- --------- - --
When James awoke again, he was immediately unsurprised to find himself in his small cabin on Titanic. He reached over and flicked the single light on, picking his silver pocket-watch up from where it had been sitting on the writing table. He was due on watch in twenty minutes.
Then he remembered, and he was out of bed as quick as a shot. It didn't take him long to pull on a clean uniform and get dressed for duty, though for once he wasn't completely fastidious in his appearance -- he was too busy worrying about where Harold had ended up to be as neat as he normally was. Rubbing his eyes with fierce quickness, he restrained himself from running out of his cabin and onto the Bridge.
Chief Officer Henry Wilde was there, a powerfully built man whose strength seemed no less diminished by the usually passive look he had on his face, and Moody touched his hat in greeting. "Sir."
"Morning, Mr. Moody," Wilde answered, giving the younger officer a slight smile before turning back to the log book and clipboard he was holding. "A little early for watch, aren't you?"
"Yes sir," James said, nodding in agreement.
"Very good then."
Moody nodded again, crisply, and slipped out to the port side to see if he could find Lowe. He would have just been getting back from the second round then, and he usually took the port side, though he'd walked the starboard with Moody countless times. But instead of Harold Lowe, the sight that greeted him made him gasp.
Horatio Hornblower was on the deck of Titanic, in full early 19th century uniform.
Leaning over the side of the ship to look over the make, the young lieutenant frowned and looked around once again. Things were getting stranger by the minute, and as he took off his hat, he spotted Moody. "Ah, Mr. Moody."
"Jesus!" Moody nearly yelped, then looked around to make sure no one had seen. Hurrying over, he dropped his voice to a semi-urgent whisper, "We need to get you out of sight, and quickly."
Nodding, Horatio realized that he was in territory that was vastly unfamiliar. "Lead on, good sir."
James quickly dodged towards the side door that would lead into the Officer's Quarters, when a calm voice broke in that held no small amount of skepticism. "Mr. Moody?"
Moody stopped, cringing. "Sir?"
Wilde looked out, trying to see who the figure was that was walking with the junior officer. "Is everything in order?"
Thinking it best to keep his mouth shut, Horatio stood at attention in the way he was used to, the buttons on his uniform gleaming and his hat now set precisely on his head.
Moody thought as fast as he could, which was damn quick now that he needed to come up with some sort of story that his Chief would believe. "No, sir. I think Mr. Lowe here is suffering from the influences of The Coffee, sir."
Wilde walked over, his blue eyes wider than normal as he paced around Horatio in complete and utter disbelief. "The Coffee, you say?"
James cringed a little lower. "Yes, sir."
Searching through his mind, but never once letting his eyes move from their position straight on, Horatio continued on, "I don't believe I've quite learned to avoid the appalling substance yet, sir."
Henry frowned, eyebrows drawn as he took in the long ponytail, the uniform, the manner his Fifth Officer was bearing as he stood, and perhaps most noticeably, the lack of the Welsh accent. "I should say not, Mr. Lowe." Shaking his head, the tall man tried to find some rational explanation for the entire change, but he couldn't find a hint of one. Sure, that coffee had done a number on him the day before, but not quite that big a number. Stopping in front of Horatio, he studied his face for a moment before saying, "You're at the end of watch. I suggest you be properly attired and presented when you come back on."
"Aye aye, sir," Hornblower replied, appropriately and quite snappily.
Henry blinked once, twice, then looked to Moody. "Carry on." And with that, the tired and very confused Chief walked back onto the Bridge, vowing silently to himself that he would at least make an attempt to sleep as soon as he could get a chance.
Moody let out a faint sigh of relief, opening the side door and waiting for Hornblower to follow. "That was too close."
"Indeed." Nodding and looking after the Chief, Horatio finally allowed himself to take James's suggestion, and walked through the side door that had been opened for him. "Thank you."
"Welcome," James answered, quickly. He pointed to the right side of the hall once they reached the branch, "There's my cabin," and to the left side, "and there's Harry's." Stepping over to the Fifth Officer's quarters, he pushed the door open and stepped in. Committing both rooms to his precise memory, Hornblower followed the Sixth Officer into the room, remaining silent.
