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A Bit of A Fixer Upper. (Weston and Speed)
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Post by supesman on Oct 27, 2021 2:48:09 GMT
Zack yawned, rubbing his eye with the back of his hand as he pushed open the unlocked front door with his foot. He sipped at a cup of something warm (not coffee, he never touched the stuff, probably cocoa). Marigold wasn't up yet, he'd had to pull some real patient acrobatics to keep her from jerking awake when his weight shifted out of bed, he just couldn't bring himself to disturb her even though she insisted in sleeping with him on the couch of the shelter. Zack wanted to do it so that he could keep himself close to the door in case something happened in the middle of the night and not take up an extra bed. Marigold did it because she had to be close to him in order to fall asleep in the first place. He just hoped that she wouldn't do something drastic when she woke up and saw that he wasn't there.
The place was starting to shape up much better now, he thought as he reached up with a rag and polished the sign, freeing it from its morning dew to make sure that it was much more visible now. There were signs on top of the four hills, one in each direction, pointing down at the shelter and leading people to it. Maybe the inside of nearly invisible valley wasn't exactly the best spot to put a place he WANTED people to find but eh, too late now and the place had mostly dropped in his lap on accident anyway. Those signs, shoddily made but with a bare handed charm too them, plus the flyers he had printed out back home and stuck up both in Terminus and Rosewood would hopefully get people close enough to see the signs and follow them from there.
He felt good. he felt REALLY good in fact. He had had two of his first groups right there in the shelter the previous night. He was trying not to wake them either as he stopped around the outside of the ground, his costume pulled on but with his helmet clutched under his arm. Checking the perimeter basically because it felt like something he was supposed to do. Though really the only thing it fully accomplished right at this moment was letting him get right up close and personal with everything he still had to get done. Some of the paint was still peeling on the outside and the patches hadn't been painted at all. The patch on the roof needed new shingles, some of the windows into the back rooms needed replacing, the lawn was growing with weeds and just at an out of hand height in the first place.
He sighed. No one had told him this was going to be easy. In fact he THOUGHT he had come to terms with how hard this was going to be. But nothing could possibly have prepared him for being this busy and this short handed at the same time.
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Post by Speed & Psych on Oct 27, 2021 3:01:55 GMT
"Why are we doing this?"
"You cannot keep avoiding him forever, Speed. You two need to reconcile."
"I'm not 'reconciling' with someone like him. He insulted us, he insulted my workplace and what I do."
"I doubt he is as bad as you say. He did help in saving us, after all. I fear he may think what happened was his fault. I wish to check up on him, as well as see how his shelter is doing."
This was the back and forth that could be heard coming from the Speedramon and the Wisemon walking (or in the latter's case, floating) down the valley to this Digimon shelter that Weston had seen flyers for in Rosewood. It had been some time since that incident in Shibuya that resulted in Psych's disappearance, and both Speed and Weston were well on their way to recovery in their own ways. But Weston felt that they needed to at least speak to Zack and Marigold, the superhero tamer and Fanbeemon adoptive daughter that were involved with that incident. They were undoubtedly among the most affected by the experience, and Weston wished to just see how they were doing.
And of course Weston knew about the twins' unpleasant history with Zack, so he brought Speed along in the hopes of having him and Zack clear the slate and start over with each other. And the Speedramon was not happy about it. The only reason he came in the first place was because Weston promised him food if he did.
I really need to stop falling for that...
Speed and Weston made their way down the valley and finally to the shelter, thanks to the very blatant signs pointing out where the building was. There, they could see the familiar sight of the bee hero's costume observing the perimeter of the shelter... one that definitely still needed some work done. "Zack Zello, correct?" Weston called out to the young man, Speed by his side. "It is good to see you. I... I hope you are alright. Is this the shelter you've been advertising?"
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Post by supesman on Oct 27, 2021 3:28:00 GMT
Zack spun on his heel, a beaming smile on his face that was almost brighter than the deep oranges and pinks shining through the open air as the sun was just beginning to lurch over the horizon. His smile froze on his face the moment he saw Speed, the blood draining out of his face for a moment. He tucked his gloved hand into his pockets, clearing his throat and forcing a much more reserved smile onto his face. Even to Speed who didn't know him THAT well, the reserved smile looked wrong on Zack, too token, too polite for someone who usually wore his good nature directly on his sleeve.
