Horatio Hornblower - 9 recs

[recsforalloccasions]

A lot of early Horatio Hornblower fic is no longer online. Stories for which I can no longer find active links have been removed from this recs set.

Hornblower Recs for All Occasions

Part VIII: I just watched Mutiny and Retribution and I have two new loves, Lt. William Bush and Lt. William Bush's voice.

The glorious Lt. Bush. In Book-canon he's Horatio's sidekick. In movie canon, he's the third member of a glorious partnership. Any way you mix and match 'em, Horatio, Archie and William are a force to be reckoned with and all together they are truly a sight to behold. William is integral to all the concluding recs sets, but I wanted to start off with a few gen Bush-related stories that didn't fit in anywhere else.


Sharing the Watch by Derry - During the brief calm after Sawyer's incapacitation in Mutiny, Lt. Bush finds himself sharing a watch with Archie Kennedy and reassessing some of his assumptions about both Kennedy and Hornblower. Derry shows us a William Bush who has found himself completely embroiled in a conspiracy far outside his control while still uncertain of both the character of his main co-conspirators and their opinion of him. It's a complete outsider's perspective of Horatio and Archie and it's illuminating and fascinating. In particular, Derry does an excellent job of showing how so many of Archie's mannerisms and attitudes might look to someone unfamiliar with his history, and the suggestion of class-suspicion between Archie and William feels spot-on.

Revelation by rosiespark - Technically this rec really belongs in my last set. Unfortunately, it hadn't been posted yet when I posted that set, so I'm fitting it in here because I can't not rec it. Yet another look inside William and Archie's Kingston sickroom. Here, William bears witness to Archie's terrible courage. We see Archie only through William's eyes, and through those eyes we see William too. William doesn't miss much. The more Archie works to cover his pain, the more William feels it for him, but he is always restrained, working just as hard as Archie to keep his emotions in check. rosiespark illuminates just those attributes in both William and Archie that make them so compelling, with sharp descriptive language and an eye for the little details that make an often-told story feel forever fresh.


And all I could think was Oooh, threesome!

Homecoming by rach74 - The second story in Rach's wonderful Kingston Days Universe. Now recovered from their wounds, Archie and William return to England and to Horatio's presence and wrestle with Horatio's place in their lives. Archie and Horatio have a history William knows he will never fully understand, and William and Archie have a love that stands out in stark contrast to their friend's loneliness. The result is a tender and true integration of polyamory into a strong and stable central relationship. All three men are perfectly realized. Rach highlights William's uncertainty, Archie's willful optimism and Horatio's stubborn self-reliance and the strength and love they find in each other.

Afraid to Call it Love by nindulgence - Three sailors, a beach and... that would be telling *g*. Seriously, this story is a best if you know as little as possible about it going in. A short, sweet, post-Kingston LKU full of witty banter, keen character insights and the cleverly nuanced writing Nin does so well, this story is an absolute must-read, even if I can't tell you why.

Sweat and Smoke by damned_colonial - Ah, the gunnery drill in Mutiny. Sweat and smoke and gunpowder, William Bush shouting "FIYAH!", Horatio showering naked on deck... damned_colonial offers us Archie's point of view on one of the slashiest scenes in canon; and it seems the goings on on deck are nothing next to Archie's plans for the future. A scorching hot fic all about innuendo and implication and the heat of anticipation that fits seamlessly within the events portrayed on screen.

The History Books by Severa - Much of the Archie/Horatio/William fic out there is relatively short, tiny glimpses of a might have been. This is one such piece, a quiet morning as William wonders where his place is, within the history that Archie and Horatio share. A perfect look at the uncertain hesitancy of new relationships come the light of day.

Respite by the_dala - In a lovely LKU snippet set just post-Retribution, William dreams of what might have been and wonders about what's to come for the three of them. Respite is a beautiful, bittersweet look at a stolen moment of happiness and the beckoning reality that guarantees such moments will forever be rare and precious. I especially love Dala's William here, his protective concern so carefully concealed but his love so very very clear.

Three in a Bed by rach74 - Another morning snippet. In the quiet moments before his companions wake, Archie worries about the changes Horatio's promotion might bring. There's something very tender and domestic about this little scene, a feeling of closeness between the three men that goes beyond sex. And Rach describes it perfectly, every word and every motion ringing true.

Few Words Suffice by deralte - In a happier future that might have been, William, Horatio and Archie celebrate their good fortune with a night on the town before leaving Kingston. deralte subtly shows the growing bond between the three, while perfectly capturing their alcohol-addled personalities. Short and happy and completely smut-free, this is one of those little bits of fic that just always makes me smile.