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Wh- hey! I didn't know!

[ She feels a little defensive because of the yelling, of course, but she can't say she wouldn't have reacted similarly, if she really looks at herself. ]

It was during all that doppelganger bullshit earlier this year. I guess Martin ran into the real Woden at one point, and this one just wanted to go around and kill people? Rex took him down and...snapped his neck, eventually. [ She sighs. Sometimes she forgets what Rex can do. ] Hence part of why I'm always so paranoid about that asshole. But who knows if the real guy actually cares that much. He cares about fucking with me, but- maybe not Martin.

[ She doesn't sound sure of that. ]

Oh, my god. Fuck. Ohhh, my god.

[if seems to her like he's having something of an existential crisis on the other end of the line, it's because he literally is.]

I feel sick. [certainly not in part because of what rex did. he doesn't disagree with that, per se, but this is a lot to take in!] Of course he went for Martin if he knows you give a shit about him. Just-- shit. I had no idea. I'm so sorry.

[ To some extent, Archie's stress is making her more stressed. In another way...she feels like he's having a pretty justified reaction, and she could stand to see more of those around here. ]

Oh, you want to know the craziest part? I hadn't even met Martin before that. The only reason I went over is because I'd met Rex, and he knew I was putting up with Woden's horeshit all the time.

But when he actually went after Martin? For his pantheon? [ Her voice is dripping with menace on the word. ] It was pretty fucking high on the list of the worst things he's done. I can't let that happen again.

[ After a pause: ] Maybe I need to check on him and Rex more. I don't know.

[he lets off a string of curses, turning the air blue in true sailor fashion. it takes him a moment to actually collect himself enough just to start talking normally to her again. archie won't bother mentioning he spoke to the guy a couple weeks ago on the network.]

No, no, of course not. [his tone is sympathetic; he can't imagine how cass must've felt, knowing woden did that and she wasn't there to stop him.] You--you know, you don't have to do all that alone. Rex and Andy can certainly take care of themselves and Martin... Arceus, I don't know, he's a tough kid when he puts his mind to it.

Yeah. Fucking shitting hellish bullshit. I know.

[ Sincerely. She can relate. She's somewhat exhausted watching someone else curse the way she does, but at least it's earned. ]

Martin may be tough, but he shouldn't have to be. I hate how much he thinks he needs to do. And...I know Rex and Andy could kick Woden's ass a million times over. But that doesn't mean they should go through it because of Woden's weird lusty grudge toward me.

Lusty?

[the tone he asks the question in is clearly rhetorical; the amount of disgust behind that one word is enough of an answer to any question he could've asked.]

I know. You're right. That's something only you lot can really figure out-- though this reminded me of something for Martin, ah... [there's a pause, like he's not sure he wants to say it.] Finding a therapist for him seems like it's about six months overdue.

Oh, you don't want to know. Somehow he's managed to play down the Asian girl fetish here.

[ Thankfully? Maybe. In any case, once Archie brings up therapy, she sighs. ]

Yeah, god, if anyone needs one it's him. It'd do a hell of a lot. [ All of them going to therapy would do a hell of a lot, but she's not realizing that. ] There's that one imPort psychiatrist, but...Martin needs a child psychiatrist, right? He's too young.

Oh god. I'm so sorry. Again.

[that's... whew. moving on.]

He would need a pediatric one, aye. I don't know how old he is but I think it's for the, uh... stunting. He's encountered. [and that's the nicest way archie can say that.] This is severely late, honestly.

Hey, I didn't even get the worst of it. You never saw his Valkyries.

[ God, that's so gross to remember. They're not moving onto a nice topic, but at least they're moving on. ]

He doesn't even know what age he is. I think he might be a teenager, just- a really sheltered one. To say the least. [ She wants to say one that's been tossed around, because she suspects Martin's been mistreated- but that's a hard thing to vocalize, the closer she gets to the kid. ] Could you start looking or do you want me to?

Ugh, don't.

[and moving on swiftly! archie does not want to know any more about woden ever.]

Mmm. I can start looking, but I'll keep you in the loop. You got enough to do, it seems.

I feel like I've got everything and nothing to do. There's plenty of shit I've got to sketch out to deal with Atropos and Jeopardy and...all of that, but- it's all so abstract.

[ She huffs. She feels like this is her calling sometimes, the way she keeps at it. But it's also hell. ]

...You're with Aegis Force, yeah? How's that going? Especially after last month.

Yeah, I-- I know that feelin'.

[it's not one he wants to dwell on!]

...There's a lot going on. I only helped evacuate the natives-- I didn't deal with any of that scarab nonsense. Though the people that did... [he trails off and could not be more obviously upset about it and what it did to his teammates and friends.] --Well, anyway, we do what we can to help. That's what it's always been about. Do you know Jacob? The leader.

Yeah, I do. He's been helping with my research on the side, when he can- giving advice, experience, that sort of thing. He seems actually interested in dealing with shit around here, so I assume it's good we've got him on Aegis...

[ Cass would rather have Aegis than not, as it seems to be a group that actually wants to solve problems. She'd call herself an ally. ]

You know I've never been to a Swear-in? I'm starting to think I was pretty prescient, on that one.

He's been nothing but supportive and genuine with me, so I think so. He's a good guy and I'm glad he's on our side. He's also very handsome!

[that last part said with a laugh, though he's not joking.]

Hmm, they're usually alright. If there's a low key one, I'll come with, if you want. At least then we could get through it together!

Good to know?

[ Nice to know Archie's type, apparently? Although she's too much of a lesbian to care. ]

What, we go together to fight any inevitable monstrosities that show up? Somehow I've managed to avoid the whole superhero thing. And I'd like to keep it that way.

[he just had to make the joke...]

Not a superhero thing. Just because the ones that don't go to shit are usually pretty fun. I could just get you outta there on Crobat real quick.

[...]

Plus... y'know. It'd be nice to hang out.

You know I can fly myself, right? I don't need your bat.

[ She sighs. ]

And...okay, fine. Maybe we'll end up at the next one. [ A pause. ] Especially if they do that memorial at Death Island.

...I keep forgetting.

Yeah. How'd you feel about that? [he thinks it's in poor taste, but doesn't say that just yet. he's interested in how cass feels.]

I mean, usually I wouldn't care...but I've got some friends who want me to go. Kaneki included, I guess.

[ She doesn't quite think of Kaneki as a friend yet, even though by all accounts he is.

Part of her wonders if Archie is in Aegis, and Kaneki's mission has Jacob's approval, if Archie knows the true purpose of the memorial. But she bets he doesn't, and she doesn't want to make it known. ]

So I might end up there, who knows.

[cass is dead on! archie doesn't know, and would hate to.]

I getcha. That's fair enough! I'll probably give it a miss, but I'll be hopin' no shit goes wild again, eh? I'll have the drinks ready again if it does.

Drinks can't be our solution to everything. Someone has to stay sober around here.

[ Read: her. ]

I'll make the next round some non-alcoholic wine?

[he won't do that to her!!!!!!!!!]

...Honestly? Fine.

[ No fun allowed. ]

I keep feeling like if I let go, something's going to explode. Or someone.

Edited 2019-01-03 01:45 (UTC)

Y...eah, I get that. The feeling doesn't go away, sorry t'say.

[...]

Do you know what hypervigilance is? I'm assuming yes, because you're a learned scholar, but I'm just asking.

Of course I do.

[ She says, sounding a little offended for multiple reasons. ]

But- I don't think it's like that. I'm appropriately paranoid, not...terrified.

[ Well. She's terrified more than she'd like to admit. ]

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