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Post by Cross on Oct 18, 2018 22:54:37 GMT
The Stranger considered the group of digimon with a hard golden gaze though his eyes softened somewhat at the lone Tamer's distress. Their reaction proving at least that they had some minuscule amount of care for the little Veemon his own Tamer had rescued.
"Last I checked he was perfectly fine. A little roughed up and distressed, but nothing my partner couldn't fix." The Digimon rumbled out before he turned his full attention onto the Flamedramon and the mouthy Shoutmon.
"However, I think it would be wise that you be aware of whom you're picking a fight with in the future." The Stranger spoke flipping their hood down to reveal the golden helmet and red face plate of a Durandamon, the cloak parting slightly to reveal one of many gleaming gilded and impossibly sharp blades.
"You may find yourself outclassed." The Durandamon warned softly as they shifted. While they made no move to attack it was clear that if the group pressed the Mega wouldn't hesitate to cut them down.
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Post by Alan Pantell on Oct 19, 2018 0:08:33 GMT
Yes, Alan, that digimon looks really cool. Any more helpful thoughts to offer? thought Alan, sifting through his mind for a useful train of thought.
Okay, let's see: what is the current mindset of all the people present? Flamedramon and Leith are rightfully suspicious of this guy. Shoutmon is suspicious of this guy, and ALSO has a deep hatred for the guy we're trying to rescue. If this stranger is to believed, whether he attacks is entirely up to Leith's trio.
No one was about to back down from this. Alan could tell. They weren't going to be persuaded into diplomacy.
How can I possibly stop this from turning into a disaster?
It was a wild guess, but an educated one nonetheless. There was reason to believe it could work.
While the digimon stared each other down intensely, Alan began to silently stroll off to the side, following his digivice once more. He turned his head around after a few steps, shouting back, "If you're going to make this hard, I think I'll just keep following this thing. I'll reach Levi eventually, right?"
He turned his head forward and continued walking, knowing not to check behind him again, lest he make it obvious he was attempting some kind of ploy, and checking to see if it "worked." Ideally, it was a win-win situation: If they go after him, he's gotten them to not fight. If they let him go for some reason, he'll find his way to Levi on his own.
Either way, both sides' reasons for fighting had something to do with him. In theory, removing Alan also removed any reason they had to fight.
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Post by Leith, Veemon, and Shoutmon on Oct 20, 2018 1:10:28 GMT
Leith, Flamedramon, and Shoutmon all took a big step back as Dagger revealed what he really was. "Leith- guys, that's a mega!" Flamedramon prudently warned.
This may have been an unfamiliar digimon, but Leith could just get a sense of that digimon's power by merely looking at it. This was his first time in the presence of such a powerful opponent. Oh... shit. Maybe I should watch my mouth after all. Unfortunately, Dagger hadn't done as Leith asked and gotten to the point like Leith had asked... well, demanded. So the young Tamer was still unsure and still a little annoyed. However, Alan oddly effectively broke the tension by just walking right away from the standoff. Well... that happened. Yeah, no, sure, I'm the one making it hard. I'm the one playing around instead of being straightforward. Leith didn't apologize for being confrontational, nor but he did stand down with his body language, seeming to suggest he had a bit more respect for this stranger now. Still, he was about ready to walk away, now, too, if he'd be allowed to. First he had to try one last time.
The young man crossed his arms and tried not to sound terrified as he asked one last, "Are you gonna help us or not? That's Levi's Tamer, and you're just making everyone's life harder by dicking around."
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Post by Cross on Oct 20, 2018 1:34:35 GMT
The Mega-level glanced down at the boy his golden gaze cold and skeptical. "You never asked for help to begin with or so I recall and is it wrong of me to want to confirm the child to be Levi's partner?" The Durandamon quarried with a tilt of his head. "Or do you think we just go around handing injured and distressed rookies to every chump with a digivice?" Golden Digimon questioned with a low growl, but the guttural noise came up short at the soft sound of the rattle of chains. "Dagger." A rough voice called from the shadows as a Tactimon with a cracked faceplate stepped forth from the darkness of a nearby alley. "Hime is growing impatient." The Second Mega rumbled out his words bringing the Durandamon up short with an exasperated sigh. "You should be more careful. There are more then a few psychos around that would love to take you up on the offer of a fight. I'd rather my partner not be the one left scraping your dead body off of the pavement. Sovereigns know she's seen one dead kid too many." Dagger warned before turning on his heel to follow Alan and correct the boys path aiming to lead him around the more frustrating roadblocks between him and his partner. Meanwhile the Tactimon shifted his own piercing golden gaze to Leith seeming to weigh the boy and his team. "Hime does not consider civilian casualties an acceptable loss....however I do not consider her loss acceptable under any circumstance. Remember that." The Tactimon spoke cryptically before he turned on his heel and disappeared back down the alley.
