...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.
[It's not like Guzma's the best at remembering people's names at the best of times, and had he talked to Cayde, it's been a while since. A lot has happened, but maybe he'll keep an eye out. To Archie's question, he shrugs his shoulders. It's true that it's what he's doing, that he's filling the role of the bad guy, that he's fully embraced it as who he is, who he has to be...yet he hates it being said like that. Like he has no control over it, like he's just a pawn in the grand scheme of things.
Even though he absolutely is.
At the mention of Darin, Guzma's face twists with further annoyance. He knows what he's been through, in fact, Darin told him as much. Even so, Guzma doesn't believe for a second it's comparable. For all he went through, and all he lost, he still had someone.]
It ain't like I don't know he's believing his self-righteous garbage, that's the issue: he does. Dude's so far gone up his own ass, he ain't willin' to realize that shit ain't always what he says it is.
I know the shit he's been through, he told me. But that don't mean I gotta be dealin' with his stupid ass tryna to tell me he knows me, knows how I tick, what I been through, what it's like.
That's why he and me are gonna have it out here real soon. Gonna beat some sense into that idiot's head with my own two hands. Fuckin' prick.
[he feels like if guzma had met him... he'd know. so that's a no. he falls silent as guzma starts talking again, he doesn't bother to hide a light grimace but-- he's not surprised. he's not angry either.]
Yeah? I wonder if it'll be different from the other five hundred times you've gone at each other.
Oh, the one with the horn, or the giant one with the bitchy attitude?
[There's a couple robot guys, Archie!! Also, he doesn't keep track of which robot is in Aegis or not. Either way, Archie's reaction isn't surprising, really. Doesn't change the fact Guzma huffs arrogantly, waving a hand dismissively.]
Yeah, it will be.
[He grins, catching Archie's eyes before continuing.]
We ain't fuckin' around with powers or Pokémon, nah. This shit is gonna be one-hundred percent him versus me. Dude wants to talk all sorts of wicked shit like he's better than me 'cos he's got some demon loaning out his power like some fucked up demented sugar daddy?
Fuck that, he better put his fists where his mouth is, 'cos I'll beat him down and show him he ain't nothin' without his demon crutch. Dude needs to be knocked on his ass, and if I gotta be the one to knock reality into his thick skull, then so be it, yo!
[Surprisingly, yes Darin did. Goaded Guzma good and hard, called him worthless without his Pokémon, all that sorta shit that got him riled and ready to fight. You know, the exact shit Darin ought not to be doing, yet here they are...
At Archie's question, Guzma's face goes a little blank.]
[Guzma sure seems to inspire some ugly shit in Darin, something Guzma's pretty proud of, but it does not look good on Darin at all.]
Tch... the prick'll know where he stands, is all. He's been too comfortable too long on that lofty moral throne of Bulushit of his.
[Guzma crosses his arms over his chest, shrugging.]
Maybe then he'll back the fuck off with all his tryin' to fix me nonsense. Idiot, ain't nobody who can fix me.
[It doesn't matter how much Darin tells Guzma he doesn't need to be fixed, or that he isn't trying, as far as Guzma's concerned he's lying to him. It's just been cowardly backpedaling since their confrontation at Fanport, and Guzma ain't having none of Darin's shit. To Guzma, Darin is the embodiment of everything he hates about Alola, he's just trying to dress himself up as someone who understands him, but Guzma's convinced he can't.]
[he doesn't know if that's how it'll go-- losing before when darin was on equal grounds with guzma just made him try all the harder, didn't it? archie can't for the life of him see how this is going to help anything at all, but... he's kind of done over-involving himself. not in the way he's given up on both involved, but rather... it's not helping! he's not doing it right! he doesn't know how to do it properly! pulling back and letting two supposed adults do their thing seems like the right thing to do.]
Is that really what he said to you? [again, genuine question. not a sarcastic ask.]
[Guzma looks to Archie with a stern stare, not exactly bothered by the question, but rather annoyed with the topic. Even though he's the one who brought this up in the first place. He crinkles his nose.]
More or less.
[Guzma bristles.]
He's implied it. Tryin' to be all friendly at me, tryin' to say he sees my "scars", that he'll be there to help me... not to mention his stupid speech he gave me before I paraded his beaten body on the network...
[All of that bothered Guzma far too much. It's almost funny in a sad kind of way, how much people extending help to Guzma is more of a threat to him than anyone promising him bodily harm.]
Saying shit like I'll "molt" and be vulnerable, grow... all that shit, and how he wants to be there to see it—fuckin' creep.
[yes, because someone wanting to see you become a better person and work past your pain is a "creep", good job buddy.]
[that... tracks with what he knows about how darin does things, actually. archie doesn't look shocked at all. he's also not surprised to see that darin went far too hard on it and likely blew the main chance he got to help guzma, though... that's not to say archie thinks that little duo is a lost cause. he's just... not really thinking about it at all.
part of him wonders, if the oto ramps up like it seems like they will, darin will back off. he can't be so intense about everything all the time, right?
...that in itself feels like a stupid question.]
He's always gone into perceived challenges with his hammer swinging.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
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.
no subject
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?
no subject
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—]
2/3
3/3
—You've been projecting a fuckin' TWINK onto me?
[Guzma looks down at himself, then to Archie, BAFFLED.]
