[luceti] - Appointments

[captainhornblower]

Messages and meetings for Cpt. Horatio Hornblower.


(Please title and date as appropriate.)

Comments

Action | July 21 | Evening

[simplestgift]

Archie ducks his head into Horatio's room.

"Horatio? I'm off to John's soon. I was thinking tonight we could take a couple bottles of brandy to the Britannia to celebrate and get piss-drunk."

[captainhornblower]

"At this rate, Mister Kennedy, a proper captain would bring you up on charges of drunkenness."

But even as he says it, Horatio is smiling a bit, getting to his feet at the invitation.

"However, it sounds like a fine idea."

[simplestgift]

"Good!" Horatio needs to get amazingly drunk. Needs it. Archie heads to the kitchen to throw, on reflection, two bottles of wine and another of brandy into a bag with some nice Gouda, apple tartlets, and Ritz crackers.

[captainhornblower]

And, soon, the post-captain has joined him, leaning against the doorway of the kitchen. "Planning an expedition, are you?" He doesn't sound like he minds.

[simplestgift]

"Begpardon. I do own a foodhouse now, and it seems right this way." He slings the bag over one shoulder. "Shall we?"

[captainhornblower]

"We shall. Lead the way, my friend." He chuckles a little, offering his hand to take the bag or the like, if Archie would let him. No reason he couldn't help.

[simplestgift]

Okay, sure! He pulls both bottles of wine out of the bag and hands them to Horatio.

[captainhornblower]

Horato grins and takes the bottles of wine in one hand by their necks, heading for the door. By now, the path to the Britannia is well known. Is as familiar as the docks of Portsmouth.

[simplestgift]

It's a quiet, companionable walk to the ship. Once the quarterboat is moored to the ship and both men are on board, Archie heads to the captain's cabin.

"Good thing we have her. God, what I'd give to be back in the Navy, where these things are alive."

[captainhornblower]

"Sound every second, swaying with the movement of the crew as much as the sea."

He pours two glasses of brandy and turns toward the Union Jack on the wall. He raises his glass to the flag-- to England. As wonderful as it is, being here with Archie... He'd love to be back on in the Royal Navy with Archie.

"God save the King."

[simplestgift]

"God save the King." He raises his own glass. "I would say 'to our ships at sea,' but..."

[captainhornblower]

"To our ships at sea," he murmured anyway before drinking. He gave a faint smile. "For they are at sea, even if we are at anchor." And worlds away.

[simplestgift]

Archie takes a swallow of brandy, letting the burn ease the pain that statement brings. "I suppose I need to commission a dress uniform, for the wedding. God, I can't believe I'm going to..."

[captainhornblower]

"Can hardly believe it myself." He smiles, taking another drink. "If I haven't said it enough, my friend, I'll say it again-- Congratulations."

[simplestgift]

"Thank you." Smiling now. Kind of dazed. "And-and thank you for...I'm glad you're here."

And he'd better stay here, too.

[captainhornblower]

"I'm glad to be here." And it's true. He is happy to be here when he's with Archie. When he can sit and talk with his friend.

[simplestgift]

He downs...quite a bit of the brandy, then blurts out, "You'd be happier if you were home."

[captainhornblower]

He takes a deep drink. Not to put off answering but to think of his answer. Because... there are layers. There are always layers. "I'd have the Navy," he admitted. Another confession comes, much quieter, "And I'd know who I was. Where I belong."

But, then-- "But I wouldn't have my friends, and, God, Archie. I swear. Never doubt how much that means."

[simplestgift]

"It wasn't an accusation, Horatio. It was...an acknowledgment. Of how very difficult this must be for you."

He takes another swallow of brandy. "I've been thinking, Horatio, you've said I should keep you from being a Navy captain here, but...perhaps that's the wrong way to go about it."

[captainhornblower]

"They'd probably go into all-out revolt." He doesn't sound quite serious, but the thought does dog his mind. Still... He's been utterly unsuccessful in being anything other than a Navy captain.

[simplestgift]

"Why? You're not against anyone here. And any crew would be volunteers. We wouldn't have to keep a permanent crew, either. I believe it worked very well last time, asking for volunteers when the time came."

[captainhornblower]

"Why? He hates how simple the answer is. Why he's afraid of what will happen if he lets himself be Navy, if he tries to run a ship's crew with true Navy discipline-- even if he spares the cat.

"Because I don't trust them."

[simplestgift]

"What's the worst that could happen?"

[captainhornblower]

Have a look, Archie. You know what happens when you ask that question. Horatio knows what happens when you ask that question.

But eventually, he smiles a little. Because, well. What do he and Archie do best? 'Tempting fate' seems appropriate enough.

"Won't know unless we try. That what you're thinking?"

[simplestgift]

"Well. Those who hate us already aren't ones to worry about, are they? And what will they do, when they find out? What can they do?"