[Action / Accidental Voice] - What happened..? Who am I..? WHERE am I..?

[notshadowfever]

[A little distance north of the village, towards Cherry Blossom Tree hill, a large, unconscious creature blocks the path further north. A beached whale this far from the ocean? Wait, no, it's just a New Feather... A rather bulbous humanoid, splayed out on his back and sleeping like a baby. Not for long, though.]

Aaaargh!

[He wakes with a start,

Comments

[Voice]

[semper_cogitans]

[The loud yelling over the journal, by itself, wouldn't normally have garnered attention. But the name "Knuckles" is enough to ping Robert. After all, the echidna hadn't mentioned anything about others from his world... so this must be a New Feather.

A very loud New Feather.]

I... would be m-most willing to... answer your questions...

... But... if I may ask before, how exactly are you... affiliated with Knuckles...?

[It does not occur to Robert that the Knuckles he knows and the Knuckles this man knows could be entirely different people.]

[Voice]

[semper_cogitans]

[The Sonic series is long-dead by Robert's time, and so he can't even fourth-wall him. So if Eggman's expecting recognition, he'll be disappointed - all Robert does is respond to this like any other name.]

It is a... pl-pleasure to meet you, Doctor Robotnik.

... Or do you... p-prefer Doctor Eggman? [He will straightfacedly call Eggman either name forever.]

As for m-myself, my name is... Professor Robert Alexander Hastings.

[Voice]

[notshadowfever]

[Hmph... Eggman can't tell if this fellow knows him or not. There is that stuttery voice that could indicate fear. Still, Eggman's a bit disappointed. Best to just try and forget it, then.]

I usually go by the name Eggman these days. [It's a long story.] I'd say the pleasure was all mine, if it weren't for the state I've been left in. Grr. [Eggman quickly becomes irritated again.]

Are you nearly here yet?

[Voice/Action]

[semper_cogitans]

I could... hardly blame you. I was, er, l-less than thrilled when I discovered myself to be... half-disrobed in a snow drift.

And... n-nearly. Please give me a moment further... [In fact, from his elevated position on the hill Eggman might be able to see the little scientist arriving.]

[Voice/Action]

[notshadowfever]

[So the guide's right... They DO strip everyone they kidnap. What an indignity.]

Hmph! Well, they'll be sorry when I catch up with them.

[He might! Eggman peers towards the direction of the village, trying to make out the path between the trees. All those trees.]

I didn't notice before, but I can actually see the village from here! [Still. Going there alone while this naked? No thanks.]

[Voice/Action]

[semper_cogitans]

[Robert's wondering if it's even possible to catch up to them, considering the barrier and all of that. But he doesn't voice this opinion.]

Ah, you can? Splendid... I, er, sh-should be visible momentarily.

[And now Robert is treading up the hill. This is somewhat slower going, unfortunately. But he might be obvious enough now that Eggman's getting his voice in stereo.]

... Doctor R-Robotnik?

[Action]

[notshadowfever]

[Eggman looks up from the journal, realising he can hear Robert's voice in the vicinity now, as well as over the journal. He scrambles to his feet, keeping the journal open for now in case he needs to keep in contact with the scientist.]

[It doesn't take long for him to spot Robert though, and Eggman makes his way towards the other, trying his best to cover up his naked torso with the journal.]

Ah, there you are, Professor Hastings!

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

[Robert is now acutely aware of how much taller this man is. He's been around tall people before - practically everybody he knows is taller than him - but this is... significant.]

... Ah.

[Whelp. He was going to offer Eggman his raincoat, but there's very little chance it'd fit on the doctor's shoulders.]

... I seem to have... failed to account for p-potential size deviations. My apologies...

... I could, er, t-take you to the clothing shop in the village...?

[Action]

[notshadowfever]

[What a stubby little man. Still, few people were granted with the awesome stature that was Dr. Eggman's.]

S-size deviations?! [Is this an insult to Eggman's girth?! The nerve!] What's that supposed to mean?! Just because I'm huskier than the average gentleman-

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

[... Actually, Eggman's weight was the LAST thing Robert thought about. That hadn't even entered the equation - though now that Robert thinks about it, it certainly wouldn't have helped.]

Your height, a-actually. You are... significantly t-taller than I am.

But... our body shapes are... considerably different in a-any regard. [Eggman has very long limbs, for example. And that moustache...] So in a-any aspect, our clothes are... unlikely to fit each other. Hence why it would be... better to take you for a proper fitting... your own cl-clothes may even be in the Clothing Shop already.

[Action]

[notshadowfever]

[Careful not to dig yourself into a deeper hole there, Robert. Either way, Eggman's suitably convinced it isn't a dig at his weight by this point and calms down quickly.]

You're right, of course, Professor. Someone as perfectly formed as I couldn't fit into just any clothes!

And you say my own clothes might even be in the shop? Grr! How dare they pawn off my possessions like this?! [Eggman begins to make his way down the hill, trying to ignore the rain falling on his back. Still, at least it isn't a cold, winter rain.] Lead the way, Professor!

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

Actually, Doctor Robotnik, the objects here are all entirely f-free... So the word "shop" is rather a misnomer. [As he speaks, he shrugs off his rain coat - revealing the fact he has a lab coat underneath - and offers it to the doctor as some sort of shielding.] ... I realize this will not fit your shoulders... but you could at least b-block the rain with it, to an extent.

[And then Robert goes to... well... lead the way, if Eggman has no further objections.]

[Action]

[notshadowfever]

[Eggman (un)gratefully takes Robert's raincoat, somewhat satisfied and holding it above his head, using it to shield some of his back and face. He begins to follow Robert down the path.]

So they took my clothes, only to let me take them back for free?! What purpose does that serve?! [And they said HIS schemes made no sense!]

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

[Robert shrugs helplessly.] It... may be psychological... intimidation. The Malnosso are... i-insane at best and malicious at worst...

W-Were they to at least have methodology, I might... be more willing to cooperate. But so far my r-requests have been... mostly ignored. [Robert's careful to pick along the most open areas of the path, though Eggman's long legs mean that his strides are probably ahead of Robert more often than not.]

You will l-likely wish to go to the Welcome Centre... a-as soon as you are sufficiently clothed and perhaps f-fed. There is a list of... empty apartments and other dwellings there...

[Action]

[notshadowfever]

[Eggman listens to Robert, but really the reason behind this kidnapping doesn't matter to Eggman. All that matters is that the Malnosso are going to be sorry.]

I could definitely go for a sandwich or two right about now! [Eggman's stomach lets out a grumble.] As soon as I get my clothes back. After that, I suppose I can go to the Welcome Centre, but I don't plan to stay in this place for long, Professor. These Malnosso won't get away with imprisoning me.

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

[Totally sincerely:] If you can f-find some way to stop them, Doctor Robotnik, I would be... s-sincerely grateful.

I do not necessarily wish to return home - I have much here that I do not wish to forget if I were to be s-sent back - but stopping this unethical experimentation would be... most appreciated.

[Robert continues to lead Eggman toward the central plaza, which even now should have the fountain visible and whatnot.] Most of the sh-shops are located in this central plaza, here... around its p-peripheral.