[He can remember talking with Pellew. Being lectured, more like it. It had been shortly after Ferrol, and he'd been distracted on watch. They'd nearly lost a French corvette. After a proper dressing-down, Pellew had hesitated, sighed and told him he understood how impossible it was to do what he asked. Kennedy barely knew how to function as a man anymore, let alone as an officer, and he was doing the best anyone could who had been through what he'd been through. But this went beyond him or Pellew or anyone else. He had to pretend he was whole, at least, or everyone on the ship could be ruined.
After that, Archie had noticed Bracegirdle hanging nearby more often during Archie's watch, usually reading by lantern-light or simply looking out to sea. When asked, the jolly lieutenant would smile and say he was just stretching his legs. Archie wonders to this day if he'd done that on his own or if Pellew had requested him to keep an eye out for a struggling midshipman.]
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After that, Archie had noticed Bracegirdle hanging nearby more often during Archie's watch, usually reading by lantern-light or simply looking out to sea. When asked, the jolly lieutenant would smile and say he was just stretching his legs. Archie wonders to this day if he'd done that on his own or if Pellew had requested him to keep an eye out for a struggling midshipman.]
Me-time.