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@admiraltyspride
Indie RP side-blog for a fictional version of Lord Horatio Nelson Multimuse/OC/Crossover friendly With flexible portrayal to allow for ‘time bending’ where necessary. Mun is 30+, GMT +1 time zone, Please read disclaimer before interacting Mobile friendly links DISCLAIMER || RULES || ABOUT || VERSES
amelia listened , perhaps a bit too intently , as nelson spoke . her eyes remained fixed upon his features , his expressions , and the small smile that softened a war torn face . ( it humbled her in a way she had never experienced before ) . most men , in her opinion , were little more than brutish thugs , even amongst the most esteemed sailors of the navy . but nelson seemed grounded despite his years of experience and hard earned reputation . ( although quite mad , if the most recent stories were to be believed ) , he nevertheless filled amelia with a sense of national pride . ironic , considering her own german heritage .
❝ . . . though my studies do not reveal a great deal regarding the spanish navy , i am aware that they are a formidable force in their own right . to capture two ships is an extraordinary accomplishment . not many men would have possessed the confidence to pursue such a . . . retrieval . ❞ for a moment longer , amelia remained lost within her own thoughts , ( her mind wandering towards considerably darker places ) . she found herself wondering how many spanish men had perished amidst the blaze of battle , and whether the sea itself had been stained a delicate shade of pink . ( such unbecoming thoughts for a young lady ) , and yet they drew the faintest smile across her features nonetheless .
but eventually , the soft sea breeze and nelson's question drew her back to reality , ( and the silent smile lingering upon her features ) vanished far too soon . ❝ . . . you would share the technical details with a woman ? my . . . lord nelson - you are trying to curse both your fleet and your crew now . such blasphemy . i shall have to repent for it at church this evening , i am sure . ❞ but there was an amused gleam in her eyes that revealed she had no intention of visiting a church any time soon . ( alas , his suggestion had already allowed a plan to take root ) within her mind . one that , should it ever be discovered , would carry severe consequences not only for herself , but for her father as well . naturally , amelia found such temptations impossible to resist .
❝ . . . but now that you mention it , i would quite like to know how many people a ship of this size can hold . i am sure the cargo you carry across the seas must be quite the inconvenience. a delightful place for stowaways , i would imagine . ❞
Nelson was more than comfortable talking with her about whatever mad strategy he had deployed to overcome the enemy. He would however make a point of leaving out the gory details. How the deck of the three ships had been so awash with blood that if a man were not wearing a band of distinction after slipping on quite literally a blood soaked deck, it would have been hard to tell which nation he was fighting for. The deck had been cleaned and repaired since that battle, the evidence of the blood soaking only really visible in the comparison of the new, brighter planks with the darkened, weathered ones making up the sole.
He hummed an agreement that the Spanish navy was a force to be reckoned with, he had clashed with them enough to have a very deep respect for them in turn though the curve of his mouth into a smile gave an early warning he was about to counter the fact of the Spanish being formidable. "Not so much that my fleet does not scare them when they see my colours. I'll take their fleet from them ship by ship and they are well aware of it. I suppose we are more the formidable navy now."
With another heart felt laugh for her tease on cursing again, Nelson thought about the church, his father, his faith, his wife and his affairs for just a flash of a moment before returning his attention to Lady Bach once again. She had a question about the crew numbers for the ship and he barely thought about it before answering. "There were eight hundred and fifty Spaniards aboard when she was captured." And one gravely wounded admiral but that was here nor there, he failed to mention how many were aboard now it was under British control quite on purpose. "She is a demanding vessel." Though it seemed her thoughts turned towards stoleways and Nelson shook his head without really picking up on the clues of what Lady Bach was intending to do because it would be utterly insane to try.
