[ he pushes himself back up just in time to get hit in the face with the pen. not in the eye, at least, but the face nonetheless. he flinches and makes a whiny noise, but doesn't complain. he probably deserved that.

a moment later, he picks it up, fiddling with it thoughtfully. ]

It's fine, I already know I was useless. I mean, I spent the end of the last one hiding in the corner of an abandoned building. [ Rhys was there, too, but he's just going to conveniently leave that part out. bros don't out bros on their incompetence. ] I have no delusions about that. But yeah, I... should be able to help out a little more this time. That'll be nice.