Scene #2008:

Owner	Pose
Doran	There isn't much going on today. The weather's nice, everything's calm, the general broadband is chattering away... So of course there's going to be an interruption at some point. It's nothing major at first, just a long shadow overhead that could be a passing cloud or a flying Pokemon minding its own business. But that same shadow keeps returning, circling and criss-crossing over the ranch's grounds in a lazy but logical pattern as if searching for something. It might end up being a little distressing for the ranch's inhabitants at worst, a curiousity at best. If one looks up, though, there could be a glimpse of a golden Eastern-style dragon snaking through the air above the ranch.
Alexis	The nice weather meant it was a good time to get some of the spring cleaning up done. Or fixing up, in Alexis' case, as she was up on the roof replacing down a few shingles that had come loose. Johto didn't get a tremendous lot of snow during winter, but there were still winds and the occasional crashing digimon to worry about. She doesn't even notice the shadow passing over until her Sylveon taps her shoulder and points it out. "Huh?" She turns a bit to look up, just in time to see the form flit over again. "... Huh." She rolls over on her back against the roof and holds her hands up to shield her eyes from the sun, trying to try and get a better look. "... I don't think that's a pokemon... Caddie, go find my binoculars would you?" "Sylveon!" The fairy fox disappears down the hatchway that leads back inside.
Doran	The dragon seems content to weave amongst the clouds for the moment, more than enough time for Alexis' Sylveon to get those binoculars. Focusing on it will reveal a very large bronze-and-gold Eastern dragon, with scales invoking Japanese armor and huge scimitars for wings at each shoulderblade. It also seems to eventually settle for lazily spiraling down towards the ranch below, thus letting Alexis get even more details the closer (and bigger) he gets. His face is rather bulldog-like, wearing a horned helm that matches the Japanese theme of his scales, and he even has purple hair covering the back of his head and neck. It's carrying a scimitar in each hand, and its tail almost looks like a golden spearhead.
Alexis	After a few moments of watching Alexis lowers the binoculars. "-Definately- not a pokemon." But what else could possibly be flying around out here? That isn't one of her own divergences from pokemon... ... Wait a minute.... The thought spurs the tomboy to her feet, startling the pokemon next to her. Was this another Digimon? Had those Knights Doran had talked about finally sent someone to look for them? That would be bad news.... Yet, it didn't seem to be acting very hostile. Not that one should judge by appearances alone. But that applied both way. "Com'n Caddie." Motioning the Sylveon to hop onto her shoulder Alexis walked out towards the edge of the rooftop as the dragonic creature started to glide closer to the ground.
Doran	The closer the dragon gets, the more ornate his appearance becomes. Alexis could possibly even spot a triangular red gem on his forehead, near-identical to Doran's. He's definitely a large creature as well, about as big as an Onix give-or-take. The dragon makes one low pass just over the ranch, quite clearly searching for something by the way his head and eyes dart back and forth. He makes no aggressive moves to any of the various monsters or Pokemon, seeming to actually go out of his way to weave around them, and even visibly tucks his scimitars under his arms. He finally just grunts and zips over to where Alexis is perched on her roof, coiling slightly in midair as he hovers at equivalent height. "Sorry for dropping in unannounced. Heard humans don't appreciate that much." Though deep and rough-sounding, the dragon sounds friendly enough. "You're Alexis, right?"
Alexis	There's a roll of the eyes and pffft into her bangs from the tomboy. "Unlike a lot of humans I'm use to having giant monsters drop out of nowhere." There is a slight tone of sarcasming in the remark, but it's meant in actual humor. Considering it's pretty much true. "And that would be me, yes. Though you have me at a disadvantage, as I have no idea who you are. Or what, to some extent." Though she does tap a finger to the center of her own forehead. "This is familiar though." She never was one for being very subtle.
Doran	The dragon looks surprised. "Doran never mentioned me?" He actually seems to pout for a moment, eyes narrowing in annoyance. "Figures. Always making my job harder." His scimitars seem to disintegrate in motes of light, freeing his hands, and the dragon proudly pounds his chest with a fist once. "I'm an Ouryuumon, a Digimon from the same world as... well, probably all of the other Digimon you've come across lately. I go by Ryuu." He lowers his head to touch the Digital Interface on his helm. "Ah yeah. Me an' Doran are about the same age. Think we're the only ones left who have a Digital Interface anymore. Most others aren't old enough."
