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Post by Leith, Veemon, and Shoutmon on Nov 6, 2018 15:29:07 GMT
Even the enraged red drake stopped in his tracks when a scary digimon like that stepped in and intervened. That Tactimon pretty easily succeeded in stripping Shoutmon's mic from him, and the poor digimon was forced to watch as his precious battlestaff landed just outside the doorway. "You asshole! That thing's expensive, you know!" Of course, now distracted, he had to chase after his precious mic and run straight out the door to do it.
Leith and Flamedramon simultaneously sighed and exchanged looks between each other. "We have to do something about him, don't we?" Leith muttered to the fire digimon, "This can't keep happening."
"Well what can we do?"
"I dunno. Something."
Flamedramon stepped in close to his Tamer and leaned over and downward so he could speak directly into the ear of the metalhead Tamer. "We should leave them alone right now. Everyone needs to cool off."
The young man couldn't argue with that, so to Alan and Levi he called, "We'll be outside. Believe me, we'll make sure he won't give you shit when you come out." On that note, both Flamedramon and Leith exited the bar as well.
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Post by Cross on Nov 7, 2018 19:00:29 GMT
"That would be wise. There are many here that would take such acts as just provocation to eat and delete your companion. I'd rather not see that happen to you." The Doctor warned voice flat as she circled round the bar, Shred shifting to let the small woman past as she dug around behind the counter. Eventually mixing and pouring something together the bright colors swirling in a glass as she moved back towards Alan.
Slowly the Tactimon and Durandamon began to relax with the initial threat removed as the Doctor set the drink mix in front of the struggling boy with a soft clink of glass on wood. "Here." She murmured gesturing to the glass. "It's mostly flavored sugar water and juice, but it will help prevent you from having a blood sugar crash from stress and adrenaline." The Woman explained settling in the chair across from them, the Tactimon and Durandamon moving to flank her.
"You're welcome to stay as long as you need." The Durandamon rumbled out quietly.
"Partners..." Cassandra began trailing off as she felt Cloak's hand settle upon her shoulder in support, the digimon's black gauntlet clad hand nearly dwarfing her smaller delicate collarbone. "Partners aren't perfect. Digimon aren't perfect. They're no different then humans in that respect and you and Levi's bond...it's new. You wear it now like an oversized sweatshirt comfy, but ill-fitting. You'll grow into it though. So long as you remember to communicate and that the two of you are in this together." The Doctor gently advised hoping to pass on a little of her own wisdom to the boy with such a long path ahead of him.
"I'm sorry you were chosen. I don't know why the digivices seem to exclusively favor children and teens." Cas explained voice soft, sympathetic.
"But if I ever find out who's idea it was to do so I will kill them." She assured him her tone going light, but it wasn't a joke. The vicious way the woman's eyes light up like a pair of murderous suns at the prospect of getting her claws into the being that had thought it was a good idea to assign children to fix the problems of their deathtrap of a world made that clear enough.
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Post by Alan Pantell on Nov 8, 2018 2:15:19 GMT
Alan kindly thanked the woman for the mixture, curiously taking a sip. "Ah," it was sweet, alright, but he drank it down, sip by sip. "I really appreciate it. The last time I let my blood sugar get too low, I..." he gave Levi a glance. "...saw a digimon for the first time. Go figure."
Both tamer and partner listened intently to what the Doctor had to say. In truth, her words echoed what they had already suspected to be true, but it was nice to have confirmation from someone whose bonds seemed "advanced," to put it in one word.
When the Doctor expressed her condolences, the pair made eye contact with each other before Levi turned away in shame. Alan got the impression that his partner still couldn't forgive himself. He interjected, "Please, don't feel you have to apologize. I could go on and on about all the reasons I feel this way, but in the end, my point would be this: if someone offered to make it so I was never chosen," he placed a hand on Levi's back to let his partner know that he was thinking about him, "I'd give them a stern 'no' without a second thought."
Clearly, the person he was speaking to had been through some rough times to sincerely apologize for someone being chosen, and so had Leith, for that matter, but regardless, Alan knew he was speaking his honest opinion, and that confidence got through to Levi. "S-same here!" the digimon agreed.
"That aside... does it really mostly favor children and teens? I won't doubt the capabilities of some kids and teens, but nigh exclusively? That's unfair."
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Post by Cross on Nov 8, 2018 2:37:26 GMT
"I know. I wouldn't change it either, but I wish you could have the bond without the danger." The Doctor murmured her voice soft, mournful even as she shook her head. A wry sad smile gracing her lips as Alan questioned why the Digivices chose whom they chose.
"Time moves faster here. I've lived in the digital world...a year, maybe two years now. As a Doctor I see a lot of different people, but...sadly I've only met five humans that age wise would be considered legal adult. One of whom has had a digivice since he was a teen, two others that I believe got theirs near the cusp of adulthood to late teens." Cassandra explained laying out the simple facts.
