LOCKED TO viliorate

[sadisticwarfare]

[Profits have been way down in the last three months, and if things keep going this way, they won't last another three. Archer has the papers out in front of him, scouring everything to see where he can make cuts, yet again. He knows no one's going to be pleased, but they're going to have to remove another act. He's been told that cutting people from the circus is like throwing out a family member, but the fact of the matter is that the money he's making won't support everyone. It's not as though Archer is hoarding all the money for himself - though he's not exactly as generous to the others as he could be - but he's never really felt like part of the circus "family". They're the family members, he's the landlord.

Archer twirls his pen between his fingers as he examines the numbers again, finally selecting a couple of sheets with acts that he could possibly cut. He'll have to get Kimbley to look over them before he makes a final decision. Kimbley isn't his partner or his adviser, but Kimbley is his friend, and he'd rather have a second opinion on all this.]

Comments

[viliorate]

It's just a couple of weeks. You worry too much.

[He takes the ice, giving an awkward smirk.]

I'm ready. I'm not going to cause problems for you, you know. I'll behave.

[sadisticwarfare]

[Archer leads the way to the car, then proceeds to help Kimbley get in.]

You'd better. I need to get as much work done as possible; I really don't want to fall behind.

[viliorate]

We can't really afford it, I know.

[Once he's settled in the car, he's going to stare at his hands for a moment. At least he didn't burn the hell out of them, because then he'd be a bit too helpless for his liking.

It's strange, he's been living with Archer for years but Kimbley still prefers to do things by himself. He shakes his head, but it's not at anything in particular.]

It'd be nice if you trusted me a little more.

[sadisticwarfare]

What do you mean? Of course I trust you.

[He's not looking at Kimbley because he has to keep his eyes on the road, but the confusion is very obvious in his words.]

[viliorate]

Then don't assume I'm going to be spending the entire day bothering you.

[His words are light, so clearly it doesn't actually bother him, especially because one of Kimbley's favorite hobbies is to interrupt Archer's work.]

[sadisticwarfare]

[Archer sighs in response. He should have seen that coming.

They arrive shortly and once again Archer moves to help Kimbley out of the car.]

Let me go get a cot; I'll be back in a few minutes. Wait in my office for me.

[viliorate]

[If you didn't expect him to be a pain in the ass...

But he stays put in the office, looking through a few of the books on Archer's shelf. He doesn't normally get a chance to do so, and since Archer never brings these books home Kimbley figures there might be something interesting there.]

Sure, I'll be waiting.

[So we're going to snoop. Sorry.]

[sadisticwarfare]

[All the books are on business, so they're probably not all that interesting. He doesn't have anything here to read for pleasure since he's always working when he's here, but there sure are a lot of business books.

Archer eventually returns with a cot, setting it out on the floor and moving his chair so he doesn't accidentally run into it.]

There-- Are you going through my things already?

[Dammit, Kimbley.]

[viliorate]

[Well you can't blame him for trying. Maybe Archer would have one novel laying around, you never know.]

I was just looking.

[He says completely innocently.]

[sadisticwarfare]

[Archer pinches the bridge of his nose, looking frustrated.]

Don't go through my things. Go ahead and get some rest.

[He has plenty of work to do, after all!]

[viliorate]

[Why are you so touchy? It's not like Kimbley went through your desk and rearranged everything in the drawers.

.....this time.]

Okay, okay, I'll lay down.

[He sounds a little too amused, but he does what he's told. He's not exactly tired since he just woke up, but he'll rest quietly in the cot. At least Archer will have time to work without Kimbley disrupting him every five minutes.]

[sadisticwarfare]

[This is good! He has a lot of work to get done. He's very focused on that and doesn't seem to notice Kimbley down there. It's a bit easier to concentrate when he's in the office as opposed to working at home, so there's that. Let him know if you need anything!]

[viliorate]

[Kimbley actually manages to nod off. Apparently he was telling the truth about needing to be around Archer to sleep because he was able to do it even if he's still in some amount of pain.

...hopefully none of the workers come in to find Kimbley asleep in Archer's office.]

[sadisticwarfare]

[They should know better than to barge in without knocking, and Archer's set Kimbley's cot over on the side of the room where they won't be able to see him if Archer doesn't open the door all the way. There's no need to worry about that!]

[viliorate]

[Well, unfortunately Archer isn't getting through this day without there being a knock on his door.

Kimbley is, thankfully, fast asleep otherwise he'd probably be a pest right about now.]

[sadisticwarfare]

[Archer glances up from his work, frowning at the door. This had better be important. He opens it just enough to keep Kimbley hidden.]

What is it?

[viliorate]

[It's the doctor from yesterday.]

I noticed Kimbley didn't come in today. I wanted to make sure everything's alright. I expected to see him come in even with the burns.

[sadisticwarfare]

[...Well, if it's the doctor...]

He's here.

[Archer opens the door wider so the doctor can see Kimbley.]

If you want to examine him you'll have to come back later.

[He's not going to wake Kimbley up for an examination.]

[viliorate]

[The doctor very clearly doesn't know what to make of that, so he nods, looking suddenly awkward.]

I'll be back this evening.

[And he's going to go now because how do you even take that.]

[sadisticwarfare]

[You just deal with it, of course!

Archer doesn't give it a second thought and returns to his work, shutting the door behind him.]

[viliorate]

[Kimbley is halfway sitting up when Archer sits back down, yawning.]

What was that about?

[sadisticwarfare]

Ah, I didn't mean to wake you. The doctor dropped by and wanted to know where you were.

[viliorate]

Did he?

I guess I should go look for him. He probably wants to look at the burns.

[He was enjoying that nap, too.]

[sadisticwarfare]

He said he'd come back later. If you're still tired you can go back to sleep.

[viliorate]

[Well, if you're giving him permission...

Kimbley rolls back over and looks like he may have fallen asleep again before he speaks.]

Did he say anything? About us?

[Because Kimbley sleeping in Archer's office isn't subtle.]