💀 MoM IC INBOX 💀

[golisolation]

"Yo, it's the hated boss that beats you down, and beats you down, and never lets up... Yeah, big bad Guzma is here—well, I ain't, actually. Leave a message and ya boy will get back at ya. Later days, dude."

TEXT / AUDIO / VIDEO / ACTION

Comments

text

[h2no]

lost you for a day there bro
anything happen?

text

[golisolation]

wat

text at like 4am

[h2no]

just found out about a new kind of rare bug here
interesting, no?

1/3

[golisolation]

[It's a good thing Guzma holds odd hours, otherwise Archie might have had to wait for his reaction. He still has to wait, because when Guzma clicks that link—]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[At some point this evening, Guzma's going to get a message to a BlueTube video. Considering it's from Darin, there's a solid chance it's a video of their most recent fight.]

[But it's not. It's actually footage of the two of them working together to stop that bank robbery. If he reads the comments people are split on whether or not they are friends or enemies. However, some people are ecstatic to see a true rivalry finally blossoming among imPorts. Apparently people have been waiting for this.]

[Darin doesn't say anything else with the link. For now.]

[golisolation]

[Guzma almost ignores it. If it's from Darin, it's probably no good. However, his curiosity gets the better of him, and he watches it.

Only to get fucking pissed. He knows he can't let Darin know this, though. So, he lets Darin wait a while. Probably about an hour or so. The comments are interesting, even if annoying, but thinking of Darin as his rival is... it's a thought. He didn't quite place him in that position, at least he didn't realize it. It's not wrong, though. He is kinda of taking that slot in his social circle, isn't he?

No Kukui here, after all.]

u tryin 2 win me ovr w/ this shit or what?
or u rubbin it in my face that u fucked me up w/ that rock huh???

[fauxmarth]

Greetings, Guzma.
As we discussed some days ago, I've acquired some of those pokeberries.
I can share them with you when you wish.

[golisolation]

[Huh. Here he didn't think she'd actually do it, seems he might have pegged her wrong. Interesting.]

im free 2day
pick a place 2 meet up

text, backdated to like awhile ago

[hatejakku]

You're Guzma, right?

I'm a friend of Archie's. he said his pokemon were with you. i was wondering if i could visit them?

[ Archie KINDA implied that he might take them off of Guzma's hands but he'll cross that bridge later. He just misses his buddies right now. ]

text

[golisolation]

[Guzma almost doesn't reply, mainly because he's kind of a dick. He agreed to care for Archie's Pokémon, sure, but he didn't expect to have people wanting to visit them. He supposes it makes sense, considering his own Pokémon have made their share of... friends, much to Guzma's chagrin.]

sure am

they r but y should i give a fuck u wanna c em huh??

[A charmer.]

Text

[namesaquestion]

so if u married archie does tht meen ur llike anther gardian or sumthng???

[Inquiring minds want to know.

Also guess what's been on his mind since he revived??]

1/2

[golisolation]

[fauxmarth]

[Lucina says her thank-yous and farewells to the convenience store clerk, stuffing her purchase into her purse on her way out the door. rifling contents around lights her phone back up, and she's peeking at it sidelong to see what it is even as she turns to start down the sidewalk, which means, of course--]

Oh-- Excuse me. Sorry, I--

[she blinks, stepping back and looking...up. blinkblink.]

O-oh. Hello, Guzma.

[golisolation]

[See, Guzma was about to turn and give whoever so carelessly ran into him a menacing glare, you know, really make 'em regret minorly inconveniencing him!! But then it has to be Lucina, and the hardness of his features melt away, and instead are replaced with something a bit more neutral, if not a little surprised.

He doesn't have a purse (what a surprise!), but he does have some plastic bags in his hands, full of what looks like bottles of some sort. Turning to face her more fully, he glances to her phone, before locking eyes with her. Maybe staring a little more intensely than he means to.

Guzma's just like that. He gives her a small nod in greeting, y'know, like bros do??]

S'up. You on patrol or something..?

[Why's he still feel so awkward with her? Didn't they talk about this? Didn't they spar in his backyard, and lets not forget the other stuff. Guess it can't be helped when this is still so new...]

