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The Reveal... (Adrian + Leith)
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Post by Adrian Boriker on Sept 14, 2018 3:01:48 GMT
Maaya smacked Leith's Shoutmon a bit. "You should know that it's impolite to talk with your mouth full!"
"Yeah, I hate it when people do that..." Adrian says. "No one wants to see the food you chewed up."
Back with Leith and Adrian's Shoutmon, the latter had noticed the former sniffling. He was crying... he was going to argue back before Leith was clumsy and dropped his phone, right in front of Shoutmon. The red dragon picked it up and looked at the screen: it was on Skye's contact page. He noticed the picture of his sister; she looked nice. That was when Leith truly began to cry at this point. That made Shoutmon think back to what Adrian had talked to him about before...
"My life is in shambles," Adrian had said to the red dragon, back when they first met. "This is the fifteenth house we've ever lived in, and I doubt it's going to be our last. I've had to leave so many friends behind... we keep losing houses, shit just keeps PILING ON TOP OF US... I just can't do it anymore."
"But I'd never leave you," Shoutmon said to his then-new partner. "You don't have to be sad anymore. No matter where you are, or what happens, I want to be there for you. I like you, Adrian. A lot."
"You barely know me. How could you say something like that?"
"Because I know that we're meant to be friends. I know it's cliche, but it's how I feel. I can't stand watching someone be sad. It hurts me greatly. I know you feel the same way..."
Back to the present, Shoutmon looked at Leith, then his phone. "You'll thank me for this later," Shoutmon would say. He then presses the call button, and holds it up to Leith. Shoutmon wasn't going to take no for an answer.
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Post by Leith, Veemon, and Shoutmon on Sept 14, 2018 3:40:28 GMT
"Yeah? You know what I hate?"
"Don't." The death stare Veemon was flashing his counterpart was one he rarely used, but it showed he was in no mood for whatever Shoutmon had in mind. Shoutmon even seemed to submit under it, instead pushing his plate away almost but not quite empty.
"Wait- shit!" Leith yelled that so loudly that Shoutmon and Veemon both perked up and looked straight in the sound's direction. That was the sound he was making as he was trying to fumble with the little device and hit the hangup button before the call could connect, but just as he'd gotten a grip on the phone, the line began to ring. That was when he glared at Shoutmon, Adrian's, and demanded, "What the fuck, dude?"
"Oh, no..." Veemon and Leith's Shoutmon seemed to simultaneously, nonverbally agree that then was the time to rush over to Leith to see just what was happening. "Leith! What's-"
"Hello? Leith? Leith! Are you there?"
The poor young man was frozen like a deer in headlights. He wasn't even holding the phone near his mouth. He was holding out like he was begging someone else to take it from him. He was breathing fast from fright, mouth open like he wanted to speak but had nothing to say.
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Post by Adrian Boriker on Sept 15, 2018 2:28:39 GMT
Maaya sighed and grabbed Leith's Shoutmon's near-empty plate, as well as other empty plates at the table. As she walked by Adrian, she whispered, "I really hope you know what you're getting yourself into."
The truth was Adrian still had no idea, even after many months of exploring and adventuring with Shoutmon.
Speaking of Shoutmon, he was still out there when Leith suddenly yelled out, causing Adrian to perk up as well. He followed Leith's Digimon out into the hallway, where he saw Shoutmon holding a phone out to Leith.
"Shoutmon, what're you-"
"Please don't interfere, Adrian. This is for his own good."
Suddenly, a young woman's voice began to speak out of the phone - Shoutmon managed to put it on speaker. Leith was frozen like he got hit with a Sub-Zero Ice Punch, so Shoutmon decided he would "help" Leith out. He looked at the others, using his eyes to tell them to just go with whatever he was about to do.
And then he spoke.
"He is. He's just too frozen right now to say anything. This is..." He paused to read the caller ID on the phone. "...Skye, right? I'm one of Leith's friends."
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Post by Leith, Veemon, and Shoutmon on Sept 15, 2018 3:23:50 GMT
“Who- who is this? Where’s my brother?” Skye sounded pretty desperate asking that. Was it possible she actually missed Leith? This was something the young man personally doubted; he always thought his sister was practically a stranger in terms of emotional attachment, but there she was crying out for him... and calling him ‘my brother’ as she did.
Leith covered up the sound receptor of the phone with his thumb so that he could scold Shoutmon, “Are you gonna make me fucking do this now? Here in front of everyone?” He hissed that like he was angry, but his voice cracks gave away that actually he was scared.
“Who are you? How do you know my brother?” Skye demanded.
