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 - 50%]

[simplestgift]

Relics. [That's kind of depressing, but doesn't really take down his "PROPER DINNER TOMORROW WOO" high.] Obsolete.

[voice - 50%]

[captainhornblower]

I think we're all ["out of our depth" is about to come out, but he stops himself. Speaking with Archie, he hears another voice with that phrase but shoos the thought away quickly] somewhat mystified by one another.

[voice - 50%]

[simplestgift]

I'm tired of being expected to learn everyone else's world while no one learns ours, Horatio. Dawn knew her history, and Jilly is willing to learn, but...no, I must be thinking it's worse than it is.

[voice - 50%]

[captainhornblower]

It tries the patience, certainly. Miss Jilly... it is a compromise. [There's teasing sometimes from her, with his continued formality, but a jovial enough teasing. Like Archie might give him.]

Others... We are expected, it seems, to modify on every account. Without receiving modifications in return. Difficult, to say the least.

[voice - 50%]

[simplestgift]

...Not that it will matter tomorrow.

[voice - 50%]

[captainhornblower]

Thank God. Tomorrow? We actually know all the rules.

[voice - 50%]

[simplestgift]

We can be ourselves. ...More or less.

[voice - 50%]

[captainhornblower]

And we don't answer to him, so we have a bit of room to breathe.

[They want to make a good impression, but, well. It's different than, say, a dinner with Admiral Pellew would be.]

[voice - 50%]

[simplestgift]

He seems a jolly fellow. A bit like Mr. Bracegirdle, I think.

[voice - 50%]

[captainhornblower]

Yes, I'd say so myself. [Which was a relief. Even if he was perhaps a bit more solemn than others might like, it was a blessing to dine with someone who was not. With someone who they could breathe around.]

[voice - 50%]

[simplestgift]

Such a relief, Horatio. If it goes well, we should make it tradition.

[voice - 50%]

[captainhornblower]

...Wouldn't that be a treat.

[voice - 50%]

[simplestgift]

Such a treat! Horatio, a proper shipwright has volunteered to help us build!

[voice - 50%]

[captainhornblower]

A shipwright? Truly? It seems, Mr. Kennedy, that fortune is finally deciding to favour us a touch.

...God, Archie. I know, I know, it won't be for some time yet, but. Imagine it, Archie. A proper dinner for officers in the cabin of a proper ship.

[voice - 50%]

[simplestgift]

I already am, Horatio. Captain Hornblower, entertaining a fellow captain aboard his ship.

[voice - 50%]

[captainhornblower]

His lieutenant at his side.

The way it ought to be.

[voice - 50%]

[simplestgift]

The way it ought to be.

[voice - 50%]

[captainhornblower]

Tomorrow night. [He sounds like, were he a little less naturally composed, he'd be unable to sit still.]