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Post by Alan Pantell on Oct 20, 2018 21:34:43 GMT
Satisfied that he did not hear explosions coming from behind him, Alan picked up the pace, striding until he rounded a corner. Once he had, he began to walk more casually, raising his free hand to feel the light drizzle.
"This might be the first alone time I've had all day..." he mused quietly to himself. Now that he didn't have anyone he might need to pay attention to at the moment, he began to simply stroll in the general direction of the red dot on the map, engaging in one of his favorite mental pastimes. If this were a game, what would the music sound like?
Given Alan's current relaxed state, he fancied himself some soft, improvised jazz of about 105 beats per minute. A walking bassline, solos, all the usual stuff. Something that was nice to listen to, but would bore him to drum. He began to walk in time with the music only he could hear, occasionally betraying this by taking a sudden step back, stuttering, or hopping forward once or twice when the imaginary band would play a note in unison.
Inevitably, the music had to stop, as he came to his first roadblock that wasn't on the map.
Oof, okay, thinking time. Looks like I have to go back that way to-
"Oh." There was Dagger, tailing him once again. The small bit of what Alan had considered to be some form of alone time had been recharging his metaphorical batteries, but now, he became self-conscious of how he had been loosening up mere seconds ago. He projected his voice in Dagger's direction: "You enjoying yourself over there?"
And... now I'm tired again.
In truth, Alan had been looking forward to "solving" this "maze" on his own, but suddenly, he was no longer in the mood. By his count, there were at least five, no, six people waiting on him, and, in all likelihood, more than that.
He lowered his head in some semblance of shame, and admitted, "Yes... I would like some help, please. Thank you."
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Post by Cross on Oct 24, 2018 16:52:12 GMT
"It's..." Dagger spoke trailing off as he watched the kid flounder and hang his head. Leaving the Mega to run the back of his arm over his face in exasperation. "Look kid I don't dislike you." The Golden digimon explained with a sigh as he motioned to Alan's right pointing out the proper route.
"Honestly it's been a hard few months on me. I forget sometimes digimon and partners are not as close as...as my team is. I forget sometimes the younger ones argue, but my Tamer has a soft spot for kids." The Durandamon rambled a little leading Alan on the right path as they padded down the dilapidated alleyways.
"You're what? How old for a human? Like champion at the least or cusp of it. From what I could see your Digimon is young. Stupidly young. Digimon may evolve and become more powerful faster then humans, but maturity wise. Sometimes we're a bit slower." Dagger explained with a shrug unsure how much the kid was listening or if he was just talking to the open air. Still it felt good to get this off his chest.
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Post by Alan Pantell on Oct 24, 2018 20:33:48 GMT
Alan followed the Durandamon, intently listening to every word he had to say, happy that he had someone to just listen to for a bit. Nevertheless, he had plenty of things to get off of his own chest.
"To be fair," he said, looking in Dagger's general direction, but not directly at him, "we only met about nine days ago. I don't know how quickly these... 'bonds' usually form, but... after I got this digivice, it didn't take long for me to realize I had just taken another being, another... another person back to a hotel room, almost on a whim. Neither of us were sure what we were supposed to do. We didn't know what to say to each other. I didn't, anyway."
He spoke with a subdued, low tone, trying to sort out his thoughts, which was much easier when someone else was doing the same with him.
He mouthed the word "cusp" as Dagger said it. It was a word that held a lot of weight for him, but Alan couldn't quite explain why.
"In the country I come from, I'm barely a legal adult, if that's what you meant. I feel like that means society just expects me to be able to do things I can't. So I couldn't tell you whether digimon are 'slower' than humans, or if I'm just slower than the rest of humanity... sorry, am I talking too much? I have a lot to say."
Alan waited for a response, but eventually, he began speaking again, regardless.
"I know it sounds like a stupid thing to want; the kind of thing that the protagonist always thinks at the beginning, and is proven wrong by the end... but that's why, even though I've only been here for a few hours... if digimon 'mature' more slowly than most humans... if there's no expectation to just 'grow up' immediately... then I think this world might be more my speed than Earth ever was. I want to live the way I want to. That's why..."
Alan clenched his free hand, and squeezed more tightly on the one holding the digivice.
