007. [Text/Action for Violet City]

[explosivecombat]

[TEXT]

I ask that you forgive the morbidity of the question, but I find that there are some things that can't exactly go unasked -

I've heard rumors that if one dies in Johto, one doesn't exactly remain that way; has anyone actually proven this? If so, whom, and by what means?

[ACTION]

[Early afternoon in Violet City will see Kimblee dressed like quite possibly the world's most pretentious horseback rider, what with the black pants tucked into the pale grey knee-high boots, an amber shirt that's perhaps far too nice for the occasion, and the usual thick gloves over his hands, the ends of which disappear neatly under his sleeves. It would look halfway appropriate were he in the company of...I don't know, a Rapidash or something similar, but instead he's got Carlisle out in front of him. Kimblee seems to be checking over his murder mammoth, who's been at a bit less than 100% after almost a week of constant pushing to get to Violet City in the first place; however, after several days' rest, he seems to be doing fine. Kimblee is singing to himself as he circles the creature; it's not entirely perfect, but it's a decent mimickry of the tune Emmy was singing a few days ago.

Either way, he doesn't seem to be bothered by the fact that holy balls it's cold out here; hell, he's not even Blofelding it up with his Pineco right now. Obviously, whatever it is he's doing, he's a man on a mission. Or something.]

Comments

[explosivecombat]

[...oh my god why are you so mad

jfc he can tell that you're mad from here]

...if that's the case, then I have something for you; I was intending on giving it to you before I left as it was, to ensure that you wouldn't have to rely on me.

[+1 Pokéball, Archer, it's yours.]

That's one of the giant snakes from the caves; it's only level 11, but it should serve transportation purposes well enough.

[determinator]

[Oh my god, you got him something? You're the best bro ever--]

[WHY ARE YOU GIVING HIM ONE OF THOSE HORRIBLE SNAKES DID YOU FORGET ABOUT THE SCREAMING AND RUNNING IN FEAR THAT HAPPENED]

[Anyway, Archer will pale a little at that and examine the Pokéball like the snake will come out of its own free will and eat him.]

Yes, well. Thank you, then. If we're headed in the same direction, I fail to see why I'd need this.

[Because he's going with you whether you like it or not. :>]

[explosivecombat]

In case it becomes necessary in the future, for one thing.

I hardly plan on trying to figure out how to get four people on Carlisle, for another.

[determinator]

Yes, well.

[Well. That's a very valid point.]

I suppose it will serve its purpose.

[...And probably horrify Sheska. Whoops.]

[explosivecombat]

[Hopefully she'll do less running and screaming than you did, Archer...although really, he kind of wants to see if she runs less like a girl than you do.]

I don't doubt that it will. Now, do you want to tell me why you're so determined to drag me along with you? We can't train on the routes, and were it simply a matter of borrowing Carlisle, I would hardly have to come with.

[determinator]

[Oh you shut up.]

That should be obvious, Kimblee. Do you really think I can leave you alone here? I'd much rather keep an eye on you.

[...That's not answering your question at all and he knows it. Just let him get away with a non-answer for once, will you?]

[explosivecombat]

[...well, it actually does answer the question in a horribly technical sense. It just isn't a very good answer given that it begs more questions.]

And why is it that you suddenly can't trust me alone?

[determinator]

...You've already obtained the badge. There's nothing else for you here in Violet. You might decide to leave me.

[That's... admittedly part of the issue. It's easier to give Kimblee an answer he'll (hopefully) accept than to try to explain what the hell it is that's bothering him about Emmy. He knows how most people work - they tend to hate it when he gets possessive and clingy and refuses to let them even speak to anyone else. Kimblee's not like most people, but even so... there's no way he'd be okay with something like that.]

[So the solution? Simply refuse to acknowledge it.]

[explosivecombat]

[Wh...]

I believe we agreed that this arrangement remains to our benefit?

[determinator]

Yes, well! I'd rather not take that risk!

[CAN'T YOU LET HIM GET AWAY WITH THIS FOR ONCE]

[explosivecombat]

[oh jesus take the whole fucking garage]

Why on earth are you so angry all of a sudden?

[determinator]

I'm not angry. I don't know what you're talking about.

[WHO ARE YOU CALLING ANGRY, HE'S THE CALMEST FUCKING THING RIGHT NOW]

[explosivecombat]

Defensive, then. Don't change the subject.

[determinator]

There's nothing to talk about, Kimblee.

[explosivecombat]

You're suddenly accusing me of being untrustworthy. Such allegations are expected from just about everyone but you; given that we're expected to work together for the same organization, and we have a mutual agreement for how everything about our particular arrangement is supposed to work, I'd say that we have plenty to talk about.

[determinator]

[That... actually will get him to pause for a moment. Does he trust Kimblee? The answer to that is rather obvious. Of course he does. He trusts Kimblee more than he trusts anyone else. So it's not that he's suddenly finding Kimblee untrustworthy, it's just that someone else has entered the equation and unbalanced it.]

...I don't trust her.

[That sounds really sulky, hang on.]

I do trust you, Kimblee. You know that. It's that she's suddenly here and she's interested and...

[Nope, okay maybe he doesn't really trust you, because he's back to screaming at you.]

And you're going to leave me for her, aren't you!?

[explosivecombat]

[WHAT

NONONO WHAT]

...Archer, do I want to know what you're going on about?

[determinator]

[...Probably not.]

Never mind, Kimblee.

[At least he stopped himself from saying "It's not important"?]

[explosivecombat]

Do you really think that I'm going to allow you to tell me "Never mind" after an outburst like that?

[determinator]

...It would be nice if you would.

[explosivecombat]

...Archer.

[determinator]

What.

[explosivecombat]

[You know what? Fine.]

...we're done here, then. I'm not going to stand here and argue with you.

[And with that, he'll just be vaulting up onto Carlisle, like the freak of nature that he is.]

I trust you can handle the Onix on your own.

[determinator]

[Give him a moment to quell the urge to shout "Fine" and be done with it. That really won't help any; it might even push you to ditch him and seek out Emmy's company further.]

...I'm sorry.

[He actually does mean that! For a very selfish reason, of course, but at least it's genuine? It's also loud enough so that you can hopefully hear him from all the way up there.]

I don't want to talk about it, but you're right. It's something we need to discuss if we want this to work.

[explosivecombat]

[Of course he can hear you, Archer. His hearing hasn't started going yet, after all.

...somehow. Despite all the explosions and other really damn awful noises that he surrounds himself with.]

I'm not going to allow you to waste my time further, Archer; I suggest you stop behaving like a petulant child and actually discuss this, if you claim you're willing to.