Digimon Fan Fiction ❯ Love Evolved ❯ True Friends ( Chapter 4 )

Love Evolved

By Lord Tarsisk

Soyez influencé-Be influenced!

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Italic Text indicates someone's thoughts.

"Someone's speech…" As if you couldn't tell that one. Honestly, some people are just plain stupid.

--- Indicates a transition between different times, scenes, and/or points of view.

~~~ Indicates a transition between memories or visions (but same real scene and time and same POV.)

I'm sorry that I haven't updated lately, but reviews are slow and I've been on vacation-still am, actually, but I've finally found time.

As always, I don't own the subject matter, but seeing as they're not busy or doing anything useful, I will now take them from their holding cells and use them for my own "Emotional Reward." Just don't sue. In fact, any jumpy lawyers can stop reading this right now.

Again: As always: Be Influenced, and review. This is my hardest worked fic yet. I think I deserve a little feedback.

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True Friends

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Veemon's body shrivelled up, and turned white, while his claws and tail turned dark blue, and he felt strong belts wrap around his body. He grew to seven feet, his head elongated, and was covered in a metal X, protecting his face. Brilliant, pale wings grew out from his back and he fell from the sky.

"Gargomon!"

Gargomon exploded into being in front of Dorugamon, and their bodies slammed together with a terrific WHUMPH! sending them flying off at an angle away from Hikari. Gargomon stood first, and turned to face Dorugamon.

Gargomon slammed his knee into Dorugamon's chest, bending him over, and then punched him in the head. As Dorugamon staggered, he backed up and cried "Dark Matter!" A volley of dark wave energy flew out at Dorugamon and knocked him over.

Nefertimon caught up and fired Stone after Rosetta Stone, each impacting on Dorugamon's head.

The Dorugamon bellowed in pain and turned, weaker than two adults. He ran into the forest, while Hikari collapsed on the ground, shuddering.

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I'm so confused, you know that, but it's never been truer. And in the end it only hurts, because despite your good intentions you can only make it worse. Distance yourself, and I hurt; try to help me adapt, accept, and I only yearn more.

And now you lie there, and I don't know whether I should distance myself or try to help, because I can't let you feel what I feel. You wouldn't deserve that.

Oh, Kami, I need something real here, and you look so soft to touch.

---

Tailmon and Veemon stood silently, looking at Hikari. Veemon wouldn't look up, not at Tailmon, because Tailmon was certainly looking at him, wondering, staring, silently accusing in her head.

"Wha-What happened?" he croaked, looking away, ashamed for some reason.

She paused. "I didn't know she could do that," she whispered, and he knew she was referring to Gargomon. "I mean, onesan has a certain power about her, you know that; but never has she Digimentaled someone else's Digimon before."

He looked at her, and she was holding Hikari softly, holding her tight, and Veemon longed to do the same thing. He felt like crying-he kept finding himself closer and closer to Hikari, yet she was always just out of reach for him. He reached out and touched her face, and Tailmon tensed for a moment.

Veemon whispered softly, "Come on, Hikari-kun. Wake up. You can do it."

Tailmon sighed, and looked away, but Veemon ignored her and continued. "You have to wake up, Hikari. You're my light. I need you. We need you," he said quickly, looking at Tailmon. He stroked her face lightly, careful not to cross any lines because Tailmon would shred him to pieces. So close, he mused.

A smile crossed his face, and was mimicked by Hikari's. Her eyes fluttered, and both Tailmon and Veemon waited on baited breath.

Hikari looked up, then her eyes focused and saw the two Digimon. She looked at Veemon and Tailmon in turn, then moved her hand to her D3.

"Blue and pink," she muttered, and the two Digimon looked to see that her D3 had changed colours: it was now indeed pink with blue highlights. They looked back to her, and Tailmon helped her to her feet. Now that she was awake, Veemon felt like touching her would spoil her-or infect her, with a dangerous bug of infidelity.

He chuckled, and Hikari found herself chuckling as well. Then she stopped short and looked at him; he smiled rather sheepishly. "Are we… bonded?" he asked quietly, and Tailmon stared.

Hikari scrolled through her D3. She murmured to herself, "Light… Courage… Friendship… Miracles. Wow. Four Digimentals. But what about Daisuke?"

