The Longest Night
Dec. 26th, 2011 11:02 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
anteros_lmcTitle: The Longest Night
Author: Anteros
Characters: Kennedy / Hornblower
Rating: R
Notes: Fluff! I had intended to post this for the solstice but it didn't happen. It's a bit after the fact now but I had fun with it anyway ;) And, yes, this year the solstice did fall on the 22nd.
Indefatigable at anchor, Cawsand Bay, December 1798
Archie disentangled himself from Hornblower’s embrace while keeping one foot jammed firmly against the door of his cabin, lest he receive any more unexpected visitors. He had been seated at the tiny desk that furnished his cabin, writing a report for the captain, when he was interrupted by Hornblower, who without so much as a by-your-leave, dragged him unceremoniously from his despatches and kissed him soundly while launching a sustained attack on his waistcoat and breeches. By the time Archie had extricated himself from the third lieutenant’s arms he was more than a little dishevelled; his queue had come undone, his stock was all ahoo, his shirt hanging loose and several buttons had gone by the board.
Horatio was regarding him with a dangerous glint in his eye and the self-satisfied smirk he invariably wore on the rare occasions that he managed to get one over on his shipmate.
“Far be it from me to look a gift horse in the mouth Mr Hornblower, but to what do I owe the pleasure?” Archie enquired as he attempted to right his stock and tuck the tails of his shirt back into his breeches.
Horatio nodded his head towards the thin canvas partition that separated Archie’s cabin from the room beyond. “Wardroom’s empty, they’re all at dinner with the captain.”
“And why, pray tell, have you been excluded from this august gathering?” Archie had removed his queue ribbon and was attempting to comb his hair into some kind of order with ink stained fingers.
“I told the captain you needed some assistance with your report.”
“You told him what? Damned impudence!” Archie spluttered indignantly. He rolled his eyes theatrically and tossed his queue ribbon to Horatio before turning his back on him. “Here, do something useful and tie this.”
Horatio caught the ribbon with a grin. “And anyway, today being the shortest day, I thought I should take my chances when the opportunity arose.”
“The shortest day? You mean the solstice? That’s tomorrow.” Archie craned his head round to correct Horatio.
“Tomorrow? Your reckoning is out Mr Kennedy, today is the 21st, the shortest day of the year.”
“I’ll grant you it’s the 21st Mr Hornblower, but I think you’ll find that this year, the shortest day is tomorrow, the 22nd.” Archie nodded emphatically.
“Nonsense! Hold still Archie or I’ll never get this damn thing tied.”
Archie tilted his head back to enable Horatio to gather the errant strands straggling over his collar. “It’s true Horatio. Matthews told me.”
“Matthews? And how the devil does he know?”
“Said he had a feeling in his water.”
Hornblower snorted in disbelief. He had a tendency to give sailors’ sayings and superstitions short shrift, despite the fact that they often had more than a grain of truth in them.
“I confess I didn’t believe a word of it either so I asked Bowles and he confirmed. Apparently the solstice occasionally falls on the 22nd, something to do with the rotational axis of the spheres. Ask him yourself, I’m sure you’ll be able to have a long and fascinating discussion about spherical geometry and lunar ….”
Archie was interrupted by the sound of voices from the other side of the thin partition. He swatted away Horatio’s hands which, having wrestled his queue into submission, were now making another sortie towards his remaining waistcoat buttons.
Horatio smirked devilishly before raising his voice a trifle louder than necessary. “Be so good as to have that report delivered to the captain by the end of the watch, if you please Mr Kennedy, and if you need any further assistance I’d be happy to oblige.”
“Aye aye Lieutenant Hornblower!” Archie replied clearly and crisply while making an unforgivably insubordinate gesture to the senior lieutenant.
Horatio was still smirking as he departed from the cabin leaving Archie muttering profanities and collecting the scattered pages of his report from the deck.
Hornblower woke with a start to find cold water dripping on to his face and a strong rough hand clamped firmly over his mouth. His first thought was that the Indefatigable had been boarded by a cutting out party, then he remembered that they were at anchor in Cawsand Bay. The Channel Fleet would really have had to be sleeping on their watch to let the Brest Fleet sail this far up the Channel. His fleeting fear was extinguished instantly, but his heart continued to hammer in his breast, as he recognised the hand as belonging to Acting Lieutenant Kennedy. His cabin was pitch black but he could feel Archie’s presence in the darkness as clearly as if he could see him. The hand lifted from his mouth to be replaced by cool soft lips pressing hard against his own. The tip of Archie’s nose was cold against his cheek and he tasted of salt. A drop of icy water landed on Horatio’s cheek and slid down his neck.
“Archie?” Horatio whispered into the darkness.
