00?. [Action for Goldenrod City / FOURTH WALL EVENT]

[explosivecombat]

[Normal: Kimblee is hanging out on the outskirts of town today, wandering around in the snow.

Also Normal: His current activity is centered around forced population control on groups of wild Pokémon in the area; most call it "training," the local Rattata call it "horrifying."

Still Normal, If A Bit Disconcerting: Said population control involves

Comments

[sadisticwarfare]

[...Well this settles it; he really can't leave you alone for ten minutes without you finding some ridiculous way to terrorize the NPCs. Being Kimblee's handler is suffering.]

[It might have been a nice day otherwise. Sure, it's cold and there's snow everywhere and Archer is prone to getting sick easily, but it's not terrible. Or at least, it wasn't terrible until the loud explosions started and snow started flying everywhere.]

[Well someone certainly had all the coffee this morning. It won't take long for Archer to approach, though he will stop short once he realizes two things: One, that the Electrode isn't out, and as far as he's aware, Dorian can't explode; and two, that there's something definitely different about these explosions. It might be the fact that they're not as centralized as the Selfdestruct ones; but more likely than not it's the fact that he can get a decent look at your expression from over here, and it's nothing short of terrifying.]

...Well, I see you're having fun.

[...To understate it horribly.]

[explosivecombat]

[That was a horrible understatement indeed, Archer. Horrible. And you are most certainly not his handler, thank you very much. However, Kimblee will pause in his quest to blow up all the things, looking over at Archer and tipping his head a bit to acknowledge the man's presence; he smiles, his face flushed from both excitement and the cold, and the steady rise and fall of his chest is heavy as he catches his breath.]

Quite a bit, actually.

[sadisticwarfare]

[Oh come on, who else can be bothered to look after you? Archer shifts slightly, uncomfortable. Kimblee is using his alchemy. Kimblee is using his alchemy. And somehow or other, Archer isn't dead yet. Well, that's a good sign, at least!]

How did this happen? [He nods in to indicate the explosions, though obviously he's talking about the alchemy.] Did you simply decide to try again?

[explosivecombat]

[Implying he needs to be looked after?

Kimblee pauses for a moment before he replies, though he isn't stalling; he knows the reason, but it's a bit difficult to explain.]

This morning felt different, Archer - the flows of energy that run through this place often don't feel right to me. Today, it was like it was back in Amestris.

So with that in mind, I suppose that yes, I did simply decide to try again, but there was a definite reason why.

[hasearthbooks]

[It's lucky that Gorthan was able to access a sufficient amount of suitable fabric to build himself a long, hooded cloak, dark green in color. Because it means he gets to leave his room in the Rocket base in spite of the fact that he's back to being a vampire duck from space, spend some time in the scenic outskirts and enjoy that beautiful thing that Earthlings call snow, as it falls around him in complete silence...

... okay, let's try this again. Complete silence...

... Nope. There is just no quiet time today. What the good hell...?

... And then he spots Kimblee in the distance. How interesting that his powers seem to have come back, possibly as a result of the malfunction that Gorthan heard news of...

Gorthan joins his hands behind his back. He can't say he dislikes observing Kimblee's madness at work. Though he kind of really wanted to be alone with the snow, too.

Sadly, that hood isn't too great at hiding Gorthan's long beak.]

[explosivecombat]

[Well! You are more than welcome to enjoy the snow, Gorthan, though as you've already observed, it won't be in silence. Explosions and maniacal laughter seem to be the main event for the day, as far as Kimblee is concerned; after all, who needs training today when he can battle these chimeras himself?

He'll pause soon enough, however; he's always been rather aware of his surroundings, and even when he's in a particularly elevated mood, he's very difficult to surprise. He's well aware that he isn't alone; when he turns to face the newcomer, he's rather flushed, both from the cold stinging his face and from being so worked up for a good amount of time.

...and then he'll be spending a few long moments trying to figure out exactly what in the world he's looking at.]

...can I help you?

[No, really, what in Leto's name are you.]

[hasearthbooks]

[So, even when Kimblee is having one of these episodes, he still isn't oblivious to what surrounds him... Good, good. A bit of a relief, too.]

Good morning, Red Lotus.

[His voice sounds the same as usual, so Kimblee may be able to recognize him.]

