Courage Building [Ophelia]

[Toki Akiyama]

The bustling crowd below overwhelmed Toki. He sat at the rooftops and kicked his feet a bit as he tried to figure things out. He didn't know why he came here to build courage being around people again, but it was too late to back down now. Already people simply thought he was a special hologram, which was good, but also made Toki feel...invalidated. Still, it was important that people weren't scared of his mere presence. He was still getting used to his new form and the strength it possessed. He found himself able to jump along buildings effortlessly and even fall long distances without getting hurt. The durability surprised him and he now understood just how strong Digimon could be compared to a completely ordinary human.

While he was alone, he would occasionally attempt to practice his martial arts, but with the wildly different proportions of his new body, it was difficult to emulate. Deep within his mind...or perhaps digital core...he knew what he was capable of, and the skills and motions required to fight. It was fascinating, but also a little scary that he just simply knew these things. He didn't know the extent of his strength, so he was afraid of accidentally hurting someone the way he was. He sighed and shook his head. There was no use in worrying about it now.

He hopped along a few more buildings and kept to the taller ones. This aspect of this, however, was rather freeing. He looked over the horizon and smiled and view. Radiant, beautiful, and full of life. The world marched on despite his struggles, and it would continue to do so in the future. He brushed the hair out of his eyes, round eyes blinking a bit in the sunlight before he let the hair fall back over them. He wondered if any Digimon were around. He would like to meet more and understand them, especially after Setsuna encouraged him to. Setsuna...he and Aylin have been taking care of him and he couldn't be more grateful. They were very friendly and kind. Setsuna had an almost overwhelming presence though, like he was much stronger than he appeared...though he couldn't help but feel safe around him. Aylin too was strong. Both were wise and encouraging...and he enjoyed being around them. They pushed him to understand his new form and also prepare himself to reveal this truth to his parents.

[Ophelia]

"I'll be back later, Uncle, Ryuu!"

It was with this, that Ophi would set out into the city - the little lioness easily weaving her way amongst the alleyways and rooftops as she set off on one of her usual outings. It was a pretty nice evening, to say the least - the sun still shining above, although gradually descending down. The air might've been cold - given the slow transition from winter to spring - but it didn't bother Ophelia one bit, given her thick winter coat. Which meant that, all in all, this weather was quite pleasant for the young Spadamon - already putting her in a chipper mood, (although really, when wasn't she in a good mood?)

Even if these streets and alleyways in the plaza area were familiar to her - having been here for a good few months by now - there always was something new to be found, be it a random miscellaneous knickknack, an interesting human, or a fellow digimon! And there were still plenty of places in the city that the young lioness had yet to explore, too - especially those further out from the district - which gave her plenty of incentive to wander out and about, exploring wherever she pleased before she decided it's time to head home.

However, for now, she lingered about the Plaza - watching humans from afar, and occasionally greeting the rare digimon in the area (most of whom she knew, with them having been previous patrons of Valt's and Ryouta's.) Everything appeared to be in order - nothing out of the ordinary - at least at first, though...

... Before long, Ophelia would notice a scent in the air - that of a digimon she hadn't met before, although the scent also had an odd tinge to it. They smelled almost like... A human, too? The heck? Curiosity perked, Ophelia would take to following the scent - moving towards the rooftops, and moving from building to building. Who was this new digimon? Were they someone like Valt, or something else?

Well, either way, it didn't take long to find this newcomer - the Angoramon's large size making them easy to spot from afar. Which prompted Ophelia to get perhaps a little cheeky - grinning as she brought herself low to the ground, creeping towards the mystery rabbit from behind. Much like the lioness that she was, she would attempt to sneak closer to him - bit by bit - in hopes of not blowing her cover too early... And once she got close enough, Ophelia would - with a playful little "Rawr!" - leap forward, pouncing onto the Angoramon from behind..!

(Maybe roughhousing on the rooftop wasn't the best idea - but given that they weren't right next to the edge, and with the Angoramon's size, Ophelia was pretty confident that a digimon as big as him could handle it!)

Once the initial impact subsided, Ophelia would giggle and grin over to the Angoramon. "Hey there!" She greeted him, her tail swaying like that of a friendly feline. "Who're you? You're a pretty big Rookie, like damn!" She had thought him a Champion at first glance - being unfamiliar with the Angora species - but nope, on closer inspection, he appeared to just be a particularly large Rookie!

