Maxie could never quite grasped what drew him to these places with such persistence and vigar. It was never the same place each time that feeling struck either. A different taste, or, rather, a different need to be fulfilled blossomed somewhere inside him each day.
Something bittersweet-
No, something chocolate and rich.
Oh, today's a strawberry day?
Something he has had before, made a very particular way at a very precise place. Or the urge for something new, to be indulged until the strict criteria were met.
It had been a secret, as far as he was concerned, for a decent amount of time. Yet sometimes the urges desired more than a respectable, or normal amount of a confection. Such so that it became almost natural to see a few dozen lava cookies being around the base, or even imported rage bars in boxes. With the fact many of his grunts, and his admins, knew of his abnormally large appetite when it came to basic meals to begin with, no one thought anything about it.
Now, he was no gourmet. Certainly not a specialist when it came to sweets. Lava flow, geology and such he knew to a T. What was put in what he wished, no, craved for, he could only give an educated guess. So, he was just an avid consumer.
Which is what dragged him out to Lilycove city at the peak of tourist season, after a 2 hour flight on his Crobat dressed down in only semi-comfortable clothing as to not attract attention.
Even as the leader of Team Magma it was becoming increasingly difficult to leave the base. Tabitha had pestered him with his unnecessary worries on where he was going while Courtney had almost followed him completely. He had had to assure, command, and then compromise with them to dressing even more 'normal' (he had had to allow some of his fring down!) before they seemed only worried.
All this trouble for a season treat he had received wind of from a magazine. Thankfully the cafe was relatively empty, many people too busy watching pokemon contests so late in the afternoon. Another blessing was the very visibly exhausted waitress who didn't even spare him a glance as he ordered. The quiet of the shop, and the serene weather that was shown through the windows let his shoulders relax, if even a small bit.
"Here you are sir." Her voice was detached, on edge of passing out from the flat tone she tried to express as friendliness. Her uniform was stained, and somewhat unkept. She still wasn't looking at him, more through him than anything.
"Thank you."
The clatter of the plate and cup spiked up his hunger as she walked away, the honey always complimented the scent of jasmine and set him at ease. The object he had craved sat at 4 inches high next to it, steaming slightly out of its soft brown breading and filling his senses (mostly his taste buds) with anticipation of the contents. Sure he had these before, every year in fact, but there was always a new chef, so he had to sample the piece before he asked for more.
Slowly, he picked up the silver fork and moved it over to it, hovering for a moment to take in it's design before defiling it. A cake drizzled with dark chocolate and decorated with two ripe pecha berries on the side. The metal went through the bread easily, and as soon as he pulled away the thick fudge began draining out from the middle. He wasted no time moving it to his mouth, savoring the different chocolates mixed together in such a way...he was in heaven.
"Heyooo-...! The hell?" Any sweetness felt bitter the moment that obnoxious booming voice shattered all relaxation he had. "Haaa...? Am I seein' this right?"
Oddly enough his rival didn't rush him, instead slowly, almost cautiously, moved around to see his face. Perhaps it was the lack of large glasses replaced with much thinner frames, more 'flattering' as Courtney put it. Or the form-fitting V-neck sweater not in any shade of red he could prefer. This dark shade of navy made his skin crawl but it matched with the tight black dress pants and brown loafers. Somewhat anyway.
It quickly became apparent he didn't recognize him. Taking another sip he glanced casually out the window that reflected his rival slightly. He too was dressed down, almost easily confused with a sailor before now looked the part with his sleeveless black shirt and dirty white pants. The absence of bandana or ridiculous anchor only aided in looking normal for once.
Yet his stature and looks remains the same,
not to mention that loud voice...
"Hey...er..." That same voice was now next to him in a much dialed down manner. He turned to see the man, Leader of Team Aqua, awkwardly staring at him in all his wild haired glory.
"Hmm?"
"Do...how would..." Archie furrowed his brow in concentration before rubbing the back of his head. "Do you mind if I sit here...?"
"Ah..."
"Sorry if I'm botherin ya but...have we met before?"
For moment he let the question sit in silence before responding ",... I don't believe I've had the pleasure."
"A...ha...that so...?" Archie laughed shyly before clearing his throat. Other than clothing, glasses, and a bit of bangs, was he really that different looking? Wait...he remembered.. perhaps the now visible freckles and tied back hair could, technically, make him seem like someone else when combined with the former items.
Maxie considered just letting it end there and allow himself to eat in peace yet...he could also see how this scenario played out. If his rival truly didn't recognize him...this could play into his advantage.
"You may sit if you wish."
"R-really..?! Thanks man." He grinned widely before plopping down opposite him and shifting slightly. "I swear...I've...met ya before..."
