"Alri', Alriiii', Calm Down There Scamp-- We'll Talk Through The Door."

Aaaand they're rolling back. He might've underestimated the pain that still lingered in his body. Archie winces briefly, but he's not gonna let it stop their fun.

Normally he'd continue fighting, but his side is screaming at him to Not Do That right now... So naturally, he attempts it again-- --Yep, Guzma's still on top after a failed attempt. Okay, let's try something else, then. A hand reaches for Guzma's back, and he digs in his nails, returning the favour.

Oh this is happening alright, in his own goddamn terms--

"-fuck!"

…nevermind I fucking guess. Guzma remained stunned for half a second before letting out yet another sgrunt, the hand on Archie's jaw tightening as he--

…yeah, he's trying to roll then over again - one hand on the former Aqua's face, another sliding under his shirt, nails dragged on his back, mouth a little too occupied on the other's to saw anything sarcastic.

Alola's weirdest wrestling match.

[ @mnstcrbnll Sirio jumping in for reporting duties ]

"Oh, one second for the cameras! Our stars at home were wondering if you were still planning anything nefarius after so, so many years, but most importantly want to know: have you beaten the Magical Creature allegations after being caught staying underwater for up to half an hour?" 🎤

"Hmm? Nefarious? Nah, not really." He doesn't seem bothered by the questions at all.

"Magical Creature allegations? BWAHAHHA!! That, my friend, is simply a skill issue on landlubbers' parts."

"The stripes were pretty nice, yeah!"

A grin. He's still proud of that design choice of his. Or maybe he just liked stripes? Who knew.

"BWAHAHA!! Ya know it!!" He slaps a hand against his scarred chest for emphasis, grinning an even toothier grin at the other.

"Nah, really, I jus' get hot easily. Ya want me t' close m'shirt?" Because he'll do it if asked. He's not that unreasonable (most of the time, anyway.)

"An' yer still rockin' the 'dana, huh? Gotta love the dedication."

His old boss really was the last fucking person on the planet he thought he'd be having a casual conversation with, but, life's full of surprise now, isn't it? Guess it also helped the guy probably had no clue about his stunt to steal Kyogre way back in the days.

Eh, even if he did know, who cared at this point? That was all so long ago...

That said, being complimented on his outfit of all things was a turn Lorenz didn't expect the conversation to take, given he literally dressed himself in the dark. But then again, with all the leather and shades of purple in his closet, his personal style had been nothing but consistent over the years.

"It's definitely not the same as when I worked for you, yeah." A brief chuckle. "But, y'know, I didn't hate the stripes. Kinda felt nice feeling like part of a club for a bit. At least I'm still carrying a lil' bit of us with me."

He pulled on his bandana, it was slightly faded but it still sported the emblem of the long gone organization. Really, it was a mark of some sick attachment to the bridges he burned and the friends he betrayed, but also a reminder that not everything in his years in Aqua was terrible. Not that Archie needed to know the specifics.

"Wish I could compliment your fit as well, but. Well." Jazz hands at his unfocused gaze. "Y'still making sure the world can ogle at your pecs at all times?"

Suggest a song for my muses playlist!

humans: what is my muse’s view on humans? do they like them? fear them? indifferent toward them?

for the merfolk… 

"Love 'em." A grin as he shifts on the bed, hands behind his head as he rests against the headboard. "They're just so... What's the word. Silly? Goofy? Fuckin' wild? They have all these crazy inventions--" A frown. "Some of them I do hate, I must say. Who the fuck thought beds 're comfortable. Who invented cars. Who invented gluten." He just wants to talk.

"They're also a lo' friendlier than the creatures in the depths. At least most humans don't stab first and ask questions later, yanno?"

"Oh, neat."

He trusts Plumeria with this kind of stuff. She had shown a lot of knowledge about this kind of thing, after all.

"I'll take some, then. Feel free to retrieve 'em whenever, though." They don't care if it hurts? Archie is usually the same, honestly. He could tell them it's not the best thing to do, but. That'd be super hypocritical of him. "...Mind givin' it t'me?" A beat. "Or ya could toss it t'me, I guess."

Didn't wanna make them uncomfortable. He can read the room. "My name's Archie, by the by."

“It’s fine. These are the same kind sis wanted to get you. I don’ think you’re allergic”

if he doesn’t want it, that’s fine, but… Ree is trying to do something nice. Despite their anxiety and knowing that this guy keeps picking fights with their dad and upset one of their best friends. They’re trying to be nice.

“I always got a stock up of stuff. I have enough for me for a while. Besides, I don’ care if it hurts. It just gets in my way sometimes.”

They’re not moving any closer.

Phew... Seems like he passed the vibe check somehow. At least for now, that was.

"Heh. Hey there, bud."

Archie lights up at the Crobat inspecting him, before pulling out a Pokéball and tossing it in the air. Out comes his own Crobat, battle-scarred beyond belief, but seemingly very content to be there.

Crobat makes a gentle clicking noise, curious about this other Crobat that's here.

"There we go. Now it's a playdate."

The only change in his expression so far: a narrowing of his eyes, scrutinising poor Archie further.

Hm.... on further inspection...

No, any familiarity must just be his imagination.

Cyrus finally cares to look away, breaking all the tension.

"That's unnecessary," He answers at once, before pausing, contemplating, and then switching his focus between Archie and the Crobat at his side. He cocks his head towards the stranger, and as if commanded to, Cyrus' Crobat breaks away from its owners space to investigate Archie. "- But that's what it wants to do, so very well."

"I can prove it."

But will he get kicked out...

"Nah, not really."

swinging the bat at the beedrill's nest.

@galarglory asked: "It's good to live in the moment and not worry too much about the past."

He stares for a moment, before bursting out in laughter. "Bwahahah!! Really? Even a person like lil' ol' me?" He presses a thumb into his chest. It's hard to not worry about the past... But she has a point.

"...Ya really don't believe that?"

"uh huh, yeah, sure bud."