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[rocketman]

✆ Crystal | Messenger Bird | In Person

Comments

[broceanic]

[he winces when he sees the traces of poison but... it doesn't seem that bad this time?]

Hey. [he crouches down to watch mareanie, smiling.] An' no, not really. I just wanted to see how you were doin'.

[rocketman]

We're fine.

[He glances down into the stream, catches a glimpse of his reflection and shakes his head like a wet dog.

His skin clears and he perks up as the venom leaves his system.

Oh, speaking of venom....]

I say, did you ever manage to make your way around that Welcome Center? I remember you collapsing and it's all a bit of a blur after that...

[broceanic]

[god that's so weird and not even close to how a human system works, but he's not gonna question it. not his business.]

Yeah, somehow. I found a place, even, then accidentally set it on fire, so I'm... looking for a new one. I guess. Thinkin' near the lake, for the fire and... Sharpedo.

[he exhales lightly-- mightyena starts towards the stream, going to sniff at mareanie as close as it can get.]

What about you?

[rocketman]

[Mareanie lashes out with a tentacle in an attempt to slap Mightyena across the face.

James snaps at her.]

Be nice!

[Then, turning his attention back to Archie.]

I've been here.

[broceanic]

[archie watches the two pokémon interact. mightyena yelps and jumps back at the swing, but isn't hit. which is good, because archie has no idea how to deal with poison. it doesn't give up, though! it just... stays out of reach, laying down on the grass at the edge of the stream to watch mareanie with a cocked head.]

Here? As in, right here?

[rocketman]

No, of course not, don't be absurd.

"Here" as in over there.

[He hooks a thumb over his shoulder to indicate a large, sturdy looking tree.]

[broceanic]

[archie looks to the tree.

then to james.

then back to the tree.]

Y'know what? I can't judge. I lived in a cave before I got here. House livin' is hard, I get it.

[rocketman]

Oh, you too?

[James clasps his hands over his heart.]

I miss my cozy cave.

[His eyes tear up as he thinks about his cave, though he continues to smile. Jessie and Meowth are probably still there.

Do they miss him?

He misses them...]

[broceanic]

[he leans back, resting his hands on the grass, looking over at james with sympathy in his expression.]

Yeah. Me too. Did you live with anyone?

[rocketman]

My two mates.

[He answers wistfully.]

What about you?

[broceanic]

About the same.

[and... all his grunts, but y'know. archie looks back out to the stream where mareanie is splashing around.]

...'Least our Pokémon are here.

[rocketman]

It'd be even lonelier without them, wouldn't it?

[He looks over at Mareanie as memories of Jessie and Meowth wash over him.

The tears in his eyes start to stream down his face as he slowly sinks to the ground.]

Aw, Jess....

[broceanic]

[oh good job archie, just find this guy and make him cry. amazing job. you god damn moron.

he gets up and walks over to james, putting a hand on his shoulder.]

Hey-- hey. Sorry. [he gives his shoulder a squeeze, then drops his hand down.] It really sucks, yeah. Maybe they'll show up here, huh?

[rocketman]

Oh, I hope not!

Someone needs to man the shop.

[Mareanie, seeing her Trainer in distress, stops eyeing Mightyena and hops over to James's lap.

"Reanie!"

She reaches up to lovingly wrap her tentacles around his neck and he gently pushes her away.]

Please, no...

[broceanic]

[yeah getting poisoned probably is the worst thing right now... archie takes another ball out and throws it up; sharpedo materialises into the water. it's not... quite deep enough, but not shallow enough to harm the shark. it looks around, then sees mareanie.]

Sharpedo! [it says, flapping its fins in the water. fellow water type!!

archie looks back to james.] I'm sure they'll figure it out, even if they miss you being there to help.

[he exhales lightly.]

Maybe finding someone to stay with'll help? I can't imagine being out here with just you and Mareanie makes you feel any better... the environment might be familiar, but the loneliness won't be.

[rocketman]

True...

...But...

[Maybe company would be nice...

Really, though, he can't imagine anyone who'd be able to tolerate having him around longer than five minutes. Even Jessie could barely put up with his presence when they'd reunited at the training facility. She got used to him because he'd refused to leave.

He tucks his tongue into his cheek and thinks dark thoughts but his expression brightens slightly when he sees Mareanie hop over to Sharpedo. She smiles and starts splashing the other water-type.]

Did you make a friend?

[broceanic]

[he doesn't say anything else and lets the subject drop. he can recognise when they're starting to tread ground that'll only lead to sliding into a pit of despair.

sharpedo laughs a weird fishy laugh, splashing her back. archie stays crouched next to james.]

Ha! I was worried they might not get along, but they look to be fast friends. Maybe they'll be able to hunt together after all!

[rocketman]

[James looks from Archie to Mareanie and smiles.]

Would you like that, Mareanie? Would you and your new fishy friend like to hunt together?

[Mareanie returns the smile.

"Mareanie!"]

I know it's not the same as the ocean but it's something, right?

[She hops over to James and wraps herself around his bare knee. He pats her reassuringly.]

I'm okay, I promise, go play.

[She lets go and returns to splashing Sharpedo.

James watches them for a few silent moments.]

She must miss having other water types around.

[broceanic]

[he watches this exchange with a light grin. they really would be lost without their pokémon with them, huh?

sharpedo in turn is delighted for her to come back to play, spraying a mist at her where she splashes around.]

They're going through the same stuff as us. Crobat misses all the grunt Golbats, too.

[...shit.]

I mean. Other people's. Golbats.

[rocketman]

Grunts, hm?

[He looks at Archie through the corner of his eye and sighs.

The other man has been kind to him so he'd might as well let the poor guy off the hook.]

Your grunts, you mean?

[broceanic]

[e x h a l e]

Er, yeah. [fuck it. he was gonna tell him eventually, anyway.] I guess you're not from Hoenn... I'm the leader of Team Aqua.

[he looks over to james, cocking his head.]

Maybe you don't know what mistake I ended up leading my team into-- but it's not like that anymore. [...] In theory. Given I'm here, instead of back home and sorting everything out.

[rocketman]

I know who you are.

[He rests his chin in his hand.]

I've always known.

You let that ferocious fish monstrosity loose on people.

[There is no reproach in James's voice as he says that. The Unova region had almost been ground into paste by the Forces of Nature, after all, and he'd been a part of that.

Sometimes things just get out of hand.]

[broceanic]

Not surprising... [he winces at the summary but james certainly isn't wrong. he ducks his head slightly, shame clear on his expression.] It was never meant to end up the way it did.

[he shrugs lightly. boy, that spot in the grass in front of him sure is interesting. he's almost literally staring a hole through it.]

--You didn't get hurt by it, did you? Or anyone you know?

[rocketman]

Hm, well, let's see...

[He hums as he thinks about this.]

...Electrocuted in a giant net, nearly drowned, almost crushed by a submarine....

[He scratches his head.]

Nothing that unusual, we were fine.

[broceanic]

Net? [wait] Submarine?

[he can't mean explorer 01. that would be literally impossible.]