[His jaw tightens, teeth clench - fighting back against the anger until his eyes fade back into its usual shade of blue. Even doing that much puts visible strain on him. Griffin has to force himself to take deep breaths, until his hot blood cools down enough to actually trade measured words.]
...Look. I didn't mean to belittle you. I know you're fucking tough, but-- that doesn't stop me from feeling useless after this whole shitty week.
You think anyone's got the answer? Or got the power to do what you wanna do? I don't. Hell, if an opportunity even came up, you really think anyone's got a leg up on you with fighting these guys?
[His voice cracks under the strain but he's definitely not teary eyed. Not even a little bit.]
We don't even know who hurt Nemesis. I can't get Nitro back, or get Crow back with his own people. Harpy's still gone, and any day I could be too, or Shrike, now that avante's back to how it usually is.
[his tone gets a little softer, and he lets his hand drop. part of what had been good about meeting the manager was feeling like a step forward happened.
but it's hard to keep that conviction sometimes.
especially when he's reminded how easily his head is messed with, and he squeezes his fist tight.]
[He WANTS to ask why he blew up the park after what he promised ❤️. Something that large scale would still mean work for her down the line, right? Ugh, but he can't.
Griffin shrugs, a little half-heartedly.]
I dunno. You were tougher than any time I'd fought you before. Like you wanted to kill me.
If you've been holding back on me this whole time, I'm gonna be pissed.
Yeah... My feelings feel-- amped? Anyway. Kind of mad, because I've seen memories of myself where I have my shit together, and I don't think I'd lose it this way.
I dunno. I'm not holding back on you-- guess normally I care about how fucked up I get in a fight that's for fun.
Hmn. Guess I was counting on that too much. You're tough enough already when you remember t'feel pain. Not that losing control ever starts to suck less.
[Mutters,] Last memory I got was also running in defeat. Hated it then, too.
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Don't bring Shrike into this.
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Then knock it off.
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...Look. I didn't mean to belittle you. I know you're fucking tough, but-- that doesn't stop me from feeling useless after this whole shitty week.
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Look, you're not useless.
[he is struggling here with what to say.]
You think anyone's got the answer? Or got the power to do what you wanna do? I don't. Hell, if an opportunity even came up, you really think anyone's got a leg up on you with fighting these guys?
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[hrm yes being less than helpful while they met the Manager did actually sit very, very poorly with him.]
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What do you want me to do?
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[His voice cracks under the strain but he's definitely not teary eyed. Not even a little bit.]
We don't even know who hurt Nemesis. I can't get Nitro back, or get Crow back with his own people. Harpy's still gone, and any day I could be too, or Shrike, now that avante's back to how it usually is.
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We just had a guy, Phoenix. He came back. Malik's still the newest guy on the team, because he's been here before.
Look...
[he pauses, and places a hand on his shoulder.]
You're not gonna let the bastard that hurt nemesis or take away your family just get away with it.
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I already spent my whole childhood waiting for parents who never came back for me. Why else would I adopt, like, three orphans?
What's the point in hoping for something that won't happen? Besides, you said it yourself - none of us have been able t'fight these guys.
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Yet.
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And how do you actually believe that?
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Apart from a mean left hook?
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You're right, I just... [He takes in another shaky breath, trying to compose himself. It wasn't like him to just give up and accept defeat.]
It's been a shitty week for feeling sure of anything.
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[his tone gets a little softer, and he lets his hand drop. part of what had been good about meeting the manager was feeling like a step forward happened.
but it's hard to keep that conviction sometimes.
especially when he's reminded how easily his head is messed with, and he squeezes his fist tight.]
I know.
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Griffin ducks his head and awkwardly, rubs his jaw - it was healed, but he could swear it still felt sore]
What was with you, anyways?
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Griffin shrugs, a little half-heartedly.]
I dunno. You were tougher than any time I'd fought you before. Like you wanted to kill me.
If you've been holding back on me this whole time, I'm gonna be pissed.
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[she only made him promise for the hotel and the game tower. that he can do. but there's an awkward pause there.]
Because I did want to kill you then. Kind of lost it.
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[Kind of an impassive reaction, but. What else was there to say. Cool. Okay. Doesn't seem like he wants to kill him now.]
Well, it's not like I can really talk. About getting mad and losin' it.
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I dunno. I'm not holding back on you-- guess normally I care about how fucked up I get in a fight that's for fun.
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[Mutters,] Last memory I got was also running in defeat. Hated it then, too.
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[a pause.]
Malik told me that, and it's good advice, even when I'm pissed at him.
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...You're still pissed at him? For fucking up the kitchen? I thought you worked it out with him.
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