TEXT FROM A MYSTERIOUS BENEFACTOR

[maskormods]

the message will soon come

dot marks an end
clock

untraceable text

[maskormods]

1st letter

V

s-e•-:-g-r
o-g•-s•
w-f•-h-a
o•-h-o
t-a-’-t-e
g-c-o-s-r•-r-a
c-h-h-h-m
c-o

[fauxmarth]

It seems your friend is popular enough to be in craft stores...

[attachment01.jpg]

[golisolation]

[That's...entirely too endearing. It makes sense someone would want to make something like this of Golisopod! He deserves this attention, he's a good bug.

But of course Guzma's gonna Guzma...]

do they think makin a doll of him gonna make him seem less threatening or somethin?

ppl gonna b in 4 a rude awakenin if they think hes just some cute cuddle bug yo

WELP

[fauxmarth]

[no notice, no formal discharge, no sign of a body in the room, no Golisopod.......... given the climate of the month, Lucina cannot and will not be blamed for concern!]

What happened? Where are you?

[golisolation]

[Guzma, like many of the decisions he makes, didn't think this entirely through. He had one thing on his mind, and it was to get the hell out of the hospital and see what shape the factory is in, and it's...not great.

So when he gets the message he's both surprised and maybe a little guilty as realization settles in. Time to act like he's NOT.]

nothin happened i just wasnt feelin the hospital no more
im @ the factory

text;

[crassidy]

m8
m8
i need to get wasted and im lonely

text;

[golisolation]

[He probably shouldn't be getting wasted right now, but he's never been particularly...good at taking care of himself, so!!]

yo dude im down
where @

[krookedcop]

[Nanu is doing what he does best, besides taking care of cats, that is. Ever since he found Guzma's house, he's creeping around Guzma's neighborhood. He found Tupp last time, who knows what he might find next time... He doesn't want to go directly to Guzma's door to tip him off, either. Man, what was he doing these days? Guzma going missing had made him feel a little crazy, too. Maybe he was going a little crazy. His couple cigarettes a day habit had slowly creeped up to a pack a day... some days.]

[His thoughts are interrupted by catching sight of that spiky white hair... And a neck brace. He almost drops the cigarette out of his mouth when his jaw drops.]

Guzma! What happened to you?

[Nanu is dressed in a black bomber jacket and his regular pants... But he's managed to find some winter boots to fit over his sandals, clearly. He's wearing a dark grey trapper hat, an obvious choice for someone who clearly can't make enough of his own heat. He jogs across the street, unable to wipe the concern off his face. ]

[golisolation]

[Guzma's not expecting to hear his name suddenly, nor Nanu's voice on top of it. As such, like a complete and utter idiot, he tries to turn is head—big mistake, and it shows on his expression as it twists with pain. After a moment, he turns to bodily face Nanu.]

...Shit, didn't realize you were still kickin'.

[That doesn't answer the question, does it?

Guzma's likewise dressed in a coat more fitting for the weather, but otherwise is in his normal attire. He'd have a scarf around his neck, but...]

Also, whaddaya mean what happened to—oh. Y'mean the neck brace? Broke my neck, apparently.

[THAT STILL DOESN'T ANSWER THE QUESTION...]

laughs about this with the above thread

[h2no]

nice party last night






fucked nanu btw

INCREDIBLE

[golisolation]

[THIS IS NOT A TEXT CONVERSATION, YOU PICK UP THAT RINGING PHONE RIGHT THIS FUCKING INSTANT.]

post body swap

[h2no]

GUZMA WHERE THE FUCK IS MY FUCKING BEARD!?

[he leaves this extremely loud message at 4am. fuck you, buddy.]

[golisolation]

[This is not an unexpected message, not really. But considering the shit Archie and Darin put his body through? Yeah, he doesn't even feel a little bit sorry.

It's about an hour later when he gets a text from Guzma.]

idk man it just seemed 2 fall out
look i even tried 2 fix it 4 andy check ur photos 4 the evidence

[and that's where he'll see the picture of his beard haphazardly taped to his face. Also a lot of other pictures of Archie doing various stupid things, one of which mid-tattooing of the Team Skull logo on his left pec, right over his goddamn nipple. The tattoo itself is about the size of a baseball, so it covers a good amount of Archie's tiddy.