"I think any stoleway aboard a naval vessel is in for a terrible shock, Lady Bach." He had a few over the years of course, but they had been brought into the navy either willingly or not. "I have no tolerance for idle hands aboard a man of war." Work without the chance of sabotage or a watery escape was Nelson's punishment which remained much more lenient than most.
lord nelson was certainly more forthcoming when it came to encouraging a young woman's interest , allowing stiff shoulders and a heavy heartbeat to soften , ( if merely unnoticeable to the untrained eye ) . perhaps lady bach felt more at home upon a ship than back home with her endless studies . though of course , she appreciated the ability to read , write , and learn , ( it would always come with sacrifices amelia was not willing to accept ) . but a woman of her standing had no choice but to obey her family's wishes . she indeed felt like a bird in a golden cage , unwilling to leave behind the finer pleasures in life , yet ( equally unwilling ) to acknowledge the sacrifices they would cost her as well .
❝ . . . i do not curse men , lord nelson . perish the thought - that would be extremely unladylike for a woman of my station . ❞ but the smile upon her lips revealed an entirely different story . ( though raised in a single parent household for the better part of her childhood ) , she still carried the core values of her mother , alongside the rather posh understanding that most men were simply semi cultured apes draped in human skin . ❝ . . . however , i would enjoy the pure embarrassment of being told off by a woman , and slowly watching the color drain from his face . i am , after all , a prideful yet unmarried woman . ( i should not have to stand for such imprudence ) , either way . ❞
alas , it was not lord nelson's directive to indulge the feelings of a frivolous young woman such as lady bach , ( nor would she overstay her welcome or his patience ) . she was , after all , exceedingly grateful to be allowed aboard such a wondrous ship . thus , amelia chose to drop the matter for now . instead , giving the ship another curious look . her hand moved towards her ridiculously sized hat , ( far too heavy and far too uncomfortable ) , holding it in place as her head tilted upwards towards the giant sails above them . ❝ . . . i do not wish to be a burden , lord nelson . . . ❞ lady bach's voice slowly trailed off , clearly considering her next words with great care . eventually , she turned back towards him , an uncertain gleam lingering within hazel eyes .
❝ . . . this is your ship , no ? is there anything you would like to share about it ? i doubt i shall ever have the opportunity to see you in such a manner again , ( and thus , i find myself yearning ) to learn as much as possible from you . ❞ and one night soon , perhaps amelia would encourage herself to draw the ship from memory alone . ( a small comfort , certainly ) , but enough to discourage her heart from weeping for the sea nonetheless .
There was a smile to his face as she reassured him she did not curse men, she had understood his joke in any case though she seemed keen on berating the officer for his advances. Nelson would have to summon him while they were at sea, it would mitigate against Lady Bach crushing the man's spirit before heading into battle but he would still try to correct the behaviour all the same. In the meantime, the other man was under his command and Nelson did feel responsible for him even if their departure had not actually started yet.
"You are right, Lady Bach," Nelson acknowledged, "you should not have had to endure such insult, I am ashamed the officer thought it his right or place to disrespect you in such a way. While we are at sea, I will see him suitably punished and depending on his reaction, a demotion may be on the table." He hated taking opportunity away from his men but sometimes it was merited, he expected his officers to be in control of themselves and mindful of their environment and company, the man showing a callousness in harassing Lady Bach suggested he was lacking in the awareness Nelson expected. They were at war after all, his men had to be careful.
For now it seemed Lady Bach was willing to delay her own reprimand for the other man and Nelson watched her hold onto her hat to look up at the sails being checked and prepared for their departure. His eyes lit up that bit more when he was invited to share something about the ship and Nelson visibly had to take a moment to not start rambling about the current ship. "This is HMS San Joseph," he announced proudly, "A ship my crew and I captured at St Vincent, actually we captured two ships at once, the first was San Nicholas, but San Joseph pulled along side to help as the flag ship and I saw an opportunity and boarded her as well."