"Most adult Digivice owners have had their devices for years. Adult chosen are extremely rare. I suspect I was never meant to have a Digivice, but in the digital world sometimes when you want something bad enough..." The Doctor trailed off glancing up at the Tactimon whom stood at her back hand resting on her shoulder and molten gaze centered on Alan and Levi as if daring them and the world at large to tell him he wasn't made for Cassandra.
Leaning against the wall Dagger shifted his own gold eyes glancing between his twin and partner and despite his less clingy manner his gaze was no less sure. "Well sometimes it happens." Cas explained with a shrug.
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Post by Alan Pantell on Nov 8, 2018 6:13:13 GMT
"Yeah, okay, that's pretty messed up," agreed Alan, "but as a newbie, that's all the insightful commentary I have. If I find the mysterious hand of fate before you do, I won't kill them, on the off chance that they're the only one with the ability to make these digivices in the first place, but I'll tell them you're coming for them, and maybe I'll try to convince them to diversify their recruitment efforts, and also to implement a contract of sorts to let people know what they're getting into. Sound good? In theory, I mean." He finished his sugary concoction, and, feeling much better, began to stand up.
"We're gonna leave already?" asked Levi, understandably nervous.
"They said they'd keep Shoutmon under control," assured Alan. "Also, no, we're actually gonna stand in the doorway just to check that Shoutmon has cooled down. Then we'll leave." He turned to the Doctor and her companions. "Thank you so much for all your help!"
"Yeah! I wish I knew how to express my gratitude fully. You did... save my life, after all. Heh heh." With that, Levi began to follow Alan to the exit, waving goodbye. Alan turned around to see if Levi was there, motioning for him to stay put for a little bit. He then took two steps outside, turning to look at the trio that would hopefully be waiting there.
"You guys doing alright...?" he asked, unconsciously raising his hands, presumably to prove that he wasn't armed if they perhaps were not doing alright.
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Post by Leith, Veemon, and Shoutmon on Nov 8, 2018 13:47:24 GMT
Nobody noticed Alan when he first popped his head out. Leith, Flamedramon, and Shoutmon had all retreated a little down the street toward the corner, no doubt too far away for Alan to catch a word but certainly close enough that the initiate Tamer could see them all clearly enough. Maybe it was better that Alan couldn't hear anything from that distance because the words being exchanged were still a little heated. From body language and volume, though, it seemed pretty clear that the situation was indeed deescalating. Shoutmon, instead of riled up, was leaning back against some old, likely empty brick building with his arms crossed but still able to face his partners. Leith had adopted more casual body language with his hand sin his pockets and leaning against the same wall beside the little red digimon while Flamedramon elected to stand up straight across from the group.
They were still talking about someone in the bar, though, as was clear by their occasional pointing or gesturing toward it. At first it looked like there was another argument to crop up, but things settled back down almost as quickly as they flared up with little visible effort on Leith's or Flamedramon's part.
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Post by Cross on Nov 12, 2018 22:08:00 GMT
"I would appreciate that." Cas murmured watching the pair rise to their feet with a soft smile. "I'm sure you two will do great things. Take care of each other." The Doctor ordered before glancing down at the unsure Levi and reaching out a gentle hand to give him a soft pat on the head.
"Just pass the kindness forward one day. That is all I ask. Who knows maybe in the future you'll be saving me." The Woman added with a small smile as she watched the pair leave. The partners lingering unsure in the door to check the state of the Shoutmon's temper outside.
"Stay away from Luminas," Cloak cautioned the Tactimon's low rumble of advice carrying on the still air, "And if you hear of something called the D-reaper, avoid it." The Mega advised giving the two his last parting advice as the little group departed the bar leaving behind the strange woman and her taciturn partners
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Post by Alan Pantell on Nov 12, 2018 23:53:09 GMT
"We'll be sure to spread the love around," affirmed Alan. "We'd be remiss to deny someone else that kindness after what it's done for us."
Levi nodded in agreement. "Yeah!" he said, "and I'll keep this guy out of harm's way! Or at least out of harm! So try not to worry too much!"
"But worry a little! Like, don't assume we're not in danger!"
"What he said!"
With that, the pair began to step out, before hearing the final words of advice.
"Luminas..." repeated Alan, "and something called the 'D-Reaper'... got it. I know I can trust your judgement on this. See you later!"
"Bye!"
The two finally stepped foot out of the bar, Levi walking cautiously behind Alan as they approached the conversing trio, as Levi put in a valiant effort to not appear scared, while deciding it was best to keep his head down, anyway. Alan, meanwhile, was attempting to keep himself looking somewhat confident. In the end, he couldn't bring himself to fully close the last few feet of distance between them before stopping and speaking:
"Hey, we, uh... figured things out, so... how are you guys doing out here?" Alan lightly bit his lip, whispering, "I'm sorry.." He had no idea what he was apologizing for, nor could he explain why he felt so strongly like doing so at that moment.
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Post by Leith, Veemon, and Shoutmon on Nov 13, 2018 0:48:07 GMT
"...but, Leith, she didn't give off that signal a digimon can sense."
