First - I’m not talking about him like a project. Pretty sure he’s still an asshole and is gonna be one until he decides for himself to stop acting like one.
But you still connected with him. He cares about you. Which makes it a hell of a lot easier to give a single shot about him, not that I’m going to thank you for it.
I’m not saying it’s a big deal or that you deserve a medal, Arch. I’m still allowed to point out when you did something good, whatever the size.
[he acquiesces; he's too tired to argue further and he knows, deep down that poe is right. he's about to say something else, but... well, that dang tmi field!]
I don't know! I think it happened when we went to Vegas with Andy-- shit! She said it! I bet she pushed us into doin' it when we were drunk off our minds as well!
[he drops his hands to his face and groans.]
How is Andy the root of all my angst recently?! [she's not. that's clearly an exaggeration.]
Aye, I have that noted on my medical file. [he says, a little too tired to bother with poe's temper about it. archie doesn't get why it matters so much, beyond being frustratingly stupid.] When I knew. I only found out recently because one of the nurses mentioned it...
How the hell do you get married and just not know. But no, Poe's the asshole for trying to start a fight while drunk, and he gets all the lectures but everyone else fucks off--
[ He cut off, turning to glare back at Archie. ]
So that's why they gave me shit about visiting hours and not being your next of kin.
You think you're the last one to know about this, or something? I only barely fucking found out about a day ago! You're the whole third person to know! Sure as shit ain't gonna bother tellin' anyone else this.
[he snaps, though there's no bite to it. he's... just as ??? about it as poe is. it's like he tries to say it angrily but it switches to confusion mid-sentence.]
I wonder if there's a way to do anythin' about that. Say you're my brother or somethin'. They can't exactly ask for birth certificates.
[ He is being salty and he knows it, but he wants to be angry and is finding that difficult to keep up. Archie made a stupid decision while drunk, and Poe would be a hypocrite to be super mad about it, so instead he's just - frustrated and hurt. ]
Maybe I don't see the point in having a fucking conversation about it when I know you're just going to lie to my face. [ He spat out, and, like clockwork, instantly regretted it. ]
I don't know if you're only lying to me, or if you're lying to yourself, and I don't know which one is worse.
Archie you don't just get drunk married to someone you don't like, [ His voice raised a little. ]
Fine. You didn't know you got married. Fucking stupid, but I can see it. But you literally just told me you don't even like the guy, and then tell me you went and got married in vegas.
This is a pile of bantha shit. He cares enough about you to go find Archer with me. So I don't know why the fuck you're still trying to convince me that this is some sort of altruistic crusade.
[he grimaces at little at "altruistic crusade"; both of those words are ones he doesn't like. let alone applied to him! archie's quiet for a few moments as he tries to work this out in his head.]
I don't know how I feel about him, [he says, finally.] I think--
[he cuts himself off with a frown. initially he liked guzma because of how he treated his team, but then commiserated on with mutual disappointment in their region's society... denying actually liking him...
you know, he's never actually been forced to think about this before. he should've, when darin called him out, but he stubbornly refused to.
he's pretty sure he's worked it out. or has come close to it. archie puts a hand to his temple.]
Arceus! I'm fucking projecting Maxie onto him! Y'know-- rival type guy that gets the whole shit about the failin's of people back home? Caustic friendship? That whole song and dance?
[he groans.] I didn't think this could get any fuckin' stupider!
[ Poe gave Archie a hard look, watching him and crossing his arms. ]
You're allowed to like him, Archie. I don't know if you're just not saying it because you kow I don't, or what. [ The edge hadn't left from his voice. ] How you got there isn't really important, is it?
You know he's not Maxie. Is knowing that you saw that in him actually going to change anything?
Projecting onto someone changes how you see them and how you treat them, so yes.
[continuing to rub his temple, finally:] Yes, okay, we're friends. I like him-- but I haven't done all this and denied shit and whatever else because I'm working towards some goal. You know the last couple months I haven't had a fucking idea what I'm doing and I barely even knew I was doing anything wrong until it blew up in my face.
[but now he has an opportunity to fix it, right?]
I'm sorry, for dancing around it and acting like a thoughtless fool. I stopped thinking about how my actions were affecting other people because it made it easier for me and that was wrong. I mean-- look where it's got me!
[not that what he just said is lacking in feeling, but archie looks up at poe properly, and says again with more feeling:] I'm sorry.
