golisolation | 💀 MoM IC INBOX 💀

[The squad's not out yet, that'd be too many damn Pokémon to keep track of at once while traveling.

Guzma's dressed in his usual Skull ensemble, which recently the back had to get repaired due to Guzma taking some shots for Archie in the raid, but that's neither here nor there. The fact that Lucina is dressed so casually strikes Guzma, and maybe he feels a little insulted. Only because it means her guard isn't fully up—he sees the sword, but that barely helps his scuffed ego.

It's not that he even had any plans to do anything to her, it's just the implication that she doesn't expect to need her armor while meeting with him.]

Yo.

[His eyes fall to the basket, head tilting to the side.]

Guessin' that's them, huh?

It is.

[she pulls a corner of the towel she'd lined it all with back and extends the whole thing his way for inspection. there's a variety there, and in abundance. she's forgotten the exact names of each since last Blue had explained them...]

I picked a surplus, in case you had a mind to plant any for your own convenience. I've not tried growing any in the city, but considering how hardy they seem to be, it may not be too hard.

[He does slouch forward to inspect them, not getting too close of course, his hands staying in his pockets. Pulling back once she finishes speaking, his eyes flicking to her with a suspicious sort of stare.]

What's the deal, hm?

[He knows they agreed to this, but this is a lot of kindness for someone who's supposed to hate him.]

What's your aim?

[she blinks.]

...They're...from your world, yes? Wouldn't having them be good? Especially for your friends.

[behold: a good-faith gesture of kindness. what do.]

That ain't what I'm getting at.

[As if he could make this whole thing any more uncomfortable, he starts to walk around her her, circling her like a shark.]

'Course it'd be good, but that's just the problem: I don't see what you're getting outta this. People don't just do these things for no reason—[A thought strikes him, and he stops, staring her down with even more suspicion.]

—is this 'cos of Darin?

[her eyes wince a little as he starts his predatory pace. this is...really not necessary...right? she follows him a little with a glance over each shoulder as he goes, frowning.

what she's getting out of this...]

Darin-? [she blinks, genuinely confused by the mention. but after a beat, her expression sobers, because...yeah, it'd make sense to assume that. given how their whole rapport started because of...that...

she shakes her head.]

If this is anything, then...it's another chance to understand. [understand what?? A MYSTERY SHE DOESN'T OFFER INSIGHT INTO.]

But I suppose if you need an ulterior motive, I would like to see Crobat and Mightyena. To see how they're doing. [beat.] And...the bugs, too.

[He just stares her down, which seems to be a hobby of his, as she explains. His eyebrow quirking upward when she mentions the bit about a chance to understand. Seeing as she doesn't expand on that, he doesn't ask. Maybe later.

Once she admits what she wants, that seems to ease him well enough. If standing up straight, hunching his shoulders a bit indignantly, and turning his head away from her, expanding that indignation counts as that.]

Tch... Fine.

[But then he pulls two Poké balls out, expanding the two before tossing them behind him. With a flash, both Mightyena and Crobat appear—but then Guzma digs out his Ultra balls, releasing his team as well. He turns away from her as the Pokémon crowd around her. Some in greeting, others in trying to take the basket. Well, one in particular is, and that's Pinsir. He'll be making a snatch for it, and trying to make off with it if he can.

Not that he's particularly strong, but if Lucina's distracted...]

Edited 2019-09-02 04:38 (UTC)

[it's a terrible comparison, but Lucina can't help but be reminded of the standoffish way her old wyvern-rider friend Gerome sometimes was. never so outwardly rude, of course! but...prickly, snubbing good will at face-value.

Gerome's a very goodhearted man, though...so...]

Ah! Hello, you two! [Lucina brightens as Archie's critters appear and swoop in, seemingly just as keen on her as they are that basket. and then come all the rest -- Lucina laughs, feeling a tug on the basket and having to lift it over her head.] Come on, now! You have to be polite! One at a time, please!

[Surprising as it may be for those who discover it, Guzma is likewise a goodhearted dude, he's just been twisted and jaded to a point this fact is hard to unearth. Hard even for those willing to dig.

He hovers away from the group, choosing to just watch as the Pokémon indulge in their near instinctual good nature towards people—or in Pinsir's case, his instinctual need to take everything for himself. Not that he succeeds any, with Lucina lifting that basket up as she does. Which just leaves it open for Masquerain to shift the cloth and take a berry for himself. Golisopod seems more interested in greeting Lucina, at least, Scizor is there with the rest, but his eyes are on the basket—he feels neutrally towards Lucina which is better than he feels about most. Crobat and Mightyena both seem pleased to see Lucina, Mightyena exuding his excitement more than the former, but that's just because Crobat's a grumpy old man.

Pinsir, having been thwarted, silently pouts, sitting down right in front of Lucina, arms crossed over his... face, because he doesn't really have a chest. Ariados takes advantage of this, climbing onto the pouting bug's head, to reach up at Lucina with one of his spider legs. Almost pawing at her dress for either attention or a berry, hard to tell with everything going on.

