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Post by supesman on Oct 24, 2022 12:17:03 GMT
"I thought about trying not to curse in front of my children. Honestly the whole superhero thing blew that little idea out of the water. When I'm tossing rocks at a dragon the size of a house, sometimes cursing is just about the only logical response my brain can think of in the moment while I'm dodging fridge sized fireballs." Zack said, shrugging. Quipping and cursing. Both of them were just about the only ways he knew to keep from having a heart attack in the middle of combat.
"Ummm...hmm...uhhh..." Marigold openly tried to think. Something that her father was smarter than her and Violet about. She exaggerated the hard thinking that she was doing trying to consider the question.
"Consideration: Our father is more experienced in parenting then we are. Even with his non-standard methods." Violet said, holding up one of their tendrils as if they were an intellectual making some kind of big concession during a debate.
"Sure, yea, I'll cop to that I guess." Marigold said with a shrug of her shoulders. The look she gave her father could only be described as devilish. The look he gave in return was as deadpan as he could muster.
"Gee, thank you so much. I don't feel like I'm being ganged up on at all." He said, reaching up with his free hand and pinching the bridge of his nose with his fingers. He figured that he could count the night as a victory if they didn't make his blood pressure go up again.
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Post by ricochet6-Mandrake on Oct 24, 2022 21:42:06 GMT
"I suppose, when it comes to not swearing, it can be easier said than done especially when ones life is in danger. Just because I never swore before doesn't mean other's haven't after all. I guess I'm just the odd one in that regard, huh?" Mandrake said with a nervous chuckle as Circe snuggled into him taking hold of his hand. He looked at the rookie that was only a little over three feet tall and said "Circe, why do I get the feeling that you are also one day going to be bigger than me. I guess I may be doomed to being the shortest in the family." Mandrake sounded amused not upset and Circe looked up at him with a baffled look before softly giggling and Mandrake began gently running his hand through the hair that matched his own chestnut blonde color.
Marigold was seeming to have trouble with something Zack was smarter and her and Violet in and Violet added their consideration into the conversation. After Zack mention feeling ganged up on, Mandrake said "Perhaps another way he is smarter than you and maybe myself is in regards relating to human matters. I have a feeling he hasn't told you two everything human related."
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Post by supesman on Oct 25, 2022 13:51:23 GMT
"Honestly there are some things about humanity I'd just as soon my children never know. Since I do not have that option while still being responsible, I'm content with just procrastinating about certain things for the moment." Zack said in response to Mandrake trying to throw him a bone. He was correct of course but knowing the gritty ins and outs of human nature was often more a curse than a blessing.
"Commiseration: I am also the shortest in my family. I am a rather small robotic orb." They said, with a curious lack of tone as if everyone in the room couldn't already see that they were a rather small robotic orb.
"Dad used to be taller than me. But now I can turn into a nine foot tall monster bug!" Marigold said, with the tone of a six year old who had grown a whole inch over the summer. Save for the fact that she had grown about eight and a half feet all at once. And also she now had a spear.
"Somehow I don't think my mother has personal experience dealing with the things I'm going through." Zack said, putting both hands against his face, rubbing firmly and groaning before pulling his hands down along his cheeks and sighing. He wasn't a man of phenomenal patience but when it came to his children he could usually let the weirdness go with a groan and a quip.
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Post by ricochet6-Mandrake on Oct 25, 2022 19:59:45 GMT
"Believe me I understand not wanting ones children to know about certain aspects of humanity but since humans and digimon are similar in many ways ignorance being bliss can sadly only last so long. With Circe I would of never left her with her mother had I known her digiegg had formed. Anybody who can do such a thing as beating and abandoning a child they deem worthless does not deserve to raise a child. Especially one as sweet as Circe." Mandrake said clenching his free hand into a fist before Lothar reached out gently taking his hand causing the Wizardmon to open his hand. Lothar then moved to take Mandrake's hand at that moment.
"I'm beginning to think several of Lothar and I's children will be short at the champion level. LJ is our tallest at champion level at seven feet tall. Shorter than Lothar so I think my influence was involved. Apparently Lilly's champion level is slightly taller than me at five feet. I guess the only downside to being short is reaching for items on high store shelves." Mandrake said chuckling a bit and when Violet mentioned being small.
Surprisingly Circe piped up as she quietly said "As far as robot digimon go you are kinda cute, Violet."
"That sure is taller than me, Marigold. I am surprised I am the average height for a Leomon at eight feet considering my earlier stages were bigger than average. Digivolution can be strange sometimes." Lothar said.
"Seeing as Marigold is likely the first digimon she has ever seen I wouldn't doubt that, Zack." Mandrake said.
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Post by supesman on Oct 26, 2022 12:34:10 GMT
Marigold paused at the description of Circe's abuse. It really was frightfully similar to her own, to be abused not through physical violence or psychological neglect but just to get tossed out like yesterday's garbage because they didn't meet some arbitrary point that their birth mothers had set.
