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Post by ricochet7-LJ on Jun 19, 2022 0:29:08 GMT
"Music also tends to be an expensive hobby for humans what with buying instruments or paying for lessons and all so I can see how such a thing wouldn't be practical for the entirety of a large family like yours." LJ said. "Makes me wonder why parents don't put much thought in kids names. I mean a name is an important part of ones identity after all so one would think that a parent wouldn't have a few ideas for names in mind. Ah well." LJ said ending with a shrug.
"As helpless as digimon babies tend to be at least we can move about ourselves and have the forethought to scramble away from danger. Yet humans don't have that ability till at least being toddlers." LJ said as he turned to Hex and said "I get why you are confused, Hex, since even though not all newborn digimon talk at first they can at least function somewhat independantly on the crude instinctual level."
LJ felt the gentle breeze that was now blowing taking a bit of the edge off the heat but not by much. Then another scent carried on the wind causing LJ to sniff the air before silently indicating Shouta and Hex to follow him as he recognized the scent all too well. It was water. Not a lot but it would be enough to maybe cool down a bit. Soon the group arrived at what appeared to be a shallow tiny clear oasis that was no more than maybe a foot deep or so. Kneeling down LJ put one of his hands in the water feeling the cold liquid in his hand before bringing it up to his neck splashing the water on him using the small amount of water to cool down a bit.
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Post by eyesinthedark on Jun 19, 2022 16:53:34 GMT
"That is a factor as well. While my family is not exactly in financial hardship, we don't have so much disposable income that we can afford to make expensive purchases frivolously. I suppose that's one regard in which I am fortunate to be the eldest, as I have never had to rely on hand-me-downs as my siblings have," Shouta admitted. Even after his mother had resumed working, feeding a family of eight was no small feat and as that left him often watching the younger kids, there was not much he could do on that front beyond doing what he could to keep the household expenses down.
"Human babies sound odd. I have plenty of vague memories of feeling helpless from past lives but I can't imagine being that helpless," Hex mused. All of the past lives that made him up had been spent almost entirely in the Digital World and most had ended in violence. Not having any ability to defend oneself whatsoever was essentially anathema to him.
When LJ paused before signaling them to follow, Shouta was curious but followed along, waving off Hex's questions about the reason for the diversion. It was with great relief that he laid eyes on the small oasis. "This is certainly a welcome find. You clearly have quite a bit of skill in exploring the wild," he complimented LJ as he approached the water. He scooped up some water in his hands and brought it to his face. Hos shirt was already nearly soaked through with sweat, much to his chagrin, so he did not have to worry about trying to keep it dry. "I must admit, such talents are somewhat outside of my own purview. I've spent the entirety of my life in the city and never had much call or opportunity to explore less urban environments."
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Post by ricochet7-LJ on Jun 19, 2022 22:53:43 GMT
"I've learned that being the eldest kid isn't always that easy as well. Younger siblings can be a handful but I have only watched Kshin a few times but he's a pretty good kid. Never watched Lilly yet I heard Kshin babysat her shortly after she reached her in training form of Gigimon so Pops could find Dad when he went missing a while ago." LJ said. "As for hand me downs, at least if well maintained between the siblings it can be a practical way of saving money."
"Yeah. Human babies are a weird concept even for me. Not only do they look like chubbier versions of adults but I think most digimon would be more clueless than humans on what to do if they had to babysit one for even a hour or two. Glad I never took up babysitting as a profession cause I'd be totally lost." LJ said with a nervous chuckle.
LJ smiled while blushing a bit at Shouta's praise of his skill and said "Uh thanks but I think it was mostly good luck that I smelled water nearby since I inherited my sense of smell and hearing from Pops. Everything else was taught to me by my parents since we constantly went randomly from place to place not always sleeping in an inn."
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Post by eyesinthedark on Jun 20, 2022 20:03:28 GMT
"Indeed, being the eldest comes with a great deal of responsibilities but the rewards are worth the extra effort," Shouta said confidently. "As for the hand-me-downs, we always try to keep things in good condition but there's always a certain amount of unavoidable wear and tear. I'm fortunate that Rin, the oldest of my siblings, picked up some skill with a needle and thread and is generally willing to make repairs to any torn clothing as needed but even she can only do so much," he admitted.
