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Post by Alan Pantell on Oct 11, 2018 0:30:17 GMT
Alan listened with a gentle smile as Shoutmon answered his question in slightly more detail than he was expecting. Watching the small, red dragon get choked up over the concept of only living once stirred feelings he wouldn't be able to explain in that moment, but one thing was certain: it almost brought a tear to his own eye. The concept of permanent death was so foreign to Shoutmon. He found it cruel and terrifying, and Alan was getting choked up himself because... he agreed completely.
"Man..." said Alan, as he raised both hands behind his head, crossing one leg over the other while standing, "Luckyyyyy!"
He had said that last word in a tone that sounded a lot more like that of a schoolboy, envious of a classmate's new game, rather than that of an older school-age boy, envious of an acquaintance's practical immortality.
Alan walked up to the counter to request his purchases, now that he had been informed that payment was as easy as it could possibly get. The digivice's functions seemed context-sensitive, anyway. Sure enough, when he raised his digivice and thought about just how dandy it would be if he could pay the nice Flamon eight thousand bits, everything happened on its own. As Flamon was installing his orders, he turned back around to Shoutmon to continue his thought.
"I mean, technically nobody really knows what happens when humans die, but, all religions aside, yes, the generally-accepted safe assumption is that we just sorta decompose after a while. As I'm sure you know..." He raised his voice somewhat, turning his head upwards. "...We ain't PROUD of it! I'm not, anyway."
Alan punctuated the end of his short rant with another skyward shout: "Death fucking SUCKS! You heard me, you stupid concept! Oh, sorry, thank you." He turned back to the counter to retrieve his updated digivice from Flamon. What a nice cashier. He walked away from the counter with a "have a nice day," his default polite farewell.
Alan was now back to waiting with Shoutmon for Leith and Flamedramon to come back. "Some people want to die, can you believe that?"
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Post by Leith, Veemon, and Shoutmon on Oct 11, 2018 20:18:51 GMT
Shoutmon couldn't help but scoff out loud when Alan suggested no one knew what happened to humans on death. Of course we know what happens. Leith put it best: it feels the same way you felt before you were born. For once, though, the digimon showed some restraint by keeping that to himself for once, though; he'd learned his lesson before now. Besides, right about then the digimonless Tamer began to rant about death a little, followed by ranting at death... in public. Flamon conspicuously became very absorbed in looking through an empty drawer behind the desk while Shoutmon took a couple steps backward.
But where were Leith and Flamedramon? They sure took their time. Were they OK? As it eventually turned out, yes; both of them had apparently stopped by the food court, seeing as they both had bags full of burgers in hand. Heck, Leith's other hand was holding one already half-eaten. "Sorry we took so long, but we come bearing gifts!" Flamedramon announced as he passed one to Alan and Shoutmon.
"Sorry for... what just happened. I'm good."
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Post by Alan Pantell on Oct 11, 2018 21:23:06 GMT
"Thanks!" said Alan, as he took his burger.
Mall burgers again, huh? Whatever. Not like I don't like burgers.
"Don't worry about it, Leith. Everyone has stuff they don't like to think about. Past and future."
The "future" bit was mainly for himself, but he felt it could apply to others.
"I already made my purchases," informed Alan, stepping outside the store to unwrap and begin eating his burger. "Mmm. Beats McDonald's, that's for sure. I've pretty much done everything I could think to do for the moment, so I don't know what we... uh..."
The digivice invaded his train of thought again. Is it going to keep doing that? A buzzer or something would have been way more effective, and way less creepy.
Alan shook the feeling off, and took the digivice out of his pocket to look at it. The display had a few more icons on it, but more notably, it now displayed what seemed to be a simple minimap of the surrounding area of the city, complete with a location-marking dot and an objective arrow of sorts.
"Th... thank you for your input," murmured Alan, under his breath. He had no idea whether to think the device was sentient or not. He was just being safe. There was only one thing that the arrow could possibly be pointing to that had any relevance to him. He held the display up to Leith. "I guess we're going to go find Levi."
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Post by Leith, Veemon, and Shoutmon on Oct 12, 2018 23:07:21 GMT
While still chewing, Leith raised a curious eyebrow while looking at the screen of Alan's apparently functional digivice. "Yeah? You finally got it good and working at last?"
