Harper's Estate: Requiem

[Stoney]

Chuckling at Rob and Espio’s bickering, Harper led Rouge over to the other door he’d showed her earlier. Opening it, he walked through and held it open for her to follow him.

On the other side was a large yet fairly cluttered room filled with all manner of musical instruments and stands for sheet music. A grand piano lay majestically off to one side, bathed in beams of golden light streaming down from nearby high-placed windows. Also present was a drum set, a saxophone, a tuba, several trumpets of different shapes and sizes, a couple French Horns, two violins, an old and battered banjo, and...

It lay secluded in an open space directly ahead and to the right of them. Gold and silver crafted elegantly together into twisting spiral patterns, extending upwards in an upside-down triangular shape with one of the two northern corners higher than the other. The topmost edge flared outwards in a replica of a bird's wing, and the strings gleamed with the shine of a waxed finish, begging one to pluck them. All in all, the full-size harp positively glowed in the light from above, as if exuding some sort of holy radiance.

Harper gestured at it. "Your world's Espio let slip earlier that you played the harp. I thought you'd appreciate seeing this." He smiled at her. "Go ahead and touch it. It won't bite."

[Leedzie]

The bat's mouth hung open, her face frozen with awe. She had never seen such a beautiful instrument, of any kind, in all her life. Even the antique harp her mother had used to teach her with couldn't compare with the elegance of the piece sparkling in the sunlight.

Rouge shook her head slightly when Harper spoke, having gotten lost in thought for a moment. Her questioning eyes rose to the colonel again, but upon his encouragement, the bat finally closed her mouth and gingerly approached the harp. Somehow, the instrument seemed to get even more illustrious with every step. As it came to be within her arm's length, Rouge reached out to touch the spine... But drew her hand back at the last moment, almost as though she were unwilling to tarnish its dazzling energy. Instead, the musician licked her index finger, rubbed it briefly against her thumb, and proceeded to pluck one of the strings.

As she expected, it was perfectly tuned.

Rouge glanced back at Harper, and for a moment was robbed of speech. How could she possibly convey the feelings swarming her mind in that moment? The bat turned her eyes again to the stringed instrument. Her heart fluttered within her breast. "It's absolutely intoxicating," she whispered.

[Stoney]

"Isn't it, though?" Harper smiled as he approached and placed a hand on the harp's spine, gazing up at the wing with a wistful expression. "I found this beauty just by chance. Its first owner was a king who was notorious for his stingy habits and his collection of beautiful and rare items. Sometime during his reign he fell in love with a peasant woman and aspired to make her the crown jewel of his collection, against the wishes of his family and his advisors."

Harper traced one of the many spiraling paths the interwoven gold and silver took up the spine with a finger. "Apparently, the king's country used the practice of exchanging gifts to seal wedding engagements, and he had this harp made to be his half of the exchange. But the king's country was hit by a devestating plague before he ever had the chance to propose. Nearly everyone died, including the king's family and the peasant woman he loved, and in his grief he began selling off all of his possessions -- including this harp."

He bent over to point at one particular point on the spine. "Look here. See that?"

A small plaque had been affixed about halfway up the spine on the outward-facing side. Carved into it was but a single word: Elena.

"That was the woman's name," Harper confirmed. He looked back down at Rouge. "The harp passed through the hands of many more owners over the years before eventually it was acquired by a group who planned to melt it down into its original gold and silver state so they could reform it into other items to sell. Luckily, one of the members of this group also happened to be an old friend of mine, and he knew I'd be interested in buying it before it was destroyed."

He reached out and strummed a finger along the strings, listening to the beautiful glissando echo in the room. "It cost me an arm and a leg in the end, but it was worth it."

[Leedzie]

Listening carefully to the tale, Rouge's eyes remained fixed on the instrument, carefully noting the intricacies of its design. She couldn't imagine the level of craftsmanship it must have required to make such a stunning work of art. As she listened, the bat slowly lapped the harp; she wanted to take it in from all angles, to inspect every inch, to fully grasp how much time and effort and patience went into its creation.

"There's a lesson in that story," she softly commented, scrutinizing the upper arch. "Wealth and love are two starkly different things. If the king had not caught himself up in spending his riches, and decided simply to love his bride, they might have had some time together before the tragedy -- or possibly avoided it entirely." The musician crossed to the other side of the instrument, continuing to gaze with admiration.

