every time you leave [closedish]

[h2no]

WHO: archie and Palz (various + open)
WHERE: around
WHEN: first week of october
WHAT: a BUNCHA STUFF
WARNINGS: prob sad boys, possibly implied animal abuse in niko's thread



a. do what you want 'cause a pirate is free (small magnus and alex)

[okay so maybe archie didn't quite sell his body to get into the boat club. he literally just - as expected - told them he'd endorse their club if they let him and his import pals learn a thing or two. he's given a strict warning not to damage anything, knowing the kind of shit imports get up to; archie lies and says they'll be very careful. just... so careful. definitely no shenannigans planned here. it's mid morning, what are they gonna do, get drunk? please. not all imports are so class...less.

he sends magnus the time and place - not knowing alex, assuming magnus would tell her - and sits on the dock. he's released sharpedo into the water, so the giant(ish) shark torpedo has a chance to swim around at his feet, eating a bunch of fish that're stupid enough to be spooked out from under the low pier. fortunately, it's also a nice day; warm but with a good breeze, sky cloudless (though there's a few on the horizon) and all round perfect for sailing.

what could ｐｏｓｓｉｂｌｙ ｇｏ ｗｒｏｎｇ.]

b. o shit whaddup (matt)

[day as usual; go pick up some diving gear from the nearby supplier. archie is already planning to goof off and race sharpedo and gyarados most of the day instead of work... because that's what today is going to be, right, just an average day. no heartbreak.

he pushes open the door, texting someone on his phone. casually gets a soda out the vending machine in the lobby. turns to the desk and squeaks, immediately drops it while staring in disbelief.

you know. average day.]

c. do you a learn (niko/golbat)

[crobat, as per usual for dusk, is sitting in the garden outside. since about mid-afternoon, it had been sunning itself near the rabbit hutch. crobat has no interest in eating the bunnies - not enough blood, too stringy - but has been told by archie to keep watch over them.

they're doing nothing. crobat is bored and considering leaving.

right up until a familiar shape jumps up onto the fence.]

WILDCARD

[hit me with anything in any city at any time; i can literally roll with anything! also, i'll match style and if you want a specific prompt just hit me up at jabbers <3]

Comments

c, of course

[namesaquestion]

[By the time it arrives, Golbat is more than a little sulky. Master had pretty much shoved it out the window with steel-hinted words and gone back to the books piled on the desk. That was Weird in so far as the bat knew.

But what did it know. The whole place was weird and maybe Master was just being normal.

But at least the older bat is there, and Golbat lets out a small noise of greeting as it came to rest on the fence, wings half folded back.]

i c

[h2no]

[crobat cocks its head, ears tiling towards golbat. it knows golbat is usually upset about something but... this seems different? it's not sure. it takes off, flitting over and hovering next to the smaller (only slightly) bat, chittering back in concern.]

u c wat?

[namesaquestion]

[Very different, because it seems more taken back by the concern than normal before shaking itself, and taking to the air.

For all of two seconds before planting itself on the fence again. It should get on with hunting, but if Master isn't paying it any mind at all... then...

It cocks its head a little.

Maybe it's ok to seek attention elsewhere?]

u

[h2no]

[crobat stays hovering in the air where it is when golbat takes off, making a little grunting noise. stupid kids.

landing on the fence next to golbat (and ignoring the creaks) crobat chitters some more.

why are you here? where is your trainer?? what's going on?]

dat boi

[h2bro]

[ the first thing Matt did after being imported was check the network for Archie's or Shelly's names. he'd had his thumb hovering over Archie's name for hours, his chest aching and his hands sweaty, before he'd finally stowed his communicator away, knowing he didn't have the guts to actually message him. if he hadn't had to start work later that morning, he would still be in bed, staring at his boss's name and trying to figure out what to say to him. "hey, bro. sorry for trying to end the world when you pretty explicitly made it clear you didn't want me to do that anymore. hey, sorry for being your anchor when we were on the same team and weighing you down by being the worst possible person to have by your side. hey man, sorry for generally our entire relationship which i'm pretty sure you still regret even though you totally said you don't. hey, i'm still kind of pissed about everything you've put me through and i've spent months not knowing where we stand because you won't just talk to me, we good?"

so his mind is on archie all day, stressing about how long his bro has been here without him or shelly, until finally he's gotten into the rhythm of his new job, helping newcomers learn about diving safety, benchpressing a stack of oxygen tanks to impress his coworker, things like that. it takes a few hours, but soon he's actually starting to feel pretty okay about being here in america, and the whole reason there's no anxiety in his stomach anymore is entirely because he's managed to get archie out of his head. as he's organizing an inventory of masks and flippers, thinking about maybe letting Sharpedo out on the beach the store is sitting on, he looks up from behind the desk, and - there he is. archie. dropping a soda all over his clean floor, which matt's absolutely going to have to mop up again, 'cause he's the new guy.

matt stares, slowly raises to his full height, awkwardly holding a set of giggles with bright neon straps in his hands. all the things he should be saying bolts through his head, but instead, he just-- ]

Aw, shit.

