Welcome to the City [Open]

[Colin & Bellamy]

It turned out that Toki wanted to make his own way home. “Alright then, hope you have a safe journey.” Mrs. James said, and bade farewell. She hoped that self-defense lessons would be helpful to Colin. For now, she would return indoors and tend to the laundry while her husband prepared dinner.

Meanwhile, in Colin’s bedroom, the teen was satisfied that the three digimon understood the need for everything to remain clean while they were here.

“Alright, so, video games…” Colin returned to his train of thought. It seemed the digimon were not familiar with what that meant. Dio asked if the room was big enough for them to be tossed about. Colin was silent for a few moments before he realized that the Impmon-X was probably thinking of an entirely different game altogether, then he chuckled.

“Ah, no, not like that.” he said. “Here, let me show you.” he turned on his TV screen. “Video games are… uh… games that are displayed on this machine here.” he told them. “Do you have these in the digital world?”

“Hm. Can’t say I’ve seen a workin’ one.” Bellamy remarked, but he was still intrigued. “So how do you play games on that?”

“With this console.” Colin continued, and pressed the power button on his latest gen Nintendo console. “There’s a hologram version of it, obviously, but mom and dad said that I’ll have to settle with a screen version of it until I turn 18, since they’re way more expensive.”

“...right.” Bellamy said, not really getting it, but he noted the screen display fill with icons and words. “So, this screen shows the games you play. Interesting… what games do you have?”

“Ah, heaps. Puzzles, Action, Adventure, Roleplays, Sports…” Colin then had an idea. “I know a good game that we could start off with. There’s four of us, so we could have a go at Mario Party 19 maybe?”

“...nineteen?” Bellamy repeated, raising an eyebrow.

“Oh, yeah, it’s a series that’s been going for over 50 years.” Colin explained. “There’s number 20 that was released last year, but that’s hologram-only. Still, 19’s pretty fun. So, here’s the controllers, shall we play a few rounds?” he offered, looking forward to introducing the digimon to such games.

[disasterduo]

As lost and perplexed as the digimon were gazing at the strange screen present by Colin, for once Dio seemed familiar with something in the human world, if only in passing, as a brief recollection of a rather random event during his time on the Dark Area came to mind.

"Think I saw one ages ago while looking for a place to sleep. Lotsa mons gathered around, laughing and hooting at whatever was on it. Don't really know why, I guess the laughter coming from it was just that contagious, or maybe the laughter was their cue to laugh." Dio said while scratching his chin. How did that goblimon call whatever they were watching on that infernal device again? Sit cam? Sit down comedy perhaps? Whatever the case he never got to delve any deeper that night, so it remained yet another unsolved mystery for him to ponder about before heading to bed every other night.
And while the boy's explanation on how the console ran obviously flew over both his and Gio's head, surprisingly enough it would be the latter that would bring up an interesting point.

"Uhm, if it's not holographic then...how do we play?" He pondered, walking closer to the television screen as he lightly pressed his face against it. He stopped for a moment, looking rather confused and perhaps even a bit dissapointed as he turned back to face Colin. "I'm...guessing we won't fit inside, right?" A bit of an out there guess, but probably understandable coming from someone that hadn't even seen a running TV before unlike his brother, not that the imp knew any better about whatever sorcery powered these things or how they worked.

"I...think we're meant to use these, Gio." The eyepatch wearing digimon said, grasping carefully the controller as he inspected it closer, the sound of gears practically emanating from his head. "Fifty years, huh? I wasn't aware humans could even live that long."

He caught onto an idea fairly soon however, as he placed the controller down on the floor while positioning both hands hovering slightly above both sides of the controller before he turned to his brother. "Hey, try it like this, you'll probably cut the thing apart if you try to hold it."

The guilmon followed suit, making sure his claws touched the plastic as little as possible until it was safely placed on the ground. He wasn't sure of it, but even he knew these things were probably a bit fragile, and the last thing he wanted was to upset Colin by accidentally damaging something he owned. That said though? They were more than ready to start this "gaming" thing, at least in spirit.

[Colin & Bellamy]

Colin and Bellamy paid attention as Dio explained where he had last encountered TV screens. Both were a little disturbed by what he said. But Colin quickly felt the need to divert from what seemed like a somewhat disturbing memory. Particularly because of the fact that he was stretched at his limits in keeping digimon in his room without drawing attention from his parents. But he made a mental note to bring it up with more experienced digimon about this… incident. He honestly did want to help Dio as much as Bellamy and Gio.

