[OOOO] Out Of Other Options [Storm/Open]

[thal]

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8.47 AM. He was going to be in so much trouble.

Missing for days without any explanation, he was in danger of losing his job down at the Mall, and the School were on his case as well. His Father thankfully hadn't shown himself yet, but once he returned from out of town he would probably find out about this... explaining would be difficult.

"Valoos, d'you really have to go like? It won' be easy doin' things like this!"

And then there was that. The matter of what to do with Modoki, considering that if the pair of them were more than a short distance apart from one another - she would start screaming from the pain. Bringing her with him wasn't exactly a viable option, not where her compulsive need for conversation was considered. He'd thought that he would try to smuggle her in his bag perhaps - but her objections to this were frequent and clear. She'd been acting a lot pushier since the little incident back in Toy Town, and he was beginning to think that she'd picked up a few of Yagami's bad habits on purpose just to annoy him.

"It ain't dignified! Shovin' me away in some container thing, where it's all cramped an' dark! You'll drop me!" There was a tug on his trouser leg as she bit down on it, sinking her teeth into a part of his school uniform, uncaring if it was ruined or not as a result. Rolling his eyes, Valus stopped walking towards the front door. Crouching down and dropping his schoolbag. His eyes connecting with hers as they entered into what appeared to be an extended staring contest.

...

8.51 AM now. He would be late for sure. Shaking his head, breaking the eye contact between them, Modoki let out a noise like a whine as he stood back up again. Thinking of how just a few short days ago he'd been either on the run for his life or breaking into virtual bakeries, the problems presented to him by the real world felt almost... mundane by comparison. As if he couldn't look at the world in the same way anymore.

"We don't have much choice! Either get in, or else you'll have to follow me somehow... but that fin of yours sticks out like a rudder." She made a stubborn face, and Valus groaned, predicting what was coming and wishing he'd just remained silent, which would have been the smart thing to do. "A rudder!? I take offense at that, right I do! Apologize now lad, or I'm not goin' nowhere!" Making as big of a scene as possible out of Valus' words, Modoki snatched up Valus' fallen bag with her teeth and scurried away up the stairs before he could stop her, provoking him into standing up and reaching for his Digivice.

8.54 AM. He was going to punish her for this when he caught her!
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[stormecho]

Nights were always worrying, lately. Avari would either refuse to leave the apartment at night and just restlessly pace, cook and ignore him, or go out for several hours without telling him where she went. It was incredibly frustrating to wake up and know she was still gone and could be anywhere -

Like now.

BlackGabumon could tell from the connection between them that she was no longer in the real world - she had somehow managed to find a computer and gated without even bothering to get him. Their bond meant that little to her - she acted like it was a chain, because she didn't understand and he would only have scared her if he tried to explain fully. He knew how she felt, but understanding the problem meant nothing if she would never let him help her. Still, leaving him behind when going into the Digital World - she had never done that before. It was dangerous, and she wasn't stupid enough to not bring along protection, no matter how much she resented it.

She hadn't planned to leave him behind, then. That eased the pain a bit and made him feel better, though it did little to soothe his panic that she could be in danger and he was not with her. This was why he had so hated the idea of her out on the streets without him because he knew all too well that given the choice, she would leave him without looking back.

Like now. The rage blazed up suddenly - why couldn't she see that they needed each other, why had she done this, why wouldn't she tell him who hurt her, why - and he lashed out, claws shredding easily through cloth and only stopped momentarily by wood. That wasn't enough, he needed to do more, and it wasn't right either - he needed something alive to rend.

But first... he needed her.

His pelt protected him from most of the glass as he went through the window, and thankfully it wasn't too much of a drop. He was resilient enough to compensate for the momentary sting of impact, and he moved away from the street quickly. So many humans around, all heading somewhere - he would need to be careful.

And if someone saw him, well... there were ways of ridding himself of that problem.

He had no idea where the closest computer was, but then, he didn't need to look - he could smell something familiar, the buzz of a creature made of data, mixed with water and foam and the tang of lightning. And a bit more distant to that, the smell of a regular human - unimportant because he wasn't Avari, except that he could help him find her.

