We were looking for something to blow up; we were looking for someone to follow

[explosivecombat]

Who: Solf J. Kimblee (explosivecombat); Isaac McDougal (glaciates)
Where: Mahogany Town
When: Forward-dated to April 13th
Summary: Isaac tends to like stupidly brief anniversary celebrations; it's been a month. Also, Kimblee is bored as hell so why not.
Rating: PG? I DON'T KNOW, I'LL CHANGE IT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS. PG-13; I SWEAR LIKE A SAILOR I AM TELLING YOU. also guys are now making out so um.
Log:

[The blackouts hadn't been good to him.

Kimblee had spent the better parts of the first morning zoning out, as he tended to do in dark, enclosed spaces; it wasn't exactly a distress response, just a sort of autopilot that kicked in when it came to a lack of stimulus. However, after a while, Archer had begun talking to him; he'd kept him focused on what he was doing, at the very least, and to his credit he had been supportive, if in a very...Archerish sort of way. It was good, at least, especially given whatever Suicune had managed to do to his back by ensuring he was thrown to the ground off that Steelix during battle; movement wasn't exactly good, though with enough painkillers he could definitely still push through it.

However, after two days of dealing with his spine, having nothing to do besides run signal interference, and dealing with Archer...well, being Archer, Kimblee was fully convinced that he could feel himself going insane; the power flickering back on was an absolute godsend, the fact that it stayed on seemed like a goddamn miracle, and the fact that the storms seemed to be subsiding was nothing short of absolutely glorious.

With all that out of the way and his duties on signal interference wound down, he'd sent a message to Isaac from the Gear, Kenya from the Pokémon Center, and completely disregarded Archer's fussing about him leaving early the next day to meet the man in town.

He hasn't told Archer about Isaac. With any luck, he won't have to anytime soon; for now, he just lets it go. Kimblee has always been partial to Mahogany Town; he's comfortable here. Relaxed. Given the small population, he suspects Isaac will like it.

He'll see soon enough, he's sure; right now it's just good to be outdoors.]

Comments

[explosivecombat]

[WHY DO MY LOGS KEEP DISSOLVING INTO HORRIBLE INNUENDO]

You know I tend to doubt claims until proven.

[glaciates]

[WHAT ELSE WERE YOU EXPECTING]

Fair enough. You won't be disappointed, then.

[explosivecombat]

[WHAT ARE WE EVEN DISCUSSING ANYMORE BECAUSE I SUSPECT IT AIN'T THESE CAVES]

Ah, big words - but again, I'll just be over here doubting until you can provide proof, if you don't mind.

[glaciates]

[THE CAVES ARE NOWHERE NEAR AS INTERESTING LBR]

You only gave me a week in Ishval; are you feeling just as generous now?

[Isaac normally doesn't bring up Ishval. It's not something he likes thinking about and bringing it up almost always turns the conversation cold. The fact that he's still smirking despite bringing it up really should say something.]

[explosivecombat]

[Well, that certainly does say something. Perhaps "We've both lost our minds entirely."]

Perhaps I'll be good to you and not even going to bother putting a time limit on this one. It'll be far more fun to see what you manage on your own.

[glaciates]

[That will get a laugh. You're playing along now~!]

Yeah. I won't disappoint you. I promise.

[...But coming up with an idea is going to be difficult...]

[explosivecombat]

You promise, do you?

You know I'll hold you to that, then.

[glaciates]

I try not to break my promises. I won't break this one.

[Despite the smirking, he really does mean that! He fully intends to surprise you next time, bb!]

[explosivecombat]

Well, not to be ridiculously unfair by upping the ante even more, but I do have something else for you, you know.

[He retrieves one of those Pokéballs he has on him then in order to pass it over.]

I think you'll like it.

[glaciates]

You what?

[Wait, wait, you got him something? You're kidding, right? Right?]

[No, apparently not. Isaac will just herp at that Pokéball for a moment before reaching out and accepting it, tipping his head slightly. He glances at Kimblee for a moment - almost as if he's wondering if this is alright, before letting the Pokémon out of the Pokéball.]

[The Pokémon is a Froslass, a very beautiful Ice-type who seems more interested in her surroundings than her change of ownership.]

Wh... What kind of Pokémon is this? [Isaac's whole brain is crying, just in case you missed it.] You didn't have to get me anything, you know that.

[Not that he's ungrateful - oh hell no. This is the sweetest thing, really. You've let him have Pokémon before, yes, but this one is...]

[Hang on, just let him geek out over his Pokégear for a moment - it is an Ice-type - and a Ghost-type? - and oh wow she's powerful for such a low level!]

Thank you, Kimblee. I don't... have anything for you.

[...orz]

[explosivecombat]

You don't need to give me anything, Isaac; don't worry about it.

[He smiles again, though the expression is more playful than anything.]

Besides, you've already promised to surprise me. I can wait.

[glaciates]

She's gorgeous. Thank you so much.

[...Well, if you're willing to wait... He'll make sure to give you the best damn gift ever!]

I didn't think you really cared too much about this. The uh, anniversary.

[But he'll just keep 8Ding at the Froslass if you don't mind! This is amazing, oh my god!]

[explosivecombat]

Whether I do or not, it's been a while since we last saw each other; I thought it might be nice. And besides, the date is important to you, so why not?

[The words come easily; he's used them before. Keeping dates and times celebrating another few months of actually managing to be monogamous has never really interested him, but he can come up with reasons for doing it if he has to.]

[glaciates]

Ah, yeah it... it is.