"That's great!" Flamedramon congratulated with a little pat on the arm.
"Uh, no, it's not!" Shoutmon countered, "I don't wanna see that dickwad, and I can't believe you do either! You already forget what he did?" Shoutmon summoned his microphone and slapped his own hand with it a couple of times. "'Cause I sure didn't."
"All the more reason for us to go, then," Leith concluded as he followed along beside Alan, "You know those two can't stay separated forever, right? They were chosen just like we were. That's not something you can just break."
"He did!" Shoutmon reminded Leith while pointing at Flamedramon. However, he seemed to realize exactly how badly he fucked up before Leith could use the fist that had just curled. "Oh, shit... I fucked up. I'm sorry."
"Good," Leith growled, not giving out any more show of forgiveness than that.
"Are we riding?" Besides being a serious question, Flamedramon also wanted the subject changed quickly.
"Only Alan knows where we're going this time, so probably not." Still visibly angry, Leith made eye contact with Alan out of the corners of his eyes. "So. Let's go."
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Post by Alan Pantell on Oct 13, 2018 0:51:56 GMT
"Hehe, thanks." said Alan, instinctively rubbing his arm in reaction before Shoutmon interjected.
Shoutmon did have a point. Why did Alan want to see Levi again? Rather than spending too much time lost in thought, Alan concluded that it just seemed like the right action to take at this point. His digivice seemed to think so, regardless.
He didn't want to know what new landmine Shoutmon had stepped on, and clearly, why would anyone think it would be okay to ask? The day had been dreadfully lacking in levity as of yet, and everyone seems to have stepped on their fair share by now. It was time to focus on their next objective. As uncomfortable as Alan was leading the group, he knew all he had to do was follow the map. It wasn't too detailed, but the outlines of buildings were all there. Much to Alan's dismay, they ran into fences or divides that were not depicted on the map more than once, resulting in having to find a new direction. There was a lot to see, but Alan was more focused on not bumping into anyone while trying to make sense of the map.
Right before anyone began to question whether Alan's digivice truly was functional, Alan noticed that there had been a noticeable shift in architecture and upkeep around them, mostly for the worse. Alan heaved a long, heavy sigh.
"So, Leith, Shoutmon, Flamedramon, anyone: is it safe to assume that this is the 'bad' side of town we've just entered?"
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Post by Leith, Veemon, and Shoutmon on Oct 14, 2018 0:40:22 GMT
"Uh... come to think of it, I don't really know if Terminus really has a 'bad side of town," was the young man's initial response to Alan's query. Of course, looking around obviously told a different story; Leith had to admit that it sort of gave him the chills. In fact, he really and truly shivered as he did. "But, uh... if it does have a bad side of town... we're in it."
"What do you want to do?"
"I'm not sure we really have to do something. I mean... you're an ultimate, kind of. It's not very smart for someone to mess with us. Plus there's him."
"Heh." Shoutmon punched one fist into his open hand. "I can reach ultimate, too, you know! Just... you know. It's hard to walk around in that body."
"Walking, literally, is impossible," Leith pointed out, "I guess you could still move, but maybe it's better you stay down. Digivolve if you have to, but if we walk down the street with full strength it'll look like we're making trouble or asking for it." Shoutmon shrugged and silently agreed.
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Post by Cross on Oct 14, 2018 5:22:31 GMT
Indeed the pair would find themselves on the rougher side of town as they grew nearer and nearer to Old Terminus. The building showing greater wear and tear, the cobblestones old, and worn, and dirty beneath their feet. The Digimon here looked more on the ragged side as well. Most were thin with ragged patches of fur missing here or there and more then a few fresh injuries or scars making those that lingered appear to be a rough bunch. Though oddly what wounds could be seen all appeared to have been treated quite well at least when it came to recent damage.
It would only be two more blocks though before they realized they were being followed. A tall cloaked figure tailing their steps about half a block back the cloth that covered their form a dark battle worn brown and drawn about them to keep wandering eyes from their figure and shield them from the low drizzle that had begun to trickle from the sky above. Turning the day dark and grey that only served to make the neighborhood the group found themselves in appear even more washed out.
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Post by Alan Pantell on Oct 14, 2018 6:36:37 GMT
"Oh...?"