As LJ explained how he had found the water and how he had picked up his skills, Shouta nodded approvingly. "Skills picked up through osmosis and experience are just as valuable as though achieved through deliberate training and education, albeit often a touch less consistent. Simply learning to recognize the smell of water is a useful skill, as our present circumstances clearly show," he pointed out, gesturing at the water.
"You must have seen all sorts of places," Hex murmured longingly when LJ mentioned his childhood spent travelling. "I want to see everything in this world that I can, and the Human World too," he said firmly. Shouta pursed his lips thoughtfully at this, considering the situation.
"Well, there is plenty still to be seen back in Shibuya. As for exploring more of this world, I suppose we can arrange for certain trips given the time difference, though hopefully they will not be quite so sudden as this little venture was," he offered.
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Post by ricochet7-LJ on Jun 20, 2022 22:28:41 GMT
"Boy does it ever and while I had a hard time at first with the whole big brother thing, I think I'm definitely getting the hang of it. All I have to do is try to be as good an influence on my younger siblings as possible." LJ said before he continued "At least your sister picked up a knack for sewing though I unfortunately can't say the same for my parents no matter how much I love them. Pops, however, is pretty good at fixing machines which is handy seeing as they have a car and Dad has a bionic arm that needs the occasional maintenance."
"Yeah I guess learning the scent of water real young is very handy. Sure beats frying out here in the desert. I for one am glad there is a bit of a breeze now." LJ said. Then Hex murmured about LJ seeing a lot of places. "Yeah I sure did since I spent my life traveling like my parents. Like them I enjoy adventuring and experiencing new things. I definitely inherited their sense of wonder and curiosity as well as Dad's knack of mischief. I'm not as mischievous as Dad though."
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Post by eyesinthedark on Jun 22, 2022 10:09:53 GMT
"I suppose a certain amount of mechanical expertise would be all but a necessity with a bionic arm to be maintained," Shouta agreed. Necessity was the mother of invention, as the saying went, and while Shouta wasn't sure exactly how common engineers capable of working on such an arm were in the Digital World, it would only make sense for Lothar and Mandrake to learn how to maintain it themselves.
"So what sorts of places have you seen? Were there any really exciting places?" Shouta asked eagerly, flying closer to LJ in his anticipation for the answers.
"Personal space, Hex," Shouta chastised, only for Hex to turn in mid-air and stare at him blankly. Sighing, Shouta chose to elaborate. "It is considered rude to- ah, that is to say, most people want a certain amount of space around themselves to remain empty and they don't want others moving into that space," he said, rephrasing his argument into a form that Hex might find more agreeable. It seemed to have an effect, as Hex floated backwards a short distance so that he was no longer directly in LJ's face.
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Post by ricochet7-LJ on Jun 22, 2022 21:30:30 GMT
"I know many underestimate Pops as a dumb brute simply because he possesses super strength but he often proves them wrong with how cunning he is as a tactician. He is a great mix of brain and brawn. I may not of gotten Pops' strength but I did get more than just magic from Dad since I inherited the ability to manipulate aura but just not at the same level as Pops." LJ said.
LJ shrugged before he said "Well one interesting place I saw was when I got my armor champion form of Loweemon. I was near the ancient ruins when catching notice the ruins of a temple being extracted out of the sand. Lets just say curiosity nearly killed the cat in my case as the place was loaded with traps and I hadn't yet reached this form. I was lucky things worked out in the end even though things could of easily ended not so well." When Shouta mentioned personal space, LJ said "Yeah and there are some people that might not react as well as I did to their personal space being encroached on and if they feel threatened it could be dangerous even if the human or digimon is inherently gentle by nature."
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Post by eyesinthedark on Jun 22, 2022 23:18:23 GMT
"Aura?" Shouta repeated curiously, guessing that that was some aspect of his abilities distinct from his magic. In truth, the entire range of abilities digimon could use was somewhat perplexing to him. They all seemed to casually disregard the laws of physics as he understood them and yet only some were classified as magical in nature while Hex seemed to treat his own abilities as natural extensions of his body, no different than a human's ability to throw a punch.
"Ruins? Traps?" Hex repeated, eyes widening as he made a connection. "So there must have been treasures inside, right? Gold and gems and relics and all sorts of things, right?" he demanded greedily. Shouta's and LJ's comments on personal space did prevent him from flying directly into LJ's face again. LJ's comment seemed to do more to explain why he should be careful about it, the threat of retaliation from an annoyed digimon providing a tangible reason not to do it, but it did also backfire in a way. "But I can tell when people are getting angry enough to be violent. You may have a temper, but I don't think you'd lash out at me that quickly," he pointed out. The problem with using the potential for violence as a discouragement for doing something, it seemed, was that it would cease to be effective in any situation where he didn't see a great possibility of that violence, making him less likely to restrain himself in those situations.