Alexis	"Doran's not exactly the most talkative of folks you know," Alexis replies. It's true! Sometimes it feels like she had to try and wring anything out of him. ".. And most of it has been about Duke rather than himself." That said she steps up to the edge of the roof and holds out a hand, undaunted by the size of the digimon or that she's on said edge. "But yes, I am Alexis. Pleasure to meet you, then, Ryuu." "Sylveon!" <What about me?> The fairyfox on her shoulder practically pouts. "Yeah, and this is Caddie. One of of my pokemon."
Doran	Ryuu sighs in a way that implies he understands completely. "Definitely sounds like Doran. When I heard he'd been hanging out around here, I'd hoped he'd open up a bit more. I guess not." He reaches out with a claw and carefully shakes Alexis' hand by pinching it between thumb and forefinger. "Nice t' meet you both." He adds a nod to Caddie in particular, acknowledging the Sylveon. He tilts his head slightly, peering at Alexis a little more out of one eye than the other. "How's Duke doin' anyways? Heard somethin' about him gettin' better lately, and that you've been a good part of that."
Alexis	Alexis uses her other hand to make one of those 'so-so' back and forth wobbly motions. "I'll consider that he will talk to me, with a bit of prodding, an improvment. I've tried not to push too hard, that tends to backfire in the end." "Sylveon." <Sometimes the harder you pry, the more they retreat inside the shell.> Caddie does a head tilt, causing one ear to flop sideways. <Not that he has a shell.> "We get the idea, Caddie." Alexis snickers a little. "Better, but I can only do so much other than being here when he needs the help. It's a steep hill and part of it he's got to climb for himself. We're just here to catch him when he stumbles." Shrugs a little. "... Some things won't have the same impact if he doesn't learn for himself." Depending on how much he knows Ryuu may be able to tell what she's alluding to.
Doran	Ryuu chortles a deep-throated snicker. "Good. The sooner he's back to normal, the better. He always was a bright Mon, almost annoyingly so. One of those idealist types, too." It seems he gets it, alright. He nods back down to the ground. "Mind if I take a seat? I'd join you," he looks at the roof dubiously, "but I think I'd break something important."
Alexis	Alexis gestures towards the ground. "By all means, help yourself." She gets down herself, sitting on the edge of the rooftop. "I'd offer you a chair, but even I don't have them in that size."
Doran	Ryuu laughs amicably. "Nah, it's fine. Appreciated, though." He lowers down to the ground, tail coiling under him with the rest of the body following. By the end of it, he almost looks like a coiled rattlesnake resting on the ground. He crosses his arms over a coil like someone would rest their crossed arms on a desk or something. Thankfully, he has a long neck that makes it comfortable to look up without strain. "Also hear Beelzebumon's involved with Duke's whole situation. He been causing trouble or anything?"
Alexis	"Trouble would be his middle name if you guys had such things. Though." Idly Alexis picked the Sylveon off her shoulder and set the fairy-mon in her lap instead. "He's more a wild card than anything. Comes and goes as he pleases. If he's still got any ties to the other Demon Lords he's not trumpeting them any. Or really picking a side." Almost absently she started scritching the pokemon behind an ear. "... And in his own, be an ass way, kind of helping. If Duke gets strong enough to beat him, he'll tell him more about the past events. So he's really motivated to work towards that. Motivation is a good thing... and relatively less dangerous than what he could be trying for. Relatively." Beelzebumon was hardly not dangerous. But it beats, say, running off to try and find one of the so-called Knights.
Doran	Ryuu cants his head noticeably to one side. "Huh." He taps a claw against the coil. "Guess even that scrapper had to grow up a bit. Been long enough since we escaped." He lifts a claw and bows his head, scratching at his mane of purple hair. "Not many of us left anyway." He rumbles lowly. "Never did agree with Yggdrasil's way of doing things, even before the Demon Lords challenged him. I challenged the Royal Knights once, 'cause I thought they were just weak pawns of the great god." He snickers, clearly proud of himself. "Beat all but one of 'em, too."
Alexis	"They might be pawns," Alexis replies thoughtfully, "But even a pawn can become the Queen with the right moves." Ugh, all the those times Nova dragged her into play chess despite her thinking it was too long and boring actually made something relevant! "The main thing Duke needs is time. He's trying, and making progress, but it's not problems you can just solve overnight." She leans back a bit to look up to the sky, remembering the initial thought she had at seeing the unfamiliar form passing over head. "It's time he may eventually not get as much as he needs."
