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

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.

[simplestgift]

Well, she followed me till I met with Jilly and Horatio, then disappeared. She said something about predators in the forest hearing the bell. I thought she meant her, but she never did anything but follow me after that.

[herotypical]

I'd heard she's dangerous but maybe...maybe just being there doesn't count as provocation in her books.

[simplestgift]

Perhaps. She must have been making sure I went where I said I was going.

[herotypical]

And you did. Which means you're safe. More silver lining to count.

[simplestgift]

I suppose so. I'd like to get this chain off now, if you wouldn't mind. I'd rather not keep limping about the place with a bell attached.

[herotypical]

Right. Chain.

[ she looks at him, frowning. ] You're gonna have to kneel, I think.

[ so shoooort. ]

[simplestgift]

[He looks at her for a second like she's joking, then realizes why she said it. So he sighs and kneels obediently.]

[herotypical]

Don't sigh. Or make that face. I'm the one who should be sighing and making faces. I'm the one who's vertically challenged.

[ deft fingers flick away a fold of clothing and snag on the chain. ]

[simplestgift]

[He's favoring one knee, even resting one hand on the ground.] Just do it.

[herotypical]

[ a tug. a yank. a twist.

buffy leans forward, inspecting the chain. ] That's not right...

[ she wraps her fingers more tightly in the metal and hauls yet again. ] Huh.

[simplestgift]

[The chain is short, too short to slip over his head, so he occasionally moves with her to keep from choking. He is not encouraged by her struggles, but stays quiet.]

[herotypical]

...I've got some bad news.

[ she sounds rather frustrated. ]

[simplestgift]

No-no! I understand. If the world is to have a laugh at my expense again, it might as well be for something silly.

[There's an edge to his jovial tone.]