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

[determinator]

[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

[alchemicals]

[...ARCHER...]

Shit like that is why you shouldn't be allowed to even attempt wordplay, you know that?

[But anyway...]

...we'll see, okay? I still think the whole thing is weird as hell.

[determinator]

Oh come now, you were asking for it.

[But! On to far more serious matters.]

It is, yes. I really would appreciate it though.

[...How does he say this, exactly? He knows what he wants to say, but this will just make things awkward...]

I... I just don't want to forget anything again, Kimbley.

[...Close enough. He can't exactly tell Kimbley he has two notebooks full of memories regarding him because he's terrified he'll forget something. That would be weird. And creepy.]

[alchemicals]

...I'm not following.

[No, really, what...]

You've been acting really strangely today. Talk to me.

[determinator]

Well, last time I forgot most of what we did and talked about. I had... dreams about it. That was it. I don't want to forget this. That's all.

[He might be beginning to pick a few things up from Kimblee; he's not entirely aware of open his expression is. It's not quite "my whole brain is crying" levels of oh god what, but it's getting there.]

[alchemicals]

...you're doing a bad job of lying to me, you know. That wasn't what I meant by "talk to me."

[His tone isn't angry, however; if anything, it's a bit too casual, given his words.]

[determinator]

[Archer glances away again, frustrated. Of course Kimbley wouldn't buy that. Kimbley knows him too well.]

I really have missed you. It's been... months since I saw you last and even then I didn't remember everything. I don't... remember everything about you, Kimbley, and that bothers me. I shouldn't be forgetting anything. You're... very important to me, you know.

[alchemicals]

Yeah, you told me that last time - the whole 'best friend' thing, right?

[He actually isn't being condescending, either; clearly, that little title there doesn't bother him at all - if anything, he seems to like it. It's weird for him, sure, but nothing he didn't already know; it's equally weird to have it out in the open like that, but it's not...bad-weird.]

If it's bothering you that much, you can ask me whatever you want. I still don't think it's all that interesting, but if you want to know, then sure.

[determinator]

Yes, that's right.

[Archer smiles at that - it's a genuine smile and not something he really shows very often, but that's quickly covered by the usual smirk.]

Thank you. That should probably help.

[Now if you don't mind, he'll just be whipping out a notebook and pen! ...Yes, he does always keep a pocket-sized one with him, why do you ask?]

I remember you took me to visit your sister. I remember that she hated the fact that you joined the military. I don't remember anything you've told me about your childhood, however.

1/2

[alchemicals]

[Wh...]

What, you want to do this now?

[alchemicals]

[Just. Compose yourself, Kimbley, what the hell.

Since it looks like they're going to be here for a while, Kimbley will just take the opportunity to flop down on the sand, drawing one of his knees up to his chest and linking his fingers around his leg casually.]

Like I said, Archer, it's not all that interesting. You don't remember anything because I didn't tell you anything.

[determinator]

[Archer frowns at the sand for a moment before joining Kimbley - at least the military uniform has that stupid butt-skirt. This is the only use he can find for it.]

It's interesting to me. It's a part of your life, of course it's going to be interesting.

[alchemicals]

I...guess?

[It's clear from Kimbley's tone that he has no idea why that's being said, but he doesn't really want to dwell on it, either. Let's just. Move on, yeah?]

I lived with my parents and my sister. They died when I was a teenager, I joined the military soon after. I wasn't doing much with myself before that, other than studying alchemy; school kind of wasn't an issue anymore after a while - they kindly informed me that I could get the hell out - so that's what I was doing full time until shit hit the fan.

That's about it.

[determinator]

[Archer's handwriting is ridiculously neat, it's slightly slanted to the left and it does get a bit closer to cursive when he's writing quickly, which he currently is. He's listening, of course, and nods every so often for Kimbley to know he's still paying attention.]

...You didn't get along well with your parents, did you?

[He suspects he knows what happened to them. It should terrify him. It doesn't.]

[alchemicals]

[He shakes his head at that, though he can't exactly hide the slight smirk crossing his features.]

Not at all.

[determinator]

...Well, I suppose it's safe to say that they went "boom," hmm?

[alchemicals]

Archer, what the hell do you take me for?

Of course they did.

[determinator]

How did you manage to cover that up? Was it an "accident"?

[Archer's tone is curious; he's genuinely interested in what happened here. A crime like that should have landed Kimbley in jail far earlier.]

[alchemicals]

[He just shrugs a bit at that.]

It was a really tragic accident, that's all. I had an eyewitness and everything.

[determinator]

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

...Your poor sister.

[alchemicals]

I didn't make her watch; I waited until she was out for the afternoon before doing anything to them. It was pretty obvious she didn't believe me, though.

[determinator]

...I see. But she forgave you for that? You two were quite close.

[alchemicals]

It's pretty interesting, what people will forgive you for when you're the only family member they have left. She wouldn't exactly want me getting sent away, now, would she?

[determinator]

[...Okay, sure, Kimbley, you make it sound like you didn't give a fuck if your sister hated you or not.]

[Archer totally believes you.]

...Of course not.

[Totally.]

[alchemicals]

[He does and he doesn't. It's nice that she doesn't hate him, sure. He would have cut his losses if she did.]

That's why she was pretty pissed when I ended up joining the military not too long after, though. I guess I don't blame her for that much.

[determinator]

[Uh huh. Sure you would have, Kimbley. But seriously, Archer has no idea how most relationships work, much less how siblings work so...]

I can see that. She must have felt like you were abandoning her.

[He can sympathize with that at least.]