Skip Navigation
Gamble Your Heart Away (Kenny/NPC)
|
Post by Amaranthus on Jul 29, 2019 2:28:51 GMT
The heart of Tenebrous is not the gloomy and sinister place some might assume the city to be... Even dark corners of the Digital World had a bright side, and the downtown of Tenebrous was no exception. Neon lights that lit up the dark city in all manners of colors assaulted the eyes of all who lurked in these parts; the chatter of the lesser of the Digital Core cities lively and loud. Despite its ill-gotten reputation, there was an odd appeal to it... An appeal that by no means lessened the potential dangers of it.
For the Dead Pockets Casino, the danger was directed more at your pockets than your life. Countless souls seeking to please lady luck and win big have gambled their life's savings away at this cursed place, yet many keep coming back. Perhaps it was the warm, inviting atmosphere that drew in customers news and old. That or the Ponchomon manning the bar could make a damn good tequila. There was a little something for everyone actually... especially those who liked to tiptoe on the line of danger.
One table consisting of a Wizardmon, a BlackRapidmon, and a Lady Devimon were entertaining Amaranthus in a friendly game of poker... A small pot of bits that each player threw in to incentivise winning. What most didn't know was not too many people had the poker skills to outmatch the Mephistomon X... her ghastly skull-like head smiling as she showed a 3 to 6 of Hearts to her fellow players. "Oh dear. I do believe I win again. Another round perhaps?" she teasingly spoke, giggling to herself.
Unfortunately none of the other players laughed... the LadyDevimon straight up leaving after muttering a few small profanities whereas the Wizardmon just indulged himself with some liquor. "Afraid not lass. I gotta cut my losses. I jis ain't cut out for this." the Champion level mused as he drowned his sorrows with alcohol, the BlackRapidmon merely letting out a gruff sigh.
"Ah very well... It was a good game nonetheless. Perhaps you'll get some luck another time." Amaranthus huffed, though smiles. Despite being a demonic hellspawn who delighted in acts of sadism... she was a fair sport. Still, she couldn't help but want to scratch the gambling itch some more.
|
|
|
Post by Kenny O'Hara and Skadi on Aug 12, 2019 12:12:09 GMT
The dark city of Tenebrous was, quite frankly, one of the last places either Kenny or Skadi wanted to be in, and yet, here they were. You see, the reason they ended up here was because that Odin needed to deliver a package to a client at this mysterious casino. Kenny was never a gambler, but as a kid, he often had a bad habit of wandering into the casino branches of RSLs to satiate his brimming curiosity, only for his dad to drag him away.
Yet, as they walked, he and Skadi felt chills run down their spine, and even the normally boisterous Odin could feel his legs turning to jelly. It was clear from all the looks they were getting, and even some warning gestures of the more... unpleasant individuals made them here want to get in and out as fast as they could. Kenny just held Skadi to his chest as the sheep nuzzled him reassuringly, trying to keep him calm. They did not dare say anything, lest they get on anyone's bad side here.
But the destination in question, downtown Tenebrous, stuck out like a sore thumb. Contrary to the rest of the place, the bright lights and flashing colours was very apparent the second they stepped in. Still, nobody here would let their guard down; while the lights did look welcoming, they weren't going to risk it in the slightest. But in a short amount of time, they would reach their destination: the Dead Pockets Casino. A name that was a little too on the nose.
"Alright, Odin," Kenny spoke up quickly at the Peckmon, "Remember what we said; we go in, deliver the package, and go out, OK? No more, no less." Odin just nodded slightly at Kenny's words.
"Yes, I remember." The Peckmon replied, "I'll be quick, I promise." He pulled out a small cardboard box out of his trusty satchel, before gingerly pushing open the door to the Casino. Kenny, Skadi in his arms, would follow in turn. At the first sign of danger, Skadi would digivolve to SilverGrademon, rescue Odin, and go home. But for now, both of them would act casual.
Now indoors, the Peckmon started to seek out the recipient; it did say it was addressed to a Mephistomon located here. But which one? His eyes darted for a bit, before landing on a particular Mephistomon X sitting at a poker table, where the occupants cleared out, leaving the smiling goatwoman on her own. Odin carefully approached the Mephistomon X, package in hand, while Kenny and Skadi followed behind, just far enough not to arouse suspicion, "Hi, I saw this package was addressed to a Mephistomon located here, and I'm here to deliver it. Are you the recipient in question?" He said, trying to stay as calm as possible. Yet the subtle wobbling of his legs betrayed his true feelings.
|
|
|
Post by Amaranthus on Aug 12, 2019 22:12:28 GMT
Amaranthus sighed somewhat as she picked up a wine glass that was on the table; she sipping the red liquid patiently as she leaned back in her chair. There was something nice about not having any contracts to deal with, but at the same time the Ultimate level somewhat missed the excuse to just go out there and meet some new people. Oh sure generally whenever she would meet someone new, it was usually being handed some bloody money or for they to become blood money... but it could get dull after awhile... why else was she wasting hour after the after hour partaking in her gambling addiction and drinking fine liquor?
