explosivecombat | 002. [Text/Action for Route 44]

002. [Text/Action for Route 44]

[TEXT]

And a good evening to you, Johto.

Conversations with a few of you have shed some interesting light on opinions of exactly what it is we do here. The mandates we've received from the faceless entities that have brought us here make it very plain that we're supposed to humor them, to collect these 'badges' and essentially wander around for no real reason other than training these creatures and strengthening them - not so much a militaristic society as it is battle culture, if you will. However, others refer to these creatures as 'pets' or 'companions'; while I suppose the act of training these things may lead to bonds being formed, such people seem to have a different view of this world entirely.

I ask, then: from whatever standpoint you hold, be it one geared more toward companionship or more toward advancement - at what point does it become acceptable to you to release these creatures back into the wilderness? Surely there are some that aren't exactly battle-capable, or at least not as capable as others may be, and effort goes into their training; when do you decide that continuing to train them is no longer granting you benefit equal to the effort you're putting in?

I'll grant that "never" may be a perfectly valid answer, should your tendencies lean that way.

[ACTION]

[Well, whatever Kimblee was going on about before, it's clearly not affecting his relations with his own Pokémon any; he's currently standing beneath one of those trees on Route 43, though the white coat he's usually wearing makes him a bit obvious. He's always been a bit curious regarding what these things will do when not given orders, and he's keeping an eye on what appears to be a new member of his team from a distance; judging from the Swinub he's watching from a short distance away, apparently the answer is "generally snuffle about, and occasionally roll around for no real reason."

Of course, he seems to have another new one with him today - he did purchase two eggs from Xanxus, after all, and as a result Kimblee is now the proud owner of what seems to be the smuggest Vulpix on the planet.

...it doesn't help that Kimblee doesn't seem to have put the fox down since he hatched it, instead choosing to carry it around like a somewhat oversized cat. Seriously, Ernst Stavro Blofeld would look at him and tell him he's spoiling the damn thing.

His life, his choices, etc.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Oh, come now. At least this one didn't manage to somehow misplace or otherwise destroy a ridiculously valuable artifact of power.]

That would depend on their level of usefulness as a whole - not everything in this world has to revolve around battling, clearly, as several seem content to live their lives as normally as possible here, but it's undeniable that everything in this world does revolve around the chimeras. If there's a suitable use for them, then I intend to keep them on for as long as their usefulness holds out.

Otherwise? I don't believe in pity or charity.

[No, he just felt the need to swallow it instead!]

That certainly seems to be the best course of action. From what I've been told, we're only allowed to have six; I don't intend to hold onto any useless chimera.

[And that worked for over seven years, thank you very much...of course we don't discuss whether he still has that thing now; he knows he doesn't. Finding out how, though, isn't something discussed in polite company.

...also, wait. What.]

And who in the world told you that?

[You consider him polite company? He's flattered, Kimblee.]

Victor; he's from my version of Amestris, from what I've gathered. I don't know much about him, but he certainly is... odd.

[And mentioned something about "being human" which is equally strange. It's possible he's one of the Homunculi; Archer only knows of Greed, Pride, and Wrath, after all.]

I can't say that I've met anyone by that name, much less someone from your world; at the same time, that makes very little sense, especially given that apparently breeding these chimeras is a valid occupation here.

[Dear god, Archer, what the hell.]

...you realize there's a perfectly valid way to test this, don't you?

Attempt to capture more than six, yes I know. Still, if it proves to be a valid issue, I don't want to be stuck with something I can't utilize.

[Oh come on, it's a strange new world! What else is he supposed to think? The guy was nice enough to help out...!]

[...Ar...cher...]

Would you like me to attempt this, then?

You already have four, correct? You only need to obtain two more. It would be easiest.

And I'm certain that's the only reason you're making me do this.

[Despite the dryness of the comment and the obvious eyerolling that accompanies it, however, he's already setting Dorian down in the grass; the Vulpix promptly shoots him The Bitchiest Look Ever before immediately pawing at the hem of his coat and...sort of barking at him in an obvious attempt to be picked up again.

Kimblee, however, gives not a damn and recalls him to his ball for now; he pauses for a moment, thinking.

...wait.]

Technically speaking, we have six between us. Give me yours temporarily; then it would simply be a matter of seeing if I'm permitted to catch one more or not, wouldn't it?

Oh of course.

[That will earn a condescending smirk; it's your own fault for obtaining two more without checking to see if they were useful, you know! But... this is a good point. Archer pauses for a moment to consider both the bird and the bat, neither of which seem very eager to go back in their balls. Archer rarely recalls them anyway; he only has two, they're easy enough to keep an eye on.]