[Toki Akiyama]

"...Eh?" He said in a slightly startled tone as the strange Digimon pounced on him from behind. The extra fluff and his overall steadiness made it so the pounce barely moved him an inch and would likely only serve to get the Digimon slightly stuck in his fur. He made no real attempt to move her or anything, especially since she seemed harmless enough for the time being. "...Um...hi." He said nervously. "M-my name's Toki. Toki Akiyama..." He said when she asked who he was. Pretty big for a...Rookie? That's right, Setsuna was mentioning Digimon were separated by stages dictating their power, with Rookie being considered the first stage capable of really defending themselves. Come to think of it, wasn't Wrylia a Rookie? If Rookie's were this powerful, he was beginning to worry about anything stronger than that. Was Percival stronger than that?

"I-I suppose I am pretty big aren't I?" He said as he scratched his cheek nervously. "Rookie...all this Digimon terminology is still a lot to get used to...er..." He wasn't sure if he should really just...say his situation. Though on the other hand, he worried that keeping it secret would do more harm than good, so..."T-to explain my confusion...I-I'm...well, not exactly a Digimon? Or haven't always been one...h-how do I explain this..." He paced back and forth, with her still likely clinging to his back. "I got turned into this by some crazy scientist Digimon...and I haven't been able to change back...oh no I just sound crazy when I put it that way..." He twiddled his fingers nervously "This whole Digimon business in general is new to me. I fought one as a human, I met a few nice ones with humans...then I got kidnapped by that scientist...and then rescued by a really cool pair of Digimon..." He shook his head "I'm not making any sense I'm sorry." He ran his large hands through his hair nervously. "Maybe I shouldn't start by just randomly telling my life's story..." He said with a sigh.

[Ophelia]

Huhm; this digimon was a bit shy, wasn't he? Ophelia could smell the anxiety coming off of him - wrinkling her nose a little - though would simply get herself comfy on the Angoramon's back, listening to the rabbit digimon talk. "Toki, huh? That's a pretty cool name!" Ophelia would respond, grinning brightly, her tail swishing. The surname seemed a bit odd - it wasn't something that digimon tended to give themselves, and she saw it more often with other humans. Maybe he was a partnered digimon, and that was his partner's surname...? Either way, she'd continue "Name's Ophelia - it's nice to meet ya!"

As he further spoke though, particularly about his plight as a human-turned-digimon - Ophelia's ears perked a bit in curiosity. "The hell?? Really?" She questioned - not so much in disbelief, but in surprise - as her eyes widened. "Certainly explains why you got human-smells on ya, but fuck - the hell kind of digimon just picks on humans like that?" The young Spadamon growled, visibly having a bone to pick with whoever hurt this random guy now. Digimon fighting one another was one thing - but humans weren't exactly meant to get into fights with other digimon, from what she'd been taught.

Carefully, Ophelia would clamber her way up Toki's back so that she could sit on his shoulders - placing her hands atop his head for balance. "Your situation sounds damn crazy, but human-turned-digimon seems pretty easy to understand." She'd reassure the nervous Angoramon - idly feeling along his fur. If Ophelia was being honest though, she wasn't sure what else to say to it - though it seemed like the guy had been through a lot, so she'd try to hear him out nonetheless. "Are you from 'round here, then? I'm staying with a pretty cool digimon and his human partner, myself!"

[Toki Akiyama]

He smiled a little at Ophelia's overall energetic personality. She was a little more energetic than Aylin, and had...much less of a vocal filter, but that didn't really bother him at all. "I-it's nice to meet you, too." He said. He listened to her reactions and was pleased that she believed him, and further pleased that she found the Digimon's actions terrible. He tilted his head as he watched her climb onto his shoulder and steady herself by placing one of her hands on his head.

"I hope other people I tell believe me as readily as you do, Ophelia. I'm still trying to work up the courage to tell my family about...all this. I barely understand a thing about my new body despite my new friends' best efforts. They assured me I would get it in time just...I'm not sure I fully grasp a Digimon's abilities." He admitted. When asked if he was around here, he shook his head "Not from the city itself, but from Goldenview across the way. My rescuers have been staying near the lake there while they adjust to our world. My family lives in Goldenview itself, but..." He sighed "...there's a lot I'm scared about. I don't want them to worry...it's been days and they're probably worried sick. It's probably best to try and talk to them and risk disbelief than just continue to leave them worried about my safety. I feel bad that it's taking me this long."