While Lucina's being overwhelmed by the Pokémon, Guzma decides to add to the mix—he stays put, arms crossed over his chest, but he can't help but be amused by the display. A grin forcing itself onto his face even as he asks:]

You said somethin' about "another chance to understand", whaddaya mean by that?

[so many pleading eyes and little grabbers! Lucina finds that, after rolling up on her heels to avoid some shorter attempts, she has to float up a head over Golisopod to get even ground with Masquerain and even grumpy old Crobat, giving the former a squint and a smirk for his cheek in snatching one preemptively. ~~also how he it eating without a mouth.~~]

Calm down, now! You'll all get some. Here. Clockwise! Let's see...

[she tucks the basket under one arm so she can free up the other one to pass out treats, holding them out or tossing them as each creature seems more keen to receive, cooing little praises for each, giggling at some antics before settling back on the grass and bending to address the pouting Pinsir there.]

For your patience. [have one of the bigger ones, little boy!

it's about at that point Guzma's started speaking, and Lucina straightens up, looking over her shoulder to find him amidst her circle of friends.]

Sorry? Mean about what?

[What can you expect when you have a bounty of delicious berries and a bunch of hungry Pokémon? This is what you asked for Lucina! This is what you've wrought! ~~Never you mind Masquerain, some things are better left unasked~~.

As she passes out the berries, or tosses them, whichever to whomever, the Pokémon seem delighted! At least, the ones willing to emote as such. Though, there are a couple who seem to trade berries with one another. After all, Pokémon do have their favorites!

When Lucina lands and addresses Pinsir, he just stares unblinkingly at her with those strange eyes of his, before they land on the berry she's offering him. She has it for all of a second, before his little claws swipe it from her, he's to his feet, and dashing off to consume it away from the rest of them.

Can't chance the rest stealing it from him!

When Lucina looks to Guzma properly, he does try to stifle that grin a little. He doesn't want her getting the wrong idea or nothing, like he's enjoying this by any means. He is. Absolutely he is.]

This being another chance to understand—understand what exactly?

[she considers that, adjusting her hold on the basket again when she feels Mightyena snuffling around at the bottom of it. she reaches to give him some well-received scritches while keeping a thoughtful look on Guzma.]

More like whom... A chance to understand you a little better.

[Fortunately as they're talking, the others seem happy with their snacks, of course beyond Mightyena there, but Lucina's got him handled. Guzma's gaze gets a little more serious at her answer. It's so weird to him, because back home no one wanted to understand shit about him, they rather cast him aside and forget about him... but here? It was almost overwhelming how people wanted to understand him, or wanted to tell him they knew him.

It's like getting what you want, but in such an abundance it's too much, so you wall up and run away from it. What with being so used to being denied these things, it's hard to accept them for what they are, and it's for this reason that Guzma almost looks a little uncomfortable.]

What's there to understand better?

[Of course he has no idea that Darin told Lucina what he did about Guzma broadening his perspective on the OTO and where they stood in this mess.]

Your boy's a dude who likes to wreck shit and keep weaklings in line, that's all.

[He shrugs, dismissively looking away from her.]

[she watches him shift and shrug, wearing a pensive look, trying to puzzle him out. he had the opportunity to use this meeting as pretense to do her harm if he wanted -- keep a weakling such as herself in line, so to speak. but instead he's deferred to giving his Pokemon companions this kindness.]

...Where does this fall, then? If there's a line between one or the other.

[Her question catches him, and the way he stares at her a little blankly exemplifies this a little too much for his liking. It doesn't last long, before his expression falls into that familiar scowl of his.]

—Well, I can't wreck shit if my team ain't taken care of, now can I?

[Nice backpedal.]

[hoh! that was too long a beat to miss. her mouth starts to curve a smile before she presses her lips into a line, dipping her head to exchange a look with Mightyena.]

I suppose not. [she glances over at Golisopod and Scizor, then to the rest as they polish off their treats.]

But they all seem to be in fine form as it is, and quite content, if I'm not misreading them.

Yeah, well that don't mean I should just do the bare minimum to maintain that, huh?

[If there's one thing Guzma is, he's utterly dedicated to the care of his Pokémon. He makes sure they have what they need, even more than what they need, often at times at the cost of his own needs. It doesn't matter to him if he goes without, so long as they don't. None of this he'll say, or admit to, however.]

Guess I ain't too sure what you're wanting to hear from me. You wantin' me to just spill that I'm actually a good guy, and that all I need is some Bulushit power of friendship to bring me around?

Tch... I don't get why it's so hard for you and that idiot to just accept that some people are twisted, and that's all they are, and all they will ever be.

If you'd suddenly say something like that, [she gives him a pointed look, eyebrow quirked.] I would find it very suspicious. I'm not telling you what I want to say, Guzma. I'm just wanting to hear what it is you say.

[she feels a little beat of pride she doesn't really deserve, knowing that idiot is definitely Darin.]

But...twisted isn't a beginning state of being for...much of anything, is it? Things start out one way, then twist and form that shape. [even plants. even hearts.]

