003. [Voice/Action for Route 44]

[explosivecombat]

[AUDIO]

[Kimblee has been fairly absentee for the last few days; when his connection becomes active over the PGC, it...well, it might not be exactly clear as to why, but it goes a long way toward explaining it, at least in part.

The connection snaps to life suddenly, though it isn't a video feed - this is entirely sound, the Voice connection having kicked in as the Gear hits the ground hard. The audio isn't simply white noise, however, nor is it entirely the ever-present background music threading its way through one of the routes near Mahogany Town; that music is present for a brief moment after the Gear connects with the ground, only to be violently interrupted by the unmistakable sound of something blowing the hell up.

Depending on your particular point of view, however, what's possibly more disconcerting than the sudden eruption is the sound that follows immediately after it - it's a bizarre, harsh combination of laughing and shrieking, the sound pitchy and manic and completely uncontrolled. It carries on at about the same utterly deranged clip for quite some time before slowly dying down as the person in question gets a hold of himself; when Kimblee speaks, however, his voice is still shaking hard, and it's obvious he's still not...quite as in control as he'd like to be.]

...beautiful...absolutely beautiful!

[A brief pause.]

That was better...it's been quite a while since I've heard something so moving. Yes, that was much, much better. Such a beautiful sound...

[And then there's the usual white-noise sounds that are a bit hard to distinguish, rustling and footsteps and the like, followed by something that's decidedly more distinct: after a moment, there's something that's definitely singing audible over the connection - not any particular words, or any particular tune, even, just vocalized nonsyllables that Kimblee seems to be making up as he goes, but from the sound of it he's very, very content, if a bit unstable.

And then the feed cuts off.]

[ACTION]

[A short while after that audio post hits the network (the posting itself the result of a somewhat awkward grab at the Gear once he'd realized he'd dropped it), Kimblee can still be found on Route 44; he's no longer screamingly manic, but he definitely looks...rough, for lack of a better term. His hair is draped haphazardly over his left shoulder, the usual long ponytail mussed up and disheveled; his eyes are distant, holding a bit of an unfocused, wild look to them, and despite the fact that he doesn't look like he's slept in some time, there's a general sense of manic energy about him that hasn't quite faded.

This may or may not have to do with the obvious signs of those explosions in his general vicinity, as well as the fact that he's in the process of recalling a rather fainted Electrode to its Pokéball.

...well. Someone seems to have figured out exactly what Selfdestruct does; as a result, Kimblee's a bit...worked up. To put it lightly.]

Comments

[explosivecombat]

Training, Gorthan, nothing more.

[He's not so much wary as he is...somewhat confused by all of this; it's been quite some time since he was fussed over like this by anyone else - not since the field hospital at Briggs, when people had very good reason to fuss. He hadn't been too fond of it then, and he isn't exactly too fond of it now - checking his pulse will result in either taking off his gloves or loosening the scarf he usually wears and exposing his neck, and he isn't too inclined to do either in front of someone in this world that he doesn't know very well. If he absolutely must, he'll do the former well before the latter, but...]

Fussing like this is rather unnecessary, you know - I haven't the vaguest why you think I would be ill.

[hasearthbooks.livejournal.com]

As far as I'm concerned, the notion that you would act in such a way while being in a healthy state is rather abnormal.

Of course, if your psyche deviates from the prescribed norm, I will merely find it interesting, as opposed to judging you for it. Like I find interesting that sound apparently acts as a stimulant for you.

[Gorthan will give up on the attempt to check Kimblee's pulse, too - he isn't currently showing any signs of a dramatically accelerated heart rate, though he might have been a few moments before.]

[explosivecombat]

[...ahahaha oh wow. Wow. Did you really just tell him that you won't judge him if he's crazy? Did. You. Really.]

It's charming that you think your opinion on my psyche matters to me at all - even more so that you think you can phrase it like I'm some sort of subject of study. To my face, no less!

Do continue; I'd like to see exactly how much you can add to this train wreck of a discussion before it actually offends me.

[hasearthbooks.livejournal.com]

[Evron's most prominent science authority is currently headtilting at you, Kimblee.]

I was complimenting you, Red Lotus. And this is not the first time this happens, either - it's as if me suggesting that you possess natural traits and talents that can be exploited for your own betterment is something that you invariably perceive as an aggression.

[explosivecombat]

[And Amestris' resident psychopath gives not a fuck!]

...you really have no idea how to talk to people, do you?

[hasearthbooks.livejournal.com]

I don't exclude that. Perhaps. Or perhaps you simply don't listen well enough.

In any case, if there has been a misunderstanding, as seems to be the case, I apologize.

Now tell me, Red Lotus - which came first? Your fascination with explosions and their sound, or your ability to generate them?

[explosivecombat]

Well, I appreciate the gesture, if nothing else.

[He won't be returning it.]

As for your question...I would say the fascination has always been there, though it increased a good amount once I began creating them myself.

[hasearthbooks.livejournal.com]

[It's not like Gorthan expects him to!]

I can imagine. So your study of alchemy was aimed at the mastery of that art from the beginning?

