Really Really Cute

SKye: *doesn't let go. instead, she buries her face in his chest fur* ..................

Raptor: ..............

Mikenno: .............. *goes into eclipse's room, and puts him down on the bed*

Me: ..........eclipse goes to heaven, right? would he see sonic/rosette at ALL?

Me: possibly... but heaven is VAST... it would take more than just one day to find them both - let alone ONE...

Eclipse: *still pretty dead*

meanwhile

Vorace: *runs his claws through her hair in comfort*

Me: I needs to shower - I will be back in 45 minutes - 1 hour. I will be tapping.

Me: okay. ^^ i finish my paper by then ^^ umm.... deus ex machina.....? convenient coincidence?

Skye: *smiles, though still distraught. she doesn't let go*

Mikenno: ................ *leaves the room*

Me: woot

Vorace: he will live, Skye... he will live...

Me: DONE WITH THAT DAMN OUTLINE DX

Skye: .......if you say so. *looks up at him* i believe you.

me: yay!

Vorace: good.

Skye: *smiles through her tears* so... we wait until tomorrow?

Vorace: i am guessing that is the case...

SKye: mmm. okay..... we should go to bed then. it's late.

Clock: *10:54pm*

Vorace: *nods* goodnight, Skye... *heads for his own room*

Jacob: ... *goes to his room as well*

OMFG #200 IS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Me: if you're talking about the comic, YOU SUCK.

Skye: *heads off to her own room* ........night........
Raptor: *does the same*

Mikenno: *notices that everyone's leaving and just goes straight to his room*

*night turns to day, and the warm sun is greeted by a crowing rooster*

Eclipse: *still dead*

Vorace: *is the first to wake up* ...

Raptor: *asleep*

Mikenno: *didn't sleep at all* ..........

Skye: *asleep*

Vorace: *visits Mikenno* something has been troubling you...

Mikenno: ...........i know we're bringing him back, but....... *sits up* it still hurt to watch him die.

Vorace: that, i understand... he was very close to you, yes? That is what I have heard... and you have called him "brother" before...

Mikenno: *nods* in all but blood.......

Vorace: ah...

Mikenno: ............. *sighs and stands up* we should go get jake..........

Vorace: he will be afraid... i am fearing his flee...

Mikenno: we can't delay this, otherwise eclipse's body will start decomposing. *thinks* we could go get raptor too...

Vorace: a good point.

Jacob: *walking in the room* you don't have to force me, I'm already up... *a hint of displeasure is found in his voice*

Mikenno: *frowns* you worry too much. we will make sure that you do not lose control, and if you do, (which is very unlikely) we will bring you back to normal again.

Jacob: ... take me to the body...

Vorace: ... *walks to Eclipse's room*

Jacob: *follows*

Mikenno: ..... *follows*

meanwhile

Skye: *wakes up* nrfff....

Jacob: *stands over Eclipse, staring grimly at his body* ...

Vorace: do we start?

Jacob: wait until everyone is here.

Mikenno: .............
Raptor: *shows up* we ready?
Mikenno: we're waiting for skye.

meanwhile

Skye: .....AH! *remembers she has to hurry and jumps out of bed, already dressed* gotta run! *ZZZZOOOOMMMM out the door*

Eclipse: *still totally dead*

Jacob: *distressed sigh*

Vorace: pffft! You keep sighing! At least YOU are not DEAD in one roleplay!

Jacob: D:

Me: XD

Mikenno: *facepalm* let's not have another paradox, please? those bug the HELL out of me....

Skye: *runs in* i'm here! ^^; sorry im late, i overslept.

Vorace: *snorts a greeting*

Jacob: well... let's do this thing, then... :C

Eclipse: *DEAD*

Vorace: *shoves a piece of himself into Jacob*

Jacob: *immedietally feels it* AUUUUUUURRRGH!!

Skye: say WHAAAA...?
Mikenno: then again, none of us thought you were coming back, so yeah. that was still back when terra was still an issue though :P

Me: you on the right rp......? im confused.....

me: Whoops!! XDDDDD

Eclipse: eh...

Vorace: but... does she not like Lightning?

Me: you BIDOOF! XDDDDD

Mikenno: oh, yes she does. remember, that was 25 years ago. ^^
Skye: oh, i was about to say..... sheesh.... XP

me: i know XD

Eclipse: yeah... *cooouuugh* I had more fangirls then...

Vorace: no offense, but i cannot imagine someone like you with fangirls...

Mikenno: you have NO. IDEA. XD sheesh, flocks of girls would come out of NOWHERE........ XD

Skye: lol... it's kinda like how it was with acid and strike at school for a LOOOOONG while, until they threatened they'd quit school if they kept chasing them. they never head from them again XDDDDD

Mikenno: naah, they just stalk them from afar XD

Skye: XD

Eclipse: *HACKCOUGHHACK* Attending school?... That's so... unlike... A...cid... *blacks out*

Vorace: !!!!!!! ECLIPSE!!! WHAT HAPPENED?????

Mikenno: those toxins must've gotten to his lungs already...... it's EXACTLY like last time.....

Skye: !!!!!

Me: dude, you and chris were like, perfectly in sync. my emails would go critic-chris-critic-chris-critic-chris XD

Me: XDDDD

Eclipse: *down on the floor, barely breathing*

Vorace: if he dies, would we be able to bring him back?

mE: OH, HE GOT OFF RIGHT WHEN I SAID THAT. holy crap, is he psychic?! <8o .......caps lock was on XD

Skye: i-i dunno! umm, maybe we could use angel again...?
Mikenno: ...........

Jacob: *looks horrified*

Vorace: do not be selfish, Jacob...

Jacob: but... what if I turn...?

Eclipse: *...*

Skye: ............i think we should try..... we got it out last time, who's to say we can't do it again?
Mikenno: it could work.......

Jacob: Vorace BARELY got it out last time... he almost couldn't take it back, and I almost lost my mind again... I'm scared of that happening again...

Vorace: :C

Eclipse: *...*

Mikenno: ..........so you'll let eclipse die?
Skye: <:C

Jacob: DON'T SAY THAT!! I WOULD NEVER WANT ECLIPSE TO DIE!! ... I just don't want all of HN to die...

Vorace: hrmm...

Skye: *thinking* weeee.... couuuuld.... do it far away....? or in the sim room.....?
Mikenno: .....both could work.....

