A Pirate and Three Navy Men

[all7seas]

Who: lists_to_port, noprevaricating, seventeensir, straightatem
What: Cheering Archie up after tothelibrary was sent home. CHEERING HIM UP AT ALL COSTS.
When: Late Afternoon, 9/8--Early Morning, 9/10
Where: Ocean--aboard the Joanna Joyce
Summary: Archie Kennedy was in the depths of despair after the girl he loved was sent home by the Malnosso. Jack Sparrow hated seeing him so sad and offered a sail to perk him up a bit. And then he offered to let Hornblower come along, which was a supreme sacrifice. And at some point they will dredge the newly-landed Jack Aubrey from the depths. There might be something going on with octopi in this thing, too, eventually.
Rating: This will be rated PG-13 for all the instances in which Sparrow will be annoyed by Horatio Hornblower.


There: the last bottle of rum had been stored aboard the Joanna Joyce. The tally, by the end, was half a dozen bottles of rum, a six pack of something called "Pabst Blue Ribbon", a box of wine, three bottles of champagne, a bottle of scotch, and a bottle of whiskey. It might almost be enough to get Jack Sparrow through the hours of being with Hornblower in close quarters that were soon to follow. Now it was just a matter of waiting for the two Navy men to show up at the shore. For the occasion, Jack had brought the Joanna in to the southernmost dock. The King's Men would not have to swim today.

Comments

Sunset

[simplestgift]

Archie watched the sun set over the water and felt ten years younger.

His elbows rested on the railing. It felt, as those first months on the Indefatigable had, like coming to a calm spot in a long storm. The moment existed, but no future. Thinking about the future only threatened the peaceful neutrality of the moment.

The ship's lanterns were lit--he'd seen to it. They swung gently, their flames like bright stars against the red-cast wood of the Joanna Joyce. It was a beautiful evening and would be a beautiful night.

He'd never been able to show Dawn what it was like on a ship.

No. That was not in the moment, and it wouldn't be thought of.

Yes, this will be the Most Cheerful Thread Ever.

[all7seas]

"Just have a look at that, eh?" Sparrow stumbled unsteadily over to the rail, gripping it with far more exaggerated motions than was typical even for him. He swept an arm out to cover the panorama from the deck of the Joanna as though he had organized and planned it all for Kennedy.

"Shpose...thinking, me, eh? Thinking of perhaps settling...setting up for myself on board, here. Livin' here. On board. Sunsets like that every night, eh?"

Someone had been at the Whiskey. And the rum. And hell, even the PBR, though that can had been rejected about a third of the way through and flung to the octopi. The rest had been saved for Hornblower.

[captainhornblower]

"A splendid thought, Captain Sparrow."

He was sincere. Horatio Hornblower was extremely sincere as he said it. He looked out to sea, arms against the railing and hands folded together. His usual melancholy had been replaced. Instead, he spoke with a kind of wistfulness. A longing.

Hornblower was dressed... strangely. At least for him. The clothing was mismatched, somewhat. And ill-fitting. His boots, trousers, and shirt fit properly, being his. The waistcoat was too large and clashed with the jacket, both of which he'd found burrowing through the clothing stores. His neckcloth was military black, even if he was out of uniform. Out of uniform. It felt strange-- wrong.

Yet he had purpose behind it. On the one hand, his proper waistcoat still aggravated his wound when he buttoned it fully. Not much now, though. In a few more days, he would be able to tolerate it. But also-- and more importantly-- it was his sort of peace offering to the pirate. The man had been generous enough to invite him along... The least Hornblower could do was try and look like he wasn't a member of the Royal Navy.

[simplestgift]

It was a real step for Horatio, and one Archie was extremely grateful for. Even if he did look ridiculous. Archie watched him for a few seconds, thinking. It wasn't unusual for Jack to be a little drunk most of the time, but for him to be dangerously drunk, and not even through social drinking...

"Horatio, would you mind finding the cognac? This deserves a glass."

Translation: I need to talk to Jack alone for a bit.

[all7seas]

"There's a whole mess of drinksh...sssss. Drinks. In the---whaddidya---in the stern. The STERN, eh? Might be Hornblower's favorite bit of a ship! Hahahahahahahahahaha!"

Delighted at that joke...which did not make all that much sense...Jack reeled about and leaned against the rail. This did indeed look dangerous; the pirate naturally had a wonderful sense of balance that tipsyness did not affect. This drunk, though....it was with a lick and a promise that he was staying upright, never mind safely on board.

[captainhornblower]

Hornblower nodded once before pushing back off the rail. "Archie. Captain." His hand twitched but did not rise, the habit contained. Without another word, he took his leave, well aware of the implicit instructions.

Find the cognac... and wait to be recalled before coming back.

[simplestgift]

Archie sighed and leaned against the rail, facing Jack so he could keep him from falling overboard if he showed signs that he was about to do so. "Jack..."

[all7seas]

"Kennedy? Why are there three of you? Are you sprouting?"

[simplestgift]

"Sit."

[all7seas]

What followed was Jack opening his mouth to protest before a wave rocked them hard enough to send him collapsing to the deck. He rubbed the back of his head in a sulky fashion and squinted up at the sailors standing over him.

"Don't think this is in obedience to your command! I shall be standing again, presently! Possibly!"

[simplestgift]

"Sir, you are drunk." Archie obligingly sat beside him, leaning against the side of the ship. "More drunk than I've ever seen you. What's happening, Jack?"

[all7seas]

"What's happening? I think you just described it better than I ever could, Kennedys. I, Captain Spack Jarrow, am thundered. And I wouldn't turn down another if it were offered and or if I could locate it on this strange, ill-organized ship."

