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[Open Intro] I swear it's not a bomb!
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Post by ghostmagus on Sept 25, 2021 5:59:14 GMT
Night had fallen over Tokyo, but it did not bring darkness to Hachikō Square. Since the New Yorker had moved to Tokyo a couple of months past the square had become a favorite haunt of his in his downtime. The shining lights of the square reminded him of home. Colin Murdoch was certainly a fish out of water. But he was finding he could breathe on land too. Dumb metaphor, but he liked it. Colin was sitting on one of the benches near the bronze pupper statue. He was wearing bright red plaid pants, and a matching suit jacket. His shirt was black, his tie yellow, it attracted the odd bit of attention, but he was well used to it by now. He reached into his jacket and pulled out a pack of his favorite brand of cigarettes which he ordered in bulk from a little boutique in the downtown area that imported them from an indigenous tribe in the states. He lit up, inhaled, and felt his nerves from the day at work begin to settle and his mind’s haze sharpen and focus. Oh yeah. That was the stuff. Finally, more relaxed he opened his briefcase and looked at the manila padded envelope he had been saving all day. Popping it open delicately he reached inside fishing for the note first, it was only polite to check the note first. His father’s messy scrawl met his eyes, a welcome sight. The note gave some news, mostly good, but some gossip about his parent’s new neighbors who were apparently hugely scandalous. Delicious delicious gossip. The note went on to detail how his parents had set about emptying the old storage unit and had sent him a few things they thought were his. Colin curiously tipped over the envelope and two things fell out, firstly, and most importantly, were an old pair of circular holographic sunglasses with skulls on them. “Awesome," commented the 28-year-old man as he popped them straight onto his face. Balancing his cigarette between his lips the man turned his attention to the second item, an old Motorola flip phone, one of the old razers. It was bright green and garish as it had been in his youth. Colin picked it up and flipped it open chuckling, remembering all the scandalous texts and late-night phone calls he had had with it. Then it began to vibrate, which promptly caused Colin to drop it back into his briefcase and slam it shut. He hadn’t charged the thing in over ten years and now it was vibrating? That was almost definitely a bad sign. The entire briefcase began to shake and vibrate then and light began to pour out of it through the cracks but as soon as it started it stopped. The square was filled with an awkward silence as the people in the immediate area stared at the incredibly eccentric American man with a glowing briefcase.
The painfully tense silence was broken by the dulcet 8-bit tones of Frank Sinatra’s New York, New York. Some people laughed, other people shook their head, most everyone started ignoring him. Behind his very cool and awesome sunglasses Colin blinked in confusion and opened his briefcase to stare, not at his Motorola razer flip phone, but at a different device all together. It looked like it could fit perfectly in the palm of his hand, with rigid grips. It had a screen in the center and an antenna along with a few simple buttons. Colin picked it up in confusion as it continued to emit the Frank Sinatra song. The cigarette hung limply from his lips as he wondered what the heck was going on?
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Post by ricochet8-Kshin on Sept 25, 2021 6:19:14 GMT
Kshin and Grace were walking through Hachikō Square. Despite using holosuits, Grace's was recently acquired, the pair was getting strange looks and who could blame the humans after all Kshin looked like he was ten in his disguise and Grace looked like a slightly older girl in middle school. Fortunately all they did was stare as the two of them made their way soon catching sight of a man lighting up a cigarrette. He was carrying a brief case and feeling curious the duo made their way closer but staying upwind of the cigarette smoke so they wouldn't smell it. They watched as the man brought out various items from a manila envelope until an item that was obviously dead began to vibrate. When the man put it in his briefcase glowing was seen through the cracks and Kshin asked "Could it be?"
Then music unknown to Kshin and Grace began playing from within the briefcase. The man opened his briefcase again and pulled out something that was all too familiar to even partnerless digimon. "Grace, look he has a D3. He must be a new tamer." Kshin said in a hushed whisper while pointing at the man.
"But if he's a tamer then where is his partner digimon?" Grace asked causing Kshin to cluelessly shrug in respose as he was as lost as she was.
