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Post by The Huggernaut on Oct 24, 2007 18:32:18 GMT -5
Crash just shrugged, crossing his arms.
"Like I said, I just sleep and eat here. Most of my time is... elsewhere."
Crash then headed over to the recliners, moving them so they were, while still on either side of the sofa, facing each other. Taking a seat in one, he motioned to the other, offering her a seat.
"Well, I said we were gonna talk, but it'll probably be more like a question and answer session. I'll ask you a question, you can answer if you want, then you ask something of me. Make sense? You don't even have to answer any question I ask if you don't want to."
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Post by Leedzie on Oct 24, 2007 18:47:56 GMT -5
The idea was a little "...." to her, but Julie wasn't really in the mood to argue. The pangolin nodded and took the offered seat, quickly hugging her knees and rocking lightly. "Fine... What do you want to know?"
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Post by The Huggernaut on Oct 24, 2007 18:50:56 GMT -5
Crash thought about his first question, then nodded.
"Ok... What were things like back home? Not just what it looked like, but... you know. And be honest."
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Post by Leedzie on Oct 24, 2007 20:27:01 GMT -5
Had her ears been external, they probably would've folded backwards. Julie sighed and rested her chin against her knees. It wouldn't be an easy question to answer; the bad parts would make her sad because they're bad. The good parts would make her sad because they'd make her homesick. "I live with my dad and my brothers. I have five brothers; they're all older than me. We're all really close... That's why we all still live at home. We live in the middle of nowhere." Julie's eyes drifted to the devil's. It was her turn to ask a question now. "Why am I your only friend, especially since we just met?"
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Post by The Huggernaut on Oct 24, 2007 20:34:49 GMT -5
Crash coughed, lowering his eyes so they would stop meeting hers.
"To be honest, everyone I know is either afraid of me, or wants to get rid of me. It's because... I'm strong. Freakishly strong..."
Crash was quiet for a moment, then continued, having collected his thoughts. "You're the only friend I have, I guess, because it feels like we're kinda similar... I don't know why, though." Crash's eyes rose and met Julie's again as he finished speaking, and considered his next question.
"So... why does your family live out in the middle of nowhere?"
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Post by Leedzie on Oct 24, 2007 20:38:01 GMT -5
The pangolin cringed slightly. " It's safer out there." Julie seemed to forget for a moment that she was to ask in return, then shook her head. "Don't you find any comraderie with other strong people?"
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Post by The Huggernaut on Oct 24, 2007 20:43:04 GMT -5
Crash was quiet again, then shook his head.
"Do you know anybody who can regularly bench press an SUV? I'm too strong to even be with other 'strong' people. The only upside I have is that I can use my strength to get money fighting-" Crash cut himself off quickly, looking down at the floor. He hadn't wanted Julie to know what he did for a living. A lot of people looked down on him just for fighting at all, much less doing it for money.
"... What were you safe from out there?" Crash looked up, his expression... almost unreadable, but perhaps a little concerned about spilling his little 'secret' of sorts.
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Post by Leedzie on Oct 24, 2007 20:59:26 GMT -5
Julie's expression didn't change as she listened, although his opening comment did pique her interest. She had the urge to interrupt with the confession that she could do that herself, but decided to keep quiet for the moment. The next question made her stomach churn. She had to pause for a moment and explicitly remind herself that Crash not only didn't seem to care about her ability, but that he didn't seem familiar with any prejudice about Gifted in general. If it was a norm here, he wouldn't be asking me this, the pangolin assured herself. She drew a deep breath. "Well.... you know my, um..." Julie pause and formed a small rock in one palm. ".....People like me, that can just... do weird things... are officially called 'Gifted'. Problem is... a lot of people think of us more as curses." The smooth stone slipped from her gloved hand, and Julie's grip around her knees tightened. " ...We're not generally accepted where I live."
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Post by The Huggernaut on Oct 24, 2007 21:06:20 GMT -5
Suddenly, it became clear to Crash. Why she was so paranoid about him having learned about her Gift, her comment a while ago about leaving her family alone...
Crash slowly stood, and walked over to Julie's chair, picking up the smooth stone the pangolin had formed. He then sat on the couch close to Julie, looking down at the stone.
"Well, you're accepted here, if that makes you feel any better. And if anybody tries to get on your case because of your 'Gift'..." Crash growled softly, almost starting to crush the stone in his grip, but stopping himself.
"They'll have to deal with me."
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Post by Leedzie on Oct 24, 2007 21:15:09 GMT -5
For the first time since entering her uncertain state, Julie cracked a weak smile. Crash really did remind her a lot of her brothers... And even though it made her a bit homesick, she also found it comforting. At least she had some element of home in this strange world. "Thanks... Really, thank you. I appreciate it." The pangolin let out a slightly more relaxed breath. She'd completely forgotten that it was her turn to ask a question, but coincidentally, she ended up asking one anyway. "So.... Are people like me common here, too..?"
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Post by The Huggernaut on Oct 24, 2007 21:21:05 GMT -5
Crash shook his head.
"As far as I know, not really. In fact, you're the only person I've ever met who can do things like that."
Crash considered for a second, then continued. "Although, that Sonic guy is supposed to be insanely fast, if you wanna count that as some kind of 'Gift'."
Crash remembered that they'd been asking each other questions, so decided to ask one. "What kinda stuff can 'Gifted' do, anyway? Or can they all summon rocks?"
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Post by Leedzie on Oct 24, 2007 21:39:18 GMT -5
That was one of the best pieces of news she'd heard all day. No Gifted here? That'd mean there wasn't a social stigma, right? Julie was afraid to hope, but found herself doing so anyway. The prospect of being able to walk down a city street without glancing over her shoulder was just too delicious to not reach for. Her mood visibly brightened. "Gifts aren't always like mine," she answered, releasing her knees to sit back in her chair. "I don't know any others, personally -- or if I do, I don't know it -- but I've read and heard about others. They come in all kinds of forms, but from what I've heard, they seem to mostly be elemental... Princess Blaze is the most well-known Gifted, and the one that's most accepted in our society. She controls fire." Her next question was simple. "Who's Sonic?"
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Post by The Huggernaut on Oct 24, 2007 21:44:43 GMT -5
Crash nodded, then looked at the TV.
"Hm..." Reaching into the cushions of his sofa, the devil pulled out a TV Guide, and rummaged through it.
"Ah, here we are. I knew it was coming on at some point." Another bout of rummaging through the sofa produced the remote for the TV, which Crash turned on. A quick change of the channel later revealed the "True Life Story of Sonic the Hedgehog".
"This show's always on at least one channel. They really oughta update it, though. Eh. It should answer yer question, though."
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Post by Leedzie on Oct 25, 2007 1:28:36 GMT -5
The two fell silent as the blare of the TV overtook the room. Julie paid careful attention as Sonic's general reputation was outlined. The faint smile returned to her face. So the closest they have to a Gifted here is pretty much a renowned hero... Wow. He's awfully lucky."Crash?" she suddenly called, her voice somehow softer without being quieter. "I'm.... I'm really sorry... About how I treated you before, I mean."
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Post by The Huggernaut on Oct 25, 2007 1:31:55 GMT -5
Crash just waved off the comment, smiling a little.
"S'aright. Now that I've got an idea of how things were for ya back home, it's understandable."
The devil's attention wasn't on the TV, oddly, instead, it was on that stone Julie had formed earlier, which still rested in the palm of his hand.
"Hm..." Putting the stone in his malletspace, which still seemed to have no actual location, Crash got up, and yawned.
"We should prolly get some rest. I plan on showing you around the city tomorrow."
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