"Ahh yes, yes...It is. This is the shelter, we uh...haven't come up with a good name for her yet." he said, trying not to stare too directly at Speed, keeping most of his gaze focused on Weston. "What brings you here, sir? So early in the morning too." He said, trying to be business like, to move through the questions that needed asking so that he wouldn't have to stew on Speed or the feelings that he represented. He seemed totally thrown by just his presence here. Speed noted something on Zack's helmet that certainly hadn't been there before, the normally black expanse of his visor had something mixed into it now, a secondary grain that made it glitter with a deep, royal purple whenever it caught the light. It was Psyche's purple, there would be zero doubt in his mind.
"We shouldn't talk out here, it isn't neighborly. Come inside, there's coffee, tea, cocoa and I was just about to start on breakfast." He said, turning to walk them in the door. Even with whatever effect this reunion was having on him he was still the same old Zack at heart. He was welcoming, he was kind and her wasn't going to let any of whatever hang-ups he had stop him from making sure that they walked away full and warm and hydrated, along with anything else that the duo might need form him
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Post by Speed & Psych on Oct 27, 2021 3:53:56 GMT
Speed definitely noted the reaction that Zack gave upon seeing him, and the forced smile he put on afterwards. The smile looked off, even for Zack, at least in Speed's opinion. "You don't have to keep that weird smile around me, Zack," Speed said, waving his hand a bit. "It's pretty clear that we don't like each other. Besides, you look weird when you do that."
"Speed, be polite," Weston scolded the fast drake Digimon. While the shelter was still unnamed at this point, Zack still welcomed the two of them here, and asking what brought them here early in the morning like this. "It was actually less early in the morning when we left. And I do not believe we have been properly introduced. I am Weston Sparkwood, a literature teacher at Shibuya Academy. I imagine you know where we have met before, and would like to not be reminded."
While Weston was talking, Speed noticed something on Zack's helmet. The visor had something mixed in that glittered in the sunlight. Speed recognized it immediately: it was the same purple as Psych. "Zack, your helmet..." Speed said, pointing towards the visor part specifically. The Speedramon was having trouble finding the words to express more about his feelings -- his positive feelings -- on the sentiment.
Zack would then invite Speed and Weston in, offering them a drink and stating that he was going to start on breakfast. "B-Breakfast?" Speed asked, his tail wagging slightly. One could almost see drool coming from his mouth as well.
"I... promised him food for coming here with me," Weston explained. "Thank you very much for your hospitality, Zack."
The two of them would follow Zack in, taking note on how the inside of the shelter looked. It was definitely much nicer on the inside than it currently was on the outside. They glanced at a sleeping Marigold on the couch, she very much looked adorable in that state. "You sit down. Want anything to drink?"
"I'll have tea, if you do not mind. Thank you, Speed."
After Weston sat down in a nice chair facing the couch, Speed would walk over to the three drink pots and pour tea into one mug and hot cocoa into the other, as the Flamedramon tended to get too hyper with caffeine. He brought the two mugs over, handing Weston his tea before sitting down on the other chair next to Weston. Now just to wait for breakfast...
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Post by supesman on Oct 27, 2021 19:27:34 GMT
"Huh? Yea I...I guess we do." Zack said, verbally resigned to the fact that Speed still disliked him. He tried to bury the hatchet as best her could that night. And now that Zack was part and parcel of his beloved brother's death he didn't have that much hope for making things better. He let the smile drop for only a moment, letting out a quick, steadying sigh before he turned to weston, smiling again. He just didn't seem capable of not grinning, even when something cold was wrapped up tight around his heart.
"Weston, right, yes. Of course I remember you...I'm sure Marigold remembers you too." he said, punching his palm with his fist with a sarcastic look on his face, making a cheeky reference to the pummeling that Marigold had given him last time. He stuck out his hand though, offering it to shake before they went inside. He stopped, dead in his tracks as Speed took note of the flourish he had placed along his visor. He picked it up in both hands, turning the helmet so that he could look down into its "face".
"Hm?" He said, turning to Speed and giving him a much more sad smile. "We all have to make sure we're seeing things the right way, yknow?" He said, not fully explaining himself because Speed hadn't fully called out what he'd noticed and Zack didn't want to cause a scene right there out from if he didn't have to. His glib reference did make Speed realize that Zack would be looking OUT through that visor every day. Every shift of his shoulders, ever turn of his head would make those sparkling purple embers remind him of a mistake he had promised himself never to make twice. He walked with them into the shelter. Walking up behind Marigold and giving both of his guests a wink as he RIPPED the blanket off of her in a single sharp motion.