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Post by ghostmagus on Sept 25, 2021 17:04:16 GMT
The confusion lasted for a considerable amount of time, in truth confusion didn’t stop but eventually, Colin had to accept that no answers were going to present themselves by just sitting there staring at this…phone? So Colin placed the strange device into his breast pocket, closed up his briefcase, and got up looking around. He spotted something downwind of him and it appeared that he had noticed Kshin and Grace as he started walking towards them. When he got near however he moved past them, not noticing the two Digimon in disguise in the slightest as anything other than two youths.
He had his eyes fixed on what what nearby behind them; an internet café. He paused only to wave at a coworker from the soft drinks company that shall not be named. Anyone who was nearby could hear them call Colin “Baka-san”.
Normally he’d wait until his cigarette was finished but this was no time for frugality, he put it out in an ashtray and stepped inside the internet café. After paying for a booth he situated himself inside of it and raised the strange green and black device to take a picture of it with the webcam but the strange device started emitting a dull purple light.
Again, Colin dropped the strange device onto the desk and the light began to shift and coalesce in the air and Colin began to genuinely wonder if something had gotten mixed into his cigarette. The purple light seemed to take on mass until the device was sitting on the desk with a large purple egg the size of Colin’s head resting on top of it. Colin blinked once, then twice, then looked around. No one had seemed to notice his old razer phone laying an egg but on the flip side, he also was starting to question how much of this was really happening.
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Post by ricochet8-Kshin on Sept 25, 2021 18:27:05 GMT
The duo watched as the man put the digivice in his breast pocket and closed up his briefcase before walking by them without so much as an odd glance their way as if seeing two kids out in the middle of the night was a normal everyday occurrence. When he headed toward an internet café just as he was out of earshot, Grace quietly asked "Hey, Kshin, are humans usually this strange or are all the humans that have been staring at us the weird ones?"
That was indeed a good question and one that the disguised Gumdramon had no answer to other than a clueless shake of his head before he said "I'm not sure but I kind of want to find out if his partner will show up after awhile. You coming, Grace?" Kshin had to admit to himself he was curious of the man as he had never seen a digivice pop up seemingly out of thin air before though he had heard that it happened sometimes.
"Sure why not? It beats feeling people staring at us like we aren't wearing holosuits." the disguised Gammamon said.
With that the two of them began heading to the café themselves entering while looking around for the man soon spotting him and their eyes were wide with surprise as they saw a digiegg resting on the desk. How anyone had not noticed it neither of them knew since such a sight was not a normal occurrence in the Human World just as devices coming from thin air wasn't. Kshin tried to figure out how best to approach the stranger when Grace took initiative and being the peppy girl that she was she walked up to the man and innocently said "Hi there."
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Post by ghostmagus on Sept 25, 2021 21:58:27 GMT
The man was roused from his questions of his own sanity by what appeared to be a teenage girl approaching him and greeting him politely. Colin turned to look at her and then quickly took off the holographic sunglasses with skulls on them. Not the time.
The girl didn’t seem to notice that he had a bulky purple egg or at the very least she didn’t seem to be reacting to it. “Uh, hello.” Colin started uncertainly then looked around wondering if this was one of those Japanese prank videos shows he had heard so much about on the web. He turned back to the young girl and gingerly picked up the purple egg and held it up, “Do you see this egg?” he asked a slight edge of concern to his voice.
His brown eyes slowly drifted from the young girl in front of him to the younger looking boy standing behind her a bit. He blinked and looked around for any adults that might be supervising them, but then he supposed the older girl might be a sister or babysitter, something like that. He turned his attention once more to the teenage girl and sighed, “Can I help you? I’m kind of having a very weird time of it right now, sorry if I’m a little frazzled,” he apologized.
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Post by ricochet8-Kshin on Sept 25, 2021 22:18:09 GMT
The man responded sounding uncertain which was totally understandable seeing as he didn't seem to have the digiegg a few moments earlier when they were all outside.Then he held the egg up and asked if Grace could see it. Maybe he thought he was going crazy which, given the situation he now found himself in, was also understandable. Smiling at the man she nodded before she said "Yes I see the egg and so did my friend."