He then perked an ear at what she said after "There's another Digimon and human group around? I've met a couple of groups like that already. Something big is going on isn't it?" He mused. "Strange beings from another world showing up in ours? Things that feel like they really shouldn't be possible outside of a game or show...it's a lot to wrap my head around and I hope for the sake of humans and Digimon alike that we can eventually come to terms with it all."

[Ophelia]

As Toki talked about telling his family about it all, Ophelia couldn't help a faint frown - thinking to her own family. Talking to other digimon back home about strange occurrences was one thing - strange things happened sometimes, given the mutable nature of their own bodies and the world around them. But talking to humans was probably a whole other thing - given that their world seemed so much more... Mundane, she guessed?

It would definitely make talking to one's family about it all a bit trickier, to say the least.

But all the same, she'd nuzzle her cheek against the top of Toki's head in reassurance, commenting honestly "They might be a little confused and spooked at first - the unknown and change is scary as hell to humans sometimes, right? - but I think that your family would understand! They're your family, after all,"

Though he was from Goldenview, huh? Ophelia wasn't sure if she'd ever been out that way... "Oh, that's that lil town out towards the edge of the city, yeah?" She questioned, her ears perking up in curiosity. "Are there any other digimon out there, besides the two that helped you out? It seems like most digimon I've met stick 'round different parts of the city."

Toki still had his worries over talking to his family though - and over how they might be feeling. The Spadamon would hum at this, brows furrowing thoughtfully, before remarking "You're nervous, I don't think it's that out there that you're shuffling your feet over visiting them." with a brief shrug of her shoulder. "Probably a good idea to try and get it over with sooner or later, though."

The talk of Valt and Ryouta, though, would make Ophelia light up, "Hell yeah there is - Valt's a V-mon, and his partner is Ryouta! They're cool as fuck, and they run a restaurant not far from here! It's open to digimon during weekends like today." She rambled, her tail swishing eagerly. "I dunno if I'm ever going to partner up with a human - I kinda wanna be able to grow by my own strengths, y'know? - but if I do, I want a human like Ryouta. It's fun as hell to wrestle with him!"

"I dunno as much about whether something 'big' is going on, though." She commented, scratching her cheek a bit. "I guess there's been more digimon popping up 'round here, ever since the Expo-whatever? And yeah, I do hope humans can get along with us alright. There's also been rumors about some weird band of digimon picking off loners during the night, but I don't know much else about that."

Ophelia wasn't all that interested in talking about rumors and hearsay and the like, though. Instead... "... Hey, about what you said before - about not understanding your body or abilities... You wanna go somewhere quieter, have a friendly spar?" She offered, grinning over to Toki. "No better way to learn, than to use em, right?"

[Toki Akiyama]

Toki looked up at Ophelia and sat down to rest for a moment. Her nuzzling was comforting, and he felt a little less worried as he listened to her talk. "It's...very scary for us, especially when it's something so sudden and new. But..." he gently brushed the scarf along his arm "You're right...they'll understand...i-it might be hard for us at first but we'll make it through this somehow. I can't just leave them wondering what happened...I need to see them, and soon." He said with a nod.

"Yeah, that's the place. It's much quieter and very peaceful." He thought about her question "I saw a couple of Digimon out there the other day...they were really nice, but when they met me they seemed really wary...worried that I might hurt them...is the Digital World really that dangerous...? That breaks my heart..." He lamented, hand on his chest.

He thought about what she said. He was nervous and afraid of what the future might hold and how people might react to him, but he was going to have to do this eventually. "Mhm..." He nodded again. He listened to her talk about Ryouta and Valt "A secret restaurant meeting spot, hm? Hehe, I have to admit that sounds cool. I can tell they're wonderful people from that alone." He said with a smile.

Toki tilted his head slightly "Hm? Partner up with a human...I've seen Digimon with humans and living with them...is there some kind of benefit for Digimon to do this aside from having someone to stay with?" He was genuinely curious. He could understand wanting to be strong on one's own, however he did feel there was a place for friends and allies. "Just...if you need help, don't hesitate to ask for it at least."

"The Expo...I saw some Digimon before the Expo-wait...wait what did you say? About Digimon picking off loners? I..." He shook his head "That sounds familiar..." He muttered through grit teeth "I wouldn't be surprised if it had to do with the same Digimon that got me." He tried to get his mind off it "Sorry, I shouldn't stress about that so much. I really hope we can get along and coexist."

