#asktheevilgeniusesson;greeter

[afracturedexistence]

@asktheevilgeniusesson

Even from his vantage point way up in the sky, Mephiles couldn’t deduce what was on the ground emitting so much energy, a unique energy that he was quite keen to know more about despite its proximity to… well, he wasn’t sure — some sort of establishment. Military, perhaps? He wasn’t sure.

Uneasy, he tilted downward. The forest that surrounded the area was perfect to dive into, hiding his approach from all but the keenest. A few flaps of his wings and he placed his feet on the ground, coming to a stop. He hadn’t even finished standing upright when he looked past the trees and found another set of eyes and froze.

[afracturedexistence]

If there were no Chaos Emeralds in this facility — and it was sounding as though this were the main facility — then this must have been a very low-activity time for this doctor, Mephiles decided. Not that he had any interest in them himself.

Before him still was the jackal and a curious gem. The explanation of its abilities, what this Phantom Ruby could do, was very interesting. He couldn’t pinpoint what he thought this thing reminded him of, where inkling of remembrance he was feeling, but it wasn’t totally alien to him. It did, however, strike him as quite useless to him — he could shape reality as much or little as he liked by altering time.

The literal heart connection was surprising and strange. Sure, it worked to bond them, but why?

“That is a fitting name,” he said after a moment’s thought. Yes, Infinite, the one with the power to make an unlimited number of alterations to reality with relatively unlimited power. That was an apt name.

Though it emanated a power, the Ruby was ultimately useless to him. He could pry it out of this child’s chest, but there would be little point. And… well, a fight with someone who had those sorts of abilities in their hands did not sound pleasant. The jackal’s more prideful demeanor had not gone unnoticed.

“Your Ruby is safe with you. I have no use for something such as it.” A pause as he considered his next words. “I am unsure I understand why it is also your life source, however. But — perhaps there is… documentation about that somewhere?”

“That is.. probably due to the fact the doctor has no chaos emeralds in his hold quite yet.” The jackal starts, before clearing his throat to speak up. “The phantom ruby i possess is essentially like having anothers mind and voice stitched into you. The ruby has a mind and a voice of its own that thinks and speaks to me, its power is essentially to arp and alter reality itself. When it’s active— i can make reality whatever i want it to be. Everyone will see what i bend and twist their world into, the possibilities are nearly limitless— it, essentially, turns this planets reality into my playground to toy with.” The more he explained the powers he possessed, the more a smile crept up his face and his tail began to wag. He held and treasured these powers dearly. They made him who he was. He gave a stifled snicker before correcting himself. “Ofcourse, i havent mastered the abilities. But the ruby and i are connected at the heart. Literally. The doctor made sure to essentially replace my normal lifesource— the heart— with the ruby. Making us bonded deeply, as ive had it since i was a puppy.”

That should explain everything, right? Hopefully he cleared everything out about the ruby that he knew about. The doctor was better to ask for details but he explained what he knew the best he could, keeping his head down ofcourse.

“Ah- yes. My name is Infinite the Jackal, sir.”

[afracturedexistence]

There was some heavy lingering uncertainty in Mephiles’ mind as the other spoke. The way he stood, the way he commanded himself, it wasn’t unwelcome. In fact, it should have been very welcomed, but Mephiles was so unaccustomed to being treated ‘appropriately’ that he was more bewildered than not. Obeying and serving might make things easier for him, but he was still weary.

“That is…” He shook his head.

The ruby. Right.

Mephiles cleared his throat. “That gem does seem to be what drew me here.” A quick glance in the building’s direction and he added, “I cannot sense anything quite as interesting coming from the facility.”

He looked back at Infinite. “You’ve yet to give me a name for you, as well,” he said with just a little amusement.

The jackal stayed silent, eyes closed as he full-on had expected the god to turn on him, perhaps treat him like the lowlife he was? It wouldn’t surprise the jackal for the way he treated him like some run of the mill villain mobian. His tail twitched anxiously until he hesrd the god speak. He.. wasn’t p i s s e d? Surprising.. the jackals eyes open to see his hand extended twords him and he sucks in a breath. Slowly, he takes the others hand to get to his feet, tail still twitching and shuffling nervously as he clears his throat, head bowed down in respect.

“There is no need for me to have to forgive such an ethereal presence, i promise you that, High one. I have no need to ‘forgive’ a god. Just to obey and serve.” Like the mutt he was raised to be. A pet. A puppet. A mangy dog.

“If you’d like, i would love nothing more then to explain the ruby to you, Great god. It is.. abit complicated, afterall.”

[afracturedexistence]

It was hard not to laugh. When people came to the realization that they were stood before something truly incredible, there was usually some sort of strong reaction, but not usually something quite so visceral. Not usually something quite so… respectful, he supposed. It’s not an unwelcomed response, but so rare it is that Mephiles was never quite certain how to handle it. That, and he had been tricked before.