"And yet... even having said that, I cannot completely criticize him. To have poured so many resources into one object... not simply his money, but his heart and his hope and his good will... To have produced something so magnificent for the woman he loved, even against the wishes of those around him, is quite an impressive gesture." Rouge sighed. Her eyes settled on the plaque bearing the woman's name, even though she couldn't read the text. "It's ironic... He meant to go so far above and beyond the accepted norm to express his affection, when if she truely did love him, she likely would have been just as satisfied with a simple flower. Love can't be bought... Even if the efforts do produce something so majestic."

[Stoney]

Harper looked impressed. "Miss Rouge..."

He paused for a moment, looking down at his shoes, before continuing. “I’m sure you’re aware by now that you have an equivalent on this world. She…is not someone I have a high opinion of. To be blunt, her shameless flaunting of her body is despicable and her kleptomania is even worse.”

He gave Rouge a sudden beaming smile. “You, however, are quite the pleasant contrast. It has been some time since I've met another person who was so...philosophical. It's rather refreshing."

He gestured at the harp, still smiling. "Would you like to play it?"

[Leedzie]

Play it? Play THIS extraordinary instrument? Rouge felt privileged enough just to be able to view it; the idea of playing it actually made her palms a little sweaty. The bat awkwardly wiped them against her black leggings, turning once more to the colonel. "I'd be honored to," she answered softly.

Her eyes grazed the harp. It had been quite a while since she'd felt nervous about playing a song. Letting out a calming breath, the musician began licking her fingertips, cursing the fact that she didn't have any tape -- not for the protection of her fingers against the strings, but this time to protect the strings from the acid of her saliva.

"I have met the other version of myself," she quietly commented, experimentally plucking each of the strings to be sure they were all in tune. "She's a very strong woman -- much stronger than me. Her confidence and assertiveness is to be admired... even if she is a little abrasive. I don't think I would associate with her under normal circumstances, but... I still have respect for her. She brought Rob back to me; even if I fell to dislike her, I will always be grateful to her for that."

As predicted, the strings were all in tune. Rouge moistened her fingertips one more time, rubbing them together anxiously, and closed her eyes. Breathe... Just breathe... Upon centering her spirit, the bat partially opened her eyes, and her hands went to work, gracefully moving across the harp's strings. A wistful, flowing melody filled the air, and the musician's fingers danced in time to the music.

[Stoney]

"Tch." Harper grunted a sort of scoffing noise, his upper lip curling slightly upon hearing Rouge's opinion of her otherdimensional self.

He looked downwards, expression revealing his disappointment as he said, "It appears we have reached a difference of opinion, then. I am afraid that so long as she continues her thieving and manipulative ways, I shall never hold one such as our Rouge the Bat in high regard -- regardless of what occasional good deeds she may perform out of obligation. I have no respect for such women, since they themselves have no respect for etiquitte and the manners befitting a lady."

He paused, listening to the expertly-plucked music drift through the room. This tune...he was unfamiliar with it. Might it be exclusive to his guests' world?

He closed his eyes and listened.

A vision came to him...soft, flowing grass, moving like a green ocean in a gentle zephyr as the warm sunshine basked all in a healthy glow. Trees, swaying easily with the grass, their leaves creating a harmonious rustling that served as percussion to the harp's melody. The endless blue sky, with no clouds in sight, reflected on the unbroken water of a nearby pond where fish swam and played...

A small smile emerged on Harper's face. The scene made him feel rather...nostalgic. It was an image of an older time, before he left his father's farm to join the military so long ago. A time of simplicity and peace.

As he gazed at this tranquil mental image, Harper's brows furrowed. What was this...? It was like some forgotten memory was tickling the back of his mind, teasing him with being on the verge of remembrance, yet always remaining just out of reach.

A...a woman...? Yes, it was a woman. Face hidden. Sitting in a rocking chair--

The music ended. Abruptly, so did the flashback, the vision vanishing like dust thrown to the wind.

Harper felt great vexation, as he gritted his teeth and struggled to maintain that which was rapidly fading away. No. NO, dammit! He'd been so close! Don't stop now, not when he was about to remember!

But it was too late. The memory was beyond all reach once again; there would be no retrieving it now.