"Huh?! Who?! What?! I'm up! I'm u-...oh, visitors!" She said, snapping into her role as unofficial hostess as she saw the two of them sitting there. Her expression was harder to read given that in her rookie form she couldn't really be said to have a "face" in the human sense. "Good to see you coming around, Speed. And you must be Weston, I remember from that time you smashed my face into a wall with a vine." She said, offering one of her legs to shake to him, making her own sarcastic reference seemingly only to confirm to the two of them that she was nothing if not her father's daughter.
"Hope you folks like waffles, cause that's what I've got!" Zack called from somewhere in the kitchen, hissing steam and droning ovens and the like already beginning to feel the room with a warm, cozy feeling.
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Post by Speed & Psych on Nov 9, 2021 4:50:33 GMT
Weston felt as if he had to look away when Zack brought up the incident in which they technically met. "Yeah, that was... not a proud moment of mine. I do not remember anything about it, at least," Weston admitted as he took Zack's hand and shook it. Weston's hand felt much like a human hand, just grey-skinned and with much longer nails.
Zack tried to make a joke about how he had to see things the right way when Speed brought up his helmet. Speed crossed his arms in response. "No, I mean... the visor is purple. Just like... my brother, you know? Was that intentional?" If it was... Speed would have no words to say to this situation. He already knew that Stacy dyed the tips of her hair purple to match Psych, but Zack was doing it too?
Maybe this wanna-be hero had more to him than Speed initially thought...
Speed and Weston followed Zack into the shelter, where he then proceeded to quickly pull the blanket right off of Marigold as she was sleeping, causing the poor Fanbeemon to jolt awake "Wow, dude, you didn't have to yank the blanket off of her like that, a 'mon needs their sleep," Speed said with a slight chuckle.
Marigold was at least quick into adopting her hostess role so soon after being abruptly woken up. She told Weston that she remembered him from when he slammed her into the wall with a vine. "Homeostasis, did I truly do that to you?" Weston asked, causing Speed to pat the poor Wisemon on the shoulder. "Believe me when I say that I do not remember doing that at all..." This time he didn't feel right about shaking Marigold's claw.
Zack called out from the kitchen, stating that he hoped the others liked waffles. "As long as it's food, and a lot of it, I'm gonna like it," Speed responded. "Honestly, my metabolism is weird compared to most Digimon. I can eat like four or five large pizzas with all the toppings ever and still have plenty of room for more."
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Post by supesman on Nov 9, 2021 21:14:25 GMT
Zack shook his head. it seemed like Speed didn't exactly "get it" when Zack tried to dance around the issue of the new purple grit mixed into his visor so he turned, holding the helmet up so it was at about chest height before he actually laid out all of what he had been thinking when making it.
"That's what I mean, Speed. I have to make sure that I'm seeing things the right way. That when I put this helmet on I never let myself forget what went down in my place. Every time I move my head, every time I blink, every time the light shifts I get a little remember that someone else died in my shoes. I won't let that happen again. So this?" He hung the helmet off of two fingers before setting it on the table, near the edge away from where Weston and Speed sat down. "It's a CONSTANT reminder of what's important to me. Maybe the banter and the costume and the silly, cheesy philosophizing makes you think this is all a game to me, Speed. It ISN'T. I know the risks, to myself, to everyone around me and god help me even to the people when I show up too late to do anything about it. And I'm still here, Speed, fighting uphill in your brother's memory the same way I always have. It's all I can do." He said before vanishing into the kitchen, the hissing of stovetops and the steaming of batter being poured into pans drowning out anything, letting his head bob just above the line for the window between kitchen and eating area.
"He...he still cries at night sometimes. The nights he doesn't scream himself awake or bolt up in a cold sweat." Marigold said, sitting across from the seated pair, speaking quietly enough that her father wouldn't hear as she knitted her front legs together on the tabletop in contemplation. "The only way he even knows how to cope is by doing things the same way he always did them. The same way WE always did them." She said, perking up and reaching across the table, offering Weston her leg again. "Saving lives. So get over yourself and shake the hand, Dr. Strange."
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Post by Speed & Psych on Nov 28, 2021 4:50:39 GMT
"He's not dead," Speed almost aggressively said after Zack gave his explanation for his visor. "I... I know he's not. Psych is out there somewhere, I just know it, okay? So don't go around telling lies about him like that." It took all of Speed's concentration to not just break down and cry right about now. "But... the gesture is nice. I'm at least thankful about that. You only knew us as Digimon that opposed you, yet you still grieve for my brother... it's hard for me to put how I'm feeling into words, let's put it at that."
