♕ 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

[determinator]

[He'll just return that smirk, then; it's a bit softer than usual - he understands.]

Oh come on now, surely you don't think I need someone to look after me?

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

...He's doing an excellent job.

[alchemicals]

Hopefully he's better at it than I was - I always told you that I've never been cut out for that sort of thing.

But if you say this guy knows what he's doing, I believe you.

[determinator]

You did a good job of it, Kimbley.

[That's certainly caused him to lineface. He doesn't like the implication of that at all.]

[alchemicals]

Come on, Archer. I didn't manage shit and you know it.

[determinator]

Don't say that. You've been better to me than anyone else. How is that "not managing shit"?

[alchemicals]

I didn't...do anything, though.

[no really idgi]

[determinator]

[How... does he explain this...?]

You kept me sane. You were someone I could talk to about anything without fear of being judged or deemed "crazy." You were... the only person I ever really cared about, Kimbley. You mean so much to me. You didn't have to do anything.

[alchemicals]

[Kimbley just kind of stares for a moment before abruptly turning away; he shifts one of his hands down beside him, tracing idle designs in the sand.

The silence goes on for quite some time; he keeps his gaze focused downward.]

...yeah, well.

[That's all he's going to offer for the time being; he...isn't sure what else to do.]

[determinator]

[Archer isn't sure what else to say; he thought Kimbley understood just how important he was. He's never liked the idea that Kimbley was okay with suicide by cop back in Ishbal, and the idea that he might have done something like that in Liore doesn't sit well with him. He vaguely remembers discussing Liore with Kimbley the last time he was here, and he's certain that isn't what it was, but...]

I thought you knew how important you are to me.

[alchemicals]

...I do, yeah.

[Still...not exactly looking at you very well; he glances, but immediately goes back to doodling in the sand.]

It's not something we talked about, but I do.

[determinator]

[He relaxes at that; it's good that he does realize it.]

I'm glad.

[So is now the time were he confesses his undying love for Kimbley or does he wait on that? No, seriously, he has no idea what to even say now. Everything is awkward, but at least nothing hurts?]

[alchemicals]

...I'm not used to people saying things like that to me, okay? I don't really care about sentimental shit like that, but...

[...ugh.]

It was nice, okay?

[determinator]

I really enjoyed our time together, Kimbley.

[Sorry, what was that about sentimental shit? Because you're getting more!]

I'm... really glad to see you here. Even if it's not very often, and even if I only get to see you twice... it's been worth it. It really has been.

[alchemicals]

[...what are you doing, Archer, his body is not ready...]

Yeah, it's been good to see you too.

[Kimbley seems fully content to just try to shrug it off for now; if he treats it casually, maybe it'll stay that way and the weirdness will stop eventually.

...it's not going to, is it.]

[determinator]

[Not at all...]

[Anyway, Archer will just return his Pokémon since they're just kind of awkwardly herping there. This is a far more serious discussion, after all.]

I'm glad. You... mean so much to me, Kimbley.

[Oh god, is he actually going to do this? He's actually going to do this.]

[...Eventually. Because holy shit he doesn't want to make everything awkward. But it needs to be said. If he never sees Kimbley again then... well, at least he'll have some kind of closure. That's really all he can get from this.]

[alchemicals]

...yeah, you just said that. I know. You're important to me too, okay?

[That's...what you wanted, right? To get him to say that?]

[determinator]

[No, not really... Ugh, this is frustrating. He's glad you agree but...]

Well, now that we've got that settled. Are you going to just sit here and stare at the ocean forever?

[...He can't do it. Not yet. He's being horribly awkward again, but what choice does he have? If he talks about it now it will make the rest of Kimbley's stay here awkward.]

[alchemicals]

[...this is already awkward as hell, Archer, but he's grateful for the distraction.]

I don't suppose you want to go in with me, do you?

[determinator]

[Thank you; he'll take awkward as hell over discussing this!]

No of course not. Don't be ridiculous.

[alchemicals]

Suit yourself, then.

[...told you he was going to end up in that ocean in his goddamn clothes by the end of the day.

At the very least, he seems inclined to stay in reasonably shallow water, partially because wow there's a current in here and also because...well, it's the ocean in spring and so it's still pretty cold. He's never handled cold very well; submerging himself in it isn't exactly his idea of a good time.

He is pretty content just letting the water run over his hands and soak into his clothes, though.

God, this is nice.]

[determinator]

[He can't say he's surprised. He's also not aware of just how cold the water is, or what it's even like. Still, it's nice to watch Kimbley enjoy himself. Archer's expression is soft; he's very fond of Kimbley and seeing him again has put him in a much better mood.]

[He'll eventually come over, though he'll stay far enough back to avoid getting wet.]

Enjoying yourself?

[alchemicals]

[He turns to look at him; he's kind of unabashedly grinning like a maniac, but that's not the point.]

Yeah, I am, actually.

[determinator]

[...You know, he suspects he should find this ridiculous. Instead he's just finding it adorable.]

[...He wonders what this says about him...]

Well, that's good. I'm glad you're enjoying yourself~

1/4

[alchemicals]

[He moves a bit closer to the beach, then, still kind of grinning like a motherfucker.]

Yeah, well. You should -

[alchemicals]

[...however, he abruptly cuts off as he seems to have pissed off something that definitely wasn't there before, and definitely shouldn't have been in water this shallow.]

Oh holy shit - !

[That. That is a...]