Seventeenth Dispatch - [written]

[captainhornblower]

[Horatio knows.

The moment he wakes up, he knows something in the house is wrong. Cat-like, he pads down the hall. Young Wellard is fast asleep, so is Archie. He pushes open the third door and sees it.

The room is empty, utterly untouched.

William Bush is gone.

Silently, he closes the door. He showers, brushes his uniform twice before donning it, and is still out of the house at dawn. He goes immediately to the sip. To his beloved Britannia.

Will he endanger her, doing what he knows he must? This is reckless. He knows it, too well.

"It's always worked out for the best, sir."

He's only sorry it took William's disappearance to cause this.

On board, he pulls his muster book out. Beside the name William Bush, he makes a simple cross. Then, he goes to the wall and removes the Union Jack there. Less than ten minutes later, the colours are flying from the ship's mast, above the banner they commissioned for Britannia.

This ship, here and now, is England.

And he is an English captain.

Two hours later, he writes in the Journal, barely daring to breathe as he pens the words on the paper.]

Wednesday, August 15th

It is my honour to inform the citizens of the Luceti enclosure that the duties of the frigate Britannia have changed.

She is a vessel of war, meant for naval battle if the Third Party or any sea force should threaten the village.

To that end, she will need guns. Mister Haddock, I should like to commission another from you as well as shot. Lieutenant Kennedy will contact you later with specifics.

I am sure at least a few of you will not believe me, but I will state this now: this is not an act of aggression toward the residents of this village. My ship will enter into conflict only with enemy crafts, those who would harm the people of Luceti. Only acts of violence to persons or property of Britannia will nullify my offer of peace.

Respectfully,
Captain Horatio Hornblower
HMS Atropos
LES Britannia

[As he signs his name, he lets himself take in a breath. No warning, no discussion. Only Archie's encouragement a week ago he cautioned against.

Now, the die is cast. The colours are nailed to the mast. He can think only one thing:

God be with us.]

Comments

[voice/filtered]

[thedicearecast]

Hey. Don't give him too hard of a time, okay?

[voice/filtered]

[want_take_have]

[she's still incredibly amused and it's obvious in her voice, but she actually does listen. She happens to like Amelia. Unfortunately, her affection usually shows itself through trolling]

...Someone's protective. He a sweetheart or something?

Re: [voice/filtered]

[thedicearecast]

What? No!

[Seriously Faith, that's your first thought?]

He's a friend. Sort of. Anyway, something's off about him today. I don't know what, but it is.

[voice/filtered]

[want_take_have]

Someone's touchy.

[she takes another look at the snapshot in the journal]

He's not too shabby, actually. Name aside, I couldn't blame you for wanting to tap that.

[selective hearing, what?]

Re: [voice/filtered]

[thedicearecast]

...Oh my God.

[Amelia's pretty sure she just had this conversation recently with someone else. Apparently she just needs to record it.]

I'm not interested in Hornblower, or in--tapping. At all.

[voice/filtered]

[want_take_have]

Who's being hard on him, now? I mean, the name's a turn-off, but it could be worse.

Someone else more your type?

Re: [voice/filtered]

[thedicearecast]

[There's a frustrated sigh from Amelia's end. Honestly, is this really that hard to understand for people?]

No. There is no one else. There will never be anyone else, because I'm not interested in doing that with anyone, ever.

[voice/filtered]

[want_take_have]

Oh, come on. You're telling me there's no one here that makes you want to get a bit down and dirty?

Re: [voice/filtered]

[thedicearecast]

That is exactly what I'm telling you. I don't touch people, and I definitely don't want them touching me.

[voice/filtered]

[want_take_have]

Hey, I'm all for doing your own thing, but you need to broaden your horizons, girlfriend.

Re: [voice/filtered]

[thedicearecast]

No.

[voice/filtered]

[want_take_have]

[Don't mind her, Amelia. She's just going to be laughing to herself, now]

Re: [voice/filtered]

[thedicearecast]

[Actually, Amelia is going to mind.]

You wouldn't laugh if you got a rash!

[voice/filtered]

[want_take_have]

Seriously?

Re: [voice/filtered]

[thedicearecast]

Yes. It's an allergy.

[voice/filtered]

[want_take_have]

To sex?

...that's kinda messed up.

I mean, I've heard of sex giving you a rash, but I'm kinda hoping we're not on that level of sharing, yet.

Re: [voice/filtered]

[thedicearecast]

[Why does your mind leap to these places, Faith? Amelia groans.]

I've never had sex, Faith. [And even thinking about it makes her shudder and watch to scratch her back.]

I'm allergic to touch. Physical contact. I get hives.

[voice/filtered]

[want_take_have]

...that blows.

Even with all the fancy-schmancy stuff they got in the clinic, they can't figure that one out?

Re: [voice/filtered]

[thedicearecast]

[...And Amelia doesn't say anything, because she hasn't actually been.]

[voice/filtered]

[want_take_have]

...you haven't asked, have you?

Girl, you need to have that looked at, 'cause you are missing out.

Re: [voice/filtered]

[thedicearecast]

No. [And now that it's been pointed out, Amelia realizes she doesn't actually want to.]

I doubt it.

[voice/filtered]

[want_take_have]

tch.

Your loss. The guys around here might be a bunch of stick-in-the-muds, but there's plenty of eye candy, at least.

[Plus, there was no way Amelia wasn't going to be trolled about this, later]

Re: [voice/filtered]

[thedicearecast]

My life is so empty without it.

[It's the driest sarcasm she can muster. Seriously, Amelia means it when she says she's not interested.]

If you say so.

[voice/filtered]

[want_take_have]

Or hey, if it's chicks you're into, I don't judge.

[surprisingly enough, she actually means that]

Re: [voice/filtered]

[thedicearecast]

I'm not into anyone.