IC CONTACT

[blueser]

"Hello... Whatever... Don't worry about me. I'm doing peachy over here! I was just looking for something to do! Wanna battle me again?"

[telepathy | Pidgeot-mail]

Comments

[golisolation]

[That feeling of surprise, sudden and soft, is a reassurance Guzma wasn't aware he needed. When did he start to give a shit about this kid? This stupid punk kid with too many emotions and too much bravado? He really shouldn't have to think too hard on it, honestly. He was the leader of a bunch of emotional teens with shitty attitudes, after all. He's got a weak spot, even if he wants to pretend he doesn't.]

Kid, I never believed your fronting from day one, I sure as fuck ain't believing it now.

[So, cut the shit, Blue. Ain't no one got time for your fragile ego. Maybe if Guzma wasn't busy dealing with this perpetual weariness from recovery he'd have more stamina in all of this. Maybe his annoyance would turn into a grudge, and he'd turn Blue away for slighting him.

Maybe after almost dying he's realized that he shouldn't squander the few things that make him feel somewhat good. Whatever the case, he seems to want to make amends. There's a genuine sort of feeling through the line, a strange sort to come from Big Bad Guzma, that's for sure.]

Gotta admit, your cooking was real good.

[blueser]

[Huff]

I’m not lying! [He grouches, wounded, though he’s more wounded because his obvious excuse wasn’t allowed to rock. Why you gotta make him feel things, you stupid jerk?] Of course it is. Sis taught me.

[Daisy, who he misses terribly. Just about the only person who ever cared about him... Maybe he knows how to take care of himself, but without anyone he’s convinced actually cares about him around to nag him into doing so, he’s been in this wandering, sorry state.]

[It’s that strange and almost uncomfortable sensation of genuine care that’s keeping him on this line. He doesn’t understand it- not coming from Guzma, who hasn’t seemed the type to have any reason to care, and has given him such mixed signals as to whether he does or not. Blue doesn’t know how to react to this other than to keep a safe distance from him emotionally (and physically, now), but he’s been pretty bad at that. Especially when he’s pulling the same crap.]

Why do you keep talkin’ to me?

[golisolation]

So that's all that was, huh? A debt repaid?

[There's a rough edge to his tone, a little distant than the rest of what he's said. Cold and sharp, like a blade of ice.

He wonders who Daisy is, but he also doesn't care to ask. Not now, maybe later. Especially when Blue asks that next bit, and Guzma's left wondering the same. He's just a dumb spoiled kid, who clearly has an attitude problem almost as bad as Guzma's. Self-esteem issues too. Like Guzma. Longing turned to hatred for a friend who has seemingly abandoned him... like... Guzma...

There's a spike of aggitation, hot and white through the line, but it's gone just as quickly. Smoldering to something more weak and muted. Something worn down.]

I dunno, kid. Maybe I feel like I get ya. Maybe I thought you'd get me.

[There's a spark of regret as the words go through, and something akin to embarrassment.]

Fuck it, forget it.

[blueser]

[Blue flinches at the sudden iciness, disappointed that Guzma took him for his word. As if he was supposed to know any better... That was always the problem, wasn’t it? He’d pushed and pushed Red away too, flinging barbs at him until he left, when all he wanted was for him to look past them and see the wounds beneath.]

[It hadn’t worked then, either, but he didn’t know any other way.]

[He’s still struggling to find it when Guzma says forget it, and a spike of fear feeds back along the line, Guzma’s painful embarrassment and his honest words trudging up something deep within Blue, his strongest and most hated emotion.]

Wait— [He panicks and blurts across, and it’s hard to stop yourself finishing your sentences when they’re what you’re thinking.] Don’t leave—!

[And now it’s Blue’s turn to be embarrassed and exposed, a deafening silence like the sensation of holding ones’ breath and waiting for the hurt to come.]

[golisolation]

[That raw emotion, that fear and the sound of desperation in his voice does indeed halt Guzma. He's almost petty enough to disconnect, leave Blue in his misery. But he doesn't. Despite how irritated he is, he stays put. Evidence of such is the light string of conflicted emotion feeding through. A mix of irritation, and sympathy.]

Make up your mind. Do ya want me around or not? I ain't gonna be playin' this sorta shit. Be up front with me, yo.