He cast a look about the deck, a captured Spanish ship now painted in Nelson's famous yellow and black colours. His ship as far as he was concerned. "The surrender was fast and my method bares my name as Nelson's Patent Bridge for Boarding First Rates," He chuckled as it had originally been a joke, but no one had managed it since so it was still very much his own mad way. "Or do you prefer the technical details over the history?" He cocked an eyebrow but did not seem to mind sharing the facts at least.
𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎 & 𝐅𝐈𝐒𝐇 @admiraltyspride continued from here
Fish was surprised to find herself feeling quite so calm. It was as if everything was happening in slow motion, her heart beating quietly in her chest. This was the most important moment of her life, she could feel it. And yet, there was no nervousness or fear in her mind. Only… tranquility. Perhaps it was the result of bravery. Or foolishness.
“He’ll put up a fight,” she replied casually, though she made sure to whisper back. The Captain was tall and strong, and vicious. But what could he do faced with the navy? Outnumbered? He was going to lose, no matter the outcome. Oh, she just wanted to look into his eyes and smile. Wasn’t it poetic, in a way? Betrayed by the scrawny little girl he had pretended to help, many years ago.
“He’s always got his pistol with him.” And a whip. “But we have the element of surprise.”
She glanced at Horatio, and she hardly looked like someone about to do a mutiny. Instead, she had a nonchalance to her. Whether the Admiral would find that reassuring or concerning, that was up to him. “Do what you must,” yes, kill him for all I care, throw his body to the sharks. It would be best to avoid bloodshed, of course. But how tempting though, to see life fleeing from the Captain’s eyes…
“I’ll walk in first, to keep him unsuspectin’,” she offered, “and you can come in after. He won’t see it comin’, I can tell you that.”
Nelson expected nothing less of the pirate captain, he would have fought to the bitter end too if the situation was reversed. He had come in, made a deal with a mutineer, let her convince the crew that working with the navy would be better off than working against them and to his benefit too, the man was bound to be blindly furious and he imagined terrified. Mutinies usually ended in blood and this time they had the navy as back up.
A pistol was nothing that Nelson had not faced before and he gave a sure nod as he followed his new business partner towards the captain's cabin. He seemed to have thought about it, some preconceived plan perhaps. He imagined the navy was a surprise and an admiral turning up to do it for him a greater one but he had the impression that he had spent some time considering disposing of the captain to have been so casual about it in the first place. "I will count on your signal, perhaps a word to suggest you are ready?"
He would not steal his moment to potentially gloat if he needed it, lord knew he'd have loved several opportunities in the past and if the deal could be sweeter it might forge more than just a tentative alliance based on a mutiny and show some respect for him and his right aboard what was to be his new ship, if nothing else. That usually paid off for Nelson down the line. "You will know him better than I, if you prefer a word of subtlety that would not be too unusual for you to speak or one with more substance," aka an inside reference that would feel particularly good to say to the captain's face just before either arrest or death, "then we shall listen out for it."
an unwanted chuckle escaped lady bach at the mention of seasickness . the remark reminded her far too much of her own mother , who could ( scarcely leave her cabin ) whenever amelia's father permitted her to accompany him on his various ventures . ❝ . . . has it ever occurred to you that perhaps the seasickness is merely your body's way of informing you that you are missed at home ? the people you leave behind . . . they worry more than you realize . ❞ amelia answered solemnly , ( allowing her gaze to drift briefly toward lord nelson ) . the remark had not been intended to dampen the mood . if anything , it had been offered as a balm for the soul , a gentle comfort . and for a fleeting moment , ( she found herself wondering whether her father ) , now sailing somewhere along the distant borders of africa , ever suffered from seasickness himself . for all his faults and misdeeds , lady bach missed him terribly .