The distance wasn't too great, and he only slowed down to move across open space, keeping to shadow and alleys when he could. Not that he had much choice - fear was rising to the surface again and driving him forward. Stopping, even for a moment, almost physically hurt. He had to get to her.

He could hear Modoki's voice, and Valus', muffled by the door. He didn't even stop to think, ramming into it with his horn and puncturing the wood. He wouldn't be blocked from the only way of getting to her, not like this.

"Get me to a gate," he snarled. If Valus didn't open the door, he would knock it down.

[thal]

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The sound of breaking wood - of breaking doors more specifically - wasn't entirely alien to Valus now. Twisting his neck around to gaze over his shoulder as he heard first the crash, and then a voice, he half expected it to be Renamon again... but it wasn't. Despite being alarmed, his intrigue was overpowering, and he reached out and carefully opened the door.

He'd been right. It was him. Shion's partner.

"Wha' in the name of- Valoos? ...why is tha' standin' in the doorway like!?" Modoki had come down the stairs now, having broken cover at the sound of the crash. Her eyes falling on BlackGabumon, there was a menacing glint from her fin, and she regarded the intruder with hostility, while at the same time concealing a grin. There was probably no way Valus was going anywhere now!

9.00 AM and school had officially started. Admitting defeat, Valus stepped aside so that the Digimon wouldn't have to charge through him in order to enter, like he'd done with the door. "Right this way." he whispered, a little wary of the Digimon for good reason, but also somewhat fascinated by him. Pushing the damaged door closed and locking it once he was inside, he lead the way up the stairs, Modoki taking her place by his heels triumphantly.

Once upstairs, Valus lead the Digimon pair across the landing, taking them left into a large room that seemed to double as a kitchen/dining area. It was very clean, looking almost untouched save for a few dirty plates on top of the black marble counter. It had been deserted for almost a week, after all. Crossing off the tiled surface and into the plush carpeted space of the dining area, there was a wooden table with a laptop on it, but it was inactive. Valus pulled out a chair and sat down while Modoki jumped up straight into the kitchen sink, turning on the tap and splashing water all over the floor.

"I'll turn it on for you... but where's Shion? Why are you here?" he asked, keeping his voice lowered. There it was again, that surreal feeling... all thoughts of a normal life seemed far away again now. If the Digimon was going to kill him, he realized, he could have already done so by now. And so for that reason he found himself oddly at ease. What caution he did show was almost out of respect - he didn't want the Digimon to think that he was being taken lightly.

"C'mon let it out lad! This ain't much like you at all, actin' with independence!"

Well... not by him at least.

"Modoki, don't! Please..." he pleaded desperately, leaning against his open palm with one elbow on the table. She looked somewhat offended, but he felt too tired to care right now, a feeling of exhaustion he'd been holding back taking over him. Making enemies everywhere he went was exhausting, after a while. It bothered him and made it difficult to sleep, events replaying themselves countless times inside his head unbidden.

Modoki taking the same tone as Yagami recently... really didn't help.
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[stormecho]

BlackGabumon's growl abated as Valus opened the door and let him step inside. Good - one step closer to finding her. He could feel how far she was still, hurting him with the distance. He ignored ModokiBetamon as an insignificant danger right now - she appeared to pose no immediate threat or obstacle to his goal. He followed the pair up the stairs, shuffling a little awkwardly - he always had issues with climbing up them without scratching them with his claws.

He might have charged past them if it wasn't for the simple fact that he was relying on Valus to get to her - he had to wait for Valus to lead him to his computer. Once in the room, he couldn't bear to sit down, and the urge to destroy something was returning. He held it in check, but he was tense, and he couldn't keep still.

The sound of her fake name made him blink, and he had to remind himself that she hadn't revealed herself, nor did she plan to. Her lies hurt, sometimes, because she acted kinder to him for the benefit of those watching. "Shion... left. In the night." He could not fight or harm either of them, nor the house because it was Valus' and he was the only human nearby that 'Shion' had met. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm. "Something must have scared her. She doesn't like the night and someone hurt her before and she must have fled to a gate without me and I need to find her!" The last was guttural, anger and fear for her safety mixing and making him snarl again in frustration at the world and his partner and fate that had caused such a nightmare for him.

