Scene #8061: Eggman: A Day In The Life

Owner	Pose
Eggman	The Egg Tower is a work in progress. Eventually it will be a megalith - a skyscraper in its own right, casting a shadow across a ruined city below. It will one day be a docking port for the entire Egg Fleet - the vast armada of flying ships that even now fly above the city controlled entirely by machines. The Egg Carrier itself hangs off to the side in the midst of the fleet as the tower continues to crawl up inch by inch and foot by foot. Work in progress is literal - the progress can be seen in real-time. The man himself, however, is only watching it out of the corner of his eye, on a hovering tablet being clutched by a little robot whose only purpose seems to be clinging to tablets and phones for Eggman to watch. He needs to...unwind. To de-stress. So he's standing by a grill on the beach inside the Egg Carrier, dressed in a Hawaiian shirt in red and yellow with the Eggman Empire logo on the back and a pair of black swim trunks, grilling up some okonomiyaki with a healthy dose of eggs. He's grilling manually but it's quite clear that the grill itself is alive and is also shaped like an egg, with robot eyes and robot hands that occasionally hand the doctor ingredients. Whatever else you can say about Eggman - monster, megalomaniac, madman - you have to admit: he leans into his gimmick.
Staren	Yesterday was... something. Having made a commitment to herself not to listen to 'good guys' judging her, especially Lilian and Ishirou, she found herself made accessory to horrible atrocities... But she'd turned back before, and there was no future down that path. So she stayed, fighting as one of the villains, letting out the rage and selfish feelings she'd always known would look bad, and... the heroes won, just like they so often do, and she woke up on a beach. It was peaceful hangout time after that, and frankly, especially after that defeat, she was more inclined to hang out with friends than brood alone. It's kinda nice, for a bit, being somewhere with friendly people rather than all alone on her ship, or in her lab, or the nearly-untouched quarters in Elysium Apex. The Egg Carrier must have guest rooms, right? She's gotten up, had brunch, checked the internet, worked on projects remotely, and doesn't get around to wandering around the Egg Carrier again until now. She finally actually looks outside and sees the breathtaking Egg Fleet. Like, she knew Eggman had that, but it's been a long time since she actually saw it all assembled like this. And down below, she thinks she's looking at Robotropolis again for a moment before she sees the ruins... But it's so easy to get that sense of what it will be. She could go for some dinner, though... And she smells... grilling? When Eggman first met Staren, he was certainly lacking in style. Scarf, labcoat, T-shirt, shorts, sneakers... a faint hint of some aesthetic, but unable to see whatever it was enough to commit to it. With Eggman's advice, he got a bit more... style. Long black pants instead of bright sea-green cargo shorts. A longer coat. Sneakers to boots was kind of a meh change. But it was progress. As she strides into the beach-room, it's clear there have been more changes, besides the obvious. The shirt and pants are better-fitted. There's a pair of glasses that's at least trying to look smart, and the coat isn't just 'a long labcoat', the top half is fitted, it's got belts of style, an orange stripe, and a design on the back breaking up the white shape. The red and black of the shirt and pants is slightly evocative of Eggman himself... She smiles, seeing him grilling. "Evening, Doctor. How go the day's projects? And..." she comes close enough to see it's not barbequeue or burgers, but something she doesn't recognize. "...what are you cooking?"
Sarracenia	The beach episode is the one time a princess can show off her form without having to feel embarrassed about it. Sarracenia does like beaches, and hearing that there was a ship with a beach inside it was quite intriguing! But, she does feel a bit embarrassed when she sees the Egg Fleet and the Egg Carrier compared to her fancy but still wooden airship. The Sundew Sovereign moves to dock with the Egg Carrier (or do the closest thing it can), and then the princess makes her way inside with a few of her piranha plants in tow. Once on the beach the plants set up a quick changing room, and the princess makes use of it to change from her usual dress to her swimsuit. A red two-piece that is not too immodest and a sheer wrap around her waist. It shows that the princess is quite toned and not just a skinny model type. She smiles cheerfully and waves to Staren and Eggman. "Hello~ Nice to see you again, Staren! And nice to meet you in person, Doctor Eggman! I hope you don't mind me joining you!" she says, oblivious to any angry feelings she may have caused in the past. "I brought additional food if it's needed. And drinks!" She motions to her plants and they brings forth a cooler full of various meats and veggies, and another full of various sodas, juices, and other canned drinks.
