explosivecombat | 015. [Video/Text]

Entry tags:

015. [Video/Text]

[It's been several days since Kimblee spoke to Archer in Olivine City; he had decided the morning after that conversation that it would be for the best that they keep their distance from one another, at least for the time being - the last thing they needed was to be unsure that this was going to work, after all. He needed space.

And he certainly has gotten space! The room he's in when the feed flickers on is rather spacious, all things considered; of course, the actual size of the room is a bit difficult to determine, given that the place is kind of the most retina-searing green imaginable. Like a factory of limes exploded in here, people. That is the level of green we are looking at.

Kimblee is pretty easy to spot, however; he's wearing the usual white, which is incredibly ill-suited (no pun intended) for his current activity, all things considered: namely, he's getting rid of all the green. Clearly, he's decided that he's somewhat unimpressed with the lack of activity lately - he's still working those mutations out of his system, and flooding his system with electricity has left his motor skills...uh, lacking, for want of a better term - and he's decided to remedy this by simply having at the room with a can of paint and a roller brush. Never mind that he grew up incredibly spoiled and has never painted a damn wall to save his life, and the fact that his motor skills are, again, shot to all hell; this can't possibly be that hard to figure out!

...needless to say, there's a huge amount of dark red paint just kind of everywhere on that poor wall. There are several good solid sections that are painted in a perfectly normal, rational manner, of course - and then there are sections where he's really obviously slipped, thick red haphazard streaks all over the place, before he seems to have worked out what he's doing and reset himself on some sort of halfway sane path...somewhere else entirely.

It's fairly clear that he's been at it for a while; this entire room is going to need to be redone by the time he's finished with it, but at least he's trying?

The camera follows the wall for a moment, showing the room in all its...uh, glory, before flicking back to Kimblee, kneeling by the wall and smiling in an incredibly content, if a bit vacant, manner. He's completely alone in there, just amusing himself with a can of paint.]

...still haven't made any progress...

[Kimblee's voice is soft but clear; he sounds as though he's speaking to someone, despite...being...completely alone in the room...]

...they'll probably never find whomever did such a number on the Centers. Such a display...I understand that they will be down for some time now. And they haven't a clue who was responsible for it. For any of it.

[He doesn't sound bothered by this, nor does he sound particularly pleased; he's just making statements. At no one. He pauses for a moment; his hand's slipped again on the brush, drawing another jagged streak against the wall. He looks momentarily displeased at that, linefacing hard, before moving on to pick up where the line stopped.]

Shame that the infection spread to so many, though, especially with the vital cities running so low on medical supplies; I wonder how many were hit by it. My own mutations will fade shortly, I'm sure - it will be unfortunate if this keeps up for much longer. It's incredibly inconvenient...not that I don't miss the power, however. That was lovely, while it lasted.

[He pauses again. Smiles to himself.]

It wasn't quite like alchemy, but it was close enough. Such a beautiful feeling...I wouldn't mind feeling it again. Perhaps someone can assist with that, if they ever work out -

[There's a rather odd, blurred flash of green-and-white across the screen before Kimblee can finish that thought, then the video feed shuts off; it takes a moment, but a bit of text goes out to the Network before too long, also from Kimblee's 'Gear.]

i think my trainer is broken

[...yeah, Kimblee's Gardevoir is getting a bit...concerned about this talking-to-the-walls business.

Kimblee will definitely answer responses as they come in, though; he's not that out of it, though it may take him a few minutes to get on it.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[...well, the response from the 'Gear is a bit unexpected, given that Kimblee wasn't exactly aware there was something to respond to in the first place; he clicks the feed on quickly, though that last part will see him shooting The Most Irritated Look Ever off-camera, presumably in the Gardevoir's direction.]

It's been a bit of a slow day, I suppose - at any rate, I imagine you can see the green? I'd assume that would answer any questions you might have regarding the paint.

[Oh come now, he was probably just concerned for you! ~~He is named after Archer, after all...~~]

Yes, it certainly does answer why you're painting. I suppose I should be more specific, then: where are you painting and for what purpose? This isn't another job, is it?

[Judging from the tone, a job is the worst possible thing that could ever happen to you. Just saying.]

[...Kimblee won't argue with that assessment; look at how well the last job turned out. He spent pretty much the entire time playing Tetris.

Also befriending a few potential targets and poisoning Lightning Farron. But mostly playing Tetris. He had Korobeiniki stuck in his head for practically forever; for several days, he was the man who arranges the blocks. It was horrible, and whomever invented work like that should feel horrible.

...never mind that he works at the Center here in Mahogany Town once in a while if he wants money. That isn't the point.]

I suppose you could say I've found somewhere to stay long-term; I certainly wasn't going to put up with the color in here any longer than I had to.

[He's fully aware that he's probably going to be pressed for deets; that doesn't mean he has to volunteer them.]

