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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I can't be so sure - people disappear from this world frequently, Archer. Surely you don't think they're all defeating this "challenge" that's been put forth without their traveling partners being aware? Use your head for once. This place seems designed to keep us from finding out too much. The lack of information from anyone who may have put forth this challenge, the fact that no one understands how any of this works even after having been here for more than a year...does it really not occur to you that perhaps if we gain some sort of understanding of this world, if we find out too much - perhaps this place will send us back?

[He hesitates after that's out there; he isn't sure where the hell that theory even came from, as it's not something he's given much thought to before...well, just now. But at the same time, there it is, giving him the hugest sense of dèjá vu in the world.

He pauses for a moment, clearly disturbed, before deciding to just push past it.]

Either way, Archer, you're behaving like a child. You have nothing to gain from hiding this from me, other than a good amount of senseless frustration for several days.

[That's... a very good point. Archer hadn't thought about that, if the wide-eyed staring isn't a good enough indication. Finding out too much? That's certainly an interesting theory. Of all the people here, he'd have a damn easy time doing it. The people who know most in this world are those with power. Whoever the hell is running Team Rocket might have more information about this world...]

[This should be exciting. It's a way to get home, to get back to his reality and fix everything. But that's just it - not everything can be fixed back home. He can't bring Kimbley back. In the dream... he remembers wanting to stay here because Kimbley was here. He shouldn't be so dependent on him. He's dead. He won't show up here, and there's no sense waiting for him to.]

[He just has to move forward.]

Perhaps. That said, it isn't something I feel comfortable sharing, Kimblee. It was...

[He trails off there for a moment, before abruptly shaking his head.]

It's a bit troublesome, but I don't need your assistance to deal with it.

[That's not sarcastic or condescending at all, actually. He has found these little discussions with Kimblee to be helpful on occasion, but this? This isn't something he can discuss. No one here even knows the other version of Kimblee is dead. He's never been very clear about what happened in Liore either. It's not something he wants to think about. It will only upset him more.]

...of course, Archer.

[He isn't entirely sure what to make of this whole "assisting" business, as that isn't exactly what he's been intending to do this entire time; Archer does stupid things sometimes, and Kimblee corrects the stupid behavior. It's never really for Archer's benefit at all...though if he's deriving benefit from it, that's perfectly fine. Mutual benefit, after all.]

Well, other than this...falling out, or whatever it was that happened between the both of you, was the rest of it pleasant, at least?

[Falling out? No, that's not what happened. Even within the strange context of that dream, what they had was ~~real!~~ so much different from any "normal" friendsip. It wasn't a falling out, no. A "falling out" would involve someone dying.]

[...Well, looks like someone did die, but that's hardly the point.]

The rest of it was pleasant. Again, most of the details are hazy.

Well, at least this place was decent enough to grant us some pleasantness among all the oddities; I can't say mine were terrible either, in hindsight.

[And just like that, he's relaxing again. This feels familiar - did this same sort of thing happen in the dream too?]

[That leads to an even more terrifying thought - what if he's replacing Kimbley with this one? He knows he isn't, but didn't Kimbley accuse him of that in the dream?]

[He shrugs it off for now.]

You haven't told me much about yours. Were you just talking to people in your dreams?

[Kimblee pauses briefly before he answers, though he's at least quick enough to ensure that it looked like he was just considering the question as opposed to anything that might raise suspicion. As it stands, something seems to have...shifted, momentarily, when it comes to Archer's general demeanor, but he can't exactly say what - to say nothing of the fact that it's gone too quickly for him to really identify it. However, the fact that it seems to have disappeared in the first place is a good sign; he'll leave it alone for now.]

I remember talking to quite a few people, yes. But I also recall being able to access my alchemy; the dreams all took place here in Johto as well, not back in Amestris. It was quite beautiful, really - the contrast between fiery explosions and the snow all around.

The Homunculi were present as well...one of them gave me another Philosopher's Stone, and given that Johto seems to have seen fit to separate me from them, it was a nice gesture.

So yes, for the most part it was rather pleasant, actually.

[Ex...plosions... The other Kimbley was capable of using alchemy too, wasn't he? Yes, and they were planning on taking over Team Rocket, right?]

[...What a crazy dream.]

Well, I suppose it's a good thing Johto decided against letting you have a Philosopher's Stone. It's the first beneficial thing this strange world has done for us.

[That will earn a bit of a smirk.]

It's good that you had fun though. If you're going to have ridiculous dreams, they might as well be enjoyable.

Oh, come now - it's not as though I can do much with it, anyway, given how this world is. And I'm sure you could find some use for it, at least.

Well, it certainly would have been interesting to see Mustang's reaction...

[That... actually gets something close to a laugh before Archer turns around and takes a seat on Kimblee's bed, still smirking. Trolling Mustang is always fun. Shame he hasn't been able to pull that off here.]

[Kimblee smiles a bit at that; though he doesn't laugh, it's clear that he's amused.]

Ah, so I see my world's version of the beloved Brigadier General hasn't managed to win you over. Although after the incident on the train, I can't say that I blame you.

Of course not. The version from your world is smarter at least, but that just makes him even more of an asshole.

