Twenty-Seven Bells: [ACTION/VOICE]

[simplestgift]

[January is proving to be a difficult month, but Archie is making it okay. It’s been just over a year since he arrived, just over a year since his death, and he’s been thinking about how much has changed since he lay half-naked and shivering in someone else’s bed.

He met and embarrassed himself in front of his first modern woman.

He met someone like him.

He tried to write poetry.

He tried a drink from another world.

He fought as Horatio’s first lieutenant.

He fought a duel and had drinks with the man afterwards.

He drove a tractor while purple and narcoleptic.

He found himself as a member of a family, and not only a shift-induced one.

He was reunited beyond hope with the dearest of friends.

He almost died.

He bought a cake and got drunk with an old comrade.

He designed and helped build a ship.

He became Robin Hood.

He became his old self.

He fell in love.

He fell from a hundred feet and survived.

His hair grew longer, he grew older.

He still has no way to let his family know he is alive.

He still can’t completely trust Jack Sparrow.

He’s more convinced than ever that he’s ruined for love.

He’s less convinced than ever that that’s something to be as ashamed of as he is.

He doesn’t want to go back to the Navy, and he’s not sure he wants to go back home at all.

He’s become something he didn’t think possible a year ago.

In spite of all that has happened and all that has been done, Archie Kennedy has become happy.

He hasn’t forgotten the pain of lying in his sickbed in prison or his deathbed in another prison.

He hasn’t forgotten shutting down before a midshipman and a captain who would take any word or gesture as an excuse to destroy him.

He hasn’t forgotten four walls touching him all at once or the overhead grating letting in not nearly enough light.

He hasn’t forgotten Christmas with his family, mince pies and contraband whiskey and stories of drunken shore leave.

He hasn’t forgotten flying for a few terrified, joyous, breathless seconds with the water coming up to meet him and Bush screaming in his ear.

…Not going to jump, and that’s my final word!

…Weak-kneed officers who don’t know how to keep order.

…iiiiitoooons neeeeever shallllll beeeeee slaaaaves!

…ister Kennedy? Just…look after him.

…Must get strong. Now drink.

…Last time, they locked me up in a hole in the earth for a month, with no room to stand up or lie down. Now leave me alone.

…Been a long time. Jack’s missed you, boy.

…It’s all right, Archie. It’s all right. A bad dream. Sleep now. Sleep.

Welcome to Purgatory!

He hasn’t forgotten and he won’t forget. But all of it, joy and pain, is only a part of a whole. The whole, at this moment, is happy.

His life then and his life now are the same life, two parts of the same story, despite what he believed when he first arrived here. What more valuable lesson could he have learned in only a year?

When he was a child, he’d loved his brothers because one has to love one’s brothers. As a man, he’d loved them because they were Finley and Neil. Luceti had been home at first because it had to be and there was no other choice. Now, more and more, it is simply home.]

[Today, Archie goes to the smithy to ask a favor of its weapon smiths (OOC: dibs go to Hiccup Haddock). In the evening, he brings home a bottle of Madeira and a ham to cook before work. Tonight, he'll be working the bar and tables at Cloud Nine.

Eventually, he speaks over the journals, tone light and warm but professional.]

This is Mr. Kennedy.

Any member of the crew of the Britannia is welcome to come with me to tour the ship in the morning. She's quite a handsome woman and I'd very much like you to meet her.

For those who've not yet heard, Britannia is a sixth-rate man of war with the capacity for twenty-two guns, but no actual guns. She carries enough sail to cover her namesake, so she's fast, and nimble as Jack jumping over a candlestick. Winter isn't the best time for sailing, but once things warm up, Captain Hornblower will be taking her out on her maiden voyage. As his first leff--first mate, I'm responsible for hiring the crew, so do speak with me and not with him if you wish to join.

[A pause. Then, he speaks very softly, with many sentiments wrapped up into two words:]

Thank you.

Comments

[voice]

[makeitquick]

Who's handsome?

[Missing something here, probably. Yes]

[voice]

[simplestgift]

[Then he remembers non-sailors don't talk about ships this way.]

The ship, miss.

[Voice]

[shadedsunlight]

A tour sounds nice. Any time in the morning?

[Voice]

[simplestgift]

Possibly around nine-thirty? If not everyone can come at once...well, perhaps everyone should. It isn't so difficult to obtain coffee and breakfast for a dozen men and women. You could all meet one another.

[herotypical]

Sorry you have to try so hard to advertise for what's obviously the second best ship in the place.

[ her comment is tinged with love and affection. this isn't competition; this is friendship. ]

[simplestgift]

The trouble in that sentiment has nothing to do with your opinion. Joanna Joyce is not a ship. She's a boat. A splendid and regal boat, perhaps the finest I have seen, and she could outmaneuver the Britannia with the wind on her side. She is, nevertheless, a boat.

