♕ THIRD COMMAND | VIDEO / ACTION [MAHOGANY TOWN]

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[Shortly after meeting up with Kimblee, Archer turns on the video feed. It's currently focused on a Meowth who doesn't seem to be very pleased sitting on the ground, she keeps pawing at Archer's leg in an attempt to get him to pick her up.]

...I'm not entirely sure how this world works, but I believe it's safe to say that it's horrifying.

[He

Comments

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[Kimblee had been rather content to return to business and pretend today was perfectly normal - and then he decided that browsing the network to clear his mind was a good idea.

Needless to say, it was not, in fact, a good idea.

After a moment of simply staring at the feed and trying to process exactly what he was witnessing...well. Shriek...ing that is shrieking Archer you do not usually start shrieking like that and what in the world has happened to your brain, good sir.

His reply is curt, when he manages to get one out; his tone is straightforward and incredibly blunt, though he doesn't seem angry.]

...return to the base as soon as you're capable of it.

[That's all you're getting for now. You had better get back here before too long; he does not want to go out there and locate you.]

[ACTION]

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[Archer gets the message and doesn't respond - he's not exactly capable of coming up with some sort of coherent response at the moment; he can't seem to decide whether to burst out in manic laughter or continue shrieking incoherently. The kitten in question doesn't seem bothered by it at all, and is currently grooming herself.]

[It takes several minutes for Archer to collect himself enough to pick up the kitten and walk back to the base. He's still shaking slightly by the time he enters, but the shrieking has stopped. He no longer feels the urge to laugh about this either, that's probably a good sign.]

Kimblee. [He's quick to greet the alchemist, once again not making eye contact. He instead focuses on the kitten, scratching her behind the ears for a moment before setting her down.]

[...He isn't looking forward to this conversation.]

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This place is finally starting to get to you, I assume.

[Again, Kimblee's voice is calm; they'll eventually have to move this conversation somewhere a bit more private, as he isn't interested in arguing and generally carrying on in public, even if this place is a bit more secure than most. But for now he's content to remain where he is, leaning against a nearby wall, arms folded across his chest and his legs crossed at the ankle. His positioning is incredibly casual, if not idle; it's offset by the coldness in his gaze.]

Have you calmed down?

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Just a bit.

[The reply is as sarcastic as usual, but his voice cracks horribly in the middle of it. Archer clears his throat, frowning. Normally he's able to go on shrieking rants much longer than that. Clearly he hasn't been screeching enough here. Well, he doesn't have Kimbley to yell at...]

[Archer makes eye contact for a second before immediately glancing down at the kitten. That look is not a good sign. For some reason he can't quite fathom, he's concerned that he'll be scolded by Kimblee. Hell, even if he is there's no reason for him to worry about something like that. It's Kimblee. He'll do what he wants, and Archer couldn't care less.]

...Yes, I have.

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[No, it's generally not a good sign. Let's leave it at that.]

Excellent. Then perhaps you're rational enough to tell me whether you've always tended to have random fits of shrieking histrionics in public. Or is this a new development?

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[...Can he say he's not? No? Damn.]

It's a new development. I simply can't deal with this world.

[He'll just be playing with that kitten's ears now and looking rather displeased.]

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You can't.

[No. Wrong answer.]

Care to tell me what other choice you think you have?

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I don't know! [If he wasn't holding the kitten, he'd have his arms in the air at this point. This entire thing is too much to deal with.] What do you expect me to say to that? This is why I need to return home as soon as possible!

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And what do you expect to gain from statements like that? You aren't going to receive sympathy, so I would suggest that you stop complaining. You're wasting your time, and you're wasting my time.

But because I don't believe that you understand exactly how I work, allow me to make it plain to you, Colonel.

[His tone has remained almost alarmingly even throughout this entire conversation, but when he gets to that last word, he comes down hard on it; the intonation behind the uttering of that title is acidic.]

I work alone. I don't believe in partnership. I'm not here to make friends. I've been tolerating you because there's a possibility for mutual benefit between us; the moment that you become a hindrance to me is the moment that I cut ties.

