003. [Voice/Action for Route 44]

[explosivecombat]

[AUDIO]

[Kimblee has been fairly absentee for the last few days; when his connection becomes active over the PGC, it...well, it might not be exactly clear as to why, but it goes a long way toward explaining it, at least in part.

The connection snaps to life suddenly, though it isn't a video feed - this is entirely sound, the Voice connection

Comments

[Action.] I think I can actually do it this time.

[hasearthbooks]

[Gorthan had hypothesized the existence of such a side to Kimblee, just as he had hypothesized the existence of such a side to Voltorb... well, Electrode now.

With two newly evolved Pokémon on his team, Gorthan was about to set out to cross the Mount Mortar caves and get to Ecruteak, but then... that message alters his course slightly. His suspicions are confirmed when he sees - are those craters?

Gorthan approaches with a careful step, a Kirlia at his side, and a quote from the Bard.]

"For 'tis the sport to have the engineer
Hoist with his own petard; an't shall go hard
But I will delve one yard below their mines
And blow them at the moon."

Are you alright, Red Lotus?

[action] you can do this thing \o/

[explosivecombat]

[Kimblee looks over as Gorthan speaks; he doesn't move from where he's standing, and once Electrode is recalled he doesn't seem terribly sure of where to put his hands; he settles for folding them low across his abdomen, and though the gesture is more casual than defensive, his fingers are curling into the fabric in his sleeves, bunching it up and releasing it.

He's still got those gloves on; there's no point in having them off, even through force of habit, when he can create satisfying explosions otherwise, though he can't say that he wasn't tempted to remove them.

He's still rather twitchy, and he doesn't seem to recognize that quote, as per usual; at the very least, he doesn't seem too inclined to be openly aggressive, though that look in his eyes is still very, very alive.]

I'm more than "all right," Gorthan.

[He smiles; it doesn't do anything to offset the general effect he's giving off. But his words come easily; that odd, shaking quality to them seems to have tapered off a good amount.]

Did I worry you? It wasn't my

[hasearthbooks]

Yes, I imagined as much. So who isn't alright? I want to believe that wasn't just for the sake of it. Also, stay still.

[He quickly walks over to Kimblee and, without a warning, Gorthan will press the back of his hand against Kimblee's forehead.]

[explosivecombat]

[...yeahno, Kimblee is quite fond of physical boundaries, thank you very much unless some sort of beatdown is in the middle of ensuing; he'll allow that initial touch simply because what are you doing, but contact is no sooner made than he's pulling away from it.]

You would be surprised what people will do for the sake of it, you know.

[voice]

[shellderkillder]

... You are Mr. Kimblee, yes?

[So he's deranged. Good to know.]

[voice]

[explosivecombat]

[Just thought he'd warn you!

However, when he replies to that voice message, he does seem to have calmed down a bit; there's still a certain intensity to his voice, but at the very least he isn't shaking all over. At least not nearly as badly.]

...I am.

[voice]

[shellderkillder]

... Was anyone harmed?

[voice]

[explosivecombat]

I'm not nearly that reckless.

[ACTION]

[sadisticwarfare]

[It's been a rough past couple of days in terms of sleeping, but at least Archer is still managing to look somewhat composed. He's been out training as well - that cat certainly won't train herself, now will she? - but while taking a break and browsing the network, that voice post immediately changes any plans he might have had for the rest of the day.]

[Great, Kimblee's gone insane. Well, better go collect the crazy thing before he scares the NPCs any further.]

[So less than ten minutes later, Archer finally locates Kimblee and approaches, still carrying that kitten. He seems to have taken a page from Kimblee's book regarding Dorian; he's certainly not letting that kitten walk anywhere.]

What the hell was that? Did you have to post to the network broadcasting just how crazy you are?

[Despite the (nearly disgusted) tone and the harsh words, Archer's expression isn't quite as controlled as he thinks it is. Kimblee's crazy - he knew that, of course - but it's still a rather frightening thing to face, especially when it's this

[...let's assume action forever here]

[explosivecombat]

[Well, hello there, Archer. It might be prudent to be less worried about him scaring the NPCs and more worried about that...whatever it is that he just accidentally flailed all over the network, but Kimblee's feeling a bit too completely awake to care.

