[Well, Sun's worries are unfortunately made manifest. It had been a few days since Guzma had seen Jill, and that worry that gripped him like when she had, well, died was on the rise again, so he too tried to contact her.
And likewise, he got nothing.
He hadn't spoken to anyone about it, figured maybe Archie knew, but didn't know how to bring it up. Went to the wall to confirm whether she had been killed again, or if she had gone home... turned out it was the latter. In a way, that was better, he supposed, but it still hurt. Still made his chest feel like it had caved in. His heart crushed upon seeing her name.
He's never been good at not wearing his heart on his sleeve, keeping his emotions in check, but he's especially not now. It was like a horrific déjà vu, where instead of feeling an odd sense of repeated familiarity, it was like a torturous rerun of shit you never asked to be exposed to.
With that said, it's of little surprise that when he yanks that door open, he looks a bit like a mess. There's a bottle of booze loosely held in his hand, he's only wearing his sweats, and his hair is an absolute mess, and mostly in his face with how wild it is. Particularly when he's done nothing to keep it in check, and those glasses aren't keeping it out of his face.
His jaw is tight, and his glare hard when he sees Sun—probably one of the last people he wants to see when he's like this. Or at all, for that matter. Last they met he had punched the kid, and hell, maybe that wouldn't be such a bad thing to repeat depending on what the hell the kid even wants.]
What.
[It's not a question, more a statement. A demand, even. His voice is rough and tired, and maybe Sun's sheepishness is well placed with the impending doom of Guzma's presence and emotions. Hell, the air is heavy and thick, and might even feel a little suffocating.]
[The smell of alcohol is strong when the door opens and it’s the first thing Sun notices before even seeing who exactly answered the door. His face scrunches up in distaste at both the smell and when he saw just who it was. Guzma. He knew it was a high possibility though and as such he was at least somewhat prepared. Didn’t mean he had to enjoy it though, after all he did get punched last time they met.]
Where’s Miss Jill?
[Short, sweet, and a tone peppered with distaste for who he’s talking to. Even though he asked, Sun wasn’t sure if Guzma knew the answer. The man reeked of alcohol...]
[Guzma grins at the question, but it's pretty plain that it's... not happy. Most of his aren't, but this one is particularly sour. He figured that was why the brat was here, of course it wasn't for him. It was for Jill, who wasn't there.
Who died and came back, but then got taken away again. He has no idea if she just died again, or if this world was just playing some kind of cruel joke on him, but either way it's very clearly not been great for him. Even with Plumeria here, it doesn't change anything, it doesn't take away this loss—here he wanted for Plums to show up, probably more than anyone, but it wasn't meant to be at an exchange. Selfish though it may be.]
She ain't here, kid.
[It's... an answer. It's not a lie, that's for sure, but what here he means is left to be determined. With his free hand, he grabs at Sun's shirt, lifting him up by it. Likely not the reaction the kid expected, likely less the reaction he should be doing at all—but he's pissed! Angry at the situation outside of his control, angry that there's nothing he can do about it—but hey, what a convenient visitor, right? Someone he's been pretty pissed at already, so the courier gets to carry the burden of Guzma's anger.
That grin persists.]
You—you just had to come by, huh? Had to come lookin' for her. Did you even try to contact her? That shoulda been a dead fuckin' give away, yo!
[Guzma's holding Sun pretty close to his face, but he's not quite in the boy's face. He doesn't need to be for him to smell the alcohol on his breath.]
She ain't here no more—she got sent back, stupid! Whaddaya doing showing your sorry ass around here when she ain't here to protect ya!
[Sun had expected if he had the misfortune of running into Guzma he’d be the same old jerk he always was. He expected stubborn anger when there was no need for any and at first he thought that was all he was going to encounter today. With how Guzma answered the question he figured that would be all there was to it, but before he could even retort he was being lifted into the air by the gang leader. Sun’s eyes widened in surprise as his body tensed up as well. He half expected another punch honestly, though what for he couldn’t guess. Fuck why didn’t he think to have some of his Pokemon out with him?!
Instead Guzma goes on, his sour breath making the boy’s nose wrinkle even more in distaste. He never thought about Guzma drinking before, but it made a lot of sense with how the older man acted.]
Ugh, you stink— Of course I tried to contact her! Why else do ya think I’m here?!
[Sun had been squirming in Guzma’s grip, one of his hands on Guzma’s arm to try to steady himself and the other reaching down to his belt for his Pokeballs. The last bit that Guzma said though has him pausing, like a deerling in headlights.]
[He says that calmly enough, but then a moment later he riles again, his brow furrowing as his own repeated words seem to sink in like a dagger.]
She ain't in this damn world no more, you stupid child!
[Guzma lets the comments about him stinking go unaddressed, they didn't matter. He knew he was a mess right now, and not being one didn't change anything so what did it matter? However, while Guzma's drunk, he isn't blind, and so he noticed how the boy was reaching for his Poké balls—so he uses that hold to pull Sun inside, slamming the door behind them.
This of course leaves Sun pretty jostled and dragged through the air as he moves, carrying the kid like he's nothing over to the couch, and unceremoniously dropping him on the cushions. He levels a glare at the boy, but there's a conflict of emotion behind his eyes.]
...Why's it gotta be you?
