Gale Force

[idler_1814]

For the letter G in lokei's Horatio Hornblower Alphabet Soup ficathon
TITLE: Gale Force
AUTHOR: Idler
CHARACTERS: Hornblower, Bush
RATING: G, Gen
DISCLAIMER: Not mine, not for profit
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Book canon, spoilers from Ship of the Line forward

Comments

[shezzawatto]

What an absolute delight to see you producing this gold standard stuff again, idler! I was so impressed by the paradox of the ending. You get inside HH's head so well - all that angst and self loathing - even if it *does* make me want to shake him!
Thank you for the enjoyment, especially so, as you're one of the originals in this FF game.

[idler_1814]

Hey! It's an absolute delight to see you again, too! I'm very glad you liked this one, especially the ending. That's where this piece began, and I wrote it backwards from there. Hornblower really is an interesting character to work with. He's way too intelligent for me to attempt to create his innovative thoughts. But his angst and self loathing? I can try that.

But I can't exactly claim to be an original: there were plenty of truly superior writers back on the hhfic list long before me. I'm just pleased to know that there's life in this old fandom yet.

[katriona_s]

This is the happiest, the most enjoyable fanfiction I've ever read! I enjoyed every line, from the first to the end, and the last part makes me feel so happy, contented- to see Bush in one of the happiest moments in his life. Even Forester seldom allowed us to see him smiling like this, such infectious, attractive smile... Thank you very much for the wonderful description. Really, this IS William Bush I love!

And Hornblower... Despite his intelligence and consideration, or maybe because of his deliberation, he is often so blind to other people's feeling. I usually do not feel much affection for such character of him, but in this piece he is... even his self-loathing is somewhat charming, I found myself being very fond of him here.

[idler_1814]

Oh, thank you!!! I agree: in CSf's work we saw a lot of 'quarterdeck Bush' but not so much of the private man--a few glimpses, but not many (though frankly I'd rather have clues here and there than having his character completely spelled out for me). My favorite, though, has to be in Commodore, as Hornblower's flag is hoisted for the first time. I always wondered whether Bush's joy was solely the result of his friend's success or due at least in part to his own astonishing return to active service. If it was, it seemed natural to me that he would feel truly 'back in action' after successfully weathering his first real challenge. It really was satisfying to put into words!

And Hornblower. I agree with you here, too, that he's often infuriating. It's part of why I like him as a character, though I suspect I wouldn't like him at all as a man. But remember.....Bush gladly would have died for him. He saw Hornblower from his own perspective, and not as we do--filtered through Hornblower's skewed and painfully self-critical eye.

[katriona_s]

I think Hornblower is a man who cannot do anything without self-analysis and deep consideration. Very intelligent and thoughtful, he can analyze and appreciate his friend's value accurately, still he can never "just" love someone. Contrarily Bush is a man who sees thing as it is, just do his duty, just love and trust his friend, and just accept Hornblower's sometimes willful friendship without too much consideration. It would be one of the reason Hornblower needs him. Hornblower's deliberation and self introspection is the source of his success but privately of his unhappiness, this complexity, I agree with you, makes him interesting as a character, but when such his cursed tendency hurts Bush (and often!) I feel really mad at him

[idler_1814]

I think Hornblower is a man who cannot do anything without self-analysis and deep consideration. Very intelligent and thoughtful, he can analyze and appreciate his friend's value accurately, still he can never "just" love someone.

Exactly. For a military leader, reliance on relentless self-analysis and deep consideration is an attribute. For a man? Not so much.

We *all* need those unguarded moments when we respond with our hearts and not our heads. CSF gave us a look at a very few of Hornblower's...but enough for us to know that they are there, kept tightly under wraps. It keeps Hornblower's behavior from being irredeemable, I think.

when such his cursed tendency hurts Bush (and often!) I feel really mad at him.

CSF implies that Bush understands Hornblower far better that Hornblower would ever know. Re-read Bush's conversation with Lady Barbara near the end of BtQ, after HH returns from seeing El Supremo's madness. For all Bush's rustic language....it's insightful, and hardly unimaginative.

[ashley_pitt]

I needed a good dose of William so I just re-read this.
I think I will just work my way down your master list and enjoy myself enormously.

[idler_1814]

It's really wonderful to know that you think my work bears re-reading. Thank you so much!!

[anonymous]

Wonderful characterization of Hornblower. Beautifully written.

[idler_1814]

Thank you so much! I'm very pleased that my characterization of Hornblower rang true for you.

It's lovely to discover that someone still stumbles upon this journal from time to time: thank you for taking the time to comment!

Snowflake Challenge Day 2: Hornblower Recs

[livejournal]

User sanguinity referenced to your post from Snowflake Challenge Day 2: Hornblower Recs saying: [...] canon-compliant gen, often focusing on the later books. Particular favourites of mine: Gale Force [...]