Archie Kennedy (
simplestgift) wrote2011-11-14 07:33 pm
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Twenty-four bells: [Action]
[Luceti. Even the name is beautiful.
It's quiet here, but not silent. No cannonfire, no stomping feet or shouting men. No bars or guards or grey stone walls. Everything is lovely and serene and everyone is pleasant. Well. Nearly everyone, but that's okay.
In Hornblower's company, Kennedy stops by the bakery and selects, for some reason, cheesecake. He's never had it--not that he can remember, at least--and it is absolutely the most beautiful thing he can imagine. Chocolate cheesecake, smooth and rich and flavorful with a drizzle of raspberry syrup. He tastes it and doesn't just eat it.
They visit the tea shop and he is floored. They visit the clothing shop and he finds a new linen shirt, already made. They visit the library and...
And...
O the glory of the library. It's as if this town was created for his rehabilitation.
Hours are spent in the library until he learns he can take books out. Even then, he very nearly doesn't leave.
On the way home, he asks to be alone for a moment. When given the chance, he walks the woods close to the village. At twilight, he sits at the fountain, staring into space with utter blankness because he knows the pleasantness of this day is going to end.
He doesn't realize it when the moon rises and he's still sitting alone in its pale light.
OOC: Kennedy's replies will come from
babymid_archie. Meet him absolutely anywhere during the day or at night. Depending on when and where, Horatio will tag in as well, so remember to specify when/where in your tag. Share his rapture or cheer him up. Possible triggers--character is hella post-traumatic.]
It's quiet here, but not silent. No cannonfire, no stomping feet or shouting men. No bars or guards or grey stone walls. Everything is lovely and serene and everyone is pleasant. Well. Nearly everyone, but that's okay.
In Hornblower's company, Kennedy stops by the bakery and selects, for some reason, cheesecake. He's never had it--not that he can remember, at least--and it is absolutely the most beautiful thing he can imagine. Chocolate cheesecake, smooth and rich and flavorful with a drizzle of raspberry syrup. He tastes it and doesn't just eat it.
They visit the tea shop and he is floored. They visit the clothing shop and he finds a new linen shirt, already made. They visit the library and...
And...
O the glory of the library. It's as if this town was created for his rehabilitation.
Hours are spent in the library until he learns he can take books out. Even then, he very nearly doesn't leave.
On the way home, he asks to be alone for a moment. When given the chance, he walks the woods close to the village. At twilight, he sits at the fountain, staring into space with utter blankness because he knows the pleasantness of this day is going to end.
He doesn't realize it when the moon rises and he's still sitting alone in its pale light.
OOC: Kennedy's replies will come from
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It's a small, slender woman in baggy clothes who knows his name. So he holds still and waits for her to arrive, staring blankly and wondering if he's about to disappoint her horribly.]
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Every fiber of her being wants to pull him into a hug. The family she'd chosen. Having him missing from this place was as painful as having Geordie far from her side. Worse, even, because Geordie was safe back home, but in Malnosso hands Archie was far from that.
But he doesn't move to greet her. He doesn't raise a hand. He doesn't call back. And as she gets close, she can see that there's no smile. So she stumbles to a halt short of actually touching him and quickly takes in a breath as she works to place what has happened to him.]
You're back! Are you-
[she trails off as the tinier details, masked in shadow, begin to reveal themselves. She doesn't notice the missing inches. But observant eyes soon catch those signs of stolen years]
...wondering why I'm shouting at you....
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I'm going to guess it's because we're friends.
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She's quick enough to put pieces together, and she meets his gaze openly and easily.] And I'm going to guess that it's news to you, right?
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Evidently I've never had so many friends in all my life. I don't know what's going on.
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[a pause] How long have you been sitting here?
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I don't know.
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She keeps her smile steady as if she hasn't noticed his falter] Long enough to be recognized, anyway.
...Has anyone told you that you have a place here? A home? [did he already know Horatio was here? And would that be a good realization if he didn't?]
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[somehow she'd been sure that they would be inseparable once Horatio had found him.
Unless...unless he was from even further back than that. She didn't say anything more, for now, waiting to see if he gives any indication of how he feels about his captain's presence]
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It is, but it's not something you have to learn all at once. I've been here for ten months now, and I'm far from learning everything. No one is going to spring a pop quiz on you. I promise.
[there's a pause and then she offers her hand, shaking her head a bit at not thinking to do so earlier] If I know your name, it's only fair you know mine. I'm Jilly.
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A pleasure, miss. Ten months, you say?
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[she nodded to the fountain, then, still careful not to approach without permission]
Do you mind if I join you?
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It'll be harder to do this for long, soon, what with the winter coming. But I like it here. I like being able to see the stars on a clear night. I didn't have that, back home.
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What was it like there?
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[she's already smiling, thinking of describing it to him now. To an 18th century boy only just starting to relearn what is possible, it would surely sound like magic.
...Not that she didn't have plenty of those stories, as well] I'm from a time that's much later than you or Horatio. So things are a little...different.
Have you been in any of the houses yet? Have you seen the electric lights?
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If you ever look at the city from a distance, the whole skyline shines. It's just specks of gold and silver light everywhere you look.
[she shakes her head, fondly watching the night sky] The only thing is...when you're surrounded by bright lights so close to the earth, it makes it so you can't see the natural ones that are shining so much further up. They just fade out of sight. So instead of having two skys, we've traded one for the other.
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[she smiled at him, the expression easy and bright, even in the shadows.]
I miss it, sometimes.
But then, if I was there, I wouldn't be able to see this. [she gestures at the night sky swept out before them]
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We were friends, weren't we? You and I? I don't know how, but...
[But he trusts her, as much as he's capable of trusting someone he just met. Or maybe it's just that Jilly puts everyone at ease.]
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