[It's pretty vague, but then Guzma seats himself down in one of the chairs, taking a swig of that bottle as he does so. He settles, legs spread while his elbows rest on his knees as he's hunched forward. Hanging his head, he lightly shakes it.]
Why's it gotta be like this, huh? [He lifts his head, just enough to get Sun into his view, his eyes barely visibly pass that mop of hair in his face. With his free hand he gestures as he speaks.] You're here, but you ain't my homie like back home—Plums' here, but she got some messed up feelings about me—now Jill's gone...
Fuck, man. This shit ain't getting easier, and what the hell am I supposed to do, huh? Just fuckin' sit here and deal?
[He settles back against the chair with a huff, his body pretty slumped. He looks a little like a ragdoll that was dumped in that chair, even the hand that holds the bottle is pretty loose with its grip as he just... stares at Sun. He wouldn't even be talking this much if he wasn't so fucking drunk at the moment. Drunk and angry... exhausted.
It's not that he even expects sympathy from Sun or anything, there's nothing that's happened between them that would inspire that, but he just doesn't even know what to do. He wants to lash out, he wants to hurt someone, but at the same time he's just... tired.]
I hate that you got his face. His fuckin' voice. It pisses me off that you're him, yet you fuckin' ain't!
[Sun adverts his gaze as Guzma repeats himself. Repeats what Sun was worrying about the most coming over here. Jill was gone. He wasn't sure what to even really do with that information, it just felt weird and wrong. He couldn't imagine how he'd feel if it was someone he was actually closer too.
He doesn't get much time to actually process the information though as he's jostled out of his thoughts and dragged indoors by Guzma. Yelping as he's plopped onto the couch of all things. It could have been worse, but this was by no means a comfortable situation. His eyes snap to Guzma, wary of the other—for good reason too what with the punch he got last month. With how he was both drunk and angry now? So he does the safe thing, Sun listens and waits.
As Guzma goes on though, Sun just looks... tired. Sighing, he pushes himself up with his elbows so he's actually at least somewhat comfortable.]
Is that what your problems been?
[Not that Sun didn't let what he knew about his own version of Guzma color his biases here, which certainly wasn't helping their interactions.... but whatever, he was at least somewhat actively trying to avoid starting shit if he could help it. They both were stuck here after all. Golisopod also seemed to like Sun enough to come and bug him so he couldn't completely avoid his trainer. He shakes his head.]
So what, yer just gonna be an ass then? I'm still me. How well did you even really know this other me anyways? Like, really? I know he, what... knocked you down a peg or somethin' and there was somethin' about a team up...?
[Look it had been a hot minute since they actually talked about this topic, he didn't remember the exact details. Huffy though, Sun continues on. His frustration with Guzma has been building gradually all this time.]
Ok, what's his favorite—I dunno, pokemon? His favorite food? What does he do when he's not beatin' you in a Pokemon Battle?? Ugh! It's stupid! Yer stupid!
[There's an obvious delay in Guzma's movements, and even his processing as he stares at Sun while the boy responds. He's not sure what he was expecting from the kid, or what he'd even think about Guzma's angry and drunken rambling. How he just dropped that shit at his feet like he's someone to be dropping his worries on, and not some 11 year old who didn't deserve any of Guzma's animosity.
He scoffs at being questioned on how well he knew the other Sun. Mainly because, well... sure, they weren't besties, but the kid and him had a different kind of bond. They weren't like hanging every day or nothing, but that kid brought hope back to him, that kid helped him see the erroneous way he had been living, showed him there were other paths that his self-destructive ways were blinding him to.
Knocking him down a peg was oversimplifying it.
Even with Sun's questions, surprisingly Guzma doesn't get too pissed, just annoyed. Which he was already, so...]
Look kid, he and me—we were enemies, but he helped me, yo. In a way that no one else fuckin' did before. It was 'cos of him I disbanded Team Skull, it was 'cos of what he did that I went back to Hala, that I—
[His face shifts, something more despondent than angry, more hurt than hostile. He runs a hand through his wild hair as he looks off to the side, away from Sun.]
It don't matter—none of that small shit matters. You ain't him, you don't got nothin' the same as him besides your name, your face, and your voice... I don't expect you to get it, I ain't lookin' for fuckin' sympathy here.
I ain't weak like that...
[Yet here he is, talking to Sun like this. Angry, hurt, and lost... also horribly drunk.]
[It was interesting to see Guzma reply as he does. Less his typical anger and more just... well, sad sounding really. Not that Sun hadn't seen it before, they were able to talk like somewhat normal people at least once. (He's not counting any weird shit he did last month though). He was just expecting more anger or why else did Guzma roughly drag Sun inside the cabin? He could have very well just slammed the door in his face after all. Maybe it was all the alcohol...Sun's still frustrated though and it reflects in the flat look he's watching Guzma with.]
Good, cuz I don't have any sympathy to give you.
[Maybe the slightest sliver of one at the beginning? It was a shitty confusing situation and Sun gets that, but Guzma has been a real terror to deal with while being here so...]
I dunno what to tell you though. [Because really, this isn't Sun's problem and what do you honestly expect an 11 year old to say about any of this...] I'm the me you are stuck here with, and it doesn't seem like I can just avoid you all the time so... deal with it. I know bein' a jerk is I dunno, your whole thing? But it's not gonna change anything. Unless I suddenly disappear or I can find Lunala and get the hell outta here.
