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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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!]

And how long - [did...] - have you worked with each other?

[He'll just pretend not to notice that pause, thank you.]

Let's see... it's been...

[Well, it's been over a year. Kimbley died in September though, so...]

...Close to a year.

Interesting. Most of my working arrangements don't last anywhere near that long - really, I'm surprised that our current arrangement has gone on as long as it has.

Indeed? You'll have to try harder to get rid of me, then.

[Despite the playful tone and smirk, that's something Archer really doesn't want to happen. He's gotten used to working with Kimblee; he doesn't want him to leave.]

[And if you're expecting confirmation that he won't leave you, you aren't going to receive it like that, Archer.]

Oh, believe me, I haven't been trying.

When the time comes for our little partnership to come to an end, you'll know it; hopefully it will end better than my last few arrangements did.

[Oh please, like he's actually going to admit to such a thing?]

Yes, I certainly wouldn't want to be blown up, thank you.

[Not that he's entirely sure that's what happened to your previous "partners," but they probably all met with an equally horrid demise. That's not the point, though.]

We need to focus on the Badges, Kimblee. Our partnership has proved beneficial thus far, but if the Gym Leaders are even remotely difficult, it would be wise of us to remain together for the time being.

Oh, don't worry - I didn't blow them up.

[And clearly, that is all that needs to be said about that.]

As for your statements regarding the Badges - dare I ask your reasoning behind that?

[That's lovely. Moving on.]

It should be obvious. If the Gyms are too difficult for us to take on immediately, the quickest way to work out strategies and gain levels would be to fight against one another.

I suppose that makes sense, for a given level of "making sense." However, that doesn't take into account the fact that I have no interest in sharing information with someone who's unable to take the gyms down himself, nor do I have any interest in obtaining information from one who's already defeated a given Gym.

If I'm going to win this challenge, I prefer to do it on my own merit, without outside assistance.

[O...kay... Give him a moment to process this.]

Well that's certainly one way of looking at it.

[Why the hell are you denying this? It provides a mutual benefit that you won't be able to get from just anyone else; what the hell has gotten into you?]

Very well then. Suit yourself. I wish you the best of luck with the Gyms, then.

[The most passive-aggressive thing ever.]

Likewise.

[His tone remains light, however; if anything, this little display is amusing him.]

Bear in mind what I just finished saying to you, Archer - if I were choosing to end this partnership now, you would know it; I certainly wouldn't resort to anything so backhandedly passive-aggressive. I have my own reasons for not calling it off at this point; all I'm asking right now is that you stay out of my business when it comes to these Gyms, as I neither want nor require your advice, nor will you be getting advice from me. I'll gladly continue training with you, as long as it continues to be beneficial, but as information goes, you're on your own.

[Of course, this is because Kimblee doesn't intend to challenge the Gyms at all and likely won't have much information to give you, but...that's a bit of a detail that he doesn't intend to hand you just yet.]

Of course, if you disagree with these terms, we can stop now, before we begin wasting each other's time. It's your call.

[But... wait... that... makes absolutely no sense. Why would you continue training with him if they're not going to bother sharing information on the Gyms? Honestly, if anyone's missing out here, it's Kimblee; Archer is pretty good at picking up information he needs. He's already gathered a bit about the Gym Leader here in Goldenrod; though whatever, if these are the terms Kimblee has set, then fine.]

I won't require your assistance in that regard anyway.

[That said, the passive-aggressiveness will die down a little, at least!]

As you've said, we're still benefiting from this partnership. I don't intend to end it so soon.

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