Of Last Names, Among Other Things [Asher]

    This was probably the face-off of the year. The two girls throwing passive-aggressive insults at each other would probably end up with more rating than the average MTV gossip program, and by a large margin! The worst part? None of them seemed to be willing to give up. Only the timely return of Asher could stop this conflict from escalating more and more. In a sense, it also meant that the girls were very much alike, and that they would probably be friends if their circumstances had been different.

    But that wasn't the case. And at least for now, the two were bitter enemies. "I was never given the opportunity to prove myself. From the first second, the only thing you've done was being actively hostile to me. But that's okay, you know?" She sighed after that statement. The girl was used to hardships, and this would be no exception. "If you want to think I'm some kind of evil bitch who wants to milk your brother for all what he is worth, you're on your right to think that; I won't stop you. I just hope you have the maturity to apologize once you're proven wrong, though. That's all I'm gonna ask for."

    Chips were on the table, and all bets were off! Should Amy feel bad, considering that this bet was kind of rigged? Not at all, considering how Pip had been the antithesis of nice. And now, she had one extra thing to look forward to! An eventual apology; that'd be golden.

    Right now, the brunette was on the offensive. For now, it seemed that the redhead had been thrown off after she recounted how much time they had been officially dating. Would it be even more awkward if she said that just today she had decided to formalize the whole deal? Probably, but she wasn't going to go that far. "Yup. Just a month. Guess it means I'm doing a good job at making him happy. Who could've guessed? It could be that maybe I'm worth something!" Her tone could drip with sarcasm as well. "There's a very clear difference between witnessing and living your own relationship. But I can't hope for you to understand that, can I? You're just a kid. It'd be like teaching a fish how to fly."

    At least, everything had ended and everyone had settled on a neat pile that was supported solely by Asher. Comfy! "I'll trust on you knowing how to deal with an angry sister. Mine were all too weird, so I was never good at dealing with them; most of the time, they didn't even take me seriously because they were super old in comparison. But that's alright, I guess."

    But, at least in one thing, the redhead was right. "Yeah. We're intense, smart, and pretty, even though I'm prettier than her by a fair bit." At least that comment was muttered as a joke. "Moody teenager phase, huh? I had forgotten that was a thing. I guess that's possible, even though I'd have wished for her to go a little easier on me. That might've been a little too intense, even for me."

    Whiskers, on the other hand, was the silver lining of this whole situation. If anything, this visit had been worth it solely to meet her! "Yup! At least until she mellows down, I'd have preferred for you to be Asher's little sister, rather than Pip." Things would've gone very differently if it had been a pleasant human and an angry cat! Mostly because cats were easier to control than sisters.

    Not to say that there's also the fact that they mutually liked each other, going as far as to say that Asher had to 'keep' Amy! His reaction was nothing short of absolutely cute, going as far as to prompt a genuine smile from the brunette. "Does that mean you don't wanna keep me? Aww, that's such a disappointment." She remarked, her disposition improving enough for her to tease him some. "I wouldn't mind hanging out at your place more frequently, honestly. As long as I don't have to study or make sure that Ooi isn't gonna die from loneliness, I would really like that. And it seems like Whiskers would too! I can even bring some tuna cans with me each time. Wouldn't that be fun?"

    Budding friendship aside, it was rather interesting how even in the Digital World, the two humans' paths managed to cross. "Yup, it would be fun. In the sense that I'd like to see you try; the situation would be hilarious! Wonder how my girls will take it when I tell them. 'Yup, my boyfriend is now in charge of patrolling the Dark Area. Convenient, huh?'. I can imagine that at least a duo of blondes is gonna be amused at that."

    Or commend her seductress' skills! In any case, their relationship would be mostly good, she thought. At least as long as Asher didn't decide to tease her about every thing ever, like he was doing at the moment. "You really love to tease me, don't you? You know how this works; last time you teased me, you ended up almost choking on a drink. I'd advise against it, for your health!" Now it was her turn to giggle at the remark. Truth was that the brunette really enjoyed the dynamic between the two. It felt so relaxing and natural, that she wouldn't really have it any other way. "You can come to visit the construction side whenever you want; it's not like it's a big deal, you know? I'd rather have you see the thing once it's finished, but I also wouldn't mind you helping with setting the whole thing up! I'm in no position to reject anyone who wants to provide a helping hand, to be honest. Did you, of all people, need a formal invitation, anyway? I thought you'd just barge in or something."

    Definitely, that was a very Asher-thing to do. An approving hum followed the comments regarding her spirits. Chances were that this was the tip of the iceberg, but... maybe she would get to the bottom of that matter. Or if Asher asked about it, who knew.

    Now, they were well on their way to exchange questions and answers! Or at least agreeing to. "I'd rather not be considered an interrogator ever again. I prefer when a conversation is two-sided, and only one half showing any kind of interest in the other party is mind-numbingly boring, if that wasn't obvious by now. In a sense, I think that not reciprocating a person's interest is... borderline offensive. But that's the usual me, exaggerating things and stuff."

    First question. Names! That one was fairly easy; even if such a simple answer prompted a smile from Amy. "I like your name. It sounds like somebody strong and dependable, even if I don't really believe in what a name means." And after a pause, she'd reply with her own. "Amelie Saboro. No middle name over here! I'm probably repeating myself, but I tend to not like disclosing my last name because... I mostly feel I am first, and how my family might affect my standing or how I might affect theirs is secondary. Strange, I know. But that's how I feel!"

    Maybe she had jumped on the gun too soon? Was it really that unexpected, considering how Amelie and Piper had been at each other's throat moments ago? She kinda had to wonder, even if... he still answered the question, even if it was a heavily condensed version of it. Amy nodded, thoughtful for a second. "It's a pretty interesting story, even though... I wouldn't mind hearing the entirety of it, if you want to retell it. I'd be thankful about for that."

    Truth was that there was still a certain vagueness in Asher's words, and if the brunette was something, that was incisive. How did Piper's presence facilitate that break-up? Why Asher's previous girlfriend was such a lousy person? And most importantly, why did he put up with her, if she was only interested in money? Those were among the things she wanted to find out.

    To say the least, Asher's question was interesting, even if a bit vague! "Well, I hope that you don't mind digimon-related stuff, even if not quite the Digimon deal! Because I haven't told this one to anyone, even though I can imagine that at least some of my acquaintances might've inferred about it while it was an issue. So..." After a soft exhalation, she began. "Remember that day when you helped me find my first spirit? Well, things got a bit dicey after that. I began to wake up at random places in the Digital World, and my task for the day was just to find the way back to Terminus, and then return home. I began having blackouts, and suddenly forgetting what I had done for a good deal of my day. Honestly? I thought I was going crazy."

    And that wasn't even everything there was to it! "I began to see things and hear voices, and I was unsure about whether they were real or just hallucinations. I felt like I had lost control of my life for reasons I couldn't really understand. They turned worse as soon as my second spirit pretty much screamed in my mind to go and find it. I became desperate, until... one day, everything stopped, more or less around the time I found my third spirit. The voices, the blackouts, the hallucinations. It was almost as if they had never existed in first place. To this day, I can't explain what had caused all those things, or what had stopped them, I just can say that I'm very thankful about it, even though... I'm not sure if that's the end. It just sounds too good to be true, don't you think?"

