#archie oras

[dr-yung]

Deciding to post this, because I can't just keep this to myself. We have high quality versions of the Maxie/Archie concept sheets from the artbook - and notably, Maxie's was changed in the artbook.

This is the version we got, initially. Please look closely at this leaked sheet of Maxie. The empty gap by the colored headshot had a doodle they removed, prior to public release.

It's very ominious. It's his glasses, but folded, and broken, by a sapling. The Japanese text under it (translated with Google, so grain of salt) seems to say "The End." It gives the idea that he would be dead, in this scenario. Broken glasses, not picked up to be fixed, or that he really wouldn't be able to see much without them.

Notably, Archie's leaked sheet doesn't have anything like this, that would imply death or ending. The most that is removed, is some writing near his shoe, from what I can tell. It's rather telling - they were playing with the idea of Maxie dying, or having one die depending on the game, possibly (with Maxie's possibly being the canon timeline, had they went with that?). If so, I can also see why they removed it. It's very sudden to see, and a bit tragic. We also get to see how Maxie's glasses look, when folded, which as far as I know, is a first.

I can't just sit on this information. It's been haunting me for hours now. The sapling. The glasses. The simple "The End." It's deeply somber to me

[max-nov]

jan 2014

[bulbiedorf]

Made the pining boys from @silverjirachi 's Icarus and the Blistering Sun fic! Gotta love 2 bros sitting in a dorm room 5 feet apart because they aren't (ready to unpack the fact that they are in love and are both totally) gay.

[k1rstein]

Did I go on red bubble and go absolutely crazy? Maybe

[dewprisms]

I propose the name PirateFlagShipping for Archie/Guzma, since skulls and crossbones are the stereotypical pirate flag emblem

[diesaur]

[chipsncookies]

I had to draw it 🌤️🦈 based on this

[ribbononline]

Hoenn crossing, or something

[retrogamingblog2]

[pocketponii]

HARDENSHIPPING HOW I MISSED YOU!!!!! (Haven’t drawn these mfs since 2015 im so cooked)

[gleaming-glasses]

Teamwork

[dr-yung]

Once again I dissect Maxie and Archie.

I think Maxie values the whole of humanity over the individuals within it; loss is fine as long as humanity itself still exists.

While I interpret that Archie values the individual over the whole of humanity; himself and those closest to him. Loss on a grand scale is fine if those he values are safe.

This is why they get along, then argue.

I imagine they were both othered by society and found solace in each other, or any reason they'd both be ambitious and on the same team.

They likely both talked about making the world better, but they didn't talk about how, until they argued and split into Team Magma and Aqua.

Maxie always thought Archie would enjoy his ideal world, because it'd benefit humanity as a whole, and Archie is human, no exception; while Maxie was/is someone Archie is close to, and so Archie thought he'd value being chosen over the whole of humanity.

This would also explain why Maxie is distant and cold despite his goal being to help people, and Archie is friendly despite his plan being selective. Archie values the individual, so he will be more friendly, while Maxie values the world and will toss aside connecting to an individual if he views it nessacery for the world.

[max-nov]

jan 2014

[magmaaqua]

do new pokemon fans even know that the pokemon cards in that official hardenshipping post were called archie's ace in the hole and maxie's hidden ball trick

[jadeazora]

The official Pokemon UK Twitter posted this art for Team Magma and Aqua for the 10yr anniversary of the games releasing in Europe (the unrelenting march of time is a scary thing 😅), and I love the contrast with how uniform Magma is, every grunt is in their team's pose vs. every Team Aqua being in a different pose, including this poor grunt that fell over:

[deedra-posting]

Maxie Maxie Maxie Maxie Maxie Maxie Maxie