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

[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.

[all7seas]

"Estate, then. Surely there's a sheep or two wandering across it. It's Scotland. Don't you Scots have some sort of law about that?"

[unneeded]

Would you believe, Jack, that this feeble expression is a smile? But hey, you got one out of him, and it's genuine. But still.

"I suppose we've spoken before, then. Or that you've spoken to someone who knows me."

[all7seas]

"Hornblower? Aye. Though you're twice the pirate he could ever possibly be. Scots make the best pirates, anyhow. They understand freedom better than the English do."

[unneeded]

This talk of piracy would ordinarily throw Archie for a loop, causing him fear and doubt, but he has an odd feeling about this man. He rather wants to like him. It would feel very right to do so. Besides, him being a pirate seems to make sense. This is a mishmash of worlds, so maybe this is the honorable sort of pirate.

...Ha ha.

"I'm not a pirate." It's spoken with a pinched expression, like he has a bad taste in his mouth. "I wouldn't make a very good one anyway. Perhaps you don't know me."

[all7seas]

"Know you've got an appreciation for freedom and a way of pushing authority aside when it's the wrong type. That's not so very far off, is it?"

[unneeded]

It is, in fact, only half-right. This is before Kennedy learned to stand up to the "wrong type." He recalls a few things from earlier in the day.

"...Buffy said not to let you get to me, whatever she meant by that."

[all7seas]

"She did, did she?"

A frown. Jack reaches up to smooth his mustache.

"O she of little faith, eh? Well. Am I? Getting to you?"

[unneeded]

"...I can handle being puzzled."

[all7seas]

"Wonderful. Then when you next see Buffy, you tell her that I very much 'got to you,' eh?"