Seventeen Bells: [WRITTEN/ACTION]

[simplestgift]

On July the 4th, 1776, one Horatio Hornblower was born in Kent.  If you see him, bid him many happy returns.  He will most likely grump about it all day and act ungrateful, but don't allow it to discourage you.  He does appreciate it, he simply does not know it.

[For most of the day, Archie will be running around trying to furnish a bedroom in the house for a new housemate. He'll end up in the library, Good Spirits, the grocery store, then finally the Battle Dome, mostly staring in bewilderment at the controls before deciding this is too scary and leaving. At some point, he'll also take a walk in the woods, rain or no rain, in shirtsleeves and waistcoat but no coat. After a while, he'll get back on the journals.]

[Filtered away from Grell, 44%]

If you wanted to surprise someone dear to you, to cheer her up when she returned from being kidnapped, what would you do for her?

Comments

[action]

[captainhornblower]

Do they? I can't say I've had to deal with them much on the day.

[action]

[simplestgift]

I hear them talking about it on the journals.

[action]

[captainhornblower]

I'm afraid I've been rather soundly asleep. [Or completely out of it.

Thank you, Jilly, for teaching the class why opiates should not be mixed with alcohol.]

[action]

[simplestgift]

...Well. I'm glad you're at least alive for your birthday.

[action]

[captainhornblower]

Too much to drink, I suppose. [He doesn't know that one of his pills ended up crushed and in his brandy at some point last night. Probably best he never know, really. If you people want him to keep accepting drinks from you.]

Though I understand you and William continued drinking elsewhere. [A chuckle.] Enjoyed yourselves, I hope.

[action]

[simplestgift]

Enjoyed ourselves immensely, thank you. You know, Horatio, his coming here was perfectly timed, with us both being cripples.

[action]

[captainhornblower]

...It was, really. [Even though the captain hates admitting that he cannot do everything he could a week ago still.]

[action]

[simplestgift]

Now you have both your lieutenants. Happy birthday.

[With that, he pulls a package out from under the coffee table and hands it to him. Inside is a very beautiful regular journal and gorgeous fountain pen with refills.]

[action]

[captainhornblower]

I couldn't ask for anything more. [Except a ship. But he'll content himself with small miracles for now. Like having Archie and William.

Both his lieutenants.

...How things should be.

Then, though, Archie offers the package. Horatio has to smile.] Archie, there was hardly need to-- Thank you.

[He takes a seat to open the package, and his smile grows.]

Thank you.

[action]

[simplestgift]

I thought you should like to write private things on private paper. And since your last gift was of use to me, I thought I should give you something practical as well.

[action]

[captainhornblower]

I certainly appreciate it, Archie. [And his smile is a good indication of how much.

His expression takes on a teasing lilt as he examines the journal.] No witchcraft about this one, then?

[action]

[simplestgift]

None whatever. It's only paper and ink.

[action]

[captainhornblower]

Wonderful. [He laughed a bit, flipping through it again as his eyes went between it and the pen. Oh yes, he certainly liked this.]

Thank you, Archie. [He sets both down to rise again and pull the man into a half hug.] It's perfect. [Exactly what the private, thinks-too-much captain needed, actually.]

[action]

[simplestgift]

[A couple of pats on the back with the half-hug.] Least I could do.

[action]

[captainhornblower]

Suppose this means I must forgive you for your announcement, doesn't it?

[action]

[simplestgift]

Only a little.