Now that Tails has spoken with you about your mission, the state of the world, and the threat you're facing, you're free to settle in to life here. While the warehouse isn't exactly the most thrilling place to set up a base, it's clean and well-maintained (despite the only one here being a kid fox?) and Tails encourages you to make it your own as best you can. You're going to be here for awhile, after all. This world needs to be saved, and you're the ones to do it.
The warehouse is thankfully quite large, so there's plenty of space. Aside from the ground floor containing Tails' workshop, there's a room for Tails, Knuckles, and Sonic, as well as your rooms. There's a large bathroom and several nice showers - this time with actual hot water! Though it may not be fancy, it's certainly acceptable accommodations for your time here. Exploring further through the warehouse reveals that there's an upper floor, with several other rooms that have already been furnished for varying purposes; after all, it seems your friendly neighborhood talking animals have been living here for quite a bit themselves.
But outside the walls of the warehouse are where things get particularly dismal. Though life goes on in the city of Chicago, it's without any sort of passion or thought at all. The humans go about their day-to-day lives in monotony, acting as though nothing is wrong or out of the ordinary. They don't acknowledge you, even if you try to talk to them. They don't recognize you as weird, even if you aren't human (or a talking animal). They simply move about, drone-like, heedless of the robots that patrol the streets.
Eggman's robots are high-tech, white chrome and smooth; these are almost a work of art as they are technology. They all come equipped with laser beams regardless of the shape or size of them, and they all seem to be set on keeping an eye on the people. There are robots watching everywhere. You can't turn a street corner without seeing one or two, and they follow pre-determined surveillance paths as they watch over the humans.
Lingering in the distance, you can see a massive robot that takes up the horizon. That seems to be Eggman's base of operations, at least as far as Tails has been able to determine. Though it poses no threat to you right now, it's a looming reminder of what awaits you.
Welcome to Eggman's utopia.
THE BASE
Though he's apologized for the base not being particularly lively, Tails has promised you the freedom to make the place your own. He's even directed you to a "crafts room" if you'd like to decorate! This art studio is surprisingly robust for something put together in an abandoned, worn-down warehouse on the outskirts of the city. You'll find plenty of markers in every color you can think of, sketchbooks and paper and papercrafts, string and glue and everything you could need for your second grade arts and crafts project. Though it may all be a little kiddy, it's here for you to do with as you wish.
The crafts room isn't the only odd one on the upper floors, you'll also find a gymnasium. It's more of a home gym than anything else, with only a couple of beat-up old treadmills, a few exercise bikes, and some weight lifting stations, as well as plenty of weights. It's not exactly the best room in the base, but it's here if you'd like to make use of it.
Next door is an open room with several soft mats - an open room for sparring and training. This one doesn't really have much in it, but you're welcome to make use of it however you'd like.
And next to that is the requisite first aid room! This one is well-stocked and even has a few cots in case of more serious injuries. You'll find plenty of first aid kits, painkillers, and other various medical supplies, though nothing that will allow you to perform home surgery or anything of the sort. Hopefully you don't need to do that, though?
Finally, the last large room is one that a lot of love and care has been put into - an entertainment room! There's a large screen TV mounted on the wall, with many couches and plush chairs. You'll find that you've access to any and all modern day media you could find on a TV, from streaming services (who is paying for these, anyway?) and knock-off YouTube, to your favorite anime and even Twitch. It seems that our three allies have quite the varied interests, given their search history and "previously watched" shows and movies. There's enough seating in here for everyone, so why not have a movie night?
Oh, and you'll find the kitchen on the ground floor behind Tails' workshop is suitable for all your needs - it's not particularly well-furnished, as your pals here aren't exactly master chefs, but you're always welcome to talk to Tails about obtaining something more for the kitchen or any room in the warehouse.
All of the items you had on you at your canon point can be found in one of the storerooms as well. This includes weapons, though anything magical will unfortunately not work properly. Please ask me about anything gamebreaking!