Jacob: I guess we can do it in the sim room (DIRTY BOY IS DIRTY!)... after he dies...

Eclipse: *dying*

Vorace: that would be soon.

Mikenno: ...........better make him comfortable then.... *picks him up and puts him in a nearby couch* .....

SKye: ................
Raptor: *had been wathing silently* ............so now we wait.....?

Jacob: I guess we do... he already looks extremelly pale...

Eclipse: *is extremelly pale*

Vorace: *shudders*

SKye: *shivers* ...........

Mikenno: .............

Raptor: ...............

Me: if ya haven't noticed, skye doesn't enjoy death. it's really hard for her to just stand and watch eclipse die. even during the war, she let others finish off her opponents.

Me: understandable.

Eclipse: *groans, in pain, as his organs start failing*

Mikenno: he's close now........
Skye: <:(
Raptors: i've watched soldiers die on the field, but never like this........

Vorace: father knows he can kill mobians by possessing them... but he does it anyway... he is cruel...

Eclipse: *lets out a final, choked gasp - then he stops breathing completelly*

Jacob: oh no...

Vorace: the hedgebat is dead...

Eclipse: *indeed, he is cold*

SKye: *ears fold back against her head, and her eyes become shiny, as if she were about to cry* ......
Raptor: *bows his head in respect* ......
Mikenno: *does the same* ......

Vorace: *hugs Skye, shielding her from the view of the dead hedgebat* Jacob... it would be time, then...

Jacob: *extremelly hesitant* ehhh... ohhhh god... *shivering* c-can I have a day to prepare for the worse...?

Vorace: ... possibly...

SKye: *silently hugs him back, tears escaping her eyes* ......
Raptor: ............
Mikenno: ........do i take him to the sim room for now? or put him in his room?

Me: ~sound the bugle now,
play it just for me...
as the seasons change
remember how i used to be...
now i can't go on, i can't even start...
i've got nuthin' left, just an empty heart...
i'm a soldier, woundd so i must give up the fight..
there's nuthin more for me, lead me away....
or leave me lyin' here......~

Jacob: what, Eclipse? You should put him in his room until tomorrow...

Vorace: are you scared?

Jacob: well... yeah...

Mikenno: .....okay. *picks eclipse up and starts walking up to his room*

Skye: *hugs vorace tightly* ...

Eclipse: *FEELS DEAD*

meanwhile

Vorace: *hugs Skye back* the dead is away from our eyes... it is safe to see now...

Skye: so..... you were the first demekarr, then.....?
Frigitt: *nods*

C. Eclipse: *nods* that's one of the reasons i am te most powerful demekarr - i'm not a cheap knockoff done with a spell that only SORT OF works.

Vorace: ...

Jacob: yeah... i know...

Skye: .......so..... why did you have so many hosts? if you were so powerful, couldn't you stop them from being killed/captured?
Frigitt: it doesnt work that way....

Condemned: the people who "killed" my hosts... bah... they LIE... it was I who killed them... I didn't wish to, but my toxic gas rotted them from the inside...

Jacob: ooooo... yeah that sucks....

Vorace: we have a... toxic gas?

Condemned: *glares at Vorace* YES. HOW DO YOU THINK I KILLED ECLIPSE THE SECOND TIME?

me: i dun think Skye knows of the gas either

Me: nopes.

Skye: what?! D:> you kill them just by posessing them??

Condemned: well, no, they can live up to three years before the gas eats them from the inside... if they're strong enough... my weaker hosts didn't last the MONTH...

Vorace: that's awful!!

Skye: D:>

Condemned: yesss... the only one to truly dodge it was Eclipse... and even then, the gases are eating him... he's slowly growing an immunity to it... but the immunity is still not strong enough, and he's due again.

Vorace: DDDD:>

Skye: AAAH! eclipse can't die AGAIN!!!! D8>

Condemned: unfortunetally, he must... have you yet found a cure?

Vorace: i know not of a cure... but that is me...

Skye: jaaaaaaaaake?! any ideas?? D:>

Mikenno: ..........
Raptor: .........

Jacob: I have yet to find a cure...

Condemned: then he is doomed.

Vorace: :C

Mikenno: ..........we brought him back last time. who's to say we can't do it again...?

Skye: .........
Raptor: .........

Condemned: the last time he was brought back, it was Angel's fault. as you can see, Angel doesn't have that power anymore...

Jacob: please... don't call me that...

Vorace: ...

Everyone: *SILENCE*

Condemned: he's doomed.

Jacob: STOP THAT!! DDD:>

Skye: cut it out, condemneeeeeeed!!! <:(

Condemned: ... *turns back into Eclipse, who starts coughing and hacking*

Eclipse: *as soon as the coughing fit is over, Eclipse puts a hand on his throat, fear flooding his eyes* oh no... no no no no... ooohhh god, no...

Vorace: ):>

Jacob: Eclipse... ):>

Mikenno: ......it's the same way it happened last time, isn't it...?

Skye: we have to do something! we have to help him! D:>

Eclipse: *coughs* I guess it is... I lasted another twenty years before it started again... *winces*

Vorace: I do not think we can help him, Skye...

Skye: we can't just sit here and do nothing!!! D:>
Mikenno: ...something you do not know, skye. the last time this happened, your mother had to sit and watch just as you will have to now.
Skye: ......! r-really.....?

Eclipse: *weakly grins* ... she even admitted that she really liked me, before... heh... *COUGHHACK*

Vorace: WHAT???

Skye: i'd be pretty miffed, actually.

Mikenno: *shrugs*

Raptor: .....yeahhhh....

Jacob: exactly. Seeing Vorace the way he is must be heartbreaking to Condemned - you need to remember that he was once a mobian too...

Vorace: he was?

Jacob: yes.

Me: I dun think Skye knew about Condemned's past...

Me: she doesnt.

Skye: condemned was a mobian?
Mikenno: an echidna, to be precise.

Jacob: ...indeed... he was the first demekarr ever created... his story is much like that of Cain and Abel... except... angrier... He was picked on for being born a mutant blue color... which, in those days, was the sign of death, and misfortune... his tribe had always told him that he'd "lead the tribe to estruction"... even the elders shunned him... his real name was Haine Al Alar.

Vorace: *listening, ears perked* he was bullied? No wonder he became twisted...

Jacob: ohhhh but that was just the beginning...

Skye: *thinks of her mom's color, and keeps listening* ..........