Leith looked to Veemon and Shoutmon as if he’d expected them to offer an escape, but all he got from them was a pair of resigned expressions. Even Leith’s Shoutmon appeared uncharacteristically somber. ‘Ah, God...’ Leith could hardly form complete thoughts. How was he supposed to talk out loud? But it was clear to him he wasn’t being given a choice in the matter. So, after sniffing, wiping his eyes, and wiping his now wet glasses on his shirt (without bothering to put them back on), he took his finger off the receiver and spoke, “I, uh... I’m here. I’m OK. That guy actually- he is, he’s my friend. Listen, don’t tell Mom and Dad I called. I just... I wanted you to know I’m OK.”
“Leith, when are you coming home?” The young Tamer swallowed a lump in his throat, and his mouth began gaping open to breathe because his nose was too stuffed. “Leith!” That was it. He couldn’t take it anymore. The young man snatched his phone back and hung up the call.
“That was dirty, Shoutmon!” Leith growled through tears.
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Post by Adrian Boriker on Sept 15, 2018 3:35:24 GMT
"Well, you sure as hell aren't going to do it in your own time," Shoutmon whispered. "Besides, I thought we'd be out here ALONE." He glared at Adrian and the other Digimon.
After Skye began asking where Leith was, Shoutmon handed Leith the phone so he could talk to her, meaning he didn't really have to "snatch it back." Things didn't end out too well from here, as Leith got pretty pissed at Shoutmon afterwards.
"I'm sorry, but I thought we had a deal," he growled back. "You'd help us explain me to Adrian's parents, and we'd help you with your situation! And look at what I'm doing!"
"Leith, don't be too hard on him," Adrian says, trying to defuse the situation. "You know just as well as I do that he's trying to help. I'M trying to help. You know how fucking crazy this entire situation is, and you're gonna need friends to help you get through it. So you can either calm down, and we can talk about what we're going to do like civil adults... or you can leave, and we'll be out of your life forever if you want."
Adrian seriously hoped he wouldn't pick the latter...
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Post by Leith, Veemon, and Shoutmon on Sept 15, 2018 17:19:08 GMT
"Are you shitting me right now?" Leith demanded angrily in response to Adrian's ultimatum. "That's... seriously?" This was a blow to Leith's ego. So that's how much I mean to you, huh? The young man bared his teeth. "Fine. You're welcome!" Leith pivoted, then, turning completely away from everyone else and stormed toward the front door. He reached it, too, and was about to stick out his right hand for the doorknob when Veemon grabbed him by the wrist using both hands. "Let go."
"You're being completely self-destructive right now!"
"Correct," the young man shook off callously. He then pulled on his own arm again, but that little blue digimon hung on surprisingly tight; he was hardly able to move it. Leith growled and almost reached for the doorknob with his other hand but was promptly restrained the same way Veemon held Leith's arm by his own Shoutmon. "What the fuck, guys?"
"Dude, you know me," Shoutmon began, "I don't wanna tell anyone what to do. But you're bein' a dumbass, and you know it, too."
"Leith, take a breath and think about this." The young man tried to pull on both his arms, but he didn't get either of them free. Clearly, there was only one way out: do as told. So Leith - reluctantly - shut his eyes and made a sincere attempt to breathe in one huge breath followed by a slow exhale. Suddenly... even he realized he was being pretty counterproductive. So he bit his lip, hung his head, then turned around to look at Adrian and Shoutmon.
He spoke more calmly, but a tear in each eye was still struggling to fall. "I tried my hardest to help you on your own terms. I deserve the same," he scolded them.
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Post by Adrian Boriker on Sept 15, 2018 17:26:24 GMT
Adrian closed his eyes and sighed when Leith made his decision. He simply didn't want Adrian's help, and Adrian knew that their relationship would just get worse if he kept pushing. So when Leith turned to leave, he just stood there, wondering if it could've gone better...
...but then suddenly, he heard Leith say to let go. Adrian looked up to see both of the metalhead's Digimon holding him back. It seemed like they were on his side... and they wanted to help Leith as well.
Thankfully, they convinced him to see reason. Leith turned around and said that he wanted help on his own terms, like Adrian had got before.
"You got it," Adrian says, extending a hand out towards Leith to shake his. "We're gonna see you through this, every step of the way."
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Post by Leith, Veemon, and Shoutmon on Sept 17, 2018 18:52:18 GMT
At first Leith just looked to the extended hand like an alien appendage. This wasn't because the young man wanted to reject it but because he could never be sure just how he should approach it, what sort of awkward new handshake the other person has waiting for him. So, when Leith grasped Adrian's hand, he prayed this would be a simple, business-like handshake even if its significance was far from that. Otherwise, Leith would just look extremely awkward as he failed to match Adrian's intention. "Good. Because we had a deal." Leith ended that with a smirk.