"He won't care," Veemon said suddenly, shrugging, and looked away, but Hikari grabbed his head.

"Look at me. Daisuke cares about you, even if he is a sore loser. He'd be at a loss about what to do without you-you know that. I think we should go home. I need to talk to Koushiro, and I'm still a little woozy."

Tailmon helped her to the Television, and Veemon followed shortly, after dipping his feet into the stream for a few moments.

---

Veemon fumed as he walked home, since he couldn't decide if he was happy about or disappointed with his Evolution with Hikari. Well, maybe he was one step closer to winning Hikari over-he didn't know if he was on such a staircase, but he knew he had to try and make her love him. He hoped.

Perhaps it would be better to try and move on, to not get too attached. Veemon wondered if chasing Hikari would be like trying to reach the end of a rainbow-not likely to happen. He worried.

Soon his emotions and feelings and sensations were all jumbled up, and he couldn't sort them, so it was with a heavy heart that he went inside the tall apartment building and started climbing stairs. He feared.

Veemon approached his apartment and began to hope and worry and fear some more-well, more than he was already hoping and worrying and fearing, he mused. He knocked on the door, and an anxious looking Daisuke opened it. Veemon latched onto his leg and smiled.

"I missed you, Dai-kun. We gotta talk."

"I know, Veemon, and I've been thinking. I'm… I'm sorry for how I acted."

They walked over to the couch and sat down. Daisuke continued, "I was really worried, Vee-kun. Where were you?"

"I was home-I mean, in the Digital World."

"You can always call my place home, you know."

"Yeah."

Veemon fell silent, while Daisuke grabbed some soda. He cracked open the can, it fizzed, he swore, and Veemon laughed. Daisuke looked at him, and smiled as well. Veemon looked back, and soon he was serious again.

"I gotta tell you something, Dai-kun."

Daisuke looked up.

Veemon sighed, and continued, "I Digimentaled Up… with Hikari."

Daisuke dropped his can of soda and stared in disbelief. The carpet began staining brown.

"What?" he asked.

"I Digimentaled Up with Hikari. She got me to Evolve, Daisuke, and I don't know how. We were attacked by a Dorugamon-"

He fell silent, knowing that Daisuke was still trying to process this, and that he didn't know what else he could say. The sounds of gridlock filtered in from the outside.

"Hold on, Veemon. You Evolved… with Hikari?"

Veemon nodded and looked away.

"How?"

Veemon shook his head. "No idea."

"But you're my Digimon! How could you do this?"

"You think I wanted to?! Come on, Daisuke!" He felt sudden anger, and he turned back to stare at Daisuke. "It's always something with you, Daisuke! First you don't get to be the knight in shining armour, now this?! Get off it!"

"But… Veemon… We're a team, you and I."

Veemon stopped short.

"I mean, it's always been us together, right? But now, you save her, she saves you, what about us? And, you start dreaming about her and seeing her when no one else does! It's like-It's like you're her Digimon now." He blinked, looking up at the ceiling.

"Daisuke? Are you… crying?"

Daisuke chuckled weakly. "I… I guess I am, Vee-kun. I'm worried that our bond might thin out and break. That we won't be bes-best friends for life. That you won't be able to forgive me, ever." He looked away.

Veemon was at a loss for words. "Daisuke…" he said softly. Then he had an idea and ran to Daisuke's room, searching for his D3. He returned triumphant and shoved it in front of Daisuke. "There. The three Digimentals we share. Still there."

Daisuke took the device, then set it down on the ground and leaned over the end of the couch. "It's not the same, Vee. Your evolutions were special, special to me."

"But they still are, Daisuke. I mean, Hikari-chan only evolved me to Gargomon, that's with the Digimental of Light-what?" he asked Daisuke, who was suddenly eyeing him.

For a moment, Daisuke didn't say anything, but a sly grin spread across his face-while his eyes expressed surprise.

"You said… you said Hikari-chan. What do you mean?"

Veemon stared, and blushed, turning a violent shade of purple around his cheeks. And all of a sudden it wasn't about Veemon Evolving.

"Oh… my… god."

"Well, um… I've been… um… dreaming about her, Dai-kun." Daisuke's jaw dropped. "And… well, I think I like her." Daisuke's jaw dropped further. "Actually, there's no doubt about my feelings for her." Further… "I love her, Dai."