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But you still connected with him. He cares about you. Which makes it a hell of a lot easier to give a single shot about him, not that I’m going to thank you for it.
I’m not saying it’s a big deal or that you deserve a medal, Arch. I’m still allowed to point out when you did something good, whatever the size.
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Tch... shoulda married you instead...
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[ The full meaning of Archie's sentence only then actually clicked in, and he blinked, sitting up a little straighter to frown down at Archie. ]
Wait, what?
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[he makes a face.]
...I'm just sayin', if I was gonna marry anyone on accident I'd rather it be, you know, someone I actually like.
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You and Guzma got Vegas married.
[ You might need to explain this one three more times, Archie. ]
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[right.]
Yes. About two months ago. Only just found out.
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Are you fucking kidding me? You've barely known him for two months! What the hell happened?
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[he drops his hands to his face and groans.]
How is Andy the root of all my angst recently?! [she's not. that's clearly an exaggeration.]
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[ Yeah guess who didn't even know that Andy knew Guzma until now.
Poe literally just slides right off the bed, throwing his hands up and walking over to the window. ]
And she told you idiots to get married??
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[he rubs his forehead.]
Fuck knows. Probably. I'm blaming it on her regardless.
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[ He shouldn't be this pissed about it. He knows. But he is. And to think he'd been so close to giving the guy a break. ]
So when were you planning on actually telling me this shit?
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[he shrugs a little helplessly.]
I'm gonna get it annulled when I can get out.
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How the hell do you get married and just not know. But no, Poe's the asshole for trying to start a fight while drunk, and he gets all the lectures but everyone else fucks off--
[ He cut off, turning to glare back at Archie. ]
So that's why they gave me shit about visiting hours and not being your next of kin.
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[he snaps, though there's no bite to it. he's... just as ??? about it as poe is. it's like he tries to say it angrily but it switches to confusion mid-sentence.]
I wonder if there's a way to do anythin' about that. Say you're my brother or somethin'. They can't exactly ask for birth certificates.
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[ He is being salty and he knows it, but he wants to be angry and is finding that difficult to keep up. Archie made a stupid decision while drunk, and Poe would be a hypocrite to be super mad about it, so instead he's just - frustrated and hurt. ]
Whatever. It shouldn't matter to me anyway.
You need your rest. I'm going home.
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[he says with a little grumble, glancing with a frown.]
It honestly wasn't even that fun of a weekend... Why are you going?
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I just came to check on you, and you're fine. So. Get some sleep.
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[especially now archie even knows there's something to be said.]
Arceus knows your power'll probably spill it eventually anyway.
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I don't know if you're only lying to me, or if you're lying to yourself, and I don't know which one is worse.
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[he makes a brief face. it would be nice of that power of poe's could be directed, maybe...? at least he could prove it.]
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Fine. You didn't know you got married. Fucking stupid, but I can see it. But you literally just told me you don't even like the guy, and then tell me you went and got married in vegas.
This is a pile of bantha shit. He cares enough about you to go find Archer with me. So I don't know why the fuck you're still trying to convince me that this is some sort of altruistic crusade.
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I don't know how I feel about him, [he says, finally.] I think--
[he cuts himself off with a frown. initially he liked guzma because of how he treated his team, but then commiserated on with mutual disappointment in their region's society... denying actually liking him...
you know, he's never actually been forced to think about this before. he should've, when darin called him out, but he stubbornly refused to.
he's pretty sure he's worked it out. or has come close to it. archie puts a hand to his temple.]
No, I've got it.
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[he groans.] I didn't think this could get any fuckin' stupider!
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You're allowed to like him, Archie. I don't know if you're just not saying it because you kow I don't, or what. [ The edge hadn't left from his voice. ] How you got there isn't really important, is it?
You know he's not Maxie. Is knowing that you saw that in him actually going to change anything?
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[continuing to rub his temple, finally:] Yes, okay, we're friends. I like him-- but I haven't done all this and denied shit and whatever else because I'm working towards some goal. You know the last couple months I haven't had a fucking idea what I'm doing and I barely even knew I was doing anything wrong until it blew up in my face.
[but now he has an opportunity to fix it, right?]
I'm sorry, for dancing around it and acting like a thoughtless fool. I stopped thinking about how my actions were affecting other people because it made it easier for me and that was wrong. I mean-- look where it's got me!
[not that what he just said is lacking in feeling, but archie looks up at poe properly, and says again with more feeling:] I'm sorry.
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