✧ Chao Garden ✧

[bluestreaker]

Welcome to Smash Academy's Chao Garden!

Who: Everyone!
Where: The Lake
When: Backdated to Sonic's flubbed network post on August 23
What: Looks like Smash has been keeping their lake pristine, because the cutest presence to grace Sonic's universe have taken a liking to it!



Chao (pronounced 'chow', sing. & plur.) have found themselves a comfortable little paradise to call their own on Smash Academy's grounds, enjoying their days swimming around, playing games, and taking a gratuitous amount of naps in the warm kindness of the Sun's light.

Most of what you see around the lake now are these little guys in their more neutral, infant forms, and some of the eggs that Sonic was seen holding in his video post are nestled snug and comfy in tall patches of grass. Either way, Chao have an evolutional struggle to contend with, but perhaps a little help from another life form can give them an idea on what they can truly become.


In order to avoid making this the longest log opening possible, please visit this entry in Sonic's journal for all the information you need about how Chao will work! I had to make some adjustments from the original concept, obviously.

As for the log itself, consider it an opportunity to mingle while picking up your Chao (like the dorm log!) You don't need anything from me. But Sonic is going to be watching the crap out of all of you CHAO POLICE

Comments

WE'RE JUST SUPER SONIC RACIN'~

[did_well_enough]

The expression on GLaDOS face as she was picked up and carried at unbelievably high speeds was, admittedly, priceless. She hadn't expected this, so she was in a state of shock for a few seconds. That faded quite fast, however, and was replaced with sheer rage. "Get your hands off of me! Put me down right this instant!"

So this was how it was gonna go...huh. Well, she's not one to be manhandled. As such, enjoy that punch to the top of your skull, Sonic.

GOTTA KEEP YOUR TEETH SMASHED TO THE GROUND--wait

[bluestreaker]

"Yeow! Teach! TEACH!" Sonic yelped, grip tightening on her legs. "Relax! We're almost there!"

And they were! The summer Sun was making GlaDOS's paler aspects glisten beneath Sonic's nose, jade eyes keeping focused on the world ahead to avoid being blinded. The atmosphere was rich enough to drink as they grew closer to the lake, and from where they were, Sonic could already see the Chao fluttering about, as well as any other people still hanging around.

DAMMIT.

[did_well_enough]

GLaDOS scoffed at Sonic, but she did stop hitting him. Afterwards, she sighed, folded her arms, and pouted. This was embarrassing, being swept up off her feet (Literally, he wishes he could metaphorically) and paraded around the school at high speeds like some kind of show pony just to see a bunch of marshmallow-looking...things.

This better be worth it.

"Yes, yes, we're here. Now put me down."

oh unintentional song reference below

[bluestreaker]

Sonic put GLaDOS down carefully, ensuring her feet are on the ground before he lets her go. The Chao were approaching with curiosity to the newcomer, infant minds seeking as much information about life as it was presented to them. Sonic recognized some as ones he had been hanging out with earlier, but a little rogue one he hadn't seen previously made its way to GLaDOS's toes. It stared up at her with some neutral scrutiny.

"These are the Chao. I thought you'd like to meet 'em."

[did_well_enough]

"You thought correct. Admittedly, I was curious about them."

She peers down Chao staring at her from her feet, a blank expression on her face as she stared back at the little thing. Carefully, she picks it up and just looks it over. Certainly a cute little thing, gray fur, beady yellow eyes, but it wasn't as impressive as she hoped. Still...

"I don't understand something..." she started, placing the little Chao down on the ground, before turning to Sonic, eyes narrowed. "Why are you doing all this?"

[obfuskate]

"I was about to question the same thing."

Out from some nearby shrubbery came none other than Shadow the Hedgehog, shoulders tense and spines flaring. It was clear that he was displeased to some extent, his fists balled up and his gaze sharp as an eagle's.

He was very, very unhappy.

"Talk."

The tag in which Sonic embarrasses Shadow - maybe.

[bluestreaker]

Sonic doesn't look deterred by either Grumpy McGrumpster's inquiry, arms crossed against his chest and eyes bouncing between the two of them. He's prepared to answer, finger up and lips parted, breath inhaled and ready to go... Until he pointed at Shadow.

"Were you just watching us from a bush?" Pause. "And where's our egg?"

[did_well_enough]

GLaDOS raised an eyebrow at Shadow's unexpected arrival, before turning to Sonic.

"While under normal circumstances I do not usually agree with those who hide in bushes, I will make an exception. Start talking."

[obfuskate]

"Yes.

"... and our egg is in the bush behind me."

Shadow groaned. That was not exactly something he wanted to talk openly about in front of Carol- ... GLaDOS.

[bluestreaker]

"The bush you were watching us from," Sonic repeated, a tiny grin sneaking to his muzzle. "Gotcha."

Now that he was done with his fun, it was time to answer their question. Sonic wondered how he was going to do that, though.

When GLaDOS agreed to join him, it was exactly what he had been hoping for. In his dealings with Eggman, there were times where what he started had an adverse effect against his goals, and even if some of his reasoning was selfish, Sonic saw the potential for good inside of him, albeit slim. If someone was capable of it, no matter who they were... It could be seen in one small smile or one huge gesture.

