The Beauty That Remains (The Hero Remix) by Randomalia (PG)

[iansmomesq.livejournal.com]

Hornblower Appreciation Week continues!  Today, I'm featuring Hornblower's "particular friend" and shipmate, William Bush, as he takes up the passenger seat beside me on the Hornblower Crack Van! *G*

Fandom: HORATIO HORNBLOWER
Pairing:  None, William Bush
Author on LJ:  randomalia
Author's Website:  randomalia's Live Journal
Why this must be read:  Earlier this year, the Hornblower fandom participated in a "remix ficathon," called hh_remix, in which we each were assigned another author's work to remix, re-write, play with, and generally make a completely new fic out of.  In this case, randomalia took my poem, Sheerness, (So, I suppose I'm slightly biased, LOL) and she remixed it into this beautiful, lyrical, lovely tribute to the OTC for many of us, William Bush.  In the Hornblower saga, Forester created some dark, dark days for William Bush.  Having suffered a serious injury in the Battle of Rosas Bay, and showing his mettle in the recapture of the Witch of Endor, Bush is promoted to Captain.   But that promotion comes with a price.  The Admiralty rips him from his beloved sea and assigns him master at Sheerness Dockyard.  Landlocked.  This, to Bush, is like caging a wild tiger.  In this story, Bush reflects upon his injuries, his perceived entrapment, and boldly considers himself a Hardy to Hornblower's Nelson, which, in its own way, gives Bush hope.

The Admiral had been with Captain Hardy before the end, which was as it should be. How glad Hardy must have been, later when he could think of it. A great man, Admiral Nelson. Bush is of the opinion that Hornblower will be like him some day...

The Beauty That Remains (The Hero Remix)