“Shhh, it’s all right, I’ve just come off middle watch. Filthy night up there.” Archie’s lips were moving against his ear, warmer now.
“To what do I owe the pleasure?” Horatio breathed the words against Archie’s cold cheek. He could feel a faint rasp of stubble.
“Well, as it is now actually the solstice I didn’t want you languishing through the longest night alone.”
Archie’s breath, warm and familiar against his ear, made Horatio shiver and ache. The breath moved back along his cheek and then Archie’s lips met his own again, hot and insistent. He felt the blanket being drawn back and urgent hands rifling through sheets and nightshirt until they found what they sought. Horatio bit back a gasp as Archie’s cold hand encircled him. Then he closed his eyes in the darkness and prayed this longest night would never end.
Author: Anteros
Characters: Kennedy / Hornblower
Rating: R
Notes: Fluff! I had intended to post this for the solstice but it didn't happen. It's a bit after the fact now but I had fun with it anyway ;) And, yes, this year the solstice did fall on the 22nd.
Indefatigable at anchor, Cawsand Bay, December 1798
Archie disentangled himself from Hornblower’s embrace while keeping one foot jammed firmly against the door of his cabin, lest he receive any more unexpected visitors. He had been seated at the tiny desk that furnished his cabin, writing a report for the captain, when he was interrupted by Hornblower, who without so much as a by-your-leave, dragged him unceremoniously from his despatches and kissed him soundly while launching a sustained attack on his waistcoat and breeches. By the time Archie had extricated himself from the third lieutenant’s arms he was more than a little dishevelled; his queue had come undone, his stock was all ahoo, his shirt hanging loose and several buttons had gone by the board.
Horatio was regarding him with a dangerous glint in his eye and the self-satisfied smirk he invariably wore on the rare occasions that he managed to get one over on his shipmate.
“Far be it from me to look a gift horse in the mouth Mr Hornblower, but to what do I owe the pleasure?” Archie enquired as he attempted to right his stock and tuck the tails of his shirt back into his breeches.
Horatio nodded his head towards the thin canvas partition that separated Archie’s cabin from the room beyond. “Wardroom’s empty, they’re all at dinner with the captain.”
“And why, pray tell, have you been excluded from this august gathering?” Archie had removed his queue ribbon and was attempting to comb his hair into some kind of order with ink stained fingers.
“I told the captain you needed some assistance with your report.”
“You told him what? Damned impudence!” Archie spluttered indignantly. He rolled his eyes theatrically and tossed his queue ribbon to Horatio before turning his back on him. “Here, do something useful and tie this.”
Horatio caught the ribbon with a grin. “And anyway, today being the shortest day, I thought I should take my chances when the opportunity arose.”
“The shortest day? You mean the solstice? That’s tomorrow.” Archie craned his head round to correct Horatio.
“Tomorrow? Your reckoning is out Mr Kennedy, today is the 21st, the shortest day of the year.”
“I’ll grant you it’s the 21st Mr Hornblower, but I think you’ll find that this year, the shortest day is tomorrow, the 22nd.” Archie nodded emphatically.
“Nonsense! Hold still Archie or I’ll never get this damn thing tied.”
Archie tilted his head back to enable Horatio to gather the errant strands straggling over his collar. “It’s true Horatio. Matthews told me.”
“Matthews? And how the devil does he know?”
“Said he had a feeling in his water.”
Hornblower snorted in disbelief. He had a tendency to give sailors’ sayings and superstitions short shrift, despite the fact that they often had more than a grain of truth in them.
“I confess I didn’t believe a word of it either so I asked Bowles and he confirmed. Apparently the solstice occasionally falls on the 22nd, something to do with the rotational axis of the spheres. Ask him yourself, I’m sure you’ll be able to have a long and fascinating discussion about spherical geometry and lunar ….”
Archie was interrupted by the sound of voices from the other side of the thin partition. He swatted away Horatio’s hands which, having wrestled his queue into submission, were now making another sortie towards his remaining waistcoat buttons.
Horatio smirked devilishly before raising his voice a trifle louder than necessary. “Be so good as to have that report delivered to the captain by the end of the watch, if you please Mr Kennedy, and if you need any further assistance I’d be happy to oblige.”
“Aye aye Lieutenant Hornblower!” Archie replied clearly and crisply while making an unforgivably insubordinate gesture to the senior lieutenant.
Horatio was still smirking as he departed from the cabin leaving Archie muttering profanities and collecting the scattered pages of his report from the deck.