but the faint flush that colored her cheeks afterward , brought on by the mere suggestion of ignorining her father's wishes , caught the air within her lungs entirely . ( her heart skipped a beat , momentarily fazed ) and dangerously close to abandoning all reason in favor of dashing straight onto his ship . alas , for all the excitement threatening to betray her , lady bach merely lowered her head in quiet respect . ❝ . . . some would consider it bad luck to bring a woman aboard a ship , lord nelson . for all you know , i could be a witch intent on bewitching your sailors . ❞ ( at last , a smile appeared once again - and lady bach stepped forward nonetheless ) . of course , amelia placed little faith in such stories , nor did she possess any intention of distracting the men from their duties . truthfully , ( her interest in men had always been somewhat . . . lacking ) .
amelia then grasped the hems of her dress , ( lifting the fabric a few modest inches ) before beginning her ascent along the narrow wooden plank . feet now far more accustomed to solid ground than restless waves struggled ever so slightly against the ship's movement , though eventually she stepped onto the deck . all the while , she remained close to lord nelson's side . ( the difference between this vessel and her father's trade ships became apparent almost immediately ) . there was a discipline to these sailors , an elegance in the way they carried themselves and performed their duties , that far surpassed anything she had ever witnessed amongst a hired merchant crew . ❝ . . . the . . . rather unruly dog of a man who so thoroughly indulged in my presence - is he aboard this ship as well ? i should hate to make a grown man weep in front of all his friends . ❞
Lady Bach's view on seasickness was very touching and her reminder that he would be missed by those that loved him while he was at sea stung as he thought of Emma and Horatia. Oh, how he'd love to stay with them but he was forever restless on land, despite best efforts. Her words were meant as a balm though and he did take it as such, offering her a thankful smile. "I had not considered such a notion before, thank you Lady Bach, perhaps the sickness can be more a comfort and a pull towards home once again." Though he knew his commissions were not short, this one could stretch over the 12 month mark and leave was not possible for a man of his rank.
It was Nelson's turn to laugh when she suggested some thought it bad luck to bring a woman aboard or that she might be a witch. "I trust that is not the case, in my experience it has not invoked the wrath of the sea to have women aboard." He thought of Fish who was no doubt helping the officers and crew prepare for departure. "As for witches," he mused as he followed her onto the wooden walk way, careful not to crowd her but close enough to offer some physical support should she lose her balance, "from my travels, I cannot say that even I have managed to attract the wrath of witches thus far and I trust that it will not be the case with you." He chuckled, though he was a sailor and superstition did often win out against his logic.
Once aboard, the whistle blew to announce his arrival on the ship and the sailors next to the walkway were quick to turn and salute him, some offering greeting to which Nelson acknowledged but did not linger, not wanting Lady Bach to feel abandoned. She asked of the man that had offended her and Nelson gave a more playful laugh, "Do you seek to curse him after all, Lady Bach?" He teased her but then shook his head, "He will be aboard another ship, though I suspect he has already scampered to hide below deck there too however, I would not begrudge you the opportunity to make him weep in front of his friends there too." She would not gain access alas, or at least so Nelson thought anyway.
"Might you instead be more interested in admiring the ship, I do not doubt you would gain a great deal of satisfaction from encountering him again yet I worry it would sour the experience in being aboard." He paused and looked back out down the walk way. He could summon the man if she really wanted to make her point clear he supposed but Nelson would rather let him hide on another ship and face her wrath on his return instead.
𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎 & 𝐅𝐈𝐒𝐇 @admiraltyspride
Fish smiled fondly. She felt very protective of Horatia, and was touched that her little sister asked of her in her letters. She had never had any siblings before Horatia, never had to worry about a soul younger than hers. But the years of lonesome survival were long gone, for Fish. “I adore her too,” she replied, “please tell her in your letter that I think of her often.”
“It is a price I’ve always been willing to pay,” she mused, “besides, I don’t think I could live on land for too long, I’d probably wither away.” Like a flower without water! The pull of the ocean was always too strong, always tugging at Fish’s heart. It had made her leave Nassau when she was just a child, and even now, as an adult, she felt it. Perhaps even more so now that she had a life and a carreer at sea. Luckier than most, she had her father by her side, making the choice easier.