Mikenno: *nods. he knows the story*

Jacob: One day, Haine couldn't take it anymore... he thought that, if he killed his brother, the leader of the tribe, he would be made leader - and people would HAVE to respect him... so he plunged his obsidion knife into his older brother's head...

Vorace: !!!

Jacob: ... the tribe soon realized that thier leader was dead. They blamed Haine, and tried to kill him... then the shaman came in. To know what really killed their leader, he recited a spell, and called forth the spirit of their leader... who promptly replied to their question that it was Haine who had killed him, and that his body must be stripped from his soul, as Haine had wrongfully took his...

Vorace: then what?

Jacob: there was, of course, an uproar, which lead to a sacrificial ceremony - Haine being the sacrifice. They dumped some kind of boiling blood on him, or something, and recited an incantation, shouting "you are condemned!", and sent him away to five-hundred years in the future...

Vorace: that... that is insane...

Skye: i-i'll say..... um.... question. mom's an echidna (mostly). if these guys were still around, would they go after her.....? i know grandpa wasn't blue, and he was the wolf half.......
Mikenno: ........

Jacob: considering Twilight is also a hybrid, she'd be chased after no matter what.

Vorace: tough crowd...

Jacob: no kidding.

Eclipse: *slowly shuffles in, hand over his eyes* ...

Jacob: Eclipse?

Eclipse: *the hand is removed. His eyes are red, and actually tearing up. Condemned looks very upset* maybe it is I who should tell what happened after...?

Vorace: there is an after?

C. Eclipse: after I was sent through that portal... I was trapped in a snowy wasteland... scared... confused... JUST learning how to move as a spirit... my first possession was simply an ACCIDENT...

Jacob: an... accident?

C. Eclipse: I found a mobian hun... he... he was sitting around a campfire with other huns... a burly beast of a mobian...

Jacob: Attila the Hun?

C. Eclipse: something like that... well... I wanted to know where I was, so, I tried tapping him on his shoulder... that's when I was pulled in...

Vorace: oh...

Skye: that must've been horrible... being stuck in someone else's body....
Frigitt: *comes out* it IS.

C. Eclipse: it was dark, until I found the conscience part of his head... slowly, I found out how to take over, and tried my hand at controlling Attilla for a while... that's when he became the scourge of Asia...

Jacob: so YOU made him famous?

C Eclipse: I guess I did...

Vorace: D:

Skye: woww... thats nuts......

C. Eclipse: throughout the years I've possessed many people... Napoleon Bonaparte... King Henry IIX... Julius Ceaser... even Al Capone...

Jacob: so... it was you... all along... it was all just you...

Vorace: *glares at Condemned*

Mikenno: i'm sure as well, but eclipse isnt.....
Skye: i know he hadn't meant it....

Vorace: hrrmm... Eclipse is too hard on himself about these things...

Adams: *still writing*

Jacob: *nods*

Skye: maybe someone should go talk to him.....?
Mikenno: he needs alone time......

Vorace: agreed. He must think it over himself without any outside intrusion.

Skye: okay.......
Mikenno: you done writing, adams?

Adams: juuuussst abouuuut..... there. Alright. I guess I'm done for today. See you guys tomorrow. *gets up and leaves*

Vorace: hrm.

Mikenno: he's a very focused guy.
SKye: seems like he likes what he does. jake, stop fangirling :P

Jacob: *stobs hyperventalating* ...sorry...

Vorace: I am sure he will be better by tomorrow.

Mikenno: hopefully....
SKye: XD

Jacob: cool author. Amazing at writing. BRILLIANT. ABSOLOUTLY BRILLIANT.

Vorace: I do not read. I would not know.

Jacob: but you SHOULD! :D

Raptor: i dunno if this'll sound mean at all, but CAN demekarrs read....? please don't kill me. O_O;

Vorace: *snorts* we can only read an ancient echidna-writing... well, SOME of us can... the less-intelligant demekarrs do not.

Jacob: Vorace... ... y'know, you've ALWAYS interested me... you are an odd case of demekarr... you have completelly devoured Luminos' rotting body to the bone, and yet you don't fall over from the lack of support... ... did you grow your own muscles?

Vorace: yes. I did.

Raptor: oh. that's n-nice.
Skye: *feels sick* ............
Mikenno: you just HAD to say that, didn'tya jake?

Jacob: I AM A MAN OF SCIENCE. I WANT TO KNOW THINGS.

Vorace: ...

Jacob: can I see Luminos' hand?

Vorace: *his own fur and flesh melts off to reveal a rotten skeletal hand with a few bits of muscle on it*

Jacob: *holds the hand as if it's nothing, and brings it up to his face, studying it closely*

Skye: *runs off to the nearest bathroom*
Raptor: ..thats kinda..... gross......
Mikenno: you couldn't have done that anywhere else??

Jacob: I WAS THE KINDA KID WHO LIKED MAKING GROSS SLIMY STUFF IN SCIENCE CLASS. I WANNA SEE IT NOOOOOOOWWWWW!

Vorace: -_-;

Jacob: So is this regular rotting, or do you cause the rotting?

Vorace: well, I -

Jacob: noooo... this was too short a rot process...

Skye: *still gone*
Mikenno: -_-;
Raptor: well, so was i, but ew.

Jacob: It's INTERESTING... If I didn't take up demonoligy, I would have gone to medical school...

Vorace: *is feeling abused*

Mikenno: jake, vorace isn't enjoying this. can you please stop?
Raptor: that would be reasonable.
Skye: *still gone*

Vorace: :C

Jacob: FFFFF... alright... alright... *lets go of Luminos' hand*

Vorace: *tenticles wrap around the hand and fingers until it forms Vorace' claws again*

Mikenno: THANK you. skye, you're good.
Skye: *comes back* thanks mikki. sorry, i can't stand the sight of... bones.... like, mobian bones....... it just grosses me out....... 's why i can't watch horror flicks. :(
Raptor: its ok ^^ everyone has a big fear.
Mikenno: *thinks of ryu, and shudders* you got THAT right......

Vorace: *tests his hand out to make sure it still works* brrmm...

Jacob: Vorace interests me... especially since he's a demekarr retard.

Vorace: D:

Jacob: that's why you act like you do.

Vorace: D: ...?