Colin laughed as Gio thought that the screen-based console meant he had to press his face against it. “No, that’s not how it works. See? I’ll load the game now.” he started it up and indicated to the digimon how it worked. “So you operate these controllers, and their inputs will show up on the screen – like that, see?”

“Ohh… okay, I get it!” Bellamy said, cheerfully, getting to come to terms with the controls, rather eager to get started on this “video game” that his partner offered to play.

Dio mentioned that he didn’t think humans could live longer than 50 years. “Well, average life expectancy is 80 years with us.” Colin explained to the Impmon-X. “So given that I’m 15 years old, hopefully I’ll have another 65 years to look forward to…” a sudden thought came to him. “Pardon me asking, but how long do you digimon tend to live?”

“...honestly, I dunno, I prefer not to think about things like that.” Bellamy answered. He was then distracted by the game loading on the screen. Colin quickly taught the digimon what the aim was, and he hoped he would be able to help them have fun for the time being, showing them a variety of multi-player minigames.

For Bellamy meanwhile, he couldn’t ignore the fact that Gio seemed to like him, and he didn’t want to act all aloof and let those actions pass, so he felt the need to establish where they were in all this.

“Hey, Gio, is it okay if I rest in your lap?” Bellamy asked the BlackGuilmon. If denied, that was fine, but if accepted, he would eagerly take the spot and continue to play the video games provided, just enjoying bonding with the new friends he had made today.

[disasterduo]

After a bit of an adjustment period, it seemed both of the digital world denizens understood better how to operate this video game contraption, even if they might have struggled a bit more than expected at the start, considering none of the controllers had really been made with three fingered or clawed individuals in mind.

At Colin's mention of 80 years however, Dio couldn't help but whistle, impressed in hearing that humans living 50 years or longer was the norm rather than the exception. Not bad for creatures that couldn't even summon fire without tools!
"You people are made of sterner stuff than expected." He said with a nod, before adding, "Then again, I guess you have to be in order to build so much." He said this waving his arm around, as if to try and fit the entirety of the room (or perhaps the house) with it.

"Hah, please, you're a smart human. Surely that should add at least 70 years to your total, if not more." Dio said with another firm nod. Was this his attempt at a compliment, or was it something he truly believed? Regardless it was clearly meant without a hint of irony at the very least, though the boy's question made him think a bit more before answering.

"Now that you mention it I never gave that much thought...I can tell you the stronger a mon is the longer they tend to live. Or maybe really old mons just become naturally strong with age, regardless that's not a bad way of gauging someone's age to my knowledge."

Gio meanwhile was a bit too entranced by the dancing lights and colors morphing into eye catching images on the game screen to concern himself with such questions about mortality...at least until he heard Bellamy's voice adressing him, asking if he could sit on his lap. Were it not for the fact he was mostly black scales, a faint blushing might have been slightly visible on Gio's face as the imp offered sharing a spot like that. The guilmon didn't have to think long before he gave an answer.
"S-sure! If you want that of course." He said, trying to close his legs together with the express purpose of making the position as comfortable as possible. "Is that good?" he'd also ask, a bit self conscious in his tone.

[Colin & Bellamy]

It seemed Dio understood just how long humans lived by the structure of the house they were living in. The Impmon-X also gave a compliment that Colin should probably live longer than the average expectancy. That caught Colin by surprise, it seemed that Dio could be pretty kind. “Well, thanks, I hope that’s the case.” Colin replied. “And I hope you digimon live long lives too.”

“Yup, that’s the plan.” Bellamy answered, but he smiled sincerely at the compliment. Yes, he definitely wanted to live for at least 80 years.

It seemed that Gio was a little taken aback by Bellamy’s request of seating, and the furred Impmon initially considered taking it back if it made Gio uncomfortable, especially for such an intimate position. But thankfully the BlackGuilmon seemed hospitable to it, and Bellamy was delighted, settling himself in the bigger digimon’s lap.

“Cheers, Gio, I like you a lot.” Bellamy said. He paused, blushing, realizing he wanted to say something much more offhanded and cool, but instead that came out. Still though, it was honest, so he had no reason to detract it.