[explosivecombat]

[Well, that's good! As it stands, we are discussing Stuff Blowing Up and all is right with the world...granted, all is probably not right with Kimblee's head, if that odd look in his eyes is anything to judge by, but that isn't the point.]

Not from the beginning, no. There was a lot of experimentation at the start - granted, I think there always is - in order to find what I preferred to work with, and what I happened to be inclined towards.

[hasearthbooks.livejournal.com]

[Gorthan sees that look and, as promised, he doesn't particularly seem to mind. Kimblee's is by far not the worst fixation he's seen.]

I see. The energy that your art requires, though - where do you draw it from? Is it merely your own body's, or is there something else?

[explosivecombat]

[The way alchemy works is always a bit tricky to explain; it's simply second nature to him by now, something done without a conscious step-by-step process, and as such putting it into words tends to be a bit...odd, give him a moment.]

Well, we can't create from nothing, as that would violate Equivalent Exchange, and that particular law extends to both materials and energy alike. One can use one's own life force as energy for certain things, but I imagine that would come with consequences like shortening one's own life span; I've seen someone else do it, at any rate, but I've never tried myself.

Amestrian alchemy draws the energy required for transmutations from the earth itself...seismic and tectonic energy and the like. There's a similar flow of energy through all things, living or not; rather than utilizing that energy to create something from whatever materials I have to work with, my alchemy is focused on manipulating the energy itself - forcing enough of an instability within whatever object it is I'm attempting to destroy that it explodes.

Equivalent Exchange still applies; given what I do, I think it's obvious why I would prefer to underestimate than overestimate what I'm capable of doing at any given time, as accidentally forcing a rebound would have...rather unpleasant consequences.

[hasearthbooks.livejournal.com]

[Gorthan's eyes widen. That. That is remarkable. He can tell that it's a bit like what Xadhoom does, except... not precisely. His next thought is how that kind of power can be encoded into a being's DNA, but he supposes that looking into Pokémon's DNA, once he's enabled to do it, should provide the answer.]

That... that is fascinating, Red Lotus. You can... feel and manipulate the energy inside every object, whether living or inanimate?

[explosivecombat]

To some extent, yes; just because I understand the energy flow within something, however, doesn't mean that I can destroy it. I have my limits, as everyone does; there are ways to enhance my abilities, but they're a bit hard to come by.

[Well, if by "hard to come by" one means "involving loads and loads of human sacrifices." He had two of them.]

[hasearthbooks.livejournal.com]

[You do realize that Gorthan is going to want to inquire about those ways, right? As a matter of fact... ]

Well, what are they?

[explosivecombat]

[Well, it'd be almost disappointing if you didn't.]

There are artifacts that can be created that allow an alchemist to ignore Equivalent Exchange entirely; they're often in the form of stones, though they can exist as some sort of liquid as well, I'm fairly sure. The power this allows one to access is unbelievable. To illustrate - without one, I would be capable of ensuring that everyone in Mahogany Town had a very bad day, and I would probably manage to damage a good amount of their property.

With one, I would be disappointed if it took more than two strikes to level the town.

[hasearthbooks.livejournal.com]

[Gorthan gives a slow, solemn nod. Power and destruction! What's not to love? ... Gorthan's conscience will kick in later, he supposes. Right now, he's keeping it under lock and key. Or... trying to, in any case.]

I understand. And only alchemists are able to draw power from them, I assume?

[explosivecombat]

You would be right with that assumption, yes.

[Well, with the exception of the Homunculi, but they're another matter altogether.]

[hasearthbooks.livejournal.com]

I see.

I suppose you must miss all that. Drawing and manipulating energy from nature's very core, making it yours... Both your mind and your body must be desiring to have that feeling back. That is why your reaction to your Pokémon exploding just now was so... dramatic, isn't it?

[explosivecombat]

[...oh maaaaaaan, you do not know him at all.]

That's one possible explanation for it, I suppose.

[hasearthbooks.livejournal.com]

[Gorthan narrows his eyes and joins his hands behind his back.]

"One possible". Indeed. Hit me with a different one.

[explosivecombat]

I believe I've told you several times now, actually - I rather enjoy my work.

[Saying "He laughed while he killed the Ishvalans" is a huge understatement. It was closer to "He was barely able to stand what with all the shrieking and laughing and...general writhing around that he was doing, and it was kind of wigging out everyone in his immediate vicinity. It moved into definitely wigging out everyone in his immediate vicinity when he didn't stop for quite some time."

...yeah, whomever said "He laughed while he killed the Ishvalans" and left it at that was definitely being generous that day.]

[hasearthbooks.livejournal.com]

So it's simply your standard behavior. Very well.

Now, will you take offense again if I reiterate that I find you interesting?

[explosivecombat]

I think my delicate sensibilities can handle it.

[hasearthbooks.livejournal.com]

[With his hands still behind his back, he backs off a few steps, now looking at... everything except Kimblee, really.]

I'm in the middle of negotiating with our superiors, so that I may lend my abilities and knowledge to the scientific division. Once my integration is complete, will you allow me to take a sample of your blood? I'll need one from your esteemed partner as well.

[explosivecombat]

I'm...sorry?

[No really what are you even]

What in the world for?