Archer Diaries

Inception

Dreams and hope are the same. Giving you a sense of what might never be. Yet we hold on to them for dear life. If you dream harder, hope a little stronger, it just might happen. You couldn't be anymore wrong. Dreams are just that, dreams. A falsehood which breeds hope, a hope misplaced. I stopped dreaming and hoping and instead made shit happen.

*****
He watched absent mindedly as smoke whirled around towards the ceiling.

"Ouch!" exclaimed the person seated in the couch next to him. He turned to see Barry rubbing the back of his head while throwing a scowl to Talia.

"Told ya not to light that death stick in here." she scolded as she sat next to where his (Mason's) head laid.

"You're not my mum and besides Leo don't mind and neither should you." he retorted to which she responded with a scoff.
Mason chuckled at the two bickering. They acted like kids most of the time.

"Asshole!" Talia mumbled as she got up from the couch. She disappeared into the kitchen only to return with a bottle of vodka, three glasses and a huge grin.

"Now you're speaking my language." Barry exclaimed and snubbed his cigarette in the ash tray.

"I'm not drinking." Mason deadpanned.

Barry scoffed while Talia rolled her eyes as she sat next to him. "Party pooper! You've become a drag lately."

"Tell me about it! It's like someone stole his favourite toy." she chipped in.

"Leave me alone!" he dismissed as he pulled his weight off the couch, heading to his bedroom. He walked straight into the bathroom. Switching on the light, he came face to face with his reflection. A heavy sigh escaped his lips. That feeling of helplessness had crept up on him and he hated it.

He still hadn't found out who took the photos of Robyn and it had been bugging him all week hence his sour mood.
He released another sigh and bent low to wash his face. Maybe he needed a drink after all.
He walked out later to the hall to find the two arguing about something irrelevant most likely.

"Pour me a glass."

Barry grinned widely, "Now that's what I'm talking about. Pour him a glass, woman!"

"One of these days I'm gonna murder you in your sleep." With a glare directed at him, she poured Mason a glass. He downed it in one shot and grimaced at the burn it gave him. He reached over and grabbed the bottle to pour another.

"Looks like someone plans to get wasted. How about we make this interesting?" Barry suggested with a mischievous smirk.

"And what do you have in mind?" Talia asked, knowing fully well she was gonna regret it and regret she did.

"Strip poker!"

She was about to bash him when Mason spoke up, "I'm in."

"Ugh, fine!" She downed her shot with a grimace, "Let's play."

He woke up to overly bright lights and a massive headache. He groaned loudly as he tried but failed to get up from his position on the ground.

Voices from the door floated over to him. Curiousity got to him and he struggled to stand up amidst the shattering headache. With pained steps, he made his way to the door.

"Who is it?" He asked Talia who stood at the door. She turned, allowing him full view of the visitor. "Robyn?" he called out in surprise, forgetting his hangover completely. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm out" Talia announced as she sauntered back into the room, oblivious to the two pair of eyes following her. Mason turned his attention back to Robyn. She looked hurt and angry?  But why? It was then it dawned on him how easy it was to misread the situation. Here he was shirtless and Talia had just walked away clad in just his T-shirt and sun glasses.