Maxie kept his attention on his meal, surprised to realize he had already finished it when the fork hit the plate with a loud *clinck*. "I don't believe we have." He called for the waitress and turned to Archie. "Are you eating?"
"U-uhm..."
"That..is why you go to a cafe, correct?" He quirked an eyebrow at him, and watched as the much larger man stiffen and in a flustered tone mutter a 'O-of course...starvin.'
"How can I help you?" She murmured, slightly more energized.
Archie ordered some seafood platter and beer, while Maxie ordered something called 'chili prawns with ghost peppers and scorpion sauce' with green tea.
"I forgot to ask earlier, but are there any variations of the special today?" He questioned, she nodded and laughed.
"There's the chocolate standard, vanilla special, and strawberry premium."
"And I'll have one of the vanilla and strawberry please."
"Right away sir."
As she rolled away, Archie looked at his empty plate then gave a small smile. "Real sweet tooth ya have eh?"
"Ah...I just enjoy a little sugar now and again." His voice calm and gaze gentle. He'd play the water lover into fully believing him as another person. Although, it seemed acting docile was enough. The other man had trouble meeting his gaze yet his eyes were all over him.
"That so." He pretended not to notice the other's sudden interest in his lips before licking his dry ones. "So where are ya from? Can't say I've ever seen you around..."
"The Unova region." Maxie answered simply. Finishing the last of his cup.
"Oh! That'd explain it." He grinned. "I...I work the yard- the shipyard. I'm a sailor."
"Really?" An obvious lie, but smart. For once he seemed to be using his head.
"It's not the most glamorous work...but I love it. Just got off work a while ago too. I'm not usually this...this dirty."
"It's perfectly alright. Not many people can work such a physically taxing job and say that." He rested his cheek on his palm, giving a small smile as he spoke.
"Hehe...what do you do? Being so far away from home...work related?"
"Geology and the like."
"Rocks?"
"Rocks." He repeated, albeit a tad defensive.
"I'm not making fun of ya, just...surprised. Ya look like the academic type and all but..." Archie seemed to think over his words carefully. "'m not the most articulate person when it comes to that stuff..."
...?
"I'm sure that's not true..."
"Yer too kind." His smile came out more natural this time as it met the other's toothy one. He merely murmured a 'Not at all.' as their food came. The smile dropping the moment he saw Maxie's plate, red and steaming with a dark red sauce. There was no such thing as a 'prawn' in Hoenn, nor things called 'ghost pepper,' but he enjoyed them all the same. Something close to real lava, but edible...
"Ya...can eat that?" The sailor seemed surprised. "Ya don't gotta act tough in front of me. Here."
He presented a roll filled with stuffing. "Ya don't mind a little lobster do ya? Try this first before ya start killing yerself with that."
The gesture was uncalled for, almost kind in consideration but ultimately idiotic. He knew what he could handle. While it was clear Archie did not. Even so, he felt his mouth open willingly as he was fed the piece of...whatever it was. The first few seconds felt like a dull throb, and then nothing.
"Woah...That's awesome...! Ya didn't even flinch!" He let out a few puff of his own after eating one as well. "These here are my limit."
...?
"Hmm..." Feeling more starved for fire, he dipped a prawn in the sauce and bit down with no hesitation. Burning, iron and bitter clashed in a firestorm of flavor. It fueled the hunger further.
"Ya got some strong taste buds..."
"Perhaps everyone else is just 'weaker.'" At that comment he laughed loudly, grinning wide and looking at him with something he couldn't quite grasp.
Pride? No...
This one is more...gentle?
More...sudden.
"Ya got some fire in ya...I'm pleasantly surprised." Maxie decided to return to warm smile, even if much smaller. "Before I forget...Name's Archie."
I know.
He pursued his lips, considering it for a moment before responding slowly with. "Maxie."
He had expected the realization to hit him, for the truth to smack him in the face and shame to boil over for looking at him the way he obviously did. Yet nothing of the sort happened. Only a positive beam of 'Really? Great to meet cha!' and doe eyes.
So, for the meal, he cautiously inspected Archie, or at least the man he believed WAS Archie. Something was wrong if it was the Team Aqua leader. He wasn't *that* stupid. Unless...
He already knew and was playing along...
Yet that answer wouldn't make any sense. He would have nothing to gain from petty talks and friendly banter. Their rivalry had hit a high point not even a week ago with negotiating civil work after the whole legendary pokemon incidents. Even so they were both very much in mutual dislike of each other and very much wanted by the law.
"Something wrong?"
Woken from his thoughts, he answered with a wistful. "Actually...you do look like someone I know."
"Who?" The question came out too fast to be natural, and his cheeks flared against his dark skin at his own eagerness.