    Amy wasn't the type to believe in fairy tales, but she didn't know how to prepare, in case something like that began happening again either. "Everyone thinks I'm strong and dependable... that I honestly don't know how they would react if they knew that. Anyway, that's enough from me. If expanding on your previous tale doesn't count as a new question... do your spirits talk to you? There are so few spirit users that I'm not sure if that's supposed to be normal behavior or something that should be concerning. If they talk to you, are they nice digimons, or..?"

    A purposefully exaggerated shrug was Amelie's response to Piper's counterattack. It was obvious that she couldn't care less about betting on the outcome. To her, what would happen eventually was pretty obvious; the only question that really remained was whether the redhead would be mature enough to apologize for mistreating her, or would just insist on being a brat. And, honestly? That would just prove a point. It was more than established that the brunette didn't give a lot of value to any of Pip's statements. Did they anger her? For sure, but it wasn't like that anger went farther than bickering to prove that she wasn't some kind of doormat the girl that could be freely insulted and stepped on.

    Her desire to be liked by her boyfriend's family was high, but it wasn't like she could merely part ways with her sense of self-worth to accomplish that. It just wouldn't fly; that wasn't a sacrifice she was willing to make. To say the least, it didn't matter who Piper was. If she was pretending to trample over Amy's self-esteem, the latter would defend it with tooth and nail.

    However, the brunette couldn't deny that the last comment had thrown her off; at least at first, she seemed visibly confused, even though her knee-jerk reaction was rather obvious. "Asher isn't a pushover." Had that hit a nerve? That phrase was said in a low tone, through gritted teeth. "I have no idea about what kind of relationship you two have, but I'm not gonna have you casually insult him while he's not present. Save it."

    Sister or no sister, she wasn't allowing anyone to disrespect her boyfriend. Not as long as she had a say about it. After taking a moment and sighing, her tone returned to a relative semblance of normalcy. "It's not like I'm trying to prove myself because I care about your approval, or anything of the sort; especially not if your default personality is gonna be 'insufferable brat', you know? I just thought that things would be nicer if we got along well, especially for your brother. But, since it seems that's not gonna happen... I guess I'll leave to him whether it's wise or not to keep on inviting me, as you like to call it. Time will tell who gives up first."

    At least on that regard, Amelie had a clear advantage over Piper; she wasn't a moody teenager that could grow angry about the slightest thing. Sure, the brunette could be poked in the correct places and that would no doubt elicit a negative reaction from her, but that pretty much applied to every human being ever. It wasn't like she was a saint or something!

    It was a good thing that had finished, and that a way less tense situation had ensued after those stressful moments. Right now, having to soldier through an irrational younger sister almost felt worth it. Honestly, she could get used to cuddling like this really quickly! "Do I really have to answer that? I thought it was obvious enough!" A small bout of giggling punctuated that sentence. Just like Amy had said before, spending more time with Asher was something she would no doubt enjoy, even if it were something along the lines remaining at his place, doing nothing. Like right now!

    As soft as those were, Amy had come to enjoy Asher's gentle caresses. They were warm and delicate, but most importantly, they made her feel special; to deserve those gestures. With any luck, Whiskers would forgive her for what she was about to do! With a sudden movement, the teenager turned around, her face now buried in Asher's lap. Her arms? Those were extending to envelop the redhead on a tender hug. Why had she done that? She just felt like it.

    "I would like that, yeah." It took her a second to register how her voice was obviously muffled, but she didn't want to undo the gesture so soon! Maybe if she just turned a bit? That'd probably work! "At least for now, we could come here after you pick me up from uni. Once exam period begins, though... yeah, that'll be a bit harder. Hope you don't mind if I stop existing for two weeks or so at a time!"

    From her newfound posture, it was somewhat hard to do any complex gestures. Otherwise, the brunette might've just shrugged. "I don't really mind dealing with little Pip. Even if it takes literal millennia, I'll make sure she warms up to me. Right now, I think she's underestimating how stubborn I can be! She doesn't know she's dealing with the girl who was willing to keep on messaging you even after months of you just not wanting to hang out. Or, worst case, we see each other and decide we wanna bicker about whatever for an indefinite amount of time. There are few things as cathartic as that, I feel."

    At least, Amy already had one ally. One of dubious significance when it came to interactions with humans who weren't aware of the Digital World, but it wasn't like she was in a position to complain! "You can count on it. I wonder if there are any can openers that can be operated by cats, though. Maybe one of those that are mostly automatic? You just gotta plug them on top of the can and then push a button. Would you like one of those, Whiskers?"

    Sure, chances are that a cat would still be unable to use those, given they lacked thumbs but... at least it would be easier than usual, anyway? Who knows!

    What she knew, however, was that the Council was filled with one too many colorful personalities. Heck, Amelie herself almost seemed like a normal person when compared to her fellow teammates! Keyword being almost, of course. "Honestly?" She made a small pause. Was the truth that concerning? "It wouldn't surprise me if they tried. It wouldn't surprise me if pretty much anyone else tried, either. They are an amazing group, and they all mean well, but... sometimes, they're a bit over-the-top." As if she wasn't! It was almost as if she had hand-picked the whole group.

    "I can say that most of them really enjoy good love stories, though, even if they might be somewhat naïve about it. But that's kinda expected, in a sense. It's a group comprised mostly by human girls, and all of them except two are younger than me, so..." So she was a bad influence, probably. "But I'm sure they'll like you. I hope you don't try to woo them too much, or I might get jealous!"

    Was that a mean comment, considering that the number of single ladies in the team was... relatively low? And that everyone setting their eyes on Evie ended up disappearing, anyway. Sure, Asher would probably know she was joking!

    Speaking of those! While lobster jokes were definitely forbidden, that didn't mean all the other jokes were acceptable! "Yes, you are banned from saying those. And you can technically say all the others, but doing so would be at your own risk! You really didn't think you had free reign to joke at my expense, right? Payback will be lurking around every corner, so you better be afraid!"

    Or not. Truth was that Amy had the potential to be as harmful as a bad rash at most, and that was when she tried way too hard. Quite different from Whiskers, who just wanted to be feed at the moment! Yet, in a sense, that was adorable all on its own. Had Amy been on her previous position, she probably would've patted the cat some more. Maybe settle for a middle point? Hugging like that would be awkward, though. Decisions, decisions...

    Asher's considerate facet, on the other hand, was an utter rarity to behold. So much it figuratively threw Amy off-balance. "It would be bad." She conceded. "If you needed an invitation, anyway. Just because it's being built by an all-girls-club, it doesn't mean that close friends and significant others aren't free to visit if they want, you know? 'My home's your home', and all that jazz; you just gotta be careful about not breaking anything, and about a couple of girls that might be too smart for their own good."

    What would be the best moment for him to visit, though? That was a good question; for the first time since this gathering started, pink began to flush the brunette's cheeks. "I just..." She sighed. "I just don't want for you to be disappointed at it. But if you wanna visit before, that's okay! I can only hope you won't be too harsh with me."

    In a sense, it was a good thing that Piper didn't know about the Digital World; hitting one of Amy's nerves wasn't particularly easy, but the city? That could be considered her weak spot, and that was probably an understatement! Considering the amount of time, effort and dedication that had been poured in its construction, it was more or less expected for her to see it as a somewhat sensitive topic. Especially when, despite her best efforts, there was always a new problem or something that needed to be solved every day. But hey! Those were perks of trying to build in the Dark Area, of all places; she knew more than well that wasn't going to be a walk in the park.

