captainhornblower | Eighteenth Dispatch

Eighteenth Dispatch - [written]

Thursday, September 6th

To all of you newly arrived: welcome. I offer my condolences to those upset by their sudden situation.

I am Captain Horatio Hornblower of His Majesty's Ship Atropos and Luceti Enclosure Ship Britannia.

Britannia is always seeking new crew members. With the exception of commissioned officers, there is no exclusivity expected of crew.

On September 15th, Britannia will set sail. We depart at two bells in the forenoon watch. [He writes in the margin: 9 AM.] We will return on the 19th. This voyage will be to instruct crew members in sailing a three-masted ship-rigged vessel.

All those interested are to contact myself or Lieutenant Kennedy by four bells in the first watch [another margin note: 10 PM] on the 14th of September.

Cpt H. Hornblower
HMS Atropos
LES Britannia

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

...So don't get my hopes up. Right.

I was on the ship in the hurricane, remember? Being sick is better than drowning.

[And over all, Amelia's not exactly keen on the dying thing, thanks. She's seen too much of it recently.]

It certainly is.

[He might have actually chuckled just a bit.]

Still, you'll learn ways to work through it and to ignore it after a time.

Wow. I would swear I just heard you laugh.

[It's rare enough that she'll tease him a bit.]

Hopefully. I doubt they're bringing in sand steamers any time soon.

Sand steamers, Miss Amelia?

[Not commenting on the laughing, nope.]

Ships that go through the desert--except they don't look much like your ship at all. They've got motors and are powered by Plants.

[Of course not. That's okay though, because she heard it.]

Curious.

[He has some idea of it, based on the things he's learned here, but... the concept seems strange. Something, he feels, he'd understand better if actually saw. Might not like or like being on, but would understand more.]

After we return from this sail, Miss Amelia, I aim to, with the help of Chief Petty Officer [a rank that doesn't exist where he's from, but he'll respect it none the less] Daisy, help train the crew on the use of the ship's guns.

Would you be inclined to learn?

[...At least he's gotten to the point where he'll invite women to learn the guns? It's improvement, at least.]

[It's probably true, but like she's already said: she doubts one will show up in Luceti. Truth be told, if there was some vehicle from home in the enclosure, Amelia would much prefer her jeep anyway.

Then he asks about her learning the guns, which isn't so surprising to hear--at least not from her perspective.]

Sure. I've worked with Daisy before too, on a few things. Is she joining up?

Hopefully.

We need crew and -- more importantly, really -- guns. Powder, too. [And those two things will probably have to come from the Malnosso. Much as he doesn't like the idea of doing their bidding... To protect the village, it's negotiable.]

Edited (I have a kitten. Who likes to paw keyboards.) 2012-09-09 20:52 (UTC)

How many people do you have?

[Asked out of honest curiosity.]

Guns and powder. You ever think of upgrading to something more modern? [Not that she's even seen the sort of guns Horatio's talking about, but if they're like the pistols she's seen, they're probably outdated.]

And either way--how are you going to get them? Considering how tight a reign they keep on ammunition, I don't see the smithy workers volunteering to make you something bigger.

Far, far too few.

[A pause.]

I'd prefer to discuss arms and ammunition in person, if it's all the same to you, Miss Amelia. I... don't quite trust these Journals, and until all is said and done, there are things I'd rather not be public knowledge.

It's fine. Are you free to discuss them now?

Of course. A stroll, perhaps? I could meet you by the fountain in a quarter of an hour.

I'll be there.

[Though maybe not as quickly as Horatio, if they're both coming from their houses. Amelia's got a bit more distance to walk, but she makes it in short order and immediately heads toward the man.]

Hey.

[He hasn't been waiting long, and he's patient. Especially on his invitation.

He straightens when she nears, raising his hand to his forehead in greeting, even if there's no hat to touch.]

Miss Amelia.

[She shakes her head.]

That's four times today you've called me that. I know it's a custom in your world, but I'm never going to get used to it. Just we're clear.

[But after her talk with Archie on the subject, she's not nearly so insistent about it as she has been in the past. Not so harsh, either--she may even be grinning a bit.]

[Horatio ducks his head slightly.] You'll have to pardon me, then. [And, well, it's only fair, really, to say it.] It is the same with many people here. I doubt I will ever get used to how easily they call others -- me, for instance -- by a Christian name.

[It's not a complaint he voices often. ...Possibly never, save speaking to Archie. Or perhaps once to William. But he shrugs his shoulders. This isn't the conversation he asked her to meet him to have. This is...

A trifle. He shouldn't give it any weight.]

Respect is assumed and intimacy earned, right?

[There's a reason she's bringing it up. It's a minor thing, but one she wants to get straight.]

I hope "Hornblower" is good enough for you off the ship. I'll be formal when we're on duty. Fair enough?

[The first remark surprises him, and he stops a moment to stare at her. It's a way of putting it he never thought he'd hear here, and an understanding most he's tried to explain his discomfort with calling them by their Christian names haven't shown.

There might be some new humility to the way he bows his head.]

It is most welcome, to be quite honest.

[The stare makes her let out a short laugh.]

Archie.

[Which is probably all the explanation Horatio will need. She nods when he agrees to it, glad for the understanding.]

So. We're going for a stroll?

[...And he smiles.]

Well. At least someone listens.

[A pause...]

Thank you.

[Because there is only so much bending he can do before it snaps and a harsh reaction occurs. A lashing out that he's afraid he might have if at least a few people weren't willing to compromise on the matter of forms of address.

If she will tolerate him adding "Miss" before her Christian name, he will happily take being called solely by his surname without a more formal start.

But he doesn't voice that, instead beginning to walk after a motion to her to come with him.]

I don't quite trust the Journals. But as to the guns. Archie and I... have one idea as to how to get them.

Sometimes. I'll find something else to be stubborn about.

[She nods when he thanks her, then falls into step beside him.]

Do you know how to filter conversations? I can show you.

[Even though she knows it's more than just the other villagers who can see the conversation.]

Alright. What's the idea?

Slightly. I'm not very good at it, though. But... the technology, even to the filters, might well have been designed by our captors. I don't trust that anything is actually safe from them.

[Trapped in a strange place by people he cannot access, let alone assess, he's a little paranoid. But he'd rather worry too much than be too complacent.]

We... [He doesn't like the idea. Not when he'd like nothing more than to help a revolution against the Malnosso. But he'd rather be prepared than not.] The Malnosso ask often for volunteers for their "missions," and they offer rewards for conduct on them.

It would be to our benefit to earn their good will and, perhaps, be able to arm ourselves thus.

Right. But I didn't know if you were just worried about the Malnosso, or other people here.

[Because there have been hints of it, in Horatio's last announcement before this. Amelia's not a fan of what it might mean, but she still feels better making the offer.

Then Horatio talks about the missions with their potential rewards. Amelia tenses slightly.]

I've been on two of them.

Archie and I went on one together some time ago.

[He's not happy about the idea, but:]

The smithy can provide us with shot, but powder and guns are not so easy. This may well be the only way to get what we need.

You might want to make sure before everyone starts signing up. The missions can be dangerous.

[Although she probably doesn't need to tell Horatio that, it's still worth saying.]

Eighteenth Dispatch - [written]

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