Has anyone ever told you that you have a really good head on your shoulders, Archie? I mean, I've got friends who are happy here, but they've been here way longer than us. It's way more meaningful having a fellow newbie try to look at things that way.
Have you racked up a collection of quota credits already?
[ ...maybe not the part you were supposed to focus on there, Clary, but she's admittedly curious. He's certainly attractive enough, and that day in the locker room was memorable, regardless of any outside influences encouraging it.
But ignoring that, it is a good idea. One they'd probably never go for, though, unfortunately. ]
They'd probably claim it wasn't fair, like we wouldn't all be pulling our weight or something.
[ As for his question, well. It takes a few minutes for Clary to respond. ]
I'm guessing you don't want answers like "more fair treatment for Subs"?
Honestly, I don't know. I have a lot of friends here, so I don't feel like I'm struggling through this alone. Though they're not really the sort of friends who can help with quota.
The ability to talk to people back home would be nice. Even though time somehow freezes there while we're here.
[ Or her impending contract due date since they're all signed on with Magnus. ]
i'm not against those answers? i hope that's something we're all on the same page about without saying
( he expects people to be better, do better, even after having all the underground ( and above ground ) crime in riverdale unearthed. )
are you struggling with quota?
( a prying inquiry, one that he has no right volunteering to help with but he definitely doesn't want clary having to undergo something much worse than sleeping around. )
what would you tell them?
i wasn't expecting you to flip it around on me since people can come here from any place and time... i'd wish for my dad to be here, weirdness aside
or for the chance for us to make a real difference here impact the system have a voice elect officials we actually want
[ At least for the people kidnapped and brought here against their will. The natives don't know any different, so she can't really hold it against them. Too hard. ]
No? I mean, not really. I don't exactly have set partners that I hook up with once a week but it's not like I've missed the cut-off.
[ It just feels weird to her, essentially scheduling sex dates. She much prefers the "see where things go" approach. ]
Depends on who I'd be talking to. Definitely nothing about the games this place plays, though. They'd probably think I lost my mind.
I can definitely get behind us having a voice. Though it would hardly be fair. They'd just let us vote since we're Doms, forget about the Subs.
( if clary's okay and not struggling, then he'll kick the corner of the rug back down, smoothing it over with a sneaker. better left unseen and unspoken. it'd be one thing if she was scrambling at the end of the month to reach a deadline. she's not. )
if they care about you, they'd probably want to believe you
( fair, it's not the same as not thinking someone's crazy. )
we could have council meetings hear them out speak for everyone it's probably a pipe dream to begin with
( for a couple minutes it seems like archie is ignoring clary's final question. his reply comes through eventually, after a thoughtful moment on how not to take over the conversation. )
the opposite actually my dad was basically the only one around no matter what choices i made or who i wanted to be but he was like that for the whole town
he would know what to do and how to inspire people
[ Honestly, considering she's a Shadowhunter and everyone in her life that she'd tell about this place (to varying degrees of specifics) knows how weird things can get. But saying "I drank hot chocolate and banged a couple of strangers in a locker room" is still a bit of a stretch. ]
Definitely a pipe dream but a nice one, at least. And who knows? Maybe it'll happen. Though I think I'd rather be back home before I see that kind of change.
[ Since she imagines it'll take a long time for it to go into effect if it ever did.
She does actually think that Archie's just not going to respond to her last question, which is fair. It could be a sensitive issue and while they're slowly becoming friends, it's not like she has any right to pry into his personal life. So when his response comes through, she's a little surprised.
And then she's almost wishing he wouldn't have responded because the first part, about how he was always there for him, reminds Clary of her mom. Reminds her of how she's here in some sex-crazed city while her mom's back home, trapped in a magical coma. And sure, she might not actually really be missing anything back home, but it still hurts. ]
I can see why you'd want him here. He sounds like a really great dad.
i've heard there are a few people who have been in the city for years and i don't want to discredit them or call them lazy because i'm sure they've tried to make things better for themselves if not everyone i don't know gives me something to fight for
( stagnant is not a word archie would use to describe duplicity. same sex, different day? nope. the sex has been pretty unpredictable too. on the surface, this place seems like what he imagines a nonstop frat party is like — booze, drugs, promiscuity as far as the eye can see. there's darkness right beneath the so-called harmless fun, ripe with cruelty, power dynamics, and lies. archie thinks this is the perfect place to lose yourself and he can't be purposeless.
I take it you don't do well with sitting still. No judgment; I don't, either.
[ Nor does she take well to people being treated unfairly simply because of who or what they are. ]
Cliche answer, which comes from being an artist: all of them. Real answer: probably green. But like a green that isn't super bright or too dark. Emeraldy, almost.
bad things happen to good people when you're complacent
( he learned that the hard way with jason blossom's death and the rise of a serial killer later. they weren't connected but one thing created another monster. )
you're an artist? what do you draw? or create? the most emeraldy green got it
blue and i'm not that stuck on any one shade i like it from the lightest crystal blue to as dark as navy
I think I've said that same exact thing before. Great minds, right?
