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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[Snake is one of the new recruits. Rather than the standard grunt uniform, he fond himself something more comofortable for him, at least for training himself and his pokemon.

He's gotten himself two Snake pokemon and has spent his time not learning the Rocket ropes with them exclusively. The scaled man wanders into the room and looks surprised at the set up. His Ekans hisses his name, making Snake glance up to Kimblee, but he doesn't concern himself with the other man yet. He wanted to see instead if his two new friends could keep up with him, and he with them.

He takes on the course with some skill. It wasn't exactly what he was used to, but his fingers managed to find holds like a snake finds a hole to sleep in. He is going well, at least until he finds that he can't lift his seviper to help it across a gap, causing them both to fall hard, much to Snake's surprise. It was clear acrobatics were something he was skilled with, so long as there was always at least one limb that grounded him. The way he moved, however, was more like a dancer than a martial artist, even if the line is easily blurred in a parkour setting.]

[Oh, he has no qualms about the lack of uniform; he never wears his own unless he's on a raid, and even then he's made more than a few modifications to it. In this place, however, you're among people who may or may not rat you out for not conforming to the local standard; fortunately enough, Kimblee has never really cared much for rigid adherence to rules. A little bit of bending never harmed anyone; if anyone asks about either of them, it can always be argued that there's no sense in training in clothing that one won't be wearing 24/7/365 - knowing how to move in street clothing is more important than knowing how to do so in-uniform and all.

He may have used that argument more than once. Ah, but that's neither here nor there, is it?

He's had some experience with both of those Pokémon before - he owned a Seviper on his last Johto experience, and he has an Arbok now. He catches the man's gaze when he looks up at him, though he doesn't speak, nor does he seem to be paying much mind; just the same, he does note the individual's face, storing it away as he does all the faces he sees. But he's not scrutinizing him; he's simply watching, his attention focused more on what this individual's doing than what he looks like.

He doesn't seem fazed by the fall; he doesn't seem concerned, either, though he'll call down just for the sake of acknowledgement.]

That was unfortunate - you were doing so well.

[...all right, and sort of for the sake of amusement as well; he'll jump down from his vantage point at least, following the path of least resistance from Point A to Point B - namely, straight down because why the hell not, and if he's not careful with that sort of thing he'll break his back again (he's managed twice, over the last sixteen months he's been around) but for now he feels fantastic and so he doesn't seem to mind the drop.]

Still in one piece?

[Snake nods, getting up carefully and doing a quick inventory of his person. Everything was fine. He looks over Kimblee. Snake wasn't nearly as built as Kimblee, but his muscles are well-toned, made for flexibility not strength. He had never had snakes quite as heavy as these two, and his Ekans was fairly light still.

Seviper rights herself and slithers to Snakes side while Ekans finds his way down to them. The scaled man looks rather awkward now face-to-face with Kimblee, despite being fairly tall himself.]

... I am heavier than Snake is used to, says Ruskin.

[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.]

[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.

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.

Solf... [He echoes the name, just taking note and confirming. It was a very strange sound to him, but he nods.]

... Is this your course, says Seviper?

Ah...Kimblee, if you don't mind.

[He doesn't seem too bothered, however, if for no better reason than he's fully aware that apparently his name is strange at best and terrible at worst; he likes it, at any rate.]

And it is, yes, or at the very least I set it up this way.

[Snake doesn't mind it. He likes the name in a way, but if he wants to be called Kimblee, then he'll call him Kimblee. He won't argue, and that's what's got him through his training so far.]

It is a lot like the city terrain. I like the kind of practice it gives, says John.

I'm pleased to hear it, then - it's good to keep one's training practical as well as challenging, after all, and given that I've fought more than my share of battles on city terrain as opposed to the middle of nowhere, such as the routes, I imagine practicing this way won't hurt anything, at the very least.

[He pauses for a moment, tipping his head somewhat; when he speaks again, there's nothing sharp or chiding about his tone, nor is he prodding for a particular answer - it's mere curiosity, nothing more.]

And what of Snake - does he speak for himself, or does he prefer to allow his companions to carry on the conversation?

[Snake looks embarrassed and nervous. He looks away, but Seviper excitedly begins saying his name, covering for Snake.]

He's just quiet and we tend to ask the same kinds of questions, says Ruskin.

[...Well. This one definitely seems to be odd, but at least it isn't reading as dangerous-odd. At least not for the time being.]

Ah, that may have been a bit rude - I'm not put off by it, if that's the concern. Merely curious, as it's a bit unusual.

I'm assuming you have some sort of...I don't know, connection with one another, then? Active communication despite the difference in species?

[Snake nods to that. It seemed Kimblee wasn't about to laugh at his skin either.]

Snake can understand snake pokemon like us! says Ruskin.

[Ekan's hissing is predatory, almost like he is smiling proudly, but also manipulatively. It seems to make even Snake a little nervous.] It's very useful, says John.

[Well, that would be a bit hideous, wouldn't it? Let's leave the whole skin issue at "he's seen stranger things; at least you are obviously human." It's unfortunate, yes, but it definitely could be worse.

Not going to say he won't judge like hell once he's removed from your presence, because he's shallow like that. But at least he'll refrain to your face, which surely counts for something.]

Oh, I can imagine. I haven't been...ah, blessed...with that particular sort of gift myself; some of the Psychic-types are capable of communicating with their trainers telepathically, but I don't raise many of those - I'm not too partial to having thoughts in my head that aren't my own.

[...of course, Archer raises those things like mad, but that's neither here nor there.]

He used to work as a snake charmer in his world, he has always made friends with snakes, says Ruskin.

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

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