Ozhira	It is unknown just how Ozhira got here. They just sort of appeared seemingly out of nowhere, but carrying a Concord ID, the sneakiness of the Devourer is more just 'habit' than actual malice. Given the beast's proclivity for camouflage, imitation, and covert entry, the seemingly ordinary girl just stepped into view at one point. The only sign that they were arriving was a previous indication of an oily red residue dripping out of a too-small-for-hedgehogs ventilation duct. And right from metal pipes and walls into a remarkably convincing, sand-strewn beach, ocean and all. Ozhira raises a hand to shield their eyes, glancing skyward with their mouth slightly agape, showing off triangular shark-like teeth. They glance back whence they came, then towards the Doctor. Red eyes wander from him to Staren and Sarracenia, and the Beast raises a hand to wiggle fingers in greeting. And then with full disregard for what is 'polite' or 'normal', Ozhira trots across the sand and crouches, hands on their knees, staring at the robotic grill right in its eyes. The black and red-plaid outfit is definitely not beachwear, though. It's the usual outfit that Ozhira chooses to depict, much like the humanoid form they seem to prefer.
Kukuru	When did Kukuru get here? How did she get here? The first question is unclear, but the second is easy enough to figure out. She's been on the Egg Carrier exactly once before, and that one time is all she needs to just find herself aboard once again. Rather than joining in her usual white/green/brown outfit, though, she's opted today to come wearing something considerably more beach appropriate: A frilled turquoise two-piece bikini with a translucent green pareo wrapped around her hips. Despite the similarities to Sarracenia's outfit, Kukuru somehow manages to look incredibly immodest in it. She's not even doing anything, either, just lounging around within rolling distance of the grill, soaking up the sun and dozing off with her sun hat hanging off one of her horns. She lets out an undignified noise when she hears people speaking, jerking up and glancing around before spotting everyone. "Oh! Hey, Staren. Hey, Sarra. Hey, Ozhi. Waiting for Ivo's food, too?" She giggles softly, then turns around in her seat to peer towards Eggman himself. "Do you need more meat or whatever? I can pick up some if we're getting more people showing up."
Eggman	"Okonomiyaki," Eggman says, once again proving that, yep, he commits to the gimmick. "Protein-filled diet, you know. Does wonders for a man." He looks up at her. It's hard to get a sense of what he's thinking behind his dark glasses and his big bushy moustache when he's not actively ranting about things. His stare is...impossible to judge. He looks back down at the grill. "Have to stay in shape for the next Olympics." Right, that's not a joke, he actually does that. Easy to forget seeing him standing there with such a...well, ovoid figure. As soon as Ozhira lands they're subjected to the sunlight and sky (there's even clouds!) at a wonderfully comfortable temperature. Warm sands, the beating of waves, a horizon...even the pipe's vanished. If not for the fact that they, and Sarra, had to get aboard the Egg Carrier, it would be easy to forget that this place is...well, artificial. There's a teleport pad over somewhere. That's how most people get here, probably. "Yes," Eggman says, his voice bearing no obvious strain or irritation, "A pleasure, Princess. Welcome to the Concord. Please, enjoy yourself. You're a guest." He waves his hand at the coolers, then waves his hand at the sea. "You'll find the water a perfect temperature. The fish are biting, if fishing is more your pleasure." He turns away from the grill to walk his odd lanky walk over. He's surprisingly tall. Or maybe he's just got a big, looming presence. His glasses glint in the light. And then he smiles. "Make yourself comfortable." Meawhile, the grill's eyes have locked onto Ozhira's, and an important feature of Eggman's robots is suddenly revealed: The domestic ones are probably at least reasonably intelligent. Intelligent enough to feel some degree of fear. The grill starts shaking quietly. "Try not to scare it too much. The okonomiyaki might get skid marks," Eggman says idly. He doesn't actually seem all that concerned about the robot. Kukuru arrives, and Eggman proves that he is truly asexual by not responding to either her or Sarracenia with anything more than a nod. Thank God. No one needs to contemplate that. "No, no. The Princess seems to have brought everything we need. I'll put some more on the grill later." Eggman waves his hand dismissively. Staren starts talking into the radio. Eggman sighs. There's a moment where it's clear Eggman is contemplating getting involved, and then... "...Staren. A word, please." "Why do you use your old male voice when you die?"
