MARK II ⊚ [Video]

[arrogantalloy]

[The screen comes on to show Salamon, it's kind of dark like she's hiding in something. She looks both sad and worried.]

Does... Does anyone out there know how to get their Chosen to stop hating them?

[She glances to the side, as if looking in the direction that Tony should be in.]

Comments

[Video]

[proveyourmetal]

[Again, the lack of tact comes into play. Sorry, Salamon.]

You always feel this sorry for yourself?

Look. Maybe he doesn't hate you as much as you think he does.

[Video]

[arrogantalloy]

I... No.. I mean. He's getting angry at what I'm doing...

But he's always so angry, maybe he does.

[Video]

[proveyourmetal]

Anger doesn't always mean that someone's mad.

Could be they're worried.

[Video]

[arrogantalloy]

Worried?

[She looks at the cupboard door as if looking over at where Tony was when she went in here.]

Why would Tony be worried?

[Video]

[proveyourmetal]

Time for a little game of 'pretend' to explain what I mean.

Play along with me for a little bit, all right?

[Video]

[arrogantalloy]

O...kay?

[She has no idea what she has to play along with, but she will try to play along.]

[Video]

[proveyourmetal]

From here on out, your name is Tony.

You're a human stuck in this digital world with a little white digimon for a partner.

Have all that set in your little Salamon head?

[Video]

[arrogantalloy]

[She closes her eyes and tries to do what she's told. Then nods.]

I do.

[Video]

[proveyourmetal]

Now imagine this little Salamon trying to carry things for you- things way too big for it. Big enough that they might even hurt themselves trying to help.

[Video]

[arrogantalloy]

Uh... I'd tell them to stop and let Port do it?

[Video]

[proveyourmetal]

[A good answer. Vanguard makes an affirmative noise:] Hmmm...

Now what about if this cute little Salamon tries to protect you all the time by walking in front of you. Imagine how you'd feel if you could accidentally hurt them with one wrong step.

[Video]

[arrogantalloy]

U-Um. I wouldn't like it and I'd tell them not to?

[She's really starting to get it now, so she tightens her eyes a bit feeling bad.]

[Video]

[proveyourmetal]

[Despite his purposeful line of questioning, Vanguard still feels a little... uncomfortable ... when Salamon looks mildly upset. He shifts in his seat.]

Don't uh, Get all weepy.

[Because it's making Vanguard feel bad. He just tries to move it along more quickly.]

Just... think for a second about how you feel as this Tony. I mean, if you really hated this Salamon, would you even care about stepping on them or them hurting themselves?

[Video]

[arrogantalloy]

I'm not weepy!

[She opens her eyes and pouts at him. Because she's not being weepy, nope.]

But no. If he did hate me he wouldn't care...

[Video]

[proveyourmetal]

Mmmhmmm.

[He claps his paws together.]

And that ends our little game of pretend!

Now... What did we learn, Salamon?

[Video]

[arrogantalloy]

That he's angry at me because I'm being in the way.

[Video]

[proveyourmetal]

[Vanguard starts to lean back, looking very satisfied with his arms up behind his head. He's fairly certain he's going to hear a very specific answer from Salamon.]

[Unfortunately what comes out of Salamon's mouth is completely different. In surprise, Vanguard loses his balance and falls backwards off his chair. He disappears from the D-terminal's screen with a surprised yelp.]

[Video]

[arrogantalloy]

Are you okay!?

[She brings her face right up to the screen as if that would help her see what happened.]

[Video]

[proveyourmetal]

[Vanguard's paw comes up into the screen first, slapping down on the chair in exasperation. He grips that chair and pulls himself up, previous composure lost to frustration.]

You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?

[Video]

[arrogantalloy]

H-Huh? Doing what?

[She looks very confused]

[Video]

[proveyourmetal]

Driving me crazy.

[Video]

[arrogantalloy]

I was-... I wasn't? I was?

[Video]

[proveyourmetal]

[He practically throws his hands up in resignation.]

You ever just... think about asking him, straight out if he hates you?

[Video]

[arrogantalloy]

I... No... But he doesn't, I mean... Why are you so annoyed?

[Video]

[proveyourmetal]

[It's only because he's so riled up that he lets something so sappy and sentimental slip] Because that's not what partners should be. We waited too long and hoped too hard just for our Chosen to chase us away.

'But' nothing. You ought to just march right up to him and ask him.