"You'll have to try to find a uniform, and do something with that hair," Moody said, quietly, checking his watch again. "You're not due up on the Bridge for another four hours, so make the best use of it you can, and I'll see what I can do about smoothing this over."
"Something with the hair?" Horatio repeated the question as if not understanding.
"Regulations say short back and sides," James answered, "so you'll have to cut it, or find some way to hide it."
Nodding resolutely, Hornblower looked over Moody with a stern look he saved for his superiors. Waiting a moment, he frowned slightly. "Do you think it's possible to hide it?"
"Not that I know of, but either way it'll have to be taken care of." James stepped out backwards, dropping his voice to a whisper, "Good luck, Horatio, and I'll be back as quickly as I can be." Then he turned, smartly, and headed for the Bridge.
Hornblower, at a loss for words even if he would have had someone to use them on, blinked a few times and looked around the cabin that was allotted for the Fifth Officer. Surprised by it accommodations, he smiled slightly, but soon it faded along with his good humor and he quickly went to find a uniform that would fit.
Lowe's uniform wasn't too much different from Horatio's own uniform, save for the fact that everything was just slightly too short for good tastes. Mentally cursing himself, Hornblower took to pulling out the stitching in hopes to solve the problem in some small degree, and hoped that Harold would forgive him for it.
Finishing, he noted how much lighter the uniform was in comparison to his own lieutenant's uniform and couldn't help but smile. Even with the stitching taken out, the sleeves felt too short, but Horatio noted that it didn't seem too terribly bad when he finally looked in the mirror. Addressing his hair, however, he noted that it sat lazily behind him even when tied up. Trying various ways to keep his hair from showing, he finally decided on a certain style and sat down on the bed, leaving himself to remember it for a later time.
- --------- - --
The log of the day for April 11th, 1912, 2:00 AM to 6:00 AM
Officer of the Watch: H. T. Wilde - Chief
Junior Officers (Midnight to 4:00 AM): H. J. Pitman - Third, H. G. Lowe - Fifth
Junior Officers (4:00 AM - 8:00 AM): J. G. Boxhall - Fourth, J. P. Moody - Sixth
Notes: Clear conditions, making good time. No warnings of ice in the vicinity. Wind minimal, fresh water fine. Coffee in Officer's Mess still in need of disposal.
Reports: Minor disturbance in steerage. Master-at-Arms called, and no arrests made. Officer Pitman reports "All's well" on starboard rounds. Officer Lowe grew a foot of hair between the beginning of port rounds and the end, and was dressed in an old style Navy uniform.
No other reports to be made.
OOW,
(signed) H. T. Wilde - Chief Officer
- --------- - --
James Moody was not a happy person as he watched the sun rising over the ocean, pacing the decks of the Starboard side. He was too busy worrying over how Horatio was going to take Lowe's place, and how Wilde was thinking of the entire situation. The Chief had given him a completely peculiar look when he had walked back onto the Bridge, but hadn't commented. Now, as he got back, he noted that the Second Officer, Charles Lightoller, had relieved Wilde. Swallowing any concerns and putting on a pleasant expression, he touched his hat to Lightoller. "Good morning, sir."
"Good morning, Mr. Moody," Lightoller answered, formally and smoothly as he noted the position and time in the ship's log, thankfully not actually reading Wilde's entry before his. "Sleep well?"
"Yes, sir. Thank you."
"Quite good."
Off the side of the Bridge, an exuberant Scotsman made his way to Lightoller and Moody. Rubbing his gloved hands together in the morning chill, First Officer William Murdoch couldn't help but grin at the other two officers. "Good morning, gentlemen!"
Lightoller gave him a look that spoke of a longtime friendship, but said formally, "Good morning, sir."
"Sir," Moody added, also unable to hide a grin. Murdoch had a personality that could make a friend of anyone -- cheerful and pure officer all at once.
"An uneventful night, I'm sure," Will commented, glancing out over the sea for a moment. "And a beautiful morning to end it with."
