Lifeaftr IC Inbox

[yallstupid]

SOURCE ☠ IC INBOX ☠ ♚ Tch, got something to say? Leave me a message, and I'll get back to it when I wanna. GET CODE HERE

Comments

[yallstupid]

[Oh my god, please. Ren, child, dearest and most precious little sister. Let him sleep.

The rock doesn't even hecking matter anymore, and Guzma momentarily curls his pillow around his ears to drown out the sound of her voice. This was a mistake...he's practically awake already, but this has become a battle and by god, he is neither going to back down nor is he going to lose. But Guzma knows the only way to end this is to take matters, and this wretched, little goblin, into his own hands.

He drags his hands down his face, swings himself out of his hammock, and stomps to the front door, nearly wrenching it off whatever hinges the poor, old, dilapidated slab of wood still sticks to.]

Yes...Ren. I like to sleep. I like it a whole hecking lot, yeah. [He grabs her very suddenly, tucks her under one arm like a football, and carries Ren right back to his hammock.] So you n' me are gonna go to sleep. Right now.

[catpiper]

[HOLY heck???

No potential game of tag could've prepared her for the way he busts through that door and while she's tensed up, ready to amble off to the great tag beyond, away from his you're it clutches, he swoops and grabs her without much ado.

He's talking about sleeping and she's staring at the ground like it's lava-why did he even grab her?? Was something scary below her? Should she be on the lookout for moving shadows? Heck. Frick. She raises her hands to clutch to the arm holding her up, which is difficult with the rock in the palm of her hand, curling her feet upwards too, in case something weird is going on and she's unable to figure it out. Why did he pick her up?

At least it's quiet?? Now?? For real?? She's not struggling, just nervously clinging to him and staring at the floor. It's fine.

Also the ash from her fingers that transfers to his arm when she tries to clutch him? Also fine. If he ever lets her be the free elf she's meant to be, he might understand the meaning behind-]

How do you make your drawing sleep? So it doesn't move anymore?

[yallstupid]

[It's blessedly quiet, and GUzma breathes out as he drags himself and this tiny nuisance back to his hammock, peering through the darkness and wondering how in the loving heck Luna can sleep through all this. She's a heavier sleeper than even he is, in this case, and he envies her to no end. Blessed be she who sleeps through this nonsense. Whatever she's got, he wants some. No more of this early rising bullcrap. Sleep is good and he likes it very much. The sun is for losers.

Just as Guzma is about to dump Ren into his hammock, yawning openly, he blinks at her comment and pauses. What in the world is she talking about? Drawings? He can just barely see the ash on his arms from where she touched him and raises a dark brow in confusion, his face screwing up a bit. Girl, please, he'll probably take a rinse once he gets up anyway, but still...keep your grubby mitts to yourself, please and thank.]

Wha...huh? [Lord, his brain is still in standby - he's not awake enough for deep thinking. PLEASE LET HIM SLEEP, YOU TERRIBLE GREMLIN.] The heck're y'all talking about?

[catpiper]

[One day, she might feel bad about ruining his life. There might be a point where she looks back on her past and thinks Boy that Guzma. Good guy. Sure put up with a lot.

But today isn't that fake hypothetical day. They're living in reality and that means instead of offering any kind of meaningful explanation, she tries to raise one of her arms high into the air, shaking it to let the sleeve fall back. It's covered in ash, spread about in an intricate, familiar pattern and some big blotches from where it rubbed against her clothes.

Look, she's got tattoos!! Incredible!!]

It's like your paintings-[Pause]-drawings? That thing? It goes away on me.

[yallstupid]

[All Guzma can see in the dim light of his home is a dirty little arm flailing wildly in front of his face. He blinks for a moment before setting Ren down in his hammock, moving aside his blankets and stuffed centipuppy plush (which he will offer her to snuggle with in a moment) before sitting down himself and offering his large hand to her to offer up her little, noodly arm for him to inspect.

Paintings? I mean, there's...something there, and he frowns as he rubs his fingers through the dirty marking and rubs them together before putting them to his face to give a testing sniff. Ash, that's good. He wouldn't be very happy if she was rubbing some sort of poisonous substance on her skin, and Arceus knows there's plenty of that to be found or discovered on the islands.]