[h2no]

[you know what matt's full height is? fucking terrifying. archie, probably for the first time, actually looks genuinely scared of him. this can't be happening -- even though he knows logically this is the time people get ported in. this is a joke, though. it's not real. he backs away slightly, not sure what to do; mind falling back into fight or flight mode. he wants to run. he wants to run so bad... but that's what he did before, isn't it? that's why he's in this situation. he ran and didn't talk to matt and made sure he didn't just end the word but ruined the lives of everyone around him, because he's a selfish sack of shit who can't even tell his best friend he's sorry.

it's been a couple of minutes and archie has still just been standing and staring at matt, looking at him like he's kyogre himself, utterly terrified and convinced that anything he does will be wrong. matt doesn't deserve this. he doesn't deserve to be here, in such a dangerous place and with-- him. with the guy who ruined his fucking life for no reason and can't even talk to him about it.

fortunately, archie's instinct to run away had been overridden by the intense self-loathing that had bubbled up just from seeing matt, and he's stuck in place. doing and saying nothing. like a deerling in the headlights.]

[h2bro]

[ this isn't... what he expected. archie looking at him like that? it's... alien, almost.

that fear in archie's eyes makes matt feel like some kind of monster, because why else would he look at him like that? it should actually hurt much more than it does, but - he doesn't really feel anything, emotionally speaking. there's something close to hurt throbbing in the back of his chest, maybe, but mostly he just feels numb. maybe this is what it's like to be in shock? he's never experienced that, really - his emotions are always at eleven, in one direction or another, and even when archie gave up everything they had together back home, matt had just broken down. his insides didn't freeze in place like they are now. they'd ached, they'd boiled. now he's just cold.

matt doesn't think he could get his tongue working even if he had the perfect words to say right now, but - it looks like he doesn't have a choice but to talk first. and that's how it always is, isn't it? matt's always gotta take the lead. archie never says anything he's supposed to. ]

You, uh. You okay, bro?

[ he's called archie bro tens of thousands of times before, but now, the way he says it, there's none of that love, there's none of that impact. he sounds like he's talking to some new customer who hasn't scubad a day in their life and he's just their trainer ready to give 'em a lesson. ]

[h2no]

Muh...

[he can't even say matt's name, wow what a coward. archie still can't believe what he's seeing, still doesn't want to face the fact that the way matt is looking at and talking to him is his fault. it's almost too much; seeing this and having the guilt ontop of the kyogre bullshit.]

Matt?

[it's obviously matt. who else would it be, for fuck's sake? there's no-one the way matt is, but it's clear archie just... isn't believing it. won't, maybe.]

DOG DATE closed to jacob

[h2no]

[it starts with a text, when archie decides he wants to fuckin see champ right now immediately.]

HEROPA DOG PARK.
LET'S GO.

Re: DOG DATE closed to jacob

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

On my way. See you there.

[Jacob shows up quickly, using the trip as an opportunity to take Champ for a run to the Maurtia Falls Porter and on to Heropa from there. When they arrive, Champ is immediately ecstatic to meet Archie. Jacob actually lets him off the leash so he can run up and get some sniffing in.]

Hey, Archie. Go say hi, Champ!

[h2no]

[archie shrieks, so very loudly, and pretty much just topples over onto the ground for Prime Champ Cuddles.

oh yeah and jacob is there. mightyena pads over to jacob, looking between him and archie with a bit of a weary this shit again look.]

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[Jacob returns Mightyena's look. A moment of silent understanding, almost bonding, passes between them. Showing a refreshing lack of shrieking, Jacob silently holds out his hand to Mightyena for a greeting sniff.

Meanwhile Archie has met his perfect match in lack of chill. Champ prances and frolics all over his prone body, tail wagging in a blur, showering his face with wet nuzzles and happy licks. He barks randomly, just from sheer excitement. This is the best! Life is amazing!]

KICKS DOWN THE DOOR

[burlyboy]

[ When Archie makes his way to Magnus' gym, he'll spot Magnus around the back, where the sparring ring is, wearing a pair of loose short in that shiny fabric favoured by frat boys around the world, and an extremely tacky tank top in bright pink. He completes the ensemble with bright red shoes, because he lives only to make Taako's life a living nightmare every time he looks at Magnus' whole fashion disaster self.

He is, predictably, in the middle of the ring, doing stretches. Archie may not know how to throw a proper punch, but the dude's beefy. He's going to get a work-out out of this. Or maybe he'll just get punched in the face at the wrong angle by accident and get a sick black eye for a while. Both are good. ]

GET ON THE FLOOR

[h2no]

[you know what's funny? archie has a hoodie on, but when he takes it off, it turns out he's wearing... the grey version. he laughs, bounding up onto the ring and greeting magnus with a shoulder punch.]

