Give me a windy day with the white clouds flying

[captainhornblower]

Who: Everyone who volunteered to help build the ship and/or anyone who has gotten dragged into it since.
What: CARVING THE BODIES. (aka "building the ship")
When: October 17th until October 22nd, from 8 in the morning until evening. (Your character is not required to be there every day all day.)
Where: On the beach, not far from one of the docks.
Summary: The construction of the ship and bonding during the work or between breaks.
Rating: PG to PG-13

The lumber gathered, the tools set out, and the plans copied several times over for distribution.

It's time to turn the mass slaughter of the trees from the forest into something fitting for the Royal Navy. ...Even if there's no Royal Navy here. Because that doesn't really matter.

Major points of the to-do list:
construct block and tackles, belaying pins, etc.
build the hull
caulking or just coat everything with epoxy and tell the Navy boys its caulked
divide the decks
build the masts
set the rigging
attach the sails
construct two quarterboats

Comments

Any day, all day

[simplestgift]

Archie is so tickled to finally be working on the ship itself, and it shows. Periodically, he'll be offering to teach everyone sea shanties to help pass the time. They're easy to learn, as a rule.

Sometimes, he'll pause and flatten a hand against a wooden plank with clear reverence. There's something almost childlike about it as the wonder shines in his face.

October 17th, midday

[captainhornblower]

Guess who will be making himself scarce when shanties are being taught? Certainly not Horatio, no.

But there is currently not much music going on, so he'll join Archie for a moment. "She'll be lovely." It almost didn't seem possible that they were actually building a ship.

10/18 morning

[all7seas]

Jack settles himself in the sand not far from the building site with a bottle of rum in hand. He's here to observe for a few moments before setting off on his daily search for Jilly.

[captainhornblower]

It takes Hornblower a few moments to realize they're being watched, mostly because he's finally stepped away from his work to go to his plain journal, where a few sketches and mathematical equations wind through the pages. He has something he's trying to solve, but he hasn't got it yet.

But the sight of Sparrow gives him pause with the open notebook, and he watches the man. For just a moment, his expression tightens. On the whole, though, it remains fairly neutral, as if the conversation on the beach a few nights ago had not happened.

He gives a simple nod of acknowledgement and greeting.

[all7seas]

In return, Horatio gets a nod acknowledging that acknowledgment and greeting, though not very warmly. At some point though Jack will hail the other captain and gesture him over.

[captainhornblower]

Civility is the name of the game, as far as Hornblower is concerned. In public, even around common acquaintances-- civility. It doesn't matter what they think of each other, not as far as anyone else is concerned. He can, at least, play that role. He's played it before.

When Sparrow beckons him over, he nods, joining the other man shortly. He tries to hide it as best he can, but one look at his hands shows the red, slightly raw skin. He went into the Navy as a midshipman. This sort of work? Is completely outside his area of expertise and his training. He's a long way from calluses to make it easier.

"Sparrow." Another nod of the head, voice neither warm nor cold.

[all7seas]

"Going to take you forever at this rate." Another sip of rum. "What's she to be named?"

Truth be told, this construction of what Jack saw as a Navy vessel was making him a bit nervous for the Joanna. Kennedy had reassured him, of course. Buffy had, too, in her own way. But Norrington's midnight visit had thrown this new-ish influx of navy men into a rather dangerous relief.

[captainhornblower]

"Britannia, I believe."

A taste of home and an acknowledgement to what every Navy man learned. No matter where in the world you sailed, if you were outside your own country-- your ship was as good as your country. Better, depending on the man. (God knew Hornblower preferred the feel of Hotspur under his feet than than the soil of England.)

[all7seas]

Well that was a Naval name if ever Jack had heard one. As a man without a country, he very much liked putting his feet to the decks of similar gypsy wanderers.

It would be such very great fun, though, to commandeer her.

"That's a lovely name, Hornblower. And will she rule the waves?"