THE CITY
Chicago itself is exactly what you'd expect of a typical American city. Well, apart from the robots patrolling and the lifeless people going about their days endlessly, that is. Anything you'd want to find in a city, you can find here! But be mindful - those robots can and will notice you, unlike the people. Most robots will engage in combat on sight, as you're someone unfamiliar and could possibly pose a threat, but some will try to flee - you probably don't want them getting away and reporting sightings of an unfamiliar person!
While the city may have undergone some major changes in its population, the infrastructure is about what you'd expect. The people clean and maintain everything just as they always have, leaving it to almost seem as though everything's fine... were it not for the construction. Unlike most construction sites, these are clearly being maintained and built by the robots - there are buildings that have been completely taken over by Eggman's white chrome finish, leaving to odd sights of mish-mashed buildings and structures that are half-advanced technology, half-old school building materials. Though it may look like a normal city at first glance, it would seem that Eggman is quite literally transforming everything into his very image. You'll even find a statue in a local park that has been replaced with an Eggman statue.
Sadly, it seems as though the people are not the only ones trapped under Eggman's thumb. Animals - be they pets or wild ones - also go about their usual business, with absolutely none of their usual livelihood. You won't see many people playing at the dog park, just passing through taking their dog on a needed walk and returning home. Squirrels and birds likewise carry on as if nothing is wrong, even if they're perched on something that is clearly Eggman's technology rather than a proper tree. Which yes, means that even some of the trees are being taken over by Eggman's chroma, transforming the very living world around you as well.
Though businesses are still running as usual, the people aren't exactly in any state of mind to notice if you steal something from them - as long as you're careful about it, anyway. While security cameras and the like may still exist, it doesn't seem like anyone's checking them. In fact, it seems like no one's committing crimes either, as the city is remarkably peaceful at all times of the day or night.
SHARDS
You may feel as though you have more control of your powers this week... or you may not. Regardless, things are still prone to going haywire, which could pose a problem if you get into a fight with a robot. Tails has asked you very nicely not to hurt any of the people, so maybe lead the robots somewhere that won't risk causing injury? Or don't, I'm not your mom.
Starting this week, you may attempt to use your shards together with someone you have a strong relationship with, good or bad. Once this has been used for the first time, a page will be opened to explain the mechanic. Regardless, that's going to take even more work than mastering your own power... so perhaps fighting those robots isn't a bad idea after all.
And you do want to fight those robots - Tails has warned you that the robots are searching for the rebels' base. You don't want to let a robot escape to bring information about you and possibly the base back to Eggman, do you? Should you let a robot escape, let me know.
TAILS' TASKS
For those of you willing to help - or if you're just particularly bored - Tails will offer some tasks for you all to help around the base. He can always use help with organizing and gathering supplies, keeping the base clean and in good condition, or even keeping track of the security cameras and communications networks. He'll gladly teach anyone who would like to learn technology as well!
For more specific tasks, this week he will grant you a small, rectangular box with an antennae on top. It's kind of cutesy, but it has a radar function built in and it is tracking some kind of signature. Tails says that it's tracking the Chaos Emeralds, and that some sort of Chaos Energy was detected not too far from the city about a week ago, when Knuckles vanished.
Your mission - should you choose to accept it - is to see if you can find this Chaos Energy reading and determine the direction it's coming from. You are to go in pairs, but you are not to try to track the readings to the source, just determine where they're located and what direction they lead to. Of course, nothing's stopping you from going off on a wild adventure if you really want to...
ENEMIES
This week's enemies are Badniks, Eggman's robots. Specifically, you'll find yourself facing the Badnik Surveillance Unit, the Badnik Drones, and the Badnik Transformer Model B33.
Badnik Surveillance Units are primarily made for reconnaissance. They can be found flying overhead, observing the people go about their lives and following scheduled flight paths and patterns to ensure every inch of the city is being observed. Well, mostly. You can find some back alleys and hidden spots here and there, and these Badniks usually won't go into buildings or out into the woods. They will immediately try to flee upon spotting you. They're easy to take down, though a bit more durable than one would expect, given Eggman's designs. If cornered, they are capable of shooting a simple laser beam that will hurt and possibly leave a burn.