“So then, let’s get to learn this game of ours.” the Impmon said. “Colin, care to give us a course?”

“Ah, right.” Colin said, and proceeded to teach the digimon how to play this video game. "Just get used to the controller input first, then it should hopefully come to you naturally."

"Hmm... I think I get what you're sayin'." Bellamy said, trying to focus on the game and not get caught up with the fact that he was currently sitting in the lap of the BlackGuilmon that he very much rather liked.

[disasterduo]

"Count on it." Dio simply replied with a confident smirk, clearly intent on living at the LEAST 100 years more. Whether that was a reasonable assumption or not he didn't care, that was his plan and he was sticking with it.

After a thankfully shortlived awkward quiet, Bellamy took Gio's retort to heart and made his way comfortably into the guilmon's lap. It felt oddly comforting and warm, akin to having a soft pillow nearby, or at least if Gio knew what a pillow even was. The partnered impmon's rather forward comment afterwards made Gio go quiet for a moment, looking almost lost for a moment though his stumped grin betrayed the elation that offhand comment brought. Even Dio couldn't help but give the two a surprised look, seemingly as blindsided as his brother seemed at first glance.

"Heh~" A single, half laugh escaped the black scaled lizard, the blushing on his features practically glowing like a dim lightbulb at this point. "I...I think I do too..." He muttered back with a now more reserved smile, unable to be any more articulate with the sudden rush of feelings coursing through his mind at the moment.

"Sure, you "think"." Was all Dio would smugly mutter, now lightly prodding the back of his brother with an elbow, a knowing glance thrown his way which Gio retorted with a slight glare, though how quick he relented afterwards without a word made it all too obvious his brother was onto something, as if that something wasn't blatantly obvious for everyone present.

At any rate, as Gio struggled to pay more attention to Colin's explanations than the fact he was sharing space with a new digimon he was already growing quite fond of (easier said than done), Dio had a bit of an easier time catching most of it, though he was still a bit transfixed at seeing the stuff on the screen being able to react to his inputs. It was not unlike when he and his brother threw stones into lakes to pass the time, seeing the ripples and waves form as they sunk to the bottom, except instead of ripples they had actually discernible images and not just lines.

"Fascinating...I should see about adquiring one of these for myself." How would he even do such a thing, let alone find one of these machines didn't seem like a factor to his train of thought.

[Colin & Bellamy]

As time went on, Bellamy grew more comfortable with Gio, and grew to like the position they were in. As the Impmon learned more about the games being played, he was eager to learn more. So much so that he didn’t mind when Colin was called down for dinner about an hour later.

“It’ll be fine, I’ll bring up food for you guys afterward.” Colin promised. Dio mentioned that he would like to acquire a video game system like this too, but Colin had to give a nervous chuckle and shake his head. “That’ll be difficult, things like this you kinda need to be secure in a human residence before you can play something like this. But, if any time you guys want to play games, just let me know and I’ll invite you in again.”

Following that, Colin left the room, leaving the digimon to themselves. Bellamy felt a little nervous here, recognizing that the Impmon-X seemed somewhat caring of his twin brother. And it was a feeling that he recognized with his own friendship with Owen the Gaomon, he wouldn’t want him to come to harm either.

“So… Dio, just askin’… are you okay with all this?” Bellamy asked, hesitantly. “I mean, I like your brother and would never hurt him. And I know all this happened pretty quickly, just… it is how it is, I guess?”

In all honesty it was Bellamy’s romantic dream to become the partner of a sweet, kind, bigger digimon than him, and Gio fitted perfectly in that. But if Dio had conditions or even problems about this, he wanted to know them beforehand, rather than step on them at an unwelcome moment.

Meanwhile, Colin had his dinner downstairs, and deliberately finished it quickly, so he could secure more food and bring it upstairs for the digimon in his bedroom. It would take some time for his plan to play out though, so he did not yet arrive.

[disasterduo]

A human residence to keep it safe? Were hooligans and thieves just as prevalent here as they were in the Dark Area? Well, at the very least Colin seemed only eager to lend these videogames to them should they ask, so its not like Dio could complain much other than a slightly annoyed click of his tongue.