[There's a notable pause when she finishes, because he realizes he just contradicted the narrative he's been pushing since the start. That he's just this way, and always has been. Born "bad" and learning to embrace it as a fact about himself, and pushing others to accept that same fact. Using "twisted" does imply the opposite. That, at some point, maybe he was good, maybe he wasn't this aggressive dude with too big of a chip on his shoulder...

That verbal fumble ticks him off a bit, and his worsened scowl makes that fact pretty candid. He can't backpedal now without looking more like a fool, and it'd be just as incriminating as rolling with it, at least this way he can protect his ego a little.]

So what?! [that's practically barked out at her] I don't see why it matters—if I was always this way, or if I became it. In the end I am what I am, there's no changing it.

I ain't sorry for nothin' I've done!

[her eyes wince a little at the rise in volume, but other than that, she remains stable, her fingers lifting up from under Mightyena's chin. Golisopod wants scritches, too, so...!

she didn't ask if he was sorry for anything, but he felt the need to say it. what has he done that would be worth being sorry for? hurting Darin like that...does he really find no fault himself for that? it's hard to understand. is he only hiding being "being twisted" as an excuse to act out? is that really satisfying?

twisted and full of knots, she thinks...]

It's not the end yet. And the things that don't change here... [her brow pinches a little.] It just gets harder.

[but people adapt whether they realize they are or not. she certainly has.]

[Yes indeed does Golisopod want some attention, he's finished his snack, and now he wants to feast on attention. However, even with that being the case, it doesn't mean the Pokémon isn't paying attention to the situation. Same goes for the others, but particularly Scizor who seems to be watching Guzma more than Lucina as the conversation unfolds.

The unease in Guzma certainly calls for attention, and Scizor knows what happened last time Guzma was talking with someone he didn't like too much. The fight that broke out, that his trainer ultimately paid for with his pride.]

Yeah? That's life.

[He gestures a bit broadly with his arms as he talks, dismissive and snotty.]

Don't matter what you do, there's always a struggle, always a fight. Difficulty is the only certainty we got, and that's why the strong are the ones who'll survive it.

People like you want to pretend there's this code of conduct to being strong, when that's all arbitrary silly garbage thought up by people too scared to deal with what they don't—no, what they choose to not understand. I know it ain't the end yet, but like I said: I ain't ever gonna change, so the end don't need to be here for me to know how it'll go down, yo!

[despite Golisopod's happy titters, Lucina wears a faint frown as she listens to him growl his point.

people like her is...maybe something not so directly her, she considers. she hopes, despite the odds, that it's so; he knows so little of her, after all. it might sting her pride to be spoken poorly of, but she can't take every barb directly to her heart; she'd have never made it a month through Aegis if she had!

it hurts to hear such an adamant claim like that. to the end. to what end?

while her eyes linger downward in thought:] ...As you say.

[gods, but she wants to argue for herself. to what end, though? he'd hardly care.]

[To his end, he means. Dark and dismal as it may be, it's not like Guzma isn't aware of how he courts destruction with his recklessness. With his abrasive nature, how he jumps to a fight like its an involuntary reaction. For as self-centered and egotistical he is, there's an alarming lack of self-preservation in how he acts and cares for himself. That is to say, he doesn't care for himself at all.

Self-hatred is one hell of a drug.

Yet, even as Lucina backs down, which one might assume is what Guzma wanted, it seems to piss him off. Maybe it's because this started to become a confrontation, and now she's denying him the satisfaction of one, or maybe he's just needing to blow some steam. Whatever it is, he doesn't seem to want to let this go.]

That's it? Really? That's all you got to say, huh?

[His face twists into an ugly mix of frustration and disgust.]

For someone fronting that they wanna understand, you sure don't put in the legwork for it, huh?

Letting you say your piece... [she pauses, needing the beat to keep her voice level as she looks back and sees such unpleasantness glared her way.] It is part of it. You say someone like me...whatever that means to you, chooses to look past the things they don't understand. Part of understanding is listening. I'm choosing to listen, not...step over and correct whatever I hear that sounds wrong to me. Not right now.

[but the way her face has gotten a bit pinker, it shows there's effort in restraint. she's not a naturally cool cucumber, this is an intentional effort.]

Oh.

[He looks a little taken aback by her answer. He's so used to either being met head on with opposition, or people running away, that when he's met with something between the two—someone actually willing to listen to him, he's uncertain on how to parse it. Mainly because of how he categorizes Lucina. See, Archie is someone who listens, and he feels free to talk to. He's an ally. Lucina isn't, so the fact she's acting this way, letting him say his piece?

It's weird, and he feels apprehensive about it. He slips his hands back into his pockets, looking at her a bit more fully than the side-long stare he was giving her just before, shifting a bit.]

Uh...

[Eloquent.

Funny how you seem to have too much to say when no one wants to listen, but then when given the chance, the words seem to have vanished. Scizor looks between the two, trying to read the situation, but he's left a little puzzled. It's okay buddy, Guzma is too.

This is not where he thought this would go.]

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