Doran	Ryuu grunts. She didn't bite -- pity that. He doesn't wrangle the conversation back to his best moment of glory, instead focusing on Alexis' point instead. "So I'm not the only one." He makes an extra coil layer with his neck, somehow managing to rest his head on his crossed arms. "It's why I've been keeping my head down, not getting involved in Multi-world stuff. The more active Digimon get out here, the more likely Yggdrasil's gonna notice and want to tie up loose ends." He huffs noticeably. "Nobody was supposed to survive, after all." He closes his eyes, his wings drooping so they're almost resting against the backs of his shoulders. "Ah well. What'll happen will happen. Good thing is, Royal Knights never just show up quietly someplace. They appear, we'll know."
Alexis	"I'll be honest. When I first saw you up there I thought you might be one of those," Alexis replies. "But then you didn't just swoop in and try to blast the place apart. Good thing, too." Good thing for her, or for him? Considering she didn't seem too daunted by 'beat all but one of them', it could probably be both. Alexis wasn't exactly known for being intimidated easily, man monster or otherwise. Unless it's fucking Mewtwo. But that's an entirely different an irrelivant story. "Doran has mentioned other 'Exiles' but since I've not seen any digimon other than those two and Beelzebumon, I figured hiding out is what most were doing. Probably smart."
Doran	Ryuu cracks up laughing, burying his face behind his folded arms until he can get control of himself. He peeks up once his amusement is far more manageable. "You thought /I/ was a Royal Knight? No way, Yggdrasil wouldn't accept a beast like me in his pack of toy soldiers." He straightens up and actually flexes his arms! "Besides, what do I need for the Digi-God's power? I've got everything I need already!" He flumps back down into his coiled pile. "Besides, you can't really miss 'em. Tall humanoid, armor-wearing knights with 'Mon' at the end of their name who might just announce who they are and what they're doing anyways." He waves a claw. "Would still be in hiding myself if I wasn't so worried about Doran. Duke's in good enough hands and I'm fine with him reforging his path, but..." "But you're feeling fussy again, eh Ryuu?" Doran's childish voice pipes up nearby as the Dorumon makes his way over. He looks tired and his fur is noteably dirty from hunting, but he doesn't seem to be insulted by being talked about.
Alexis	Alexis gives it a bit of a dismissive way. "I mean more the fact that you showed up, didn't know what you were, and you're freakin' huge." And then Doran actually makes an appearance. She leans over a bit to wave at him from the edge of the roof. "There you are. Any luck with the hunting?"
Doran	Doran nods up to Alexis in greeting before hopping up Ryuu's coils level by level. "Well enough. I get so hungry after using my Ultimate form and it takes a few days before I feel full again. Didn't want to eat up all your supplies either, Alexis." Ryuu ignores Doran's climbing, still mulling over Alexis' clarification at full exclusion of the new conversation path. "Well... yeah, I guess that's a point." He straightens himself back up slightly as Doran curls up at a small caveat at the top of the coil, at the base of Ryuu's wings. It almost looks like someone's tied a purple pom-pom to Ryuu's wings, yet the draconic Digimon still doesn't seem to care.
Alexis	Alexis laughs a bit at Doran. "That's not likely. Spikes enjoys having a reason to prepare bigger meals. I was feeding many, many stomaches before you two came along." Alexis shifts position a bit, leaning back to prop herself with her arms. "So." Her gaze focuses back on Ryuu. "What do you think? You came to check on them, putting your keeping 'hidden' at risk. I get the feeling you don't do that for just anybody."
Doran	The purple puffball that is Doran twitches an ear as he giggles. "I'll keep that in mind." Brief appearance of a head as he yawns, fully exposing sharp teeth before it's back to pom-pom mode. "Might even take you and Spike up on it soon." Ryuu looks over his shoulder down at Doran for a few moments, then looks back at Alexis. "You're right, I don't. Doran and I go way back, before the Great Demon War, and Duke's included because Doran took him in." His mouth quirks slightly in a fond grin at a passing memory, then turns serious again. "With all this Digimon-related activity going on, I realized it's only a matter of time before things go south again. I might not be able to survive alone if I'm found, since nobody knows how strong the Royal Knights are anymore. So, I figured I might as well touch base and see where everything stood." He jabs a thumb over his shoulder, indicating Doran. "Besides, Li'l Stoic back there has a habit of hiding all his problems. Makin' it look like everything's fine when it's anything but."
