The following story makes reference to an in-universe act of mass terror, unrelated to current events at the time of writing. Reader's Discretion is advised.
I don't own digimon.
Story 104
Stuffed up
Pandamon didn't appreciate the irony of ending up in a toy store. If nothing else, it would serve as a perfect place for market research. Didn't have anything on Stuff-a-Plush. No one did. Anyone dumb to make such a claim was likely lying and/or a front for something else.
"What do you think, Mr Cuddles?" the panda digimon whispered, shifting the position of the (small to him) at least stuffed bear companion. From this elevated position, the pair could make out the oddest of signs at the front.
Your digimon must be this height or higher in order to enter the store. The Digital Delight Toy Store takes no responsibility if your partner is taken home by accident.
Pandamon raised an eyebrow. This wasn't really a problem in the Digital World. The customers very much knew what was a digimon and what was a stuffed animal. Was it really that big of an issue here in the Human World? Had to be if someone went through the trouble of putting a sign up at the front of the store. Leading out into what Pandamon could only hope to be a thriving mall, it was hard to say from this angle. Would probably help if there was an easier way to get down. Clearly, they didn't intend for anyone to get up here in the first place, but that couldn't be helped. No, he would need to drop down and hope that he didn't make a sound and/or landed on an employee. There was also the outcome of a piece of merchandise being suddenly thrusted in the path of his fall. But considering the staff were on break (at least, that was how it looked from this angle), there was no need to fret over that possibility.
"Here goes nothing." Pandamon whispered and let go. Gravity took hold, pulling him down to the floor below. Landing rather softly, his gaze shifted to Mr Cuddles. Still at his side, things were working out here. How long that streak would go for, remained to be seen. Just the nature of sneaking around. One wrong move, game over. All the more reason to be on h-
"Hmmph."
Spinning around, Pandamon did a double take. Standing before him was a BlockAgumon. Normally not a big deal in Pandamon's mind, this one in particular was a particular nuisance. No, this was his eternal rival in the toy and stuffed animal industry. Of course he would show up now of all times. This was probably one of those traps he created. A trap for the sole purpose of getting him out of the Digital World and let his company become the top dog. It was a genius plan… if you didn't put too much thought into it. When you did, it sounded like complete lunacy brought about by way of paranoia and what I can only assume to be a cutthroat toy/stuffed animal industry. Yeah, that sounds about right in this case. Hopefully their other competitors aren't like that and instead see competition as a good thing. I say while looking over stuff for the shell company that accidentally became a real company. In Harlequin's Defense, this is Ai's fault. Yep. 100% her fault by way of those time shifts. Though, I probably wouldn't be in this situation if it weren't for her. Damned if I do, damned if I don't.
"Come to take me out?" Pandamon announced and BlockAgumon rolled his eyes. What kind of moron jumped to that conclusion while in the middle of a toy store of all places? Had murder been the objective here, he would've done it in a secluded part of the digital world. Probably through asphyxiation, followed by absorbing Pandamon's data. A perfect crime.
"Do you really take me for an idiot?" BlockAgumon announced and Pandamon nodded. Then as an intimidation tactic, had Mr Cuddles nod as well. Because stuffed bears are totally scary. Monzaemon and its evolutions can be scary, but that's the exception that proves the rule here.
"Yes." Pandamon announced, facing down the death glare he was getting with indifference. If BlockAgumon put as much time into his twisted, half-baked plans as he did actually selling good toys, this wouldn't be a problem. But no, he and his company just had to pick on
"Oh. You're serious about that." BlockAgumon announced and inched forward to his rival. Death glare intensifying, the sound of footsteps brought a swift end to the attempt. Looking in the direction of said steps, the pair was met with a very unamused clerk. Staring down at the pair, she scooped both digimon with ease.
"Care to tell me how you two got here?" the clerk inquired, watching the pair look at each other. Then it was over to her. Did they see her as a threat for one reason or another? Maybe. If anything, they almost seemed ready to throw each other under the bus for the sake of looking like the hero of this situation. Of which there was none.