"From where I'm standing, she's perfection." Marigold said. Sometimes it was hard to tell when the lipless digimon was smiling. But the expression on her face hopefully got it all across. "I mean, she reminds me of the greatest digimon of all time, so." Marigold said. Not wanting to get too sappy on the spider digimon that she had just met, especially considering she seemed so shy.
"Appreciation: Thank you, Circe, it's very kind of you to say so." Violent said. Their voice wasn't totally without tone it was just very muted. It was probably why they sometimes chose to openly express their emotion or intention with their sentences ahead of time when their actually broadcasted emotion doesn't quite cut it.
"Well that's just wonderful. Following my mother's advice is the only reason anybody ever thinks I know what I'm doing." He said, rolling his eyes in an exaggerated fashion before something seemed to come to him in the moment of thought. "Man, she always used to tell me that she relied on MY grandmother a lot too. Is being an adult just an endless cycle of calling up our parents and pretending we have any idea what's going on it?" He said, shrugging. Zack had never personally FELT like a mature adult who had everything under control. Everybody just fakes it until they make it he supposed.
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Post by ricochet6-Mandrake on Oct 26, 2022 20:09:20 GMT
"She is even if she herself doesn't see it." Mandrake said as he smiled down at the young child. When Marigold mentioned the greatest digimon of all time, Mandrake asked "Oh? Who is this greatest digimon of all time? Is it someone we know?"
Circe nodded at Violet but said nothing else. As for Lothar he then said "Circe is a kindhearted digimon by nature. She is just like Mandrake and I am just as lucky as my fiancé to have met her."
Mandrake smiled before he said "All new parents have been at your point in your life so it only makes sense that they ask for advice. Makes me wonder how many issues my ancient father had raising me with not very much help. At least Lothar and I also have parents to ask when we need advice. So I guess being an adult is an endless cycle of calling up the parents but is that really such a bad thing if you are close to your parents?"
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Post by supesman on Oct 27, 2022 12:37:22 GMT
"Wait, FIANCE?! You two aren't even actually married yet?!" Zack said, his hand going up to smack himself in the forehead. Looking like he had just suffered a physical blow. "Gonna need a minute to adjust to that one." He said, running his fingers through his hair and shaking his head as if he was trying to ward off a headache.
"Yea I gotta second him there. You two seem far past your happily ever after at this point. I mean usually you wait to have at least the second kid until after the ceremony yea?" Marigold giggled and smiled as she looked at the pair. Hoping they weren't TOO embarrassed...just the entertaining kind of embarrassed. "You so totally HAVE to RSVP us our seats at the wedding. Assuming we're not too busy punching out something huge and dangerous we 100% want to be there." Marigold said, her father simply nodding along sharply to that, like it was a foregone conclusion that the family trio would like to attend that celebration for the sake of their friends.
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Post by ricochet6-Mandrake on Oct 27, 2022 19:56:10 GMT
Mandrake chuckled at Zack surprised reaction and gave the superhero a chance to adjust to the newly obtained information before he said "I suppose you have a point. We proposed a few months ago but between taking care of both Lilly and Circe we haven't been planning the wedding."
"You have a point, Marigold. I can see where some would think we are married seeing as we have four children now. As for the RSVP, don't worry we'll send your invitations when we get around to planning the wedding." Lothar said before he chuckled "Just don't mind my mother who will also be invited to the wedding. She can get a bit carried away and would definitely adore you Marigold. When she met Mandrake he basically was scooped up by her and hugged him which, as you can imagine, was surprising."
Mandrake laughed before he said "Thank goodness she was able to control herself but I was definitely surprised." Then Mandrake composed himself before he then said "Strange how my father in his mischief are the reason we're engaged."
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Post by supesman on Oct 28, 2022 12:24:42 GMT
"Hey. There's no judgement here. If we want to talk about negligent child rearing not only am I totally unmarried I also let my kid do...whatever the hell this is at...two o'clock in the morning." He said, pulling his phone out of his pocket and sighing. There was no way he was going to be anything than a running on adrenaline mess tomorrow morning. Oh well.
"Who knows, maybe scooping Mandrake up into hugs and cuddling him tight is a genetic thing. I assume you do it much more often than your mother does." Marigold said, bouncing her eyebrows again. Her actual context of...whatever it was adults in love did was limited, Zack was putting off that particular conversation for just a TAD longer. But she would continue to tease about it, just like any other child with an unclear view of sex she THOUGHT she understood a whole lot more than she actually did.
"Hey, father's mischief is at least a GOOD origin story. I came here to take a teaching class and was watching TV late at night. Two kids and I didn't even get to do the fun part." Zack said, grinning as he intentionally antagonized the curious part of Marigold's growing adolescent mind.
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Post by ricochet6-Mandrake on Oct 28, 2022 20:23:44 GMT
"Don't be too harsh on yourself, Zack. As parents go you are a far better parent than some of seen. Not only do you care deeply about your children but you also try your best to provide them with everything they need. As a result Marigold and Violet seem to be good children even though they wonder around with you late at night." Mandrake said ending the last sentence in a chuckle.
Lothar chuckled before he said "There is no maybe, Marigold. Though I am more like my father, my cuddly nature rears it head as I snuggle with Mandrake at night when we sleep. My mother is just more excitable than me."
