Seventh Dispatch - [voice]/[action]

[captainhornblower]

[Horatio Hornblower's voice is very calm, very quiet. It sounds... not even curious. He is almost stating a fact, rather than asking a question.]

Lieutenant Bush's things are gone.

Why? What is the meaning of this?

[His housemates... will find him in his own room now, seated at his desk, the journal lying open in front of him-- if they dare disturb.]

Comments

[voice, poorly filtered]

[captainhornblower]

Y-- Ha-h'm.

Thank you, again. For thinking of us.

[voice, poorly filtered]

[tehoniongirl.livejournal.com]

Of course.

...How dire is your need for distractions right now?

[voice, poorly filtered]

[captainhornblower]

Not too dire, I would say. [He does not take to distraction easily. And to make the poor girl suffer through his moods...

He wouldn't wish that on anyone.]

[voice, poorly filtered]

[tehoniongirl.livejournal.com]

Would you rather not have one? Or are you just being polite? [there's an edge of teasing to soften the edges of her questions. She's offering for his sake, not hers, and if his grief is helped more by being alone she's not going to badger him into company.]

[voice, poorly filtered]

[captainhornblower]

[It takes a few moments before he responds.]

Not today, Miss Jilly. Thank you, though. I appreciate your consideration.

[voice, poorly filtered]

[tehoniongirl.livejournal.com]

That's what friends are for, right?

[voice, poorly filtered]

[captainhornblower]

...It is indeed.

[There's a hesitation before he speaks, but the words have just a hint of warmth to them.]

[voice, poorly filtered]

[tehoniongirl.livejournal.com]

Tell Archie hi for me, alright?

[she doesn't need to mention that the note was for both of them. She knows Archie will find her if he needs to talk]

[voice, poorly filtered]

[captainhornblower]

I certainly will, Miss Jilly.

Thank you, again. For thinking of us.

[voice, poorly filtered]

[tehoniongirl.livejournal.com]

[she almost brushes off the thanks again. It's second nature to her. But she stops herself before she can, ending more simply] You're welcome.