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

[simplestgift]

There's a long pause.

"You think it's the same thing that happened to Elicia, only mine took place back in my home."

[herotypical]

She paused, weighing whether it was worth potentially upsetting him. And then she decided that if she were in Archie's boots, she would rather be upset than deluded.

"Well...it does kinda have that vibe. Objectively."

[simplestgift]

"As no one knew I was gone...yes, it's very possible." His voice gets stuck, and he swallows and clears his throat. "A shame."

[herotypical]

"Dunno if it means anything, really. But -- I also find a shame. A crying shame."

For a moment, she'd allowed herself a drop of hope.

[simplestgift]

No. No, we are not at all happy. We had reconciled our parents to Horatio. We had let them know we are alive. We have been sailing with our captain--not as an officer, but still with him, in a proper navy. Everything was right, except...

"I...missed all of you. Very much."

[herotypical]

"Which makes me wonder if we're better off not remembering..."

Oh -- but that was dreary and he was already looking drear-smeared and dammit. "A few days. A few weeks, maybe. And then we'll know for sure."

[simplestgift]

He nods, then takes a deep breath and releases it in a whoosh. "Well! In the meantime, I suppose things will go back to the way they were regardless of whether or not the last three years actually happened."

[herotypical]

"...That's the problem with a town built on cycles, Archie. It feels like nothing changes, even when everything does."

A beat. "Doesn't mean you can't talk about it, though. If you wanna."

[simplestgift]

He stares out the window quietly for a moment.

"It was the second time my family looked upon me as though they thought they should never see me again."

[herotypical]

It was her turn to drop eyes and focus elsewhere. It was a surreal situation -- to meet others when their expectations involve your...permanent absence.

"I can only imagine that they were beyond relieved to set eyes on you."

[simplestgift]

"There was weeping. A great deal of confusion and anger. Not at me, of course, but they did not understand why they had to believe I was dead for three years."

[herotypical]

"...And did you have a reason for them?"

How far did the fantasy go?

[simplestgift]

"Came up with something. I think they believed it."

[herotypical]

"Came up with something? So you -- you didn't tell them. About here. About what you, uhm, remembered..."