Weston patted Speed's shoulder. "Your brother figured that if anyone was going to be stuck as His slave, then it was going to be him instead of me. I am most thankful of him for that." Yeah, it was because Weston was infected with the virus in the first place that Psych did what he did... a risky play to be sure, but one that yielded the exact results that Psych wanted.
Zack cried at night? And screams himself awake? That made both Speed and Weston feel even more horrible about the situation. "Yeah... same here, honestly. Sometimes my dreams trick me, and I end up dreaming that the whole thing never happened, and Psych was still there for me. That whole damn mission was a mess..." Speed clenched his claws. "I don't know who I hate more; Johan or Grandmaster. I'm not gonna forgive either of them..."
Marigold offered her claw to Weston again, calling him "Dr. Strange" in the process. Weston looked at it for a bit before shaking his hand again. "I appreciate it, but no thank you, Marigold." It wouldn't be pretty if the Fanbeemon kept pushing this subject further...
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Post by supesman on Nov 28, 2021 22:57:57 GMT
Zack's only immediate reaction to Speed's outburst is another slow, sad smile that didn't make his eyes shine the way that always used to. It still looked wrong on Zack's face, a smile that spoke more to sorrow than to joy but he did it anyway for want of knowing what else to do. He did know what he wanted to say however.
"I hope that one day I'll know you were right. Honestly, I do. Stranger things have happened." He says before closing the door to the kitchen behind himself. He didn't contradict Speed, at least not out loud. He didn't want to make a fight, obviously he and Speed had started off on that particular wrong foot one time too many.
Marigold sighs and pulls her hand back, rolling her eyes at Weston before looking away. She wasn't going to fight him on this even if she wanted to because it's not what her father would want her to do. They were all hurting in their own ways, that included her, she just kept telling herself that she had to tamp it down long enough and hard enough to be there when her father needed her.
"He's gonna go down. Hard." She finally said to break the silence. "For my dad's sake and for mine, if we're not there when all of his bullshit grandiosity crumbles around his ears, you're welcome to come over and share the story. Like I said, he'll get what's coming to him, no matter what. You hit the good guys where it hurts like that and the only thing you actually accomplish is putting yourself on a delightful short amount of borrowed time. He doesn't see it yet. he probably WON'T see it until it jumps up and bites him on the ass."
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Post by Speed & Psych on Dec 14, 2021 2:15:47 GMT
"Yeah... I wanna know that I'm right too," Speed said to himself after Zack had left to enter the kitchen. He crossed his arms as he shifted his focus down to the ground beneath him.
None of this was going the way Weston wanted it to go; he brought Speed here to reconcile with Zack and Marigold, and the only thing that was happening was that the situation was getting worse and worse. Not even Marigold's talk about how they were going to get justice was doing anything to lighten the mood.
Grrrrrrrgle
"Hm?" Weston's head perked up at the sudden sound. "What was that?"
"My stomach," Speed admitted as he rubbed his belly. "Sorry about that. Didn't have breakfast yet."
Grrrmmmmble
"Oh dear," Weston said as he grabbed his own belly, a small bit of blush forming on the Wisemon's face. "I believe I am in the same boat as you now, Speed."
"Heheheheh," Speed chuckled, a small smile starting to form on the Speedramon's face. Apparently, this small comedy moment was enough to cheer up the drake at least somewhat. Maybe talking less about Grandmaster and more about actually enjoyable topics would improve his mood even more? "Guess we're all a bit hungry right about now. How 'bout you, Marigold? Those waffles ready yet in there, Zack?"
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Post by supesman on Dec 14, 2021 16:22:35 GMT
Zack kicked open the door to the kitchen carrying three platters balanced along the flesh of his arms. The stacks were piled high with at least a dozen pancakes each and there was more batter where that came from. Evidently the would be superhero is getting better at being prepared for ravenous digimon guests.
"Pancakes for you, pancakes for you, and extra special pancakes for you my little sugar-muffin~" Zack said, bending over and kissing Marigold on the head. She waved him off with the energy of a child getting hugged by their parents at a school function.
"Daaaddd!" She whined at his embarrassment, blush flooding to her cheeks as she waved him off. All was seemingly forgiven when he placed a small jar of honey in front of her. Without a single moment's care she upended the glass mini-jar onto her pancakes, coating them in the thick, golden goo before digging in with her face first.
"Maple syrup, table syrup, golden syrup and then I've got chocolate chips, blueberries, strawberries and sauces of the same..." he said, walking away and coming back with a small box full of possible toppings. Even beyond the ones he listed there were jams and jellies, whipped cream, sprinkles, god knows what else. "Not too shabby if I do say so myself." he rubbed his hand against his shirt, huffing breath onto his knuckles in a gesture of mock pride.