Oh yeah... demonic goat skull-face. That tended to get you politely escorted out of most public facilities...
As the she-devil ruminated about her visage, she turned her head to notice the garbed roadrunner-esque Digimon approach her... followed by a human male and a caprinae-resemblant Digimon being coddled by him. Despite her frightening appearance, the way the flames that emanated from her eye sockets flickered less intensely as if she were squinting signified a look of confusion from the demoness Digimon. "...? Hmm? I was not expecting a package today actually..." she for a moment mumbled, sipping from her wine glass as she tapped the floor with her parasol. "No wait... there was that violin bow I ordered! Or... was it the SkullGreymon bone marrow extract...? Bleedin' hell, sorry love; I get a tad scrambled."
Still, she supposed it was only fair to introduce herself; the Mephistomon X tilting her seat to face the trio as her flaming eyes seemed to curve into a happy expression. "On one hand, I don't see any other Mephistomon lurking around... and I wouldn't think my X-Antibody really muddies the waters too much if I do say so myself! Ho ho!" the demoness spoke with a English-accent as she tipped her embarassingly-small hat. "Amaranthus; professional killer, dealer, and problem-solver of all sorts."
|
|
|
Post by Kenny O'Hara and Skadi on Aug 13, 2019 7:52:17 GMT
It was no secret that Kenny felt quite afraid of the Ultimate sitting at the table, and even the normally brave Skadi felt a chill run up her spine. Something felt quite off about this Digimon in question, but neither could easily pin it down. They still opted to keep their distance, lest she notice something heavily suspicious about why she did. Kenny, however, was at least aware of the legend of Doctor Faust and Mephistopheles, the former who sold his soul to the latter in exchange for his service for a set number of years, only to be dragged off into hell at the end.
But as the Mephistomon X turned to face Odin, Kenny and Skadi, it was to some relief that her look was of confusion, and not anger or maliciousness, as she proceeded to question the package and the contents inside. However, the demoness held an air of politeness, and as so, not to potentially agitate the Mephistomon X, Odin, too, would try to be polite, despite his nerves eating away at him, "Um, yeah. That is indeed the violin bow you ordered inside, ma'am." He nodded, "I was told to deliver this to you today." as he laid the package on the table, if the Mephistomon X did open it, she would indeed find the bow in question.
The Mephistomon X would then introduce herself as Amaranthus, and immediately, Kenny felt his heart skip a beat at the 'professional killer' part. Were they really in the presence of a actual murderer? If anything, Skadi didn't dare move a muscle or start attacking. Archnemon and Tiger's Wingdramon both had powerful moves that could potentially lead to massive collateral damage, and it was a blessing to everyone there that neither side threw the first punch. "The name's Odin," the Peckmon said, tipping his own visor in response, "Part-time deliveryman, part-time fisherman. I usually don't show up around these parts, unless it's for delivery. It's how I make my living." He figured friendly chitchat would help curry favour with Amaranthus well, and if anything, potentially discourage her from murdering them. Offending a powerful demoness wouldn't exactly bode well for anyone's safety.
|
|
|
Post by Amaranthus on Aug 13, 2019 10:26:48 GMT
While the chatty type and expressing an air of ditziness… it would have been silly to assume that Amaranthus was least not partially aware of that her mannerisms would put off others. Still, if anything she was actually somewhat ecstatic to talk to someone! "Oh I do not blame you; Tenebrous is on the shifty side. Personally, I am more a Luminas type of girl; though they have somewhat a restraining order on me… Can barely show my face up there without a dozen guards hopping on me and putting me for questioning." she dwelled. Then again SHE was on the shifty side… so it fit perfectly well for her.
Yes, she supposed being a delivery man and fisherman somewhat paled in comparison to someone who actively murders others for a living; but Amaranthus respected those ideals. A life of peace was a tantalizing one, but she had long ago decided that was not the path for her… somewhere, somehow, someone was going to want someone dead. "No shame in picking more peaceful professions frankly! I sometimes moonlight as a courier myself, but thats for generally when I'm killing time… Get it?"
The Mephistomon X's demeanor was relaxed, but she could tell that the Peckmon , human, and the Rookie were put off by her… Yeah, that tended to happen a lot. "Pardon my rudeness, but you and whom I assume to be your associates seem a bit… what's the word I'm looking for…?" she ended up inquiring to Odin, though for a moment seemed to pause. "Oh! Yes, yes! Intimidated! That's the word!"
