A fabulous customer [Ob/Mao]

[sasha]

Digital world was a strange, strange place. A place of contrasts, where rain forests can be neighboring with barren deserts, where laws of gravity and... just about any laws were frequently violated, a place that worked following its own incomprehensible logic, if there was any to begin. Like a fantasy world, populated by weird inhabitants, so different one from another, yet all falling under one category - digimon.

Aizen did not like it here. It was too weird, too ... unnatural for him. Hell, even the air smelled differently... Heh-heh, "AIR". Forgive me the pun. But, at any rate, this was the truth. He was much more used to familiar smells of medications, alcoholic solutions, books, and everything else one might meet in his laboratory back at AIR HQ. What was he doing here, however? He was a doctor, right?

Well, yes and no. He was a doctor, indeed, one of the more important scientists AIR had employed in their service. The one responsible for the whole chip deal with the digimon, mind - controlling chip... He was more than that... A lot more. And he was here today because of that business.

He was here to pick a digimon. His employers from AIR requested him to create some more augmentations for digimon under their control, hence why ... he needed a test subject. The word considering that was very obscure however. Still, Aizen planned this to become an occasion to finally see his own chips at work, when his digimon is finally picked...

- I assure you sir, we have plenty digimon for you to pick from at our disposal. Our agents' work has been very fruitful... Would even say that we are ... cramped. - a voice was heard from outside the door to where the digimon were kept. Soon, a harsher one retorted:

- You can cut with the merchant-talk already, I am not a customer you need to get to make them buy something. You better help me out by answering my questions, and nothing more...

And then the door opened, two gentlemen walking inside. One of them was some old man with a hunched back and thick glasses, a typical mad scientist from the movies... The other, a tall, no, TALL, strapping gentleman in black business suit. Slowly moving across the hall filled with cages, looking at the creatures inside with a rather ... uncaring stare. Animals, nothing more.

- I would need a resilient one... With preferably a fast cell regeneration rate. Such ... last longer...

[palmon]

A sigh escaped one of the cages that held helpless monsters captive. Well they certainly were not helpless that was for sure, but they were obedient, they had to be. Even if they wanted to escape, there was no possible way they could unless they wanted to be killed or worse. Not that one of the monsters minded being in a cage, and being captive, in fact, it actually preferred it that way. Why wouldn't this monster? It got free meals, a place to sleep, no gigantic Kuwagamon or other Digimon trying to kill them at any time, in fact the worst that could happen would be to just be deleted because you were not a desirable enough Digimon. Of course this Digimon wasn't entirely worried about being undesirable, because it had a decent enough confidence to think that he was a beautiful flower...in fact, he was.

Palmon was his name, a mostly green looking creature with a gigantic a colourful flower plopped upon it's head. Usually he was lively, full of singing, dancing and good cheer. In fact, no one could say that Palmon was a depressing or terrible guy, because that's how the plant liked people to see him. However, at the moment, this Palmon was anything but full of cheer and happiness. Not even a single hum escaped his lips. In fact, the Palmon just kind of sat at the floor of his cage, a terribly unhappy expression plastered on his green face. He was thinking those thoughts again, the thoughts he made sure no one knew were real. He was thinking about what a terrible person he was, what a coward he was. He had proof enough to say that he was all of these things, after all, this Palmon was the one to abandon his sisters in their time of need. Perhaps being stuck in a cage and put up for sale was Palmon's own way of punishing himself, or perhaps it was a way for him to be as far away from his sisters as physically possible. Whatever the reason was, no one else would know his sorrows, because that was not how this Digimon worked, you see, Palmon didn't like others worrying about him. He loved everyone he met to death, so much he could not bring himself to put his emotions on them as a burden.

No one was watching though, no one was paying attention, as far as the Palmon could tell, so currently he could wallow in his own depression. Then while trying to stifle his own sniffles he heard voices, not the voices of other Digimon, but in fact, it sounded like humans. Instantly Palmon leapt to his feet, and forced on a beaming smile, arms extended as he twirled in place. Humans were here! That probably meant that one of them were going to be taken to the human world with a new customer, and brought into new and exciting adventures. He smiled and started to dance in his cage, humming a rather beautiful song that he made up on the spot. He sure hoped he could be bought this time, even Palmon still had dreams, and he desperately wanted to see what the human world was like, even for just this once. When the two came into view, Palmon felt exceedingly small in comparison to what appeared to be the customer. He...was...gigantic!
Palmon almost fell back in amazement, but instead gracefully danced backwardly, and gracefully landed on his rump. "Excuse me, good sirrrrr~!" sang the Palmon, hoping to get their attention "Perhaps I could be of service as your partner? Or if you're looking for something with more uh..." he coughed a little "Grumpy brute strength, I'd suggest you take a look at someone like BlackGabumon, though he's a little on the...smelly side. I kid of course~" he cooed, hopefully amusing this man.