"I have to see Levi again! I have to apologize! I don't know what I'm sorry for, but I don't think I could stand knowing that I threw away some kind of chance to have this... 'bond!' And now I'm treating a stranger like a therapist!"
Deep breaths, Alan. Calm down.
"I'm... such a mess. The point is, I may be on the cusp of... 'championship,' but... I don't want anyone having expectations I can't fulfill because of that. Thanks for listening to whatever that was. You were saying?"
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Post by Leith, Veemon, and Shoutmon on Oct 25, 2018 0:37:54 GMT
Leith, Shoutmon, and Flamedramon all followed along mostly quietly as they let Alan go on with his little spiel and followed all the directions Dagger gave them. What choice did they have, right? Still, Shoutmon couldn't help grumbling, "Does that little shit think he's gonna get away with his crap just because he thinks he's a kid?"
"You know what? I'm tempted to agree. Thing is I had problems when I was a kid, too. Big ones."
"You sayin' you didn't deserve a healthy ass-kicking?"
Leith bit his lip. "...No, I can't really say that."
Apparently there was only one person actually bothering to listen to Alan. That was Flamedramon, who walked behind the initiate Tamer closely like a bodyguard, only he didn't say anything. How could he? He'd heard a certain other musical Tamer voice these sorts of thoughts before, and recently, too, but Flamedramon was less than helpful. This time he kept silent.
"'Ey! Golden boy! Can you tell me we're close? New places make me kinda nervous."
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Post by Cross on Oct 30, 2018 3:33:46 GMT
"Look kid I don't mind listening. I'm usually the talker of my group. However, like your world has dangers so to does the digital world. I've almost lost my partner and brother multiple times and if anyone understands the sort of damage this world can do...well it's probably us." The Durandamon explained before glancing over his shoulder at Leith and motioning to a rather worn and run down looking pub outside of which the Tactimon they had seen before was lounging. Upon seeing them the dark armored Samurai gave the lot of them a nod before entering inside.
The inside of the pub looked much like the outside with worn wooden floors, slightly rickety tables, barstools, and chairs, with a one winged Devimon bartender standing behind the bar eyeing to lot of them. Likely the oddest site however, was the woman, the adult woman in a Doctors coat that sat seated at the bar reading quietly with Levi perched on the bar counter beside her sipping a juice box.
At their approach the Woman paused glancing up to pin the group with her off-blue eyes before she silently slid a bookmark between the pages to mark her place and closed her novel. "There are times..." She murmured trailing off as she glanced at the Digivice held clutched in Alan's hands and at he and Leith's young faces a look of bitterness and sorrowful regret in her eyes, "I wish I wasn't right." The Doctor murmured with a resigned sigh as the Tactimon took his place at her side looming like a dark shadow.
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Post by Alan Pantell on Oct 31, 2018 5:54:17 GMT
Alan wished to say something in response, but wisely decided against arguing with the sizable golden mass of blades who was telling him about the damage the digital world can do. He had his own rationale for not being particularly afraid of these dangers, but he understood that an attempt to explain would likely just be met with critiques along the lines of "you don't know how bad it gets," and hey, they'd be right. He didn't. How could he, at this point?
Upon entering the pub, Alan took some time to quickly and silently size up what he could see on the inside. The state of the interior and its furnishings was about what he'd expect from a pub, given what the rest of the surrounding area looked like. More important to note were the people he hadn't met yet inside: the bartender, a sleeping BlackWarGreymon at one of the tables, and a woman at the counter. The most remarkable thing about this woman, was that even in this bar, almost completely full of people who would seem to be threads if this weren't a special occasion, she fit right in. It took some time to click that this was the first other human he was meeting while in the digital world.
Trusting that he wouldn't have been led here if anyone present had malicious intent, Alan wasn't all too intimidated. What he was feeling, however, was an acute sense of what he could only describe as "disappointment." Even without the tough-looking woman's words that clearly indicated her disappointment, he still would have felt it hanging heavy in the air. He wasn't quite sure what, in his imagination, everyone was so disappointed about, but most likely it had to do with him. Regardless, the boy kept walking forward towards the Veemon, taking small, cautious steps, but remaining upright, without showing any of his usual signs of abundant nervousness. This whole situation revolved around his partner and him. What choice did he have but to proceed?
For the past hour or so, Levi had tried to imagine a few things he might say to Alan when he walked in, but for all of his hypothesizing, seeing his partner actually walk through the door blew everything out the window. Despite everything that had been said to him, all of the comfort he had received from these surprisingly-nice individuals, somehow, some part of him remained convinced that Alan would never show up. Even if his human partner was still alive, hadn't what Levi had done been unforgivable?
