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Holy shit, [ Apollo breathes out, feeling faintly sick - that monster was disgusting. Those mouths. Dying at its hands can't have been pretty, and Niko was only a kid -- ]

Will he... people come back, right?

[ Apollo isn't very good at this 'imports returning from the dead thing'! This is his first time! He still feels very new at this!!! ]

[feeling sick, that's the mood. archie doesn't even want to go into detail about it.]

Yeah.

[that's all he says. he won't say how he knows this, because it's a very unpleasant affair.]

People come back, [ Apollo repeats, more firmly this time. He shoots a look at M. ] Andrew came back, didn't he? He was fine. Niko will be fine.

[ For a given value of fine, probably ]

Yes.

[He wants to say that he came back twice, but he knows damn well how he died both of those times, and would rather not bring it up right now.]

Give it a few more days, Archie.

I--I know. I appreciate it. I'm sorry you had to find out this way.

[not that there was... really any other way to.]

Just... it'll work out. I think. Don't worry about me.

Oh God, don't apologise. [ If Apollo's words are muffled it's because he's got a hand on his face, quietly despairing. ] This must be fucking awful for you.

Arch, we've had this conversation already--you don't have to apologize for this.

Talk to us, we're here for you.

I-- I know. I appreciate it. I do. There's just... not really much to say right now, is there?

That didn't stop you from pulling me out of a funk when Andrew left. You knew damn well I wanted to be left alone, but you wouldn't--because you knew I wasn't in a good place.

[Maybe he shouldn't be saying this in front of Apollo, but Archie needs the sense smacked into him more than M wants to avoid the potential awkward this conversation will bring with his partner later.]

Archie, when you care about other people as much as you do, you really ought to expect that to turn back around on you.

Edited 2019-09-12 00:50 (UTC)

If I could take my own damn advice I probably wouldn't be in this position again...

[m: the ideal man? we been knew.]

What do I do?

[ LOOK as long as he wasn't pulling M out of his funk by his dick then it's very much okay ]

Do you want to come over? We're just watching crappy reality shows, but it's mindless and distracting...

[ Things Apollo very pointedly isn't offering by way of help: booze and violence. Because he gets the distinct feeling that Archie's probably taken part in wayyyyyy too much of both lately. ]

[he's... noooot entirely comfortable with that offer, but... there's a part of him that really, really want the company, no matter how he feels right now.]

If that's alright...

Think of it as a favor to me. Apollo can terrorize someone else with this crap for a change.

[ With a muffled thump on the audio feed that means Apollo's just thrown a couch cushion at a dumb hipster ]

Of course it's all right. We'll even let you pick the show.

[a GHOST of a smile threatens to cross his expression, just at the sheer... domesticity of this situation.]

Okay, okay... lemme just... get changed and I'll door over... [oh the wonders of having a key to the apartment.]

[Does the fact there's a tiger wedged between them make the situation better or worse?]

Door's always open for you, Arch. Beer will be waiting if you want one.

[And if he doesn't, there won't be any sitting around.]

[and a few moments later, he's in the hallway. fully dressed, though in just sweats and a tshirt, wondering what he's doing. not in a bad way-- it's more of the general existential malaise that settles into imPorts that've been around long enough. doubtless m knows it well.

he's a little hesitant, like it's his first time visiting and he stops when he sees fubuki.]

Ah... long time no see. [to everyone present, really.] She's settled okay.

[ Apollo rises from the couch at the sound of Archie arriving. ]

Hey. You look good for a man who's been shot.

[ WHAT HAPPENED THERE, ARCHIE ]

[Upon seeing Archie, Fubuki jumps off the couch to rub herself up against his thighs. She remembers you.]

After a few months of D and Pancho pestering her she came out of her shell. She's still a bit shy, but I'm pretty sure that's all her personality at this point.

[He doesn't comment on his appearance. There's nothing else to say that Apollo hadn't already said.]

[he smiles a little tiredly, but clearly isn't unhappy to see fubuki. she gets some good pets.]

Ah, D comin' through as always. [tilting his head lightly:] Nanites and other healin'. Does wonders, but it still hurts.

[that's not what apollo is asking and he knows it.]

[ Yeah, Apollo knows it. But he'll unhappily allow that evasion for now, despite the obvious look of concern he flashes M's way. ]

Sit down, sit down, [ He rests a warm, broad hand on Archie's shoulder and steers the man over to the couch, shoving him gently down next to M. ]

Relax. Hug the tiger. Do you want coffee?

[ He's fussing like an old woman! He knows he is! But he doesn't care! Sometimes fuss is warranted in times like these!!! ]

D does his part.

[For his part, he lets Apollo fuss and scooches over for Archie (and Fubuki) to take a seat. Fubuki, for her part, follows Archie towards the couch before leaping onto it like the queen she is and placing her head in his lap.

M pats Archie's back, rubbing it reassuringly.]

Edited 2019-09-24 01:29 (UTC)

[look at all this fussing... archie exhales and does as he's told, putting a hand on the tiger. leaning back slight at the back rub.]

Please. You got some disgusting sugary monstrosity?

I'll see what I can make...

[ Which isn't a great idea really considering that Apollo hasn't made anyone coffee in years, let alone a mochafrappasomething-and-whatever, but HE'S GONNA GIVE IT A GO ]

You two talk amongst yourselves for a bit, all right?

[ Excuse him, he's going to go and rummage in the kitchen. ]

[M leans in and whispers conspiratorially:]

You know all he's going to succeed in is blowing up my kitchen, right?

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