First Case — Remembrance [Ryo|Squire] [Career]

Honestly, he should have probably returned to the golden City by now. His master was probably worried sick. Or at least mildly interested in where he had gone to. Regardless, Squire wasn't all that eager to return and get an earful from the old knight. Even if it was Kyo's fault he was away, he doubted his master would care. 'Why are you friends with kidnapper!' Dukemon would probably ask. 'Well I didn't know she was a kidnapper!' he would probably respond.

And then he would be grounded and delivering mail every day for a month. No, Squire was in no rush to return home. Even if the threat of his master grounding him hadn't been over him, he would probably not have returned. Why? Because he was free for once. He had been sort of forcibly conscripted into Kyo's team, true. But, he was now free to explore the digital world at his own leisure. And he was getting paid for it. Quite literally living the dream.

Except for... a catch.

As it turned out, Kyo was actually a tamer's partner. He should have known; the number of digimon who reached Perfect level on their own was low as it was. He had met Yuu; she was... exceptional for a human, he guessed. A credit to her species. Unfortunately, she wasn't the only human around. 

Squire's upbringing had really not prepared him to deal three humans on a daily basis. Kyo insisted he play nice, so he did his best. The best he could manage was giving them an icy treatment and a silent demeanor. Kyo didn't appreciate how silent he was when two or more humans were within speaking distance, but at least she didn't object to it. The alternate was letting him test his temper against the equally short tempered Musclebound young man of the group.

Not something to look forward to for anyone in the team.

Luckily, today he was feeling rather at peace, no irritation in his mind. Kyo's more annoying antics had turned rather... endearing as of late, for whatever reason, so Squire's irritation and stress seemed to have lowered as a result. Currently, he was waiting for Kyo, laying on a hammock hanging from two somewhat close Coconut trees.

She had gone to get Yuu, who as the leader of the aptly named team P.R.O.F.I.T., was in charge of all the actual work. He didn't envy her position in the least. He was happy where he was. Anyways... Hearing Kyo's happy squeals, he rose his voice, throwing  question.

"We hitting the beach now?" He asked, tilting his head slightly to look in the direction of the cabin. It was still undergoing reparations from its meeting with their latest member.

Of course it wouldn't be an uneventful day, otherwise there wouldn't be a thread to write about. Just after finishing her paperwork, Yuu somewhat surprised to see a gigantic train approaching from the distance. A GranLocomon, huh? Well, she had to admit that Ryo had taste when picking his servants.

"Lookie lookie, Nee-chan!" Kyo stated the obvious rather quickly. "There's a big train coming here! You think it's Ryo-kun? He said he was gonna bring some friends next time he came!"

Once the thing landed near them and her cousin descended, that theory was immediately proven as true. Seemed like the teenager liked to deliver mail in style.

["Sup, fam"] The blonde greeted casually once Ryo exited the place, just as Kyo went to welcome her new friend.

"Hi, mister train! I'm Kyo, the very best digimon in the world! And that's my partner, Yuu! Pleased to meet you!" To say that she was hyper about him was probably the understatement of the year.

Back with Yuu, she took the newly delivered mail and began to skin through it.

["Man, mail surely got fancy recently. Thanks; wonder if any of these are interesting..."]

A sales catalogue, another one... and another one. The cost of the repairs to their shack, some taxes and... oh, this one was interesting! Setting all the previous papers aside, she began to read the one that had the least amount of content. Well, it seemed that they were going to go on an adventure. A profitable adventure.

["Welp, you're gonna quirk an eyebrow at this one at the very least, man. Apparently, I got a telegram from Luminas' government, of all things. We got a case of a SkullSatamon that's been evading the authorities for some time and is currently being fugitive. His current suspected location? Just hear this one; you'll fall on your butt. The abandoned Aestyr. Brings you memories, doesn't it?"]

She hadn't been there in her life, but... Mana's involvement with Vexus had been something serious, at least until Majin's disappearance. And she knew Ryo was a member too.

["So, what do you say? Wanna come with me? I'm more than able to handle this by myself, but maybe you wanna go there too. Also, I'm totally not using your new train to travel."]

After briefing Ryo, she went outside and waved everyone there; Ryu, Kyo, Squire and the train-whose-name-she-didn't-know-yet.

"[Guys, we're leaving as soon as I change clothes. You have that much time to get ready!]"

Kyo seemed to be happier about this than about playing in the beach, strangely enough.

"An adventure? Yaaaaaay!"

Ryouta leaned himself on the wall of the shack lightly, waiting as Yuu reading all that mail. If there's nothing to do, he was going to go back on his delivery job honestly, and say some parting words. He also dislikes that Vmon that exudes aura of irritation at him... like he's faulty for some reason? The hate was completely unjustified in his mind, and honestly he preferred to be silent around him too. Being half dragon is suffering... even if it's just in senses only. He rose an eyebrow though when Yuu started signing about something fun.

