Seth scrubs at his face. "What an awful time for a draft," he mumbles, hating having to deal with this by himself. Shinsuke is still lost somewhere in the Dark Ocean and that leaves him having to adjust the groups of Digidestined before him. A couple of their numbers- Shane, and Alicia- have officially been declared as Earth-bound Digidestined, joining the other recently fired wrestlers to stay on Earth for missions, just in case there's an outbreak that they'd be needed for. A rarity, but not completely unheard of. He sighs and taps his fingers on his forearm, examining the groups before him. Seven for Raw, ten for Smackdown. He dislikes the uneven numbers and considers talking to Luke about maybe giving more people to Raw, but for now, he has to focus on getting into the Dark Ocean.
"Ok, guys, any suggestions?"
Asuka's lips are stained green, the delicate skin along her eyes bleeding the color, and it's really frightening to look at her as she spits out rapidfire Japanese. Everyone shifts uncomfortably and Seth clears his throat awkwardly.
"Uhhh, I'm going to guess you have a plan."
She cackles at him and turns to fiddle with the Digiport, her digivice at the ready. He swallows hard and exchanges glances with the other Digidestined, shrugging.
-x
The Dark Ocean is invasive. Shinsuke can feel it creeping along his senses, trying to claim him. He drowns it out with memories of his mother's voice, Okada's bright, cheerful laughter, Sami's rushed chatter as he talks about his Syrian charities and other ideas for future endeavors. Coronamon is still unresponsive and Shinsuke worries for him, murmuring in low Japanese over his prone form. "Please..." he says in stilted English. "Please let us out of here."
His first words in awhile seem to wake the ocean up, the darkness growing thicker, clinging tighter to him. Voltobautamon sneers as he closes his eyes and presses his face into Coronamon's side, gritting his teeth. "Please wake up..."
His partner does not, however, wake up. The Ocean does not subside into blue skies and crystalline water. Shinsuke exhales breathily and forces himself to stare on as more and more evil tinged digimon parade past, all eager to laugh and mock the Digidestined currently trapped here on their gloomy beach.
For a brief moment, he wonders why none of them have bothered trying to attack him, but quickly shakes the thought away. I must not succumb, he thinks, quickly turning his thoughts back to his friends, his family. All of the good he's experienced over the years.
