Subject: [r] interlude 368 views

[grimm]

genbu as a city was rather intimidating and foreboding, to say the least. built almost entirely out of metal, the city was unlike suzaku in being hospitable and neither was it as friendly as asuka.

grimm, however, was used to the place. he preferred genbu over the other cities -- for some odd reason that he couldn't even explain to shoutmon. (or perhaps he didn't, shoutmon didn't know.)

the red digimon glanced at its tamer and crossed its arms. it decidedly stopped walking; grimm quirked an eyebrow and prompted a question.

"ya'gettin' old, na. tha' quick you tired out?" he asked, laughing just slightly -- he was certain that lupo and her renamon would be able to keep up without problem.

[lupo]

the north sector was cold. genbu was warmer, being sheltered from the frigid winds and snow cascading along the mountains, but it was still chilly getting there. ruki hadn't been here in days, not since her battle with the death meramon in freeze mountain. her, along with two others, had managed to defeat the boss. just in time too! had they been any longer and they would have lost due to the time limit placed upon the event.

they'd won and that was all that mattered. eyes trailed towards the formidable city, causing ruki to smirk slightly. this was tailored to her taste, or personality rather. intimidating, cold, that sort of thing. this game, and renamon, and to an extent her friends(ruki has friends, what a surprise!), she was becoming a better person. back when she started playing, she was truly a horrible person.

ruki and renamon kept up with grimm and shoutmon until words hit her hearing range. "only a few more paces and we'll be getting food. everything okay shoutmon?" they were so close for food and something to drink, a place to rest and relax before their training match. ruki had stopped walking when she spoke, renamon sliding next to her as they waited: they would not go further without them. that was just plain rude!

[grimm]

shoutmon managed to flash lupo a thumbs up. the other tamer pair had caught up fairly quickly; the red digimon walked along with a spring in his step as they headed towards a nearby restaurant.

the establishment was modest. not quite large or accommodating as in suzaku -- this city had the clear mark of catering for tamers who were more serious about training and battling than the vacationers that plagued the venice of amaterasu. grimm ducked into the restaurant, a hand parting the half-curtains that hung over the doorway.

it was clear that despite its metallic, systematic exterior, the inside was nowhere near as orderly. "the food's good though," grimm said, and sat himself down on one of the stools. genbu was his usual hangout spot. he knew the place well.

shoutmon hopped unto a stool, and glanced over its shoulder at lupo. "c'mon da yo! it's not everyday i get to eat this!"

[lupo]

a thumbs up indicated everything was alright, right? ruki stared at shoutmon for a moment longer before turning upon her heels and heading back the way they were walking, soon entering the restaurant and ruki and renamon inhaled the scents: renamon could smell more than just food though, and she'd be always keeping an eye out in case something was amiss. but that twinkle in her eye, ruki would be rather irritated if anything ruined it.

generally those that came this way were like ruki, training hard and serious about getting to the top. and they'd have to be to brave some of the cruel hazards the mountain held, where one small step could land you hurtling, and spinning back to the main city. having never lost that badly, where the death of a digimon meant teleporting back to be reunited, ruki had sometimes wondered what it would be like. but she wasn't going to risk her pride just to find out.

ruki nodded as she took a seat, renamon following suit. "it does smell good." ruki spoke, giving a slight smile towards shoutmon and grimm, as renamon agreed. since grimm was buying her lunch(a notion that still made her squirm), she wasn't able to order. she doubted grimm was lying about the food, so she didn't press on the issue of buying herself something to eat. probably a good thing. "what is your favorite dish here?" ruki asked. she'd try a different item each time she visited.

[grimm]

"told ya," grimm smirked as he looked at lupo. he didn't lie, not often anyway. he certainly meant it when he said the food was good; he wouldn't, couldn't ever lie about food in general. if it sucked, it sucked. there was no two ways about it. "dish?" grimm raised an eyebrow and looked around the modest restaurant, decorated with wooden floorboards and bamboo walls. metal still framed certain parts of the place; it was located in genbu after all.