Badnik Drones are the most common combat robot you will find. Small chrome white orbs with red eyes, they are capable of scanning and detecting abnormalities. They are not quite as common as the Badnik Surveillance Units, but you'll still spot several of them floating through the city at any given point in time. Unlike the Badnik Surveillance Units, these come ready for combat. They can fire lasers as well as shoot small homing missiles. The homing missiles thankfully aren't very fast and can be outrun or otherwise blocked, but they pack a punch if they do hit! These robots will stand their ground and fight if they spot you, but they will call for backup - if you aren't fast enough, you'll find yourself facing many of them!
The Badnik Transformer Model B33, more affectionately called Buzz Bombers by Tails and friends, is... well, it looks like a bee. A hornet, rather, as that stinger is actually a precision laser that moves fast. These robots typically look like Badnik Drones, but are capable of shifting and uncoiling themselves to become the B33 units. They are fast, they hit hard, and they are relentless, pursuing you nonstop until they've been destroyed. They will not call for backup, which is possibly the only saving grace about fighting them. Unfortunately, it's impossible to tell if a Badnik is a Drone or a B33 until you're actually in combat - and by then it may be(e) too late.
[Of course he wanted to do this. He went out of his way to reach out to her, after all; it wasn't something Yeager needed to do, but something he simply wanted to. Maybe because Raven reached out to him first, or maybe he just doesn't want to see Dorothy walk down that same dark path. Or maybe he didn't put all that much thought into it in the first place, and it's just something he could do, so he did.
Regardless, he doesn't say any of that, instead opting to continue being Aggressively Himself.]
Oh come now, surely I've already earned forgiveness for finding both the alcohol and the exit? I made very good use of my time exploring!
[Yeager continues to be aggressively himself, and it's...strangely nice, honestly. How long has Dorothy longed for something like this? Longed for someone to take some time with her like this, to share silly stories, to lift her spirits a bit...
It's nicer than Dorothy could have expected, and strangely, it gets her gaze to avert.]
Hmph. You still left me alone there. [...] But maybe I can forgive you just a bit for having excellent tastes and an escape plan already prepared. You certainly had it all figured out before I could even figure out the labyrinth's layout, blasted thing...
[Dorothy sighs, a little exaggerated, as she finishes her sixth cup and...attempts to start pouring herself a seventh. It's a little wobbly of a pour, admittedly.]
You're excellent company, after all. I find I don't mind it.
Mmm, I suppose that much is true. Wouldn't want to give anyone the wrong ideas, after all...
[Dorothy only spills a teensy bit, admittedly, before putting the bottle down and deciding to go slower with this one. Oh, it's hitting.]
But really...is it so bad to be a little fond of a moment like this? You're almost tolerable, which is an impressive feat for how much you get on my nerves.
I suppose it was. I never understood why you offered this in the first place to me, but it...
[Sip.]
...It means a fair lot to me. That you'd go so far out of your way. Ha. You're not exactly beating any sort of allegation that you like me in the slightest, tonight!
[It's a joke that gets another bit of laughter from Dorothy, and man, it's the most free she's ever sounded in...
[Someone else offered him something, huh...and so he thought to offer it to her, because she needed it. That's...
Dorothy looks up at Yeager, briefly, very much not sober but taking this in as she stares right back at him. It's a strange thing to hear, and she doesn't know why she's fixating on that fact. He didn't have to do this. He wanted to, somehow.
Dorothy chuckles a bit, her gaze averting.]
Oh, come off of it. I'm not exactly a likeable person, and you know that better than anyone.
[Another sip.]
But it...I...suppose it's quite sweet of you to do this. For me, I mean. Though I imagine you wouldn't do this if you weren't enjoying yourself as well.
