simplestgift | Thirty-Six Bells: [Written/Action]

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Thirty-Six Bells: [Written/Action]

[Written:]

In light of my new duties as first lieutenant of the LES Britannia, impending matrimony, and being bloody terrible at running a foodhouse, I shall soon retire as the owner of Cloud Nine. I'd like to continue to work a few shifts, of course, but the club will need new management. Which brave soul will shoulder the task?

-A. Kennedy

[Action only: He is enjoying the last night of the voyage, simply meditating upon the lovely roll of the ship beneath him. It's chilly out, and he can see his breath, but he doesn't mind, wrapped up tightly in his heavy wool greatcoat. Softly he sings a song swallowed by the night, evidenced mainly by the mist of it in the air around his lips.]

The maiden, oh, the maiden oh.
The sailor loves the maiden, oh!
So early in the morning,
The sailor loves the maiden, oh!
A maid that is young,
A maid that is fair,
A maid that is kind and pleasant, oh,
So early in the morning,
The sailor loves the maiden, oh!

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...Yes, she asks me not to insult anyone's opinion by denying I am worth caring for.

Anyone with a heart should be asking you the same.

[ and -- frankly -- buffy thinks a couple shouldn't be getting married if one of them is coming to it with himself at such a perceived disadvantage. it's part of why she still can't say yes. ]

I think...with her, I'm too happy for it to matter. Sometimes, I can almost believe it. I...I cannot insult her character by assuming she would fall in love with such a thoroughly unworthy man, and therefore I must have done something right.

[ it all sounds very...sad, to buffy summers. very sad indeed. but then again -- she was often the long-fought-for prize that inspired unworthy men to try and change their stripes.

to be the kind of man who would never.... she shudders. ]

Or maybe she just loves you. That doesn't always have anything to do with wrong or right. But it's just as good a reason as anything else.

I think...I am beginning to understand. I think.

Good. Let's up the understanding process continues. As far as I can tell from my observations and hearsay? Marriage doesn't simple it up by much.

No, I shouldn't imagine anything will change simply because an exchange of vows. But I believe, God willing, we may be together long enough for it to continue in this fashion. To reach what, I do not know.

You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din.

...I'm fair certain that can go without saying.

[ she laughs. ]

It's from a poem, Archie.

...Oh, well. Not one I've read.

It's probably a little after your time, then.

I cannot admit to having read every single poem that is of my time.

...Well, the line itself is kind of a classic. But I have no idea when the guy wrote it. Me? Not so hot with the dates.

I've noticed. [He hesitates.] Buffy...the tradition you're carrying at my wedding wasn't precisely something my time has an equivalent for, but...I'm happy you're a part of it.

It's...quite an honour. And I'm happy to help! I am. No matter what kind of dress she wants to put me in. It's the bride's prerogative, after all.

Wh...what is she putting you in?

Actually? She's being very reasonable. But I keep telling her she oughtta put me in taffeta. I wouldn't complain. It's practically tradition.

And she might well put you in taffety. It'd be a lovely choice.

I guess this is the point where I'm supposed to explain. In my time? It's kind of a cultural joke that brides end up putting their bridesmaids in the ugliest dresses of all. And bridesmaids deal with it because we are long-suffering creatures and maybe there's a mani-pedi in it for us.

[A chuckle.] I believe my sister used some of our little cousins as her maids for her wedding. I took for granted everyone looked very handsome indeed, but truth is, I've never seen a wedding.

Me neither. Or -- I've seen them on TV. And I've been at a distant relative's wedding when I was, like, four. But mom assured me I fell asleep before the vows.

And I've been a bridesmaid. Only...we didn't even get to the aisle-walk.

There was that time I was engaged via a spell.

And I don't even want to talk about Jack and Raine's. That doesn't count.

I've looked up my vows. [Gosh, saying that makes it so real. He feels a little dizzy.] Very lovely, very straightforward. I believe we're using the ring I've already given to her.

Looked up?

...Yes, of course. There's a ceremony, with the church.

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