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The Minisaurus Plain held the last rays of light in the limbs of its trees. They caressed the two suns, like a mother putting her twins to sleep for the night.
Shadow had decided to visit the Glade. Make sure his new… acquaintances were doing well still. Ly was doing fine. Made conversation, asked how he and Crimson were. Shadow didn't mind conversing with her. She could actually be enjoyable company, and had a responsible head on her shoulders.
However, Shadow dreaded Rayman. It wasn't so much that he even disliked him. He wouldn't go as far as to say that. He wasn't a bad guy, and he had his good traits that made him bearable. But the thingamajig could be a lot, especially after a long day. Hero of the Glade, and even the inhabitants of it lost their patience with him often. He didn't understand how Ly could handle all of what Rayman was 24/7.
It was beginning to get dark, the moons rising above the plain's seemingly endless sprawl. Ly had said she didn't know where Rayman went, but he was already gone early in the morning. Probably off to solve some ridiculous dispute between ludivs. Get Murfy to stop bugging people for a laugh. (Probably said ludivs)
Shadow crossed his arms with a huff, leaning against one of the twisting bases of a plum plant. He at least had to respect that Rayman was dedicated to doing his job, no matter the stupid task he had to deal with. And somehow he always did it with that big, dumb grin on his face. He seemed so… unbothered by most things. Even when Shadow had been standoffish (and maybe a bit harsh) at first, Rayman would simply change subjects, still cheerful as ever.
The hedgehog's ear pricked at the sound of leisurely whistling drawing nearer. Well, that had to be Dingus. Shadow turned around, watching as Rayman swung his hands back in forth, a spring in his step. He was holding something in one of them, and waved to Shadow with the free hand. Shadow decided to meet him halfway there, cautious about whether Rayman had some idea of a ‘joke’ up his nonexistent sleeves, or was going to be normal in their initial interaction.
“Hey.” Rayman grinned, holding his hands behind his back.
Shadow lightly squinted his eyes. “What do you have?” He asked skeptically, trying to get a glimpse. Rayman thrust a bouquet of light purple hued flowers into his face, making Shadow jerk back his head slightly in instinctual reaction. He peered up at Rayman with a slight glare for a moment at the sudden action.
“Flowers. Pretty, huh?” Rayman twirled it in his hands as he pulled it away from Shadow's face, examining them for his own visual pleasure once more.
The hedgehog crossed his arms again. “You have some of the plants that Mobius does, here?” Shadow asked, his voice steady, but curious.
Rayman laughed a bit, though it came out partially as a scoff, not directed toward Shadow however. “No, I uh... I actually got these from there!” He moved his hands around as he spoke, still holding the flowers. “I was visiting that nice rabbit lady. Vanilla? She was explaining all about the flowers in her garden while tending to them. I asked about these, and she said you might like ‘em. So…” Rayman smirked, gesturing with the makeshift bouquet in a teasing manner. “Do you?”
Shadow stared at the lavender for an amount of time that stretched so long, that the minutes became so thin it felt as though it’d snap if it stayed silent any longer. Why was he giving him flowers? What angle was he playing? What about Ly? He knew Rayman loved Ly, why would he pull something like this on her?
Before the hedgehog could retaliate, Rayman asked, “By the way… What kind of flowers does Crimson like? She doesn’t get very talkative around me, but I figured you’d know!”
There it was. That clueless, dopey expression he always wore. Like a dog eager to please his owner, waiting expectantly for an answer.
“I…” Shadow’s words were hard for him to grasp at the moment. He cleared his throat in a bit of a huff, and straightened his stance. “She… Likes wildflowers.” He claimed. Well, if Rayman wanted to know her favorite flower too, maybe he wasn’t- doing what he initially assumed. After all, the thingamajig often had odd displays of– literally anything you could think of.
“Alright! Thanks.” Rayman smiled, and shoved the lavender into Shadow’s arms. He felt around on his hoodie, and pulled out paper and a pencil.
Shadow raised a brow. “Do you… document this?” He asked. Rayman looked him dead in the eyes, and with a flick of his hand, the paper unfurled for at least six feet, dragging on the floor.