“Undeserving?” she repeated, frowning. “You saved me from a life of misery and servitude. You are my blessing, dad.” But her frown melted away when he compared her to a bird, replaced by another smile.
He asked her if she could ever settle ashore, and while she had unknowingly replied to his question a few seconds ago, she shook her head in answer. “I don’t think I could. I know it is what society expects of me, but I have never been very good at caring about such things.” Her eyes glimmered playfully. Her father always supported her in her decisions.
“It would have all been far easier if I had been born a man,” she admitted a little bitterly, frustrated by the expectations of the world. But her father had always been an offered hand through it all, encouraging her. Opening doors that would have otherwise remained closed. “I must manage with what life has dealt me. I’ve never been meant for a peaceful life as a wife, on shore. This is where I belong, you know it too. I will fight harder and work harder than any man if I must. But I will never settle for a life I do not desire.”
"She's too young to read the letters herself, you could still send some of your own." He couldn't promise that Emma would read her letters to Horatia though, he hoped she would but well, even he had to admit that she was somewhat fickle in her moods when it came to Fish among others. "You could always write to your Uncle William to read them to her," he offered with some acknowledgement that he was aware of the Emma situation, though his eldest brother was hardly reliable.
She answered his question twice over and Nelson was at least then sure that she did not want to settle on land. He hadn't robbed her of anything but he did have to worry about what the rest of society might do or think of her in the years to come, especially when peace came and the public and admiralty grew bored. He only smiled at her for her reassurance and compliments though, he wasn't sure he did deserve Fish in his life but that did not mean he wasn't grateful to have her in it!
She was determined not to settle on shore and Nelson nodded. "I think you would have faced the same problem even as a man," he teased softly, "the calling is the same, the sea doesn't care if you are a man or a woman." Though she was talking about expectations and that wasn't lost on him either, he'd fought hard, advocated for her too, it was his rule breaking, recklessness and international fame and 'heroism' that had gained him something akin to a right to dismiss norms in any case. Though ever the walking contradiction, he was fearful of what might happen to he and Emma should their truth ever be uttered out loud in the wrong circles.
"I would even go as far as to say that as a woman, you are gaining more recognition." He pointed out, thinking of Josiah who had since faded into obscurity, though Nelson still funded his education and career, as he did for his nieces and nephews too. "So, make them swallow their words and regret ever doubting you," he cracked a smile, cheered up as he held his glass near his mouth and mischievously suggested, "and enjoy every moment of it," over the rim of his glass, before he took a sip.
@admiraltyspride || cont. from here.
Some thirty ships or thereabouts. Arthur turned the estimate over in his mind as he drank from a bottle of rum he’d successfully coaxed from Victory’s generous purser, not entirely without impatience, though few better than he understood the value of a stirring patriotic oration to the families of men soon to sail into the unknown. The bulk of the Franco-Spanish fleet remained at anchor in Cádiz, intact, and this fact sat ill with Britain. It had done so from the moment Collingwood’s dispatch was laid upon his desk, for Bonaparte was not a man to suffer such a force to languish in idleness for long. Arthur had no intention of being anywhere else while the means of securing the channel against future designs lay apparent before him. Britain was growing weary of this war; worn thin by this accursed and interminable business; and if he could not yet bring the whole wretched farce to its conclusion, he might at least see his finest men strategically placed so as to ensure that France would never again presume to menace him with the threat of invasion. That was why Arthur was present aboard the flagship of the man he regarded the ablest among them, his presence a tacit declaration that here, upon this venture, the fate of all else would be decided. Leaning idly against the mizzenmast, his countenance concealed beneath the lowered brim of his hat, Arthur worked the rind from an orange with his penknife in slow, even strips, listening as Nelson addressed the crowd from across the quarterdeck. Having come aboard as a gentleman rather than an officer—in rich dark wool yet void of lace or epaulette—the crew had little by which to account for the attention they found themselves paying him. Vice-Admiral Nelson, however, required no such accounting. A faint smile stirred on Arthur’s lips. Modesty was not among his natural virtues (though propriety required he conduct himself as though it were). He wanted men to feel what Nelson made them feel; needed them to believe that England was worth whatever was demanded of them. Nelson could make men accept that their sacrifice was not merely a matter of duty but devotion, and unlike most individuals who possessed that gift, he was entirely sincere in the employ of it. That was what made him outstanding. Only once the brief speech had concluded, and the crew turned to their duties, did Arthur approach the other before he could descend to his cabin. “You may have lost your arm, my friend, but you have not lost your touch for moving the nation by words as well as deeds.” He offered a slice of his orange without the least formality between them. “It should serve us well in the weeks to come.”
