17th Fairy Tale § Voice/Written

[tehoniongirl]

[Two days being trapped inside a ship. Two days of increasing cold and a rapidly decreasing supply of food. They hadn't quite reached dire straits, but boredom, chilled limbs, and gnawing hunger were all beginning to take their toll on the trio trapped in the belly of the Britannia. If the storm was going to go on for very much longer, they'd need

Comments

[written]

[lists_to_port]

Darling Jilly--

Trapped???? On board the Britannia?! BE THERE DIRECTLY.

---Jack

[written]

[tehoniongirl]

Jack--

We're alright, but it'll be good to see another face. Is the snow still coming down?

--Jilly

[written]

[lists_to_port]

Jilly--

It's on its way out, now. I'll dig my way over. It's the drifts that are bothersome: in some places, the wind has near cleared the way down to the sand. In others? Drifts up to a man's neck. Is everyone well? Food? Water?

--Jack

[written]

[tehoniongirl]

Jack--

We're fine for water. We've been melting snow. We didn't have food for multiple days, though. No one's going to starve, [at least not if rescue was on the way] but I wouldn't say no to a meal. A warm one.

[voice]

[justaddmarbles]

Hangman? That doesn't sound-- what's that?

[ cultural differences as a basis for introduction? yes, yes indeed. ]

[voice]

[tehoniongirl]

[a small laugh] It's not as bad as it sounds. It's a word game, where you have to guess the phrase in a certain number of guesses.

[voice]

[justaddmarbles]

Oh, well, that doesn't sound too bad at all. Um. S-so how do you start playing? [ curious headcase is curious. ]

[voice]

[tehoniongirl]

It's pretty easy! I come up with a puzzle and I write it out so you can see how many letters are in each word. Then you guess letters and I fill in the blanks if your guess is in the puzzle.

Do you want to give it a try?

[ written ]

[slaying]

Jack said it was pretty blustery back home. You guys copacetic?

--Buffy

[ during a snatched moment of peace. ]

[ written ]

[tehoniongirl]

A little hungry, but we're fine. We just weren't prepared for the long haul.

It's good to hear from you. Are you alright?

--Jilly

[ written ]

[slaying]

Both hunky and dory. Don't waste energy worrying about me.

Deck? Are you on the ship?

[ written ]

[tehoniongirl]

We were painting the captain's cabin on the Britannia. It was supposed to be a day thing. Not a sleepover. The storm kind of changed things.

[Voice]

[shadedsunlight]

Tell me about it. I'm tired of sitting around.

Hangman sounds good if you don't mind doing the writing.

[Voice]

[tehoniongirl]

I don't mind at all.

[it could be a bit tricky, with the other woman unable to see, but it wasn't like she didn't have time to work around it]

Would it be easier for you to think up the puzzle? Or would you like me to come up with one and describe it to you?

[Voice]

[shadedsunlight]

Hmm... I should be able to keep track of everything mentally. Just let me know how many letters there are and when I'm right or wrong.

Six chances? Head, torso, arms, legs?

[Voice]

[tehoniongirl]

That's it exactly.

[she hesitates, thinking of a puzzle.] Alright, the first puzzle has five words. Four letters, four letters, five letters, seven letters, and two letters each. I'll remind you if you need.

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[abidinglaw]

[A game? Of hangman? And put forward by Jilly of all people?

Although it sounds like a exercise that he should surely excel at it is not one that he will rush into gladly. Indeed, minutes after receiving the invitation he reflects upon the wisdom of having taking the time to read around. Hangman. What a horrid name for a game so simple. Yet, it gave rise to a curious question.

Norrington has known for children to play make-believe games in which they took the roles of famous champions of justice and keepers of the King's peace -- but rarely. More often, in their studies and across the cobbled streets of London, they took up the mantle of renowned and infamous pirates.

A hangman stood on the side of the law. He was feared by rogues the world over. Perhaps in Jilly's world, the children imagined themselves honest sailors, naval captains, admirals.

A fine thought.]

"I believe I understand the terms well enough. I would play."

[tehoniongirl]

"Great!"

[and so she sets up a new puzzle for him, as well, unaware of his inner monologue]

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