Ozhira	"We are no threat to robots," Ozhira states without removing their eyes from the staring contest they have initiated. "They have no meat. They have no blood. We only hunt them if they attack us. Obstruct us." The beast leans a little closer, "We like robots. Machines. Are interesting." A hand raises, patting the grill on the side, completely oblivious and uncaring to how Actually Hot it is. There's a slight sizzle, but the Devourer doesn't recoil. Rather, they quickly adapt to the heat and simply comfortingly pat the machine, "Do your best. We are rooting for you."
Staren	Okonomiyaki? Staren looks it up on her HUD. Huh. And quirks an eyebrow about the olympics comment, but when she searches THAT, her eyebrows both raise. Huh! And then the notifications start going off on her Syndicate tablet. She pulls it out of her pocket, quirks an eyebrow, and puts in some commands. Briefly speaks to Ishirou, her eyes beginning to moisten a little, especially as her words are met only with a recording of herself. Eggman calls her attention. She expects that he has some words of wisdom about dealing with hero-types on the radio, but instead he asks... > "Why do you use your old male voice when you die?" She tilts her head, uncomprehending. The obvious thing is to search the radio history... ah. She straightens up again. "I put that AI in place..." she checks the date. "...almost 10 years ago. Hah, before I'd even made that dumb decision... but I was mostly presenting male back then. Its main job is to guide my allies to take any additional steps needed to resurrect me in the event that autonomous measures are insufficient." "The old 'panic button' model where a signal is sent to my family and closest friends that just means 'something very bad has happened' was... problematic, and caused a few freakouts when I ended up not actually being dead." She looks a bit awkward at that. "...But, it's basically never needed to communicate with people. Autonomous measures have always been enough. A body was going to be sent to Robotropolis for me to find... given the known danger there, though, your offer to meet here was taken as an instruction to use a safer area instead." She waves a hand over at where she woke up yesterday. Then looks up at Eggman. "If you were thinking there's some weird significance, old thoughts distorting my sense of self... my... mind, in the place I go when I die, appears more like a ghostly version of this."
Kukuru	"Okono... Sounds tasty!" Kukuru chimes, giving up on pronouncing the word almost as quickly as she starts. The important thing is that she's being placated with food, although she does let out an awed noise when she hears about Eggman's plans. "You compete in that? Awesome... Which parts?" She actually sounds genuinely intrigued, and not just in that friendly humoring sort of way. "... Are we allowed to compete with regular humans, though?" With Sarracenia being identified as being the foodbringer, meanwhile, Kukuru turns to beam at her next. "Aw, that's sweet of you. Thanks~" She waves lazily at the princess from her seat, then rolls over once more to get a better look at what Ozhira's doing with the robots and the grill. That's a curious reaction to the sizzling. "Are you good with heat, Ozhi?" She asks, furrowing her brow for a moment before nodding in approval at her encouragement of the grill. Eggman asks Staren a thing, and Kukuru actually exercises judgment in not following up on that with her own thoughts on the matter. It isn't clear from Kukuru's expression if she's even having thoughts at all right at that moment.
Sarracenia	Sarra smiles back at Eggman. "Thank you!" she says to his welcome, then waves to Kukuru as she arrives. She does look surprised when Eggman mentions the Olympics. "Isn't that the multi-national contest of athletic prowess from Earth? Quite impressive if you compete in that!" she says, then reaches into her ever-present satchel purse and pulls out...a beach lounger! She sets it down before stretching out on it. She also pulls out some lemonade and pops the top before sipping at it and relaxing. She hasn't met Ozhira before so offers her a wave as well. "My pleasure!" she says to Kukuru at the thank you. She looks at Staren and Eggman as they discuss the robotic resurrection thing, but can't really think of anything to add. So, she just resumes relaxing. "Anyone else need a lounger? Or a lemonade?"