They were daunting odds from what he had understood from the report and even he knew that the report might not be totally accurate. He'd have loved to think that Collingwood had counted wrong but his dear friend was not known for such mistakes. Nelson did not know what would be awaiting them and he did not know if they were leaving with enough time to intercept the fleets either, all he did know was that failure was not an option. Failure meant invasion and it was a burden he had placed upon his own shoulders for better or worse.
Retreating below decks had been the aim, while his Great Cabin would still be bustling with movement, officers and otherwise it would be easier to appear to be checking his belongings or pouring over maps well enough to have some moments to collect himself after walking through the streets to the pleas of many of his fellow country men and women begging him to succeed.
A familiar voice stopped him in his tracks though, as it always would with Nelson and he turned to see a gentleman rather than an officer but Arthur required no introduction to him. Nelson beamed at him at his compliment and offer of an orange slice, which he took without ceremony. "I try my best," he teased softly but felt a great weight lifting to know that Arthur was aboard. "I had my ears bent with whispered complaints that my speeches in the House of Lords were too wordy and had offended many bored minds who seemed to believe me some sort of entertainer rather than naval commander."
He looked to the orange slice in his hand but decided against putting it in his mouth for the moment, not wanting to disrupt his conversation with his friend, inspiration and to whom he had actually sworn his loyalty to.
"I am glad to see you aboard," a very genuine comment indeed and Nelson regarded him for just a moment, smile and pride hard to hide as he settled on the implications and idea that England truly was with them for the battle to come. "It brings me a great comfort that you are here and admittedly a sense of pride that you would chose to be." And with that Nelson turned to enjoying his small slice of orange and stalled his intent to head below deck, standing with Arthur and looking back to the shore once again. He did not really wish to leave home, not now, now with Merton still being established, with little Horatia left at home, with Emma waiting for him. His heart was heavy but duty as ever was paramount. Thoughts and feelings mused upon while he politely ate his orange slice.
there was a noticeable gleam within lady bach’s eyes at the mention of shared travels , and her heart - though amelia herself had yet to properly recognize it , ( began skipping beats within her chest ) . it was a quiet yet suffocating longing , one she constantly attempted to suppress and sever herself from . ( yet she failed regardless ) . the hunger remained , only ever briefly soothed whenever her father returned from his voyages carrying some small gift meant to satisfy amelia’s ever growing ache for the sea . but it meant little - because lady bach knew , this was all she would ever get to see from the world beyond . ❝ . . . i was still a child the last time my father allowed me to accompany him on one of his voyages . through his grace , i was fortunate enough to witness different cultures and distant places . . . ( it also granted me the opportunity to visit germany from time to time ) . ❞
a came smile then , soft and almost wistful , as amelia’s hazel eyes settled more intently upon the ship before them . ( there lingered within her an undeniable urge to step aboard ) , to feel the solemn weight of restless waves beneath her feet one final time . ❝ . . . i imagine it must be much the same for you . you have seen far more of the world than i ever will - albeit under . . . considerably more dire circumstances , i would assume . ❞ finally , lady bach allowed her eyes to linger upon the taller man , ( carefully inspecting the years of war carved quite literally into his body ) . somewhere beneath her usual composure , amelia found herself quietly admiring his courage and relentless tenacity .
