oh my god maxie who invited you

[oceansbane]

[Those who are familiar with the island may remember a beach on the southern side, one that overlooks the Hoenn region; usually it was quiet, sometimes there were people, sometimes it was fairly quiet even with the people, and sometimes the people would come back to this place to try to sort out what they'd lost.

Now seems to be one of the latter times; there's someone crouching down near one of the rocky outcroppings, fingers of his left hand buried in the sand for support. The ocean's rolling in this evening, soaking the long edges of his coat, asymmetrical red-and-black standing out against the starkness of the rocks and the darkness of the waves.

The first thing that he'd noticed about this place is, perhaps stupidly, that his coat has been fixed.

One of his sleeves had been torn off back home, the jagged edges flying loose and frayed at his side if he moved too quickly; not much else seems to have changed, as far as he can tell. He's still hungry as hell and his hair is a mess, and he's twitching quite a bit as he tries to get his bearings.

He's been here before.

Oh, not recently, he doesn't think; the last thing he remembers is Hoenn, the car and the electrical field and something that was probably a crash - admittedly, he doesn't really remember the crash, but there was a sudden stop and impact and then he'd awakened here so he's just going to venture a guess and assume, for a moment, that he's died. It would make this make so much more sense (how?) somehow, and it's a thought he doesn't mind. After all, if he's dead then his rival is dead, because surely life wouldn't kill him in a freak accident and let his rival default to a win, and if his rival is dead then really, they're still even.

Something like that.

But he can't shake the idea that he's been here before, that this beach holds significance to him outside of the view, but for now the memories are hazy, dreamlike (he's had battles on this outcropping, two-on-two and the place below it used to be full of quicksand and he'd won both times but hadn't killed his opponent, and he's battled here one other time but it wasn't so much a battle as it was a start to something and he'd won then too and he had killed his opponent and he'd received what he thinks is the Red Orb but that's ridiculous, isn't it?) and when he tries to force them it just scrambles them a bit, and what's more important is that he's feeling weirdly cut off.

He can't feel Groudon's presence anymore, and it unsettles him.

But he remembers being unable to feel it for a long time, despite the fact that he'd felt it and then there'd been the crash with no time inbetween back in Hoenn; it was...here, that he'd been unable to feel it, despite there being no logical timeframe in which he could have been here...

He's shaking a bit by the end of it because, inexplicably, he's laughing quietly to himself, and he's standing up and brushing the sand off his legs and thinking nonsensically that at least he can see out of his left eye this time (why? that's never been a concern before, his vision is good).]

Quite the piece of work, this place.

[He doesn't seem displeased with that notion; he rakes a hand back through his hair, mussing it a bit as he flicks the front locks of it back out of his eyes.

He'll worry about whatever dreams he's had about this place later, surely.]

It'll be just fine, I think.

Comments

[torrential]

[Needless to say, Archie's been spending the majority of his time right here. The beach has always been his favorite place, but this one overlooks Hoenn and that's more than enough to get him to stay right here. He's a little late coming out for training today, but he'd been busy chasing his newly-acquired Froakie around. The frog doesn't like training and would rather try to exhaust his trainer, but Archie finally managed to catch it. He's carrying the frog when he arrives, though the presence of a Maxie (he's not sure which one at first) causes him to pause.

It doesn't take him long to recognize that this one looks like a wreck while the other one didn't. He can't quite help the grin that appears.]

So, the island finally brought you back, huh?

[He lets the frog down and approaches, still grinning.]

I was beginning to wonder if I'd see you again.

[oceansbane]

[And when he glances over it...takes him a moment, his hand drifting back immediately to those Pokéballs at his belt - and he knows what's in them by instinct, despite there being more than he'd carried on him back home and he has no idea how he knows but it's just something he knows and isn't going to question -

...because The Island provides.

The thought is random, intrusive, and he's quick to shake it off, his gaze coming sharply back into focus. This...isn't his rival, he knows that much, but he's fully aware that as the person speaks he's gone very still, and then he's approaching and Maxie is quite simply backing the fuck up because any version of his rival is unwelcome and he can feel his hand closing around one of those Pokéballs - Swellow, he knows it by placement, though he flinches a little, trying to work out why he went for that one rather than pulling out one of his powerhouses immediately.