The devil woman stood up from her seat; her full height dwarfing Kenny and even Odin, she soon bowing courteously to the trio. "To put your worries at ease, you have my promise that I mean you no harm. It is against my core belief to lay a finger on the innocent in fact… my hands are only for sinners. Professionals have standards after all." she explained before seating herself down, gently placing the box besides the pile of poker chips she had accumulated from the past hour. "I moonlight as many things frankly. It really depends on the client's own desires. Just like you, its how I make my own living."
|
|
|
Post by Kenny O'Hara and Skadi on Aug 20, 2019 2:33:11 GMT
To Odin's initial surprise, Amaranthus claimed that she was more of a 'Luminas Girl'. Normally, considering how the authorities there watched dark- and demon-type Digimon like a hawk, even if the Digimon in question was actually not meaning to cause ill will. Still, he mainly opted to try and curry favour with the Mephistomon X, "I wouldn't blame you. I've seen many a well-meaning virus-type Digimon getting lynched by guards just by looking at them funny." Despite the fact the Digimon in front of them was, you know, a self-confessed murderer just standing right there in the open, Odin had actually seen several virus Digimon shunned just for being that; a virus (text)
However, it wasn't like Odin and Amaranthus had anything in common here. As it turned out, Amaranthus also moonlighted as a courier (and out of courtesy, Odin did chuckle slightly at the joke to appease the demoness). But however, to the surprise of nobody, she wasn't stupid. She quickly made the connection that Odin was connected to Kenny and Skadi in some way, and the fact they were frightened of her. Kenny and Skadi could only look as the natural Ultimate level stood up, practically towering over them. She could practically squash them all with one stomp.
Luckily for them, Amaranthus would then reassure them of their safety, only opting to strike down sinners. Sinners, hm? Odin did seem to incur a bit of interest in that matter,, "So, I guess that means you're a vigilante then? I like that. I'd consider myself a vigilante as well, beating sinners black and blue from time to time, and especially if they threaten to hurt my friends there." He boasted to her.
However, a new feeling arose in Skadi's body; you see, for a while she had successfully managed to repress her memory of when she fought Arkadimon, won, and absorbed it's data to save a multitude of lives, killing it permanently. Her subsequent joining of KIZNA had helped And looking at a murderer who casually mentioned she murdered as part of her job... well, those memories were starting to unearth themselves once again, haunting her vigorously. She still really had no idea what to say.
|
|
|
Post by Amaranthus on Aug 22, 2019 20:10:34 GMT
Amaranthus might have been a demon, but she was perfectly civil when she wanted to be... The gaudily-clothed devil had a look of interest towards Odin's own comments, to which she let out a hearty chuckle in response to. "Equal-oppurtunity evil, dear. You always have people who delude themselves in their own self-righteousness as they ignore the wrongs they may commit, but none who openly confess that they might be the ones at fault." she ended up sweetly speaking with a gentle voice, sipping her wine. "I don't hide that what I might do might be considered selfish or cruel by others, but at LEAST I'm honest with both myself and them. Live and let live, and die let die."
As she allowed the red liquid to stir, she leaned back down into her seat, chuckling softly at the title of a vigilante being thrown at her. A darling title she supposed! "Not a bad way of describing things, but if I had to tell you the truth... I mainly do it for kicks and giggles." she ended up refuting, tapping the ground with her folded-up parasol. "Without a doubt in my heart, I am a sinner... I enjoy the misery of others with a glee that could be described as demonic. The thing is dears, the world doesn't exactly allow for that sorta thing to go by all willy-nilly. This world has laws, and I will tell you that I am no lawbreaker."
Amaranthus held a hand out... a violet flame conjuring at her finger tips as a parchment with various names written out in Digimoji scrawled across it... many of which have been crossed out, while others have a check marked by them. "This world needs shepards to keep the sheep in line... People like me are the bogeymen that help to keep peace to this world in a way... Not that I'm doing it out of the goodness of my heart of course, but whose complaining?" the demoness morbidly joked, though her expression seemed to become more mild as she gazed at Skadi... actually motioning their hand at them. "Err... metaphorical sheep, darling. Not actual sheep. I actually deal with very few ungulates in my affairs actually."