When asked if he could help her and apologizing for being a bit frazzled Kshin walked up alongside Grace before he said "I get that a strange machine and an egg seemingly appearing in your life out of nowhere can be weird and judging by the way you look you must be thinking you're crazy, am I right? Sorry if we come off as nosey but we saw everything that happened outside music and all." Kshin took a deep breath before he then said "The name's Kshin and with me is my friend, Grace. What's your name?" He wouldn't mention digimon or the Digital World unless he had to because he had no idea how the stranger would take such information and the last thing he wanted to do is draw attention to them due to freaking a human out.
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Post by ghostmagus on Sept 25, 2021 22:30:49 GMT
The man furrowed his brow slightly as this Kshin calmly went about reassuring him. Colin gave a long hard appraising look at what appeared to be a prepubescent boy, weighing his options. He took a deep breathe and his posture and face relaxed and he gave the young man a warm smile. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance Kshin,” he turned then and gave Grace an informal nod of his head, “and you as well Grace.”
Looking back at his purple egg he gave it a contemplative stare as he wondered what could possibly be going on. “I’m Colin Murdoch, but people around here tend to call me Baka-San. You can call me whatever.” He shrugged as he turned back to the youths, he reached into his breast pocket and pulled out the strange device that had seemingly reconstructed itself from his former phone. “I’m guessing you kids know what all this means, what’s going on here?” He asked and looked from one to the other giving them piercing stares to try and gauge what their motivations might be.
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Post by ricochet8-Kshin on Sept 25, 2021 23:09:16 GMT
The man seemed to be more relaxed as he adjusted his posture and face to reflect this. When his gaze went to the egg in his hands he introduced himself as Colin Murdoch and that people also referred to him as Baka-San. This had Kshin confused and it was visible on his face. In Japanese Baka meant idiot so why would someone call him such a thing? "Nice to meet you too, Colin, but I have a question. Why do they call you Baka-San? I thought Baka meant idiot. That doesn't sound like a very nice thing to call someone at all."
Then Colin brought out his digivice and asked what was going on here. It was obvious that he was referring to not just the machine but the egg as well but how would be the best way to explain this was the problem Kshin was still having. Grace, as peppy as ever, decided on her own that the direct approach was the best option so throwing caution to the wind, she said "That device you have is a type of digivice know as a D3. Digivices are only owned by a small portion of the human populace and the egg you have contains one of many different species of digital monsters or digimon for short. Humans with digivices form various bonds with digimon depending on the model of digivice. For example your D3 is carried by humans known as tamers and the egg is likely your partner digimon." Kshin could only stare at her mouth agape as that was not what he was expecting her to do. He only hoped Colin wouldn't freak out.
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Post by ghostmagus on Sept 25, 2021 23:47:40 GMT
An awkward embarrassed laugh burbled up from the man, he shifted the egg in his hands in his discomfort and shrugged. “They mean it endearingly. I’ve been called worse; you should hear the sh- the uh the things we used to call each other back in college.” Colin quickly cut off the profanity that was forthcoming. “But I think they call me that here because I’m not used to the customs and language,” it was true, the man could be a little gormless by Japanese standards, which he was fine with, that was culture shock after all. It had been similar when he transferred from the New York public school system to the private higher education he had received through scholarships. Took him a while to learn to swim with the rich fishes.
But this trip down memory lane was abruptly ended when Grace provided an information deposit that he had not even been remotely braced for. He sighed in relief, it was a marketing thing of some kind, thank goodness. But then he noticed Kshin’s astonishment, and the look on the young man’s face made him consider the possibility that whatever Grace had just said, it wasn’t a misdirection.
He blinked. Once, twice, three times. Then he turned and picked up his brief case and stood up, still cradling the purple egg with one arm. He looked at the two kids and shook his head. “I need a moment, please follow me.” He promptly set off walking swiftly out of the internet café and down the street to a small bodega type shop. “Feel free to pick out something you want,” offered the man gesturing at the various snacks and beverages that were stocked. He himself picked up a four pack of a energy drink that his company produced, two five-hour energy shots, a small bag of baked chips, and a pack of spearmint gum.
