Archie nodded along as Dr. Barrow explained the in's and out's of the city. As they walked along the streets he continued to pull out cigarette after cigarette, moving to a secondary, full cigarette holder when the first ran out. Dr. Barrow, with his knowledge of psychology, would have easily seen that this behavior, along with the sharp, distrusting glances Archie shot anyone and everyone who walked past them, that he felt incredibly uncomfortable in this new city. But overall, he looked sad. As if he had lost something integral to him and now he was trying to replace it, but with little success.
In between Dr. Barrow's lesson on the City, Archie shared how he found himself in this forgotten place. He explained how he had run an unofficial safe haven for Malkavains in New York, for those who were too unstable to be controlled by the Camarilla. Archie was routinely at odds with the primogens and Prince of New York, declaring him dangerous and a direct threat to the Masquerade by protecting these rule breakers. But the Malkavian primogen, another doctor like Barrow, would always stand up for him and stop the Camarilla before they shut down his haven. Until Missy that is. A girl so broken and lost that she had nearly given up on life before her sire found her. Archie had always loved spending time with her. She was like him and saw conspiracies in everything, except when it came to her own clan. They'd spent many nights trading theories back and forth. Archie even thought he might have loved her, although he'd never really been sure. Women had never been a romantic interest for him, only a sexual one. Regardless, he would have done anything for her. So he didn't hesitate for a moment when she appeared on his door step, covered in blood and begging for sanctuary. She had been harassed by a drunk man in the park and he had tried to force himself on her. In her fear and rage, she'd torn out his throat with his teeth. No one saw the act itself, but the sound of the man's dying screams had brought onlookers who saw Missy running away from the scene with blood dripping from her mouth. The Camarilla quickly responded and dragged Missy kicking and screaming from Archie's shop. He tried to fight them off, but the Sheriff quickly dispatched him, knocking him out. Archie woke up with the Malkvanian primogen standing over him with despair etched across his face. "I'm so sorry Archie, but... she's gone..." His protecting of Missy was the last straw. The Prince banished him from New York, leaving him with no home and nowhere to go. Only deriving from his instincts that he had to come to the City.
During the walk, Archie and Dr. Barrow passed a homeless man with a sign saying that Jesus was coming, the rapture was approaching, and all sinners must be ready to repent. The man was dirty and sickly, with small cuts and bruises covering his body. Only a single penny laid in the misshapen coffee cup sitting in front of him. At the sight, Archie's face went briefly heartbroken, before he ran over, frantically pulling his pockets out, searching for something. Finally, he found a five dollar note in his back pocket which he places in the man's coffee cup with a small sad, but friendly smile. He looks back sadly at Dr. Barrow. "People see us and they believe we are unworthy of kindness. They see us and say that our ability to see things differently makes us dangerous and unloveable. I want to change that... That's all I've ever wanted to do..." Archie's face became stoic as he stared directly into Barrow's eyes. "Please, help me find a way to make a name for myself in the city. So I can help make this city a safe place for our clan. So I can create a home for all of us."