Daisuke mimicked his can of soda, crashing onto the carpet and breathing heavily for a moment, upside-down, his legs sprawled out above him.

"Ever since she saved you…" he whispered.

"…She's been my light."

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

Veemon gulped. "I was afraid you'd be mad, Dai-kun. You like her too, right?" He remembered their encounter in the pretty valley.

Daisuke got back up, avoiding eye contact with Veemon. "Well, yeah… but why would I be mad?"

"Because you worked so hard to get her to like you back, but as far as I can see you haven't made much progress."

"Hey!"

"Sorry." Veemon smiled sheepishly.

"But why do you say that? Wait-Does she… um… have feelings for you? Like you do for her?"

Veemon sighed. "No, she still likes Takeru-kun, though I don't know why, she says the love is gone."

"When did she tell you this? I mean, she never tells me anything about what bothers her."

"When we walked to her house last night." He looked out the window-it was already past noon and the sun was high. "She told me that Takeru's gotten-what did she say-cold feet? About their relationship? I dunno."

Daisuke considered, then looked at Veemon. "And you want me to back off?"

"Huh?" Veemon studied Daisuke. He seemed sincere. But Veemon hadn't even considered this. If Veemon were to try and win Hikari-which he now thought seriously about-he would be in direct competition with his best buddy. At length, he considered, until he finally answered, "She doesn't like me, Dai-kun. She's a Human, like you-not a Digimon, like me. You see the problem, right?"

"So?"

"Daisuke, she's a Human!"

Daisuke looked at him "So? You love her, right?"

"Well, yeah, but-"

"Then I'll back off, Veemon. You know that I'd do anything to help."

Veemon's eyes shined, and he looked away. Never before… "So would I, Daisuke. Fly the world…"

"Make you happy." Daisuke finished, and they looked at each other. Daisuke pulled him into a hug, a hug he knew mattered, and all the events from earlier suddenly burst forth from the little corner of his brain: Hikari's glowing face, as he screamed and knew only her and pain; Daisuke yelling at him to be quiet so they could find Hikari; Hikari, falling farther and farther into her suicidal depression, then sinking slowly, bubbles issuing from her mouth; white light covering him, in a new body, Gargomon… Soon Veemon was wrenching his face in an effort to keep from losing control… he was so damned tired of crying all the time.

Daisuke let go and Veemon sprinted out to the balcony, where the loud bustle of midday Tokyo echoed around him, drowning out his soft cries.

---

That sonovabitch-he had me all angry with him, and for once, I was right. I was right! Something in my favour, the balance in my scale, the odds stacked for me.

Then he goes and does this, and I'm still confused, because my biggest competitor is my newest ally-just the way it was on the surface, as always.

And now all that I have left is the confusion.

---

Hikari walked slowly toward Koushiro's, carrying Tailmon, who seemed to be very weak at the moment, which was convenient: most people assumed a stuffed doll and ignored them. She turned a corner, and felt a sudden feeling of sorrow, and hoped that it didn't mean what she thought it did. She hurried her pace to a brisk walk, occasionally wiping tears from her face.

She made it to Koushiro's without incident and knocked on the door. Koushiro opened the door promptly and, seeing Tailmon, he paused, motioning them inside. Without a pause for greetings he pulled her to his computer. He looked scared, scared of losing control.

"What happened to you?"

"We were attacked by-"

"I know that, but what happened?"

Hikari frowned. "You knew we were under attack and you didn't send help?!"

"It was over before I could get anyone," he said, shrugging.

Hikari frowned.

"We were attacked by Dorugamon, and Tailmon Digimentaled Up to save us."

"Who's 'us'?"

"Me and Veemon. Koushiro," she continued, a tinge of urgency in her voice, "Veemon Digimentaled Up as well. With the Digimental of Light."

"Into Gargomon?"

She nodded. "Koushiro, what's happening to Tailmon?"

"What do you mean?"

Hikari grabbed her D3, showing it to him. "Four Digimentals. Light, Courage, Friendship, and Miracles."

Koushiro nodded. "It seems that Veemon is now your Digimon, as unlikely as it would seem."

