The Call to Adventure, Meeting the Mentor (Arakan/Ask)

Charles nodded, pocketing his phone as well. "That's a respectable stance." He'd start; adding "I think we all have people that we've hated or were irritated at enough to feel that urge - though it's good that you didn't act on it, kiddo." He'd smile briefly, and would then take a second to consider Arakan's question, about breaking a bone. "And as for bones... It depends. You're unlikely to break, say, an arm - but you can definitely leave people hurting, and a good hit to more fragile spots like someone's nose might break it. Happened to me before once, an accident between me and a friend from a loooong time ago." He'd tap at his own nose, as though to convey the point - chuckling a bit at his own reminiscing. "It hurt a good deal, and it took ages to get the noseblood out of my favorite shirt; but the both of us had a good laugh about it for awhile, we both learned to be more careful... And I learned a good deal about laundry tips and tricks, haha!"

"While we're on the subject of breaking bones, though... You can also damage your own hands, if you're not careful; things like splitting the skin on your knuckles, dislocating or breaking a finger, or even messing up your wrists or causing arthritis in the long term. Being mindful of how hard you swing, and typically wearing something like gloves or wraps, helps protect them though." He'd tap his gloves together, to convey his point about wearing protection. "Punching is as harmful to your hands and wrists as you make it - and being mindful of the strength you put behind your swings is probably going to be one of the early things I'll teach you; as well as how to properly wrap your fists, and what kind of gloves to look for."

As time passed, the both of them discussing things, the Trailmon doors would eventually close - before beginning to move, along down the train tracks, towards Terminus. Charles would glance out the window - seeing the passing sights as they went - before smiling briefly in Arakan's direction. "I hope that I can be a satisfactory teacher to you, though, Kiddo."

"It can definitely be painful; admittedly, a lot of the stiffness in my hands is a mix of me not being as careful as I should while boxing during my younger years, and gripping onto tools too tightly while I did mechanic work." Charles would confirm with a brief nod, flexing his hands slightly - as though to show the range of motion his hands had nowadays. He could still grip things just fine, just not as tightly as before - and he had trouble laying his hands completely flat; them tending to stick more to the 'neutral' slightly curled position that hands had.

"But yeah; as long as you're mindful of how hard you swing, and make sure you wear proper protection and support for your hands, it helps a lot in the long run, Kiddo." He would confirm with a smile in Arakan's direction. Of course, if she were protecting herself, it was likely that it would be hard to be mindful of your swings - and she might not necessarily have the time she needs to put on proper protection. But, the sooner he helped her get into the habit of taking care of her hands, the better.

Arakan's response to Charles' concerns, though, would draw a chuckle out of him as well. "I suppose we both are a little anxious for our own reasons, hmm?" He'd muse, leaning back in his seat and humming softly as he sighed through his nose. "Your size shouldn't be too huge of an issue, though. It just means you'll have to approach it differently from how I might approach it; capitalize on your speed and evasiveness, aim for spots like the solar plexus if you can reach it reliably, the gut..."

He'd briefly gesture to his own body to indicate the spots mentioned, before pausing in his gestures as a thought occurred to him. "... If you really had to, I suppose you could aim below the belt as well, or try to jump to headbutt someone in the jaw - that'd hurt, for sure - but I don't think that'd be very proper to do during practice, Kiddo." He'd laugh with this, smiling sheepishly as he scratched his cheek. "Point being though, is that I'm sure you'll be fine - practice is the important thing, and I'm sure you've still got a little bit of growing left to do; so don't worry too much about your size, alright?"

Charles chuckled. "Who knows? Accidents can sometimes happen for the strangest reasons, or end up quite bizarre, after all." He'd lightly joke to Arakan, smiling in her direction. "I can appreciate that though, Kiddo. Regardless of my own uncertainties over my ability as a teacher, I think that it's going to be quite pleasant, sharing in your company and teaching you; you come across as a kindhearted and thoughtful young lady." Perhaps this is what he needed to find a bit of direction in his life again, to make some friends, and to be an older figure or mentor to others. Just talking with Arakan was nice in of itself, and teaching her a few tricks to help her protect herself - or others, as it seemed that she was keen on - was a bonus.