Eggman	Eggman points the spatula at Staren. "There you go." The spatula goes back to the grill. "Commit to something for once in your life." "You're a woman now, aren't you? Get rid of the male voice. Commit to being a woman. You're frustrated by losing to people who, frankly, struggle and overcome quite severe odds on the way? That's the villain life. Commit to being wrong all the time and stop whining about losing." "You want it both ways, but you don't get it both ways. Take it from me." He flips one of the okonomiyaki on the grill. "You either get the heroic stand and the speech, which, by the by, you're awful at, or you get to have fun with your life and laugh and wave off other people and then plan horrifying vengeance on them quietly." "So commit." He takes one of the drinks from Sarra's cooler. "Be a woman, and only a woman. Erase the past. Erase all of it. Erase trying to be a hero, erase trying to do the right thing, erase trying to be right all the blasted time, erase the hero speeches, and commit to being a villain. It's a lot less stressful." "All of it," Eggman says to Kukuru, "I forge an invitation every two years to compete in the Winter and the Summer games against Sonic the Hedgehog and his friends just to deny them as many gold medals as I can. That's what a true nemesis is. Spite." The grill robot starts heaping the okonomiyaki onto plates for people as Eggman reaches into its head and pulls out some more batter to pop on the grill. "This year I'm a shoo-in for the equestrian gold. Been practicing. Figure-skating, too. I've got a routine with a princess that frankly blows everyone else away." He doesn't elaborate. "So I suppose I don't compete with regular humans, no."
Ozhira	"Not always," Ozhira answers Kukuru, raising their hand to look at it, "We evolve. If it is cold, we grow to like the cold. If it is hot, we grow to like the hot. We grow." Rising to their feet, the girl holds out their hands to receive the grill's blessing, lifting the okonomiyaki to eye-level and examining it. After a moment, their mouth opens significantly wider than it's supposed to. Something red and barbed shoots out, spears the pancake-y pizza thing, and reels it in, fast as a frog's tongue. Those teeth clamp shut a half-second later, cheeks closing back up from the ghastly visage Ozhira had presented for that split-second. After a few moments, they make a show of at least looking like they're chewing, and yet speaking with no trouble whatsoever, "Thank you. This will add to our mass. Food that is cooked. We like it very much."
Sarracenia	Sarracenia hops up as the food starts to be served and grabs one of those okonomiyaki. She looks it over in curiousity before taking a bite. She chews for a moment...and ends up just staring with her cheeks puffed from being full when Ozhira does Ozhira things. She has to blink a few times and force that bite down before she can recover enough to speak. "Uh...you are quite unique, aren't you?" she says to Ozhira, trying not to sound nervous or scared at the display and only marginally succeeding. After listening to Eggman's anti-hero speech, Sarracenia hmms. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt to have more villains around. It makes finding heroes easier. But, I guess I would have to withdraw my argument for Staren being a hero. I suppose many villains have heroic qualities, too."
Kukuru	"You made lemonade, too? Oh, that'd be just great, too. Let me..." Before Kukuru can finish offering to help Sarracenia, she's already halfway off her beach chair. She doesn't make it any further than that, though, seemingly finding it incredibly difficult to stop lounging at all and, in fact, finding that having her legs on the chair and the rest of her body hanging off of it or in the sand is actually not that bad. She'll get up later. Instead, she listens to Eggman talking about commitment to Staren, and she nods slowly in agreement. She doesn't say anything, though, instead opting to slug-slide over to the cooler and get some drinks for herself by the time he's talking about the Olympics invitation. "If they're on your mind enough to get you to go that hard... Hmm. That's definitely the sort of commitment you were talking about before, huh?" Kukuru asks, giving Staren a knowing nod before taking a plate of okonomiyaki and stroking the grillbot gently in approval. "But it sounds like they... This Sonic must be kind of a jerk, then." Ozhira speaks of their evolution, and Kukuru nods slowly as an awed look comes across her face (partially from what's being said and partially from the food). She tilts her head at the tongue-spearing of the food, and then claps her free hand against a bare shoulder before starting to eat as well. "Tasty... Ah, being able to adjust like that sounds super useful. I can sleep wherever and do my work in a lot of places that suck for humans, but it's still not comfortable. Although... Maybe it'd be more comfortable with friends around!" This is how she will defeat lava.