    Having a two-sided conversation like normal people was definitely something Amelie would going to appreciate, especially when it came to her boyfriend. Repeating the same situation that moments ago would be no less than mortifying, in all honesty! For now, full names had been exchanged without that much of an issue. That was good! Especially when coupled with the fact that Asher didn't seem to mind her being a bit irrational in regards to her last name. An expression of individuality, her being plain dumb, or maybe something else? Hard to guess!

    Topics moved on, and soon, Amy found herself in the receiving end of what sounded like a TV drama, except this one was real. It'd take her turning some more, but at least her hand could be raised without ending up in an awkward position! Cuddling comfortably could be somewhat hard, at times! After setting on her new position, the brunette found herself growing increasingly alarmed at the direness of what had happened. "Wait, wait, wait." She felt like she needed to stop right there. "You mean that your ex, a seventeen-year-old girl, was literally being violent with a kid? Oh, God."

    It took her some time to process that event. One thing was for sure, though; Amy's expression was doing a pretty good job at showing both concern and indignation at the same time. "That's awful. Poor Pip..." Was she really feeling sympathy for the person who had sworn to wage war against her? Maybe, but the situation on itself sounded horrible, and definitely something she wouldn't wish to anyone. "I think you did the right thing. I would have done the same if I were you, except that I would have probably ended the relationship way before. Why did you deal with that girl, anyway? It sounds like she wasn't... a positive influence in your life."

    Yet, on the other hand... that tale was also helping her to piece the puzzle, bit by bit. "Guess it's also her fault that you're not supposed to touch girls as well, and why you were afraid of commitment? That girl really pulled a number on you. I'd really tell her one or two things if we crossed paths." Just polite words, really! After all, Amy was a very well-behaved girl, and expletives were completely out of her vocabulary. Right?

    Alarming tales seemed to be the name of the game today, at least. Could it be that she was paranoid, and just like Asher said, the worst had already passed? Somehow... she really wanted to believe that. For a second, she squeezed the redhead's hand. "I hope you're right. I really don't want to go back to that phase if I can avoid it." She took a moment to think about the next question, then tried to recall where her 'sudden awakenings' had left her. "Let me see... three times, it was near a Dark Spire; the Tundra, Server Woods and the Valley of Dragons. Other than that, one time in Mainframe Hills, another time at Server Woods; I'm aware there were other instances, but I can't really... remember where I was. It feels so hazy, but I remember something akin to ruined buildings, so maybe that place near the Desert, or Old Terminus? I can't really say for certain, or even know if those images are real or not. So... I guess there's a pattern of sorts? Even if I'm not sure if said pattern can count as a clue or not."

    Spirits were scary. It was only now that Amy understood why her kin were as rare they were. The whole deal seemed highly dangerous, both because the human risked their own bodies in battle, and because the so-called spirits had the ability to really mess your mind up if you weren't careful. "Was bunny girl that bad? I kinda wanted to pet you when you turned into that; you were so cute!" Of course, the girl knew that judging a book for its cover could prove to be a fatal mistake. "But if she's proving to be a handful, I guess it's only fair for me to try and help you with what I can. I know it's iffy to say this just after telling you that my spirits were almost successful at driving me crazy, but... I think they can help in some way?"

    Honestly? She doubted he would take her on that offer, and that was okay! Yet, leaving the option on the table in case it was required couldn't hurt, right? "They can interact directly with a being's psyche. It's a bit of a stretch, but I think that also means they would be able to directly interact with your spirits, since those essentially inhabit your consciousness now." She sighed. Explaining this was hard. "I've tried this before. Two times actually, and I can safely say it's pretty much harmless, at least for normal people. I have no idea what might result from navigating the headspace of a spirit user. Of course, that's up to you; it's not hard to imagine how invasive that kinda procedure is, after all."

    Luckily, the topics began to wind down, and now they were talking about something simpler. Such as fears! Amelie shifted in her position, somewhat uncomfortably. It was an awkward movement, but she tried to embrace her boyfriend again. "Well, I told you back when we found the egg, didn't I?" Unless he had forgotten, that is! "I'm actually terrified of heights. It's the most irrational fear I have. I begin feeling weird even when using a ladder to change a lightbulb. A bit embarrassing, isn't it?" But, that was just expanding on something she had said in the past. "As you might've guessed, I'm also terrified of failure. For the longest time, I've thought that people just hanged out with me because I'm pretty, or succesful, or just because they want my notes from class or whatever. I don't consider myself a particularly funny or interesting person, and my personality is definitely far from what most would consider pleasant, so... I really think I'd be a really lonely person if I didn't have that going for me."

    Talk about confessions! For Amy, it was funny how easily that one had come out. Maybe it was because Asher just liked her for who she was, and didn't pretend anything special from her? Could be; however, now it was her turn! "Enough drama for now, though. I wanna hear a fond memory of your childhood. Bonus points if it includes Pip."

    All's well that ends well, at least regarding the two girls' interactions. Well, not really, but it wasn't like Amelie would complain about Piper leaving the room hopefully forever. Lest to say, a sigh of utter relief escaped her throat as the younger redhead exited. Considering the trope usually referred to mothers-in-law as the annoying component in your significant other's family, this one had come as a surprise. And not one precisely on the pleasant side, all things considered.

    Good thing that didn't matter anymore. Whether the test had been failed or passed, that would only be found out with time; for now, it was for the best if the topic was just... left behind. Present time felt way better, anyway! For now, Amy was content; not precisely comfortable, but content nonetheless! While erring a bit on the mushy side, this moment wasn't too bad, especially when considering that, on any other given situation, Asher would just tease her nonstop.

    Not something she minded, in all honesty. But having a break from that felt nice as well! In a sense, the brunette could say that this day had been a nice break from the otherwise plain, everyday routine; Human World-wise, of course! She couldn't deny that life as a student could be incredibly dull and repetitive at times. Some spice couldn't hurt, right?

    Especially considering that exam period wasn't that far away. A pink blush made itself present on Amy's face, faintly tinging her cheeks. "Uhhh." She mumbled, somewhat at a loss. Had Asher unwittingly deciphered one his girlfriend's darkest secrets? It seemed like it! "I swear it's not... on purpose? Sometimes, time passes too quickly when panicking about how badly you're gonna fail the next test!"

    Sure, she might've said it on a lighthearted note, but it wasn't like a person could forget how to eat unless they had their head on the clouds... or were under severe stress. Either or! Hopefully, this exam period wouldn't be too bad on that regard!

The conversation kept on coming back at forth. Who could tease the other more? Did that even matter? Probably not. Too entertaining to pass it up.

    "Well~." Amy's voice definitely showed that she was up to no good. "I could almost say that's the pot calling the kettle black! You're not exactly the kind that leaves people live stuff down. Maybe interacting with you made me mean or something." Her voice couldn't be more dramatic at the moment, even if she tried. "Poor me, right? An innocent, pure girl getting corrupted by her evil boyfriend. Add some purple prose and we get a best-selling romance novel!"

    However... at least a part of Asher's comments managed to pique the brunette's interest. Even if he wasn't serious, she couldn't resist adding a bit to it. "I honestly think that your sister doesn't wanna hear anything I might have to say. For all what she knows, I might be the second coming of Lucifer or something. Or maybe one of those demons that seduce men. Considering that she already called me 'siren', it might not be that far off!"