Skye: thats not a nice thing to say!! in any case, he's smarter than all those other demekarrs out there! D:<
Mikenno: that's not what he means, skye. he meant that vorace is "retarded," (for lack of a better term) by demekarr standards. he doesn't see mobians as prey, and he doesn't feel the urge to kill. well, as much as other demekarrs, at least. sorry for stealing your thunder, jake.
Skye: .......oh........
Raptor: i guess it's a good thing then....

Jacob: technically, none was stolen. :)

Vorace: it is not a good thing for US... I am a disapointment to my father... one day i asked him why we killed, and he shouted angry words at me in ancient dialect...

Jacob: he must be pretty upset... but hey, if we walk in Condemned's shoes for a minute... what if one of us had a child who was so mentally disabled, it didn't want to help people? Upon searching, this child would find Inderretta, and side with him. How would that make you feel? Having your own child turn against you, and, let's say, mock the hybrids?

Frigitt: pfft. i was old before you were even BORN! :P besides, you're DEMEKARRS. you aren't true demons either!! now, MIKKI'S a real demon.

Raptor: n-now now, lets not argue! please....? o_o

Skye: *has to force herself not to laugh at raptor's expression* pfft....
Mikenno: *wants to laugh too, but is satisfied with a huge grin*

Vorace: we too ARE demons! DEMEKARR is old echidna-speak for "spirit demon"!

C. Eclipse: really?

Vorace: yes!

Frigitt: *snorts* quote as many history books as you like. you shall never surpass my wisdom.
Mikenno: or your modesty. >:P
Skye: XDDDDDDDD
Frigitt: -_-;
Raptor: *stifles a laugh*

Vorace: wisdom has nothing to do with it. I am a real demon. So there.

Adams: I didn't know how stubborn demons were...

Vorace: *facepalm*

Frigitt: *razzes vorace*
Raptor: XD
Skye: hey, it works! XD
Mikenno: XD

Adams: ehurm... so, Eclipse, as one final part of the interview, need to ask you a few personal questions...

Eclipse: alright...

Adams: do you think others are safe around you? Please tell the truth.

Eclipse: ... ... ...

Adams: come on...

Eclipse: ... ... no...

Adams: you don't think people are safe around you?

Eclipse: no, I don't, but for some reason, they come at me like magnets. I meet new people every day. I can't help that.

Adams: *writing stuff down*

Skye: ........we're your friends cause you're a nice guy..... just cuz condemned is a total a-hole doesn't mean you are too.
Frigitt: you have more good in you than you think.
Raptor: *nodnodnod*
Mikenno: *smiles* you know what i wanna add eclipse. you're a great guy. period.

Eclipse: *smiles*

Adams: last question; do you feel as if you have a good amount of control over Condemned?

Eclipe: I used to... but after recent events... no. Not really.

Mikenno: do you mean what happened on harvest moon?
Skye: *shudders as she remembers*
Frigitt: *shudders with her*
Raptor: o_o.....

Eclipse: yeah... yeah, I do...

Adams: ah. The harvest moon form. I know of it... it can be used as a great, and poweful tool of destruction, if one knew how to control it.

Vorace: yes - it WOULD be nice to know.

Skye: it would be nice to know... *rubs her leg, remembering the pain* it looked to me like vorace had some kind of control at one point... he just... recognized me.
Frigitt: *nods*

Eclipse: he did?

Vorace: I did?

Adams: maybe because Vorace is a strange case of demekarr, where he has only one mind, and not two, fighting for dominance?

Eclipse: possibley.

Skye: that might've been it..... he tried to protect me when eclipse showed up too.
Frigitt: *nods*

Eclipse: so Vorace subconciously thought that I would hurt Skye? <:(

Vorace: ... well, by the looks of it, you DID...

Eclipse: <:C

Skye: *rolls her eyes* it wasn't eclipse, it was condemned!! eclipse had nothing to do with it. besides, i'm fine now. anyone see any crutches?

Eclipse: ... the harvest moon form is a mixture of me and Condemned... I was in that mix... it DID have something to do with me... :C

Vorace: ...

Skye: well, you HAD traded yourself for strike so we could save him AND so you could destroy the base.....
Frigitt: ......why WOULD you hurt them, eclipse?
Raptor: .....
Mikenno: .....

Eclipse: *hold his head in his heads* I... I just don't know...

Vorace: ...

Adams: *writing*

Skye: ......
Frigitt: ......
Mikenno: ......
Raptor: ......

Me: this post did absolutely nothing.

Me: so ma'am, it did not. XD

Eclipse: I'm tired, Mr. Adams... I think we should stop...

Adams: but we JUST started! D:

Eclipse: ... but I'm feeling tired. We can continue tomorrow... *walks out of the hall, and heads for his room*

Vorace: :C

Mikenno:...... he just doesn't have an answer yet. give him time to think, mr. adams.
Skye: ........
Frigitt: ....... *jumps into skye*
Skye: *shivers*
Raptor: umm......

Vorace: I doubt that he wanted to hurt us...

Skye: yeah. it must feel good....
Frigitt: it should.
Mikenno: ...........

Vorace: Or, he will be completelly overwhelmed by the attention.

Frigitt: ...huh.
Skye: and thats when we start bending the truth! :D
Mikenno: "oh, he's busy right now"
Skye: "oh, he's asleep, sorry!"
Frigitt: "im sorry, the person you are trying to contact is unavailable, please try again later." :P
Skye+Mikki: XDDDD

Vorace: ahrm... aheheh... very well... it will go as such...

Eclipse: *comes back with a half-drunk water bottle* gyeh... that was nice on my throat...

Frigitt: *nonchalantly licks a paw* after talking for as long as you did, i'm sure it does.
Skye: yeah XD
Mikenno: so now what? *looks at a clock* it's only 5pm.

Eclipse: I dunno... for me, NOT TALK... not for a while... hhnnnn...

Vorace: *shrugs*

Me: TIME SKIP!!!! 12:30 pm the next day ^^

Eclipse: *waits*

Adams: hi all.

Eclipse: *ears perk* hello.

Vorace: he is here.

Skye: oh whee ^^ story time! XD
Frigitt: *facepaw*

Eclipse: aherm... where were we?

Adams: you got to the war.

Eclipse: oh, right...

*and so, he continues his life story, telling with vivid detail every experience he shared with Sonic, his father, and Rosette, along with all of Hybrid Nation... then he got to the part where he found out Luminos was drafted into the pureblood army*

Eclipse: ... I honestly thought I'd have to face him... fight my own son....