"We've had good luck on weather," Lights agreed, standing with Will and looking out as well. "Though it's still a bit too chilly at night."
Henry paced back onto the Bridge with a cup of tea, waiting out to go on his daily inspection parade with the Captain. "Gentlemen."
"Sir," Lightoller answered, nodding in Wilde's direction.
"Chief." Murdoch grinned, tipping his head to the superior officer. Pausing a moment, he put his hands behind his back. "Cap'n's not up and about yet, eh?"
Wilde shook his head in answer, tossing a nervous glance at Lightoller... it was apparent that the other officer hadn't noted his log entry with too much attention, and it made the Chief relax slightly. He still wasn't quite sure why he even noted that in the log, but most of it had to do with wanting to make certain he wasn't having an odd feverish dream, sleep or no.
Chuckling lightly, the good humored First Officer looked over Henry with a grin. "Feeling all right, Henry?"
Wilde coughed slightly, "That's open to debate, Will." He didn't fail to notice Moody go a little pale out of the corner of his eye, but decided to wait until Lowe was out to see if he really was seeing things, or if that strangeness had occurred.
"Debate?" Raising an eyebrow slightly, Will dismissed it for the moment until they were alone to talk, then shook his head and looked to the paled Moody. "And what of you, Mr. Moody?"
"J-just fine, sir," Moody stuttered in answer, not failing to notice Wilde's odd glance. "And you, sir?"
"Quite well, thank you." Shaking his head, he watched the expressions on both Henry and James's faces and frowned, not entirely sure what might have been happening.
Henry apparently came to a decision and picked up the log that Lightoller had just set back in it's place, slipping out to the port side with a glance at Murdoch that beckoned him to follow. Moody swallowed hard and inched his way in that direction, as discreetly as he could.
Moving off of the bridge to follow Henry, Will rubbed his hands together once again, wondering what kind of situation could have turned the deck crew into such nervous people. "Is everything all right, sir?"
Wilde frowned slightly, for a moment tempted to forget everything, but that was short lived. Without so much as a word, he offered the log.
Raising an eyebrow, the First Officer took the log and began to look over the entries. Nodding a few times, it took him a moment to realize what he was reading. Murdoch looked over at Wilde with a frown. "Mr. Lowe...?"
The look on Henry's face was indescribable, but it was definitely sincere, and a good bit baffled. "Will, it was the damnedest thing I've ever seen."
"And you're sure you're feeling all right, Henry? Have you slept at all?" Inquiring, Will closed the log and looked his friend over.
For a moment, the Chief seemed to lose his usually cool composure, and returned that look. "You know I haven't slept well, but that's besides the point." Wilde's eyebrows went up in an earnest expression. "Have I ever said anything I wasn't sure of?"
Shaking his head resolutely, the First Officer continued, "Not as long as I've known you at least, but Henry, a foot of hair?"
"A foot. A foot of hair." Henry nodded, very sincerely. "And what's more is, he certainly wasn't wearing his proper uniform, and he seemed... how do I say this? too quick to follow orders."
"Mr. Lowe too quick to follow orders? I have to see this myself." Will grinned. Harold Lowe was a good officer and an incredible seaman, but it hadn't taken any of them more than a day to see he was also very much his own man. He always seemed to hesitate when ordered to do something, as though making sure that those orders made at least some sense, and to see him following orders without that hesitation would be a sight indeed.
Henry took his watch out, then nodded with a slight grin himself. "Well, he's due up on watch here in a matter of ten minutes give or take."
Placing the log under his arm, Murdoch nodded. "Shall we get back, then?"
"Certainly," Wilde said, and walked back onto the Bridge as if the entire insane conversation never took place. He shot a look to Moody. "Mr. Moody, if you'd be so kind as to fetch Mr. Lowe to the Bridge..."
Moody went a few shades whiter, but he nodded with a mumbled, "Aye, sir," and slipped back through the chartroom to the cabins. As quietly as he could, he knocked on the cabin normally allotted to the Fifth Officer.
Horatio, in a near moment of panic, reached for a gun that no longer laid at his hip. Sighing and shaking his head, he moved over to the door. "Who is it?" His voice seemed raspy as he whispered the sharp words.