Alexis	".. Yeah, that incident with Cerubusmon-X. And she's still out there somewhere, while we can't do much other than be on the guard and watch for when she moves again, this time hopefully soon enough to cut her off." A pause, and then Alexis' voice gets a little more cold than usual. "And finish it properly this time."
Doran	Ryuu grunts. "Ain't just that Cerberumon-X, though that's the most recent one. Duke bein' out-and-about at all, helpin' people and righting wrongs, is enough of a beacon as it is." He holds up a claw semi-defensively. "Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Duke shouldn't be doing what he's doing. In fact, what he's doing is gonna help him survive. There's just gonna be reprecussions, which we're all aware of already." He raises an upper-eye-ridge at Alexis' cold tone, his own voice turning grave. "It's what must be done. Dunno if Duke will go through with it, but me or Doran? No arguments from us." "Talking for me again, Ryuu?" Doran mumbles, barely audible through his fur. Ryuu shoots the Dorumon an annoyed look. "Am I wrong?" A vague shake of what is possibly the head-section of the pom-pom, as well as a bleary sound that could be interpreted as negative. "Then shut it." Doran lifts his head, his eyes slitting like cat-eyes, as he glares up at the far larger Ouryuumon. Quick as can be, Doran uncurls and leaps straight up, latching his jaws on the lower edge of one of Ryuu's scythe-wings with a steel-trap-like sound effect.
Alexis	"If he can't yet... Others will be there to do it. The situation that let her escape last time won't happen again." She took lives. She tried to take one right in front of them, thinking it would stay the hand of would-be heroes. But when Alexis said they didn't negotiate with hostage takers, she was not kidding. They just made sure to smack the real enemy instead of hurting the bystander.. but that's always what had let her escape. They had held back. Next time there wouldn't be holding back long enough for her to take hostages in the first place. "Don't think I like doing it. Because it sucks... but I've dealt with this stupid shit long enough to know that it is sometimes necessary. It's her life against the ones she would otherwise be able to keep putting in danger... And Cerebrumon-X already proved she has no remorse over her actions, so her side of the argument is null and void.... She's not going to get to fuck up entire lives like... other monsters I've had to deal with in the past."
Doran	Ryuu holds up both claws this time. "Don't gotta justify it to me, Alexis. No amount of talking is gonna change the mind of a Digimon controlled by their own power, and it's clear to me this Cerebrumon-X fits. There's nothing personal about putting down a Mon for the greater good. Just the way it is sometimes." A quiet sound akin to metal scraping against metal draws Ryuu's attention back to the Dorumon dangling from his wing and he emits a long-suffering sigh. "You realize that doesn't hurt, right?" Doran's reply is muffled by maintaining a mouthful of metal wing. "Pwin-se-pull." Ryuu rolls his eyes noticeably before twisting his neck around to snake his head under one arm and under Doran's dangling back-paws. "Really?" Doran finally lets go, plopping down on top of Ryuu's head and crossing his short raptor arms over his chest in an overly-exaggerated pout as the Ouryuumon untwists himself back to the way he was. However, it seems Doran has indeed been paying attention despite that, as he looks over to Alexis with a serious stare. "I remember news reports claimed an disturbance similar to Digivolution before the killings started. If she's gone berserk, she won't be content to stay at only the Perfect level... especially after our last encounter."
Alexis	"Yeah, I figured as much," Alexis replies. "The main difference this time is we know about her, and the warnings to see. That's what slowed down the response last time." She shrugs her shoulders a little as she sits back up. "Oh, I would love to go hunting for her... but then she'd catch wind of us and keep moving. She needs to stop somewhere so she can actually be caught... and then nailed before things can happen like last time."
Doran	Doran and Ryuu both nod in unified agreement, the former somehow not getting bounced off of the latter's helm. "Agreed," Ryuu replies. "We just have to hope that either she shows up in a non-populated area, or we can draw her into one," Doran adds. "I don't think any of us want to see collateral damage like last time. Definitely no hostages." Ryuu glances from one to another. "Seriously?"