Staren	"I'll fix the AI, but the metaphor it represents is noted." > Commit to being wrong all the time. Staren looks away, awkwardly. "I'm working on it. I stuck around, didn't I? Even though literally the day after I committed, you come back and... Look. I don't agree with what you did, but I know you got my back despite our differences, and they never will." > You either get the heroic stand and the speech, which, by the by, you're awful at She winces a bit at that. > Erase trying to do the right thing. Her fists clench and she looks up at Eggman, fired up. "No." She points at him, "I will try to do the right thing by my measure. Even if I fail sometimes. What I commit to... what I'm trying to 'erase' is" She sweeps the hand to her side, palm down, "worrying about being seen as right by them. Pandering to people who don't care about me and never will. Doubting my friends just because they might do something that will reflect badly on me, to people who are not and have never been my friends." Staren puts one hand on her hip. "Since we're having this discussion... I realized something, thinking about it this morning. My life started going right when I accepted some things about who I am, and wrong again the more I worried and got confused." She continues, "I am a woman, but society was all weird about letting me figure that out way back when, though it's better now." "I don't have to be able to do everything myself and take on the whole Multiverse's problems even if they're beyond me, just because 'someone has to.' That one was my own weird twisted idea I got stuck in my head, though it interfaced with some toxic stuff from society." "The scars of the Union, however, are something about me I hate and want to change. They're not something I want but that society is weird about, that accepting will make me happy. I got confused on that point. Started to think, if I'd accepted the other things, don't I have to accept this too?" She shakes her head. "But it's not the same." "And trying to do the right thing, whatever that means to me, matters. I feel sick when I rationalize going against it. And sometimes I'll mess up. Sometimes I'll have to work with people with a different vision... Like you." Staren begins pacing back and forth. "But yesterday... I didn't like it, but there wasn't THAT feeling. The sickening, wrong, going-against-everything-I-am feeling. Maybe it's different if someone else is doing it. And I know the judgemental heroes will say, 'it's the same. Your hands aren't clean enough for us. Not diverting the trolley to hit one person instead of five is the same as flipping the switch to kill five yourself.' But you know what?" She throws up her hands. "I don't gotta listen to them! If they got a problem with it, they can DO something about it. Like Ishirou did. Good for him. I'll do what's right for me, and not what's right for other people. And I might get confused sometimes and have old habits to unlearn, and those judgemental people will say 'oh, see, you're inconsistant, so you can't possibly believe you're ever trying to do the right thing' but see the above:" Staren points upward. "FUCK them, I don't gotta listen to 'em anymore!" She drops her hands back down and takes a breath, looking back to Eggman. "'n that goes for you too, right? You're telling me what worked for you, but I don't gotta live up to your standards of villainy or try to please you. But I'm pretty sure that's not really what you want, anyway. You're offering advice, not holding me to unpleasable judgement. And that's why I'll hang around with you, and not with them." She smiles.