My--...oh, you mean these? [Guzma holds out his own arm, where the mark of his former team are painted expertly in purple body paint. He's done it so many times that even applying the tattoo with his less dominant hand has become an easy task for him now.] It's not--...well, I guess it kinda is a drawing, but s'called a tattoo when you apply it to your skin like I do. Mine's not permanent either, but it takes way longer for it to go away.

[Guzma's not to the point where he can have someone jabbing him with a needle for hours just yet. Probably never, to be fair. Body paint is more costly, but he's learned to live with it.]

[catpiper]

[Sweet freedom. Ren didn't sign up to be carryout. That's not the part time job she scoured island Cragslist for and she's happy to be free from his hold to live her best life on this hammock. For good measure, she peers at the ground one more time to play Spot The Danger or whatever scary thing that may have caused him to grab her.

But there's nothing and her eyes fall back to him and the way he studies her beefy arm. There's a vast difference between the little symbol she tried to doodle in ash versus the one he drew in paint and while she's listening, she holds up her arm against his, pushing them side by side. With the original image in front of her eyes, she tries to smear the ash with her finger in an attempt to make it look similar and-

Makes it worse in the process. Oh well. Pretend she was trying to doodle an ash pile on her arm and it's perfect.]

Your 'tattoo' looks pretty. Did you draw more? Can I see them?

[yallstupid]

[Feeling the warmth of another hands press against his makes Guzma blink - he's still not entirely awake, but just as well - and he tilts his head to one side as Ren tries to redo her makeshift tattoo to look more like his own. Gosh...this kid... How come she's so dang cute? He's snickering a bit as he rocks his hammock a little bit, so they're swinging just slightly. She's trying to imitate him and that's hilarious and precious.]

More? Nah, I don't got no more n'just these two on my arms. But be careful if y'all ask for a tattoo, darlin'...getting a real one is permanent, and it ain't as easy as just painting nice on y'all's skin.

Stick to the fake tattoos, yeah? [Guzma's certain he'd punch out anyone that tried to jab his little Ren with a needle for hours on end. Even if it was to give her the Team Skull logo. Especially if it was to give her the Team Skull logo.]

[catpiper]

[The swinging has a calming effect on her and she leans against him as the hammock sways, following the pattern on his arm with her eyes and looking at her own. There's no point in making any tiny adjustments to her ashy arm-she ruined this attempt, but she's got far too much free time and there's always tomorrow. One day she'll get it right. Maybe Luna can help and they can play after they paint fun tattoos on their skin.]

Okay, I will.

[The quiet discussion, the sleeping girl nearby and rocking hammock make her feel kind of drowsy, but she's determined to Stay Awake a bit longer and in an attempt to do so, she holds up her dirty finger.]

I can put another tattoo on you.

[yallstupid]

[Were he not still so tired out, Guzma would have offered to actually paint on a tattoo for her as well - he's done it to a few of the other Grunts, after all - but the thought leaves him after he yawns openly, shifting a bit to lay back in the hammock with Ren by his side. Sorry, girly, but he's not giving up on sleep just yet - the sway of the hammock was lulling this big lug back to sleep as well.

So he sighs at her request and pulls up the blanket over them. Is this what it's like to actually babysit? Luna's been pretty good for a brat - she goes to bed on time and...kind of listens to him. Sometimes. Ren is a bit more difficult, despite being seemingly older. Hm, got to work on that, but he knows something that might get her to hit the hay with him.]

Maybe later, yeah? Right now we ought'a get some more sleep... Ain't gonna be no fun if I fall asleep while y'all is working. Won't see the finished product once it's done.

[catpiper]

[Ren is a Free Elf and being mildly difficult is her middle name. The wide-eyed, very much awake, look in her eyes remains, but the sudden addition of a warm blanket changes things. He's not wrong about how disappointing it would be to see him fall asleep while she's turning his arm into an artistic masterpiece and that statement is enough to make her silently agree, falling back against him when he lays down and she goes to shut her eyes and-

Then abruptly opens them. Says nothing and scoots herself up a bit, so can rest her head against his fluffy hair, lightly patting it down like he's one of her cats, if he doesn't move away from her.

It's fine. She's going to sleep. This is her routine. Accept the head pats.]

1/2 - SECOND MIGHT BE DELAYED

[yallstupid]

[WHY DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING??!!]