Alexis	Alexis snorts roughly as she gets up, and starts walking over to where the ladder down from the roof is, after moving the Sylveon back to her shoulder. "She tried to take a hostage to stop us last time. It didn't work. She knows that won't stay any judgements against her... And is all the more reason she has to be hit hard and fast as soon as we know where she is." She pauses at the top of the ladder. "The only reason we're not sending a dozen hunting parties out to look for her is because that would cause notice. People would panic. And panic is what she -wants-. Fear and turmoil would just make it easier to pick off people without being noticed." "There's always the risk we won't be able to stop everything immeadiately... but it's the only way to force her hand. She has to make the first move, or we're just giving her everything she wants already."
Doran	Ryuu rumbles. "Nothing more to it, then." He shrugs his shoulders as he crosses his arms over his chest. "We'll just be ready the moment she shows." He lifts his head faintly, indicating Doran. "One of us will definitely be there." Doran looks less petulant now, seeming more resigned than anything. "All the more reason to keep my strength up." He baps his vulpine tail against Ryuu's helm. "And you?" "Haven't had a chance to really test my skills since we escaped the Digital World, so this could be a good opportunity!" Ryuu gives a wide grin, seeming to be looking at the bright side of things as only a battle-hardened veteran can. "Besides, this whole conversation's got my curiousity up about all sorts of things now."
Alexis	Alexis turned and grabbed the frame of the ladder, though instead of climbing down the rungs she just slides down the sides to reach the bottom. "Well then big fella, I'll give you the same advice I gave these two." Despite the seriousness of the previous conversation she's still smiling a bit as she turns back to them. "Don't be afraid to explore it. Because that's the best way you're going to learn things here. I know you don't want to draw too much attention to yourself... but at the same time, no need to exclude yourself from the oppritunities it holds, either."
Doran	Ryuu tosses back his head as he laughs. "Gyahahahahaha!" This has the added effect of destabilizing Doran from his seat and into the Ouryuumon's mane of purple hair, but the Dorumon seems to take it in stride by riding down the dragon's spine like a spiral slide. You might even hear him going 'Whee!' "Ah Mon! There would've been a time...!" Ryuu continues to guffaw, still highly amused. "Getting advice as if I'm a little Child!" Doran bounces off of Ryuu's coiled form and lands firmly on the ground at a crouch. "You act like it sometimes." Ryuu either doesn't hear Doran or simply ignores him, nodding his head in response to Alexis' advice. "Oh, I hear ya loud and clear, Alexis. Gotta agree, too. I didn't get to where I was by hiding from the big bad Digital World. Why's now much different?"
Alexis	Alexis grins a bit more at the laughter. "The more things change the more they stay the same." "Sylveon." <That was terrible cliche.> "Hey it -fits-."
Doran	Doran sighs a bit and shakes himself noticeably, which releases some measure of the dust and dirt in his fur. He could tolerate it earlier due to being too tired to care, but he's not nearly so tired now. "I'll go clean up a bit," he says to the others before trotting off somewhere with water. Ryuu is still chortling, but he uncoils himself easily before landing on all fours, spine arched. "That put my mind at ease." He watches Doran until the Dorumon disappears around a corner. "At least on one topic."
Alexis	Alexis turns to watch Doran wander off, probably down to the river. The water would still be cold this time of year but it isn't freezing. "Give him time. He has an entirely different set of issues to work through."
Doran	Ryuu's expression changes to a pained, wistful grimace. "I know." He settles down on the ground, lying completely flat on his stomach. "Believe you me, Alexis, I know exactly what his set of issues is. But I also swore to him on our brotherhood that I would keep my mouth shut, and that's a promise I intend to keep no matter what." He vents an exhale through gritted teeth. "All I will say... is keep doing what you've been doing. He's been hurt bad, worse than anyone has any right to be, but you're helping him." He lifts his armored shoulders in a helpless shrug. "Sometimes I wonder what's worse when you're starting over from scratch -- to have a clean slate for memories, or to remember every last helpless moment of it." He suddenly picks himself up, tail swaying easily behind him, and begins walking forwards. Seems he doesn't have to float everywhere if he doesn't want to, at least. "Why don't we see just how big your cook -- Spike, was it? -- can cook a meal? Doran can use every bit he can get, and I could use a bite to eat after flying all the way out here."