[he can't help but feel a little awkward-- how did this turn from archie trying to comfort james crying to whatever that was just now to this? well, better than sitting in silent, he guesses.]
It's just easy to forget when you let yourself get wrapped up in the regrets and guilt. Which is really easy. [arceus above is it easy] ...At least we have our Pokémon for company.
[said as he, too, watches sharpedo and mareanie play.]
And each other. Sort of. I mean, I'm glad I'm not the only one from our world here.
[even if everything james said about kyogre made... no sense.]
[James doesn't feel too much guilt over Operation Tempest... He'd paved the way for that but had the Twerps not intervened maybe the Operation could have ended smoothly.
He does, however, know what it's like to feel haunted.
The memories that anguish him have nothing to do with his criminal career... They're memories of taffeta gowns and cloyingly perfumed hands wrapped around his throat... Things he's not about to mention in front of a relative stranger.
Just the thought of them makes him sigh.]
You just can't let yourself get wrapped up.
[And for a moment his eyes cloud as a dark memory tries to return to him... It never gets the chance.
Someone else present starts to sense his torment, momentary though it is.]
YEEE-NO!
[And Mareanie is flying at James's face again. He lifts protective hands out in front of him and manages to hold her away from his body as he tips over backward.]
[while archie obviously doesn't know about james's past, he recognises expression on his face-- from matt, when he had failed him and from some of his grunts. he's about to try and offer consolation when...
well, when mareanie jumps at james again. he's not really sure if he should help?
archie, unhelpfully, cocks his head while he watches this.]
[oh jeez oh jeez oh jeez... archie shifts to dart out the way if she looks like she's about to jump on him. sharpedo, in the stream, is watching this with interest.]
Hey again, Mareanie. Y--you're really friendly and nice, y'know that? You must care about James a lot...
[he cautiously... holds a hand out. god please don't poison him again.]
Can you maybe not poison me this time? James is a lot hardier than me.
[she must be both a young pokémon and newly caught, he realises. sharpedo makes a sad noise that its friend is gone, prompting archie to hold out his ball for it and returns it likewise.]
S'too bad I don't have Muk here. He might've been able to help teach her how to not poison people... where'd you catch her?
That's how most of them are caught, though, isn't it? They choose to come with you.
[mightyena is currently rolling around on the grass, but... it came with archie when he was a young trainer and it was a poochyena. sharpedo was his first, as a carvanha. he found crobat as a zubat relatively early, too.
he's so glad they came with him, even if they're stuck in the same boat. he knows they'd be upset without him, as he would be alone.]
[He chews on his next words for a moment. They'll probably sound daft but, then again, Archie seems like the sort of Trainer who forms strong bonds with his partners as well.]
I do want her to be happy...
For now she likes just being close to me but in the long run I can't be what she wants me to be.
[Her mate.]
She refuses to be returned to the wild.
[James pushes himself back to his feet and dusts his shorts off.]
A crummy situation, that; wanting to help a Poké-partner and not being able to....
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Are you sure 'cause from where I was standing you seemed like you were possessed...
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[that's the only way he could've been there, but archie's pretty sure none of his grunts have purple hair.]
I'm certain I wasn't. I remember everything pretty well. Too well, actually.
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[He waves a dismissive hand, insulted by the very idea of it.]
No, no, I'm just someone with a knack for being in all the wrong places at all the wrong times.
[The proud smirk fades a bit as he looks Archie over.]
Memories can be rough, can't they?
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he sighs.]
Yeah. Really rough. [he glances back at james, meeting his eyes for a moment.] I guess if you've that knack you know how it is.
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Sure, there are plenty of memories I wouldn't mind ridding myself of, but...
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But...?
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[He looks over at Mareanie.]
People and Pokemon are who they are because they're an accumulation of memories, both good and bad.
You need pain to know what joy is like, right?
[He makes a face. This sort of comforting talk does not come too naturally to him.]
I think guilt is a poor foundation for a life, without other motivations beside it.
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[he can't help but feel a little awkward-- how did this turn from archie trying to comfort james crying to whatever that was just now to this? well, better than sitting in silent, he guesses.]