[thelittlemacthatcould]

Think it's kind a' funny that y'called the ship a woman, but then you can also call it a man a' war too. Ain't too, uh, familiar with this kind a' lingo, if y'know what I mean. [He looks a little sheepish.] Hope y'like that lil' ship in a bottle thing I left ya, by the way. 'member you givin' me a tour an' then I thought, hey, this kind a' cute.

[simplestgift]

I...never thought of it, actually. Man o' war, merchantman, Indiaman, you're right. But any other time, a ship is a woman.

The ship in the bottle is residing happily in our parlor and I've been trying to think of a name for her.

[Voice]

[fleurdesel]

[A ship that had need of a crew. Adele knows little of sailing or working on ships other than it is cramped, busy, and more than a little hectic. But when she'd been young she remembered her father and a small sailboat, a tiny thing, and how much she'd enjoyed the sea. Madness induced by nostalgia forces her to respond before she can think better of it.]

Have you a surgeon for your crew Monsieur Kennedy? I believe that is what they are called in the navy, yes?

[Voice]

[simplestgift]

[A pang of sorrow as Archie remembers his fantasy of Leonard McCoy being ship's surgeon...which he would probably never in his life agree to, being terrified of water.]

We have no surgeon, I'm afraid.

[Monsieur. French. Great.]

[all7seas]

What, mate! Still having troubles drumming up your crew? [Jack has relaxed considerably after no actual guns.]

[simplestgift]

A third of the village would have to join in order for us to have enough from a naval perspective. We've barely enough to sail her, but we could always do with more.

action;

[dragoneer]

[When Archie enters the smithy, he's leaning intently over a counter that has a contraption looking something like a wing on top of it.]

Seems wide enough for lift...but what about thrust? Hmm...

action;

[simplestgift]

[Archie was about to start talking when he came in, but now he is very curious about the wing-like thing. He approaches at a slower and slower pace, staring as if he's trying to figure it out.]

voice;

[bravelad]

[ Paaaaause. ]

Mr. Kennedy? [ No Wellard, that is the worst opening no matter how hopeful you sound because he already said he's Mr. Kennedy. He even mentioned Mr. Hornblower- Captain Hornblower? Not quite right, but...

It's kind of difficult to believe he might actually have run into that sort of luck. A benefit of letting your curiosity get the best of you regarding the journals? :| ]

voice; 1/2

[simplestgift]

Yes?

[The response is automatic, and it takes him a second to register the voice.]

voice; 2/2

[simplestgift]

Mis...Mister Wellard?

[Archie seizes his journal with both hands and stares at the little snapshot. It's Wellard. Definitely Wellard. Archie tries to keep his hands steady.]

Mr. Wellard!

[He's real coherent.]

[Voice]

[rather_be_surfing]

Ready to be seen, I take it.

[Voice]

[simplestgift]

She has been for some time.

...I once spoke with you about joining the crew, when you were here before.

[mikandelinquent]

Aaa, damn. I'm one of the people who signed up, but I don't think I'll be much use to you right now. Just got tossed back from a kidnapping; my daughter'll probably ground me if I tried to sneak off.

[Yes, a mom being grounded. It happens.]

[simplestgift]

Another time, then? When you're feeling better?

[theoniongirl]

Think there will be room for stowaways on that maiden voyage?

[simplestgift]

Only if the captain won't let you come aboard as a guest. Naturally, I doubt we'll have any hindrance in that regard.

[voice]

[selphie_t]

Care for a little company on the walk down?

[Selphie's got the poker face on today, can you tell?]

[voice]

[simplestgift]

[A light, teasing tone:] So long as you're willing to carry a box of bagels, I supposed it can be arranged.

[voice]

[folklorist]

[ Ever since that air battle, in the sky, Helios' mind has always had the idea of a flying ship. It would be fantastical and probably difficult but certainly possible if given enough time. Why anything is possible with enough time and it's a good thing it's time they have. ]

Do you ever wonder about...getting it to fly? Maybe float. Flying might be a bit of a s-strong word. She sounds rather amazing though. [ Don't mind that question Archie, it's totally a normal question. But if you don't mind Helios also likes their little three man boat too. ]

[voice]

[simplestgift]

I admit, you've...happened upon something that's never once crossed my mind.

[nocorsetsplease]

[Not that it would have been much of a surprise, but Elizabeth doesn't find the need to introduce herself. She merely reports for the duty called by first voicing to the ship's fine Lieutenant she'll be there.]

I am eager to see her, Lieutenant.

[He might be able to hear her smile, for she's surely wearing one.]

[simplestgift]

Not nearly as eager as I am for you to see her. [Hey, it's Elizabeth Swann! He has to try not to sound like a schoolboy around her.] She's one of the prettiest ladies in the enclosure.