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Post by ricochet6-Mandrake on Jan 31, 2023 19:19:39 GMT
When Circe heard that both Violet and Marigold could be kept fed with something like printer paper the young spider had a look of confusion on her face before she said "Wait. B-Both of them eat printer paper? Is Violet vegan too with a diet that is just like Marigold's or something?"
When Circe heard that Zack didn't work for a living in Japan her confusion seemed to grow and Mandrake, as if reading the young ones' mind, silently got the child to look at him before he said "Zack is studying at the university so he can get the job he wants." Mandrake was glad that Zack was able to convince Violet to not continue down the more negative vibe they were starting so neither he nor Lothar had to speak up.
"Makes sense for you not to be comfortable with that line of thought, Zack. I'd hate to think of something bad happening to my parents either." Lothar said deciding to take a few sips of his soda before putting it down and going back to eating.
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Post by supesman on Feb 1, 2023 12:44:23 GMT
"My body runs off of the fuel and energy provided by an internal incinerator, anything that I can burn adds to that energy total and allows my body to run efficiently. Paper burns quickly and sharply, as such it does not feed me for long but it would be effective in satisfying what could be called my "hunger" for a sufficient period of time." Violet said, answering Circe's question as best they could. Being a machine meant things were odd in how they worked but it seemed to be working alright for them.
"Neither of my children are what one would call picky eaters. Especially when for one of them I can just keep a bribe on my person." Zack said, reaching into hem of his jacket toward and inside pocket and pulling out a fun sized bottle of honey that he smacked down on the table. The sucking in of a sharp breath and the image of Marigold's face pinning up against the screen of the V-Pet with eyes shrunk down to pin pricks proved Zack's point better than he could ever do with words.
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Post by ricochet6-Mandrake on Feb 1, 2023 21:35:31 GMT
After Violet explained how their body ran off fuel provided by an internal incinerator allowing them to apparently be provided with the energy they needed. Then a look came across Circe's face suggesting she was taking the information in for a moment before she said "So t-that means if something goes into that incinerator that takes longer to burn it would mean you would be "full" for longer." Yes Circe did seem to be a smart child once again making her seem much more like Mandrake then the Arukenimon that abandoned her to die.
"Marigold is only picky when it comes to not eating things that aren't made from plant matter." Mandrake said watching as Zack brought out what was a small bottle of honey from his jacket before putting it on the table with a loud smack. Hearing Marigold suck in her breath before seeing her pressing her face against the screen it clear she was all to eager to get ahold of that honey. Mandrake, Lothar, and Circe lightly laughed before Mandrake said "Marigold is a little bee and she is only behaving as a bee digimon does when honey is brought into the equation. Seems like an effective bribe indeed."
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Post by supesman on Feb 2, 2023 12:43:42 GMT
"Honey's cheaper than a toy at the check out line I'll tell you that much for free. Besides, I'm the one buying toys at the check out line." Zack said, bending down into the bags of groceries that he had taken from the store and pulling out a small vinyl figurine of that year's Kamen Rider. Or one of them at the very least. "It's like Shangri-La out there for me. I used to day dream about living in the places where you could impulse buy Kamen Rider merch rather than having to special order it from halfway around the planet." He said, safely tucking the toy back into his bag. "I never had any interest in buying the cheap vinyls like that before, only bigger deluxe items. Now I can just grab them off the rack at the corner store without paying more than they cost in shipping." Zack said.
Marigold and violet just nodded along. They were into Kamen Rider and all the other tokusatsu trappings that much was clear but it was really their father's adult hobby, something that could bring a simple smile to his face when all of his important adult responsibilities had been put away for the sake of his sanity.
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Post by ricochet6-Mandrake on Feb 3, 2023 0:10:46 GMT
"That indeed certainly seems the case. Makes me wonder how much to make such toys costs a company for them to cost more than that jar of honey or the boxes of pockey I bought. Makes me glad various foods can be bought in large amounts for fairly cheap." Mandrake said as he watched Zack bring out the small vinyl figurine. "Makes sense a figure that comes from Japan could be found here for much cheaper than anywhere else in the world. Then there is the madness of internet auctions to consider where many things that would normally be cheap could run up to ridiculous prices. I swear some people just have money to burn or they are using credit cards to buy things they couldn't afford."
Circe was looking at the figurine with curiosity taking in the figurine's appearance before the spiderling said "It l-looks nice. It reminds m-me of your costume. Is this h-how you got inspiration for your costume?"