Because his Cloyster hates Swellow with a passion, and Cloyster tends to be a problem.

Battles on the beach. Defeating his opponent twice here without killing him. A third and fourth time in the forest somewhere. Didn't kill him there either, though oh, did he try that first time. What the fuck's wrong with you - we don't challenge each other with the intent to kill.

It takes him a moment.]

Hopefully you've been training in my absence, Archie. Getting yourself sorted and all.

[His words are confident and his hands have shifted, going to his hips, his stance open instead of guarded; he's still got Swellow's Pokéball palmed but at least he's not throwing it directly at the guy's face.

He's not as certain as he sounds, but the words feel right. Yes.]

[torrential]

You really think I wouldn't be training?

[But despite the confidence in his words, Archie has no idea if he's been training at all. He doesn't remember the past... however long it's been. The last thing he remembers was being on the island while this version of Maxie was doing... something... it's vague but he knows for a fact that it was something terrible. He can't quite recall it and dismisses it for the time being. It's not important.

Maybe Ghetsis has been messing with his memories again and that's why he doesn't remember returning home like everyone else. Regardless, he's here and Maxie's here and things feel right again.]

[oceansbane]

[Oh, don't worry, you aren't the only one contending with vague memories, including some...tremendous noodle incident of a battle that almost - almost - reminded him of home.

It's good. Vague, but good.]

Knowing you? It's a bit hard to say.

[torrential]

Oh c'mon, that's uncalled for!

[Though judging by the grin, he's not offended at all.]

One of these days I'll beat you.

[oceansbane]

[...have a skeptical look at the frog there, you.]

Not with that, you won't.

[torrential]

[WOW RUDE MAXIE Froakie puffs up his chest and looks insulted.]

...Yeah, you're probably right.

[WHAT, BOSS HOW COULD YOU]

I've got no idea what it evolves into, if anything. That's why I'm training it, to see if it'll turn into anything useful.

[oceansbane]

Well, with that sort of mindset, here's hoping it evolves at all.

[torrential]

Yeah, I don't have high hopes for it...

[UGH RUDE BOSS Froakie's just going to go play in the sand over here and ignore you jerks okay!!]

So I take it you went home. Anything happen back there?

[mediastorm]

[If Maxie is being observant, he might notice something...odd about one of the waves that crashes near the rocks. It's almost like there's something within it, some sort of...strange creature, unlike a Pokemon, swimming through the water. But that's absurd. Perhaps he won't notice anything at all.

A few minutes pass after that wave terminates its journey against the rocks. The ocean calms for a moment.

Then a hand explodes out of the water, gripping tightly to one of the rocks.

When most people surface after being underwater for so long, they gasp for breath - but not Archie. His breathing remains normal, calm, his eyes closed blissfully as water runs down his face. Effortlessly, he pulls his torso out of the water, grabbing another rock to help him pull himself up properly.

His eyes are open now, the familiar dull gleam coming across them as he notices his rival perched nearby. His clothes are sodden, but he makes no move to shake them free of the saltwater - if anything, he's enjoying it. Sitting himself down comfortably on a rock, still half-submerged in the ocean, he flicks his eyes to Maxie briefly before returning his gaze to the sea, smirking.]

Fancy meeting you here.

[oceansbane]

[...oh my fucking god, Archie, how necessary was that -

That said, however, Maxie just laughs, the sound high and cold; his gaze is quick to snap back into focus, and he folds his arms low across his body. He could get at his Pokéballs easily if he really thought he needed to; he doesn't feel it necessary just yet.

Let's see where this goes, shall we?]

You've kept me waiting, Archie.

[mediastorm]

Do forgive me, Maxie.

[Leaning back, Archie breathes in the salty air, shivering slightly with a combination of pleasure and satisfaction. Is there no finer place to be? He's not concerned about Maxie trying to attack him - not here, anyway, where his tactical advantage is so strong.

Besides, Tentacruel would probably dislike that.]

You know how I get around the ocean.

[oceansbane]

I wish you would make it easier for me to forget, half the time.

[Ugh.]

[mediastorm]

[Oh, that makes him chuckle.]

Your coat is wet.

[oceansbane]

I hadn't noticed.

[It's a bit difficult to say whether he had or he hadn't, judging by tone alone. Knowing him, he definitely had.

He shifts again, his body tight.]

