determinator | ♕ TWELFTH COMMAND | VIDEO / ACTION [MAHOGANY TOWN, TEAM ROCKET BASE]

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♕ TWELFTH COMMAND | VIDEO / ACTION [MAHOGANY TOWN, TEAM ROCKET BASE]

[ VIDEO ]

[The video feed opens to Archer playing with a Venipede. Said Venipede is glaring at the camera - how dare it take his trainer's attention away!]

I've been in Johto for one year.

[Yes, this is a very important announcement. Archer doesn't look up at the camera, instead continuing to toy with Kann's anntenae.]

To those of you who have been here for quite some time, have you decided that you want to stay here? Why or why not?

[To those of you familiar with Archer, he seems quite a bit distant today. The fact that he's not looking at the camera is one sure sign, but he's also looking a little... down, for lack of a better word. He's not even trying to be threatening. This must be a first!]

I'd appreciate any opinions, even from those of you who haven't been here for very long.

[He gestures airily and the Alakazam running the 'Gear turns it off.]

[ ACTION - MAHOGANY TOWN, TEAM ROCKET BASE ]

[Should you find yourself in Mahogany Town today and you decide to explore the Team Rocket Base (which really shouldn't be all that difficult to find if you know what you're looking for), you'll find that the place is rigged with Voltorbs that will explode as soon as they enter a battle. They're not the only threat, however! There are five Psychic-types just waiting beyond there, all with orders to attack any intruders. They're also high leveled, but don't worry! They'll at least let their trainer know before attacking you!

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to enter the base and either defeat the Psychic-types or persuade them to keep from attacking! Show them you mean no harm and they won't hurt you! After all, there might be something valuable or useful inside that base ~~probably not~~...

Archer is holed up in a room inside the base (Kimblee's old room, to be specific), still amusing himself by playing with Kann, the ridiculously powerful Venipede. Feel free to come bother him!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yes, yes it is. You should be honored.

[He just. has all the feels today, okay. Most of them are Kimbley-related feels but. You are kind of similar!!]

Perhaps I am, then.

[........]

You mentioned the opportunities before, as a reason for wanting to stay. However, morbid curiosity compels me to ask -

Are you actually content here?

Why wouldn't I be?

[He doesn't feel comfortable texting it, but they could conquer this world. Why wouldn't he be content here?]

I never said you weren't. However, there's a difference between preferring the lesser of two evils and actually being content with what you've been dealt.

I suppose that's true. I'm very content with what I have here, Kimblee. This isn't just the lesser of two evils; I'm genuinely happy here.

Good to know, then.

[...it's also somewhat awkward to know, but at the very least it's something.]

Did you really think I wasn't?

[But why wouldn't he be happy here? Headtilting so hard right now, you have no idea.]

Whether you are or you aren't isn't really anything that concerns me most of the time; you seem satisfied enough with what we're doing, and with the work I've done for you. That's mostly what matters to me.

This was more a matter of personal curiosity than anything.

[...his social skills are flawless shut up]

And you couldn't just ask that in the first place?

[...Kimblee, honey...]

Well, that would have been awkward.

[Because this totally isn't.]

Right. Like this isn't.

[ >:| ]

Not particularly, no.

Still wanting company, by any chance?

Maybe.

[...Don't make him admit that, okay.]

I'll be there in a few minutes, then. Do ensure that your creatures aren't going to rip me apart, hm?

[Hopefully you'll be less of a basket case today.]

Of course, Kimblee. I'll see you then.

[Oh don't worry, he's doing a bit better! Really! But anyway, he'll make sure Alekhine and the others get the Voltorbs out of the way before you get there!]

[He appreciates not getting blown to pieces, Archer, as amusingly ironic as that would be; he's rather aware of where you're staying by now, and at the very least he's prompt in getting there - it's fairly plain that his mind hasn't been on his training for a while, given exactly how prompt he is.

He knocks before entering, the sound quick and light, but it's obviously just a formality as opposed to requesting permission; he opens the door immediately afterwards, entering and pulling it shut behind him.]

My apologies for keeping you waiting, Archer.

[The comment is flippant enough, at least. Casual.

...yeahno he's not sorry in the least but hopefully you're not annoyed]

[Oh, he knows Kimblee isn't sorry at all. He can't say he really minds, given how prompt Kimblee was anyway.]

It's fine.

[That's followed by an airy gesture. He scoots over on the bed and waits for Kimblee to join him. Kann is currently curled up sleeping on the other side of Archer, so at least he's not glaring daggers at you?]

Thank you for coming so quickly. You didn't have to, you know.

[...that damn roach...

Ah, well. At least the stupid thing is asleep; thank whatever deity's listening for small favors, he supposes. He shoots the thing a bit of a look before joining Archer on the bed; he's familiar with that little gesture by now.]

Again, I would hardly be a good subordinate if I did otherwise, would I?

No, you wouldn't be. And as we both know, you're the best subordinate.

[Oh leave his roach alone, dammit! The poor thing never did anything to you anyway! Don't you dare make it cry again!

But anyway, Archer immediately moves to kind of awkwardly latch onto Kimblee's arm. He's just feeling a little down, that's all. It's nothing big. Sh-shut up.]

[...that gets Kimblee to tense up a bit before shifting a bit on the bed; he isn't trying to discourage Archer from latching on, as he doesn't mind that - he's just making it a bit easier to reach over and bury his fingers in Archer's hair.]

Are you all right?

[Archer leans into that immediately; the gesture is a familiar and comfortable one and his grip tightens on Kimblee's sleeve.]

...I'll be fine.

[He knows it's not answering the question. At the same time, his pride won't allow him to answer it.]

I suppose I'm just... dealing with the fact that he's gone. Again.

[He doesn't understand why it feels like he's lost Kimbley all over again. He hasn't. It's just been a year since his death. Shouldn't he be over it by now? Isn't that how grief works?]

[...he won't stop with the hair-playing, then.]

I see...do you want to discuss it?

[...good.]

I don't believe there's anything to discuss. I just... don't know how to handle this. It should have stopped hurting by now. He's been dead for a year. I've acknowledged and accepted that fact. There's nothing I can do to change it. I'm not at fault for it. What else am I supposed to do? I don't understand how this whole... grieving process is supposed to work!

[...or maybe there is something to talk about, like his irrational rage at grieving.]

[Kimblee is silent while Archer gets that out there; he doesn't respond right away, even after he's finished. He simply turns a bit on the bed, using that arm Archer's got the...death-grip on to pull him closer. He's never exactly understood Archer's need to be held when he's riled, but he isn't going to argue with what works.]

I'm aware that this is unpleasant for you; at the same time, I suspect that if this had stopped hurting for you in less than a year, you would be just as upset. Wouldn't you? It would feel too easy, perhaps - like you had let go of him without realizing exactly when, and that would disturb you; perhaps you would feel as though you had replaced him, that you weren't valuing him enough, given how important he was to you back in Amestris.

I think pain at this point is still a good thing, in some ways. Especially at the one-year mark.

[He didn't fight Kimblee any, allowing himself to be held. It was a coping mechanism he had developed as a child to dealing with stress, and it was something that had obviously followed him into adulthood. Quite obviously, this wasn't something he could rely on others to help him deal with very often - but Kimblee (and Kimbley, for that matter) had both learned how to calm him down this way. He didn't relax immediately, but it's apparent that he is calming down.]

...Yes. You're right. I would have been furious with myself if I had gotten over his death already.

[He sounds a bit surprised by that. Archer hadn't realized that. As always, Kimblee knew him too well.]

I don't know if it will ever stop hurting.

[He doesn't like admitting that, that much is obvious.]

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