He almost lashed out again, and his control was fading. He turned away sharply and faced the wall, horn scoring it as he tried to relax. "I am sorry. She needs me - and I need her. If you don't open a gate - " It had meant to be a plea, but it turned into something caught between that and a threat. The truth was that he would tear the house and his partner apart if Valus attempted to keep him from Avari.

Another flash of rage - he forcibly reminded himself that so far Valus had been agreeable and even respectful. This could not go wrong. "How soon can you open it?" he asked plaintively.

[thal]

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Valus didn't move much while the Digimon explained his reasons for being here. He didn't react to BlackGabumon's pleading threats, nor did he express obvious interest in what was happening to Shion. Not that it wasn't tempting to say something, but honestly, he was quite shocked to see this side of a Digimon he'd known to be nothing but serious. He heard anger, desperation, fear... evidence of a connection quite unlike the one he had with Modoki. It hurt him to realize that.

But the emotions themselves he could sympathize with.

"So that's what's going on. She disappeared, and you came to find me because you had no other choice?" It made perfect sense, really. And to his own surprise, he didn't actually feel very offended by it. "Alright. I believe you." Reaching over, Valus pressed his thumb down on the power button of the laptop, a familiar whirring noise starting up as the fans sprang into life. A small blue gauge appearing on the previously blank monitor.

"It takes a minute or so to start up, but then it should connect pretty fast." he informed the waiting Digimon, standing up out of his seat and walking back into the kitchen, taking care to avoid the slippery patches of water that now littered the floor. "Are you hungry?" Reaching up and opening one of the cupboards, Valus took out a box of cereal and shook it around, hearing the rattle of contents inside that sounded... about half full.

"Scuse' me will ye lads? Nature's callin, and she won' wait for long!" Hopping out of the small pool she'd built for herself in the sink, splashing more water around the kitchen, Modoki waddled out of the room towards the toilet, but not without a glance in BlackGabu's direction first, her smile to him so sweet that it made the enamel in Valus' mouth curdle a little at the sight.

Somewhat relieved admittedly that she was absent, at least for now, Valus poured out a bowl of some sort of oat and nut mixture, spooning it into his mouth without milk on account of the last bottle being past it's sell-by-date, following the events of his little digital adventure. Crossing back over to the computer with the bowl in hand, Valus peered at the screen, noting that the little blue bar was about one eighth closer to being full.

"I don't know where we'll end up this time around. Do you have a plan to find her, once we-" Valus checked himself quickly, shooting the Digimon an apologetic glance. "I'm sorry... once you get in, you can find her right?" he felt embarrassed, letting his desire to come along slip like that. Once again, he had failed at subtlety completely. With his plans for the day otherwise ruined by BlackGabumon's arrival though... what else was there to do?

And besides that, this was the first time someone else had come to him for help before. It was uncanny.
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[stormecho]

He bristled as Valus said he believed him - the boy had no reason to think either of them would deceive him. More the fool him, in Avari's case, but he... he did not like lying.

"I would not lie!" he retorted, and then had to hold back again. Valus' Digimon was here, and he needed Valus to live for a little longer - long enough to open the gate for him. He wouldn't matter after that. Turning around, he stared at the screen intently - the actual computer as foreign to him as the Digital World had at first been to Avari. His rage was assuaged now that he saw it starting up - progress was being made. With every second, he was closer. That was the most important thing.

Valus offered something to eat, and he shook his head sharply. Despite all her reluctance to acknowledge what bound them, Avari had taken care of him once he had gone back with her - she had asked about what he usually ate and then just produced some ready-made meals, supplemented by cold cuts until he had the energy to digivolve. He knew that she wasn't at ease in her home any more, and urging his digivolution had been to reassure herself that she was protected. Of course, it wouldn't work if she didn't trust him and she never trusted him.

Besides, he had no time to eat when he was waiting to go through the gate! He was so fixated that he barely noticed the partner's departure, and just stared as the blue bar inched closer to full.