The Mephistomon X had taken notice of the odd sheep Digimon's seemingly spike in stress... it was just something she was adept at, though in this scenario it was more out of a curiosity than an active attempt to prey on another's emotions. "Little one? You seem bothered... Stressed about something, darling?" she offered, motioning to the empty chairs by the table to all three. "You're welcome to take a seat. I was in a delightful game of poker before you all arrived, but alas now I'm alone... I however have been enjoying our conversation."
|
|
|
Post by Kenny O'Hara and Skadi on Aug 25, 2019 9:35:11 GMT
Normally, the imagery of a scary demon would have said demon live up to that image, but surprisingly enough, Odin was starting to find Amaranthus affable, and she surprisingly made several good points. If the murderer had anything going for her, at least she was clearly self aware. Speaking of, while it was clear that the Mephistomon X did enjoy the title of vigilante, she would then explain about her role in the world.
As Amaranthus pulled out her list, while Odin and Skadi could read it perfectly fine (for obvious reasons), Kenny tried to eye the list, and while he couldn't read a single word on it, it was pretty obvious to him what it implied; it was clear that she was more than just an ordinary murderer: she was a hitman who took pride in her job, as she further explained her purpose. Odin could only agree with her on that end, if to just appease her, "Well, the world could do with a little less... troublemakers, if you know what I mean." True, his master did work to stop criminals in his village, but his methods could easily be called extreme by others, and he took off from example.
It seemed Skadi's concerns hadn't slipped by Amaranthus so easily, but in a similarly amicable manner, she simply noted her stress. Skadi quickly shook her head, "No, no, it's fine. It's nothing to worry about, ma'am." She quickly responded to her, while Kenny pet her to help calm her.
Amaranthus would then offer the trio a seat. Odin, being the closest to the Mephistomon X, both literally and figuratively would take a seat. But while both Kenny and Skadi would hesitate at first, they would take her offer a few minutes later. "I'm sorry, Amaranthus," Kenny said, passing the Mephistomon X by, "but my partner here's kinda... how do I put it, iffy on the topic of murder. It's a personal thing, she really doesn't wanna get too much into it." Of course, he knew why Skadi had to kill and absorb Arkadimon on that faithful day, but that didn't mean she was keen on doing it herself; that clearly flew in the face of her morals, but she did it just to keep the others safe.
Still, the moment he settled in, the moment Kenny knew he had to make good idle chitchat with the demon. He would make sure not to mention KIZNA in any way, for one, "I've never been into gambling, myself. My dad's always told me it was a waste of time and money, and even though I'm technically of age now to gamble, at least in Japan. Although as a kid I would try to explore the slot machine room all by myself, until my dad would try to drag me out. I was so attracted by all the flashing lights and colours." His wistful reminiscence reminded him of earlier times, when everything was just so simple. If anything, he just hoped Amaranthus wouldn't try to prod Skadi for more information.
|
|
|
Post by Amaranthus on Aug 26, 2019 11:24:52 GMT
Amaranthus might be a cruel, sadistic killer… but she first and foremost was a noblewoman and a professional. She had little if any sympathy for her query, partly as many got themselves into the position they were in by their own folly. Reap what you sow… and frankly, some of these nitwits in this world were poor farmers. "Hey, I'm not complaining… It keeps me employed frankly. Long as there's some dumbasses that I can beat the snot out of and lug away to either a jail cell or a one-way trip to the Village of Beginnings, I'm happy." she snarked at Odin's comment, finishing off the rest of her drink.
Amaranthus gazed at Kenny's attempts comforting his partner quietly, but deep down… she felt nothing. What would have been a heartwarming act really didn't do anything to trigger anything emotionally for the demon. Acts of altruistic love were anomalous to the fiendess, partly due to having never experienced it herself. She never had that luxury growing up… she knew it existed, but the Mephistomon X had since resigned herself that she was a creature that was only meant to be tolerated or hated.
Still… a Digimon that was hesitant about killing? Certainly not uncommon, but Amaranthus did see folly in such a mindset. "Hmm... Fair enough, though I would be careful if you ever go venturing into the more dangerous parts of the Digital World like that… In the Dark Area, Digimon there would call that weakness. Do what you need to do." she ended up politely musing, even offering her own two-cents on such. Amaranthus grew up in an environment where everyone was part of a food-chain… it was partly her reasoning for taking the career path she had now. It was a relationship she wanted no part of less she was on top, and that wasn't something she was willing to hedge her bets on.
Speaking of bets… it was interesting to hear from the perspective of a human for once. She rarely dealt with them, so it was genuinely a treat for the lady goat to be in a conversation with one. She chuckled at Kenny's description of his father's opinion on the subject, she laying her now-empty wine glass down. "Nothing is a waste of time or money if you enjoy it. Truth be said, good gambling is a useful skill to have in life as a whole." she ended up speaking as she reached for the deck of cards that she had been using prior… dealing out a hand for herself. "You see, life is like a game of poker. You're dealt out a hand, but it's ultimately up to you to play or fold. Good judgement on whats a good hand or not is good and all, but knowing what the other players might have is just as important." she spoke as she flipped her hand of cards… a straight specifically. "It's fine to take a chance if you are comfortable with what you might lose, but never make a bet on more than you can afford."
