NIETZSCHE; DEAD PHILOSOPHERS' INBOX

[explosivecombat]

[TEXT; LOCKED TO doitrockapella]

The offer for conversation is always open, should you desire to take me up on it; I can't guarantee that I'll respond immediately, nor will it necessarily be the response you want, but I'll always respond in some way.

In the name of enlightened discourse.

Comments

[doitrockapella]

Do you know the names of all the State Alchemists?

[explosivecombat]

Many of them. Why?

[doitrockapella]

Will you tell me Major Armstrong's?

[explosivecombat]

He would be the Strong Arm Alchemist.

(In fairness, his alchemy is triggered through punching things with gauntlets worn over his fists, but there's still an element of "But still..." to it.)

Any others?

[doitrockapella]

So that's what he lost that day, and why he was upset about it. It's the same as you.

[explosivecombat]

I'm sorry...?

[doitrockapella]

His gauntlets. The day I met him, he told me he was upset because he'd lost his gauntlets, and I never did figure out what he'd meant by it. It was right after another of those blackouts, too. He must've had his gauntlets then, and lost them afterward.

I stopped to talk to him because he was looking for a sparring partner, and I was in just sour enough of a mood to take him up on it.

[explosivecombat]

That would be why, yes.

I fought him a few times myself, actually, though it was during those blackouts; both of us using alchemy the whole time. It was interesting.

[doitrockapella]

I managed to throw him. I suspect that's why we ended up getting along.

[explosivecombat]

I've no doubt he would have gotten along with you anyway; he's a gentleman like that.

[doitrockapella]

He took me to the opera.

[explosivecombat]

As I said, he's a gentleman.

Far more personable than his sister, anyway.

[doitrockapella]

I suppose it would be too much to ask for you to pretend to get jealous and vow to outdo his magnificent charms yourself.

Why didn't you like his sister?

[explosivecombat]

I've spent a good amount of time with someone who actually tried to make me jealous in that way; I don't humor mind games like that, in jest or otherwise.

And you could say we had a personality clash. I certainly respected her, simply because not respecting her wasn't an option, but she was known as the Ice Queen for a reason.

[doitrockapella]

Consider my apology extended. With the confession that it's a mistake I'm likely to make more than once.

Ah. Something to the effect of irresistible force meeting immovable object, was it?

[explosivecombat]

She was in charge of Fort Briggs, where I was assigned to work for a while; I'm sure it didn't help that I didn't get along with her subordinate that was assigned to look after me. But yes, it was something like that.

[doitrockapella]

She sounds formidable. Do you suppose I would like her?

[explosivecombat]

I don't think so, actually, for reasons that have nothing to do with my own dislike of her.

[doitrockapella]

Oh, you can't just leave it at that and not expect me to ask.

Go on, then.

[explosivecombat]

I think you'd have the same problem I did, honestly: unstoppable force, immovable object.

[doitrockapella]

You're making it up to me for not playing along with my whims.

[explosivecombat]

What makes you think that?

[doitrockapella]

Mostly the fact that it's working.

[explosivecombat]

Well, quoting Vermilion Shore doesn't work for me.

[doitrockapella]

Maybe you just didn't quote the right parts of it.