Eggman	Eggman's moustache bristles slightly as he sets the spatula in the hands of the Grill Egg Robo and picks up his own plate. "If you say so. Then I recommend you cut out the speeches and self-righteousness. It doesn't do you any favors." He sits down in a lounger that looks like it should stretch (it's his own) but doesn't. A robot floats over to cut his food for him. He really does have the place down. "And it doesn't suit you, either. You yell at all the wrong things. Complain about all the wrong things. Just stop doing it. It's a very bad habit." "Have fun with the speeches instead of looking for reasons to growl and posture." Eggman shrugs. "My dear lady, I want you to be happy and productive because you are a member of this Concord, and I want you to continue pushing the Concord's name forward. I truly do not expect you to stand up to my standards because no one can. I am Dr. Ivo Robotnik, the greatest supervillain the world has ever known. You're correct. It's advice. Take it, or leave it - though I strongly urge you to take it as your mentor." Ozhira eats. Eggman is distracted. "Have you never eaten okonomiyaki before? Help yourself, then. There's plenty. I keep a stock of chickens on-hand at all times." Oh that explains a lot. "I've robotomized a few but the eggs never taste quite right. A bit oily." He purses his lips. "And by all means keep adding to your mass. Body image is everything." He puffs out his belly a bit. He's a big guy. Sarra says something about more villains around and finding heroes easier. Eggman's moustache twitches. Very slightly. Almost imperceptibly. If you weren't paying attention you might not notice. "Indeed," he says, and then takes another bite of okonomiyaki, which he chews...for a very long time. "I hate that hedgehog," Eggman underlines at Kukuru, "To the bottom of my soul. And one day I will crush him into the dirt for everyone to see and understand that I am superior in every way. That my intellect beats mindless brute force. That heroism fails before the greater force. At that moment the world will lose hope and surrender to me, and then my perfect society will begin."
Staren	Staren deflates a little bit at 'cut out the speeches', but looks thoughtful at the idea of having fun with it. And maybe just a little flattered that someone as great as Eggman would even say he's her mentor. "I'll figure it out. I wasn't ready for this much before... I'll get the rest in time." Anyway, new food! Huh, so this is okonomiyaki. "S'good." She waves a fork with a bite of food on it at Sarracenia. "And it's fine, you can recognize me as a hero if you like. There's not some interdimensional board decreeing who does and doesn't get to be a hero. I mean, I guess the Paladins think they can, but we don't gotta listen to 'em, I just did that whole speech." She eats the bite and chews. Which conveniently spares her from needing to supply an immediate response to Eggman's vision.
Kukuru	The advice comes through! Kind of. Kukuru's looking a little lost at first as Staren speaks, and she eventually provides a little clap and cheer by the end even though it's very obvious that most of it is lost on her. She does seem to understand the (very broad) gist of what's being said, at least, and she kicks back with more of that okonomiyaki while considering what further contributions can be made on her part here. "I don't really get why it's so hard, but... I believe you can do it!" She encourages wholeheartedly, then sips her lemonade some more. "Yelling's pretty bad, though, yeah. All yelling does is show that you're good at getting louder, not sounding better." She adds, then listens intently at Eggman's explanation about his focused spite. Somehow, that's what gets her to frown. Just what kind of pain could this dastardly being have inflicted on her poor round doctor?! "If that's how it is... Hmmn. Then he doesn't sound like much of a hero to me." She states plainly, then finishes off her first plate. "I mean, the Concord's all about getting the best people to work together, right? I'm not really good at the intellectual stuff compared to..." She waffles briefly, trying to come up with a different phrase and failing. "... Mindless brute force, but that's why everyone's here. We cover for each other, and we get the best of both things. That's why I know I can count on you and everyone else to figure out the hard stuff." That finally gets Kukuru smiling again, whether it's because she genuinely believes it or because she's trying to get spirits back up. Possibly both.
Ozhira	"We are not human," Ozhira states simply for Sarracenia's benefit, "You could say we are. Unique. Yes." The girl nods once as if this explains everything. While Kukuru muses about evolution and adaptation, the Beast starts slinking sidelong towards the water. Eggman did say that there were fish, after all. After a moment, Ozhira simply speaks, "We will. Try the water now." It isn't long before the fully clothed Devourer is waist-deep. And then they just sort of...sink into the water, forming a swarm of writhing shadows that rapidly disappear in multiple directions.
Arcadia	Someone probably should of explained the nature of the 'beach party' more thoroughly to Arcadia. She was expecting an actual beach and such, not it being a beach style party behind held on an evil genius' giant carrier craft. At least she's use to being on large flying structures, as that's what the entirety of Argo Alexandria is. Evil geniuses arguably less so, but that sort of thing is subjective anyways. Not to mention she's still fully suited in her usual armor instead of any sort of party appropriate attire. The sphinx looks from Staren, to Sarrachina, to the others, and then just sort of shrugs. "When you first said beachs I thought maybe it would be dealing with another sea monster or mutant ship girl.