He dumped the items on the cash register and quickly paid for the items including anything the ‘children’ might have picked out for themselves. He paid with cash and gave the polite head nod and thanked him in Japanese, he had mastered that much at least.
He marched out back to the square and sat where he had before, in front of the pupper statue. He quickly downed both energy shots before ripping open the bag of chips. “Start at the beginning and tell me everything.” He said went into autopilot mode, slowly and methodically eating the chips one by one as he listened to whatever the kids had to say. His eyes glazed over and all his intention was put behind his active listening as he stared off into space.
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Post by ricochet8-Kshin on Sept 26, 2021 0:23:48 GMT
"Sounds weird to call someone an idiot as a term of affection. Maybe some of your friends are just a little strange, Colin." Kshin said trying to understand Colin's friends. Humans sure were more strange than he originally thought but Kshin decided to shake it off as the human known as Colin didn't seem bothered by it. "Some customs sure can be strange."
Colin's reaction to Grace's sudden and blunt information dump was quiet but not unexpected as he now reminded Kshin of a crashed computer with as silent as he was. Then he stood up with egg in one arm and carrying his briefcase with his free hand saying he needed a moment and to follow him. As he got just out of hearing range, Kshin turned to Grace and said "I think you broke his brain. Did you see the look on his face?"
"Oopsie." was all Grace was able to get out as the two took off after Colin catching up with him shortly. When they all stepped into another shop Colin told them to pick something out. Hesitant at first Kshin and Grace grabbed a box of Pocky each and set them on the counter. What kid didn't like sweets regardless of species.
After getting the stuff they group headed back to the statue that Kshin and Grace first saw Colin by and after he sat down he made short work of the energy shots and started methodically on the bag of chip before he told them to start at the beginning and tell him everything. Deciding to take over Kshin took a deep breath before he said "There is a world connected to this one called the Digital World where digimon originate from. Like Grace said there are many species and all are sentient beings. Like humans but in super powered monster form. While digimon can be very dangerous humans with a digivice form bonds with digimon in various ways and the digimon fight to keep their vulnerable human partners safe from harm from other digimon. Digimon over time mature through a process known as digivolution which the digimon undergoes something akin to metamorphosis in this world and become more advanced and stronger forms."
"When digimon hatch they begin at the fresh stage before eventually achieving other stages that are, in order, in training, rookie, champion, ultimate, mega, and super mega." Grace interjected when Kshin stopped to take a breath. Now the trick was should they mention they were digimon as well?
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Post by ghostmagus on Sept 26, 2021 0:47:05 GMT
The more the kids spoke the more rapidly Colin’s leg began to bounce up and down rapidly. Until by the time Grace finished explaining about the different power levels. All the while as his leg shook, he ate the chips with an almost eerie calm. In the back of Colin’s mind, he was focusing the manic racing thoughts into looping music in his head. From a cartoon in his childhood, pink elephants on parade. A nonsensical manic song that accompanied a drunk elephant. It was random nonsense to focus the mania and keep his conscious thoughts focused on the words he was hearing.
Colin reached into the bag but found that it was completely empty. He smoothed out the corners and neatly folded up the crinkly plastic bag before dropping it into the larger shopping bag. He pulled out one of the energy drinks and cracked it open gulping down half of it to wash away the salt and the gold brought his mind to an even sharper focus.
Super powered sentient monsters that could rapidly transform and increase in power. That was easy enough to wrap his mind around, the concept itself was simple but how it worked? Well, if it was true, but he was getting ahead of himself.
The digital world thing stumped him a little. If it was digital, how did he have a physical egg in this world? Well, it had come out of his phone or rather the, what had it been referred to? Digivice? D3? He was starting to notice a naming theme.
He put a pin in his thought process and looked down at his egg which was sitting in his lap. He put a palm on it and felt warmth radiating from within. He felt…something, a certain stirring in his chest he couldn’t place his finger on. It was that intrinsic emotional bond that he felt within him that sealed his belief. He didn’t understand the how, but he knew the kids were telling the truth, or at least, he chose to believe.