"James," came the equally quiet reply.
Quickly opening the door to let the Sixth Officer in, he stepped back. As Moody stepped inside, he reached over for the hat he knew was for the uniform he wore then.
Moody looked him up and down before an unbidden smile crossed his face. Damn, but he did look just like Harold if you didn't notice the few inches more and the few pounds less... other than that, and the tail, they would have confused anyone who didn't know them well were they to stand next to each other. But the smile faded, and he took on a solemn tone, "Mr. Wilde wants you on the Bridge."
"Whatever for," Hornblower nearly snapped, then let a sigh pass beyond his lips. "I would guess that it's time for me to go on duty, is it not?"
James nodded, swallowing his fear as well as he could. "I'll try to stay with you, and hopefully they'll take the coffee explanation and leave it at that." Under his breath, he muttered, "Not likely, but we can try."
Carefully cleaning up his appearance as he was so used to, Horatio glanced at James with a slightly worried smile. "Is there anything important I should remember?"
Jimmy quickly searched through his memories, then decided on the most ready and important information. "Your name's Harold Godfrey Lowe, you're twenty-nine, your posting before this was on the Belgic, and you're Welsh."
Committing the words to memory, he repeated them quietly as his tucked his hair into his collar. "...Belgic, Wel-- Welsh?! How in am I supposed to be Welsh, Mr. Moody?"
Moody frowned for a moment before answering seriously, "Try not to say too much. Keep everything to one word answers if you can."
"One word answers?" Shaking his head, Horatio set the hat on top of his head and pulled his uniform into order. "Well, one can do nothing more than try."
"Good luck," James said, patting him on the shoulder. He turned on his heel and walked out, composing himself as well as he could, and said a mental prayer as he walked onto the Bridge.
Following James's example, Hornblower walked out of the room, closing the door behind him with a sharp click. Moving down to the Bridge, he stepped in front of the gathered officers with the slightest hesitation.
Wilde looked them both over with a keen eye before nodding to them. "Gentlemen." In truth, he was trying to see if that damned hair was still there, but in a moment of uncharacteristic self-doubt, decided not to make it too obvious.
"Sir," Horatio replied, sternly, but not forcefully.
Murdoch, looking over them as well, moved around "Mr. Lowe" to replace the log, quite obviously out of the way for such a walk. Raising an eyebrow as he stepped back to his former spot, he looked to Wilde.
"Sir," Moody said, respectfully, trying to shrink as far into the background as possible without actually doing so.
Henry looked to Will, eyebrow raised in silent questioning while Lightoller watched the entire charade with a somewhat bemused expression.
Placing his arms behind his back, Murdoch flashed a smile at the junior most officer, then looked to the Fifth Officer, his joyful expression remaining. "I trust you rested well, Mr. Lowe?"
"Quite, sir," Hornblower replied, stoically.
"Recovering from your coffee fiasco?" Wilde asked, slipping into a somewhat warm look himself. He was more than content to let Will lead this little session -- the First Officer had a way of prying information out of people without them even realizing it. Very few people knew that better than Henry and Charles.
Lightoller didn't add anything, but now they had his full attention, and he went to pick up the log again for the sake of pretending to be absorbed into something else.
Hornblower, trained through his years on a ship with an austere Captain, didn't allow his dark brown eyes to move from the point where he had focused them. "Yes, sir, I believe so."
"We thought for sure that you would." Will nodded, glancing to the other two senior officers before returning his glance to Horatio. "Why, you seem to feel a lot better, Mr. Lowe. It's not very often that you can stand up so straight for so long."
Nodding once, Hornblower tried not to smile at the obvious compliment, not realizing that it wasn't much of one for the person who he pretended to be. "Thank you, sir."
Lightoller coughed.
Wilde glanced over.
Lightoller mouthed, out of view of Hornblower, "A foot?"
Wilde nodded.
Lightoller blinked.
Walking around the Fifth Officer and barely noting the glances between the other two, Murdoch grinned. "How long has it been since you've visited the barber, Mr. Lowe?"
