![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
The sixteenth time
Fic: The sixteenth time
Regeneration universe
Characters: Archie, Horatio, Jack.
Rating: PG
Based on a variety of ideas from people including![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
jesstercat
Note: These folk belong to other people.
“What the hell are you doing here?” The thunder of a distant gun echoed clearly below Priam’s decks, sounding much more plainly in Kennedy’s ears down below than it had up in the open air.
The unexpected guest groaned, strained his neck until it clicked, grinned and then shook his wrist. “The Doctor has a habit of fixing this, on and off. Happens to be an on time at the moment. So I’m here.”
“So I see - and do I have to ask why? We’re in the line of battle, Jack – approaching the enemy fleet. Horatio will have enough on his mind without having to explain away your presence to the crew.” He considered the visitor. “At least you got togged up properly.”
Harkness grinned again. “I borrowed this from the wardrobe of that film that Horatio really likes – not the one about him, the one about the proper sea battle.”
“It looks like Tom Pulling’s rig. The one in the DVD, not the real one; however did you cram your tummy into that?”
“I got Ianto to let it out a touch. And I exercised. And I left off the sticky toffee pudding. Anyway, I’m here and I have news to impart, pretty important stuff.”
Archie groaned. “Has one of your villains from the future gone wandering off again? Have we not enough to cope with, squaring up against Napoleon?”
“There are some people who make Old Bonesapart look like your Aunt Maud. And don’t ask how I knew you had one. I have to talk to Horatio - he can say that I’m a technical adviser or something.”
“You need to do your homework, Jack. You might have advisers or spin doctors or whatever Ianto used to call them, back in the twenty first century – send down to snoop from Whitehall– but Horatio Hornblower would not brook one on his ship and he’d not pretend you were one.” Kennedy put his head to one side like a bird, thinking intensely for a moment. “You’ll have to be an envoy from Admiral Pellew – we had a party of captains come aboard last night and it would be easy enough to say that you’d arrived with them. The officers will believe anything Horatio tells them and the crew will think that you’re a spy in King George’s service and keep out of your way. Come on, let’s go and find my captain.”
“Aw, and I always hoped you’d call me that one day.”
“In your dreams, Jack.”
***
Horatio Hornblower eyed the visitor to his cabin with a degree of suspicion; he and Jack may have reached a truce and be almost on friendly terms but he still didn’t really trust the man as far as he could throw him. Especially with the news he’d just delivered. “Mr Harkness, are you seriously suggesting that we make a point of not attacking the fourth ship in the French line?”
Jack nodded. “The Striad; yes. As I said, she’s carrying someone whose life is worth a damn sight more to the future of this world than the outcome of this particular engagement.”
Horatio rolled his eyes. “Another one of these enigmatic occurrences of space and time?”
If Jack noticed the irony in the captain’s voice he did not show it. “You’ve got it. That man needs to live to sire a child and set up a dynasty or else the whole world goes to pot. And there’ll be no Cardiff for you to go dancing in so what happens to your past and future who knows?” He grinned. “The guy is likely down below or whatever you call it, so as long as you don’t sink the bloody thing, you should be OK.”
“And what about the rest of the fleet? We likely engage the French in no more than an hour – how can I think of some convincing strategy to tell them about why we should let that ship escape scot-free?”
“You don’t want her to escape, Mr Hornbower,” Archie had grasped Harkness’ intent much more clearly – he at least did not have any degree of jealousy to cloud his judgement. “We should take her prize with the minimum of damage. It could be worked – if we pierce their line as intended then she’ll be up against us.”
Horatio considered his first lieutenant, considered his visitor – the look he gave him was much colder – considered his charts, then nodded. “So be it. Striad to be taken with the minimum of damage. Mr Kennedy, if you could pass the word to the crew that these are my orders; they will no doubt come to some strange conclusion about my motives but that cannot be helped.”
Archie saluted, smiled at Jack and left to fulfil his orders.
“And so you’re here? We meet again.”
“Can’t keep me away, Horatio. I love this time and any chance I get to come back and renew acquaintance with old friends…only be assured in the case of Mr Kennedy it really is just meeting up with old friends.” Harkness grinned, and Hornblower at last felt some of the tension ease. He’d been worked up as he always was in anticipation of going into action, but the arrival of old teeth and britches had caused him a great deal of added stress, related – as usual – to the concern that the man would be trying to get inside Archie’s cot.
“Fancy being up on the deck then? We’ll need to rake her masts and then try to board her. The last thing we want is a protracted fire fight if you say this man is to be kept alive. One loose shot below decks and…” Horatio shrugged. “I cannot guarantee the safety of this ancestor of note but I will do my level best. And you can be at my side for the boarding party if you can promise me that you won’t use any of those outlandish weapons you normally carry. Or have my ear off with a sword.”
Jack raised his hand as if he were taking an oath. “I solemnly swear not to touch a hair on your body, Horatio.” He bowed and left the cabin.
Hornblower spent the next two minutes wondering whether there had been a hidden meaning in the phrase employed, until he realised it was time to go and address his officers and men for a final time. Bloody Jack, he mused to himself, he always was a distraction.