He looks over at Archer, though he lets the man yell; though his gaze is still manic, the look in his eyes distant, he doesn't seem too inclined to fight with him right now. Instead, he slips his hands into his pockets, fingers toying with the inside folds of his clothing once he's done so; he's smiling when he turns to face him fully, though the expression...isn't exactly a nice one.]

Would you like me to apologize for that post, then? I can assure you that it wasn't intentional, at the very least.

[His voice is no longer shaking when he speaks, at least not nearly as badly; at the same time, there's a strangely uneven quality behind his words. Barely controlled, really.]As for my alchemy...unfortunately not; that's working about as well as it was before. However, it seems this

[sadisticwarfare]

[If there was any chance of Archer making eye contact before, there certainly isn't now. Instead he'll just be playing with that cat if you don't mind. He hasn't seen Kimblee like this before and it's creepy to understate it horribly.]

Indeed? How so?

[Archer glances at Kimblee for a moment, curious. If it isn't alchemy, then the chimeras must be capable of that sort of thing, right? But which of Kimblee's would possibly...?]

...Your Voltorb? [Well it certainly can't be Dorian or Carlisle, and it's probably not Morat. Though really, if that thing could explode it might be slightly better off. Honestly, that thing disturbs him more than Kimblee's obvious insanity at the moment.]

[explosivecombat]

[Oh, Archer. You have no idea.]

...it isn't a Voltorb anymore. Not after learning to do that - it got an evolution quickly.

[He tips his head a bit as he speaks, indicating the...rather obvious signs of explosions in his immediate area.]

Let's say that I was perfectly willing to step up my training to expedite the process once that started happening.

[Audio]

[king_of_flames]

[Oh. SHIT. Roy's worst fears just came true.

Quick. Compose yourself!]

...Use it for anything but Pokémon battles and I'll hunt you down like a dog.

[audio]

[explosivecombat]

[Well, hello there, Mustang; it's been a little while, hasn't it?

As composed though you may be, Kimblee isn't exactly returning the favor entirely, let's put it that way; most of the tremors are out of his voice, at least, but there's still something...decidedly not right with him when he replies.]

Now, now - if I didn't know any better, I'd say you don't trust me very much.

[Of course you don't.]

[audio]

[king_of_flames]

You don't need to be the Eastern Sage to figure that one out.

[Roy, on the other hand, has nothing but contempt in his voice.]

[audio]

[explosivecombat]

[That's actually fine! Nothing is killing his mood right now, good sir.]

And dare I ask what inspired this level of vitriol against me? If this is over Ishval, that was years ago, Mustang; I've met Ishvalans in that time that are holding less of an open grudge than you, and I would say they have far more right to do so.

[video]

[exeggutorhead]

[Well then. It looks like this version of Kimblee isn't as different from the one Envy is familiar with after all, at least in regard to explosions. Envy's first thought is that he's gotten his alchemy back, but that isn't possible, is it? It isn't as though there aren't plenty of other ways to make things explode.]

Enjoying yourself, are you?

[video]

[explosivecombat]

[Kimblee isn't exactly composed when he responds, though he isn't nearly as uncontrolled as he was previously, either; he's still looking incredibly disheveled (well...as disheveled as he'll really allow himself to get, anyway) and that strange, distant look is still present in his gaze, but at the very least he's holding the Gear steady and the video isn't shaking all over.

That said, that smile isn't necessarily a nice one.]

That's certainly one way of putting it.

[video]

[exeggutorhead]

Well, the singing was a hint. I wouldn't have guessed the Crimson Alchemist was musical. [He's content to be pleasant for the moment, although his expression isn't necessarily nice either. He's not alarmed by any lingering instability, or really by the original feed either. He's half hoping that this will lead to something interesting happening.]

Did you make the explosives yourself or were you just lucky enough to come into possession of an exploding Pokemon?

[video]

[explosivecombat]

That's the second time I've heard that title - it's different from the one I was granted, but just the same, I know what you meant; I also have to wonder exactly how well you knew the one from my world.

But that's really neither here nor there, is it? [And it really isn't; his thoughts are a bit disjointed still, but that second question is definitely interesting enough to get him back on track.]

As for you're question...this world was rather good to me, it seems. The creature I was granted on arrival was responsible for that, as much as I'd like to take credit.