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

[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.]

[sadisticwarfare]

...No, he didn't. If he has any questions I can easily explain why you're in here.

[Maybe. He's not entirely sure.]

Go back to sleep.

[viliorate]

....I hope he doesn't say anything.

[The other performers he trusts, but some of the other crew members he isn't so sure about some of the crew members. What would happen if someone said something about the two of them?

They could maybe get away with using the same story about Kimbley being Archer's assistant because it's true enough, but...]

If I sleep all day, I'm going to be keeping you up at night.

[But he's smirking and does lay down on the cot.]

[sadisticwarfare]

We'll find a way to work around it if he does.

[Archer glances down at Kimbley, smirking a bit.]

You won't keep me up if you know what's good for you. Besides, you need to rest. You're not going to get any better if you're constantly busy.

[viliorate]

I'm not going to be getting better if I end up awake all night either.

[But he's grinning.]

[sadisticwarfare]

You don't have to sleep to rest, you know. Just lie down and relax, Kimbley.

[viliorate]

[He mutters under his breath, but does as he's told.]

When all of our problems blow over, we should do something nice.

[sadisticwarfare]

What do you have in mind?

[It better not be expensive...]