[He gives a huffy shrug, before pushing off from the couch. He's not leaving quite yet, but he didn't come over to have a feelings jam with drunk Guzma. He just wanted to know about Jill.]
[That despondent look starts to shift as Sun talks. That more familiar look of anger resurfacing. Not at the lack of sympathy, but at what else Sun has to say. It's true, they can't just avoid each other all the time, and they both have kinda been dicks, but Guzma especially. He can't help it.
Well, he can. It's just hard, he doesn't know how to deal with these complex situations, and even less so when he's drunk. Especially when he's hurt like this, a wound that was already freshly made, just being cut deeper, what scabbing there was merely scrubbed away without mercy.
The casual mention of suddenly disappearing riles Guzma, not because he's particularly worried about Sun doing so, but it just brings back the fact Jill's gone. Settles it right in the foreground of Guzma's mind, and the flippancy in which he says it just makes it all the worse.
As Sun rises, so too does Guzma (he's also dropping that bottle, which thankfully doesn't break when it hits the floor, but it does spill), and with one hand he swiftly catches Sun in the chest, shoving him back onto the couch.]
Where the fuck d'ya think you're goin', kid?!
[He's not done... doing whatever this is, ok!? He's drunk, and mad, and he doesn't even know what he wants, or what he needs at this point. He just has too many emotions, and the tension in the house is crushing. To a point that it's making the whole place tremble as Guzma stares down at Sun with renewed drunken hostility.]
You came over here—with that face of yours! You knew she wasn't around—you tried to get a hold of her, and couldn't! You just wanted to rile me, huh? You wanted to piss me off while I was-was—
[Weak. Vulnerable. Pathetic. He can't say it, but they're there, and he's pissed, his mind is swimming with emotions and half-thoughts, and the haze of the booze doesn't make any of this clearer. His fists are white-knuckled with their clenching, and he looks like he might very well beat Sun down right here and now if the kid doesn't think fast—or someone doesn't intervene.]
[Sun honestly wasn't expecting a drunk Guzma to have that much speed or flip quite as rapidly as he had. This whole thing was like walking on eggshells, but he had thought things were calming down somewhat at least.]
Fuck!
[Caught off guard, Sun hisses as he gets shoved back onto the couch. Glaring up to Guzma. He didn't just step on one eggshell, he done tripped and fell on all of them! There's no ignoring the crushing feeling of the environment or the literal trembling of the house around him. It was suffocating and dangerous. He needed to leave.]
I didn't come here for you! I wanted to know—wanted to see if... if she wasn't here anymore!
[Now wasn't the time for talking though. All they do is shout at each other, even when Guzma wasn't drunk. In a rush Sun reaches to his belt and releases the first one he feels. Not wanting to give Guzma any time to react or grab his arms. And in a flash of red light who did he release? Dong.
Say hello to a huge crab in the living room, taking one look at the situation and looking angrily to the drunk man threatening Sun.]
Oh? No bone to pick with me, just here for Jill, is that it? Tch!
[Guzma should have expected this child to release a Pokémon, but he didn't. Because he's fucking stupid. Well, more so because he's drunk and angry, and very hardcore lapsing into his past bullshit, but WHATEVER.
Point is, the flash is sudden and surprising, and it catches his attention—his expression going from the hostile one it had, to something a bit more surprised and taken aback. It's a good thing that Dong had punched him before, because it left one hell of an impression, one that cuts through Guzma's anger and irrational thinking at the moment. Causing Guzma to take a step back as he reaches for one of his own Ultra Balls—releasing Scizor.
The bug taking a moment to assess the situation, before honing in on Dong with his pincers raised, ready for the battle that... should not be happening in such a close vicinity to the trainers, as well as... in the goddamn cabin that Jill had left for Archie and Guzma both.
They did not need to be wrecking the place because of Guzma's inability to grieve like a normal human being!]
[you know, archie was perfectly content to just let whatever was happening happen as he did some of his work in one of the studies. he'd kind of expected something like this to happen in the wake of jill leaving again, and mipha is mercifully not around to suffer through it and try to mediate the way he knows she'd want to, regardless of her own feelings. he barely pays attention to what he can hear of the argument, though he does wince a little when he hears guzma go off on sun for not being the right one.
that said, it's the snap of a two pokéballs opening that finally makes him get up and do something. he stabs the carving knife he was using into his desk and saunters out, trying to act like he's not half as concerned and pissed about this as he actually is.]
What the fuck are you doing?! All four of you! [yeah he's including the pokémon in this.] Go outs--
[okay. he notices the bottle. smells the persistent aroma of booze. did not realise guzma had hit it that hard.]
Sun, [he starts off again, putting on his best Dad Voice mixed with Leader Voice.] There's some lunch in the fridge. I still owe you one, so go help yourself. Please return Dong in the meantime, he won't fit in there.
[back to guzma... archie figures the best thing is time out for this one.]
Golisopod! Whichever ball you're in, come out! [he says, firmly. god, he hopes anyone present listens to even one thing he's saying or it'll be embarrassing.] Guzma needs a timeout!
[FINALLY:] Scizor, I believe you have the self-control and poise to be able to battle in here without breaking anything, but goin' outside might be better. Crobat was lookin' for ya.
