simplestgift | 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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[a small smile] You've told me quite a few things that he's done.

...But if you mean about what he's done for you...yes.

[she can't be sure he'd told her everything. That wasn't the sort of question she'd ever ask. ...But she was pretty sure he'd come close enough that any remaining secrets wouldn't be enough to made a difference]

Then we do...understand one another, don't we?

We do.

[a small, apologetic smile] I don't think I can apologize enough for meeting you like this. It's not really fair.

Why not?

[her head tilted slightly] Because I know you, but you don't know me. That's not exactly fair.

...It's all right. Everyone knows everything, back home. At least you still act like I'm a man.

[Even though he still feels very much like a boy.]

Because that's exactly what you are.

[it's a calm certainty]

[No energy to argue the point. A faint, polite smile.]

Well. Not everyone agrees.

They don't have to. Dissent doesn't automatically make them right.

...I know.

It doesn't make it easy.

No. [A pause.] Back home, I'm expected to behave as a midshipman.

And you get there.

[leaning back, she fixed her gaze on the stars, considering] Expectations...they aren't bad necessarily. And you'll meet them. But it has to be when you're ready.

[she knew the questions whirling in his mind. Why could everyone else be ready when he was still struggling. What was wrong with him?]

[quietly] People try to understand, sometimes. Genuinely try. And the ones with open hearts or similar pasts get closer than most. But they can't ever know exactly what it was like for you in those moments when you know what hell and evil really are.

They can try. And they can push. And the best will support and chide you just to keep you from giving up. But they can't know. And they can't tell you when you should be "fixed," like there's some magical end-date where the past stops mattering anymore.

[she looks back at him, then, blue eyes on blue if he chooses to meet her gaze] You will be alright, but it won't be because you finally figure out the "right" things to do. It'll be because you're already doing the right things and you just need the time to heal.

[It takes him a long, long time to answer. After meeting her gaze for that last few sentences, he looks away and gives a soft sigh. But unlike his older self, he hasn't been so indoctrinated with "should haves" that he is completely resistant to her words. He hasn't had seven more years to develop his own belief system about how he should be. Somehow, he can allow himself to be put at some ease by her words.]

You believe that?

[she dares to reach over and lightly cover one of his hands with hers, letting her smile slide up to her eyes] Every word.

[His smile is soft and sad, but still a smile.]

Thank you.

You're welcome.

[she gave his hand a light squeeze and then let go, drawing it back to settle in her lap]

But, since this is a beautiful night now with no need of the future... how are you finding Luceti?

It may be one of my favorite places I have ever been. I've never seen such a library.

[a bright smile] I should have known you'd have found it already.

I'm pretty fond of the one back home in Newford, but it doesn't hold a candle to what you can find here. And not just because of the size. Where else do you get the opportunity to read books from other worlds?

I've found one called The Hobbit. I read the first few chapters, but it doesn't take long to know when one will become a favorite.

[Never mind that he, as a lieutenant, has already read it.]

Oh, I love that one! [the familiar name gets a delighted laugh] There are three more after that one that you'll probably like, too. Or, well, more than three, but the Lord of the Rings trilogy is the most well known.

I should bring the Narnia books by as well. They were my favorites, growing up, and they're short. You'll fly through them in no time.

...Perhaps you would have to know what he was like when we first met, but when I first started reading it, I pictured Horatio as Bilbo. Right down to the curly brown hair, everything fit except the thinness and the height, of course.

[she laughed] The reluctant hero? I can imagine that.

Sort of quiet and bumbling at first.

And just a tiny bit grumpy?

[her eyes might be twinkling a little]

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