Open Post;

[espercial]

[Today in ye olde open post, there is a tiny kid up in your character's business or alternatively your character is up there in his business! He might seem familiar or he might not, but no matter what the case he seems kind of timid. Approach?

Choose your poison (Which would be the actual bitty Kyousuke or the Feather version) and setting, feel free to treat this as a voice test too.]

Comments

[espercial]

That's-! [He blurts it out unexpectedly, hands flailing before his face before taking a deep breath.

Kyosuke half-considers just getting out of dodge via teleport, but not only is this kid a Normal, he's also worried about him...and it's a nice feeling, seeing that not all Normals are bad considering what Hyoubu felt about them most of the time- apathy at best, and outright hatred at worst.]

It's only for a while...and I'm sorry, I can't tell you. [His tone is apologetic, with head held low. It's simply for the better that Takeru doesn't end up getting involved in B.A.B.E.L. matters.]

[cresthopes]

[Takeru didn't know what was going on but whatever it was, it was clear that the boy didn't want to talk about it. At this point, the boy didn't know what to do.

He should tell his mom that there was a missing boy but at the same time, he didn't want to make him scared either! What was he to do?]

If it's okay for a while, I guess that's okay! But promise me you'll be somewhere safe when we're done playing? I don't want anyone to be scared that you're not home or something!

[With that, he gestured Hyoubu toward the playground as if he's ready to go whenever!]

[espercial]

I-it's a promise. [And he does intend to keep it, even if his sigh of relief suggests anything but. He still needs some kind of cover-up though...]

Which one would you like to go on first? There's so many things to try, and I've honestly never been to the playground before- I had to study all day.

[Nailed it.]

[cresthopes]

[Takeru just didn't want the boy to get hurt and should anything happen to Hyoubu? He would not be a happy computer. But until then? The boy just stared at the other with big eyes!]

You never been on a playground before?! Then c'mon, I need to show you the best part about the place, the swings! [And without a second thought, he immediately grabbed his hand and off they went!]

It's the best because you get to go really high up! It's like you're flying!

[espercial]

That sounds greattttt-!? [Why is he being dragged, what is this life?]

Y-you can let go, I can walk there myself!

[cresthopes]

Oh...all right then!

[With that, the boy quickly dropped his hand off] But we still got to hurry! There might be other kids who want a turn first!

[Hmmm...] Oh, I know! I'll race you to the swings!

[espercial]

I don't see any other kids around here, but you're on! [And with all the gusto of a kid who definitely isn't the backup copy of the world's most dangerous criminal esper and thus a strict government secret, Kyousuke takes off in a flash, trying his best to enjoy himself so that Hyoubu will remember it too when he returns.]

[cresthopes]

[As Takeru tried his best to catch up with the boy, he found himself struggling to catch up! While he might have ran a lot in the Digital World, he wasn't one to have a lot of strength either!

So as he continued to catch up, he eventually gave a giant breath of air once he finally got to the swings!]

...S-See? That wasn't so h-hard, we got to the swings really quickly didn't we...?

[In hindsight, this wasn't a good idea was it?]

[espercial]

We did, but you look like you're all out of breath. [He was a little winded up too, though nowhere as much as Takeru was.]

I guess I was too excited...sorry about that. [For not realizing that Takeru couldn't keep up? Who knows.]

[cresthopes]

[At that moment, the blond just stared at him before he smiled at him]

That's okay, I-I don't mind! I was the one who said to run anyway so you don't have to say you're sorry!

[A pause] And besides, the swing's open so we can go on it!

[espercial]

Okay! [It's too bad that using his powers would attract attention, otherwise Kyousuke would have used it to push Takeru's swing higher- or could he? He can't sense any other espers around, and they'd be looking for him in any case.]

There's even two of them, so we don't have to take turns.

[cresthopes]

Of course! You can go on whenever you want!

[He said before he got on and started to push himself using his legs. Although as he did so, he just looked back at Hyoubu]

By the way, do you need help swinging? You never been on a swing before right?

