♕ FOURTH COMMAND | VIDEO / ACTION [ROUTE 34] | FOURTH WALL
[Isn't the weather lovely today? It's snowing. Which means no, it's really not, thank you. It's cold. Archer's been out here, stomping through the snow for quite some time, looking for something. The PokéGear switches on to reveal the rather frustrated (and freezing) officer.]
I've managed to lose my Abra. Again. Does anyone have any suggestions ( Read more... )
I've managed to lose my Abra. Again. Does anyone have any suggestions ( Read more... )
One moment, he'd been on the phone, rambling on and on to Roy about how beautiful his little daughter is, and the next... he was standing... on some unknown road. This didn't even look like a city.
And then, he hears a familiar voice. He walks towards it, and finds a very pissed off Archer screaming into some weird device in his hands. He'd always thought you were kind of weird, but this... is just... Maes isn't even sure what to make of it. ]
... Lost something, Major?
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[There isn't any difference that he can see physically - though to be fair, Archer never really looks at people; he's never been good at making eye contact, though he's entirely unaware of that little issue. Archer's free hand immediately runs through his hair and he's immediately as flustered as the last time Hughes caught him off-guard back in the office.]
[It's like nothing changed despite months of running the office, figuring out the truth about the military, reinstating a couple of madmen, and starting a war that... really kind of failed miserably on his part.]
Lieutenant Colonel--
[No, wait. That's not right. He's a Brigadier General now-- but he wouldn't know that ( ... )
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He frowns. ]
Chimera?
[ The last he'd heard of chimeras, it was with the entire Tucker ordeal. Hughes hadn't exactly been afforded the details, unfortunately, since he was still of fairly low rank back then, but he'd heard enough -- and he wasn't stupid -- to get the gist of the situation.
But that was a long time ago... what was a member of his team doing with a chimera? ]
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[It's only when Hughes questions him that Archer realizes just how much time has passed since Hughes's death. He certainly wouldn't know anything about the work Tucker's been doing for the military since his reinstatement - thanks to Archer, though that was really more of an after-thought, he'd been far more concerned with reinstating Kimbley since the Crimson Alchemist was more of a threat, but those are minor details now. The fact that he'd even use the phrase "chimeras" implies he knows much more than he should. Archer finally nods after a moment.]
Yes, it's the only suitable word I can find to describe the creatures in this world. [He nods to the dog at his feet, who is content to eye Hughes warily.] Creatures like these.
[It's not exactly an explanation, but hopefully it will be enough of a deterrent to get Hughes to focus on the creatures rather than the term "chimera," though honestly, Archer knows better than to get his hopes up with this man. Hughes ( ... )
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Which was why, he'd tensed up so much at the mention of 'chimeras.' That investigation, for all he'd known, had been closed and done with. Hadn't Tucker been executed for his crimes...?
Hughes may have a reputation of being overly cheerful and shirking responsibility, but when it came down to it, he performed his job with quite a bit of diligence. And he was certainly using every ounce of that diligence right now, on that small creature by Archer's feet.
It didn't look like any combinations of animals that he knew of, but Hughes was well aware that there was much to the art of alchemy that he'd never even begin to understand. He glances from the creature to Archer, his gaze demanding Archer to explain himself. ]
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...I hate to inform you of this, Lieutenant Colonel, but something... happened to you back home. As a result, I am in charge of the department and have reviewed all the cases you've worked on to ensure I'm capable of living up to the standards you've set for us.
[Hey, a little flattery never hurt anyone, right?]
The case involving the Sewing-Life Alchemist was one such case I reviewed. As I said, I can't find any other suitable explanation for just what these creatures are.
[Archer reaches to unhook another Pokéball from his belt, releasing Lucena, his Honchkrow. She's nowhere near as threatening as the Golbat in terms of appearance, and he would have preferred to ( ... )
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Of all those working under him, Archer was probably one of the ones that he knew least about. The man wasn't exactly... personable or approachable. And this was coming from a man who pretty much approached everyone in the same manner: with a picture of his daughter in hand, ready to talk until he's forcibly shut up.
But even still, Hughes had recommended the promotion, himself. Archer was, no doubt, one very hard worker. There were times that Hughes almost regretted giving him the promotion, simply because... well... he'd never been keen on working all the time, and that was exactly what Archer seemed to be doing.
So it came as no surprise that the man would have taken his own time to review old case files. But there was something that bothered Hughes. ]You seem to know a lot about where we are, Major. An informal report, if you will, of the location and ( ... )
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[Archer folds his arms and glances down at the two chimeras in front of him. They seem to have decided that Hughes isn't a threat and are... communicating somehow through a series of squawks and barks. He'll never get used to hearing them chirp their species names at one another.]
Time seems to work differently here, Lieutenant Colonel. Where I'm from, you've been dead for months.
[...Well, he can only dance around the issue for so long before the bluntness kicks in! At least he tried?]
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He's looking at you, almost as if, if he stares you down long enough, maybe you'll burst out laughing and admit that this is all some sort of sick joke. In which case, you'd definitely get reprimanded, because it isn't funny to make fun of someone using death.
But it doesn't look like Archer's expression will be changing any time soon. What's worse is, Hughes can't honestly remember the last time he'd even seen Archer joking before. ]
And how, exactly, does that work out? Alchemy can do many things, but I'm fairly certain that bending time is not one of them.
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I have no idea. I've attempted to figure it out, but from what I can tell, no one here has any idea either. I've been told this is some sort of alternate world entirely.
[He wishes this was some kind of joke, Hughes. He really does.]
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For a moment, he just stares. ]
... How...
[ How did he die? How did he end up here? How... just, how... ]
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If you're asking about how we're here rather than in Amestris, I'm afraid I have no idea.
[He's well aware that Hughes's question could be in regards to his death, but it's not something Archer's going to bring up without prompting. He only knows a few more details than the rest of the public, and that's due to the fact that he is with the department. He's obviously figured that Hughes was killed because of what he discovered about the military's inner workings, but he doesn't know any more than that. Murdered while on duty. That's all.]
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He rubs the bridge of his nose. ]
So, we've both been dropped off in some strange, new world that is riddled with chimeras. And you're from my future.
[ Excuse him if he doesn't sound like he altogether believes you, there. ]
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[Archer shrugs the overcoat off one shoulder, revealing the new ranking: Colonel. He's been promoted twice within the past few months - first due to Hughes's death and second in order to take command of the operation in Liore (thanks to some blackmail material, once again, thank you, Hughes. He couldn't be blackmailing the Fuhrer without your help).]
I have absolutely no reason to lie to you, sir.
[Archer pulls the coat back on and folds his arms again.]
Quite some time has passed since I was a Major.
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This is all very much hurting his brain. But he gets the feeling it has something to do with that Juliet Douglas. He'll have to look further into her...
But for now, Hughes sighs. ]
And what has passed in that time, Ma-- ... Colonel?
[ He may be just slightly more snippy than usual. You can't blame the poor guy, though. He just found out that he's dead. ]
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We've had several investigations, though our department has been mostly busy searching for Scar. There was an incident in the town of Liore that I was put in charge of quelling. I'm not entirely sure what happened, but I believe it was some sort of trap; the city itself seems to have been turned into an array of some sort. That's the last thing I remember before arriving here.
[Yes, it was a trap, and yes he willingly walked into it. No, that's not something he's going to discuss with Hughes. Even now he can't fully explain why he was willing to do something so damn stupid. It might have had something to do with a certain Crimson Alchemist getting himself killed. Might being the key word there.]
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