"...ha? Luminas?" he asked, wondering just how much authority did his cousin have--but that's probably given because they're both super ultimates. "Sure, whatever rolls with you I guess..." but sputtered when he said something about Vexus. That VEXUS, which he still have the coat somewhere. "...Aestyr? Aestyr of all place? Whoa, someone's going to be so angry... well, whatever. I'll ask you then. Are you asking me this as coworker... or is that an order for snuffing also?" he asked. "...Yeah, make excuse all you want, dickhead, I know you. I bet if I have fancy ride you'd want to hitch a ride even if it was meant for Mana."

He watched the scene outside, where Ilbert seem to be happy at Kyo's introduction. "Pleasure's all mine, Miss Kyo. I've heard many favorable words about you and your partner from the young master. I'm just an old train, Ilbert is my name. I'm eager to travel with you, or actually, to let you on the ride. Please do not hesitate to enter. I have took a liberty to serve you some snacks inside."

Hearing that, Ryouta sighed. "Well looks like you made the old man eager to go already. Just change your clothes inside the train after enjoying the jacuzzi why don't you?" he said with slight sarcasm.

Ryouta exited the shack and pat Ryu's head, who looks happy. "Ilbert, do you know where Aestyr is? My Digivice could tell you where exactly, but..."

"Ohoh, that place, yes? I've marked that."

"Aestyr?" Ryu asked. "That place?"

"Yep, that place... Now, let's go. Seriously, Yuu is such a slavedriver..."

The insides of the GranLocomon were impressive. Much fancier than any Trailmon he had ever taken from Terminus. Then again, GranLocomon were luxury carriers for the rich and powerful; it was no wonder, really. The only question was how in the world a human had come into possession or control of one. Considering what little he knew about how humans obtained 'partners', he didn't want to ask.

(If he had bothered asking, he would have known most of what he had been taught about humans in the golden city was wrong. But that will be for another time.)

Taking a seat by a window, he propped his elbow on the sill, leaning his head on his hand. He had been part of the group for a while now, but being the only lone digimon surrounded by tamers and their partner hadn't helped him settle into the team at all. His upbringing at the golden city didn't help matters either; he certainly didn't go out of his way to speak with any of the humans, except for maybe Yuu.

But again, she was a credit to the human race. She didn't count. 

Unfortunately, his only friend was currently doing what she did best and being a social butterfly, so he was left to his own thoughts, waiting for her to remember he didn't really talk to anyone but her. 

Ah well, at least he got time to think in throughout detail just how his master would punish him when he finally returned.

So far, so good. Ilbert's seemed to be a butler in all every sense of the word too, and soon enough, the group was being offered snacks. What a pleasant way to spend their trip; almost felt like traveling in first class.

Well, she'd have time for that later. She had no idea how much time they had until their arrival to Aestyr, but first things first. Getting on workclothes was a priority. As she got through most of it, however, she heard Ryouta commenting on the fact that couldn't drink because... she was underage, of all things. Yuu'd had to resist guffawing on the spot, and just snickered really obviously.

["Are you for sure, Ryo? Oh man, as if underages drinking on things like sake, which is way worse than beer, wasn't a thing in the real world. Stop behaving like a party pooper and just let me relax a bit, man."]

When she had picked the taste for alcohol? She couldn't really recall that, but guessed that a certain someone had to do with it. That someone, and the phrase 'Nothing like a stiff drink after a gunfight!'.

"No beer? Aw shucks, that's a shame." Kyo seemed to be really disappointed at the lack of the beverage, but at least found solace in the fact that Ilbert had wine. "Well, guess we'll make-do then! Mr. Ilbert, bring some wine, please! Chardonnay if you have it, please~"

Anything fancier than that would either be too soft or too hard on them, so she guessed that setting on that would be for the best.

Yuu, now fully on working clothes, just stared at the service while eating some almonds. Man, this was life.

["So, while we're at it. Have you even been on Aestyr, Ryo?"] She took a sip of her recently served glass. ["I just know it's a magical fortress that floats up high in the sky, but other than that, I'm ignorant about what we'll find inside. Any pointers or anything that we should have in mind while treading in there? Chances are that, if the SkullSatamon is inside, he either knows how the place works or... just got lucky. I'm going to plan for the worst case myself."]

She watched through one of the windows towards the horizon. They'd probably arrive soon. And... better if they were prepared for this.

Kyo, on her stead, was seated across Squire and Ryu in one of the other seats, and was currently pouring them a drink.