    Some laughter punctuated her sentence. Truth to be told, those words didn't seem as offensive the by now. Guess her skin regarding those could become a little thicker! Or maybe she should just concentrate on teaching whiskers how to use a can opener while looking like a cat. A pensive hum resonated within her throat for a second. "You may be able to use it, depending on its size? I'm unsure, but I'll look into it! I doubt you'll be able to use it around 'family people' though." Being a house cat must be suffering. Then again... "What about the human disguises, though? You could pass as one of Asher's friends if the family people are near! Or her replacement girlfriend, just in case Piper decides to murder me and hide the corpse. Be sure to avenge me, okay?"

    Concerning was the fact that wasn't the only potential crime in the horizon that would be taken care of. Would the next crime be related to a curly-haired girl? The aforementioned's potential, hat-wearing girlfriend? Or maybe a duo of blondes? A true enigma, if Amelie had ever seen it. "I sure hope not that over the top! Even though I wouldn't be too surprised if something like that happened. Treat them well if they get in trouble, okay? They're all good girls."

    Who could level settlements and be pretty heartless about it at the same time, but that was nothing more than a mere detail! Everyone in the team had a pretty big heart, or at least that's what Amy wanted to believe, for better or worse. Regrettably, some of those hearts might fall too easily in the face of the woo-ing. "Actually." The redhead's insistence had her intrigued. "I'm actually curious on what would happen if you tried to do that with some of them. So I'm not gonna stop you if you wanna try!" The smirk on the brunette's face showed that she was up to no good.

    But honestly, when was she? "How can you use cute and jealous in the same sentence, though? I'm not sure if anyone would appreciate another person breathing down on their neck, whether deserved or not. Where's the charm?" Maybe that had been a joke, but now she was genuinely curious. It's like when somebody thinks another person is cute when they're angry! She just couldn't understand.

    A smug nod was the natural response to the obvious joke regarding Asher's behavior. Amy knew that he wouldn't stop joking at her expense, but it wasn't like she had really meant for him to do that. It was part of what made the relationship fun, wasn't it?

It was an interesting dynamic, even though she couldn't tell when he was serious at times. The construction site being for females-only was a pretty easy one, though! That had almost made her laugh. "Nah, don't worry. I think that one of the girls already showed the place to her boyfriend, even though I can't be too sure about it. Luke wanted to see the place as well, so I showed it to him the other day." She sighed after admitting that; it had been so easy to show the place to others. Why she was so nervous about Asher looking at it? The brunette couldn't understand. Or maybe she didn't want to? Who knew. "I just hope you'll like it."

    Was that putting pressure on him? Maybe, but also genuinely how she felt! It was good that Asher took those topics seriously; it wasn't hard to dismiss the teenager's insecurities as nonsense, but that didn't make them any less real, at least for her.

    Something ironic, considering how it could be interpreted that Amy had downplayed her boyfriend's own problems with his ex. It had been a question devoid of bad intentions, even though in hindsight she could see why it could be taken as offensive. From her spot, she decided to hug Asher a bit more tightly for several seconds before letting go. "I'm glad that's over, honestly. There are few things as painful as a bad relationship, especially if you're the one trying to make it work." She reasoned. Considering the number of weird people out there, getting somebody decent to date you could be a daunting prospect.

    As daunting as trying to decipher if there was really a pattern on the places where Amy had 'woken up' in the Digital World. Was there really a pattern, besides a couple of appearances near dark spires? She couldn't really know, but it wasn't like that was important right now. "I really hope it doesn't happen ever again. That'd make me happy. Just forget about those episodes and move on."

    With any luck, the powers from Amy's spirits would only unlock at her command from now on, and hopefully, she could use them to help others among other things! It was a good thing that Asher was also having an easier time with his spirit problems. How could she help him with that, though? Well... "You'll probably think I'm crazy or something, but." This was probably the first time she was voicing this theory out loud. After a small sigh, she resumed. "I think that most spirits don't want to kill their hosts, for... well, for obvious reasons; they wouldn't gain anything from it, and would have to search for a new vessel. So, if they misbehave, it must be because they want something you aren't willing to do, or because you simply don't get along well and they decided they want to be petty. In any case, I feel like they use their positions of relative safety within their human's mind to... have free rein to do what they want, just as long as that ultimately doesn't get you killed."

    The brunette had given that theory a fair amount of spins, even though that had been mostly to herself. Mostly because she didn't trust anyone else enough to share it. "So, confronting them face to face removes that element; the playing field is even, especially in the sense that now both can injure the other if it comes that, yet... with a distinctive difference. A spirit needs its host to exist properly; the human doesn't."

    Did that mean she was proposing some kind of coercive action, or suggesting violence? Not at all. "It's easy to be rude and try to harm somebody when they can't do the same in return, but I figure that anybody with a quota of intelligence would be more reasonable in a situation like that. And... well, if worst comes to worst, remember that their minds and memories now reside within yours. While they might lock those from you, it should be pretty easy to access them to my spirit forms. That way, you'll be able to discover what they truly want and their motivations, if they have any. Working a way for them to stop being mean or annoying should be easy from there."

    Whether that made sense to Asher or not, Amelie wasn't sure. At least to her, the logic was sound, and honestly? If she were able to, she'd try to do that to herself, just to understand why her spirits behaved so erratically. Alas, that was impossible for her. Not like her hopes were too high regarding the nature of the spirits. It wouldn't surprise the girl if their 'minds' were just a jumbled mess of who knows what.

    However, she understood if Asher didn't want for his brain to picked apart by a strange tentacle monster. That was a real concern to anyone with at least a sliver of self-preservation sense. The offer was left on the table, even though she didn't particularly expect anything to come out of it. Regarding her fears, though? That was an entirely different topic! While she identified the joking tone on the redhead's words, Amy was quick to nod at the impromptu offer. "My roommate usually changes the lightbulbs, but there are a couple a bit too high for her, so I gotta do that myself, but if you're offering to help so kindly... I might take you up on that!"

    Deciding to make herself a bit more comfortable, Amy reciprocated the hug she received, all while facing what her boyfriend thought about her pretty lame self-esteem problems. "I'd be alarmed if you didn't think I have at least a nice personality, to be honest." At for that moment, her tone was rather matter-of-factly. "But sometimes, I just ask myself why it looks like I'm unable to form long-lasting bonds of any kind, or rather, why I struggle compared to the effort I put into it. Sometimes, I just feel like there's something wrong with me, you know?"

    Truthfully, she had dismissed at times as that being just 'her imagination', but time had provided overwhelming evidence of the opposite. "But I can't quite place why that happens exactly, so I try to not think too much about it." She cheered up a bit after that comment. It was true that the brunette had managed to form a group around her, but at what cost? Would she have to partake into a titanic enterprise each time she wanted more friends? The mere thought of that made her smirk a bit. No point on getting sad over that. "But I'll take your word, at least for now. Especially the part where you said I'm pretty."

    Enough of that for now, though! Snuggling closer to her boyfriend, if that even was possible, the teenager listened to the heartwarming tale of the two siblings and the pinata. "Sounds like you two had quite the adventure." She concluded, somewhat dreamily. "You really try to be a good brother for her, don't you? That's moving."