HOW?
no subject
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.
no subject
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.]
no subject
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.
no subject
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.
no subject
[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.
no subject
[It's not like Guzma's the best at remembering people's names at the best of times, and had he talked to Cayde, it's been a while since. A lot has happened, but maybe he'll keep an eye out. To Archie's question, he shrugs his shoulders. It's true that it's what he's doing, that he's filling the role of the bad guy, that he's fully embraced it as who he is, who he has to be...yet he hates it being said like that. Like he has no control over it, like he's just a pawn in the grand scheme of things.
Even though he absolutely is.
At the mention of Darin, Guzma's face twists with further annoyance. He knows what he's been through, in fact, Darin told him as much. Even so, Guzma doesn't believe for a second it's comparable. For all he went through, and all he lost, he still had someone.]
It ain't like I don't know he's believing his self-righteous garbage, that's the issue: he does. Dude's so far gone up his own ass, he ain't willin' to realize that shit ain't always what he says it is.
I know the shit he's been through, he told me. But that don't mean I gotta be dealin' with his stupid ass tryna to tell me he knows me, knows how I tick, what I been through, what it's like.
That's why he and me are gonna have it out here real soon. Gonna beat some sense into that idiot's head with my own two hands. Fuckin' prick.
no subject
[he feels like if guzma had met him... he'd know. so that's a no. he falls silent as guzma starts talking again, he doesn't bother to hide a light grimace but-- he's not surprised. he's not angry either.]
Yeah? I wonder if it'll be different from the other five hundred times you've gone at each other.
no subject
[There's a couple robot guys, Archie!! Also, he doesn't keep track of which robot is in Aegis or not. Either way, Archie's reaction isn't surprising, really. Doesn't change the fact Guzma huffs arrogantly, waving a hand dismissively.]
Yeah, it will be.
[He grins, catching Archie's eyes before continuing.]
We ain't fuckin' around with powers or Pokémon, nah. This shit is gonna be one-hundred percent him versus me. Dude wants to talk all sorts of wicked shit like he's better than me 'cos he's got some demon loaning out his power like some fucked up demented sugar daddy?
Fuck that, he better put his fists where his mouth is, 'cos I'll beat him down and show him he ain't nothin' without his demon crutch. Dude needs to be knocked on his ass, and if I gotta be the one to knock reality into his thick skull, then so be it, yo!
no subject
...did darin hold them over guzma? that doesn't sound like him...
archie's curious about one thing though:] Then what?
[it's a genuine question. guzma doesn't seem like the type who wants to take over the world or whatever.]
no subject
At Archie's question, Guzma's face goes a little blank.]
...Huh?
[Nice.]
Whaddaya mean "then what"? Ain't it obvious?
[NOT REALLY, IDIOT]
no subject
[he shakes his head as he says this. honestly, if he ever goes and looks over that public conversation he'll be shook.]
I'd rather not assume I know what you're plannin' or thinkin'.
no subject
Tch... the prick'll know where he stands, is all. He's been too comfortable too long on that lofty moral throne of Bulushit of his.
[Guzma crosses his arms over his chest, shrugging.]
Maybe then he'll back the fuck off with all his tryin' to fix me nonsense. Idiot, ain't nobody who can fix me.
[It doesn't matter how much Darin tells Guzma he doesn't need to be fixed, or that he isn't trying, as far as Guzma's concerned he's lying to him. It's just been cowardly backpedaling since their confrontation at Fanport, and Guzma ain't having none of Darin's shit. To Guzma, Darin is the embodiment of everything he hates about Alola, he's just trying to dress himself up as someone who understands him, but Guzma's convinced he can't.]
no subject
[he doesn't know if that's how it'll go-- losing before when darin was on equal grounds with guzma just made him try all the harder, didn't it? archie can't for the life of him see how this is going to help anything at all, but... he's kind of done over-involving himself. not in the way he's given up on both involved, but rather... it's not helping! he's not doing it right! he doesn't know how to do it properly! pulling back and letting two supposed adults do their thing seems like the right thing to do.]
Is that really what he said to you? [again, genuine question. not a sarcastic ask.]
no subject
[Guzma looks to Archie with a stern stare, not exactly bothered by the question, but rather annoyed with the topic. Even though he's the one who brought this up in the first place. He crinkles his nose.]
More or less.
[Guzma bristles.]
He's implied it. Tryin' to be all friendly at me, tryin' to say he sees my "scars", that he'll be there to help me... not to mention his stupid speech he gave me before I paraded his beaten body on the network...
[All of that bothered Guzma far too much. It's almost funny in a sad kind of way, how much people extending help to Guzma is more of a threat to him than anyone promising him bodily harm.]
Saying shit like I'll "molt" and be vulnerable, grow... all that shit, and how he wants to be there to see it—fuckin' creep.
[yes, because someone wanting to see you become a better person and work past your pain is a "creep", good job buddy.]
I ain't nobody's morality project!
no subject
part of him wonders, if the oto ramps up like it seems like they will, darin will back off. he can't be so intense about everything all the time, right?
...that in itself feels like a stupid question.]
He's always gone into perceived challenges with his hammer swinging.
no subject
[Keep telling yourself that, Guzma.]
Either way, one of us is gonna break, and it won't be me.
no subject
[he doesn't think darin will break either, though archie doesn't say that.]
Just... remember I can't heal you after it. You'll have to ask someone else.
no subject
[That's just... how he is.]
Darin won't do shit to me, anyway. Without his demon master powerin' him, he's a pussy.
no subject
[archie leans back with a little sigh.]
I've met that demon, you know. Not through Darin. Some fucked up different plane of reality shit. He's huge.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)