[ Things are already bad enough for Cassandra. She's said more than enough awkward things just in the last day, and she was hoping to hole up in some corner of the local library and not talk to anyone for the next 24 hours.
So she's not upset to see Archie, but she's not going to immediately give him anything more than a wave...until he starts crying. God, what's this about?
She's not the touchy type, but she immediately runs behind Archie and starts steering him toward the door. ] Oh-kay, come on, let's figure out what the fuck this is about...
[fortunately, he's not quite wailing and falling to his knees. he abandons his coffee on a table as he leaves with cass. when they get outside and the cold air hits his face, he just about pulls his shit together.
he looks at her, trying to say "sorry" and "i don't know what that was" but all that comes out is:] I can't believe you're going to die!
[ Oh. Christ, Cassandra thought he wasn't feeling well, or thought of something painful- but not that. She falters and looks around, glancing at everyone else in the street. ]
God, you don't have to tell everyone- [ She supposes that'd just make things like they were back in her own world, but it'd be hard to readjust. She puts her hand on his shoulder again and moves him...okay, who knows where they're going, but they're going away from here, for sure. ]
Come on. Do you just...think about that all the time? Really?
[ Cassandra has, admittedly, been lucky. She tends to stay out of a lot of chaotic events like that. But she's had her fair share of chaos. She's seen Woden offed not once but three times, counting a doppelganger. Heard about Riptide and Andy dead. She knows it's too much. ]
Did you know Rex once snapped the neck of a Woden clone in front of me? I met Martin that way. How the fuck did that happen? I feel like I'm going to keep seeing Woden dying and he's going to grow back like a weed while the rest of us go back home and die.
[ Fuck. She'd said that in a whisper, but she still said it in public- and even worse, she'd said more than she meant to. ] Now I've just made this about myself. Great! God this place is miserable.
[he looks horrified? absolutely fucking horrified at everything that's just come out of cassandra's mouth. he shakes his head, holding his hand up.]
No-- no, you haven't. I'm sorry-- I... I don't know why I... [he groans and rubs his face.] Neither of us are really made for this fucking hell show, are we?
We’re not made for it? I’m some sort of incarnation of a deity, apparently, and you’re a former eco-terrorist with a bunch of giant monsters! If we’re not made for it, who is? The fucking kids?
[ She’s thinking of Martin, clearly, but she’s also aware of a few other kids here, and plenty of teenagers. It doesn’t make sense. ]
I mean, what’s the goal here? Not with this bullshit happening to us right now, but the whole bringing people here shit? Why can’t they just bring people like us who’re at least capable and can help? Why the hell can’t they? And why can’t I shut up when I told you to shut up?
Power fuckery sounds right. Either somebody decided to be an asshole or someone else decided to be an asshole to them. Either way we’re all being screwed around again like this is some fun running gag and not our goddamn lives.
[ She looks around again, reluctant to have many people listening in. Luckily it’s not as packed on this street as it could be. ]
See, that’s more likely than a relic. That’s good. Silver fucking lining.
No, it's fine, I know it was bad, and this is bad. This is so fucked up.
[ She puts both her index fingers to her temples and rubs in a circle. ]
Hey, how has nothing blown up because of this yet? There's enough secrets among all of us imPorts to level cities. I'm not even just counting the shit I know.
[he scrunches his eyes up again, annoyed that there's STILL TEARS FALLING. the TMI field wouldn't make him feel emotions like this, but it's certainly keeping another friend is going to die and you can't do anything about it running through his head.]
Absolutely nothing will make me check Bwitter right now, thanks. What if my fingers move without my permission? I don’t even bweet that much anymore! [ Because she’s become a total recluse, but let’s ignore that.
She turns and looks at him, sighing at the continued tears. Jesus, she didn’t think he cared that much. Not that he didn’t care, but... ]
Hell. Listen, are you alright? Do you need me to go off somewhere? Because I know this isn’t actually either of our faults.
At this point I wouldn't be surprised... [he shakes his head.] I'm alright. Sorry, I don't-- want to put this on you. You got enough bullshit, right? Forget about me.
I'll accept that! I'm consistently called weird! [ahhh... he gets the uber, shakes his head.] I'm not broke either, y'know. I got a couple grand from Blue and Red when the bastards ported out, along with Blue's engagement ring.
[ She huffs, tugging the cloak she's in a little closer, realizing it's a bit cold just because she's recalling how much warmer a car will be. ]
Frankly, I don't even know why people would try to get married here. I mean, I get it, but I'd be too worried about it ending like that. [ God, wait- ] Fucking hell, and now I'm saying rude shit about your ported-out friends. Sorry. This sucks.