With that though, Charles would lean back in the seat, peering out the window once more, to watch the passing scenery. It seemed that, presently, they were starting to reach the edge of the woods - and were now passing through a countryside, filled with rolling green hills and the occasional small lakes or springs. "I've heard that these parts here - this hilly land - is perhaps one of the most peaceful places in the Digital World; at least from talking with the locals." Charles would idly comment, still staring out the window. "It's certainly a beautiful and quaint looking little place, if you ask me; though I haven't seen much of it beyond this train ride, and the train ride that I had taken to get to Rosewood in the first place..."

As for the train ride itself, though... It was quiet, it was pleasant - seeing the scenery go by with the passing of time. Before long, the Server Woods that Rosewood was set in would thin out in lieu of the rolling grassy Mainframe Hills that they were passing into now. And with time, after that? The grassy hills would begin to gradually flatten out, instead opening up into an open plains - the Network Plains, to be exact - with a city looming far, far off in the distance ahead. As the city became more discernible though, Charles would point it out to Arakan - mentioning "We're almost there, Kiddo. Terminus is just up ahead,"

Charles chuckled with the joke, reaching over to pat Arakan's shoulder. "Oh, certainly; that pup is quite the boisterous one." He'd agree with a smile, adding "Hopefully you both are able to come to a comfortable balance, given your previous experience with running around in that form of yours." God only knows if he'd be there to help, after all, if Arakan ended up stuck as a Plotmon again!

As the train moved along, Charles watching the passing scenery, though... He couldn't help but notice Arakan's intermittent dozing - how she was drifting in and out of consciousness. She was making a good attempt of trying to hide it, but he was able to briefly note a couple moments where she'd briefly doze off - only to snap back to wakefulness. This would draw a small chuckle out of him, smiling to Arakan as he murmured "If you want to nap, that's okay, Kiddo." to her in a soft tone. "I'll wake you up when we get there."

And indeed, with time, they'd begin to near Terminus - the city being discernible as the train got closer and closer. Charles couldn't help but lightly chuckle at Arakan's huff though, gently teasing "Are you sure that the only reason it didn't take too long, isn't because you dozed through a portion of it?" with a humored smile, briefly making sure his things were in order all the whilst.

Charles couldn't help but chuckle initially, at Arakan's sleepy grumble. The lass did have a pretty long day, after all; it only made sense that she'd be ready to conk out, once they were settled comfortably in their seats. Nonetheless, he couldn't help but blink briefly when Arakan would proceed to doze right off; slumping into her seat, and her head tilting to the side. Huhm, the kiddo must've been more tired than either of them thought, huh? Chuckling again with that thought - much quieter this time, as to not disturb Arakan - Charles would simply smile, returning to watching the scenery outside the window...

Charles would chuckle alongside Arakan with her retort, though, as she awoke - standing up in the train. The older man-turned-Gaomon would follow suit in standing; one hand gripping onto one of the poles as he did, to pull himself up. This was more out of habit than any sort of necessity - still used to the stiffness and aches that came with being an old man, yet lacking it due to being in this more spry form of his. "It seems like the device was the key to it, or at least it was for me." Charles would comment, slowly nodding. "I imagine you should make sure that you have someone else to supervise you while you experiment with the device, or make sure that you and Plotmon are on the same page, though; lest you end up in another Plotmon-fueled rush,"

He'd gently chuckle with that - recalling how excitable and eager Arakan had been when they first met, whilst she was in her Plotmon form.

Before long, though, the Trailmon would eventually reach the station - Trailmon Terminal - and gradually come to a slow stop, the familiar sound of wheels gently whining in protest as it did. Once the Trailmon had come to a complete stop, the doors would slowly open - allowing the digimon on the train to leave, and the digimon who were waiting on the train to enter. "Well, it looks like we're here - you got your things, right?" Charles would ask, glancing to Arakan to make sure that they were both ready, before they'd make to step out of the train.

