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 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...]

[viliorate]

[...they barely have money to spare right now, of course it's not going to be expensive.]

Let's go out in the country for a couple days.

[sadisticwarfare]

Where in the country? That could be expensive, Kimbley.

[viliorate]

Out in the woods, you know. Not staying anywhere fancy, we can't afford that.

But getting away from everything for a few days might be nice.

[sadisticwarfare]

You know how picky I am, Kimbley. I'm not about to go camping, and I wouldn't want to stay somewhere uncomfortable. Besides, I barely get enough sleep as it is, leaving the city will only stress me out even more.

[viliorate]

[He frowns.]

What if I could rent us a cabin? Something with electricity and a nice bed.

[sadisticwarfare]

...I suppose that would work, but again it would be expensive. Why do you want to go somewhere so badly anyway?

[viliorate]

I want to get out of the city for a little while.

[sadisticwarfare]

...Why?

[Is it obvious that he has no idea?]

[viliorate]

So I can pretend this isn't all going to hell for a couple days. It would do us both some good.