"Whoever is sending digimon decided that this was the best place and warped us here for some reason." Pandamon announced, shifting his grip on Mr Cuddles. Wouldn't want to drop him after going through all the trouble of holding onto him while in the digital world. No person was going to get in the way of that goal if he had his way. Even if said way was seriously hindered currently.
"What that bozo said." BlockAgumon announced, ignoring the look Pandamon was treating him too currently. For once, the idiot had something smart to say. Heck, he had even gone through the trouble of complimenting him. No, that was a bridge too far. Though, the use of bozo might have been uncalled for. You think? While I'm not technically a clown (even if there are likely some people who see me like that), that doesn't change the fact that using bozo without one nearby is rude to the clown. Come up with better material or something.
"If anything, you're the bozo." Pandamon announced and met BlockAgumon's gaze. The brick dinosaur digimon did the same, sparks shooting from their eyes. By no means harmful, the clerk's hand was more than enough to break the flow and end this stand-off.
"Enough of this, you two!" the clerk screeched and stormed over to a counter. Walking around behind it, she carefully set the pair of digimon in a basket hanging on the wall. "Perhaps some time up here will change your attitudes."
Pandamon rolled his eyes. This woman very much did not understand what she was now wrapped up into. All she had to do was just let sleeping dogmon lie and go about their business. But no, the clerk just had to get involved on the grounds of 'keeping the peace'.
"Congratulations. You just had to pick a fight with me, didn't you?" BlockAgumon announced and Pandamon rolled his eyes. Of course this moron would jump to that conclusion. No wonder things were like that.
"I didn't even plan on seeing you in the first place! You just had to show up and ruin everything that I had planned. What do you have to say about that?" Pandamon answered, putting Mr Cuddles behind his back. Then it's back over to his rival. The sound of little footsteps echoing into the room followed, bringing with it yet another wrinkle to this mess of a day that he found himself in. Of course this would happen. They were located in a toy store of all places. One that sold lots and lots of stuffed fact that he had managed to forget that simple fact was absolutely incredible. Considering that you were thrust into this situation, that's an understandable reaction to have here. Doesn't make the behavior any better, though. No, it's just one more reason to be your best self.
"No, you were the one who ruined my plans! Like you always do. I fucking hate you." BlockAgumon announced, somehow unaware of the new arrival. All eyes now on him, it was very much not helping this situation. Of course, expecting things to somehow change for the better in the face of swearing in the presence of children is a fool's errand on so many different levels. A fact that I would think BlockAgumon would be aware of. Sadly, that didn't look to be the case in the slightest. Does explain some things, though.
"Could you two please keep it down? No cursing, either." the clerk announced and shot both digimon a look. While enough to temporarily shut them up, that didn't deal with the problem in the slightest. If anything, this was just kicking the can ever further down the road. Those two can very much still swear and/or say other rude, derogatory things. You know, the subjects that shouldn't be discussed by small children until they are much older. Yes, there were exceptions, but those were few and far between.
"Yes, mother." BlockAgumon announced and got a glare from the clerk. Rolling his eyes, his gaze turned back to Pandamon. This was very much his fault. If he hadn't been such an asshole, he wouldn't have needed to swear at him. Purely simple and totally not all biased in the favor of the person who sweared. Nope, not one bit. "On second thought, I'm just going to go. Bye! I sincerely hope you don't find your digimon partner!"
Jumping out of the basket, BlockAgumon was promptly caught. How exactly he thought that would work is beyond me. Especially considering the clerk was standing right in front of the basket. Perhaps he thought that she would just… let him through? Yeah. That made total sense.
"Don't even think about it." the clerk announced and Pandamon gulped. While he hadn't been planning on doing anything,the warning was well, warranted. Clearly they had gotten on the clerk's bad side and needed to dig themselves out. How exactly, remains to be seen.
