[luceti] - Appointments

[captainhornblower]

Messages and meetings for Cpt. Horatio Hornblower.


(Please title and date as appropriate.)

Comments

[simplestgift]

"Oh, would you? And how would we determine the veracity of either claim?"

[captainhornblower]

"Clearly, we'll have to wait for a Shift that will let us. Knowing them, they are bound to do it."

[simplestgift]

"They gave me a little silver bell, didn't they?"

And the memory makes him take a hefty drink of the brandy. Especially how Jack got it off of him.

[captainhornblower]

"They did. And made us children."

[simplestgift]

"And gave us the ability to say, truthfully, that we've known one another since we were boys." A beat. "Do forgive the joke, I'm afraid it had too much brandy to be amusing."

[captainhornblower]

"Better of a joke than any I could try and make-- and I can't think of anything at the moment, before you ask."

[simplestgift]

"Mm." Another drink. "Shall we commission another cannon?"

[captainhornblower]

He grins a bit wider. "I think that sounds like a fine idea, Mister Kennedy."

[simplestgift]

"Two cannons. Such a force."

[captainhornblower]

"Better two than none. And perhaps, once we've got her safe, we might be able to make ourselves of enough use to the Malnosso to better supply her. Cannons, shot, balls."

Even a man with a dream of revolution could make use of the supplies he might get from those whom he'd rebel against.

[simplestgift]

"And it isn't as if we can arm ourselves any quicker than we are."

[captainhornblower]

"We'll make a proper ship out of her. Guns and all."

[simplestgift]

"It's one more area of defense. The only one we can provide."

[captainhornblower]

"God knows it could be useful. If we can outfit her fully... she'll be a force to be reckoned with, even if she only has a skeleton crew. We'll at least be able to do something if anything comes by sea."

[simplestgift]

“We are men of the British Navy. We can do a little more than something.”

[captainhornblower]

"And, God willing, we will."

[simplestgift]

He grabs the bottle of brandy and refills his glass and Horatio's. "Come now. We're not nearly drunk enough."

[captainhornblower]

"We're not." He raised his glass and took a deep drink.

[simplestgift]

So does Archie, when he thinks of something.

"Let's play a game. Drinking game. And I know just the one. You've a draughts board aboard, I believe." He sets his glass down and rises to his feet, not as unsteady as he'd like.

[captainhornblower]

"You know." He gets up, setting aside his brandy for a moment. "I believe I do." That smile he has says he's sure of it. And he goes to the sleeping cabin to return with the board and pieces.

[simplestgift]

When he returns, however, Archie has already pulled out enough shot glasses, borrowed from the club, to play checkers with. And is filling them all halfway.

[captainhornblower]

"God in Heaven." Yet, even as he says it, he laughs a little. So, that's the game, is it?

[simplestgift]

"Don't you say a damn thing, Horatio." He starts setting up the board, grinning. "We've come here to get spectacularly drunk, and we shall do so. I am likely to do so first. You'll clean the deck with me, at draughts."

[captainhornblower]

"Well, we'll see about that." He smirks a little, shaking his head. "Don't know where you've picked up these habits, really."

[simplestgift]

"A beautiful pirate king. And years of service in His Majesty's Navy!" He makes a gesture. "Your move."