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!]

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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.]

Perhaps it won't; that's certainly a possibility, though I don't know how likely it is.

[His tone isn't chiding or condescending, however; just a statement, nothing more.]

At the same time, you've continued to move forward with your life here. You've accomplished a good amount within this organization, and we're going to accomplish so much more before we're finished; you've found ways to thrive here. For the most part, you're happy - you've admitted as much yourself.

The pain exists, but it isn't holding you back. And you still remember him positively despite the pain, don't you? Again, it's unpleasant, but you're strong enough to handle it, even if it doesn't fade. You're doing very well for yourself, Archer.

Yes, well, I have to. He wouldn't be proud of me otherwise.

[...Well that was the most tsun statement in the history of forever, hang on.

He's also not sure where Kimbley being proud of him came in. He doesn't remember hearing that at all - but then again, his memories of those three days are so hazy, it's possible Kimbley said something along those lines, right? He seems startled by that statement once it's out there, but he's quick to go back to tsuning as usual.]

I'm not going to stop everything I'm doing to mourn his loss. I can't do that. I have so much I want to accomplish here and I don't have time to spend sulking. I'll keep moving forward.

[Archer knows that's what Kimblee would want him to do too.]

[...where in the world did that come from?

It's plain that Archer isn't the only one startled by that statement; Kimblee stares for a good long moment after it's out there, because really, that isn't something that he would have thought Archer would have cared about, exactly - or at the very least, it isn't something that he would have thought of having to earn, simply because of the size of his ego.

But then, Archer is often prone to surprising him; Kimblee seems to realize that somewhere along the line, his hand stopped against Archer's hair, and he returns to that gentle stroking motion as he replies.]

I would be disappointed with you if you did otherwise, you know. And we certainly can't have that.

[Archer tenses for a moment, but the tension dies immediately when Kimblee returns to playing with his hair.]

No, no we can't.

[He falls silent after that and for a long moment it seems as though he's not going to say anything else.]

...I think I promised him I wouldn't give up. That must be it.

[It's some sort of explanation as to where that statement came from, at least.]

During that three-day period, I assume?

[Those blank spots still bother him; it's obvious from his tone. He'd discussed some of his thoughts on it with Mustang, before the latter's disappearance...and it's that disappearance that makes him incredibly reluctant to bring it up with Archer.

Either he's got some sort of bizarre kiss of death, or he's on to something; everyone he discusses this with vanishes. ~~And come on, either that really is the case or correlation doesn't equal causation. And that makes entirely too much sense.~~

Yes, of course.

[He understands; Kimblee remembers everything. Not remembering something must be driving him insane. ...Well, more insane.]

What is it?

[Of course he can tell that something is on Kimblee's mind, and it seems like a perfect distraction from dealing with his own problems!]

[Archer...I mean, come on, he's even gotten someone else in Johto to agree that he isn't insane - as long as he isn't hallucinating or talking to the toaster like it's going to answer him, he's fine!!!

...anyway. He seems to snap back into the present with almost disturbing speed; it's something he'd gotten rather proficient at in prison, and it seems that particular skill hasn't left him quite yet - he's back to smirking as soon as that second question is asked, like nothing just happened.]

Mm? Nothing, Archer - at least, nothing to be concerned about for the time being. Those blank spots were a subject of fascination for both Hughes and Mustang, before they left Johto; Mustang and I shared a few thoughts, during that last discussion we had, regarding how we think this world works.

I don't know how valid any of it was, of course; they were just theories, in the end.

And you're going to keep that from me?

[He'll never get used to that bizarre snapping back to reality thing Kimblee does. It's nearly enough to give him whiplash of some sort. He really doesn't want to know how Kimblee does it. He suspects he wouldn't like the answer anyway.

But on the subject of those three day periods, of course Archer's curious about them. If there's some way to prolong them, he wants to find out.]

What all did you discuss?

Many things. But let's start here, shall we: have you ever considered exactly how this world brings us here? Not where we arrive, or why it chooses us, or how the different points in time exist simultaneously - I'm referring to the physical process, that brings us to Johto from Amestris, or London, or Alternia or Fuyuki City or the dozens of other places that others here have gone on about. Have you ever wondered about it?

Of course I have. I just assumed someone was behind it, not how they were doing it...

[That is a very good question though. How could they possibly be doing it though? If alchemy and magic and special abilities don't work in this world, then...]

Could a Pokemon be behind it? We went against Suicune and that was far more powerful than any Pokemon we've ever faced. It was a legend - isn't it possible that there are other "legends" capable of controlling space, or even time? Team Rocket had Suicune captured for some time, perhaps the Elite Four or someone else has a Pokemon capable of bringing us here...?

[...Are we on the same train of thought or is he on a different train entirely here...?]

Edited 2012-09-21 05:05 (UTC)

It's possible, though that implies that all legends here are actually true, and not simply ways of explaining various natural occurrences. The creatures here are powerful, certainly, but they aren't gods, Archer.

[...because that would imply that you could catch God in a Pokéball. And goodness, then where would we be?]

However, the same concept holds true for individuals - we would know if any given person here held such power; they wouldn't be able to keep it a secret for very long. Either that or, again, we're dealing with literal gods, which I don't believe to be the case. Yet I do think there is a very simple way to explain it - that being technology. It's so obvious that one might not consider all facets of it; we're shown instances of technology taking living things from one area and putting them somewhere they aren't supposed to be on a daily basis, after all - the boxes in the PC, when you make a new capture while you have a full set of six on you.

It defies physics, logic, and all common sense, but it's also entirely possible that it explains our situation.

That's--!

[Brilliant is what it is. The Pokeballs are a perfect example. Just imagine if that machine was on a much larger scale - it could take people from one place and simply deposit them in Johto. It's on such a scale Archer can't even imagine it.]

I hadn't considered that. It makes perfect sense. So what causes those three day periods, then?

Ah, that's the interesting part.

Take into consideration, for a moment, all the tasks this machine must be capable of carrying out. It can take individuals from one place and bring them here, obviously, but bear in mind that no one's abilities work here. Furthermore, all non-human creatures that are brought here are rendered into a human themselves. Our hypothetical machine now has to be able to analyze everyone that it brings here, remove all of their superhuman qualities, and change the form of all sentient creatures it selects into that of a human being. This seems to be an unspeakably complex process, given how everyone's abilities and power tends to be different between worlds; it also seems unnecessary to transform those that aren't human into a different form entirely.

However, assume for a moment that it doesn't remove these powers - it just suppresses them. The Pokémon seem to have different biological functions than humans; assume that the machine is programmed to suppress certain qualities of human physiology. This would require the alteration of non-humans into something that the machine can understand, followed by the suppression of power that's applied to all humans.

[He pauses for a moment, smirking; clearly, he's pleased with himself.]

Incidentally, Archer, have you ever seen what happens when the 'Gear malfunctions? We had a good example of it during the storms - they do all sorts of things that you don't want them to.

Now, try to imagine what would happen if something like that machine we've been discussing were to be damaged, or otherwise break somehow. I imagine something on that scale would also take a while to fix.

...Three days. It takes three days to fix the machine.

[It's perfect. Archer grasps Kimblee's arm tightly, eyes wide and expression bordering on wild. It's the first time he's looked this excited through his entire stay in Johto.]

That's it then! All we have to do is find the machine! With that, we can not only control Johto, but we can control who stays and leaves! We can get rid of our opposition and we can bring in those who would support us! And if they don't support us, it's easy to send them home! This is perfect, Kimblee! You're brilliant!

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