[not so much he doubted guzma caring, more he's surprised he's even showing it outright.]
I don't think beating him up will make him stop what he's doing at all. If anything it'll just make him more intent on pursuing the legal things he's been trying. If kicking the shit out of him would do anything, the problem would've been solved when I did it months ago.
[That's fair, but hey, how many of Guzma's friends have almost died, huh? That kinda...re-prioritizes things. Even for a guy like Guzma.
Said immediately, with a very pointed edge to his tone:]
Then I'll crush him again. I'll keep him down in the dirt till he gets it through that numskull of his that we ain't no one to fuck with. Plain and simple.
[That certainly catches him, and it's evident on his face. Of course, like the pissy baby he is, he just scowls at Archie as he basically scolds him. Guzma watches Archie for a long moment, before looking off to the side with a tut.]
You really care about that kid, huh?
[That kinda... resonates with Guzma in an odd way.]
Look, ain't no one gonna take Niko from ya. I won't let that happen, alright?
[he doesn't expound on it. doesn't feel he needs to justify it. it's just the simple, true answer.]
That's kind of you. [he just... doesn't have a lot of faith. not in guzma, just... in general.] But I think I already fucked up enough with goin' after him again.
[Guzma snaps back, looking a little... not quite embarrassed, but definitely bothered in some kind of adjacent way about being called kind.]
Look, you're letting that shitty Sneasel of a dude get into your head. Sure, he can try to wrangle laws and what not, but this place? Shit man, they don't care what these kids do, 'specially not imPorts. Wasn't Niko on his damn own before you snatched him?
Who's to say the laws here give one single fuck about this drama, huh?
[That's all he has to say about that, because honestly he doesn't feel indebted to Archie. Not exactly. More, he feels inclined to help him because he gives a shit about him, and part of that was because he's been there for him through all of this. It's just easier to quantify it as a debt, than something more friendly than that.]
Whatever, I don't care about the pointless details, what I'm getting at is the fact they don't care that they're droppin' imPort kids out on their own when they arrive. It's not like they go outta their way to find 'em guardians or nothin', right?
So why the fuck would they care about that now? Just 'cos some other imPort is throwing a fit?
[archie groans and leans back, pinching his nose.]
I don't know, Guzma. I just don't want to keep pushing my luck. Maybe it won't get that bad with Niko, but I don't want to lose my position in Aegis either. Arceus knows the natives here fucking hate me enough already.
[Guzma shrugs, crossing his arms over his chest as he looks on at Archie and Mightyena.]
Keep on doin' the good guy shtick if ya gotta. Play by the rules, whatever you gotta do to appease your damn masters or whatever. [why he gotta put it like that] I'll keep Archer on his damn toes. I'll keep him so busy, he won't have time to worry about you.
Ain't like the law means anything to me, I got nothin' to lose.
[Of course Guzma isn't thinking about it this way, and he doesn't really realize how adjacent this is to a certain other dynamic he's played...or even has been playing back home. Someone else he's sworn his loyalty to, and has agreed to play the scapegoat for. Hmm!]
...Hmmm, speakin' of sentimentality... I think I've realised somethin', uh. Kinda fucked I've been doin' with ya.
Don't remember if I ever told you about Maxie, or if you know of the Team Magma leader, but I realised...
I was puttin' him on ya, because he was here before, an' I miss him. [he grimaces.] But that's not t'say that's all this is. Bro, I been acting like a real fucking stupid idiot all over the last couple months.
[Well, that certainly breaks the awkward tension, and gets a laugh outta Guzma. He shrugs with a grin, nodding in agreement, he is indeed the dude to get your illegal on with!
However, when Archie transitions into something a bit more serious, that smile starts to fade, his expression turning into one more inquisitive, if a little confused. He doesn't quite remember a Maxie (signaled by a shrug of his shoulders and small shake his head), but that doesn't mean that Archie didn't tell him, just a lot has been going on, and well... Guzma's memory is selective at best.