Very well. Make it quick; I would hate to be attacked by one of these chimeras without protection of my own. [The response is sarcastic, but he returns both chimeras to their respective capsules and offers the two for Kimblee to take.]

[Oh, come now; if they're that blatantly useless he'll release them, regardless of whether he can capture more or not. As it stands, however, he'll be taking those capsules into his possession before looking down at that pig still snuffling about on the ground, clearly looking for...Something Only Pigs Can See, as far as Kimblee can tell, because he certainly doesn't see anything of interest over there.

Lovely.

He'll just be returning Carlisle as well, then, before wandering into the grass and immediately coming across a...dear god, what is that thing even...Bellsprout, apparently.

...this would be about the point that Kimblee becomes rather grateful that he isn't required to raise whatever it is he catches.

Either way, he sends out Dorian again, who is obviously very unamused at being put in the ball to begin with, and the battle that ensues is probably best described as "a tremendously drawn-out sissyfight" - there's a lot of Ember from Dorian as though this is clearly the most awesome move in the world, a lot of...Wrap...from Bellsprout, as though that's going to accomplish much of anything at all, and a lot of facepalming from Kimblee overall.

...however! There is eventually fainting (from the Bellsprout, thankfully, otherwise that would just be embarrassing), and a capture of a seventh, and...]

[...well. And a lot of confusion, hang on.]

...Archer...

[No, seriously, he caught that thing and it promptly disintegrated, where the hell did it go - ]

[Okay, Archer can understand why Kimblee would use a weaker chimera against this one; it will gain the experience needed to become stronger eventually... But really? This fight is just pathetic. There's plenty of facepalm over here as well.]

[But then Kimblee catches the damn thing and it disappears, leaving Archer staring, wide-eyed.]

I told you! [Yet he somehow or other manages to sound just as surprised as Kimblee.]

But that makes no sense whatsoever. Surely you have to see where that makes no sense whatsoever.

[Admittedly, a lot of things about this world make no sense whatsoever, but that is completely beside the point.]

I'm not arguing that point. No, it doesn't make any sense. What about this world does make any sense, Kimbley? We're utilizing chimeras to fight, we have no idea how we got here or why we're here, and Mustang's been promoted. Nothing makes sense here!

[...Yes, that last one was definitely related to this world, shut up.]

[...you know, he was all set to agree with you until that last one - ]

Oh? Am I to assume you have some sort of personal vendetta against our esteemed Brigadier General, Archer?

[Hang on, this is both interesting and relevant and will allow his brain some time to stop crying.]

"Esteemed Brigadier General," Kimbley? Don't flatter him.

[...No, seriously, it sounds weird. Can we not.]

It's hardly a personal vendetta. I simply can't stand the man. This one seems to be a bit smarter than the version I know, but even more self-centered and obnoxious.

[Subject change? Sure why not! Because when isn't it a good time to rant about Mustang?]

[So the basic strategy here is "when in doubt, talk shit about Roy Mustang."

...good Archer, best partner.]

I'm not sure if I prefer the arrogance or the self-flagellating he was doing the last time I saw him in person; either way, he's definitely from my version of Amestris, judging by the reception he's giving me.

[Of course he's the best~! It's a good thing you finally realized! Because you're not getting rid of him anytime soon.]

Yes, he didn't even recognize me. Evidently I don't exist in your world. [That... might almost sound sulky.] What the hell did he even do in your world to earn a promotion? ...I suppose you weren't working all that closely with him; when was the last time you saw him?

To say I wasn't working closely with him is an understatement; I haven't seen the man in person since Ishval. My work kept me away from Central until very recently, for the most part, which is perfectly fine in my opinion - I was perfectly content to spend some time away from it.

However, to offer you another understatement, even back then we never got along - conflicting ideologies and the like.

[What is up with your pronunciation anyway? It's Ishbal. How many times do we have to go over this?]

I see. That's understandable of course; you're quite lucky you've never had to work very closely with him. It was horrible. I doubt this version would be any better.

[What's wrong with his pronunciation? He just doesn't share your speech impediment, obviously.]

...this really does sound like a personal vendetta, you know. Is there a story behind it?

[What speech impediment? Clearly you're the one with the issue here!]

As I said, it isn't. Once Mustang was transferred to Central, I had the... pleasure of working with him on numerous occasions. Unsurprisingly, he ignored the majority of his work and it was left to me to finish everything. Naturally he was given all the credit.

[...Totally not a personal vendetta.]

[...Ar...cher...]

...you have no idea what a personal vendetta actually is, do you?

Of course I do. I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of knowing that he irritates me that much.

[...Shut... up...]

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