012. [Text/Action for Olivine City]

[explosivecombat]

[ACTION]

[So it had happened again.

Kimblee had been keeping largely to himself since the incident - another three days gone, another batch of bizarre dreams that he normally wouldn't have been prone to involving alchemy and fighting and...Miss Rockbell, of all people - and as such, he had kept the exploring to a bare minimum. This place wasn't necessarily a pleasant one for him; he had been here before, to meet with Miss Farron - that had gone over like a lead balloon, really, and while he wasn't one to dwell on unpleasant things of that particular nature, it had put quite the damper on his mood. All in all, Olivine City was one of those places he had no intention of returning to again once he had defeated the local gym.

Of course, that had changed as soon as he saw the location of the gym, and the view that it had offered.

He had assumed the stretch of water near Goldenrod City, on Route 34, was an inlet of some sort, or perhaps a large lake; he hadn't worked out exactly what that water had been connected to, simply taking for granted that it was there. However, there's no doubt in his mind when he sees it in Olivine - it's incredibly vast, seeming to go on forever.

Amestris is a landlocked country; he had never seen the sea before.

Even if the sun is out, eighty-three degrees is hardly a good temperature for swimming, and Kimblee doesn't know how, besides; that doesn't seem to have stopped him from wandering out into the ocean, stopping when the water is about waist-deep. He at least has the common sense to not do this in the white suit - the shirt he has on is a deep crimson, high-necked with the collar pulled up over his throat; the pants are black and made of heavy, stiff fabric. Unseasonably warm, perhaps, but he doesn't seem to mind; the water is rather cold anyway.

He doesn't have his gloves on, simply allowing his hands to trail lightly through the water, just under the surface; he's been in Johto for seven months, and his hair is getting long, the ends of it sinking just below the soft crests of the waves and wicking up water, soaking his back.

He seems rather peaceful today, all things considered; tranquil, compared to the manic shrieking and loud explosions during those three days. He's alert as usual, listening for sounds of an approach despite the calm exterior; however, that doesn't mean he's opposed to company on that beach.]

[TEXT]

[A text will hit the network a few hours later; don't worry, it's actually signed this time, and he surprisingly has no intention of trolling the hell out of everyone who responds - he'll leave that to Anon for now.]

As eager as some of us are to return home, it can't be denied that this place has provided most of us with far different opportunities than we would have normally had.

Tell me your memories of this place. Good, bad, it doesn't particularly matter - tell me what it's offered you.


[OOC]

[There are now hard spoilers for the plot of the Fullmetal Alchemist manga in the thread with Envy; read at your own discretion!]

Comments

[determinator]

I know.

[Archer nods slightly at that; he's not angry. He understands that this is Kimblee's version of an apology, after all.]

I kept notes during those three days we missed. I can't salvage anything from them though; they've been ruined.

[He crosses his arms and frowns down at the water.]

There was video as well. It's all blank.

[explosivecombat]

...I can't say that I'm surprised.

[He can feel the waves pressing against his back; the ocean is reasonably calm today. It feels good, and not nearly as worrying as he'd thought it would at first.]

Clearly something happened that you felt was important enough to record. Have you had dreams again?

[determinator]

Yes, I have. He was here again.

[That's... really all he needs to say, isn't it? Archer finally glances up, only to look away almost immediately. He can't maintain eye contact. Not that he ever really can in the first place, but that's not the point.]

Did you have any dreams?

[explosivecombat]

[Yes, that really is all Archer needs to say.

Kimblee doesn't say anything for a moment, closing his eyes; he nods after a moment, however.]

Yes. Regarding my alchemy, mostly; Armstrong and Mustang had theirs, as well. All of the incidents I've dreamed about happened here, however; it wasn't anything that happened back in Amestris.

[His voice is still even, however, almost unnaturally so; he isn't going to let this bother him for now.]

[determinator]

[How is that even possible, though? Isn't there something about this world that prevents the use of alchemy? Why would it work for only three days?]

I see.

[But that isn't something to focus on now, is it?]

You've been enjoying yourself here, I take it? How long have you been out there?

[explosivecombat]

[Kimblee doesn't understand it, either, though he has a few more theories than Archer might; he's known Father to be able to stop the flow of alchemical power entirely, throughout all of Amestris, at his own whims. He'd done it once that Kimblee can remember, though he hadn't been able to use his alchemy at the moment due to the physical restraints on his wrists; it had only been for a few minutes, but the feeling of being cut off somehow was one that he wasn't inclined to forget.

But that is neither here nor there; he allows Archer to change the subject.]

It hasn't been very long, I don't think, though I admit I haven't been keeping track of the time. Do you need me for something?

[determinator]

No, not really.

[Though from the sheer amount of awkward, it's obvious that that isn't entirely true.]

I... suppose it would be nice to... train with you for a little while.

[This is the tsuntastic way of saying he wants to spend time with you, okay.]

1/2

[explosivecombat]

[He knows what Archer is getting at; he smiles a bit in response.]

That would be good for both of us, I think.

[Just. A matter of picking his way back to - ]

[explosivecombat]

[Oh goodness lawd is that a jellyfish, where the hell did it even come from...

Kimblee isn't exactly afraid of it - it seems like a bbfish, it's probably rather low-leveled, but he very clearly is incredibly startled.]

