All Standing

[idler_1814]

TITLE: All Standing
AUTHOR: Idler
CHARACTERS: Hornblower, Bush
RATING: G, gen
DISCLAIMER: Not mine, not for profit
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Book canon, set between chapters 16 and 17 of Lord Hornblower, as Hornblower returns to England.

With many thanks to Quarterdeck, the finest beta reader anywhere.

Comments

[anteros_lmc]

Beautiful. And very, very moving. Even though I haven't reached this stage in the books :}

Bush had been an honest and open soul, utterly and fundamentally incapable of deceit or subterfuge, but still, an intensely private man.
I love this contrast between openness, honesty and privacy.

it was wholly unlike him to loosen the tight-fisted control he customarily exercised upon on his emotions, an act which he could only attribute to the unaccustomed stresses imposed upon him as temporary governor of Le Havre.
This is so very Horatio. He could use some of Bush's honesty when examining his own conscience.

Oh, and just to echo sarlania's comment, I'm sure there are folks at following_sea who would love this but I fully appreciate your discomfort with cross posting.

Thanks for another very accomplished and moving piece of writing.

[idler_1814]

Thank you so much!!!

Even though I haven't reached this stage in the books :}

*sigh* I'm sorry: Welcome to Spoilerville. I'm afraid that reading the fanfic assures that not a bit of the books will be a surprise to you.

I love this contrast between openness, honesty and privacy.

I can hardly even imagine Bush and Hornblower simply relaxing together, shooting the breeze. To me, their relationship always seemed to have a distinct formality about it....particularly from Bush's perspective. And I think there are some subjects which Bush would not dare broach, given Hornblower's penchant for withering sarcasm and derision.

This is so very Horatio. He could use some of Bush's honesty when examining his own conscience.

Indeed he could!

Oh, and just to echo sarlania's comment, I'm sure there are folks at following_sea who would love this but I fully appreciate your discomfort with cross posting.

Thank you....I just hate to be "that girl who posts eeeeeeverywhere". ;-)

[anteros_lmc]

*sigh* I'm sorry: Welcome to Spoilerville.
Heh, no worries. You're right, I do know most of the major plot developments already but there's certainly no lack of surprises. I'm finding CSF's writing continually astonishing, and often very funny.

To me, their relationship always seemed to have a distinct formality about it.
That's interesting. Does that formality evolve as their careers progress? I'm only half way throughHotspur and you can certainly see their relationship starting to become more formal. Certainly more formal than it was at the end of Lt H.

I just hate to be "that girl who posts eeeeeeverywhere". ;-)
But you can't be. That's me! ;)

[idler_1814]

I'm finding CSF's writing continually astonishing, and often very funny.

It is! I find his writing to be deceptively simple. It seems straightforward, but it isn't always, and he often says as much by what he *doesn't* write. Either that, or I'm overthinking the plumbing.

Does that formality evolve as their careers progress? I'm only half way through Hotspur and you can certainly see their relationship starting to become more formal. Certainly more formal than it was at the end of Lt H.

It seems so to me, anyway, that both were careful not to cross the bounds of what was right and proper within the hierarchy of rank. But that's just *my* POV.

I just hate to be "that girl who posts eeeeeeverywhere". ;-)
But you can't be. That's me! ;)

Oh. That's okay...I'm probably too old to be a *girl* these days, anyhow. :(

[anteros_lmc]

both were careful not to cross the bounds of what was right and proper within the hierarchy of rank
It certainly seems that way from what I've read so far. I think one of the interesting things about the end of Lt H is that both characters are in that half-pay limbo, and with Horatio's commission unconfirmed, that hierarchy of rank is somewhat dissipated. It's also noticeable how quickly this hierarchy is re-established at the beginning of Hotspur. Although I did laugh at Hornblower reminding himself to overcome the temptation to tease Bush :)

I'm probably too old to be a *girl* these days
Me too, but don't tell anyone ;)

[black_hound]

That's interesting. Does that formality evolve as their careers progress?

Pretty much. Even in FC (Flying Colors) which is mostly set on land where they are men without a ship, the hierarchy of Captain and subordinate holds sway. Even in circumstances where you think it would/should not.

[idler_1814]

Thus their leader and subordinate roles are far more than simply an arbitrary hierarchy imposed by the Royal Navy. For Hornblower and Bush it's the natural order of things, and neither one chafes against it: that's why it works so well, and endures.

It's a point CSF clearly made without actually spelling it out in words, I think. He carried the 'show not tell' doctrine to an almost obsessive degree.

[black_hound]

This is such quintessential dog pack behavior. I love it. {And dogs.}

[idler_1814]

Dog pack behavior is sooo not limited to dogs. Dogs defined it, men refined it. ;-)

[black_hound]

This? Is now my new personal slogan. XD

[anteros_lmc]

I will certainly look forward to seeing how the relationship develops, formal of otherwise. I have just reached the stage where Bush is decorating the Hotspur's cabin :)

Even in circumstances where you think it would/should not.
There is an interesting contemporary account of life as a French prisoner of war written by an English naval lieutenant in Every Man Will Do His Duty. He makes it clear that rank prevailed in (almost) all circumstances.

[black_hound]

Curtains & Coverlets!! GAY!! WITH ROSES!!

Talk about the Honeymoon Hotel. XD

[idler_1814]

Curtains & Coverlets!! GAY!! WITH ROSES!!

The planning stages of this foray into home decor could be just hilarious to write.

[black_hound]

DOOOOO EEEEEETTTT!! XD

Can you just see BIG MANLY BUSH down in the foc'sle asking a seaman to paint ROSES on the captain's bedspread? OMG HILARIOUS.

And the hunt for the proper sailor. Asking questions about who can paint the prettiest flowers? OMG SO FUNNY.

[idler_1814]

Can you just see BIG MANLY BUSH down in the foc'sle asking a seaman to paint ROSES on the captain's bedspread?

I can, sadly. And I think maybe Styles figures in here somewhere....