As they were left to their own devices while the human went down for food, Bellamy would drop a pretty significant question on the twins, particularly aimed at Dio's feelings regarding...well, everything. By the way the impmon looked back, it was clear he wasn't expecting that question to come up initially. He walked to the other end of the room, and gave him a cock of his head, beckoning him to get closer. Gio would just give Bellamy a reassuring pat on the back, as if to wish him luck.

Once a bit further from Gio's hearing, Dio just looked at the imp up and down, an inscrutable expression on his features as he finally spoke again.

"Bellamy." He said, dead serious. "I won't act like I understand your feelings for my brother, but  I will admit they seem genuine, and that's plenty.While we've been tricked with similar things in the past I...I trust that if you all meant us real harm you would have struck already. So I'll give you the benefit of doubt as long as my sibling seems happy."

He placed a hand on the other impmon's shoulder, and while neither his tone nor expression changed any, the light red tinge his green eyes suddenly took said more than any words could.
"However...if I ever find out you hurt him, I'll be forced to do the same to you, tenfold."

His intense glare relaxed quickly after however, as his tone and expression turned a lot more jovial. Perhaps jarringly so.
"...but I'm sure it won't come to that, so no pressure, yes?"  He gave him a pat on the shoulder as he looked back to Gio, who had been sitting there almost literally twiddling his clawed fingers as he waited for a verdict.

"S-so?"

"Yeah sure, my 'blessing' as it were is given." Dio shrugged, much to his sibling's joy.

"Really? Thanks bro!" Gio said as he practically rushed back to them.

"Ah please, I haven't seen you this deliriously happy and red since the time you ate that funny looking flower, I don't see the harm." The imp smirked cheekily, Gio huffing in embarrased exhasperation at that reminder.

"T-that was different though!" 

He wasted no time heading closer to Bellamy's side, this time the lizard leaning closer to seemingly nuzzle the furry impmon, though he'd stop by his ear instead and whisper something.
"Pst, don't worry, he acts scary but he's not that bad. He's just slow to trust people, but...well, I feel I can trust you already, so give him time." He said, sounding as reassuring as a whisper could be, though once that info was relayed he'd go ahead and give Bellamy an actual if quick nuzzle with the side of his head.

"So...what now?"

[Colin & Bellamy]

Bellamy felt at once that Dio meant business the moment the other Impmon touched him. He did not react negatively, because he guessed that he was speaking from a place of heartfelt love for his brother.

And in that moment, Bellamy felt like Dio had a whole superpower defense set up for his brother. Something that he would never be able to counter even if he wanted to.

And Dio explained the why of it, that they had been tricked before and of course he would want that this relationship would not end up in the same way. Yes, of course. Bellamy had been tricked in the ways of friendship before, so it was only logical that Dio would be wary of the same thing happening to his brother.

But, at the same time, Bellamy felt that he would rather die than hurt Gio. He felt that they both liked each other, deep down. And further that Bellamy could commit himself to such a relationship. Back in the digital world, when he had been an isolated Impmon in the frozen north, he had trusted nobody. Until he had been forced to by joining forces with Owen. It had been a rather simple transaction, exchanging fierce independence for a friendship with a warm furry digimon that could keep him alive with his shared warm fur.

“I promise you, from the depth of my soul, I will never make an act that hurts Gio.” Bellamy answered Dio, and he spoke truthfully. Honestly, before he had met Owen, he hadn’t really pondered the value of honour and valour. But hearing these words from Dio, that he very much cared for his brother, and that Bellamy had asked him for permission for this relationship.

He remained silent while Dio and Gio made further chat between themselves. At times it felt humorous, but Bellamy had spoke the truth. With Gio acting with so much kindness to him, and their feelings about each other being mutual, he could never betray that.

Gio then quietly told Bellamy that his brother was slow to trust people, and nuzzled him. Bellamy appreciated that, returning the gesture lovingly. Gio then asked what to do next.

“Let’s watch some human world games played out, yeah?” Bellamy suggested. “There’s tens of thousands of games that they have here, how about we watch some of them and see how they are?”

With that, Colin had returned to the room, complete with a bundle of leftovers he had managed to secure without his family’s notice. Colin was delighted to see that the digimon seemed to be bonding in a good way.

“Dio, Gio, up for some snacks?” he offered the guest digimon twins with nuts and biscuits.

[tsukistar]

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