"Sir?" Horatio mentally winced at his replying, knowing for sure that it was weak of him not to have a straight answer.
"Just as I asked. How long has it been since you last paid a visit to the barber?" Carefully, he looked "Mr. Lowe" in the eyes and held his stare for a moment before proceeding to take off his gloves.
Taking a deep breath, Horatio finally let a sidelong glance move over Moody before returning his eyes straight ahead. "I would have to say just before boarding, sir." In reality, he wasn't lying, but wasn't telling the full truth either. He had managed to get his hair trimmed respectably before boarding the Renown, but much of the cut didn't show so long later.
"Quite an amazing growth spurt, Mr. Lowe," Wilde commented, and was agreed with by Lights.
"It must have been The Coffee, sir, somehow it must have--" Moody started stammering, basically a nervous wreck.
"Mr. Moody," Henry warned, quietly.
"I think, perhaps, it might be attributed to the food on board ship, sir. I've heard that protein does much for growth." Hornblower, taking a deep breath, let it hold in for a moment, then slowly let himself exhale.
"Is that right, Mr. Lowe? Quite an interesting fact, if I might say so. I've not often thought of you as one to study nutritional values," Murdoch mused, smirking amidst his grins.
Lightoller finally broke into the conversation, commenting offhand, "Mr. Lowe, you are aware that regulations state that all officers of the White Star Line are to wear their hair short back and sides?" He could only really go on what Wilde had written, but given the questioning, it had some merit.
Letting his head bob once, Horatio tried his best to give a helpless smile. "I am, sir."
Moody jumped in, "And it'll be taken care of, sir, it was completely--"
"Mr. Moody, if you please," Murdoch sighed, looking at the young officer with a furrowed brow.
Wilde eyed Horatio with a slight smile. "Well, it's of no great consequence, really. So you're feeling better? That's good, for I wouldn't want your fiancee to worry."
Moody's eyes widened a fraction and he protested with as much innocence as he could muster. "But sir, Mr. Lowe doesn't have a fiancee."
"Mr. Moody!" Henry nearly growled, giving the young officer a look that didn't allow for arguments.
"Sorry, sir," Jimmy mumbled.
Hornblower did his best not to shift uncomfortably from one foot to another. "No, sir, I do not have a fiancee. Perhaps I was delirious at the moment that I might have told you this. Things have been coming and going in my mind, and I believe The Coffee may be at fault, sir."
Wilde looked to Will. He was at a loss now, yet again, and thought it wise to turn over the less-than-subtle interrogation to someone who might be able to come up with another idea.
"Take your hat off, Mr. Lowe," Murdoch commanded, not nearly as lightly as he would have liked to.
"Sir?" Horatio wasn't used to questioning the orders given to him, but he worried about the situation as a whole and turned that questioning gaze at Will.
"I requested that you might take off your hat. Perhaps your hearing should be checked as well," Will inched on, though not too terribly forceful in his ways.
Quickly pulling his hat from his head, Hornblower rested it under his arm in the customary way he was taught as a midshipman. "Very good, sir."
Walking around the younger lad, the First Officer shook his head and reached a hand up, plucking the pigtail from inside the white collar that laid under Horatio's jacket. "And what of this? I do believe your hair was lacking such an... extension, yesterday."
Lightoller's eyebrows shot to the top of his forehead as he leaned to the side to get a good look. When he straightened back up, he glanced at Wilde in questioning, and was rewarded with a silent, "I told you so." Then he simply nodded, eyeing Hornblower again with an odd look.
Henry continued after he was finished silently communicating with Charles, "Not to mention, before you went on your rounds this morning."
"I couldn't quite tell you what happened, sir," Horatio lied, doing his best to make his innocence natural.
"I'm telling you, sir, it had to have been The Coffee. Who knows what it could have--" Moody tried yet again.
This time, all three of the senior officers turned on him and yelled in unison, "MR. MOODY!"
Henry took it a step farther by walking over and gently but very firmly leading the Sixth Officer out onto the promenade. Once he was out of earshot of the Bridge, he commanded, "Mr. Moody, you're to stay on the First Class Promenade until further orders. Am I clear?"