"That's not the point, Hex," Shouta chastised. "Just because irritating somebody doesn't have direct consequences for you doesn't mean it's okay. Avoid upsetting other people is an end in and of itself, with the fact that it facilitates better cooperation a mere added benefit," he lectured. Hex looked distinctly unconvinced by the argument but he did continue to keep a comfortable distance from the other two.
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Post by ricochet7-LJ on Jun 22, 2022 23:42:22 GMT
"Yeah. I know it seems strange but aura seems to have some similarities to Chi from what I can tell and it seems to be a trait that shows up occasionally on Pops' side of the family much like Grandma's super strength." LJ explained as best as he could not knowing how to better explain it. Apparently his parents didn't know much about the phenomenon themselves and, for the most part, just rolled with it.
"Yes there were treasures other than the digimental I acquired but there was also a guardian. When I proved I had no interest in taking the treasure the guardian figured I was definitely worthy of the digimental and teleported me out of the temple before it vanished as if it was never there." LJ said noting how Hex's greed seemed to be shifting forth again. He only sighed showing utmost patience with Hex. "Shouta is right, Hex, regardless of your nature as an empath. That and trying to upset people is not a good way to make or maintain friendships. I have a feeling that you aren't a totally bad digimon Hex as you do seem to care about Shouta and not just yourself. Or is my intuition wrong?"
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Post by eyesinthedark on Jun 24, 2022 19:24:09 GMT
LJ's explanation of aura was less enlightening than Shouta might have hoped but it had been more of an idle curiosity than an important query. He suspected that this aura he used was defined more by the effects it could produce rather than by any intrinsic qualities.
"You...didn't want the treasures? At all?" Hex asked, clearly dumbfounded by LJ's claim. If the Leomon X had claimed he had given up on the treasure because the guardian was too formidable, that would be something Hex could wrap his head around, but to not be interested in the treasure in the first place? Treasure was desirable by its very nature, otherwise it wouldn't be treasure. LJ's next comment was just as confusing for him. "Of course I care about Shouta. He's my tamer," he said as if this was the most obvious thing in the world, silently beginning to wonder if LJ was just touched in the head or something.
"And I appreciate that you make an effort to be considerate towards me," Shouta interjected. "You may not always exactly hit the mark but it is clear you have been attempting to be considerate of me. So why not extend that same courtesy to others?" he asked hopefully.
"Because they're not my tamer," Hex pointed out bluntly, now beginning to worry that whatever was afflicting LJ was spreading to Shouta as well. Could that cactus have been hallucinogenic?
"But they could become friend or allies or colleagues," Shouta continued to try to convince him. "People are more likely to form positive relationships with you if you treat them with a certain amount of respect. It therefore makes sense to treat most everybody with common courtesy until they prove unworthy of it and this social contract will ensure that others treat you with similar courtesy," he entreated the digimon, who did look thoughtful at this, briefly buoying Shouta's hopes that he had gotten through to him.
"So if I'm polite to people... they're more likely to do what I want?" Hex finally asked, dashing Shouta's hopes. The human paused, wondering if he should keep trying to explain the concept or if he should simply give up and encourage Hex to believe that politeness and respect would effectively function as low-grade bribery.
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Post by ricochet7-LJ on Jun 24, 2022 21:19:07 GMT
LJ noticed how dumfounded Hex was by him not wanting treasure and, after thinking on how to approach how best to explain his thoughts, he said "I can see why that could be confusing as there are many that desire wealth. With me however that simply is not the case. I was more excited about just getting to see the treasure with my own eyes than wanting to possess it. Now that I think about things more I would say seeing various curiosities of both worlds with my own eyes is a desire of mine. Not as strong as my enjoyment of karate or training in general but given I love to explore I suppose this desire makes sense. I have all the money I need to live on and I have friends and family so I have everything I need. Not everyone is lucky enough to have that much peace with themselves."
LJ politely listened to both Shouta and Hex as they talked to one another and when Hex asked his final question, LJ said "Hex. Ones allies and friends should not function as low grade bribery. Being polite is one thing but if you don't care about those around you then they won't want to be around you if they learn they are being used. Besides friendships can allow digimon like us to gain strength to protect those we care for."
