02?. [Action/Text - Fourth Wall]

[explosivecombat]

[Kimblee has just kind of accepted this sort of thing, regarding those odd weekends where, for some completely arbitrary reason, everything is beautiful and nothing hurts (assuming that no one happens to get in the way of the explosions he's usually laying down); however, this time around he hasn't seen Archer all weekend, he's been unbelievably agitated for some reason he can't work out, and about the only saving grace is that he seems to have awakened in the Lake of Rage area today.

He can't say he minds.

He's got his gloves off today, if anyone is in the immediate area through either intent or chance; surprisingly, he isn't transmuting...obviously, though what he's doing makes it rather clear that something's going on before too long - he's never been any sort of particular genius when it comes to chemistry, but he knows certain things when he sees them, and he's currently picking up rocks along the shore, appearing to assess them as he holds them before a flash of blue fires off and he throws the result into the water.

It's surprisingly easy to get a good transference going, to get sodium out of the rocks by the waterfront; of course, sodium in water is known to make one hell of a bang. Admittedly, it's not a very aesthetically pleasing bang, but he's working on it, okay.

Of course, there are some other signs in the area that his activities haven't been quite so docile (if blowing up the surface of a lake filled with terrifying sea serpents can be considered docile); there are some rather impressive swaths cut into the ground by what look like something ripping it all up from within. However, for the time being he seems pretty content to be bored, seeming to have calmed down from the earlier...fit that caused all that; he'll be having at the whole sodium thing for a while tonight.

Granted, for those not in the area, he'll be showing up over the device later - not via video, but via text, as per usual.]

I trust you've all been enjoying playing with your toys. Some of my most prized ones weren't returned to me this time around; I'm assuming this means they're still in the region somewhere.

I imagine I'll find them eventually.

However, for the time being I find that I really can't complain; the most relevant part of what I can do is functional again, and if I had to select between having my abilities with no enhancements and no abilities at all, choosing the latter to spite the former would be tantamount to solving the problem of a low doorway by cutting off my head.

Indulge me in my curiosity, however: were things like this weekend to be something controllable, something you could do at will, what would you bring here and what sort of abilities would you retain from you world - given power like this on a regular basis, what would you do with it?

Comments

[terminarcher]

Yes, I know but the idea that I could screw up that badly again... it really bothers me. I don't want to lose you. You're really the only friend I have here.

[...Damn his lack of a brain-to-mouth filter! Not that Kimblee didn't already know that, but saying it is another matter entirely!]

[explosivecombat]

[Well, there's also a difference between knowing it and having any idea what to do with hearing it put into words like that; it's awkward, incredibly so, and for a good period of time he doesn't know what to say.

He settles on something that he won't like admitting, but it's probably a good idea to admit to anyway.]

You're the only human I can really relate to on any level, you know.

[terminarcher]

I...

[It's something he knew, of course, but it's strange hearing Kimblee say it aloud.]

...Well, I'm not exactly normal either.

[He smirks at that though, clearly he was just joking.]

I'm honored. You're one of the few I can relate to well, if that makes you feel any better.

[explosivecombat]

I'm not ashamed of it, nor do I see any reason to be.

[He's smirking when he says it, though the words are genuine.]

I've enjoyed your company, Archer; we've had our issues, surely, but it's been worth it, I think.

[terminarcher]

Yes, it has. I'm so glad I've gotten to know you. I do hope we've gotten over most of our issues; I really don't like arguing with you.

[Despite the fact that nearly all the arguments are his fault, whoops.]

[explosivecombat]

I like to think we have, yes.

So I'm not going to leave - especially not at this point, as I would be a bit of a terrible subordinate for leaving you now.

[He doesn't say it, but it's fairly obviously what he means - in that condition.]

[terminarcher]

Ah, yes. I would have to be alone now.

[He wouldn't exactly be capable of much, if anything. Once this place has stripped him of his guns (or at least his ammo), he'll be useless again.]

...Thank you. I really appreciate it.

[explosivecombat]

Don't mention it, Archer. As I said, it's what I'm here for.

[He's quiet for a moment after that, though he doesn't stop playing with Archer's hair in the meantime.]

...I don't believe I'll have access to a fair amount of things that you require, but I'll see what can be done about that as soon as possible.

[terminarcher]

[Archer is silent once that statement is out there. He leans into Kimblee's touch again, allowing himself to relax against the touch, trying to put his thoughts in order. He knew there wouldn't be much in terms of care here for automail, but he hadn't even thought about the basic necessities; he needed multiple shots to survive and if they didn't have those here...

He doesn't like that idea.]

Of course, Kimblee. Thank you. If it gets bad enough, I'll have Alekhine take care of it.

[Said like that's not a big deal at all...]

[explosivecombat]

Take care of -

[He freezes up a bit, his hand stilling against Archer's hair, his expression going cold.]

