TImber [Open]

[Basil]

Hurrah, he wasn't crazy! Basil did a little dance as the trees and bushes started to rustle, indicating the presence of someone else. Drum seemed to notice it too -and he even called him buddy- and called out to the possibly enemy. Within seconds, the entity had made themselves known.

Basil's shoulder seemed to relax a bit once he saw a blue dragon jump out of the trees. The one weird thing was that he wore a brown jacket or something. The cloth wearing was't the weird part, however. Basil felt something incredibly...deep inside of him. It wasn't like a mental reading, but the Veemon seemed a lot tougher than he looked, by a long shot. Basil scowled a bit. He was eager to test his strength, but was this guy a good idea? There was also the fact that he had to put most of his focus into repairing this place. If a fight broke out, that was more work and effort for him when the arbor dragon had just eaten, too.

He didn't seem to be looking for a fight with him though. It was with Drum. Basil raised a brow, directing his confused expression towards the little armored dragon, then towards the cloth-wearing Veemon. He didn't even seem to state why, just that he was out for him.

Clearly he was missing something here. Basil callously floated between the two possibly brawling dragons with a nervous expression, his fingers twirling a whisker. 

"Okay, what's exactly your deal? You and that weird accent of yours. Do you two know each other? Did he happen to piss you off beforehand? Are you hungry, do you want a meat apple or something, I can go make more right now." Basil rambled off at the muzzle, eyes darting between the blue and red dragons between him.

(Roger!)

[Drum]

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Sky above me. Earth below me. Fire within me. So the intruder happened to be from the Dragon's Roar Family eh? The blue-skin and form of a Veemon told of his species, which was mostly hidden by the brown traveling cloak he seemed to wear for whatever reason. "A Veemon, eh?" He hasn't seen much of those back where he grew up with the rest of the hatchlings since most of them were like him; Drumdramons. But then all of that was send ablaze with a Gaia Force as the impudent intruder opened his mouth. "Oi! Who the hell do you think you are, eh!?" Drum challenged with a shaking fist raised towards the Veemon's direction. "Waltzing in here and then challenge me! What's your problem anyway?!" Stopping his anger for a second to look at the rambling green-skinned Dragon in their midst the Drumdramon's angry expression softened slightly. "No, I don't know him; nor does he deserves those apples with that kind of attitude." Turning back towards the unnamed Veemon, the red-skinned Dragon punched his fist in his palm. "But he's about to meet my fist if he doesn't watch it." He tried, he really did try when the Veemon had the gall to insinuate he was that weak as a Rookie for the Veemon to not evolve to his stronger form. It stung his pride and made him almost see red but he quenched that anger if barely, it was still there brimming underneath the surface and ready to boil over at any second. It only needed a trigger. (Fine by me.) Red Mantle Basil

Made by Riley at THQ!

[Red Mantle]

THEY JUST KEEP COMING BACK FOR MORE, YOU'D THINK JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES.

Well, at least the green dragon was willing to apply his brain to the problem and solve it with dialogue instead of direct combat –– too bad he was currently distraught by all the rising tension. The red one, on the other hand, absolutely refused to humor Blue's abrasive call for battle and, after attempting to reassure his new acquaintance that he didn't "deserve" any of his self-cultured meat apples, threatened retaliation if the Veemon so much as pushed any more buttons. Trying to save face with a practical stranger? Just how desperate was he for recognition?

Blue sneered, studying each Rookie with the mechanical intensity and focus of a high-tech security camera, casting glances between the two Digimon to better ascertain their limitations. Messing with ol' guacamole over there would require him to execute a Digivolve sequence, especially since he had actually shown the potential to reach Champion form himself. But hot salsa was a different matter; his defensiveness could easily be construed as hesitation, and that he had actually forced himself to quiet down after the cloaked Digimon's cutting remark could only suggest that he actually lacked the ability to Digivolve.

The Veemon's cocky grin receded somewhat upon mulling over the possibility, as it subsequently told him he would actually have to hold his full power back. Or not –– with a well-charged Blue Bomber attack, he could automatically fry this loser to a crisp if he felt like it. But then there wouldn't be any real sense of satisfaction behind it; a hollow victory is still hollow.

Blue cast another glance at the green dragon, wondering if he had figured out the secret behind his energy-suppressing abilities yet. It was obvious the red-colored shrimp hadn't, so it was very likely he was either trying to figure it out, based on how apprehensive he looked at the present moment, or was already under the impression that the cape-wearing Veemon was far stronger than he was trying to project.

Strength is one thing. But skill is another creature entirely –– and it was a beast that Blue had all but completely tamed and mastered. He didn't need raw power anymore. 

"Whassamattawitchu?" Blue taunted to the armored Digimon with a low tone, his offensive stance lowering even more, like how a martial artist would prepare to lunge forward at the drop of a pin. "Youse two are like bruddahs, right? Companions? Youse guys'll do anyting fer each other, huh?" They were subtle jabs at the Drumdramon's bold declaration of friendship for the Dracenamon, made with the intent to really test the strength of their newly formed bond. Frankly, the green dragon seemed to take the whole thing in stride, but the red one's incessant desire to make a good impression did nothing but sour the Veemon's attitude for him even more.