But surely Archie knows about that by now, even in his beardless rage.]

[fauxmarth]

[attached: photo at a grocery store clearance aisle of Christmas candy]

Want anything?

[golisolation]

whats ur budget

[You don't ask your BF who has a sweet tooth if he wants anything when it comes to candy!!]

Christmas! Backdated to the 25th - ANON!

[moonlitpath]

[Guzma's gift is delivered, along with Tupp's, late in the evening. The wrapping is plain and brown with what could pass for a pinsir drawn on it.

Unwrapping the box reveals a hand-made golisopod plush that's easily one and half feet tall. It's not the best - it's lumpy in places and has some scale issues (the arms for one, and how thick it is overall), but its clear someone did their best. There's also a skull-shaped necklace made of shiny silver-and-gold cloth.

There's even a typed card (unsigned!) that reads:]

I hope you like it.

[hatejakku]

[ Finn thought a long time about how to start this conversation and he still doesn't actually know. Does he call? Does he go visit? How does he even bring up the subject?

Texting, as always, is the answer. ]

Hey
So I was wondering
What exactly does the Skull Gang do?

[ smooth start ]

[golisolation]

[Guzma can't say he's expecting such a question, but he's not actually surprised by it either. Maybe more so surprised it's from Finn, but it's not the first time he's been approached about their motivations.]

w/e tf we want
y?

[Not sure what Finn was expecting...]

text before cnc2020

[h2no]

whats the name of the pokémon that evolves into magcargo? i don't remember

[golisolation]

r u high?
slugma

time 4 action

[fauxmarth]

Guzma, look!

[she's returned to his part of the lair at last, having vanished, kidnapped by some of the girls in the factory. after that hour or so, she's got braids upon braids tied up in a ponytail -- messy, of course, considering the inconsistency of her haircut.

still, it's not a bad look! right? they sure thought so, and maybe the extra drinks they'd pushed in her hand to keep her sitting still throughout helps make that easier to believe.

while doing a turn:] What do you think?

[golisolation]

[Upon her initial kidnapping, he had thought to tell them to back off, but Lucina hadn't seemed so bothered by the idea, and maybe it seemed like both Lucina and the gaggle of girl grunts could use the bonding time. So, instead, Guzma kept to himself in his own personal den of sorts, tending to Golisopod's shell with some high-end wax, after a good scrub down, of course.

By the time Lucina's returned with her own make-over, Golisopod's shell looks pristine as ever, and the lump is snoozing on the pile of rugs and pillows scattered on the floor just before the couches and tv. Guzma' relaxing on said couch, sipping a room temperature beer as the heater in the room is on blast—the factory still gets pretty chilly even with the winterizing—but he pauses mid sip when Lucina returns and shows herself off.

He smirks, glancing her over, but picking up there's something different about her, and not just her hair. Did she...sway a little with that turn?]

Tch, so that's what they were after, huh?

[Which...isn't an answer, but then he shrugs with a smirk.]

S'good. You look good with braids.

Worried txt thx 2 Archie

[silvallyant]

[Thanks to Archie telling him that "he didn't make it", Gladion's actually worried, even if he doesn't exactly understand why he's as worried as he is about Guzma. He just hopes there'll be a response.]

Guzma? You there?

[golisolation]

no

[Jackass.]

[fauxmarth]

[behold! a voicemail. from a rather upbeat Lucina at that!]

Guzma! Hello! Are you busy? Well, if you are, it’s fine, but call me when you can! I have some pretty promising news to share. I look forward to telling you!

[golisolation]

[Well! He always loves messages from Lucina, but especially upbeat ones! He'd have picked up at first but he was busy uh...doing some illegal things. It doesn't matter, because he's calling her back.

When she answers, he too sounds like he's in a good mood.]

Yo, Lu! What's up?

march 2020 memory flood

[hellufacade]

[Now, Emet-Selch is just trying to enjoy himself and is successfully doing so as he checks out the sweet futuristic vehicles. He’s pretty drunk as is, but has enough composure to keep himself together even still. Besides, he’s not trying to entertain anyone but himself right now. ]

[ And then it feels like his brain is being wrenched apart.]