❝ . . . i am to be wed to a colleague of my father’s . unfortunately , he possesses rather traditional views regarding who is permitted to set foot upon a ship . ❞ not that lady bach had ever truly attempted to argue with her fiancé on the matter . ( doing so would inevitably upset lord bach ) , and in turn place unnecessary strain upon the carefully constructed partnership between the two men . ❝ . . . alas , being here with you , my lord , will likely be the last time i ever set eyes upon a ship again . i imagine my future husband intends to . . . relocate me as quickly as possible . he has never been particularly fond of my fiery nature . ❞
He supposed in her younger years it made sense that her father would keep her with him, though he had heard of the Bach family he was not so overly involved in high society, despite best attempts, as to know the dynamics of each of them. He knew now that Amelia's mother had passed away and he wondered if that had been the reason she was brought aboard with her father until she was old enough to be left in a place of education at least.
Nelson spared a glance between her and his ship, he knew when someone had the call of the sea in their ears and she certainly looked like she wanted to board. He looked up to it too and spotting the poor boatswain peering over the edge at them. Somewhat entertained, Nelson pretended not to see him and turned back to Amelia as she spoke. "I have been at sea since I was twelve, when I am on land I crave nothing more than the waves and when I am at sea I crave nothing more then home." He smiled and thought of his family he left behind when he left, though there was one aboard this time, he was fortunate.
"I have been to wonderous places, Lady Bach, from the ice wall at the top of the world, to the unexplored jungles of the new world, still out for discovery. The war has made it necessary for me to spend my time on open ocean or mercifully at present, in the Mediterranean." There were far worse places to be stationed. "For all my years at sea though, I still find myself terribly sea sick." He confessed and gave the ship a little frown for it.
Lady Bach revealed more of her upcoming fate, to be married off and snatched from what she loved. Nelson could never do that to his beloved daughters though and he considered what she had just told him. "Then you should make the most of the opportunity," he decided and looked up to the boatswain to give him some acknowledgement that he was coming aboard. "You should accompany me on board while we are in the dock. I cannot take you out to sea but if I can grant you some solace in indulgence for just an hour on the deck, I would gladly grant it." He gestured towards the small walk way that lead to the officers way onto the ship. A small doorway marked with the King's insignia in gold pain on a black board of wood, it lead to the middle gundeck.
𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎 & 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐄 @admiraltyspride
"Un de vos capitaines?" she repeated, frowning. Marianne's trust, so far, only extended to Horatio. But it was undeniable that he wouldn't be able to grab her and run. So, she had no choice but to take his word for it, and trust that his Captain would indeed play along. "J'espère que vous vous rendez compte que vous m'en demandez beaucoup. Mais je comprends qu'il vous faudra l'aide de votre Capitaine pour me capturer."
"Merci," she said of the bayonet he had agreed to give to her once they were aboard his ship, and away from view. The plan had taken shape -it was reckless and a little bit mad, but it was not a bad plan.
She looked in the distance. The port was still visible from where they were, but it was small and blurry. It would be bustling with people now; sailors, merchants and nobles alike. "Quand voulez-vous mettre notre plan en place? Nous n'avons pas beaucoup de temps. Mon absence finira pas être notée, si nous attendons trop longtemps."
Concern was expected she had of course only dealt with him so far and he owed her for her efforts of leaving the cell door open and the one with the window unlocked. He thought she felt she could trust him but he knew that might not extend to Hardy. "Il est l'un de mes amis les plus dignes de confiance et les plus chers, il comprendra la mission et même s'il ne le fait pas, il l'exécutera tel qu'ordonné." She would have to trust his word and judgement, much of their plans had depended on trust and she had offered much of hers to him. He was not about to betray it.