    Not the most unexpected reaction, considering how Amy just loved that kind of stories. To say the least, she hadn't anticipated Asher's request. "Embarrassing?" The brunette repeated, obviously dumbfounded; even if unexpected, that request had been very Asher. "Give me a second to think."

    Amy went as far as to go back to her sitting position in order to think a bit better about it. "Okay, I think I got something. You can laugh as much as you want, but you better not tell anyone about this. And the same goes to you, Whiskers." She made a pause, hoping for a positive response from both before beginning. "I was nine, enjoying an evening at home when my sister, called for me from the bathroom with a very alarmed tone of voice. She sounded really distressed and wanted for me to buy 'earplugs' for her from a nearby drugstore. So, without thinking too much about it, I went and bought the thing; since they came in packs of thirty-six, I had no better idea than to try a pair of those on myself while I walked back home. The looks I got on the way were weird, but I didn't think too much about it until I got home." A borderline exasperated sigh ensued. "My older brother saw me, and began laughing so much that I thought he was going to asphyxiate. That alerted mom, who saw him, then saw me, then proceeded to shriek like some kind of harpy while demanding an explanation. Long story short, that day I found that tampon isn't a fancy name for earplug, mom forbade me from doing my sister's shopping ever again, and she got grounded for a month. It wasn't embarrassing back then, but when I found out what was their true purpose... yeah. It was pretty bad. Tobi keeps on laughing about the whole incident despite the fact that it was almost ten years ago."

    That was her story! With any luck, neither Asher nor Whiskers would asphyxiate. "My turn now!" Amy promptly said, hopefully cutting short the time to do any kind of mean remarks as she went back to laying down on her boyfriend's lap, this time making sure to pat Whiskers some more. "So... have you ever thought about telling your family about the whole digimon stuff? Depending on what you answer, why yes or why not?"

    A dicey one, for sure!

    Asher being a caring person; definitely, a rare sight to behold, even if Amelie was slowly getting used to that hidden side of his. To say the least, she didn't mind it on the slightest. However, the brunette could play hard to get as well! The redhead's response as instantly followed by a shrug.

    "Not complaining. Free food's free food, right?" It was somewhat dissonant, but the smirk on her face didn't quite match the troubled look in her face. "I haven't failed yet, and I hope I do. It's... kind of not an option, to be honest."

    A small pause ensued. Surely, the young man either wondered why so much importance was given to her studies... or just thought that his girlfriend held herself to a really high standard. What was behind that statement? "Me living here depends on how I perform, more or less. Parents were really clear with the whole 'you won't spend a penny out of your pocket for your living costs or your studies, but that ends if we feel you're not pulling your weight'. And, truth to be told? Even if I don't spend a lot on myself, I really doubt I could afford to live in this country without my parents' help, so... yeah."

    That was the cost of her shot at 'independence'. It wasn't like she was complaining about it, given that the whole deal had been her idea, and her parents had trusted her enough to try something like this without the whole situation ending catastrophically, so the best she could do was to just try her best and make a conscious effort at fulfilling her promise. As stressful as that could be at times.

    But enough of that; the nuances of her daily life and the pseudo-contract she had with her parents weren't something that mattered a lot at the moment. She'd rather insist on the current exchange regarding how Asher was undoubtedly the worst influence in her life. "Me? Poor, little me, secretly mean? Impossible. I definitely think it's more likely that you're some kind of dark knight that draws joy from corrupting innocent girls. Now, that sounds a lot more plausible."

    Or... not really. Chances were the two were on a stalemate, but that was fine. Piper being unable to believe anything she might say was probably the hardest truth uttered this evening, even if Amy wouldn't let that kind of minutiae deter her; at least, not for the foreseeable future.

    For meow, Whiskers was the only female whose approval she needed! The digimon was completely adorable and most importantly; didn't hate her guts! Definitely the house's best girl. "I'll see to get the biggest one I can find; you can count on me! That way, you'll be able to enjoy all the tunas by yourself, and without any help!"

    To say the least, the Meicoomon's holosuit was... interesting. And her arguments were valid, even if, at least for the brunette, the workaround seemed to be relatively easy? She snickered a bit at the mention of how she didn't want to be his girlfriend before answering. "No need to be his girlfriend, you know? Well, unless I get killed; you could be just a friend that he invited over. That way, we also avoid him being on a polyamorous relationship and you get to be a human if you wanna. Everyone wins!" Of course, that dilemma was only half of the inquiries asked by the former cat. "And... maybe put a little too much Tabasco sauce on her dinner? Unless Piper likes her stuff really spicy, that'd be an appropriate revenge on my books, and she'd be more or less safe, right? Unless she's allergic. In which case... I don't know! I'm sure you'll come up with something."

    Speaking of getting in trouble... were really the 'good girls' actually that good? Despite Amy's near blind trust on them, she had to admit that being objective in a situation like this was probably the way to go. "Maaaaybe?" Not the most specific response, but the brunette was about to elaborate! "The Dark Area is a really dangerous place, and building a city there isn't as simple as just building it and telling everyone that there's now a safe haven where everyone can live. You get some raised eyebrows at best, and outright violence at worst. Collateral damage is an inevitable outcome when fighting for your life, and they know that their safety is the highest priority in case a fight breaks out. I'm not very sure about the Knights' philosophy, but I can see how some of their actions would be deemed as reproachable by a 'normal' body of authorities."

    Like blowing up a settlement in a preemptive attack. That was bound to at least alert the local security forces of any place that wasn't as lawless as the Dark Area. What'd be the redhead's stance on an event like that? Amy couldn't but wonder about it...

    At least until the next question was asked. What would happen if Asher tried to be friendly with the Council's girls? Whatever the result, it would no doubt be interesting! A smirk was already finding its way to the brunette's face. "Yeah, but I found out that, in the end... you just end up doing whatever you want, so what I say is kinda pointless. And... I guess that if that ends up happening, you should take responsibility? That's what a mature adult would do, right?"

    Whether Asher counted as a mature adult was up to debate, though! Not to say that he had a point. "Yeah. I'm pretty much the older sister to the lot of them; couldn't really get jealous or mad at them for too long." A makeshift family, so to say? Probably! "And, as I said, they're all good girls. In a sense, I feel lucky to have stumbled upon them."

    All in all, the brunette wasn't very sure about the reason for her insecurities. Couldn't she just show him the place and be done with it? Hopefully, that'll help her get over them! "I mean, if you wanna be jealous of Luke... feel free? But as I said, you convinced me. I'm gonna show it to you the next time you're around. And you better like it!"

    It was a matter of time before the topics began to turn more serious, and the young woman began to share her theories about spirits. Could they be mistaken? Maybe, especially considering she didn't have concise proof about them. Yet... at least for her, they made sense. "Don't worry. I'm not completely sure about what I'm saying either. An educated guess, at most?" Amy seemed to be deep in thought right afterward. Asher's words had no doubt thrown a spanner in the works. "So they have killed their hosts in the past, huh? Wonder why they would do that; maybe they didn't like them? It'd have to be something pretty extreme for the spirits to prefer being hostless rather than not. Maybe they couldn't withstand the pressure the spirits exerted on them. I know first-hand how rough that can get at times. Who knows; maybe your spirits can't be wielded by everyone. From what you've said, it sure sounds like they would try to assert dominance if able, and... the would-be host just broke. Doesn't sound too farfetched for me."