"So, do you like flying fortresses? I'm sure it'll be a lot of fun!" It was pretty obvious that she was hype for it. "And what do you think of the wine. Quite good, isn't it? Seems like Ilbert has really good taste!"

Ryouta decided to not care about his cousin. He's the law here, so he guess that getting some Beer is probably ain't going mean any jack s**t. Lucky that Ilbert is still preparing. "Ilbert, give me few minutes... or heck, go on ahead first with low speed."

"What about you, Sir?"

"I'm going to get some beer for this law marshal just in case the Chardonnay is not enough. Get me some chilled sake would you? And some edamame."

While Ryouta's senses somehow enhanced to its utmost, he doesn't deny that Biomerging with Ryu also made his liking to drinking sake increased. He have no idea why, but he also likes the sake that is fruity in taste. Ryu quickly transformed to his Wingdramon form outside, and true enough, Ryouta rides him toward the shop there, and returned right on time for the ride. Ryu returned to his Dracomon form and sit somewhere. Meanwhile, Ryouta put a pack of it beside Yuu, then put another two on the fridge.

"Take it from over there if you need it next time." Yeah, next time, because he know that Yuu going to use Ilbert for more than once transportation.

Ilbert quick to return with a sake cup and a peach sake bottle. It's just 5% in alcohol content, so it's actually less strong than Chardonnay. He poured it to Ryouta's cup until it's to the brim.

"...Well if you have to ask... I haven't been there personally. I was going to meet the leader once, but he was gone... so I'm technically just a strange member that have the coat but haven't met the leader. Mana and Karin was more involved." He sipped his drink, and somehow smiled. "Mmm, delish, thanks, Ilbert."

"My pleasure, young master."

"From what I know from Karin, the fortress was full to the brim with about a thousand or probably more mercenaries. It's complete with defense system that's hard to crack, so... yeah. Anyway, if the members are inactive now, there might be chance that even the defense system is down and the mercenaries vacated the fortress. So it might be... just a past thing glory."

"Dear passengers," Ilbert began. "We'll ascend shortly."

Ryouta watched as the light rails began to materialize to the sky, carrying them higher, toward the floating fortress.

Ryu sipped the chardonnay, finding the fruity taste of the wine to be rather delightful. "Aestyr was supposed to be armed with AA protection though... I mean, last time I heard from Jeanne, it was full of mercenary... like enough to have an army for itself. Then again... the leader was gone. So there might be chance that the fortress will stay inactive... unless somehow the Skull Satamon can hack the system."

Hearing Squire's comment, Ilbert walked up to them and bowed apologetically. "I beg your pardon for the unsuitable pick. Would you perhaps like another drink that's more to your taste?"

"Oh?" Squire turned to face the butler, tilting his head at the offer. "There's no need. I'm not at the golden city, and I don't find the taste disagreeable. But thank you." He replied, nodding politely.

He spent the rest of the journey in silence, keeping mostly to his own thoughts. Only the two humans present chitchatted, though as Squire was not looking in their direction, he could only hear Ryouta's side of the conversation. After some time in the train, he began to feel unrest, wanting to get swiftly to the base. Still being something of a child, he didn't staying still for too long, unless the place he was staying at managed to drag him into a state of sleepiness.

Nice as the train was, it was still no beach; he couldn't stay put for too long.

He excused himself before standing up, beginning to pace around the hall of the wagon. Anything to get his legs moving, really. It was unfortunate, but his favorite method of passing time was currently unavailable to him. He doubted either Ryouta or the GranLocomon would appreciate if he started training in the wagon, after all.

When they arrived, Squire had to actually contain himself from just leaping out of the train.

For the others, the place may have looked pitiful and ravaged by time. For Squire? It was just waiting to be explored thoroughly. As Yuu stepped forward and unceremoniously threw the doors, Squire's core lept in his chest, excitement threatening to burst.

And there was their target, laid out on the floor unconscious before the mission could even really start.

"Son of a gun." Immediately uttered Squire for everyone to hear, his brow twitching slightly.

It's sad really, but that was actually how their mission went. Squire didn't even get to go inside the fortress, because the dumb ass target had gone ahead and gotten his ass kicked by the very first trap.

"I hope we are getting paid enough for this crud." Grumbled Squire as he returned back to the train, already dreading a boring trip back to base. He gave the fortress a forlorn glance, sighing. 

Maybe next time.

---

Stat gains.
Five posts with Kyo [Courage, Hope[Love]]:
Love +1
Courage +2
Hope +2

Ryouta boosts [Courage]
Courage +2

[events]
Chilling at the Beach : Friendship +2
The call of Adventure: +1 Courage
[Exit thread.]