Hold Sway by randomalia (NC-17)

[subduction.livejournal.com]

Fandom: Horatio Hornblower
Pairing: Bush/Côtard
Length: ~2500 words
Author Website: LJ memories
Why this must be read:

One of the best aspects of a dual canon -- movies and books which overlap in some regards and diverge in others -- is the way it allows a writer to pick and choose elements from both 'verses to suit her purposes. Major Côtard is emblematic of this sort of symbiotic strength: an incidental player in the books, the movieverse fleshes him out into a compelling character well worthy of further exploration.

HH is a fandom packed with talented writers, but randomalia is among the very best, and "Hold Sway" a superb example of the taut, yet lyrical style which she uses to such great effect. Again, the Bush we see here is the older, dispossessed Bush of Sheerness (some spoilers for both Flying Colours and Loyalty are present), and the older Côtard randomalia extrapolates is entirely at home in the later period of the novels -- but perhaps the deftest touch of all is in the construction of a Hornblower who, though absent, pervades the story and seems to occupy all of the spaces between Bush and Côtard.

Hold Sway