LOCKED TO viliorate

[sadisticwarfare]

[It's been a little over ten years since the two of them arrived here. Ten years is an awfully long time to be stuck here, but returning home isn't an option anymore. It hasn't been an option since they first started changing, and that wasn't all that long after they arrived. Kimbley had grown a tail and ears and Archer's eyes had turned red. It's amazing to think they had been so scared by those changes back then.

Things are different now. They aren't human, but there's no reason for that to bother them. Archer is a vampire (something that he found painfully ironic in the beginning, but he's adapted quite well to it, if he does say so himself). Not much has changed about him, appearance-wise. His nails are much longer and sharper, his eyes are red, and he has the stereotypical vampire fangs, but aside from that the only difference is the slight point to his ears. It's not like he could get any paler anyway.

Archer enters their shared apartment after work, shrugging off his coat and hanging it up before proceeding into the living room.]

Kimbley, are you home yet?

Comments

[sadisticwarfare]

Sh-Shut up.

[And as usual, he gets defensive. He doesn't resist the hug any, though he's pouting and glancing off to the side as he usually does when he's flustered. It's obvious he doesn't mind that much though, since he still has his arms around Kimbley's back.]

[viliorate]

[It's not as awkward as it used to be, but Kimbley'll always like seeing how awkward he can make Archer feel.]

There's no need to be defensive, Archer.

[sadisticwarfare]

I'm not defensive.

[He's very defensive. No matter how many years pass he'll never stop being defensive about this sort of thing.]

[viliorate]

[You really should consider trying to stop, because if there's one thing for certain, it's that Kimbley really likes seeing Archer flustered.]

It's just a hug. What are you so flustered for?

[sadisticwarfare]

I'm not flustered either!

[Dammit, Kimbley.]

[viliorate]

Then what's the problem?

[...if you think he's going to stop...]

[sadisticwarfare]

You're being a pain.

[Dammit, Kimbley.]

[viliorate]

[He lets out a laugh, a very low one, smirking.]

You say that all the time.

[sadisticwarfare]

Yet it never stops you.

[But maybe this time...]

[viliorate]

Frankly, you've never given me enough of a reason to stop. It's always "you're being a pain" or "you're irritating me." I like being the one who gets away with annoying you.

[But he pulls out of the hug after a minute, leaning into the couch heavily.]

[sadisticwarfare]

Congratulations, you're the only one. So knock it off.

[He folds his arms once Kimbley's drawn back, glaring off to the side somewhere, though he still isn't that upset.]

[viliorate]

When you act like that, it makes it sound like you like me.

[Kimbley lets out a slight laugh.]

We should go out tonight. I could use a drink.

[sadisticwarfare]

Are you asking me on a date?

[He's being sarcastic, but he does finally look at Kimbley.]

...I suppose going out wouldn't hurt.

[viliorate]

Why would it be a date?

[At least Archer is giving him shit back. That's always a good sign.]

We both do better at night, anyway. It might even give us a chance to discuss things. Like our plan of action.

[sadisticwarfare]

We're not discussing that where we can be overheard, but a night to not worry about any of that might be good.

[It's not like he ever takes time off, after all.]

[viliorate]

There are a few places we can go and not be stared at like a couple of freaks. It'll be nice for a change.

It's been a long time since we did something together that wasn't hunting.

[sadisticwarfare]

I'd like that. I certainly don't mind hunting but it does get old after awhile.

[viliorate]

We could always try something a bit different on that end, but being in a place where we're seen as normal wouldn't hurt.

Maybe I'll find something new I like.

[sadisticwarfare]

Oh? Like what?

[viliorate]

[He shrugs.]

A new drink? I don't know. I try not to go out much unless I have to.

[It makes him restless as hell but he prefers it to being stared at because he gets enough of it at his job.]

I don't even know if I can get drunk anymore.

[sadisticwarfare]

I'd rather not have to drag you home if I can help it.

[He reaches out and places his hand on Kimbley's arm.]

It doesn't matter whether you can or not. I know this has been difficult, but we're stronger now, Kimbley.

[viliorate]

You don't need to carry me home. I'm not planning on getting wasted.

[He doesn't pull away from the touch, but it's clear Kimbley doesn't know what to do with it.]

That's right. We're stronger than any human here. We're practically invincible.

[No you're not.]

[sadisticwarfare]

I wouldn't go that far but yes, we're much stronger than any human. The changes haven't always been for the best, but we've worked through it. There's no reason to worry about it.

[viliorate]

I'm not worried about anything.

[But then Kimbley was the one hit with a ludicrous amount of physical changes. His ego never did recover.]

I still want to go back, you know. No one would recognize me now. And I can still do damage, even without my alchemy.

[sadisticwarfare]

There's no point in going back.

[Archer pulls back, folding his arms again. His posture is perfectly straight and he shuts his eyes as he starts the well-rehearsed speech he's been giving for years.]

There would be nothing left for us back in Amestris. We were in the middle of a military operation when we arrived here; the Fuhrer would not take our leaving lightly. We have been missing from Amestris for ten years now. If we're not presumed dead already then we're at least considered missing and showing up unexpectedly will not do us any favors. I imagine Bradley is no longer the Fuhrer and with a new leader, all my power over him is gone. That's assuming, of course, that I could find any proof of Bradley's true identity; my office belongs to someone else and everything I owned there has been removed. My house is most likely demolished by now since I'm most likely considered dead and I have no next of kin. Even if by some miracle I was able to find proof that Bradley was Pride, it would do us no good. It wouldn't give me my position back in the military and I would be incapable of protecting you. Even if I was accepted back into the military with a much lower rank, there's nothing I could do for you.

[He doesn't mention the changes because they're both aware of how Kimbley would be treated. Perhaps things have changed in ten years and chimeras are accepted as a normal part of society, but Archer doubts it. Unless there were other chimeras he never knew of, all of Greed's chimeras are dead. Most people have probably never seen a chimera, much less one made to look mostly human. Tucker couldn't even do it.]

There's no point in returning to Amestris. Our home is here now. This is the place we will conquer.

[Despite how even his tone is and how calm he sounds, Archer's rigid posture and position might be enough of a hint that he's not quite come to terms with what he's saying. The Amestrian military uniform neatly folded and placed in the bottom of his dresser is probably a bigger clue. He never wears it anymore but he hasn't gotten rid of it either.]