♕ NINTH COMMAND | ACTION [OLIVINE CITY] | FOURTH WALL

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[If you happen to be exploring Olivine City today, you may run into Archer. That's really not all that unusual - contrary to popular belief, he does spend some time outdoors (some being the key word there) - but what's striking about it is... well, the insane number of cats following him.]

Where did you all even come from...?

[They're all the little cats rather than the larger ones. That means there's a herd of wild Meowth, Glameow, Skitty, Shinx, and Purrloin following Archer around. He loves cats, sure, but this is a bit much!]

[...He may or may not have started carrying around one of those Purrloin though. It's only because he doesn't have one, it's not like he actually likes it or anything...!!]

Comments

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[Archer has finally gotten rid of the cats. Well, he managed to get them all in his room and shut the door. He's probably going to regret that, but since when has he ever made good decisions? Never. Moving on.]

[Of course, that means his room isn't exactly the best place to be right now. So Archer has settled for going to... stare at the ocean again. He woke up here this morning and was attacked by cats shortly after, so he hasn't been able to properly herp at it examine it.]

[All that's forgotten the moment he sees a very familiar mullet.]

Kim...bley...?

[Well obviously it's Kimbley. Archer doesn't move for a moment, instead watching the alchemist curiously. No one starts out in Olivine City. He vaguely remembers that dream he had where Kimbley was here - he doesn't dream. He's been considering it to be some kind of warped reality or something. Really, he wouldn't put it past Johto. But Kimbley's here. Why is he wasting time?]

Well, it's good of you to join us again.

[That's said louder and Archer is quick to catch up, smirking. It's good to see him again.]

1/2

[alchemicals]

[Kimbley turns around at the sound of the voice calling him; he relaxes immediately upon seeing Archer, smirking at him as he shoves his hands in his pockets, the gesture casual.]

Hey, there you are. I -

[alchemicals]

[...wait wait wait what]

..."again"?

[determinator]

[...five seconds. He's seen you for five seconds and you're already starting with the headtilting and herping.]

[What does he do with these feels?]

Well. Ah. That's...

[Really awkward, actually...]

You weren't here before?

[...Yep, he's just going to act like that totally happened and it wasn't some kind of drugged-up dream. Really, if Johto spikes the air for Valentine's Day... this is a logical assumption, right? Right!]

[alchemicals]

No, I've been here, you're just talking like it's been a while.

[..............]

How long have I been gone?

[determinator]

[So you do remember! That's great, that means it really did happen...! Archer relaxes a bit at that.]

It's been... quite some time. You were last here in December; it's now May.

[It's been an awfully long time.]

[alchemicals]

Five months, huh? That does explain a lot.

[Like why it's so warm, despite - ]

The last thing I remember is going to sleep here, back then. Does this place always just do what it wants to you guys?

[determinator]

Well, it doesn't usually skip time like that. I know you were here for a little while, but the details are unfortunately rather fuzzy. Kimblee - that's, ah, the other one, the one in the white suit. I believe I mentioned him? - has a photographic memory, but he can't remember the events over the course of those three days. It's safe to say everyone assumed what happened was a dream and we all moved on.

It's good to see you again, Kimbley.

[alchemicals]

[...huh.]

Yeah, you too.

[He really doesn't remember anything happening over the course of the last five months; he guesses that's due to his...circumstances back in Amestris. It makes sense; it isn't anything he wants to think about.]

So is there anything to do in this town, or are we just going to stand on the street talking?

[determinator]

[Archer doesn't want to dwell on that either; he's finally managed to accept the fact that Kimbley is dead back home. This isn't helping matters any.]

[The change in topic gets Archer to brighten up considerably - he's never this happy.]

Ah, right! You haven't seen it!

[Come on, Kimbley! Don't fall behind now~!]

This is Olivine City. I only arrived here this morning, so I'm not very familiar with it but...