A very small sigh was released before he folded his wings up, wrapped them along his shoulders and approached the other properly. “An apt apology. Most do not ever realise the reality of their situation as you have. Now, on your feet—”

Realising that the other had yet to introduce himself, too…

A hand was extended to help him back on his feet. “… It is your turn to forgive me; I have never come across one with your face.”

Infinite went silent as he took in the information. Wait. Wait a minute. Solaris project.. gods— WAIT. Infinite let out an audible choke as he just seemed to realize JUST who he was talking to. Mephiles. Yeah that one. THAT part of a GOD. Iblis and Mephiles— god how could he have been so stupid?! It was as if infinite just realized he was dealing with someone who could kill him, the way his posture dropped in slight fear, eye going smaller, tail tucking, ears flicking backwards. Shit. Shit- he was just talking high and mighty to a literal god?! Remembering what his father tuaght him, infinites breath hitches and without another second to think, he seems to suddenly drop to one knee in a bow to the god, ducking his head and his entire bodylanguage and posture became nothing but submissive and harmless.

“Shit— i believe i just realized a critical error in my judgement and thought process- i apologize for being so harsh, High one. It hadn’t clicked to me i was speaking to a god yet— athousand times, i apologize.”

And to think if he wasnt raised by eggman, he’d be excited maybe. Surprised a god would seek him out. But no. He was scared and acting like a peasant in the foot of a king. He was raised harshly, so ofcourse eggman taught him that if he ever were to encounter anyone evern slightly stronger then him- gods, deitys, etc- he would obey their words and everything, eggman made a habit of pissing off gods. He didnt want his bastard son bringing an enraged god to his doorstep.

[afracturedexistence]

It wasn’t the first time and it certainly would not be the last time that someone said something like that. Practise meant that Mephiles didn’t react to that very last thing, nor would he, deciding that the other didn’t need to know about his heightened senses, not yet, at least.

“… something like that.” He tilted his own head for a moment. “My Shadow is… not running about causing amok currently. Throughout history, my kind has many names, elementals, deities, gods — it depends when and where and who you ask. It is all the same. We are known for our grand powers and immortality all the same. Some shadowy figure is fine, too.” The last part was said with some amusement.

“The whole story is… complicated.” A pause to consider things. “It was your master who held my prison before it was stolen into yet another set of hands. I remember his form scurrying away when I was freed. Not that I was freed on purpose, you see… Shadow and Rouge had no idea what they were dealing with. He had the right idea to get out of there, but that was not where his snooping ended. … You may have some luck looking for references to something called the Solaris Project in his database.”

“Good. Now is there anything else you’d like to have awnsered? You’re lucky you caught me on a patrol and not a mission, ill say that much.”

Infinite huffed, this hog was odd. Not like anyone he’d met before. Ofcourse he knew the whole ‘stranger danger’ schtick but he was over being a scared little pup with a weak cry by now. Good thing, too. This hog was very odd. He could only imagine how different this would go if zero showed his face mentally.. ugh the thought of that made him sick. However his ears perked to the creature as he spoke to awnser his question, humming in minor confusion. Prison? Manifest himself?? What was he some fucking shadow creature? The jackals tail began to wag in a confused and intrigued manner, lifting up from the grass more to wave in the air more than in the grass.

“..huh. Thats.. quite an interesting backstory. So, what would that make you then. Some.. shadowy figure that steals someones appearance to make it your own? Well if that was the case i’m certain you’d have killed that stupid alien to not have a ‘doppleganger’ running around.. how intriguing. You’re certainly nothing normal. I’ll give you that. Father would love to study something like you..”

Infinite mumbled that last part under his breath. Narrowing his eyes as he tilts his head more to the side. The rubies brightness enhances, glowing brighter than before. It too, seems intrigued.

[afracturedexistence]

As far as he was concerned, Mephiles had better things to be putting his focus on. The ‘Eggman Empire’ term was somewhat familiar to him, but… empire? That mad man had an empire? Sure, the man could very often be a blight upon the world, but… empire? He had never quite thought of it that way.

“… Hmm.”

A Chaos Emerald seemed unlikely. He wasn’t very interested in those unless they belonged to his home zone, so the other’s mention of a Phantom Ruby seemed more likely. But why it was on this guy’s chest…

“I believe that does answer my question.”

Being asked a question now seemed fair. It was one he thought rather amusing every time it came up.

“Our… relation… is complicated,” he started, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. The hand on his chin was less posturing and more genuine this time as he considered what to say and how.

“When I was freed from my prison, it was by accident. Shadow and Rouge did not flee my presence — actually, she was still stunned, I believe, but he did not flinch, and so it was his form I took to manifest myself.

“We have no familial relation and no love for one another. It was happenstance. I have since spent years shaping the original form I took from him into something more… unique.” A small shuffle of his wings. “Something more befitting my needs.”

The jackal pauses,and blinks in momentary confusion. Has this hog been under a rock his entire life? He certainly looks like it. Literally. He hates the uncanny resemblance he has to shadow, for multiple reasons.. but he can get past it due to the different looks he has from that damned genocidal alien. Tapping a claw on his arm in thought of how to word his next sentence, he speaks as he tilts his head.

