(ooc: Continuing from this!)
[That certainly gets a glare from Guzma. No one tells him anything, and he's about to tell Poe exactly that. As if the scowl on his face doesn't do the job already, but then Poe snaps his fingers. It's a strange sensation, like an immediate adrenaline rush that both pumps him up and relaxes him—almost like it gives him some sort of mental clarity. It's a rather strange feeling, because while Guzma is endlessly reckless and would seem the brave sort, a lot of what he does is out of an undercurrent of fear.
Fear he doesn't recognize as such, so when he's filled with a jolt of bravery like this, he's completely taken off guard. In a good way, mind you. That irritation seems to leave him, but his determination doesn't. Beyond feeling downright amazing, it certainly helps Guzma be a bit more open to the idea of having someone come along with him on his revenge scheme.]
I don't know what the hell you just did... but that's one hell of a power, and if you're as quick as you say...
[He glances towards Archie, then looks back to Poe.]
Fine—but don't get this twisted. This got nothing to do with you telling me shit, got it?
[That certainly gets a glare from Guzma. No one tells him anything, and he's about to tell Poe exactly that. As if the scowl on his face doesn't do the job already, but then Poe snaps his fingers. It's a strange sensation, like an immediate adrenaline rush that both pumps him up and relaxes him—almost like it gives him some sort of mental clarity. It's a rather strange feeling, because while Guzma is endlessly reckless and would seem the brave sort, a lot of what he does is out of an undercurrent of fear.
Fear he doesn't recognize as such, so when he's filled with a jolt of bravery like this, he's completely taken off guard. In a good way, mind you. That irritation seems to leave him, but his determination doesn't. Beyond feeling downright amazing, it certainly helps Guzma be a bit more open to the idea of having someone come along with him on his revenge scheme.]
I don't know what the hell you just did... but that's one hell of a power, and if you're as quick as you say...
[He glances towards Archie, then looks back to Poe.]
Fine—but don't get this twisted. This got nothing to do with you telling me shit, got it?
I gave you the Spark.
[ Hope. Bravery. That sort of thing. It's best not to explain it, just let Guzma feel it. Poe's already moving to go grab his carpet, he's not going to waste time. ]
You need to go, and I need to go, and that's all there is to it.
[ It doesn't have to be about him order Guzma around. He doesn't need to be the leader of this expedition. But he does need to be on it. ]
You know who did this?
[ Hope. Bravery. That sort of thing. It's best not to explain it, just let Guzma feel it. Poe's already moving to go grab his carpet, he's not going to waste time. ]
You need to go, and I need to go, and that's all there is to it.
[ It doesn't have to be about him order Guzma around. He doesn't need to be the leader of this expedition. But he does need to be on it. ]
You know who did this?
[ So... Meeting up with Cecelia, hugging Poe, baking with Bodhi, drinking with Andy- There was one person that was missing during a lot of that. Finn honestly thought that Archie was avoiding him, trying to use work as an excuse. And that was fine. Understandable. Finn was letting him get away with it.
Until he realized that wasn't actually the case.
He has no idea what actually happened, but Finn found himself in the hospital with a bouquet of flowers. The flowers probably wouldn't be a good thing, but he brought them for multiple reasons. Sorry you got hurt. Sorry I didn't visit sooner. Sorry I left. Sorry I kissed you.
Finn knocked on the door and poked his head into the room. ] Archie?
Until he realized that wasn't actually the case.
He has no idea what actually happened, but Finn found himself in the hospital with a bouquet of flowers. The flowers probably wouldn't be a good thing, but he brought them for multiple reasons. Sorry you got hurt. Sorry I didn't visit sooner. Sorry I left. Sorry I kissed you.
Finn knocked on the door and poked his head into the room. ] Archie?
[he doesn't know finn's back. maybe he's been told, maybe he's already discussed it with poe, but he's not really... remembering stuff right now. lots of sleeping, waking moments mostly being whacked out on pain meds. it's not as bad right now-- he's had a little bit of time. still a little in and out, but... well. he's not unconscious.
hearing finn's voice makes him perk up from whatever he was doing (laying on the bed and scrolling his comm, not really taking in anything he sees.)
it takes a bit of doing, but he props himself up on one arm, grinning over at finn.] Yo, Finn! I didn't realise you were back! Sorry I ain't been around much...
hearing finn's voice makes him perk up from whatever he was doing (laying on the bed and scrolling his comm, not really taking in anything he sees.)
it takes a bit of doing, but he props himself up on one arm, grinning over at finn.] Yo, Finn! I didn't realise you were back! Sorry I ain't been around much...