"Oh, dat's right. Youse a soldier ah fortune, a moicenary, a t'ug fer hire," Blue reminded with a hiss, this time making no effort to hide his contempt for the red dragon. Now, he calls on personal experience to do his explaining. His fiery red gaze seemed to soften for  a moment, making direct contact with the armored Rookie's. "Makin' friends in dat line ah woik does nothin' 'cept set chu up fer a lifetime ah regrets. Dat's wit any job you do." He counted on his words to fall on deaf ears, especially since the tempestuous red Rookie seemed determined to follow his stubborn ideals to the bitter end. "You can't mix yer woik life with yer poisonal life. It just ain't possible."

Blue proceeded to watch the two Digimon as soon as he finished speaking, waiting for the situation to escalate or diffuse itself appropriately. Images of his Tamer, the Red Mantle, cycled through his thoughts as he reflected on his choice of words, recalling the pain and suffering his human companion went through in an effort to uphold and defend those very same ideals. In a way, the Veemon couldn't help but actually empathize with the Drumdramon's frame of mind, even if he only had knowledge about certain elements.

In all honesty, Blue just wanted to prevent somebody else from making the same mistakes he did –– even if it painted him as an asshole.

---

(whoo posting motivation!)

Basil , Drum

MADE BY MINNIE OF FTS & GANGNAM STYLE

[Basil]

Guess it was a no on the meat apple, huh? Basil’s eyes darted between the two possibly dueling dragons with a scowl. Were they really going to fight over something nonexistent? Maybe it was in their nature, Basil countered mentally. Dragon type digimon were normally a lot more headstrong and stubborn than most other species. He would know, considering that was the entire reason he was out here to begin with. Playing mediator didn’t seem to be working out, but that wasn’t going to stop him from trying. Plus, he still wasn’t sure about the Veemon in the first place.

The fact that he hid his presence the entire time he’d been here was one thing. The way he got under Drum’s scales with just a few words was the other thing. He was certainly betting with that clothing that he had a partner of some sort. Maybe human? But with his ruckus causing, the arbor dragon was certain that no human would bother coming around here for any reason, let alone spy on him and his new acquaintance for a small amount of time, it didn’t make sense.

“Okay, then how about we just chill over this with some tea, maybe-“ Basil didn’t get to finish his rambling attempt at keeping the situation calm before the Veemon spoke up once more in that thick, almost hard to understand accent.

Something was definitely up someone’s scales, and it was probably both of them for different reasons. The red and blue glared at each other, the Victory Digimon going off on his own rant this time about Drum’s work and personal life. He didn’t quite make out all of it, but the venom in his voice led Basil to believe that there was an issue about being someone for hire and trying to make friends at the same time. Because of the hard time getting his words, the arbor dragon was left with a confused expression on his face before it clicked together.

“You can’t put that type of question up out of nowhere. We just met. Yeah, I like the guy, but jumping to that sort of dedication is maddening….” Basil mumbled. He seemed to droop his head down a little as he spoke, almost like he didn’t want to look at the Veemon for a moment. It almost reminded him of Cherrymon not so long after he’d been alive. Almost a good two or three life cycles, the tree said he had to join the forest guard or face exile. At the time, he didn’t have a choice in the matter. Basil had no family to speak of and all his friends had done it with vigor. It was only recently that he wanted to live a life for himself, mistakes and all.

“And what if he decided to do that anyways? He’s free to make mistakes and regrets. And judging from how little I know him, he wouldn’t sound like a bad friend.” Basil spoke up once more, almost hesitating. “Maybe even be a co-worker with, I dunno. What's your concern, anyways? Got a partner or something that's not around?” He shrugged his shoulders. The arbor dragon felt like he was talking about himself more than anything. The Veemon didn’t seem like a bad guy, but the almost oppressive attitude was getting on his nerves more than anything.

He glanced back at the land around him. It seemed the stalling was working to the place’s advantage. The ground looked completely new and some of the grass was spilling over along with blooming flowers. All he had to do was keep them placid and maybe they would get out of here without a scratch or a fist thrown. “My offer on tea and apples is still on the table. Anyone?”


(Woop woop. Drum Red Mantle )

[Drum]

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Sky above me. Earth below me. Fire within me. Okay... this guy-- besides getting on his nerves really easily; he was also clearly a break-in from the happy house for happy people. Doing anything for each other? That was almost insane considering they barely just meet for Fanglongmon's sake. He just called the green-skinned Dragon Digimon his buddy; was that some sort of taboo for this Veemon? Compared to Basil, the red-skinned Mini Dragon could easily-- if with a bit of effort follow the Veemon's speech; it paid that he had lived a few week with Ferghus' own interesting dialect. So the Veemon's strange accent besides being humorous and annoying wasn't that hard to crack once he focused. Which, speaking of. "Do NOT patronize me, you idjit!" Drum hissed back hotly. "Where do you get off telling how to live my life! We look out for each other in the organization! No one is left behind and we don't snipe each other in the back just for kicks!" The fact that Leyton did so didn't matter; something told him that Leyton would get his just desserts anyway soon enough so it was whatever. The fact that the Veemon was perhaps on a whole other level than him was not important now that he was all fired up. But Basil's calm words were slowly dowsing the flames burning brightly within his body and slowly the Drumdramon relaxed slightly. The Mini Dragon was silent for a while as he mulled over the Veemon's words, it reminded him of his Father's cold attitude of keeping everyone at arm's length. It started when his Father's mate died and since then his Father became distant from others, even his own son. So no, just because he might get hurt down the line for following this road it won't stop Drum from trying to make bonds with other people; he refused to become a shell of himself. "Thanks for the advice... but you can keep it to yourself. I refuse to become a shell of myself just because it means getting hurt or harm someone else down the line. If it happens; it happens. I will learn from it and move on!" Conviction and determination shined in Drum's eyes... before he blushed in embarrassment when his stomach decided to growl once again; demanding nourishment as always. "Um... I wouldn't mind that, buddy." Low-key making a shot at the Veemon's when he says 'Buddy' again but acting oblivious, Drum brushed the back of his nape with a hand while grinning sheepishly. (Team RGB when; Green: Basil , Blue: Red Mantle)

