Voicemail/IC Contact

[explosivecombat]

[VOICE/TEXT/VIDEO; OPEN TO ALL.]
(Carmen, you probably want this one.)

"State your name and whatever business you may have with me; I'll return your call once circumstances allow."

[Please state in the subject line if OOC planning is preferred and we can handwave like the wind, but otherwise IC will be assumed!]

Comments

[explosivecombat]

Something like that; I think it was more that I planted an idea that he couldn't disagree with. Things like that have a nasty habit of playing tricks on the mind, and they tend to stay with a person for quite some time. Forever, in some cases.

I doubt he'll be much of a problem for me from now on; I've been furthering that idea every time he's spoken to me since then, whether it's as Seth or myself. In different ways, of course, but it's gotten his attention just the same.

[sadisticwarfare]

Excellent. Perhaps he'll even join us someday.

[explosivecombat]

Would you like me to try to see if he'll be useful?

[sadisticwarfare]

Well of course. What else would you do with him?

[explosivecombat]

A very valid question indeed.

[...]

It's good to see you, Archer.

[sadisticwarfare]

...Well of course it is.

[Like this is the most obvious thing in the world.]

It's unfortunate I had to leave you alone, but you seem to have done well enough on your own.

[explosivecombat]

[...Ah.

If he's fazed by that any, it doesn't seem to be making itself known across his features; his expression remains calm, as usual when discussing things like this.]

I've been alone before, Archer; I haven't forgotten how to fend for myself.

[sadisticwarfare]

Of course you haven't and that certainly isn't what I meant to imply. I merely meant that it's easier while we're both here - for both of us.

[explosivecombat]

Of course.

[The territory this is heading into is awkward, however, and it shows. It's not his behavior that's off, however, but rather what he's not doing - namely, emoting at all. That placidity is still there, but there's a strange sort of blankness to it.]

It's not something we need to be concerned about for the time being, at any rate, is it?

[sadisticwarfare]

[Normally Archer would be inclined to agree. He doesn't like discussing emotions any more than Kimblee does, but the strange blankness is really getting to him.]

...Did anything else happen while I was gone?

[That's as good a place to start as any, he supposes.]

[explosivecombat]

Not to my knowledge. Why do you ask?

[sadisticwarfare]

You seem... more closed-off than usual.

[He's not really sure how to explain it otherwise.]

[explosivecombat]

Ah, do I...?

[He just kind of tips his head a bit at that, though.]

I've been perfectly fine, and you were correct earlier; I was neither captured nor killed, and I escaped the region with no difficulty. I've been here ever since.

There's nothing to concern yourself with.

[sadisticwarfare]

That's not... No, I mean you seem emotionally closed-off; like you won't talk to me about something.

[He's not sure what that "something" is, but it certainly doesn't look good.]

[explosivecombat]

I'm not hiding anything, either.

[...]

You said you had something to ask me, regarding what happened in Olivine. Something that should be asked in person. Might I ask what it was...?

[sadisticwarfare]

You're avoiding the topic.

[But he sighs and relents, if only because maybe he can get it out of Kimblee with a different angle.]

Did you attack Olivine because you were upset that I had been sent home?

[explosivecombat]

That...!

[Damn it, Archer, you can't just do that and expect him to answer you on the spot; no one has asked him about his thoughts and feelings on the matter since it happened, and bluntly put, he's preferred it that way.

...

...Well, that's not entirely true, is it. One person has asked him, and surprisingly it's not been anyone that people might have assumed it was - Cobra managed to work it out of him surprisingly quickly, very bluntly and directly asking him if that was the reason for the declaration of war against the region. It was incredibly surreal, really.

He knows admitting to it is probably what he...should be doing, but...]

...You know I don't allow my personal thoughts to interfere with my work; I never have.

[Damn it.]

[sadisticwarfare]

...So you're telling me that it's just a coincidence?

[He knows he shouldn't take offense to it. If their positions had been reversed and Kimblee had asked him that question wouldn't he have come up with an answer like that? Of course he would have, but he would have done that thing he does where he makes it very obvious that he's lying through his teeth. Kimblee doesn't do that sort of thing. So while he understands that he shouldn't be upset by it, he is.]

[explosivecombat]

[The reason he's not giving away any tells is frankly because he's not lying; what he said was an entirely true statement when taken on its own, and it remained true even in context, if only technically so.

That question, however, isn't quite as easily turned around like that - at least not without making it very plain that he's dodging the question.]

...You're getting worked up over this.

[...So clearly he's just going to disregard the question entirely for the time being because excellent job, Kimblee, handshakes all around.]

[sadisticwarfare]

And you're avoiding the question.

[...]

You can be honest with me, you know.

[explosivecombat]

...I'm aware of that.

[sadisticwarfare]

Then why aren't you answering the question?

[explosivecombat]

What does my reasoning behind what happened in Olivine have to do with anything?

[sadisticwarfare]

Just answer the question! Quit trying to divert my attention elsewhere! It's not going to work!

[explosivecombat]

It's an irrelevant question designed only to satisfy your own ego. I see no need to answer.