simplestgift | Nine Bells: [VOICE/ACTION]

[Archie doesn't do a lot of voice posts. They make him feel weird. So he's speaking this one like he's reading it from a piece of paper he wrote out beforehand. Which he is.]

This is Mister Kennedy. As some of you already know, I am attempting to organize a regular goodbye ceremony for the friends and family of those who have been sent home. In preparation for this, I shall need a list of names of those who have gone on. If any one of you has had any person you care for sent home, please tell me their name. These names are to be read aloud at the ceremony.

If any one of you has a suggestion or should like to volunteer help, your aid will be appreciated greatly. The ceremony will take place monthly, God willing, on a day that shall be decided before long. You may approach myself or Miss Dawn Summers about this.

Thank you.

[There's a relieved sigh cut off halfway as the transmission ends.

He'll be outside today, writing ideas and names and plans on non-journal paper, but looking like every movement hurts but still doing it without sound or complaint, as if absolutely nothing is wrong. Later, of course, he'll be at Good Spirits, drinking very, very, very stiffly, as if raising the glass to his lips is painful.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[A fond smile.] It was the first time he bested me in combat. Now I have to best him in order to sail with him. It's supposed to be my reward for practicing.

From the look of things, I think you'll have earned it.

Good God, I hope so. I should hate to think this will be my fate for the rest of my short life. [A little stretch, then he takes another drink of whiskey.]

Where do you think you'll sail to?

I've no idea. I don't even know if there's anywhere to sail to or if it's only open ocean. All I want is wind and water and wood under my feet again. You grow accustomed to such things.

I hope you get it, then.

[she means it, though she can't keep an edge of wistfulness out of her voice. She loves the chance to be part of something so magical as this place...but she misses the city. And, unfortunately, that's something Jack's boat can't fix.

[He hears that.] ...Is everything all right, Jilly?

[If she says yes, he won't push it.]

It is.

[a small smile] Sometimes I just miss home. Not in every way. This is exactly the sort of adventure I'd hoped to see, someday. But... it's the little things that you don't even realize you'd miss that you start really wishing you could see again, you know?

Like rope. Just rope.

[a laugh] Exactly.

For me...it's the sounds. A city is never quiet.

I used to live in the country, so this isn't exactly foreign...but... that was never home. The city was.

You'll see it again. It's only a matter of time.

[taking a sip of her coke, her head tilts as she looks at him] I wish I could show you. And I wish I could see what the ships were like for you.

[a bit of a grin] I guess I wish I could see a little bit of everything, you know?

Well. You never know what'll happen round here, do you? We may end up on a seafaring adventure one day.

[grinning] I hope we do. And, maybe someday, we'll end up in a city. I wonder if this place ever changes that much.

It might not be here. Maybe there are places like your city beyond the barrier.

I wonder if we'll ever get past there.

[before they get sent home, anyway]

We were sent beyond the barrier in the draft.

...Maybe we can find a way. If we can't escape this world, maybe we can take it for our own.

[Whoa. Is that...optimism?]

More fighting, you mean.

[she's not opposed...she's willing to fight for a real cause. But it's not a happy thought]

If it comes to it. I don't like the idea any more than you--I fought French Republicans, and they fought a bloody war before it ever came to us. But how many can the Malnosso be? If we play our hand right, we could force surrender before it comes to bloodshed. Not a soul was lost in the Spithead mutiny, after all.

And we have to hope there's a way to make them see reason. It seems like, if the Third Party want to attack them, then we really should all be on the same side. None of this manipulation should be necessary.

If the Third Party actually wants to kill us, it's possible the Malnosso are our best protection, as much as I hate to say it. We have to know more.

It's too bad they make talking so difficult.

No, they weren't interested in talking during the battle. Though I wonder what the Malnosso say to them, or what they say to the Malnosso.

Nine Bells: [VOICE/ACTION]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]