Made by Riley at THQ!

[Red Mantle]

THEY JUST KEEP COMING BACK FOR MORE, YOU'D THINK JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES.

"That's enough, Blue. You're causing trouble," another voice rang out from the jungles that enclosed the clearing all three dragons occupied, instantly capturing the Veemon off guard to the point where he visibly flinched. Only one figure in both worlds had the necessary weight and intensity to get him to seize up and straighten himself out: none other than his own Tamer.

A tall human male possessed of a rich tan complexion and snow white hair that contrasted it, his presence alone caused Blue to clam up and look over hesitantly. Immediately, he could see the tranquil fury boiling in his Tamer's steel, grey eyes –– it was something he hadn't seen for quite a while, and based on how utterly terrifying that kind of gaze was when he was forced to adopt it, it only meant that Blue had done, or said something, to awaken the sleeping giant within.

The nameless warrior gave the belligerent Veemon a final glare of warning before turning to face the other two Rookies, softening his expression as best as he could allow himself. Social interaction wasn't really his strong point –– then again, Blue still had a lot to learn. "I take full responsibility for his behavior towards you two," the Red Mantle apologized with overwhelming personal serenity, completely possessed of the awareness needed to realize that Blue's attitude was a reflection of his disciplinary methods –– he himself bore no ill will to these strangers, but instead felt sorry that they were exposed to this side of his personality.  He glanced at the armored reptilian, thoroughly impressed with the novelty behind his attire, even though it never showed on his strangely stoic-looking face. "Blue gets very sensitive when he feels topics like friendship aren't treated seriously." The cloak-wearing Digimon folded his arms, only able to scowl and think angry thoughts.

Realizing that the two Digimon might have been taken aback by his rather sudden appearance, the boldly dressed warrior shrugged nonchalantly. "I heard you two shouting. It put a damper in my meditations," he explained, sounding pretty apathetic about being bothered as he was.

He then turned to Blue, who was still absorbed within his sulking to such that it drew an exasperated sigh from the human. "You know better than to judge others, Blue. Respect is something that must be earned. It's not something you're entitled to, and displaying contempt for other people's opinions only serves to reflect what you don't like about yourself." The Mantle gave cursory glimpses at the other two Digimon as well, confident that at least one of them would listen now that he's made the effort to take charge of the situation and diffuse the tension. "On the other hand, Blue was only trying to express a point. He's just ungraceful about it."

"Hey, fuck you, boss!" Blue snapped back, only for the Tamer to completely tune him out with the patience of a master monk.

"He was speaking from my own experiences, I meant to say," the Mantle quickly corrected, although the context behind his grammatical revisions were definitely ambiguous as they could get. Was he actively getting under Blue's skin, or was it entirely unintentional and he just, I don't know, pressed a hidden button? If anything, the hot-headed dragon over yonder would find it most hilarious. "I've lost far too many friends in my line of work –– Blue bleeds for me because I cannot afford the luxuries of companionship. My parents, in particular, were killed when a Tamer's Digimon went berserk and went on a rampage," he spoke to the Rookies, solemn in his expressions yet resolved to show them for what they were: his own, personal crosses to bear. In a way, he could relate to the red dragon, very much the same way the Veemon could to a certain extent.

"In that same conflict, that Tamer died by his own partner's hand, even as he tried, desperately, to resolve the situation on his own." He made sure to lock eyes with the armored Rookie, projecting nothing but utmost empathy for his opinion, yet doing so from the perspective of a man who had lost everything to uphold his own ideals. "The dynamics between friend and foe can change almost as swiftly as a breeze can transform into a typhoon." He moved closer, unconcerned with the possibility of provoking hostility from these two. They could not harm him, and they were likely to have sensed that by now.

If Blue was no ordinary Veemon, then this stranger could only be extraordinary by nature.

"You are correct in that learning from these mistakes is how one grows and develops," he paused, careful to choose the right words to drive his own philosophy home. It really didn't matter if the other two sucked it up like sponges to water or if they took it with a grain of salt, the idea was to quell the tension before combat escalated. "But please, take care to remember that nothing exists in a state of permanence. Appreciate what can be experienced here and now, because it will inevitably come to an end at some point."

He glanced down at his own hands, reflecting on the countless amounts of blood he must have spilled to get where he is now. The light in his eyes seemed to grow dull and listless as he recalled numerous battles and the hordes of enemies he had sliced and hacked his way through, all for the sake of upholding the greater good. To save the lives of the many, a few must be put down. If one he calls a friend becomes a threat to the safety of all, then they, too, must be put down. A hollow and ideal, perhaps? Or a necessary evil?