Such an innocent question as Jack tries to mask every bit of him that is leery about this particular project. Giles and his crew could build a boat of some sort but probably never manage to sail the thing, in his mind. Law was as good as an ally, really. Sokka wasn't a threat, either. But the Navy.......well. It is like watching the birthing of an age-old enemy, and Jack cannot shake that.


Just as long as Kennedy never betrays him...

[simplestgift]

"Jack!" Archie will stop by around lunchtime with a sandwich in each hand. One is offered to Jack.

[all7seas]

"Kennedy!" Well sandwiches were simply NEVER turned down. "Look at you, with your sandwiches and your giving of your sandwiches to myself! Good form, good form!"

He accepts that food gratefully and pats the sand beside him. "I've a wonderful view of your vessel from here."

[simplestgift]

"Britannia is to be her name." He is so proud, too. "As Mr. Hornblower was feeling sentimental and I was feeling ironic when we were thinking of names. To say she's coming along splendidly isn't even coming close. Bless Franky and all his! She may even be finished in time for Jilly's return."

[all7seas]

Some of the uneasiness left the pirate at the thought of Jilly coming home.

"I still haven't taken her out on the Joanna," he lamented before biting into a sandwich. "Sometimes I feel as though Buffy would be a bit...well. You know how women are sometimes..."

He trailed off. Buffy had felt jealous of Jack climbing into Jilly's window to give her the salamander tea. He didn't know what she would think of the pirate taking the artist on a bit of a cruise.

[simplestgift]

"It'd likely help if I went with you both. I won't be able to sail the Britannia alone. She requires at least a half-dozen to make her go anywhere."

True, and also casually planted to give him a bit of incentive not to try anything piratey.

Oct 17th, late afternoon

[deathsdoctor]

What a fine day it is. Warm, clear, and absolutely bright, with a pleasant breeze coming off the water, carrying faint snatches of song.

"Farewell to the harbor, to my old hometown..."

Clearly it is a day perfect for ships; not only in building them, but in sailing them as well.

"... waves of gold and silver dissolve to salty spray..."

Like the black pilot cutter with the red sails approaching the docks from a day at sea...

"... now comes a storm through the far-off sky...

... now the waves are dancing, beat upon the drums..."

... sailing in expertly and slowing to a stop alongside the rock.

"...if you lose your nerve, this breath could be your last...

... but if you just hold on, the morning sun will rise..."

Someone's in a good mood.

[captainhornblower]

As the sound gets louder and the person closer, Hornblower has to struggle not to say anything. Words held out too long, minced for the sake of rhythm... It all sounded quite foolish to a man who could not hear notes. Better, though, to be only the voice-- rather than ten men at once or accompanied by ten different instruments that all sounded the same, beating out their own rhythms with no regard for one another or any poor listener.

...Granted, Hornblower was aware that a great many people enjoyed the sound. It would never cease to cause him dismay.

When the man gets close enough, however, Hornblower at least tries to look unbothered by the sound and raises a hand with the crook'd Navy salute he is used to.

[deathsdoctor]

If only he knew, he'd feel the vague urge to sing louder as a way to subtly needle you, Horatio. Not out of any personal dislike but for the fact that you are a Navy man (closest thing to a Marine in his book) and he is a pirate and he is in fact singing a pirate song.

But he does not and the urge would be only vague. He only truly has desire to antagonize the military forces from his own world. They deserve it; he has no notion of what your Navy merits yet.

Law tips his hat in response. And since you didn't say anything...

"Going to deliver Binks' Sake!

Let's all sing it with a Don! A song of the waves...

Doesn't matter who you are... Someday you'll just be bones...

Never-Ending, Ever-wandering... Our funny traveling tale!"

He's going to put out his fenders, make sure all his sails are lowered, and start securing the lines to the dock.

[captainhornblower]

"Sir."

It's greeting enough, and Hornblower manages to sound civil enough, his fingers twitching against the rope work he's dealing with. He's fast on it, and the knots are secure, but he can't help telling himself that William Bush would have it done twice as good in half the time.

[deathsdoctor]

"Mister Hornblower."