[Oh you poor, poor man. Not even desperation would drive Archer to stoop that low!!]

...Somewhere to stay...?

[Archer isn't quite sure what to do with that. He talked about settling down in Mahogany, but that was with Archer, not alone. Did he seriously go ahead and move up there without him?]

Well you'll have to tell me more about it.

[Deets.]

[Kimblee pauses for a moment before he continues; since they reconciled a short while back, he's been incredibly aware of the arrangement he had originally made with Archer regarding Mahogany Town. At the same time, he can't say that he regrets moving forward with it at all; after all, he hadn't known that he would be reconciling with Archer, and he certainly hadn't even had any intention of doing so originally.]

I believe I told you before that I wanted to find somewhere in Mahogany Town, to use as a permanent residence. This one was available, the price seemed decently manageable, and the only thing that really required much work was the color. The rest was a matter of "why not?"

You bought a house on impulse.

[.....................why is he not surprised...]

[That said, Archer's expression is unreadable and his tone isn't exactly reflecting anything either. He's not sure what to think. He wants to press - when did Kimblee buy this house? did he think they were going to reconcile? or was this just a place for him to stay on his own? - but he doesn't. They've only just made up and he doesn't want to start questioning things now. He doesn't want to get in another argument so soon.]

Well, I hope the rest of the place is worth the money. The paint job certainly can't be.

[It's obvious he's trying to get back to the light-hearted conversation he started with, but it's not quite reaching his expression.]

[It's never a very good sign when Archer goes blank like that; Kimblee has known him long enough to recognize it, and he doesn't hesitate before he replies.]

I would ask you to talk to me, but at this point I'm wondering if it would just be easier to take care of both things at once and invite you to come out here and see the place yourself. Assuming, that is, that you aren't occupied otherwise?

[Archer does hesitate there, but it's only because he has to marvel - again - at how well Kimblee knows him. It's something that really shouldn't surprise him by now. When he replies, he's smirking again.]

I'd like that. I assume you're in Mahogany, then?

[It shouldn't take him too long to Fly there!]

Either that or I'm painting a random stranger's house, Archer.

[He'll see you in a couple of hours.]

[Well if you're overstimulated enough, he wouldn't put it past you...]

[But anyway! He'll show up in a few hours still looking quite a bit smug. And he actually manages to find the right house and not barge in on some NPC! You should be proud of him.]

Kimblee?

[...He is barging in on you though. c: ]

[...well, at the very least within the span of those several hours Isaac seems to have convinced him to put the paint away; either that or he confiscated it for the time being. It had been easy enough to convince Isaac to leave him alone for a while; all it had really taken was a mention of his current condition and wanting to rest for a while, and it had amused him slightly when it had actually worked - if only it had worked so well on Lt. General Raven, ugh - but given Isaac's usual habit of training in the Ice Caves and the fact that it took a couple of hours to get there, usually, Kimblee was perfectly fine with the knowledge that he would have the place to himself when Archer showed up.

...and show up he did, jfc where did you even come from]

Hopefully you don't make a practice of just wandering into strange residences, Archer.

[However, he doesn't seem...too startled, overall - despite the warmth of the day, he's still sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee, of all things, and Archer's entrance didn't faze him badly enough to get him to spill it any - and he gestures to the chairs in general where they surround said table, indicating that Archer should sit down. The gesture is a bit more rigid than it usually is; his hand is still shaking quite a bit, but it's obvious that he's trying to keep it under control, and he's succeeding more than he usually does in that regard at least.]

Well it's not like they try to stop you~

[That's teasing of course! ...Or is it? ~Who knows~]

[Archer has decided to ditch the military uniform again today, though he's still dressed up a bit too much for just a casual visit. He eyes the coffee skeptically for a moment before taking a seat, folding his hands and resting his chin on his fingers immediately.]

You're not even going to show me around first? I'm almost disappointed~

[He's obviously joking though, and he continues quickly enough.]

You seem to be faring better. I take it your condition has improved?

It has, yes; as I said before, I believe it's a side-effect of the mutations, nothing more. I should be fine before too long.

[He shifts his hands a bit against the cup he's holding, though he doesn't look away, continuing to study Archer a bit as he speaks.]

As for being shown around, believe me, it's sparing your retinas.

[Archer is quite pleased to hear that; it's worrying to see Kimblee shaking like that. Archer wouldn't be surprised if he had the coffee there just so he had something to grip to keep his hands from shaking. He knows how Kimblee is about any sort of perceived weakness, after all.]

...The entire place is that hideous color?

[Oh... good lord... This place must have been cheap.]

How long have you been here?

[...it's at times like this that he's glad you know him well enough to keep those sorts of thoughts to yourself, because you also know him well enough to be completely correct in that assumption regarding why he has the coffee out in the first place.]

