explosivecombat | 005. [Video]

005. [Video]

[VIDEO]

[Good evening, Johto!

The room is a bit dim when the video feed flickers on; Kimblee seems to have set the Gear on some piece of furniture in front of him - probably a desk of some sort. The room is nondescript, the walls bare, but it's spacious enough and there's what looks like that long trenchcoat of his draped over the edge of the bed behind him, as well as the edges of those boxes that the care packages came in, almost out-of-frame but just barely visible.

The room is his, after all, he just hasn't bothered decorating the place.

His voice is calm when he speaks, his posture casual - he's leaning back in whatever chair he's sitting in (and either it's a hell of a swivel chair or he's leaning it back on two legs and balancing it like that), and his arms are folded across his chest; despite that, however, there's a definite cocky note to his voice.

Someone's pleased with what he's received for Christmas, holy shit.]

My, my - judging from the feeds today, I'm not the only one who's received gifts from an unknown benefactor. Whether this is a sign that we've been favored by this world, or whether someone simply has a strange and possibly sick sense of humor has yet to be seen.

Perhaps a bit of both.

[And when he unfolds his arms, he's playing with something; it's moving a bit too quickly between his fingers for the camera to really focus on it, but whatever it is, it's small and solid and gleams a bit when it catches the light. A crystal of some sort, perhaps, blood-red in color.

For those from his world who would know a Philsopher's Stone when you see one: yep.

However! Kimblee will just be smiling and it will be a very pleasant expression, actually.]

I should hope that you're all enjoying yourselves; it's been such a lovely season so far.

[End feed.]

[OOC: It's been a lovely season indeed. Some of his CR has received things from him, just for the sake of reference; enjoy it?]

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[Did you somehow miss the part where we are in Goldenrod, Archer

there is a very nice department store just down the block

it is not terribly far and stocked with things that aren't huge bugs]

I...see.

[For a moment, Kimblee is content to just...eye the Yanma warily, though any reason he may have had to be apprehensive about it is pretty quickly obliterated - while the creature isn't exactly being affectionate about it, it's promptly in his face. Not trying to attack, just kind of...well. It's mirroring his headtilt, for one.

...Archer, this is just bizarre. Kimblee waves off the damn thing abruptly; it isn't long before it contents itself with investigating the parcel its ball came in.

Dear god, it's derping at the box.

Just. Allow him to pause for a moment to figure out what the hell it is about him that inspires such huge levels of herpderp in Pokémon, he can't - ...oh, wait, there's something in there still, isn't there. Shoo, you.]

...a TM as well, Archer? You really are going out of your way.

[But it's a bug that trolls your lack of speed.]

I wouldn't say that. I had other things I needed to get from the Department Store, after all.

[...He really is the most literal-minded thing.]

Yes, well. I suggest teaching that to a slower chimera. It's Payback: It deals double damage if your chimera has already taken damage from a faster chimera.

[And once he finds that out, he will lineface at you.

But! For now, he's just going to be so goddamn awkward he could die, if you don't mind.]

...well. As I said, I believe thanks are in order, then.

[His tone is decidedly softer than it usually is; most of the detached edge that usually accompanies his words is gone, and that strange half-smile is still there simply because he clearly has no idea what to do with his face otherwise.]

It's appreciated, Archer.

[...He's not sure if this is better or worse than the detached tone, actually. Of course he'd be irritated if Kimblee didn't appreciate the gift, but somehow or other this is making things even more awkward.]

Well of course it is. Hopefully this will at least provide some benefit to your team.

[Because frankly, your team kind of sucks right now with the exception of that murderpig and the exploding ball.]

[...it...really does, doesn't it...

Well. While he can't say the dragonfly - which is now batting around the empty box like a cat with a new toy for some reason that Kimblee cannot figure out, but at least it's capable of entertaining itself - seems to be all that useful at first glance, he'll train it a bit and see how it goes; as it stands, Archer has provided a way to...not break the awkwardness, exactly, but at least shift it around some.]

We seem to be of similar mind in that regard, actually.

