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]

Even twenty-six-year-old Archie would disagree, Jack. Even older, he's twitchy and afraid, but he's gotten much better at hiding it. But to this talk of things, Kennedy finds himself doing the very thing Jack mentioned without even thinking.

"...What?"

[all7seas]

"There! Right----right there! Nose scrunching!"

[unneeded]

Now that he's been made aware of it, he stops. "You're making fun of me."

[all7seas]

"No I'm not! Haven't taken the piss out of you for ages, actually!" There had been far fewer jokes between the men since Hornblower had arrived, that was for certain. "Everyone's far too serious around this place," he grumbles.

[unneeded]

"Clearly I've come to liven things up, then." There's some of that familiar irony, Jack.

[all7seas]

"Really, mate? And what, exactly, was it you had in mind? Wine? Wenches? Song? Erm.....not wenches. Buffy...not wenches. Wine? Song?"

[unneeded]

"...Not one for good old facetious jesting, are we?" Kinda disappointed Jack missed the lovely self-deprecating joke. "Wine and song don't sound amiss, though."

[all7seas]

Oh, he hadn't missed it. He just wasn't tolerating it. "Ha! Excellent! You see? We've got some bits of Kennedy knocking around in there still. Wine and song, then! And possibly rum!"

[unneeded]

In some ways, Jack was making perfect sense. There was, even now, an old Archie and a new Archie. The old Archie had an irrepressible light and boyish energy, something the prison took from him. He wasn't convinced he would ever get it back.

"And whiskey, if it's to be found." His comfort drink, even now.

[all7seas]

"They have some of the very best whiskey in there, mate. Scotch what would knock your grandfather right off his sheep! I say we have our way with it and then let the rest of the night unfurl as it will!"

[unneeded]

"...Probably shouldn't be out too late. There's a sort of tavern, isn't there?"

[all7seas]

"Good Spirits. It's nothing like the taverns of home---not so exciting as the Twelve Daggers or the Faithful Bride---but it's something. Home-like, actually, in this place."

[unneeded]

"Where is it?"

[all7seas]

"Not far. Why---did you have a pressing date? Hornblower need a bit of cheering up?"

[unneeded]

"I was only wondering. I'll follow you, I suppose."

[all7seas]

"Or you could walk beside me, if you're able to keep up." That cheekiness out of the way, Jack sets off for the pub. "Buffy might be working tonight."

[unneeded]

Archie does indeed walk beside him. "Tell me she's a cool lady and not...something else."

[all7seas]

"She's your friend. She's a magnificent woman, is Annie. Sorry. Buffy."

[simplestgift]

"Never mind." He looks away, taking in the sight of the town at night. A few heartbeats later, he quietly says, "It's dark. When did it grow dark? How long ago?"

[all7seas]

A shrug. "Gets dark early these days. An hour, perhaps?"

[unneeded]

"Then it's not as late as I thought." He feels tired, but that's nothing new. It's been a few months since he tried to starve himself to death, but prison food is not conducive to a reasonable recovery time. Neither, frankly, are naval rations. As a result, he's been regaining his health only slowly. It's worse on days when his mood is suffering especially badly, though. "I just don't want him to worry."

[all7seas]

"Hornblower will always worry about you. Put your dear old grandmother to shame with his worry, really. If you like, you could just put in a word to him that you're with me."

Because he certainly wouldn't worry then.

[unneeded]

He pulls his journal out of his pocket and stares at it wearily. "I don't know how to use it."

[all7seas]

"Nevermind, nevermind---I'll do it."

And Jack will pull his own journal out and jot off a quick note to Horatio.

"They're not so difficult. You're better at 'em than I am, believe it or not."

An admission he would have never made had Kennedy been acting his usual self.

[unneeded]

"Am I? I'd like to know under what circumstances, then."