Eighteen Bells: [ACTION/WRITTEN]

[simplestgift]

[Kennedy comes to himself lying on his side in the grass, his wings splayed haphazardly, a slight breeze causing the feathers to flutter. He lies still for a moment, watching without thought the grass as it ripples softly before his eyes. Then he remembers that he was taken.

That explains this.

It begins to come back to him. He'd glimpsed the cages and panicked. They'd jabbed a needle into him then, and everything had gone soft, then black. He remembers nothing between then and now, and nothing is what he'll search his memories for. The blackout is a blessing, even if it is unsettling. It would be worse to remember.

He's in his own clothes--shirtsleeves, waistcoat, and trousers--and his journal is lying nearby, because clearly the Malnosso are paragons of courtesy. He rolls onto his stomach to reach for it when he hears a clear tinkling sound.  He reaches for his throat. There is...something, very much like a collar. No, it is a collar of steel links with no clasp, and hanging from it is a bell.

A bell he cannot touch. It rings when he moves, but his fingers pass through it. No matter what he does, he cannot keep it from sounding.

Apparently someone at the Malnosso facility is a wise guy who eavesdrops on certain conversations and thinks he's pretty damn funny.

Okay. So no audio. He grabs the journal and writes instead.]

I'm here. How long have I been gone?

-A. Kennedy

P.S. Horatio, do tell me one of you fed the cat.

Comments

[audio - filtered 43%]

[herotypical]

...You wanna know how to beat Jack's teasing?

[audio - filtered 43%]

[simplestgift]

Tease him right back?

[audio - filtered 43%]

[herotypical]

Sort of. Just -- just let him know that at least you're not stuck compulsively speaking French.

[audio - filtered 43%]

[simplestgift]

[He fiddles with the chain again, causing the bell to ring a little more.] I wonder how in hell I'm supposed to get it off.

[audio - filtered 43%]

[herotypical]

Scissors? Knife? Spell? Oh! I could come and try and yank it off. Y'know -- Slayer strong and willing to lend a hand.

[audio - filtered 43%]

[simplestgift]

I would be in your debt.

[audio - filtered 43%]

[herotypical]

No, you wouldn't.

Where are you?

[audio - filtered 43%]

[simplestgift]

Walking towards the town. I'll be there momentarily.

[audio - filtered 43%]

[herotypical]

I'll meet you behind the bar?

[audio - filtered 43%] I'd kinda like him to keep the bell for at least the rest of the day?

[simplestgift]

Behind the bar. Provided I'm not fighting something off.

[audio - filtered 43%] oh i figured she'd be unable to snap it.

[herotypical]

Hey. I can help with that too. It'll be a two-for-one special.

[audio - filtered 43%] I haven't quite decided what WILL snap it. It must come off somehow.

[simplestgift]

I'll be there soon, then.

MAAAAGIC? time? A SECRET CODEWORD? WHO KNOWS.

[herotypical]

[ and true to her word, the slayer stands behind good spirits -- her wings folded tight against her back and her shoulders against the wall. ]

I'll say the steel gets weaker over time.

[simplestgift]

[Archie takes a while to make it, but he arrives, walking like his knee is stiff and peering around at some of the odder things in town.]

[herotypical]

...Long time no see, stranger.

[simplestgift]

[Archie fiddles with the (quite hefty) chain around his neck as he approaches, looking faintly disturbed.] Don't say that.

[herotypical]

...Sorry.

[ a light shrug. ] You look good, though. Or -- not good. Alright.

[simplestgift]

[A bit of smile.] It could certainly have been worse. [He could have been conscious for it.]

[herotypical]

And I've got the scar to prove the potential worseness.

[ she smiles. ] Glad to have you back. Meet any creepy-crawlies on the way here?

[simplestgift]

A very, very large white wolf that speaks. It had wings, though.

[herotypical]

...Moro.

[ she sounds impressed. ]

[simplestgift]

Moro?

[herotypical]

...Big, serious-business wolf that lives out in the woods. And talks.

[simplestgift]

It heard my bell. [He shakes the chain to make a point.]

[herotypical]

She. Pretty sure that it is a she. From what I've heard.