[it’s something of a relief, visiting to find Archie asleep. it gives her a chance to take this moment in her own stride, to let her mix of grief and fear and outrage and consolation overwhelm, paralyze, and mercifully release and let her breathe again.
she takes the seat beside him, putting the small, tie-dye sea turtle plush she’d purchased onto the nightstand, and takes vigil, closing her eyes for lengths of time as she braces against smaller swells of that initial wave that struck her upon arrival.
it doesn’t seem to be getting any easier to feel, but she’s getting better at keeping herself still — great news, considering any want to punch something would be...bad...considering her strength.]
she takes the seat beside him, putting the small, tie-dye sea turtle plush she’d purchased onto the nightstand, and takes vigil, closing her eyes for lengths of time as she braces against smaller swells of that initial wave that struck her upon arrival.
it doesn’t seem to be getting any easier to feel, but she’s getting better at keeping herself still — great news, considering any want to punch something would be...bad...considering her strength.]
[it takes him a good while to wake up again, and when he does he immediately presses his fingertips to his forehead with a groan. too hot in here. got a headache. want to get up and go for a walk, but can't yet.
he exhales, not quite noticing she's there. sorry, lu.] Ugh...
he exhales, not quite noticing she's there. sorry, lu.] Ugh...
[The Pokemon is just walking around like a dope, as if a giant palm tree walking around town is totally normal.
To be fair, it is normal back home.
When he hears someone call him though, the dragon tree stops and cranes its heads to look down at Archie. It lets out a cheer as he recognizes him.
Clearly the debacle with Lance and Guzma didn't bother him as much as it did Charizard.]
To be fair, it is normal back home.
When he hears someone call him though, the dragon tree stops and cranes its heads to look down at Archie. It lets out a cheer as he recognizes him.
Clearly the debacle with Lance and Guzma didn't bother him as much as it did Charizard.]
[it's been a couple days since it all happened. those nanites work some serious magic, though not enough to actually get archie back on his feet. that's going to... still take quite a while.
yet, when poe is brought in, it looks like archie's just been caught in the middle of attempting to get out of bed, despite the fact he can barely feel his legs. he's managed to get himself upright into a sitting position when the door opens and he looks over, expression like he's been caught doing something terribly untoward.
the nurse just sighs.]
yet, when poe is brought in, it looks like archie's just been caught in the middle of attempting to get out of bed, despite the fact he can barely feel his legs. he's managed to get himself upright into a sitting position when the door opens and he looks over, expression like he's been caught doing something terribly untoward.
the nurse just sighs.]
Edited 2019-08-27 13:18 (UTC)
Please tell me I didn't just walk in on you masturbating.
[ The nurse sighs even more heavily, if possible, and then rolls her eyes and leaves the room as Poe walks over to the bed. He sits down on the edge of it, reaching out and putting a hand on Archie's knee. ]
Hey. You holding up okay?
[ The nurse sighs even more heavily, if possible, and then rolls her eyes and leaves the room as Poe walks over to the bed. He sits down on the edge of it, reaching out and putting a hand on Archie's knee. ]
Hey. You holding up okay?
Who did it?!
[The nurse nods once to Archie, then leaves. She's already dealt with more than enough cranky teenager today. And yea. Nikolai is cranky and irritated enough to demand that as soon as the nurse is gone.
But he's also looking Archie over, as if that would tell him who dared to shoot his- someone he trusts? one of the few adults he doesn't think are cowards. Someone who got under his skin. Who didn't run away- his legal guardian.
He's also dragging over a chair to sit right by Archie, though it's less sitting and more standing/pacing because he is worried.]
Who? Was it one of us imPorts? one of the anti-aegis? one of your haters? Who?!
[The nurse nods once to Archie, then leaves. She's already dealt with more than enough cranky teenager today. And yea. Nikolai is cranky and irritated enough to demand that as soon as the nurse is gone.
But he's also looking Archie over, as if that would tell him who dared to shoot his- someone he trusts? one of the few adults he doesn't think are cowards. Someone who got under his skin. Who didn't run away- his legal guardian.
He's also dragging over a chair to sit right by Archie, though it's less sitting and more standing/pacing because he is worried.]