[simplestgift]

"You'll drink yourself to death. No more." He watched him a moment. When a man couldn't even say his own name, there was trouble. "What brought this on?"

Morning

[straightatem.livejournal.com]

The very moment the sun peeked over the watery horizon, Jack Aubrey came into the world kicking and screaming.

Well -- more sputtering than screaming.

He'd simply gone for a morning swim off the Surprise, it was a clear morning and no sign of any enemy ship allowed him the sport. He dived down repeatedly, swimming deep until his lungs burned and resurfacing to repeat it.

Though on this last dive his world was quite removed from what it was.

No ship, no crew, and no idea where he was.

If he were in a less precarious and unfortunate situation he might have made a joke about how very 'at sea' he was.

He only just started swimming to what he presumed was shore when he saw the ship, and he shouted out,

"Ahoy! Ahoy there!" While waving his arms up over his head.

[captainhornblower]

Hornblower had stood sentinel for most of the night. With only three of them, there was not much of a proper "watch," but his mind did not suit letting all three men be asleep on board at once. Besides, a clear night on a gentle sea? It'd given him a chance to think, to feel comfortable.

Whether his melancholy made him think or thinking made him melancholy, both had settled thick onto his shoulders by the time dawn finally broke.

It shook off in an instant. The moment he heard an unfamiliar voice, all thoughts were replaced. He cast his gaze about and spotted... someone. A man, by the voice.

"Ahoy!" he called back. Already, his coat was half off in anticipation of the dive coming. "Captain Sparrow! Archie! We need to bring her about!" One of them would be roused by the call, even if they were both asleep still. He held his ground, though. He wouldn't go into the water until he had a man on deck.

[all7seas]

Meanwhile, back in the cabin, the voice of a severely hungover man piped up from the captain's bunk:

"Kennedy..........something's shattered Hornblower's habitual melancholic brood. It might be he's spotted something happy on the horizon. A narwhal, perhaps? A tasty halibut? Would you mind seeing to him until I can properly discompose meself?"

[simplestgift]

Kennedy, in response, threw a book at Sparrow (and missed) and climbed out of his hammock, rubbing his eyes and reaching for his waistcoat. Less than a minute later, it was on, and he was tugging his coat on as he went on deck.

"What's going on, Horatio?"

[straightatem.livejournal.com]

Oh wonderful! He'd been seen! For a small, terrible moment he wondered if there'd be anyone to hear him. The deck was positively deserted.

At the call back from the ship, the lurch in his breast vanished and Jack began to make his way towards it with long strokes to save what energy he had. He'd make it on his own alright, but something to help him up and over the side would be needed.

[captainhornblower]

"A man in the water, Archie." He paced along the rail, already pushing down the rope ladder into the water.

His mind was calculating fast. A swimmer. Thank God. The wind was mild, not taking the ship fast, and the current was generous. The man might well close the gap on his own, perhaps without trying to manoeuvres the boat about. Such an attempt might make it harder on him, despite the best of intentions.

[all7seas]

A Better Man in Seven Days went sailing over Sparrow's head, hit the wall, and tumbled down onto the mattress beside him, open to the chapter on "Detoxify! Releasing the Negative Energies that Inhibit Better Manhood." He drooled on it, a little. Eventually, though, Jack had to raise his head up.

That proved too costly. He lowered it again, pillowing it on a diagram of negative energies drifting from a stylized male torso. Archie would sort things. Once the gnomes stopped their hammering, he could join the other two men and see what the narwhal was about.

[simplestgift]

Archie took the helm, peering out to sea. "Where away?" he asked, starting to steer in the direction Horatio was looking, figuring it was a fairly safe bet.

[straightatem.livejournal.com]

Jack Aubrey reached the rope ladder not but thirty seconds after Archie spoke. Lucky for him there wasn't a stiff breeze to carry her further away or he'd have been chasing after her.

With his hands at the rope, it suddenly occurred to him that this vessel could be decidedly unfriendly. Maybe American? Who knew. but it was his only option besides floating in the cold water until he either submitted to drowning or being frozen to death. They could be Bonaparte's very own and he would take refuge on their deck.

..Well, probably not.

He got a good grip on the ladder and began to hoist himself up.

Of course, it was a little harder without the convenient steps going up the curved side so the going was much slower than it would have been. So he thought.

[captainhornblower]

"Two points starboard, keep her steady, Mr. Kennedy."

But the man was at the boat's side before the boat could alter course much. He was at the side a moment later, offering a thin hand to help the other up. ...Of course, he didn't immediately take into account the vast size difference between the boarding man and himself.

"Welcome aboard, sir," he said as he offered the hand. "Joanna Joyce. Her captain is in his cabin." He wasn't about to be taken as the captain of the vessel. He doubted Sparrow would forgive him if he were, and the man needed no more aggravating if what little he knew of the previous night could be trusted.

His voice might be something of a relief to Aubrey, though. Pure British.

[all7seas]

Sparrow would very likely throw you over the side for taking that liberty, Hornblower.

At that moment, said Sparrow was attempting to get himself out of the cabin. He was a sight more wobbly than he would be under normal circumstances, and was having a hard time finding his hat to boot. Finally, though, the man pushed open the cabin door and emerged on deck.

"Her Captain is here. Ish. Right. Hornblower.

Who is this flotsam we've stumbled across, eh?" He peered with narrowed eyes at the New Feather climbing the side of his Joanna.

[simplestgift]

Archie looked at the newcomer, then the captain. After a moment, he nodded to Sparrow. "By your leave, sir," he said, and walked into the cabin to fetch a blanket.