Step into Grandmother's House

"What have I done," he mumbles. "Okay look. I'll give you the short version now if we can get back to the important subject- the digicode -when I'm done. Someone effeminate exhibits feminine traits. Homosexuals, men in particular, are often called 'gays' and popular culture often portrays us as being effeminate. It's a stereotype, I'm pretty sure you understand those. Being 'on your team' is slang used to mean someone is the same sexuality. The gay movement was..." A tough one.

"Well, humans are irrational. They often hate things that are different, even other humans. We're not always so accepting." His voice was flat, the laughter forgotten. "And like I said, adults aren't allowed to... procreate, I guess, with minors. It's against our law."

"So about that digicode."

"That makes sense. I'll grab some of his other journals from that shelf; there was always some kind of organization. We can settle in and look things over there. It's... yeah, it's complicated." Hard to say which subject he was talking about. He gathered that section of his Grandpa's journals and notes, amounting to a total of about four books, and tucked them into a cardboard box. He was setting these with his other things by the door when Grandma poked her head out of the kitchen, smiling merrily. "Ren, tell Lucas come to dinner. That young boy has a crush," her voice ended in a conspiratorial whisper from a cheshire cat grin.

"...Uh. Yeah, Grandma, I'll let him know. Thanks." He gave her a peck on the cheek as he went by and poked his head through the doorway of the office. "Dinner, Luce'- er, Lucas."

Oh god. He could see the look on Lucemon's face as they sat down. He had no idea what he was doing. He was reaching for the chopsticks, oh no. What did Ren do? What did he say- oh. "He's Italian," he explained, gently taking the chopsticks from Lucemon and positioning them properly in his hand. "He hasn't had time since he got here to learn any Japanese, or essentials like this. Here Lucas, like this." He went through the motions several times, demonstrating for Lucemon how to use the chopsticks, how to hold the bowl.

They sat and ate companionably. 'Lucas' enthusiastically made a mess, and Grandma and Ren chatted a little, meaningless small talk. Eventually, Grandma spoke up. "My Grandson, I can feed you and the little Italian boy and talk about nothing and be a happy woman all night. But you have something on your mind."

Well, there it was. She always had that way. "Grandma, Grandpa left me some things in that chest. They're leading me somewhere, I'm not exactly sure yet. But I've been waiting for this. I'll be out of touch for a while, but I'll come visit whenever I can. This is..." What could he say? How could he tell her?

"It's a once in a lifetime opportunity."

"Young Ren. Go down to the corner and fetch me some milk, will you." Ren was dumbstruck. "Grandma, I-" "Don't backtalk your grandmother. Lucas here can keep Grandma company and have seconds while you get milk before you go."

She was hard to argue with. Ren got up, grabbed his jacket and went to the store for milk.

---

Grandmother turned to Lucemon the moment the door closed behind Ren. "My husband went on a mysterious trip like this once," she said as she placed a fresh bowl in front of Lucemon. "He came back older... but a better man. You're going with him? Tell me you will look after each other. Promise."

Seemingly satisfied with Lucemon's answer, Grandma Campbell busied herself in the kitchen once again, talking while she started packing foodstuffs in containers. "He never said much about it. 'An adventure,' he called it. 'Full of the most amazing things.' He said it was like nowhere he'd ever been before or since. I never questioned it much; that trip healed my husband of many of the wounds he gathered in the War. The ones in his soul."

"He was quieter after, more patient. He always seemed to be waiting for something, and scribbling funny little doodles like in those books you boys grabbed. Honestly Ren reminds me of him then. Or he did. He doesn't seem like he's waiting, not anymore. Must have found what he was looking for," she commented with a significant glance at Lucemon and a twinkle in her eye.

"Good. You're a good boy," she said as she set a bundle of wrapped food containers by the door with the other items Ren had packed. "I made sure to pack an extra tin of cookies," she said to him conspiratorially. "Such a hungry boy! You can come visit for more any time. Ask Ren; Grandma always baking something." She smiled at him and returned to bustling about the kitchen; it seemed to be an area she felt particularly comfortable. There were perhaps a couple minutes of easy silence before the door opened and closed with a gentle thud.

"Grandma, I brought your milk. Ooh, you packed food. Awesome!" He poked his head into the kitchen, eyeing Lucemon with something that may have been suspicion. Like maybe he didn't trust the digimon not to say or do something that would alert or confuse Grandma or embarrass Ren. Yeah, no chance of that. No way. Lucemon would never- okay, the look was probably justified.

"Thank you Ren, such a good boy. You have a very nice friend. Look after him on this trip of yours." Grandma shuffled over and wrapped his arms as tightly as she could manage around her grandson; Ren hugged her back, no trace of self-consciousness on his face as he leaned down to kiss her on the cheek. "I will, Grandma. Promise. He's a good friend. Look after yourself too, okay?"

She promised she would. Then she gave Ren some money, "just in case," and found Grandpa's old military duffel bag to pack everything in. It was bulky, but it got the job done, was water resistant, and should hold up to the challenges of harsh life in the Digital World. Not that she knew that last part. Their goodbye was quick, Grandma insisting Ren promise to be safe and the newly-minted spirit user promising to be "safe as I can." If she noticed the difference, she didn't show it.

Outside the apartment building, Ren shifted the strap of the duffel a little on his shoulder, his expression unusually somber. "Okay. We could use some camping supplies, and I think I promised you ice cream. Anything else?"

"That's because she knows I don't seduce kids. She thinks you think that we- you know what? Never mind. We can get some chopsticks and stuff when we grab the camping gear. The noodles will have to be dehydrated, but they'll be easy enough to cook in the Digital World. Some other dehydrated food wouldn't be a bad idea either..." He hefted the duffel once again, waving at Lucemon to follow along as he set out walking. "I'd like to hear about those symbols you found in my Grandpa's papers. If it's code you can read, it's from the Digital World right?"

"Yeah, candy wouldn't be so bad," he laughed. "But I'm still not going to try and explain the whole of human sexuality to you on the walk back. Some other time, man."

"I do wonder what Grandpa's leading me to," he wondered out loud as they walked. "He wanted me to find the Digital World and the Ocean Spirits, but I wonder if there's more to it. For one, the Hookmon spirit feels... I don't know, not broken exactly. Unfinished. Incomplete? I feel like there's something missing." He motioned for them to turn, taking them towards a street where he knew he'd find a camping goods store. Money wouldn't help much in the Digital World, so Ren figured he might as well exchange it for useful supplies now. They only had to get it to the C0ve after all, and between RaptorSparrowmon and the MiniDutchman, he didn't figure it would be that difficult.

"So what are those notes written in anyway? Pictographs? They look like Space Invaders."