“Of course!” Rayman beamed. “I have to know what my friends like.” He claimed, then turned the page towards Shadow, pointing at the writing at the top. “This one’s all flowers. But I have ones for favorite foods, favorite places to hang out at, favorite activities, you know.” He scribbled the aforementioned wildflowers under where he had Crimson’s name listed. “I know one in the pink plant woods that she’ll get a kick outta. Don’t let that name fool you, it’s really pretty there, just super wet and rainy.” He laughed a little. “That’s why the flowers are so lively there! You could say they dance with life.” He snickered a little to himself, then rolled up the paper again.
Shadow held his arms crossed posture, but grunted a bit in acknowledgement. It was actually pretty sweet, he had to admit- to himself. Not aloud. Rayman seemed to thrive on pleasing others. Making promises he intends to keep. There was some parallel there to draw that Shadow wasn’t ready to dig into yet.
“How long have you been doing this?” Shadow couldn't help but ask.
Rayman gave a long, drawn out hum. “Geez.” He mused aloud. “I was pretty little. Maybe a few weeks old?” Shadow was not going to question that age specification. Not at this point. “I think I first gave Globox a basket of blubue buberuby berries. So either way, had to be over a hundred years ago. Like a hundred ‘n twenty or so…”
‘No wonder his brain is all over constantly. I can barely remember the past 50 years–” Shadow thought to himself.
“But when he was so happy, I knew I had to do it for everyone else!” Rayman scratched the back of his head, with what looked like slight embarrassment. What for, Shadow couldn't quite place. “Just feels nice to do.”
Shadow gave a slight nod, looking at the flowers in his arms. Rayman might've forgotten to take size into consideration. He wasn't going to complain about it. He shouldn't expect Rayman to think much beyond “Ooh flower.” and giving it to someone. The hedgehog looked back up at Rayman. “Well. Thank you.” He said gratefully, even if he was… still feeling odd from getting flowers as a friendly gift. “What about you?” The words had to be semi-forced out, his curiosities once again doing the shoving. He mentally stepped on his foot over it.
“Huh?” Rayman uttered. “What about me what?”
Right. That was pretty vague… “What do you like?” Shadow asked plainly, though he wanted to tear his jaw off its hinges. Why was he humoring him with wanting to know his likes and dislikes?
“Oh, I have no idea.” Rayman claimed, waving a dismissive hand. Shadow gave him time to answer, assuming he was thinking. But no answer came.
“That's it?” Shadow questioned in disbelief. “You consistently have an entire monologue and bizarre explanation or response for everything, but you're asked about your favorite things, and you remain quiet?” He wasn't intending to come across as rude, though the words came out harsher and more critical than intended.
“Well, I just don't think much about it. When I'm done doing things, I usually just sleep.” He admitted with a sheepishly chuckle. Rayman looked around. It was darker, and lums were much more prominent. “I like the lums. Watching them.” He whispered for once. “I like seeing them as they should be. Calm, happy, safe…” He shrugged. “I like fruit. Especially this kind that grows on the Snoring Tree. And only there– spoiled, I know.” He laughed softly. “I like the Dream Forest. That's home to me.” He looked at Shadow again. “I like sunflowers like Betilla… Nothing too crazy.”
That was… surprising to Shadow. Activities he expected something crazy, like doing a parachute jump without the parachute. Favorite food, he had assumed it'd be some insane concoction of disgustingly mixed foods that a mobian could surely never eat. Home being his favorite place despite it being just a basic forest… and the flower being one Shadow could easily recall a picture of in his mind. This genuine answer… coming from the guy who uses blowing a raspberry in someone’s face as a line of defense.
“I see…” Shadow finally said. They both glanced up at the moons for a moment.
Rayman gave a hands-over-head stretch and grunted. “Well, I have to deal with the creature.” He laughed softly. Shadow’s brows furrowed for a second in question, just in case he was being lackadaisy about something serious, and Rayman quickly tacked on, “Loup.”
“I figured… But I never know with… here.” Shadow said, a bit frustrated with the slight laugh he let escape through his nose.
Rayman tittered a little bit. “Goodnight Shadow. I hope you and your family get some good rest!” He spoke cheerfully. And with that, the thingamajig turned, retreating to the tree home of his own family for the night.
Shadow was silent for a moment. He watched Rayman until he made a turn around a tree. He looked down at the soft lavender laying in a loose bunch in his arms. The hedgehog turned toward where he came from.
“You too.”