The action began, leisurely enough for the men at the guns who had been both watching the agonisingly slow (or so it seemed to them) approach to the French line and trying to gauge exactly which masts they should be aiming for. For Harkness, the wait had been absolutely agonising; he had read – or at least Ianto had told him – about the slow approach that Nelson and Collingwood’s lines of battle had made at Trafalgar but he had not been able to conceive how agonising that would feel until he experienced it. As he did now. By the time it came to prepare for hand to hand combat on the deck of the Striad he was like a little boy on Christmas Eve eager to be at his presents.
He leaped over the rail, in Hornblower’s footsteps, brandishing his sword like a madman and having at any French sailor who got in his way. He took a good look at their faces before he let them taste the steel, however – he knew whom he had to protect and there was no point in manufacturing this whole scenario and then screwing it up. The engagement was short and furious, the French colours soon being hauled down and Hornblower taking the chance – like Nelson before him – of passing over to a little French corvette which had somehow got herself entangled in the line of battle and was lying alongside Striad with a toppled mast preventing her movement.
This second action was more prolonged, partly because of the necessity of leaving some of the boarding party to keep the Striad’s men under control and keep some sort of order. And for years to come the men of both Priam and the corvette Ouiseau swore that the strange Englishman who yelled in the odd accent and swung a sword around like a madman had been run through time and again, only to rise and fight once more. Although, naturally, no-one believed them.
When they finally took their second prize and had opportunity to return to their own frigate and find the day was already won, Kennedy (his face rather bloodied where a splinter had nicked his hand and he’d used it to wipe his brow) and Harkness had been dispatched to find the man they needed to protect. He was brought back to Hornblower’s cabin, looking rather puzzled but quite at ease. Held captive by the French he had been trusted enough to be allowed to help the surgeon and was still spattered with gore.
“Captain Hornblower,” Jack bowed and swept this hand theatrically, “may I present Mr Churchill?”
***
They had descended the ladder – having decided that if Jack was going to use his magic wristband again it needed to be where no-one could see him – when Kennedy grinned suddenly. “Complete non-sequiteur, Jack, but thinking back to Boston when you and Horatio cooled your mutual antagonism. How did you do it? I always wondered and he won’t tell me.”
“I told him that after you had refused at least fifteen times to come onto my couch that I’d given it all up as a bad job.”
“You didn’t tell him about instance number sixteen?”
“When I got drunk and you put me to bed? I wouldn’t dare.” Harkness had sat down on a wooden case and Archie followed suit. It was mad, totally incongruous, at the end of a naval battle to be sitting in the hold, swapping tales with a man whose last port of call had been two hundred years in the future.
“I thought you could hold your drink, Jack, but that was an impressive display by anyone’s standards.”
“I could, I can. But Ianto had gotten hold of some really weird stuff – confiscated it from a spaceship that crash landed in the Bay or something. It had absolutely no effect on him – or on you when he slipped it into your beer, I remember – but it made me feel as if I could do a somersault over the moon.”
“I seem to recall that you tried doing a somersault over me.” Or vice versa. You were very athletic.”
“I had to be – you’re all muscle, you know. And scruples – I’ve never known someone cling to them so tightly.”
“And I’ve never been grappled quite so hard before, not by a friend anyway; thought I was going to have to deck you. Luckily you passed out before you landed more than a kiss on me.” Archie grinned. “What Horatio would have done if he’d seen us doesn’t even bear thinking about. Me with my shirt hanging out of my pants and you – you couldn’t get into bed unaided but you had your clothes off in a flash. I wondered whether you’d used a time device to speed everything up.”
“Could have done with an ‘incoming Hornblower’ alarm – you know - rival at two hundred yards and approaching. That might have saved me a few hard stares at the least. And allowed a kiss or two more than I ever got around to stealing.”
“And would you need to use it now?” Kennedy grinned, blue eyes dancing in a way that drove men of a certain persuasion totally mad.
“Oh, I’d have it turned on all the time I’m around you. Especially down here in this place – nice and quiet and dark. What would lover boy say if he caught us?”
“Not so much what he’d say as what he’d do, Jack. You’d be up that yardarm before you could say Ianto Jones. He’d tell everyone you were one of Boney’s spies and that would be it. Irrespective of whether you were actually up to anything. He still has his suspicions about your motives. ”
“Fat lot of use it would do him. Can’t die, remember?”
“Oh he’s clever, Jack. He’d have you up that yardarm every time you revive – a sort of repeating show. Probably as soon as the middies make noon, up goes Jack.”
“He’s a hard taskmaster.” Harkness grinned. “And he’s bloody lucky with you. I have a friend who once said that the only man I’d ever be happy with would be myself. Nearly managed it once, as well. But you’d be a close second.” He reached out a hand for Archie to shake. “Got to be going soon.”
“I know. Ants in your pants as my Mama would say in her coarser moments.” Kennedy shook the hand that was proffered then drew Jack towards him. “I don’t think that one kiss for old time’s sake will make much difference. And if Horatio hoves into sight we can say you were whispering confidential information to me.”
“Into your mouth? He might just fall for it…”
Regeneration universe
Characters: Archie, Horatio, Jack.
Rating: PG
Based on a variety of ideas from people including
jesstercatNote: These folk belong to other people.
