gogglesyndrome | Thirty-Ninth Flame

[It took him a while, but Taichi finally fulfilled his mission to examine the beach for Haruhi. The weather is a little chilly, but that doesn't stop him from walking along with a digital camera he found in the items shop in his hands. As he snaps pictures of the sand and the water, he takes one more shot before plopping down on the sand and pulling out his journal, half to record his thoughts and half to actually talk to the village.]

Hmm...this would have been cooler if it weren't overcast outside. Oh well. I can't remember the last time I've even been to the beach. I guess that's a lie; last time...man, I don't even want to think about that.

Was that even the last time? I can't remember now. It feels like it's been forever since August 1st...the first time we were in the Digital World, the first time I met Agumon, the first time he evolved to Greymon? It's been over two years. Wonder if he remembers me. Time moves a lot faster in the Digital World, so if time at home doesn't move, does that mean that time in the Digital World actually does move but at a normal pace? Or does it freeze and so I'm actually suspended in mid-air in the cable car on my way home? Man, this is just hurting my head!

Whatever. At least this beach isn't crawling with monsters. Guess that makes me wonder though, what are beaches like where you guys are from? Do you even have them?

Oh hey! Haruhi! I've got all the pictures you need. I'll bring them to the next meeting.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yeah, you know who she is, right? Runs the Brigade and stuff.

Your boat? What boat?

That boat. [Jack points off in the distance where the mast can be seen. Not that far away.] I HAVE heard of this wench. She's Winry's boy---girlfriend, is she not?

Confusing place, Luceti.

Yeah. She used to be a he but then he disappeared and came back as a she, but she doesn't remember being a he. [Luceti's just weird, Jack. The end. Taichi blinks past Jack's head to where the mast is sticking up though.]

Whoa...can I go check it out?

...No, actually. First off you'd have to swim to get to her, and I'm not willing to make that journey with you just now. Secondses, I'm not all that certain you're much of a sailor, Taichi lad.

What makes you so certain about that?

[Soooooooo many things, Taichi.] You're saying you're an accomplished seaman, Taichi?

[Jack has every reason and right to be suspicious about this.] I've sailed before, yeah. It's not that hard. [...sailing a raft and then getting swallowed by Whamon doesn't really count as sailing, Taichi.]

Lad---for one reason or another, I can't bring you sailing right now. When I'm able to do that? I can teach you. Not fitting for a lad to be learning pirate ways on land and not be able to put 'em into practice on the sea.

But not today.

[He begins to slog off again, pressing his bare feet evenly into the sand so he can look back and see a clear set of tracks. Making his mark.]

[And Taichi's going to watch Jack wandering off, blinking at his figure.] You know I'm going to hold you to that, don't you?

What? [Jack turns to look back at the lad.] You are? How, exactly? You've no leverage that I can see.

How do you know what kind of leverage I have and not? Come on. I'll just keep bugging you until then.

And I'll just keep sayin' "no," won't I. You get 'hold of that leverage? We'll talk. Until then, you're a landlubber and nothing else.

Whatever you say. Just you watch, it'll be sooner than you know it.

[There is a very, very patient sigh.] Aye, Taichi. Sooner than I know it, you'll have me dangling by my toenails from the highest leapingest leap in Luceti.

I'll sleep with one eye open, I suppose.

[At least Jack's humoring him. That's all that really matters at the moment.]

You got that right. That's what I like to hear.

Of course, it's very difficult to hold a pirate by the toe. Are you certain you are up to it?

If Greymon were here he'd do it with ease. It can't be that hard to think of something.

Thinking of things can be very difficult indeed, but I'm certain you're up for it. Your reward, should you earn it, will be a journey on a rather lovely boat. Have we an accord?

We have. Er. Yeah, we do. Just watch.

Has this anything to do with your cunning plan from before?

[The one you have NEVER DIVULGED to him, Taichi?!]

[Oh he's aware. ABORT. ABORTTTT.]

...no, this is a different plan.

Mmhmm. It best be a good one, then. I'm rarely caught unawares...

You will be this time, Jack. You will be this time.

[Jack will laugh all the way back down the beach at that little threat. Promise. Thing.]

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