explosivecombat | 004. [Text/Action for Goldenrod City]

004. [Text/Action for Goldenrod City]

[ACTION]

[Three days gone, with no explanation.

Kimblee had awakened strangely on Tuesday, feeling as though he hadn't slept much at all, and throughout the day he'd been unable to shake it - it's the same sort of feeling he gets when when he's been overstimulated, maybe, or spent time on a particularly difficult assignment. He would have chalked that up to a simple failure at restful sleep - he's not immune, and it happens - but then he'd checked the Gear for the time and date.

Three days gone. No memories from those three days whatsoever.

That. Doesn't. Happen.

He'd spent most of the day more wary than usual; he doesn't like this any, nor does he like the fact that there's nothing he can do about it. Even the normal solace he finds in sound isn't coming to him; he usually finds the music in Johto to be a nice constant, but now it's just grating on him - hell, he can't even be sure that anyone else is hearing it at all, and that's no use to him whatsoever.

Bluntly put, he's been feeling disoriented, Johto makes next to no damn sense as it is, and this entire thing is leaving him just a bit irritable and not wanting to stay in one place for very long. So! Today he's out wandering around Goldenrod; he doesn't seem too terribly bothered by the snow, though the heavy coat he has on over his suit and the long, pale scarf he has wrapped around his neck and shoved into his collar is definitely helping, as are the gloves he usually wears. He's determined to find something to clear his head; after a while, he finds himself in front of a building that's both stupidly loud and gaudily done-up. He kind of tilts his head at it for a moment; the place is pretty much an exercise in sensory overstimulation, isn't it.

It's perfect.

He pauses for a moment before entering; the music playing softly through the streets is the same as it always was. He doesn't want to ask if anyone else is hearing it; that's just asking for trouble. However, there are ways to get some sort of response without asking directly. He pulls out his Gear briefly, sending out a quick message via Text before entering that...casino. Game Corner. Thing.]

[TEXT]

Has anyone been able to locate the source of the incessant stream of music, or is that another of those mysteries that we're encouraged to not think too much about?

[OOC: Action-wise, you're more than welcome to catch him outside the building itself...otherwise, he fully intends to spend the next good while wanting to kill a slot machine in the face, so he won't exactly be hard to meet up with if he's seen.]

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[Finally, Gorthan spots Kimblee. His step as the alien approaches him is slow and leisurely. Eventually, he opts to stand a few feet behind Kimblee, hands joined behind his back as he always does when he's just standing idly.

How interesting that Kimblee would be into this kind of thing. And even more than that, what is interesting is the fact that he seems to have chosen a fairly methodical way of going about it.

The thing about Gorthan today is that there's quite a bit of... stuff on his mind. And as, as is often the case with him, he's halfway between wanting to share said stuff with more or less the first known person he sees and wanting to keep it to himself at all costs.

... As always, quoting lines from the Bard, followed by a small comment, is always a good way to test the waters before deciding to go in either direction. So, Kimblee, there will be a fairly long bit of murmuring going on behind your shoulders, the sound just loud enough to be heard alongside with the music as opposed to over it.]

"Wine loved I deeply, dice dearly; and in woman out-paramour'd the Turk;
false of heart, light of ear, bloody of hand; hog in sloth, fox
in stealth, wolf in greediness, dog in madness, lion in prey.
Let not the creaking of shoes nor the rustling of silks betray
thy poor heart to woman..."

... Women as temptation from some form of demonic force. ... Then again, this is from King Lear, a world where beauty and sin go hand in hand. But is that truly always the case? I think not.

[Kimblee bristles slightly as he becomes aware of someone standing behind him, though he doesn't sense any malice coming from the individual; he simply continues with what he was doing, resisting the urge to turn and snap at the person because really, standing behind someone in such a way is rude and if you would like to know how to operate one of these damn machines he'd be more than willing to show you -

...but then speaking happens. He recognizes the voice, of course, as well as that usual style of nattering on about relative nothing; he doesn't turn around, instead keeping his focus on the machine.]

...difficulty with the ladies, Gorthan?

[... You are quite the perspicacious fellow, good sir. As a matter of fact, you just provided a remarkable summary of Gorthan's current troubles.]

Perhaps. Perhaps not. How does the Red Lotus Alchemist perform in that department?

[Well, you're being ridiculously passive-aggressive; he might as well cut directly to the chase and not sit here through a lot of senseless waffling while you try to make him give enough of a damn to ask. More efficient this way, you see.

