[action/accidental voice] and foward bends his head

[abidinglaw]

[It is a lovely day and Admiral Norrington is sat out on the steps to his apartment building as befits such weather, bent forward as though scrutinizing his own knees. Laid out across his lap is his uniform's coat, ripped during the battle dome debacle. Why has he come outside? The daylight will help his eye to guide the needle. His fingers,

Comments

[action]

[noprevaricating]

Allow me, sir.

[Archie is standing in front of the admiral and holding his hand out for the garment, having seen the man looking so pathetic from a distance.]

[action]

[abidinglaw]

[And wouldn't Kennedy be among those to see him in this humiliating state. His fingers are all band-aided by now. The reason why must be all too obvious.]

You. You can sew? Or do you seek to ..

[And then, after a moment,]

Sir?

[action]

[noprevaricating]

[He'll just offer to take the offending garment off his hands wordlessly, holding out his hands.

He can't believe he's doing this.]

[action]

[abidinglaw]

[The coat had been taken to be seen to by a seamstress friend of Buffy's, but Norrington had kept his undershirt to mend himself. It should have been a simple matter. It should be even now.

Allowing Kennedy to take it should be simple, too. If he was honest with himself then the admiral would acknowledge the fact that even if the boy were to stitch "kick me" into its back in glaring red silk he could easily fetch another from the square.

Yet he does not relinquish it.]

[action]

[noprevaricating]

[All right. The message is clear. And he's not about to stand around and be accused of plotting treachery.

He gives a nod and would touch his hat if he had one.] Good day, sir.

[With that, he turns to go.]

[action]

[abidinglaw]

That is why you came, then?

[Not to apologize. He had half hoped that the spark of honour that he had witness at the dance might overcome the boy's pride. Might shine, here, again.]

[action]

[noprevaricating]

[Archie turns out of habit with a "here we go again" look on his face and stands patiently as if waiting for the admiral to run out of hot air.]

[action]

[abidinglaw]

[No, that was all he needed to know. He waves Archie away with the back of his hand.]

[action]

[noprevaricating]

[So Archie turns and walks briskly away.]