The Red Mantle looked up again, a slight hint of sympathetic sadness now reflecting in his world-weary eyes, though his lips formed a humble smile. "Us two, Blue and I, we simply cannot have friends." It was something even the Veemon himself couldn't exactly deny; no matter how much he wanted to break the mold and indulge in his base desire for companionship, the needs of the many always outweighed the needs of the few, or the one.

Always.

---

(shit's gonna get deep, son)

 Basil , Drum

MADE BY MINNIE OF FTS & GANGNAM STYLE

[Basil]

His mediating was a success, for the most part. Drum seemed to calm down and agree with what he was talking about. The rage dissipated, but that didn’t seem to hold true for the Veemon. He looked like he had a few more words to say, none of them too kind, either. Basil’s eyes darted around, taking another survey of the land around them. Another success, most of the place was going back to normal. His shoulders visibly relaxed now that the situation seemed to be mostly resolved. Drum didn’t have much of a reason to fight, but he still had to deal with their new confrontation. The arbor dragon gulped, focusing all of his attention onto the victory dragon. Drum had taken his offer of tea and apples, but that was going to have to wait a bit depending on what he said next since Drum’s subtle snap at him wasn’t very subtle at all.

However, before the Veemon could speak, another voice spoke up. Basil wasn’t quick on where it came from, but the voice itself had a very strong effect. It was rather deep, commanding, and it made the Veemon flinch in his place. In the few minutes Basil observed the jacket wearing dragon, nothing fazed him at all. The fact that a voice, a mere presence had shut him up and made him scared on some level told him that he and Drum had much bigger things to worry about depending on the source of the voice. Thankfully, that didn’t seem to be the case, as his prior assumption on the Veemon’s agitation about friendship was right.

He did have a partner. The human stood almost oddly tall. In the few Basil had seen, none were that big. He bore snow white hair and a tan color. His eyes were clearly focused onto the dragon who didn’t even make eye contact, like someone who’d done something wrong and tried to actively avoid the subject. “Guess that’s that then,” Basil mumbled to himself. If his human had that much power over him, it told Basil a few things. Human and Digimon relationships were very odd, and that they were a lot more powerful than they let on.

Though it seemed his partner had a different outlook on the whole thing. For starters, he actually apologized for his dragon companion’s actions toward the two of them. Basil’s tail swished around slowly, the floating, serpentine dragon’s bright yellow eyes scanning him from top to bottom. Even if he apologized, he didn’t seem unfriendly at all and didn’t sound like he didn’t mean it.

“It’s…okay, I guess. And It’s more my fault than anything,” Basil apologized, glancing towards the ground as he twirled a whisker between two digits. “I’ve been training here for a while, so I do have some blame in causing a commotion.”

At least the confrontation had simmered down, that’s what mattered. Basil watched as the mysterious human berated his partner right in front of him and Drum. On some level, Basil understood why the Veemon was so vehement on his stance of friendship. It meant that he cared a lot, but a bit too much. It reminded him of how he’d blown up at Cherrymon and how he wouldn’t budge over his requests to leave. It took near exile for him to be free. Once the human continued speaking, the dragon interjected rather colorfully.

“Geez. Sure you don’t want an apple or something?” Basil chuckled. He pulled out another meat apple from the depths of his mane and neatly chucked it over toward the Veemon in the hopes that he took it. It was more a sign that he didn’t mean any harm –and maybe so he could be quiet for a few moments-.
Shortly after, the human provided some context in the dragon’s anger from his own experiences. Namely, something about his parents –the word felt weird to repeat in his mind- who were killed when a Digimon went on a rampage. Basil was tempted to ask where, but it clicked in his head. Humans had to come from somewhere, right? The MP3 player had tucked deeply away gave him clue that an entire place of humans existed somewhere, an entire world of them. With that in mind, he kept listening intently.

Finally, at the end of his speech, Basil scowled a bit. Nothing was truly permanent. Cherish the things he had, at some point, they might not exist anymore. His mind immediately went back to his home in Nanosphere Forest. His friends, Cherrymon. The Digital World was constantly changing, that much was true. But for that entire place to disappear? It was unthinkable, but possible. The arbor dragon took a leaning stance as he floated in the air in thought.

“Maybe a check up isn’t a bad idea if I don’t get caught…” Basil grumbled. “Fair point, for an odd looking human.” The arbor dragon said.

“But…” he started up again, tapping a claw along his chin. “I might be wrong on this, but are you two not friends yourselves? You don’t sound like two guys who just put up with each other. I think it’s possible, but to whatever extent you let yourself on? For someone who’s just living in exile, I can’t compare, but I’m just kinda thinking out loud here, so yeah, could totally be wrong…“ Basil continued rambling on.

(Just how i like it. :9 Drum , Red Mantle ).