As he explains, that too fades away, being replaced with a flat, contemplative look, his eyes drifting away from Archie as he digests this. Maybe there's a part of him that's bothered by this (why is everyone projecting onto him, god), but there's another part of him that...gets it.
It doesn't leave him feeling great, with a small bubble of anxiety in his chest that he's fit to ignore, but not enough to not ask:]
So... [Guzma's brow creases, his eyes still not on Archie,] What is this, then?
[archie's looking away too. he's staring down at mightyena, worring his hands through its soft fur. looks like the dog's already all excited out-- he's passed out in archie's lap.]
It's genuine. I just got it a little... muddled in my head, because-- I don't know. No reason. Not on purpose, certainly. It's mostly just been how I've been acting about this around other people.
[to which he wrinkles his nose, then tilts his head.]
You know, Maxie ain't even a third your size, muscle wise. Maybe that's why it took me so long to realise.
[He doesn't disbelieve Archie, it's just a little...odd. But, if Archie's being honest about projecting onto him, there's little reason for him to be lying about it being genuine. It's fine, really. It's a weird comfort to hear that Archie does still genuinely value—]
It's... complicated. He was already one of the only people in my life that got me, and the version of him I knew here was, uh, from a different timeline. The differences made us almost literally the same person, so...
...I don't know, I guess I just saw that you went through something vaguely relatable back home and pathetically latched onto it to make myself feel better.
[Guzma's expression doesn't soften with the explanation, still pretty annoyed at the prospect, but he knows it's kinda dumb to get worked up about it. There's way more important parts to this than the fact that Archie took one look at him and thought "twink" in any capacity.
Well, clearly that's not what happened at all, but Guzma's stuck on that. Give him a minute.]
Did it work?
[Honestly, the attitude in his voice is completely unnecessary, he's still reeling from that revelation. Probably because the rest of it makes sense, but... not that. Never that.]
Yeah. [finally, he looks back over.] I think that would've happened even if I hadn't done that.
I felt better about myself, [to whit, guzma might expect the next words out of archie's mouth to be surrounding the concept of feeling better about himself because guzma is such a disaster, but it never comes.] Both me and Maxie lashed out because we'd been let down and when we weren't willin' to just roll over and drop everything we believed in to fit in, were kicked to the curb and demonized as a waste of time.
[to a point they were, archie knows this, especially with their end goals, but you don't just become an extremist overnight, do you?]
It's not nice knowin' the same shit happens in other regions, but it's a terribly isolating feeling. Especially in a world like this that seems to be bursting at the seams with heroic types.
[Guzma does indeed expect some sort of dig, some angle of superiority from Archie because Guzma's a fucking dumpster fire of a mess--but that's less based on how Archie is as a person, and more on how he's used to being treated. It doesn't come, and that's likely why his expression relaxes. He's silent as Archie continues, explaining his own terrible treatment at the hands of his own society.
Those in power unwilling to listen, unwilling to bend, unwilling to change. Guzma's mouth purses into a thin line, and his gaze shifts away from him towards the end. He gives a brief nod in agreement.]
...Why d'ya think I knew I could rely on you, hm?
[He shrugs his shoulders.]
You get it. You know what it's like--to be treated like forgotten garbage, to be looked down on 'cos you ain't what's "normal", no matter how fucked that "normal" might be.
To be made into the "bad guy", 'cos you're different, 'cos you ain't willin' to play along by their rules--their expectations. These heroes-these self-important douchebags who ain't got a clue 'bout what we been through, what it's been like being us in a world they can't fuckin' fathom...
[Guzma's face scrunches with annoyance and distaste, before looking back at Archie once more.]
That's why I trust ya. You're part of Aegis, but you ain't using that shit to keep no one under your foot, you ain't actin' high and mighty, 'cos you get it. You know.
There's a lot of people on Aegis who do. You ever talked to Cayde? I feel like you two would get on pretty well...
[he closes his eyes and leans back-- not too keen on the darin drag. he'll get to that in a moment.]
...Yeah, it's real easy to just want to lean into what people think of you, huh? [archie knew what he was doing was bad, but he was willing to be the villain for the greater good. no-one else understood. no-one except maxie-- even matt and shelly didn't fully get it at times. he knows now how deluded he was but...