James swallowed hard. "But sir--" He stopped himself when he saw the look on the Chief's face, and nodded stiffly. "Aye, sir." Had he not been so damn concerned, he might have told Wilde that he was, in fact, quite opaque and solid... but then, he had a feeling the Chief wasn't exactly in a joking mood.
Glancing off to the side in wonderment of what had happened, Hornblower frowned slightly, then looked forwards once again.
"I don't suppose you want the passengers to see you that way, do you, Mr. Lowe?" Murdoch grinned slightly, his Scottish playfulness getting the best of him.
"No, sir, of course not!" Raising his chin out of pride, Horatio nodded to himself, adamantly.
Wilde walked back onto the Bridge, smiling pleasantly now that the Sixth Officer was out of the way for the time being. He had no way of knowing that Moody was crossing to the Port side to listen in from the other side of the Bridge.
Lightoller couldn't help but fall into that same near-joking nature -- yes, Murdoch had that quality that could make anyone near him instantly brighten up. "Though, Mr. Lowe, you could honestly sell that hair for quite a good price."
"Indeed," Murdoch laughed, looking over at the Second Officer. "I'm sure there are many wig companies that would pay a few pounds for such locks!"
Doing his best to keep his cheeks from flushing, Horatio shifted his weight carefully, restricting his movements in hopes to keep their attention diverted from him for the most part.
"Our Captain on the Oceanic would have never allowed for this, would he?" Lights glanced at Lowe, as if to confirm that. He might have gotten an answer if a cough wouldn't have come from the Port side Officer's Promenade.
*cough*neveronOceanic*cough*cough*
By now, Henry just rolled his eyes, looking at Murdoch, who returned the exasperated look and gave a quick nod in the direction of the sound.
"No, sir," Hornblower replied, amiably, "I don't believe he would, though I cannot speak from experience."
Lightoller frowned, walking out to the Port side to find no one in sight. Wilde took the Starboard a moment later, finding a faintly flushed James Moody whistling on the First Class Promenade.
Murdoch, as confused as he looked, glanced after the other two officers with both eyebrows raised. Then, moving his gaze back to Hornblower, he grinned slightly while the other two returned to his side. "Has it been long since you spoke with your family last?"
"Quite, sir," Horatio frowned, once again not needing to lie.
It was in that particular moment that Captain Smith decided to come onto the Bridge. He was dressed in his black uniform, handsome in the way dignified older gentlemen were. With a smile, he nodded to his officers. "Gentlemen."
Wilde, Murdoch and Lightoller all stood to attention, touching their hats and answering, "Sir," in less than perfect unison.
Already at attention, Hornblower wasted no time in carrying out his own respects, though only able to give a slight bow since his hat had been removed. "Sir," he replied, wistfully, still stiff in the presence of a Captain.
Smith smiled at them all again, then looked to Henry. "Ready for parade, Mr. Wilde?"
"Aye, sir," Wilde answered, formally, as he nodded to the other three. Inspection parade was a slightly tedious affair, but by this point, Henry was welcoming the idea of setting his mind back to organization -- his natural talent for bearing in mind near everything that dictated smooth running on such a large liner. He gave Will a meaningful look, a promise to speak again later, and with that, the two men walked out.
Letting out what little sigh of relief he allowed himself, Horatio immediately felt more at ease with the Chief gone.
"You should probably take your rounds, Mr. Lowe," Lightoller commented, wanting a chance to speak with Will alone. "And do something about that hair while you're at it."
Aye aye, sir," Hornblower nodded, replacing his hat and knuckling it before stepping off the Bridge in quite a hurry.
Charles watched him go before turning to Will. "This seems to be getting rather surreal, wouldn't you say?"
"I would, yes." Murdoch frowned, looking after the young officer as he left. "Mr. Lowe seems... quite different."
"Not like the man we knew yesterday, perhaps?" Lightoller quirked an eyebrow. "Or for that matter, during the entire sea trial?"
Shaking his head with a slight laugh, Will replied, "Not in the least."