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]

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.

[written; filtered 70% ]

[simplestgift]

Sometimes he does it to stay humble.

[written; filtered 70% ]

[herotypical]

It's cyclical. Wanting to stay humble betrays humble...ness.

[ she at least tries to be well-spoken. occasionally. ]

[written; filtered 70% ]

[simplestgift]

Why are we writing? [Yeah, it took him this long to wonder.]

[written; filtered 70% ]

[herotypical]

I don't want Jack to hear me. You're out there, aren't you?

[voice; filtered 70% ]

[simplestgift]

[Is that it? He switches to voice.] I went into town for groceries. Actually.

[voice; filtered 70% ]

[herotypical]

O-oh. [ well now she feels a little foolish; however, she at least sounds relieved to be speaking. buffy never is too fond of writing. ]

Still. Better safe than sorry, right? I don't think he'd...It wouldn't have been fair.

[voice; filtered 70% ]

[simplestgift]

No, you're right. I shouldn't stay out much longer, anyway. I still have to cook supper.

[voice; filtered 70% ]

[herotypical]

...What are you making?

[ so curious. she tries not to sound almost desperate for the knowledge. ]

[voice; filtered 70% ]

[simplestgift]

Salmagundy, trout, and clapshot.

[voice; filtered 70% ]

[herotypical]

...The only thing I understood out of that was trout. Or possibly Salma Hayek. Please don't eat Salma Hayek. Or -- dear God -- don't bring Salma Hayek for dinner with Jack. She's so his type.

[ idek. girl's all over the place. ]

[voice; filtered 70% ]

[simplestgift]

[A chuckle.] Salmagundy. It's broken lettuce with meat and cheese and whatever other vegetables you might want to toss in. [It's a salad, Buffy.] Clapshot is turnips and potatoes mashed up together.

[voice; filtered 70% ]

[herotypical]

[ half of her brain is still freaking out over salma hayek. ]

...Why would you ever want to mash them together? Why waste perfectly delicious mashed potatoes by sticking turnips in them? Yuck.

[voice; filtered 70% ]

[simplestgift]

William hates turnips, too. I don't like them by themselves, either, it's just a very Scottish sort of dish. Very hearty.

[voice; filtered 70% ]

[herotypical]

But gross.

Still -- maybe he'll like it. His tastes are weird.

[voice; filtered 70% ]

[simplestgift]

It's much better than it sounds. Gives it all a bit of color, the turnips.

[voice; filtered 70% ]

[herotypical]

Oh. Believe me. It's not. I've had it. Only, y'know, by accident. When someone doesn't divide the scoops of turnip and the scoops of potato up on a plate and it all just accidentally smushes together and ew.

The salad sounds good, though.