Then he got down to business. "My terms, then. Well, for starters, I let you have your show. This is my show now. That means you follow my lead and kindly refrain from calling my sister for me." Each of Leith's hands reached to grasp the opposite forearm then. This didn't look so much like crossing his arms as giving himself a hug. "This is something that has to be handled in person; a phone call is not going to fix this." Specifically to Adrian and Shoutmon, he then warned, "You guys should know that my dad curses and shouts when he's really pissed, and he's really pissed. He's also gonna try and kick you out, but don't leave under any circumstances. I..." Leith gulped. "I'm gonna freeze like a deer in headlights if I'm alone."
"You won't be alone," Veemon reassured Leith as he took his Tamer's wrist again. This time it was a show of camaraderie, not a restraint. The blue digimon then looked to his twin like he expected some kind of additional show of support. Unfortunately, this only made Leith's Shoutmon look more and more annoyed until he blurted something out.
"Oh, come on! I'm his partner, too! Shouldn't it be implied I'm gonna help if I can? Why do I gotta say it?" Leith had to chuckle at this, as it was both humorous and close enough to what Veemon was probably looking for.
"You kinda just did. But, uh..." Leith awkwardly glanced in the direction of the dining room then. "Should- should we sit back down? I feel like it's gonna be super awkward if we do after this, but it'll be just as bad if we suddenly leave."
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Post by Adrian Boriker on Sept 17, 2018 21:54:57 GMT
Luckily a business-like shake was what Adrian was going for as well, so Leith didn't look awkward while doing it. "Yes we did," Adrian replied to Leith's comment.
Now was the time for Leith's game plan to be explained. Leith mentioned his father getting really cursey and pissy when he was angry, which he definitely is right now. On one hand, Adrian's dad was like that as well, so he knew how to handle it. On the other hand however, Adrian's dad was like that as well, so he was a bit hesitant on it since only his father was able to make Adrian cry.
But Leith asked for him not to leave, even if Adrian was kicked out. He took a deep breath and responded: "Sure, no problem."
Leith then brought up a good point: should they stay for dinner? Well, Adrian thought that now was better than later since his sister WAS already called. "Don't worry about them, okay? You guys head off, I'll catch up." Adrian would then go back to the dining room to explain what was going on.
"Well, come on, Leith, let's go," Shoutmon says, heading out the door. "And don't worry, I'm a master at stealth. After all, I've lived here for five months without being caught!"
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Post by Leith, Veemon, and Shoutmon on Sept 19, 2018 1:05:20 GMT
"'Master of stealth?'" Leith had to scoff. "You sound like me in my online gaming days. I'd say that five seconds before setting off the alarm, not to mention the reason we met is because I marked you two as Tamer and partner." After his little tease, then, he said, "I'm just messing around, though. Let's go. Guys, that means-"
"Yeah, yeah, we know."
"We understand."
"Right. Digitize." On the command, Leith held out his digivice. Then, Veemon and Shoutmon both started to become fuzzy, pixelated versions of themselves that became more and more fuzzy until they became pure light, or so it looked to the naked eye. Then they were sucked into the digivice like Veemon had been many times before.
"Leith. Let me handle this." Veemon requested from inside, prompting Leith to look at him curiously. "I should apologize for what happened."
"I... don't agree with that, the part about apologizing. But any reason to not go first wakes for me." To Adrian's Shoutmon,
he then gestured for him to follow. How convenient that Leith actually lived a couple neighborhoods over, close enough he was able to walk himself. Walking back, then, was no issue.
That led the party to about the cleanest, most stereotypical suburban neighborhood to have ever existed. One might call it a stereotypical 'white' neighborhood if it were in the USA. Leith's place was but another white-picket-fence, cookie cutter sort of house on the block. Leith knew that by now his folks would be home from work, but while Skye actually had a social life, she was probably home after the call she got, bright as she was. As Leith stood on the welcome mat, though, he sure didn't feel very welcome. That was probably why he hesitated to knock.
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Post by Adrian Boriker on Sept 19, 2018 1:34:33 GMT
"Hardy har har," Shoutmon sarcastically stated to Leith as he rolled his eyes. "Well, there's not going to be an alarm, and no one's gonna know I'm there." We would then hop right up to Adrian's rooftop, and would be following the group from rooftop to rooftop. Lets him practice his jumping skills, since he jumps a lot in fights.
As Adrian finished explaining the situation to his parents, he would then run out the door and catch up to Leith, making him not the only human in the group heading to the house.
And it turns out, they really weren't that far away from Leith's house at all. It seemed pretty generic as far as houses go, but that was alright. It still seemed like a nice place to live... if his parents were more accepting. Shoutmon jumped off of Leith's roof and joined the group as Leith hesitated to knock.
"I've got your back, okay Leith?" Adrian reassures Leith.
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Post by Leith, Veemon, and Shoutmon on Sept 19, 2018 2:49:39 GMT
"Right... you got my back." Leith almost knocked on the door, but just before his fist hit it he thought out loud, "Wait a second. This is my goddamn house." So instead he more brazenly opened the door. "Come on in, guys. Veemon, Shoutmon, realize." The two twin digimon materialized on the spot as Leith closed the door behind himself.