It's just easy to forget when you let yourself get wrapped up in the regrets and guilt. Which is really easy. [arceus above is it easy] ...At least we have our Pokémon for company.
[said as he, too, watches sharpedo and mareanie play.]
And each other. Sort of. I mean, I'm glad I'm not the only one from our world here.
[even if everything james said about kyogre made... no sense.]
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He does, however, know what it's like to feel haunted.
The memories that anguish him have nothing to do with his criminal career... They're memories of taffeta gowns and cloyingly perfumed hands wrapped around his throat... Things he's not about to mention in front of a relative stranger.
Just the thought of them makes him sigh.]
You just can't let yourself get wrapped up.
[And for a moment his eyes cloud as a dark memory tries to return to him... It never gets the chance.
Someone else present starts to sense his torment, momentary though it is.]
YEEE-NO!
[And Mareanie is flying at James's face again. He lifts protective hands out in front of him and manages to hold her away from his body as he tips over backward.]
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well, when mareanie jumps at james again. he's not really sure if he should help?
archie, unhelpfully, cocks his head while he watches this.]
Uhh... want me to pull her off?
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I'm fine...
[Seeing her Trainer play dead is a good sign he probably doesn't want a hug right now...
So Mareanie hops off him and turns her attention to the other Trainer who seems a little sad at the moment.
"Mareanie!"
She cheerfully starts hopping her way towards Archie.]
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Hey again, Mareanie. Y--you're really friendly and nice, y'know that? You must care about James a lot...
[he cautiously... holds a hand out. god please don't poison him again.]
Can you maybe not poison me this time? James is a lot hardier than me.
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Just before she descends on Archie, James pushes himself upright and extends an arm towards her, gripping a Poké Ball.]
Mareanie, return!
[She vanishes in a flash of red light and James looks down at the ball with a frown.]
I told you, other people don't think that's cute, not one whit!
[He spins the ball around in his fingertips and clutches it as it shrinks down to fit in his palm.]
Erm...
She didn't get you again, did she?
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[she must be both a young pokémon and newly caught, he realises. sharpedo makes a sad noise that its friend is gone, prompting archie to hold out his ball for it and returns it likewise.]
S'too bad I don't have Muk here. He might've been able to help teach her how to not poison people... where'd you catch her?
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[He puts her ball away in his pocket, at least for now.]
She's my most recent capture...
...Although...
Maybe capture isn't the right word. She wanted to come with me.
Sometimes all you have to do is ask.
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[mightyena is currently rolling around on the grass, but... it came with archie when he was a young trainer and it was a poochyena. sharpedo was his first, as a carvanha. he found crobat as a zubat relatively early, too.
he's so glad they came with him, even if they're stuck in the same boat. he knows they'd be upset without him, as he would be alone.]
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[Of course, Pokémon enjoy battling. Honor battles are common, he's just never really engaged in them.
James leans back on his palms and watches Mightyena.]
Mareanie helped me out and accepted my commands before I ever actually captured her.
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[sage nod.]
Like Mareanie. She obviously liked the cut of your jib on sight. She'll be a strong partner with you, especially when she evolves.
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She liked my something.
[Awkward, thoughtful pause. He has to know...]
....Have you ever had a Pokémon fall in love with you?
1/3
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[HELPFUL]
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[He says this with a note of lamentation.]
She poisoned me and while I was sick I looked like a Mareanie myself or so it seems...
When she found out I was human it wasn't the deal breaker I thought it would be.
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[he shrugs helplessly.]
Sorry. I'd suggest doing some research on Mareanies, but... I'm pretty sure the library here will be lacking.
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[He chews on his next words for a moment. They'll probably sound daft but, then again, Archie seems like the sort of Trainer who forms strong bonds with his partners as well.]
I do want her to be happy...
For now she likes just being close to me but in the long run I can't be what she wants me to be.
[Her mate.]
She refuses to be returned to the wild.
[James pushes himself back to his feet and dusts his shorts off.]
A crummy situation, that; wanting to help a Poké-partner and not being able to....
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