O Dark, The Darkness That Dozes In The Dusk... [Open]

[is-the-ultimate.livejournal.com]

There was one bad thing about the constant nightmares that struck - ruining people's sleeping patterns. For awhile, it didn't seem to bother Shadow all that much, but now, it seems that it's finally catching up to him. The last few "nights" on board the ship have been draining, and it's been showing. Especially concerning his runs. A misstep here, a split second action between slamming into someone and missing them.

It all came down to nearly missing a jump in the city that caused Shadow a whole lot of alarm.

"...this is getting ridiculous..." Shadow muttered, panting a bit after recovering from the jump. If he hadn't caught the edge and pulled himself... The hedgehog shook his head and moved over to a "shady" spot on the rooftop.

"I doubt anyone will notice... just a little bit of rest..." Shadow muttered as he sat down and promptly passed out.

Sadly, this is the meatship. Someone IS going to notice...

Comments

[different-skies.livejournal.com]

Actually, someone wasn't noticing until she practically tripped over the prone hedgehog, glancing down in surprise as she steadied herself. "Whoa, sorry," Kim chirped apologetically, then frowned and gave him a poke. "Hey, you okay?"

[is-the-ultimate.livejournal.com]

(http://s79.photobucket.com/albums/j138/SoaringHeadache/Cape%20and%20Cowl/Shadow%20The%20Hedgehog/?action=view&current=thShadow049.png)

Shadow snorted and sputtered as he was poked. "Huh? What? Who's the--" He stopped when he noticed Kim. "Oh. Hrrn... blast it. Guess I didn't hide myself away too good."

[different-skies.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, not quite," she grinned sheepishly, "You hiding from something?"

And she might be settling down crosslegged and making herself comfortable - Shadow might note that she's not wearing the regulation plantsuit, but rather a form-fitting suit in blues and greens, blending in disconcertingly with the skin around her throat and wrists.

[is-the-ultimate.livejournal.com]

(http://s79.photobucket.com/albums/j138/SoaringHeadache/Cape%20and%20Cowl/Shadow%20The%20Hedgehog/?action=view&current=thShadow051.png)

"No. Nearly passed out. Been making mistakes, so I was trying to sleep." Shadow said, rubbing his eyes. "Looks like it didn't work." Well, now that he has company, might as well make the best of it. He extended his hand towards the newcomer. "I'm Shadow. You must be new..."

[different-skies.livejournal.com]

"Huh. You okay?" she frowned - come to think of it, she didn't exactly have great dreams last night, either. ...Wasn't there something about a Nightmare King in there?

Taking the proffered hand, she gives it a shake and its owner a grin. "Yup! Just got here. I'm Kim."

[is-the-ultimate.livejournal.com]

(http://s79.photobucket.com/albums/j138/SoaringHeadache/Cape%20and%20Cowl/Shadow%20The%20Hedgehog/?action=view&current=thShadow052.png)

"Mrgh... not enough sleep. I think that Nightmare King's getting to me, too..." Shadow said. Alessa wouldn't be thrilled.

"You've come at a weird time... I just hope it ends soon..." Shadow said.

[different-skies.livejournal.com]

"Mm, yeah. I have a habit of popping in at the wrong moment," Kim said with a sheepish grin. "This Nightmare King - people have plans void it, though, yeah?"

[is-the-ultimate.livejournal.com]

(http://s79.photobucket.com/albums/j138/SoaringHeadache/Cape%20and%20Cowl/Shadow%20The%20Hedgehog/?action=view&current=thShadow029.png)

"...they say they do, but it's more or less having it ride on a group of people to handle it." Shadow said. "That's not a good thing..."

[different-skies.livejournal.com]

"Huh," she commented, "Yeah, probably not good. Everyone else has plans of their own, though, right? Be prepared even if these guys fall through?"

[is-the-ultimate.livejournal.com]

(http://s79.photobucket.com/albums/j138/SoaringHeadache/Cape%20and%20Cowl/Shadow%20The%20Hedgehog/?action=view&current=thShadow011.png)

Shadow's face turned to one of annoyance. "If they have, they haven't shown it. My guess, they're all hoping that putting everything into this little group is forcing them to think everything'll be alright."

[different-skies.livejournal.com]

"...Huh," she repeated, a definite frown on her face now. "Not good to have no back-up plan, though - in any system, you need backups and redundancies. Just logical, isn't it?"

[demon-alessa.livejournal.com]

And maybe he doesn't notice, but there is a change in the air, as if someone arrived but is keeping her presence out of the way. With everything that's happened lately, she is not able to look after certain things as she wishes , but she can manage this much. Even if he doesn't see her, he might be able to feel her anyway.

[is-the-ultimate.livejournal.com]

(http://s79.photobucket.com/albums/j138/SoaringHeadache/Cape%20and%20Cowl/Shadow%20The%20Hedgehog/?action=view&current=thShadow023.png)

As Shadow sat there, asleep, he certainly could feel the presence. He mumbles a bit as he adjusts, but one thing could be heard from it. "...Alessa..."

[demon-alessa.livejournal.com]

Somewhere, the girl smiled, and now she materialized.

"Shadow."

[is-the-ultimate.livejournal.com]

(http://s79.photobucket.com/albums/j138/SoaringHeadache/Cape%20and%20Cowl/Shadow%20The%20Hedgehog/?action=view&current=thShadow039.png)

Shadow's eyes started to twitch open, spotting Alessa there. Rubbing his eyes, the hedgehog started to stand. "Heh... guess I'm not going to get a cat nap..."

[demon-alessa.livejournal.com]

Alessa stared down at the hedgehog. "If there were no King in existence, I might join you. But that isn't the case. Are you prepared?"

[is-the-ultimate.livejournal.com]

(http://s79.photobucket.com/albums/j138/SoaringHeadache/Cape%20and%20Cowl/Shadow%20The%20Hedgehog/?action=view&current=thShadow022.png)

"Trying to." Shadow replied, standing upright. He ignored the comment she made... for now, at least. "Though, it seems that he's starting to get to me..."

[demon-alessa.livejournal.com]

The inability to act toward blunt comments amused Alessa for now. "How is he able to do it? Tell me."

[is-the-ultimate.livejournal.com]

(http://s79.photobucket.com/albums/j138/SoaringHeadache/Cape%20and%20Cowl/Shadow%20The%20Hedgehog/?action=view&current=thShadow022.png)

"The dreams. Some of them are too vauge for me to know what it is exactly, but it's enough to drive me out of my sleep." Shadow said.

[demon-alessa.livejournal.com]

"He is banking on fears: it feeds him," Alessa said. "And I feel him getting stronger. Soon he will no longer require his minion's help:L he will be able to deal with things directly, and his influence will start to permeate the ship. It cannot be allowed to to reach too far, or he will escape."