What's up, bro! We match!

[too bad it's not the SWOLE MATES shirts.]

[burlyboy]

We do match!

[ Magnus has to take a second to be excited. He's never matched with anyone before! Nobody's ever been as tacky as him! This is great! ]

[burlyboy]

[ But then it's time... time to get down to business. ]

All right, bro, you ready to learn how to throw a punch? Except I should probably ask you some, uh... some basic questions first.

can i get uhhhh awkward jogging

[h2no]

[it's 6 45am. archie is at ray's house, though he hasn't knocked just yet - he can't actually see any life in any of the windows and has no idea if ray is even awake. this is a bad idea. why did he do this? they haven't really spoken since the bullshit. should he even be here? this is for someone more socially savvy than him.

he has mightyena with him and exchances an uncomfortable glance with the hyena pokémon, who just cocks its head and continues panting, oblivious.

mightyena is right. archie should just fucking go ahead and do it.

he knocks.]

[handycapable]

[ The bright side is, between the last time they spoke and now, Ray's gone one at least one actual, successful -- and in his opinion, also fairly promising -- date, which is only a relevant detail in so much as he'll feel significantly less awkward about jogging with Archie now, which may in turn prevent any further awkwardness.

Though it's still impossible to predict that exactly, which is of course the most unnerving thing about awkwardness.

From somewhere inside, Ray can be heard calling: ]

Hold on-- hold on!

[ And a couple minutes later, the door opens. Ray isn't wide awake yet, but he's clearly at least been up about 20-30 minutes, given that he's dressed and already energetic(-ish) from his coffee. ]

See? I can follow through. [ Said with a smile, though. ] You wanna come inside for some coffee real quick?

[h2no]

That'd be good. You okay with the dog?

[a glance down at mightyena.

honestly, archie was over his own faux pas, he just doesn't want to make ray uncomfortable. he's not sure where he stands there.

mightyena, unaware of this, just pants happily, tail wagging.]

sticks leggy out

[garotted]

.... That's a pokemon.

[ the voice comes from a girl?? in pink skinny jeans and a flowery tanktop, eyes hidden behind reflective pink aviators, hair pulled back into a green ponytail. she stares down at the not!shark in the water, then turns to archie, sliding her sunnies down her nose to peer at him.

she has no idea what kind of pokemon it is, of course, but that is 100% a pokemon and she's into it.

a beat, and she turns to her companion, who should be pretty familiar to archie. ] Magnus, you didn't tell me your friend had pokemon.

sticks leggy in

[fehus]

Uh, I didn't? I guess I forgot...

[he totally did, what a dork. and he definitely looks like a dork, in his Jimmy Buffett style cosplay. he's also wearing Alex's green shorts and pink flipflops, because once he had the shirt on, it'd Become A Whole Thing]

Hey, Archie. Hey, Sharpedo. Um, this is my [let's,, go with] friend, Alex, from Valhalla. Thanks for helping us out.

in out in out shake it all about

[h2no]

[sharpedo grunts a little when magnus says hello, spraying a little bit of water at them both. not a lot-- just enough to make a fine mist. archie laughs.]

You know what they are? Good, that'll save time. [he gestures to the boat, just a regular one bigger than a rowboat but smaller than a yatch, a below deck and small cabin. enough for all three of them. very clearly a loaner.] This is, uh, the only one I could get, but it's fairly new. It ain't gonna break down or anythin', I've had a quick look over. I can... show you how to check if it's good to go before we start if you want. Though it's almost literally just makin' sure there's no holes or anythin' and there's enough safety equipment in it.

[a beat. he holds a hand out.]

An' it's nice to meet ya, Alex.

DeChima

[disentombs]

[Gansey is walking home from working at the cafe, in his uniform, enjoying the sunset. It's a lot earlier than he usually gets out, dusk. He's a night owl, but chronic insomnia and anxiety certainly don't help. He prefers working later, but his schedule is set. It's weird to work a job, considering his trust fund is probably larger than what the cafe could make in 20 years. But he has none of that here. He's grateful at least for who he does have here.

It's with initially little interest that he sees something rather large flying through the sky--he is, after all, used to Henrietta flying around the Meadows. When the thing flies by again, he takes a closer look. It doesn't have the same silhouette as Henrietta, that's for sure.

He stops in his tracks to watch it circle around overhead, mesmerized by it. He's never seen anything like it before.]

[h2no]

[usually crobat is careful enough to not be seen by anyone... but it's also a drama queen. it saw gansey before he saw it and decided to put on a bit of a show, swooping down low, doing a few loop-de-loops.

eventually, it flies down and hovers in the air near ganset, ears pricked towards him and watching him closely.

say it was cool.]

[disentombs]

[He watches it as it performs, small smile coming to his face. When it hovers near him, he looks at it in awe, not at all afraid. In fact, he looks fascinated, wanting to come closer, but not daring--he doesn't know what this creature is.]

You don't look like one of Ronan's.