As Alan drew closer, not saying a word, the small dragon tensed up, keeping his mouth firmly on the straw of the juicebox, taking one continuous sip for as long as he could. His fears and doubts multiplied and grew heavier with each passing second, causing him to visibly shrink further into his current sitting position. Not long after, the juice box was empty, and Levi still had no idea what to do or say, so he kept trying to sip, although there was only air and a few drops of moisture left, creating a loud slurping sound familiar to most. The fears continued to grow in his mind until none of them were coherent anymore; his mind went white, and the juice box now lacked even much air to speak of, leaving only a violently-shaking Veemon trying to hide his face under his own hat. His breathing was audible and severely labored, and he was completely unable to think, save for a vague, shapeless mass of incomprehensible negativity that seemed only to imply that for some reason, whatever was happening now was a bad thing.
It was, in short, a horrible sight. Alan had healed quickly, completely forgiven Levi, and even admitted to himself that thanks to what he did, even if his methods were questionable, he had been having fantastical experiences, and no doubt had even more waiting for him in the future. There was just one problem: how to convince Levi of all of this. Though he was sure it had never been quite this bad for him. He wasn't sure anything he would say would get through to his partner, or that any kindness he tried to show wouldn't be interpreted as passive-aggression. Unsure of how to pull this off, he started by pulling up a stool, sitting silently next to the panicking Veemon. Sitting like this for a few more seconds, Alan began to realize that it perhaps wasn't the best idea, and was, in fact, the most terrifying way he could possibly be acting to someone who was convinced he hated them.
"Levi," he finally spoke, in a low, quiet voice, trying to be gentle.
Levi didn't respond, save for becoming even more thoroughly distressed.
Umm... maybe if I ask him...?
"What do you want to hear me say to you, at this moment in time?"
No use.
I guess that'd be a pretty hard question. Alan scratched his chin. But maybe there's a better question to ask.
"Would you believe me if I told you it was fine?"
No response. He didn't expect one.
"Would you believe me if I told you I wasn't mad?
Alan could have sworn he saw Levi loosen up. Just a little.
"Would you believe me if I told you I wasn't even disappointed?"
…
"...that I've completely forgiven you?"
…
"...that I want to be friends?"
…
"...that I looked for you because I was worried about you? And that I'm not the kind of person who'd put that much effort into a vendetta?"
Alan was beginning to worry that he'd never succeed, and started to get slightly frantic, long since having forgotten about the other people in the room.
"T-that I want to thank you, actually... just, please, give me something to work with! How do I let you know I'm not here to spite you...?"
But when he looked up, Levi was no longer shaking. He was merely staring in the direction of the counter intensely, as if afraid to move his eyes from their current position.
"Would you believe me if I told you..."
There's... no way this will work. Alan bit his lip.
"...that it's okay to cry...?"
In the next instant, the Veemon looked up at his partner, mere milliseconds away from practically liquefying.
Levi began to stand up, with hesitation. Even if the words themselves were lost on him, the tone of voice had soothed him into some sense of security.
For lack of a better idea, Alan began raising both of his arms from his sides, a motion which had one potential result of becoming a hug. Apparently, this was enough for Levi, who, for lack of a better idea, was already on him.
Alan wasn't... expecting this. The dragon seemed completely different from the one who had run away from him, yet if it wasn't, he would neither have an ivy cap, nor would he have any reason to react this way upon seeing them. Alan propped Levi up with his left arm and patted the back of his head with his right. It seemed like the right thing to do. The young man wasn't quite sure how he had achieved this, or how he should be feeling about it, but for the moment... it felt nice to be relied on. He felt something smooth on the back of Levi's neck, then looked over to try and see what he was feeling.
"Is that... a Star Wars™ Band-Aid™?"
Levi spoke for the first time since before Alan walked into the room, already immensely more calm.
"Heh heh, I think that's what he called it... Alan?"
"Yes?"
"You really don't hate me at all?"
"Yes."
There was a long pause as Levi opened his eyes, and saw the ones who had been watching this whole time.
"...what about them?"
"Uhh…" Alan got out of his seat to let Levi down on the ground while turning to look at whom he was referring to, finding Leith, Flamedramon, and Shoutmon.
Alan the human and his partner, Levi the Veemon, regarded the trio confidently, as if nothing had happened, they had been best friends the whole time, and had never been separated. The blinking red dot on Alan's digivice turned green momentarily, then disappeared.
