Fifteen Bells: [ACTION/WRITTEN]

[simplestgift]

[Archie woke up yesterday.  How is this new?  Well, after getting some fairly critical stab wounds from Grell, he was put on a ventilator and kept under sedation for a few days.  The ventilator was exchanged for a less impressive-looking concentrator yesterday and he was taken off sedation.  He spent yesterday sleeping anyway, since anesthesia doesn't generally leave you bright-eyed immediately afterward.

This morning, he is talking and eating Jell-o, which is a new experience. The most important bit comes written on the journal network in wobbly handwriting courtesy of the heart monitor clipped on his finger.]

I have been informed that I may have visitors. I'd like to know everyone is all right.

Kennedy

[Anyone who comes in will find him looking predictably weak and pale but lucid and in good spirits, or possibly catnapping after a dose of painkillers.

OOC: Purely for the sake of mercy, Archie is unaffected by the event.]

Comments

[simplestgift]

[He sets aside the juice box and reaches again.] Let me see.

[herotypical]

...You can't open it now.

[ but she still holds it out. inside the envelope, it might be something stupidly cute and the interior might be filled with little smiley faces and well-wishes. she's embarrassed about it, clearly. ]

[simplestgift]

Very well. When am I allowed to open it?

[herotypical]

...After I leave. Whiiiiich could be right now, if you preferred.

[simplestgift]

Of course I don't prefer it. [He continues sipping juice.] Not unless you want to leave, anyway.

[herotypical]

I just thought -- you're probably tired. And...and -- [ a small shrug.

she misses her spine. ] Sorry. I'm not really at my best. Which is kind of a lame thing to say because you obviously aren't either but I mean...well, I have it from a trusted source that I might just be a little bit, uhm, affected.

[simplestgift]

Might you indeed?

[herotypical]

[ a huff. ]

You noticed?

[simplestgift]

A little, yes. But I'm still glad to see you. To be honest, I'm a bit relieved you haven't come accusing me of breaking my word to you.

[herotypical]

I...well, I investigated.

[simplestgift]

So you know she found me.

[herotypical]

...I know.

[ a solemn nod. ]

[simplestgift]

...Did she tell you anything else?

[herotypical]

[ she did. she definitely did. but -- ]

Now's not really the time, is it?

[simplestgift]

Good God. [Deep breath.] What did she say?

[herotypical]

[ a deep breath. ]

Jack and I are gonna call a meeting, once you're...up. About. And walking.

[simplestgift]

Good. Good. Though you don't have to wait for me to walk. I'll crawl, if I must.

[herotypical]

...We'll wait. It's fine. We've got all the ti-- [ her sentence shudders to a halt. it's a thing between her and jack, after all. that sentiment.

she frowns. ] We've got time.

[simplestgift]

[Another pause.]

Did she say anything of what happened?

[herotypical]

She said it was strategic.

[ a clear disgust worms its way into her voice. ]

[simplestgift]

All our forces were protecting Jilly.

[herotypical]

I screwed up, Archie.

[simplestgift]

So did I, Buffy.

[herotypical]

Two years in this place...my planning's rusty. That's what I'm scared of. Giles as good as said my tete-a-tete with Grell was too little too late.

[simplestgift]

[And he's a military man who almost got stabbed to death in his own home. By a woman. But he's not quite ready to try empathizing out loud.]

I don't think anyone could have predicted she would come after me instead of Jilly. I certainly thought I was safer than anyone.