To his mild surprise, Alan felt a few cool raindrops begin to fall onto his hands. He thought to put his hood up, but he was already wearing a baseball cap. Besides, he had a feeling he would be needing his peripheral vision. The rain was strange to him, if for no other reason than that it didn't feel strange at all. Even with as many new things as he had been appearing to take to pretty well, it may have been because there still remained a part of his mind that doubted everything that was happening. The familiar feeling of rain served as another reminder for him as to just how real his surroundings were. The clouds that stole saturation from the streets... shivering ever so slightly... of what did it remind him?
"Have you ever been to London?" Alan asked, making small talk, as there was really only one direction to walk at this point. "It's surprisingly similar, provided you're taking some of the labyrinthine back streets." Apart from taking in the atmosphere, he was consciously trying not to think about how much worse for wear the locals seemed to be in comparison to the average Londoner. It gradually became more difficult for him not to become tense. After a few glances over his shoulder, he caught a glimpse of a hooded figure a ways behind them.
Hey, they're not necessarily following us. It's not like there are that many ways to walk back here, after all. Hmm... alright. Just to be safe.
Alan leaned slightly towards Leith and spoke in hushed tones: "Leith. Don't look now, but there's a chance we're being followed."
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Post by Leith, Veemon, and Shoutmon on Oct 14, 2018 15:33:34 GMT
Well, give Leith that much credit: Alan told him 'don't look now,' and he didn't look now. He kept his composure, as he was already alert for something almost exactly like that happening. However, inside, he was losing his cool very quickly; the outside was but a facade. Shit... I really, really hate being the mouse in this game. Out loud Leith answered, "No, I've never been to London. Family went. I don't really like to travel. No, the irony of that fact is not lost on me." More quietly, though, he breathed to Alan, "We can't just blast a digimon we saw on the street. Besides the fact that we don't know how tough they are, there's, like... laws about that. I think. Actually, I'm not sure."
Flamedramon wasn't close enough to hear the conversation, but he was acute enough to detect the silent alarm. So, he himself leaned in and inquired, "What's wrong? What should we do?"
"We're gonna turn around and face the stalker. Best case, they run. Worst case, we get the first hit in. I've played this game before, and I will not let it end the same way this time."
"Agreed." Alan was going to have to either go with it or not; Leith and company weren't about to go down the path of being stalked and ambushed again. After deciding on that, Leith, Flamedramon, and Shoutmon all simultaneously stopped, rotated between 90 and 180 degrees depending on the person, and looked behind themselves for the follower Alan suspected.
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Post by Cross on Oct 15, 2018 3:35:21 GMT
The hooded figure surprisingly stopped or perhaps less surprisingly and more alarmingly as the Digimon, for it had to be a Digimon or a spirit user given it's height, leaned casually against a rather decrepit lightpost. The light in said lightpost having long burned out as their follower cocked their head to the side and seemed to be regarding the little group with interest. If not a small amount of amusement.
"Can I help you folks with anything?" The Figure questioned in a low, but friendly rumble giving a slight glimpse of gold eyes and golden armor beneath their hood as they gestured to the little party. In truth for a Stalker the figure seemed rather amicable though perhaps that was simply a ploy to get them to drop their guard. Dagger however, was more keen on inspecting the Digimon-less Tamer that seemed to be following a Digivice then he really was Lieth's army.
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Post by Alan Pantell on Oct 15, 2018 4:26:29 GMT
Said Digimon-less Tamer took a second or two to notice that everyone else had turned around. He was absorbed in watching the map on the Digivice's screen, both because he wanted to make sure that he was still heading in the right direction, and because he was a bit afraid to look anywhere else once he suspected they were being followed.
"O-oh!"
Alan turned around when he finally noticed, feeling a bit flustered about the delay. The "stalker" had asked them a question. Or, perhaps...
Is he... looking at ME?
There was no way to know for sure, but based on the position of the Digimon's head, and the brief glimpse Alan got at his eyes, it seemed likely that that was the case. The stranger's friendly voice must have subconsciously caused Alan to assume that the hooded figure meant no harm, because rather than fear, Alan just felt somewhat embarrassed, albeit in a mildly pleasant way.
