Aaaand They're Rolling Back. He Might've Underestimated The Pain That Still Lingered In His Body. Archie

"..." Why's everyone so fucking rude to him (save for like. 3 people)? He visibly deflates, allowing himself to sink back into the tub. "I don't e'en fit in there-- Whatevs. Jus' let me snooze."

This was gonna be a long ass fucking night, wasn't it? The things he did for Plumeria, seriously. Not only was he crashing in a bathroom but he also had to listen to stupid fish puns.

"You wanna pay me back? Just dive on back into the ocean. We could try flushin' you down the toilet."

tomorrow im slapping Pokémon Crossing away from archie... ))

@livingshinycharm asked: " HEY YOU!" She is there, but no fight, she brought him a cupcake.

"Finally someone who doesn't wanna fight!"

He's eyeing the cupcake, but...

"...What's the ingredient list?"

There's people staring at them now. At least they slowly return to their meals when Maxie calms down a tad.

"Thanks."

Archie orders, though his choices are limited to only a handful of options due to his stomach's sensitivities. But hey, at least they make gluten and lactose free malasada nowadays. It's still fried, but... hopefully it wouldn't be too bad. He adds a regular, cinnamon sugar coated malasada to the order for Maxie.

When he receives the two doughy treats, he promptly shoves Maxie's into his hands.

"Let's walk and talk."

Cue him just walking off. No need for people listening in. When they're away from the busy streets, he finally speaks up.

"My phone was busted. Didn't have materials to fix it up until today." He holds up a little bag with spare parts. "This is actually the first day I'm outside on my own in months."

   ❝ since when— ❞ he snaps again. ❝ i'm a volcanologist! i study volcanoes! use your head! ❞

   but ‘since when’? one week ago. only within the last year has Maxie finally been permitted to leave Hoenn, and for research and collaboration purposes only. so here he was now, in Alola, to learn more during the next several weeks before returning to the strict oversight awaiting back home. 

   the running into Archie bit was entirely unintentional.

   ❝ can it wait?! ❞ incredulous, the Magma leader's tone remains sharp, irritated. yet, after a second's pause, the accusatory finger is lowered and Maxie scoffs. ❝ you've already kept me waiting for three weeks, i can wait a few more minutes … ❞ 

^ Literally born in Alola.

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

"uh huh, yeah, sure bud."

"Ya wanna know 'bout merfolk?"

Well, colour him surprised. This was the first person besides Plumeria who'd asked besides just pointing out the fish tail.

"Heh, that's a lo' o' questions. But I don't mind sharin' 's long as ya keep it on the down low."

He leans back a bit, grinning. "I think ya have t'be born one, yeah. Unless ya find a sea witch maybe? But that's really hard for a human anyway. There's more 'round Alola, yeah. And I do have pretty cool powers, but I can't do most o' 'em righ' now 'cause it takes energy I don' have."

-✖

Really? Not many people questioned him? Apparently, certain people don't share Cataleya's adventurous curiosity in the face of such things.

"Well... Can you tell me about merfolk? Do you have to be born one? Do more live around Alola? My mom used to tell me stories that my gramma told her, but they were pretty vague. Do you have any cool powers?" she asks, words coming out quite fast in her excitement.

"Well, yeah, I've seen a fair bi' o' it all. But I still haven't seen e'rythin'."

The ocean was vast, after all. And deep, too. The depths were rather scary... Even for him.

"Ya really wanna go down there?"

"The ocean is really pretty! Now that I live near it I want to be able to explore it"

She seemed to drift off in thought a .oment bwfore looking back at him.

" I bet youve explored a ton of it!"

don't fear the sea

fear what lives inside

He looks down at the ring. Huh. Neat.

When she returns with the sashimi he can't help bit smile a little.

"Ya rearranged them f'r lil' ol' me?"

Man, he wished his stomach wasn't so sensitive, though. Not that he dislikes the food he can eat, it's just... a little limiting sometimes compared to a human.

"Thank you. --Wait did ya jus' have the sashimi on hand somewhere?"

Bee looked down at the cupcake, well for one she took the plastic water stone ring off, washed it off, and put it on his hand. "Here you can have this! One moment!"

She hurried off for a moment. She came back with another little container. This container just had some Sashimi on it, not the most expensive fish possible, but she kind of moved them in the package so they are kind shaped like a cupcake.

"Hows that?"