"Isn't there something digimon can buy to hide that signal?"
"The shopkeep said it didn't work in the digital world. It's for digimon who want privacy in the human world."
"Yeah, still not sure how I feel about that, by the way. I swear, though, something was wrong with her. How could-" A reasonable person could probably deduce that the subject of the conversation was Cas. Apparently, Leith suspected she was actually a digimon, but Flamedramon wouldn't back him up. He got to argue no further, however, before Levi and Alan walked up. Apparently, the young man thought it appropriate for his first order of business to be, "OK, seriously, knock it off. Here's a trick: always say what you're apologizing for. For one, it makes a better, more sincere apology if you should actually be giving one. If you can't think of what to apologize for, you probably shouldn't be apologizing at all." Leith glanced at Shoutmon as he led the red drake, "Speaking of which..."
Shoutmon glared at Leith first, feeling insulted that the Tamer hammered in the point so hard while feigning tact. Nonetheless, Shoutmon proceeded to step forward, lock eyes with both Alan and Levi in turn... then bowed. "I'm sorry for attacking you while you weren't hurting anybody." It wasn't lost on Leith that Shoutmon chose his words very carefully to absolve himself of guilt for the first hit. Then again, the Tamer couldn't help but agree with that one.
Leith gestured to Flamedramon then, asking him to bend down so he could whisper in the masked drake's ear, "God, I love the way the Japanese apologize." Flamedramon couldn't resist a mischievous smile in agreement.
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Post by Alan Pantell on Nov 13, 2018 1:27:45 GMT
As Leith chewed him out, Alan searched for something to say back, but found nothing. He didn't need to respond. It was good advice, and he was thankful someone had called him out on one of his annoying habits. He remained silent, successfully resisting the familiar urge to apologize for over-apology.
They both watched in mildly stunned silence as Shoutmon provided his example of Leith's point, then immediately provided an almost-simultaneous "apology accepted," loud enough to be discernable. They had already forgiven Shoutmon, but thought it best to stick with standard procedure.
"While we're getting these out of the way..." said Levi, gathering his thoughts, before giving Leith a quick bow. "I'm sorry for kicking you," he said, before turning to Alan, and offering a much deeper bow to him. "And I'm sorry for hitting your leg, and for mocking you, and for kicking you in the stomach, and for talking smack, and for... for... for acting like I didn't care!"
"Um... I accept all of those apologies!"
Alan wasn't sure what to say, but he knew it was best to say something quickly, so that was what he decided upon. Levi picked his head back up afterwards.
"That's all of them, right? Nobody's sure they have any more? We're good? Okay!" Alan took a single, deep breath. In... and out. In truth, he had appreciated the way that Leith clearly communicated exactly what he was asking for in an apology. The way Alan saw it, tact, while useful, could often lead to no more than confusion when used excessively. Leith clearly had his own problems to sort out, but in that aspect, Leith was braver than he.
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Post by Leith, Veemon, and Shoutmon on Nov 13, 2018 1:48:16 GMT
"I'm sorry for finishing off the pizza last night and not getting more."
"You said that was Shoutmon!"
"And for framing Shoutmon."
"I fucking told you!" Flamdramon's little smirk didn't show any sign of repentance. When Leith shoved the blue digimon, he laughed. Then Leith laughed.
"OK. Now are we good?" The young man paused for any more interjections, but he didn't offer one himself, nor did either of his digimon or, presumably, Alan or Levi. "Alright, moving on. Reset. It is..." Leith had gone ahead and invested in an analog watch on his right wrist, seeing as the other kind and his phone were both useless here. Apparently, he didn't like what he saw. "...way too late. Well, guys, you saw the digital world. Congratu-fucking-lations. You can go back the same way you came any time, but I've got an offer for you." Leith looked a bit tentative then, but he managed to get his thought out loud. "Remember my band? Well, we don't have a drummer, but we do have drums. If you've got nowhere else to be, you could come with us to band practice and try us out. Or, I guess you could some some other time if you're busy but interested. I just figure it couldn't hurt to ask, you know?"
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Post by Alan Pantell on Nov 13, 2018 2:15:13 GMT
The newly-reunited human and digimon sighed with relief once more once they were sure that the impromptu confession and apology session had concluded. "Reset." They liked the sound of that. When Leith initially suggested that they go back to the human world, Alan immediately dismissed the possibility in his mind, so he was interested when Leith mentioned an alternative offer: the one he had almost begun to mention back at the music shop.
Alan knew that Leith had been nervous about asking this question the first time he tried, so he made sure to prioritize answering clearly, simply, and respectfully, before saying anything else.
"Sure! I'd love to! We don't have anywhere else to be, and I've been itching to get a chance to prove myself for real. Plus, it means I'll get to see a few more places. So! I'd ask where you hold practices, but the answer probably would mean anything to me until I saw it for myself. More important question: do you remember the way back? I was just mindlessly following a map that no longer seems to be with me, so that's a 'no' on my end."
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