What did he say? I wasn't paying attention... oh, I think he asked if we needed help.
He looked back at the screen of the Digivice in his hand. As long as we have this, we should be fine. Aren't you supposed to... not give information to people if it's not necessary? That's usually how stuff like this works.
"Um, no, I think we're good! Thank you for the offer, though!"
However, Alan didn't turn around to keep walking after this. He stood there in silence, not sure where to place his hands, feet, or eyes. It looked as if he had just told a lie that he thought no one could possibly believe.
But... I wasn't lying when I said I don't need help.
No matter how hard he thought, Alan couldn't come up with a reason why he had reacted that way to the question. All he could do at that point was wait for someone else to say something. It would be even more awkward to start walking away now.
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Post by Leith, Veemon, and Shoutmon on Oct 16, 2018 18:21:33 GMT
Leith couldn't help rolling his eyes when he noticed Alan slow on the uptake. Maybe it made sense to not be in synch when no one shared the plan with him, but when three people on high alert turn around at the same time, so Leith believed, it only makes sense that the fourth of them notice a little more quickly than that! Seriously? Even worse, Alan was trying to engage the stranger, even it was just a means to be off. Well, Leith didn't care for this diplomatic approach. He was afraid that wouldn't make his position clear: this wasn't a group of people to mess with. So, Leith employed his own brand of diplomacy: "What he means is go away; we're fine, and if you want to stay fine you'll screw off." Even though Alan didn't want to walk away, then, Leith threw an arm over his shoulder and tried to get him to get back to walking, preferably away from this stranger.
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Post by Cross on Oct 18, 2018 12:47:54 GMT
The hooded figure slowly tilted their head a low chuckle rumbling from their chest as they eyed the little defense display with open amusement. Still their gold eyes glanced over the lone tamer, their gaze settling on the digivice in their hands as the little beeping dot featured upon it's map. "Very well then." The figure quipped spinning on their heel to stride away.
"If you wish to take the difficult route then I shall see you at the end then. I'll be certain to give Levi your regards in the meantime." They added taking a gambled. At worst the name would hold no meaning to them. At best....well perhaps they would be meeting his Tamer a little sooner then expected though he would happily watch them try to navigate the maze of fences and back alleys that made up Old Terminus with amusement in the meantime should they prefer the path they had chosen.
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Post by Alan Pantell on Oct 18, 2018 15:14:47 GMT
Alan shook Leith's hand off of him. He couldn't just let that slide.
"Well, if you're trying to catch my attention, you've got it. Now, would you mind telling me what you mean by that?" Alan was considering drawing his new baton as he said this, purely because it would seem to fit the moment. Ultimately, he decided against it, as that thing could only harm rookies, and whoever this digimon was, they were certainly not a rookie. This digimon had complete control over the situation, and they knew it. The best Alan could do was try to not make himself look any sillier than he already had.
"I'm not in the mood for vague threats. I never am, but especially not when I can't even tell if they're supposed to be threats."
I'm so tired...
"Please, just... just tell me: is Levi safe? And if so, do you intend to keep him that way? And if so, do you have any conditions? And if so, what are they!?"
Alan's breathing was now more labored than it had been, but not by much.
I'm not gonna fall asleep, but sleep would be nice right about now.
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Post by Leith, Veemon, and Shoutmon on Oct 18, 2018 18:22:28 GMT
It didn't take much to get Leith's arm off of Alan; when this stranger mentioned the name Levi, the metalhead almost turned around immediately himself. Alan simply beat him to it, a fact the young man noticed and analyzed. He sure is concerned considering what happened. Maybe I'm not getting the full picture here. I know the kid's greener than a pine tree, but maybe these guys have already been through something I didn't see?
Flamedramon and Shoutmon also turned around, though their stances were more confrontational. Both of them stepped forward in front of the Tamers a few steps, and on their way Flamedramon held out a gauntletted arm as a nonverbal command for both humans to keep back. "Alright, I don't like being played with," Leith continued to antagonize the stranger, "You know that's Levi's Tamer, and you know we're looking for him. That means, if you're really a friend, you'll explain where he is and your connection to him. If you're not-"
"-if you're not, it's gonna end the same," Shoutmon interrupted to threaten, "just with a lot more pain in the middle!"
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