first | video

[individuates]

[the feed opens to Kaoru sitting crosslegged on his bed, Lopmon sitting comfortably in his lap]

So what you have to say is, "I'm sorry for running away the moment the doors opened, leaving my poor helpless partner all alone, struggling to catch up as I went sprinting around on my ridiculously long legs, rather than standing still and waiting for an explanation." 

...I really have to say all that?

Fine, fine. I'm sorry to my poor helpless partner for taking the first opportunity to run out of the room as fast as my legs-

Ridiculously long legs.

... [sigh] ridiculously long legs could carry me. But in my own defense I had just been dumped here and had this little cute thing in my face going on about Digi- this and Digi- that when I had my brother to find. Yes, I did go sprinting off-

Like an idiot.

Lopmon.



All right, yes, I'll concede that I'm usually much more level-headed than that, but as if I wasn't freaking out enough I get to my room in this place to find this one [flops Lopmon's ears in emphasis] sitting on my bed like a creepy mascot from a Magical Girl anime.

...actually I really don't see why I should be the one making a public apology for this, Lopmon...

Because we both know you have every intention of staying here and sulking forever and never meeting anyone.

N-not every intention. [what are you saying Lopmon? Don't embarrass him around people...] Only once I've exhausted all the other options... you're acting like I should have been behaving rationally in this situation. Now since we're here, would you let me introduce myself?

All right, so I'm guessing this thing is working? My name is Kaoru Hitachiin, and if anyone saw me earlier running around searching for my twin Hikaru, I'm sorry I didn't stop for you but I was kind of preoccupied. Sorry. And this is Lopmon, who has pretty much been nagging me since I got here. She says she's my partner, though I maintain I have a perfectly good one back home, yes Lopmon, even though he's not a Digimon.

So I looked through all the information I could find on this thing, and contrary to what Lopmon says I didn't just bolt as soon as I got here, I did listen to the whole welcome spiel from the white cute thing, such as it was... but if any of you could tell me more - like anything you wish you'd known when you'd got here - I'd be grateful.

That's about it, I guess.

Comments

[Video]

[innermonologues]

Squall... Squall Leonhart.

[ Apparently he has a small soft spot for people trying to find their siblings. ]

... I will keep my eyes open.

[Video]

[individuates]

...thank you for that, I appreciate it. I looked all over and I couldn't find him, though, so... I don't exactly have my hopes up.

Whoops squalls was still suppose to be [Audio] fff ]

[innermonologues]

There are others who might be more helpful to you, thought it sounds like you know most things.

[individuates]

People can sound knowledgeable in a lot of things. But for me right now, it feels like I don't know enough. I'll probably continue to feel that way until I get used to this place. I'll keep working on it, though. This is only my first day.

[innermonologues]

You came at a better time. Things are settling down now from a bit of a black out.

[individuates]

You see, this. These are the kinds of things I need to know about. What happened? Do these black outs happen a lot?

[innermonologues]

It's the first time it happened. An evil creature used its powers to take away all light. We were left in complete darkness for a week or so.

[individuates]

...and do these evil creatures come by a lot? Tell me where they live so I can keep away from them.

[innermonologues]

They live somewhere away from here but they continue to invade every so often.

[individuates]

That doesn't exactly make me feel better about the situation. So they can invade... pretty much any time?

[...wait a second]

...are we supposed to fight them off when they invade?!

[innermonologues]

Fight them off or find someone stronger to hide behind.

[individuates]

Sounds like a good plan.

...are you volunteering~?

[innermonologues]

Not really, but you don't seem like the type to follow orders.

[individuates]

Appearances can be deceiving, I may be the very model of obedience.

[cue Lopmon quietly cracking up in his lap]

[innermonologues]

That tone in your voice seems to tell a different story. Also the laughter.

[individuates]

What?

[calmly stifling her with her enormous ears]

Oh, just ignore Lopmon, she doesn't know me at all, really.

[innermonologues]

That's the thing about these guys. They seem to know you pretty quickly.

[individuates]

[frowning a little bit down at Lopmon, letting her ears go] ...that's kind of unfair, in a way. Some of us like our privacy, you know?

How do they even find this stuff out, anyway? Because if Lopmon's been stalking me, I think I would have known before now...

[innermonologues]

I guess it's in their data or something. Each of them are born to one person so I guess they spend their life waiting to see what their partner is like.

[individuates]

[sigh] ...and this is why they tell you not to give away personal information on the internet.

But to think they've been waiting their whole lives for us, that's kinda... well, creepy, if I'm honest. [Lopmon has visibly deflated a little] ...I mean it, though. Don't you guys have better things to do with your time?

[innermonologues]

It's not like they chose to hatch when you were born, that's just how it happens.

[individuates]

All right, all right, yeesh, I'm sorry for calling you creepy. I'll downgrade you to "mildly unsettling" for the meantime, okay?

So we're stuck with these little guys. And with random monsters that keep invading. I'm guessing we level up the little guys to beat the big guys, thereby saving the world and all the people in it. Is that the basic idea?

[innermonologues]

That's the gist of it. They grow stronger the more you rely on them.

[individuates]

...I'll have to work on that. I can't say I much like the idea that I don't get any choice in the matter. She's just a pretty face right now, hard to tell if there's anything going on under the surface at all.

[hard to tell whether Kaoru is being serious or just needling Lopmon. But her puffing up indignantly is exactly the reaction he was after]

[innermonologues]

You know she could probably toss you around if you keep teasing her.