[Drum]

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Sky above me. Earth below me. Fire within me. Seeing the Veemon shut up very quickly because of this new presence put the Drumdramon on edge, since by the short time he knew this blue-skinned dragon it seemed like he was of the stubborn type; not willing to back down at all unless ordered to perhaps. And then the owner of the voice approached their small gathering, and Drum was certainly impressed by the feeling of command and respect that this human seemed to exude; it was like he was staring at his Father right in the face and could do nothing but defer to him with the utmost respect; even if he sometimes failed that back then when he was feeling moody. Drum couldn't help it, he found the whole setting completely hilarious once the human seemed that he was here merely to scold the Veemon for being a prick. "Pfft." He snorted, his giddiness too much to contain at the moment, if only there was some popcorn nearby so he could kick back and enjoy the show for as long as it would go on. But as his Father always told him, all things must come to an end soon, and so the red-skinned dragon soon found himself at the end of that aloof stare. The Mini Dragon shivered at the tale, it reminded him when the Elders would bring the hatchlings close and tell them about their adventures and conquests from long ago. Not everything was sunshine and rainbows as they came to learn very quickly as they told their stories, most of them haunted and edged by their experiences and combats they partook in their younger lives, he couldn't help but see this human in the same category and so his respect for the human went up a few notches. Taking a step back from the human, the Drumdramon shook his head wildly, clear teenage stubbornness shining through. "B-but that's not living! That's just... being, I guess? No matter what, humans and Digimon must at some point need each other to survive, just look at you two! I can see that you're a Tamer so that must mean you have a kinship with him." The Drumdramon frowned and shook his head sadly. "If that's not true then, being alone like that and not making a bond with anyone ever again it's just..." Taking a deep breath as he tried to feel how that must be if it were in his paws, the Drumdramon realized that he couldn't. "That's harrowing..." (No staph, we've gone too deep!) Basil Red Mantle

Made by Riley at THQ!

[Red Mantle]

THEY JUST KEEP COMING BACK FOR MORE, YOU'D THINK JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES.

The Red Mantle stayed silent, wholly sympathetic with the other two Rookies for their inability to comprehend the exact reason behind their partnership but unable to appropriately express his own stance on the matter. Not even Blue, who cherished the importance behind the context of friendship so vehemently, was in a position to give the other Digimon his two sense. It was a wooden stake that the arbor dragon had unintentionally pierced their very hearts with, as evidenced by their lack of responsive dialogue, although it definitely showed on the Veemon's face as his once-bitter expression softened with woe.

But he clearly wanted an answer. And the human with no name was determined to provide the green Rookie one, even if it was a half-truth shrouded in deliberate secrecy. "Ever since the link between us was first established," the Red Mantle spoke softly, sifting through mountains upon mountains of old memories from the past, "Blue underwent complete deletion a total of three times." He glanced to the blue-skinned dragon, a glint of regret swimming through his dull grey eyes as the Veemon's glanced reluctantly toward the ground. "That he has remained a Veemon after three separate instances of digital reconstruction should be enough evidence as to how powerful this link is." It was not an admission of friendship –– merely a reminder that these two were bound to one another. "To claim that humans and Digimon need each other to survive is an assumption at its best, and mere folly at its worst. That you two are not linked to humans yourselves, like the vast majority of Digimon, is proof of an ingrained self-reliance that many humans lack. If anything, we are the weaker species by default."

In all honesty, the Red Mantle truly did wish to come clean and express himself in a way that was consistent with the desires of these two; he wanted nothing more than to be like a normal human being and live his life by his own standards. But to do that, especially given his current status, would put himself and Blue's identities at risk for exposure, as well as those of everyone he actually did cherish and hold close. So, why? Why could these two not put the pieces together?

"It is what it is, Rusty," Blue finally interjected after a moment of personal deliberation, aiming his statement to the Digimon he had moments ago chose to harass for his loose ideas of companionship. He still thinks it's that easy, huh? The victory dragon couldn't help but crack an aloof grin. "And dair ain't nothin' us two can do abouddit. A runt like you wouldn't undahstand what we're tryin' ta do fer uddahs." The Veemon adjusted his cloak, brushing it off as if he were cleansing himself of any pity that may have been directed his way. He hated saying things like that, he really did. But right now, there was no other alternative.

The Red Mantle remained quiet, agreeing with his comrade all the while. It wasn't as simple as making the willful choice to avoid contact with others. In fact, the Tamer and his Digimon, whether the other two Rookies knew or not, shared one thing in common with the arbor dragon when it came to the topic of exile. In a way, these two were renegades of a sort –– but it was not by choice. If only they knew what it was like, to be branded as an enemy of the world, hated and feared by those who were swayed by the lies of those currently in power.

"Some day, when you are burdened with the fate of both worlds," the Red Mantle concluded toward the reddish-orange Rookie, clearly focused on his distressed reactions over the human's bleak, cynical and, ultimately, realistic perspective of the world. "You, too, will realize that such a responsibility comes at the heaviest of costs." Such was the life of a Tamer.

Such was the life of a hero.

---

(the pain train never stops for anyone! NEVER!)

 Basil , Drum

MADE BY MINNIE OF FTS & GANGNAM STYLE

[Basil]

Looking at the human and his partner, Basil partly wished he could have kept his mouth shut. While he didn’t seem too hung up about it, the dread and sense of sadness hung enough in the air that it almost made the green child want to droop his head in turn. Regardless, he listened closely to his words, even if they didn’t match the look on his face. It was totally possible that he’d either told the story a long enough times that it didn’t affect the human as much, or he was actually torn up about it on the inside. However, the Veemon was very clearly not looking towards anyone with a scowl. No pity, Basil noted.