"Wait, spar? I mean, I sparred a lot as a karate practitioner but a lot of that knowledge doesn't apply much to what I am now...but if you're offering to teach me, I'll take you up on it. Setsuna did say that it's important I understand my abilities so I can defend myself and others. He barely knows me but he's been so kind to me. He taught me a bit over the last few days. He's trying his best to help out as many humans and Digimon in this situation as he can. Anyway, where do you think we should go? This part of the city is pretty crowded."

[Ophelia]

The question of the Digital World would make Ophelia hum a bit, scratching her cheek. "Guess it depends on where you look? In the wilderness, it's pretty dangerous - wild digimon can be pretty damn aggressive sometimes; but unless they're the type that goes 'round attacking other folks to load em, they'll leave you alone as long as you stay outta their territory." Which, she knew mainly because her mother was (basically) a wild digimon. "You can run into bandits and assholes and the like out there, too. But otherwise, in town? It's usually pretty chill as long as you stay outta the sketchy-as-hell parts." So, all in all, it can be a lot like a human city or town - at least from what she understood of it all.

Toki's comments regarding Ryouta, Valt, and their restaurant would put a bright smile on Ophelia's face, though. "Hell yeah! It gives people a safe place they can gather and talk to one another in - and V n' Ryuu don't tolerate assholes, so things stay pretty peaceful in there!" She responded, grinning brightly. Maybe she could drag Toki on over, later..?

The notion of digimon and humans partnering though, Ophelia shrugged a shoulder. "I guess some digimon say that they grow faster, with a human partner? And some humans have those weird digivices or whatever that helps with it. I don't understand how the hell it all works, but I don't think it's really my thing anyhow."

She'd respond to Toki's reminder to ask for help with a confident grin though, as she remarked "I've taken care of myself this long - I think I'm good! If anything, I wanna help others out!"

The mention of loners being picked off seemed to catch Toki's attention though, and Ophelia once more shrugged. "I sometimes listen in on what digimon at the restaurant gossip about, and I tend to hear lots of conflicting stories about it. Demons, some form of Pied Piper, attacking in your dreams, weird frankenstein-y digimon, world domination..?" She'd grin a bit lightheartedly now, continuing "But a whole lotta that just sounds ridiculous as fuck - things are probably getting exaggerated as they travel 'long the vine. As long as us digimon stick together though, there's nothing to worry about; we'll track down whoever it is and give them what-for!" She'd make a motion as though punching an imaginary enemy, paired with a small little 'grrawr!', a confident look on her face.

"Yeah, spar!" Ophelia confirmed, hopping down from Toki's shoulder. "We'll go fight n' roughhouse somewhere quiet, so you got plenty of time to figure out what the hell you can do!" She wasn't sure about teaching per se, but she figured that a friendly fight would be a good way for the large Angoramon to figure out his abilities. "C'mon, I know a place - this way!"

And thus, the little lioness was off - hopping along the rooftops, occassionally glancing back to Toki to make sure that he was keeping up. Not far from the Plaza, and not too far from Ryuu's restaurant, there was what might've been a parking lot out behind a smaller-scale business - abandoned and obscured by the newer buildings that have long-since risen up around it. "Iunno what the hell this place was for - but humans rarely ever come out this way, so us digimon gather and tussle here sometimes!"

This time around though, the abandoned parking lot looked to be empty - only the lingering scents of other digimon passing through here present. Not that it bothered Ophelia, the young Spadamon landing on the asphalt and glancing back to Toki. "Humans might be on the fragile side - but digimon can take a hit, and we heal damn quick! Don't be afraid of hitting me like a fuckin' truck!" She stated with a wide grin, already forming a weapon of ice - a longsword, that she held with both hands. "Show me what you can do!"

[Toki Akiyama]

"Huh..." He listened intently to Ophelia's words. "I've met a lot of Digimon who were from pretty rough parts of the Digital World from what I've heard...a place called the Dark Area and some dangerous desert wastelands..." He said, wondering how they were doing. "So there is civilization and such in the Digital World...I thought so. Places of safety, shady places, outright dangerous places...mhm, that makes sense to me."

"Sounds like your friends have things under control there, huh..? I'm glad there's people like them looking out for the Digimon who need help or a place to unwind." He nodded and smiled. "Hm...I never got any of those Digivice things...though even before all this happened to me, I had some kind of digital energy of some kind...like stardust covering my body. Setsuna called it...Digisoul. It's supposedly a mark that you're meant to interact with the Digital World in some significant way."