"But there's still the Digimental of Light-shouldn't it be gone now?"

Koushiro shook his head, looking pale. "I don't know! I've never heard of a Chosen having more than one Digimon. Of course, Control might be looking for someone else to take Tailmon-"

"No! She's my Digimon! She's my Partner! I love her!" Her eyes shimmered, and she looked away.

Koushiro could offer little comfort: "I don't know enough to be certain, but I doubt that anyone will be able to take Tailmon from you. Of course, you might end up having both Tailmon and Veemon as your Digimon-just because it hasn't happened before doesn't mean you can't have two. I wonder, though, what would happen to Daisuke if he lost Veemon?

"And look-your D3 isn't the same now, is it? I mean, it used to be pink and white, right? But now-"

"It's pink and blue…" she finished, and Koushiro smiled. Hikari continued, "So, I won't lose Tailmon?"

Tailmon stirred in her arms, and Hikari looked at her.

"I don't think so," Koushiro said, and Hikari smiled back.

"Thanks… I think."

"No problem."

---

Daisuke was awoken from his afternoon slumber-the phone was ringing. He cursed, and ran to the living room, don't hang up!

"Moshi-Moshi?"

"Daisuke-kun? It's Koushiro. Exciting day?"

"Well, it certainly seems that way. Veemon Digimentaled into Gargomon, he says."

"Yeah. You should probably come over. Hikari and Tailmon are here."

"Do you want me to bring Veemon?" He looked over to Veemon's snoring form. "Only," he continued, "I don't think he's slept this well in days."

"Don't bother, I'll talk to him later. Can you come over?"

Daisuke told him he could, agreed that he would be there shortly, hung up, paused, glanced at Veemon once more, then sighed and left his apartment.

---

"So, Hikari got Veemon to evolve with the Digimental of Light, turning him into Gargomon, a sort of gargoyle-type creature. With Nefertimon and Gargomon both attacking this 'Dorugamon,' they were able to win and save Hikari."

Daisuke listened to Koushiro, but he was looking out the window. Veemon saved her again. Veemon and Tailmon and Hikari now. Don't need me anymore. He sighed.

"And now, Hikari has access to your Digimentals, Daisuke."

Daisuke looked at him, then at her D3, which proudly displayed the symbols of Light, Courage, Friendship, and Miracles. He looked up at Hikari, who was avoiding his gaze. A very tired-looking Tailmon lay atop her head.

Koushiro sighed, looking up from his computer. "Hikari, actually, has been pretty worried about you, Daisuke."

Hikari looked at Daisuke, and smiled weakly. "I didn't mean to Evolve Veemon, I know how much he means to you. I'm sorry, Daisuke. I thought, at first, that I had stolen Vee-kun from you, and that you'd be mad at me-and at him."

It was very quiet in the room, as Hikari readjusted Tailmon on her head, but otherwise kept looking at Daisuke, with a worried look on her face.

"I was."

Hikari and Koushiro looked at him, but Daisuke decided the window made much better company for the moment. He continued, "Last night, after Veemon saved you the first time, I was pissed. I'd wanted to be there, so badly. To be your knight in shining armour. Then this-" He paused. "I don't know if he's my Digimon or yours or ours now. I don't want to be his master, to own him, but we used to share a unique, one-of-a-kind bond, which isn't unique anymore."

Veemon used to be able to line Daisuke in his sights, and squeeze the trigger-except that Daisuke was always par with him, and he would duck, and their game would go on until they were told to leave the Arcade. Actually, the owner didn't like Digimon, so they moved from Laser Tag to Paintball-a little more physical, but it was outdoors, and Veemon was actually more ferocious when the danger was higher. Or maybe they would rent a movie and watch a five-hour anime-athon. Or they'd laugh at the funny people on talk shows, whining all the time.

"It feels as if he's leaving me."

Daisuke could picture Veemon and Hikari playing Laser Tag, or watching TV together.

"Daisuke, you know he's maybe spent one, maybe two days with her," Koushiro said flatly. "I mean, she's not trying to steal him from you."

Daisuke didn't want to hear it. "But he's still my Digimon, right?"

The two nodded.

"So do I need to be here still?"

"Well…"

Daisuke turned and was about to leave.

"Daisuke, there's a chance that you might be able to Digimental Tailmon."

