simplestgift | Sixteen Bells: [WRITTEN/VOICE/ACTION]

[Filtered against known villains and Grell, 100% unhackable]

[The handwriting is disguised, and the picture obscured. The message is as anonymous as possible.]

If there is anyone returned from a kidnapping or being threatened who does not feel safe in his or her home, speak to anyone at the Welcome Center and they will direct you to a safe place to stay until things are better.

If you wish to volunteer to house someone, you will need a reference from a trusted member of the community.

[/Filter]

[A few minutes later, he uncovers the camera and starts a new message, spoken this time.]

Alexis Rodgers has been sent home. At least I assume as much--no one has seen her and her flat is empty. It's good. She was very homesick, and...

[A pause. There's nothing really to say after that. He doesn't sound greatly distressed, but there's definitely a certain melancholy.

He'll be at the library this afternoon, and Good Spirits tonight. Missing Dawn, mostly. He'll occasionally walk through the item shop, killing time looking for little gifts to pick up for her. At some point, he'll go see Ingrid in the clinic. In the evening, he'll pay a visit to Jack Sparrow's house on the beach. He's there to see Horatio, of course.]

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[Eventually, Horatio would hear a knock on the door and a voice sounding guilty.]

Horatio?

Archie.

[Plan: Answer, move, wait for the door to open, then bolt.

He could overpower Kennedy for the brief amount of time it would take to assure himself the necessary time.

Action: He remained where he was, near the centre of the attic, waiting and trying to look as much like a captain in his cabin on a ship as he could.]

[But the door does not open.]

Are you all right?

[Archie would be going insane by now.]

[I'm locked in a God damned attic with nothing to do. Of course not!]

Perfectly.

[Archie leans his back against the door.]

I'm sorry.

[And what, Mr. Kennedy, would it take to secure my release? Would my parole suffice?

But he restrains himself. No need to aggravate the situation by saying anything that might call up thoughts of Ferrol.]

What's the purpose of all this?

Why, to keep you from getting yourself killed, Mister Hornblower.

I would like it noted for the log, Mr. Kennedy, that I have, in fact, managed that so far without being locked in a room.

[How was it that he could almost laugh at hearing Archie say it so?]

Things change, Mr. Hornblower. I'm trying to arrange things on your behalf. Hopefully by the time you come out this entire mess with have been forgotten.

You presume much, to think that I would allow this to be forgotten.

Horatio. She attacked me. Not you.

[There's a long pause, as if he doesn't plan on answering.

Which he doesn't.

Precisely.]

If I were to forgive her, you wouldn't have any right, Horatio.

[Another long pause, and his answer is quiet, especially through the door, but not entirely inaudible.]

Yes, I would.

What?

She would still be a tyrant, Archie. A danger.

Maybe not to you. Maybe not to me. But to others.

[He doesn't want to say it. He tells himself not to say it. But it comes out in an effort to illustrate what he's telling himself is the point of all this.]

What happens when she hurts someone else?

We stop her together, Horatio. We don't run at her one by one. If you had three frigates against a French ship of the line, you wouldn't send them after her one at a time.

You were just talking about forgiveness, Mr. Kennedy.

[The words are a bit sharper than he really meant them to be.]

Yes, I was. And if I did forgive her, you wouldn't have any right to challenge her. Hell, you have no right to challenge her now. I was the one wronged. Not you. And you know as well as anyone that three-quarters of the navy would have told me I deserved it. I acted like a damned fool around her, Horatio.

And three-quarters of the Navy would be wrong, God damn it!

[There was the fire, the hint of a temper, the reveal of some of the frustration at the entire situation. Not least of which included being locked in here.

He checked himself. Shouting would do no good.]

Fool or not, there is nothing "deserved" about being stabbed in the back.

[A pause, and then he adds.] Especially for another man's words.

Don't bring Jack into this. It isn't your duty to set everything right--not when you can't.

[It takes a long time for him to say anything.]

I know I can't. I can't set everything right.

[Another pause, and an admission that does not come easily.]

This isn't duty, Archie. Not entirely.

[And another silence.]

...This is much more conscience.

[A pause. Then, a calm voice.]

It isn't your chance to repair mistakes you thought you made in the past, Horatio. Grell is not Simpson. And unlike Simpson, something will be done about her even if you don't fight this duel.

I--

[And then a sound. Quiet, like the clearing of a throat.]

Ha--h'm.

[Even to Archie, he can't make himself say it. Not quite yet.

Though he can't see the lieutenant, his back is to the door nonetheless.]

My intentions remain unaltered. [Brisk, military. A wall.]

If you kill her, what will you do? What do you think will change?

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