"I Can Prove It."

"I guess it's up to the Tapu to decide who's Kahuna. I frankly think it's bullshit."

Forcing people into roles like that? Not cool man.

"Though I doubt the Tapu care if people wanna have that responsibility t'begin with."

A shrug. "At least with bein' Champ you kinda choose that life, right? It's somethin' you aim for."

“You kidding? I already get enough grief from people about bein’ champ. I’d never hear the end of it if Bulu decided to make a funny joke and force me into a kahuna position.”

Hau’s situation isn’t theirs to gossip. They keep that shit to themself.

“Nah. I’d make a shit kahuna, anyway. Nanu’s already… like that, so.”

They’re babying their bad leg, trying to keep weight off of it. They don’t have their cane on them.

“Yeah. I went to Kanto for a tourney. I won, and then I got to meet moltress.”

@livingshinycharm asked: " ...I cant swim"

"...Why not?"

"I'd say hi to them, I s'pose."

If they wanted to see him, sure. In the end, this talk's just making him dizzy. And kinda warm? He's sweating bullets-- Ah. Fever's back. Yippie. No wonder he's being so vulnerable with this other Team Leader.

"...I want t'be a better guy. An' I think I am, if even jus' a li'l bit, but..." He leans back against the backboard of the bed. Whew. Dizziness isn't going away.

"If they're thriving withou' me... Who am I to interfere 'gain? They deserve t'move on from me, and all the shit I did."

…shiiit, fuck you, man. Don't get relatable. Frowning, Guzma lifted an eyebrow as the other kept on rambling about needing a good beating and and past adventures with his Team.

"Well fuck. Ya ain't even gonna tell 'em hi, now?

I dunno. Nobody's forcin' ya apart, right."

Oh, how hypocritical of you, Guzma.

"--Okay??" Well, she's off... So he tosses the bag to the side of the bed again. Now he can only hope for the best.

"Nope! No money required ! I will be right back! I will see what I can get!"

With that she was off like a zubat out of hell.

We All Look Elsewhere (Revisited) by the Classic Crime (both the Original and Revisited versions of this song by the band are fun, but the Revisited version just hits harder in my opinion) [mun of seaglassmarigold]

Don't waste your time if you've got it The tides are turning now You are not alone

"..."

"Ya suck at bein' nice, huh."

His cheek fins droop a bit. Hm. Now this is just akward. "Ya hate me that much?" Guess he's used to it. Part of it was probably deserved, and yet...

"'Kay, hear me out: if I give ya one free punch will ya stop bein' so fuckin', iunno. Tensed up?"

"Uhu, sure."

Oh, great. Smalltalk. His fucking favorite.

He starts dangling backwards, looking around, keeping in a sigh. Oh my goooood this is annoying.

His leg is bouncing, besties.

"Got somethin' else to say, or."

Being kind is so hard.

He's just staring up at the ceiling of Plumeria's bathroom right now... So bored.

@emeraldpride asked: "What the hell makes you think you can show your face around here?"

Not the first time he heard those words, truth be told. But when he turns around to look at who's basically telling him to piss off, he can't help but raise a brow. Now who might this be? Somehow familiar, and yet... He doesn't think they have met.

"Bwahaha! What's that? Can't show my mug 'round here, you say?" He leans forward, intimidatingly so (a bad habit he's still to shake), and grins wide. "And why's that?"

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 … ❞ 

@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.