...I wouldn't mind doing this again, sometime. I think.
Spirit. Like the ones we're imbibing, or something else?
[Dorothy laughs again, and it's unintentionally light and bright and...what if the world could be like this, all the time? Is this the sort of peace, the ataraxia Tails is fighting to bring back in some manner? If it is, then...
Dorothy can see why he's fighting so hard. It's intoxicating, on top of the alcohol that Dorothy's consumed.]
...It really is. I don't know why I never bothered to ask Scarlet to take me with her when she did this. Not that her taste in alcohol was good in the slightest, but she always went alone and I never asked why.
Now I simply can't understand why she would. Because this really is the lightest I've felt in a while. It feels as if I've no burdens on my mind, no cares, no...anything.
[Dorothy winds up staring at her drink for a bit, before taking another sip.]
Please. At the rate we're going right now, I could very well end up liking the two of you by the end of the night, and who even knows where that would go?
[Dorothy finds herself laughing again, a little unsteady as she holds her wine glass in her hand again and takes another sip--a bit too much, though, it ends up just kind of going down her chin and makes a mess, whoops.]
...Oh, dear, it's really hitting. Maybe I should put the glass down now...
[But Dorothy's got the right idea, let's just... put the glasses down for now... He's already going to have to stumble back to his room and— oh Raven's there. Hmm. He didn't think this through, did he.]
We should save some of it for later, ja? It would be a shame to wake up tomorrow with a hangover~
[oh it is WAY too late for dorothy, she is going to be headache central tomorrow]
We should. I wouldn't mind doing this more, with you. We ought to have some kind of way to deal with what we're facing.
[...]
Are you...planning to take your leave?
[It's a little hazy when Dorothy asks it, but Dorothy's face is a little blank when she says it. She doesn't quite look at Yeager when she asks it, though.]
Well, he's likely only going to throw something at me and tell me how much he hates me, so it should be fine.
[But that's mostly empty words to fill the space because he's having half a feeling, hang on—
(Once upon a time, Gauche and Droite used to ask him to spend the night with them when they had nightmares. He'd been so hesitant at first, because what if they found out about—)]
Well, it wouldn't be very gentlemanly of me to leave you like this when it's at least partially my fault, ja? I suppose I can stay~
[...Yeager has never cared about being "gentlemanly".]
[Mind? is what Dorothy wants to say, but she looks at him for a moment with shock and she's...
Well. She's having half of a feeling too, but she finds herself smiling and it's a startlingly warm and open expression for once. She doesn't have to be alone. Her mind doesn't have to wander, wander to those times she can't get back, to those times she wishes she cherished a little bit more when she had them, before they all...
Of course, the gentlemanly comment gets Dorothy to laugh, and she's thankful she's drunk or else the flush on her face would be far less excusable, but it's...it's actually really nice?]
Well, thank you. This is your fault and you should take responsibility for putting a lady in this undignified of a state. [...] But I...really do appreciate it. I've never tolerated loneliness very well...
[...Does she just...invite him to the bed now, at this point, oh Dorothy did not think this through but her drunken brain is very much just. Hm. Would he actually be...]
[DAMMIT WHY DID HE HAVE TO SAY THE GENTLEMANLY THING... Ugh, it's fine, he can suffer one night on the floor. It'll be fine. The floor is better than being in the bed, anyway—]
Besides, it is your bed, so please don't worry about such things~
[Yeah, no way mister, you're not getting away that easily--]
You are taking the bed, Sir Yeager! It's the least I can do since you're doing this much of a favor for me. I've dealt with far less comfortable things in the past, you know. One night isn't going to kill me.
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Regardless, he doesn't say any of that, instead opting to continue being Aggressively Himself.]
Oh come now, surely I've already earned forgiveness for finding both the alcohol and the exit? I made very good use of my time exploring!
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It's nicer than Dorothy could have expected, and strangely, it gets her gaze to avert.]
