THIRD REBELLION ❅ TEXT

[glaciates]

[A text hits the network around noon. It's very short and to the point, though it's not specifically addressed to anyone.]

How do you tell the difference between someone you're just friends with and someone you're romantically interested in?

[...Obviously it comes from Isaac. No one else could fail social on this level. At least he was trying to keep his fail minimized! The text was supposed to be private to Hughes. Unfortunately... Isaac is a fail with technology too. Have fun trolling!]

Comments

[glaciates]

N-not at all. I don't know what you're talking about.

[And unlike Archer who tsuns when he denies things like this, Isaac panics. orz]

[explosivecombat]

[And that will just get you another light laugh - don't worry, he has no idea.]

Relax, Isaac. Most people find working out the answer to their question to be a good thing, you know.

[glaciates]

Well... Well, yeah...

[And it is a good thing! He knows now! ...He just doesn't find it to be a good thing while talking to you.]

[explosivecombat]

[You certainly are acting strangely today.]

Is this someone you didn't want to be interested in, by any chance?

[glaciates]

Well that's...

[Isaac tilts his head slightly, considering.]

...Well, sort of. I mean, I wasn't expecting it at all. I've known them for awhile and it's... just not something I expected.

[explosivecombat]

[...right. Is there a delicate way to put this, because Kimblee is starting to suspect something, um.]

...is there a reason that you keep using "they", rather than "she"?

[glaciates]

[...]

[Oh. Well.]

[That's.]

[...What does he do other than orz at you, Kimblee?]

I--!

[...have no idea what to say, to be honest. He's just going to orz forever, okay.]

[explosivecombat]

[...oh.]

Well, I suppose this explains why you didn't want to say anything...

[glaciates]

[orz forever]

That's... y-yeah. I... I guess.

[orz orz orz orz]

[explosivecombat]

Oh, come now. You mentioned that it was someone you've known for a while - someone from back in Amestris, I'm assuming?

[YEP

YEP WE'RE BACK TO DOING THIS AGAIN]

[glaciates]

[NO NO NO NO THAT'S NOT FAIR LEAVE HIM ALONE]

It's still none of your business...!

[explosivecombat]

[DEAL WITH IT, JUNIOR.]

Ah, but it's fascinating, though!

[glaciates]

No it's not! It's not fascinating at all!

[orz orz orz orz tho!!!!]

[explosivecombat]

Mm, but I have to admit that I'm not terribly familiar with whom you do or don't know from home; I assume it's not Hughes, as that's just terrible.

...Armstrong, perhaps? You did seem to be having quite the time in Violet City.

[glaciates]

[OH GOD SCREAMING]

No way, it's not Armstrong.

[No offense, Armstrong. But you're just not his type. orz]

I'm not telling you, Kimblee. Quit guessing.

[Because eventually you'll figure it out... orz]

[explosivecombat]

Surely you don't think I'll say something to...whomever this person is?

[glaciates]

[His whole brain will just keep crying, if you don't mind.]

[Of course he doesn't have to worry about that. You won't say anything to anyone. That's the problem!]

1/4

[explosivecombat]

[Well, really, he's starting to run out of guys, here. Out of the men from Amestris that are still in Johto that Isaac knows and could express interest in...well, that really only leaves Mustang, doesn't it? And it might also explain why Isaac wouldn't want to tell him; it would be less of a concern of Kimblee telling him and more a case of...well, Kimblee really obviously disapproved of Mustang in Ishval. He'd made no secret of that fact at all back then; though Isaac hadn't seen the way he speaks to Mustang here, it would make sense to assume that nothing had changed. And rightfully so.

At the same time, why would Isaac bother trying to figure out his feelings for Mustang, if that were the case? Mustang is a notorious womanizer; surely Isaac would just move on? After all, he's good at that - he's simply disregarding what happened in Central Prison, despite knowing that Kimblee is a terrible person.

...Isaac's been very strange about this whole thing, really, the longer Kimblee thinks about it: actively seeking out his company despite having been stabbed in the back the last time that he had tried that while they were both alive, destroying his gear simply because he hadn't wanted Kimblee to be bothered by someone else, to say nothing else of the entire debacle in Union Cave -

...............................]

[explosivecombat]

[Wait.

...Mustang...really isn't the only one left, is he.]

[explosivecombat]

[...OH FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS SACRED AND SEVERAL THINGS THAT ARE NOT]

[explosivecombat]

[He shoots a quick glance down at Archer, who hasn't left the damn room; he isn't about to discuss this in front of him.]

...Isaac, we need to speak in person about this.

[His tone is implying that this is not an option.]

[glaciates]

[The silence lasts way too long for Isaac's liking. He's tempted to turn off the Gear, but it seems like Kimblee is thinking. He really doesn't like the idea that Kimblee could easily figure it out--]

[Oh never mind. Looks like he did. His whole brain is crying, after all.]

...N-no, I really don't think we need to.

[WHOLE BRAIN IS CRYING, OH GOD NOT AS PLANNED]

[explosivecombat]

[That response tells him pretty much everything he needs to know, really.]

No, I think we do. I'm not angry, for hell's sake, but I'm not discussing this here.

[glaciates]

[Isaac normally doesn't run. He panics though, and turns the Gear off immediately.]

[His surroundings are distinct enough if you're familiar with the surrounding area though, Kimblee. He's near the exit of Route 35 to the north. He'll be hiding in National Park, if you don't mind~ You totally won't be able to find him there, right?]

[action/text]

[explosivecombat]

[...

>Photographic memory
>Spent far too long in that area hunting down a Venonat
>All those fucking bees

Yes, Kimblee knows the area well.

...you're also kind of well over six feet tall and Kimblee has a gigantic steelsnake that he pushes for all its worth when it comes to getting places. He's aware that he's going to have to explain himself to Archer later, but he doesn't exactly care right now; he's going to hunt you down, Isaac. Hunting people down is what he does.

He wasn't annoyed before. He is now.

Have a text, Isaac.]

You can either make this easy, or you can make this difficult. The main difference is that I'm going to be incredibly displeased if you choose to make it difficult.