@fatefulrival.bsky.social "You wouldn't hurt me, riiiiight?" I'm just a silly little guy!"

"Dangit. I really gotta do this, huh?" A sigh as he'd look at the emerald, then a full blown look of sadness as he eyed his goggles, relenting that he needed to fix this, he needed to go back, and this was his only option. With all the enthusiasm of a vet visit, he would make his way to the are +

"Hey guys!"

"No time to waste!" Stretching his arms to grab on the top of a couple trees as he'd slowly back up, staring at the floating island off in the distance, eyes gauging the distance. "Just another step... and to the left..." Suddenly flung forward like a slingshot from his arms, shouting as he'd +

"Alright, show off." @fatefulrival.bsky.social

And he's bursting out with laughter at the utter blazing rage that crossed back to his end. "AHHHAHAHAHA. He's so easy to rage bait."

A smirk, he could feel it, he was glad this way of communicating was effective. 'Every time you see me, you will have the urge to make me a chili dog!'

'Chili dogs chili dogs chili dogs.' Intense staring while he focuses on his favorite food to test their link.

"Huh, that's a funky looking moon...." 𝘽𝘼-𝘿𝙐𝙉𝙆. The beat of his heart in his ears, sounding like the ever beating drums that marched on, eyes glazed over as he stood there, staring up at the moon, gloved hand twitched as he just... couldn't look away. "Graaahhh... aaahhhh..." A stifled groan as

"Guess I really am the best on air gear."

"Ha. Keeping up isn't enough, I'll be sure to get first next time."

"Yeah, yeah. You're welcome for the assist!! Ungrateful rust bucket."

"Keep counting those days, ya hunk of junk. Just remember, as long as you're alive, so am I."

"Blah blah blah, look at mister nihilist here, too good for God's own birthday. ... Have you tried turning yourself off and on again?"

"You do not get to judge me for doom scrolling in my down time! What I do in the privacy of my home is between me and... me! Whatever, just. Happy birthday. Or creation day? You got your on switch flicked today, congrats."

// Neat!

"Okay, who's teaching you these things? Also, we weren't talking about me, we were talking about you. My grays are simply showing that I'm dignified, meanwhile you're like, what, six thousand in computer years? No amount of overclocking is gonna keep you upright."

"Hard drive running out of space, old man? Ha. Don't go and rust away before I can beat you."

Whistling a tune as he'd make his way to his storage straightening a few things before cringing at the sound of a crash, turning to see his old air gear. "Huh. Haven't seen you in a while..." Looking out over and wiping a thin layer of dust off of it.

I'M ALIVE I SWEAR OH GOD

"What the hell is that thing..?" He /knew/ it was Metal. He had just watched him transform! He knew this, but the marred figure before him wasn't anything that he knew, this wasn't the Metal that he was used to. So many forms he had seen, from the other, but this... he had no clue what to make +

Me, sowing: yes yes yes Me, reaping:

A sudden sense of dread that was only bolstered by the sudden appearance of those rings, eyes wide and now taking a few steps back, shaking as he stared at the inorganic hedgehog. "Crapcrapcrapcrapcrap." A heavy swallow, arms up at the sudden rush of light and air pressure, groaning as he'd move +

He's surprised the other doesn't sound like a damn dial-up modem. "Is it really a bluff? I know I've got more in the tank. Just haven't had a reason to use it just yet."

"Talking so high and mighty, but what do you know about me that I don't, spare parts? I just need to push myself further, and I'll be able to surpass you!"

"As if you'd know about that! I need others as much as they need me. It's just... it's hard, okay?"

"I— you think I'm evil for being indecisive about things?! I mean... with people like you floating out there, you'd just target them, and that's... that's not fair to them either. What I'm doing and that aren't fair. But I'd rather them safe."

"DO. NOT. Metal, stay out of my... uh. Not relationships. Keep to your own 1's and 0's."

Casually dashing in and yoinking @fatefulrival.bsky.social, carrying him away from the multitude of screens and out into a field, making sure to put space between them. "You need to feel the grass, Metal. Can't just scroll through the internet all day ya know."

OPEN SEASON ON THE DUCK.

FUCK YOU— @fatefulrival.bsky.social

Help me.

"One bad USB port and you're done. And I'm plenty smart, Metal. Figured you would know all about that."

"At least I don't need to upgrade my CPU and drivers every other month. And you don't need my help to look bad, Metal."

"It's a FASHION STATEMENT— I mean. Nuh uh. This is one of uh. Eggmans tricks. Yeah, that."

Remembers he's over 30. Turns to dust—

"... THE WALLS?!" New fear unlocked.

"Please tell me they're staying in the stasis pods."

Yawning and stretching as he'd walk out of his home, jogging in place, then looking out and around, enjoying the sights of a clear morning. Then he'd blink and stare at the object rushing across the skyline, an eyebrow raising. He had to check this out. Rushing as fast as he could, headlong into+

He's just happy to not be splayed out on the ground along with his innards, a sigh of relief before the other spoke again. "Woah, woah. Just. Calm down, I'm not gonna break anything, kinda wanna just look around." Hands up as he'd calmly walk over to some shelves, examining the items on it.

"Putting me in fraud watch already? Predictable as always. I know your moves before you'll make them." He'd wag his finger at the other, facade still going as he held onto his grin. But his eyes never left his doppelganger, such a thing would be certain doom for the blur, but he could let himself+

"Well. You see. I never said I paid for it—"

"Ha. Made ya look, Metal." His mouth curled into a smirk as he'd stare down death incarnate. The facade was slowly starting to fade, as evident by the sweat beads on his forehead, relieved as he backed up. "You really want me to go all out, right here and now? I could, but wouldn't it be a bit +

As the other got so close, he would lean back just a bit, teeth grit, fangs showing as his lower eyelid would twitch. "I'll do everything to show you that I don't need anyone to win, especially against a cheap copy like you." A clenched fist, his other hand smacking away the metallic appendage.