simplestgift | Twenty-three bells: [WRITTEN/ACTION]

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Twenty-three bells: [WRITTEN/ACTION]

This is Mr. Kennedy. The Britannia, Luceti's new sloop of war under command of Captain Hornblower, is finished and for all purposes ready to sail. Unfortunately, as she cannot sail herself, Captain Hornblower is in need of a crew.

Not many are required simply to sail her. A half dozen at least, although we should prefer more. We do not expect exclusivity--in Luceti, there is no point. If you are already part of another crew, you are welcome to remain a part of that crew and sail with us as well. As the winter months are approaching, we are not likely to weigh anchor for some time, so there will be plenty of time to train recruits who have no sailing experience.

Thank you, and I look forward to any questions you may have.

-A. Kennedy

[He's using the "Lt." less and less nowadays in his signature.

Tonight he'll be working at Cloud Nine. He'll be home late.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Mostly? It's a terrifying age.

I know.

And you? Way back then? Jeez. I would have died without Clearasil.

Without what?

[Buffy, they had smallpox back then.]

Cleanser. For the face. For breakouts. The bane of the highschooler's existence.

[Never mind.]

It sounds like it was horrible for you.

Forget the apocalypse. A zit? Total end of the world.

[ it should be obvious that she is hyperbolizing. after all, teenagerdom was terrifying for many more reasons, for her. namely the part where she barely got to be one thanks to the job.

oh, and all that dying. ]

It must have been. [You gotta joke about those things when you had a crappy time as a teenager.]

Or? Popular kid politics. Also a hassle.

[ one which she pretty much dealt with by...not dealing at all. new school? buffy happily lands herself with the loser patrol. ]

[There's a brief pause. Archie was very popular for a time, and wonders if the other mids hated him for it.]

Is it.

...There was this queen bee at Sunnydale High when I first arrived. As popular as they come. I was from LA so, naturally, she tried to drag me into her little clique of harpies. But nah -- I stuck with Will and Xand.

Far better to be loved by few than popular to many.

...Is that from a book? It sounds like it's from a book.

Oh, it probably is. Or possibly from a poem.

For thy sweet love remembered, such wealth brings
That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

[ that brings a very sudden smile to her face. buffy did always have something of a soft spot for poetry, even if she hadn't been able to study it seriously. ]

I like it. I like it a lot. I think I know the feeling.

I know I do. There was a time I only had one ally in all the world, and it kept me alive against the odds. That's what love will do.

[Gotta steer away from the potentially dark topic.]

I think a few of us from the Dark Ages are going to host a ball during Advent. I know it's best to have that sort of thing during Christmas, but it would collide with experiments and new feathers. So. A Christmas ball before Christmas. What would you think of that?

A party? Oh, Archie. I am all over that. And a ball? How...elegant-sounding.

Captain Aubrey will oversee dinner and supper. He's a most excellent cook. You must come, Buffy, you'll understand parties are fun where we're from as well. And how to dance as opposed to rubbing against anyone close enough.

Of course I'll come. Jeez, Archie -- it's not the era that makes the party, it's the people. [ oh hell but wait. ] I don't know...how to dance the way you kids dance. James tried to teach me. It...didn't work.

[ considering: ] Maybe I should ask Jack to teach--nah. No. That would not be conducive to anything.

I'll teach you properly. And I'll even find you something to wear, if you like.

Something to...what? Something from my very deep closet isn't cute enough?

[ deer in headlights. ]

I didn't mean that. But...Buffy, in a gown you would be the envy of all. Women would crave a moment of having your beauty and the men...

[A playful wink. He wants to play dress-up, Buffy, okay?]

[ ...anyone else? and she might have actually been creeped out. but it's archie and all of a sudden? she's grinning. ]

He'll go non-verbal. [ the name isn't needed. archie's words and that realization is enough to seal the deal. ] Alright. You've got it. Austenify me.

[You've got an excited sailor on your hands, Buffy.] It's settled, then, and quite the appropriate trade.

[ aha. dawn's party.

she nods. ] Very fair.

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