[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.]
[he just shrugs-- there's a lot he could say in response but none of it really... helpful. archie's not offended by it, at any rate. there's no response to sun's expression of sympathy either. if the kid even hears anything, it's a noncomittal grunt.
archie waits until sun is properly out the door, then saunters to guzma's room. sounds like it's quietened down in there... he's not sure if he should wait more or not.
sighing, he decides that it's probably better to just suck it up. he expects guzma's pokémon are doing their due diligence but expects to be hit nonetheless. he's just thankful mipha isn't home to see all this go down. that's the last thing she needs. his hand hovers over the door for a long few moments before finally, he sucks it up and knocks.]
[It's not Guzma who opens the door, or even responds (well he does, but an angry grunt is barely worthy of being called that), but rather Scizor opens the door a crack. He peers at Archie for a moment before he opens the door more fully, as if he had to decide whether or not to let Archie have access to Guzma.
Clearly he's decided on yes, particularly when he moves out of the way so Archie can come in, closing the door behind him once he has entered. Golisopod on the other hand, has all of his busy with holding Guzma who looks more like an angry, distraught child, than a grown man. His face is red with frustration and anger, and he shoots a glare at Archie that has less of an edge to it then he'd like.]
Y'coming to yell at me over that li'l punk, huh?
[There he goes, that's a proper response. His voice is low and gravely, but there's a fragility to it that bespeaks how messed up he is over this whole Jill thing. The tenseness of his body--which affects the entire room, certainly plays testament to the fact that if not for Golisopod's caring and restraining hold, Guzma might very well have launched himself at Archie.
He might still, if given the chance. There's so much aimless anger in him right now, it's a wonder the room isn't boiling. It is, however, uncomfortably warm, and it doesn't seem to be getting nay colder. Scizor looks notably uncomfortable, his wings working overtime to keep himself cool.
It doesn't go unnoticed by Guzma, even in his current state. So, quickly, with a glance to Scizor and then the ball on the floor, he adds:]
...Put Scizor in his ball.
[He might be mad and drunk, but those things will never overwrite the needs of his Pokémon.]
You're a grown man, Guzma. I'm not going to treat you like an idiot.
[even if guzma isn't acting or feeling like an adult, right now. archie feels much the same way, honestly. he's just better at keeping his bad feelings inside himself. with a short nod, he stoops down to pick up the ball and click the return button, placing it next to guzma and golisopod when the pokémon's fully disappeared.
he wrings his hands for a moment, betraying his uncertainty here.
finally, he decides he might as well be truthful:] I'm just worried about you, is all. I wanted to make sure you hadn't hurt yourself.
[even though he knows it's far too late for that.]
[That, surprisingly, eases Guzma. A shift that even Golisopod senses, and it might be why he releases his trainer. Guzma doesn't move, doesn't make a swipe at Archie. It's hard, when you've got so many damn feelings, and you have no idea how to deal with any of them. Then you do something stupid and make it worse...
Archie's uncertainty, clear and humbling, helps calm a bit of that anger. Not entriely, but a roaring fire turning into something more moderate and controlled still burns, and can go wild should it be handled carelessly. Guzma just lets out a defeated sort of sound, not quite a sob--he isn't crying, but there's also nothing else that quite fits. Bringing a hand to his face, he uses the other to push himself out of Golisopod's hold. Shifting himself to the edge of the bed so that his feet can rest on the floor as he hangs forward over his lap.]
Archie... why do you care?
[It sounds shitty, and dismissive, but it's not meant to be. He honestly wants to know, he knows he's a mess, he's aggressive, hell not that long ago he assaulted Archie over a stupid joke. He pushes shit too far, and he knows well how he fucked things up with that Nihilego knock-off... Yet here Archie is, checking on him, making sure he doesn't destroy himself or hurt himself further.
Jill's disappearance is a knife to Archie's gut too, and yet here he is... Cleaning up Guzma's mess.]
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golisolation) wrote2010-07-17 11:01 am
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!
no subject
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!
no subject
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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archie waits until sun is properly out the door, then saunters to guzma's room. sounds like it's quietened down in there... he's not sure if he should wait more or not.
sighing, he decides that it's probably better to just suck it up. he expects guzma's pokémon are doing their due diligence but expects to be hit nonetheless. he's just thankful mipha isn't home to see all this go down. that's the last thing she needs. his hand hovers over the door for a long few moments before finally, he sucks it up and knocks.]
Guzma...?
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Clearly he's decided on yes, particularly when he moves out of the way so Archie can come in, closing the door behind him once he has entered. Golisopod on the other hand, has all of his busy with holding Guzma who looks more like an angry, distraught child, than a grown man. His face is red with frustration and anger, and he shoots a glare at Archie that has less of an edge to it then he'd like.]
Y'coming to yell at me over that li'l punk, huh?
[There he goes, that's a proper response. His voice is low and gravely, but there's a fragility to it that bespeaks how messed up he is over this whole Jill thing. The tenseness of his body--which affects the entire room, certainly plays testament to the fact that if not for Golisopod's caring and restraining hold, Guzma might very well have launched himself at Archie.
He might still, if given the chance. There's so much aimless anger in him right now, it's a wonder the room isn't boiling. It is, however, uncomfortably warm, and it doesn't seem to be getting nay colder. Scizor looks notably uncomfortable, his wings working overtime to keep himself cool.
It doesn't go unnoticed by Guzma, even in his current state. So, quickly, with a glance to Scizor and then the ball on the floor, he adds:]
...Put Scizor in his ball.
[He might be mad and drunk, but those things will never overwrite the needs of his Pokémon.]
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[even if guzma isn't acting or feeling like an adult, right now. archie feels much the same way, honestly. he's just better at keeping his bad feelings inside himself. with a short nod, he stoops down to pick up the ball and click the return button, placing it next to guzma and golisopod when the pokémon's fully disappeared.
he wrings his hands for a moment, betraying his uncertainty here.
finally, he decides he might as well be truthful:] I'm just worried about you, is all. I wanted to make sure you hadn't hurt yourself.
[even though he knows it's far too late for that.]
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Archie's uncertainty, clear and humbling, helps calm a bit of that anger. Not entriely, but a roaring fire turning into something more moderate and controlled still burns, and can go wild should it be handled carelessly. Guzma just lets out a defeated sort of sound, not quite a sob--he isn't crying, but there's also nothing else that quite fits. Bringing a hand to his face, he uses the other to push himself out of Golisopod's hold. Shifting himself to the edge of the bed so that his feet can rest on the floor as he hangs forward over his lap.]
Archie... why do you care?
[It sounds shitty, and dismissive, but it's not meant to be. He honestly wants to know, he knows he's a mess, he's aggressive, hell not that long ago he assaulted Archie over a stupid joke. He pushes shit too far, and he knows well how he fucked things up with that Nihilego knock-off... Yet here Archie is, checking on him, making sure he doesn't destroy himself or hurt himself further.
Jill's disappearance is a knife to Archie's gut too, and yet here he is... Cleaning up Guzma's mess.]
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