Harper opened his eyes, as if awakening from a dream, and blinked thrice, recalling where he was and what was going on. The memory of the vision fled to the dark recesses of his mind as reality set in.

There was a heavy, depressing feeling in his chest...it was like he had found something monumentally important, only to lose it again. But nonetheless, he had to keep up appearances for the sake of politeness. He smiled and began to clap.

"That was beautiful, Lady Rouge. Truly, you have much experience with the harp." He rubbed his chin. "I wonder if perhaps it would not be out of the question to set you up with a smaller version of the instrument before you leave...as a parting gift, of course. I'm sure we could find you a newer model around here somewhere--"

He paused suddenly, eyes widening and mouth opening slightly in surprise as his rubbing fingers detected a trail of wetness on one cheek. He traced it with a finger, following the path up to his eye.

Had he been...crying...?

[Leedzie]

"Thank you," the bat softly replied without turning around, lowering her arms to her sides. "My mother taught me to play when I was very young. That skill is all I really have of her..." Rouge frowned inwardly; this was not a wise road to travel, least of all in a situation such as this. A subject change was in order. "And, I appreciate your offer, sir... but I must decline. I already own an instrument that's very dear to me; Rob made it for me himself. It doesn't glitter the way this one does, but I would never replace it." The musician ran one hand along the spine of the harp. "Value isn't always determined by currency."

Rouge turned at last to the colonel, a new subject at the ready, but her words stopped before they started. The bat's ears lowered as she noted Harper wiping his eyes. "Are.... Are you alright? ...Shall I fetch one of your assistants for you?"

[Stoney]

"No, no, that won't be necessary," He hastily reassured her as he wiped the moisture away. "It's just that I don't get the opportunity to hear such beautiful music very often, that's all."

He gave her a brief smile. “Your mother sounds like a wonderful person…I would like to meet her someday." There was a note of pain in his voice as he said that, quickly covered up as he changed subjects with Rouge. "Rob seems like a nice fellow, though I do wonder why he bothers to wear that hood of his. I think Sonic and Shadow are proof enough of how useful hedgehog spines can be when exposed."

His smile turned mischievous as he glanced at Rouge out of the corner of one eye. "By the way, Miss Rouge...you and Rob appear rather close. Would I be incorrect to assume you are a couple?"

[Leedzie]

Rouge's typically dim smile broadened a bit. "No, you're right. I feel very lucky to be with him. He's always been so good to me... Even now he goes out of his way to take care of me." The bat's eyes lowered to the floor as she whispered, "He helped me when I really needed it. I owe him so much."

Her attention drifted to the other instruments stored in the room, many of which were caked with dust and grit. "What a shame Rob is busy; he might've found a flute to play here."

Rouge turned to glance back at the colonel. "Sir, you mentioned something before... Twice when you talked of my other self, you referred to her as a theif. ...Does she truely steal from others?"

[Stoney]

Harper looked astonished. "You honestly don't know...?"

Astonishment soon changed to anger, as he narrowed his eyes and glared off to the side at something unseen. "G.U.N. is acting rather irresponsible by not telling you, especially since you were staying at their base until I summoned you here. They’re probably keeping you in the dark on purpose to avoid losing your trust, or the trust of your boyfriend." He shook his head. "Since you ARE Rouge, albeit an alternate version, I think you more than anyone else should have a right to know the truth about your counterpart. I’d expect nothing less if I myself got tossed into an alternate dimension."

With a sigh, Harper turned and sat on a bench placed in front of the grand piano. He paused for a moment to sort through his thoughts and find a good spot to begin, then finally located one after a few seconds of silence.

"Miss Rouge...your counterpart is a thief by profession. She’s made it her job to steal from others, and to my knowledge has been doing so for her entire adult life. Her reputation is pretty impressive and she’s become quite famous by now.”

He paused again before continuing. "She is indiscriminate in her choosing of targets, occasionally deciding to steal from those who have wronged her, or from random people on a whim. Her usual M.O. is to break into a person’s home, palm any valuables she can find, and then either keep them for herself or sell them on the black market for hefty sums. She values precious gemstones above all else, and has been quoted more than once as claiming that all the world's jewels are hers to keep.” He snorted. “Sounds pretty delusional if you ask me, but whatever, I’m no psychologist. I just pretend to be one sometimes."