[Guzma's surprise at Dong's appearance gave Sun a little bit of breathing room at least. It wasn't much of course but at least he could position himself in a less vulnerable position on the couch. Something where he wasn't so backed into a corner. Dong on the other hand had turned to Scizor it's claw fists ready to duke it out right here in the living room.
But then there's Archie's voice cutting through the tense momentary silence before the Pokemon battle and Sun just freezes. He honestly had completely forgotten Jill had another roommate besides Guzma and today? Well he sure as heck didn't think there was anyone else home besides the resident drunk. He visibly jolts when he hears his name called out, looking over to Archie with wide surprised eyes. Slowly, he nods to him.]
Oh uh, alright...
[After how much he's been tossed around so far leaving sounded more appealing than a free lunch, but with Guzma still very much basically between him and the exit he'll take the next best thing: going to the other room.
He first calls back Dong, who surprisingly obliges for now, before warily making his way to the kitchen. The young boy keeping his eyes on Guzma as he passes him in case he tried one more thing. Once he makes it to the kitchen though he doesn't bother with the fridge, not yet anyways. He didn't have an appetite at all after that unfortunate roller coaster ride of a meeting. No his attention will still be on what's going on in the other room.]
[Okay this is very sudden and a lot, and Guzma's left a little frazzled by it. Suddenly Archie's there, barking orders like he's Dad of the fucking house, and Sun listens, recalling Dong, and trying to make his way to the kitchen. Trying, because Guzma absolutely goes to grab at Sun in his anger—but Golisopod seems to have heard Archie's request, appearing and grabbing Guzma in a big bug-hug, completely immobilizing him.
Much to Guzma's fury, because he's flailing, and swinging his fists, but he's unable to connect them with anything really.]
GodDAMMIT! Let me the fuck go you idiot bug! Archie—who the fuck do you think you are?! This ain't got nothing to do with you! Fuck you! I'll beat your ass!
[To Golisopod, he growls:]
Let me GO! NOW!!
[Golisopod does not.
Scizor, meanwhile, looks to Archie with a stern stare, before looking to Guzma. He looks contemplative on what he should do. What would be the most loyal act to Guzma, his eyes falling to Golisopod, who gives him a reassuring nod towards the door. There's a few odd moments between the two bugs, but Scizor seems to acquiesce, heading towards the front door—]
Scizor! Don't—don't leave...
[This makes the mantis stop, looking back at Guzma who has... stopped his flailing, and looks a bit more like a miserable lump of a man in Golisopod's arms. Like he's more or less let his body go limp, his expression about as listless as his body looks. Slowly, Scizor returns, to stand in the room silently as he watches both Golisopod and Guzma for a moment, before he looks to Archie expectantly.]
[well, that's one dealt with. he's grateful as sun goes into the kitchen with very little argument, though he doesn't have the wherewithal to send him a mental message. couldn't concentrate enough for it anyway.
he doesn't even blink in the face of guzma's vitriol. maybe before he would've tried to match it, but not now. he's glad golisopod is similarly tough to it all.]
Go with him. [he says, after a moment. he figures that this was started by jill's leaving, telling guzma's team to leave him when he's asking them not to doesn't sit well with him.] I'll be through in a minute.
[he'll have to see how sun is, make sure the little shit isn't stealing anything, maye see if he needs calming down and sent off back... wherever he's living.]
[Sun absolutely scooted his little goblin ass to the kitchen in a hurry when Guzma tried grabbing him again. Thank you Golisopod! The true unsung hero of these manbaby wars.
Sun doesn’t settle in the kitchen though, he can’t with the absolute tantrum Guzma seems to be throwing in the living room. In fact Sun can be seen peeking from around the corner still, a grumpy frown on his face as he watched on. Look his body was physically in the kitchen space so whatever. When Archie comes his way though he’ll pull back into the kitchen and wait for the other with his arms crossed over his chest.]
[Yeah, right now having Guzma's Pokémon leave him when he doesn't want them to would just exacerbate everything. He's already a mess from everything else, so having Scizor stay near by is honestly a pretty small consolation he's asking for here. However, as Golisopod goes to head towards Guzma's room to entirely remove him from the situation, Guzma's able to look back to the kitchen where Sun escaped to—only to see the little fucker peeking.
That grumpy frown just riles him again, and what was once a lifeless pile of limbs, turns into a frantic whirlwind of them as he tries to free himself from Golisopod. It's entirely fruitless, but that doesn't stop him from trying, or basically roaring with anger.]
You little shit!!
[But it doesn't matter, because Golisopod and Scizor are handling this drunk manbaby, and carrying him off to his room. At least his yelling is a bit more muffled behind that closed door, and it's two very sturdy Pokémon who are well acquainted with his shit dealing with him, as opposed to... a fucking 11 year old whose main experience with him has been explosive interactions such as this. Even back in his own version of their world, and he's about as equip to deal with this as any 11 year old would be.
Which is to say, not at all. Bless Archie, and bless these bugs.]
[that gets an absolutely minute flinch out of archie, but otherwise his trust in guzma's pokémon to hold him down stays strong. bless those bugs indeed. archie stays where he is until guzma disappears behind the door and his shouting goes from full volume to simply muffled.
he's not sure if it's obvious, but he acts casual enough when he joins sun in the kitchen. rubs his face and exhales.]