“What the hell are you doing here?” The thunder of a distant gun echoed clearly below Priam’s decks, sounding much more plainly in Kennedy’s ears down below than it had up in the open air.
The unexpected guest groaned, strained his neck until it clicked, grinned and then shook his wrist. “The Doctor has a habit of fixing this, on and off. Happens to be an on time at the moment. So I’m here.”
“So I see - and do I have to ask why? We’re in the line of battle, Jack – approaching the enemy fleet. Horatio will have enough on his mind without having to explain away your presence to the crew.” He considered the visitor. “At least you got togged up properly.”
Harkness grinned again. “I borrowed this from the wardrobe of that film that Horatio really likes – not the one about him, the one about the proper sea battle.”
“It looks like Tom Pulling’s rig. The one in the DVD, not the real one; however did you cram your tummy into that?”
“I got Ianto to let it out a touch. And I exercised. And I left off the sticky toffee pudding. Anyway, I’m here and I have news to impart, pretty important stuff.”
Archie groaned. “Has one of your villains from the future gone wandering off again? Have we not enough to cope with, squaring up against Napoleon?”
“There are some people who make Old Bonesapart look like your Aunt Maud. And don’t ask how I knew you had one. I have to talk to Horatio - he can say that I’m a technical adviser or something.”
“You need to do your homework, Jack. You might have advisers or spin doctors or whatever Ianto used to call them, back in the twenty first century – send down to snoop from Whitehall– but Horatio Hornblower would not brook one on his ship and he’d not pretend you were one.” Kennedy put his head to one side like a bird, thinking intensely for a moment. “You’ll have to be an envoy from Admiral Pellew – we had a party of captains come aboard last night and it would be easy enough to say that you’d arrived with them. The officers will believe anything Horatio tells them and the crew will think that you’re a spy in King George’s service and keep out of your way. Come on, let’s go and find my captain.”
“Aw, and I always hoped you’d call me that one day.”
“In your dreams, Jack.”
***
Horatio Hornblower eyed the visitor to his cabin with a degree of suspicion; he and Jack may have reached a truce and be almost on friendly terms but he still didn’t really trust the man as far as he could throw him. Especially with the news he’d just delivered. “Mr Harkness, are you seriously suggesting that we make a point of not attacking the fourth ship in the French line?”
Jack nodded. “The Striad; yes. As I said, she’s carrying someone whose life is worth a damn sight more to the future of this world than the outcome of this particular engagement.”
Horatio rolled his eyes. “Another one of these enigmatic occurrences of space and time?”
If Jack noticed the irony in the captain’s voice he did not show it. “You’ve got it. That man needs to live to sire a child and set up a dynasty or else the whole world goes to pot. And there’ll be no Cardiff for you to go dancing in so what happens to your past and future who knows?” He grinned. “The guy is likely down below or whatever you call it, so as long as you don’t sink the bloody thing, you should be OK.”
“And what about the rest of the fleet? We likely engage the French in no more than an hour – how can I think of some convincing strategy to tell them about why we should let that ship escape scot-free?”
“You don’t want her to escape, Mr Hornbower,” Archie had grasped Harkness’ intent much more clearly – he at least did not have any degree of jealousy to cloud his judgement. “We should take her prize with the minimum of damage. It could be worked – if we pierce their line as intended then she’ll be up against us.”
Horatio considered his first lieutenant, considered his visitor – the look he gave him was much colder – considered his charts, then nodded. “So be it. Striad to be taken with the minimum of damage. Mr Kennedy, if you could pass the word to the crew that these are my orders; they will no doubt come to some strange conclusion about my motives but that cannot be helped.”
Archie saluted, smiled at Jack and left to fulfil his orders.
“And so you’re here? We meet again.”
“Can’t keep me away, Horatio. I love this time and any chance I get to come back and renew acquaintance with old friends…only be assured in the case of Mr Kennedy it really is just meeting up with old friends.” Harkness grinned, and Hornblower at last felt some of the tension ease. He’d been worked up as he always was in anticipation of going into action, but the arrival of old teeth and britches had caused him a great deal of added stress, related – as usual – to the concern that the man would be trying to get inside Archie’s cot.
“Fancy being up on the deck then? We’ll need to rake her masts and then try to board her. The last thing we want is a protracted fire fight if you say this man is to be kept alive. One loose shot below decks and…” Horatio shrugged. “I cannot guarantee the safety of this ancestor of note but I will do my level best. And you can be at my side for the boarding party if you can promise me that you won’t use any of those outlandish weapons you normally carry. Or have my ear off with a sword.”
Jack raised his hand as if he were taking an oath. “I solemnly swear not to touch a hair on your body, Horatio.” He bowed and left the cabin.
Hornblower spent the next two minutes wondering whether there had been a hidden meaning in the phrase employed, until he realised it was time to go and address his officers and men for a final time. Bloody Jack, he mused to himself, he always was a distraction.