Which is greeting enough on his end too. Law glances over his work, ensures he's left enough line to account for the tide, and stretches idly. Huh. Someone sounds a little vexed for all the civility trying to mask it.

"I see the construction is going at a good pace. You've decided on a name yet for her?"

He glances at the rope work - hmm... shrouds by the look of it, yes? - going at a reasonable clip. Hhnn... Maybe that was the source of the vexation and twitchy fingers? The work could get tedious after a while.

Oh well. Not really his concern.

What is his concern is the haul of fish he's brought back from his latest outing.

[captainhornblower]

Captain. But he bit the correction back. No need to make enemies over semantics. Even if he'd paid his dues in war to earn that rank.

"A remarkable pace. I couldn't ask for better," Hornblower replied, nodding once. He left off tying the shroud together, letting his scratched hands have a few moments' peace. He had learned these tasks, but he was a stranger to doing them for so long. Usually, if his assistance was needed, it was only until a rating could relieve him. Still, work on the ship, watching Archie's plans manifest into their proper form, made him smile.

A twenty-two gun ship. Theoretically, at least. A post-captain's command. Only room for one lieutenant, only one would be allotted by the Royal Navy. But this was not the Royal Navy, and plans had been drawn to, with some creative shifting of the rooms below deck, make a separate berth for each of two lieutenants. One on either side of the companionway to the main deck and the captain's cabin. There would be a room on the ship ready, same as there was a room in the house.

"She'll be called Britannia, once we have her up proper."

[consultmybooks]

Having already built a boat and in no hurry to repeat the experience with anyone who is not Ami, Giles will mostly be around for what might be called the "miscellaneous" tasks - sails, epoxy, rigging, and the like. Unfortunately, these also happen to be the jobs he needs the most practice in and has the least experience with.

Assistance might be necessary, people.

[captainhornblower]

While he will not be in any hurry to climb them, Hornblower did have every intention of overseeing and assisting in the construction of the shrouds. Which means, when he finishes with a series of knots himself, checking on other knots tied.

And sometimes fixing them.

So he eventually ends up at where Giles is working and nods politely. "Doing well, sir?"

[consultmybooks]

"I think so."

Giles looks down at Horatio before looking back at the knot he's currently fussing with. "Unfortunately and...rather oddly, this was the subject that I was able to dig up the least help with. And I'm afraid it might be showing."

19th (why not!)

[straightatem.livejournal.com]

It's a few days later but Jack returns to helping Hornblower and Kennedy with the construction of their ship - splendidly coming along.

He would have been happy to somehow help with the framework or (again) heavy lifting. He knows what he's suited for as far as menial work goes and he would like to do what he's good at. If only it weren't for his damn back and his ever hawk-like doctor.

Stephen had given him explicit instruction to not strain his back further. Both wishing to supply some kind of assistance and to not disobey Stephen's stern demand, he could content himself with another skill he could abuse to help along: sewing.

He went diligently at the shrouds, sewing uniform lines to craft them into something respectable. He was humming something as well along the strains of 'Deh Vieni Non Tadar', a bit of music from the Marriage of Figaro.

[captainhornblower]

Hornblower tried to ignore the faint traces of blood being left along the pieces of rope as he sewed. The sewing itself was not difficult, and he did not injure himself there. However, the damage was done from working at the wood and twisting rope and tying it.

Smooth hands, used to only an officer's work, not that of a carpenter or able seaman, had found the rough work injurious, but Hornblower's pride had not allowed for any sort of pause in his efforts. He would not allow himself to rest while others continued working, and he could not bear the thought that he was ill-suited for this labour. He knew he was. Matthews or Styles would have long since chuckled and sent him to some other task, under the pretence of it not being the work for a captain. Even Bush would have hurried him elsewhere... likely because he would have, in his efforts to help, slowed down the man's skilled work and simply become a nuisance.

Aubrey had done neither so far, and he could not speak of the task being beneath a man of rank, for he was the senior officer, several years experience as a captain over Hornblower. He seemed more familiar with the work... but he had gone to sea as a boy, while Hornblower had been leaving boyhood behind before he ever set foot on a deck.