Though, Drum’s claim did make some sense, the human managed to beat him to the punch. “Yeah…I kind of agree with him, and…not really?” Basil scowled. “I guess it’s that to them, we’re plenty strong. W don’t exactly need humans. If anything, it’s the reverse. I’ve chased a lot of out my home and some have been shaking in their boots almost constantly at the slightest bit of a threat.” Basil explained a bit more.

But enough of letting his mouth continue on. It was more or less their table to explain their side of things.

The Veemon was the next to speak up, apparently done with his partner talk about him like he wasn’t there. The mention of his deletion thrice over made him shudder a bit. Even with a bond, the chances of coming back the same were incredibly small, that was probably something of a miracle. But considering the way they’d been talking, they clearly minded sharing stories, so he didn’t bother asking about the context of those other two moments. He had a thought that one of them included that rampaging Digimon. These two had clearly been around the block a lot more than he or Drum had. That made him want to press on all the more.

The mention of the fate of two worlds and the responsibility of that? That set him right off the edge of hi big mouth.

“Okay, it’s not that I don’t believe you or anything, but what do you mean by that? Mind, I’ve been isolated for a good bit of my life so I’m probably sounding stupid. You two clearly sound like this is a heavy topic, so if you don’t want to say anything, it’s fine. But if your ‘struggle’ involves something that dire, is a little less leeway, not on a personal event level, good?” Basil stumbled through his words. It was clear he wasn’t trying to be offensive in any way, but he couldn’t help his mental prying.

(Babbling dragons, man.)

[Drum]

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Sky above me. Earth below me. Fire within me. The Drumdramon frowned at the words that this human used to descrive his relationship with his Digimon; he didn't use the bonds or friendship of any kind, just that a 'link' of some sort was established when they met for the first time. He shivered openly at the mention of deletion and threw the blue-scaled dragon Digimon a quick glance of curiosity, he has never been deleted before but so far he knew that it wasn't a pleasant experience as when you got deleted it normally meant that anything and everything about you could change-- or you could cease to exist all together. What the mantle-wearing Hero said might be true but he actually meant that no one could go on healthily without some sort of bond with another being, be it made of data or flesh and blood. Call him stubborn or naive but since when were beings able to accomplish what they had done thus far merely by themselves? There was a reason that the Four Sovereigns were made of four; the Olympus XII were twelve and the Royal Knights were made of very powerful Digimon and not just one. But something told him that trying to push this might meet the same result; it was the immovable object against the unstoppable force and the result would always be the same no matter the outcome. "Shut it, wonder boy." Drum retorted back with a glare at the Veemon. "What you're saying might be true, but I refuse to believe that's the only way." Determination shone in the dragon's eyes, the hotheadedness of a draconic Digimon pushing through. "Just watch me, I'll-- I'll find a way to stop that cycle! It might not be today, or tomorrow or the next ten years but I won't give up!" The moment was broken when the Mini Dragon's stomach once more roared mightily; demanding food to sate its hunger. "Oww..." The Drumdramon doubled over slightly as he held his trembling stomach. "Hungry again~" That apple he ate some minutes ago was delicious, yeah but just one wasn't enough to sate his hunger; merely put a stopper on it for a bit. (So about them babbling dragons, eh?) Red Mantle Basil

Made by Riley at THQ!

[Red Mantle]

THEY JUST KEEP COMING BACK FOR MORE, YOU'D THINK JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES.

Having anticipated the nosy green dragon's attempts to interrogate him for more details early in, the Red Mantle kept his lips pursed shut. He had already spoken too much as it was. To reveal any more details, especially those that pertained to himself and his Digimon partner, would be tantamount to handing their lives over to the forces of Shin-Sekai's bloodthirsty lapdogs. If it meant earning the arbor Digimon's contempt, so be it. The safety of the general public was of greater priority than sating their collective curiosity.

Speaking of which, he couldn't help but overhear the armored Rookie continue to rely on his deeply ingrained sense of obstinacy to belittle Blue's equally-stubborn views of the world. The Red Mantle shrugged. Such were those who belonged to the Dragon's Roar family: driven by personal convictions, they learned their lessons through experience rather than choosing to incorporate knowledge from outside examples. But such ways of thought were two-dimensional and, ultimately, limited the potential to grow and develop.

Whether these two were aware of it or not, their own experiences have tempered them to become who they are today –– and that was all that ever mattered, here and now, or at any point in their own respective pasts. It wasn't within Blue's jurisdiction to be judgmental over others, and he'd see to it that he'd be reprimanded appropriately. But this other dragon, who spoke of breaking cycles and defiantly refusing to accept the harsh and bitter truth of the world... Was there really any getting through to such a hardheaded creature?

In a way, it reminded the warrior of himself, all the way back when he first became a Tamer. He, too, had been blessed with a strong sense of personal grit, and it served to mold him into who he is now, the tall and enigmatic swordsman these two Digimon were face-to-face with. Dozens — no, hundreds of mistakes, were made for the express purpose of upholding his ideal that the Digital World could be freed from the clutches of darkness. A fool's errand, these two would likely think. Who in their right frame of mind would devote their very lives to shouldering the combined fate of all living things? One either had to be utterly insane, or so impossibly convinced that there was a shred of goodness left in the world that their very soul refused to settle for anything less. Even the Red Mantle himself didn't have a precise answer to that.