Meanwhile Lothar was grinning as a random though entered his head as he imagined little Circe possibly one day wearing a similar costume but mixed with magical girl inspiration as well. An amused grin appeared on the disguised Leomon's face at the very thought while he finished his food. Granted Circe could read his mind but, like Mandrake, only entered others minds either with permission or if absolutely necessary.
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Post by supesman on Feb 3, 2023 15:15:26 GMT
"Not this one specifically, way too new. But yes, the Kamen Riders are a very core part of the Japanese superhero tradition. The idea of a bug eyed hero on a motorcycle with a muffler scarf blowing in the wind is very deeply ingrained in the culture the same way that the idea of someone in a skintight outfit with a billowing cape evokes the same idea in America." Zack said as he ran his thumb over the little figure. The vinyl was cheap, light and rubbery, nothing compared to the glossy and articulated figures that made up the centerpiece of his collections but just looking at it was enough to give him a slowly creeping smile.
"Yep! It's why I have my scarf! Dad gave it to me on the night we met and I haven't taken it off since. It makes me look like a superhero!' Marigold said, preening the long crimson accessory toward the screen of the V Pet. Combined with her naturally insectoid appearance it made the Kamen Rider comparison all the more visually sounds
"As of today, the proportion of his weekly allowances he has spent on tokusatsu merchandise is-" Zack's hand shot up and covered the V-Pet, muffling Violet's voice and letting the information be suspiciously lost for the moment. Through the entire process Zack simply smiled forward, only removing his hand after his child was done trying to expose his spending habits.
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Post by ricochet6-Mandrake on Feb 3, 2023 21:25:10 GMT
Not all American superheroes wore skin tight clothing but a large majority seemed to. Another common thing many heroes wore were either scarves or capes which unless they easily detached could lead to disaster if tangled in something. "Only thing I can think of that could be troublesome are the capes and scarves. Unless they are easy to remove if caught on something. Fortunately members of my family that wear capes have some that are easily detached. After all one never can predict when a fashion accessory like capes or your scarves can be weaponized against you or get stuck in things at a bad time." Mandrake said as he had finished his ramen which was the smallest meal at the table and was now focused on his coffee.
"T-The scarf is pretty, Marigold." Circe said with a smile and when Violet mentioned Zack's spending habits resulting in Zack's hand covering the V-Pet. This resulted in Circe snorting before bursting out in laughter. It was as if she couldn't help it and slowly stopped when Zack removed his hand from the V-Pet.
Meanwhile Mandrake spotted Lothar's amused grin before he asked "Something on your mind, old friend?"
Lothar chuckled before he nodded and then looked Mandrake in the eye before he said "I'll tell you later, Mandrake." As he said that he tapped his forehead indicating he would let Mandrake into his mind for the information later.
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Post by supesman on Feb 4, 2023 14:37:30 GMT
"The scarf doesn't stick out very far in relation to my body, most of the time. My neck is a little sunk in compared to the rest of my exoskeleton because of having an insect body plan. And at any of my larger sizes it becomes even smaller in comparison and worth a whole lot less leverage, especially because I just keep it tied around my neck with a pretty simple over under knot." Marigold said, demonstrating for the screen, using her clawed leg parts to pull the scarf off in a single tugging motion before wrapping it back around her neck with the simple motion like the first step of tying shoelaces. "I couldn't do much more about it without any opposable thumbs anyway. If someone tugs on it it tends to slip right off." She explained.
"And anyone who pulls it off of her better duck because she WILL be getting it back even if she has to remove the hand that's holding it." Zack said, making a demonstrative chopping motion at his own wrist to show just how attached his daughter was to that little token of love
"We have watched her knock out every single one of a tyrannomon's teeth in order to get it back." Violet said, giving their sister a sideways glance. Marigold simply smiled and shrugged.
"He shouldn't have tried to hide it in his back teeth then, no problem of mine."
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Post by ricochet6-Mandrake on Feb 5, 2023 0:35:17 GMT
"I guess y-your scarf is not only pretty but not much trouble in a battle." Circe said. Mandrake was glad to see and hear his and Lothar's youngest child talk to others. While not sure if the young one would be what one would consider and extrovert Mandrake hoped the timid young one would one day be confident enough to handle the world on her own.
Then when Zack mentioned anyone who took her scarf had a chance to loose their hand both Mandrake and Lothar stared at Zack's V-Pet shocked for a moment before Violet mentioned how a Tyrannomon had Marigold's scarf in her teeth and that she had knocked the dinosaur's teeth out in order to get her scarf back. Mandrake and Lothar's shocked look remained for a bit before the two of them regained their wits and Mandrake said "Good thing you can sew, Marigold, but still knocking all the teeth out seem a little extreme when punching the Tyrannomon hard enough in the stomach would likely of done the trick."
