A/N: This fic sort of came to me as a series of little moments in time, and that has meant some rather short snippets, some shorter than others. Sorry.
The rest of the day went on more pleasantly, as Horatio found, without surprise, that his reservations about Archie's character and the advisability of their friendship were utterly unable to withstand extended contact.
No matter how many times he tried to remind himself of Clayton, or of dying Captain Keane, or the way that Archie was constitutionally incapable of being fully truthful with him, Horatio still found himself smiling. More full of chatter and life than he had seen since their first innocent week together, his friend's happiness was contagious. Half-way through their lamb and potatoes Horatio surrendered to his desire to bask in Kennedy's company.
After, joyfully stuffed, Archie proposed a long walk to the shipyards, where his friend talked them onto the half-finished hulk of Indefatigable. Coin might have been involved. It was strange and sad and thrilling to see the ship all but torn to pieces, missing poopdeck and forecastle, only jagged planks where a new waist had been cut.
Kennedy rattled on about guns and deck configurations until Horatio was quite dizzy. The boy had served on a frigate before apparently, though Archie didn't seem to hear when he asked the name of the ship and where it had sailed. But the mid was eager to point out the differences between a true frigate and what the razéed Indefatigable would be like. A strong ship, able to withstand a broadside like the ship of the line she had been. But much faster, and better handling in bad weather, with her weight reduced and profile trimmed.
They both clambered about the decks and holds until Horatio was quite turned about. He couldn't help but notice that Archie's attention was often caught by the small spaces, noting odd nooks of deck and cabin that might make a hiding spot. Even on their new ship, it seemed, Kennedy was determined to have secrets.
Mostly they talked about what it would be like to be out at sea, where they might be stationed. Kennedy was eager for battle, and had plenty of news about their new captain, Edward Pellew. Sitting on the gundeck, listening to Archie spin tales of valor and seamanship, storms, and captured privateers, Horatio remembered again the thrill of honor and service that had called him into the Navy to begin with.
Even Archie's cynicism seemed lessened by the stories. In a fit of happy vandalism that left Horatio horrified, his friend pulled out a clasp knife and scratched initials into the wood above the hammock berth the boy fancied, then scratched Horatio's on the wood above the next.
He made them leave then, before they were caught, Archie laughing the whole while at his squeamishness. It was a long walk back to the inn, but to Horatio, it didn't seem so.
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