[Archer pauses then and turns to smirk at Kimbley, gesturing toward the ocean. It's a nice view - and that ocean is endless.]

This is really all I need to know about it.

1/2

[alchemicals]

[WHAT]

Hey, where are you - ?!

2/2

[alchemicals]

...taking...me...

[He manages to put on the figurative brakes when Archer does, though he stumbles a bit upon stopping; he reaches out, setting his hand on Archer's shoulder just long enough to catch himself. The contact is fleeting, and he's quick to pull away once it's obvious that he's not going to fall.

Of course, he's not sure what to do with the sight before him, either.]

Holy shit, Archer.

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[Archer doesn't shy away from the touch, but he doesn't make any move to return it or initiate anything else once Kimbley's pulled away. He's not focused on that at the moment - Kimbley's reaction is far more important to him.]

Olivine is a port town. It's the ocean, Kimbley. It really does go on forever.

[Or, well, off the map, at least. He has no idea just how far it goes and no way to guess. This is... amazing.]

[alchemicals]

[For a long moment, there's nothing to say - outside of perhaps "Holy shit" again, but that really can't be repeated enough right now, so Kimbley will refrain from starting in the first place.

He just stares, burying his hands in his pockets again; he doesn't stay that way for too long, though, crossing his arms low over his abdomen instead. The gesture is fidgety, as though he isn't sure what to do with himself.]

It's...

[He laughs a bit.]

It's really pretty, isn't it.

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That's it?

[Archer's tone is teasing, though. He still doesn't really have any words for what he's seeing; he understands.]

Well? Frankly I'm surprised you're content just to stare at it.

[He has no interest in getting sand everywhere, but Kimbley seems like the sort to actually enjoy the beach.]

[alchemicals]

[...................

DID SOMEONE SAY 'CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY'

BECAUSE I THINK SOMEONE SAID 'CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY']

Well, come on, then!

[He's not even going to wait for an answer

give him your wrist

we are going to explore this shit]

[determinator]

[HEY WHAT WAIT NO HE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT CHRISTMAS]

[LET HIM GO OH MY GOD]

[WHY IS HE 4x WEAK TO KIMBLEY/EES REGARDLESS OF HOW THEY SPELL THEIR NAMES]

[FFFFFFFFFFUU--]

Th-there's no need for that! I can see perfectly fine from here...!

[...He's really not trying to get you to let go, you know. He's just made of tsun.]

[alchemicals]

Yeah, but it's better up close!

[GOOD BECAUSE YOU ARE GETTING ON THIS BEACH WITH HIM, ARCHER

...don't worry, he won't drag you in the water, he'll actually stop on the sand]

It's...huge, isn't it? It's different than I thought it would be - the horizon is completely flat, nothing in the way of it -

[.......................Kimbley, sit down before you hurt yourself...]

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[...Well he can't exactly stay mad at you when you're so excited and adorable...]

It's fascinating, isn't it? I could sit here and stare at it for hours.

[...are you still clinging to his wrist, Kimbley...?]

[alchemicals]

[Oh, like he's even thinking about that right now! ...in other words, yes, yes he is. orz]

Not one for swimming, Archer?

[His tone is teasing, though - he is in the best goddamn mood right now.]

[determinator]

[...you're kind of the most adorable thing. What does he do with you?]

Of course not. Do I look like I can swim?

[The good mood is infectious! ...Which just means Archer will be tsuning harder than usual, sorry about that.]

[alchemicals]

[Not adorable. :| You are misspelling 'hardcore.']

Hey, you never know.

[determinator]

[Nope, pretty sure that's how you spell it! c: ]

Yes, well. Can you?

[alchemicals]

That isn't one of my many talents, no.

[He is going to end up in that ocean before the day is over. Probably still in the uniform. Everyone knows this, right?]

[determinator]

Don't even think about going deeper than the shallows, then.

[You'll get sucked out to sea and drown and Archer won't allow that!]