The action began, leisurely enough for the men at the guns who had been both watching the agonisingly slow (or so it seemed to them) approach to the French line and trying to gauge exactly which masts they should be aiming for. For Harkness, the wait had been absolutely agonising; he had read – or at least Ianto had told him – about the slow approach that Nelson and Collingwood’s lines of battle had made at Trafalgar but he had not been able to conceive how agonising that would feel until he experienced it. As he did now. By the time it came to prepare for hand to hand combat on the deck of the Striad he was like a little boy on Christmas Eve eager to be at his presents.
He leaped over the rail, in Hornblower’s footsteps, brandishing his sword like a madman and having at any French sailor who got in his way. He took a good look at their faces before he let them taste the steel, however – he knew whom he had to protect and there was no point in manufacturing this whole scenario and then screwing it up. The engagement was short and furious, the French colours soon being hauled down and Hornblower taking the chance – like Nelson before him – of passing over to a little French corvette which had somehow got herself entangled in the line of battle and was lying alongside Striad with a toppled mast preventing her movement.
This second action was more prolonged, partly because of the necessity of leaving some of the boarding party to keep the Striad’s men under control and keep some sort of order. And for years to come the men of both Priam and the corvette Ouiseau swore that the strange Englishman who yelled in the odd accent and swung a sword around like a madman had been run through time and again, only to rise and fight once more. Although, naturally, no-one believed them.
When they finally took their second prize and had opportunity to return to their own frigate and find the day was already won, Kennedy (his face rather bloodied where a splinter had nicked his hand and he’d used it to wipe his brow) and Harkness had been dispatched to find the man they needed to protect. He was brought back to Hornblower’s cabin, looking rather puzzled but quite at ease. Held captive by the French he had been trusted enough to be allowed to help the surgeon and was still spattered with gore.
“Captain Hornblower,” Jack bowed and swept this hand theatrically, “may I present Mr Churchill?”
***
They had descended the ladder – having decided that if Jack was going to use his magic wristband again it needed to be where no-one could see him – when Kennedy grinned suddenly. “Complete non-sequiteur, Jack, but thinking back to Boston when you and Horatio cooled your mutual antagonism. How did you do it? I always wondered and he won’t tell me.”
“I told him that after you had refused at least fifteen times to come onto my couch that I’d given it all up as a bad job.”
“You didn’t tell him about instance number sixteen?”
“When I got drunk and you put me to bed? I wouldn’t dare.” Harkness had sat down on a wooden case and Archie followed suit. It was mad, totally incongruous, at the end of a naval battle to be sitting in the hold, swapping tales with a man whose last port of call had been two hundred years in the future.
“I thought you could hold your drink, Jack, but that was an impressive display by anyone’s standards.”
“I could, I can. But Ianto had gotten hold of some really weird stuff – confiscated it from a spaceship that crash landed in the Bay or something. It had absolutely no effect on him – or on you when he slipped it into your beer, I remember – but it made me feel as if I could do a somersault over the moon.”
“I seem to recall that you tried doing a somersault over me.” Or vice versa. You were very athletic.”
“I had to be – you’re all muscle, you know. And scruples – I’ve never known someone cling to them so tightly.”
“And I’ve never been grappled quite so hard before, not by a friend anyway; thought I was going to have to deck you. Luckily you passed out before you landed more than a kiss on me.” Archie grinned. “What Horatio would have done if he’d seen us doesn’t even bear thinking about. Me with my shirt hanging out of my pants and you – you couldn’t get into bed unaided but you had your clothes off in a flash. I wondered whether you’d used a time device to speed everything up.”
“Could have done with an ‘incoming Hornblower’ alarm – you know - rival at two hundred yards and approaching. That might have saved me a few hard stares at the least. And allowed a kiss or two more than I ever got around to stealing.”
“And would you need to use it now?” Kennedy grinned, blue eyes dancing in a way that drove men of a certain persuasion totally mad.
“Oh, I’d have it turned on all the time I’m around you. Especially down here in this place – nice and quiet and dark. What would lover boy say if he caught us?”
“Not so much what he’d say as what he’d do, Jack. You’d be up that yardarm before you could say Ianto Jones. He’d tell everyone you were one of Boney’s spies and that would be it. Irrespective of whether you were actually up to anything. He still has his suspicions about your motives. ”
“Fat lot of use it would do him. Can’t die, remember?”
“Oh he’s clever, Jack. He’d have you up that yardarm every time you revive – a sort of repeating show. Probably as soon as the middies make noon, up goes Jack.”
“He’s a hard taskmaster.” Harkness grinned. “And he’s bloody lucky with you. I have a friend who once said that the only man I’d ever be happy with would be myself. Nearly managed it once, as well. But you’d be a close second.” He reached out a hand for Archie to shake. “Got to be going soon.”
“I know. Ants in your pants as my Mama would say in her coarser moments.” Kennedy shook the hand that was proffered then drew Jack towards him. “I don’t think that one kiss for old time’s sake will make much difference. And if Horatio hoves into sight we can say you were whispering confidential information to me.”
“Into your mouth? He might just fall for it…”
no subject
“Captain Hornblower,” Jack bowed and swept this hand theatrically, “may I present Mr Churchill?”
This made me laugh. Of all the people it could have been, I hadn't expected Churchill's line. *grin* I told my sister and she laughed, too.
