[video]

[magmamia]

[the video starts in a kitchen at some sort of restaurant, at the floor until this angel maxie here slaps the communicator on a counter. he looks like he usually does only in an apron. he is not pleased.

behind him a big fluffy camel thing with volcano back is kind of lounging lazily around. someone should probably explain pokemon don't belong in the kitchen!! maxie!!

he takes a deep breath before speaking, testily.] I'm on this network to inquire what 'yakitori house' is. Or are. And why they require.... 'hotties.'

[a sign in the background proclaims this HOTTIES WITH STICKS YAKITORI HOUSE.

maxie sighs, leaning back on what is obviously a hot stove. his palm makes full contact and he doesn't blink, just leaves it there. the camerupt sort of lifts it's head as it notices this and maxie apparently doesn't.]

Cooking I understand, it's formulaic. A challenge I, Maxie, will rise to, if need be. When in Johto- [the camerupt makes a mildly distressed sound and maxie turns to it, brow raised.] What is it? I know very well you're not hungry, don't try that on me.

[camerupt makes more sounds please save it's trainer from himself dear god.]

Comments

[h2no]

Grou-- Groudon?!

[ Video ]

[magmamia]

[don't deny it. weirdos is the right word.]

Oh? [he lifts his flaming sleeve before cursing and dunking it in the sink. camerupt looks on, only vaguely judgmental]

This will take getting used to.

[h2no]

[high pitched:] GROUDON?!!?

okyy done

[h2no]

[archie puts his hands on his face, stumbling back and falling onto the couch with a WHUMP, bouncing slightly from the force.]

Fuck. Fuck! Fucking shit!

10/10 art also 1/2

[magmamia]

[maxie kind of just watches this show in shock, camerupt even lifting it's head with a confused little 'rupt?' as archie did his thing.

for a minute maxie's face is that loading spiral as he processes this reaction. of course this reaction can only mean... one... thing....]

Archie, I- [oh dear god. god archie didn't know and maxie would have to tell him and archie would rightfully shun him (even though he didn't before, shut up logic??) and just

bam

[magmamia]

just he really didn't want to relive all this again but he probably deserved to relive it every damn day.

have a very, very tired looking old man.]

Yes... I thought you were from my time, I- I apologize. It was a silly assumption. I should have realized you could be- that you may be from before and didn't know-

[he's Dying] If you'd rather I leave I would understand. [IT'S YOUR HOUSE]

[video]

[magmamia]

Surely you have more chance here, what with this teleportation technology? Admittedly it's hardly the same as a journey but even small trips open the mind to new possibilities.

[sound like a teacher more, nerd.] Ah, that would explain it. What does this place do for those young enough to need a guardian? Were you adopted by a native? Did your family come as well?

[magmamia]

Ah yes, we've met now. [blue that gremlin. red is a nice boy at least.]

He challenged me to a battle, I admit I'm quite excited to go up against him.

Re: bam

[h2no]

[archie groans into his hands for a moment, like if he groans hard enough this reality won't be happening. he forces himself to face it, though, getting up and padding over to maxie, pulling him into another tight hug. this is something he'd given vague thought, to be honest - before he'd even been ported in he'd thought about an alternate reality the meteor could've hit - how there could be a world where maxie awoke groudon instead.

not to mention what niko told him. the reality where they were both awakened? god, team aqua and team magma have a deeper history across realities than archie is comfortable with.]

It's not that... [he sighs, burying his face in maxie's stupid fluffy second of hair that presumably isn't soaked in hair gel.] ...You never woke up Groudon where I came from. It was Kyogre that wrecked havoc across Hoenn.

[he doesn't feel like he needs to say why kyogre was awake.]

[heliophilic]

Then perhaps not run around calling yourself a slutty merman.

[heliophilic]

You might clearly prefer "substitute modern art professor," but Archie's style steers more "slutty merman."

[h2no]

I only did to like, you and Harley and also didn't discourage people from using that handle online. I was being magnamimous, you asshole.

[versusseeker]

He's--

["The best", Red almost says. But, well...]

He's good.