Upon exiting, though, it would be noted that the Terminal seemed to be just outside of the actual city; the open gates that made up to the entrance of the city plainly visible from here. A tall, gray, stone wall stood as protection though; circling around what must've been the entirety of the city, towering almost as high as the buildings of the city did! Only a few of the tallest buildings could be visible beyond the wall from here - the tops of them peeking over it. Charles, though, wouldn't pay too much mind to the city - instead finding a place to sit as he waited for their next stop. "How are you feeling, Kiddo?" He'd ask Arakan, glancing in her direction with a smile.

Charles chuckled and nodded, adding "It's possible that Digimon are far more familiar with people like us than other humans are, too; given what that one caretaker from before had mentioned, with Spirit Users, when we first arrived to the Village of Beginnings." in brief agreement. He couldn't help but briefly wonder, what it meant for a digimon to become a spirit, instead of being reborn like most digimon seem to do. Why did his own spirit end up becoming, well, a spirit?

Almost as though picking up on his thoughts, the Wanyamon would briefly emerge - as light-golden and wispy as before - perched on Charles' shoulder. The spirit gave off a sense of uncertainty of its own, a sense of confusion, of not knowing - as though it didn't recall, either, why it wasn't reborn like its kin were. Charles couldn't help but smile softly to the spirit, though, reaching up to pat its head. Even if his gloved paw seemed to pass thru the spirit, it reacted as though the pat made contact properly - trying to bunt against the glove, giving of a sense of contentment. "That's alright, little one." He'd softly muse to the spirit; smiling gently at how it reacted just like a cat, despite being able to turn into a dog. "We'll figure it all out, with time."

Once they were both off the train and sat down, though, Charles would glance in Arakan's direction and nod in understanding. "You sure you'll be alright walking home on your own, if you're this tired, Kiddo?" Charles would question; a hue of concern apparent before he'd add in offer "If you want, I could call and pay for a taxi for you, or drive you home and drop you off at your house, once we get back to Shibuya." It wasn't any trouble to him - free time was something that he tended to have a lot of, these days; and a little bit of yen was worth it, if just to make sure that Arakan didn't pass out or something on the way home. Of course, that last bit was probably just the worried father in him talking; surely she wouldn't pass out, but she'd certainly be feeling it once she got home.

As the young girl took out her own digivice though, Charles would peer to it, and the bright red of its casing. Wanyamon, too, would be quite curious - hopping down to Arakan's lap to check it out! "Hm... It's your call, really; though I don't know if I'd advise it now. I only suggested it on the trainride, because we'd have plenty of time to reverse the changes if something did go wrong. However, the trainride between here and Shibuya is more on the shorter side compared from here to Rosewood, I've noticed." He'd begin, tapping his knee before he added "And you had mentioned yourself, that you wanted to maintain that promise you had given to Plotmon. Being consistent with your spirit probably is a good idea, in the long run."

Charles wouldn't blame Arakan if she declined once more, even with his typical fatherly concern; she did seem like the type who wanted to be independant, after all, and she knew her own limits better than he did. However, he would be pleasantly surprised when she'd accept his offer of either or; and he would briefly nod in response. "When we get back to Shibuya then, I'll drive you home." He'd state; smiling warmly. "I've got plenty of freetime, and it'd give us a chance to talk a little more, if we still have things to talk about then." Which, he didn't doubt it too much; they seemed to get along nicely, after all.

The little Wanyamon would settle itself on Arakan's lap - tail slowly swishing as they eyeballed the device; tilting their head (which was essentially 90% of their body) one way, and then the other. With their contact with Arakan, she likely would be able to 'feel' the emotions coming off of them - their curiosity and intrigue, in particular - as they sniffed the device briefly. It was hard to say whether the little cat was coming to any conclusions, however; partially due to the fact that they didn't communicate thru words - either out of choice, or inability.

Charles, meanwhile, would watch with visible amusement and endearment; smiling warmly. "Such a curious fella, aren't they?" He'd muse out loud, before glancing over to Arakan. "I wonder if I'm the only one whose spirit who can do this, though... Your little Plotmon friend has yet to emerge at all in the same capacity that they do, after all; and I figured that if they could, they'd be doing it quite often, with their enthusiasm." Though, then again, that'd be rather troublesome, wouldn't it? Arakan already had to deal with being stuck as a Plotmon for awhile; having to deal with one that was more than willing to come out to meet everyone on the street would be a whole other story!