[And you, sir, are getting a small red-and-white projectile tossed gently in your general direction - while you may have ragequit the Game Corner, it will soon become obvious that Kimblee didn't, and contrary to what Mustang believes, he does quite well for himself in games of chance.

Have your Porygon, Archer. Merry Christmas, hope you can catch.]

[Okay, that derpbug is kind of a cute thing. Archer will just settle on smirking at it for the time being, seeing as how things have become horribly awkward and he's not entirely sure just what to do now--]

[Oh? He glances up at Kimblee's words, but he's never been the most coordinated person. He fumbles with the ball before dropping it entirely. The look of frustration freezes when the chimera pops out of the ball. It's a strange-looking pink-and-blue, sharp-edged thing - its a much better present than he could have imagined.]

What...? You...?

[Nope, hang on, words are failing him now. He'll just reach out to touch the Porygon, who beeps in acknowledgement.]

How did you even manage to get enough coins for this? That's... That's near impossible! I thought you were just amusing yourself that one day...!

[...Well, he'll be over here, trying not to look openly joyful at the Porygon. It's not working.]

Believe me, I was. [Not all of us suck at slots, Archer!] Really, I stand by my initial sentiment of "If you want it badly enough, you'll obtain your own"; however, this particular request struck me as useful, and was something that I could manage to obtain.

[...you are really pleased over there, aren't you...]

Ah, they come having learned a TM move of your choice - given that I couldn't exactly consult you about what you would want, I hope you'll find Psychic to be an acceptable choice. That covers the weakness presented by it being Normal-type, I believe?

[They're rigged, okay.]

Yes, that's excellent. Psychic also has a chance of lowering the opponent's Special Defense...

[Clearly someone researched just which TM to give to that Abra!]

This is perfect. Thank you, Kimblee.

[...Yeah, forget attempting to hide how pleased he is, he'll just be openly grinning at that Porygon now, don't mind him! Just ignore how creepy it is and we'll be fine! That said, the Porygon doesn't seem to realize there's anything wrong with the situation and allows Archer to examine it.]

...I wasn't expecting you to get me anything. You certainly didn't have to, but I suppose it's pointless to dwell on that now.

[Because you're certainly not getting this back!]

Well, I certainly can't allow our previous defeat against Mustang to stand, now, can I?

[He doesn't want it back, Archer. It's creepy.]

Oh of course not. We'll be better prepared this time.

[Oh come on, don't insult it! It's not that creepy! Better than a giant bug.]

I should hope so; it didn't exactly go very well last time.

[Perhaps! But the giant bug says more about your personal taste in gifts than anything else, mind.]

But that's really neither here nor there, is it? Seeing as this place has seen fit to send us mementos from home, might I ask what you received?

[Yes well! You can shut your mouth and be glad he decided to give you anything at all!]

...Ah. That.

[And there goes the good mood! Archer will just glare somewhere over your left shoulder if you don't mind.]

I didn't receive anything useful.

[No, what he received was something he's trying very hard not to think about. That said, he's not doing a very good job of avoiding it, considering the fact that he has it shoved in his pocket. If you look closely, you might be able to spot a very familiar silver chain, Kimblee!]

For all intents and purposes, neither did I.

[He stands then, picking up the Stone from where he'd set it down on the desk upon accepting that package from Archer; the motion is less to close proximity between them and more to ensure that his...bug doesn't get at the Stone and won't smack him with whatever it decides to play with - currently, it seems to have realized that Pokéballs roll much better than things made of flat surfaces, and it's making a splendid little game of batting around the ball it came in.

He takes up his usual position by the wall, leaning back against it; he normally wouldn't have noticed the chain, were it not for the fact that he glances down at the Porygon to see if it's likewise capable of amusing itself or if it prefers to await orders or the like. The silver of those chains is very, very distinctive, however, and it draws his attention sharply.

For a moment he's quiet; he's no longer playing with the Stone, exactly, but rather running one of his fingers along the flat side of it. The motion is steady, something he doesn't seem terribly aware of doing; it's strangely relaxing, in its own way.

He tips his head in the general direction of that chain.]

It seems this place is decidedly less kind to you, however.