Sarracenia	Sarracenia can't help but let out a cheer at Staren's speech. "Yeah! Don't let them tell you how you should be or what you should do! Join the great Princess Sarracenia and the awesome Doctor Eggman in owning who you are and shoving it in everyone's face!" she says, giving a fist pump. Kukuru mentions the lemonade and Sarra giggles. "No no, I didn't make the lemonade. I brought the best lemonade in a can!" It's some fancy smancy snooty variety that is overpriced but only actually slightly better than the typical brands. "And I brought plenty of other drinks too, so don't be shy! I'm rarely this generous, you know~" Ozhira does more Ozhira things, and Sarracenia is once again staring. "I..um...think I may stay on the beach for now." she says nervously. Eggman talks about his plans for Sonic and the world, and Sarracenia hmms. "But, you are a self-proclaimed villain, right? I am sure you'll have plenty of victories in battle, but everyone knows heroes are always able to put things right in the end. Can you imagine how many worlds would have been destroyed by now if that wasn't the case?" She pauses a moment. "Oh! If your robot chickens used say...olive oil instead of regular oil that might fix that oily taste problem."
Eggman	Eggman is about to say something to Kukuru when Sarracenia says the words. 'Heroes always win.' There is a slow, slow motion as Eggman stands. Arcadia's arrival is forgotten. He's a tall man. His face tilts down, hidden in shadow. The only thing visible is the glint of his glasses. Suddenly, the goofy scientist who was moments ago grilling and eating and generally acting cheerful seems a whole lot further away. There is a palpable, open menace to the man - a physical menace, a nightmarishness. This is someone who has spent his whole life fighting an uphill battle against a creature that wins on luck. This is someone who declared himself a villain and lives it because he knows that he is wrong - and yet that his dream will win out in the end. The shadow over his face and the glint of his eyes. The stance - the slumped shoulders, the long arms, the heavy body, ready to act. And that reminder that he's not just a fat man. He's an Olympic athlete. He could probably, in a single bound... "Get out." A smile spreads through the shadow. Somehow, the grin is lit, with the eyes - a horrifying grin from a hidden face, the only other part of his face visible in the shadow. "I am Dr. Eggman. I am inevitable. Sonic the Hedgehog and all others who win on that narrative called 'hero', who win on luck and circumstance, can only stave off the future I bring for so long." "Now." "Get out." "All of you." He sweeps his hand sideways. The Grill Egg Robo clamps down. The teleporter starts up. "Before I lose my temper."
Staren	Sarracenia's response cheers Staren up some. She smiles, makes a noise with the same tone as 'yeah!' with her mouth closed, and pumps her fist. By the time Sarracenia is talking about heroes and villains again, though, she's finished chewing. She waves her fork as she speaks from one of the lounge chairs, "Oh come now, Sarracenia, we're the Concord, not the Confederacy. Maybe you didn't hear the Director that day..." > Get out. Staren turns and looks at him. Considers whether to finish this next speech. ...not here. He doesn't need to hear it. She stands up, takes Sarracenia's arm, and starts leading her out towards the teleporter. Zapping some of the food into her matter manipulator to take home. "Thanks for the relaxing evenings, Doctor. And the advice." Once they're somewhere else, Staren turns to Sarracenia and continues, in a softer, hushed voice. "We're the Concord. Not the Confederacy. We're not a bunch of losers comforting eachother after the heroes beat us up. That fate is too sad, and we don't accept it. We own being monsters, and in so doing reject the order everyone else tries to impose on us, about what we are or must be. Many Partners have their own vision of the world, and as they make progress in achieveing it, their victories and winnings help us all." Staren takes a breath. "In a certain sense, heroes always win... but that's in the stories they tell. They are very good at making it feel like they won. But they lose all the time. I've seen it from their side, parta why I went all that 'I have to be able to do everything myself' crazy. They spin their loss as a victory, or a temporary setback, or decline to mention it at all." Staren looks up at the taller princess, meeting her gaze. "The Concord has had many victories. You saw yourself how people came together for your date, and to help your boyfriend correct the story history tells about him. But we don't pat ourselves on the back and go 'Our work is done here, the day is saved.' Maybe we're not as good at telling that story, maybe we don't feel the need to. But, as frustrating as it is when we lose and it matters... They lose sometimes too. They're just so good at telling themselves, and us, that they don't, that..." she looks away. "we start to buy into it too." Staren looks up at Sarracenia once more. "But come now. You didn't join us to be on the losing team; on some level you know this too, right?"
