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

[explosivecombat]

...of course, Archer.

[Kimblee doesn't seem displeased with that; he simply acknowledges it and moves on. Though he never really says as much, this is rather calming for both of them, not just Archer; he relaxes a bit, focusing instead on what this feels like when there isn't a layer of fabric between his hand and Archer's hair - it's odd at this point, but it's...nice, in a way.]

[determinator]

[Kimblee really is too good to him. This isn't normal by any stretch of the imagination; they both know that. But Kimblee's willing to put up with it and help Archer through things like this. He is never really sure what to do with that knowledge.]

Yes, well.

[Well.]

Thank you, I suppose.

[He really does appreciate it, despite the tsun.]

[explosivecombat]

Hm?

[The sudden tsun pulls Kimblee out of his thoughts - or the lack thereof, as the case may very well be, he wasn't exactly thinking anything particularly deep there - but he doesn't take too long to recover.]

Don't mention it, Archer. As I said, there's no point in being worked up right now.

[determinator]

Yes, well. I appreciate it, alright?

[He really doesn't thank Kimblee enough for what he does. Yes, their relationship is ridiculously codependent, but it always feels like Kimblee is doing far more for him. ...Which really only aggravates the tsun and now he can't stop. Thanks, Kimblee. This is all your fault.]

[explosivecombat]

[did someone say 'troll at will'

because i think someone said 'troll at will']

Two mentions of gratitude in about thirty seconds - you really must be pleased with me.

[determinator]

[OH GODDAMMIT HE HATES YOU]

I am not!

[...wait hang on, that's kind of the dumbest thing to say.]

I just thought you should know, that's all.

[tsuntsuntsuntsuntsuntsun]

[explosivecombat]

[Wh...]

[explosivecombat]

Thank you for backpedaling, I suppose. As it stands, that was almost endearing.

[determinator]

It was not!

[UGH UGH UGH KIMBLEE HE HATES YOU SO MUCH]

[explosivecombat]

[He laughs a bit at that and just continues tousling Archer's hair lightly.]

I said "almost," don't worry.

[determinator]

[You're not helping with the tsun! If anything, you're managing to make him feel like a kid or something. >:| It's not appreciated, okay!!]

[...Even the action brackets have gone tsun. Welp.]

Oh shut up.

[He is totally not leaning into that any. Totally not.]

[explosivecombat]

[...he's noticed.]

Feeling a bit better then, I take it.

[It isn't a pointed statement, nor is he teasing, exactly - just an observation.]

[determinator]

[H-hey, no fair, you're not allowed to cockblock the tsun...!]

...Yes, I am, actually.

[How do you manage these things anyway, Kimblee?]

[explosivecombat]

[Magic and wishes, clearly.]

Good to know, then.

[determinator]

[Well you are a version of Kimbley...]

Yes, well. If you're expecting thanks, you're not getting it.

[Oh wait, wait, there's the tsun!]

[explosivecombat]

You already gave it to me two or three times before - shall I just assume some of it carries over?

[determinator]

[ALKEMRNWKELKSMEKLWNKE]

[YOU KNOW WHAT]

[HE'S JUST GOING TO DIE ON YOUR SHOULDER IF YOU DON'T MIND]

[BECAUSE FUCK YOU OKAY]

[explosivecombat]

[O-Oh.

That gets him to freeze a bit - he wasn't exactly expecting that - and he hesitates for a good long moment before returning to playing with Archer's hair; don't worry, he'll let you calm down a bit, all right.]

[determinator]

[This is your fault! How dare you get the tsun to critical levels of fail!!]

[...Yes, well. He'll just stay here if you don't mind. It's better than facing you and dealing with the inevitable orz that follow.]

[Not to mention that this is kind of nice. Maybe. Just a bit.]

[explosivecombat]

[He can feel Archer relaxing a bit; he laughs a little, quietly, more to himself than anything.]

They'll say I've gone soft, you know.

[determinator]

[Archer glances up then. The tsun is dying down a bit at least.]

They don't need to know.

[...Because let's face it bb, you have gone soft.]

[explosivecombat]

[And if you ever tell him that he will end. you.

Just saying~!]

They had better not, simply because that would involve you managing to humiliate both of us.

[determinator]

[Oh come on now, he knows better than to say it~!]

I--!

[...That's entirely too true, isn't it.]

...Oh shut up.

[explosivecombat]

You can't deny it, can you?

[determinator]

[Oh like he doesn't humiliate himself on a daily basis? Shut up, shut up, shut up.]

[He'll just go back to tsuning and claiming your shoulder as his own, then. Because ugh.]