I like that last scene, where Jack accepts that Archie will cleave only unto 'Ratio, but that Archie doesn't mind sharing a kiss or two with him. It's very lovely. I hope the Bride's boys get to that point eventually.
no subject
I don't know where Churchill sprang from, except that he's a hero of ours. I have been naughty and not checked whetehr this works in terms of the real Churchill line, and I should.
I don't think the Bride's boys will ever get to the 'share a kiss' situation - Archie couldn't trust himself for one thing.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
no subject
Loved the M&C reference.
ROTFLMAO
I did note that he said "body", not "head". Wondered what you might be up to, but it was nothing!
Good one! Didn't guess it (must confess, big day at work, didn't even try, just enjoyed the surprise)
Poor Jack. I did feel sorry for him.
As for kissing Jack, well, I agree, it would be nice to think that they can embrace as friends without the green eye of the little yellow god worming its way between H & A.
Thanks for the pleasure
no subject
I do love my O'Brian and am determined to do homage to him.
The hair on the body line was originally a sort of mistype or Freudian - but I felt I had to keep it.
I feel sorry for Jack as well - as the Doctor says he's not right somehow. I hope that he and Archie can just be pals. In the words of the immortal Flanders ans Swann - 'Friens, just friends...'
no subject
These folk belong to other people.
Naturally. I'll take Jack and you can have Archie? Or shall we share? *g*
however did you cram your tummy into that?
I was about to ask the same thing! It seems he's developing a bit of a (lovely, cute and delightful) belly.
I solemnly swear not to touch a hair on your body, Horatio.
*falls over laughing* I think Jack is remembering seeing the deck shower in Mutiny - not a hair to be seen. *g*
I wasn't expecting Mr Churchill, I was trying to think of likely suspects but couldn't come up with anyone definite. I suppose that dynasty ended up being quite important :P
BTW you have a stray / in the italics coding for Ouiseau and a missing(?) " in the somersault line.
no subject
We can share. I can has Jack tomoz. I wub hiz tummy. Itz so cuddlee.
I really have no idea where the 'hair on your body' line came from - it makes no sense but it had to stay.
Thanks for the beta - managed to miss those entirely. I blame Scoot.
no subject
And it was so lovely to see Horatio really captain-y; he doesn't get to show off very often, poor dear, and he's really fantastic in this. Still suspicious of ol' teeth-n-braces, but willing to come to a truce. (The fact that he's a *mite* busy planning a battle might come into this.)
And Archie and Jack are very, very naughty, yes they are. And I love 'em for it.
no subject
I liked Horatio being all tough and full of masterly qualities - he's quite fun to write when he's being the natural leader. And I think he sees the truce as being expedient. If this had happened during blockade duty, fireworks might have ensued.
Archie and jack are the worst little scamps. Just as well this isn't 'true'. :)
Thanks.
no subject
I loved this! I was wracking my brains trying to think who the important ancestor would be, but never thought of Churchill. Jack and Archie are so naughty :)
no subject
And J and A are the naughtiest rabbits in rabbitdom....
(no subject)
(no subject)
no subject
I got Ianto to let it out a touch. And I exercised. And I left off the sticky toffee pudding. *glee* Also, the mental image of Jack in Pullings's uniform is a very nice one.
Mr. Churchill was a surprise, but appropriate considering all of Jack's connections with WWII.
Also, Archie and Jack are very bad boys and deserve spankings. Heh.
no subject
Yes - sticky toffee pudding joke again.
Tom Pullings is the most lovely thing in M and C - he looks fabulous in that uniform.
Do you know I never thought of the Jack/WWII connection - I just chose a national (and household) hero.
Archie and Jack have been spanked by me already, but if you want to double the dose, feel free.
(no subject)
Sixteenth Time - I
OH archie. It's such an old married couple thing to say about his horatio.
#"I borrowed this from the wardrobe of that film that Horatio really likes#
*g* Cute of jack to refer to it that way: 'that film horatio likes'. Or perhaps he forgot the name of the film. It did have a rather ponderous title. And why did they combine book 1 and book 11????
#not the one about him, the one about the proper sea battle."#
Indeed, indeed. Jack has good taste in cinema/film.
#"It looks like Tom Pulling's rig. The one in the DVD, not the real one;#
*g* And he was very handsome as well. He isn't a JW (JW is at the top just now with world cup starting tomorrow), nor a JB1 or a JB2 and definitely not an SG but yeah ... I read an interview (or perhaps i dreamt this) that IG had wanted to be in M&C and there isn't really an age appropriate role for him apart from pullings. I don't think that would have worked really ...and not only b/c everyone associates him as hornblower.
#however did you cram your tummy into that?"#
*g* archie's on to talk!!! Cheeky. But that's very true. JB2 isn't a rail like SG. Sg seems very slender.
#"I got Ianto to let it out a touch.#
Awww, ianto the tailor. S uch a lovely, cute image.
#And I exercised. And I left off the sticky toffee pudding#
OH well done then, jack. Am proud of him. But no more sticky toffee pudding?!!! That is a terrible fate. what's your favourite pudding (non sequiter there)
#"There are some people who make Old Bonesapart look like your Aunt Maud.#
And exactly the sort of cheeky banter jack would engage in. I know you tire of hearing it but I absolutely adore your writing. So clever!!!