Vorace: :CCCC

Eclipse: ... and... and then he died... he got put down by the purebloods themselves... ... because they thought that Vorace was too unstable... too uncontrollable... that's kinda when Skye went ballistic, but it gets fuzzy at that part for me...

Vorace: yes... because you lost control...

Adams: again?

Eclipse: I assure you, Mr. Adams... I'm a very VERY angry mobian...

Skye: *headhang* .............
Frigitt: *gives skye a comforting lick*
Skye: ^^ *scratches frigitt behind the ear as she listens*
Frigitt: *purrs contentedly* ^^

Mikenno: i was with skye when we found him.... i watched Luminos die.... it was a horrible sight.... i don't know what the purebloods used, but it killed him slowly, and painfully. both skye and eclipse went crazy after seeing him die. i almost did as well.....

Eclipse: oh... that would explain... ... ... yeah, I think I scared Raptor... possibly...

Vorace: then I came out... though that part, too, is fuzzy... I remember people attacking me... I think... Skye attacked me?

Eclipse: possibly.

Skye: i attacked you because i thought you were the reason he was dead..... then i uh... calmed down, i guess.....
Frigitt: you realized it wasn't really him. it was those scientists.
Skye: thank you for supporting me. XD

Mikenno: you DID scare raptor. have you seen how twitchy he gets around you guys? he's scared you'll suddenly rip him to pieces.

Adams: *writing crap down* interestinnnnggg...

Eclipse: I don't mean to SCARE him... :(

Vorace: he fears demons...

Adams: I'll need Raptor's point of view...

Skye: i got it. *stands up and runs off*

Frigitt: this'll be fun.
Mikenno: i'll say. XD that bird's going to be so twitchy....

Eclipse: hrmph. Critic HAS described me as "a timebomb" many times before...

Jacob: IT'S SO GREAT TO SEE YOU WORK, MR. ADAMS!! 8D

Adams: I'm... happy for... you?

Mikenno: can you tell he's a fan?

Skye: *comes back* here he is! :D
Raptor: .....hi?
Frigitt: hi.
Raptor: .............

Me: g2g eat. brb, k?

Adams: can I talk to you about the demekarrs, Mr. Raptor? Like how they make you feel? Please be honest.

Eclipse: ...

Raptor: oh. well..... umm.... to be honest, the really freak me out..... like, really. especially when i thought he was going to kill me. *points at eclipse* i mean, my scientists had killed his son (AGAINST my orders, by the way) so i get that, but it was still pretty scary. Skye scared me too. and vorace. they were just.... like nothing i've ever seen.

Skye: sorry ^^;

Mikenno: *smiles*

Adamas: in what ways do you fear them? Their unpredictability? Their outburts?

Eclipse: take their hope away... take their life away...

Vorace: damn song.

Raptor: their fearsome appearance. and the ferocity one would expect to come with it. i could have sworn he was going to tear me to pieces......... i thought all three of them would.

Eclipse: ... Leave them nothing left inside...

When you’re own have died
When there's no more pride
When your soul is frozen
Is that enough?
When your heart is broken
A thousand times
With every moment
Is that enough?

Adams: what's he babbling about?

Vorace: he's singing to himself.

Adams: ah. Well, Raptor... *writes stuff down* that' very interesting. Do you believe the demons have that effect on EVERYONE?

Raptor: *shakes his head* well obviously some people are used to them *glances at skye* I mean, Lightning doesn't seem to care, and neither do most people that know them. i think it was just because of that first experience...... you know, first impressions are the most important, right?

Skye: <:(
Frigitt: <:(
Mikenno: would you believe me if i said i was a demon? ^^
Raptor: are you?
Mikenno: yeeeeeeeees. ^^
Raptor: ...........never would have been able to tell..... weird.....

Eclipse: Without warning,
We take everything
Without warning,
We take everything
Undaunted in this suffering
The dark forces
Surround everything
Make it impossible to see...

Vorace: hnnn...

Adams: ah... so you have developed a phobia of demons...

Jacob: demophobia?

Adams: apparently.

Raptor: i-i guess........ if you could call it that.......

Skye: awww..... but you know we love you raptor! well, you know, not that way. if you want us to help you get over your fear, we'll gladly do so ^^

Frigitt: hmm. *pads up to raptor and sits down in front of him*

Raptor: O_O;

Vorace: *sits next to Raptor*

Eclipse: *goes into his Condemned form, and stands near Raptor*

Adams: ...

Raptor: O_O!!!
Frigitt: .......boo.
Raptor: AAAAAAH!! D8> *fluffs up, his feathers sticking out everywhere*
Mikenno: pffft.... XD
Skye: XD

Me: XDDDDDD

Vorace: you do not help, Frigitt. We wish to help him, not scare him.

C. Eclipse: I like to scare him >:)

Vorace: silence.

Frigitt: but i'm the adorable oooooone! :P

Skye: XDDDDD
Mikenno: XDDDDD

Raptor: *feathers flatten out again* o_o.......

C. Eclipse: pfff! You're a DAEMON. We're REAL demons! >:P

Vorace: yes - we are the scary ones!

Me: I seeeee...

Eclipse: ... the how did you die...?

meanwhile

Adams: "Mikki"?

Vorace: friend.

Adams: ah.

Mikenno: a dragon can't fly forever, eclipse. i HAD to stop eventually..... i was starving too. a dragon can't live on birds and forever, you know. when i landed, they caught up with me. i tried running on foot (my wings couldn't carry me any farther) but they caught up quickly. i knew they wouldn't just kill me on the spot. blood warriors are very cruel creatures..... they would tear me to pieces and make sure i suffered.... so i had two choices. suffer and die, or end it before they got to me........

meanwhile

Skye: you'd find Mikenno interesting. maybe if they both come down, you can meet him if you like. well, after talking to eclipse, of course.

Adams: we'll see... I don't know if he, himself is busy...

meanwhile

Eclipse: so you commited suicide...

Mikenno: yes.......... there was a sharp rock nearby....... i waited until the could see me... and i cut my throat...... i laughed at them as i died...... i laughed at them, for they had failed........ but then i realized my mistake, as my soul descended into the depths of hell......

meanwhile

Skye: oh, he's NEVER busy XD
Frigitt: <do you think adams would be interested in daemons?>
Skye: <he might...> Mr. Adams? have you ever researched Daemons?

