[archie crouches, eventually sitting his ass on the floor. he rests one hand on his fist and holds the other out to eevee, even though he knows it'll be spurned...]

I don't know. Maybe I should, because of my position, but I've been here a long time and truly haven't worked it out. The closest I can think of is maybe... it's to learn how to function without relying on them, but that can't be right. We work together, not without each other.

[he raises a shoulder in a shrug.]

All we can do for now is help each other cope.

[another glance at eevee, as if to say yes i know i failed with that before.]