That was what he saw in GLaDOS. He saw someone that already took a giant first step, and now he wanted to see her keep her spirits in that direction. He had a feeling a Chao might at least be a good idea to help with that, even if it wasn't ever going to be a perfect solution for someone like her. And that was something--

"I understand," Sonic finally began, picking up that same Chao now reaching onto GLaDOS's coat tails, "what happened, I mean, and..." He handed her the Chao again. It looked mildly delighted to be held one more time. Perhaps that was the essence of being accepted on its face? "It's okay."

[did_well_enough]

...Sonic. Sonic, are you really, really doing this? GLaDOS was, admittedly, a bit...surprised at this. Everyone else was seemed to be awful pissed at the AI, and she supposed it was rightfully so (not that she cared). However...there were people, like Sonic, who believed there was some...good in her. After all, why would he be handing her this...thing? An AI programmed to test shouldn't be handed something like this, after all. Common sense dictated that she'd try to test it, so the only logical conclusion was that he believe there was some "good" in her.

But she was a machine. Everything she did was based upon logic, reason, and her programming. Even her sparing the little brats had a reason, as it was safer to give up and regroup, than trying to incinerate them (even though a certain conscience played a part in the decision.) So really, she hadn't done anything that made her seem less robotic.

Sonic faced robots before, she knew that. So...why? Why was he doing all this? He must know how robots are, that they are programmed to be certain ways. Therefore, all this was pointless.

...unless...

...

...unless Shadow told him about Caroline. THAT got her angry, but she did her best to hold her anger down. She took the chao from Sonic, put it on her shoulder, then turned back to the Blue Blur.

"Oh? Might I ask why it's okay? Is it because I need to test..." she turned to Shadow, glaring. "Or because a little...Erinaceidae told you something they shouldn't of?"

Breaks tagging cycle~

[bluestreaker]

Sonic's hands took refuge back in his spines, easing his gloved fingers against his head.

"Well, I don't know any Aarons, but I know you can't always change who you are," Sonic finally responded with some clarity. With GLaDOS being a couple feet taller than him, Sonic took a small leap to poke the forehead of that Chao on her shoulder gently. "S'all!"

With that said, his attention was being deviated. He wandered back to the bush Shadow emerged from and dug their egg out. He picked it up and gave it a grin, tail swinging right to left with a skip of his heart.

b-break us gently please

[obfuskate]

That was as vague a response as Sonic could have given. He shot him a venomous glare, one that told him that he was going to be in trouble the next time they crossed paths alone, and then looked to GLaDOS in a manner that was actually more composed.

"I did not tell him anything. I have no reason or motive."

That is, Shadow had no reason beyond spite, but unless GLaDOS did something else to make that an option, he wasn't about to blab that much. He honestly couldn't care less.

n-not that we want to be broken, b-baka.

[did_well_enough]

If Shadow had said aloud that his answer was very vague, GLaDOS would have added that it was also satisfying. Regardless, she turned to Shadow for a brief moment.

"Very well, I shall accept that. Make sure to keep what we discussed to yourself."

She then turned back to Sonic, her obviously inhumane eyes borrowing holes into the poor Hedgehog as she glared.

"As for you..." she started, voice fairly calm and restrained. "I don't find that an acceptable answer. Here's why: by admitting that I am incapable of change, even if you understood this, why would you entrust a small child-like creature to me? There is a chance, even if I do have testing robots, that I'd test this little one as well.

So what is the real reason behind your actions?"

OH MY GOD. I must've deleted the TAG I'M SO SORRY screeches

[bluestreaker]

[[ooc: unintentional almost two weeks late. I'm so sorry... u_u I don't know what happened. ughh it's okay to drop this if anyone wants]]

Sonic's ears didn't quite know where to go when he turned back to GLaDOS. One flopped down and the other began to pull back about the same, but they sprung up enthusiastically again. His hand patted the top of the Chao egg as he considered what to say.

"Well, you can't always change who you are, but you can change what you choose to do with that, right?" It makes sense. He'll swear to it.

Sonic's shoulders hopped with a start, much in the way the little egg in his hands had the same idea. Huh!

"Guess it wants outta there soon. I bet it's boring."

LMFAO it happens

[obfuskate]

Shadow directed his attention away from GLaDOS purposefully, not wanting to deal with her and her jumping to conclusions. He huffed, stepping forth and grabbing the egg away from Sonic, not caring if he got complained at for it. He never did hold a Chao egg before today. It felt so... different from what he anticipated.

"I would not be surprised. It is behaving excitedly-- ?!"

It began to shake and tremble in his hands, something that made him instinctively hold it away from his face, as if it was a potential bomb. It did explode, alright, but it was mild and much more of a small spread of eggshell bits than anything.

Out from that egg was nothing other than a cute, baby Chao, staring straight up at Shadow. You know how a baby creature associates the first thing it sees as its mama?

"... Cha- Chao?" `Mama`.

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh no.

"H..." How was he supposed to respond to this?! He stared the little guy/gal/whatever it was down, eyes wild from surprise. "Hello?"

And so the Chao latched onto his face.

Welp.