Hmph. You still left me alone there. [...] But maybe I can forgive you just a bit for having excellent tastes and an escape plan already prepared. You certainly had it all figured out before I could even figure out the labyrinth's layout, blasted thing...
[Dorothy sighs, a little exaggerated, as she finishes her sixth cup and...attempts to start pouring herself a seventh. It's a little wobbly of a pour, admittedly.]
You're excellent company, after all. I find I don't mind it.
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Oh dear, that's the last thing anyone should be saying to me. If you aren't careful, I'll start thinking you like me!
[And wouldn't that be hilarious, given how their interactions have been going so far?]
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[Dorothy only spills a teensy bit, admittedly, before putting the bottle down and deciding to go slower with this one. Oh, it's hitting.]
But really...is it so bad to be a little fond of a moment like this? You're almost tolerable, which is an impressive feat for how much you get on my nerves.
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Being able to put up with me at all is something of a feat in and of itself...
[Seriously, have you heard him? He is so annoying.]
But I suppose it's fine if you're enjoying it~ That was the point, ja?
[Just a moment for her to forget her worries for a little while, and maybe think that this life isn't all that bad.]
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[Sip.]
...It means a fair lot to me. That you'd go so far out of your way. Ha. You're not exactly beating any sort of allegation that you like me in the slightest, tonight!
[It's a joke that gets another bit of laughter from Dorothy, and man, it's the most free she's ever sounded in...
...
It's the most free she's ever sounded.]
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Let's just say that someone offered me something similar when I was at a low point, and I wanted to pay the favor forward.
[Ugh, he really must be drunk if he's having positive feelings about Raven.]
But I've never disliked you, you know!
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Dorothy looks up at Yeager, briefly, very much not sober but taking this in as she stares right back at him. It's a strange thing to hear, and she doesn't know why she's fixating on that fact. He didn't have to do this. He wanted to, somehow.
Dorothy chuckles a bit, her gaze averting.]
Oh, come off of it. I'm not exactly a likeable person, and you know that better than anyone.
[Another sip.]
But it...I...suppose it's quite sweet of you to do this. For me, I mean. Though I imagine you wouldn't do this if you weren't enjoying yourself as well.
...I wouldn't mind doing this again, sometime. I think.
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[It gets a laugh from him and he waves a hand, a bit unsteadily.]
That's the spirit. [Spirits, alcohol, oh that was an unintentional pun this time!] It's far more fun to have someone along for the ride, isn't it?
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[Dorothy laughs again, and it's unintentionally light and bright and...what if the world could be like this, all the time? Is this the sort of peace, the ataraxia Tails is fighting to bring back in some manner? If it is, then...
Dorothy can see why he's fighting so hard. It's intoxicating, on top of the alcohol that Dorothy's consumed.]
...It really is. I don't know why I never bothered to ask Scarlet to take me with her when she did this. Not that her taste in alcohol was good in the slightest, but she always went alone and I never asked why.
Now I simply can't understand why she would. Because this really is the lightest I've felt in a while. It feels as if I've no burdens on my mind, no cares, no...anything.
[Dorothy winds up staring at her drink for a bit, before taking another sip.]
I can't tell if it's the alcohol, or the company.
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It is most certainly the alcohol, I assure you. My company is never that incredible!
[But it's... nice that she could think so highly of his company, he supposes. It's not often people do.]
Next time we can invite Raven and see if you still feel the same putting up with both of us~
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[Dorothy finds herself laughing again, a little unsteady as she holds her wine glass in her hand again and takes another sip--a bit too much, though, it ends up just kind of going down her chin and makes a mess, whoops.]
...Oh, dear, it's really hitting. Maybe I should put the glass down now...
You barely seem affected, though.
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Like I said, I'm used to this~
[But Dorothy's got the right idea, let's just... put the glasses down for now... He's already going to have to stumble back to his room and— oh Raven's there. Hmm. He didn't think this through, did he.]
