Fanfiction: Horatio Hornblower (G)
Title: B is for Bracegirdle
Pairing/Characters: William Bush, Archie Kennedy, Horatio Hornblower, Bracegirdle; Bush/Côtard, Horatio/Archie
Rating: G
Fandom: Horatio Hornblower
Word Count: 351
Spoilers: For Mutiny, Retribution, Loyalty, and Duty.
Summary: Captain Bracegirdle seemed to be a shell of a man when he finally made it aboard the Hotspur.
Notes/Warnings: Written as a sequel to C is for Côtard, Y is for Yearning, E is for Eager, A is for After, L is for Leave, I is for Inn, T is for Tangle, M is for Morning, R is for Return, F is for Fear, D is for Discussion, H is for Hammock, S is for Storm, V is for Voice, G is for Grasshopper, and K is for Kill. No beta.
B is for Bracegirdle
Captain Bracegirdle seemed to be a shell of a man when he finally made it aboard the Hotspur. He seemed scarcely able to stand on his own. Matthews and Styles bundled him below as quickly as possible, but William caught a glimpse of his face: his gaze was hollow and unseeing. It sent a shiver down his spine. He looked up when Archie joined him on the quarterdeck. "Was there no one else, Mr Kennedy?"
"No one alive excepting the French," Archie replied, his glass clasped tightly in his hands.
William watched the crew bustle around, setting the ship to rights. "Where's Maguire?"
"No one knows." Archie looked frustrated. "He must've slipped away during the fighting."
He stifled a sigh at that. In retrospect, it had been foolish to take the man ashore. Before he could think of something else to say, Horatio joined them, hands clasped behind his back. "Captain Bracegirdle will survive, in body if not spirit."
"I'm glad to hear it, Sir." William was quite sincere. He hoped he'd get a chance to talk with the man. Even as they discussed what the captain had found, part of William wondered if he'd look as lost and haunted as Bracegirdle had if he ever earned a command and lost it somehow. Unexpectedly, a familiar face came to mind, brown eyes warm and teasing as the sensual mouth curved into an impudent smirk. Perhaps not, if he had more in his life than the Navy. He banished Côtard's image from his mind as Captain Bracegirdle dashed onto the deck, looking more alive.
Both Horatio and Archie looked pleased to see their former shipmate up and about. "Still with us, Mr Bracegirdle?"
"It seems God had second thoughts about me, Mr Kennedy," Bracegirdle responded to Archie's comment with a smile.
William noticed the relieved glances Horatio and Archie exchanged and hid a smile of his own. Even though he barely knew the man, he was still relieved to see the lift in his spirits. Perhaps he'd live to command another ship after all.
End
Pairing/Characters: William Bush, Archie Kennedy, Horatio Hornblower, Bracegirdle; Bush/Côtard, Horatio/Archie
Rating: G
Fandom: Horatio Hornblower
Word Count: 351
Spoilers: For Mutiny, Retribution, Loyalty, and Duty.
Summary: Captain Bracegirdle seemed to be a shell of a man when he finally made it aboard the Hotspur.
Notes/Warnings: Written as a sequel to C is for Côtard, Y is for Yearning, E is for Eager, A is for After, L is for Leave, I is for Inn, T is for Tangle, M is for Morning, R is for Return, F is for Fear, D is for Discussion, H is for Hammock, S is for Storm, V is for Voice, G is for Grasshopper, and K is for Kill. No beta.
B is for Bracegirdle
Captain Bracegirdle seemed to be a shell of a man when he finally made it aboard the Hotspur. He seemed scarcely able to stand on his own. Matthews and Styles bundled him below as quickly as possible, but William caught a glimpse of his face: his gaze was hollow and unseeing. It sent a shiver down his spine. He looked up when Archie joined him on the quarterdeck. "Was there no one else, Mr Kennedy?"
"No one alive excepting the French," Archie replied, his glass clasped tightly in his hands.
William watched the crew bustle around, setting the ship to rights. "Where's Maguire?"
"No one knows." Archie looked frustrated. "He must've slipped away during the fighting."
He stifled a sigh at that. In retrospect, it had been foolish to take the man ashore. Before he could think of something else to say, Horatio joined them, hands clasped behind his back. "Captain Bracegirdle will survive, in body if not spirit."
"I'm glad to hear it, Sir." William was quite sincere. He hoped he'd get a chance to talk with the man. Even as they discussed what the captain had found, part of William wondered if he'd look as lost and haunted as Bracegirdle had if he ever earned a command and lost it somehow. Unexpectedly, a familiar face came to mind, brown eyes warm and teasing as the sensual mouth curved into an impudent smirk. Perhaps not, if he had more in his life than the Navy. He banished Côtard's image from his mind as Captain Bracegirdle dashed onto the deck, looking more alive.
Both Horatio and Archie looked pleased to see their former shipmate up and about. "Still with us, Mr Bracegirdle?"
"It seems God had second thoughts about me, Mr Kennedy," Bracegirdle responded to Archie's comment with a smile.
William noticed the relieved glances Horatio and Archie exchanged and hid a smile of his own. Even though he barely knew the man, he was still relieved to see the lift in his spirits. Perhaps he'd live to command another ship after all.
End