She soon shuffled the cards back into the deck, chuckling to herself. "What your aunt Ammy is trying to say is, gamble responsibly. Even the best players get bad hands after all."
|
|
|
Post by Kenny O'Hara and Skadi on Aug 30, 2019 10:08:04 GMT
In an interesting turn of events, Amaranthus had brought up that her job did help to pay the bills, but the phasing seemed a little less... worrying. Yes, killing a Digimon did risk having their own memory wiped entirely, leading to a potential death of personality, but at least they got another chance at life. It was good that even some people had limits with them. Truth be told, even Skadi had her fears. She feared dying permanently. And many people in the Digital World's underbelly would not hesitate to do that. That's why she was so afraid.
Amaranthus just shrugged off Skadi's reluctance to talk about murder, but truth be told, Skadi had killed other Digimon outside of Arkadimon. But the major difference between that incident and the others was that she only absorbed the data of one. And while one could argue that Arkadimon as a Digimon was too dangerous to live, and thus, absorbing it was justified, it still weighed on her heavily. She just turned to Kenny and whispered to him, "Kenny, should I tell her?"
Kenny sighed sadly, "Not yet, Skadi." He responded, before chatting with Amaranthus about his own non-experiences with gambling. This lead into Amaranthus giving a little speech accompanied with her deck of cards. And as she spoke, all 3 listened with much less nervousness and more interest. Kenny had been born with a condition completely out of his control, leaving him alone and friendless for a lot of his life, and yet, he managed to make the best of it, and his own chance meeting with Skadi eventually led to them hobnobbing with what turned out to be a member of KIZNA, eventually leading the trio to join the team. And Odin... well, he wasn't saying much, but he was adopted by his old mentor, so...
Nevertheless, they let the demoness speak her mind on the matter. And as she finished up, Kenny and Skadi had paid full attention and had been heavily invested, the latter feeling a sense of relief go awash within her. For someone touting themselves as an assassin who considered murder her day job, she seemed like a nice person underneath it all. The young man gave a genuine smile to the Mephistomon X, "Heh. Never thought I'd see the day I'd get great advice from a demon of all people. No offence, Ammy." He chuckled. He being an Australian made him dabble quite a bit in dark humour. That at least allowed him to appreciate the complete and utter irony of the situation, considering the media loved to peddle the idea that demons were inherently evil and untrustworthy in nature.
Skadi also was smiling, a little wistfully, considering what she was about to talk about, but it wasn't spiteful in anyway. She had to get this off her chest, now that it had decided to resurface, "That does remind me when I had to take a gamble of my own. I remember one time, we were attacked by a Rookie-level Arkadimon. And it was quite the sadistic creature too. It was trying to kill me and Kenny, and seemed to take a lot of immense pleasure in doing so too. I mananged to kill it, but in a fit of anger and sadness, I... absorbed it's data." She was trying not to cry, but tears were starting to fall from her face, while Kenny pat her on the back to calm her down, "I did this because I didn't want it to ravage the Village of Beginnings and kill my friends there, but it made me feel like a monster. And I've hated myself for doing it ever since, I've been trying my hardest to repress that memory." Odin just looked on in confusion. He was never made aware of that, and was taught that sometimes, it was a necessity to ensure the safety of others. So he chose to remain silent.
By now, more tears had fallen from her face, as she started to sob. "Skadi, why don't you tell her about what you did for Golden Week? That was a pretty big risk we had to take there, and it paid off, big time." He reminded her. Skadi's smile found it's way back again, as she nodded to Kenny, wiped away a few tears, and smiled, before turning back to Amaranthus.
"Yeah. Earlier this year, a whole bunch of Digimon showed up on Earth and tried to reveal themselves to the world. But we were attacked by Archnemon and her cronies. But we all took a big risk there. We set up a peaceful protest and prevented a fight from breaking out too." By now, her smile was growing wider. It was one of the things she and Kenny felt proud of for doing, if his nodding was anything to go by, and even Odin looked a little keen. "We even made a new friend along the way. All of us there took a big risk, and it paid off for us. I've... honestly never felt more proud of ourselves." A few small proud chuckles escaped out of her mouth, with Kenny just responding to ruffling her hair. It was practically a symbol of their love for each other at this point.
|
|
|
Post by Amaranthus on Aug 30, 2019 12:03:32 GMT
It was certainly an unlikely conversation… but not necessarily an unwanted one. Amaranthus couldn't help but let out a hearty laugh at Kenny's cheeky comment. It WAS deliciously ironic, and Amaranthus was one happy to play with self-deprecation. "We CAN give good advice… we just tend to not because eight out of ten times we just want to trick you so we can eat your soul. Or something like that." she joked, even if it was somewhat half-true. "I also prefer to call myself a devil… a tempter and a punisher for the wicked. A demon takes what they want by force, a devil convinces you to hand it over by your own free-will. Some personal advice between you and me? Always read the fine print and ask questions."
