explosivecombat | 025. [Text/Action for the Rocket base in Goldenrod City]

025. [Text/Action for the Rocket base in Goldenrod City]

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[It's been something of a long day, really, though Kimblee really can't say why - there have been frustrations, surely, but nothing more than what he's accustomed to dealing with on a daily basis.

That said, however, there have still been frustrations. Whether he wants to deal with them or not. Right now there's currently a very large frustration that's been locked up in his closet again, just because the damn thing has neither psychic powers nor hands and it's taken to zapping the Pokéballs out of his grasp when he tries to recall it. Hopefully neither he nor Archer will need anything in that closet anytime soon, because this is just getting ridiculous...]

For those of you who have experience dealing with more...ah, difficult companions, how would you recommend dealing with them? Mind you, I'm not talking finicky, I'm talking about nigh-on homicidal; is there a way to repair one's relationship with them when it's that far gone, or should I just not even bother?

[Not that he knows what to do if the answer is "don't bother" because he suspects releasing a microchipped starter will go over like complete and utter hell, but that is beside the point.]

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[Kimblee isn't straying far from the base today; if anything, he's taken to holing himself up harder into it when he's not dealing with his psychopath of an Electrode. Letting the damn thing evolve had been a mistake; between that and all the other issues that he's very decidedly not wanting to discuss with anyone, he's more than happy to just shut himself in one of the training rooms and set it up to his liking.

Admittedly, the thing looks less like a proper training facility and more like the world's most suicidal parkour-based obstacle course; anyone who comes in to see what on earth's going on in here today may take a moment to find him, but that's likely because they just aren't looking high enough - he's settled on one of the world's most precariously-positioned ledges near the damn ceiling, legs crossed at the knee, and he's taking a moment to get his breath from whatever it was he was just doing.

Yes, he's still wearing the three-piece suit, complete with gloves, though his tie has come undone somewhat and his collar is slipping open; if you can get him to come the hell down from his position (and he'll be easily convinced, if he notices you) it'll become plain quickly enough that there are bandages wrapped around his throat, though there isn't any blood on them.

He seems pretty keyed-up there, though; outside of the vaguely unkempt appearance of his clothing, he's shaking somewhat and those two loose strands of hair at the front have been joined by a few others that have slipped loose from that long ponytail. His gaze is pretty manic-looking, though not to the point of looking like he'll bite anyone's face off just yet; at least there's that to be thankful for.]

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I was aiming to answer some guy's question to kill time on my ten-minute coffee break.

Well, for the time being you can consider me grateful for the advice, and don't let me keep you.

Yeah, all right.

Don't let the hypersensitive bomb balls bite.

Just a bit, yeah! Don't be so surprised, sir! I'd do anything to combat boredom!

Well, it's less the volunteering and more the fact that I don't think I've seen that many exclamation points in one place for quite some time.

But I'll be sure to keep that in mind.

[Kimblee's never been terribly built - clothing tricks will go a long way toward making others think one is, however, and he's managed to get some of his fighting strength back up besides. He's likely never going to get back to the condition that he held in Ishval, but then again, he's not in his twenties anymore, either.

That said, however, he'll be keeping an eye on those Pokémon; not nervous, just somewhat wary. So it goes. Of course, it doesn't take very long for the words to catch his attention; goodness, is there any way to interpret that that isn't "suspect psychosis", because um.]

Ruskin...? Am I assuming that's you, or one of your companions?

[Despite the fact that he has no idea what this individual is talking about or which snake he's referring to or why he's talking about himself in third person, his words are calm, at least.]

Awesome, thanks! Let me know as soon as you've got a job for me!

Consider it done, then.

It's good to have you back, Mr Uryuu.

[And end feed!]

[To say Archer's been avoiding Kimblee would be a lie. He would never avoid Kimblee. However, it wouldn't stretch the truth very much to say that he hasn't been around as often. Archer is out training, of course, but he's also frequently leaving the base to clear his head. Things have been more than a little odd since he returned from Liore. Things got even stranger after those three days where everyone remembers strange things. Archer doesn't remember anything. This is the first time this has happened to him. He didn't see Kimbley this time. This frustrates him more than anything else. He was really looking forward to seeing Kimbley again. Especially because once again, he's been given Kimbley's State Alchemist pocketwatch.

Kimblee hasn't said anything about those three days, however, and it seems like he's being more distant than usual. Archer's seeking him out today to finally ask about that. He has Alekhine pinpoint Kimblee's location and leads the Alakazam to the training room. He's not surprised to see the setup; he is surprised that he doesn't see Kimblee right away.]

Kimblee?

[Alekhine tips his head in Kimblee's direction and Archer glances up.]

Ah, there you are. I had a question for you. It isn't urgent; are you taking a break?