Since shortly after that altercation we had in Blackthorn City; I believe you returned to Goldenrod City, while I returned here. I wasn't completely alone; I met up with Isaac here. I'm sure you remember him.

Yes, I do.

[He's kind of hard to forget. I mean really, have you seen his face? Archer almost feels bad for him. Almost. ...Okay, not at all, but you know how he is.]

And you decided to buy a house?

[He bites back the last part of that question "without me?" Not that he's bitter or anything! Of course not! He knows they were fighting at the time and Kimblee probably didn't bother thinking how he'd react to something like this but... it still bothers him.]

Where is your... friend anyway? Is he staying here with you?

[That question is very pointed - Archer has always had issues with replacement. If he's not fretting about replacing Kimbley with Kimblee, he's fretting about being replaced.]

[Kimblee's grip tenses quite a bit against that cup of coffee; he's fully aware of what Archer is getting at. They've had arguments in the past before, regarding replacement and how much Archer dislikes it; that had been what caused the initial fight between them back in February. His voice, however, remains very calm; he isn't going to get riled. There's no sense in it.]

I did, yes. There was nothing further to be done, after all - or so I thought at the time - and I wasn't going to put my life on hold because of it.

[He shifts his grip again, tapping his fingers gently against the cup without moving to drink any of it.]

And Isaac is staying with me, yes. He has been for a while.

[Archer shifts a bit in the chair, moving to rest his fingers over his mouth and glancing away. His expression doesn't alter any - he still looks mildly displeased - but that's not exactly what he's feeling.]

[It hurts to know that Kimblee was planning to move on without him. He had tried to move on without Kimblee, of course, but he's fully aware that he's far too dependent on Kimblee. He stresses himself out when they're fighting - this time he overworked himself instead of doing nothing, but neither reaction is a good one. It's a simple matter of not functioning properly without Kimblee around. He hates it, but at the same time he has no idea how to change it - or if he'd even want to change it.]

[But Kimblee's words do imply that something can be done now, and it's possible that they can move on from that. That's what they're trying to do now, isn't it?]

I see.

[He doesn't bother trying to make eye contact though. Archer isn't sure what to do with the knowledge that Kimblee's friend is staying here. Archer has gotten better about giving Kimblee his space and letting him have friends, mostly through necessity. Kimblee will leave if he isn't allowed to do his own thing every once in awhile, so Archer lets him. But if all this happened right after their blowup, it's entirely possible that Kimblee did intend to replace him. Right?]

[Archer has interacted with Isaac though; he knows that the man isn't exactly the brightest. He doesn't seem like the sort who would take well to knowing that Kimblee was behind several of the attacks for Team Rocket - far too moral and all that. So it is possible that Kimblee was just letting him stay here but...]

[...You don't mind if Archer just sort of strays off into his own little world of thought here, do you? Of course not.]

[Again, that level of silence and general blankness isn't a good thing; Kimblee is fully aware that in this instance, "I see" isn't agreeing with him by a long shot.

Again, his voice is calm when he speaks, the words coming easily; he's relaxed a bit physically as well.]

Talk to me, Archer.

I don't know what to say.

[He falls silent after that. No, it's not that he doesn't know what to say, it's that he isn't sure where to start. He has so many questions he wants to ask, but he knows he's not going to like the answers. The last thing he wants is to fight with Kimblee again.]

...Were you going to replace me with him?

[He figures that's as good a place to start as any.]

No.

[The answer is simple, but immediate.]

There's a difference between spending time with someone else and replacing you, Archer; I wasn't trying to find anyone else to fill your place in my life.

[Archer relaxes at that, though the smirk doesn't return immediately. He isn't really sure what to say in response to Kimblee's words; he appreciates it, of course, but he's sure Kimblee already knows that.]

...Thank you, then.

[He hesitates for a moment.]

I take it you're going to stay here with him, then?

That's what I was planning on doing, yes.

[He pauses for a moment; he still remembers what Archer had said before. Regarding dependency, and being unable to leave, and needing Kimblee around to function. He doesn't like it, and he doesn't want to discuss it. At the same time...there's not much else to be done, is there?]

...I believe we have a lot to discuss before any decisions are made, don't we.

[And despite his wording, that isn't a question.]

[That makes two of them. Dependency issues aren't something Archer wants to deal with, let alone discuss.]

I suppose we do.

[But at the same time, he doesn't like the idea of returning to Goldenrod on his own.]

...Where do we even start?

[This is gonna suck, Kimblee...]

...I can't say that I know. This isn't anything I have any experience with.

[He sighs, leaning forward over the table a little more, though he doesn't remove his hands from around that cup of coffee.]

Why don't we start with what you told me back in Olivine. Clarifying exactly what you meant by all of that.

[Locked video forever/until stated otherwise]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject