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

[Voice]

[simplestgift]

...I will. I take it Captain Sparrow was not cooperative.

[Voice]

[i_speak_softly]

Not at all.

[Voice]

[simplestgift]

And Mr. Giles?

[Voice]

[i_speak_softly]

I haven't talked to him.

[Voice]

[simplestgift]

His boat will be finished much sooner than our ship, sir.

[Voice]

[i_speak_softly]

I thought it wasn't big enough?

[Voice]

[simplestgift]

You'll have to see it for himself. I've only talked him through it, but I do not know for certain what size it is.

[Voice]

[i_speak_softly]

[He's... not sure how friendly of a conversation that will end up being.]

I'll call him.

[Voice]

[simplestgift]

And I'll ask Mr. Hornblower. What is it, exactly, that you want to put on our ship?

[Voice]

[i_speak_softly]

The bell needs a crane to lower it in and out of the water. I'm not sure whether that's standard ship equipment...

[Voice]

[simplestgift]

When you say a crane, you mean...?

[Voice]

[i_speak_softly]

Erm... a kind of pulley system? It needs a swinging arm and a winch to take up the slack.

[Voice]

[simplestgift]

How much will it weigh?

[Voice]

[i_speak_softly]

The crane? It depends what you have that I can built it out of.

[voice]

[simplestgift]

And how tall? We cannot have it interfering with the sails and being tripped on when it isn't in use.

[voice]

[i_speak_softly]

Look, can we meet somewhere and go over the blueprints? I think this would be a lot easier in person...

[voice]

[simplestgift]

No, not today, not for the next... [Jack, you make everything easier.] You should find Horatio Hornblower.

[voice]

[i_speak_softly]

The captain. I'll do that.

[voice]

[simplestgift]

Excellent. I am sorry I could not be of more help.

[voice]

[i_speak_softly]

Don't worry about it. [You've been at least as much help as anyone else.] Ah - my offer stands either way. It's been too long since I've built anything big.

[voice]

[simplestgift]

Thank you. That's very kind of you.

[voice]

[i_speak_softly]

My pleasure. [Really.] I'll see you soon, I hope.

[voice]

[simplestgift]

I'll tell you when we begin work.