He Left Sparkles in his Wake

It's All the Same (Archie)

(So, I want from here on for Archie's path to be strictly titled by songs. I'll always make a point to include a link to the song as well just in case anyone is curious.)

Archie purposefully began to separate himself from the image of who Richard was. He ditched the blue blazer, and traded the stark white shirt for a raven black one. When he had been sent to the office for breaking/altering uniform, Archie simply turned on the water works and said that he was in mourning of his ex's suicide. Of course, with eyeliner streaming down his face, he was given permission to dress in a professional manner as he grieved. This had all been a ruse though: Archie had known that if he said it was in reference to a suicide that he would be given what he wanted. He told Creeps, Leo, and Professor Wecht claiming that he was going through a rough patch in his life and needed to explore his personality more. All of them agreed with few hesitations to make the switch, much to Archie's approval. Creeps even went so far as to make the new boy a permanent pass to his office with his new name. Archie was thoroughly pleased; Richard would have never been demanding enough to 'inconvenience' them with his request. Richard would have not been able to lie to get what he wanted. Archie was not Richard. They were different people who shared a body at that point, and Archie was in control.

But somewhere deep inside, he was still Richard. And the tiny speck of him called out to somehow make amends with the Normal Boots Club. Jared had been the one to cause the meeting to become pure chaos. Jared had been the one to break up with Richard. Jared had been the one who, in a way, caused Archie to come into existence. Making up his mind, Archie grinned to himself and waited for the school day to end. As soon as the bell rang, he jumped up and walked out. People watched him with questioning in their eyes: in all black except for the school regulated blue tie drew many eyes to him. Archie continued his confidant walk, no longer caring what people thought of him, and found the room he was looking for. A custodian's closet not far from the Normal Boot Club room. The glimmer of Richard within all of Archie's edginess demanded that he knock before barging into the closet, so he did. He rapped his knuckles against the door and waited for a response. None came, obviously, so Archie opened the door and retrieved the items he wanted. Despite his hands being full he managed to make it to the club room and open the door with no trouble. He sat his collection on the table before selecting one: Window cleaner, desk disinfectant, paper towels, a dust pan, and the broom currently in his grip.

Archie moved about the room and swept. He had decided to make peace with the popular boys by cleaning their room. As he grabbed the dust pan, the door swung open to reveal the entire club. The teal jacketed boys stopped talking immediately at the sight of Richard; each face contorted into a different emotion. Archie nodded at the group in acknowledgement before kneeling down to sweep up and dispose of the dust pile on the floor.

"Richard? What are you doing here?" GeanutPutterBamer asked. Typical PBG: breaking the silence in a cheery and kind hearted nature. Archie sighed with a smile and dumped the floor waste in the trash.

"Archie. I'm Archie. And I thought that I should do something to atone for the disruption that occurred last time." He stated calmly and moved to disinfect the desks. "Jirard? Is it okay if I move your Itty Bitty Kitties for a minute?"

"You don't have to make up for anything. It's all cool now...hopefully. Here, let me help you." Jirard stated, but the second sentence was quiet enough that only Archie could here it as he walked closer. Jirard helped move the IBKs for a moment so that the desk could be sprayed and wiped before they were returned. Archie heard a scoff.

"What a joke. Calling yourself by a different name? Are-"

"I just realized you cut off all your hair!" PBG announced, interrupting Jared. Archie looked up and shrugged once he found PBG with his eyes. Most of the club had dispersed to their seats simply because they didn't care. This meant they didn't have to clean the room, which was a relief for the Continue boys, as it was their turn to tidy up. He switched his gaze to Jared and smiled.

"Richard was replaced." He said simply and moved to a new desk. All the while, Archie and Jared held eye contact.

"So you're marketing yourself differently just so you can try and seduce one of my club members?" Jared bit out. He was enraged just at the sight of who was obviously Richard. Archie shook his head with a sad smile.

"When something is acting in an unsatisfactory manner, you replace it for one that functions. So, like I said, Richard was replaced." He spoke calmly and with an emotionless tone. It was as if Archie's voice and mind were that of a robot; and in a way they were. Archie was simply a projection of Richard's aspiration to be perfect. More perfect than a robot. Someone unfeeling and calculated. He finished cleaning the desks and moved to grab the window cleaner, but Jared stopped him.

"You are so lonely that you created some facade just to try and romance one of my friends. How sick are you?!" Jared was prepared to yell more, but Shane put a hand on his shoulder. The Brit's eyes flickered to Archie's in a silent message of 'Finish what you started and please leave'. Archie nodded and retrieved his supplies for the windows. He mulled over what his newfound ex had said and began to softly sing the words to an old musical. It was that same, percipient, piece of Richard within Archie that cried out to sing; the only way he had known how to openly express himself.

"One pair of arms is like another. I don't know why or who's to blame. I'll go with you, or with your brother. It's all the same. It's all the same. This I have learned; that when the light's out, no man will burn with special flame. You'll prove to me before the night's out you're all the same. You're all the same. So do not talk to me of love. I'm not a fool with starry eyes." He stopped singing, having suppressed "the piece", which allow him to focus on scanning the window. Once deeming it spotless, Archie retrieved the rest of his things and supplies.

"Gentlemen, I hope you will not mind if I continue to perform this simple act as a way of reconciliation. With that, I have overstayed my welcome and must be going. Good evening." Archie stated easily before exiting the room. He returned the borrowed items to their proper places within the closet. Rather than going to his room, Archie scaled the rest of the stares to the roof of Bluebells. He walked the perimeter and scanned the area mindlessly. After having made his way around the roof, Archie finally retired to his room with what he supposed could be described as hollow contentment.