He scratched the side of his head as he continued with the uncomfortable confession. "G.U.N. occasionally employs her for operations where stealth is required, but it's strictly on a commission basis; she doesn't have a full-time job with them, and always requests massive amounts of money as payment. One such operation is what largely lead to her current status of fame..."

He then locked eyes with Rouge as he began explaining her counterpart's role in what many had come to term "The ARK Incident", where Shadow the Hedgehog had first appeared and proceeded to nearly destroy the planet.

"...Eventually she returned to Knuckles all the shards she had found and allowed him to keep the entire gemstone, though I don't have a clue why," He finished. "The whole world became aware of her thief persona after that when the story broke in the newspapers and on television, but G.U.N. worked hard to keep their role in hiring her covered up, so not many people know the truth about what happened."

He frowned slightly. "I make it my business to know about her and keep updated on her whereabouts out of sheer necessity, if nothing else. I own quite a few gems myself," He held up his cane at this point and indicated the large emerald at its tip, "and I wish to ensure they remain in my possession."

He suddenly paused at that moment as he began wondering just how deep the differences between these two versions of Rouge went. He eyed the emerald on his cane again as he traced its edges with his opposite hand.

"...Do you like jewels, Miss Rouge?"

[Leedzie]

"O-oh..." Rouge stuttered, a little overwhelmed by the information. "I... had no idea. But, then again, I only knew her briefly... and she was much more inquisitive of me." She let out a breath and reflected over the encounter. The other her hadn't seemed like a very bad person... A little intrusive and overpowering, but she didn't give an untrustworthy vibe. But you can't know everything at a glance... I suppose this is one of those things. "What a shame," Rouge commented to herself. "She's so smart and strong. She shouldn't need to steal."

The bat's ears perked up again at Harper's question. "Me?" she squeaked. In a way she was somewhat nervous to answer him; if she were to confess that she shared the affinity, would he trust her less? Or at all? Would he go so far as to throw her out? ...He clearly recognizes that I'm not like my counterpart much at all... But he also has such a negative stigma of her...

Rouge straightened up slightly and folded her delicate hands behind her back. Honesty was usually the best policy. "...Yes, I do appreciate them," she finally answered. "I think they're beautiful, especially when they sparkle." She paused, then quickly added, "But, I enjoy unique stones in general, not just gemstones."

[Stoney]

There was a terrible deafening silence, as Harper continued to finger the emerald much to its delight and stare into its shimmering depths for a few seconds.

Then, surprisingly, he began to laugh.

"Heh, I guess that just goes to show that some things remain constant no matter which universe you're in," He snickered after catching his breath some time later. His eyes twinkled with mirth. "Oh, but I do apologize for my rudeness. I tell you what – if I am unable to give you a musical instrument before you depart, then I have something else you might like.” He stood up and gestured towards the door. “Follow me, please.”

He led the bat out of the cramped storage room and back into the hallways of his mansion, taking her up a flight of stairs and past an uncountable number of intersections before suddenly halting in front of a door that seemed no different from the others they had passed.

“Here we are. Please wait here for a moment Miss Rouge – I have to deactivate the security first before you can be let in.” He gave her a small wink as he removed himself from her side and entered the door, shutting it behind himself.

Five minutes later, Harper opened the door from the inside and gestured for the bat to enter. "I've collected a great many things over the years, and unlike my peers with similar hobbies, I am content to part with one or two of them on occasion." He glanced around at the room behind him, which was sparkling and shining brightly under the glare of hundreds of display lights. "Something in this room will probably interest you, so go ahead and pick out what you want."

[Jamie Lee]

Rob glanced up, noticing as they entered the hallway and ran to catch up with them, waving his hand to get their attention.

[Stoney]

"Oh snap!" Harper yelled as the hedgehog approached looking upset. He turned back to his guest. "Miss Rouge, I changed my mind. I have an even BETTER present for you out HERE!" Picking her up, he tossed her out an open window and then dived out behind her.

[Leedzie]

Espio followed closely behind Rob and arrived just in time to see Harper dive out the window. "Well. It seems the good colonel has forgotten that we're not on the ground floor," he announced casually, shielding his eyes and peering out the window as Harper plummeted to his death.