#And don't ask how I knew you had one.#
And that as well. It's so tightly drafted. So great! And so, archie has an aunt maud? What is it about their family and interesting names?!
#but Horatio Hornblower would not brook one on his ship and he'd not pretend you were one."#
Well that's horatio exactly.
#Kennedy put his head to one side like a bird, thinking intensely for a moment. "You'll have to be an envoy from Admiral Pellew#
I love that JB1 look! He does it sometimes in the films, doesn't he? And how like archie to invoke the name of pellew!!!
And that is how far work allowed me to reach today. Oh i can't tell you how much I enjoyed starting this. It is so brilliant and so well written. I almost like your torchwood!aos jack/horatio/archie more than the brides boys. But not quite. But then i haven't read your jack/horatio/archie stories in the brides universe so perhaps i'll change my mind!!
more tomorrow
k xxxx
Re: Sixteenth Time - I
I do think of Archie and Horatio as a very settled maried couple in these stories.
###
*g* Cute of jack to refer to it that way: 'that film horatio likes'. Or perhaps he forgot the name of the film. It did have a rather ponderous title. And why did they combine book 1 and book 11????###
I think Jack was being puckish here - and the combination of books was to do with making the story more interesting - the 'long chase'.
### I read an interview (or perhaps i dreamt this) that IG had wanted to be in M&C and there isn't really an age appropriate role for him apart from pullings. I don't think that would have worked really ...and not only b/c everyone associates him as hornblower.###
How interesting. He'd have spoiled it, though - they were good actors in M and C.
###OH well done then, jack. Am proud of him. But no more sticky toffee pudding?!!! That is a terrible fate. what's your favourite pudding (non sequiter there)###
I like sticky toffee - and spotted dick. Also partial to an apple crumble. How bout you?
###! And so, archie has an aunt maud? What is it about their family and interesting names?!###
Well he must have - he told me so!
Thank you!
Hugs
Re: Sixteenth Time - I
Re: Sixteenth Time - I
Re: Sixteenth Time - I
Re: Sixteenth Time - I
Re: Sixteenth Time - I
Sixteenth Time - II
#Come on, let's go and find my captain." ... "Aw, and I always hoped you'd call me that one day." ... "In your dreams, Jack."#
Oh, dear and loyal archie. I suppose one can't blame him tooo much for being tempted. What with having to put up with grumpy some of the time and then having delectible mister charming ... but I do love that about him and, at the end of the day, i don't know if archie would really love jack the way he loves horatio ...
#he and Jack may have reached a truce and be almost on friendly terms but he still didn't really trust the man as far as he could throw him.#
Oh poor old horatio. the green-eyed monster rears its ugly head ...
#Horatio rolled his eyes. ... If Jack noticed the irony in the captain's voice he did not show it.#
Jack would have noticed it. H's rolling his eyes is rather amusing. I always chalked it up to Mister G's overacting.
#And there'll be no Cardiff for you to go dancing in so what happens to your past and future who knows?"#
NO cardiff?! NOooooooooooo that can't be. Where would we watch the rugby?!! And yes, horatio would miss that lovely dance he shared with archie. I must tell you - that place i emailed you about for the world cup plays very nice standard/folk-type music. And so i wondered if JB2 every brings SG there (there's a lovely garden in the back) and i wonder if they dance to the music. Or perhaps they just sit together and hold hands!
#Archie had grasped Harkness' intent much more clearly – he at least did not have any degree of jealousy to cloud his judgement.#
Well this does help. that's the thing. Logical mister H should realise his effectiveness is being compromised by all that. Though I don't doubt horatio might realise (always so much going on in his head!! He's mister overacting overanalyzing.
#Horatio considered his first lieutenant, considered his visitor – the look he gave him was much colder#
Well, he does have that glare. And i don't think that's just a mister g thing. And we can't blame him for that. If i was so fortunate to have an archie in my life i would stare daggers at anyone who tried to take him away.
Yes, the icon is horatio glaring at jack ...
Re: Sixteenth Time - II
Oh indeed - and we must assume that Bride's Horatio is much more attractive then film Horatio...
###NOooooooooooo that can't be. Where would we watch the rugby?!! And yes, horatio would miss that lovely dance he shared with archie. I must tell you - that place i emailed you about for the world cup plays very nice standard/folk-type music. And so i wondered if JB2 every brings SG there (there's a lovely garden in the back) and i wonder if they dance to the music. Or perhaps they just sit together and hold hands!###
All thoie thoughts fill me with squee. Oh if only they did - perhaps they will now that Scoot is being allowed to be in the public eye. (I understand John's previous agent didn't like them being seen out together.)
###If i was so fortunate to have an archie in my life i would stare daggers at anyone who tried to take him away.###
Wouldn't we all. I wonder what JB2 would do if anyone tried to make a pass at Scoot.
#
###Yes, the icon is horatio glaring at jack ... ###
And imagining what he wanted to do to him.