Me: ok, stuff on daemons. they were created by a sorcerer who had discovered the ultimate power, and needed someone to protect it. daemons are more like wandering spirits than souls of those who lived. they can be all sorts of different animals, not just wolves :)

Adams: of course. They're wandering spirits.

Vorace: we best not sidetrack him too much...

Jacob: yes... Mr. Adams needs to write, afterall... :3

meanwhile

Eclipse: Those who do not embrace the gift of life are destined to join Hell... is that what happened?

Mikenno: they told me that if i hadn't killed myself i would have gone to heaven...... they told me that killing yourself was the worst thing you could have done..... *shakes his head* it's my only regret. that i couldn't join my mother in heaven........ *tear*

SKye: well yeah, but he wants to talk to eclipse, but he's busy, sooooo... we entertain him :3 would you like to meet a Daemon, Mr. Adams? :)
Frigitt: :D

Eclipse: ... well... at least you have us, now...

meanwhile

Adams: I've seen many forms of daemon. What's different about this one?

Vorace: you would have to see it...

Mikenno: *looks up and smiles* and i'm more grateful than you can imagine.......

meanwhile

Skye: ^^
Frigitt: *comes out. she stays in her wolfy-form, and stands next to skye. she stands at about half skye's height* well hello there, Mr. Adams.

Adams: *madly writes down note after note in his pad of paper*

meanwhile

Eclipse: well... I guess I'm ready to come down now...

Mikenno: yeah. *stands* everyone else is worried.... *out teh door*

meanwhile

Frigitt: you seem to find me interesting, Mr. Adams. ^^
Skye: Psheah. XD

Adams: I do... *more scribbling never before have i seen the canis lupus form...

meanwhile

Eclipse: *follows*

Frigitt: *sits* ^^
Skye: haha! frigitt never gets this much attention XD
Frigitt: it's because i don't like showing myself to people. :P

Mikenno: *goes downstairs*

Me: btw if you were planning a mikkiXeclipse at ALL, you might have to hold that though......

Me: Mish, I'm not taking the gay coupling seriously... XD

Adams: hrrmmm... *writing*

Eclipse: hey... who's this?

Adams: are you Eclipse the Hedgebat?

Eclipse: who wants to know?

Adams: I am Timothy Adams, popular author of today... I'd like to interview you about being the host of Condemned... if I publish your story, you will get twenty percent of the wages...

Eclipse: but people will know what I am...

Adams: ah... ... er...

Eclipse: I will THINK about it...

Adams: I NEED your interview...

Eclipse: People will shun me. I won't be able to go out in public.

Adams: I'll make sure not to write abou you negativly!

Eclipse: ...

Me: GOOD. :P

Mikenno: i don't think there's many positive things to write about that blasted condemned..... he's just a bloodthirsty demon..... *hate*
Frigitt: down, boy. :P
Skye: XD yeahhh......

Me: just so you know, frigitt DOES have a sense of humor. she just doesn't use it XD

Adams: yes, but you forgot... I'm a WRITER... I can make people feel SORRY for Eclipse, not SHUN him...

Jacob: my hero <3

Eclipse: alright... I need the money anyway...

Adams: very well! Sit down, Eclipse... this is going to be a long interview... let's start with the beginning...

Eclipse: *begins telling the story of the whole entire Condemned Comic, and beyond. The beginnnig parts of the story, most of the people in the main hall have never heard before, giving everyone within earshot knowledge of Eclipse's point of view when he was seventeen, and just getting to know Condemned... he told of how he met Rosette, the purifier, Inderretta, EVERYTHING from his past... and it was sad*

Vorace: *feels bad for Eclipse, realizing that, before the point of middle age in his life, it was hard to be the hedgebat*

Jacob: *interested in every detail of the story*

Mikenno: *already knew all this, but listened anyway.* ......
Frigitt: *only knew parts of it from Twilight, and listened intently, genuinely interested*
Skye: *listened as well, and realizes how hard his life really was* ......

Eclipse: *gets to the part where Shadow got possessed*

Vorace: Shadow was possessed??

Eclipse: *nods and continues*

Frigitt: ah, i remember that......
Skye: mom had to use ya for that one, huh?
Frigitt: mhmm. *jumps on skye's lap and curls up there* i'm still listening.
Mikenno: .......

Eclipse: *after a few hours, he gets to the part where the war started* ... I'm sorry, Mr. Adams... I must ask to stop... I'm getting a little tired...

Adams: very well... when can I meet with you, again?

Eclipse: try again tomorrow...

Adams: alright. *walk out*

Frigitt: *licks one paw then passes it over her ear* ah good. *jumps off skye's lap*
Skye: *stands up and stretches*
Mikenno: *sighs* that adams fella sure is a curious one....

Eclipse: Condemned is an interesting subject. I need a glass of water - my throat hurts. *gets up and walks to the dining hall*

Vorace: there is nothing wrong with wanting to know more about demons.

Frigitt: of course not.
Skye: pretty interesting, actually. wonder what he'd think of mikki the mind-reading-dragon-demon-dude?
Mikenno: he can't tell i'm what i am yet XP

Vorace: I find that Eclipse is very fortunate to have this oppurtunety to not be feared, but RESPECTED thrust upon him.

Mikenno: of course. *sighs* listen eclipse, locking yourself in your room won't change the fact that Sonic's gone......

meanwhile

Skye: *head in the clouds, not really paying attention* yeah...?

Eclipse: *doesn't respond to that*

meanwhile

Vorace: *claps in front of her face to get her attention* you were thinking about something... something that I KNOW is related to death in some way...

Jacob: you can read her mind?

Vorace: no, I can read her face.

Skye: *jumps* aah! oh. umm....... *sad again* i was trying to relate to eclipse......

meanwhile

Mikenno: *sits there* ........eclipse...... *sighs, unsure of what to say*

Eclipse: *gets a little bit less quiet* ... I know he's gone... and that's why I just want to stay in here for a bit...

meanwhile

Vorace: do not think about Luminos...

Skye: it's kinda hard not to.......

meanwhile

Mikenno: but what good will that do? none at all. i know you don't feel well, eclipse, but being around others that are still here will help.

Vorace: *touches the side of her face with his claws, and looks her in the eyes* ...PLEASE... do not think about Luminos...

meanwhile

Eclipse: *goes silent for a while again* ... ... ... I'm thinking... of all the times we shared... good and bad... just replaying those memories in my head...