Rouge's eyes bulged when they met with the gallery surrounding her. Though her mind was aware that it was a room in a private residence, she still couldn't quite believe what she saw; it was like being in a museum. Display cases proudly displayed ornate carvings, dazzling rare gems, and elaborately crafted pieces of jewelry. Exquisite paintings and delicate tapestries watched over the visitors from the upper edgest of the walls. Even a golden suit of armor stood guard in one corner, armed with an overwhelmingly detailed sword, whose hilt seemed to burst with fine jewels.

The bat found herself stunned for some time before finally shaking herself back to reality. He wants me to choose something from here...? In a slight daze, Rouge slowly began to make her way around the room. Her instinct was to decline, but given that Harper had already wanted to give her the harp earlier, something inside told her that he would persist in offering her a gift until she accepted one.

Rouge leaned forward onto her knees and peered with awe into a glass case. Some of the items it held were positively breath-taking; her eye fell upon a haircomb that bore a magnificent butterfly, constructed of woven tendrils of gold and adorned in the wings with several sparkling gems. The golden threads were so thin and frail, it amazed her that they were able to support the weight of their decorations.

She continued on around the room, ever impressed but unable to find the words to express it. At one point, one particular item caught her attention -- a flute, which appeared to be made of silver, and as with many of the other items in the room, illustriously decorated. Rouge's ears perked up with her attention; her instinct was to choose the instrument as a gift to Rob. However, after another moment of thought, the idea quickly passed. Not only would it be a bit of an insult to Harper, as he clearly wanted her to have the chosen item, but it would be a useless gesture anyway. Rob's flute is as important to him as my harp is to me. He would never replace it if it could be helped. She continued on.

Eventually Rouge found herself back at the start, and in just as much of an awkward spot as when she'd entered. The items she was to choose from were so elaborate... Maybe too elaborate. They all seemed more suitable for the Acorn family than herself. The bat released a breath and scanned the room quickly. There just had to be SOMETHING that would allow her to fulfill Harper's want for her to have a momento, but also wouldn't make her uncomfortable with its extravagant nature.

Just about then, something caught her eye that she hadn't noticed the first time around. It was pushed back into the corner, mostly hidden behind a lavishly painted vase. Rouge carefully approached and knelt down onto one knee. Careful not to disturb any of the other items, the bat stretched her pale arm into the shadow and gently pulled. To her delight, the item moved easily, and she slid it out into the light.

It was a box. Only about eight inches wide and four inches deep, had been carved -- apparently by hand -- out of a dark, sturdy wood. The perimeter of the top and bottom edges had been carved in high relief with dozens of delicate little flower blossoms. A large, deep blue jewel adorned the lid.

Rouge rose to her feet, examining the box closely. When she turned it over, she discovered a small protrusion from the back. The bat blinked. Is this a key? When she gave it a twist, a cranking noise instead greeted her ears. Rouge tilted her head ever so slightly, and continued to turn the crank. Eventually it refused to turn anymore, and nothing seemed to happen. Hmm... Glancing at the nearest jewelry case, Rouge gently set the box onto the nearest glass countertop, then took great care in lifting back the lid.

Immediately a soft, twinkling tune filled the air. Within the box, a tiny globe encasing a lightbulb began to rotate, projecting pale stars onto the black velvet lining. Oh, she realized, pleasantly surprised, it's a music box. She lingered quietly, listening intently to the box's song and watching the tiny stars dance. A small smile took her features. "How pretty..."

[Stoney]

Harper hit the ground below in a cartoonish dust cloud peered over at the find. "Ah, that thing. Another prize from an auction I attended." He smiled as he walked over to the bat. "There's a story surrounding it as well, but it's more legend than fact in my opinion."

He knelt down to point at the jewel. "This belonged to Princess Nadia, a ruler from one of the overseas continents during the turn of the millennium. It was a family heirloom that she had installed into this music box after marrying the son of a knight from her kingdom and becoming queen. The song that the box plays was composed for them by the most popular musician of the time period..." Harper waved his hand in the air vaguely. "I forget his name. But anyway, as the legend goes, the reason she fell in love with the knight's son was because he took her on a fantastical adventure to slay a powerful threat to the kingdom and wound up sacrificing himself for her sake. She so longed for him afterwards that she sought the help of powerful sages to resurrect him and eventually did so, by using magic to travel back in time and rescue him from his own death."

