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Inamorata by Janis Cortese (NC-17)
Fandom: HORNBLOWER
Pairing: Archie/Wellard, Archie/Clayton, Horatio/Archie
Author on LJ:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
cortese
Author Website: Janis Cortese's Fanfic Archive
Why this must be read:
Inamorata is set pre-Mutiny, and is about the changing relationships between Archie and Horatio, and Wellard, and about cycles of hero-worship, love, and abuse and also about memories and growing up. The grim realities of life aboard the Renown are balanced by Archie's memories of happier days with Horatio, and, unusual for fics set in this period, the story ends on an up note. Archie is perhaps a little more oblivious than his humbleness would explain, but his and Horatio's characterisation is spot on in all other respects. Not too angsty, not too fluffy, and with Janis Cortese's excellent, evocative writing, this story is a cut above your usual romance/angst fic.
"Mr. Wellard seems more cheerful of late," Horatio finally essayed softly after standing silently for some time. It wasn't unusual for two men, one coming on watch and the other coming off, to stay and chat for a while before parting company. It was one of the few times when they could talk closely and about intimate matters with any hope of escaping suspicion.
"Mm." Young Wellard wasn't sleeping in the cables anymore. That was all Archie needed to know. The few times that he had passed the young midshipman, he had seemed more awake, more cheerful. Well, he couldn't win the war singlehanded, but he could make one shipmate's life a little easier.
Horatio lowered his voice. "He seems quite taken with you, as a matter of fact."
That made Archie blink. "What?" he said as he turned to face Horatio, silhouetted against stars so sharp they looked like silver needles.
There was a strange sadness in Horatio's eyes, one that couldn't entirely be ascribed to their quarrel. "Mr. Wellard," he echoed. "With you."
Inamorata
Pairing: Archie/Wellard, Archie/Clayton, Horatio/Archie
Author on LJ:
corteseAuthor Website: Janis Cortese's Fanfic Archive
Why this must be read:
Inamorata is set pre-Mutiny, and is about the changing relationships between Archie and Horatio, and Wellard, and about cycles of hero-worship, love, and abuse and also about memories and growing up. The grim realities of life aboard the Renown are balanced by Archie's memories of happier days with Horatio, and, unusual for fics set in this period, the story ends on an up note. Archie is perhaps a little more oblivious than his humbleness would explain, but his and Horatio's characterisation is spot on in all other respects. Not too angsty, not too fluffy, and with Janis Cortese's excellent, evocative writing, this story is a cut above your usual romance/angst fic.
"Mr. Wellard seems more cheerful of late," Horatio finally essayed softly after standing silently for some time. It wasn't unusual for two men, one coming on watch and the other coming off, to stay and chat for a while before parting company. It was one of the few times when they could talk closely and about intimate matters with any hope of escaping suspicion.
"Mm." Young Wellard wasn't sleeping in the cables anymore. That was all Archie needed to know. The few times that he had passed the young midshipman, he had seemed more awake, more cheerful. Well, he couldn't win the war singlehanded, but he could make one shipmate's life a little easier.
Horatio lowered his voice. "He seems quite taken with you, as a matter of fact."
That made Archie blink. "What?" he said as he turned to face Horatio, silhouetted against stars so sharp they looked like silver needles.
There was a strange sadness in Horatio's eyes, one that couldn't entirely be ascribed to their quarrel. "Mr. Wellard," he echoed. "With you."
Inamorata