perpetual_motion | Hornblower wee ficlets [both Hornblower/Bush]

One of these days,

mcee, I'm gonna drop a Horatio/Archie on you just for kicks. Or perhaps I'll find someone who *enjoy* Horatio/Archie and drop it there, instead.

That said, these were written around April in

mcee's comments. It's fun to make her squee.

wherein mcee plays a young, unnamed midshipman climbing the rigging

"How's he doing?" Horatio squinted up towards the rigging where the newest midshipman was climbing with no small hesitation.

"He's not dead yet, sir." Matthews smiled at the Captain. "Seems determined to teach the rigging a lesson."

Horatio couldn't help the small smile that slid onto his face. "Somehow, Matthews, I doubt it's the rigging that will get the lesson."

"Sure you're right, sir." Matthews nodded once, then moved away from the Captain, knowing after years of working with him when he was done with a conversation.

Horatio stood in his spot and watched the midshipman struggle near the top. "Come on now, lad," he murmured under his breath. The boy's foot slipped, and Horatio nearly winced in sympathy. "Nearly there." He saw William approach from the corner of his eye and gave him a quiet hello.

"Hello, to you." William followed Horatio's line of sight up to the midshipman. "You know, I remember you once telling me a story of your first few weeks on the Justinian. You were not overly fond of the rigging, if I recall the details correctly."

"I'm not fond of the rigging now. I've just gotten used to it." Horatio gave a pleased nod when the midshipman made it to the yardarm and swung himself over. "As will he, I suspect."

William nodded. "Well, he's certainly taken steps in the proper direction." He chuckled lightly at Horatio's groan. "What?"

"That was a terrible pun."

"All puns are terrible."

"It doesn't make yours any less so." Horatio finally dropped his eyes from the rigging and looked over at William. "If you weren't such a fine officer, I'd send you up there as punishment."

"You'd have to come and get me."

"I'd do no such thing. I am the Captain."

"You should set a good example for the men."

"And I will. By sending them after you."

William's eyes crinkled as he smiled. "And how does that set a good example?"

Horatio smiled back. "It will show them how to properly handle a ship when the First Lieutenant is indisposed because of his own foolishness."

"So, up the rigging with me, then?" William made to remove his hat and hand it to Horatio.

"Put your hat back on, Mr. Bush." Horatio took a half-step sideways as the boat rocked and brushed his arm against William's sleeve. "I'll handle your punishment later."

William nodded sharply and brushed his own sleeve against Horatio's arm. "Yes, Sir."

wherein you'll find a testy Horatio and an ill William

Horatio watched with no surprise as one of the midshipmen in charge of dropping the sails fumbled the job and sent half the sail down while the other half remained tied. He sighed and shook his head. It had been that kind of day. He'd woken up that morning to a hole in his usual coat, courtesy of the rats, a tear in one of his stockings, courtesy of a nail, and William terribly ill in his quarters with something that looked akin to the illness that had hit the lower decks a few weeks previous.

It was, truly, shaping up to be a terrible day. And it was about to get worse. Horatio raised his voice and aimed it towards the midshipman who was sititing astraddle the uneven sail. "Mr. Smythe! Your sail is off!" The young midshipman didn't even look down at Horatio. He kept staring straight ahead. Horatio tried again. "Mr. Smythe!" Still no response. Matthews sidled up to him from seemingly nowhere.

"He's a bit slow in the head, Sir. And part deaf. Took a large rock to his head as a lad, as well as he can remember."

"A rock, Matthews?"

"Yes, Sir. Grew up a bit rough."

"Of course." Horatio looked back up at Smythe. "Climb up and point out his error, would you?"

"Yes, Sir."

"And Matthews, show him how to do it properly on the next sail."

"Aye, Sir."

Horatio watched Matthews start to climb and wondered if it was against regulations to tear at his hair and scream in frustration. Days like this he could usually handle, but he usually handled them with William at his side making small comments that helped Horatio keep everything in proper perspective. A midshipman mishandling a sail was a small issue in the run of things. It could be easily fixed, but Horatio felt like it was really and truly the last straw to his sanity. He decided that a break was absolutely necessary. He turned to go to his quarters and found himself at William's quarters instead. William had refused to go to the infirmary for something as insignificant as a fever and chills, and Horatio had allowed him the luxury to stay in his own bed.

"What are you doing down here?" William put down the book he was reading and looked Horatio up and down. "One of those days?"

"Yes." Horatio slumped into the chair crammed in next to William's bed. He took his hat off and dropped it to the floor. "It's be an awfully long day, William."

"It's only two o'clock. I just heard the bells."

"My coat has rat holes, my stockings are torn, you're sick, I've got a midshipman who, according to Matthews, is slow in the head *and* somewhat deaf, and the sails look absolutely dreadful."

"Oh, no, not the sails."

Horatio smiled tiredly at William's dry tone. "Oh, yes, the sails."

"Out here in the middle of nothing, you're sure to be court-martialed for it."

"I'd take a court-martial to the day I've had." Horatio shook his head at his own mood and looked at William with a critical eye. "You don't look quite as terrible as you did this morning."

"I don't feel quite as terrible as I did this morning." William wiped a forearm over his forehead. "I'm still very warm, but I think I may be up and working again by the day after tomorrow."

"So long?"

"According to the doctor, it's too fast."

Horatio sighed. "Whenever you're ready, I'll gladly take the help." He smiled a little when William clasped his shoulder.

"I'm sure you're doing much better than you think. I'm merely on deck most days for the sunlight."

"And I'm merely on deck most days to see you *in* that sunlight."

"And to run the ship."

"That as well." Horatio leaned over and retrived his hat from the floor before standing. "Get well, William, it's quite a boring ship without you."

"I'll do my best, Mr. Hornblower."