Who? Was it one of us imPorts? one of the anti-aegis? one of your haters? Who?!
[well, this has been a complete shitshow. archie's been awake for all of five minutes and the information that's been fed into him is already enough for him to want to pump the painkillers into his system again until he passes out.
ugh.
but he brought this on himself.
if andy's already there, or if she's visiting, archie doesn't notice at first. he's busying himself with with shifting his pillows to sit upright and futz around on a tablet someone bought him.]
ugh.
but he brought this on himself.
if andy's already there, or if she's visiting, archie doesn't notice at first. he's busying himself with with shifting his pillows to sit upright and futz around on a tablet someone bought him.]
Edited 2019-08-31 21:15 (UTC)
[ She's been in and out constantly since the first night — to the point that the nurses at the desk don't even bother trying to stop her anymore. They don't get paid enough to deal with the pissy cop that keeps muscling her way into Archie's room after visiting hours are over. It's become something of a little routine — work, hospital, home, hospital, work, hospital — and if she's looking more worn down than usual, at least everyone's had the decency so far not to call her out on it.
It's obvious when she enters the room that she wasn't exactly expecting him to be conscious. She stops dead in the doorway with her coffee in her hand, her eyebrows pinching for a moment when she sees him. But fuck it. She's already here. So she comes the rest of the way inside, nudging the door shut behind her with her hip before coming to sit heavily in the same chair she always sits in.
Finally, stating the obvious: ]
You're up.
It's obvious when she enters the room that she wasn't exactly expecting him to be conscious. She stops dead in the doorway with her coffee in her hand, her eyebrows pinching for a moment when she sees him. But fuck it. She's already here. So she comes the rest of the way inside, nudging the door shut behind her with her hip before coming to sit heavily in the same chair she always sits in.
Finally, stating the obvious: ]
You're up.
(ooc: Continued from this!)
[Well, that works too. Guzma just watches silently at their rowdy reunion, feeling a little guilty at being the cause of their disappearance, even if it was entirely unintentional. As far as he knows, it wasn't even within his control, but that's something he'll have to figure out eventually. This is one hell of a power he's gained, but if he can't use it right...]
There, got your dudes back, now you can stop being dramatic.
[Guzma says, when he had been the one to basically kick Archie's door in when the same thing happened to him. Fucking hypocrite.]
[Well, that works too. Guzma just watches silently at their rowdy reunion, feeling a little guilty at being the cause of their disappearance, even if it was entirely unintentional. As far as he knows, it wasn't even within his control, but that's something he'll have to figure out eventually. This is one hell of a power he's gained, but if he can't use it right...]
There, got your dudes back, now you can stop being dramatic.
[Guzma says, when he had been the one to basically kick Archie's door in when the same thing happened to him. Fucking hypocrite.]
[Guess who is taking full advantage of his visitation rights? This guy! When he strolls in, it's later in the evening, and Archie seems to be napping. Not that it stops Guzma any as he walks up to the side of his bed, stares down at him for a second with his hands in his pockets, and then...]
Yo!
[Because that's how you wake people the fuck up while they're recovering.]
Yo!
[Because that's how you wake people the fuck up while they're recovering.]
[oh, yeah, archie was blissfully asleep in a dreamless... sleep. it's not often he gets to pass out so completely and thoroughly like this-- probably because of how taxing getting better actually is. he's reached the point where he can't just lay around all day, though just going down to the hospital store for a paper was exhausting.
at the shout, archie jerks awake, knocking the paper he had on his lap off the bed.]
Don't do that! [he snaps, angrily. the heart monitor is beeping a little faster.] Arceus. What?
at the shout, archie jerks awake, knocking the paper he had on his lap off the bed.]
Don't do that! [he snaps, angrily. the heart monitor is beeping a little faster.] Arceus. What?
((continued from here))
Crobat--? Oh! Yes, of course. [archie can't even comprehend being without his crobat! cursed content! he immediately takes the pokéball out and clicks it, releasing the bat into the room. it chitters happily, clearly quite pleased to see hange.] The other new one... he can't really be inside a house. Not big, he's-- you'll see.
Crobat--? Oh! Yes, of course. [archie can't even comprehend being without his crobat! cursed content! he immediately takes the pokéball out and clicks it, releasing the bat into the room. it chitters happily, clearly quite pleased to see hange.] The other new one... he can't really be inside a house. Not big, he's-- you'll see.