"You two could be identical twins honestly...same name and all." He continued, watching as the man was resisting from asking the obvious question 'who is he?'. "He's...well, you could say he and I are Rivals."
If I'm right on this one...
I'll make you squirm...
At the phrase 'rivals' Archie's shoulders visibly relaxed. "Almost identical huh? What's the difference?"
"Hmm..." He gave him a long look, noting the obvious things that stuck out as no-way-not-team-aqua-archie. "You have blue eyes."
At the mention of such simple flattery and notice his blush returned.
"Your skin is darker. You're a few inches taller...and..."
"'And...?'"
"You have that incredibly small ponytail."
Nothing was missed save for the tattoo on his arm. He didn't know if the real one even had one to begin with, thus not accounted for the moment. Wild hair even matched to a T. At first even the eyes he thought were fake, contacts maybe, but the more he looked the more obvious how natural they were. Archie's were almost golden in color so the contrast was easily grasped.
"Hmm...?" This Archie seemed pleased with that, eating slowly before asking. "Sounds like the two of ya had a little thing goin eh?"
Maxie chuckled softly as he shook his head. "No No, nothing like that. We're...too different. Polar opposites in fact. Besides..." Taking a sip of tea, he decided to drag out a old issue many had had back then. "I believe he doesn't fancy men, and even if it were a special case, we don't get along."
The man across him snorted irritably, looking like someone just spat on his mother's grave. "Is he blind? Or just stupid?! I mean...look at ya! Er...if ya don't mind me sayin..."
?! So this...
"I don't always look like this. My work has me dressed more...formal. I appreciate the compliment though." The sailor just looked embarrassed by his own outburst, trying to look small in the tiny chair. "I'm also more strict when it comes to dealing with work. I'm just in a good mood today."
He groaned before looking anywhere but Maxie's face. Shyly whimpering ", Please don't tell me ya got an attitude too...that's just not fair."
Maybe it was how open this man was with how he felt, but Maxie found his actions to be..somewhat charming. Either Archie had a severe personality disorder, or this person was truly someone completely new.
I suppose I can allow this...
"...you never told me where you were from."
"R-right...I'm from Johto originally. Cianwood town to be exact. Island a ways away from everything else. Decided to help me family by working in Olivine town. Big importing exporting location across the sea. Going back 'n forth with all the whirlpools toughened me up real quick, made me a pro at swimming too. I got the idea to come over to Hoenn from another guy who worked the coals. Told me there was always work over there. And well...this place grew on me."
Archie spoke animatedly while he listened, commenting every so often to show he was listening. He spoke of his parents, who to this day do not approve of his choice to move so far away, nor his choice of employment. That even though they disagree, they're proud of him and still speak to one another. How he and his pokemon were constantly terrified of getting sucked into a whirlpool. Legends of the pokemon in that region, and so forth. Eventually Maxie noticed the sun setting on the horizon and stood up.
"Ahahah...oh? It's that late already?" Archie stood up too, both paying before leaving the building together. "Sorry, didn't mean to keep ya this long."
"Not at all. It was...fun, speaking with you." He felt his cheeks flare up slightly from the comment, but the larger man was just as red with a large grin.
"If that's how ya feel...can we say it was a date?"
It was a out of the blue question, and where this was headed was going alarmingly fast. Although it was not uncommon...
"How...direct of you." He pressed his lips together before speaking in an uncertain tone. "I...suppose."
"I-I'm not rushing ya, I just...! Yer really cute and I think we got off to a great start so...I just...wanna spend more time with ya."
Cute...?
"So you're asking me on a date?" He feigned innocence to his advances, watching the other fret and grow steadily more flustered.
"I-It's yer fault! Ya hardly said anything about yerself and got me all curious...!"
"Is that so...?"
"Gez...yer..yer doing this on purpose ain't ya...?" He just giggled a bit, further pushing the man to be 100% honest.
"Can I have yer number...?" His shoulders sagged in defeat. "I wanna go out with ya as soon as yer free."
Hm...well, it's something to do.
"Very well." He smiled, handing him a slip of paper he neatly wrote on. "You earned it I suppose."
The two exchanged goodbyes as the moon began to rise. The cool air not unwelcomed after such an eventful day. Tabitha nearly had a fit when he returned, while Courtney waited in the lobby like a parent who found out their child had slipped out during the night. Assuring them he was, in fact, fine, and he merely wanted to get some air, they left him alone as the clock struck 10. Lying down, he could still see the poorly bottled up excitement he had left the man in well until the next day when his phone, used rarely now, went off. A message, sent only a few hours after dawn glowed bright.
|Hey, so, when's ur next day off?|