Skye: I have every right to, Vorace...... If Eclipse is allowed to grieve, I am too.

meanwhilezzz

Mikenno: ..... *Leans back in his chair, and stares at the ceiling* at least you have good memories to recall........

Eclipse: be still, friend... you talk of nothing... NOTHING...

meanwhile

Vorace: ... but no for this LONG...

Mikenno: .......................

Me: mikki's talking about his like, LIVING life. he doesn't really have good memories of that....

meanwhile......

Skye: it's only been a few days, Vorace........

Me: i read over the rp, and it actually HAS been only a couple of days. ^^;

Me: I know, and shoot.

Eclipse: ... don't be quiet like that...

meanwhile

Vorace: possibly it seemed long...

Mikenno: ......it's just.... sometimes i think you're all luckier than i am....... you have people to mourn when you're gone... and people who'll miss you when you're gone....... i had no one.... when i left, i had no one... only my mother.......

meanwhile

Skye: of course it would seem long...... heck, this has to have been the longest week of my LIFE.......

Eclipse: ... isn't that someone?...

meanwhile

Vorace: ... :(

Mikenno: exactly. ONE. She was practically insane from imprisonment, by the time i died......... everyone else i knew wanted me dead............

meanwhile

Skye: ........... *sighs*

Eclipse: ah...

meanwhile

Vorace: *hugs Skye*

Mikenno: yeah. not exactly a very happy life, ya know.....

meanwhile

Skye: *hugs him back awkwardly, with one arm*

Me: i HATE crutches. i once asked a friend if i could borrow hers to see what it was like, and they SUCK....

Eclipse: yeah... feel sorry for you...

meanwhile

Vorace: *whispers softly in her ears* mourn not, Skye... you are umong your friends...

Skye: *whispers back* i know..... i know........ *tear*

meanwhile

Mikenno: don't...... i deserved it...... i paid for my mother's mistake...... at least she's in a better place now....

Eclipse: your mother's mistake?...

meanwhile

Vorace: do not cry... *nuzzles her*

Jacob: *getting awkward*

Mikenno: i never told you what happened, huh? well.... get comfy, cuz it's a long story.....

Me: after i post up my next pic, it'll make more sense, so wait a bit...

meanwhile

Skye: *sniffles* i'm fine........ *notices jake and whispers to vorace* i think we're making him feel awkward.....

Me: how old is jake? you should draw him :)

Me: He's thirty-four. MAYBEH AH SHOOD.

Vorace: as you wish. *stops hugging*

Jacob: eheh. ^^;

*story time!*

Mikenno: well, this is how it went..... my mother is what is known now as a "blood dragon." we were a powerful race of dragons that ruled the mountains with a bloody claw......

meanwhile

Skye: heheh.... sorry, jake.

Jacob: er... yes... it's ok... ehhh... *buries his face in a book*

Vorace: ... eh...

meanwhile

Eclipse: *listens*

Skye: *giggles* XD

meanwhile

Mikenno: it was forbidden for "bloods" to..... become atatched.... to other races of dragon, and even more of a taboo to bond with mobians......... my father was a mobian. a wind dragon. i never met him.......

Eclipse: you mean... they...?

meanwhile

Jacob: DON'T LAUGH. STOP LAUGHING.

A Dude: *walks in, he looks like he's searching for something*

Vorace: who is that...?

Jacob: ? *see's* O.O *practically faints from excitement*

Mikenno: yeah..... my mother was a "scout", so she WAS rather small.... *shakes his head* yeah.... in our clan, mothers did not have to say who they had affairs with, so it wasnt odd when she did not tell who the father was... but....

meanwhile

Skye: *looks at the dude* whozzat?

Eclipse: *shakes his head* Mikenno... did they KILL him?

meanwhile

Jacob: *in a loud whisper* IT'S TIMOTHY ADAMS!! *points at his book* the guy who wrote THIS!!

Book: "A Cold Day in Hell: exclusive interview with The Yeti"

Mr. Adams: *still looking*

Jacob: omg I can hardly breath... yeeeeeee...!!

Skye: if you faint, im not giving you CPR, dude. chill. *to the dude* hey Mr. Adams!!

meanwhile

Mikenno: no no no, it wasnt like that. actually, no one ever found out..... the problems started when i HATCHED......

me: is this adams guy a real dude? i think so....

Me: no, I just pulled a random name from my head. no joke. XD

Jacob: but - but - OMG HE'S COMING OVER HERE!!!

Mr. Adams: hello, I'm trying to find -

Jacob: !!!!!!!!! <33333

Mr. Adams: okaaaayyyy... I'm trying to find a Mr. Eclipse the Hedgebat... I've been doing research on the demon Condemned, and I needed to track down the host... I've asked my way around town, did a LOT of studying, and followed the tracks HERE. I just need to - *noticed Vorace* OH HAIIII...

Vorace: *sneezes*

Mr. Adams: I can see by your... eh... beautiful features that you must be a demon... but aren't all demekarrs forever-craving chaos and destruction?

Vorace: eh... no... I am the exception...

Mr. Adams: oh I SEE... *writing stuff down in a notebook*

meanwhile

Eclipse: ... ah.

Skye: vorace has to be the nicest demekarr you'll ever meet ^^ no joke!

meanwhile

Mikenno: the deal is, well, our race wasn't known as the "blood dragons" for nothing..... all members of our race, and i mean ALL off them, have "bloodstains", crimson red markings on our bodies that look like blood streaks. when i hatched, it was immediately obvios something was wrong..... here, let me show you. *turns to his dragon form, careful not to hit anything or anyone* see any red? *there IS no red, except for his eyes. just black-on-white*

Me: oh &@%#!!!! i just remembered..... you know the guy that tried to ask me out after breaking up with his GF? HIS LAST NAME IS ADAMS O_O

Me: *facepalm*

Vorace: ^^

Mr. Adams: interestiiiing... *still writing*

Jacob: *hyperventalating*

Mr Adams: so, yeah. Needs Eclipse. You guys know him?

meanwhile

Eclipse: n... no, Mikenno...

Skye: well yeah, but... he's kina busy right now......

meanwhile

Mikenno: exactly. *turns back, and sits down again* i had barely hatched when everyone else noticed. my mother hadn't expected it. but the diffeences didn't stop there. my horns were different, and i had a smaller build than everyone else. so i was a freak, AND a runt. and you saw how big i was when i changed.

me: it's ok, its not your fault ^^; btw, mikki's only 20ft long, and the average size for a "scout", the smallest type, was 30ft.