Bububububububu - [okay, but she has to greet Crobat first, and comes up to gently stroke the funky dude’s wings and behind its ears. Cute, as always. Archie is a good friend because he’ll just let hange love up on his critters. She pays her dues and then looks at Archie with interest 👀]
Another big one? [LIKE ALBERTA]
Another big one? [LIKE ALBERTA]
[losing Luke was bad enough, but to hear word Archie's ward -- his stab at a family -- was lost to the many-mouthed monster was heart-crushing. the despair that failing a loved one already weighed so heavily as if to suffocate her, but this was too much. Archie doesn't deserve this. no one does!
there's nothing she can do to fix this, make it better...all she can do is drift up to his window at his home and lightly rap on it, peering in to see if he was even awake. if misery is to be on the menu, he isn't going to feast on it alone.]
there's nothing she can do to fix this, make it better...all she can do is drift up to his window at his home and lightly rap on it, peering in to see if he was even awake. if misery is to be on the menu, he isn't going to feast on it alone.]
[it's probably no surprise that since it all happened, the small amount of contact archie was even offering anyone completely stopped after he got the news. he'll usually send at least one text a day, checking in, dumb joke, dumb pokémon picture, but... nope. nothing. he's not even told anyone why. not that... he's ever been a fan of broadcasting whatever problems he's having at the current moment.
lucina picked a good time to visit; he's already been to the hospital and come home. he answers the door not long after she taps on it... looking a little out of it, honestly. he's not drunk or anything, no, his sobriety hasn't been affected at all. it just really has been that kind of couple months.]
Yo, [he greets her, as he always does, though it's a little flat and pathetic. doubtless they both look as awful as they feel.] Come in.
lucina picked a good time to visit; he's already been to the hospital and come home. he answers the door not long after she taps on it... looking a little out of it, honestly. he's not drunk or anything, no, his sobriety hasn't been affected at all. it just really has been that kind of couple months.]
Yo, [he greets her, as he always does, though it's a little flat and pathetic. doubtless they both look as awful as they feel.] Come in.
Archie! I just saw the Aegis statement. Are you all right?
[HEY GUESS WHO JUST FIGURED OUT HIS EXISTENTIAL CRISIS.
HEY GUESS WHAT THIS CONVERSATION IS NOT ABOUT.
Pikachu just so happened to be nosing about on a particular network post when he noticed what Guzma had to say about his nuptials, so in order to hide behind humor AS HE DOES, he is going to torment Archie.]
You and Guzma got married? Why wasn't I invited? Were your Pokemon the Bridesmaids? Did anyone wear white? C'mon, big guy, I thought up a million of these in the time it took me to call you.
HEY GUESS WHAT THIS CONVERSATION IS NOT ABOUT.
Pikachu just so happened to be nosing about on a particular network post when he noticed what Guzma had to say about his nuptials, so in order to hide behind humor AS HE DOES, he is going to torment Archie.]
You and Guzma got married? Why wasn't I invited? Were your Pokemon the Bridesmaids? Did anyone wear white? C'mon, big guy, I thought up a million of these in the time it took me to call you.
[A message is left in Archie’s inbox after the Guzma situation is resolved.]
I’m resigning from Aegis. You can consider this my official notice and pass it along.
This organization doesn’t stand for what I thought it did, and there are clearly members I can’t work with.
I’m resigning from Aegis. You can consider this my official notice and pass it along.
This organization doesn’t stand for what I thought it did, and there are clearly members I can’t work with.
[The call comes late. Later than he'd like when it comes to bothering Archie, but at the same time he just feels...compelled to call the man.]
[Whether Archie answers or not, he doesn't give the man the chance to say anything when he hears something pick up.]
So...hey. Listen I know...I know things have been kind of strained between us lately. And...I'm sure that's mostly my fault. I know it's mostly my fault. But if you've got some time to just...I dunno. Listen? Or...I don't know. I know you've got a lot on your plate and you don't need my nonsense piling on making you hate this stupid world any more than you do but...
[He sounds anxious. Probably more anxious than Archie's ever heard him.]
If you're...I dunno. I'm at my office...heh...office...? Seriously...? I'm at Helix and I'd...
I could use my pal. Even if it's for a little bit. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for being selfish.
[Whether Archie answers or not, he doesn't give the man the chance to say anything when he hears something pick up.]