Daisuke froze. "Huh? You mean, she might Evolve with Courage?" He hand rested on the door handle.

"That would yield Lynxmon, likely. Friendship would turn her into Bitmon; and Miracles would give Maildramon."

Daisuke turned and looked at the images on his screen.

"And we still need to know why he Evolved the way he did."

Daisuke sighed and sat back down on Koushiro's bed, beside Hikari, carefully avoiding her.

"There's something going on in the Digital World. These Digimon-Ryuudamon, Ouryuudamon, and Dorugamon-they've never been seen before. Not by Gennai, not by Quinglongmon, nor any of the other Commanders."

Daisuke snorted-Koushiro had single-handedly created an entire army-like structure of officers in charge of defending the Digital World. He was, of course, one of the top Commanders.

Koushiro ignored him, and continued, "They might be from another, parallel Digital World. Or they might be new Digimon from some accident or experiment or… something… In any case, something's happening. Something big. You two might be needed again."

"What about the others?" Hikari asked. "Miyako would kill me if she wasn't able to come along."

"Nothing's happened to Miyako, Takeru, Iori, or Ken. Perhaps you two are the only ones needed. Or maybe something might happen to them. We don't know yet."

Daisuke took a deep breath-what was that aroma? Strawberry. Hikari had used some delicious shampoo this morning… He shifted uncomfortably. Damn strawberry.

He'd promised Veemon.

"I think you might be able to swap Digimon at will. I mean, when/if Tailmon evolves with Daisuke, he should acquire the Digimental of Light, and also be able to Evolve Tailmon to Lynxmon, Bitmon, or Maildramon. And, of course, Nefertimon. And Hikari should now be able to turn Veemon into his normal Digimental forms as well as Gargomon. I-um… what?"

Hikari and Daisuke glared daggers at him, and he hung his head. "Sorry. I don't pretend to be able to imagine what you're both feeling. I'll be here to help, if you need me." He looked up at them, sorta sheepishly.

---

So, now we should just swap Digimon back and forth like some sort of trading card game? Whenever one's better than the other, dump Veemon and take Tailmon? Tailmon doesn't even like me. She's too protective of Hikari. Not that I'd try anything now. Daisuke grumbled and muttered to himself as he walked back home. Koushiro's completely clueless.

---

What, switch Tailmon for Veemon? I could never choose Veemon over Tailmon, and besides, it's too weird with him around me. I can't help him, and it only seems to make it worse when I try. Maybe I just should avoid him altogether. Hikari petted Tailmon as they walked back to her house. Koushiro's completely clueless.

---

Takeru paced his room, which had become increasingly dishevelled since his falling out with Hikari. He bent over, and fumbled with his laces-couldn't he do anything right? He paused, took a deep breath, stood up, and looked around.

Normally his room was much nicer than this. Patamon flew in through the window, and sighed upon seeing Takeru's war-torn room, then sighed again at his face. "Cheer up, Takeru!"

"Why should I?"

"Because you and Hikari have fought before-you've always pulled out in the end. You love her, right? Prove it to her, and say you're sorry."

"I can't, because I don't know where she is. All I know is that she was at Koushiro's today-no one even bothered to tell me that she was safe."

"Have you called her house?"

"Her parents think I'm stalking her now. I can't call now."

Patamon shook his head: his Partner was losing faith, losing hope. "Well, I won't let you stand there and mope any more."

Takeru sat down on his bed and continued moping. Patamon sighed. "C'mon, you're coming with me, and we're going to see Hikari."

"I really don't want to."

Patamon looked away, and flew out the window again.

First Hikari, then his friends; now Patamon was leaving. Takeru didn't know what to do, so he buried his head in his pillows and lay there, silently letting another day come to a close.

---

We've stared down the fiercest Digimon before, you and I and the others; we've saved worlds, saved lives, saved each other, nearly dying several times over in the process. So why is it possible that something so trivial as a piece of fabric can terrify the very soul within me?

---

Veemon gasped as Daisuke struggled in front of him, and frowned at the expensive arrangement of flowers. "Are you sure?" he asked suspiciously. Daisuke looked affronted that he wouldn't trust him, and Veemon sighed. "I'm telling you, she doesn't have any feelings for me."