Sorry. It's been a rough couple months all around. [he tilts his head.] You know it's not your fault you're not the guy he wants you to be, right?
[Sun keeps his arms crossed even as Archie joined him in the kitchen. His focus isn't on Archie though, he hadn't done anything. He rolls his eyes though at the question as he lets out a frustrated sigh.]
Yeah, I'm not the one who has a problem with it. It's him who can't get over it.
[He casually shrugs though as if, you know being tossed around by Guzma wasn't an unusual occurrence at this point.]
[yeaaaah... he works that out immediately, expression-- well, his expression goes to concern to relatively flat. looks like that's a feeling he's putting in a box and locking down for now.]
...Then I guess you already know how that's gone, huh?
[With the topic switching, Sun's expression softened as well- just a smidge though. He nodded.]
...Yeah. I figured that one out pretty quickly. [His gaze falls to the ground beside him, as he awkwardly rubbed his arm.]
Look, I uh. I'm not actually that hungry right now. I could just go and you can get me lunch another time?
[Even with Guzma detained in gay baby jail, the atmosphere in the house wasn't the most welcoming for Sun right now. He also didn't know what to say to Archie about Jill's disappearance. It's not like he was roommates with her.]
[he nods, understanding. there's no use in making sun stick around for no reason, especially when it makes him so uncomfortable.]
Sure. Hey, before you know. Did anyone tell ya about the berry farm? I can give you directions and a map if you wanna go nab some for your Pokémon or the seeds to plant.
[Whether or not Archie agreed to Sun saying he was leaving didn't really matter. He was just waiting for any sort of acknowledgement he was heard before he was already starting back to the living room. It was nice though to know he could get lunch from Archie another time. He had only taken like a step though before he paused and tilted his head to the other.]
Oh, no. No one's mentioned it to me before. I mean, I've had a few berries show up at my place but I didn't know where they came from.
[he nods, grabbing a nearby sheet of paper and pen out of the drawers of a cabinet in the kitchen, haphazardly scribbling down the farm's location and how to get there from the market district in the city.
holding it out, he looks towards guzma's room door.]
I'll deal with him. I'll catch you another day, Sun.
[Sun’s patient enough to wait for the map, it’s promised distraction a worthy prize for dealing with all this nonsense today. He takes it when it’s ready though and heads to front door without looking back..]
I don’t know how you can be roommates with an ass like that.
[Maybe if he knew more than just basic Archie he wouldn’t be saying dumb stuff like that, but he doesn’t. Half way out the front door though he pauses one last time.]
Hey— Archie, I’m... sorry to hear what happened. Thanks for the help.
[He doesn't want to talk about this though so the door shuts fast after he says it, already leaving before he can get wrapped up in anything else. Maybe he’d go check out the berry farm before going home.]
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golisolation) wrote2010-07-17 11:01 am
no subject
And likewise, he got nothing.
He hadn't spoken to anyone about it, figured maybe Archie knew, but didn't know how to bring it up. Went to the wall to confirm whether she had been killed again, or if she had gone home... turned out it was the latter. In a way, that was better, he supposed, but it still hurt. Still made his chest feel like it had caved in. His heart crushed upon seeing her name.
He's never been good at not wearing his heart on his sleeve, keeping his emotions in check, but he's especially not now. It was like a horrific déjà vu, where instead of feeling an odd sense of repeated familiarity, it was like a torturous rerun of shit you never asked to be exposed to.
With that said, it's of little surprise that when he yanks that door open, he looks a bit like a mess. There's a bottle of booze loosely held in his hand, he's only wearing his sweats, and his hair is an absolute mess, and mostly in his face with how wild it is. Particularly when he's done nothing to keep it in check, and those glasses aren't keeping it out of his face.
His jaw is tight, and his glare hard when he sees Sun—probably one of the last people he wants to see when he's like this. Or at all, for that matter. Last they met he had punched the kid, and hell, maybe that wouldn't be such a bad thing to repeat depending on what the hell the kid even wants.]
What.
[It's not a question, more a statement. A demand, even. His voice is rough and tired, and maybe Sun's sheepishness is well placed with the impending doom of Guzma's presence and emotions. Hell, the air is heavy and thick, and might even feel a little suffocating.]
no subject
Where’s Miss Jill?
[Short, sweet, and a tone peppered with distaste for who he’s talking to. Even though he asked, Sun wasn’t sure if Guzma knew the answer. The man reeked of alcohol...]
no subject
Who died and came back, but then got taken away again. He has no idea if she just died again, or if this world was just playing some kind of cruel joke on him, but either way it's very clearly not been great for him. Even with Plumeria here, it doesn't change anything, it doesn't take away this loss—here he wanted for Plums to show up, probably more than anyone, but it wasn't meant to be at an exchange. Selfish though it may be.]
She ain't here, kid.
[It's... an answer. It's not a lie, that's for sure, but what here he means is left to be determined. With his free hand, he grabs at Sun's shirt, lifting him up by it. Likely not the reaction the kid expected, likely less the reaction he should be doing at all—but he's pissed! Angry at the situation outside of his control, angry that there's nothing he can do about it—but hey, what a convenient visitor, right? Someone he's been pretty pissed at already, so the courier gets to carry the burden of Guzma's anger.