So...hey. Listen I know...I know things have been kind of strained between us lately. And...I'm sure that's mostly my fault. I know it's mostly my fault. But if you've got some time to just...I dunno. Listen? Or...I don't know. I know you've got a lot on your plate and you don't need my nonsense piling on making you hate this stupid world any more than you do but...
[He sounds anxious. Probably more anxious than Archie's ever heard him.]
If you're...I dunno. I'm at my office...heh...office...? Seriously...? I'm at Helix and I'd...
I could use my pal. Even if it's for a little bit. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for being selfish.
[WOW THERE'S A LOT TO UNPACK HERE but archie doesn't get stuck on the little things; the important thing is darin is asking him to return the basic amount of consideration that he'd shown archie himself last month. he's more than happy to do so-- his tone is very gentle when he answers.]
I'll be at Helix in about twenty minutes. [and he is-- two pizza boxes balanced on his hand when he shows up.]
I'll be at Helix in about twenty minutes. [and he is-- two pizza boxes balanced on his hand when he shows up.]
Re: Video; after the spoopy anon post about Atropos; IN THE RIGHT INBOX THIS TIME
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jadus
- 2019-11-01 00:20 (UTC) - Expand[ It's 3am. Archie might be awake, he might be asleep, he might even be... busy... But here's Rupert, maskless but still clad in the thick, lightly-armoured leathers that he'd worn to the museum break-in-slash-accidental-gun/knife/portal-fight, ripping open a noisy portal that sounds like the fabric of reality itself is being torn in two. Through the portal he tumbles, streaming crimson blood and shockingly white-faced, his expression livid with anger as he crashes into Archie's bedroom with all the grace of a blood-soaked Bambi. ]
Archie! Archie, thank fuck -- [ Rupert sinks to a knee, mostly out of lightheadedness, and grits his teeth against the fresh pain the movement inspires. ] I -- may need your help...
Archie! Archie, thank fuck -- [ Rupert sinks to a knee, mostly out of lightheadedness, and grits his teeth against the fresh pain the movement inspires. ] I -- may need your help...
[he wasn't quite asleep, but he was dozing in bed with his tv on and mightyena laying next to him. it's the awful smell of blood that hits archie first, mightyena immediately jumping up and growling at the intruder.]
Fuckin' shit-- [he grunts, getting up out the bed (let's all be glad tonight he decided to sleep in sweats and not buck ass naked) and recalls mightyena back into its pokéball before it can bite rupert.] You gotta give some god damn warning before you do this shit! Not even a text!
[boy is he glad he went with hardwood floors in here.]
Where are you hurt? Lay on the bed 'fore you get blood on my damn rug.
Fuckin' shit-- [he grunts, getting up out the bed (let's all be glad tonight he decided to sleep in sweats and not buck ass naked) and recalls mightyena back into its pokéball before it can bite rupert.] You gotta give some god damn warning before you do this shit! Not even a text!
[boy is he glad he went with hardwood floors in here.]
Where are you hurt? Lay on the bed 'fore you get blood on my damn rug.
[ Ruby has come to poke her head around in the communal kitchen one of the nights she's staying over. Girl looks ass-weary, but sometimes you just need a snack. She makes sure she won't be seen by anyone she doesn't know, then enters... Just in time to see Archie in one of the blind spots. Thankfully she knows him, so it's no big deal.
Regardless of if he's seen her or not she's going to give him a wave, because it just seems like a good idea to her half-asleep self. ]
Regardless of if he's seen her or not she's going to give him a wave, because it just seems like a good idea to her half-asleep self. ]
[Well that was something. One minute he was still recovering from the whole ordeal last month, and the next he was back home with no memory of anything, then he was back in this world again. Waking up the same way he had arrived the first time. Talk about whiplash.
He's none too pleased about it either.
Plus he just doesn't feel quite right. He can't place his finger on it but something is not the same. Oh well.
Not entirely trusting how he feels, Lance decides to call the one person he knows he can rely on. Archie.]
Hey... Archie. I'm not sure exactly how long I've been gone but... looks like I'm back. Could you do me a favor and pick me up?
He's none too pleased about it either.
Plus he just doesn't feel quite right. He can't place his finger on it but something is not the same. Oh well.
Not entirely trusting how he feels, Lance decides to call the one person he knows he can rely on. Archie.]
Hey... Archie. I'm not sure exactly how long I've been gone but... looks like I'm back. Could you do me a favor and pick me up?
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