by Jamie Lee on Dec 29, 2008 15:56:28 GMT -5
The bat didn't immediately answer. Instead she snatched a collectible off a nearby shelf and eyed it silently for a moment. She then proceeded to snatch a newspaper from a nearby stack and carefully wrap it up. "I've had the place broken into a couple of times. It stops feeling secure after awhile, you know?" she glanced up and shrugged. "Plus I miss having windows."
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Post by Leedzie on Dec 30, 2008 23:00:36 GMT -5
That struck him as odd. Breaking and entering, way out here in the sticks? The crime levels in Central City always got under the ninja's scales, but to know that it was happening even in rural areas was particularly unsettling. Espio grabbed for a sheet of cardboard and busied himself with folding it into a box. "You weren't home during the acts, were you..?"
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Post by Jamie Lee on Dec 30, 2008 23:07:35 GMT -5
Midnight seemed to become slightly detached as she answered with a "Yep," while carefully placing the wrapped collectible in a box. "First me and Ray were kidnapped by the military. Completely trashed the place. Then after we get back and I'm trying to straighten everything, and I swear I'm not making this up, that black hedgehog from the news barged in."
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Post by Leedzie on Dec 31, 2008 1:05:30 GMT -5
The chameleon's mouth scrunched in troubled thought, his claustrophobic anxiety momentarily forgotten. Espio's concern over the amount of danger this woman had faced flooded his mind, so much so that he never really connected the dots that Shadow had been the second intruder. It wasn't as though Midnight was someone actively trying to go out and right any wrongs; she was just a normal person, focused simply on living her life. Why was so much danger falling into her lap? He'd completed the construction of the box in his hands by then. Setting it aside, he mulled over the situation further and grabbed for a second. He was already aware she'd been injured in the G.U.N. debacle. And that incident hadn't been that long ago; that probably meant that the second break-in was fairly recent, which reduced the odds that she'd been hurt. "At least you're safe for the moment," Espio finally replied several minutes later.
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Post by Jamie Lee on Dec 31, 2008 1:23:44 GMT -5
"Yeah, at the moment," she muttered acerbically. With an irritated ruffling of her wings she reached for the next collectible on the shelf - a stuffed doll - and carefully took to nudging it into the box. "I'd prolli expect Eggman to put a base right under me, but he already made that stupid building in the middle of the jungle. So I guess that means it'll be the Dark Legion or something."
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Post by Leedzie on Dec 31, 2008 1:29:34 GMT -5
"Don't worry," Espio quietly but firmly asserted, negotiating the folds of the second box. "I won't let anything else happen to you."
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Post by Jamie Lee on Dec 31, 2008 1:48:22 GMT -5
"Aren't you the charming and heroic one," Midnight blurted, then paused when she realized she had said that out loud. She quickly turned her head sheepishly. "... Er, sorry. But seriously, I appreciate the gesture, but don't you live way over in Central City? I know you at least work there."
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Post by Leedzie on Dec 31, 2008 1:55:26 GMT -5
Apparently unphased by the outburst, the ninja calmly explained, "I'm currently on a leave of absence to get myself back on track. I can look after you while I'm out here." Setting the second fully constructed box next to the first, he finished, "And then, once I'm in any sort of position to be instructing, I'll teach you to defend yourself."
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Post by Jamie Lee on Dec 31, 2008 2:12:55 GMT -5
... Yeah, that's not creepy at all, the bat idly thought. Outwardly she just placed a hand onto her hip and shot him a puzzled look. "That's... awfully generous, but I don't want to burden you or anything. Besides, I really doubt my luck can get much worse." Her mouth twisted slightly as she finished speaking, thinking about the last part. She did say she wanted to learn martial arts...
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Post by Leedzie on Dec 31, 2008 2:25:10 GMT -5
"Midi," Espio said, his tone more somber, "I'm deeply indebted to you. You stopped me from doing something awful that I could never take back, and you jolted me back into the direction I was originally aiming for." The chameleon stared distractedly into the stack of cardboard waiting to be folded, and his eyelids lowered to half mast. " You saved me, Midi. I at least owe you this much in return."
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Post by Jamie Lee on Dec 31, 2008 17:58:22 GMT -5
Pausing in the middle of wrapping her next item, Midi's head twisted sideways with a confused glance at the chameleon. A couple of times she blinked and jerked her head as if she were going to begin speaking, but each time paused, unable to figure out just what she could possibly say. Finally: "... Iiiii... think you're giving me way too much credit."
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Post by Leedzie on Jan 4, 2009 22:10:36 GMT -5
She wasn't the first to tell him that. Espio briefly thought back on Knuckles telling him something similar when he professed his intentions to repay his debt. It was entirely possible that he did read too much into these incidents, but it didn't change the fact that showing his gratitude was something the chameleon took very seriously. "Then simply take it that you made an impact on me," he eventually said. Deciding there were plenty of boxes for now, the ninja grabbed the two extra he'd folded and delivered them to his host. "I feel I owe you a debt. You're feeling uncertain about your safety, and you mentioned wanting to learn a more formal martial art. If I can provide you that, then it's the least I can do." His eye caught hold of her, and unlike most of their other interactions, Espio's presence didn't seem quite so... rigid. In fact, he actually looked humbled. Then, just as quickly as the expression had appeared, it fleetingly vanished, and the chameleon turned back to the pile of cardboard. "However, if you'd rather decline, that's your perogative."
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Post by Jamie Lee on Jan 5, 2009 1:51:21 GMT -5
Noting the expression, the bat hummed, subconsciously drawing her wings in closer to her body and thoughtfully studying another collectible in her hands - an action figure wearing a blue helmet and leotard. "Heh, yeah, I did say that," she said, canting her head. "You know, it would be pretty cool to actually start learning," she glanced up. "Sure. If it's not a problem for you I'd be honored."
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Post by Leedzie on Jan 18, 2009 2:09:19 GMT -5
Somehow, and unexpectedly so, Midnight's acceptance of his proposal immediately lifted a weight from his shoulders. Espio suddenly felt a massive rush of relief wash over him, from the top of his scaley head to the soles of his feet. He couldn't take back the things he'd done, but at least this way he could make up for it in some form. Perhaps in helping Midi, he would also be able to help himself. Maybe, maybe, maybe now he could finally heal. The chameleon glanced around his host's home. It really wasn't far off from the size of the agency, now that he thought about it. Not the most comfortable of spaces, but certainly big enough to reasonably deal with. Windows would've made it less unnerving, but the ninja was certain he could tolerate his anxiety. Espio returned to the bat's side and reached for a sheet of newspaper to delicately wrap the next item on her shelf. He didn't look at her, but if her eyes were sharp, Midi might've caught a subtle smile. "No, the honor would be mine."
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