Harper grinned and gave Rouge a side-glance. "You can see now why I don't give much credit to this story; I find the idea of time travel patently absurd, myself. Unless one tries involving extraterrestrial entities such as black holes, I do not believe a person could conceivably travel through time in any fashion except straight forward at the current rate."




@cocky@

At that moment a silver hedgehog appeared in the room, cursed his poor marksmanship skills, and vanished again.

[Leedzie]

Can't be any more or less absurd than interdimensional travel, Rouge thought idly as she continued to listen to the music box's gentle chimes. It was odd; the song didn't seem to have a firm mood to it. She found it pleasant, but also found it sad, and yet in another way found it calming. Her attention drifted as she listened, recalling her home in Meadowood. It'd be nice to listen to this tune floating on the lofty breezes... And how beautiful would the star projections look on her dark ceiling in the night? ...I could see the stars at any time, the bat realized.

Her slender hand clasped around the lid and slowly lowered it. It was still a little awkward asking for something, but as she'd reminded herself earlier, Harper would probably insist that she take something until she finally conceded, and it was such a lovely music box...

Rouge's eyes rose to the colonel, her hands wrapped lightly around the box without gripping it. "May I keep this one?"

[Stoney]

Harper smiled. "If that's what you want, then sure. I must admit, though, that I'm surprised you don't want any of the other stuff here." He gestured around them at the fabulously expensive displays. "Your other self would've bound and gagged me by now while she ransacked the place."

His smile quirked to one side as he affectionately rubbed the top of her head, between her ears. "Yet more proof you two are dissimilar. I wish our world had gotten you instead of her."

He stood up. "Now, before we head back to meet up with your boyfriend, there is one last matter to attend to." He cocked his head to one side, keeping his expression casual and friendly. "It has not escaped my attention that I've been learning all sorts of intriguing things about you but not offering up information on myself in kind. That's rather rude, don't you think? I would be negligent in my duties as a host if I didn't at least provide the opportunity for you to assuage your curiosity, however hidden it may be." He rested his cane a few inches in front of his feet and placed both hands on top of it. "So, if you have any questions on your mind, I would be happy to answer them."

[Leedzie]

For just a second, Rouge had begun to recoil when Harper touched her head; the bat started to duck, and her wings partially uncurled from her back. But as he stroked her fur, Rouge found herself hesitating to pull away. There was something positively glorious about that sensation, in a way she couldn't exactly describe... And then just as suddenly, it had passed, and the colonel had moved along to something else. Rouge coughed forcefully into one hand and re-tucked her wings. That was strange.................. ..... ...I wish Rob would do that..

Carefully taking the music box into her arms, Rouge gazed emotionlessly into the display case she had set it upon. Her reflection stared back up on the smooth, glistening faces of the gargantuan gems inside. It's all so much... the bat thought silently, her line of sight drifting from one exhibit to the next.

"I suppose I only have... one real question," she ventured below her breath. As her eyes continued to journey about the room, Rouge's ears slowly folded backwards against her head. "What could one individual ever need with... so much?"

[Stoney]

Harper raised an eyebrow. An odd question...but not entirely unexpected.

"Nothing. Nobody needs all of this Miss Rouge, least of all myself. Why do you think I'm giving stuff away like this? That music box you've acquired cost quite a sum of money when it was auctioned off. And it's not even the most expensive item in here -- I was willing to give you anything in this room. Surely nobody in their right mind would part with any of these items without making at least some profit in return, right?"

He smiled again as he turned to look around at his collection. "The simple truth of it is that I could care less about keeping all this stuff. I'm a collector at heart -- it's a compulsion of mine, if I see it and I like it then I get the urge to buy it -- but I know it's not necessary, and as I mentioned before, I don't mind being a donor."

Harper scratched under his chin as he looked thoughtful. "You probably don't realize this, but I grew up without very much, myself. I only managed to build my current business and wealth by picking myself up by my bootstraps and working hard every day of my life. It was excruciatingly difficult just to survive, and I believe the experience somewhat hardened me... "

He gazed somberly at the bat beside him. "Eventually it all worked out, but I haven't forgotten what it's like to be poor, Miss Rouge. It is for that reason that the majority of my paycheck goes to charities and other worthy causes such as research into cures for various diseases." He chuckled. "One might even claim that I buy these items just so I can donate something different from pure cash every now and then."