"Mandrake, you surprise me. For one not usually into close range combat you know more about fighting than I thought." Lothar said.
Mandrake smiled before he said "While looking for you you'd be surprised what things I've picked up in my travels, Old friend. Not to mention what I've learned while sparring with you since shortly after being able to digivolve into a magical knight called Mistymon. Not to mention my mega stage of MedievalDukemon."
"Makes me wonder what you would of digivolved to had you never ended up copying the data from my sword seeing as it effected your evolution from ultimate on." Lothar said trying to picture what potential form his fiancé might of taken.
"Who knows, Lothar. Who knows."
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Post by supesman on Feb 5, 2023 12:48:39 GMT
"Eh he's a digimon, he'll recover. You folks have a wonderful healing factor, so long as a wound doesn't straight up kill you it seems a digimon is able to recover from just about anything given time, rest and food. Though that last one may have been an issue considering the lack of teeth and all." Zack said, taking another bite of his own meal. He didn't have the metabolism of a digimon but he did work up an appetite.
"He was stepping on people's stalls at the beach because they wouldn't give him full sized "free samples". Don't cry for him, he lived." Marigold said bluntly. Their superheroic code meant that they would never do any permanent harm to the bad guys no matter what it was they had actually done.
"Seems like you two are intertwined like a double helix at this point. Romantic, in a very Digimon sort of way." Zack said, smiling genuinely at that. The two of them finding love on the constant battleground that was their lives as digimon adventurers.
"Don't worry dad, you'll find love someday." Marigold said warmly and genuinely in response to her father. Zack looked down at the V Pet hanging around his neck.
"I already have all the love I need twice over. Any guy or gal would have to make room around you two." He said with a smile. His kids came first, no matter what. Any romance would be forced to understand, absorb and adapt to that as with any single parent in the world. Them being digimon didn't change that at all. Their happiness, safety and security was his everything. Any other concerns, wants or desires had to wait in line behind their well being. From the look on his face it was clear he wouldn't have it any other way.
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Post by ricochet6-Mandrake on Feb 5, 2023 20:39:36 GMT
"Considering the poor fellow had to likely eat baby food or other soft foods until his teeth grew back he was probably not happy for some time." Mandrake said shaking his head as he looked at his now empty small container of ramen while he was drinking his coffee. At hearing about what caused the who problem with Tyrannomon Mandrake's eyebrow raised before he said "Wow. Sounds like not only was Tyrannomon what humans would call 'hangry' but he took things way too far."
"And I thought humans in that state was tough and down right insufferable to deal with." Lothar said taking a break from drinking his coke. Meanwhile Circe had finished her pancakes and had practically dove into her milkshake and seemed to be eagerly inhaling it.
"Yes Lothar and I do seemed intertwined like a DNA strand don't we?" Mandrake said with a light chuckle in response to Zack's words.
At Marigold and Zack's next interaction Circe seemed to take a break from her milkshake as if coming up for air before she then said "Aww! That's s-so sweet!" With that she went back to her milkshake before stopping and almost choking on it. Lothar patted the young ones' back until she stopped choking before Circe looked at Mandrake and said "Guess I l-learned the hard way not to inhale milkshakes didn't I, Dad?" When Mandrake nodded Circe turned back to her milkshake consuming it at a slower pace then before.
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Post by supesman on Feb 6, 2023 12:54:24 GMT
"If you think humans get hangry at all in comparison to how Digimon get then you might need to spend some more time around Digimon. Food is like the number one things that Digimon get murderously upset about. Like half of our patrols in the digital world are interrupted by a Digimon trying to flip over a stall. One wonders what a digimon restaurant owner's insurance premiums must look like considering from what I've seen the reaction is damn near universal enough that it must be accounted for." Zack said with a giggle. Digimon were both famous and infamous for their functionally bottomless stomachs and the fact that their bodies were so large and so powerful meant that they burned like the engine of a race car most days.
"Oof, Circe slow down a tick there. You're gonna end up with the mother of all brain freezes which let me tell you, is NOT a fun time. I tell you what my father added a little honey to a mixed berry smoothie, ten seconds later it's gone in front of me and three seconds after that it feels like my brain exploded." Marigold said, putting one of her legs up to her temple as if the phantom pain of the memory was rolling over her for a second time.
"The faces she made were evidently particularly humorous, as our father insisted, and I quote "Violet. Record EVERYTHING." " The little droid said in a perfect imitation of Zack's voice and tone.
