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.]
I don't know if he even cares about being heard. That persona he puts on is insufferable.
[look, he may be married to the guy, but now he's accepted they're friends and has stopped being stupid about it all............... he can still say these things.]
I did the exact same when I was in the depths of my villainy. [this is a better thing to talk about than their mutual angst, no?]
[no offense, Archie, but she hopes that it's not exactly the same; it shouldn't take another cataclysm to make a man change for the better every time!]
I don't know. He has quite an awful lot to say for someone who doesn't care to be heard, Archie. I can't imagine it's all just noise.
[well, that brings Fortunato's awful speech to mind, and it doesn't sit well. her expression gets grimmer without her noticing as she sits there, her eyes fixed ahead and focused on nothing.
it's never a good time to get into any of this, especially not now. especially not now.]
[she's a little resistant at first just out of pride, but she succumbs to being settled in all the same, even though her face is still taut and unhappy.]
Which may as well derail any point he wants to make. I've not had my patience tested so strongly since the Christmas photo scandal...
That's what he wants. That's why he knows how to find people's buttons and mash on them.
[hell, archie's lucky he saw through it and has thick enough skin to avoid actually rising to the bait when guzma tried it on him.]
That's not t'say it's wrong to be upset by him. I ain't got no advice for how to deal with it. It's too case by case. Just don't fight him all the time, I guess.
[in an exhale:] Yes, I know. Darin advised similarly. I'm not going to go out of my way to fight, in any case. There's already so much to focus on as it is.
Thank you. I might. At the least, I will come by often, before or after work. So if you need me to fetch anything for you... [he need only ask. though she assumes she'll have to insist.]
[he doesn't say anything, just squeezes his arm around her a little tighter.]
Look at me, only whinin' about my own stupid problems when you were the one that actually responded to that monster. Are you sure you're quite alright, Lucina? I'm terribly sorry...
[she has to be fine, doesn't she? he can't bear any more tragedy. she might be able to, either.
after a beat:] I don't know if...it's the same one, or if there are many...but. After Luke... [...] I encountered it again. Adora and I. And I can only hope that's the end of it. But I just don't know.
[maybe now just isn't the time to talk about it. archie doesn't think he's qualified-- so... he doesn't really say anything. archie grips her again, pulling her in closer for another hug, wrapping his arms around her properly this time.
he's sorry. he's so sorry, but nothing he can do or say will make this better, and it's something he's long since accepted.]
[she sinks into the hug with just a faint sound, hiding her face. sometimes there really isn't much words can do compared to just close contact; a hug can say a great deal. his arms are a big enough buffer to all the things she knows are looming just outside of the room -- the things she ought to do, has to do. she will allow herself to be weak for a little while, because it's safe here, and there's some illusion she does some good here. leaving Archie alone now would be awful...]
[perhaps ironically, archie's feeling largely the same. he doesn't have to think about his responsibilities or those he failed when he's here. he can just switch off and go through the motions for anyone that comes by. hell, when it comes to certain imports he's closest to he doesn't even have to switch off, and lucina is one of them.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
no subject
[she willingly subjected herself to guzma? that can't have been... fun.]
How'd it go?
no subject
...He despises me, clearly. It makes saying anything to him a challenge. He'll twist my words and accuse me of worse... [she huffs.]
He only wants to be heard, but barely listen in turn. I ought to be grateful for even barely, I suppose.
no subject
[look, he may be married to the guy, but now he's accepted they're friends and has stopped being stupid about it all............... he can still say these things.]
I did the exact same when I was in the depths of my villainy. [this is a better thing to talk about than their mutual angst, no?]
no subject
I don't know. He has quite an awful lot to say for someone who doesn't care to be heard, Archie. I can't imagine it's all just noise.
no subject
[he leans back lightly, glancing over at lucina.]
Did anything he say strike you?
no subject
[well, that brings Fortunato's awful speech to mind, and it doesn't sit well. her expression gets grimmer without her noticing as she sits there, her eyes fixed ahead and focused on nothing.
it's never a good time to get into any of this, especially not now. especially not now.]
I'm still thinking on it. [so, yes.]
no subject
Don't feel bad if he's hurt you. Even if he has good points, he goes out of his way to do it in the most hurtful way possible.
no subject
Which may as well derail any point he wants to make. I've not had my patience tested so strongly since the Christmas photo scandal...
no subject
[hell, archie's lucky he saw through it and has thick enough skin to avoid actually rising to the bait when guzma tried it on him.]
That's not t'say it's wrong to be upset by him. I ain't got no advice for how to deal with it. It's too case by case. Just don't fight him all the time, I guess.
no subject
no subject
[he nods, though.] Well, you can always come here to hang out if ya need time away. Me an' my team'll always welcome you.
no subject
no subject
no subject
...I know. I'll be fine.
no subject
Look at me, only whinin' about my own stupid problems when you were the one that actually responded to that monster. Are you sure you're quite alright, Lucina? I'm terribly sorry...
no subject
after a beat:] I don't know if...it's the same one, or if there are many...but. After Luke... [...] I encountered it again. Adora and I. And I can only hope that's the end of it. But I just don't know.
no subject
[he exhales, pinching his nose with his free hand.]
Look, I know you probably don't want to hear this when not everyone walked away from it but... you did what you could.
[bold words spoken by the guy who thoroughly blames himself for niko's demise.]
A pattern in these things... it never feels like it is, but realistically...
no subject
[she's not new to being too late.]
no subject
he's sorry. he's so sorry, but nothing he can do or say will make this better, and it's something he's long since accepted.]
no subject
no subject
I'm glad you came, [he says, gently.] I'm glad you're here.
no subject
no subject
no subject
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)