    Funny how he managed to keep the atmosphere lighthearted despite what they were discussing. Guess that was a good way of preventing the atmosphere from getting too rigid? Definitely, something Amy appreciated. "Nah, I don't think it'd be right for me to decide something like that. The choice's yours, and I understand if you don't think it's necessary. I just left it on the table."

    With that behind, they could focus on... other problems. For example, Amelie's insecurities regarding her inability to make friends. After a sigh, she nodded; a quick hug was given to Asher before she spoke. "I guess you're right. Maybe I was just dealing with the wrong people. I guess time will tell? I just hope you're right."

    For some reason, people involved with the Digital World were easier to befriend, but that was something she'd think about later. Abstaining herself on giving her opinion regarding whether Piper deserved a bad brother or not, her tale began, and... had the intended effect, more or less. An utterly mortified expression was her immediate reaction. "I'd have burned the thing down. I'm glad that there's no proof of that ever happening. It was probably the most embarrassing moment of my life."

    Luckily, that was finally out of the way. While patting Whiskers, Amy listened to Asher's rationale regarding whether the knowledge of the Digital World's existence should be shared or not. His conclusion...? It seemed that it was veering towards a negative; that was fine. She could understand her boyfriend's reasoning; it was sound, to say the least.

    "To keep them safe, huh? I can see that. You really care about them all." That was a very heartwarming thought; it showed how united the family was, in sense. Or... was it? Amelie wasn't idealist enough to believe on always telling others the truth; truth could hurt a lot if one was careless about it. And... at least right now, she felt in front of one of those matters.

    What would she do, now that the question had been turned in her direction? At least on her stead, the answer was quite easy. "No way." As simple as that. "My close relatives don't even live in this country. I don't think it'd be a good idea to concern them with stuff like this. It'd make things awkward if anything. But~, I guess I can say I told my roommate about them. It'd be too much of a hassle to keep a secret from somebody who literally sleeps in the room next door. And, what can I say? Thus far, she's been pretty supportive about the whole deal, even though she hasn't gotten chosen in any way. I'm very thankful to her for that."

    Now that they were on that topic... the next question was, at least partially, related to that! What was the brunette's opinion on the whole 'being chosen' thing? Definitely something that made her think for a fair bit actually. Was it obvious that the young woman was torn about it? It seemed like it!

    "Glad is definitely not the word I'd use. Sure, it's been an opportunity, but it had both its highs and lows." Yet, in the end, she couldn't really complain. "Would've preferred to have been dealt a better hand, but overall I don't have regrets regarding it. Sides, at least right now, I am the one who decides how much I want to be involved with that world. If I just wanted to abandon everything tomorrow, I could do that, and things would be more or less fine, I think?"

    A gross oversimplification, but who was Amy, if not a person of potential extremes? She couldn't deny one thing, though. "What about you? Would you have preferred your life without the presence of funny-looking aliens running around? No offense to Whiskers, of course!"

    Maybe, considering that a digimon had been part of his everyday life even before being formally introduced to them meant that he held them on higher esteem than his girlfriend. That was very likely. Now, onto her question! Considering how dense the atmosphere had gotten, guess it was time to relax it a bit. "What's the most exotic food you've eaten? Did you like it? And, no, wasabi beer doesn't count."

    Was she using that to get ideas for dinner? Could be!

    A small smile expressed Amy's gratitude. She understood that the terms for her to remain in the country were a tough pill to swallow, so understanding was all that she could ask in regards to that. "I guess we have a deal." The smile persisted for several more seconds. "As I said, free food's free food. You won't see me complaining about it!"

    Truth to be told, that wasn't precisely the most savory topic. Was it better to leave it behind? Or, at least in Asher's own style, try to lighten it up a bit. The brunette couldn't avoid letting out an entertaining chuckle at the mention of flash cards. That was a term she hadn't heard in quite a long time!

    "I haven't written one of those in like, forever." When had been the last time? High school years, maybe. "But I'll take all the help anyone's willing to offer. It's not like I'm in the place to accept any less." By now, she sounded a lot more relaxed. Maybe the redhead's words had their intended effect, despite the apparent intent? That was a good thing!

    Only after the situation had wound down would Asher decide it was due to her scheming that he would be turned into some form of evil knight or something. Could you believe it? Preposterous! A pout was made evident on her face right away. "No way. I'm too pure and innocent to be guilty of any of that. You probably are delirious."

    The facade didn't last for long, though. Soon enough, a smirk overtook her previous expression. "It'd be too much effort, anyway. And it isn't like you aren't plenty evil already. It takes one special kind of villain to call your girlfriend a lobster, you know?" The best part about that statement? Some girls might actually consider it true! "And I guess that a special kind of villain to not mind such a nickname. Too much, at least."

    Asher getting comfortable with such epithets was definitely not something she wanted, after all! Despite the fact that, ultimately, they weren't such a big deal, Amy could see her growing progressively tired of them. Especially if her boyfriend had free reign to say them as freely as he wanted.

    For now, however, the young woman settled with continuing caressing Whisker's fur; she was such a good cat! However, her words brought a fair amount of doubts to the girl's mind, those being accompanied with a somewhat puzzled expression "Not the type to bring people over, huh? I guess I should be flattered about being here, then. That, or you're planning to chain me up in your basement or something."

    Throwing those kinds of offhanded comments was pretty much a second nature to her by this point. "I guess it's a good thing I have witnesses, at least. Is there any reason why you two don't invite people over? Or why Piper should be mad about other people knowing where you live. It sounds kinda weird."

    While the most obvious explanation that made quite a bit of sense on Amelie's head was that the younger girl was just a hopeless misanthrope, she really hoped for a more... robust reason, for the lack of a better term. Misanthropy was kinda boring, all things considered.

    A nod was given in response to Whiskers' proposal. Sure, that was easy; Tobasco wasn't something that was precisely hard to get. Unless it was of the super spicy variety, but that might be too much, even for revenge purposes. Instead, the brunette focused on Asher's words regarding her team. While ending settlements was something that she had done in the past personally... that was probably something that Asher didn't need to know. At least not right now. Amy knew better than to spoil a date with an unfortunate comment!

    "Don't worry. I can assure you. No random villages were burned in the process of building this city." Was she actually parodying some films' trademark opening statement? Asher would probably find it funny, and it wasn't like Amy was lying either. The one village she had burned was a very specific one. Not random at all!

    It seemed like the gestures coming from the two humans had a degree of playfulness to them. Whether Asher decided to try his luck with the Council's girls or Amy decided to come out with the less than savory acts the team engaged into in an everyday basis. For now, it seemed like some things were better hidden than out in the open!

    All things considered, the brunette couldn't complain about the deal she had gotten. "I agree. Jealousy is boring." A smirk was pretty clearly conveying Amy's intent. At the very least, they had a pending visit to the nascent city at some point. Not something she could really complain about, in all honesty! Asher had been very good at dispelling any doubts she might have about it, and now it seemed like a pretty good idea.

    As long as nothing weird happened there, at least.

    The room's atmosphere fluctuated rather wildly in between serious and not-so-serious remarks. One thing could be said for sure, though; there were hidden depths for those two. Depths that maybe neither of them were willing to expose, at least immediately; everything pointed at the whole thing being a gradual process, but that was fine.

