011. [Video/Action for outside of Goldenrod City]

[explosivecombat]

[VIDEO/ACTION]

[Today's episode of Oh God, What: Solf J Kimblee Edition is brought to you by a Pokégear that seems to have been knocked to the ground; the shot is incredibly lopsided and at least some of the action is out of view of the camera, but more than enough is visible to convey that there is what appears to be a raging battle going on between a rather high-leveled Ninetales and an unbelievably annoyed Steelix over there. The battle doesn't look like the uncontrolled flailfest that it would be if either Pokémon were rampaging or beyond a trainer's guidance, but if it's a training battle, it's a hideously uneven one - the Steelix is obviously far weaker and at a type disadvantage - and there doesn't appear to be a trainer anywhere immediately nearby.

Of course, if you still don't see said trainer after a moment of looking, it's possible that you're just not looking high enough.

Clearly, today Kimblee has decided that he isn't content to just watch battles from the sidelines, as he's currently commanding this half of the battle from on top of the Steelix. He's trained Dorian well enough to attack unprompted if necessary; right now, he's crouched down on one knee atop Nagara's head, keeping a one-handed grip on the steelsnake and holding his fedora on with the other hand.

He doesn't seem to mind that Dorian is slinging full-out fire attacks at him now, nor does he even seem aware of the heat flowing through the metal of Nagara's body on any level other than purely physical; if you can get a good look at him when Nagara is holding reasonably still, he's flinching a good amount physically and shifting his grip quite a bit, indicating that he's definitely feeling the burn through his clothes, but he doesn't seem inclined to jump down - if anything, he's laughing as the battle rages on, that long ponytail and the length of his white trenchcoat flowing out behind him, and for all intents and purposes he seems to be having a grand old time.

Granted, those who know him reasonably well probably know that the reckless behavior and manic laughter are signs that he's neither pleased nor feeling particularly sane; he's taking the failed attack against Goldenrod City as a personal insult, and he's got a lot of steam that needs to be let out as a result. As such, today's training session is horrendously harsh; as soon as he gets any sort of indication that Nagara is being weakened too badly by the flames - and he seems fairly used to the way battle feels from up here, so he can tell - he's immediately throwing down healing items so she can keep going.

At the same time, Kimblee can't keep it up forever, and really neither can his Steelix. He'll stop eventually, much to the poor thing's relief; she lowers her head to let him down, though he doesn't seem too inclined to move yet - rather, he has his eyes closed and seems to be focusing on catching his breath, and ignoring the fact that he's likely burned himself in several locations. Eventually, however, he does seem to notice that the 'Gear took a hell of a fall somewhere along the lines; he picks it up and snaps it off without checking it, promptly ending and sending the feed the thing had been been broadcasting without being too aware of what he's doing.

However tired he may be - and he does seem incredibly tired, in those brief moments he's visible up-close on the 'Gear; he's been doing damn near suicidal training all day - there's still a tight sense of energy to him, and his gaze is alive; he doesn't seem able to calm himself very well, and it's incredibly likely he'll move on to something else completely idiotic by the end of the day if he's not distracted by anything.]

Comments

[glaciates]

[Oh well. His whole brain's in tears again, thanks asshole.]

That's not what I meant! I mean, I would have been just as concerned about you if we weren't...

[...And there's the sudden awkward and virgin blushing. Get used to it, Kimblee!]

[explosivecombat]

[You're welcome! One day you're going to learn that he does this precisely because he gets that reaction.]

My hero, really.

[glaciates]

[That's not funny! Knock it off!]

[Instead of an answer, you'll get more awkwarding and virgin blushing. Thanks, jackass.]

[explosivecombat]

[Again, you're welcome!]

...I'm fine, Isaac. Really.

[glaciates]

...That's good to hear.

[He relaxes a bit at that, then. It looked painful, but then again that's what people said about using his blood as a weapon and that really wasn't all that bad!]

[...Then again, he's kind of the biggest masochist ever so...]

Well, that's certainly one way to train. Be more careful next time, alright?

