determinator | ♕ 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

[To be honest, it's something Crow chooses not to think about too much, because then it would lead to some heart-breaking conclusions one way or another and wouldn't either guarantee him staying here or a ticket back home, so...]

... Well, 's not like we've got a say in this anyway.

[Vagueness is the solution to all life problems!]

No, it's not. But if you had the choice, would you leave or stay?

[He understands this feeling entirely. And if he has his way, he'll find a way to send people home. ...That way he can get rid of the people who oppose him, but that's not important!!]

[Oh Archer, you're good people. (?) After all, it's the result that counts, not the intention-- or maybe it was the other way round.

Crow lets out a sigh and stares at the celling for a moment before answering, his voice somewhat hesitant.]

... I've got something important to do back home.

[Like, you know, "save the world from certain destruction" level of important. And what do you mean that isn't exactly an answer to the question?]

[Well he hangs out with Kimblee, so clearly he's a good person!!!]

I understand. I have something important to do back home as well.

[You know, take consequences for leading seven thousand men to their deaths, no big deal!!!]

...But that doesn't answer the question. Even if you do have something you need to return to, it will still be there if you stay for a little longer in this world. Time doesn't pass back home.

[Obviously! If you ask Crow, Kimblee is a bro, so clearly Archer must be one, too.

You, sir, need a one-way ticket back home. Now.]

... Well, yeah, but it's something I'd rather not leave hanging for too long, y'know? Time stopped or not, I want to get this over with, once and for all!

[And the uncertainty of whether you, your friends and several millions of people die within the next few hours or not is kind of upsetting after such a long time in that state, yo.]

[Eh, he'll go home when Johto decides he's done enough damage! ...Clearly attacking the Kimono Girls and being a general pain in the ass isn't enough.]

I suppose you're returning to something incredibly important, then.

[Like leading troops or saving someone's life or killing someone or something!]

[Saving people by fighting a self-proclaimed god pretty much covers it.]

Yeah. 'Sides, there are my kids and friends and job and... everything back there, so I--

["Have to go back" is what he's about to say, but realizing how it makes it sound like a chore (and it's... not one, right?), the duelist cuts himself off in mid-sentence and gives the camera a somewhat apologetic smile as he corrects himself.]

... I need to go back.

I understand. It can certainly be difficult to acknowledge that.

[This world is pretty awesome, after all.]

I'm certain you will return someday. This world won't keep us here forever.

Guess it won't. None of us really belongs here, after all.

[A beat.]

... It just gets hard to believe after two years, y'know.

You've been here for that long? I suppose I can see where it would be difficult to believe.

[That really is a long time...]

Yeah! But you said it's been a year for you here, right? Then you can probably tell time really flies here!

[Even if it seems like a long time, even if he's been through a lot here (courtesy of both Team Rocket and Johto itself), it's been fun two years. Yeah.]

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

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