That was most certainly not there before.

[determinator]

[Oh good lord, you don't mind if Archer backs up a bit at that, right? That does seem familiar...]

Well, I suppose the water works like a cave, then.

[...You know, now that he looks at it... It's really not all that bad...]

[Archer tips his head a bit; there's something he thinks he should remember concerning the Tentacool, but the only thing he can really remember is a name. "Veronica."]

Well, it... seems harmless, at least.

[explosivecombat]

Fortunately. Just imagine if it wasn't.

[He doesn't waste time, however; he has a few of his lower-leveled Pokémon with him, and he's quick to send Michelle out against it.

...admittedly, the Petilil spends a good long moment just headtilting at her opponent, the angle sharp enough that she seems about to simply capsize into the water, before Kimblee sighs and tells her what to do; he sets her to Magical Leafing the poor thing to death before looking over at Archer.]

...is something the matter, Archer?

[determinator]

Well, they do spit acid.

[He watches for a moment, mimicking that Petilil's headtilting without noticing it for a second before correcting the behavior. He really shouldn't be catching and training any more Pokémon, especially not ones he has no idea why he's interested in them.]

[But there's something very important about Veronica over there. He just can't quite remember what it is or where that name even came from.]

Hmm? No, nothing's the matter.

[He's just going to be staring at that Tentacool like it's the most fascinating thing ever, if you don't mind.]

You don't intend to catch it, do you?

[explosivecombat]

[Kimblee had returned to watching Michelle very...cutely beating the everloving crap out of that Tentacool, nodding a bit absently at Archer's words; he wonders vaguely how Archer knows these things spit acid, but then again, he tends to research all sorts of things that Kimblee really doesn't care about. It's...possible that he's looked this up as well.

...for some reason.

However, he glances back at Archer at that question; he's actually been doing reasonably well when it comes to not overloading his team now that he's been given something to do and he's no longer fighting quite so often with Archer.]

I don't think so, no; this is mostly to give Michelle the experience.

[He pauses for a moment.]

My numbers have stabilized, you know, and I've reached a point where I'm no longer training a few more of them; I don't think there's a problem.

[determinator]

[Archer smirks at that; oh come on, he hasn't been giving you that hard of a time about it lately, now has he?]

I know they have. There isn't a problem, no. I wasn't trying to imply there was.

[Let's see here... he should have a Pokéball somewhere in that damn bag... oh, here we go!]

Yes, well, let her finish it off, then. Might as well get the experience for it.

[He's catching this damn jellyfish, and there's nothing you can do to stop him!!]

[explosivecombat]

[Well, Michelle will very gleefully finish off that Tentacool, jumping a little bit in delight when the finishing attack connects and looking to her trainer like she's seeking approval. Kimblee is content to let her think that she is the best marksman in the world; there's no need to tell her that Magical Leaf can't miss.

...there's also no need to tell her that these are actual battles and not some sort of game; she's a bit of a naive little thing still.]

Are you really going to capture that? It doesn't seem like something that would hold your interest.

[determinator]

[...Oh Michelle... well, as long as she's having fun, right?]

Oh please, I've raised the Audino and the unevolved cat I named after you. I shouldn't have any issues with this.

[Admittedly he'll hate his life once it evolves, but that's an issue for another day! For now, it's time to catch Veronica! ...Thankfully it actually is a girl so there isn't the awkwardness of naming a male that... But then again, you've already got that covered, haven't you~?]

I don't have many Water-types as it is. I'm certain I can find some use for her.

[explosivecombat]

Well, yes, but you have some sort of insipid connection to those; I don't see why you would choose one of these, of all things.

[He shrugs a bit, however.]

Ah, but I suppose it doesn't matter, does it. Shall we?

[determinator]

[Oh come on, it isn't an insipid connection...!]

[...Okay, maybe it is. Shut up.]

Yes, of course.

[He does feel slightly better now for... no real reason. Honestly, he never would have had any desire to train one of these Pokémon if it weren't for those three days. Hopefully he'll dream about it and remember just why this is so important. For the time being, he's perfectly content to follow Kimblee and herp at the Pokéball.]

[explosivecombat]

[It is, most certainly, an insipid connection - however, speaking of insipid, he has no idea what Archer is even doing over there. He's heading in the direction of the hotel first - he's absolutely soaked in saltwater, and he'd really prefer to not remain that way all day.]

...you seem rather pleased with that thing; do tell me you're not going to name it something embarrassing.

[determinator]

Of course not. What do you take me for?

[>Implying most of his Pokémon's names aren't embarrassing...]

[But seriously, he is not telling you what he's naming this thing. Ever. Have all the tsun in the world, Kimblee!]

[explosivecombat]

...that sounds like you're about to name it something embarrassing. Come on, Archer, what is it?

[determinator]

[...You really do know him too well...]

I am not. I haven't decided on a name yet, that's all.

[The lack of eye contact is somehow or other worse than usual. He might be a bit obvious here.]

[explosivecombat]

[Just a bit.]

Oh, come now - it really can't be any worse than what you named that poor hellhound of yours.

[determinator]

His name is fine, leave him alone.

[Ugh, rude.]

Besides, it's really none of your business.

[explosivecombat]

...why are you being so defensive over this? It's not as though I'll never hear it, if you plan on battling with it at all.