Twenty-two bells: [WRITTEN/ACTION]

[simplestgift]

[Filtered from known villains and Grell, 100% unhackable]

[The handwriting is disguised and the picture is obscured.]

For the benefit of the new feathers: if you feel unsafe somehow in your own home, you may go to the Welcome Center and be placed in a safe house until you can get back on your feet. There does not have to be a reason. Even if you have returned from a kidnapping and do not wish to be alone, this is available to you.

[/Filter]

[Later, another written message, without the picture obscured.]

To anyone who volunteered to help build the ship:

We will begin work on Monday, at eight o'clock in the morning.  We will meet at the fountain and walk from there.  It'll mostly be cutting and transporting lumber at first, I'm afraid, and that includes building a cart to transport the lumber in.

Thank you,

Lt. Kennedy

[Then, written more hastily a little while later:]

If anyone has stories about Dr. McCoy, I should like to hear them.

[Today, Kennedy is stopping at the grocery store and the smithy, hoping someone with experience at the forge will be up to the challenge he has in mind.

Tonight, he is back to work at Cloud Nine, mostly waiting tables and looking fairly miserable. It's his first night of work since Dr. McCoy left, and since he dislikes the job anyway, he's not doing great at it tonight.

Before he goes home, he will stop by house 7. He will be home late.]

Comments

[all7seas]

How large? How fast?

[simplestgift]

Twenty-two gun sloop of war, built for speed but not faster than the Joanna.

[all7seas]

[Not faster than the Joanna, eh? That is an important detail. Jack will file it away for later, when Important Details Shall Be Mulled Over.]

Brilliant. And who's to captain her? Crew her?

[he knows the first answer is probably "Hornblower," but he's still going to check.]

[simplestgift]

I'll give you one guess for who's to captain her.

[all7seas]

Does his name rhyme with Pornblower?

[simplestgift]

You have thus proved yourself not to be a complete imbecile, Jack.

[all7seas]

Thank you, sir! I aspire to no less!

[simplestgift]

[A real laugh.] We won't be troubling you, Jack. And I do hope you and I will sail together again, sloop or no sloop.

[all7seas]

There...will be a mission, coming up. I've got to collect Hector, you understand.

[simplestgift]

...Your cat? What happened to him?

[all7seas]

........Kidnapped.

[simplestgift]

...Your cat? What would the Malnosso want with him?

[all7seas]

The Malnosso didn't take him, Kennedy.

[simplestgift]

Wh...who then?

[all7seas]

[Jack is not sure Kennedy will be able to stomach this information, but what the hell. Why not.]

...Octopi.

[simplestgift]

...Oh.

[all7seas]

[simplestgift]

...I hope you find him! [Seriously. That cat was one of McCoy's.]

[all7seas]

I'm going to find him, savvy? Very soon!

[simplestgift]

Of course. [A beat.] I could help.

[all7seas]

Not sure you could, actually.

[Because you might tell Buffy and Buffy thinks he's going mad. Jack can tell. And she doesn't need any more upsets right now.]

...I'm telling her I need to bring Katie for a sail to ease her mind and soul.

[simplestgift]

All right, then, I'll...look after Buffy and Jilly while you're gone?

[all7seas]

I'm counting on it, actually. But I won't be gone long, Kennedy. Just a short trip. A quick journey. There and back again, fast-like.