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Post by Speed & Psych on Jan 7, 2022 19:39:44 GMT
With pitch perfect timing, Zack exited the kitchen holding three platters of pancake stacks, each stack having to have at least a dozen pancakes each. He would give the stacks to Speed, Weston and then Marigold, making extra sure to embarrass the poor Fanbeemon as he handed her the pancakes. "Hmhmhmhm," Weston giggled, "thank you very much for the pancakes, Zack."
"Yeah, these look great!" Speed agreed. There was only one thing missing: the syrup! Thankfully Zack provided, with not only the essential syrup but also additional garnishes like chocolate chips, blueberries and strawberries. Weston elected to only put strawberry preserves on his pancakes while Speed took some of everything... okay, a LOT of everything. His plate looked like a right mess with all the stuff on it. They both took a bite of their pancakes...
"Oh wow," Speed said with his mouth full as continued eating, "this is way better than what AEGIS HQ usually has in stock!"
"This breakfast is simply wonderful, Zack," Weston complimented the human as he ate his pancakes in a more dignified manner. "Where did you learn how to cook like this, may I ask? I admit I am not the best at cooking as I more than likely should be..."
"Tell me about it, your fridge is always super empty. Do you ever go grocery shopping, dude?"
"Yes... when I am reminded to," Weston said with a light blush. He decided to change the subject to just about anything else to avoid further embarrassment. "A-Anyways... Zack, you are into these... superheroes, correct? I researched the genre a tad before and noticed that there were plenty who dabble in the art of magic. I am merely wondering if you wanted me to explain a bit about how magic in the Digital World works?"
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Post by supesman on Jan 8, 2022 15:21:41 GMT
Zack happily slumped into the seat he was provided, half melting into it. it seems he had really put a lot of energy into getting the pancakes out not only quickly but perfectly and his energy level had paid the price. Though he did smile genuinely at seeing everyone enjoying his work so openly. He shrugged at the question of his cooking skills, looking over to Weston.
"You know I have a kid right?" He said, jerking a thumb toward Marigold as she began to devour her pancakes, stabbing her leg spikes through chunks of the golden brown stacks there were soaked in all the berry syrups and honey she could get. "If I don't cook for her then we're both going to be living off fast food. Something I refuse for her and would probably kill me before my time. Yknow, if my profession doesn't do that first." He said with a shrug if anything just bringing up the point to cut off Speed who he knew would be thinking something along the same lines, given that it was the crux of just about every major argument the two had ever had about his methods and general lifestyle in the digital world. He lazily rolled his head to consider Weston. "What do you have to speak the words backwards? Remember a rhyme to turn yourself into a big yellow demon?" He said, chuckling as he pushed himself up to his correct posture, not wanting to appear disinterested in Weston's proposal of explanation. "But seriously, is it like the Matrix? Where if you know how to see and manipulate the general code of the Digital World than you can make seemingly "impossible" things happen? Granted, that's a high bar considering the Digital World's basic relationship with cause and effect or basic physics seems shaky at the best of times."
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Post by Speed & Psych on Mar 7, 2022 4:47:21 GMT
"Ah, right, cooking skill is more or less required when you are caring for another," Weston responded, "I live by myself, so my cooking skill was acquired simply because I wanted to learn. However, I still tend to forget to actually purchase ingredients needed for meals... I suppose forgetfulness is one of my main flaws."
"I'm sure one day you'll find a way to remember," Speed said before he took another bite of his pancakes. "You're a smart fella, if anyone could come up with a way to do that, it's you." He noticed Zack's comment about his "profession," but he didn't feel like right now was the best time to bring it up.
Zack joked a bit about how Weston used his magic before legitimately asking how the Wisemon performed it. He asked if it was like "The Matrix," where he could see and manipulate digital code. "That is correct, more or less. There's digital code all around us, not just in the Digital World but the human world as well. I merely learned how to see and change this code to affect things in the world, and the result..." The Wisemon snapped his fingers in his right hand, creating a small ball of fire. "...what you humans view as magic."
"Okay, that's actually pretty cool," Speed said, who had just finished his plate of pancakes. It was obvious that he was going to ask for more here soon. "Are there any limits to it? It sounds pretty over-powered."
"Well, I can't easily affect the data within living beings, at least not without using a bunch of my energy. I can give them new clothes and change their colors without issue, but if I wanted to turn, say, you into an action figure... I could feasibly do it, but it would be problematic for more than one reason."
"Yeah, don't turn me into an action figure. That's some Piedmon shit right there."
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