"I can find her, once I am there. The bond... and I know her scent. If she is anywhere nearby, I will have no trouble." He had missed the other's slip - it was only when he corrected himself that BlackGabumon lifted his head to stare at him. "You want to come with me?" he asked suspiciously, growling again. "Why?" The more irrational reasons came first - he wanted to hurt Avari, he wanted to seal off this gate, he was planning something -

He shook his head to clear it of the bloodlust. He would have time to give in later, when he was with Avari. He would prove his strength to her then - she knew she needed him, after all, just now how much. Even if he couldn't digivolve now, he would prove it to her, and she would eventually trust him and they would grow strong together.

Such thoughts of the future only made the present more of an agony. She wasn't here wasn't here wasn't here -

[thal]

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Recoiling a little at the anger in BlackGabumon's voice, the fact that the Digimon had taken his affirmation as an accusation said a lot about just how urgently he wanted to find Shion. And then for an explanation he again cited the bond... an explanation Valus couldn't fully comprehend in light of his status as a paying customer of the digital world, and not some fortunate freeloader!

Scowling, he brushed his fingers over the power button. This Digimon treated him like a threat - big mistake.

"So now you're suspicious of me are you?" he fumed, raising his voice a little and narrowing his eyes. A part of him rarely indulged wanted to help this Digimon, but at the same time he was as determined as ever not to compromise. How dare this Digimon take him for granted!? "Keep in mind that this is my house, and that I had plans before you came along." with just one touch he could terminate the sequence, cancel the gate, and still have time to take cover behind something. So long as the Digimon was on his property, it would conform to his terms!

Slowly though, he lowered his arm. Taking his hand away from the button.

Sighing, he had indeed been forced to throw a lot of his preconceptions about this Digimon away, leaving a less than perfect picture of the creature he'd once so highly admired. He'd never expected it to be anything more than Shion's obedient puppet, only to find that it was in fact a highly frightened and suspicious creature. Emotions he often attributed to flaws within himself.

"I'm willing to admit that there's a lot more to you than I thought there was." lowering his voice again, Valus glanced at the bar, finding it to be almost a quarter full by now.
"In hindsight - it was foolish of me to think otherwise." Turning to glare at the Digimon now, he was still just angry enough that he could ignore his fear for the time being, instead letting his insides burn at the very idea that he'd been judged so simply.

"You're not the type to make a foolish mistake like that, I'm sure?" Grinning without mirth, Valus dipped his spoon and crunched another mouthful of dry cereal. If this creature really did have feelings like he did... how could it still be so powerful?
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[stormecho]

Again, the urge came - dig his claws in, make him bleed a little, see just how fragile human skin was -

No, the boy was right, he had come in here uninvited and with no warning, and imposed his demands on him. He relaxed slightly as Valus didn't keep the threat of cancelling the gate hanging over him, and he fixed his gaze on the progress bar once more. "I am sorry. I would not have bothered you like this... but Shion is in danger, without me. You were the only one she has met that I could sense nearby." How foul her false name tasted, when he said it. But saying it now would protect her - he would have to endure the lies.

He tilted his head as the boy continued, puzzled at the admission that he had been taken at face value. Valus' opinion had never concerned him - Valus himself had just been a figure whose only importance was that Avari knew him, and that was all. Truthfully, Avari's opinion and thoughts were the only thing that mattered. Not that anyone would ever know that - if Avari wished everything about her to be locked away and unknown, then he would act according to her wishes. Besides, there was no need for Valus to know what he really thought either.

Having to focus so much on his interactions, balancing truth and what he didn't want to or couldn't say - was this what it was like for Avari? How could she let herself live like this? It was tiring, and... wrong. The whole situation was wrong, though - it would only be right once he was with her again, knowing she was as safe as she would ever be.

"I... believe you mean no harm to her. It is just -" If his own partner hadn't illuminated him on his corruption, then there was no need to mention it now. "...Instinct. That and fear. Once the gate is open... I will be calmer." Of course, Valus had to have some experience with the Digital World, so maybe he knew already - but he had not found it odd that someone like Shion had a Dark Digimon, known for being erratic and vicious. Or perhaps he had thought she had bought him -

No, there was too much to consider.

Perhaps recalling whjat it meant to be polite would soothe both their tempers. "Thank you for... your hospitality. And your patience. I am grateful."

