♕ FOURTEENTH COMMAND | VIDEO

[determinator]

[Good afternoon, Johto! Archer is seated at a desk, glancing over a list of papers when the feed turns on. He smirks at the camera after a moment and folds his hands.]

I have several eggs here that I'd like to sell. I'm willing to give anyone who replies on this channel half off. I can assure you, the eggs are definitely worth it.

[It's shortly followed by a list. It's missing ten of the eggs, but that's nothing you need to worry about~ The feed ends there.]

[Several minutes later a public broadcast goes out featuring the same list, plus ten other eggs.]

As you can see, I have quite a few eggs I need to sell. The prices and egg moves are listed, just let me know which ones you're interested and--

[He's suddenly interrupted by a Tynamo floating into the screen near him. Archer tries to shoo her away, but that just seems to upset her. She moves to latch her x-shaped mouth onto his hand and shocks him.

Archer yelps and tries to pull her off, finding it impossible. Clearly there's only one solution.]

Kimblee!

[...yell for his Kimblee, obviously. The feed cuts out there.

It comes back on shortly thereafter, with Archer looking even more pissed than usual. His hand is bandaged though the injury doesn't seem to be too bad. Tynamo aren't very powerful, after all.]

As I was saying, I'll send the eggs wherever you need them, either through the Centers or with one of my Flying-types. Thank you for your time.

[And end feed!]

Comments

[determinator]

That wouldn't have happened if you didn't put yourself in danger!

[He's not quite sure where the anger is coming from, but suddenly he's furious and he can't explain it.]

You're constantly putting yourself in dangerous situations when you don't need to be! As long as you stay safe we won't have anything to worry about! Why can't you just let the Pokémon battle like everyone else?

[explosivecombat]

[...wait wait wait wait WHAT]

Archer, where on earth did this come from -

[determinator]

[Hell if he knows tbh]

You're completely reckless! We need to focus on winning not... showing off or whatever it is you think you're doing by constantly putting yourself in these situations!

[explosivecombat]

What does this have to do with anything we were discussing? You're derailing.

[determinator]

I wouldn't have acted like that if you hadn't endangered yourself like that! I thought you died!

[explosivecombat]

[...all right, clearly there's no being rational today. Just...let him join you over there, okay? Kimblee doesn't move to embrace him, but he does grip Archer's uninjured hand rather firmly.]

You need to calm down. Everything is fine.

[determinator]

[Right. Right, there's no reason to lose control like this. He returns the grip on Kimblee's hand and focuses on taking a few deep breaths, counting backwards from ten a few times to make sure he's calm. He can be rational about this. Definitely.]

Yes, I know everything is fine now. That doesn't change the fact that I reacted because I thought you were dead. I wouldn't have acted that way if you hadn't been in harm's way.

[There, is that better?]

[explosivecombat]

We've discussed this before, Archer; I'm going to fight, and that often includes being in harm's way. You're aware of that, and you can't afford to have that reaction in battle.

[determinator]

There's nothing I can do about it.

[The most sullen thing, goddamn.]

...Unless... if you're going to be that reckless in battle, perhaps you should be stationed away from me, where I can't see it.

[He has no idea if that would even work, and of course he'd be worried about Kimblee, but he doesn't want to witness anything like that Suicune battle again.]

[explosivecombat]

...if that's what you would prefer. However, I can't say that I agree with that course of action entirely, given your lack of experience otherwise.

[determinator]

I don't intend to stand around and fight. I can handle Team Rocket and taking over from within the organization. You can handle the fallout from the trainers who will want to stop us.

It's not exactly my ideal course of action either, but neither of us are going to change our opinions of what should be done in battle. This is the only compromise I can think of.

[explosivecombat]

Fine. You still haven't answered the initial question as to why you felt it unimportant to tell me something quite this major. "I'm not fond of sharing my failures" will only get you so far; you at least owed me that much honesty, and I don't appreciate your attempt to force blame on me.

[determinator]

I didn't think it was important. Yes, yes, "how could you possibly think that's unimportant considering what we're going to do?" I don't know, Kimblee. It just didn't seem important to mention it. It wasn't as though I was intentionally trying to mislead you.

[That's surprisingly genuine. Archer sighs.]

I didn't mean to force blame on you. I just meant that I overreact.

[And throw caution to the wind, nbd.]

[explosivecombat]

And you were supposedly accomplishing this by telling me that it was my fault for being so reckless.

[ARCHER...]

[determinator]

I was angry, what were you expecting?

[SENSE?? HAHAHAHAHAHA THAT'S HILARIOUS]

[explosivecombat]

And then you wonder why I'm doubting your leadership capabilities.

[determinator]

[WOW WAS THAT REALLY CALLED FOR

...okay, yes it probably was, but that's not the point!

He's just not going to reply to that alright!!]

[explosivecombat]

...Archer.

[He shifts his hand against Archer's, though he doesn't let go; just readjusting his grip a bit.]

Talk to me.

[determinator]

[Archer stares down at their hands for a moment, as if he'd completely forgotten that he was holding Kimblee's.]

...I'll prove myself.

[He still sounds a bit sullen, but that statement is quite clear. He won't tolerate failure of any sort.]

[explosivecombat]

...you know I'm not refusing to follow you still, don't you?

[Just. Going to verify that, all right?]

[determinator]

...

[Thank you for verifying that, alright. For a moment Archer's expression nearly mirrors Kimblee's "whole brain is crying" one, but he relaxes quickly.]

Of course. You'd have a hell of a time finding a replacement for me.

[explosivecombat]

[You had no idea, did you?]

I have no intention of replacing you, Archer. I've told you that before; I tend to keep my word.

[determinator]

[None whatsoever.]

Good. I wouldn't accept anything less.

[Thank you so much, okay.]

[explosivecombat]

[This is gonna suck, Archer.]

Of course. As long as you require my services, then, you'll continue to have them.

[determinator]

[...yeah, pretty much.]

Excellent.

[...]

And thank you.