Kimblee tipped his head a bit in acknowledgement of her words, but he didn't reply verbally, nor did he seem particularly fazed when she disappeared into the other room to get dressed; he didn't sit down anywhere, choosing instead to lean back against the wall near the door, his stance casual - one ankle crossed in front of the other, arms folded across his chest. He kept his gaze fixed on the door; however, he wasn't really seeing anything in particular, his thoughts given instead to Emmy's reaction just now.
It wasn't as though he had never been in the practice of giving gifts to others; it was quite to the contrary, really, as gifts were useful in a number of ways. And the most obvious purpose, as far as Kimblee was concerned, was as an apology - they were quick ways to ensure that he was back on someone's good side, as it seemed rather difficult for others to stay angry with him when presented with something that he knew they liked. However, despite the fact that money had never really been an issue for him before Johto, spending this much on someone just for the sake of an apology, especially for something that he couldn't even be certain was that severe in the first place...
Well. It was unusual, to say the least. But Emmy was a very...genuine person, overall, and as such her reactions to things tended to intrigue him.
He understood that if he were going to get Emmy a gift in the first place, for whatever reason, she probably would have been content with something far simpler, less expensive. She had done things for him in the past, but they were usually uncomplicated displays of kindness - she was content with spending time with others, with offering to make tea and cakes for them, with taking pictures and making an album out of it as a present; the gestures weren't elaborate, but he had no doubt that they were heartfelt. But while it was decidedly less sentimental, in the end, he had gotten her the dress because he had wanted to; he had known she would like it, and that was quite simply all. It wasn't because he took any pleasure in it, nor did he take any pleasure in knowing that he was making her happy; it was just something that he had decided to do because he knew she would appreciate it. That was generosity, wasn't it - doing something for no reason other than someone else's pleasure? People did it all the time.
At the same time, he couldn't help but be aware of something feeling...wrong about it. A sort of disconnect that he simply couldn't reconcile for some reason.
It wasn't in the basics of it, as he understood feeling pleasure at receiving a gift one liked from someone; however, he couldn't begin to fathom what sort of sentiment could possibly go into being moved to the point of tears by such things. It was just a gesture, really; it didn't necessarily even mean anything coming from the person initiating it. He had always looked at gift-giving as an incredibly calculated process - it was giving people things for the explicit purpose of making them happy, after all - and though it was usually done in the spirit of goodwill, it always seemed like manipulation at best. Being flattered and touched was perhaps understandable, as it meant the other person had paid enough attention to know what made the recipient happy and gone through the effort of obtaining it for them, but being moved to tears over it...?
He was aware that he was missing something vital; he just couldn't work out what. It was a minor annoyance in the long run, and not something he would dwell on, but it was irritating just the same.
Kimblee checked his watch idly after a while - the pocketwatch was ornate and silver in color, glinting against the black fabric of his gloves; it was familiar in some ways, though obviously the watch was missing the distinctive design that was exclusive to State Alchemists. He and Emmy had plenty of time, he had ensured that when he had arrived; at the same time, he was starting to feel vaguely unsettled for a reason he couldn't quite place.
Dismissing it was the best option for now; surely it was just anticipation of the evening, and anxiousness to see how any discussions that may crop up would turn out, that's all.
no subject
It wasn't as though he had never been in the practice of giving gifts to others; it was quite to the contrary, really, as gifts were useful in a number of ways. And the most obvious purpose, as far as Kimblee was concerned, was as an apology - they were quick ways to ensure that he was back on someone's good side, as it seemed rather difficult for others to stay angry with him when presented with something that he knew they liked. However, despite the fact that money had never really been an issue for him before Johto, spending this much on someone just for the sake of an apology, especially for something that he couldn't even be certain was that severe in the first place...
Well. It was unusual, to say the least. But Emmy was a very...genuine person, overall, and as such her reactions to things tended to intrigue him.
He understood that if he were going to get Emmy a gift in the first place, for whatever reason, she probably would have been content with something far simpler, less expensive. She had done things for him in the past, but they were usually uncomplicated displays of kindness - she was content with spending time with others, with offering to make tea and cakes for them, with taking pictures and making an album out of it as a present; the gestures weren't elaborate, but he had no doubt that they were heartfelt. But while it was decidedly less sentimental, in the end, he had gotten her the dress because he had wanted to; he had known she would like it, and that was quite simply all. It wasn't because he took any pleasure in it, nor did he take any pleasure in knowing that he was making her happy; it was just something that he had decided to do because he knew she would appreciate it. That was generosity, wasn't it - doing something for no reason other than someone else's pleasure? People did it all the time.
At the same time, he couldn't help but be aware of something feeling...wrong about it. A sort of disconnect that he simply couldn't reconcile for some reason.
It wasn't in the basics of it, as he understood feeling pleasure at receiving a gift one liked from someone; however, he couldn't begin to fathom what sort of sentiment could possibly go into being moved to the point of tears by such things. It was just a gesture, really; it didn't necessarily even mean anything coming from the person initiating it. He had always looked at gift-giving as an incredibly calculated process - it was giving people things for the explicit purpose of making them happy, after all - and though it was usually done in the spirit of goodwill, it always seemed like manipulation at best. Being flattered and touched was perhaps understandable, as it meant the other person had paid enough attention to know what made the recipient happy and gone through the effort of obtaining it for them, but being moved to tears over it...?
He was aware that he was missing something vital; he just couldn't work out what. It was a minor annoyance in the long run, and not something he would dwell on, but it was irritating just the same.
Kimblee checked his watch idly after a while - the pocketwatch was ornate and silver in color, glinting against the black fabric of his gloves; it was familiar in some ways, though obviously the watch was missing the distinctive design that was exclusive to State Alchemists. He and Emmy had plenty of time, he had ensured that when he had arrived; at the same time, he was starting to feel vaguely unsettled for a reason he couldn't quite place.
Dismissing it was the best option for now; surely it was just anticipation of the evening, and anxiousness to see how any discussions that may crop up would turn out, that's all.