It's a reminder, [he says, without being able to stop himself.] I can't bring myself to be rid of it, and all it does is remind me that all our relationships here, no matter how much they mean or how they were fostered... none of them mean anything. None of them are real.
[jesus christ, archie. he shakes his head.]
Um. Ignore that, too. The cab'll be here in five.
[he takes his coat off to put around her shoulders in the meantime.]
Nope, it’s- you can keep it, I’m being lazy. [ She...seemingly pulls an extra jacket out of nowhere in her cloak, although there’s actually a hammerspace there. ] Breaks my look, I guess.
[ Putting it on, she gives him a thoughtful look. He’s said he’s lost a lot of people before, to the point that she’s not sure how he does it. ]
They were from your world, right...? I’m sorry. I hope you’re not alone, because I might as well be, and it’s absolute bullshit. Baphomet was annoying and Lucifer was a total bitch, but I’d take either of them over being trapped here with Woden.
I'm sure they do goth coats... [said with a little smile which... sigh.] Niko got Ported back in which... [he rubs his face.] Yeah. Red and Blue were basically my shitty adult kids, then Niko just completely despises me. Which-- fair enough, but he's still a young teenager in a world that's completely different from home. I'm the only other one left that would get his issues.
[he makes a face.]
Maybe one day Woden will be ported directly into a woodchipper, if we would be so lucky.
Yeah, I saw Niko. He seems...still like kind of a force of chaos, but maybe a little more stable. I don’t know. But it’s bullshit if you have to deal with him alone, so I might as well keep an eye on him again when I can find him.
[ If she’s going to be responsible for Martin, she might as well branch out, at this point. She felt like she should keep an eye out for Niko, anyway. ]
Ha- we’d have to get him into the woodchipper in my world first. If I ever get ported out and back in, I’ll let you know if that happens.
Thanks, [he says, as the cab pulls up. gestures for her to get in first, though he doesn't open the door for her. he's not THAT much of a gentleman.] That battle showed only good things.
[even if thinking about his situation with niko and the people from home here makes him simultaneously extremely tired and wired with anxiety. he doesn't mention it (thankfully, seems like opening his mouth at all is a risk), but archie imagines cass knows how that feels quite intimately.]
Hmm... best of luck with that. How many woodchippers are in England? Enough?
[ Cassandra raises an eyebrow at Archie letting her in first, but at least he didn't act all gentlemanly about it. She gets in and then makes room for him, thinking as she does so. ]
Eh, probably. Not like there's a ton in London. We'd have to fight off the Valkyries and fly him off to the middle of nowhere...
But honestly? I'd like to think he'll just die in a fire somewhere and we won't have to put up with his bullshit. Not like that's going to happen. [ Especially considering the last thing she remembers from her world. She leans back and rubs her forehead, suddenly tired. ] I've been here nearly a fucking year. What the fuck.
no subject
So she's not upset to see Archie, but she's not going to immediately give him anything more than a wave...until he starts crying. God, what's this about?
She's not the touchy type, but she immediately runs behind Archie and starts steering him toward the door. ] Oh-kay, come on, let's figure out what the fuck this is about...
no subject
he looks at her, trying to say "sorry" and "i don't know what that was" but all that comes out is:] I can't believe you're going to die!
no subject
God, you don't have to tell everyone- [ She supposes that'd just make things like they were back in her own world, but it'd be hard to readjust. She puts her hand on his shoulder again and moves him...okay, who knows where they're going, but they're going away from here, for sure. ]
Come on. Do you just...think about that all the time? Really?
no subject
[he scrubs his face and groans, letting her lead him away.]
Yes? No. I don't want to talk about this. Yes, I do. I've watched far too many fucking people die here!
no subject
[ Cassandra has, admittedly, been lucky. She tends to stay out of a lot of chaotic events like that. But she's had her fair share of chaos. She's seen Woden offed not once but three times, counting a doppelganger. Heard about Riptide and Andy dead. She knows it's too much. ]
Did you know Rex once snapped the neck of a Woden clone in front of me? I met Martin that way. How the fuck did that happen? I feel like I'm going to keep seeing Woden dying and he's going to grow back like a weed while the rest of us go back home and die.
[ Fuck. She'd said that in a whisper, but she still said it in public- and even worse, she'd said more than she meant to. ] Now I've just made this about myself. Great! God this place is miserable.
no subject
No-- no, you haven't. I'm sorry-- I... I don't know why I... [he groans and rubs his face.] Neither of us are really made for this fucking hell show, are we?
[he sighs.]