2/2

[yallstupid]

[Guzma sucks in a breath when Ren shuffles up to snuggle into his fluffy, white hair, and he can already feel his face begin to heat up. This is the third or fourth time someone here has pet, touched, snuggled, or just plain messed with his hair. Is there really something so darn special about it other than the color? It's not dyed, he swears!! No one needs to stick their nose into it to check!

Swallowing the lump in his throat, Guzma mumbles out something unintelligible then clears his throat. M-Maybe he can move out of the way when she fall asleep? This is weird and he's not yet at the level of being comfortable with people, even close people like Ren, smothering him like this. His head and face was always been a point he never liked being touched, either - too many bad or bittersweet memories. His back is the worst, but his head and face was a close second. But he can't react the usual way he does, either. Not with her.

Shifting a bit, Guzma exhales and looks away, turns his face to the side and snorts loudly. What should he do now? He's wired, and his muscles feel tense and pulled taut - they'll both never be able to sleep like this.]

Yo--uh, Ren? H-Hey...wanna, um. [He chews his lip amd exhales.] Wanna hear a story? From Alola--uh. M-My world.

[catpiper]

[Maybe Guzma should speak for himself-she can sleep fine, better even, snuggled up against someone like this. Sorry pal. Since he doesn't shake her off, her eyes don't open and the entire dilemma behind his shifty, nervous movements is lost on her. Her ears do perk at the mention of a story and while she doesn't move away, she briefly stops petting his hair to rest her head against the fluff.

It's starting to feel like one of those late night moments where her heart says it's her sleepo beepo time and and she's on the brink of giving in, no matter how badly she wants to stay awake. The addition of a bedtime story sorta seals that notion. Should she open her eyes and check if the proper story prereqs have been met? Is he sufficiently tucked in? Probably. There's a blanket around them and she pats it down-yep. This meets her high standards. Sign her up-start talking.]

Hell yeah. I want to hear it.

[yallstupid]

[Immediately. Immediately Guzma tenses, and he sits up in the hammock to look down at Ren while his hands fist into the blankets, pulling them tight. His expression radiates something like a cold but powerful shock and outrage. Did he just hear her right? Did she just use a bad word right now? Who on this fucking island is teaching his little sister to use words like that? Words she doesn't even know the meaning of.

He's going to break their goddamn jaw. And various other bones. The story is all but forgotten, and he half-snarls, voice a quiet hiss through his grit teeth. He's not mad at her specifically, but it's hard to tell with how frightening his expression just became. Well, he sure is wide awake now, if that's any sort of consolation.]

...Who taught you to say that? [What else did she pick up?]

[catpiper]

[Okay, her waking up again? That's on him this time. It's his sudden shift in tone, from drowsy to-something else? That makes her eyes flutter open. She doesn't move or sit up, mostly because sudden movements seem like a bad idea. He's acting like a volatile cat and she's not sure what to make of that.

To her credit, she does try to reflect back on the original source of those words, but time is fleeting and she doesn't quite remember. It makes Taako laugh sometimes, the other inhabitants of camp base periodically smile when she says it and it's a pretty common phrase in the area. Other people on the island have said it too, so-]

I don't remember. I learn words from lots of people. Everyone talks to me here.

[yallstupid]

[She's lying. She's lying to protect whoever taught her that foul language and Guzma knows it, making his eyes narrow dangerously. Heck, Guzma doesn't care if people curse, he does too, but Ren probably has no idea what those words even mean. If she accidentally slips up and says something to the wrong person...well. He'd rather not. It's half the reason Guzma censors himself around kids like this.

He knows better. What upsets him is all of this; he's angry because she's being taught things without proper knowledge of what they really are or mean. Exclamations are not the same as curses, and they are still offensive to certain people. Plus, lying to his face like this? Nah, fam.]

Well. [Guzma breathes in and out slowly, slides out of his hammock, and approaches where he's tossed his sneakers.] It's a small island... Pretty sure if I go looking now, I can find whoever punk is teaching y'all to say bad words.

[He cracks his knuckles against his jaw for, uh...emphasis. Last chance to spill, stoolpidgey.]

[catpiper]

[Here's?? The Thing?? The "emphasis", the movement, none of this is making her feel any more generous with the little pieces of information she has. Not one bit. But he looks serious about leaving and she doesn't know how to diffuse situations like this. She only knows how to hide in her own silence and it takes all her willpower to stay in that comfy hammock instead of slowly hobbling off to hide somewhere. A couple minutes ago, she wanted him to wake up. Now she desperately wishes he would come back.]