A lightbulb clicked. "You. Armored child," the Red Mantle spoke to the blond-maned dragon, breaking the long silence between all four of them as he waved his hands outward, seemingly conjuring two flickers of light that faded in and out within a span of seconds, revealing the presence of a pair of curved swords, one black as pure darkness, the other white like fresh winter snow. Visually, they appeared closer to works of art than they did instruments of war and death, to a point where they appeared to be existentially detached from all worldly affairs; not even a speck of dirt or grime stuck to their mirror polished blades, as if to reinforce this.

With a series of graceful, circular flourishes that only a master swordsman could execute, razor sharp edges whistling like songbirds with every spiral they carved, the Tamer pointed the tip of the white blade forward, aiming it directly at the reddish-orange Rookie. "What is your reason for living?"

Blue did a double-take, wondering what kind of Parasimon had crawled inside his partner's brain to possess him to draw out the Empty Perfection into the open so suddenly. At first, he felt somewhat insulted that he wasn't giving him permission to pulverize ol' Pepper Breath's teeth and gums into a chunky red paste, but upon taking notice of that familiar glare in his cold, grey eyes, he saw something else swimming inside. Was it motivation? Or curiosity?

He cast a few glances back and forth between both parties, scrambling away from the human in case he had worked up the decision to follow through on his aggressive display. It should have served as a visual indicator that the victory dragon saw his Tamer in a completely different light than how most Digimon saw their human partners, especially considering he had a hell of a lot of first-hand combat experience himself. Little did these runts know, this guy had the power to step toe-to-toe with Ultimates, and perhaps even stronger. But attacking a Rookie? Something had to have been awakened deep inside the human's heart, the Veemon surmised, otherwise he wouldn't be acting so fiercely toward pipsqueak over there.

But maybe, just maybe, this was a way for Blue to finally understand his stance on friendship? Was he actually being serious, or were all the words he threw out up until this point nothing but hot air?

Only the Red Mantle himself could find that out.

---

 Basil , Drum

MADE BY MINNIE OF FTS & GANGNAM STYLE

[Basil]

Oh crud. Basil gulped slowly, staring at the human and Digimon pair for a few moments, then turning back to Drum. After the two of them said their piece, they stayed quiet, almost unnaturally so. Did he actually offend them with what he’d said? The tenseness of the moment was slowly cut off by the rumbling of Drum’s stomach, by which Basil simply handed him two more apples without breaking eye contact with the tan looking human. He looked…untellable. Basil had no idea how exactly he was going to react, and it made hi Digicore tremble. Pissing the duo off was the last thing he wanted to do today, and it seemed like he’d done just that.

Finally, after what felt like a few minutes too long, the human spoke. He directed his emotions toward Drum. After he’d possibly finished gobbling down his apples, he and Basil would come to see something mysterious, yet intriguing and scary at the same time. The human pulled out two weapons, both of them from thin air. They appeared like pillars of darkness and light, the two curved swords colored pitch black and white. Basil gulped again. Crap. Crap. Crap.

He slowly floated to Drum’s side, his eyes focused on the swords themselves. How could a human do that? None of the ones he’d seen could conjure weapons, let alone ones like those. Could he fight well with those? Was it merely a point of intimidation? Was reacting the right idea? Basil knew that he wasn’t the subject of his anger, but something told him he wasn’t in the mood to start caring about who he attacked in the midst of this. The fact that even the human’ own partner got out of dodge as quickly as possible was a telling action.

He glanced back at Drum again. Attacking someone he didn’t agree with wasn’t the right way. Considering all the two had said, there was probably no way Basil nor Drum could convince him otherwise to stop his possible attack. The only thing he could do was provide support. To be honest, he didn’t know Drum much at all. They’d literally just met a few minutes ago and he gave him some food to be nice. Every bit of his data was telling him to run. But, leaving him alone was just as bad. Basil took a breath.

“Idiot.” Basil whispered. Whether or not Drum heard him, he didn’t care. “How about we run?” he started up again. “I’m not exactly comfortable fighting someone like him….” Basil mumbled. Hopefully he felt the same way. It wasn’t that they had a chance of winning. It was more to stop the fight in the first place out of self preservation.

[Drum]