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Post by ricochet6-Mandrake on Feb 6, 2023 21:10:27 GMT
Mandrake chuckled along with Zack before he said "You bring up a fair point there, Zack. Though Lothar and I have been fortunate in the Digital World to not always encounter digimon on a rampage over food despite having an uncanny knack for unwillingly finding trouble."
"From what I've heard from my parents digimon businesses have insurance packages for just about anything. Just something I picked up from being the son of a pair of traveling merchants. Mandrake is also probably the only digimon I've met who doesn't have a bottomless stomach. Not only that the small amount of ramen he just had could last him for hours even if we somehow ended up in a life or death situation." Lothar said. Indeed the wily magician was an unusual one given he handled his fuel far better than a race car ever would.
Circe smiled at Violet as they imitated Zack's voice and tone. Since she had slowed down to due to almost choking on her food a brain freeze hadn't entered her mind. That is until she began clutching her skull as if it was a delayed reaction to her earlier actings which she was now kicking herself for. A brain explosion was like an understatement at this time as her tiny spider legs vibrated like a hummingbird's wings underneath her cape but somehow remained unseen. Though more concerned about trying to get her skull to stop feeling as if it would blow itself to bits she was grateful at some level for her cape at this time. "Too l-late. Ow! How do y-you make it stop!" Circe whimpered clutching her teeth while contorting her face in agony.
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Post by supesman on Feb 7, 2023 20:58:52 GMT
"Watch this sweetheart." Zack said to Circe, holding up his hand with his finger splayed and popping his thumb in his mouth, teeth still open. He pressed the pad of his thumb into the alcove of his upper palette. He held it there until she mimicked the motion and then until she started feeling better. "Brain freeze is caused by extreme cold making the blood vessels in the roof of your mouth to expand painfully. By placing your thumb against your palette it transfers the heat from your hand into those vessels and makes them shrink down faster." It was SHOCKING how fast the young man could switch from a bachelor who had no idea what he was doing to a father and a teacher who was full of sage wisdom to pass down to the little ones. "The best way to stop a brain freeze is just to not get one. Drink slow, savor how nice it tastes and down just gulp it down like it's going out of style."
"I can tell he's been waiting to say that. I don't have a palette and Violet doesn't even have blood vessels." Marigold said, showing off her gleaming silver pincers. There was no flesh between her "teeth" and her throat.
"Right, her brain freezes come from the expansion of blood vessels directly in the back of her throat. Unfortunately she's got to suffer for her hubris." He said as he leaned back and shrugged. He had lots of advice for children, he just hadn't been fully prepared for his children to turn out to be a bee and a machine. He only had a vain hope that his students would be more...baseline.
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Post by ricochet6-Mandrake on Feb 7, 2023 22:36:13 GMT
When Zack said "Watch this sweetheart." The young one cracked a sapphire eye open while hissing in pain. The look on her face also reflected both curiosity and pain at the same time as if she was trying to figure out what Zack was trying to show her. As he pressed the pad of his thumb into the alcove of his upper palette until she looked at her thumb before copying the very motion. Curiously the pain began to fade little by little. Then Zack began explaining how a brain freeze worked and the best way to prevent one.
"While taking your time and savoring treats like milkshakes and ice cream doesn't always prevent brain freezes it has a chance of possibly not making it not as bad as this one." Mandrake said while watched a sense of relief began to come over Circe as it was clear on her face. Soon she pulled her thumb out of her mouth feeling much better.
"Thank y-you, Zack. I feel m-much better now." Circe said as a smile began appearing on her face. Then she turned her focus to her milkshake this time taking her time with the tasty treat not wanted another nasty brain freeze. When Marigold mentioned that she had no palette and Violet had no blood vessels. Circe looked at Zack's V- Pet. Violet having no blood vessels made sense to her as Violet appeared to be entirely mechanical in nature. As for Marigold not having a palette she asked "M-Marigold, why would you not have a palette? I've h-heard other insect digimon have them. I g-guess one advantage is that you don't get brain freeze."
"Unfortunately one of the most effective methods of learning is through suffering for ones own hubris. At least most digimon and humans don't tend to repeat the same mistake. That and fortunately her mistake was only eating a milkshake too fast and not something potentially more harmful." Mandrake said watching Circe being more mindful of her eating as she was not inhaling the milkshake this time. "Zack, I think the three of us have been lucky to end up with children that are relatively well mannered and easy to manage. Not all parents are so lucky with some humans own hubris creating the ill behaved children by not teaching them how to behave."
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