They didn't sound bad-that kind of thing.

[She's starting to get nervous and maybe freaking out? A tiny bit. Her expression certainly doesn't hide how she's feeling.]

I won't say it again. I promise.

[Does that help??? Will that stop this man??]

[yallstupid]

[It doesn't stop him, but it does give Guzma pause for a moment. He's still very angry, and the oppressive silence that spans between them is suffocating. It's very clear what Guzma's intentions are, and h's not ready to accept her apology, or her promise, just yet. He has to get some form of retribution. Maybe not right now, but in time. He can be patient. He's learning, slowly, to be patience. Revenge, after all, if a dish best served cold.]

People use words like that in the wrong ways plenty'a times. I'm guilty myself, but I'm guessing them punks didn't tell y'all what them words really mean, yeah? You just know it as a way to show you're happy or excited, right?

That ain't right. That ain't what other people know those words to actually mean - they're bad words a lotta the time, and I'm gonna break someone's jaw whether you say them words or not. No one should be teaching kids curse words without telling 'em what they really mean.

[catpiper]

[This volatile side of him isn't new, but there's always been a mental safety net in the fact she relate his reactions back to a cat. She touched him without warning once and got swiped at-it's a sting she can remember and it's why she doesn't reach out to him now. Especially now. She can see his bristling, the angry slink and-

It's different.

There's no way she's offering any names. He's being scary and the sudden violent declaration is one she wants to desperately ignore. He has a kind heart-she knows that, so the words must mean something awful. A hidden reason that even the residents of camp base don't know.]

They're bad? Why?

[yallstupid]

[Guzma is scary. He's scary in that his actions are so unpredictable. His emotions, his whole mood, can turn on a time, and his anger has always, always been something he's struggled with for years. Runs in the family...hah. At the very least, time and interactions with others have curbed his violent tendencies, but they're still a part of him. They always will be, especially in a place like this. He can't afford to be merciful.

Shifting his gaze first to Ren, then to the sleeping bundle that is his housemate, Guzma purses his lips. He's not even sure if Luna's really asleep or just faking it. Just laying still and silent to avoid becoming a target... He wouldn't blame her - he's done it before when he was her age - but it does give him pause for a few seconds before he grunts.]

Outside. [Guzma jerks his head to the side as he opens the door a bit too forcefully, heading out towards the beach - whether Ren follows after or takes the opportunity to escape...he doesn't care. He gave the the option, she can choose to take or dismiss it, but there's no need to wake Luna if she really is sleeping.]

[catpiper]

[This is a 'y i k e s' moment if she's ever seen one and the urge to amble off to another person's hammock is so strong. She almost doesn't leave this one, choosing to sorta huddle into its little blanket depths, waiting a minute or so before finally getting up to leave.

And once she gets past the door, she sorta wants to run away, already finding solace by looking at the jungle and noting a couple trees should could chill behind. But she knows Guzma-he definitely wouldn't hurt her. He smiles and holds her hand and becomes an 'anchor' when she needs help, so-

She trails behind, much slower than he probably wants, and stays a very safe distance behind him. She's ready to run if something happens.]

[yallstupid]

[If the distance between them bothers him, Guzma doesn't say, or even seem to take notice. He's used it - people staying just out of arm's reach. Safer there, away from him and his anger, his violence. He gets it. It's not new.

When they get to the shore, Guzma parks his rear into the sand and flings a shell angrily out into the rolling waters, quietly fuming. Ren has the choice to to sit, but if she does or if she doesn't, Guzma glances back just to make sure she's at least there to hear him before he starts to explain.]

Depends really on what y'all wanna believe...but Hell's supposed to be a place what where real bad people go when they kick--uh...when they die. People who kill, people who steal... [People who hurt their own children again, and again, and again, and again-- Squeezing his eyes shut, the large man exhales through his grit teeth, breathing in slowly.] Depending on who y'all talk to, you could really offend someone by saying them words so carelessly, yeah?

I mean, there's a softer version of that word - 'heck'. Means the same thing, but not as bad to say out loud. [He tosses another shell into the water, but this time with less force.] I use that one, when I don't wanna say the worse one in front'a kids. That and a whole lot more words that are meant to be soft version of them curse words.