That grin persists.]
You—you just had to come by, huh? Had to come lookin' for her. Did you even try to contact her? That shoulda been a dead fuckin' give away, yo!
[Guzma's holding Sun pretty close to his face, but he's not quite in the boy's face. He doesn't need to be for him to smell the alcohol on his breath.]
She ain't here no more—she got sent back, stupid! Whaddaya doing showing your sorry ass around here when she ain't here to protect ya!
no subject
Instead Guzma goes on, his sour breath making the boy’s nose wrinkle even more in distaste. He never thought about Guzma drinking before, but it made a lot of sense with how the older man acted.]
Ugh, you stink— Of course I tried to contact her! Why else do ya think I’m here?!
[Sun had been squirming in Guzma’s grip, one of his hands on Guzma’s arm to try to steady himself and the other reaching down to his belt for his Pokeballs. The last bit that Guzma said though has him pausing, like a deerling in headlights.]
...Sent back?
no subject
[He says that calmly enough, but then a moment later he riles again, his brow furrowing as his own repeated words seem to sink in like a dagger.]
She ain't in this damn world no more, you stupid child!
[Guzma lets the comments about him stinking go unaddressed, they didn't matter. He knew he was a mess right now, and not being one didn't change anything so what did it matter? However, while Guzma's drunk, he isn't blind, and so he noticed how the boy was reaching for his Poké balls—so he uses that hold to pull Sun inside, slamming the door behind them.
This of course leaves Sun pretty jostled and dragged through the air as he moves, carrying the kid like he's nothing over to the couch, and unceremoniously dropping him on the cushions. He levels a glare at the boy, but there's a conflict of emotion behind his eyes.]
...Why's it gotta be you?
[It's pretty vague, but then Guzma seats himself down in one of the chairs, taking a swig of that bottle as he does so. He settles, legs spread while his elbows rest on his knees as he's hunched forward. Hanging his head, he lightly shakes it.]
Why's it gotta be like this, huh? [He lifts his head, just enough to get Sun into his view, his eyes barely visibly pass that mop of hair in his face. With his free hand he gestures as he speaks.] You're here, but you ain't my homie like back home—Plums' here, but she got some messed up feelings about me—now Jill's gone...
Fuck, man. This shit ain't getting easier, and what the hell am I supposed to do, huh? Just fuckin' sit here and deal?
[He settles back against the chair with a huff, his body pretty slumped. He looks a little like a ragdoll that was dumped in that chair, even the hand that holds the bottle is pretty loose with its grip as he just... stares at Sun. He wouldn't even be talking this much if he wasn't so fucking drunk at the moment. Drunk and angry... exhausted.
It's not that he even expects sympathy from Sun or anything, there's nothing that's happened between them that would inspire that, but he just doesn't even know what to do. He wants to lash out, he wants to hurt someone, but at the same time he's just... tired.]
I hate that you got his face. His fuckin' voice. It pisses me off that you're him, yet you fuckin' ain't!
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He doesn't get much time to actually process the information though as he's jostled out of his thoughts and dragged indoors by Guzma. Yelping as he's plopped onto the couch of all things. It could have been worse, but this was by no means a comfortable situation. His eyes snap to Guzma, wary of the other—for good reason too what with the punch he got last month. With how he was both drunk and angry now? So he does the safe thing, Sun listens and waits.
As Guzma goes on though, Sun just looks... tired. Sighing, he pushes himself up with his elbows so he's actually at least somewhat comfortable.]
Is that what your problems been?
[Not that Sun didn't let what he knew about his own version of Guzma color his biases here, which certainly wasn't helping their interactions.... but whatever, he was at least somewhat actively trying to avoid starting shit if he could help it. They both were stuck here after all. Golisopod also seemed to like Sun enough to come and bug him so he couldn't completely avoid his trainer. He shakes his head.]
So what, yer just gonna be an ass then? I'm still me. How well did you even really know this other me anyways? Like, really? I know he, what... knocked you down a peg or somethin' and there was somethin' about a team up...?
[Look it had been a hot minute since they actually talked about this topic, he didn't remember the exact details. Huffy though, Sun continues on. His frustration with Guzma has been building gradually all this time.]
Ok, what's his favorite—I dunno, pokemon? His favorite food? What does he do when he's not beatin' you in a Pokemon Battle?? Ugh! It's stupid! Yer stupid!
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He scoffs at being questioned on how well he knew the other Sun. Mainly because, well... sure, they weren't besties, but the kid and him had a different kind of bond. They weren't like hanging every day or nothing, but that kid brought hope back to him, that kid helped him see the erroneous way he had been living, showed him there were other paths that his self-destructive ways were blinding him to.
Knocking him down a peg was oversimplifying it.
Even with Sun's questions, surprisingly Guzma doesn't get too pissed, just annoyed. Which he was already, so...]
Look kid, he and me—we were enemies, but he helped me, yo. In a way that no one else fuckin' did before. It was 'cos of him I disbanded Team Skull, it was 'cos of what he did that I went back to Hala, that I—
[His face shifts, something more despondent than angry, more hurt than hostile. He runs a hand through his wild hair as he looks off to the side, away from Sun.]
