digitaldatacenter | The Grand Entrance

The Grand Entrance

[ When you awaken, it's in a bed. But it's not your bed. Someone is hustling and bustling nearby--multiple someones. They seem to be working hard on something. When you awaken, it's in a very clean room, but you're inside. When you finally open your eyes, you're safe in a nice bedroom with five identical girls running around and keeping the place nice and cozy. Yes, that's right, five identical girls running around. For those familiar with it, they could be cosplayers. But they're not. ~~Also, unlike their original design, they have obvious ball joints to make them more puppet-like.~~ What do you guys do? ]

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Courage...

[Eric is most definitely not aware he repeated that out loud - and most definitely not speaking whatever language it might've been overheard in, "el Valor" simply doesn't look like "courage" when spoken.

For the second time, the reed-thin stranger asks a question he would have, if he'd figured out a way to state it that wouldn't sound too much like a frightened child was doing the asking. He can be brave, indeed he'd insist he is as a default state of being, but he knows there's a difference between seeking fights as he has fallen into the habit of doing and being willing to help in a situation without much hope of victory. In that - well, she said "potential", true, but - she said potential, as if he hadn't proven himself even once!

His face feels like it's on fire, and the knowledge that he's blushing only makes it deepen, and in turn that makes him scowl.]

This is a cruel joke. It is even his favorite color, this can't be - you would surely be better served by someone who has more than potential!

[Lotor actually isn't sure why "partners" would mean "not getting weapons" and does look a little confused at Lelouch making that connection there.]

Perhaps whatever the - powers that guide these work on has more to do with the future and who will best act in that manner in this situation as it develops than those who display it in their current context now.

[He's very much avoiding commenting on his own. He tries, really, is trying, but he's well aware that the only way it won't get read as "weakness" is if he can prove there's practical, concrete results before the ideological tirade starts.]

Correct. You must have potential, as you and your partners must grow together. If one who already is at the peak were to try and grow their partner, it wouldn't work. As for weapons...

[ ...Well, in the hallway, you're going to get to see guard training. They uh. Sure are able to do all sorts of things. She's gesturing at it. There's lasers, magic, all kinds of things flung around. ]

Our kind can take these kinds of blows. We were led to believe your kind were far more fragile. There is a smith in town if you wish to have a weapon, but we would advise you to be careful.

... Smith. So I take it your people are incapable of crafting firearms?

[ He asks, of course, because. Well. DOES HE LOOK LIKE HE CAN HOLD A SWORD?

Also he filed the rest of that bit about partners and whatnot away. He has another question. ]

These partners of ours. Are they obedient to us absolutely, or is it a case of a working relationship? I would like to know what exactly I'm getting into. I cannot give orders or strategize if others do not believe they should follow what I have to tell them.

[Her words mollify him somewhat... but not much.]

Not so fragile.

[It takes a little more of a push than he is used to, but with a few words murmured in Latin and a flick of his wrist, Eric holds a small fireball cupped in his right hand. It's smaller than he wanted - definitely unimpressive next to what the locals are tossing around - and the way it wavers has him frowning at it, but he's able to hold it for long enough that he can play off its vanishing without being released as something he did command.

At least, he hopes he managed to do that. He's always wondered if the power he can wield alongside the Spear is solely God's, or if it is at least partially his own... finding it difficult in a different world doesn't wholly answer the question, and the frown he'd aimed at the fireball doesn't leave his face.]

In any case, if I cannot obtain a spear I am going to be in more danger. It wastes time in a fight to reach for something you no longer have. If you have smiths... I would assist in its making, if I could.

I am more accustomed to fighting my own battles and then some, but I suppose we should meet them and see more of what we're up against. At worst I'm sure we can assist to some degree, beyond whatever impact these crests have on their power.

[He DOES get the whole idea of connections like that amplifying one or both parties, at least - not a new concept, even if most of what he knows of Voltron is from legends and passed down stories and fragments of records his father hadn't purged. He caught enough to know the Paladins weren't helpless but there was still a point where a giant mechanical god-beast is going to be able to do a lot more than you can.]

You are free to fight, if you desire. We will not stop you. We simply urge you to exercise caution. You will have time to more properly explore the village soon.