Draw and paint, actually. And it depends on what medium I'm using/what I'm putting it on. My go-to is charcoal or graphite and paper, which usually ends up being life-like stuff. People, landscapes, really interesting buildings... If I paint, it's usually abstract on paper or graffiti-style spray paint on my friend's van. He was in a band; I did his logos.
Blue's a good color. Do you have any particular attachment to it?
( he can understand why she wouldn't considering how much stuff happens here. he's curious and he wants to see it. )
i'd say i could show you mine some time as a trade in sharing something personal but i don't have my guitar here
it's one half of my school's colors? blue's the color of my best friend's eyes red's taken as someone else's signature color back home but i'm not settling or anything
( asking for her sketchbook ( if clary has one ) feels invasive but a mural for someone else? less so for them, potentially not so much for this other person that archie knows nothing about. )
both i lean towards acoustic most of the time for playing solo or songwriting they have way more soul i don't need shiny and new with the exception of a loud show
i'm not basing it off of jughead so i guess i don't expect you to pick from yours either i was trying to come up with why
Yeah, sure. I mean, if he's cool with it. We haven't talked about it in a while, though, so idk if it'll actually happen. If I do anything else, I'll definitely let you know.
I guess I'll try to get my hands on an acoustic one, then. Unless you're also hoping to book a night to perform at a club.
Please tell me Jughead is a nickname and not his actual given name.
you can paint a wall in my place if you want if he blows you off and you're bored
i'm not and you don't have to track one down for me i might audition for a show if they do another play or pick a random open mic night
not a fan? it is but most people don't know or can't say his real name he's the third generation of father and son with the same name so he's gotta keep it original somehow
I honestly don't think "bored" is a thing you can be here. But I am itching to get my hands on a paintbrush, so if you're serious, I'll definitely take you up on that offer.
There's actually an arcade here that does karaoke nights. Open mic nights, too. A friend of mine introduced me to it. If you ever wanted to check it out, I'd be happy to go cheer you on.
I mean, it's fine, I guess? It'd just be a really unfortunate given name. Did he pick out the nickname himself, or did someone give it to him after an unfortunate Winnie the Pooh jug incident?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
I mean, I've got friends who are happy here, but they've been here way longer than us.
It's way more meaningful having a fellow newbie try to look at things that way.
no subject
it’s usually what were you thinking, archie?
you could say i’m used to trying to make the best of a bad situation?
i see the terrible things that happen here but i want to do something about them
like transferring quota credits if you have a surplus or designating someone/volunteering for punishment in someone’s place
no subject
[ ...maybe not the part you were supposed to focus on there, Clary, but she's admittedly curious. He's certainly attractive enough, and that day in the locker room was memorable, regardless of any outside influences encouraging it.
But ignoring that, it is a good idea. One they'd probably never go for, though, unfortunately. ]
no subject
while i was in a coma? i hope not.
imagine if you were in a relationship and your friend lost their contract partner
or just got here
they wouldn't have to stress
i guess if was that easy to fight the system something like that would exist already
other than the ability to leave, what would make this place better for you?
no subject
like we wouldn't all be pulling our weight or something.
[ As for his question, well. It takes a few minutes for Clary to respond. ]
I'm guessing you don't want answers like "more fair treatment for Subs"?
Honestly, I don't know.
I have a lot of friends here, so I don't feel like I'm struggling through this alone.
Though they're not really the sort of friends who can help with quota.
The ability to talk to people back home would be nice.
Even though time somehow freezes there while we're here.
[ Or her impending contract due date since they're all signed on with Magnus. ]
What would make it better for you?
no subject
i hope that's something we're all on the same page about without saying
( he expects people to be better, do better, even after having all the underground ( and above ground ) crime in riverdale unearthed. )
are you struggling with quota?
( a prying inquiry, one that he has no right volunteering to help with but he definitely doesn't want clary having to undergo something much worse than sleeping around. )
what would you tell them?
i wasn't expecting you to flip it around on me
since people can come here from any place and time...
i'd wish for my dad to be here, weirdness aside
or for the chance for us to make a real difference here
impact the system
have a voice
elect officials we actually want
no subject
[ At least for the people kidnapped and brought here against their will. The natives don't know any different, so she can't really hold it against them. Too hard. ]
No?
I mean, not really.
I don't exactly have set partners that I hook up with once a week
but it's not like I've missed the cut-off.
[ It just feels weird to her, essentially scheduling sex dates. She much prefers the "see where things go" approach. ]
Depends on who I'd be talking to.
Definitely nothing about the games this place plays, though.
They'd probably think I lost my mind.
I can definitely get behind us having a voice.
Though it would hardly be fair.
They'd just let us vote since we're Doms,
forget about the Subs.
Was your dad not around back home?
1/2
if they care about you, they'd probably want to believe you
( fair, it's not the same as not thinking someone's crazy. )
we could have council meetings
hear them out
speak for everyone
it's probably a pipe dream to begin with
no subject
the opposite actually
my dad was basically the only one around no matter what choices i made
or who i wanted to be
but he was like that for the whole town
he would know what to do and how to inspire people
no subject
Definitely a pipe dream
but a nice one, at least.
