rosiespark

As others have said above, there's a nice reserve to Bush here, and I particularly enjoyed Bush almost recoils physically. It is an absurd request: it starkly highlights the gulf between ordinary expectations of acquaintance in the service and the extraordinary intensity of Archie's friendship with Horatio. The surprise with which Bush (in bookverse, especially) comes to recognize the intensity of his own growing friendship with H is such an important theme for his character: I like how you've handled it here.

"Horatio always maintained it was like trying to comb a handful of tow." The ghost of a smile on his face. "On deck, in a gale."

I'm glad you got the tow reference sorted out, because I do like this line! :-)

Thanks for writing!

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