[ And she will guide the way into another crystalized chamber. There, four digimon wait. The Digidestined will be able to sense their connection to their partner, as do the partners, who all look up from where they're waiting. ...By the way this is a dining hall, and they've basically been waiting for you to come eat with them. They all have a seat next to them. ]

We also urge you to eat your fill. The forest is bountiful in what it gives us, and as it remains safe, we have plenty.

[ Lelouch has a lot he thinks, and could say, but he's stopped in his tracks by the sight of the angelic-looking creature that he's caught eyes with. She's staring back at him.

There's a moment. He senses it; this is his partner, so to speak.

Big brother!

... His mind halts right there, and he remembers exactly what he's desperately missing in this moment so badly. What is out of his grasp, because of that horrible man. Because of someone he thought was his friend. There's. A series of emotions. Pain. Anguish. Despair. Anger.

Most of them don't cross his face; he's careful to TRY to keep them off it. But he can't hide that he looks at least a little distressed. When she speaks it's even worse. ]

Um, you must my partner! I'm Lucemon.

...

[ He sucks in a breath. And kind of ends up rooted to the spot. ]

A-are you okay?

[ ... Right. They're... all going to stare, aren't they. ]

... I'm fine. You just... remind me of someone.

[ He'll. Find somewhere to sit. ]

... Lelouch Lamperouge.

Nice to meet you, Lelouch Lamperouge!

Just... Lelouch is fine.

O-oh... please excuse me.

[ She picks up a large fruit and offers it to him. Then motions to the others. ]

Come sit. You must be hungry!

[There is something vaguely ironic about an angel offering fruit to humans, but while under any other circumstances Eric might be revving into a terrified, well-trained-to-guilt-by-Catholic-schools nervous collapse at the sight, too much of his mind is occupied with recognition. He has never seen this cloaked creature before, and yet -

He is beckoned to, with a claw, and spoken to, and all thought screeches to a halt then.]

C'mon, you look like you ain't eaten in a month.

[Oh, that accent is entirely too much. Less Texas than... further west, but where specifically... probably doesn't match up in any case. It's a very shaky smile Eric shoots his partner, and he less sits down than falls into the open seat next to this... dragon?]

I - hello there, I'm... it feels like we should know each other's names already, doesn't it?

[God and Heaven help him, it - he, he knows somehow - sounds like an impossibly young Quincy Morris when he laughs.]

Sure does, but I sure don't! I'm Hackmon.

I'm Eric. Eric Lecarde, son of Xavier and Elena.

[It's more for everyone else's benefit that he names his parents. He can't say anything else, he's terrified he'll burst into tears if he does, and he couldn't explain why if he had all the time in the world....]

[Lotor's aware of the stories of the way Alteans could communicate and bond with other beings; that doesn't make the sense of connection any less new and baffling as Dorumon bounces over.]

HI!

[And bowls him over with a pounce-tackle because this is not what he expected at all.]

I'm Dorumon, what's your name? You've got neat armor, are you some kind of knight, I've never heard of a human being purple before!

[Dorumon's still going. Lotor...might need a hand, he's too busy blinking and trying to process.]

[ Sylvain is going to lounge at the table and laugh a little. ]

Friendly kid, aren't they?

[ --And then there's suddenly a flower crown on his head. ]

Here! I wanted to make you a present! I'm BlackAgumon!

[ Uh. Well now he's just embarrassed. ]

Th-Thanks, kid. Anyway, I guess we should all eat. Looks like they made a feast for us, and I wouldn't want it to go to waste.

[ Ignoring. The flower crown. ]

Oh, right. Sylvain Gautier. Just call me Sylvain for short.

[ Mastemon seems pleased with all of this and returns down the hallway. They're now free to eat and then explore. ]

[ Yeah he's... refusing to eat on principal. But Lucemon is noticing that. ]

You should eat something. You'll need your strength.

Some of this food is a bit strange. I'd rather not, if it's all the same.

[ ... He doesn't trust it. He doesn't trust any of them, really. ]

Would it help if I ate it first?

... You might not have the same intolerances to some of these foreign... things as a human would.

... Oh.

[ She deflates a little. Sorry guys he's just a very paranoid ex-Prince. ]

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The Grand Entrance

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YOU TOLD ME DESERT, I KIND OF COULDN'T NOT GO HERE

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