Kukuru	Ozhira getting her clothes wet doesn't concern Kukuru. No, what gets her attention is instead... "You just ate, so be careful! You don't wanna get a cramp out there." She calls out, applying some of that old wives' tale logic to the matter. The writhing shadows and lack of pained cramp screeching, though, allays her fears. Arcadia's arrival is met by a brief stare, then a gentle wave as Kukuru turns around in her seat/lounging spot to lie on her back again and just... Well, lounge. "Ship girl? Oh yeah, I haven't seen her in a while... You should come talk to her next time, too!" She, unhelpfully, doesn't actually elaborate on who that is. Sarracenia's generosity is much appreciated, judging from the pleased noise Kukuru makes as she snags another drink of some fruity variety. Before she gets to pop it open, though, she sees that shift in Eggman's mode. He demands an exit, and Kukuru frowns pensively while she kicks her feet up to give herself just enough momentum to finally extract herself from the chair. It's not an annoyed or irritated frown, but a concerned one. Surprisingly, she's just intelligent enough to realize that she's not intelligent enough to help his mood at the moment, and she instead turns to the rest of the party-goers. She holds a hand up, making a 'walking away' gesture with her fingers, then makes the same gesture at the water (in case Ozhira can still see her) before moving behind the three landed guests and starting to gently usher them towards the teleporter. "That Hedgehog... They must've done something really awful. We should do something about them."
Arcadia	And poor Arcadia really has no idea what just happened here. She was about to get to the food when the grill is slammed shut, causing her to jump back with a startled yelp as her wings briefly flare in a manner similar to how a normal feline's hackles would frizzle. She stares for a moment, having forgotten how tall Eggman really is, and despite his somewhat portly appearances it is still quite intimidating... that or she remembers this is a man that could easily pick her apart even if she wasn't exactly technically a robot. Even with a lack of social awareness she's been around enough astute and astounding intellectuals to recognize some of the signs of a bruised ego, intentional or otherwise. She sort of shuffles away, and back towards.... Staren is the one she really knows the most, so we'll go with that. This is the fastest she's ever seen a party ended, and she's not really been to a lot of parties in the first place. He's trying to quiet Sarracenia down while leading her out, so Arcadia comes up on the opposite side of Staren. Leans a little closer, and in an attempt to grasp what just happened utters a whisper that's likely still in earshot of the nearby Princess. "Did Her Highness commit one of what they call ... Party Foul?"
Sarracenia	Sarra's piranha plants are very quick to gather everything up and flee before the powerful evil presence that is Dr. Robotnic, and even Sarra actually feels a bit of fear. Her arm is taken and she is led away for the safety of herself and likely everyone else. If the others need a safe haven the Sundew Sovereign is nearby and easily reachable by teleporter. "Uh...y-yes! Thank you for your hospitality!" she calls out as she is led away, clearly confused about what just happened. Once on the Sovereign she listens to Staren, and at the end she huffs softly and crosses her arms. "Well of course heroes lose sometimes" she says, cheeks red with embarrassment at being kicked out of a beach party while still in her swim suit. "And you know I hate losing. I'm not a villain though! ...although I'm not sure I'm a hero, either." she adds, then takes a bite of the pancake thing she brought with her and chews in annoyance. She swallows, then sighs. "Sorry for ruining the party. I didn't realize the hero thing would be that much of a sore spot for him." she says, then laughs a bit and smiles at Arcadia. "Yeah, I guess I did a party foul."