Who said evil couldn't be honest?
The fiendess might have been fairly plucky, but even she grew quiet at the mention of an Arkadimon… Yeah, even SHE got heeby-jeebies with those bastard hellspawn. Even if it was just a Rookie, they're probs among the most dangerous… A creature with no inhibitions or sense of restraint. "You're definitely lucky to be alive… Among Digimon, Arkadimon are I'd say one of the four Digivolutionary lines I charge a premium if I have to deal with one. Those are the Keramon, Arkadimon, Dex-variant Dorumon, and Meicoomon lines… probably among the most volatile Digimon around. Scary stuff potentially, especially if they get to snowball…" the Mephistomon X spoke, her tone actually shifting to that of mild concern. "I feel like I'd get indigestion if I ever had to load one of those things… they're considered downright toxic to load for most, so I'm surprised you managed to down it without ill side-effects… though I won't fault you for that. I'd say your actions probably saved plenty more lives because of that."
Still, Skadi did have her undivided attention… She didn't really foray into the human world (partly due to a lack of a need), but the mention of a bunch of dumbass Digimon trying to spoil the secrecy Digimon had as a whole to the human populace caught her attention. If she had been there, she'd likely just tried to drag the offenders (after thoroughly kicking their shit in) in for some easy bounties without much thought on the aftermath… but Kenny and Skadi seemed to ultimately opt for the pacifistic approach then. Now that she thought about it, there WAS talk about some extremist group of Digimon causing trouble in both worlds regarding the link between both worlds, wasn't there?
Amaranthus was by all means a pessimist… To her, acts of heroism were often not more than shams… ways to make oneself look good. She has seen countless times would-be do-gooders and self-proclaimed heroes tout themselves as paragons of goodness, but ultimately either fail to even take the call when it was really needed or opted to prioritize their own skin over others. Still… her cordial and amicable nature took precedence and she couldn't help but respect the pair's actions. "Let me say this, girl. By no means am I what people might call a good samaritan… after so many times experiencing acts of selfishness and malice, I've resigned to being out for myself first and foremost… but I would be lying if I said I don't respect your ideology. You do what you think is right, even when it puts yourself at risk. That takes guts, and not a lot of folks are willing to stick their neck out for their beliefs… so keep doing you." she spoke to Skadi, even offering a very faint smirk.
She might have been a villain, but even villains had a sense of honor.
It actually hurt Amaranthus inside a little to even act this mellow though… Her demonic and sinful-coding hated innocent virtue or acts of love like this as it spat in the face of everything she believed in. She was… somewhat jealous honestly, perhaps since it was the exact thing the Dark Area heavily lacked. Taking a moment to recollect herself, the Mephistomon X sighed as she tapped at the table with her index finger. "Crud… I can't even act snobby or villainous at this. Heartwarming and mushy stuff is always a buzzkill for me." she ended up groaning in a pouty manner, resting her head in her palm as she laid an elbow on the table. She wasn't even trying to be rude, it actually was giving her a mild headache! "I mean in a quite literal way too. My abilities innately prey on the frustration, fear and anger of others. Inverse literally makes me get a little blech."
|
|
|
Post by Kenny O'Hara and Skadi on Sept 3, 2019 11:19:46 GMT
While Amaranthus did appreciate Kenny's sense of humour, thankfully, she did quickly clarify that she was a devil, not a demon, and pointed out the singular major difference between them. Kenny chuckled once again, as he listened to, and heeded, the Mephistomon X's advice, "Oh, OK. I'll remember that for next time. Thanks Ammy" He noted.
Skadi's story of her first ever battle, against Arkadimon, had sounded like it actually concerned Amaranthus and freaked her out a bit. Even she didn't sound so keen to tangle with them... or 3 other types of Digimon, 2 they had been quite a passing familiarity with; Mei-chan the Meicoomon, and the 2 Dorumon of KIZNA, Hikaru and Peresphone. Hearing Amaranthus commend her for her risky action made her give the Mephistomon X another genuine, if sad, smile, while Kenny stroked her hair, "I think she knows already, Ammy, but she's no less grateful for that. Thank you." He told her.
