Twenty-one Bells: [ACTION/VOICE]

[simplestgift]

[Archie has barely been around town lately, but he does appear in town this afternoon, dashing about to various shops and stores and picking up various one-use items and lots and lots of groceries. He seems to have one thing on his mind.

Later, he'll sit at the fountain and send out the voice message:]

This is Mr. Kennedy. If anyone is in need of me, I shall be at the beach house for most of the week. You can reach me there or on the journals.

Moreover, Mr. Hornblower and I are wondering if anyone would be interested in helping to build a ship. A sloop-of-war, to be specific, with room and ports enough for eighteen or twenty-two guns. I cannot claim we have a practical use for itm besides exploration, but it would be something to do. We have the plans drawn up, and all we need is enough hands to make it possible. We would be grateful for any help at all.

[After this, he'll be walking back to the beach house, where he's been babysitting Jack Sparrow since yesterday.]

Comments

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[simplestgift]

Not at all. Just to visit his friend.

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[herotypical]

He was out there yesterday. I don't -- he doesn't like the transporters. I can ask him to head out there again but no promises.

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[simplestgift]

That is all I ask. Thank you.

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[herotypical]

He took Jack's things back to him. Things he left here. Y'know, in case he needed them.

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[simplestgift]

That must have been while I was in town.

I'm afraid he will take it as further evidence that you don't want him any longer.

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[herotypical]

I want him. I just -- I can't look at his stuff all day without cracking and showing up on his door-step with my mascara running.

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[simplestgift]

[It takes a bit for the next message to arrive.]

Are you sure you do not want to?

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[herotypical]

I want to. I also don't want to. One foot out the door, one stuck inside.

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[simplestgift]

[Part of him wants to ask her to come back, and rescue him. But that's sort of a selfish thing to ask. He dealt with Hunter like this, why is it more difficult now?]

Very well. Do what you must.

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[herotypical]

You and Bones both said...[ and then something is scribbled out.

horribly. achingly. she carves out each letter like a scar: ] I wish Dawn was here.

[ she needs her sister. this is something she's realized. dawn -- such a catalyst for jack and buffy's relationship in the first place. urging buffy to seize that opportunity while she still could. ]

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[simplestgift]

As do I. [But not for the same reason.] What do you mean to accomplish by making him wait?

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[herotypical]

It's not making him wait that's the accomplishment, Archie. God -- I'd...

It's giving me time to think. Even if I don't want to.

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[simplestgift]

And what is it you're thinking?

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[herotypical]

...About whether a tattoo hurts or not. Do you think it hurts? Do you have any, Archie?

[ written; filtered 70% ]

[simplestgift]

I do not have any, no, but I've seen it done.

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[herotypical]

It probably hurts.

[ not that she should care -- her pain tolerance is the stuff of legends. but she might be projecting a different kind of pain onto the situation. ]

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[simplestgift]

[He doesn't pick up on the subtlety.] It does hurt, but most men are great children when it comes to such pain.

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[herotypical]

He has so many, already.

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[simplestgift]

I meant, they whimper about it at first, but only as a way of boasting about how much pain they can endure.

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[herotypical]

Have you seen his? The new one -- not the one you...not the one the Shift. That's gone, now. I mean the one he redid.

Have you seen it?

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[simplestgift]

The one on his...yes, it doesn't even look as if it's healed.

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[herotypical]

It was different, before...Before he knew for sure it'd disappear. Before it disappeared.

[ tap tap tap. her fixation upon ink is not a non sequitur, in her mind. ]

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[simplestgift]

What are you trying to say, Buffy?

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[herotypical]

I'm trying to say that I've got four days left to figure out if I really want a tattoo, too.

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[simplestgift]

I would argue you have quite a bit longer than that. Coming back to him doesn't mean getting a tattoo, you know.