Re: Sixteenth Time - II
Re: Sixteenth Time - II
Re: Sixteenth Time - II
Re: Sixteenth Time - II
Re: Sixteenth Time - II
Re: Sixteenth Time - II
Re: Sixteenth Time - II
Re: Sixteenth Time - II
Re: Sixteenth Time - II
Re: Sixteenth Time - II
Re: Sixteenth Time - II
Sixteenth Time - III
Oh he's using that charming!grin, isn't he? No one can resist him ...
#"Can't keep me away, Horatio. I love this time and any chance I get to come back and renew acquaintance with old friends…only be assured in the case of Mr Kennedy it really is just meeting up with old friends."#
Oh i'll bet horatio's fuming. And i don't blame him. I am a bit protective of poor mister h b/c he can't help it he can't compete with jack and yeah ... so poor fellow.
#He'd been worked up as he always was in anticipation of going into action, but the arrival of old teeth and britches had caused him a great deal of added stress, related – as usual – to the concern that the man would be trying to get inside Archie's cot.#
LOL to 'old teeth and britches'. Brilliant. And yeah, I can imagine the stress level rising exponentially in poor horatio. he wouldn't hide it well. And yes, naughty mister harkness should keep his paws off archie!
#And you can be at my side for the boarding party if you can promise me that you won't use any of those outlandish weapons you normally carry.#
Oh now that is horatio being grown up and mature. i salute him
#Or have my ear off with a sword."#
well, indeed. And poor horatio has such a fear of mutilation. But jack wouldn't do that (intentionally) would he?
#"I solemnly swear not to touch a hair on your body, Horatio."#
lol. And yes there is a hidden meaning and innuendo in that. It just took horatio a moment to realise ...
#Hornblower spent the next two minutes wondering whether there had been a hidden meaning in the phrase employed,#
Exactly. LOL. you have them so well, so very well! I've yet to find another author who captures their characters so perfectly. And no i'm not just saying that. ;D
Re: Sixteenth Time - III
Oh he's using that charming!grin, isn't he? No one can resist him ...###
Melts me every time.
###I am a bit protective of poor mister h b/c he can't help it he can't compete with jack and yeah ... so poor fellow.###
He must feel that Jack can knock him into a cocked hat - but Archie is ever loyal.
###LOL to 'old teeth and britches'. ###
Thank you - seems to fit him.
###
Oh now that is horatio being grown up and mature. i salute him###
Indeed *follows suit*
###
well, indeed. And poor horatio has such a fear of mutilation. But jack wouldn't do that (intentionally) would he? ###
No - but Horatio must fear Jack's genuine lack of experiemce with those sort of weapons.
###I've yet to find another author who captures their characters so perfectly. And no i'm not just saying that. ;D###
*blushes bright red*
Re: Sixteenth Time - III
Re: Sixteenth Time - III
Re: Sixteenth Time - III
Re: Sixteenth Time - III
Re: Sixteenth Time - III
Re: Sixteenth Time - III
Re: Sixteenth Time - III
Re: Sixteenth Time - III
Sixteenth Time - IV
Yes indeed. Now when i read this, i took it to mean that horatio was almost liking jack against his better judgment. Do you think there's something vague about him that even jealous!horry can appreciate?
#By the time it came to prepare for hand to hand combat on the deck of the Striad he was like a little boy on Christmas Eve eager to be at his presents.#
Yes, he was rather blood-thirsty. This comes up in one of the HH1 chapters. I remember that. Always loved a battle. i don't know that archie would love a battle the same way. I think that he and horatio are fundamentally different that way. Archie would want to achieve the objective and be pleased that horatio and his crew weren't too badly hurt but i sense horatio almost relishes the battle, etc, not merely the objective. But i guess i have to think about that a bit more
#He leaped over the rail, in Hornblower's footsteps, brandishing his sword like a madman and having at any French sailor who got in his way.#
OH and jack would be quite goodlooking doing all of that. Does he get to swing round a sword and be heroic in TW? Or perhaps he wil in the panto!!!
#And for years to come the men of both Priam and the corvette Ouiseau swore that the strange Englishman who yelled in the odd accent and swung a sword around like a madman had been run through time and again, only to rise and fight once more. Although, naturally, no-one believed them.#
Oh indeed. An englishman who spent some time in scotland to be sure! Love these details you set in, though. It adds so much depth to the story and is so well written!! A joy and real pleasure to read.
Re: Sixteenth Time - IV
No - I think Horatio regards him as the supremem annoyance.
###
Yes, he was rather blood-thirsty. This comes up in one of the HH1 chapters. I remember that. Always loved a battle. i don't know that archie would love a battle the same way. I think that he and horatio are fundamentally different that way. Archie would want to achieve the objective and be pleased that horatio and his crew weren't too badly hurt but i sense horatio almost relishes the battle, etc, not merely the objective. But i guess i have to think about that a bit more###
I think you could be right - certainly Keane upbraids him about it and warns him about calling people out. He must see that death-wish streak in Horatio.
###he get to swing round a sword and be heroic in TW? Or perhaps he wil in the panto!!!###
He might at that. He uses a gun uin TW and gets to swish that coat around a lot.
###
Oh indeed. An englishman who spent some time in scotland to be sure! Love these details you set in, though. It adds so much depth to the story and is so well written!! A joy and real pleasure to read. ###
Merci, merci.