Odin nodded in agreement with Amaranthus, "I've seen a fair few amount of those Digimon in my travels. And lemmie tell you, they ain't fun to deal with." He crossed his arms and sighed, "Never dealt with an Arkadimon myself, thank Goddramon, but a few Dex-Dorugamon, can't remember what. They're pretty nasty pieces of work; if you agitate them, they won't stop until either you or it are dead. Word of advice, if you can avoid it, do not make eye contact with them, and pray you never have to face a DexDorugreymon. Ever. Best piece of advice you'll all be heeding all night. Trust me." He calmly leaned down on his seat and chuckled, tipping his viser up a bit, "Not bad for a mere mailman, eh?"
But upon hearing Skadi's story about how she and Kenny helped to stop all hell from breaking loose on that faithful day, Amaranthus seemed to show at least an ounce of respect for their actions. Who would blame her; Archanemon was probably that dangerously close into igniting a fight that day, and in turn, dad would have probably even died. Skadi was tearing up again, but this time with tears of joy, as she wiped some away, "Thank you... Amaranthus... I really appreciate that." She whispered quietly. Who knew someone who looked so scary could really be so nice.
And so, Skadi leaned over to give Amaranthus a big hug, but before she could, she stopped herself as the Ultimate bemoanded her state and leaned onto the table in pain, making her, Kenny and Odin look on in concern. "Ammy? Are you OK?" She asked her quietly. This was met with Amaranthus complaining how people's happiness literally made her ill, catching them off by surprise.
"Wait. People's happiness literally makes you sick?" Kenny asked inquisitively but sympathetically, "I've... honestly never heard of that before. I'm sorry to hear that." Maybe it was a little bit ballsy, but Kenny got out of his seat to rub Amaranthus's back to try and relieve her illness a little bit. All 3 of them had had let who literally admitted she was the devil at this point grow on them, and give them some good advice, so it would be nice to repay the favour.
|
|
|
Post by Amaranthus on Sept 5, 2019 18:56:12 GMT
Odin it seemed was far more interesting an individual than first impressions gave... Amaranthus didn't really invest too heavily in the delivery business, but perhaps she was underestimating what those folks had to go through on a daily basis. "I know mailman have a motto about sleet nor rain, but I'm sure the job description doesn't list zombies." she joked, but did want to not undersell how dangerous those DexDorugamon could be. "They're like winged MetalPiranimon. Sure they're only Champions, but in the Dark Area they like to be in groups... They're nasty little buggers who will strip a mon clean if you piss off the whole swarm. You can see why I wanted to move out of that hellhole perhaps, right?"
She might have been a demon, but the Dark Area was no place for a lady...
Amaranthus while did take a liking to the three (she has not had such a good conversation like this in quite a while), but she was trying to at least hide her mild sickness out of politeness. "Don't mention it. I kinda taken a liking to ya… Goats gotta stick together after all, right? Or… sheep? Eh, whatever… we're both caprinae as far as I am concerned." she smiled, though it seemed even she couldn't hide it. Still... she didn't need their sympathy, she was a grown woman after all! "Think of it like a minor allergy. Not gonna die from it, but damn if it does not bug me. I'll walk it off though… I have had worse happen to me." she ended up replying, trying to least make it not sound as severe.
Initially she didn't pay much mind to Kenny walking behind her... but she flinched for a moment as she felt hands gently massage her back. It actually DID help her stomach, but at the same her impish side couldn't help but want to poke a little fun at him. "Well... if you wanted to get your hands on me, just ask! I know it's hard to resist, but don't worry… all the other men find me irresistible too." she giggled mischievously at him. "Hey, don't get that face… I'm just screwing with ya! No offense was intended... You DID kinda set yourself up for that one though. I do honestly appreciate the gesture though… It was sweet." she swiftly changed her tone, it becoming at least a bit softer and more appreciative.
Kenny and Skadi were certainly a sweet pair... very different from herself though... The demon actually sighed slightly. One way or another, something would happen that would alienate herself to them... It was just her nature.
