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

[viliorate]

[The problem is that these days, the only way to actually get Kimbley to relax is to get him drunk.

Which means he's likely to say something stupid eventually.]

Hey Archer.

[sadisticwarfare]

[Well, it is Kimbley, he's kind of expecting this...]

What is it?

[viliorate]

Why do you always avoid my mane? It's not poisonous, you know.

[Kimbley....]

[sadisticwarfare]

[Well that's completely unexpected.]

I thought you didn't want anyone touching it.

[viliorate]

I wouldn't mind if you touched it.

[Which is probably more forward than he realizes, but apparently we've reached the saying things we'll regret in the morning time of the night.

He leans forward a bit, but it's a conversational movement.]

Not in public; I have an image to hold up. But I'd let you do it.

[sadisticwarfare]

Ah, I'm... Thank you. I suppose I'll take you up on that offer sometime.

[He has no idea why this is flustering him, but it is.]

[viliorate]

You should do it tonight.

[...honestly he'll probably get his chance just because he's going to need to carry Kimbley home.]

Don't worry; the spikes only look like they're sharp.

[sadisticwarfare]

Perhaps I will.

[This is kind of embarrassing for some reason he can't figure out...]

[viliorate]

[...it is a little awkward.]

I think I'll have another drink. How about you?

[sadisticwarfare]

No, I'm good, I still haven't finished mine yet. Besides, one of us needs to stay sober so we can find our way home.

[viliorate]

Home isn't that far away.

[But two drunk monsters would probably be an easy target for someone. Either another monster or someone who has taken to hunting monsters.

But that's not stopping Kimbley from getting up and ordering another drink at the bar. At least he can walk a straight line. When he returns, he has another glass of gin in his hand.]

I'm going to end up as your bodyguard again. How funny is that?

[sadisticwarfare]

I wouldn't have it any other way.

[He smirks, clearly quite pleased with Kimbley's words.]

[viliorate]

[Archer should probably make sure Kimbley doesn't have anything else to drink if he's getting nostalgic after one glass of gin.

Not that Kimbley was particularly good at holding his liquor after spending a decade in prison, but that's beside the point.]

I enjoyed the work. It won't be a problem doing it again.

[He'll always enjoy attacking on Archer's command.]

[sadisticwarfare]

Excellent. I'm not as useless as I was then, but I'll still need your assistance.

[Humans aren't a problem for him, but fighting other monsters is kind of difficult. Archer still isn't great at any sort of close-range combat.]

[viliorate]

[Let's be honest here, Kimbley's terrible at fighting other monsters and has the scars to prove it.

He just has someone avoided being killed.]

I'll keep you protected from those that would do you harm. You can count on it.

[sadisticwarfare]

I know I can. I trust you.

[That doesn't need to be said, but he'll say it anyway.]

[viliorate]

[Kimbley makes it halfway through his second drink before he sets the glass down.]

I should stop there.

[His words are a little slurred, so this is probably a good choice.]

This has been fun. It's just you and me. We couldn't have done this in Amestris. I was too well known there.

[sadisticwarfare]

I know. It would have been nice if we could have gone out, but there's no sense in dwelling on the past.

[viliorate]

[He's going to try and stand now.

He's not drunk enough to topple over, but it takes him a moment to steady himself.]

Come on, let's go.

[....the tail probably helps his balance now. It's fortunate with all the fights he's been in that it hasn't been ripped off.]

[sadisticwarfare]

[You really should be more careful...

Archer stays close to Kimbley so that he can catch him if he falls. Hopefully that won't be a concern, but it's been a long time since Kimbley last had a drink, so who knows?]

[viliorate]

[He's certainly not in danger of toppling over without warning.

...tripping over his own feet, however...

Kimbley might catch himself on the way down, but maybe you should grab him.]

[sadisticwarfare]

[Well, that's not really a surprise...

Archer's reflexes are better than they were as a human, so catching Kimbley isn't a problem. He pulls Kimbley back upright and rolls his eyes.]

Be careful. Do you need me to help you walk?

[That question sounds teasing, but he means it.]

[viliorate]

Yeah, I guess I do.

[He's pretty damn embarrassed, but he won't turn down the help from Archer.]

[sadisticwarfare]

[He laughs, though the sound is clipped and over quickly enough. Archer wraps an arm around Kimbley's waist and moves to pull one of Kimbley's arms around his shoulders to support him.]

Alright, let's get you home.

[viliorate]

[...thankfully the spikes can't actually poke Archer like this. He gives Archer a lopsided grin, but doesn't protest.]

Lead on.