[save for a couple gulps and a careful breath, Lucina doesn't speak up for a bit, gradually tightening her hold as he does. while her eyes do well up almost immediately, she fights them back, herself tensing with the effort even as Archie eases.
[there is no way that archie knows how to deal with this-- the whole monster situation in general. he'd heard about luke through aegis but he was already deep enough in his own fog to really react to it. not that he doesn't care-- quite the opposite. he's reached his limit again.
so he keeps hold on her.] I don't know either. Life just kinda sucks right now, huh?
[that is a horrific understatement, as his voice wavers slightly.]
[something about that makes him tense-- almost makes him a little angry, but it's gone as soon as it appears. archie doesn't really understand it and he doesn't care to.]
Don't blame yourself for not being able to, [he says, knowing full well she likely is.] I shoulda been there, but I couldn't because of this fucking gunshot wound I got while being a goddamn idiot.
[ah, the acidic tone of intense self-loathing. it practically wears away at the walls.]
[it's more of a muse than it is a biting remark. they both know damn well if it was finn he would've likely forced himself out anyway. or maybe archie's projecting that onto it as well.]
No, there's-- no real answer to this. I shouldn't dig for it. [he sighs and gives her a squeeze, then finally lets go.] Do you want to stay here for a little while?
[there's as much need for his company for herself as it is trying to be there for his sake, but she would hardly let herself breathe such a thing aloud. there's already too much. she can't be cracking and caving in while this much is going on, especially to someone so dear.]
Ah, that... [a little while in her mind had meant some hours, but there seems to be some days on the table. she's hesitant about that, not simply because of becoming an imposition, but because...what would she do with herself? she'd be so liable to crack and cause more unrest if left too idle.
best to worry about it as it comes, maybe. she shakes her head a little.]
Don't worry about it. We can just sit here a bit, if you like? I've got time. [too much of it, really.]
[it says a lot to his own state of mind that he immediately goes for long term, right? archie's never quite been able to shake that persistent loneliness that settled into him after being the only one from his world here. it's one he expects many people know quite well, lucina especially.]
Yeah. Sure. Whatever you need. [he... also seems to be a little confused as to who this is for...]
[luckily(?), she doesn't press on that. it might not matter too much at the moment. it's easier to follow his lead and sit herself down where he gestures or settles down first, keen on staying closer than arm's reach away.]
Mm-mn. I had some lunch before I flew out this way. [but she's relieved to hear he's still minding himself; maybe the both of them, despite sorrow, are able to keep some bit of sense. after enough berating from past experiences, of course...]
...I was able to see Mightyena and Crobat not long ago. They seem to be faring well.
[she considers that remark for a beat, biting down on a knee-jerk response. after all they've all been through, does he truly think it's luck? he can't.]
I think...Jacob knows what he's doing. I trust him to know.
[time off. does that sort of thing really help? people advise it a lot. she's...done so, in increments, but found she was never content to be idle for very long. there are few activities that engage her that don't involve some kind of excess of movement, so recovering from the moon-base disaster had been hellish. books and magazines and television...all very hard to endure for more than an hour or two.
she hopes Archie is less like her and more keen on idleness, for his sake. it probably is a good thing.]
Will you stay out here? Or change scenery as you're further along on the mend?
[it only goes so far when you're not getting the right kind of treatment you need. which-- archie doesn't have a choice to avoid now, not that he wasn't. it's just... official now. something that'll go on his record.]
I don't know. I always want to change scenery, but I'm not sure if that's just an ever-present desire to run screaming into the woods for all the pressure.
...I'm gladder that we took care of that cabin out there, then. [should he actually go running and screaming, he'd at least have a place to end up that's safe.]
Yes, actually... I, ah. I went and picked some of the berries out there. Guzma had expressed interest in having some of them for his own Pokemon, so... [she frowns faintly, still not fully at peace with how that went down.]
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eventually:] I don't...even know what to say...
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so he keeps hold on her.] I don't know either. Life just kinda sucks right now, huh?
[that is a horrific understatement, as his voice wavers slightly.]
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after a while:] Would that I could fix it for you...I would. In an instant. I'm so sorry.
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Don't blame yourself for not being able to, [he says, knowing full well she likely is.] I shoulda been there, but I couldn't because of this fucking gunshot wound I got while being a goddamn idiot.
[ah, the acidic tone of intense self-loathing. it practically wears away at the walls.]
Bit of a shit team healer, ain't I?
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Were it Finn in your place, you'd not say so...
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[it's more of a muse than it is a biting remark. they both know damn well if it was finn he would've likely forced himself out anyway. or maybe archie's projecting that onto it as well.]
No, there's-- no real answer to this. I shouldn't dig for it. [he sighs and gives her a squeeze, then finally lets go.] Do you want to stay here for a little while?
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[there's as much need for his company for herself as it is trying to be there for his sake, but she would hardly let herself breathe such a thing aloud. there's already too much. she can't be cracking and caving in while this much is going on, especially to someone so dear.]
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...And I literally have a room. That's empty. You might need to crack a window to get Mightyena's stank outta it...
[he's trying so hard!!]
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best to worry about it as it comes, maybe. she shakes her head a little.]
Don't worry about it. We can just sit here a bit, if you like? I've got time. [too much of it, really.]
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Yeah. Sure. Whatever you need. [he... also seems to be a little confused as to who this is for...]
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Have you eaten today?
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Yes. I have stuff left over, if you need it.
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...I was able to see Mightyena and Crobat not long ago. They seem to be faring well.
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[to both those things.]
I'll get them back soon. Probably tonight.
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[he leans back and exhales.]
Along with Niko's Pokémon... ah, it's gonna be a while before I'm back at Aegis. [if... at all.]
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No, I understand. Ash and the others will, too. It'll be alright.
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[he shrugs a shoulder.]
I reckon I'm lucky he didn't fire me.
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I think...Jacob knows what he's doing. I trust him to know.
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[especially not here. he won't divulge how he's feeling a little out of place in aegis these days, not with lucina. she has enough on her plate.]
I'll be fine, [he says, patting her hand.] I just need some time off.
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she hopes Archie is less like her and more keen on idleness, for his sake. it probably is a good thing.]
Will you stay out here? Or change scenery as you're further along on the mend?
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I don't know. I always want to change scenery, but I'm not sure if that's just an ever-present desire to run screaming into the woods for all the pressure.
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[and has, a few times.]
Have you been out there at all, recently?
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