Kiss of Life (1/2)

[anteros_lmc]

Title: Kiss of Life (1/2)
Author: Anteros
Characters: Horatio Hornblower / Archie Kennedy
Rating: PG
Words: 2184
Notes: Believe it or not this is a sequel to Friend or Foe, which I wrote in January 2010. I've been carrying the bare bones of this story around in my head ever since. It didn't turn out quite as I expected though :}

Comments

[eglantine_br]

Oh. Oh Archie. Thank you for this. I will never forget the image now of Archie fighting Hether with a belaying pin.

Brave lovely Archie, and Horatio being all young and earnest. It was good also to get a little glimpse of the other mids. It reminds me that they really made their own society, didn't they? Distinct from the rest of the ship. When they were all young it must have had some of the elemnents of a very rowdy boarding school! Nice to see that Archie holds his own.

[anteros_lmc]

Oh hello! Nice that someone's reading :) I know most folks are away this weekend.

Archie and Hether were always going to have a fight but the belaying pins were a late addition. And they really do belong to nodbear!! She's probably told you, she bought two that were used in the series at an auction! Not that she's daft or anything ... ;)

I like writing the boys all together. Can you imagine the chaos of the gunroom?! All our research suggests that the friendships these boys formed early in their careers really did continue throughout their lives and right into their later years.

Nice to see that Archie holds his own.
He's tough. He's had to be.

[nodbear]

it is good to be back in this world of your vision of the boys again - and I love the creation of the gunroom atmosphere and the humour which is as warm in places as we know it seemed really to have been, and shot through with the need Archie has to take heart - and he does so well.

And the sense that comes across of the spirit of the Indy - and oh those young men and their hope....

thank you for all that

Look its two middies with starry eyes in the icon - and I happen to know with a benign Bowlesy looking on...

writing the boys collectively is such fun I have to say - and yes, the gunroom must have been chaotic- if somewhere deep friendships were formed.

and of course for the real middies of the Indy they had available to rib the Captain's son, the First lieutants son and the Sailing Master's nephew among their number!

yes , belaying pins - I have two which I foolishly bought = one of which may be the very one that hit Horatio'S curly head - who knows >? They are fun to own though !

[anteros_lmc]

These boys are irresistible aren't they? Real and fictional. It's impossible not to write about them!

I'm very glad you thought this captured something of the real spirit of the dear Indy and her crew, that's what I was aiming for. Although I can't help feeling that as long as Cleveland and Hether are there carrying memories of Justinian with them, there will be a dark edge to the gunroom banter.

one of which may be the very one that hit Horatio's curly head
Having weighed up your belaying pins I certainly wouldn't want either of them hitting my head!

[eglantine_br]

I have a very small wooden capstan bar. (About the length of my arm,) which I bought somewhere. I use it as a rolling pin. Good for pies. goes right into the dishwasher and all. Have used it for years. Not as cool as your belaying pins though...

[anteros_lmc]

I am very intrigued as to what kind of teeny little boat has a capstan bar the length of your arm?!

If it doubles as a rolling pin perhaps it could also double as a cutlass? Perhaps you could try dueling with it and report back? :)

[eglantine_br]

I know. Its very weird. It is one though, I don't know, maybe from some sort of kid thing, or replica?

Archie looks appallled at my pie-crust roller. (No pies for him!)

[anteros_lmc]

I suspect the Admiralty were economising and it's from a teeny wee frigate.

Archie's not appalled! He's just...um...bemused! If he smiles sweetly will you forgive him? :)