Twenty-four bells: [Action]

[noprevaricating]

[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.

Comments

[consultmybooks]

[Rupert is not far behind Kennedy or Hornblower all throughout the bakery. He ducks and dodges around them as he examines the displays, he stands behind them in line, and finally he stops and stares when he later comes across Kennedy blissfully eating his cheesecake.

The child can't help himself.]

What's that you're eating?

[babymid_archie]

[Little kid. Archie glances down at his piece, then breaks off a section to hand to the child.]

Here! Try it.

[consultmybooks]

Really? [Rupert looks up at Archie before cautiously shaking his head.] N-No, it's all right. If you like it, I mean. Do you like it?

[seventeensir]

[Horatio chuckles under his breath, silent for the moment but dark eyes watching Archie and the boy, whom he cannot place. But, then, it isn't surprising to him that there are children in Luceti he has never seen before.]

[fountain]

[lists_to_port]

[It is a quiet night, a good evening for a stumble home from Good Spirits. Jack, as a matter of habit, now, checks his compass for any sign of Archie. He is surprised when he actually gets a heading this time, and follows it with no small amount of anxiety on his brain. Kennedy, back?

When he sees the figure seated by the fountain, Jack gives a shout.]

Oi! Kennedy! You're back, man!

Re: [fountain]

[babymid_archie]

[Jack might notice a few differences. First of all, a midshipman's uniform. Second of all, about two inches of height, gone. Lastly, Kennedy is slowly rising to his feet and looking at Jack like a bear is lumbering up to him and there's no place to run.]

SUPROSE

[lists_to_port]

"Kennedy," the pirate repeated. "You're.......short. And you've been demoted."

Re: SUPROSE

[babymid_archie]

"...What are you talking about?" There's real anxiety in his voice. This is the first hint he's had that he didn't just arrive.

[tehoniongirl]

[The fountain, especially on a clear night like tonight, was a comforting landmark. The sound of the water, the central location, and the clear view of the night sky helped sooth away the stresses of the day. Today, Jilly was seeking that bit of comfort.

Finding a uniformed officer by the landmark wasn't unusual, and in the darkness it's almost possible to mistake the cut of the coat and the color of the hair. But the discrepancies, recognized even before she can figure out what she's recognizing, will not be ignored.

The hair is much too smooth. Too light. The face is too round. And she knows...

Even before she can see that the eyes are too blue, she's running, almost afraid to trust what she's seeing.] Archie?!

[babymid_archie]

[Kennedy immediately tenses, seeing someone run towards him, but...

It's a small, slender woman in baggy clothes who knows his name. So he holds still and waits for her to arrive, staring blankly and wondering if he's about to disappoint her horribly.]

[tehoniongirl]

[it's the silence that stops her.

Every fiber of her being wants to pull him into a hug. The family she'd chosen. Having him missing from this place was as painful as having Geordie far from her side. Worse, even, because Geordie was safe back home, but in Malnosso hands Archie was far from that.

But he doesn't move to greet her. He doesn't raise a hand. He doesn't call back. And as she gets close, she can see that there's no smile. So she stumbles to a halt short of actually touching him and quickly takes in a breath as she works to place what has happened to him.]

You're back! Are you-

[she trails off as the tinier details, masked in shadow, begin to reveal themselves. She doesn't notice the missing inches. But observant eyes soon catch those signs of stolen years]

...wondering why I'm shouting at you....

[babymid_archie]

[Pretty much that, exactly. But this isn't the first time this has happened tonight. He sounds weary when he speaks.]

I'm going to guess it's because we're friends.

at the library

[4000excuses]

[Being stuck in this place without his military and without a way to get back is disconcerting, but at least the library is large and free and no one is telling him he can't come in here. Japan has a few books on future military strategy as well as a few on his world history tucked under his arm as he passes by, still dressed in his full military regalia. He sees someone familiar and stops, narrowing his eyes as he tries to place the face.]

...Ah. The man from the journal.

[babymid_archie]

[Japan gets a highly reserved look. He sees the epaulettes, but he does not trust them. If anything, they make him warier. He wants nothing to do with the military right now, and the very sight makes his stomach churn. After a moment, he looks away, at Horatio.]

[seventeensir]

Sir.

[It's polite... but not truly friendly. Then again, that sentiment could sum up Horatio more often than not.]

[4000excuses]

[So the man from the journals and now a watchdog. Well. And this one has more of the air of England and his people. Japan looks to him and inclines his head slightly in a small greeting.]

I thought to inquire the state of your ship.

[picobartender]

[Is that... is that cheesecake? From a short distance away will be a girl bundled up in a winter jacket, though the dress of a New Feather is visible, and her large canine companion watching almost hungrily.]

[babymid_archie]

[Archie peers at the dog first, not sure if it's friendly. Then he looks at the girl, then back at the dog. Then, deciding this is far too overwhelming and he has no idea what to do about this situation, he looks at Horatio.]

[seventeensir]

[Another child. Strange that he hadn't known about so many. Still, one could only keep up with the New Feathers for so long before one simply accepted their presence.

At Archie's look, Horatio addresses the girl.]

Hello there.

[Not exactly a fountain of friendliness... but damned if he knows how to talk to little children. Or so he'll claim.]

[picobartender]

[Eep! They're addressing her. Ginia gives a shy wave and rocks a bit on her feet, not sure what to do next, before taking a deep breath and gathering up courage. She'll take out her little notepad and pen and walk over with a degree of bravery to present her message to them.]

Is that cake?