[blueser]

[He's struggling, and it comes across, in lurching sickness, in a sensation like bunching muscles in the stomach]

[How does he open up? How, how, how--]

[Opening oneself up meant pain. It meant betrayal, loss, being kicked while he was down. It was having his dreams stolen and being left behind... Why should he want to open himself to all of that again?]

[Because the pain of being alone was, on its own, just as bad?]

[This guy.... who's hurt him again and again, who he has no real reason to trust.... But who more than anyone, Blue can admit, has given him a chance and seen where he's really coming from...]

Why... wouldn't you lemme go before? [He allows to cross the feed- timidly, carefully, but still tinged in a kind of apprehensive fear of letting Guzma inside his guard.]

[(If there was any doubt, he's definitely crying right now)]

[golisolation]

[This torrent of conflict is. A bit much, and Guzma has to wonder what the fuck happened to this child. He won't pry, it's not his style to, but he can't help but wonder towards darker avenues.

What else did he and Blue have in common? There's a nauseating feeling that comes through the feed, with a deep pang of hurt, that almost seems dull, yet it cuts just as sharp as any scalpel. It's an old pain, and it's somehow obvious in that fact. Like an old scar that's been rubbed raw.]

I didn't want you to leave. Ain't that hard to figure out.

[There's a bluntness to it that seems almost dismissive, and like he might be lying. But, it's true. He was working on forgiving Blue for getting him into trouble with Nanu, and was starting to enjoy having him around in his annoying doting way... and then he got freaked out, and Guzma didn't want him to run away.

It upset something in him. Something he didn't fully get, but he was compelled to stop Blue from ditching him, even if it meant scaring him.]

[blueser]

Saying it is different.

[There's an admission in that, too, even if it's in itself hypocritical. The fear in him slowly begins to subside, although it only evens out into an anxiousness that continues to churn in his stomach.]

...I don't... wanna see people hurt each other... [Or see people being hurt, for that matter, but even the implication of it was enough.] I don't get it... I don't get people here...

I wish there were Pokémon...

[golisolation]

Well, I just did, didn't I?

[That's not the point, Guzma. But at least Blue seems to be talking more and more, and that settles him a bit. How the hell did they get to this point? He's blaming it on his swimming head and semi-delirium. Even if it's not actually that bad anymore.]

What got me wasn't a person. It was a monster. There's some fucked up people in the world--this one, ours--and I'm one of 'em, but there's no avoiding 'em all. There's gonna be shit you don't wanna see, and there's gonna be times when you can't tear your eyes away regardless. You don't always get what you want, even if it's actually what you really need...

[There's a somberness to his tone, before he adds a little cold and sadly:]

That's life.

[blueser]

[It's called TRUST and FEELINGS, Guzma. And Blue's not really a fan of them either, but here they are, talking about them.]

[Blue doesn't like what they're talking about now, either, nor does he like hearing what Guzma's saying, even if he knows that's true. His discomfort filters across, but true to form, he doesn't want to acknowledge it. So he doesn't.]

...You said you hunt them, didn't you. When I dropped the Beedrill off with you.

Serves you right. [It's harsh, but he isn't really sorry to say it.]

[golisolation]

This one was different. It was personal, yo.

[And that's all Guzma seems interested in saying about it. He doesn't want to get into the details concerning it. He doesn't want to talk about how he dragged Archie out there, both of them under-prepared, but Archie especially so. He doesn't want to talk about how it possessed Archie, tricked him, and nearly killed him with the knife that was meant for it.

And so he doesn't.]

You ain't wrong, though.

[blueser]

[Blue sends across an impression like a shrug, or a little puff of a huff, and then goes quiet. It isn't the sort of frozen silence of fear and apprehension like before, but rather more like when they sat together in quiet that one night, drunk, but in an understanding.]

[It was... almost comfortable.]

...I... meant to make something to cheer up Golisopod... [He suddenly recalls, an inflection of a frown and a bit of guilt.] I'll do that, and bring it soon...

[golisolation]

[He's not sure what's worse: when Blue was fearful of him when he wasn't trying to scare him, or realizing there's a strange sort of comfortable solidarity he's finding with Blue more and more. It's weird, and almost uncomfortable in its... comfort?

Nothing makes sense anymore.]

Yeah? He'd like that.

[A thoughtful beat.]

He was pretty bummed he missed you last time.

[blueser]

Oh, yeah...?

[What a ...strange, warm fuzzy feeling...]