“You must be new to Mobius. The eggman empire, run by, ofcourse, Eggman himself. My father. He’s the smartest man alive and his empire is comprised of his own robotic creations to take over mobius and turn it into a robotic utopia. The man is smart, cunning, and pretty fucking strong. The energy you’re detecting is either the fact he’s gained a chaos emerald, which. I wasn’t aware of. Or, you could be detecting the energy of the phantom ruby. The one, obviously, stitched into my body. Does that awnser your question, Mephiles?”

His tones cold and uncaring of how he comes across. Rather that be uncaring, downright rude, or simply unphased- he doesn’t really care how his words and actions carry his image to this hedgehog. But maybe it’s because of how much this man resembles his families murderer. Eggman taught him to be quick to judge and open to nobody outside of family, afterall.

“However. Since i awnsered your question.. i have one of my own. Are you.. related to a certain hedgehog? Shadow, to be exact. You.. resemble him. To an uncanny extent..”

Theres a slight hostility in his tone. Just thinking about that hedgehog makes him want to kill something.

[afracturedexistence]

He took some amusement in the other’s words; perhaps he wasn’t wrong.

“One can never be too careful.” It was not untrue that he was intruding in the other’s territory, though fighting was still… inadvisable. Not that Mephiles said this out loud; he was not terribly interested in pissing this unknown entity off. Looks could be deceiving; he was not a bad example of that, himself.

A hand came up to his face in a thoughtful gesture. “I digress. You have given me plenty to consider all ready.” A momentary pause. “I am here because of an energy I can detect. I presume it is the energy source of this empire you speak of. This empire, of course, which would be…?”

The jackal narrowed his eyes as the.. ‘hedgehog’, came into view. Slowly, he seemed to relax his posture, but if the deity would look close, he’d easily notice how the jackal was still tense. Not a single wall or his guard was let down and he’d refuse to act like a suck-up. The name was.. familiar but he couldn’t put his finger on it. Yet. He’d try and recall what the doctor, his ‘father’, told him. For now, focus on the issue at hand. The weird hedgehog standing infront of you looking menacing as ever.

“Hmh. Then why stare at me through the trees like i’m some.. prey being stalked? You weren’t very subtle when i caught your eyes reflecting, yknow.”

The jackal grumbles, crossing his arms over his fluffy chest, his tail stops lashing, but it lightly waves over the grass, obviously showing signs of distrust. Afterall he knew only this hogs name. Nothing more. Nothing less. Tilting his head to the side with a hum.

“Well, i’m not sure what knowledge or awnsers you’d get out of me, but ill bite. What’re you here for. If you plan to try and do something to harm the empire or my father, im afraid i’ll have no choice but to attack. So choose your words wisely..”

Infinite spoke with his tone incredibly unamused yet distrustful. He had no issue calling the doctor ‘father’, despite how.. abusive, as others would label it, he was. It was odd for the jackal to act like he had any footing to threaten mephiles. He held no weapon besides his nature-given claws and jaws. Maybe the ruby glowing in his chest was the source of what he could do.

[afracturedexistence]

It’s not often that he doesn’t recognize someone; it’s not often that someone doesn’t recognize him, at least in some way. How amusing this moment is.

He hadn’t been set upon immediately; threatened, yes, but not outright attacked. Mephiles took a moment to stand upright and adjust the posturing of his wings, held at his sides like another set of arms, ready to defend himself should he need to.

“You are mistaken if you think me to be some hero,” he said with a small tilt of the head. He took a few slow steps to put a tree by his side, a buffer for any potential incoming attacks. “… Or that I am looking for a fight.”

A curious noise, not a growl and not a purr but something like one, comes from him. This being before him has shown quite a bit of aggression. Why? Most people were more cautious than that, he thought.

Then the clearing of his throat. A hand was brought up to his chest in a formal motion. “I am Mephiles. I seek knowledge and answers.”

The eyes that met the unknown being were glowing a faint yellow&blue in the darkness of the forest. A bright red iris surrounding such a unique eyeshape where the mobians eye colors meshed together. Yellow and light blues meshing together in the pupil like mixing paints halfway on a canvas. With afew dots of the other color making their way into the other space. That was only for one eye though. The mask, grey and metallic, blacked out the other eye. But nonetheless their eyes met almost instantly. And the mobians pupil slits in defense and surprise. Whipping to face this possible threat, its.. a jackal, with a brightly colored red ruby literally stitched into his chest, comfortably snuggled around his chestfur. And he didnt seem too pleased to be dealing with such a sudden visitor he didnt recognize.

“You.”

The jackals voice booms from the mask, the mouth of it opens to show bared-ack snarling jaws.

“Im not sure who you are, but if you came for a fight, i’m dying to sink my jaws into some sap-suckered wannabe hero.”

The foliage obstructed his view, for now, of whoever this was. And it was obvious, infinite wasn’t taking chances letting his guard down as his tail whipped side to side in an aggressive display.