Re: [video]

[halloflamer]

Oh yeah, kinda like your plans with those ancient Pokémon, huh? [Blue drawls, obviously annoyed. Just try it, old man- just try him.]

Aaaanyway, being stronger than everyone else other than one guy is still better than most, and that includes you, I'll bet! But I'm humble, I'll give you a shot.

[He grins like an asshole and shrugs. So humble.] What city are you in? Usually the parks are the best spots. Wide open and not too many people in the way. [But really, they should know better than to wander into the middle of a magical animal fight, sheesh!]

[video]

[continuousgroaning]

Oh yeah, I went on vacation to England already! The government sponsored the trip. ... admittedly, a big part of the problem back home, too, was we couldn't afford to travel much.

[She smiles a little at that.]

I'm the only person from my world here, but I was placed in a home with two adult guys who take care of me. And I have plenty of other adults I've made friends with who look out for me too. It's nice.

[heliophilic]

Relax, it's not like he dresses much better.

[h2no]

I told you it's a onesie, didn't I?

[magmamia]

Ignoring that chide, and the fact professors don't have substitutes to begin with, I can't say this is terribly surprising information. I'm more surprised it isn't 'slutty pirate' than anything.

Text

[magmamia]

I'll be happy to do that when you stop speaking in tongues.

Yes, Archie and I have known each other for quite some time. Are you from the world we know as well?

[magmamia]

I imagine he'd have to be to claim his title. Do you know each other well?

[magmamia]

[maxie was continuously and thoroughly not expecting things to go the way they were. clearly the logical next step was for archie to storm off, demand details maybe, yell at worse. all things he rightfully deserved, but instead archie hugged him so sincerely he was struck speechless for several moments, trying to figure out why. this was certainly not information that made people want to hug him.

he can't bring himself to hug back at first, guilty then distracted by what archie had to say. he tenses to tightly he feels like a muscle might snap and oh. oh]

Archie... [he manages, pretty rightfully knocked flat by this information. he can almost feel his brain going into overtime to process it but he goes with a gut reaction first, which is to hug archie back. he knows better but he still has to ask] You... made my mistake? You woke him up?

[he knows, he really does, he just... wants to believe it wasn't like that.] This is... I- I see. Why you're so... so tired, and Matt- [he breaths out. remembers courtney] Archie, I'm so very sorry.

Text

[namesaquestion]

[Dumb people are the worst. Fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnneeeeee. He'll put a bit more effort into his typing.

Just a bit.]

called texting.

Im a pkmn trainer, if thats wat u mean.

[Testing the waters? Just a bit. At least with text he can hide how Unsure he is. Because if this is Another Trainer than can mega evolve?

He might literally quit the network for a while.]

[h2no]

[he squeezes one last time, then draws back, knowing that maxie isn't too big on contact.]

You'd know somethin' about being tired, huh? Mister replacing my bed with a desk is a sane and normal thing to do. [he says with a snort, bapping maxie lightly on the shoulder.] Ain't we a pair of silly old fools?

[he pads back to the sofa, flopping onto it again. mightyena nyooms out from another room and jumps up next to him - as if on cue - and licks all over his face.]

So where-- that was in my mouth! -- where do we go from here?

[ Video ]

[ghoulking]

I suppose that's your power. Immune to fire? [ the clothes clearly aren't ]

[magmamia]

It's perfectly sane, it's multifunctional. [maxie protests, why did archie and tabitha and courtney and his grunts keep acting like it was a bad idea??? fools. he'd be more annoyed if he didn't feel like they were both going through the emotional wringer right now.] Perhaps we are. Who would have thought we'd end up here?

[he settles, lips quirking slightly as archie's mightyena went for the kill. his own mightyena ran after, jumping straight into maxie's lap and boofing. maxie oofed but began petting him with a sigh.]

I don't even know where to start, Archie. I... you don't deserve this. [he rubs his forehead as mightyena's nose chased his hand for pets] Yes, yes, I'll give you attention. You're spoiled. [yet he keeps petting mightyena before glancing to archie] How long has it been for you since... it happened?