アポロ

The cut below is for mentions of cancer, hospitalisation, death, and all kinds of miseries associated with terminal illness:

God give a little love 

Bring me back a dog in the next life

God give a little love 

“Becomes my problem? I selected you to do one thing–and that is be my second. That’s the key there. My second. You claim to have believed I was so flawless, and at the same time, you didn’t have the faith nor the common sense to lay low. No, instead, you try to take the reigns yourself and do quite the opposite of what you’re supposed to do. And you failed. 

“And I must wonder if there’s something you’re not telling me. Was this an imitation? Were you playing out some power fantasy of you being on top? You act as if I don’t care about Rocket, but your clumsy display in Johto was an embarrassment. You put everyone’s lives at risk again, at our most vulnerable moment. For what? Just to prove to yourself you could lead? That you were my equal? Or maybe your so called ‘faith’ in me is a lie, and what you really mean is that you hate the fact that you have to get off of my throne.

“If you don’t want to own up to your mistakes, fine. But they were yours. What do you want? An apology for not being able to pin instructions to your lapel like a child when the amalgamation of regional justice was breathing down our necks? That is, by the way, the real threat, not Red. All Red did was get a spotlight on him, and he elected to shine it upon our underbelly. 

“I certainly don’t mean to imply I am without fault when it comes to our conflict in Kanto. You’re right. As a Leader, I am the primary benefactor of the faults there. But I was never alone. Proton failed training the grunts, Ariana failed to cut him off, Petrel’s attempts at manipulation within the League bore no fruit, and your logistics only began functioning when the boy was right outside our doorstep. We all failed. But, yes, most of all, I failed. I was too merciful. I underestimated our enemy. But I suppose it’s not every day you see a legend outside your door.

“But when you betray all of us to promote divisive tactics, when you pawn off our assets to the highest bidder that will stroke your ego right when we have a chance to return, then yes, you are wrong, Archer. And somehow, despite your most extravagant failure managing Team Rocket, you think you’re the one most qualified to be its savior. Hilarious.

“Even at my worst moment, I ran Rocket for years and turned it into the greatest criminal empire the world had ever seen. You ran it into the ground in record time. So your solution, then, is to break it apart for a rival organization. 

          “Mm-- I could say the same of you, Boss.”

A sentiment shared indeed, though it seems as though neither one can agree upon much else. They cannot possibly hope to continue this way... And yet, Archer has no intention of conceding.

          “It’s funny to think that you and I once walked side by side. Our desires for            this Team were once well in line with one another -- but now? They could            not be more different. It’s all wrong.”

He could almost be described as a little mournful of the loss of such a partnership. Despite his fast declining opinion of his Leader, he DOES admit to owing him quite a debt. He would not be where he is without Giovanni -- and that accounts for both his successes and failures alike.

          “And now we find ourselves at an impasse. Both of us have crossed lines            that the other can neither forgive nor forget, and we shall never quite look            at one another in quite the same way again.”

A pause, hands clasped behind his back as he regards the other, still every bit as unflinching in the face of confrontation as he always has been. He knows full well that he is treading an EXTREMELY DANGEROUS line, but it is too late to turn back now, and he has no intention of grovelling for forgiveness and recanting everything like some spineless, cowardly ‘yes man’.

Archer has come to expect that he should not be let off lightly for such transgressions -- as he would HOPE from the Giovanni he once knew so well. It’s a pity that he has no intention of tolerating it for very much longer. He shall not bend quite so easily as before.

          “Oh look, a mouse.”

There’s a nod in the direction of the tiny creature, at which the wet snout of his Houndoom nuzzles into its soft fur of Dedenne’s belly, almost... Almost as if--

On his part, Archer isn’t particularly used to being approached like this, and it shows. He’s never been much of a conversationalist, but he has no desire to be rude, either--

           “Ah? ...Oh, no. I don’t name my Pokémon.”

Really, it doesn’t seem appropriate for a man of his station to have pet names for his team, considering most of them wind up involved in his work at some point. We certainly can’t have a high-ranking Executive sending out ( Arceus forbid ) ‘Pumpkin’ or ‘Spot’ into the field to destroy evidence or intimidate, can we?

          “He’s a working dog -- sort of.”

Reverse psychology, hm..?

Very well. Archer sits himself down on the floor alongside the lazy animal with both legs splayed out before him... Only for Houndoom to get up and sit right ON him instead.

          “I’d be careful -- he bites strangers.”

Of course, his warning is entirely useless. It turns out that Archer’s dear companion is HIGHLY food motivated, rising up from its spot to obediently sit before the stranger, offering up a paw in exchange for the treat. 

Oh, yes. What a vicious creature he must be.

          “...But apparently not ones with food.”

          “This is less of a walk than it is a daytime siesta! I’m not even tugging any longer --             I can’t when I’m stood perfectly still!”

Listen here, you little shit...

        “How dare you? He is not some common MUTT.”

True, it is in his beloved pet’s nature to be a little lazy at times, but his Houndoom are endlessly loyal and dependable -- nothing at all like he imagines those wretched felines to be.

          “Yes, because I bet your cats are on their best behaviour at all times.            You wouldn’t have anything to hide about them.”