And who knows? Maybe it'll happen.
Though I think I'd rather be back home before I see that kind of change.
[ Since she imagines it'll take a long time for it to go into effect if it ever did.
She does actually think that Archie's just not going to respond to her last question, which is fair. It could be a sensitive issue and while they're slowly becoming friends, it's not like she has any right to pry into his personal life. So when his response comes through, she's a little surprised.
And then she's almost wishing he wouldn't have responded because the first part, about how he was always there for him, reminds Clary of her mom. Reminds her of how she's here in some sex-crazed city while her mom's back home, trapped in a magical coma. And sure, she might not actually really be missing anything back home, but it still hurts. ]
I can see why you'd want him here.
He sounds like a really great dad.
no subject
and i don't want to discredit them or call them lazy
because i'm sure they've tried to make things better
for themselves if not everyone
i don't know
gives me something to fight for
( stagnant is not a word archie would use to describe duplicity. same sex, different day? nope. the sex has been pretty unpredictable too. on the surface, this place seems like what he imagines a nonstop frat party is like — booze, drugs, promiscuity as far as the eye can see. there's darkness right beneath the so-called harmless fun, ripe with cruelty, power dynamics, and lies. archie thinks this is the perfect place to lose yourself and he can't be purposeless.
he types, he was and then deletes it. )
the absolute best
( to break up the angst: )
so what's your favorite color?
no subject
No judgment; I don't, either.
[ Nor does she take well to people being treated unfairly simply because of who or what they are. ]
Cliche answer, which comes from being an artist: all of them.
Real answer: probably green.
But like a green that isn't super bright or too dark.
Emeraldy, almost.
What's yours?
no subject
( he learned that the hard way with jason blossom's death and the rise of a serial killer later. they weren't connected but one thing created another monster. )
you're an artist? what do you draw? or create?
the most emeraldy green
got it
blue
and i'm not that stuck on any one shade
i like it from the lightest crystal blue to as dark as navy
no subject
Great minds, right?
Draw and paint, actually.
And it depends on what medium I'm using/what I'm putting it on.
My go-to is charcoal or graphite and paper,
which usually ends up being life-like stuff.
People, landscapes, really interesting buildings...
If I paint, it's usually abstract on paper or graffiti-style spray paint on my friend's van.
He was in a band; I did his logos.
Blue's a good color.
Do you have any particular attachment to it?
no subject
( he can understand why she wouldn't considering how much stuff happens here. he's curious and he wants to see it. )
i'd say i could show you mine some time as a trade in sharing something personal but i don't have my guitar here
it's one half of my school's colors?
blue's the color of my best friend's eyes
red's taken as someone else's signature color back home but i'm not settling or anything
no subject
My floormate actually said he wanted a mural painted, so I might help with that.
Do you play acoustic or electric?
Because I'm sure we could find one for you to borrow.
[ Clary will, in fact, make it a point to find one for him; she's quite fond of musicians. ]
Red's a tricky one for us gingers, anyway.
If I went with my best friend's eye color, my fav color would be dark brown.
no subject
( asking for her sketchbook ( if clary has one ) feels invasive but a mural for someone else? less so for them, potentially not so much for this other person that archie knows nothing about. )
both
i lean towards acoustic most of the time for playing solo or songwriting
they have way more soul
i don't need shiny and new with the exception of a loud show
i'm not basing it off of jughead so i guess i don't expect you to pick from yours either
i was trying to come up with why
no subject
We haven't talked about it in a while, though, so idk if it'll actually happen.
If I do anything else, I'll definitely let you know.
I guess I'll try to get my hands on an acoustic one, then.
Unless you're also hoping to book a night to perform at a club.
Please tell me Jughead is a nickname and not his actual given name.
no subject
if he blows you off and you're bored
i'm not and you don't have to track one down for me
i might audition for a show if they do another play
or pick a random open mic night
not a fan?
it is but most people don't know or can't say his real name
he's the third generation of father and son with the same name so he's gotta keep it original somehow
no subject
But I am itching to get my hands on a paintbrush, so if you're serious, I'll definitely take you up on that offer.
There's actually an arcade here that does karaoke nights. Open mic nights, too.
A friend of mine introduced me to it.
If you ever wanted to check it out, I'd be happy to go cheer you on.
I mean, it's fine, I guess? It'd just be a really unfortunate given name.
Did he pick out the nickname himself, or did someone give it to him after an unfortunate Winnie the Pooh jug incident?
no subject
people that have been here for years make it sound like it does
i guess once you've been to one orgy you've been to them all
what's your go-to karaoke song?
if he shows up here you can ask him
he's a stickler for telling a good story
i have never called him forsythe in my life and i never will
( archie knows but he gets the sense his friend likes the mystery. )
no subject
You know, I don't actually have one.
I didn't really do the karaoke thing a lot back home.
I guess I should find one, though.
What's yours?
Yikes. I'd definitely find a nickname, too.
I can't believe there are multiple generations of Forsythes that come before him.