[The Seviper's tail flicks to point to Snake and herself just ahead of Snake's words as he explains,]

I am Ruskin, and that is Snake, and the Ekans is John. It is nice to meet you, says Ruskin. [Snake nods his head a little to Kimblee in greeting, almost a bow. He might not be psychotic, but he was talking for- or through- his pokemon. It probably does not help that his face is near expressionless.

John slithers up around Snake's torso and onto Snake's shoulders.] We are new to the Team, says John.

Hugging it out usually works.

At least, that's how I stopped my ex-moirail from his homicidal streak.

[Kimblee is more than aware of Archer's arrival in the training room; it isn't common for Archer to seek him out like this, not while he's doing this sort of activity, and he watches him in silence for a moment, not responding immediately even when Archer calls for him.

The fact that he's promptly pointed out by Alekhine - and the fact that Archer was using Alekhine to begin with - really isn't boding well; whatever Archer may have to say might not be urgent, but it certainly doesn't seem casual, either.

Kimblee smirks a little anyway, tipping his head a bit in acknowledgement.]

I am, yes; give me a moment.

[And that's all he offers before simply taking the fastest route from Point A to Point B - namely, jumping down, landing easily on one of the lower platforms before joining Archer on ground-level.

At least it doesn't seem quite as spine-shattering as most of the other drops Kimblee tends to take in Archer's general vicinity.]

Is there some sort of problem, Archer?

[...ah. Dear lord, Karkat, he can see where you would not want that to be common knowledge; consider the filter acknowledged and returned, at least, even if he is sounding slightly amused by it.]

I've found that tends to work on at least one - possibly two - of my human companions, yes. I've never been a physically affectionate person, myself, but I'm also not one to argue with something that's been proven to work.

Unfortunately, the individual I'm talking about for the moment is one of those creatures that's entirely capable of simply detonating on contact if it gets it in its proper mind to.

Kimblee. Have I mentioned how easily trolls can flip their shit at the drop of a dime?

[Archer sighs, displeased by Kimblee's display. At least he seems fine.]

No, not a problem, exactly. I just wanted to talk to you. I suppose it might be best to do this in private.

I see; I've been here for quite some time, myself, though there was a bit of a brief spell where I was returned to my own world of origin - though that hardly matters now, I think.

[Kimblee is more than willing to acknowledge that gesture with one of his own; it's more an inclination of his head than anything, but he's never been one for bowing properly, what with the whole removal of eye contact thing - he's a bit loath to expose the back of his neck.

However, this one seems...courteous, if more than a bit odd; no sense in being rude to him. Them. Whichever.]

Solf J Kimblee; the pleasure is mine.

Mm...you may have, once or twice.

[...that...really doesn't sound promising, does it. He tenses quite a bit, physically, though he manages to keep his expression placid.]

By all means, Archer. Shall we, then?

[Lead on.]

[Archer notices the tensing, but he doesn't say anything. Instead, he leads the way back to their room, motioning for Alekhine to close the door behind them. The Pokémon does as instructed and promptly teleports to Archer's room, where he keeps the majority of his Pokémon out.]

I wanted to discuss that three day period that happened recently. We haven't spoken about it, so I can only imagine what you've been through.

[Quite literally, in this case.]

I don't remember anything. If anything happened, I certainly can't remember it. Did anything happen to you?

[Kimblee doesn't move to sit down or otherwise relax, instead taking up his usual position by the wall - back pressed up against it, legs crossed at the ankle, arms folded over his chest.

He looks at Archer for a moment after the question is out there; again, his expression isn't giving much away, though he's clearly giving thought to his words before he throws them out there.]

I wouldn't say anything happened. As usual, I was able to access my alchemy for those three days...Isaac was here. I was sent to the Lake of Rage again; it was lovely, as usual.

So it was frustrating, in ways, but I wouldn't say anything happened to me, no.

[And it's true - all of that is very true. After all, nothing happened to him, per se...]

[Archer absently starts pacing as he listens to Kimblee's words, nodding occasionally to let the alchemist know he's still listening. But there's something wrong with Kimblee's story, he just can't place his finger on it--

...If that was all it was, Kimblee would have talked to him about it, wouldn't he?]

What else happened? I imagine you would have asked me about what happened if that was all it was.

[Kimblee knows he's been distant since that weekend; he hasn't been avoiding Archer, but he's been keeping to himself in other ways. Now isn't an exception; he still seems calm, but it's a carefully-crafted sort of calmness rather than anything natural, and his voice is very, very even.]

You really don't remember anything at all...?

[It's that tone that's bothering Archer, though Kimblee's general demeanor isn't helping any.]

Nothing. Did you see me during that timeframe?

[It's not going to get any better, Archer, might as well strap yourself in.]

I did, yes. In a manner of speaking.

...In a manner of speaking?

[Oh boy... this is gonna be horrible, isn't it?]

What happened?

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