[thal]

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He couldn't bring himself to stay angry for too long, not when the creature started to compliment him, at least. Quite surprised by it really, all he'd been trying to do was to make the respect between them mutual. Gratitude was something outright freakish. For anyone to treat him like this was practically unheard of, and for a moment all grasp of words deserted him. There was silence but for the sound of the computer, and he hastened to fill it - but with what?

"I..." he started anyway, "... appreciate it." Blinking, as if his brain hadn't consulted him before finishing that sentence, Valus was surprised at the results of speaking his own mind. As things turned out... he did appreciate gratitude. Strange, as if he'd never thought that he would.

The bar was less than a few moments away from completion.

"This is it!" he informed the Digimon, finding himself talking a little more enthusiastically than was probably necessary. "Let me just log in, and..." his fingers danced across the keyboard, keying in his passcode and hitting enter. Everything faded, and then the computer was active! The once blank screen now showing a photograph of a city by the ocean with an extensive harbor.

It was Valus' hometown - but the Digimon probably wouldn't care about that.

Saving such small talk for now, Valus took hold of the mouse, clicking twice on the connection icon until it turned blue. Almost immediately a grey box appeared with the text clearly legible - CONNECTING TO THE INTERNET - and a short countdown timer set at 59 seconds exactly. Smiling, feeling oddly smug in a way he didn't usually, Valus picked up his Digivice and placed it next to the computer.

"You're one minute away now. Let me just call-" there was a loud bleeping noise, and red text flashed up on the screen saying - ERROR - prompting Valus' expression to change into one of outrage. No. This was not happening, not when he'd been doing so well! Standing up, Valus checked the wires, checked everything possible, but nothing was wrong with the computer! That left only-

"Blimey! Valoos... I think I might 'ave tripped somethin' like! It's got all these lights see, an they've all gone red! They're blushin' at me, cor!"

The modem. Modoki. What had she done!? Probably just disconnected it, but it didn't matter! She was causing a problem and they'd been so close!
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[stormecho]

There - it had worked. Relieved, BlackGabumon could focus solely on what mattered, leaning forward as the computer screen flickered from loading to a background. The timer informed him there was only a minute left, and that was much less - he could wait that long without needing to rip something apart.

So close.

At first, he didn't understand what the error meant, just what was being taken from him - and then Modoki spoke up, and he made the connection that it was her fault. He didn't growl this time, just whirled around and lunged, the forms of combat and cold rage achingly familiar. The loss of the connection hurt, because it had been a way to Avari and he could not be away from her - she was the only thing that existed and they were all fakes and ghosts and he needed her.

He knew he couldn't kill her, but it was so difficult to hold himself back when he could imagine what it felt like, and she didn't matter because, in the end, Valus meant nothing to him either -

Except as a way to get to Avari, and that thought constantly brought him up short.

He couldn't hurt her, but he could intimidate her, wreck something - he needed to get this tension out, try to burn out the rage until he felt calm again.

Modoki was out on the landing, but that was hardly far - he sprinted at her, claws scoring first the carpet and then the wooden floor as he passed between rooms. Upon sighting her, he halted and slammed his claws to the floor, watching with narrowed eyes as black ice sprouted in irregular, sharp-edged crystals. The ice moved with alarming speed, intended to surround Modoki and imprison her - though she could easily jump the barrier.

"You will not move," he intoned, just managing to sound calm - it was hard to speak, sometimes, if the rage overwhelmed him now. The chill of fear had long since settled into his very core, and he would not allow any more delays. "Not until the gate is open and I can leave." He just hoped neither of them could tell just how much he needed to get to her - though perhaps his actions made it obvious enough.

[thal]

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Why did this sort of thing always happen whenever he tried to have civil relations? Bitterly disappointed by the fact that what headway he'd made with the Digimon was as good as dead now, Valus charged after BlackGabumon, wasting no time in seeking out the source of the problem. Modoki. He was furious with her too, but not quite to the same extreme as the black wolf was, obviously.

"If I get to the modem, I can reconnect it!" he yelled, too late to stop the spreading ice. It was covering the floor rapidly, and he backed away from it. Marooned now inside the dining room. Trapped again! He was getting quite sick of being cut off from his desires like this, again and again!

