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]

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.]

[viliorate]

[He's heard it all before, many, many times.

Kimbley looks away, at his hands, and is silent for a long time. Neither of them are human anymore, but Kimbley is the one who would never be able to go outside, isn't he? There's no way to hide what he is. He doesn't even know what the hell he is.]

This place will never be my home.

[But it is the place he wants to conquer. He needs a place for himself, somewhere he can actually feel safe and not be gripped with paranoia every time he leaves the apartment.]

I'll follow you wherever you go, but this isn't my home.

[sadisticwarfare]

[Archer's eyes snap open at that and he immediately glares. It isn't anger at Kimbley that's causing it, but Kimbley's words hit too close to home.

That's just it, that's the problem - home. Archer has never experienced homesickness and the first time he does he's a whole world away with no way to return. He can acknowledge that a lot of what happened in Amestris wasn't good for him and shaped him in ways that have made him abnormal, but it's still home. No matter how long he spends here that won't change. Kimbley feels it too, obviously.

Had Kimbley said this ten years ago Archer would have lashed out at him. He would have yelled and directed his anger at Kimbley. He would have attempted to convince Kimbley that Amestris wasn't worth being their home, not after what happened to Kimbley back there. But he's a different person than he was ten years ago.

Instead he closes his eyes again, folds his hands, and breathes. It doesn't release the tension in his posture, but nothing can really help with that. He counts backwards from one hundred a few times until he's finally calm enough to keep himself from taking his anger out on his best friend.

It's amazing what time and too many outbursts can do.]

...We're going to make it our home. Once it's ours, nothing will compare.

[viliorate]

[He doesn't know what he can do, or if there's anything he can do. Keep on living, maybe. Or "living," since he's no longer alive, technically speaking. It's not like he has a problem hunting, far from it. He enjoys it. He's enjoyed it for years. He'll take, and take, and take and it'll never be enough.

It's easy enough to do here.

Maybe it wouldn't be in Amestris. Who knows what the state of the country is now. It's pointless to be homesick for a place both of them would find foreign, but it's still home.]

Yeah. That's right. We'll make it ours. Just you and me.

[He slides down on the couch, laying on his side, tail twitching slightly. Even with all the time he's spent getting used to it, he's still not as good at hiding his emotions as he used to be.

Kimbley just hopes Archer isn't about to say anything about it.]

[sadisticwarfare]

[He notices the tail twitching and like always, he takes note of it. Sometimes he'll call Kimbley out on it, but most of the time he's content to try to broach the subject gently. It rarely works, but he hasn't stopped trying.]

This is very difficult. We've had to give up our old way of life and we were forced to adapt to what this place gave us. It hasn't been ideal.

[While Kimbley gained most of the unnatural physical transformations, all Archer gained was power. He had never been very good at physical fighting and had never seen a need for it while working a desk job. He had wanted to be a commander, not a soldier. Everything has changed here. He's by no means a skilled fighter, but he doesn't need to be. He was lucky enough to gain two power unique to vampires: the ability to hypnotize humans and the ability to turn into fog. He's also been granted much greater reflexes and speed, though considering what little he had in those aspects to begin with, any change would be better.

He's gained so much from these transformations and the only loss he's suffered is the beating of his heart. It's almost funny how similar he's become to the Homunculi he sought to control back home.]

No matter what happens, no matter how much we're ridiculed or put down, we will not surrender. We will continue on our path and we will take this town. I will not do it by force. If there's one thing I've learned over the years it's that hatred and fear will not get you as far as adoration and loyalty. I will take over once I've gained enough power and support. It shouldn't be difficult; I can appeal to both sides. I'm not human, but I appear human enough for even those idiots to support me. What leadership we have now is weak. We cannot prosper under these conditions.

Everything will change once I have control.