Don't think I don't understand that this is difficult for you; I'm well aware of that. At the same time, don't think for a moment that I care. Survival of the fittest, Archer; I have no intention of being burdened by someone who can't handle the reality of their own situation. Do you understand

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[Here we go. Archer is perfectly content to sulk play with the kitten's ears and listen to Kimblee until he comes down hard on Archer's title. He flinches involuntarily and quickly attempts to cover it by adjusting his positioning and switching the kitten over to the other arm. She protests a little, but settles back against him after a moment, purring again. To say he wasn't expecting that would be a horrible understatement. Of course Kimblee has called him by title before, but after dealing with the other version of this man for so long, Archer's not used to it; he specifically told this one to call him by his last name rather than rank, and to hear it now only cements just how damaging that network post really was

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[And for a long moment, Kimblee simply looks at him; that coldness in his gaze is still rather present, and it doesn't fade any as he considers. However, when he speaks again, his tone has softened a bit - the usual lightness behind his words isn't back, but those words are decidedly gentler.]

I'm aware, Archer; why do you think I'm bothering? I wouldn't discuss this with you otherwise, there would be no point.

[He sighs a bit, pushing himself away from the wall as he does so.]

We're not continuing this discussion in the hallway; I think you've made enough of a public spectacle of yourself today. Come with me.

[And that look he's giving you as he moves to head further into the place is very, very clear - we are having this discussion, Archer, whether you like it or not.]

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[He's not sure why he's so relieved when Kimblee finally speaks again - maybe it was because of the long span of silence, or maybe he was genuinely concerned that Kimblee would leave and he'd lose the one familiar (and friendly) person in this crazy, fucked up world. It doesn't matter now.]

[The words tell him all he needs to know and Archer sighs. Yes, they are going to have this discussion and no, there's no way for him to get out of it. He knows, Kimblee. He figured that out the moment he got the alchemist's message. Archer once again shifts the kitten in his arms and follows, finally coming up with at least something to say.]

...Yes, I suppose I have. Like I said, it won't happen again.

[He's going to just about die of embarrassment later, he already knows that.]

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[The rooms in this place are strange, impersonal things; perhaps that's to be expected for a place like this. Kimblee doesn't mind it; he just wants privacy, somewhere they can sit and talk away from everyone else, given that everyone else doesn't need to hear any of this. That room he'd awakened in will work well enough - not because it's familiar, just because it has a damn door.

At the very least, however, he's back to singing a bit as they walk, after the silence has gone on long enough; once they're in that room, however, the sound dies abruptly.]

Start with what's been going through your head, to make you decide you can't handle this place.

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[The singing is actually a relief, it means that Kimblee's relaxing a little bit. At least, that's what Archer's assuming it means. He's never really sure with this version of the alchemist.]

[They reach one of the standard rooms soon enough - Archer assumes it's Kimblee's, though there's no way to be certain, it doesn't look like he's spent any time decorating his room any (not that Archer has either). Privacy isn't a good thing in this case, it will probably lead to more of Kimblee looking disappointed in that judging way of his that never fails to irritated Archer. Instead he's asked a relatively simple question, and Archer sets the kitten down on the bed before he answers.]

...To be perfectly blunt, I've been hoping this is some sort of... dream or something. I've given up hope of simply waking up back home; it doesn't seem like that will happen. There's nothing in particular that caused this, it's just the culmination of everything, I suppose.

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[Archer, he looks at everyone like that - he'd probably shoot a "son, I am disappoint" look at Fuhrer Bradley if he talked to him long enough. So it might be a good idea to get used to it. As it stands, however, he just tilts his head a bit at that explanation; he's actually considering it, as opposed to immediately being snide.]

...I suppose that line of thinking is...fairly logical, given how nonsensical this entire thing is; believe me, though, it's not a dream. Or a hallucination, at least not as far as I can tell.

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[...Someday he will...! Maybe!]

I wish it was. [But wishing doesn't solve anything, now does it?] This is yet another reason to get home - to preserve what's left of my sanity.