"Nonsense. She helped you Evolve, you saved her twice, she saved you. If that's not an opening, I don't know what is."

Veemon wouldn't touch that one with a long pole, since he doubted very much that Daisuke knew what an opening was.

"Damn, these things are hard… There!" Daisuke exclaimed, successfully tying Veemon's little bow around his neck.

"Daisuke…" Veemon whined. "I really don't think this will work." He pulled at the bowtie.

"Well, think about it: We have the Digimentals of Courage and Miracles, so I don't think this can go wrong at all."

"Are you sure? We also have Friendship-which is what me and Hikari have, as well."

Daisuke paused, and looked him in the face. "If it doesn't work out, I'll buy you dinner. And not just pizza; it'll be something nice. That way, you'll eat out tonight, no matter what."

Veemon decided this was a good offer, and he soon found himself at the Yagami's apartment. He knocked, and watched his feet.

"Hello… Veemon?" Taichi's voice was rich with surprise, and Veemon couldn't blame him.

"Hi… is Hikari-kun here?"

Taichi tilted his head sideways, confused. "You mean Tailmon, right?"

Veemon bravely shook his head, and whispered, "Please, don't make a big scene, Daisuke put me up to this, he thinks he's helping…"

Taichi threw up his hands in exasperation and left.

---

I guess it's not a good sign that people are afraid of a pair like you and I; they'd be disgusted, they'd be revolted, and they'd hide their children. Is love a beautiful thing, or an evil plan from some Kami put into action just to watch us squirm?

Perhaps you and I could never walk down the streets, holding hands, hug, or kiss; maybe you and I would be better off being secret. Even on a date, it wouldn't work-I can't see it working out beyond a nice dinner.

Not that even a nice dinner could work.

---

Taichi called Hikari to the door; someone was there. He had an odd, perturbed look on his face, and it was with apprehension that Hikari approached the door. What she saw surprised her-she certainly didn't expect to see Veemon standing there, wearing a black bowtie, holding flowers with one hand, and gripping the tight bowtie with the other.

"Veemon?"

He looked up, deciding that his feet were no longer important. "Hi. … I know this looks bad, don't leave, but Daisuke made me do it. He said, 'Just do it,' so here I go. Hikari? Would you like to join me for dinner?"

"Veemon," she repeated softly. He looked so… so unlike a fierce lizard warrior. Now, he looked like he wished for swift death.

The seconds passed like hours in the heavy silence of the apartment hallway. He looked back to his feet, and worked at removing the bowtie.

At length, she could bear it no longer, and said, "Daisuke put you up to this?"

He smiled, and watched his feet. "Yeah, this is his fault-idea, I mean. He, uh, bought the flowers and promised a big fancy dinner if I came back empty… ha ha…" He looked up at her, with a sorry expression.

"Well, take off that stupid bowtie, it looks far too silly on you."

He smiled weakly. "I can't," he choked.

She took the flowers and brought them inside, conscious that he wouldn't set foot inside of her apartment, then walked back and laughed softly as he struggled with the bowtie. She knelt down and removed the offending material and threw it inside.

"I know you don't want to go on a date with me, but Daisuke insisted we spend some time together, and he wouldn't let me eat because he said it would give me drive to do this."

"Well, I don't much care for fancy restaurants."

She had to be firm, say no-she didn't like him that way.

But he looked so sad, He's been crying and restless, how can I make him more miserable? She felt like spitting on herself for letting it get this far. And he was all dressed up, he actually thought he had a chance with her.

She couldn't turn him down now, but feared giving him any false hope. She compromised, "Instead, how about something a little less… high class?"

He eyed her, and for the first time she saw a glimmer in his otherwise vacant eyes, a glimmer that she'd not seen in quite a while. "What do you have in mind?"

---

Oh wow, Chapter 4 to Love Evolved. Where will Hikari take Veemon? How will their date go? Has Daisuke ruined everything in his quest to make Veemon happy? Can he be at fault for that, with his noble intentions? I'm not sure, but I hope we'll find out soon. I will post the next chapter as soon as I get a couple of reviews-not too much to ask for, is it?

© 2003 Lord Tarsisk (Not the characters, or anything else Toei owns, just everything else! Don't steal my ideas, or the insects will get you!)