Glancing up at the ceiling, Harper paused a moment before continuing. "I'd even offer up this mansion itself if it wasn't necessary for business purposes. All these displays you see...all these decorations and trinkets..they're all here for the sake of appearance. My business associates prefer the high life, and having a home like this impresses them and makes it easier to strike favorable deals. That's all."

He motioned for Rouge to follow him as he walked over to the door. "I treat other rich people and thieves like your equivalent with disdain, because they choose to hoard their wealth and then brag about it rather than offer it to those who actually need it. I refuse to be like that. It's both cruel and thoughtless."

Harper suddenly stopped walking and turned to face Rouge again. "By the way, if there is anything else your group might need -- food, clothing, et cetera -- then please don't hesitate to ask. I'm more than willing to provide you with whatever supplies you might need."

With another small smile, Harper turned back to the door and punched his ID code into a keypad next to it. He then proceeded to wait as the security systems momentarily disabled themselves to they could exit. "Are there any other questions you'd like to ask? We can keep talking on the way back."

[Leedzie]

"Rob is the one you should talk to about donations," the white bat mumbled as she followed after the colonel, mulling slightly over the things he'd said. "Rob is the leader of our group; it's his place to make those kinds of decisions for the community, not mine. ... Besides, it could still be a while before we find a way home."

Rouge hugged her gift gently against her chest and thought over Harper's words. The man had a lot of layers, to be sure. But then, she thought, most people did. There was no reason to think that an overlander would be any different, from a different dimension or not. I wonder where the line is between the things he cherishes and the things he aquires simply to have them. I suppose it has to do with his tastes... and experiences.

Blinking, Rouge realized that she'd begun to fall behind as her train of thought led her astray. The bat's wings flapped noisily in the quiet hall as she quickly closed the gap, and landed quietly as Harper's side. He wanted me to ask more questions, she silently remembered, glancing quickly up at the human's face. So much conversation was a bit out of her character, especially with someone she'd just met, but simply ignoring someone that clearly wanted her attention was also against her nature. Rouge reflected briefly until another question came to her.

"Espio -- this world's Espio, I mean -- seems quite comfortable here. I'm guessing you two are well aquainted..."

[Stoney]

Harper let out a sharp bark of laughter. "Espio? He's a drug addict a perpetrator of insecticide Simon Cowell in a chameleon suit the biggest smartass and self-absorbed bastard in either of our dimensions. He's trained himself to be a ninja and works in a detective agency over here. I hire him and his group every so often for various tasks since they tend to be in desperate need of money and clients most of the time. He's pretty good at his job despite his attitude, so it's beneficial for both of us."

He smiled wryly. "Besides, his particular brand of bitchiness amuses me to no end. It's great to have someone around that you can engage in an even-handed battle of wits whenever you want."

His smile faded slightly as he recalled the events of the past day. "I must say, though, that your Espio is different from ours by an order of magnitude. I still don't understand how you manage to put up with him all the time -- Rob must be quite the diplomat." He snorted. "I'll likely have to apologize to him before you leave. I had a bit of a mix-up involving our Espios earlier before you and Rob arrived. I thought somebody was pulling a prank on me, and your Espio's tendency to not know when to stop left me quite upset."

He stopped walking all of a sudden as he continued to reflect upon the incident. The look on his face was deadly serious as he pulled his shotgun out of nowhere and held it up lengthwise for Rouge to examine. "Miss Rouge...do you see this? This is one of my prized possessions that I carry on my person at all times, though I never keep it loaded except when I'm out hunting. It was the first gun I ever learned to pick up and shoot, given to me during basic training after I signed up to join the G.U.N. military."

He fingered the loading chamber absently as he continued. "I lied about my age to get in -- I was actually three years below the minimum age requirement, but I was desperate to earn some money to send back to my poor father at his farm. The recruiting officer was sympathetic to my plight, luckily, and looked the other way when I signed the papers." His gaze hardened. "I became a soldier very quickly after that, forced to survive on my own in harsh environments and under the constant threat of death or capture. It was Hell, but I lived through it."