Alan continued in a more normal, matter-of-fact voice, "They... I don't know. I think at least two of them don't really mind... guys?"
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Post by Leith, Veemon, and Shoutmon on Oct 31, 2018 19:29:27 GMT
Jesus. Is that even the same guy? Quite frankly, Leith and company didn't much care about Cas or her digimon; they'd proven themselves peaceful and, therefore, not the trio's concern. What did Leith care if some little girl was drinking while underage? At least, that was what he thought based off his brief glance at the girl by the bar. The sight of Levi was what really captured his attention because, well... He looks pathetic. Did... did they do something to him? Leith suspected some sort of abuse, but the signs indicated differently; he knew that bandage was placed over a wound inflicted by Shoutmon. Nah. He's just pathetic. Good.
Unfortunately, the encounter did not go the way Leith had hoped. The young man wanted to see Alan find his righteous anger and tear the other Veemon a whole new one. That isn't how it happened. Normally I'd say it's Alan's prerogative to forgive someone who wronged him or not, Leith thought, but- Lucky for him, he was actually asked for his opinion. The metalhead was not why about sharing it. "I feel like I'm watching the abuse cycle unfold before my eyes. Abuser abuses victim, abuser promises change, victim forgives abuser, abuser doesn't change, and repeat. I don't feel OK with that." The young man wasn't very emotional but only because he was holding back; objectivity was his defense against fury.
Flamedramon tried to be a voice of reason by rebutting, "Leith, look at them. Whatever happened in here, this isn't the same digimon we first met. People can change, and we know that because we've both changed a lot over a short time." For a moment, those words seemed to have their desired effect; Leith's expression softened. The truth was he couldn't rebut the premise.
Shoutmon sure could, though. "What? No! Fuck you! You can't just walk away from turning on your partner! That's like..." Shoutmon was clenching his teeth and looking like he was feeling just about every emotion a sentient being could. "...Those two used to be real shitty to me, but you know what? I never fuckin' touched either of 'em, not even once. You deserve better-" Shoutmon pointed at Alan while saying that before switching to Levi. "-and you deserve basically everything bad that's ever happened to you!" The look on Leith's face changed again, appearing to passively agree with the red digimon instead.
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Post by Alan Pantell on Nov 2, 2018 0:41:55 GMT
Alan listened intently to what Leith had to say. He was sure, after all, that there would be some objections, and there were. Leith described the events as the beginning of a cycle of abuse, and Alan... couldn't argue. It was a perfectly reasonable criticism, and the only defense Alan had in his head was a gut feeling, as well as a personal belief. Coincidentally, this was the rebuttal Flamedramon had for Leith: people can change, and it did seem as if Levi had. Alan looked down at Levi to see how he was doing, and found him to be deep in thought himself.
I want to believe you, Flamedramon. I want to be able to say, "it won't happen again. I've changed..." but it's not like I woke up today thinking I'd kick my partner unconscious. I didn't think I'd do something like that. What reason do I have to think that's any more true this time?
Shoutmon had the expected reaction, considering the opinions he'd been expressing earlier, but... he couldn't let the last comments slide. If anything, it was because these, too, Alan find hard to rebuke. He began to lightly clench his fists, not wanting Levi's state to be compromised further.
"I admit... my self-esteem's far too low to talk about what I do and do not 'deserve...' but even if I didn't agree with Flamedramon… that people can change... whaddaya suppose I do, huh? Just-" with a quick shake of his head, he motioned his arm towards Levi. "-abandon him? Walk the streets completely vulnerable because I didn't want to take a chance? Go 'home?' Wait for 'destiny' or whatever to toss me another, telling me, 'Oh heyyyyy, Alan! Sorry about that! All just a big misunderstanding, here's your REAL partner, this one won't make any mistakes!'" The last word was practically hissed.
Levi was speechless this whole time, watching in awe as Alan spoke out passionately in what he believed was supposed to be his defense.
"And if Levi does deserve everything bad that's ever happened to him," Alan continued, "well, I suppose that means he's even now, doesn't it?"
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Post by Leith, Veemon, and Shoutmon on Nov 3, 2018 0:03:24 GMT
Even though the young man had seemed to be teetering on the edge of accepting Levi's apparent repentance or not, Alan's case seemed to make him lean more toward Alan's and Flamedramon's point of view. "OK, first off," Leith scolded Alan, "Calm the fuck down. You're being a drama queen. Quit monologuing." Leith crossed his arms, then, showing some annoyance. Still, he had to admit, "Fine. There's still no getting around the fact that your partner is your partner. I guess however the hell you two wanna work something out is your business. Still, don't let this guy walk all over you." When Leith looked to Flamedramon he asked, "What do you think? Wanna kick his ass if he doesn't stick to it?"