[explosivecombat]

[...Gorthan, he spent more of his time in Ishval in that state than he did out of it. If he didn't want to die, he had to remain aware; obliviousness wasn't an option. Obviously, he's still alive.

As for whether or not he recognizes that voice...yes. Yes, he does.]

...well. I see that you weren't inebriated that evening after all.

[eliciadaddy]

[ .... This.... sounds and looks way too familiar for it to be comfortable. It also reminds him of things that he really doesn't want to remember.

Maes is sighing, and keeping a safe distance, but just in sight range, and watching this all happen. ]

[explosivecombat]

[Kimblee remembers those things just as well as you do, Hughes, if not better; after all, the human memory is a fascinating thing, designed to release and forget the most graphic parts of experiences that one finds traumatic. One still remembers, just not in detail.

Kimblee remembers everything. And he rather likes it that way.

That said, however, it's no mistake or accident that he survived those experiences; he's rather aware of his surroundings, despite the shrieking, manic state he's in, and he's rather aware that he isn't alone. And so after a moment he pauses, once it becomes obvious that Hughes is, in fact, going to stand there and watch as opposed to trying to ignore it and get on with his life; his breathing is heavy as he straightens up, his face flushed from the cold and the sheer amount of adrenaline coursing through his system.

He smiles, though his gaze continues to burn with a sharp, cold intensity; today is a good day, as far as Kimblee is concerned. A very good day.]

Well - good morning, Hughes.

[The greeting is

[eliciadaddy]

[ That's a look he'd never forget, no matter how much he wished he did... Maes may not have interacted much with Kimblee during the war, but there was no way any of them could have missed that look.

It's a little scary, really, to see that look again somewhere that wasn't a battlefield. Maes could understand fighting under orders. He was not immune to the rush of adrenaline whilst on the battlefield, knowing that it was either them, or you. But this...

He gives a weak smile. His Eevee, Elsie, is sitting by his feet, calmly looking in Kimblee's direction. ]

'Morning.

[explosivecombat]

[That strange smile still hasn't left, though he tips his head in acknowledgement of the greeting; he doesn't seem terribly inclined to attack Hughes, at the very least.]

I suppose I should apologize for my rudeness in disturbing you - it's just that Johto has been good to me today.

[He doesn't seem to realize how disjointed that sounds; the apology itself is insincere, though it isn't mocking - just oddly hollow. A formality, nothing more.]

[partyofwin]

[What if a boom happens that he didn't cause? It'll be accompanied by confetti and streamers and a table cloth (and possibly a couple of drinks already in glasses) flying at him, not regular old explosions.]

Oops! Sorry about that!

1/2

[explosivecombat]

[OKAY RIGHT WELL

After the initial jump-half-a-mile routine followed by the most suspicious look on the planet, he manages to seek out the source of the voice and - ]

[explosivecombat]

[...that. That is a talking pink pony, and for lack of a better word, she appears to have thrown a partysplosion at him.

Wat...do.]

Well, that was certainly...new, I'll grant you that much.

[Logic is slowly dying, but. Well. Adapt and...overcome...or something...

no really talking pink pony

In reality, this can't be any worse than the incredibly sinister duck and the talk of mouse-people, but there's something about seeing it in person that's kind of. Kind of jarring, let's put it that way.

Admittedly, it's no worse than Pride, either, and he's seen a fair amount of strangeness from that one...and this is admittedly cuter. Kimblee is not completely immune to cute. Pretty damn immune, but not completely. Sometimes things strike him.

...just let him get used to the pony with the weirdly familiar voice and he'll figure out if this is something that strikes him or not.]

[partyofwin]

Ooh, was it? Great! New things are always terrific, don't you think?

[She leans against the cannon, a stray balloon shooting halfheartedly from its opening.]

How are you doing all the BOOM! FWOOM! PCHOO! stuff anyway?

Action THIS CALLS FOR A SUPERHERO WITH NO ICONS!

[nasa_dreams]

[Danny was just flying around, all transformed and stuff, and was totally caught in one of those explosions!]

ARRRGH! [He's mostly okay, though...more surprise than anything] WHAT THE HECK, MAN?!

[explosivecombat]

[...should he apologize to you? Honestly, he's been doing this for quite some time now; you just happened to get in the way.]

Don't blame me for your lack of attentiveness, boy.

[nasa_dreams]

Seriously? You're the one blowing crap up! You should be watching so people don't get hurt!