Twelve Bells: [WRITTEN/ACCIDENTAL VIDEO/ACTION] The winter of our discontent.

[simplestgift]

[Filtered to Dawn Summers 40%]
Meet me this evening? I'll come by your flat to walk you to dinner. I've a surprise for you.
[/Filtered]


It has come to my attention that every copy the library has of Richard III is missing bits of his famous speech. I've noticed it in other places as well. Romeo and Juliet is lacking the lines when she wakes up and they reunite before he remembers he took poison. All for Love is also just a bit different from what I remember. Far as I can tell, The London Merchant is whole, but quite a lot of older tragedies are missing bits and pieces. Can anyone explain this?

There's something about the fight between Tybalt and Mer

[The writing stops. A second later, the journal hits the floor, showing a lovely view of the carpet in one of the many apartments in the village. In the background, Archie's voice begins, sounding a little flustered.]

Horatio, I'll be back in a few hours. Damn, damn.

Archie? [The immediate confusion is quickly replaced with a concern that he tries to make sound less pressing than he felt it.] What is it? Where are you going?

[Archie's voice comes back, less frantic but still speaking quickly as some jangling is heard from picking up his sword.] Nothing. In trying to get you settled this week, I completely forgot to practice. I'll be out back, behind the building, wishing I was dead.

Ah, of course. The pirate.  [A beat.]  Shall I wait here, then?

[A pause.]  I suppose two could practice.

If he'd prefer to deal with only one, I would be content to just watch.  [Not that he's trying to put off the inevitable-- that sooner or later, he has to let Archie out of his sight for more than a few minutes. ...To distract from that idea, he chuckles.]  Besides-- would be hard for two to practice when only one is armed. Perhaps once I have a sword again, you can teach me what he's taught you.

I don't have a lesson today, Horatio. We could stop by the weapons' shop and find you something more than suitable. [He sounds slightly wistful.]

[The thought of not yet having to deal with the pirate whose boat he borrowed? Perks him up.] I'd like that.

Very well, Mister Hornblower. I challenge you to a duel!

And, as a gentleman, I cannot refuse.  I am afraid, Mr. Kennedy, that in a matter as serious as this-- [the smile on his face is betrayed by his tone] --there can, naturally, be no quarter given.

[What follows behind CH1 is two navy boys gleefully trying to chop each other up.  It's more akin to horseplay than practice, but it appears that "the twins" are having fun, at least. Onlookers feel free to look on.

Later, Archie will do a little honest practice on his own in the same place.

OOC: Anyone whose character knows stuff about lit history can point out that a lot of older plays in the 18th century were rewritten just a little to update them for a "modern" audience.]

Comments

[simplestgift]

[After the fight, Archie tells Horatio to go ahead and go inside while he does some serious practice. Glowing and grinning, he takes a moment to catch his breath, pacing in a small circle once and swinging the sword a bit to test his wrist. It's during this circle that he sees Norrington and stops, taken aback.

...That's a pretty outdated uniform, wig and all. The man dressed like an old admiral, but surely wasn't more than a decade Archie's senior. And here's Archie, stock untied, coat lying somewhere over there, waistcoat unbuttoned, shirt open, looking for all the world like the sloppiest lieutenant ever.]

[abidinglaw.livejournal.com]

It is heartening to see that your isolation here has not dulled your attention to your duties.

[Is he being sarcastic? The admiral's expression does not change and the tone of his voice is dry, blank and similarly inscrutable.]

[simplestgift]

[Archie cannot figure it out, no. Nor can he figure out what sort of officer this man is supposed to be. That uniform looks akin to his grandfather's old uniform, but it isn't right.]

I beg your pardon, Mister...?

[abidinglaw.livejournal.com]

Mister?

[Immediately Norrington's expression hardens. He leans forward just slightly and makes his disappointment clear in his voice.]

You are a lieutenant in the His Majesty's Royal Navy, and when an admiral addresses you you will stand at attention.

[simplestgift]

[Archie's immediate inclination is to obey, but...it's been four and a half months since he was a lieutenant in the navy. An admiral? Clearly not from his time, then. Besides, bowing to pompous uniforms like this one was Archie's least favorite thing about the navy. This, right here? This is an exciting opportunity to give a take that to every one of those pompous uniforms with god complexes. He can't pass this up.]

First, Admiral, I must come from at decades into your future, and when you and I speak of His Majesty, we are very likely referring to a different man. Second, there is no Royal Navy in Luceti; ergo, I am no lieutenant and you are no admiral.

[...Oh yes, that felt good.]

[abidinglaw.livejournal.com]

Fitting.

[He moves back again as though the extra inch of proximity is too disgusting for him to withstand.]

That you should be as much of a disgrace to your uniform as your uniform is to you. I might have expected more - given that display.

[And he gestures with his head to where the two had been clashing swords.]

[simplestgift]

Fortunately for England, it is men, not uniforms, which serve His Majesty. [A blink in Norrington's direction.] At least for the most part.

[abidinglaw.livejournal.com]

But not in Luceti.

[If that was disappointment - then this is pity. Pity for the future.]

And yet you wear the uniform.

[simplestgift]

It would be a mistake to assume one's sacrifices for king and country based on one's state of dress in another world, Sir Admiral.

[Yeah, this is definitely the kind of guy he hated serving under in the navy.]

[abidinglaw.livejournal.com]

Enough.

If you will not hear reason then you are little more than a petulant child in the midst of a tantrum. I will not tolerate your irreverence for a moment longer.

[And with that, he turns his back and begins to walk away.]

[simplestgift]

I would hear reason if it were spoken.

[It's spoken very softly, almost to himself, and Archie really is quite calm, just...enjoying this a little more than he should. But he won't stop the man he barely knows.]