What's his favorite Berry flavor, anyway? All my team likes is Spicy. Well, except Exeggutor... We should plant some they'll all like.

[golisolation]

Yeah, it was pretty pitiful!

[Golisopod would sit on him if he knew he was speaking such slander against his character. But he doesn't, so instead Golisopod is cuddling with Guzma.]

...I take it that means you wanna garden with me and Jill, huh? But! He likes anything, or I just haven't found something he won't eat. Gotta say though, he seems to really like spicy things, like your squad.

Pinsir's a lot like Golisopod, he'll eat anything he can get his grubby little hands on. But Masquerain and Vikavolt have dryer tastes, and won't touch anything remotely spicy, they're pretty picky, yo.

Scizor likes spicy, though. But he'll eat anything someone gives him, 'cos I think he wants people to think he's got manners or something. Heh.

[Oops, he's kinda rambling. He just, really likes talking about his Pokèmon in any capacity...]

[blueser]

[Blue listens to him ramble and a little grin slowly grown on his face, as much as he tries to fight it. ...Such a big bad guy, huh.... And here he was, gushing on and on about his beloved Bugs....]

What a nerd.... [Oops, was that out loud?]

Spicy and Dry, then. That works for my team, as well.

...Offensive types, huh. [Yeah he sees u, bitch]

[golisolation]

[HE HEARS THAT YOU BRAT. There's a spike of annoyance, but it fades into indignant dismissal!]

Tch, so says the kid who went outta his way to get me a book about them stingers.

[SPENDING TIME AT A LIBRARY OR A BOOK STORE? Now that's a nerd.]

You expected differently? Crush your opponents, hit 'em hard and fast, destroy 'em so utterly they can't retaliate. It's just how I roll.

[blueser]

Whaaatever! Information is useful, you should read more often! And I wanted to know for myself too, obviously. If you're gonna battle me with them.

[Speaking of...]

You won't next time. I just didn't expect someone like you to have those dumb super-whatever evolution rocks, like that Hoenn dweeb.... So don't get too comfy!

[He did promise battles in the future, didn't he...?]

[golisolation]

I won't disagree with you there, but do I look the type to go to libraries? Do I look the type welcomed at libraries?

[He probably went to them as a kid to read about bugs. Probably is banned from every single one in Alola because of his bugs.]

Oh yeah? D'you think you can take me on, huh? I'll look forward to seeing what you can pull outta your ass next time, then.

...Also, I didn't win because of the mega-evolution. That was just flexing.

[blueser]

...What's that supposed to mean? You sit down and read, what's so hard about that?

--What'd you do that you wouldn't be welcome??

[So many questions... Not that it's hard to imagine Guzma picking a fight or something stupid. Sheesh.]

Yeah, whatever. Make your excuses now, I don't wanna hear you crying about it later. [All this posturing. Boys.]

[golisolation]

Shit happens.

[That's... all he has to say on the matter.]

Uh huh, same. I think I've dealt with enough of your crying to last a fuckin' lifetime.

[blueser]

I don't cry when I lose...

[Except that one time, but we won't talk about that either.]

[Or honestly anytime he loses to Red.]

...Where'd you learn that stuff? Lame-o Stone said he went to the Kalos region to learn that...

[golisolation]

We'll see about that, won't we?

[He's just teasing as he do, but maybe it's a touch insensitive... Another thing he do.]

Never been to Kalos. Maybe some of them came to Alola, who knows. It ain't traditionally Alolan...

[He's just being cagey to be cagey. There was of course that pair of trainers from Kalos who seemed intent on sharing the keystones with people. They hung around the Battle Tree, and Guzma had made a habit of going there himself. One can only wonder where he might have gotten his...]

[blueser]

[Blue frowns to himself at that non-answer. Did he steal it or something...? Not his business, if so, but that doesn't help him very much.]

So where do you find those stones, anyway? I've never even heard of them in Kanto... Pewter Museum's got nothing like that.

[A power that tests the bond between trainer and Pokémon... Blue wanted to prove to himself, to his team, that he'd made real strides in that regard. This stone could help him do that, right...?]

[golisolation]

[He could have stolen it, once upon a time. But he actually got it through legit means, but his caginess doesn't help anything.]

I'm guessin' Kalos is where they originate. Maybe they get imported in. Guess Kanto's just behind on the times, huh?

[Yeah, he's gonna take that wide open dig at Kanto while it's there. Thanks for that, Blue.]