Apparently, Leith didn't even have to call anybody; the sound of the door opening was enough to summon two other people. One was a fairly short, fairly portly 50-something woman who looked like she was seeing a ghost who came from the living room. The other one was about an average-height man of similar age from upstairs. One clear difference between the two was that while Mrs. Crowther just looked stunned while Mr. Crowther just looked stern. "Well you came back quick!" It sounded like Mr. Crowther was mocking him.
"I've been gone for like five days, actually. I'd explain how, but are you actually willing to listen this time?" Leith scowled. "Adrian, Shoutmon, that's Mom and Dad. Mom, Dad, Adrian and Shoutmon."
"What are you doing bringing another one in here?" Leith's father demanded.
"What'd you call me?" Shoutmon made Leith's father step back but didn't change his demeanor.
"Yeah, not sure why I thought this was a good idea."
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Post by Adrian Boriker on Sept 19, 2018 2:54:54 GMT
Oh god, that man looks scary... Adrian thought as he and Shoutmon had entered the house. This had to have been Leith's father, and when they entered he was NOT nice at all. He was actually MOCKING Leith for coming back, it seemed. Adrian never saw this much hatred in his own household, even when his mom and dad would fight.
"Er... hello there," Adrian spoke in English, greeting the Crowthers. "My name is Adrian Boriker, and I'm a friend of Leith's. In fact, my family lives just a couple of neighborhoods away. And as you can see, I have one of these creatures as well."
"Call me Shoutmon," Shoutmon greets them with a cheery attitude. "I can get a bit hot-headed, but I'm WAY more mature than THAT one over there." He would then refer to Leith's Shoutmon.
"Look, we're here because we think you should give Leith another chance..."
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Post by Leith, Veemon, and Shoutmon on Sept 19, 2018 3:24:21 GMT
"Ron! Why?" At least somebody else thought Mr. Crowther's behavior was repugnant; his mother even called him out on it.
Ron Crowther showed no sign of remorse and didn't even acknowledge it. "Why what?"
"Why would you just- just come out swinging like that?"
"I'm glad nothing changed, at least."
Ron pointed at Leith. "I am in no mood for your-"
"Ron!"
"Please." Apparently Veemon was taking charge, seeing as he stepped forward and held a hand out to Leith. This was a signal to stop talking. It was probably a good decision; Leith was looking pretty confrontational himself. Most other days the young man would probably cringe and submit when his father got angry, but it seemed more recently he was slowly learning some assertiveness. But Veemon wisely deduced it wasn't the time. "I don't want any trouble, not for anybody! But I lied and took food and lived in your home without your permission. Now it's tearing apart your family, and I never wanted that. No matter my reasons, those things were wrong. I'm very sorry." Veemon sank to his knees and hung his head, then, something Leith recognized as an extremely formal show of shame and remorse in Japanese culture. This was an odd choice, the young man thought, given that neither his parents nor Veemon really were Japanese.
Still, gotta admit: the Japanese know how to apologize.
Neither Leith's mother nor father seemed very sure how to react to this unexpected development. Before either of them could work it out, though, footstepts drew their attention to the side from which an (admittedly very pretty) 16-year-old girl shot out and cried, "Leith!" upon sight of her brother. She almost ran straight to wrap her arms around him but thought better of it in time; Leith wasn't a fan of touches beyond the hands, and she knew it.
"Skye, hey." Leith was glum greeting her but less confrontational; she was the one he still liked.
"Look, you two-" Ron had taken control again as he addressed Adrian and Shoutmon. "Adrian is it? Please excuse us. This is a family-only matter." Even though he was still stern, he was at least civil to them.
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Post by Adrian Boriker on Sept 19, 2018 3:31:36 GMT
Oh god, this was awkward. Adrian thought it was bad enough being in the middle of his own family arguments, but this family was even worse than his own! At least it was contained to Leith's father, Ron, as even his mother was calling him out on being absolutely rude.
Thankfully however, Veemon decided to step up. He admitted that he had been lying to Leith's parents, living in secret, stealing food from them and all of that, and that he was very sorry about all of it. Adrian cracked a small smile after seeing that from Veemon... he was just glad things didn't evolve into just loads more yelling.
Suddenly without any warning, a sixteen year old girl came running out. This must be Skye, Adrian thought. Must be nice having a little sister...
However, Ron would then turn to Adrian and ask him and Shoutmon to leave, saying it was a family matter. Adrian didn't know what to say... things were calm now, but Adrian promised Leith he wouldn't leave. And the yelling has just stopped, so he didn't want to say no and have it all start up again. Before answering, Adrian would look at Leith to see what he thought Adrian should do.
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