[sasha]

- Well sir, there are numerous specimens, however, I am not certain which ones would be more suitable for your research, sir... - the keeper kept explaining as they went by. Aizen was already tired from hearing all this - this guy was clearly incompetent - if you're a keeper here, you're supposed to be able to answer any question regarding creatures in his care in a heartbeat. But that would be too good to be true, wouldn't it? He sighed.

- You're wasting my time. Either answer my question, or admit to your incompetence. But stop annoying me. Do you have a database of digimon held here, as well as their parameters? Or you don't have that too? - the tall human drilled through the smaller one with his stare, making the other feel very, very small and insignificant. Coworkers didn't like Aizen for that. He always found things to berate them for, and scold and look down on them... It figures. The poor guy he was pulling apart right now was squabbling for a reply, when a sudden voice from one of the cages managed to distract Aizen away from him...

The doctor listened to the little rant of what appeared to be a flower digimon without much interest. First off, because he would not make a decision just yet, no data. He wasn't looking for someone who would be willing to work with him, mostly because willing or not, they'd all go under the knife. Plus the plant digimon proved to be too talkative to his liking anyway.

- I have no need for a subject that doesn't know when to talk and when to keep quiet. Or the one who thinks she can tell me what to do. - he replied with some scorn, confusing the palmon to be a she, and was about to proceed further, passing by the cage the plant digimon was in without as much as giving it a second glance, returning his gaze to the worker again.

- Are you going to give me an answer already?

- Well, sir ... I ... um... You shouldn't turn down the Palmon so quickly! It is a plant digimon, and as such is highly resistant to physical stress, and possesses a regeneration rate much higher than those that are mammals, or avians... A little talkative and eccentric as it may be, but doesn't willingness to work with you compensate for tradeoffs? As a medic you should know how much the mood is worth during such procedures?

- I am a doctor, not a medic. Medic is a jstudent just out of medical school who didn't see blood yet and can't write a prescription by himself. Be mindful of that. - he replied, taking a bit of offense, but now he was looking at the plant again. - Hmm...

[palmon]

Oh my. Had Palmon said something wrong? Or was he just not as easily entertained by him? Either way Palmon found his smile fading ever so slightly as he looked up at the gigantic human man. Certainly he was just playing hard to get...NOT LIKE THAT, and reader, you may have thought that because Palmon had phrased that rather poorly. The green plant monster huffed a little, listening to his voice , and then something that the blonde human said made a twinkle of amusement glint in his dark green eyes. Oh this was priceless, this was fantastically beautiful. This human... thought that he was a...a...a girl? The flower was fairly certain that was what was happening, what with him saying she instead of he.

The Digimon giggled at those words and shrugged his shoulders very playfully "Oh I'm sorry," he cooed again, the amusement seemed to beam from his tone of voice. Of course, the Palmon would have been extremely discouraged by the fact that this human wasn't interested in him. but the fact that the flower monster was mistaken for a girl was still amusing him to no ends. "Have I really come off as feminine?" he asked himself thoughtfully, looking to the top of his cage. Sure, Palmon grew up with three sisters, but he didn't understand why others would see him being very feminine otherwise. Maybe it was the flower...yeah, it had to be the flower, though Palmon thought that it did bring him some sort of charm that no other monsters had. The cheer went away again and he sighed, watching in dismay as the gigantic human walked pass his cage. Not a glance, not even another glance from this fabulous giant. Though he had to wonder....who on earth was going to be taken with this human, and how would he treat his new Digimon.

Palmon stood up once more, and moved closer to the front of his cage, green eyes watching the humans still. where were they going to sell? Terriermon? Or would she just come off as way too chatty? He didn't really think she talked much, but he wasn't to certain about this guy, he seemed rather particular. Not that that was a bad thing, Palmon supposed, either way he had a feeling this man was quite fabulous.

