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]

...The social butterflies and the social rejects. We've all known a few. Some of us have been both.

[written; filtered 70% ]

[simplestgift]

[That hits pretty close to home.] Within a few years, yes.

[written; filtered 70% ]

[herotypical]

[ it's a shared home, at least.

but all this concern and other recent conversations makes her want to ask: ] Is it wrong that I call you Archie, Archie? Does it -- I'm not insulting you. Am I?

[written; filtered 70% ]

[simplestgift]

Not at all. We're very good friends, aren't we? When we first met, it...well, it wasn't insulting, but it's a bit more familiar than one is used to at first. Under the skin, I suppose. Intimate. But it didn't take long to get used to it.

[written; filtered 70% ]

[herotypical]

[ she underlines very good friends. ]

I'm glad you think so.

[written; filtered 70% ]

[simplestgift]

You don't?

[written; filtered 70% ]

[herotypical]

No. I do. But it's nice to know it's mutual.

[written; filtered 70% ]

[simplestgift]

That should never be truly in question.

[written; filtered 70% ]

[herotypical]

You once said that everyone's afraid of me!

[ look at the ice-and-steel warrior girl taking such things all a little too much to heart. ]

[written; filtered 70% ]

[simplestgift]

And well they should be. Doesn't mean we don't like you. [But then again, Archie fears almost everyone, in varying degrees.]

[written; filtered 70% ]

[herotypical]

It's like saying you want to be BFFs with the monster under your bed.

[written; filtered 70% ]

[simplestgift]

There's something to fear about everyone nearly everyone, isn't there? That doesn't stop you.

[written; filtered 70% ]

[herotypical]

You're pen-palling with a girl who's got two vampires on her dating roster. I think my understanding of fear's a little...broken.

[written; filtered 70% ]

[simplestgift]

I don't believe fear is something one stops understanding the more one experiences it.

[written; filtered 70% ]

[herotypical]

Stops? No. Understands differently, maybe.

[written; filtered 70% ]

[simplestgift]

Then your understanding is unbroken.

[written; filtered 70% ]

[herotypical]

You're too generous.

[written; filtered 70% ]

[simplestgift]

Just generous enough, I think. You, on the other hand

[After a pause, he just leaves that like it is.]

[written; filtered 70% ]

[herotypical]

A grinch, right? A heart two sizes too small?

[written; filtered 70% ]

[simplestgift]

You're like Horatio. You never give yourself enough credit.

[written; filtered 70% ]

[herotypical]

...Maybe we just feel like we've maxed out. Card declined.

[ another pun. wasted. ]

[written; filtered 70% ]

[simplestgift]

Horatio could rescue all the world and only remember the one life he couldn't save.

[written; filtered 70% ]

[herotypical]

Sometimes, Archie...

[ a pause. it sounds corny, but: ] Sometimes, the most reassuring thing is to feel the weight of the world on your shoulders.

[written; filtered 70% ]

[simplestgift]

I don't understand.

[written; filtered 70% ]

[herotypical]

There's a certain amount of motivation involved in guilt. That's all.