    His expressions made evident that this wouldn't be easy, or pleasant. Maybe she had decided to dive into this too soon? Maybe it was better to just leave it behind. Asher's hum was quickly followed by one of Amelie's own. "All the time you need. Not really in a hurry for that kind of things.." At least that much was an undeniable truth! While she wanted to help where she could, pressing on an unsavory topic wasn't really her style.

    Those were soon left behind, making room to other discussions, like how they felt regarding 'the secret', and why Asher seemed so bent on withdrawing as much information as he could from his family. Which, was a fair thing to do, everything considered; things could really get dicey once things like parents got involved.

    "It really is." Support was always a good thing. Being alone with crazy, murderous spirits wasn't really an ideal situation, even if there probably wasn't a lot that could be done about it; even less so if you weren't in the know about digimon. Could it really be called support, then? It wasn't really hard to understand how that act could do more harm than good. "That's why you can count on me for anything, you know? That's the point of the whole boyfriend-girlfriend thing, I think."

    At least she could end that line of thought on a somewhat pleasant, even if a little corny note! But that was okay, as long as it was on relatively small doses, right? Nobody would want things getting too mushy.

    Being 'chosen' was definitely a mixed blessing on Amy's eyes, though. Things would definitely be easier if she hadn't been dragged into the mess that was the Digital World and its inhabitants. But, would her life be as entertaining as it was without it? Probably not.

    "Finishing a sentence with 'I think' doesn't make for a very convincing argument, you know? They sure do a good job at preventing things from getting too stale, but at the same time... sometimes, having to deal with the problems of two worlds at the same time feels too stressful. I wish there was an easy way to balance that." One that didn't involve leaving one of those two worlds for good, preferably. But that may be asking for too much.

    The topic of food was a very interesting one, especially considering Asher's response! "Haggis, huh? That sounds interesting! I have never had it, but I wouldn't mind trying it at some point. Doubt anyone in Japan knows how to prepare it, or if they could get the necessary ingredients, so that's probably not happening any time soon. Maybe someday, who knows."

    Food was definitely one topic she could get behind. Pity that didn't give her any ideas for dinner, but Amelie was a resourceful girl. She'd think about something, for sure! Until then...

    "Where did I live...?" Such a complex question, considering her childhood. "I learned about it later down the line, but my parents have always wanted to travel around the world, and... didn't really expect me by the time my siblings were old enough to live on their own. Having to wait eighteen more years at the very least didn't seem like something they could afford to do, so I just went wherever they went. I can't even recall them all."

    A small pause ensued; it was obvious that she trying to remember. "I've been on most of continental Europe. The big cities, anyway. Or the ones that had sights to be seen. Other than that, I've been to Canada and the United States a couple of times, but I don't remember a lot about them. Besides that the places where I was were super cold. If you want to know about any place in specific, you can ask! I gotta say that I didn't see everything that there was to see wherever I went, though. Mom took my education a bit too seriously, and that meant I had to spend my time surrounded by four walls more often than not."

    Probably not the most exciting story, but that was how things were! Now, it was her turn. "Say. Remember that strange nickname that you said in what sounded like gibberish? Was it tongues or an actual human language?" She had to make sure that Asher wasn't part of some kind of satanic coven, after all! "What did it mean? I've been curious about it."

    It probably wasn't the most interesting or intimate question, but plenty of those had been asked already.

    Little by little, everything was falling into place, at least relatively speaking. It seemed like the couple's not-so-romantic activities were already settled! Sure, working on stuff like flash cards didn't look to be all that glamorous, yet... Amelie was glad he was still interested in the two spending time together. Considering how he had avoided her almost like she were the plague for several months, that kind of gesture was very much appreciated.

    She wouldn't get too mushy about it, though. That'd imply giving Asher even more ammunition to tease her, something that wasn't a very enticing prospect! Unlike dark knights and how Amy's innocence had been corrupted by her boyfriend's deliberate machinations. Or, apparently, being called a lobster; why had she been so benevolent with such a nickname? A complete and utter mystery.

    "An attempt on your life? Don't you think you're overdramatizing it just a wee bit?" Despite her words, the girl's smirk didn't seem to waver. "I brought you a drink, and that's how you thank me. It's not my fault that you decided to choke on it!"

    Regarding the lobsters, though? What could she say about them? Well, besides the fact that they weren't as good as advertised... "And I'm free to decide whether a nickname bothers me or not at any time, don't you think? It doesn't sound like that big of a deal if nobody else is hearing, honestly." Very convenient, but was anything else expected from her? Truth was that those nicknames weren't all that bothersome if Whiskers was the only being around to hear them. Context was important for that kind of thing!

    Was there more than what meets the eye regarding the location of Asher's house and how it was such a well-kept secret? It looked like it, at least coming from Whiskers' comment. What a strange situation; Amelie herself couldn't even fully grasp its depth, even though she was plenty sure that the redhead was downplaying the whole thing. A pensive expression took over her features for several seconds, and while she didn't want to give merit to Piper's methods, the idle thought that they might be somewhat right had already taken hold in the back of her mind.

    "Was it that bad?" While a small frown was already there, that was all she could bring herself to ask for now. Maybe the siblings' parents just wanted to humor Piper, or maybe there was something else that she hadn't been told. In any case, that answer had been good enough for her.

    Good thing the mood could be lightened rather swiftly. The past was in the past, and while the brunette's curiosity and concern were on somewhat high levels, she was more than willing to focus on what mattered at the moment. Namely, her mortified expression at the prospect of building yet another city. Even as a joke, that seemed to be very effective!

    "I mean. If you think that burning down a village would be romantic that normal couples do, maybe we could do that someday. It'd be fun, right?" Maybe not so mortified after all. How far would the joke go? No way to know. "I'm sure that Whiskers wants to raze cities as well. She looks like a born pillager to me." Should Amy have clarified that Whiskers was probably just a tuna can pillager? Probably not, that'd have made her statement a lot less interesting.

    And even then, it was probably overall less interesting than something as controversial as making the choice. Deciding a single world to spend your whole life in was, at least in Amelie's eyes, more important than her career of choice, or even whether to become a mother or not! Definitely not something that she could take lightly. "I don't think I'd be able to pick a world over another, honestly. The only way I'd give up on any would be if there was literally no reason for me to keep on coming back there. That'd be a bit sad in itself, don't you think? Imagine me not being able to visit my sister-in-law anymore. The biggest tragedy humanity had ever withstood. What about you? Think you'd ever decide on becoming a permanent resident of either world?"

    It'd also mean she wouldn't be able to get haggis! The downsides were too many, as far as Amy was aware. "I wouldn't be too confident about that, but that's probably something we can fix with a quick trip to Scotland. Maybe for the winter break; we could tour all around Europe! That would be fun, wouldn't it? We could even bring Whiskers along if she wants to come. Piper is banned, though."

    The States was a pretty big country. Had the brunette been anywhere else? That was a good question! "I thiiink I wasn't." To say that Amelie's tone wasn't certain was a gross overstatement. "I'd say I lived in San Francisco because I remember a beach and that orange bridge, but it's a bit hazy. Not to say that there's a lot of places with beaches and the bridge is featured in a lot of movies, so I might just be mixing things up. You'd have to ask my relatives when you see them if you truly wanna know, I guess!"