So. Here we are. Again, apparently.

What rules are we looking at?

[mediastorm]

[The comment makes Archie smirk, but it does earn Maxie his full attention.]

I'm a fan of the temporary truce. Unless you have other ideas?

[He can't say he's opposed to either, really. This should be fun.]

[oceansbane]

[He tips his head a bit at that; he's shaking a little, a barely-controlled laugh coursing through his system, and when he speaks his words have a light, almost delirious sort of edge to them.]

Oh, believe me, any truce we have will be temporary. But for now? I can't say that I'm opposed.

[terra_et_sol]

[The sand starts to quake, a little way away from where Maxie is standing. It quakes in a long, broad patch along the beach and starts to bulge upward and fall away as something rises out of it. The first thing to appear is a tiny pair of eyes with black markings around them, a Sandile surfacing right near the tideline - but that's far too big a disturbance for a tiny little crocodile-thing.

As the Sandile rises, it appears to be sitting on something big and golden, a familiar-looking head apart from the color. The Groudon lifts its head out of the sand, the rest of its bulk still mostly concealed... and sneezes, barely failing to send the Sandile flying. It rumbles something rueful to itself.]

Groudon grou groudon don grou.

[Terra hasn't quite noticed Maxie yet.]

((OOC: Translation in hovertext~))

WOW hi, it's been a while! o/

[oceansbane]

[Well, the same certainly can't be said for Maxie over here, as that display was a bit...hard to miss - he can feel his pulse quickening, his body tensing up quite a bit, despite the fact that something feels...off, about this.

The connection...it isn't there, this isn't something that he recognizes, even with the color notwithstanding; it's an unnerving feeling, really, and he can't seem to decide whether he's more disturbed or anticipatory. The result being that he'll keep his distance for now, pacing the outskirts of the area nearby with a rather wary look in his eyes.

Wary, but alive.

He's aware, dimly, that he's increasing his chances of being seen by doing so; he doesn't really mind the notion.]

Hi to you too!

[terra_et_sol]

[Terra raises her head a little higher, slowly lumbering her way out of the sand. About the time she's halfway unburied she notices Maxie and turns her head to follow his pacing. As the Sandile slides down her back toward her tail, she opens her mouth to speak in human language.]

Hello, Maxie. It's been a while.

[She has suspicions about which one this is - he's drawn and skinny, and has a faintly irritating presence about him whose origin she suspects she knows. But it's always possible she's wrong. Still, she makes a low rumble, almost below human hearing, that mostly travels as a vibration in the ground - warning the Sandile to stay behind her. She's a bit protective of the little companion the Island decided to gift her with.]

[oceansbane]

[Oh, he's very aware of that vibration, and he seems to respond to that before he does the words, his body tensing up and suddenly going very still; the words...are wrong, not in his head and surfacing just beneath his consciousness, something he understands without having any idea what's being said - this is something he's hearing, he's certain he's hearing it and when he returns his attention to Groudon he's seeming a little less on-edge.

That oddly fixated look on his eyes hasn't left him, however.]

So it has.

[...]

Terra, wasn't it?

[terra_et_sol]

[Her mouth moves oddly. Groudon don't really have lips, but Terra might be smirking.]

So you recognize me. I didn't remember whether I'd ever shown you my true form.

[Then again, she is sure she's mentioned being golden before, and there are only so many shiny Groudon on the island. She stands up on all fours, shovel-like claws flat on the sand.]

I suppose I should have expected that you would be back as well.

[oceansbane]

Apparently I can't stay away.

[The words are dry, some slight bite accompanying them; his memories of this place are hazy but some are returning to focus, at least. Small favors. Small favors.]

[terra_et_sol]

Oh, a lot of us turned up again all at once, really.

[She shifts position a little further up the beach, past the water, and lays her head down on the sand. She's still watching him warily, though. She remembers disturbing amounts of crazy.]

[oceansbane]

Is that so.

[It's not really a question; he's watching her just as warily. The crazy is still there, but thankfully for the time being he's...more lucid than he could be; apparently returning to Hoenn -

...well, it didn't do wonders for his mental state, given that he's still bugfuck insane. But at least he's less messed up than he was last time he was here. It's done something for his clarity, at least.]

Some sort of disturbance in this place again? I imagine you'd know.