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 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.

[determinator]

Again, I apologize.

[Well, he's really not sorry about that at all.]

Shall we discuss this on the road?

[There's really no reason to wait around here, after all.]

[explosivecombat]

We're not going anywhere until this is settled.

[Because the way he sees it, you can either discuss it here and risk possibly getting punched in the head, or you can discuss it on the road and risk getting kicked off the Mamoswine.

He'll just be jumping down, then. Carlisle will just...kind of snort at that because damn it, boss, will you make up your mind, but he doesn't sulk too much, at least.]

[determinator]

...Fine.

[At least you're getting off the mammoth! Really, shouting up at you while attempting to explain all of this would just end badly for everyone involved. Archer takes a moment to stare at the ground, turning the Onix's Pokéball in his hands so he has something to do.]

Your... friend. Emmy. You battled her a few days ago; you said you planned on doing that earlier.

[How... does he explain this...?]

...Are you interested in her?

[explosivecombat]

[Archer, you are just pushing this firmly back into "...wat" territory, do you realize this]

...where did you get that impression?

[determinator]

[...well.]

She certainly seems interested in you.

[explosivecombat]

Is that so? Might I ask what she said to give you that sort of idea?

[determinator]

You took her out on a date, Kimblee. Of course she's interested.

[Who wouldn't be interested in you if you took them out on a date!]

[...........]

[NOT THAT HE'S INTERESTED OR ANYTHING]

[...Even though we've totally been on dates before.]

[...........]

[TOTALLY NOT INTERESTED THOUGH]

[explosivecombat]

[We have...?]

That wasn't a date, Archer, as I've told you before.

[determinator]

[What do you call going out to eat where you pay?]

She certainly seemed to consider it a date.

[No, uh... that would be you misinterpreting things and pinning your beliefs on her, Archer. But okay. Whatever.]

[explosivecombat]

[Upholding the arrangement we made regarding training...?

...and no, you're not getting away with that.]

Care to tell me what she said in that regard, then? I haven't heard exact words, Archer.