[espercial]

[Kyousuke thinks he's got the hang of it by observing Takeru while he's still sitting, so he shakes his head.]

I haven't, but I think I got it. [He moves as far to the back as possible before kicking off.] This is kind of nice...

[cresthopes]

[As soon as Hyoubu got to swinging, Takeru just giggled before he was trying his best to catch up with him!]

It is! And it feels like you're flying too! Or that you feel like you can jump at any minute!

But I wouldn't do that, I know people can get hurt if you do! They said it can break your leg or your ankles!

[espercial]

Oh...I won't do anything like that. [Kyousuke does know of course that he wouldn't hurt himself, but that's not for Takeru to see especially not when he's trying to pretend to be a Normal kid.]

But flying sounds fun, would you try that if you could do so?

[cresthopes]

Flying? Well, why wouldn't I? It would be a really cool ability to have! You can fly to wherever you want without driving for long hours!

And you would look really cool too! Just like Angemon with his huge angel wings!

[Of course, he raised one of his arms up to prove his point but...he didn't want to let go of the swing just yet]

[espercial]

Angemon...? Wait, don't let go! [Babel would have had a fit if something happened, so forgive him for panicking.]

[cresthopes]

[And the boy just blinked at him before he gave a bright smile]

Don't worry, I'm holding on with my older hand! I'm not going to let go, I'll be really badly hurt if I do!

But yeah, Angemon! He's my friend who can protect my friend and I from harm! And he's really awesome too because he can defeat anything that comes his way!

[espercial]

[Kyousuke was very nervous as a child and this one is even more so, but he relaxes just as quickly when he hears that.]

That sounds really cool! Um, did you bring him along? [He can't sense anything else around here after all, and this Angemon sounds like some kind of esper...what a weird name, though.]

[cresthopes]

[And see that? There was a slight frown on Takeru's face]

No, he isn't. He's back in the Digital World where a lot of my other friends are. I really wish I can show you him because I think you would really like him! And with my other Digimon friends too.

They can protect you from a lot of evil things!

[espercial]

Digital World? [Curiouser and curiouser. Now this is something Kyousuke hadn't anticipated, and his eyes are trained on Takeru as they continue to swing upwards.]

I can protect myself, but it would be nice to see them...is it really okay for you to tell me about this, though?

[cresthopes]

But do you believe me though?

I know a lot of things really weird and cool but I don't think a lot of people really believe what I say. My brother told me not to say anything about it but...

[He mumbled some more.]

It's just too cool not to tell anyone!

[espercial]

I believe you. [He says it without hesitation, but Kyousuke's expression is anything but happy knowing that such things would be hard for a child not to say to anyone. It feels too much like what an esper child might experience for comfort, and he's more subdued after thinking about that bit.]

But your brother's right...you probably shouldn't tell too many people about this. It could put the both of you in danger if someone who shouldn't know about that world gets their hands on it. [Like Black Phantom; who even knew how they would have attempted to exploit this Digital World if they could?]

[cresthopes]

[Now that was a shock. Here, he was fully expecting him to say that he had an overactive imagination! At least, that's what his other friends have told him. A world that's filled with digital monsters? Now that would be an amazing book to read or something!

Of course, while the boy wanted to say otherwise, he had to keep his mouth shut for his brother's sake]

You really think so? Because everyone I talked to doesn't believe me! They think I'm making stuff up when I'm not! I don't think they'll really go after the digital world!

[Pause]

...Right?

[espercial]

It can't be helped, I think. I mean...it sounds like something out of a fantasy world, but it'd be kind of hard for you to make that up and mention that your brother knows about it. [Then again Kyousuke himself is the product of something nearly as fantastical, being a copy of someone's else memories and existing only due to interference from the future.

Who's he to argue about possibly digital unicorns when he is the unicorn in this case?]

But you never know when someone might believe you and have bad intentions...just be careful, alright? [Kyousuke doesn't have the highest opinion of Hyoubu after everything's said and done, but he's pretty sure the esper would have tried to keep Takeru safe even though the boy's about as Normal as they come.]