You shouldn't turn down the Palmon so quickly! It is a plant digimon, and as such is highly resistant to physical stress, and possesses a regeneration rate much higher than those that are mammals, or avians... A little talkative and eccentric as it may be, but doesn't willingness to work with you compensate for tradeoffs? As a medic you should know how much the mood is worth during such procedures

The Palmon smiled, happily, and looked up hopefully from where he now stood, doing a graceful curtsy type bow, and then smiling up once more. Part of him wanted to sing something to the man , but he wasn't quite sure what would make the man not consider him any more "Sir, I promise you I will be willing to be put through anything you need, and...as he said, I'm a plant, my body is more adaptable than others." he paused and added more desperatly "If it's the chatter you don't like, I can stay quiet!" ...could he?

[sasha]

Aizen ignored the digimon's chuckle that it was not a "she", but, in fact, a "he". The man was a surgeon, not a psychologist, and he honestly couldn't care less of what gender the creature was, or what mentality it had. He was a surgeon, and meat and brains were genderless to him. "It" would be a better term to use... And, at any rate...

- You said all this to just make me buy it and get lost, didn't you? - his perceptiveness once again hit the bullseye, judging by the change of expression of the old man's face, he taking a step back, quickly thinking up some another explanation for all this: - No sir, I ... I ... what I said was truthful... - he muttered, but was then rather rudely interrupted.

- Fortunately for you, you did bring a few valid points, so I will let it slide. - he added, thinking heavily on the perspective. Gee, the digimon sure wanted to get out of here... Even if embracing an unknown destiny it was unable to comprehend... Was it really THAT desperate? But the pitiful man was right, a willing test subject ought to give him more results. Kneeling down to look at the small digimon in a cage, Aizen scanned him with his pinning glare. But a rather curious one too.

- Anything, you say? Hmm... Interesting. Tell me little one... Why are you so anxious to get out of here? - Aizen asked. He needed a few answers to draw conclusions on. To see through a lie you would need to have a lie to see through first, don't you? And he was simply curious. Analyzing was a hobby... Of sorts.

[palmon]

Palmon stared, smiling up at the gigantic man with a toothy, or rather, fangy smile, of innocence. He certainly wasn't quite sure about this human, but if this human brought him to the human world, that was good enough. Of course, he didn't at all seem loose and fancy free, like Palmon. Actually, Palmon didn't think this guy had much flexibility as a dancer, he must be one of those gigantic men who went more by brute strength than anything else. Of course, he didn't REALLY know this human, and know human capabilities, so he might actually get a little surprised by this human after all. If only Palmon knew his name, because the plant certainly wasn't going to ask, he wanted to leave a good impression, and not seem so chatty. Which was hard, because Palmon was just so friendly, or he thought so anyway, and wanted to know and say everything!
- Fortunately for you, you did bring a few valid points, so I will let it slide.

His fanged smile grew even bigger, he was going to leave this world, he just knew it! A hopeful shade of light sparked in his dark green eyes, and he clasped his claws together in hope. Oh please let this human be the one, oh please let him see through his "chattiness" . Sure, the plant would come to miss his old prison friends here in camp Kidnap, but in the end, he might actually see them in the human world anyway! The image of the human world entered his imagination, him dancing and singing and the world going wild with amazement by him. Then again, the plant wasn't quite sure if plants sang and danced usually in the human world, he had a lot to ask, but he would just have to wait and see.
Suddenly the large blond human knelt down at his level, and the Palmon's smile faded ever so slightly, a serious face appeared. Oh heck with it, Palmon was far to excited, the straight face instantly turned into a big grin, once more exposing his razor sharp fangs.- "Anything, you say? Hmm... Interesting. Tell me little one... Why are you so anxious to get out of here? " the plant hesitated, shifting uncomfortably. What should he say?

He never did know what to say about this, because he had so many reasons, some more secret than others. The Digital flower monster looked up at the flower petals on his head, and then back to the human. "That's an interesting question," he smiled, trying his best to seem as comfortable with this subject as possible, " I have many reasons..." so here was the truth so far, he was doing fine. Palmon swallowed again, and reached one claw to rub the back of his head "I need to get away, you know? See new sites, even if it's just one glimpse of the human world. The Digital World isn't as big as you might think, you see... he smiled at the human and stood up on his roots, "Not to mention, your work sounds fascinating, Doc, I wouldn't mind helping in any way I can." For the most part, that was added for good measure, in fact, Palmon wasn't even sure what he was going to do to the plant Digimon. He wasn't telling a lie, but it wasn't the full truth either. The biggest reason Palmon wanted to go to the human world was because he knew it would be the farthest way from his past, and that was good enough for him. Alligator Sky - Owl City