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Post by eyesinthedark on Jun 25, 2022 11:36:35 GMT
While Hex still seemed skeptical of LJ's words, Shouta chimed in with support. "LJ is correct. While I don't deny that material wealth can be extremely useful and would often make life easier, it should not be an end in and of itself. If LJ has no need for it, then pursuing the continued accumulation of wealth becomes unnecessary or even counter-productive," he explained. Once again, however, Hex seemed less than convinced.
"It's not about need," he argued. It's about want. You had already seen the treasure," he pointed out to LJ. "But if you took it with you you could have seen it whenever you wanted. Wanting to have it less than you wanted to see it in the first place shouldn't matter once you had fulfilled the latter desire already," he reasoned. Satisfaction was not a concept Hex was familiar with. Enough was never enough for him and there was always something more to be had.
LJ's comments on his behavior to others did seem a little more convincing, though he was still visibly confused. "I care about Shouta and I can care about my friends," he insisted. "But I care about other things as well. Lots of other things. If I can get something I want from somebody then of course I'll try to get it. If that means being polite to somebody then I can get what I want and maybe get them to be a friend as well. If it means not being rude then it's just a matter of which I want mor; I can either get the thing I want or I can give that up if I want to keep tying to be their friend more."
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Post by ricochet7-LJ on Jun 25, 2022 12:03:46 GMT
LJ said "I prefer sleeping outside most nights and hunting for my own food spending my money mostly on other essentials like supplies to restock my first aid kit. I do go to the occasional restaraunt or hotel but that is rare. My parents only have more money cause dad uses his magic to entertain others as a source of income but even he isn't really driven by greed."
"As for the treasure, if I tried to take it I would not of been worthy of the digimental that allows me to become Loweemon. The guardian said that the one worthy would not have interest in keeping the treasure to boot. It seemed the temple traps, treasure, and digimental were a series of tests to prove if I was worthy now that I look back on it." LJ said looking puzzled by Hex as the Eyesmon had desires that could just not be satisfied. Or maybe they could and he hadn't found what brought him fullfillment. Hex was sure quite complex indeed. "As for having friends, it does feel good and makes life not only less lonely but if you are friends with a variety of people then you can definitely learn a lot and enjoy yourself spending time with them as well."
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Post by eyesinthedark on Jun 26, 2022 11:15:23 GMT
Hex still wasn't convinced that it was reasonable to not want treasure but he could at least accept that LJ's primary desires lay in less extravagant directions. "I see," he said thoughtfully at last. He was very aware that he would be unlikely to pass any such test and a part of him was already wondering how he might overcome this guardian or others like him if he had such an encounter.
"Frugality is a virtue and it is important to be able to take pleasure in the simpler things in life," Shouta agreed with LJ's comments on his preferred lifestyle, hoping that Hex was listening. As the topic switched to friends, he shifted slightly in discomfort. While he agreed with LJ's words in theory, he was well aware that he was not the most social person by nature and when combined with his many responsibilities, it meant that he had very few close friends. He had a great many acquaintances with whom he kept on good terms but he typically lacked the free time to build up a greater rapport. Plus, he admittedly often found the interests and antics of his peers to be somewhat tiresome. Still, no need to let Hex know all of that.
"Indeed, a close circle of confidants is something to be treasured," he said, catching Hex's attention. "Spending time with trusted friends is a wonderful way to fill your free time with positive, constructive interactions and they can also provide support during harder times," he explained.
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Post by ricochet7-LJ on Jun 26, 2022 11:47:59 GMT
"Don't worry, Hex. All digimon have a wide variety of desires. Do you have any other interests other than gaining things? Maybe that would be a good jumping point to making friends as it is not uncommon for friends to have common interests. You know things like books, movies, games and other hobbies for example. I have met a few digimon with interest in the martial arts as well as a couple humans." LJ said.
"Yeah but I'm not really much of a performer so I became frugal out of habit. Come to think of it I never really had much interest in having lots of money. I guess I am somewhat strange compared to some." LJ said with a chuckle before he noticed that Shouta seemed uncomfortable with something and asked "Hey, Shouta, is something wrong? You're looking kinda uncomfortable." Was the current discussion the cause of Shouta's discomfort? If that was the case then LJ was going to feel very awkward.
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