As for Modoki, she was smiling. Which suggested at face value that she wasn't half as sorry as she claimed to be. She sprang upwards like a frog, flipping around in mid-air and landing with her feet on the ceiling. Latching onto it with her claws and her slimy skin, she sat there grinning upside-down at BlackGabumon with a look in her eyes Valus had seen before.

"A lady does as lady pleases, my lad! Just like your lovely Shion comes an' goes wit' and wit'out 'cha!" Something had made her decide to behave stubbornly, and at now, of all times! Her voice was sing-song and cheery, with perhaps just a little bit of a tease in there, like she actually wanted to push her luck, just to see how far it would take her. She didn't realize what it meant to him to be able to help someone out like this, and so in a way she was almost innocent. This was just her way of dragging out her fun for as long as possible.

It was times like this that he really wanted to hit her.

"Tell me what you've done, Modoki!" He yelled, but she wasn't listening. She hummed a merry little tune over his words, and then winked at him - or was it at BlackGabumon? At this point it probably didn't matter, because the next thing he knew there was a sound like cracking, and the ice started to fracture, melting back into water as the molecules struggled to break free of their solid state and revert back into liquid.

"I likes a dance now and then, jus' good as the next Digimon does like!" It was because of her! Her bidding was what was melting the ice... wait a moment... was she actually challenging the other Digimon to a fight? Open-mouthed now, Valus shook his head in disbelief. What had gotten into her so suddenly? It wasn't even like BlackGabumon was an enemy! He was a friend... practically! Valus liked him.

...

No! That couldn't be the reason, could it!?
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[stormecho]

He barely registered Valus' shout, and by that time, it was too late to do anything. Not that his attack hampered Modoki much, as she simply stuck to the ceiling, froglike and far too pleased with herself. Her glee added to his rage, and when she mentioned Avari, he snarled, not even waiting for her impudent challenge.

She dared mention that - when she knew nothing about either of them, had no idea how Avari looked at the sky as if she feared it, how hurt she was -

He had wanted to hurt someone, this whole time - if she was inviting it, it was her own fault. Jaws filling with blue fire, he directed it at the target of his fury, not caring for what might happen to the ceiling if she dodged. After the first snarl, he fell utterly silent, not bothering to announce his attacks as he spat more fire. There was a palpable chill around him, though no ice formed - just a trait of the energy he was putting forth into his attacks. It was not the best match-up as he wasn't agile enough to reach her on the ceiling with his claws or horn, and if she used water she could negate his fire.

Still, there was no way he could lose to her - not when she had no reason to fight, and he....

He wanted to torment her before she died, make her pay for taunting him and Avari, for ruining this. If she had been closer, he would have tried to rip her apart already, claws dragging through flesh and watching her weaken and suffer and die]/i]. Eyes blazing red, he waited for her move, completely oblivious to anyone else in the room. The void that was Avari's missing presence burned, only urging his bloodlust onwards. He would go to her once this was over, go to her and then the world would be just as it was supposed to be, bright and vivid and real.

[thal]

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Good! He was going to dance with her, just like a gentleman should!

"Do-si-do, too-and-fro! Come an' get some, fuzzy!" Modoki giggled, the wooden floor breaking open from below as a geyser of water rose upwards, shielding her from the flames behind a roaring pillar of foam. It wasn't enough to completely extinguish the searing flames - but that didn't actually seem to be the point of it. As the water evaporated rapidly, hot steam suddenly filled the landing, reducing visibility to the point where Valus could barely make out the blurry shape of BlackGabu standing right next to him.

Stumbling backwards, he retreated back into the dining room, quickly crossing open to one of the windows, unlocking and then throwing it open quickly. Some of the steam started to dissipate as a fresh breeze spread through the house, but back out in the landing the floor was already broken, flooded and frozen over in several places. To say nothing of a few singe marks on the ceiling.

9.11 AM. Ten minutes ago, and he'd been just getting ready to go to school...

Back out in the landing, as the steam cleared, several broken metal pipes were now visible through the broken gap in the wood. That explained her confidence, at least. Water and electricity were standard features of nearly every home, which gave her quite an armory of different uses for the terrain.