...well, there's something to be said for someone that went through similar delusions and also had them broken while watching the world starting to end around them because of their actions.] Darin's... been through a lot. Even if he's not gettin' it, whatever he's doing, he believes in fully.
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[Yeah, weird it's almost like Poe wasn't lying about Guzma giving a shit, huh?]
Well ya didn't, so that oughta count for something. Dunno if Poe told ya, but Archer got his. I'll be surprised if he tries to fuck with ya anymore.
You're welcome.
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I don't think beating him up will make him stop what he's doing at all. If anything it'll just make him more intent on pursuing the legal things he's been trying. If kicking the shit out of him would do anything, the problem would've been solved when I did it months ago.
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Said immediately, with a very pointed edge to his tone:]
Then I'll crush him again. I'll keep him down in the dirt till he gets it through that numskull of his that we ain't no one to fuck with. Plain and simple.
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[he looks down at mightyena, mussing his hands in its long black fur.]
I'm not interested in losing Niko and my job over him.
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You really care about that kid, huh?
[That kinda... resonates with Guzma in an odd way.]
Look, ain't no one gonna take Niko from ya. I won't let that happen, alright?
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[he doesn't expound on it. doesn't feel he needs to justify it. it's just the simple, true answer.]
That's kind of you. [he just... doesn't have a lot of faith. not in guzma, just... in general.] But I think I already fucked up enough with goin' after him again.
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[Guzma snaps back, looking a little... not quite embarrassed, but definitely bothered in some kind of adjacent way about being called kind.]
Look, you're letting that shitty Sneasel of a dude get into your head. Sure, he can try to wrangle laws and what not, but this place? Shit man, they don't care what these kids do, 'specially not imPorts. Wasn't Niko on his damn own before you snatched him?
Who's to say the laws here give one single fuck about this drama, huh?
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[he grimaces, though he knows guzma is right, in a way.]
Niko approached me about the guardianship, for the record. An' I can see them doing it just because it's an imPort case.
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[That's all he has to say about that, because honestly he doesn't feel indebted to Archie. Not exactly. More, he feels inclined to help him because he gives a shit about him, and part of that was because he's been there for him through all of this. It's just easier to quantify it as a debt, than something more friendly than that.]
Whatever, I don't care about the pointless details, what I'm getting at is the fact they don't care that they're droppin' imPort kids out on their own when they arrive. It's not like they go outta their way to find 'em guardians or nothin', right?
So why the fuck would they care about that now? Just 'cos some other imPort is throwing a fit?
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I don't know, Guzma. I just don't want to keep pushing my luck. Maybe it won't get that bad with Niko, but I don't want to lose my position in Aegis either. Arceus knows the natives here fucking hate me enough already.
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[Guzma shrugs, crossing his arms over his chest as he looks on at Archie and Mightyena.]
Keep on doin' the good guy shtick if ya gotta. Play by the rules, whatever you gotta do to appease your damn masters or whatever. [why he gotta put it like that] I'll keep Archer on his damn toes. I'll keep him so busy, he won't have time to worry about you.
Ain't like the law means anything to me, I got nothin' to lose.
[Of course Guzma isn't thinking about it this way, and he doesn't really realize how adjacent this is to a certain other dynamic he's played...or even has been playing back home. Someone else he's sworn his loyalty to, and has agreed to play the scapegoat for. Hmm!]
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I don't want to risk losing you either.
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Don't go gettin' sentimental on me. I ain't goin' no where. Your boy's tough as they come.
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Tch! Idiot! I wasn't being sentimental, if you end up losin' it then who else am I gonna call for an out with illegal shit, huh?!
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Don't remember if I ever told you about Maxie, or if you know of the Team Magma leader, but I realised...
I was puttin' him on ya, because he was here before, an' I miss him. [he grimaces.] But that's not t'say that's all this is. Bro, I been acting like a real fucking stupid idiot all over the last couple months.