[Guzma gets to see things through Solus’ eyes. A flash from the reflective surface of some magitek confirms that this is a significantly younger man, dressed in some strange military uniform. He seems to be speaking to two other men dressed similarly, though he is not facing them.]

[“We have reached an impasse with the Eorzeans. These clashes will only come up with more casualties unless we pull together. Our leadership has no head; the senate is filled with petty politicians who seek naught but meek survival. Our republic has seen fit only to let us bend and break under our oppressors when we know that the only reason we stand here at all is by my efforts, my hand!” ]

[The two others seem to agree heartily with him. This is not the first time they have had this conversation.]

[“I say we lead this country out of the dark!”]

[This memory ends and another begins with Solus tinkering inside of a cane of some kind. He steps back to allow the other engineer to observe his work. “The potency of aether wont be as powerful as a naturally gifted magic user, but without the regulator, they are much more apt to explode when struck... Refinements will be necessary, but this should vastly increase our medical response...]

[Another memory comes, even quicker. Perhaps they’re tapering off? Solus stands, a small blond babe in arm as he looks out over his throne room. Hundreds of soldiers stand and salute alongside their bipedal war machines. Trumpets play as the anthem is sung by a hundred impassioned voices.]

voice;

[golisolation]

[Guzma's not sure what to think of all these memory shenanigans going on, but he's apparently not fucking spared. The flashes of Emet-Selch's memories startle and confound, but ultimately he's drawn into what's being shown. Particularly when he hears the voice that's apparently coming from him say "our republic has seen fit only to let us bend and break under our oppressors". Immediately he feels an emphatic pulse of relation to such a notion and situation. Different though it is, vastly at that, the core of it is the same.

It strikes a chord with him, and seeing those following memories in quick succession further sells him on the solidarity he believed he had with Emet-Selch at the first. The fact he could see oppression when others couldn't, that he and Guzma were from similar situations, fighting back against those who would force them to assimilate or else...

He's left there, pondering these memories, wondering if he should say anything to the man, or not. Reach out about it, or not. And while Guzma has a great deal of arguable allies here, he doesn't quite have those who get him. Get his struggles. But maybe...

Fuck it, he's gonna call him, and when he answers:]

Yo, so you used to be some kinda boss, huh?

[Boss, Emperor, whatever.]

MEMSHARE

[hundredmillyen]

[Hey Guzma! Heard you liked getting memories from people you don't really know! I'm sure that's been going around a lot lately.

The memory Guzma is treated to is a relatively brief one at least. A young kid (with the perspective it can be guessed at least, either that or this person is just very short) on a bright vibrant island heading towards the lone house occupying it. Whatever pep to the step there was approaching the house is instantly stopped at the doorway.

The house is dark and the first thing that can be seen in a body covered with a sheet. The face is likewise covered with a small towel. There is a grieving Alolan Meowth sitting beside the body. Whoever's memory this is seems stunned at the vision, the view shaking somewhat stuck staring at the body.]

What? His great-grandson?

[The voice is not that of whoever is experiencing this, instead it should be a familiar one. Faba's. It's enough to draw the vision away from the body to that of Faba and the three other Aether employees with him who beckon the kid further inside and ultimately break the news of this kid's great-grandfathers passing last night followed quickly by a cold order to one of the employees to carry the body out.]

Where are you taking him?!

[Finally the voice of whom this memory belongs! It should be somewhat familiar having at least talked to Sun on both the network and battling the kid, but it does sound a tad younger.

Faba goes on to explain that the body was to be taken to a funeral home on a nearby island, and that Aether wouldn't usually go to such lengths but that they wanted to start construction on Aether Paradise as soon as possible.

The kid was clearly not having any of that though, shouting about the island belongs to his grandpa and how he was going to make Poke Pelago on this island. Their discussions continue back and forth for a while, explaining who really owned the island and mentions of purchasing it to be able to do whatever someone wanted to do with it. Faba being his usual casual and dismissive self, while Sun was basically shouting with both grief and anger. Ultimately it came down to one question:]

What will it cost?!