Mandrake and Lothar laughed as it was clear Marigold's curiosity was being peaked making it clear that Zack had not discussed the birds and the bees with her. "I know it was quite the surprise when Marigold appeared on day in your life. You mentioned she was afraid of you and first but she has come so far in such a short time."
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Post by supesman on Oct 29, 2022 11:18:44 GMT
"I don't even recognize the scared little thing she used to be in the young woman she is now. It's like looking at two totally distinct people." Zack said, looking at Marigold. She had come so far since they had met it was almost energizing to see how far exactly. "It's why I wouldn't worry about Circe, guys. If she picks up even half of anything from her fathers then she'll turn out well enough to look a god in the eye without blinking." Zack said. He really did think the world of the pair, using them as something of a pair of role models for raising a young digimon well.
"My dad taught me the secret art of overcoming any amount of fear. Puns. If you make bad jokes at something it makes it a whole lot harder to focus on why it scares you." Marigold said with a smile and an eager little spin in the air. Zack would be the firs to admit that most of his good ideas were stolen from comics he had read or TV shows he had seen but at least it seemed to be working for his kids.
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Post by ricochet6-Mandrake on Oct 29, 2022 20:51:42 GMT
"With how Marigold is I am surprised that she was once afraid of the world. It does make me hope Circe will eventually be able to function on her own. At the point she is at her anxiety is so great that she jumps at every loud sound." Mandrake said and when Zack mentioned that if she picked anything up from her fathers then she'll be able to look god in the eye without blinking. "I only hope someday that will be the case. Her mother has done a lot of damage to her emotionally."
Circe looked at Marigold as though she thought the Fanbeemon was a bit strange before the young spiderling said "Puns? I don't know if I can do that. Everything seems to scare me." Mandrake continued to run his fingers gently through Circe's hair causing the child to close her sapphire eyes as if enjoying the attention. It was as if Mandrake knew how to calm her down.
"Hard to believe how much she is like you sometimes, Mandrake. She is even telepathic and between you and I we haven't had a child inherit telepathy." Lothar said.
"It is likely various mental gifts are rarely inherited, Lothar." Mandrake said as Circe seemed to melt into him.
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Post by supesman on Oct 30, 2022 11:35:02 GMT
"I didn't exactly come down with the "jumps at the boiler turning on at night" kind of scared. But I did become inconsolably upset every time my father wasn't in my direct line of sight for any amount of time. Trauma manifests itself in different ways and the solution to overcoming that trauma comes to different people in equally different ways. She'll find her anchor soon enough." Marigold said, watching as Circe felt comfortable enough to close her eyes while surrounded by all the people present. It was a good sign already.
"Additional: Transforming into an absurdly tall bug monster also helps." Violet said, inspiring a warm giggle from their sister who nodded and half turned to her mechanical sibling.
"Transforming into an absurdly tall bug monster also helps." Marigold said, repeating Violet with a nod of concession. "We she transforms into a pickup truck sized spider then I'm sure it'll do wonders for her." Marigold said as she planted that seed in Circe. She wouldn't always be little and vulnerable, that was the blessing and the curse of a Digimon. Power was their birthright and also their most potent responsibility.
"Aww, they're even bantering without me. I'm so proud." Zack said as his children were tossing jokes back and forth even without his input.
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Post by ricochet6-Mandrake on Oct 30, 2022 20:00:28 GMT
Indeed trauma does manifest in many ways as Kshin was similar to you in the regard that he couldn't be left alone. If we were out of his sight for too long he would freak out. Circe is similar in that regard as well and unless I promise to return she won't even stay with Lothar." Mandrake said.
"I just hope she finds her anchor soon. Unless you count as her anchor Mandrake." Lothar said looking over at Circe.
Circe's eyes widened in shock as she tried to picture being the size of a pickup truck before she said "I...I don't know. Dad doesn't get tall until his ultimate form."
"Circe with you being a new species you might be bigger than myself at the champion level since apparently both LJ and Lilly are." Mandrake said. When Zack said that his kids were even bantering without him both Mandrake and Lothar chuckled before Mandrake said "It seems kids grow up so fast. Hard to believe how much Marigold has grown since we first met."
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Post by supesman on Oct 31, 2022 11:35:35 GMT
"If the rumors I've heard about Kshin are true he seems to be doing just fine after spreading his wings. Getting himself into nearly lethal trouble. Tweaking the noses of people who really deserve it. Just making a generally good aligned nuisance of himself. Reminds me of...well everyone standing in this room if I'm being totally honest with you." Zack said, shaking his head. What were a bunch of heroes to do about their own children even? They worried about the danger their kids got into but had to admit at every turn that they were only doing these dangerous things because they were following directly in the moral footsteps of their fathers.
"Eventually my father stopped trying to get me to fully stop putting myself in danger after I pointed out to him that he'd have to model that behavior himself." Marigold said. The idea was ridiculous on the face of it. The one thing that everybody knew about Zack was the man's astonishing lack of and even basic survival instinct when it came to facing things that he saw as unjust. He couldn't reasonably expect his children to turn out any different.
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