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However, when Archie transitions into something a bit more serious, that smile starts to fade, his expression turning into one more inquisitive, if a little confused. He doesn't quite remember a Maxie (signaled by a shrug of his shoulders and small shake his head), but that doesn't mean that Archie didn't tell him, just a lot has been going on, and well... Guzma's memory is selective at best.
As he explains, that too fades away, being replaced with a flat, contemplative look, his eyes drifting away from Archie as he digests this. Maybe there's a part of him that's bothered by this (why is everyone projecting onto him, god), but there's another part of him that...gets it.
It doesn't leave him feeling great, with a small bubble of anxiety in his chest that he's fit to ignore, but not enough to not ask:]
So... [Guzma's brow creases, his eyes still not on Archie,] What is this, then?
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It's genuine. I just got it a little... muddled in my head, because-- I don't know. No reason. Not on purpose, certainly. It's mostly just been how I've been acting about this around other people.
[to which he wrinkles his nose, then tilts his head.]
You know, Maxie ain't even a third your size, muscle wise. Maybe that's why it took me so long to realise.
1/3
[He doesn't disbelieve Archie, it's just a little...odd. But, if Archie's being honest about projecting onto him, there's little reason for him to be lying about it being genuine. It's fine, really. It's a weird comfort to hear that Archie does still genuinely value—]
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—You've been projecting a fuckin' TWINK onto me?
[Guzma looks down at himself, then to Archie, BAFFLED.]
HOW?
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It's... complicated. He was already one of the only people in my life that got me, and the version of him I knew here was, uh, from a different timeline. The differences made us almost literally the same person, so...
...I don't know, I guess I just saw that you went through something vaguely relatable back home and pathetically latched onto it to make myself feel better.
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Well, clearly that's not what happened at all, but Guzma's stuck on that. Give him a minute.]
Did it work?
[Honestly, the attitude in his voice is completely unnecessary, he's still reeling from that revelation. Probably because the rest of it makes sense, but... not that. Never that.]
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I felt better about myself, [to whit, guzma might expect the next words out of archie's mouth to be surrounding the concept of feeling better about himself because guzma is such a disaster, but it never comes.] Both me and Maxie lashed out because we'd been let down and when we weren't willin' to just roll over and drop everything we believed in to fit in, were kicked to the curb and demonized as a waste of time.
[to a point they were, archie knows this, especially with their end goals, but you don't just become an extremist overnight, do you?]
It's not nice knowin' the same shit happens in other regions, but it's a terribly isolating feeling. Especially in a world like this that seems to be bursting at the seams with heroic types.
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Those in power unwilling to listen, unwilling to bend, unwilling to change. Guzma's mouth purses into a thin line, and his gaze shifts away from him towards the end. He gives a brief nod in agreement.]
...Why d'ya think I knew I could rely on you, hm?
[He shrugs his shoulders.]
You get it. You know what it's like--to be treated like forgotten garbage, to be looked down on 'cos you ain't what's "normal", no matter how fucked that "normal" might be.
To be made into the "bad guy", 'cos you're different, 'cos you ain't willin' to play along by their rules--their expectations. These heroes-these self-important douchebags who ain't got a clue 'bout what we been through, what it's been like being us in a world they can't fuckin' fathom...
[Guzma's face scrunches with annoyance and distaste, before looking back at Archie once more.]
That's why I trust ya. You're part of Aegis, but you ain't using that shit to keep no one under your foot, you ain't actin' high and mighty, 'cos you get it. You know.
Dudes like Darin? That idiot don't know shit.
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[he closes his eyes and leans back-- not too keen on the darin drag. he'll get to that in a moment.]
...Yeah, it's real easy to just want to lean into what people think of you, huh? [archie knew what he was doing was bad, but he was willing to be the villain for the greater good. no-one else understood. no-one except maxie-- even matt and shelly didn't fully get it at times. he knows now how deluded he was but...
...well, there's something to be said for someone that went through similar delusions and also had them broken while watching the world starting to end around them because of their actions.] Darin's... been through a lot. Even if he's not gettin' it, whatever he's doing, he believes in fully.
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