You had best not be suggesting what I think you are.

[terminarcher]

What would you have me do then? Suffer?

[Archer's voice is sharp, but it's a genuine question.]

Without the pain medication, there's literally nothing else for me to do, Kimblee. I won't be capable of movement without it. That won't kill me, but I can't support this automail without the shots that keep me functioning.

[Not living. Functioning.]

I am genuinely curious. What would you have me do after the pain medication runs out?

[explosivecombat]

I...

[As agitated as he is, he doesn't have an answer, not at this point; he can feel himself tensing up sharply, and he tries to force himself to relax. It doesn't quite work, and he withdraws his hand from Archer's hair again.]

As I said, I'll do what I can. For the time being, that isn't an option you're going to consider.

[terminarcher]

[Archer doesn't say anything for a moment, instead fixing Kimblee with an unflinching stare. He's tempted to tell Kimblee that it won't matter anyway; Johto will bring him back and he'll get to suffer all over again, assuming Johto doesn't take pity on him and start him out with some pain medication of some sort.

But he doesn't say it. Instead he finally shrugs - half-shrugs, really, since his automail shoulder isn't capable of that - and nods.]

Very well, I won't consider it an option.

[He's content to leave it at that, but that doesn't mean it's completely out of his mind. He has no idea how long the pain medication will last, after all.]

You don't want me to consider that an option because it feels like giving up, am I right?

[explosivecombat]

Yes.

[There's no hesitation or uncertainty behind his answer; Archer knows him well enough to make hedging around it or lying about it pointless anyway.]

[terminarcher]

I apologize, then. It's... difficult.

[Kimblee has been through intense amounts of pain before, he knows that. Kimblee was killed, he knows how much damage the human body can take. But automail is different - at least, he thinks it is. He doesn't really have any way to judge - he was never seriously injured before and he doesn't remember much before the automail was attached, after the array had taken half of his body.]

I have no intention of giving up just yet. It's entirely possible that the Pokémon Center will have some sort of alternative pain medication that will help.

[That doesn't help with the shots he needs, but at least it will stop the pain.]

[explosivecombat]

I've worked at the Centers off and on; I usually didn't assist with the human patients - I left that to those who knew what they were doing - but I do know what they have there, and half an idea of how to use it. It's not ideal, surely, but it may be plausible for the short term at least.

When it comes to actual maintenance of the automail, however, I'm the first to admit that I would have no idea what I'm doing; again, I'll have to contact Miss Rockbell if this is looking like a long-term situation.

[terminarcher]

[Archer nods. Kimblee at least has some idea of what he's doing, which is better than Archer.]

Thank you. I do hope this isn't a long-term situation.

[Hopefully Johto will take pity on him and remove the automail...]

As always, you're being far too good to me, Kimblee.

[But that's said with a hint of humor; he's back to gentle teasing again.]

[explosivecombat]

[He relaxes a bit at that; at the very least, he's no longer quite as openly agitated, and he finds himself vaguely grateful for the teasing.]

Don't start with that; they'll say I've gone soft.

[terminarcher]

Are you going to argue that?

[Archer does smirk at that, clearly quite pleased now that they've returned to the usual banter.]

Even if you have gone soft, I'm pleased it's for me.

[...brain-to-mouth filter can you please work?]

[explosivecombat]

[Oh, come on -

...wait, what]

...Is that so?

[The words lack their usual bite, however; if anything, he sounds kind of confused.]

[terminarcher]

Y-yes, well. You're quite good to me and you're... the closest friend I have and I'm very fond of you--

[Shut up shut up shut up shut up!!]

--It's nice to know that you care about me that much, even if it can't quite compare to how much I care about you.

[WOW SHIT HE'S JUST MAKING THIS WORSE]

...Not that you can't care about people; you're different and I understand that, I just mean...

[fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck]

I'm in love with you.

[F U C K]

[explosivecombat]

[...

can someone stop the world, he'd really like to get off]

I see.

[His tone is more than enough to indicate that no, he really doesn't see, but he's trying to work through it anyway.]

You know I don't love people, Archer.

[terminarcher]

Yes, yes, I know, I know!

[Well, he sounds frustrated, but it's not with you, Kimblee. Just let him put his head in his hand and slowly die of embarrassment.]

You're different; I understand that. It's not a bad thing, I've said that numerous times in the past.

[explosivecombat]

[Kimblee doesn't move to do anything about it; he just stares, trying to find words and not quite being successful at it. There isn't exactly an acceptable way to deal with this, is there?]

...You have, yes. But you would change that if you could, wouldn't you?

[terminarcher]

Yes, I would.

[There's no hesitance or shame about it, it's the truth. Still, he winces a bit once that's out there and tries to amend it.]

I lov-- like you the way you are, Kimblee, but yes, that would be nice. I'm not like Isaac.

[Not at all, tbh...]