His shaking leg slowly came to a stop and he pulled the egg in closer, protectively embracing it with one arm as he sipped his drink. “Why me?” it was perhaps the only question that truly mattered.
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Post by ricochet8-Kshin on Sept 26, 2021 1:04:02 GMT
As Kshin and Grace explained things they noticed Colin's leg bouncing and it intensified as they continued their explanation. He was quiet the whole time. One could even say eerily and if not for the bouncing leg Colin would of seemed like a statue. Colin realized his chip bag was empty and folded it up before placing it inside the bag that was carrying the food before bringing out another energy drink. Was so many energy drinks in such a short time healthy? Neither Kshin nor Grace were sure but they were polite enough not to judge Colin for it.
They watched as Colin placed his hand against the egg as if feeling around for the lifeform within it. When he brought the egg into an embrace Kshin and Grace looked at each other briefly as they heard him say why me? Now genuinely concerned Kshin approached Colin and asked "Hey, Colin, are you okay?" Grace remained right where she was just as in the dark as Kshin on what to do as both youngsters had never seen a human react in such a way. Did they give him to much information to process at once? Was he scared of something? Only Colin knew at this point.
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Post by ghostmagus on Sept 26, 2021 1:17:23 GMT
At the question Colin’s eyes snapped up and he gave a confident smile, “Literal question, not a lament. Why me? Why was I chosen? I’m a internet marketing major, I wish I understood.” He explained giving the pair a reassuring smile. He kept on the expression as he turned back to the egg and ran his palm over it some more. “I take it you two are, what did you call it? Tamers. Is that how you know so much about all this?” He inquired having absolutely no suspicion that he was actually talking to Digimon.
He lifted the egg up slightly and pressed his ear against it, “How do I take care of this thing anyway, do I have to keep it warm? Should I get like an incubator or something?” in his minds eye he was having images of having to baby proof his apartment. Get diapers, baby food, that sort of thing. “Do…do Digimon eat?” he furrowed his brow. “Okay no, better question, is there a manual or a wiki or something?” He turned chuckling at his own humor to the pair.
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Post by ricochet8-Kshin on Sept 26, 2021 1:37:46 GMT
So he was confused on why he was chosen as a tamer. His behavior made much more sense now. "I'm sorry but I don't know how tamers are chosen or why for that matter." Then he looked over at Grace and asked "Do you know how or why they are chosen, Grace?" Grace responded with a shake of her head indicating her clear lack of knowledge in this matter. So now what?
Colin's next question regarding them possibly being tamers as the reason for their knowledge caught their attention. The jig was up and they new it. Smiling Grace shook her head before she said "No. No. Kshin and I aren't tamers. We aren't even humans for that matter. We are just a pair of young digimon in disguise."
Watching Colin hold the egg up to his ear as if he was listening for any sound to come out of it he began asking about how to care for the egg. "I don't know anything about caring for digieggs but I don't think an incubator is necessary. Maybe you could wrap the egg in a blanket. My adopted parents said they did that when my big brother was an egg." Kshin said. Then the subject of food and care instructions came up and Kshin said "Of course digimon eat. We are capable of handling solid food from the day we hatch even though some fresh digimon lack teeth." Chuckling at the thought of a manual of some kind Kshin said "Unfortunately not even baby digimon come with a manual. I heard it was a learn as you go kind of thing from other adult digimon."
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Post by ghostmagus on Sept 27, 2021 0:29:28 GMT
The bold declaration that the pair he was talking to weren’t even human made Colin’s eyebrows extend up into his hairline. Okay, he certainly hadn’t been expecting that. He eyed the pair with renewed interest looking for any sign Kshin or Grace were powerful digital monsters, nothing jumped out at him, but he supposed anything was possible at this point. “Is it common for Digimon to masquerade in the human world?” he asked wondering if maybe some of his harsher professors had been evil Digimon in disguise. Probably, probably.
At the news that the baby Digimon would be able to handle whole foods from the time of hatching Colin let out a long low whistle. Colin put the egg back down on his lap and finished his energy drink, dropping the empty can into the bag he was carrying. “So how does one get to the digital world?” he asked finally, he had to admit, he was curious.
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