Seventeen Bells: [WRITTEN/ACTION]

[simplestgift]

On July the 4th, 1776, one Horatio Hornblower was born in Kent.  If you see him, bid him many happy returns.  He will most likely grump about it all day and act ungrateful, but don't allow it to discourage you.  He does appreciate it, he simply does not know it.

[For most of the day, Archie will be running around trying to furnish a bedroom in the house for a new housemate. He'll end up in the library, Good Spirits, the grocery store, then finally the Battle Dome, mostly staring in bewilderment at the controls before deciding this is too scary and leaving. At some point, he'll also take a walk in the woods, rain or no rain, in shirtsleeves and waistcoat but no coat. After a while, he'll get back on the journals.]

[Filtered away from Grell, 44%]

If you wanted to surprise someone dear to you, to cheer her up when she returned from being kidnapped, what would you do for her?

Comments

[simplestgift]

[Buffy's romantic drama makes her a poster girl for a lot of things. He's reminded why he's dating the other sister, as much as he loves Buffy.] Daisies, you say?

[herotypical]

[ that and 'cause a woman like buffy summers might actually eat someone like archie alive. for breakfast. figuratively speaking. she's always needed a little monster in her man. ]

They're a cheery kind of flower. They say 'hey, I'm glad to see you again -- look how bright and cheery I am to see you again!'

[simplestgift]

[Oh Buffy, you are not so horrible.

A soft chuckle.]

So long as she's not flinging them in my face for being too cheerful.

[herotypical]

...I'm not thinking that's gonna be an issue.

[simplestgift]

[Some hesitation.]

I miss her desperately, Buffy. I know I've no right to say that to you, but I do.

[herotypical]

...You have a right. Maybe not as much of a right, but still a right.

[ here falls her cheery facade. ]

[simplestgift]

I've always been afraid of running out of time. [He's not trying to belittle what she went through with Jack, though he wonders briefly if it wasn't a mistake to put it quite that way.]

[herotypical]

...You should be.

[ she clams up; this is a very, very tender subject. all the time in the world. ]

[simplestgift]

[A pause. After a moment, he downs the last of his whiskey in one shot.]

[herotypical]

...We made that mistake.

[simplestgift]

Only by the grace of God... [That sentence does not need to be finished.] I can't dawdle with her any longer, or be afraid of the future.

[herotypical]

Carpe diem. [ the concept is one buffy has been familiar with since before she was a slayer; the latin, though, was taught to her by willow. she never forgot it. ]

Only -- oh God I can't believe I'm actually saying this but -- don't carpe too much. Or even at all. Days can be very productively seized with excellent games of Scrabble, you know.

[simplestgift]

[herotypical]

...Don't look at me like that. You make me feel all -- all unreasonable.

[simplestgift]

[It takes him a second to get it. Then he grins, releasing a soft laugh.]

[herotypical]

[ she...doesn't really know where to go from here. this would be an easy conversation if she were just talking to archie-the-guy-dating-her-sister. then she could give him warnings and frown a lot and be severe. it would also be easy if she were just talking to archie-her-friend, because she could be supportive and encouraging and egg him on.

except she's talking to both. which complicated things an awful lot. so she sorts just keeps looking anxiously perplexed. ]

[simplestgift]

[Okay, that look? Means he has to say something.]

It's her choice, Buffy. I decided that some time ago.

[herotypical]

You know, you'd think that would sound comforting. But it kinda doesn't.

[ though deep down, it does. and she appreciates it. but still. ]

[simplestgift]

I'm not going to push her into anything. [Not ever. Heck, he'll be lucky if they ever get that physical and he's not wondering deep down if he's hurting her.]

[herotypical]

[ a bit of a hard swallow; this isn't the pleasantest of subjects for buffy summers.

but she nods. ] R-right...I never -- I wouldn't think you would, Archie.

[simplestgift]

[He just had that talk with Jilly, Buffy.] I meant I want it to be her idea.

[It just might keep him from feeling like he should be shot for it. Either way, this is hardly a proper subject to be discussing, and with William here now, he's being reminded of what is and is not proper.]

[herotypical]

I'm going to ask you a very strange question, Archie. And I need you to A -- answer honestly. And B -- not think I'm too strange for asking it in the first place.

[simplestgift]

[He...is not sure what to make of that.]

Of-of course.

[herotypical]

...You're not now and nor have you ever been under the influence of any kind of curse -- gypsy or otherwise -- that might also be triggered by moments of total happiness? Right? Just checking.

[simplestgift]

[Okay, clearly this is a weird subject they are on and Archie wants out. But he will try not to act like anything is too strange, as per her request.]

...No.