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Sky above me. Earth below me. Fire within me. Grabbing the two apples in each scaled paw the Drumdramon looked back at the green-scaled dragon with gratitude. "Thank you~" With a short nod the Drumdramon ignored the peanut gallery for a while as he feasted on his treats, soon enough with every munch and crunch the tasty fruits disappeared down his gullet and into his stomach, becoming energy for the digicore flowing hotly through his veins and data. "Ah~ That hits the spot." Realizing that there was an eerie silence hanging over them now that his hunger was abated, for the time being, the hotheaded Digimon turned towards the red-cloaked human and the Veemon and blanched at what happened next. "Ehh!" Drum took a step backward when the light shows began and in the human's hands appeared two ethereal looking swords that weren't there before; was the human some sort of magician or perhaps a Wizardmon in disguise all along? He watched, almost mesmerized as the human deftly and with expertise clearly born from having those swords become an extension of yourself instead of merely tools that could destroy and protect. Alarmed at having one of those deadly looking swords aimed in his direction the Mini Dragon took another step back and couldn't help but let the acidic feeling of hesitation wash over him. He wasn't a fool; he knew that some humans could take care of themselves without the need for a partner Digimon to step in for them, for example, his very own boss could completely destroy him with that strange robotic arm of his if he wasn't careful in their spars. "M-my reason for living?" What a strange question to ask all of the sudden, but perhaps the human was trying to test him out or something? It might be too farfetched to assume right off the bat, as the human implied when alliances and friendships could change right off the bat. But he figured that he could give the human the benefit of the doubt, internally hoping that it didn't come back to bite him in the ass. "W-well that's..." Stopping briefly as he heard the insult from the green dragon made the Rookie-level Digimon frown slightly. "Oi," He threw Basil a quick look and whispered back since the longer he stalled the question that the human asked him the longer the silence will stretch. "I don't think he means to harm us... or you, but rather me, he's testing me I think? But if he goes for you I'll try to stall him off so you can run." Big words considered that Basil was already a Champion level while he was still a mere Rookie, just a mere annoyance compared to what a Champion could do. Unwilling to let the silence stretch any longer that it has gone from, the mini dragon Digimon brazenly took a step forward and stared up at the tamer in the eyes, though his muscles were ready to spring forth or back away in the case of a sudden attack; no matter how nonsensical that may be in such close quarters. "My reason for existing..." He hedged, unsure of what answer would be the best, well when there seemed to be no easy answer in sight always follow your heart and all. "Is to become strong... enough so that my Father will finally acknowledge me," No need to explain to them the dynamics of their relationship besides what he just said, it wasn't their business just as much as their lives or objectives wasn't his after all. "So that other will not look down on me and think that I'm just a pushover..." Clenching his fist the Drumdramon narrowed his eyes, feeling that modicum of self-loathing seep into his heart. "But most of all... I just want to evolve for once; not be weak anymore." His tone sounded mildly sad, and who wouldn't be considering how old he was already and still hasn't reached the potential to evolve into his Champion form, he could feel it for the past few days or so, the moment was so close but it seemed that he still lacked that special spark to make it happen. (Feelz. Why.) Basil Red Mantle

Made by Riley at THQ!

[Red Mantle]

THEY JUST KEEP COMING BACK FOR MORE, YOU'D THINK JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES.

His face remained unflinching and stoic as though it were made of solid marble, steel grey eyes fixed doggedly on the two dragons over yonder as they deliberated among themselves. Even from the distance he stood, the Red Mantle could hear the armored Rookie mention to the arbor Digimon about the possibility that the weapon-holding human may deign to perform a potshot and attack the latter, even mentioning that he would try to fend him off so that the other could make a dash for it. Were he not absorbed with upholding his current façade, the warrior would have actually commended the dragon for holding another's interests above himself.

But that impression quickly vanished without a trace, for as soon as he opened his mouth to express his reason for living, the Red Mantle's crooked eyebrows furrowed, if only slightly, with disappointment. So, he wants to gain power for the sake of receiving acknowledgement, specifically from the one he refers to as father? Ultimately, the dragon wanted nothing more than to Digivolve, to reach the next stage of his growth, all so he would no longer be treated as a weakling, a worthless nobody.

What a familiar picture, the Red Mantle mused, recalling his own experiences in attempting to help Blue get stronger. The sadness in his voice personally spoke to him, plucked at old strings in his war-hardened heart, strings he never once imagined would ever be touched again. Self-loathing gave way to loneliness, which in turn spawned a deep-seated craving for approval from his peers. His reason for living was, for lack of a better way to put it, solely rooted in the opinions of others –– without it, he felt empty, hollow, devoid of purpose. 

But life, unlike high school, provides its tests first and the lessons attached to them afterward. Every creature, human or Digimon, undergoes these trials for the express purpose of growing and developing beyond who they were moments before, no matter how long the process was. Digimon did the same thing, really, with the way they assimilated data into their DigiCore for the purpose of growth. Drum's set of circumstances were just that: a trial for him to overcome so that he may actually achieve the dream he believed in with every fiber of his being.

But what happens when he finally gets what he wants? What then?

The Red Mantle lowered his arm so that the white sword now rested at his side, straightening his posture out as he eyed the two Digimon with unflinching attention to the smallest details he could point out. If the armored Digimon wanted recognition that badly, he must be willing to exert the necessary amount of effort in order to achieve it. There were no shortcuts to success, after all.

Another veil of quiet fell over the four as the jungle canopies swayed in the breeze, the rays of the afternoon sun beating down mercilessly over the clearing they all occupied. The human's breathing evened itself out, his chest moving up, then down, in almost hypnotic intervals. Surrounding him was an aura of calmness and tranquility that only the most experienced of fighters had the ability to exert, indicative of a level of personal mastery over mind and body that bordered on saintlike.

The very atmosphere of the tropical forests themselves seemed to react to the Red Mantle's silence, changing as though the trees themselves could sense his strange placidity in the face of the two Rookies, both of whom were on the edge of their metaphorical seats with the way he currently behaved. Even Blue couldn't help but take a few more steps back, certain he'd have to make a run for it in case the Tamer was going to pull out whatever was up his sleeves. Just what was on this man's mind? Not even the Mantle's own partner Digimon, who had been with him since the day he first hatched, could tell anymore.

His grey eyes sharpened, piercing daggers at the armored Rookie.

"Show me."

---

 Basil , Drum

MADE BY MINNIE OF FTS & GANGNAM STYLE