006. [Text/Action for Goldenrod City/Northern Route 34]

[explosivecombat]

[TEXT]

While I suppose it matters relatively little in the long run, morbid curiosity compels -

Exactly how driven are most of you to complete this 'challenge' that's been set forth, and what drives you to complete it in the first place - what do you have to return to?

[ACTION]

[A short time after that text hits the network, Kimblee can be found just outside of Goldenrod City, on the northern end of Route 34; if the question is at all related to anything he's currently doing, it's not obvious in the least...outside of the part where maybe the Pokémon he's dealing with might be making him not want to live on this planet anymore.

Basically, his Yanma evolved.

Fortunately for him, the hellbug she has become seems to have retained her personality despite the evolution. She's honestly always been more like a dog than an oversized dragonfly; now she's just...well, a sufficiently larger dog. As such, she's bringing Kimblee a decently-sized stick to toss off into the nearby cluster of trees for her to chase; Kimblee is complying with her, albeit warily - he's never had much of a poker face, and while he seems generally calm, it's reasonably plain that he's half-expecting her to do something odd.

Like snap his arm off to get at the stick. Or maybe bring him back a person, or something.

Either way, he's clearly wondering what the hell his life has become. Good afternoon, Johto, it's been a while.]

Comments

[derpsaboutfamily]

[ He's got a good mental image... ]

What brought on the question, if you don't mind my asking?

[explosivecombat]

Well, for one thing...morbid curiosity, as I said.

For another, you know that I like to form an understanding of those I'm surrounded by. Get to know them, if you will.

[derpsaboutfamily]

What is your answer to the question?

[explosivecombat]

I have no interest in this challenge to begin with, so the rest is more or less a moot point.

[derpsaboutfamily]

Not jumping at the opportunity to explode everything around you again?

[explosivecombat]

Yes and no - the chimeras here seem rather capable in that field, so at the very least this place isn't a total loss.

At the same time, if I were to claim that I didn't miss my alchemy any, that would be a blatant lie.

[derpsaboutfamily]

Ah, so it doesn't have to be you making things go boom as long as something goes boom?

[explosivecombat]

...Must you word it that way?

[Really, you sound like some sort of uncultured idiot. Likely one with a mullet. Okay no I'll leave the fourth wall alone]

[derpsaboutfamily]

[ He's trolling you, obviously. Without even knowing it. So really it's more, Mei is trolling you while using Hughes as a buffer... ]

I don't see a problem with it!

[explosivecombat]

I'm unsurprised.

I'm completely and utterly unsurprised.

[derpsaboutfamily]

[ Aww, come now, Kimblee. He's just playing with you ]

Well, it's true, isn't it?

[explosivecombat]

I suppose it's as true as anything else, though again, not how I would word it. But that's neither here nor there.

[derpsaboutfamily]

So long as the point gets across, does it really matter how?

[explosivecombat]

In some situations. There's a lot to be said for subtlety, you know.

[derpsaboutfamily]

[ 'Scuse you... when have you ever been subtle? ]

I suppose so. But I doubt this situation is one of them. Was I wrong?

[explosivecombat]

[He never said he was. But really, Hughes, which part of this are we even referring to...]

How do you mean?

orz.... so much derailing haha, what was the original topic even?

[derpsaboutfamily]

I doubt talks of home between colleagues rarely need subtlety.

[ This is what we're talking about, right? Home and stuff. ]

I don't think anyone knows anymore; they certainly don't

[explosivecombat]

...granted, I suppose.

[You are not going to let this drop, are you - honestly, he'd expected this from a few from his world, and Hughes is one of them, but at the same time...it's obnoxious.]

OH WELL

[derpsaboutfamily]

[ Well, actually, he's willing to let this drop. Actually, he's a lot more willing to let most things drop than people might think. ]

What sorts of answers have you received from your question, if you don't mind my asking?

[explosivecombat]

[...good Hughes, best investigations partner.]

Some of them have things to return to; a fair amount of them, however, seem to be taking this challenge for the hell of it. Competitive people, entering this competition of sorts for no better reason than the fact that it exists. Some don't believe the badges will achieve anything, so there's that, but a good amount of them don't seem to care either way.

It's been interesting, really.

[derpsaboutfamily]

[ Give him more credit, dude... ]

Well, at least they're content!

[explosivecombat]

[No.]

So they are. I can't say that it's a bad philosophy, either, given the circumstances.

[derpsaboutfamily]

[ .... but why? He's smart. He's fun. He's a higher rank than you. ]

Yes, well. Better to enjoy what you've been given than be upset over it, am I right?

[explosivecombat]

[...that's not hard, given that Kimblee technically isn't even in the military anymore.]

Well, I certainly can't disagree with you there.

To say nothing of the fact that this place has been fairly generous to me so far; I can't complain.

[derpsaboutfamily]

[ He's still smart and fun. ]

I can see how this place could be preferred to some places