013. [Text/Action for Olivine City, also one other thing]

[explosivecombat]

[ACTION]

[It's incredibly rare to see Kimblee out of that fancy white suit; it's rarer still to see him not wearing it for any reason other than "If I wear it now, I'll get it filthy", "I'm in prison", or "I'm in a hospital and on life support."

While he's not on life support, however, he certainly is in a hospital of some sort - and not as a patient for once, either! Those who enter the Pokémon Center in Olivine City will be treated to Kimblee wearing general hospital scrubs, his hair pulled back in the stupidest french-braid ever to be stupidly french-braided. He isn't terribly interested in trying to mess with the human patients - in fact, he seems rather eager to stay out of the way of those who actually know what they're doing in that regard, as he hasn't been seen back there at all; given that he's filed just about everything he can get his hands on, he's working in the front today, assisting those who bring in Pokémon injured in battle.

And by "working" I mean "today has been ridiculously slow, so he's currently leaning idly over the desk, playing the hell out of the Tetris app on the 'Gear."

At least he's making no secret of his answer to the question of "working hard, or hardly working?"]


[TEXT]

[However, there are some sorts of boredom that even copious amounts of Tetris can't alleviate; at some point today - most likely after Kimblee has realized that he's going to be shifting around falling blocks in his goddamn sleep and he's going to be humming "Korobeiniki" for the next week - there's a text thrown out to the network at large.]

In my experience, there are those who exist to create, and those who exist to destroy. Neither are inherently good, nor are they inherently bad - there are those who create weapons and those who destroy barriers, after all. It's all a matter of how one utilizes their talents.

For the sake of idle curiosity, I have to wonder how many of us that were brought to Johto find themselves drawn to creation, destruction, or something else entirely.


[PRIVATE TEXT TO COBRA COMMANDER]

Position secured. Clearance and access to relevant materials likewise secured. Window of opportunity opens tonight during shift change.

Permission to proceed?

Comments

[explosivecombat]

[CRAP um um um

>FIGHT >PKMN
>ITEM >RUN

KIMBLEE'S BRAIN used SELFDESTRUCT!]

...Isaac.

[glaciates]

[EXCELLENT CHOICE LBR]

...Kim...blee...?

[OH GOOD LORD WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE AND WHAT ARE YOU WEARING AND WHAT DID YOU DO TO YOUR HAIR AND OH GOD OH MAN WHAT DID HE WALK IN ON]

What... are you doing here?

[ISAAC used MIMIC! Oh wait, never mind, he always does that.]

[explosivecombat]

...working, clearly.

[...let's just state the obvious, that sounds good]

I could ask you the same question myself, you know.

[glaciates]

Healing my Pokémon obviously.

[Oh god, this is so awkward...]

Why exactly are you working here? No offense or anything but... you don't seem like the sort to... work.

[ :| ]

[explosivecombat]

...yes, well, last I checked, you were in Cianwood still; I didn't realize you had planned to come out here -

[oh hang on]

And what is that supposed to mean, Isaac?

[glaciates]

Well, yeah, I had to get the badge here.

[...Also totally following you. :| ]

Well, it's just... you don't seem like the sort to be interested in work like this? The military's really the only thing I can see you doing.

[...herp.]

[explosivecombat]

Well, it's certainly what I would prefer; I'll grant that much. Now, did you need your Pokémon healed, or...?

[glaciates]

[He's really not surprised...]

Yeah, I do. Thanks.

[Here, you can take them. Um. What... does he do now other than herp awkwardly at you?]

So... why are you working here, exactly?

[explosivecombat]

[He'll just set about messing with that machine now, thank you.]

Ah, I found myself in need of some money, that's all; this place was convenient and the pay was good.

Of course, if you feel like deluding yourself for whatever reason, consider it an attempt at repaying my debt to society.

[glaciates]

No thanks, I'm not that dense.

[But seriously... money...?]

You just beat the last Gym Leader, right? How are you out of money already? Why didn't you say anything?

[He's not exactly rich, but considering how little he was getting by on back home... Well, Isaac has no idea what to do with all this money he has. He wouldn't have minded giving it to you!]

[explosivecombat]

[...oh boy

um

okay let's

let's think for a moment because shit shit shit]

Isaac, I am not going to ask you for money when I'm perfectly capable of making it myself - if I'm short for a while, it's clearly my own fault. Don't let it worry you; it's not going to kill me.

[glaciates]

Well, yeah, I know that. But you know I can help you. I'd like to help you, Kimblee.

[He does know how proud you are, and clearly this was a matter of pride. But still...]

[explosivecombat]

And you know that I don't like accepting help from anyone. We can argue this for hours, really.

[Despite that, however, he doesn't seem angry at all - he's smirking still, and his tone is rather light overall.]

[glaciates]

...Yeah, I know...

[orz]

What did you even spend all that money on?

[explosivecombat]

Well, I may have developed a bit of a gambling habit during my stay in Johto; you know I've always been a risk-taker, it's possible that I owed some people a bit...

[glaciates]

Gambling?

[Oh god, Kimblee, is he going to have to stage an intervention!?]

Really? Well that's...

[...what does he even say to that...]

Well, if you need any help stopping that I'll do what I can, alright?

[explosivecombat]

...no, that's quite all right.

[glaciates]

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

Are you sure? If it's this much of a problem, wouldn't you want help with it? I mean, I know you're proud and all that, but...

[...orz]

[explosivecombat]

Isaac.

[His tone is rather firm, though it's a bit at odds with his expression, which has shifted back into being...rather amused.]

Believe me, if I'm having some sort of issue in the future, you'll be the first to know, all right?

[glaciates]

[You have this way of getting him to sit down and shut up just by sounding vaguely disappointed in him. Goddamn, Kimblee.]

...Alright. Thanks.

[That said, he does look quite pleased with that; it's not a solution to the issue at hand now, but he's confident you'll find some way to fix this. Either that or your Archer will shriek at you until you do.]

[explosivecombat]

[His Archer is very good at that, isn't he...

orz]

Of course, Isaac.

So have you received the badge you came here for yet, or...?

[glaciates]

[Yes... yes he is...]

Oh yeah, I did. I've only got two left now.

[Well, alright, we can switch topics if you really want... Not like he's 8Ding and seeking approval or anything!!]

[explosivecombat]

[...holy shit, son]

You only just arrived in February, didn't you?

[glaciates]

Yeah, on the sixth!

[What, is that some kind of record or something?]

[explosivecombat]

[Hell if I know; go ask Mustang.]

Well. I'm certainly impressed.

[because holy shit, son]