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.

[He'll actually wait for you to catch up before starting up those stairs again! ...rather...quickly...hopefully you can keep up, um...]

This place really is beautiful, you know, I've never seen anything like it. The ocean does seem to go on forever, doesn't it, it's like they've said - yes, it really is quite lovely...

[...it's a bit hard to tell whether he's talking to himself or you, Archer, but he's...certainly talking.]

[determinator]

[UGH UGH UGH HE HATES YOU SO MUCH RIGHT NOW]

Yes, it is, Kimblee.

[Come on, now. There's no reason to talk to yourself. That's said a bit louder than it needs to be - you sounded like you were talking to the walls again and, well. That wigs him out. You can talk to him if you feel like talking!]

I'm glad you're enjoying it, then.

[explosivecombat]

...ah.

[He stops speaking for a moment; clearly, he hadn't realized he was thinking out loud.

...overstimulated tho!!!]

Of course, Archer. This place has given me many opportunities I normally wouldn't have had back in Amestris; I'm rather enjoying it, actually.

[determinator]

[How are you overstimulated already? There are a million stairs, this is not overstimulating!!]

I didn't mean the place, but yes, I understand.

[explosivecombat]

[yes it is yes it is -

wait]

Oh? Might I ask what you're getting at, then?

[determinator]

Oh, just here in Olivine. I didn't think you'd enjoy it this much.

[Nothing compares to Mahogany, right?]

[explosivecombat]

[Nothing.]

To be blunt, I didn't think I would, either; as I said, however, it really is beautiful.

[He pauses for a moment; good lord, these stairs go forever.]

There's only Cianwood after this, isn't there?

[determinator]

[Archer doesn't say anything for a moment there. It should feel like they've accomplished something, shouldn't it? Instead it just feels like it's the end. He knows it's not, of course - there's the Elite Four once they open, and there's Kanto, not to mention all of the work for Team Rocket...]

Yes, that's it. We'll have completed the badge challenge after that.

[explosivecombat]

Until the Elite Four accepts challengers, I suppose there won't be much to do outside of focus on work.

[He pauses for a moment; this is going somewhere, it's just a bit strange to express it to someone else.]

If that's the case, then I think having somewhere to stay off-base would be ideal; spending so much time around my coworkers tends to grate on my nerves. I don't think I'll be staying in Goldenrod City.

[determinator]

Oh? And where do you have in mind?

[They know each other well enough; if Kimblee's leaving Goldenrod, Archer's coming with him. At the same time, Kimblee isn't one to do something this drastic without asking for permission first. Archer isn't opposed to the idea, he's just curious.]

[explosivecombat]

I want to stay further north, I think; you know I'm partial to Mahogany Town and the surrounding area.

[He pauses for a moment; he does know Archer better than to assume that he'll remain in Goldenrod while Kimblee gallivants off elsewhere, and Archer should know by now that Kimblee doesn't plan on that happening in the first place.]

If you aren't opposed, of course.

[His tone is dry, as it always is; were it addressed to anyone else, it would have been clearly intended as sarcasm.

Would have been.]

[determinator]

[He's actually glad he's slightly behind Kimblee - it means Kimblee shouldn't see the smirk that immediately follows his words. Yes, Kimblee, he knows you well enough.]

Well, I suppose I can see the merit in it. Goldenrod is a bit much most of the time. You're certainly right about our coworkers.

[He'll just try to stop smirking like a douche and mirror your tone there. It's not quite working.]

If you really want to go through the hassle of finding a place...

[Holy shit, a wild opinion appeared! This is a good thing, Kimblee! You can have all the opinions ever and he will indulge them!]

[explosivecombat]

I wouldn't suggest it if I weren't interested.

[He can't see the smirking, no, but he can hear the shift in Archer's voice; the mood, too, has changed, for a reason he can't place.]

...you seem pleased. Is there a reason?

[determinator]

[You know him far too well...]

It's good to hear you suggest something like this, Kimblee. That's all.

