[3rd Transformation // Anon Text // Optional Action with Bumblebee]

[proveyourmetal]

[When Bumblebee first emerges from the damaged apartment of 010 in his robot form, 16 feet of towering metal and living machine, Vanguard is filled with immeasurable awe an wonder.

In an hour, when he finds himself sitting in the car form of his partner, playing session after session of video game inside his cabin, that wonder becomes joy. In three hours, when Vanguard goes to tell off some insolent digimon on Bee's behalf but Bumblebee speaks up on his own first, gently resolving the situation with his own voicebox. All he feels is confusion. Six hours later, when Vanguard has to step outside and get his feet on steady ground after one of Bumblebee's races, it's irritation. The final straw happens when Vanguard finds himself held in the giant, protective metal hand of his robot partner, narrowly injured from a reckless Chosen. Saved. Protected. Lovingly guarded.

Then... it's just anger and resentment.

He leaves Bumblebee to talk with companions just beyond the hole in their apartment (hastily covered by the staff with a sheet of plastic). Bee doesn't need Vanguard to help translate his feelings to the friends he encounters outside. He laughs, and dances and transforms just fine on his own.

So the digimon retreats to their room just a few paces away. It takes ten minutes for it all to boil over. In the back of his mind, he knows he's going to calm down and regret this later but... he's not thinking about that at the time. He angrily jabs an anonymous message into the D-terminal.]

+ [Anonymous Text] +

All you Chosen. You think you're so impressive.

You could hardly take care of yourselves when you got here. You couldn't figure out how to eat, sleep or walk. Some of you couldn't even speak. We chased off digimon three times our size to keep you alive. We kept you safe on the journey down to HospiTown.

We did everything we were supposed to. We're your digimon. We were made to meet you and fix this world together.

So much for partners.

You can take your real forms and just

Just go home. We didn't need you either.

[The moment he presses send, he experiences a moment of hesitation. Of something beyond anger. Regret? He crosses his arms and tries not to think about it.]

[ooc: Vanguard (Coronamon) will respond to text anonymously while Bumblebee will react to action outside the hospital.]

Comments

[proveyourmetal]

[It isn't often the kid is worried about something.]

Well, if you need to talk Sora, I'm willing to listen.

There's nothing but the open road ahead, and I'm all ears.

[heartdive]

I appreciate it, Bee.

[ and he does. it's just... when he doesn't know himself, how does he go about explaining? besides. this is supposed to be a fun trip, right? all about Bee showing off? ]

Terra's from the past. He and Aqua both visited my island when I was a kid. He passed on the keyblade to Riku... And I think I made some sort of promise with Aqua. So we were already connected.

When I was in the world of dreams, I saw visions of them and my heart just started to ache. I don't really know what it means, but I just can't leave things alone, you know?

[proveyourmetal]

Any time.

[Don't worry Sora. The showing off part is done.

Now it's just about spending time with a friend.

He listens to the explanation, taking Sora along a winding road that skirts the edge of HospiTown. The road is level, and the weather is fair. And it's easy to be attentive. He owes it to Sora to think this through before he asks something.]

Your heart. Was it aching ache because of them? Or for them?

Did it feel like they wronged you? Or did you feel for them because they were wronged?

[heartdive]

No no! They definitely didn't wrong me. And... I know they were wronged, but that's not why. The way that Aqua talked when I met her here told me that.

More like. Longing? Like I wanted to keep chasing after them.

Lol iphone tags

[proveyourmetal]

Strange.

Most people don't remember such brief encounters in their childhood.

Longing... [That's a strong word for just acquaintances.]

Is it normal to miss people you've only met once so deeply?

got to love them

[heartdive]

Not that much, no. I miss everyone that I meet when we're apart, but... This felt similar to Riku and Kairi.

[ and to be fair, Sora doesn't entirely recall Aqua coming to the island. he had only recalled her face. like he had known it and couldn't place it until, well. dreams. ]

Re: got to love them

[proveyourmetal]

[It's very confusing.]

But you've known Riku and Kairi all your life.

They're your best friends.

[He's still trying to make sense how such a deep feeling connects to Terra and this 'Aqua']

[heartdive]

I know. That's why it's confusing...

[ he doesn't get it at all, okay. lots of things in his life happen to be like that at the moment. ]

[proveyourmetal]

Mmm.

Did you talk to Terra about this at all?

[heartdive]

I don't know how to. Like, I told him that he was important... But I don't think that made a very good impression.

[proveyourmetal]

I guess that depends on if you mean you told him he was important... or if you told him he was important to you.

[heartdive]

I told him he is part of the reason that I am who I am today...

[ which is true! ]

And that we are connected to each other.

[ also true! ]

[proveyourmetal]

Most people would respond positively to something like that.

[heartdive]

I know, right? That's why I'm pretty confused about him being so grumpy and short...

[proveyourmetal]

I know I've said this before, Sora.

But your world is complicated.

Especially its relationships.

[heartdive]

You're telling me... It doesn't help that there's a lot going on that I just don't know about.

[proveyourmetal]

You've saved your world, but it seems there's still a great many things left unresolved for you and your friends.

[Here, Sora. He'll roll down the windows for you. Get some fresh air to help you think.]

[heartdive]

[ awww. thanks, Bee. Sora's even leaning a bit to let the air blow on his face. feels good, man. ]

I still believe it'll work itself out. M'just getting impatient, I think.

[proveyourmetal]

Everyone would be in your position.

Just don't let your impatience blind your decision making abilities.

[He speaks from experience. Believe him, Sora.]

[heartdive]

[ pause... ]

Why is it you kinda sound like this old sage with a bottomless pit of wisdom to share?

[proveyourmetal]

[Incredulously and with a laugh:] An old sage?

That would be Optimus, not me.

While I was human, Sora, I wasn't much older than you.

[heartdive]

But you've lived a lot longer than me. Just 'cause you look young doesn't mean much.

[ and okay, the second half of that is just teasing. ]

And your Optimus guy... He's not like you guys.

[ Sora may or may not have tried to talk to him like twice. not much reaction to anything there! ]

[proveyourmetal]

No. He isn't anything like us.

He's our commanding officer, and our teammate. But he's also something called a Prime. I'm not sure if there's anything even remotely similar for humans. Raf and Jack tried once, and said that maybe he's... a cross between a 'Pope' and a 'President'. Only far more powerful, and with the wisdom that goes back millions and millions of years.

Optimus is our leader. He's our hope.

I'm not exaggerating when I say that Optimus' spark is worth a hundred of mine.

[heartdive]

I have no idea what a Pope is.

[ assuming DI is not a part of Earth here. so yeah... no idea if that is supposed to mean something but.... ]

But kind of sounds like someone I know. Maybe not millions of years, but then again...

[ Yen Sid, man. how long HAS that guy been around to know everything... ]

Wheeljack's mentioned him, I think. Not by name, but it sounds like you're talking about the same person - being your hope and all.

[proveyourmetal]

I'm... not sure what a Pope is either, though a Prime does hold some religious significance in some senses.

But yes. Wheeljack was probably speaking of Optimus. If you ever meet him, you can trust him with your life.

He cares about humans as much as I do.