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

[ written; filtered 70% ]

[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. ]

[ written; filtered 70% ]

[simplestgift]

What are you trying to say, Buffy?

[ written; filtered 70% ]

[herotypical]

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

[ written; filtered 70% ]

[simplestgift]

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

[ written; filtered 70% ]

[herotypical]

Let me fill in a few blanks. I'd already decided on the tattoo -- back when the Battle Dome went to wonksville. Now it's just a case of redeciding.

[ written; filtered 70% ]

[simplestgift]

But you will go back to him.

[ written; filtered 70% ]

[herotypical]

I will. I don't know how much back -- like all-the-way-tattoo-back or provisionally-let-us-start-over-back. But I will. Go back. Absolutely.

[ written; filtered 70% ]

[simplestgift]

Good. That should make the rest of the week a bit easier.

[ written; filtered 70% ]

[herotypical]

Easier?

[ hah, she thinks. ]

[ written; filtered 70% ]

[simplestgift]

Speaking selfishly, Buffy.

[ written; filtered 70% ]

[herotypical]

[ oh.

guilt. ]

Being in the middle sucks. I remember that.

[ written; filtered 70% ]

[simplestgift]

It's worse to be on one of the ends, I should think.

[ written; filtered 70% ]

[herotypical]

You get used to it. After the...oh, Hell. One, two three, four, fifth time. Maybe sixth. Depends on how you define time.

[ written; filtered 70% ]

[simplestgift]

I know little about it. Dawn and I only had trouble the once.

[ written; filtered 70% ]

[herotypical]

It's what made you two shine.

Me, though. Men like to leave me. I've been on Jack's side all my life. This is my first time on this one.

[ written; filtered 70% ]

[simplestgift]

Well. If it doesn't get better, it isn't likely to get worse.

[ written; filtered 70% ]

[herotypical]

You have no idea how worse things usually tend to get after someone says something like that.

[ ... ] On the plus side, it'd actually be a really pretty tattoo.

[ written; filtered 70% ]

[simplestgift]

No idea, do I? [He'd only been trying to cheer her up. But it's not the time to press that.] Well, what would it look like?

[ written; filtered 70% ]

[herotypical]

...It's just a way people say things, Archie.

A bird. It'd look like a bird. [ she doesn't need to identify the sort. ]

[ written; filtered 70% ]

[simplestgift]

[That is met with silence, at first.]

Well. You have your distance, and perhaps by the end of it you'll know whether or not you want to wear a bird for the rest of your stay.

[ written; filtered 70% ]

[herotypical]

When you put it like that...

[ it's almost funny. ]

[ written; filtered 70% ]

[simplestgift]

Hm?

[ written; filtered 70% ]

[herotypical]

Makes it sound like a bad fashion choice, that's all.

[ written; filtered 70% ]

[simplestgift]

[That gets a smile.] You would know better than I.

[ written; filtered 70% ]

[herotypical]

If Dawnie knew I was considering ink? She'd throw a fit. I've never let her get one.