"You're a one-woman lad, I can tell these things!" rang out Modoki's voice from somewhere... muffled, but not quite muffled enough to conceal her cynicism. "Shion, though? Ooooh rightly! I wouldn't be so sure!" There was the sound of splitting wood - and something sharp and pointed rose up out of the floor behind BlackGabumon, an orange fin - sticking out of the floor like it was water in an inverted shark's fin shape.

With her body hidden somewhere below, down in the cramped floor-spaces where the pipes and wires were, her fin was the only part of her showing - and it immediately rushed towards the viral wolf with the intention of cleaving him down the middle if he didn't act upon it quickly.

She'd made herself a hole and used the steam to hide herself while she dropped into it, then... that had to be how she'd done it!
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[stormecho]

The steam was something of a problem, filling the landing rapidly - he spat some fire but it wasn't aimed at anything, harmlessly singing the floor and walls. His sight was useless, and given Modoki smelled of water and damp, her hiding in the steam was an advantage for her, veiling her scent as well.

But her voice? Not quite as hidden from his senses.

It took all his effort not to whirl around and charge at where her voice came from as she taunted him. The breeze clearing the steam aided his concentration, though, and the temperature dropped again as he prepared to summon more ice. She had proven easily able to get rid of it, but banishing it took some time, and if -

Now!

Black ice formed again, the crystals over two-feet high and thick enough to protect him from the charge. He knew once she recovered from the obstacle, she would easily melt it, and flood the landing. She didn't have the chance to, though - he charged forward, breathing out a steady stream of fire that punched through his own barrier, melting and evaporating it with incredible speed. He was pouring a great deal of his energy and fury into it - he could feel the bloodlust draining even as he attempted to fry Valus' partner.

The reason for not killing her surfaced again and he controlled himself, cutting off the fire and leaping back, tense and alert to the sound if she escaped and tried to rush him again. It had been her mistake to challenge him, let alone mention Avari like this - she would not make that mistake again, no matter how this ended.

Where was Valus? He suddenly remembered the modem, and hoped it hadn't been harmed - but he could not spare the attention to look for it, not when his prey was still here, still alive and probably just as talkative as before.

[thal]

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There was a sound like glass breaking as Modoki's fin rammed into a solid wall of ice that hadn't been there before. Embedding itself halfway and then grinding to a halt, lodged into the ice with no way to break free. There was a wave of heat before the fire reached her - and then it blasted through the ice and scorched her fin all the way down to her back. Her skin made a sizzling sound...

"Yeoooooooooooooooooow!"

... and then came her shrill scream. Quickly retracting her fin back into the floor, Modoki buried herself deeper beneath the charred remains of what had previously been the floorboards. Soothing the burns on her back by quickly plunging into the water leaking out from the broken pipes.

- PIIPIIPIIPIIPIIPIIPIIPIIPIIPIIPIIPIIPIIPII -

That sound was the smoke alarms going off. The air was thick with steam and the smell of burning, and the landing now resembled a flooded crater filled with chunks of black ice, singed around the edges and up the surrounding walls by streaks of fire. Looking on in horror, Valus watched helplessly as his home was destroyed, staring out at the destruction on the other side of the doorway with an expression of disbelief.

"Modoki! This isn't helping anyone!" Valus shouted, resorting to reasoning with her for lack of any better options. He edged closer to the doorway, trying to see through the thick smog by waving his hands around in front of his eyes, but stopped when he heard a sound like... bubbling. Taking a step backwards as a precaution, there was a sudden rush, Modoki rising out of the pit atop a tower of churning water.

"Actually Valoos, I find it kind of therapeutic like! Wha' 'bout you, laddie?" Leaping off her improvised platform, the tower suddenly leaned forwards, tipping towards BlackGabumon until it was practically falling down on top of him. Her body glowing golden, Modoki stuck herself to one of the walls, a sustained stream of purple electricity launching from one side of the room to the other. Then, as the water fell, it passed directly through the lightning's path, energizing the falling mass with her attack acting as a tripwire.

Valus was aghast. Modoki was really acting like she had the intent to kill someone. That had never happened before.
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