Speaking of, I gotta what what else y'all was taught, 'cuz dang knows that wasn't the only one you learned...and weren't taught the real meaning of. [He looks back at her with a frown.] And don't lie to me again telling me you didn't.

[catpiper]

[She's a fool, but not a damn fool and doesn't take a seat on the shore. Not a chance. The apprehension she feels isn't gone and the only way to calm her jittery nerves down is to have an escape option-that means standing a couple feet away. If he gets scary again, she can run further back, if not outright into the woods. She can't Deal With That.

And the explanation itself is weird. The dead don't go somewhere else. They disappear into the clouds, like they never existed. They decay in beds, in cars, on streets. They turn into ghosts that haunt the earth, driven by the last thought and emotion that consumed them. She'd be more concerned about the stealing part, but there's a difference between looting and stealing, probably. That's not bad. It's just What You Do.

And as much as she wants to test the heck waters, the small, wise part of her brain is telling her not to poke the sleepy tiger. She'll just whisper it quietly to herself on the way around the island.]

I don't know which words.

[She really. Doesn't know??? Silence was the norm around the lab and her limited conversation with Seto prior to being here was basic stuff. Filled with affection, but simple. 99% of her vocab was learned by listening to islanders and she doesn't even know where to begin.]

People look into my eyes and talk to me here. They say a lot of words with kind smiles, so I don't know which are bad. They all sound very good.

[yallstupid]

That's the problem. They all sound good, huh? Tch!! [Guzma hisses between his clenches teeth, flinging another shell with as much force and anger as he can put into the toss. It's the farthest one thrown so far, and he breathes in and out a little faster than before.] People say a lotta things - turning them curse words into things that mean the opposite of what they actually do. That's why you gotta learn what those words really mean to begin with...but no one's brave enough to teach you because they know they're bad.

Keep the girl stupid, yeah? Ain't my problem if she pisses someone off by saying 'em. It'll be fine, cuz it ain't happened yet! Won't be my fault when the day comes what she opens 'er mouth too wide and gets beat up by someone! It's funny when the stupid kid says it, cuz she don't know a thing'a what she's even saying!! Let's all laugh at the stupid girl who's spewing them words we taught her! IT'S HILARIOUS!!

[He snarls, the bubbles of his anger boiling more ferociously by the second. Why does he have to be the one to teach her this? He's not the sort of person she should be learning this form. There are people here on this island that are better than him, or so he thought, but no one's stepped up to the plate to actually teach her anything...the cowards.

Better this ignorant little girl who knows so little about the world. Ignorance is bliss? Fuck off. Ignorance can get you killed. How many times did he run his mouth like an idiot and get a fist to the face? More than he can count, but Guzma is a lot tougher than Ren is. He hates people like that, ho treat her ignorance as a game, as entertainment. Let's just keep her stupid because it's easier. It's so much easier to just let her run around saying these things. Let someone else deal with it. Let someone else raise the girl properly.]

I'm gonna tell you what them words mean. All'a the ones I know, and it's gonna make me puke, 'cuz I shouldn't be the one telling you...but no one else is gonna. So sit down and listen up. I'm not gonna repeat myself because I don't like using these words even around adults.

[catpiper]

[The words sting and the anger in his voice is the best lesson on what he means by all of this. It's hard to concentrate on the things he's saying, when his fury is that obvious and her understanding of how different words can be interpreted by others is slowly coming together. She can gather he's trying to impart some kind of knowledge on her, but she's having a difficult time sitting down, when she wants to remove herself from this situation immediately.

Sorry, Guzma. She's not gonna plop her butt on the ground. That leaves her too vulnerable and she can't run away if her feet get tangled in the sand. Right now, he's scary, and it's an experience she's only felt. The anger from doctors and scientists at the failure of an experiment, towards dying kids, towards the head scientist for all his accomplishments-

Having it be out in the open like this is preferable to festering in someone's spirit, but it doesn't negate the fact it's too spooky for her and she doesn't feel entirely safe. Her feet stay plastered against the ground and she watches him with a cautious eye. Look, she won't run. She just wants the option available to her.]

I won't say them-I'll remember the bad words.

[If it keeps him from reacting this way again, she'll recite them over and over and never let a syllable of one pass her lips again.]