Harper's roaming fingers rubbed across the plaque he'd had installed in the gun's base after his company had finally paid off all its debts and begun achieving financial success years ago. "My usual method of encouragement was to remember that it wasn't just my own existence I was fighting for, but that of everything I loved and cherished at home. By keeping that knowledge at the forefront of my mind, I was able to keep going even when things appeared hopeless and I was on the brink of collapse."

The shotgun was put away as Harper bowed his head to stare at the floor. "I hold self-reliance and bravery in the face of danger within very high regard, Miss Rouge. Your Espio..." He paused, closing his eyes. "...He disappointed me in those aspects. He doesn't know how to protect anything. He can't even protect himself." He glanced up sharply in Rouge's direction. "And no, I do not consider his age to be a factor. I was already on the battlefield at his age, removing lives from the enemy ranks with a twitch of my trigger finger."

There was a heavy silence that seemed to weigh upon them like a thousand-pound load on their backs. Harper broke it by rubbing the back of his head and laughing. "Ah, but listen to me! There I go talking about myself again when the two of us have already agreed that I've been doing that too often." The placid smile was back on his face as he motioned for Rouge to follow him. "Come, we'd better continue."

He resumed walking back down the hall towards the stairwell, but not before shooting one last comment over his shoulder; "By the way, I advise you keep your Espio away from any and all carpets. He is not entirely housebroken seems to have a knack for desecrating them more than other things."

[Leedzie]

As she listened to the colonel's words, the bat's pace slowed more and more; Rouge willfully allowed herself to linger behind him, her ears pressed backwards to her head, and her eyes focused on the floor just beyond her footsteps. You don't understand.... You don't understand him at all.

Espio was a rambunctious and highly-spirited boy. He had somehow managed to retain the same energy and exuberance he'd had at the time of Mercia's takeover, and even now remained ever-optimistic. He rarely knew sorrow or depression; he hardly even showed signs of disappointment. Espio loved life, despite the fact that his was far from ideal; in spite of Robotnik turning the world upside down, the chameleon still viewed it as his playground.

And that's incredibly rare in our world... Rouge thought woefully as she shuffled along. Envy was not a common element to her character, but Espio's playful attitude was something she had coveted more than once. She couldn't know so for sure without asking, but the bat was fairly certain that, despite his frequent mischief, Espio's upbeat behavior was something cherished by the community. Most people suffered from some form of heartache; a loved one lost, or a haunting memory that would not allow them peace. But Espio was free from those chains. Even though he'd been right in the midst of the coup of Mercia, he'd never received any trauma -- in fact, he'd treated the situation like a game.

He helped so many people that day, she recalled. Dozens of people were spared from the roboticizer because of his help. Even now, we probably wouldn't be where we are without him... Espio's an important asset to Meadowood. Without his ability to infiltrate Itzal's defenses undetected, we might've all been captured years ago. The bat sighed; Harper just didn't understand how much Espio did for the group. He may not have combat skills, but he protected his team and himself on a regular basis. A method being different doesn't make it wrong... And a method unseen is not non-existant. You assume too much, sir...

Yes, Espio frequently got himself into trouble. And yes, people in the community -- Rob especially, since he had become more or less his guardian -- were often frustrated with him. But he usually doesn't mean any harm... He just doesn't always think things through. Espio lives so in the moment that even a few minutes ahead of time doesn't always occur to him. Rouge thought over Rob's techniques of occupying and pacifying Espio's need for activity. All it ever took was to give him a task of some sort: attending to chores, helping with village maintenance, or practicing his archery. He's a very helpful and productive person, the bat thought with a sigh. He just needs guidance... Once he's pointed in the right direction, he channels his enthusiasm into something wonderful. He's a fast learner and a hard worker... He probably does more for Meadowood than any other individual resident.

Rouge sighed defeatedly. Harper just didn't understand. He didn't know anything about who Espio really was, or what he was normally like. The colonel had likely seen the chameleon at his most excitable, and given the situation she'd seen him in at her arrival, probably his most confused as well. It just was not an accurate portrait. You may have been more mature than he is when you were his age, Rouge silently commented as she caught back up, but I wouldn't trade away Espio's vivaciousness for the world. Everyone else's wings have been clipped in some way; he's lucky to still be able to soar to such heights.

Rouge longed to enlighten Harper to all that she'd just reflected upon, but in the end, the notions remained personal. Falling into step just barely behind him, she quietly replied, "We clearly have very different cultures."