"I-uh… very well? You are forgiven..." You stumble through the sentence, but Ardat doesn't seem to care. Your lady sits back on her heels with a deep sigh of relief.
"We thank you for that knight. I… I thought trying to make you jealous would bring us closer." She explains ashamedly. "Hurting you was not my desire but… It happened anyway. And for that you have our sincere and most deep apologies."
"I understand." You murmur back softly. "Frigimon assisted me in understanding the reason behind your actions. It's because you… *like* me as more than a companion."
Ardat blinks. Then her jaw muscles go slack, leaving her gaping in shock.
Is… me realizing her feelings really that surprising? No matter Verge, continue.
"And to be truthful, I believe similar feelings reside within my core, alongside the notion of friendship." Your Lady's shock flips right around to glee… which is why what you're about to follow with is so painful. "Yet I'm also aware those feelings were forced upon me artificially. They're fake." Her happiness turns to despair. "That makes the possibility of anything going forward… difficult."
"We understand." The LadyDevimon's voice is small, her aura wilting in despair. You look at the slumping womon remorsefully. Your words may not have been a direct rejection, but the honest truth has struck her harder than intended.
You sigh and kneel down, pondering how to console her… then freeze as a familiar presence treads the edge of your senses. Ardat sees your reaction and immediately tenses up, her lilac eyes flashing with recognition… and worry.
Five seconds later Thresh stomps in through the sliding doors and raises both arms up high in greeting.
"It's good to have you back Vee." The cybernetically enhanced Demon-Dragon grins at you, seeming… genuinely happy.
"Brother." You return the greeting with a nod and shallow bow. "And it is good to have returned."
I hadn't expected him to be so pleasant. Mayhaps he's changed in the last forty days…
"Hey, pretty lady!" The WarGrowlmon shouts, causing Ardat to flinch. "It's time for another date!" You frown at that, while Ardat scurries behind you as if your body is some sort of protective shield.
"Our courtship has come to an end." She announces… though the sure tone is kind of ruined by the fact that she's peeking out at him from from behind your leg. "No longer will this server's future empress be… stabbed, or stomped on repeatedly!"
Stabbed?! Stomped on?! Spirits below.
"I… would ask what your courting entailed."
"It's fun stuff Vee." Your brother replies, cockily stomping closer. "She wasn't that good at it at first, but uh hmm… the giant hand thing of her is pretty fun to fight and she's gotten better at it." The BlackWarGrowlmon looks up for a moment, tapping one pendulum blade against his chin. "She cut off my arms a few times, and did a neat thing where my skin fell off."
… you're not sure if his enthusiasm of the subject is disturbing or not. You've had both those things happen to you after all, but… it's not something you're proud of.
"We-I was defending myself Verge!" The LadyDevimon protests. "He was beating us up at the time!"
… why does that make me want to chuckle-Focus.
"And you could not refuse his requests to spar?"
"... Leopardmon said it was mandatory." She explains, her voice low enough to be only barely audible.
"Yup." Thresh nods. "The boss said it was something about… lesses… and… quenceconses."
"Lessons, and consequences?"
"Yeah, sure, that." He huffs, now annoyed for some inexplicable reason.
No matter. Hrm… then, it must have been a punishment so she could learn not to manipulate others. Wisely done, although... mayhaps too far. Hold, is that also the reason for Thresh's shift in demeanor?
"Brother, I've noticed a lack of antagonistic behavior in this conversation."
"Uh, that means… oh. Gyuhuhuhu." The Cyborg perks up with a low chuffle. "The boss told me I was…" He pauses, considering what words to use. "Focused on you and your reactions. What was it again?... Making you angry is fun but that shouldn't be all I do." The Demon-Dragon nods to himself. "My squire suggested I be… knightly, and that seems neat."
Interesting, and a much more positive outlook.
"I see, that-"
"Plus my squire makes fun of you so I don't have to now!" Your sibling continues, ruining the respect he'd earned. "Gigigigi, oh yeah ExVeemon. Your student beat him up really hard. Whats did you teach him to? I'd ask, but that'd be beneath my diggity."
"... the word is dignity, of which you possess none."
"... I'm membering why I found you annoying."
"Remembering. I would also state that proper vocabulary and grammar are not annoying." The two of you fall into a mutual glare, which lasts until Ardat coughs.
"Just to be clear Chevalier Thresh. Our courtship is over. I received my knight's forgiveness, which was Leopardmon's condition." Thresh opens his mouth to object, but doesn't quite manage to speak before a spark is lit behind his eyes.
Oh no.
"Ahem. Shaverlayer Verge! I Shaverlayer Thresh of Bulwark do hereby challenge you to a drool… ahem, a dual for the right of the pretty lady Ardat's courtsership!"
Rgh… words… hurt… me…
…
Hold Verge. He… just challenged you to a duel!
"I have no intention on losing our next fight." You growl back, though the outburst of anger is short-lived.
Peace Verge. Do not rise to the taunting.
"Yes, that's rights Vee! I might as well get her when I crush you in the toury-mint! Then it'll be two wins to your one and I'll get your Lady! Gyuhuhuhu!"
The surge of indignation and thrill of challenge fade away as you look at his laughing form. This entire thing is far too Rookie-like for you to take seriously. And it's not as if he can control Ardat to make her agree to this.
Resisting the urge to sigh again, you look down to Ardat ready to assist her in denying the challenge.
… why are her eyes gleaming? By the Ten no. She's excited over this. Did… did she not learn her lesson?
=== Choose One:
[] Accept it. You're going to defeat Thresh in any case, and this should stop him from bothering Ardat.
[] Decline. You're not going along with… this. And speaking with Leopardmon should be able to clear up the Thresh-Ardat situation.
[] Write-in.
===
Ardat's Old Stats:
Strength 23,000
Fortitude 17,800
Endurance 17,600
Agility 24,200
Special 31,000
Spirit 28,500
Ardat's New Stats:
Strength 32,500
Fortitude 30,100
Endurance 31,100
Agility 40,200
Special 40,000
Spirit 46,000
===
Sparks New Stats:
Strength 20,350
Fortitude 25,300
Endurance 15,650
Agility 24,450
Special 34,050
Spirit 38,000
===AN: And here's the full update!