It don't matter—none of that small shit matters. You ain't him, you don't got nothin' the same as him besides your name, your face, and your voice... I don't expect you to get it, I ain't lookin' for fuckin' sympathy here.
I ain't weak like that...
[Yet here he is, talking to Sun like this. Angry, hurt, and lost... also horribly drunk.]
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Good, cuz I don't have any sympathy to give you.
[Maybe the slightest sliver of one at the beginning? It was a shitty confusing situation and Sun gets that, but Guzma has been a real terror to deal with while being here so...]
I dunno what to tell you though. [Because really, this isn't Sun's problem and what do you honestly expect an 11 year old to say about any of this...] I'm the me you are stuck here with, and it doesn't seem like I can just avoid you all the time so... deal with it. I know bein' a jerk is I dunno, your whole thing? But it's not gonna change anything. Unless I suddenly disappear or I can find Lunala and get the hell outta here.
[He gives a huffy shrug, before pushing off from the couch. He's not leaving quite yet, but he didn't come over to have a feelings jam with drunk Guzma. He just wanted to know about Jill.]
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Well, he can. It's just hard, he doesn't know how to deal with these complex situations, and even less so when he's drunk. Especially when he's hurt like this, a wound that was already freshly made, just being cut deeper, what scabbing there was merely scrubbed away without mercy.
The casual mention of suddenly disappearing riles Guzma, not because he's particularly worried about Sun doing so, but it just brings back the fact Jill's gone. Settles it right in the foreground of Guzma's mind, and the flippancy in which he says it just makes it all the worse.
As Sun rises, so too does Guzma (he's also dropping that bottle, which thankfully doesn't break when it hits the floor, but it does spill), and with one hand he swiftly catches Sun in the chest, shoving him back onto the couch.]
Where the fuck d'ya think you're goin', kid?!
[He's not done... doing whatever this is, ok!? He's drunk, and mad, and he doesn't even know what he wants, or what he needs at this point. He just has too many emotions, and the tension in the house is crushing. To a point that it's making the whole place tremble as Guzma stares down at Sun with renewed drunken hostility.]
You came over here—with that face of yours! You knew she wasn't around—you tried to get a hold of her, and couldn't! You just wanted to rile me, huh? You wanted to piss me off while I was-was—
[Weak. Vulnerable. Pathetic. He can't say it, but they're there, and he's pissed, his mind is swimming with emotions and half-thoughts, and the haze of the booze doesn't make any of this clearer. His fists are white-knuckled with their clenching, and he looks like he might very well beat Sun down right here and now if the kid doesn't think fast—or someone doesn't intervene.]
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Fuck!
[Caught off guard, Sun hisses as he gets shoved back onto the couch. Glaring up to Guzma. He didn't just step on one eggshell, he done tripped and fell on all of them! There's no ignoring the crushing feeling of the environment or the literal trembling of the house around him. It was suffocating and dangerous. He needed to leave.]
I didn't come here for you! I wanted to know—wanted to see if... if she wasn't here anymore!
[Now wasn't the time for talking though. All they do is shout at each other, even when Guzma wasn't drunk. In a rush Sun reaches to his belt and releases the first one he feels. Not wanting to give Guzma any time to react or grab his arms. And in a flash of red light who did he release? Dong.
Say hello to a huge crab in the living room, taking one look at the situation and looking angrily to the drunk man threatening Sun.]
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[Guzma should have expected this child to release a Pokémon, but he didn't. Because he's fucking stupid. Well, more so because he's drunk and angry, and very hardcore lapsing into his past bullshit, but WHATEVER.
Point is, the flash is sudden and surprising, and it catches his attention—his expression going from the hostile one it had, to something a bit more surprised and taken aback. It's a good thing that Dong had punched him before, because it left one hell of an impression, one that cuts through Guzma's anger and irrational thinking at the moment. Causing Guzma to take a step back as he reaches for one of his own Ultra Balls—releasing Scizor.
The bug taking a moment to assess the situation, before honing in on Dong with his pincers raised, ready for the battle that... should not be happening in such a close vicinity to the trainers, as well as... in the goddamn cabin that Jill had left for Archie and Guzma both.
They did not need to be wrecking the place because of Guzma's inability to grieve like a normal human being!]
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that said, it's the snap of a two pokéballs opening that finally makes him get up and do something. he stabs the carving knife he was using into his desk and saunters out, trying to act like he's not half as concerned and pissed about this as he actually is.]
What the fuck are you doing?! All four of you! [yeah he's including the pokémon in this.] Go outs--
[okay. he notices the bottle. smells the persistent aroma of booze. did not realise guzma had hit it that hard.]
Sun, [he starts off again, putting on his best Dad Voice mixed with Leader Voice.] There's some lunch in the fridge. I still owe you one, so go help yourself. Please return Dong in the meantime, he won't fit in there.
[back to guzma... archie figures the best thing is time out for this one.]
Golisopod! Whichever ball you're in, come out! [he says, firmly. god, he hopes anyone present listens to even one thing he's saying or it'll be embarrassing.] Guzma needs a timeout!
[FINALLY:] Scizor, I believe you have the self-control and poise to be able to battle in here without breaking anything, but goin' outside might be better. Crobat was lookin' for ya.
