Learn what you can from the beasts you defeat; you'll need it for some of the people you meet.

[explosivecombat]

Who: Maes Hughes, Solf J. Kimblee
Where: Goldenrod City
When: Evening of March 30th
Summary: Ace Alchemist Investigations, Part III - aka sitting around in Hughes' apartment thing and talking over coffee, but you know. Details.
Rating: PG? PG13? God only knows?
Log:

Approaching Hughes' apartment, Kimblee couldn't hide all of the signs that travelling had worn him down a bit; he'd been on the Routes almost constantly for a month now, stopping for a few days within the cities to train and allow the Pokémon he relied on for transportation to not utterly hate him before leaving again. It was taxing, but Kimblee couldn't say in all sincerity that he hadn't enjoyed himself in some ways; after all, since his release from prison, he hadn't exactly been prone to staying in one place in Amestris, either. And besides, the countryside here was...pretty, really; much of it was largely undisturbed by humans, and even what wasn't managed to be almost unusually pristine, not bearing the scars of war and conquest that had been gouged across so much Amestrian soil.

...however, in all blunt honesty, that latter part was ultimately boring and in some regards unnerving after nothing but goddamn pristine countryside for a month. The job in Ecruteak City had been rather satisfying, then.

But that was neither here nor there; currently, he has a meeting to keep, even if he is more than a bit tired-seeming. It had been seven days since that post Hughes had made had hit the network; Kimblee had told him that he would meet Hughes within a week's time, and really, he was nothing if not punctual. The idea of directly visiting someone's residence was still horridly weird to him, but it wasn't anything that he couldn't get over; he would just be knocking, then, and vaguely hoping that Hughes wasn't going to insist on making another attempt at tea.

Comments

[explosivecombat]

"Have you heard of the move 'Frustration', Lt. Colonel?" Kimblee's reply is prompt; he's actually considered that much in advance, and to be blunt his battling partner is one of the largest nerds Kimblee has met in a while - they've looked into it. "It's one of those moves that strengthens in power based on certain circumstances regarding the creature's upbringing - along the lines of Return, which strengthens based on how well it's treated. Frustration can be said to be Return's inverse; it strengthens in power based on how much it dislikes its trainer.

"The fact that such a move even exists implies that most of these creatures won't attempt to flat-out kill their trainers, regardless of how far you push them. To say nothing of the fact that none of my others have even attempted, and judging by how some of them are, it isn't just that the one had some sort of issue with its personality. The only difference is the microchipping procedure."

[derpsaboutfamily]

Kimblee's earned himself a very exasperated look. Of all the strategies to take, he's decided on this particular one? Maes can't say that all of his Pokemon love him, but he's always treated them with some amount of care. After all, soldiers of war are far stronger when they're united behind a leader they support than a tyrant, right?

Then again, this does seem to make Kimblee the perfect Team Rocket member. Fear makes a pretty good motivator; this much seems to be slowly becoming a Team Rocket motto of sorts.

He sighs a little at this explanation. "I see..." He's not judging Kimblee on how he deals with his Pokemon. Simply tired from all this newly discovered information. And he's beginning to develop a wariness toward Elsie. That can't be good, considering he's supposed to be relying on his team to win him battles.

[explosivecombat]

Kimblee isn't exactly sure how to take that sigh; as such, he just kind of tilts his head a bit and...misinterprets it entirely, don't mind him.

"It isn't as though it's all brutality, Hughes; I simply push harder than most seem to in this place. These creatures are weapons, first and foremost; regardless, I know better than most that sentient weapons have to be treated a certain way. Which is why the one that turned on me came as such a surprise, really."

He's back to toying with the rim of that coffee cup with his left hand, still leaning heavily against the right; he seems to be thinking for a moment before he continues speaking. "I may know of a way to have the procedure reversed, however."

[derpsaboutfamily]

He's noticed the misinterpretation, but doesn't bother commenting on it. Kimblee can think what he wants to think.

Then again, the State Alchemists had been called weapons as well once. And some of them had turned around and pushed back. But Maes really doesn't want to dwell on that thought for too long. He doesn't like the comparisons he's drawing from his current situation to the war he'd worked so hard to push out of his mind.

He's back to gripping onto his coffee mug tightly with both hands as he leans in a bit, resting his elbows on his knees. "Do you? I don't suppose you'd share that bit of information with me?"

[explosivecombat]

Again, Kimblee's response is swift, his fingertips still tracing circles around the rim of that cup as he speaks.

"Tell me, do you know a man named Gorthan? He works within this organization; I believe he's a scientist of some sort. He told me when we were called in for this procedure that he can remove the device, should it come to that; I believe him when he says that he's capable of doing it.

"His personality is aggravating, but the man has a conscience and an almost disturbing amount of interest in culture and history; if all else fails, tell him that you're displeased with your coworkers' methods, and you would like to gather information on those who attacked the Kimono Girls without risking the organization finding out. That should get you reasonably far into his good graces. If he asks where you received the information that he can reverse the procedure in the first place, you're more than welcome to tell him that I referred you to him; I'll gladly take responsibility for talking."

[derpsaboutfamily]

Gorthan. ... Yes, he knows Gorthan. 'An almost disturbing amount of interest' is a good descriptor, actually.

"You've witnessed him do this sort of procedure before?" It's true that Kimblee hasn't lied to him yet, but Maes is still very cautious about trusting him. Anyone whose reasoning for giving information is, 'I'm curious to see what happens' can't possibly be telling the whole truth? Especially not if he's already established himself as a potential enemy in the future.