Well, next time we'll have some idea what to prepare for. I'm sure we can work out some sort of strategy that will stop him; these chimeras do have interesting abilities they can learn, certainly some of them will prove useful.

[Dammit, Mustang, he won't lose next time! ...He's still totally teaming up with Kimblee though.]

[...and his ~~little dog~~ flaming chicken too, Archer?]

I've recently managed to obtain a water-type, at the very least, and I've gotten an evolution out of Carlisle - the ground-type should prove useful there, if I'm not mistaken?

...of course, hopefully next time we won't be battling on a damned train. That will also prove helpful, I'm sure.

[Yes. Insert evil cackling here.]

You have? I suppose it has been awhile since we've battled. Is the Water-type your only new addition? What did Carlisle end up turning into anyway? Is he of any use now?

[...Okay, clearly it's time to geek out about our chimeras!]

[...oh u]

Relax, Archer - as much as I appreciate your faith in my speaking ability, I can only answer so much at once.

[He still seems rather amused, though - just teasing, really.]

The water-type is the newest addition in a while, yes; he just hatched recently - so yes, it was another of those godawful experiences, though at least this one is a turtle and therefore something that should come out of an egg. Hopefully he'll make himself useful soon enough - Dorian already hates him, I'm fairly sure, though I suppose I should have seen that coming.

As for Carlisle, he's...interesting-looking, and not something I'm about to release indoors. Let's leave it at that.

[He pauses for a moment, smirking.]

...the jump in stats was impressive, however.

[Oh come on, he's not talking that fast...!]

[However, he will listen to each answer carefully. A turtle? Okay... well, that's... new. Carlisle is the one he's most interested in though.]

Oh? He's that big?

[But that was a bittypig not all that long ago!]

Now I'm curious. Perhaps we ought to test our chimeras against one another again?

[Oh come on, he can totally beat Kimblee!]

...I don't see why not.

[Honestly, he can see many reasons why not. At the same time, battling will take his mind off of all those hideous things he doesn't want to think about anymore; perhaps it will even manage to serve as some sort of outlet.

Well, then, come on, Archer, outside - let's do this thing.]

[But of course, Kimblee. Why do you think he suggested it?]

[Anyway, once they're in a nice, wide-open space, Archer calls out his Golbat. It's snowing, which isn't great for his own visibility, but it seems his Pokémon don't have the same problem. That's good, though it makes communicating difficult without speaking. He'll just be shouting orders like a douchebag for this battle, sorry.]

Whenever you're ready.

[...going overleveled from the start, are you? Well, that's fine; Carlisle can use the experience. And besides, Kimblee has learned a few...very useful things about battling with Carlisle in the snow.

He pulls out a Pokéball and releases his murderpig, which has gone from looking like a football covered in shag carpet to...well. A three-and-a-half foot mound of pure shag carpet.

...right. Moving on, Kimblee will just be ensuring he gets at least one supereffective hit off, if nothing else during this battle - increased priority move is go.]

Ice Shard, if you will -

[...Don't mind Archer trying not to laugh his ass off over here. What did you do to that poor thing, Kimblee?]

Confuse Ray, Golbat.

[But the super-speedy bat isn't the first one to go, which earns a raised eyebrow. O...kay... so the moving carpet over there is faster? How is that possible...? Ice is supereffective against Flying-types, he knows that much, and the bat takes the damage relatively well, shaking off the ice as best it can. It then proceeds to launch the attack at shag carpet over there.]

[Leave his damn carpet alone!

Kimblee doesn't seem overly concerned about that Confuse Ray, though it's caused him more than his fair share of annoyance in the past; with any luck...yes.

That would be a miss, Archer; say hello to Snow Cloak.]

Ancientpower, Carlisle!

[...and, well, say hello to a bunch of rocks, because he doubts he'll be lucky enough to have Snow Cloak actually work twice in a row.]

[...What... just happened?]

[Okay, wait, no. Of all the moves he's seen, Confuse Ray very rarely misses, and usually only after something uses Sand Attack or Double Team to up their evasion--]

[...It's snowing, that shag carpet is an Ice-type. Perhaps that has something to do with why he can't hit it? Dammit. Archer's not going to lose his bat that quickly though, he immediately switches the Golbat out for the rather useless Feebas - well, it's dead in one hit, but that doesn't matter. It gives him a chance to swap in something that can actually take a few hits better than the bat.]

[Say hello to the evolved Lucena, Kimblee! She'll certainly be saying hello back in the most disgruntled way possible. It's cold and she hates the snow. Due to the switch-out, she can't actually do anything for the moment, but he'll give her orders anyway.]

Haze.

[He's not... entirely sure that will work, but if Carlisle's stats can be put back to normal he should have a much better chance of hitting it.]

[...what the - ]

Archer, is that your...

[oh my god, it is, that's that really obnoxious stat-alteration move...]

...she's a...

[Oh god, how do you even - ]

...she's evolved into a...

[...there is literally no classy way to put this, is there.]

...pimp. Or. Or somesuch.

[MOVING. ON.]

Ice Shard, again!

[Increased priority is amazing, Archer. Also, thanks for the experience from that fish! He appreciates i- ....what the hell was that fish, anyway?

...he'll ask later, too busy defeating you.]

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