♕ 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]

[You know, if this place would stop doing things like knocking him out sometime in December and waking him up at the end of goddamn May, that would be nice; as it stands, he could have sworn there was more snow around when he went to sleep last.

Either way, the weather is warm, to the point where Kimbley is considering taking off that military jacket of his; it's soaked in blood anyway, that much hasn't changed. His priorities are a little divided, however, given the fact that his surroundings are, likewise, completely different - so for now, he's settled for wandering around and giving no damns that he's in a bloodstained military uniform, tugging a bit at his collar once in a while because dammit, it's warm out here.]

...okay, this is just getting stupid...

[determinator]

[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?

[chitohontas]

[Oh man, cats. Don't mind Chitose casually petting some of them who happen to stop by at his feet.]

[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.]

[determinator]

[Hey man, you can keep them. What is he supposed to do with all these cats anyway?]

Ah, are you interested in looking after some of them?

[He can use all the help he can get!]

[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?

[chitohontas]

[Chitose'll look up with a relaxed smile.]

Really? I wouldn't mind. [One of the cats has already made home on his lap anyway. Cute little Shinx.] Though they seem very attached to you... are you holding catnip or something?

[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.

[determinator]

No, I'm not. I have no idea why they're following me around.

[Maybe it's because he collects cats here...]

[chitohontas]

Hmm... I guess they just really like you. [Unknown are the ways of wild cats. Though Chitose'll stand up for now, since his lefs are getting tired of being down too much... and he's followed by some of the cats on his shoulders and on his arms... one even on his hair.]

Guess they like me too, haha. [Though some of the cats seem shocked. This boy is almost two meters tall! It's a long way down...]

[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.

[determinator]

[...are you a giant, sir. Because he suspects you're a giant.]

It certainly seems that way. Ah, I don't believe we've met before? I'm Colonel Frank Archer. Pleased to meet you.

[chitohontas]

[Now now, he's just a Japanese middle school student.]

I'm Chitose Senri, just a normal student. Pleased to meet you too, sir.

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.

[determinator]

[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.]

[determinator]

[...who's totally a giant. What is with you kids and being taller than your elders anyway? Chitose, meet Archer's logic. It's flawless.]

"Just a normal student?" You're not a trainer?

[chitohontas]

[Maybe there's something in the water these days. That's the usual excuse. Absolutely flawless. No way to break it.]

I suppose I'm one right now? Normally I'm not... today I've just been traveling really fast from place to place with some Pokémon. [And he has no idea how or why, but he doesn't really mind. Does it show?]

[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.

[determinator]

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.]