Thirty-Seven Bells: [Voice/Written/Action]

[simplestgift]

[Last he knew, Archie Kennedy was lying in his cot on board His Majesty's Frigate Lydia, in the surgeon's cabin. No one really remembers falling asleep, do they? But when he was falling asleep, he was very warm. It's the cold that wakes him.

When he opens his eyes, he's lying in a bed of grass. Overhead is a pale blue sky, and November bites the air.

He's back. After more than three years, he's back.

He sits up, shivering, and looks over his shoulder. The wings are there again. He's had a good long break from them, but there's something that is both thrilling and horrifying about their existence. Beside him, folded nicely, are civilian clothes, on top of which lies his journal. He dresses quickly, but only so he can stop shivering before his shaking hands open the journal. He speaks with a stammering quickness, voice unsteady.]

This is...M-Mr. Kennedy. [Using his real name in front of everyone has come to feel very wrong.] I've come back. I've come back, and it's been three years. How long has it been here? Who is still here? Elizabeth?

[He'll wind up both at house 36 and house 7, desperate to see sorely-missed faces. Later, much calmer, he makes another announcement, this one writen.]

It has come to my attention that it is November already. On December the First, beginning at four o'clock PM, as happened one year ago in Luceti, there will be a Christmas ball and feast. I will require help with the food, setting up, and cleaning after. Anyone wishing to attend may do so, so long as they are properly dressed. This year it shall be held in the Battle Dome.

[OOC: Archie is returning from his mallynap believing he went home for three and a half years, somehow alive and with memories of Luceti. He looks no older, but he's definitely thinner and his hair is no longer than shoulder-length now, so he does look somewhat different.  Have fun.]

Comments

[voice]

[thedicearecast]

Three years?

[Amelia's going to need a minute to get her head around this.]

Three years since what?

[voice]

[simplestgift]

[Amelia! At least one old friend is here, then.]

Since I went home.

Re: [voice]

[thedicearecast]

But I thought you were--

[Dead. Except Amelia doesn't want to say it. Not after the draft especially.]

[voice]

[simplestgift]

I was. B-back home, I mean. I was, but I was there, Amelia. And I wasn't!

[voice]

[theoniongirl]

[Outside with her leaves, Jilly isn't paying as close of attention to her journal as she usually would. After all, it's easy to miss voices--even familiar ones that she'd been looking out for during the past week--in the laughter and whoops that came from jumping in leaf piles. So when Archie makes his way to House 7, it's an unaware artist who is sprawled in the grass by her (mostly) scattered leaves, cloud watching as the sun makes it's way lower on the horizon]

[voice]

[simplestgift]

Jilly?

[Archie's heart nearly stops when he sees her. His other sister. Three and a half years of missing her, spared none of it through memory loss, come rushing to the forefront and he breaks into a run toward her.]

[voice]

[theoniongirl]

[she lifts her head at that voice, neck craning a the sound of her name, before wriggling up to her feet the instant she sees him]

Archie! You're back!

[it's relieved and happy...but not shocked. Not surprised. Not that it keeps her from throwing her arms around him once he's close enough for her to grab hold of]

[voice]

[simplestgift]

[His arms tighten hard around her. Dear, dear Jilly, beloved Jilly.] Good God, I missed you.

Jilly--I wasn't dead.

voice; so we settle this icly?

[breezing]

The Art Club can help with decorations!!

[voice] If you like!

[simplestgift]

Very well! There are a good many pines and hemlocks in a grove not too far into the woods, all very good for finding branches. Miss Summers is likely to provide a tree.

[Seriously. A tree. He still can't stop thinking it's crazy.]

[voice]

[breezing]

Is there any sort of decoration we should try for in particular?

[voice]

[simplestgift]

Greenery. There's quite a lot of it in the woods.

[Voice]

[childofthefullmoon]

[Oh, a ball! She really enjoyed the masquerade, thus Estelle feels compelled to actually help with this party.]

I can help with the cooking if that's all right.

[Voice]

[simplestgift]

I would be very happy if you did.

voice

[all7seas]

"Annie and myself will be finding the giantmongous yule tree, Kennedy."

Nevermind the whole three years thing yet; Archie probably just needs a drink.

voice

[simplestgift]

"Good to know you're still here, Captain Jack. I told the ship's boys your stories."

[herotypical]

If Archie ventured as far as to enter House Seven, he would find the short'n'blonde Slayer busying herself over a sink full with dishes. Suds and slopped water are every where -- lacing the sink and puddled on the floor and no small amount has soaked through the bottom half of her shirt, as if she'd tried to rinse a wide pan but only managed to redirect a stream of warm water everywhere but back into the sink.

Although she heard the door, she certainly assumed it was only someone coming back inside. Jilly, maybe. It made her continue her work in added earnestness.

[simplestgift]

"Buffy?"

Archie peered into the kitchen, chest tight.

[herotypical]

...Hmm. That was quite the familiar voice. She didn't have to look behind her to recognize who was saying her name. But she did -- gladly. Because a bit of familiarity was in order. And there was comfort to be found in recognition.

With a muted clatter, she dropped a whisk and a dishrag into the sink. She turned, pressing her palms behind her against the counter's curved lip.

Gently (and perhaps with a touch of relief): "You're here. Back, I mean."

Of course, she had only considered him temporarily missing -- as Willow had been before...well.

[Voice]

[geniustheveil]

We didn't know each other well before, but I felt like I understand your situation. I also came back after a long time back in my world. I'd also like to offer my help with the Christmas preparations.

[Voice]

[simplestgift]

Thank you. What shall you be doing?

[Voice]

[geniustheveil]

I could help with the decorations, or bring a dish for the meal, maybe; what do you need the most?

[There's a slight pause.] And if you want to talk, about coming back after so long, I'll listen to what you have to say.

[Voice]

[lostinmyway]

[Grune is definitely pinged by the later half of his post. She had so much fun during the ball last year that she already can't wait for this year's!]

Oh, I'll help!

[Voice]

[simplestgift]

I thought I could count on you. Decorations?

[Voice]

[lostinmyway]

All right! I'll do my very best to make everything look nice and pretty.