...Kimblee has been in a bit of a foul mood lately, don't mind him.]

That depends on what kind of answers you're looking for.

[And Gorthan thought he was the one with a tendency to read too much into things. Does he need to make you coffee again?]

It's an entirely new territory to me. At this stage, any insight you'd be willing to share on the subject is a useful one.

[Actually, no, randomly breaching a topic that had nothing to do with anything in a vaguely cryptic yet ultimately transparent way, in order to get someone to ask what the hell you're talking about...that's passive-aggressive, honey. But nice try.]

Well, you might want to start by not comparing them to any sort of demonic force. At least, not to their faces.

[His tone is light, however; just teasing, really, nothing more. Honestly, this is one of the rare instances where he actually wants to talk about someone else's problems - it keeps him from focusing on his own right now.]

In all seriousness, now - surely you can't expect me to give you insight when I don't know what it is you're trying to do. When it comes to women, there's a difference between wanting a relationship with one and just wanting to...ah, enjoy one's company for a while, if you get my drift.

How about neither of those things?

I believe I have laid eyes on the finest creature I have ever seen. However and in spite of her above-average maturity level, her age, in both absolute terms and compared to mine, makes it impossible for me to be anything more than, at most, her friend. And that is what I wish to be.

There are two risks - make that three: that my illness might complicate things to a level I am honestly neither prepared nor willing to deal with, that I might scare her away, or both things. Out of the three, that she will be afraid of me and of my true nature is the most likely scenario. And that is what I want to try and avoid as much as possible. Surely you must have found yourself in comparable situations.

I can't say that I have, actually.

Really, Gorthan, I've never been one for friendships with members of either gender, and even if I were, I wouldn't even attempt with anyone who would be so easily intimidated. I don't tell lies about who or what I am in relation to most people, nor do I go to great lengths to conceal my true nature; if a woman is going to be afraid of me based on things she might learn, then she isn't one that I would like to keep the company of to begin with.

[...well, that's mostly true, anyway. Winry is a bit of a different case in some ways, but that's both a situation that's composed entirely of complications and pure unadulterated stupid, and completely irrelevant for now.]

Well, to be truthful, I don't know that she will be intimidated. It might not be the case.

[After all, he did have that dream where she was dressed as a warrioress... Never mind.]

Are you saying I should take that risk?

To be perfectly blunt, I don't care either way, because your personal life matters very little to me. At the same time, I would be interested in hearing what you think your options are, if you want to keep up your friendship with this girl.

I didn't expect you to care.

Since I can't tell her of my present, I will eventually tell her of my past. She's intelligent enough to deserve the truth.

I am sorry to have disturbed you, Red Lotus. You're free to return to your pastime. Remember to gamble with moderation.

I wouldn't say that you're disturbing me; I just haven't any idea why you would approach me about something like this, or even what you're asking in the first place.

You claim to want to be friends with her, nothing more. I don't see what about that requires seeking advice.

She's an amazing creature, unlike any of her sex I have ever had to deal with before.

I have never wanted to be close to a woman before, in a profoundly sincere way and for a reason that wasn't related with my profession. I think I am entitled to feel a little disoriented.

And also, I may or may not be thinking of designing an occasion to collect her DNA.

[mind → gutter, 0.6 seconds.]

...I'm sorry?

I could simply retrieve it from an object that she has used, but, aside from the fact that that would equal taking a few risks in terms of success rate, I'd feel better about myself if I could have her consent-

... Is there a problem?

...don't ever speak of collecting DNA from women in polite company. Believe me. Don't.

What is the problem with-

Oh. I see. Well, that kind of humor is absolutely infantile.

And your wording is absolutely abysmal, so we can call it even.

[This kind of situation normally results in one of Gorthan's famed "Why I Hate You Earthlings" speeches. ... Don't spoil his good mood.]

Changing subject. Tell me of your recent reads.

[Why? Because we ask that you not make double-entendres in our presence, and then you get annoyed because we call you on them? Really, your pride is worse than Kimblee's is.]

I've been a bit distracted lately, Gorthan; my attention has been given to more pressing matters.

Edited 2011-12-16 23:03 (UTC)

[You just have a dirty mind. ._. ... Anyway, he'll drop the reading subject. He's sincerely interested in what Kimblee has to say. ]

Such as...?

Do you recall any bizarre incidents over the last few days?

No, I don't.

[Well, except for that dream, of course.]

... That is precisely the point, isn't it.

Very good. I think you can understand where I would be a bit preoccupied, then.

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