"That, I can do," Flamedramon calmly agreed.
"Oh, this is bullshit!"
"Well, deal with it," Leith insisted, grabbing his own digimon by the upper arm. "We're gonna let it go."
"Like hell!" Shoutmon summoned his mic stand out of the air and managed to break out of the Tamer's grasp. That meant he was free to charge at Levi. "You know what'll stop him from bein' a little shit? A taste of his own medicine! Stand Smash!" This wasn't like the hit Shoutmon delivered earlier. This was one of Shoutmon's named abilities, meaning it was gonna hurt a lot more if it connected when the little red digimon swung his mic stand like a baseball bat at Levi's head.
Shoutmon attacked Levi with Stand Smash.
Stand Smash: This digimon uses his microphone stand like a blunt weapon and beats the opponent with it to deal blunt force damage.
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Post by Cross on Nov 3, 2018 21:58:11 GMT
"That is enough." The Doctor snarled the sound low and inhuman as it tore it's way out of her pale throat her off-blue eyes snapping towards the two offending groups with all the coldness of a sharpened blade. The Tactimon was quick to side step between Shoutmon and Levi catching the stand strike with his palm the stand impacting with a nasty sounding snap, but the Mega appeared unfazed.
"If you two wish to do combat please vacate my establishment." Shred, the Bartender grumbling motioning towards the door and the BlackWarGreymon napping in the corner that had awoken to stare at Shoutmon. "Otherwise my bouncer will see you out." The Devimon added before returning to cleaning the various glasses as the Doctor laid some bits on the bar to clear her tab eyes never moving from where she kept the lot of them pinned under her narrowed gaze.
Jerking his arm sidewise the Tactimon aimed to rip the mike stand right out of Shoutmons grip and toss it towards the door. Hopefully disarming hi and encouraging the loud mouth to peaceably take this outside.
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Post by Alan Pantell on Nov 6, 2018 0:44:07 GMT
Alan nearly froze up with terror when Shoutmon made his swing. He had been relieved when Leith and Flamedramon had agreed to hold off unless Levi acted up again; he had faith the mistake wouldn't be repeated. Though he expected Shoutmon to have issues, he didn't expect an attack. Though Levi seemed prepared to attempt to dodge, even with the limited space at his disposal, fortunately, the Tactimon stepped in before it had to come to so much as a defensive maneuver. Slowly, Alan lowered the arm he had unconsciously raised, as if intending to do something about the situation himself. "Thank you..." he breathed, speaking to the Tactimon before shuffling over to the nearest table besides the bar counter. Levi, uncomfortable with his current position, followed, sitting down at the table when Alan did.
"I... need to sit for a little bit," said the youth, resting his head in one hand, whispering thoughts he didn't have the energy to communicate. He was frustrated. All day he had assured himself he would be able to exhibit some form of confidence should a situation arise, but in that moment, he had frozen. Was it because someone else's safety was at stake, and not his own? Was it because the attack was someone he had been at least on neutral terms with throughout the day? Was he simply not as prepared as he had assumed he was? In all likelihood, he decided, it was all three.
Alan breathed heavily, moving his lips in the shape of the words "you already hit him" with each breath. These kinds of comments continued, too quiet for most in the room to hear:
"Wasn't that enough? A blow for a blow... 'drama queen,' call me a 'drama queen' for justifying my own friendship, try and hit him with a blunt metal object... I'm a 'drama queen,' what does that make you? A drama king... drama ace... drama joker? Drama joker. Ugh..."
Levi looked back and forth between his partner and everyone else in the room. Surely they understood if he wasn't sure what to do right now. Regardless, he leaned in to Alan.
"Would it... be silly of me to ask if you're all right?"
"No, you're fine. I think, given the circumstances, I can say that I'm some semblance of 'fine' myself. Thank you, Levi." Having got rid of some of the thoughts clouding his mind, Alan gave a glance up to Leith, avoiding eye contact with any of the trio. "I..." he spoke up, trying to politely shake off what had happened. "I don't feel the need to leave the no-combat zone at the moment, if that's alright with you." He finished off his statement by forcing an awkward smile, as if to say, "no hard feelings, I beg of you." Levi nodded in agreement.
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