[Followed by a thoughtful hum from Faba as he toyed with beard.]

Let's see. [a beat] Exactly 100 million yen.

[The memory fades here and for a moment it seems that that’s all there would be. But it isn’t too long before another starts up.

This memory starts staring at a grave. Sun kneeling on the grass before it.]

Peso. Cent. Dollar.

[Although they are currently unseen, the same Alolan Meowths present in that house are also here at the grave standing behind Sun.]

I’m gonna get great-gramps’ island back, no matter what. I’ll save 100 million yen and buy it back from that Faba guy, just like I promised. So...

[The vision is trembling as the view goes down to Sun’s tiny little kid hands balled up into fists.]

It only has to be until then! Would you help me? Please!

[Finally the view shifts to look over to the cats in question and in doing so illuminated just exactly where this was. Memorial Hill on Akala. Two of the cats shake their head no and after a moment take off down the path in the graveyard. There was one Meowth left though, sitting down leaned up against one of the hedges. It’s head hung low. This clearly surprised kid Sun.]

Aren’t you gonna follow them, Dollar?

[The memory finally fades here, the view focusing on Dollar’s face as he lifted his head to look at Sun. If there was ever a Pokemon who looked like it could commit murder, it was this Meowth with how serious it looked.

With that, no more memories follow. It seems they’re finally over.]

VIDEO//source: anon//postdate:03.14

[fauxmarth]

"Still sulking in here, li'l princess?"

Pressing play starts with that lighthearted question, and then the view blinks to life. A little, blue-haired girl sits in front of a vanity mirror, dressed in frills. She watches the reflection of a burly redhead strolling over, clad in training leathers, dusty from head-to-toe, sporting a few bandages here and there. She's smiling, almost smirking, as she scoots the child over and grunts when she has a seat.

"I'm not!" the child protests, her cheeks puffing in a pout. She looks away as the woman reaches and gives her little shoulder a shake.

"Aaah, yeah, you are. Come on, you're really going to be mad that I kept a bunch of infantrymen from trampling you?"

"I was gonna beat 'em all up!" the girl affirms, nose in the air.

"Yyyeah, you'd sure try," the woman sighs, her expression fond as she pats the girl's head, smoothing out some flyaways. "But you're still a little too little to be taking on a whole battalion like that -- even just for training."

"You did..."

"Only 'cuz you were runnin' right there in the middle! You think a mama bear's not gonna go rushing in to raise hell for her cub? Come on, Lucina!"

While little Lucina crosses her arms and pouts, the woman sighs in exasperation, bobbing the little blue head side to side in thought for a moment. An idea strikes in a couple seconds, and the bobbing stops.

"Here, you know what you forgot?"

"What?" Lucina turns her head, and now the view is of her mother rifling through a belt pouch. Something small and white is procured, but hard to make out as hands come to her face and the view is blacked out with the closing of her eyes.

"Well, you can at least wear a little sign of battle. Prove you showed some mettle today...until you can get out there and really show them hell."



The woman gives Lucina another little shoulder shake, grinning as Lucina notices their matching bandages with growing delight. There's a bit of laughter, and the woman is saying something again, but the feed starts to glitch, the audio replaced with jumbled static before things stabilize again with a few "blinks," but when it does--



--Lucina isn't a little girl in frills anymore. She's maybe fourteen or fifteen -- a child, still, but not the same rosy-cheeked one from a second ago. The red on her face is from scrapes and smeared blood, the same such that peppers her armor and clothing.

The woman behind her is younger than even she is -- but clad in massive, bulky armor, her hair the same shade as Lucina's.

"You were sulking in here?" she asks, and Lucina blinks, looking away from the broken mirror for only a moment before turning back with a slow shake of her head.

"No...No, I...I just remembered something, is all."

The girl looks dubious at that, but doesn't press on it. Instead, she lifts her head and takes on a more urgent tone.

"Gerome's just flown back. He found Inigo and Owain. The Plegians know they have one of the Emblem's stones."

That gets Lucina's expression to grow more dark and concerned, shoulders tensing.

"...Then we better go save them."

She turns, nodding.

"Come on, Kjelle. Let's get out of here."