|
|
|
Post by Palmon, The Vetina on Sept 5, 2019 21:30:33 GMT
Alone again, without a cohort by her side. What's one to do in a time like this? Not to say something has happened, at least, not something particularly terrible, but that's neither here nor there. As of right now, Vetina is by herself, with no current tasks to perform or otherwise much of any goal, except for one. Vetina had made the trek here, this underground city, almost on a whim. While some are intimidated by the atmosphere, and others bask in it, it would be fair to say she was largely apathetic. Outside of how bright the lights were, she didn't care for them. But that's what her sunglasses were for, as her eyes were a bit more sensitive to light than most others. The odd Palmon-esque creature seemed unfazed as she slipped by passerbys, and ducked trouble where there might be some (or might not, but err on the side of caution), with her goal clear in mind, the Dead Pockets Casino. Entering in, she quickly scanned the area. Bright and loud, it was almost a headache just to stand there. But on she went, with one focus in mind. She cared not for the gambling in the slightest (not that she even knew much about cards in the first place, or had enough money on her to justify risking it on a gamble), but she did want to see something... to confirm something she had heard a couple times before. Does the Dead Pockets Casino serve a good Lobster dinner. Of course, for a casino, there needs to be alternate means of getting others to sink money into the place. And digimon typically need to eat too. --------------- Some time later, after finding the dining area, and then ordering and receiving her food, one could see Vetina finish it off, every single last crumb. For a moment afterward she sat still, eyes closed, taking deep breaths... "HAVE DEITIES BLESSED THIS PALATE, OR IS THIS FLAVOR OF SINFUL ORIGINS!? MY... MY STARS WHAT MANNER OF BLISS HAVE I TAKEN INTO MYSELF TODAY!?
THE LOBSTER, CLOUDS OF DELIGHT, HOUSED IN SUCH WARM EMBRACE OF THIS CRIMSON CARAPACE! WITH THE CONDENSATION OF THIS... BEAUTIFUL GARLIC BUTTER IT RAINS GLORY!
RISOTTO OF CHAMPIONS... NO OF THE HIGHEST TIER... NO, NO RUNGS CAN HOPE TO MAKE CONTACT! UNMISTAKABLE PROOF THAT THERE LIES A DIGI-CORE OF WARMTH HERE! MINE, STOLEN AWAY BY ITS CREAMINESS OF SEEMING UNREALITY!
NO EMPEROR OF SALADS SHALL FALL BETWIXT THE ENDS OF MONTHS, SUCH CRISP, FRESH CRUNCH! ET TU, CRUTONS, YOU'VE GIVEN ME LIFE!
AND THE WINE...
EXQUISITE!
WEALTH AND GLORY TO THE CHEF!!!"
|
|
|
Post by Kenny O'Hara and Skadi on Sept 13, 2019 8:39:30 GMT
Nobody could easily blame Amaranthus for wanting to steer clear from the Dark Area ASAP, as Odin gave a slight nod on that. While Kenny and Skadi never came face to face with a DexDorugamon (at least not yet), his and Amaranthus' testimonies gave no doubt that these Digimon were one to steer clear from at all times, unless circumstances permitted otherwise.
Still, it was getting pretty clear that the Mephistomon X, surprising as it was with her being a self-confessed bounty hunter, had slowly but surely warmed up to them, responding to Skadi's concern by making a little lighthearted joke about their own species, which did make Skadi giggle a little bit, before reassuring the Valaismon that she was fine. Of course, having just met, they couldn't just truly understand her condition, but Skadi did feel a sense of relief, "At least you'll be OK. That's good to hear, at least." Skadi replied with a relieved smile, but Amaranthus' condition was starting to raise more questions than it answered.
Rubbing the back of a literally sick giant she-devil goat felt a little weird for Kenny, but mainly because nowhere in his life would he find himself doing this ever outside of weird fever dreams. But Amaranthus would respond with a bit of affectionate teasing. Immediately, he froze in place, pausing for a few seconds trying to comprehend the Mephistomon X's... pretty suggestive comments, "Wait, what!? Slow down, are you actually flirting with me!?" he finally exclaimed in surprise and confusion, starting to blush profusely. He was
Needless to say, Kenny's reaction was not lost on either Skadi or Odin, whom both were trying - and failing - to stifle their giggles at the young man's embarrassment. Thankfully, it was only a joke, as Amaranthus explained, before genuinely thanking him for his actions. Kenny, despite the fact he was still recovering from the saucy comment, could only smile and rub the back of his head, "Aw, it was nothing, Ammy." Kenny laughed a little, finally seeing the humour in this little incident, "Truth be told, you've honestly been really nice to us tonight. I guess the reason we were a little afraid earlier was because of the shady reputation of several of the residents there. But you've been really helpful tonight, great to talk to, and even given us some nice life lessons here and there. Least I could do at this point for you was to return the favour when I could get the chance." He simply shrugged. All of what he was saying was truthful, and the other 2 Digimon nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, Ammy!" Skadi chimed in, "Kenny's right! You have been great to talk to tonight. Thank you, Ammy!"
Odin could only add a slight chuckle, "Those 2 hit the nail right on the head. You're pretty cool, lady, if you ask me." And so far, things had been going swimmingly for all of them. Despite her status, she seemed like a cool old lady to them. They just hoped they didn't have to fight her in the near future, at least...
|
|
|