We should save some of it for later, ja? It would be a shame to wake up tomorrow with a hangover~
[I THINK IT'S TOO LATE FOR DOROTHY,,,]
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We should. I wouldn't mind doing this more, with you. We ought to have some kind of way to deal with what we're facing.
[...]
Are you...planning to take your leave?
[It's a little hazy when Dorothy asks it, but Dorothy's face is a little blank when she says it. She doesn't quite look at Yeager when she asks it, though.]
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And go back to Raven while he may still be awake? Perish the thought!
[hell fuckin no, he's gonna try to sneak in and not wake raven (which will not work)]
I can stay here with you for longer, if you're unopposed~
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[Dorothy seems to perk at that, though, chuckling a bit as she nods her head.]
I'm completely unopposed. If anything, I...well...
[...She's about to say something insipid, isn't she, uh--well--]
...If you want to avoid him entirely, I wouldn't mind it if you spent the night.
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do not ask "platonically?" yeager, come on, you can do it—]
You have a roommate, ja? Are they not the company you want?
[this is probably a bad idea for many reasons, but it does solve the problem of dealing with raven tonight, so :thonk:]
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[...Oh, uh, oh geez--this means having to acknowledge a feeling and Dorothy can barely fumble through them normally--]
I think I simply do not want to be alone tonight, more than anything? It's been nice having you here, and...
[Dorothy can feel herself wanting to curl into a ball and die to actually ask this.]
Well. It'd solve the problem of having to deal with Sir Raven, would it not?
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Well, he's likely only going to throw something at me and tell me how much he hates me, so it should be fine.
[But that's mostly empty words to fill the space because he's having half a feeling, hang on—
(Once upon a time, Gauche and Droite used to ask him to spend the night with them when they had nightmares. He'd been so hesitant at first, because what if they found out about—)]
Well, it wouldn't be very gentlemanly of me to leave you like this when it's at least partially my fault, ja? I suppose I can stay~
[...Yeager has never cared about being "gentlemanly".]
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[Mind? is what Dorothy wants to say, but she looks at him for a moment with shock and she's...
Well. She's having half of a feeling too, but she finds herself smiling and it's a startlingly warm and open expression for once. She doesn't have to be alone. Her mind doesn't have to wander, wander to those times she can't get back, to those times she wishes she cherished a little bit more when she had them, before they all...
Of course, the gentlemanly comment gets Dorothy to laugh, and she's thankful she's drunk or else the flush on her face would be far less excusable, but it's...it's actually really nice?]
Well, thank you. This is your fault and you should take responsibility for putting a lady in this undignified of a state. [...] But I...really do appreciate it. I've never tolerated loneliness very well...
[...Does she just...invite him to the bed now, at this point, oh Dorothy did not think this through but her drunken brain is very much just. Hm. Would he actually be...]
You can take the bed, if you want?
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[DAMMIT WHY DID HE HAVE TO SAY THE GENTLEMANLY THING... Ugh, it's fine, he can suffer one night on the floor. It'll be fine. The floor is better than being in the bed, anyway—]
Besides, it is your bed, so please don't worry about such things~
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[Yeah, no way mister, you're not getting away that easily--]
You are taking the bed, Sir Yeager! It's the least I can do since you're doing this much of a favor for me. I've dealt with far less comfortable things in the past, you know. One night isn't going to kill me.
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[..........this has just circled back into stupid contrary territory, but here we are.]
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Yeager. I don't like taking your independence from you, but if you keep pushing this, I'll...
[... ... ...
:thonk:]
...We could both just take it, if it's that much of an issue?
[Dorothy doesn't even have a reaction to uttering that out, it just comes out. Objectively, it's clearly the best solution???]
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this would be better on his back :thonk:]
Well.
[........................
it's a small bed though, they'd absolutely have to cuddle, which means she'd absolutely be way too close...
so he should really say no.
but.
he really doesn't want to sleep on the floor, so.]
I suppose it'll be fine for one night~
[pLEASE do not call him out on this expression—]
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cw: talk of past hallucinations
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