Me: :D

Mr. Adams: :C ... ... when will he NOT be busy?

meanwhial

Eclipse: ...that's not good...

Skye: when he comes down, i guess...... he's not feeling too good right now.......

meanwhile

Mikenno: *shakes his head* no it wasn't...... the scouts called me a runt, the warriors called me a freak, the hunters knew me as "bait," andthe thinkers called me a bad omen..... it was not a fun thing to have everyone hating you at once..... only my mother showed any signs of truly caring...... then, it happened.....

Me: oo, cliffyhangers. btw, is adams a human or a mobian?

Me: a... mobian...

Adams: why not?

Vorace: Sonic's death.

Adams: oh yes... that...

meanwhile

Eclipse: then what?

Me: okey!
Skye: yeahhh.. they were really close. he needs to be alone for a while....

meanwhile

Mikenno: the invasion. another clan attacked us after my first hunt..... the thinkers had always been trying to get rid of me, and now they had a reason. so they plotted to kill me. but my mother overheard, and tried to stop them. she was imprisoned for "treason."

Adams: oh my.

meanwhile

Eclipse: that's rotten.

Skye: just give him a bit. i'm sure Mikki's already talking to him.....

meanwhile

Mikenno: oh you wouldnt even IMAGINE..... fortunately i had figured out what they were doing before they sent the warriors after me...... and i fled. fled for my life. it felt like i flew for weeks at a time... thank goodness my mother was a scout and my dad a WIND dragon..... i wouldnt have lasted otherwise....

Me: warriors: 60-70 ft
Scouts: 30-40 ft
Hunters: 50-60ft
Thinkers: 40-55ft
yeah. they're al bigger than him. :P

Me: time to set the mood.... freaking t-storms......
My iPod: *suddenly starts playing dear my friend*
Me: WTF?!

*suddenly, a bolt of lightning flashes white-blue across the sky, and a loud crash of thunder follows. surely enough, it begins to rain....*

Skye: *looks up at the cloudy sky, and closes her eyes. she lets tears flow freely now, indistinguishable from the rain falling on her face*

Preacher: this will be marked down as one of the most upsetting deaths in history. You may all head inside the church for lunch.

everyone: *slowly shuffles to the church*

Eclipse: *just stands there in the rain and the lightning, looking down at his godfather's grave as the diggers slowly pile mound after mound of dirt onto the coffin* ...

Skye: *waits for most of the crowd to go past, and half walks, half limps over to eclipse and stands next to him* ......he's right. it IS the most upsetting death in the history of Mobius......

Eclipse: *is completelly silent, still staring at the grave* ...

Everyone else: *in the church, eating chilidogs in honor of Sonic*

Me: dude, i had chilidogs for LUNCH today XDDDDDD

Skye: ............ *nudges eclipse with her elbow* come on, eclipse. you'll catch a cold....... *lame excuse*

Me: weird because THEY'RE eating chilidogs for lunch :D

Eclipse: *slowly looks at Skye, face full of dispair. Tears leak from his own eyes (though it's hard to tell)*

SKye: eclipse..... *hugs him awkwardly with one arm (cuz she has to hold that stupid crutch up, otherwise she can't bend down to pick it up)* hey... i miss him too.........

Eclipse: *weakly smiling, he hugs Skye back lightly* Now you're the ONLY blue blur...

Skye: *smiles* don't remind me....... *lets go* should we go get something to eat? <:)

Me: i JUST realized....... besides Mish, Skye is the oc that's closest to the real me. 'cept for the fact that she has a guy XD

Me: shut up. Doesn't count. Her guy is an anthro/demon.

Eclipse: *goes silent for a bit* I'll go into the church... but I'm not hungry...

Me: hey, i'm OVER mcnapple. but i still feel lonely.

Skye: good enough... *limps/walks towards the church*

Me: YOU HAVE ME :D

Eclipse: *strides beside her, still feeling depressed*

Me: but you're two time zones away. AND you're not a guy XD

Skye: *opens the door to the church, and leans against it, holding it for eclipse* go ahead ^^

Eclipse: ... no... you first... *still depressed*

Me: HOW DO YOU KNOW?? Haha, jk.

Skye: ............ *goes inside*

Me: XDDDDD i still dunno whut ya looks like.

Me: I'm butt-ugly :D ... in my opinion. Mom says I'm pretty (but I know she's lying)

Eclipse: *walks in after her. He slowly shuffles to the table that Vorace, and Shadow were sitting at... they are all the family he has now...*

Me: hey, i feel the same. mah mom says i'm the pretties out of all my friends, but they all surpass me.....

Skye: *continues limping/walking to where her family sits*

Shadow: need something? Any alchohal?

Eclipse: *his words are mumbled* I'm fine... *after all these years, he still doesn't drink*

Vorace: *sits quietly, not saying anything for fear of upsetting Eclipse*

Skye: *groans, then head+table*
Lightning: tired?
Skye: *still head+table* tired. stressed. grieving. mourning. i can make a list if you want.

Eclipse: ...

Vorace: ...

Shadow: you sure? Seem like you really need it.

Eclipse: I said I'm fine...

Me: ....skip? i have nothing to add...

kay.

*the next day*

Vorace: *in the main hall* Eclipse has not come out of his room yet... it is already noon...

Shadow: always like this when someone dies. Never changes. Worse, it was his godfather. Eclipse was very close to Sonic. VERY close...

Skye: *walks/limps towards them* hey guys..... eclipse not out yet....?

meanwhile

Mikenno: *heads to eclipse's room*

Shadow + Vorace: No.

meanwhile

Eclipse: *in bed, awake, and staring at the wall*

Skye: he's really taking it hard, huh?

meanwhile

Mikenno: *stops in front of the door and makes sure he's awake, then knocks* eclipse? it's mikki. can i come in....?

Eclipse: *weakly - lacking in motivation* ...yes...

meanwhile

Vorace: he is.

Jacob: It's a shame, really... how he can be so depressed like that... It's, like... the first stage of mourning, or something like that.

SKye: ...... *remembers how dreadful she felt after lumi died* ...............

meanwhile

Mikenno: ...... *walks in* hey. *sits down in a chair near his bed* i'm guessing you aren't doing well....

Vorace: ... Skye...

Jacob: ?

meanwhile

Eclipse: *doesn't answer for a while, then...* you already know the answer to that...