    How obvious was that she didn't care all that much about that? Probably even Whiskers could tell that, even though Amy at the very least seemed to make a conscious effort to give a decent answer. As expected, her focus changed right away when the topic about the strange nickname he had given her back at the beach sprung up again. That was the word; M'eudail. It's meaning? Definitely not something she expected to hear. For a moment, the young woman debated whether her boyfriend was pulling a fast one on her, but since he seemed serious enough... a smile was quick to ensue, followed by a hug on his general direction.

    "Awww. That's so sweet!" Her tone was half surprised, half teasing, and even a little dreamy. "You almost made it sound like you like me! Does that mean I should begin you calling mon chéri? Because I can definitely do that." If he didn't know what that one meant, he probably didn't even have to guess, that much was sure.

    Asher's next question was pretty telling; it seemed like the time of 'just chatting' was pretty much over. Something good, considering that Amy had gotten pretty hungry by now. "Quite pragmatic, aren't we?" She couldn't really fault him, though! Slowly she incorporated from her place in the sofa and stretched a bit.

    "Well, I offered to cook for you if you wanted to, so I'd have to see what I have available in the kitchen." Maybe that wasn't the correct way to approach this, though? Maybe Asher's question was an indirect way of saying that she shouldn't bother with something like that on her first visit. "But, if you'd prefer something simpler, we can order something like sushi, maybe? I'll leave the decision in your capable hands; what do you say?"

    Truth was that the brunette was pretty hungry already, so ordering didn't seem that bad of an idea. "You said your parents were coming for dinner, right? Should we get food for them as well?" Yet another valid concern! What kind of people would they be? Amelie was both excited and nervous to meet them.

    "How is that over-dramatized? Facts don't have any drama to them. I decided to do something nice, served you a drink, and then you thank me by saying that I made an attempt on your life. That's hella rude, you know? It's almost like telling me to never do things for you ever again. Why would anyone like that?"

    Undoubtedly, Amelie was nothing more than an angel that, somehow, had lost her wings. Asher pinning any of her actions as anything less than pure couldn't be farther from the truth. However, discussing such matters with somebody who was obviously mistaken wouldn't get her anywhere, so... she decided to leave her words there. Maybe Asher had more to say anything about it? Or maybe he would just ask her to never bring her a drink again. Both would be funny, in their own way.

    Whiskers' words were... a bit interesting, in their own way. They got the gears of Amy's spinning without a doubt. Slowly, a mischievous smile made its way towards her face. It couldn't possibly mean anything good. "So, what you mean is that Asher called be lobster because he plans to have me at a high-class place?" An obviously fake dreamy expression took over soon after. "My, my... I didn't know that he was so bold, considering that he avoided me like the plague for months. Maybe that's how he pretends to make up for the lost time? That'd be interesting!"

    The redhead's own 'sure' surely proved to be quite the contrast with the brunette's own effusiveness, but that was just how she was. Had Asher made the correct choice regarding his relationship with her? He most likely was wondering that at this very moment.

    A sad truth that was you couldn't be high all that time without experienced some lows every now and then. Luckily, Asher's own timely comments saved the situation from turning worse. Nodding at them, Amelie just decided to let the topic slide; that was something they could talk in due time, just if he ever decided it was a worthwhile thing to do. In all frankness, it probably wasn't. The past was the past for a reason, after all.

    Only then, the trio would shift into a more lighthearted topic... burning villages. It was weird, but it seemed that everyone was enjoying joking about it. Maybe a bit too much, but how could any of those things be taken seriously? They sounded so ludicrous, yet Amy couldn't help to just keep going. It was just harmless fun, after all! "I didn't know you were a picky arsonist. I can't blame you, though. I guess it'd have to be a very special place to get my heart racing. Wonder if such place exists."

    Whiskers' own gestures were the only thing that the atmosphere needed to be complete. Indeed, the Meicoomon was as ferocious was a real-life kitten. No wonder she had been confused with one. "Pillaging is like when you open the fridge, get all the tuna cans and run away. I'm sure you're quite good at it already." Quite the simplistic explanation, but Amy was sure that Whiskers would understand! In fact, she might actually like it, deep down. Who knew?

    Just like her, it seemed like Asher had a number of attachments to the Human World, so choosing to go Digital over it didn't seem like a reasonable choice. "Fair enough. I don't think I'd ever completely choose a world over another. And, in all honesty, I think that my sister-in-law is gonna hunt me down no matter what I do, but that's okay. We're probably not gonna be besties ever, but I think that she'll come to tolerate my presence sooner or later. Maybe I'll even be able to get a selfie with her someday. Wouldn't that be nice?" It would, yes. If there were chances of that happening in this lifetime. Right now, the two girls had begun their friendship with at least a dozen of wrong feet.

    But that could always be addressed later. Way later. For now, it seemed like the couple were making plans to spend the winter break together. Wasn't that nice? At least for Amy, it was. "I really wouldn't mind. I think we'd have a lot of fun! It's been a while since I've traveled outside of Japan, and a breath of European air wouldn't hurt, right? I remember Scotland being pretty nice, overall. Especially if you like beer and eating goat innards; my older brother was all over it." What about Whiskers, though? They had quite a bit of choices."We can do three things. Either she gets used to be in a kennel for the trip, or we get her a passport, or... there's this thing in Terminus that lets somebody suck a willing digimon into their digivice. I think it's called... V-Pet, or something to those effects? We could use that as well. If not, I guess she can remain here and take care of little Pip, I don't mind either way."

    Could that be a plan? Would the two actually go through with it? Right now, it seemed that the brunette fully intended to; only time will tell if Asher gets cold feet regarding it or not! They could talk about that later, or at any time, really. Right now, she was focusing on the fact that it seemed she had been a temporary resident of the same city where Piper had grown up. "Maybe that's why my memory is foggy, after all." Amelie couldn't help chuckling at her boyfriend's attempt at humor. "And... I think Piper and I would've been good friends, if it weren't for the fact that I'm a fair bit older than her and that she met me as 'the gold digger that's after my brother's... whatever', rather than 'just Amy', but I can't really blame her. And, it isn't like we can't fix that over time, right? I'm sure that Pip won't be cold to me forever."

    Or she totally could, and the young woman had just succeeded at jinxing herself. In any case, it seemed like Asher was quite fast at having second thoughts regarding the mushy nicknames; something that, in hindsight, was very fair. Those could get old very fast. "I'll think about it." She wasn't telling him that his name would be changed on her phone very soon, though. That'd be a surprise!

    Dinner seemed like a fairly straightforward topic. Cooking was eschewed in favor of sushi; while probably not as good as Amy's cooking, it supposed less effort, and probably less dishwashing involving. Win-Win, more or less? Any doubts would instantly be dissipated as soon as Whiskers began to be utterly adorable, and got some pats on her head as a result. "We can always order extra in case they haven't. I'm sure that Whiskers will make sure to inhale any leftovers in short order."

    Now, onto the sushi itself... what were the varieties she preferred? "Will we be okay with thirty pieces? Or should we get forty? In any case, I'll be fine as long as there's some tempura and the spicy is kept at a minimum in some of the rolls. Other than that, I have no hard preferences. What about you? Any roll you fancy?"

    The brunette had said it before; she wasn't an overly picky eater, but... shrimp was good, as far as she was concerned.