"uh."

shoutmon burst into laughter. lupo didn't know the cities well, despite being a staff member ... the digimon leaned forward, glanced at renamon, then at lupo. with a determined nod, it spoke. "only one set da yo," it said, grinning.

"yah. just one -- oyako don. chicken n'egg, rice, soup. but awesome."

"awesome."

"yes."

the owner peered over from the soup ladle at the quartet. it didn't take long for food to be served before them; it was indeed as grimm had said. a set meal, some tea, and soup. nothing else, but if grimm's expression was anything to go by, it was great.

"aaaah, this is great!" said the tamer, and looked at lupo, as if waiting for her to eat before he did. "c'mon."

[lupo]

grimm did tell her, and she believed him. "so you did." ruki spoke, giving the place another glance over. things were, going rather well, until he spoke the one word, knowing it was a question and the grimm's digimon erupting into laughter. it was not a sound she enjoyed being aimed at her. who liked being laughed at unless it was intentional, like a class clown, or someone who had cracked a joke.

silence was her answer as she stared at the table, insides burning both with anger and terrible shame. when she came to a city, it wasn't food she was looking for but ways of getting stronger. no wonder why she had no idea that this place served only one type of dish. "i see." her voice seemed cold, rather flat, knowing she shouldn't have taken offense but she had. and why? why did she care? that was the one hundred dollar question wasn't it?

the meal was set before them, allowing ruki to have a small sip of tea. next she tried some of the meal itself, the chicken, egg, rice. she was quiet as she tried it, deciding that grimm had been right, that it was rather delicious. awesome as him and shoutmon put it. "it's good. you were right." now her voice was softer, much to her relief. the laugh didn't mean anything, they hadn't done it to be cruel. "i've been missing out." ruki smiled, all hurt from before forgotten in that one expression.

she didn't want pettiness to ruin a budding friendship. she took another sip of tea after swallowing the first mouthful. "definitely will have to come back." renamon agreed, eating hers much like ruki was; with delicacy and a sort of gentleness.

notes: lolz, they have this in a game called star ocean the last hope. you can make it with the right ingredients xD i want some though xD also, ignore ruki. she isn't used to having friends xDD

[grimm]

"darou!" grimm said triumphantly, eating his own meal as well. he hadn't noticed the cold turn lupo's voice had taken on briefly; whatever it was, it had been lost in the simple but delicious meal. he had nothing else to say about the food except that it was good, and that seeing the staff member enjoy it put whatever little worry he had at rest.

shoutmon hadn't uttered a word since its food arrived. grimm hadn't, until lupo had something to say.

the tamer set his chopsticks down. "drop me an invite. i like the food here, it's good."

[lupo]

silence and meals were common with one another. at home she was often focused on eating and ignoring the adults rather than make any sort of conversation, so the silence in genbu between players and digimon felt rather normal. renamon had her eyes closed while ruki stared at her food before glancing towards the fox: how she managed to eat without missing with closed eyes, she had no clue. still, she didn't speak until grimm did and even then she gave him a nod. old habits died hard, and her digimon had seemed to take on that habit now that they were in the bulk of the meal.

food wasn't supposed to be eaten too quickly least one went away with a stomach ache. so as she ate, not too fast but not slow enough to make the food get cold. as time wore onwards, the plates were soon clear. they'd need to rest for a little bit before their training match, for training on a full stomach right after one ate was not fun.

"thank you." ruki spoke when the food was finished. she stood up, pushing her chair backwards to make room, a waiter came to collect the empty dishes and getting a stare from renamon as ruki turned around. she could still see grimm and shoutmon though.

"we still on for training when our food has settled?" training was a topic she was more comfortable with, and she had a slight, and irrational fear, that he had forgotten or maybe, didn't want to anymore. that was cool if he didn't: it was better than being forgotten about.