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But then there's Archie's voice cutting through the tense momentary silence before the Pokemon battle and Sun just freezes. He honestly had completely forgotten Jill had another roommate besides Guzma and today? Well he sure as heck didn't think there was anyone else home besides the resident drunk. He visibly jolts when he hears his name called out, looking over to Archie with wide surprised eyes. Slowly, he nods to him.]
Oh uh, alright...
[After how much he's been tossed around so far leaving sounded more appealing than a free lunch, but with Guzma still very much basically between him and the exit he'll take the next best thing: going to the other room.
He first calls back Dong, who surprisingly obliges for now, before warily making his way to the kitchen. The young boy keeping his eyes on Guzma as he passes him in case he tried one more thing. Once he makes it to the kitchen though he doesn't bother with the fridge, not yet anyways. He didn't have an appetite at all after that unfortunate roller coaster ride of a meeting. No his attention will still be on what's going on in the other room.]
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Much to Guzma's fury, because he's flailing, and swinging his fists, but he's unable to connect them with anything really.]
GodDAMMIT! Let me the fuck go you idiot bug! Archie—who the fuck do you think you are?! This ain't got nothing to do with you! Fuck you! I'll beat your ass!
[To Golisopod, he growls:]
Let me GO! NOW!!
[Golisopod does not.
Scizor, meanwhile, looks to Archie with a stern stare, before looking to Guzma. He looks contemplative on what he should do. What would be the most loyal act to Guzma, his eyes falling to Golisopod, who gives him a reassuring nod towards the door. There's a few odd moments between the two bugs, but Scizor seems to acquiesce, heading towards the front door—]
Scizor! Don't—don't leave...
[This makes the mantis stop, looking back at Guzma who has... stopped his flailing, and looks a bit more like a miserable lump of a man in Golisopod's arms. Like he's more or less let his body go limp, his expression about as listless as his body looks. Slowly, Scizor returns, to stand in the room silently as he watches both Golisopod and Guzma for a moment, before he looks to Archie expectantly.]
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he doesn't even blink in the face of guzma's vitriol. maybe before he would've tried to match it, but not now. he's glad golisopod is similarly tough to it all.]
Go with him. [he says, after a moment. he figures that this was started by jill's leaving, telling guzma's team to leave him when he's asking them not to doesn't sit well with him.] I'll be through in a minute.
[he'll have to see how sun is, make sure the little shit isn't stealing anything, maye see if he needs calming down and sent off back... wherever he's living.]
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Sun doesn’t settle in the kitchen though, he can’t with the absolute tantrum Guzma seems to be throwing in the living room. In fact Sun can be seen peeking from around the corner still, a grumpy frown on his face as he watched on. Look his body was physically in the kitchen space so whatever. When Archie comes his way though he’ll pull back into the kitchen and wait for the other with his arms crossed over his chest.]
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That grumpy frown just riles him again, and what was once a lifeless pile of limbs, turns into a frantic whirlwind of them as he tries to free himself from Golisopod. It's entirely fruitless, but that doesn't stop him from trying, or basically roaring with anger.]
You little shit!!
[But it doesn't matter, because Golisopod and Scizor are handling this drunk manbaby, and carrying him off to his room. At least his yelling is a bit more muffled behind that closed door, and it's two very sturdy Pokémon who are well acquainted with his shit dealing with him, as opposed to... a fucking 11 year old whose main experience with him has been explosive interactions such as this. Even back in his own version of their world, and he's about as equip to deal with this as any 11 year old would be.
Which is to say, not at all. Bless Archie, and bless these bugs.]
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he's not sure if it's obvious, but he acts casual enough when he joins sun in the kitchen. rubs his face and exhales.]
Sorry. It's been a rough couple months all around. [he tilts his head.] You know it's not your fault you're not the guy he wants you to be, right?
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Yeah, I'm not the one who has a problem with it. It's him who can't get over it.
[He casually shrugs though as if, you know being tossed around by Guzma wasn't an unusual occurrence at this point.]
I didn't even come over here for him, so.
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...Then I guess you already know how that's gone, huh?
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...Yeah. I figured that one out pretty quickly. [His gaze falls to the ground beside him, as he awkwardly rubbed his arm.]
Look, I uh. I'm not actually that hungry right now. I could just go and you can get me lunch another time?
[Even with Guzma detained in gay baby jail, the atmosphere in the house wasn't the most welcoming for Sun right now. He also didn't know what to say to Archie about Jill's disappearance. It's not like he was roommates with her.]
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Sure. Hey, before you know. Did anyone tell ya about the berry farm? I can give you directions and a map if you wanna go nab some for your Pokémon or the seeds to plant.
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Oh, no. No one's mentioned it to me before. I mean, I've had a few berries show up at my place but I didn't know where they came from.
[It was Dong. Dong stole them.]
Yeah though, I'd like that.
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holding it out, he looks towards guzma's room door.]
I'll deal with him. I'll catch you another day, Sun.
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I don’t know how you can be roommates with an ass like that.
[Maybe if he knew more than just basic Archie he wouldn’t be saying dumb stuff like that, but he doesn’t. Half way out the front door though he pauses one last time.]
Hey— Archie, I’m... sorry to hear what happened. Thanks for the help.
[He doesn't want to talk about this though so the door shuts fast after he says it, already leaving before he can get wrapped up in anything else. Maybe he’d go check out the berry farm before going home.]
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