[The Porygon seems to have no interest in anything outside of sitting there, occasionally beeping in some sort of indication that it's still patiently awaiting orders. It doesn't seem to be very aware of its surroundings, however.]

[Archer twitches at Kimblee's remark - it's not a harsh statement, but it's not something he wants to talk about - and he immediately moves as if to hide the chain, like that will do any good now.]

No. It really isn't.

[He sounds more frustrated than anything else, though the fact that Johto would decide to give him his dead best friend's pocketwatch is something he really doesn't want to think about for too long.]

Relax, Archer.

[That really tells him all he needs to know about what that is; at the same time, it raises more questions about what the hell it's doing here in the first place.]

I assume you managed to get him fully reinstated back in your version of Amestris, then?

[It's amazing how easy it is to relax around Kimblee, though it could be because the alchemist knows just what to ask to ensure a favorable response from Archer. Maybe Kimblee really does know him quite well. More likely than not, Kimblee's just good at reading people. Or guessing.]

Yes, I did, along with a promotion. After all, he was wrongfully imprisoned for crimes he didn't commit.

[The sarcasm couldn't be any thicker if he tried. He's smirking though; that train ride to Liore was fun.]

I take it you weren't reinstated, then?

[It's mostly educated guesses based on what he knows of you - in other words, a bit of both, really.]

Ah, no, I wasn't - I wasn't exactly exonerated of my crimes, it was more of a pardon from the Fuhrer, and reinstatement wouldn't have been appropriate, given what I've done. Besides, it was easier to carry out my assignments without having to answer to anyone but the Fuhrer directly; there would have been entirely too much red tape involved if I were reintegrated into military service.

That said, if you managed to convince people that he was innocent to the point of warranting a promotion, you can consider me impressed.

I suppose I can understand that.

[The two of them are very different, after all. This one doesn't need someone constantly telling him what to do, at least!]

That wouldn't have worked in my world, unfortunately. Kimbley doesn't respond well to those he doesn't like.

[And that compliment? Oh Archer will just be the most pleased thing ever again!]

It was certainly worth it. No one expected that. It does pay to have some understanding of just what the Fuhrer is, after all.

[...Yes, he blackmailed the Fuhrer, and yes, he's damn proud of it.]

[Normally he would have commented on the fact that Archer is still referring to his dead best friend in present tense; however, his attention is soon caught by something else entirely.]

...you blackmailed the Fuhrer.

[Though he doesn't voice it straight-out, you are clearly getting the flattest "what" in the world at this, Archer.]

[He knew there was a reason he kept you around!]

Clearly, I do have reason to be impressed!

Well of course I did. Did you really expect anything less from me, Kimblee?

[He's just going to be the smuggest thing in the world if you don't mind!]

[The sheer amount of "Oh, you..." here, Archer.

Though you did say something interesting earlier, if you don't mind - ]

So when it comes to your friend...well, you almost make it sound as though you were something along the lines of a handler - that he responded well to you, but not to many others, if anyone at all. Is that the case, or...?

[Archer nods slightly at the question. The subject change is a bit abrupt, but it's not something he's opposed to discussing.]

Yes, that's it exactly. Even from the beginning I kept a tight leash on him. Things were... difficult back then. There was no reason for him to continue to listen solely to me after he was reinstated, but that's just how he works, I suppose. I'm certainly not complaining any; this way he can provide support and protection no one else can.

[Of course he's still speaking of Kimbley in the present tense. It's difficult to acknowledge that his best friend is dead - and the shock of finding the watch here has only made things even more complicated. For the time being, he's just going to pretend Kimbley is alive back in Amestris. And who knows, maybe when he returns home it will be to a point in time where Kimbley will still be alive. No one knows how this works, after all.]

[...hm. Still in present-tense; that's more awkward than anything, but Kimblee will humor you for now.]

He must trust you a great deal, then.

[...Thank you for that. It's easier to talk about Kimbley as if he's alive.]

Yes, he does. Of course he should; I've never lied to him or misled him.

[Archer might actually sound sort of proud of that! Clearly this is an improvement!]

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