God, at least this one won't be my fault.
no subject
[ She’s thinking of Martin, clearly, but she’s also aware of a few other kids here, and plenty of teenagers. It doesn’t make sense. ]
I mean, what’s the goal here? Not with this bullshit happening to us right now, but the whole bringing people here shit? Why can’t they just bring people like us who’re at least capable and can help? Why the hell can’t they? And why can’t I shut up when I told you to shut up?
no subject
[he rubs his face, groans.]
My immediate thought is some power fuckery. Arceus, I hope it's not a relic again!
no subject
[ She looks around again, reluctant to have many people listening in. Luckily it’s not as packed on this street as it could be. ]
See, that’s more likely than a relic. That’s good. Silver fucking lining.
no subject
[he winces, closing his eyes for a moment.]
...Sorry. I really didn't mean to have an outburst like that.
no subject
[ She puts both her index fingers to her temples and rubs in a circle. ]
Hey, how has nothing blown up because of this yet? There's enough secrets among all of us imPorts to level cities. I'm not even just counting the shit I know.
no subject
Probably has, we just don't know it yet.
no subject
She turns and looks at him, sighing at the continued tears. Jesus, she didn’t think he cared that much. Not that he didn’t care, but... ]
Hell. Listen, are you alright? Do you need me to go off somewhere? Because I know this isn’t actually either of our faults.
no subject
At this point I wouldn't be surprised... [he shakes his head.] I'm alright. Sorry, I don't-- want to put this on you. You got enough bullshit, right? Forget about me.
[...]
Are you... okay?
no subject
[ Oof. She didn’t mean to say that, really, and it shows in her expression. She grimaces and looks up at the sky, cursing mentally for once. ]
That’s- that’s a bit too much. I’m not that awful, it’s just that I’m going to die and this place could turn into hell at any moment. [ God- ] Fuck!
no subject
[he rubs his face again and sighs.]
I'm gonna get us a cab back to your place, alright? Arceus knows it's better to have emotional breakdowns in private.
no subject
[ She rubs her forehead, but she knows Archie is right. ]
God, yeah, we'd better. I'm not broke enough that I can't contribute, you know.
no subject
I'll accept that! I'm consistently called weird! [ahhh... he gets the uber, shakes his head.] I'm not broke either, y'know. I got a couple grand from Blue and Red when the bastards ported out, along with Blue's engagement ring.
...
Ugh. Ignore that last part.
no subject
[ She huffs, tugging the cloak she's in a little closer, realizing it's a bit cold just because she's recalling how much warmer a car will be. ]
Frankly, I don't even know why people would try to get married here. I mean, I get it, but I'd be too worried about it ending like that. [ God, wait- ] Fucking hell, and now I'm saying rude shit about your ported-out friends. Sorry. This sucks.
no subject
[jesus christ, archie. he shakes his head.]
Um. Ignore that, too. The cab'll be here in five.
[he takes his coat off to put around her shoulders in the meantime.]
no subject
[ Putting it on, she gives him a thoughtful look. He’s said he’s lost a lot of people before, to the point that she’s not sure how he does it. ]
They were from your world, right...? I’m sorry. I hope you’re not alone, because I might as well be, and it’s absolute bullshit. Baphomet was annoying and Lucifer was a total bitch, but I’d take either of them over being trapped here with Woden.
no subject
I'm sure they do goth coats... [said with a little smile which... sigh.] Niko got Ported back in which... [he rubs his face.] Yeah. Red and Blue were basically my shitty adult kids, then Niko just completely despises me. Which-- fair enough, but he's still a young teenager in a world that's completely different from home. I'm the only other one left that would get his issues.
[he makes a face.]
Maybe one day Woden will be ported directly into a woodchipper, if we would be so lucky.
no subject
[ If she’s going to be responsible for Martin, she might as well branch out, at this point. She felt like she should keep an eye out for Niko, anyway. ]
Ha- we’d have to get him into the woodchipper in my world first. If I ever get ported out and back in, I’ll let you know if that happens.
no subject
[even if thinking about his situation with niko and the people from home here makes him simultaneously extremely tired and wired with anxiety. he doesn't mention it (thankfully, seems like opening his mouth at all is a risk), but archie imagines cass knows how that feels quite intimately.]
Hmm... best of luck with that. How many woodchippers are in England? Enough?
no subject
Eh, probably. Not like there's a ton in London. We'd have to fight off the Valkyries and fly him off to the middle of nowhere...
But honestly? I'd like to think he'll just die in a fire somewhere and we won't have to put up with his bullshit. Not like that's going to happen. [ Especially considering the last thing she remembers from her world. She leans back and rubs her forehead, suddenly tired. ] I've been here nearly a fucking year. What the fuck.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)