Re: Sixteenth Time - IV
Sixteenth Time - V
Oh poor archie. And horatio would be worrying over him even though it might be more superficial.
#"Captain Hornblower," Jack bowed and swept this hand theatrically, "may I present Mr Churchill?"#
Fantastic.
#"I told him that after you had refused at least fifteen times to come onto my couch that I'd given it all up as a bad job."#
Jack always knows what to say, doesn't he?
#"You didn't tell him about instance number sixteen?"#
WHAT? WHAT'S THIS? ARCHIE ...
#"When I got drunk and you put me to bed? I wouldn't dare."#
*SHOCK* OH that is very bad indeed. I suppose there must be some excuse for this ...
#"I seem to recall that you tried doing a somersault over me." ... #And scruples – I've never known someone cling to them so tightly."#
Naughty bad jack but good, loyal archie. Oh I'm relieved, I knew archie would be alright in the end ... Oh that's alright then. RELIEF ...
#"And I've never been grappled quite so hard before, not by a friend anyway; thought I was going to have to deck you. Luckily you passed out before you landed more than a kiss on me."#
Oh jack, jack, that was very naughty indeed. but i'm glad to hear archie was having none of it and remembered himself.
More anon
k xxxx
Re: Sixteenth Time - V
Oh poor archie. And horatio would be worrying over him even though it might be more superficial.###
I think he spread the blood deliberately to get Horry all worked up.
### I present Mr Churchill?"#
Fantastic.###
have you visited the old War tunnels or whatever they're called over the other side of green park - very interesting.
###WHAT? WHAT'S THIS? ARCHIE ...
#"When I got drunk and you put me to bed? I wouldn't dare."#
*SHOCK* OH that is very bad indeed. I suppose there must be some excuse for this ... ###
He behaved himself immaculately, our Archie. It was those bad boys trying to lead him astray.
Hogs and quiches
Feedback on The Sixteenth Time
Re: Feedback on The Sixteenth Time
*bows to your compliments*
Sixteenth Time - V
Goodness. I'm proud of archie for being such a good boy ...
#"Could have done with an 'incoming Hornblower' alarm – you know - rival at two hundred yards and approaching.#
LOL. Oh if only there actually was one!! But that would aid in their being naughty so I suppose it's good it doesn't exist ...
#Kennedy grinned, blue eyes dancing in a way that drove men of a certain persuasion totally mad.#
He has that looks, he really does. I do wonder if he knows he's good looking (pre all the being paraded over the mags in the US). He must have realised at least sort of ...
#What would lover boy say if he caught us?"#
Oh Jack, do you even need to ask???
#You'd be up that yardarm before you could say Ianto Jones.#
Archie's choice of words ... simply brilliant!
#"Oh he's clever, Jack. He'd have you up that yardarm every time you revive – a sort of repeating show.#
Archie knows horry so well. And the jealous!horatio might just be tempted to do that ...
#Probably as soon as the middies make noon, up goes Jack."#
Goodness, the image. Though Mister Harkness should remember he brought much of this on himself ...
#"And he's bloody lucky with you.#
And I think this horatio must realise it ..
#Kennedy shook the hand that was proffered then drew Jack towards him. "I don't think that one kiss for old time's sake will make much difference.#
OH archie that is terribly naughty ....
#And if Horatio hoves into sight we can say you were whispering confidential information to me. ..."Into your mouth? He might just fall for it…"#
He's not that thick surely???
Oh this was such fun to read. I had meant to get these comments posted before heading off for the weekend but travel delays meant changed round schedules, etc, which was really a bother. Never mind ... never mind ...
More anon
xxx
Re: Sixteenth Time - V
Goodness. I'm proud of archie for being such a good boy ...###
Would you have the same self control?
###But that would aid in their being naughty so I suppose it's good it doesn't exist ...###
That was your idea - I don't know if you remember - as was Jack turning up in AOS times.
###I do wonder if he knows he's good looking (pre all the being paraded over the mags in the US). He must have realised at least sort of ...###
I'm sure he did. But he doesn't seem to flaunt it, does he?
####You'd be up that yardarm before you could say Ianto Jones.#
Archie's choice of words ... simply brilliant!###
Thank you - although thanks should go to Archie - he supplies the dialogue!
####"And he's bloody lucky with you.#
And I think this horatio must realise it ..###
I'm sure he must. I hope.
###OH archie that is terribly naughty ....###
Let's pretend it was on the cheek.
###
He's not that thick surely???###
No - but Jack's hoping.
Hugs a plenty
Re: Sixteenth Time - V
no subject
no subject
The idea of Archie flirting when he's forming line of battle en route to an engagement - what a lad!
He has the most amazing eyes, that lad. Do you know what first prompted me to de-lurk? Someone had written a drabble about Archie's eyes and HH100 and we went to Portsmouth and the sky, the sea and the mist over the water were all the exact colour of Jamie's eyes in Mutiny when he comes on deck to after they get the ship free of the rocks. I had to make an LJ comment - and that was it, I was well and truly hooked.
(no subject)
(no subject)
no subject
I love this. And the image of everyone eventually getting used to the routine...sextants out, check; make noon, check; hoist up Jack, check...
no subject
(no subject)
(no subject)