Twenty-four bells: [Action]

[simplestgift]

[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.]

Comments

[unneeded]

That. Is not a name Archie has good connotations with. But Archie is used to being mistaken for a child, even if he's unusually tall for one. Even the uniform doesn't help, on land. He keeps a distance between them.

"How do you know my name?"

To call it a demand is to overstate things greatly. This is not an assertive Archie, so the question is simply spoken in low, solemn, and fairly even tones.

[all7seas]

"We're..."

Friends? Were they, still?

"Friends."

Going with that, then.

[unneeded]

A dubious look. "We're friends."

Archie doesn't have a lot of friends anymore, just a couple of quiet supporters and Horatio. Having a man Jack's age as a friend doesn't seem very likely.

[all7seas]

"Right. Possibly we're not friends. I wore a mask once and told you some very silly things and then the moon fell. I'm not bloody well used to having them anyway, so what do I know, eh?

Let's go with something different: you saved my life in the war. Dragged me up out of the waves and into the boat with Leonard McCoy."

[unneeded]

Aaaand this mid is so confused.

"...All very interesting, sir, but perhaps a bit less of the contraband whiskey next time. Not all of it is safe to drink."

[all7seas]

"Whiskey's McCoy's drink. I prefer rum, actually. But of course you do not know that because you've no idea who the devil I am. Captain Jack Sparrow, mate. Fellow Luceti-prisoner. Erm. I taught you a bit of sword work, a while back?"

Maybe simply mentioning things from their shared past would bring back Archie's memory; it had certainly happened with others who had returned from kidnappings.

[unneeded]

There's a brief moment where Archie's face blanks, as if searching for something with only the feeling that it used to be there. Then, he just looks at Jack like he's crazy.

[all7seas]

"Nevermind. Good evening to you, Lieutenant."

[unneeded]

"Midshipman."

[all7seas]

"Lieutenant. Not taking THAT one away from you."

[unneeded]

A slightly uncomfortable pause.

"You're from the future as well, then?"

[all7seas]

"No. I'm from the present. You've been kidnapped and something's been done to your brain to make you think I'm futuristic. And they've stuck you back in your past, and you're highly different than this in the future, I might add."

[unneeded]

"...Slow down a bit and say it again."

[all7seas]

"I only just saw you a few days ago, Kennedy. You were older--a lieutenant. You were serving under Hornblower aboard the Britannia. You were making all of the necessary preparations---hiring on a crew and so forth."

[unneeded]

"...You're raving."

[all7seas]

"...Sometimes I am. About this? I am decidedly not."

[unneeded]

And now Kennedy is very, very worried. Horatio said he was going to be his lieutenant, but how could this so-called captain possibly know any of that? From their world, surely. Kidnapped and something done to his brain, though?

"...Go on."

[all7seas]

"Go on......? We drink together. We know many of the same songs. I'm from nearly one hundred years in your past."

[unneeded]

"I meant the part where I've been kidnapped and had things done to my brain."

[all7seas]

"Oh. That were just....speculation." The brain part; not the kidnap part.

[unneeded]

"Based on what fact?"

[all7seas]

"Well, for starters, on you being all different-like. And on account of the fact that folks around here often DO get kidnapped and come back changed."

[unneeded]

That is the most deeply unsettling thing he's heard since coming here. "...Very well. Since I'm so different. Prove you know me. What's something only I could tell you?"

[all7seas]

"Hmmmmm.......Your grandfather. He was a man of the sea, was he not? And your family's got a farm in Scotland. And you've a sister, and she's married. Hornblower's your best mate."

[unneeded]

"...It isn't a farm." Mostly, he's disturbed at the accuracy, farmlessness of the Kennedy family aside.