Hornblower woke with a start to find cold water dripping on to his face and a strong rough hand clamped firmly over his mouth. His first thought was that the Indefatigable had been boarded by a cutting out party, then he remembered that they were at anchor in Cawsand Bay. The Channel Fleet would really have had to be sleeping on their watch to let the Brest Fleet sail this far up the Channel. His fleeting fear was extinguished instantly, but his heart continued to hammer in his breast, as he recognised the hand as belonging to Acting Lieutenant Kennedy. His cabin was pitch black but he could feel Archie’s presence in the darkness as clearly as if he could see him. The hand lifted from his mouth to be replaced by cool soft lips pressing hard against his own. The tip of Archie’s nose was cold against his cheek and he tasted of salt. A drop of icy water landed on Horatio’s cheek and slid down his neck.
“Archie?” Horatio whispered into the darkness.
“Shhh, it’s all right, I’ve just come off middle watch. Filthy night up there.” Archie’s lips were moving against his ear, warmer now.
“To what do I owe the pleasure?” Horatio breathed the words against Archie’s cold cheek. He could feel a faint rasp of stubble.
“Well, as it is now actually the solstice I didn’t want you languishing through the longest night alone.”
Archie’s breath, warm and familiar against his ear, made Horatio shiver and ache. The breath moved back along his cheek and then Archie’s lips met his own again, hot and insistent. He felt the blanket being drawn back and urgent hands rifling through sheets and nightshirt until they found what they sought. Horatio bit back a gasp as Archie’s cold hand encircled him. Then he closed his eyes in the darkness and prayed this longest night would never end.
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no subject
Date: 2011-12-27 01:20 am (UTC)Matthews and Bowles, two approaches to the same knowledge. Seems right.
no subject
Date: 2011-12-27 11:41 pm (UTC)ROFL! I've been giggling at this comment all day! I thought it was very Archie too :)
Matthews and Bowles, two approaches to the same knowledge. Seems right.
Yes. Same knowledge, different method. Although I get the impression that the best masters weren't above listening to the men. As it should be.
no subject
Date: 2011-12-27 01:59 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-27 11:48 pm (UTC)They're skittish. It's why I try to give them access to a door that locks!
Aye, there's a lot to be said to doors that lock!
no subject
Date: 2011-12-27 05:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-27 11:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-27 09:47 am (UTC)delightful solstice fluff though - oh it is good to have the boys back on form
love all its best moments -Smug Horatio, Archie's cold nose
(YAY)you know I thinnk I am almost as affected by Archie's nose as
"as he recgonised the hand as belonign to acting lieutenant Kenendy"
well I am glad he can tell...( !)
meanwhile above in the aft cabin...
no subject
Date: 2011-12-27 11:50 pm (UTC)Horatio looks rather affronted in your icon...
meanwhile above in the aft cabin
Date: 2011-12-27 10:41 am (UTC)Pellew: Thomas I declare you are the most incorrigibly lucky dog ever to grace a Masters rank! That is indeed a half case of Majendie’s tawny to you..No gloating now =Magnanimity in victory remember!
Bowles : that is for the French sir, not for John Bracegirdle and the distinguished Captain Sir Edward Pellew...
Bracegirdle: After meat and before dessert – always bound to be the victor. The boy is always hungry but has never been one for dessert
Pellew: Well, John , not for the kind of dessert my table can provide.. ahem
Bracegirdle : A toast then to the young men of the .Indefatigable
Pellew: May their daring, courage and wit never desert them.. but since this IS the
Indefatigable after all, Mr Bowles !
Bowles : aye sir?
Pellew: You will inform Mr Hornblower and Mr Kennedy that they will undertake an hours extra geometrical and navigational studies each day this week..but lest it be said I am an inhumane man will arrange for my steward to send them the dessert they have missed ... tomorrow
Re: meanwhile above in the aft cabin
Date: 2011-12-27 10:46 am (UTC)lest it be said I am an inhumane man will arrange for my steward to send them the dessert they have missed ... tomorrow
Awwww bless! And he would too wouldn't he?!
Re: meanwhile above in the aft cabin
Date: 2011-12-27 03:42 pm (UTC)Such kindness.
And let me tip somebody's hat to Nodbear. She can write poetry, prose, and apparently also scripts.
Re: meanwhile above in the aft cabin
Date: 2011-12-27 11:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-27 05:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-27 11:55 pm (UTC)He's such a considerate soul isn't he?
It's that level of dedication what makes him such a good officer.
Indeed. The boy will go far. All the way in fact...
no subject
Date: 2011-12-28 12:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-28 12:16 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-29 09:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-29 12:30 pm (UTC)Hope you had a lovely Christmas and are looking forward to the New Year :)
no subject
Date: 2011-12-29 08:36 pm (UTC)Most enjoyable, I particulalry loved the image of Archie holding the door shut with foot, ever pragmatic!
no subject
Date: 2011-12-29 09:45 pm (UTC)I particulalry loved the image of Archie holding the door shut with foot, ever pragmatic!
Dextrous too! What a clever chap :)