[Isaac's smile dampens a bit at that - at least it's no longer that terrifying 8D face?]

I really appreciate it. You've been good to me, Kimblee.

[No seriously; most people would have given up on him by now.]

[explosivecombat]

...likewise, Isaac.

[He isn't sure what to do with the knowledge that that's actually rather true; Isaac really has, albeit in an incredibly awkward way.

It doesn't bother him in any way that it probably should bother him; he feels nothing from that dark pit where his conscience should probably be regarding any of what he's been doing. Just the same, it's...mildly confusing.

He'll deal with it later.]

[glaciates]

I do what I can.

[Kimblee has done a lot of shit; he's hurt a lot of people, Isaac included. But it doesn't matter here. No, he's not going to just forget what happened, but he can move past it.]

[Anyway, he'll return the Froslass and hug on Kimblee some more, if that's fine. He's not gripping too hard, at least?]

I'm... really glad you agreed to this. It means so much to me.

[explosivecombat]

[...goodness, are we getting hugged on again - ]

Yes, you mention that quite often. It's all right, Isaac. I'm rather enjoying myself.

[glaciates]

I'm really glad you are.

[He's the most content thing ever. No seriously, he could stand here and hug on you forever. You might want to escape at some point.]

[explosivecombat]

[...well, you might be able to stand around and hug people forever, Isaac, but Kimblee is not one to stand around and be hugged forever; after a couple of minutes, Escape Attempt #2 is go.]

I haven't ever seen you quite this relaxed before, you know.

[glaciates]

[Aww man. >: But he'll let go; most people don't like to be hugged on forever.]

Yeah it's... not really something I could do back home. I've gotten used to being here, I guess.

[explosivecombat]

[Kimblee blinks a bit at that; it's not something he usually puts into so many words, but when he thinks about it...]

Well - that's true, isn't it.

[He tilts his head a little to the side; he doesn't seem to realize that he's doing it.]

There isn't as much to fear here, is there? No need for constant fighting; the level of anxiety in general is far lower. The atmosphere is entirely different.

[...huh.]

It's not something I really think about, I suppose, but it's an interesting point.

[glaciates]

Yeah. It's... good, obviously. I don't have to be as wound-up all the time. I'm not in any danger here.

[But from the pause after that, it's clear that something about it is still bothering Isaac. He's just trying to find a way to put it into words.]

...At the same time, I don't think it's something I'll ever fully adapt to. The "no need for constant fighting" part, at least. I mean, I like it here but...

[He doesn't know how to phrase it. This isn't home, that much is obvious. But they have no reason to try to go home - unless they'd prefer being dead. He's not sure about Kimblee, but he's not interested in figuring out what would happen if they tried to go home.]

It sounds stupid but I kind of miss the fighting? I don't miss what I was fighting against at all, of course, but I kind of wish I had something to fight for here, I guess.

[Or maybe he's finally getting bored of Johto. That could be it.]

[explosivecombat]

[He considers that for a moment in silence; it isn't something that can be easily put into words at all, no, but he thinks he understands.]

It almost seems wrong, doesn't it - to have nothing to fight for? It makes everything seem rather arbitrary, almost senseless. Not exactly meaningless, but there's no direction to it; just a lot of aimlessness. There's no goal to it. No real challenge. I mean, there's the Gyms, but in the end, it doesn't affect anything whether you defeat them or not.

It feels as though we have no impact here sometimes. That with nothing to fight for, we might as well not be here.

[glaciates]

Yeah, that's it.

[Isaac nods; it's not a great feeling to put into words, but Kimblee's described it better than he ever could.]

I'd rather be here than be dead, yeah, but I don't like the idea that I'm not making an impact.

[He left Ishval swearing to change things. Things were changed, but ultimately he hadn't done much to spur the change. But that's different. There was a goal to work toward back home. He doesn't have that here.]

You've been here for awhile, right? What have you been doing? Just challenging the Gyms?

[Kimblee was in the military for longer - he's presumably used to fighting. He got out of prison and fought after that too; if anyone knows how to find something to do here in Johto, it would be him.]

[explosivecombat]

[...that...is a very good question, and one that Kimblee actually does not have a prepared answer for. As such, he's silent for a long moment; at the very least his entire brain doesn't start crying, but really, what is he supposed to say?

Well, let's see - planting bombs on a train, forming a codependent life-partnership with someone I barely know, aiding a criminal syndicate in targeting innocents. Backstabbing everyone I can to try to get promotions. It's fun! Do you remember that attack on the Kimono Girls a couple of months ago? Funny story, that - I was the one taunting you over the network after that happened. I've also been making a hell of a sport out of terrifying Emmy and then acting like her concerned best friend! You know, the usual, Isaac. Nothing much.

Somehow, he suspects that isn't going to go over well.]

The first several months were spent doing as I usually do - trying to become used to being here; watching people, working out what this place considers "normal" and what it doesn't. I'm aware that I'm not normal; I survive by conforming my behavior enough to those around me that they won't notice, at least not right away. Then there's a matter of figuring out damage control, and working out what do to if they do find out. It hasn't become enough of a large-scale issue for me to be concerned just yet, but I still want to be careful about it. After all, my choices appear to be being here and being dead, and you know that I tend to favor my own survival above all else. If too many find out about...well, what I am, that will greatly lessen my chances of being accepted by this world.

So I've spent quite a while doing that. Then there's the Gyms, yes; I've defeated five of them, and intend to move on to the next three soon enough. In between all that, I've been raising the Pokémon I have in my possession.

Mostly just distracting myself, to be blunt. Trying to ignore how mundane it all is.