explosivecombat | 026. [Audio/Action for Route 35, just outside Goldenrod City]

[AUDIO]

Goodness, it's only getting worse out there...

[Audio posts from Kimblee are reasonably rare, unless he's on...ah, "official business"; however, tonight he clearly feels like addressing the network as a whole for once. His voice is tight, though it's remaining controlled; there's a sort of quietness to the feed, as though he's indoors for the time being - god only knows exactly where, though, because judging by the BGM, he could be anywhere in Goldenrod.]

I've seen a few swarms in my time here, but I don't recall them being this bad in quite a while, much less this angry...perhaps this place is finally starting to strike back. I can't imagine the world being terribly pleased with how frequently the "foreigners" find their way here, after all; upset the balance too far in one way or another and the world will take notice, I've found, and if you think that will result in anything but a battlefield in one way or another, you're either idealistic or very, very sheltered.

[There's a clatter of movement in the background, a vague quickening of his breath as he speaks - heading down stairs, maybe?]

I've always enjoyed the notion that this world is built around conflict and the culture bred by the battleground; perhaps it's finally living up to its potential. Time will tell, I'm sure; while I suppose now is when it would be relevant to ask what sort of thing you're fighting for back home, I'll spare you the tedium - after all, the answer to that, when such times are upon us, is always obvious.

[A heavier thud then, and quickly-paced steps on even ground; whatever stairwell he's on, he seems to have seen fit to jump the last few steps, and his words are picking up speed a bit as he continues.

Those that are familiar with the way he is when he speaks will likely recognize overstimulation when they hear it; those who aren't...well, he sounds excited, at any rate. Excitement is good, isn't it?]

But for now, the hour grows late, and there's a battle to be had; perhaps I'd like to hear about some of your battles, myself. Not the reasons behind them - again, those are usually obvious and boring, really. But what victories you've won, if any. What victories you're seeking.

I'd prefer they be true, but you're more than welcome to make something up if you'd like. After all, it's not like I'll know the difference, right?

[ACTION]

[So. It's hideous o'clock at night, it's raining, and things are getting loud just past the northern borders of Goldenrod tonight. And not, like rampaging-Pokémon loud, though that's likely also pretty loud.

More like "shit blowing up" loud.

It seems Kimblee's finally taking the time to properly, uh. Bond. With his murderball of an Electrode. After all, if there's one thing they both can agree upon, it's that destroying things is ridiculously fun if you do it properly. Right now he's enjoying terrorizing the living hell out of the newly-local population of Anorith; this likely isn't going to make them any less mad about the state of the world, just saying.]

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[Well, that will get a bit of a pause before he responds - it's fortunate that France likes talking about himself, let's put it that way, because that raises questions.]

You are the nation - so you're some sort of absolute ruler, then? I don't know what they would call them where you're from, as I've never heard of 'France', but we refer to our own as the Fuhrer; something like that?

[France actually has a good chuckle at that, and when he finishes and continues speaking, his tone is a mixture of bemused and dry.]

Oh, no, I'm not a ruler. I have suffered and lauded kings and presidents during my life. I suppose the best explanation for myself and those like me is we are the sum of our state. We are the lands and people, the language and culture. That is what gives us form. We are born because of those things, and, when those cease to exist, we will as well. I've discovered since being here that not all of the worlds that people here are from have an equivalent to me.

[He pauses very briefly, but it's long enough that it will probably indicate to Kimblee that there is personal discomfort over what he says next.]

There was a man who called himself "Fuhrer" in my world. He was not a good man.

Edited 2013-07-27 07:30 (UTC)

[It doesn't go unnoticed, though he isn't going to comment on the discomfort, per se; he won't refuse to acknowledge it, however.]

The one in mine isn't a terribly good one either, as I understand.

[And he understands rather well; more than most of the country. Though that is neither here nor there.]

So you're quite literally the personification of your country...honestly, if I can believe in multicolored horses shooting party favors out of canons and warrior-race teenagers from space, the time for drawing lines is likely over. As I said, we don't have an equivalent - but your world likely doesn't have an equivalent of my own country, either, so it's a bit of a fair tradeoff.

[France is glad that Kimblee isn't going to press too hard on that subject. That earns him a few points in France's book. His tone is sympathetic.]

I do hope that yours isn't too awful.

[His tone quickly turns completely befuddled while France attempts to process -]

"Multicolored horses shooting party favors out of canons" -?

[He shakes his head and sighs long and deep. Ah, yes, another to add to the long list of things about this place and other worlds that France will never, ever understand. Flying to the moon on a whale and all.]

[He recovers quickly enough to inquire:]

What is your country, if you don't mind me asking?

...as much as I would like to believe that the horses and the cannons were an elaborate hallucination and nothing more, that doesn't seem to be the case, unfortunately enough.

[The less said about his experiences with Pinkie Pie, the better...though at least he hasn't been treated to the whale story by anyone yet.]

As for the country, I'm from a nation known as Amestris - there are two other worlds that have had people drawn here from them that know of it; the rest seem to only have heard of it secondhand.

[France makes a noise of resigned agreement.]

I, too, wish I was good enough at fooling myself into believing some things that happen here were just my imagination. Alas, despite my vast pantheon of abilities, that is not one of them.

[The whale story isn't nearly as grand as France thinks it is. If he only knew it was simply a gigantic alien spaceship the likes of which reside with unusual frequency in reboot Star Trek films.]

[France perks up at that country's name.]

Oh, I've heard of Amestris! So, you're from the same world as Envy?

[Well, yes, but Kimblee is from 1915 and starships are still a bit beyond him...hell, airplanes are still a bit beyond him. Because Amestris is a little technologically backwards like that -

...hang on.]

Envy...?

[...what.]

Are you familiar with him, then? Might I ask how so?

[France is still pretty oblivious to the details of Amestris and the rest of Kimblee and Envy's world. He's learned some stuff, and he knows what Envy is, but he's kind of assumed that, having met Greed, Lust, and Envy and briefly talked to Sloth and Gluttony, it must not be a terribly uncommon occurrence, the whole naming people after the Seven Deadly Sins thing.]

[In other words, as usual, France sees things as he wants to see them.]

Yes, I am! We've been together for about two years and five months now. If you count while Greed was still here, we've been together almost since I arrived.

[...oh, Leto take the wheel, you're joking.]

"Together"...? As in courting, I'm assuming. Correct?

[Nope. This is one of the few things France is deathly serious about.]

Yes, that's correct! We've been consistently traveling and living together much of that time, too.

[That's actually quite an accomplishment for France.]

Well, I'll have to congratulate him next time I see him, I suppose.

[...for a given level of "congratulate;" more like "try to fluster him terribly because Kimblee's like that."]

I suppose one could say I worked for his family, back home.

026. [Audio/Action for Route 35, just outside Goldenrod City]

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