[luceti] - Appointments

[captainhornblower]

Messages and meetings for Cpt. Horatio Hornblower.


(Please title and date as appropriate.)

Comments

[captainhornblower]

I'll be considering it carefully, Archie.

[He knows the responsible choice. He just has to think how to make it. And how to tell his friends and lieutenants about it.]

[simplestgift]

[He knows when he's been shut down.]

Well. [He pushes away from the wall.] Keep me abreast of matters. What do you want for breakfast in the morning?

[captainhornblower]

[What other answer can he give? It is something that he'll need to consider, need to examine everything about it if he wants to manage this. It's a precarious position, even if he's sure he already knows the right choice.

He manages to force a smile.]

Whatever you'd like, Archie. [After all, especially with four of them in the house... They both know he won't be eating the largest share. He never does.]

[simplestgift]

[Archie nods, but hesitates before leaving.]

H-he's the better choice, Horatio. You know it. At least, where the actual duties of a first lieutenant are concerned. I won't mind.

[captainhornblower]

According to the customs of the British Navy, he is the only choice.

[And yet, the words... carry a weight that is not quite usual. There is no British Navy here, seniority is a relative thing now, and there is more than the world he knows to consider.

The answer is not as easy as it would be were they discussing a British ship of war.]

[simplestgift]

This isn't the Navy, Horatio. [It's spoken softly. Very softly. It's almost redundant, saying what he knows they're both thinking.] Not unless you wish it.

[captainhornblower]

This isn't the Navy.

[It's not quite a promise, not as far as his decision goes, but it's an admission. He knows he isn't in his familiar world, and that will be weighed with everything else.]