[explosivecombat]

[That's a particular talent he has with plenty of people, but yes, overall, he does.

...however.]

Is it...?

[determinator]

Yes, it is. You don't usually voice interest in things like this.

[Is this improvement...??]

[explosivecombat]

[Kimblee doesn't say anything right away, taking a good stretch of those stairs in silence; he isn't angry, just bothered somewhat. He knows that Archer is aware of the...difficulties he's experienced since his incarceration; it hadn't been nearly this bad in Amestris due to the constant state of conflict that his affairs had been in since his release. But here, now that he has no such distractions and obligations keeping his busy, it's been difficult; it's not the massive decisions that will affect his life overall that he has problems with - that's a matter of survival, and if there's anything he's good at above all else, it's surviving - but after spending so many years with literally no control over his personal choices, it's the simple things, impacting nothing more than his day-to-day existence, that tend to frustrate him. The level of difficulty in regards to decision-making runs a wide range, between "this is taking far too long" and "this is damn near impossible;" Archer had noticed eventually. It isn't something that they discuss, but Archer has taken on most of the responsibility in that regard, making the major decisions for both of them and taking the lead in terms of the minor ones, giving Kimblee an example to follow and alter as he saw fit.

He knows that in the end, it's just compounded the issue; it hasn't been improving, and if anything, it's been getting worse. He knows he should be more bothered by that than he is, but in reality he's content to not have to work through unnecessary stress on a daily basis, especially if he has someone willing to essentially give him orders. Normally, he's fine with it. If he actually considers it, however, as he is now...the thought is an unpleasant one. He not only takes orders without question, but at this point he practically needs them to function.

He really is the perfect soldier in the end, isn't he.]

You've been very good to me, Archer.

[The statement is sudden, though he doesn't seem displeased; his voice is even, not bothered at all, and he's smirking a bit when he glances back.]

I appreciate it.

[determinator]

[It's as he's said for quite some time; Kimblee is different. It isn't "Kimblee is crazy" or "Kimblee is broken," neither of those are come to Archer's mind first when he's describing Kimblee. He's different. That's all.]

[The silence doesn't seem tense, but Archer has been notoriously bad at misreading silence like this before. He's beginning to wonder if he should apologize or something when Kimblee finally speaks.]

I... what?

[Archer has never seen their relationship as Equivalent Exchange. He's not an alchemist, nor does he think of things in terms like that - but Kimblee is so adamant that things need to balance out. Wouldn't he have issues with this relationship if things weren't even? Archer still doesn't understand how he's doing anything for Kimblee, when Kimblee's constantly there for him and keeping him (somewhat) sane. He would have holed himself up in his room and never left long ago if Kimblee hadn't been there to provide some sort of companionship.]

I don't see how that has anything to do with what we were discussing.

[That's safer than saying he has no idea what Kimblee means.]

[explosivecombat]

[Kimblee shakes his head a bit at that, the smirk still present.]

Don't let it concern you, then; just accept it for what it is.

[determinator]

[Headtilt?]

May I ask what brought that on, then?

[explosivecombat]

[He stops on the steps then and turns to look at him, amused.]

Are you trying to argue the point, Archer?

[determinator]

Of course not. Have you ever known me to turn down a compliment like that?

[That lineface should say more than the words, though.]

[explosivecombat]

[It does.

For now, Kimblee is content to remain on the stairs rather than progress any further up them; his spine is kind of thanking him for it.]

Tell me what the issue is, then.

[It isn't "Is there an issue?" Tell him what it is.]

[determinator]

[And as usual, Kimblee knows him too well and doesn't hesitate to call him out on it. Damn.]

Well, I wasn't expecting it, for one.

[He hesitates, glancing down the stairs rather than at Kimblee.]

I'm not always sure I do enough for you. It doesn't seem entirely balanced, I suppose.

[explosivecombat]

What with how much I go on about Equivalent Exchange, you know I wouldn't stay if that were the case.