[explosivecombat]

Shall I get your permission next time as well?

[Despite his words, it's definitely more teasing than genuinely annoyed.]

[glaciates]

[Oh orz]

No, that's not what I meant...!

[A pause, and then Isaac mumbles something that's almost incoherent.]

...I just don't want to see you get hurt.

[explosivecombat]

...I'm sorry?

[Oh, come on, speak up. He suspects he heard you, but still.]

[glaciates]

[orz orz orz]

...I don't want to see you get hurt, alright?

[You might be getting some vague tsun, okay.]

[explosivecombat]

...you don't have to worry about me, you know.

[glaciates]

[Oh come on, what is that expression for?]

...I know I don't.

[That doesn't change anything.]

1/2

[explosivecombat]

[Kimblee just kind of stares a bit at that; his own grasp on empathy and how it works has always been incredibly poor, both due to having none of it himself - at least not on any sort of level that would be considered normal - and never bothering to really study it in others. It introduces too many grey areas, too many contaminants of thought; how such things influence others is vaguely interesting, but always in an incredibly distant sort of way - it strikes Kimblee as stupid and irrational, no matter how he looks at it, and he honestly can't say that he's ever been able to comprehend it fully.

Likewise, he doesn't exactly understand what Isaac is going on about here, either.]

I...see.

[He doesn't; his tone makes it incredibly obvious that he doesn't.]

[explosivecombat]

[However! He's quick to move on.]

Well! As much as I'm sure you found that to be reckless, what with how quickly you rushed over here, I really do have to insist that it was absurdly fun; I'll have to take you up to try it with me once or twice.

I'll even be generous and not have Dorian set the Steelix on fire while we're up there.

[glaciates]

[No, Kimblee doesn't see - but that's fine. It's not something Isaac really understands either, and he doesn't fight the shift in topic. After a moment of blank staring at Kimblee's words, Isaac's expression shifts into a far more genuine grin.]

Yeah, sounds fun. I'd rather not be burned, thanks.

[explosivecombat]

You're certain? It certainly adds an...interesting element to the experience.

[...teasing so hard, man.]

[glaciates]

No thanks, if I'm going to be injured in battle, I prefer cuts, thanks.

[...That's entirely serious, you know. :|]

[explosivecombat]

[He can tell. My god.]

Yes, I definitely remember that much - some things never change, hm?

[glaciates]

[Pain is kind of awesome. Just saying.]

No, not really. I mean, there's no need to worry about it here.

[...Did that sound vaguely disappointed? No of course it didn't!!]

[explosivecombat]

[...have some staring, you.]

What do you mean?

[glaciates]

Well, we can't use our alchemy here. If I get sliced open that badly again, there's not much I can do about it.

[explosivecombat]

...well, there's generally less need for alchemy here, what with the creatures we've been given to use; the world is also...completely different in so many ways that it's more or less a moot point.

That said, however, I'm not pleased with it, either.

[glaciates]

Yeah, that's true.

[A pause.]

I do miss it though. At first I thought it would be fine - I mean, there's no way for me to hurt anyone without you know, physically doing anything. But... I miss it.

[explosivecombat]

[Kimblee pauses for a moment at that; due to spending so much time with Archer and being on (admittedly understandable) negative terms with the other State Alchemists from Amestris, he doesn't exactly have anyone to discuss this with. Doing so is...strange, and somewhat uncomfortable, but he can't say it's entirely unwelcome, either.]

...yes, well. Likewise. But I suppose there isn't much to be done about it.

[glaciates]

[It makes sense that Kimblee would miss his alchemy. At the same time, Isaac is very glad that Kimblee can't do anything. Just imagine what he would have been doing today instead of fighting his Pokémon if he had his alchemy?]

No, not anymore.

[They're both dead back home, after all.]

But it's alright. Like you said, we don't need alchemy here.

[explosivecombat]

[Oh, that's simple. He wouldn't have been using his Pokémon to fight. He would have been literally fighting his Pokémon.]

Indeed. That doesn't mean it wouldn't be nice once in a while, however.