ring the bells that still can ring ([info]linaerys) wrote in [info]hh100,
2003-11-13 17:17:00
  • Mood: sad

Lesson Drabble #2

TITLE: The Better Part
RATING: PG-13 for violence
WORD COUNT: 100
RUM TO: Horatio
WARNING: bookfic, STRONG spoilers for the book Ship of the Line


Sometimes discretion is the better part of valor, thought Captain Hornblower, sitting dazed on the ruined deck of the Sutherland as the French captain had a jolly boat sent over to accept his sword and his surrender. It was an adage he thought he had learned before, many times, but in his blindness, and his fear of looking a coward, he wrought this destruction.

Such a cost: Young Longley blown apart, Bush’s foot and chances of advancement blown away, and so many dead, so that Hornblower might sit, numb with fear and grief, and learn his lesson one more time.

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  • 12 comments

[info]pamdram

November 13 2003, 23:41:57 UTC 8 years ago

aww...*sniff* poor Horry! Poor William!

[info]linaerys

November 14 2003, 06:26:56 UTC 8 years ago

I knew a lot of people wouldn't read this drabble, but after the horrifying end of Ship of the Line I couldn't help it. Those books have me so worked up.

Thanks for the comment.

[info]rach74

November 14 2003, 07:23:49 UTC 8 years ago

Ouch!
Excellent drabble though.
Poor William, and Horatio really is a prat sometimes,bless him.

[info]linaerys

November 14 2003, 07:31:09 UTC 8 years ago

Horatio is a prat sometimes but I love him so! Sorry =), these books are very involving. Lately I've felt I feel like I'm living more of life back then than I am here and now.

I'm glad you liked it. I just had to spread around the pain I was feeling for them a bit.

*rueful smile*

[info]venefica32

November 14 2003, 13:33:48 UTC 8 years ago

The end of the Ship of the Line was truly terrible. *shudders* But, nevertheless, this is a very good drabble. A hard lesson to learn but Horatio need to learn it, I think.

Lately I've felt I feel like I'm living more of life back then than I am here and now.

I so know the feeling!! :-)

[info]linaerys

November 21 2003, 06:14:33 UTC 8 years ago

Most of the way done with Commodore Hornblower and not sure he's learned that lesson. Now I think he's just gotten luckier.

Watching M&C makes me feel even more like I'm back then . . .

I saw this Maidenform bra billboard on the side of a building yesterday, and the tag lines are like "I dreamed I lived in Rome" or "I dreamed he loved me" and I thought "I dreamed I was the commander of a frigate in the Baltic sea, planning a cutting out expedition." Probably not going to end up on a bra ad any time soon.

[info]venefica32

November 23 2003, 10:40:31 UTC 8 years ago

"I dreamed I was the commander of a frigate in the Baltic sea, planning a cutting out expedition." Probably not going to end up on a bra ad any time soon.

Maybe not... But if it did I would buy the bra right away so maybe they should consider it. :-D

[info]sjkasabi

November 15 2003, 19:24:31 UTC 8 years ago

Mmm, nasty in the best way. So typically book Hornblower, you have the self-hatred down nicely.

[info]linaerys

November 16 2003, 20:45:58 UTC 8 years ago

I really love book Hornblower, for his self-hatred as nothing else. Movie Hornblower is always a bit too self-sufficient, but I just want to give book Hornblower a big hug.

Drunk comment, here, so please forgive. . .

[info]sjkasabi

November 18 2003, 03:40:04 UTC 8 years ago

Yep, it's the self-hatred that does it for me too. I'm alarmed that I seem to find this attractive, but there you go. I alternate between wanting to jump and point and shout "Suffer! Suffer! You brought it all on yourself you great self-obsessed emotionally stunted idiot", and, as you say, wanting to give him an enormous reassuring hug.

And I've got no excuse for saying such things, I'm not drunk at all :-)

[info]linaerys

November 18 2003, 08:33:04 UTC 8 years ago

I'm sure he'd annoy the heck out of me in real life. I don't think I'd have much patience for that kind of neurosis (although he seems to hide it fairly well). Actually, in real life, just like the book, I would be awed by his competence and intelligence, and in love with and annoyed by the rest.

And I totally want to yell that at him too.

[info]linaerys

November 20 2003, 13:00:06 UTC 8 years ago

Things have improved a bit, but I was so shocked and hurt by the end of that book.

Glad you liked the drabble.
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