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

[determinator]

You've been burned, of course it's necessary.

[Besides, it lowers your attack and takes away HP every turn!]

[explosivecombat]

[...you are such a nerd.]

We can handle it at the base. I would prefer not to mention how I received these to others.

[determinator]

[Oh shut up.]

Very well then. You are getting these treated, Kimblee.

[Because he'll order you to sit the fuck down and let him treat them if he has to.]

[explosivecombat]

Oh, don't worry, you've made your point. Shall we, then?

[...just. Let him recall the steelsnake; sleeping or not, he knows you don't exactly like her being out any longer than she really has to be.

Ignore the mild twitching that action gets from his dominant hand; goddamn it...]

[determinator]

[Oh that won't be ignored, but Archer knows better than to say anything about it right now. Something has you agitated, and clearly whatever it is probably shouldn't be discussed out in the open. Kimblee would have said something about it otherwise.]

Come on then.

[Archer won't be straying too far ahead though, and he'll occasionally glance back over his shoulder to make sure Kimblee hasn't just doubled over in pain or something.]

[explosivecombat]

Of course, Archer.

[Well, the right side of his body is behaving a bit strangely, given that's where he was kneeling down on the Steelix, and as such it's where he had the most contact with the heated metal; he's capable of pushing past it for now, but now that the adrenaline is starting to die down, it hurts like a bitch.

...the base is going to be awesome, let's put it that way.]

[determinator]

[He does notice that, but again, doesn't say anything. The moment they're secure in their room, Archer searches for that first aid kit he has somewhere around here-- ah! Here we go!]

I suggest running cold water over those burns first.

[You're going to have to take those gloves off, at the very least. Where else are you burned anyway...?]

[explosivecombat]

Yes, yes, I know.

[It's really just the right that received the worst of the burns, as his hands go; removing the glove from it feels rather horrendous, but he does so quickly, momentarily grateful that the gloves aren't directly sticking to the injuries. The pain does cause a quick intake of breath through gritted teeth, however, and the glove is far harder to remove than usual; it's...blistering rather badly already, the burn covering a large portion of that array centered in his palm.

He would never have been this careless with his hands in Amestris; the fact that he didn't think twice about it here makes him uncomfortable. The arrays are useless here; he isn't sure what to do with the realization that they're always going to be useless from here on out. They've always been an integral part of him; the idea of not having them is strange. At the same time...

...yeah, he doesn't seem to realize that he's just kind of staring at his hand here, don't mind him.]

[determinator]

[Archer leaves Kimblee to his own devices, searching through the first aid kit for that cooling gel, along with some fancy, expensive Burn Heal. Hey, it said it would work on humans, so why not? You were totally correct in that assumption, Kimblee.]

[He hesitates when he turns around to treat Kimblee; he'd recognize that pose and expression anywhere. Admittedly, Kimblee isn't derping quite as hard as the younger version back home, but it's far too similar for Archer. He shakes it off quickly and approaches.]

Let me see it. Is this the worst of it? Why the hell were you riding on top of that thing and training against Dorian? You know better than that.

[Or at least, you should know better than that.]

[explosivecombat]

[Kimblee glances up upon being addressed, though he doesn't move to either assist or hinder Archer in assessing that burn; he's grateful for the distraction, it's just a matter of working out how to answer the question. Straightforwardness seems like the best option, really; he's almost unnaturally nonchalant about it when he answers.]

It's as I said before, really - it was more venting than anything else. Excess energy and the like.

[determinator]

[Well, if you aren't going to stop him, he'll just be tending to that burn on his own, then. He notices that Kimblee hasn't done much to protect the array, but it doesn't really concern him any. The array is useless here anyway.]

Ah, the attack on the Game Corner, then.

[Of course he's aware of what happened. He wasn't expecting Kimblee to react like this, however.]

If you wanted to train, I certainly could have helped. Why were you riding on the Steelix, then?

[explosivecombat]

Because it seemed like a good idea at the time.

[...no really

that is literally the only reason]

[determinator]

...Is that the only reason?

[The amount of lineface here, Kimblee...]

[explosivecombat]

That's about the gist of it, yes.

[At least you seem to be doing what he'd hoped you would do, and are writing it off as idiocy rather than anything else.]

[determinator]

[You know him too well.]

Well, don't do it again! If you want to ride that damn thing into battle, fine, but at least do it against something that won't set the damn thing on fire.

[explosivecombat]

I've dealt with far worse, Archer; I can certainly handle a few burns, should this sort of situation arise in a battle against an actual opponent.

[His words aren't forced, nor do they seem to be putting on a brave front for the sake of saving face; no, he's actually dealt with far worse.

...that said, have some involuntary flinching while you treat that, you, because lawd...]

[determinator]

Of course. I'm sure you have.

[The words actually aren't sarcastic, but Archer's lineface certainly says a lot. His grip tightens on Kimblee's wrist at the flinching, but he's certainly not going to stop. Sometimes the cure hurts more than the injury itself, but it's worth it in the end.]

Where else were you burned?

[explosivecombat]

[He actually appreciates that tightening grip around his wrist, and he isn't going to try to pull away; the flinching isn't anything he has much physical control over, and he would prefer to just get this over with.]

I'll handle the rest, Archer; I don't intend to have my physical performance hindered any by this.

[determinator]

Good. I certainly wouldn't want that.

[Archer finally finishes, letting go of Kimblee's wrist.]

...Don't do something so reckless again.

[explosivecombat]

[...Archer...]

My, you certainly must have been worried.

[determinator]

If I had been worried I would have stopped you earlier!

[HEY NO FAIR, STOP THAT. YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO MAKE HIM TSUN.]

[explosivecombat]

Given how concerned you seem now, I have to question why you didn't.

[determinator]

Because I figured you were having fun and you knew what you were doing.

[TSUN.]

Evidently I was wrong.

[explosivecombat]

[Oh, you love him, Archer.]

Well, I was rather enjoying myself and I did have an idea of what I was getting into, so no, I wouldn't say that you were.

[determinator]

[NOT AT ALL!!!!]

You still managed to burn yourself. You should have been more careful.