"I'll be good." Pandamon croaked out and looked at one of the basket walls. While keeping them here was an interesting choice, it did send a clear message to other digimon to not try any funny business. Of course, they also needed to see said basket and any digimon within to understand the message the store was trying to get across. If not, they would likely quickly find out. Shoving that thought out of his head, he met the clerk's gaze.
"So do you just hate digimon or are you afraid they'll be mistaken for merchandise?" Pandamon inquired and watched the clerk roll her eyes. Meeting both digimon's gazes, muttering of events gone by echo forth. Honestly, it's not surprising at this point. There are a shitload of reasons to hate and/or fear digimon. Doesn't make living in the past a good idea. Just something one needed to keep in mind while living in this particular world. Nor are things going to get easier on account of the angels making their grand debut in the hopes of conquering this world. Because of course they would.
"Why does it matter to you? You could've been there when those… things tore so many digidestined from this world. But no, you are showing up now, acting like nothing has changed in the slightest." the clerk announced, trying her hardest to keep her voice down. Yet, the tears gave away how she really felt.
"You lost someone during the Eosmon mess, didn't you?" Pandamon whispered and the clerk nodded. The perfect moment for BlockAgumon. Reality finally setting in, he chose to remain silent.
"Far too many people. Now, there are those dumb enough to think that we should do it all again." the clerk continued, ignoring the looks from the children. While most of them looked to have both of their parents, there was a handful who almost looked like they were nodding in agreement. As if they too understood the pain that this woman had gone through firsthand.
"What do you mean there are those that are dumb enough to let forth an act of genocide again? You would have to be insane to think that doing it again would somehow make things better." BlockAgumon whispered and the clerk nodded. Reluctantly turning around, an attempt was made to get into a better head space. Whether or not she managed to accomplish that, remained to be seen. But there were customers that needed to pay and she was the one in charge of that. One would think that she would at least be working with someone. If so, it was an awfully dickish move to leave this clerk on her own. But what do I know? I've never worked retail.
"Sorry about that. I really shouldn't be talking about this with you two." the clerk whispered, the line of customers now dealt with, Only a matter of time before more showed up, but they could be dealt with in the same manner as those she had just dealt with.
"Not at all. You're honestly justified when it comes to the memories that stick with you for the rest of your existence." Pandamon answered and shifted his focus to the entrance to the store. Staring for a couple moments, his attention shifted back over to the clerk. "We're sorry if it seemed like we should've done something. A lot of us did in the wake of the tragedy. But there's little one can do as the people you called your friends are saddled with the burden that they will never get to go back. That their second chance has slipped away and they're just out of luck."
Bringing Mr Cuddles to the forefront, the panda digimon gave their companion a hug.
"Is that why you have that stuffed animal by your side?" the clerk inquired and Pandamon nodded. Looking to his companion for any additional insightful comments, he was instead met with silence. Even if there was something to add here, there was little point in doing so.
"You could say that. While there was always a chance that I might never see her, I want to believe." Pandamon continued, the sound of footsteps echoing their way over. Staring for a couple seconds, Pandamon did a double take. There was no way that he had seen that correctly. No, his eyes were playing a clear, consistent trick on him. That had to be it. The woman heading his way couldn't be that of his partner.
Rubbing a hand in front of his eyes, the woman was still very much there. Dressed in a skirt suit with a set of heels just visible under the pant legs, her hair was a slight mess. Not that this did anything to really distract with the topaz-colored eyes staring back.
"Sorry about this, Yancy." the woman cooed, waiting a moment for the clerk to focus on her. Once she had, then came the time to close the distance.
"Not at all…" the clerk muttered as she watched her boss look both of her partners over. Turning back around, she ignored the glares. "Aren't you going to do something about those two?"
The woman shrugged.
"Considering you put them in there in the first place, I trust your judgment." the woman announced, continuing to ignore the death glares she was no doubt getting here. They had made their bed, now they had to lie in it.
Harlequin's Notes:
Oh hey. This is is likely to be the last chapter we put for this version. With the way shit is going, FFnet is far too likely to implode in on itself. Sorry it had to be broken this way, but that's just how the cookie crumbles.