He grinned and chuckled "Help others out, hm? Yeah...me too." He said before he stopped to listen to more of Ophelia had to say. So there were multiple different cases going on. It sounded like someone had to do something about this, and Setsuna seemed like one of the Digimon able to do it. However, he told him that he worried his strength would come across as him attempting to take control of the Digimon population here. Toki's rescue was a special case, and he even admitted he felt guilty that some of these things have gone unpunished. It ate away at him, but Toki and Aylin tried to help him feel better, much to his appreciation.

"I wouldn't dismiss them so readily." He warned. "That Digimon...Percival. He had a hidden warehouse where he experimented on humans and Digimon. He...took my blood and replaced it with data...I was apparently the first one he would deem a 'success.'" Just thinking about it infuriated him...though her confidence brought a sense of relief to Toki.

Then, she darted off across the rooftops. Toki did his best to keep up as he tried to get used to his speed and mobility. He hopped with her along rooftops. She would lead him to an old parking lot obscured from general traffic. There wasn't a soul in sight...a perfect place to train. There were signs of these sparring matches. Some dented metal, cracks in the concrete...

She encouraged him not to hold back. He stood across from her and steadied himself before he raised his fists towards her "O-okay...if you're sure then...let's go." He nodded and took a deep breath. He saw the long sword she produced and hesitated, but knew that he would be able to go toe to toe with her. With a spring forward, he leapt towards Ophelia, fist tightly clenched as he stomped forward. The knowledge and name of the technique flashed in his mind "Pinpoint...!" He pivoted his hips and went to deliver a well-aimed punch to Ophelia's center of mass "...Punch!!" The power behind it was far beyond what he was used to.

---

SPOILER: Click to show

Name: Pinpoint Punch
Description: Incorporating knowledge of his human karate techniques, Toki delivers a powerful straight punch at an opponent’s center.
RAM Cost: 4
Type: Melee (-1 RAM Brawler)
Modifiers: Strong, Accurate
Cooldown: 1 Post

Cooldowns: Pinpoint Punch 0/1

[Ophelia]

Digisoul... "Huhm. I've heard some humans are able to fight a bit better, with that digisoul stuff." Ophelia remarked, before adding with a grin "It makes it more fair, when I go tussling with Ryuu - that's for sure!"

The mention of Percival, however, had Ophelia making a face. "Fuck... That true?" She questioned - though she did believe the Angoramon's words, it still all came as a bit of a shock, and an unpleasant one at that. "Guess we really need to keep an eye out for one another, then." Strength in numbers and all that - given how few digimon there actually were if you took the sheer size of the city and adjacent town into account, banding together was probably their best bet for staying safe.

But nonetheless, once they settled into the parking lot, the spar would begin - and the larger Angoramon would come in for the first strike..! The Pinpoint Punch that Toki threw at Ophelia came faster and harder than the lioness expected - causing her to let out a sharp grunt as it slammed into her breastplate, sending her stumbling back. Despite being hit by the attack though, she would grin widely as she took in a deep breath - her eyes lit up in delight.

"Fuck yeah, you're strong!" She praised Toki, her tail lashing in playful excitement. Even if she could feel the ache of Toki's strike in her chest, her core was starting to pump with excitement - the adrenaline of a good fight. "My turn, now!"

And with that, Ophelia would dart forwards - her icy blade taking on a blue sheen as she drew it back. As she got in close, she would make for a leap - attempting to slash at Toki with her sword, with a spirited roar! "Blue Blade!"

---

- Ophelia is struck in the chest by Pinpoint Punch
- In return, she leaps at Toki with Blue Blade

Combat Details

SPOILER: Click to show

Move Used:
Blue Blade - 3 RAM
Description: Ophelia picks out a weapon of her choice - her own fists or Rime Bulwark being valid options - and enhances it with ice, charging and striking at the foe..!
Effect: Deals a respectable amount of ice/physical damage (equal split) to a single target.
Tags: Attack (Ice/Physical, Melee) [+3 RAM], Brawler [-1 RAM], Strong [+1 RAM]

Power: 4
Brains: 1
Speed: 3
Defense: 4
Resistance: 3

Traits:
Minor Water Weakness
Minor Ice Resistance