"Nous pouvons le faire aujourd'hui. Donnez-moi une heure pour rassembler mes hommes et expliquer ce qui doit se passer, ainsi que pour informer mon ami." He also looked out towards the port and trying to judge how close they might need to be in order to catch enough attention to be chased but not so much that they didn't even get out of the bay. "Nous pouvons essayer à quelques lieues du port, assez pour que les télescopes puissent voir mais que les canons ne soient pas à portée." He cracked a smile, though it was a little unsure, "Ils savent qu'une petite chose comme un tir de canon ne peut pas vous tuer. Moi et mes hommes ? J'imagine que ce sera très tentant."
𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎 & 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐄 @admiraltyspride
"Je n'aurais pas besoin de recourir à de la réelle violence pour vendre notre petite illusion," she assured him, secretly flattered that he was worried about her hurting him or one of his men. "Ne vous inquiétez pas."
Relieved when he told her that he was not planning on harming civilians, Marianne relaxed a little bit. "Je doute qu'ils vous donnent des raisons de le faire, mais je pense qu'il est sage de s'attendre à ce qu'ils jettent des choses en votre direction. Juste des légumes, si vous avez de la chance." And if he was not lucky, it would probably be rocks.
She raised her eyebrows. So, he was planning on grabbing her? But he only had one arm left, despite his skillful disguise. How would that work? "Je serais relativement offensée," she offered sincerely in reponse, "mais je comprend que c'est une façon efficace de me capturer. Cependant, je ne peux m'empêcher de me demander comment vous comptez m'emporter physiquement? Sans vouloir vous vexer."
His question did seem to please her. "J'ai beaucoup d'armes de prédilection. Mais un mousquet avec une baïonnette fera parfaitement l'affaire."
He would have to trust that she wouldn't use too much force in resisting he and his men, she had to make it look good and he imagined there would be a couple of bruises but nothing that would actually impair him or any of his men for what was to come. She seemed to visibly relax a little more when he reassured her he wasn't going to go looking to hurt civilians and while he nodded they would through stuff at him, he wasn't too convinced it would be only vegetables. With any luck though they would be far enough out of range of anyone with more serious weapons.
She was rightly sceptical of his ability to just grab her and Nelson let out a little laugh and shook his head. "J'aurais bien peur de ne pas avoir beaucoup de chances," of course Nelson only really had one man in mind, the one who most recently was dragged into his various shenanigans out at sea and had mercifully escaped before he had been captured too. "Cependant, l'un de mes capitaines sera capable de le faire de manière convaincante. Je vous assure qu'il est plus gentleman que moi." Hardy of course was the go to and trusted man for the job.
In any case he had not taken offense to her concerns, they were valid and he knew his own limits, though that did not mean he had made every effort to adapt. A bayonet was chosen and Nelson agreed with a nod, "Je peux vous l'obtenir et vous le présenter une fois que nous serons à l'abri et hors de la vue de toute foule." He figured they could take her from the coastal town and ride further up the coast as fast as they could before boarding their ships. Just in sight long enough to be spotted doing so.
𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎 & 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐄 @admiraltyspride
Marianne cocked an eyebrow a Horatio, lips pinched. "Oui, je comprends un peu mieux ce qu'ils ressentent," she conceded dryly. It was certainly a mad plan -one she found insulting, too. But it was also a good plan. "Ne vous inquiétez pas, je ferais en sorte que personne ne puisse penser celà. Je ne me rendrais jamais calmement. Même pour une fausse capture."
Not only did she not want people to learn of her scheming, but she was also too proud to accept anything but a violent capture. She was France. She was not about to surrender peacefully, no matter the context.
Horatio pointed out that they would have to make sure no one got hurt, on either side. No englishmen and no frenchmen. Marianne nodded. As long as they were allies, she would have to worry about both her men and his. And while she certainly disliked having to protect the enemy, she was a woman of her word. "Si vous me capturez au port, devant tout le monde, cela fera assez de bruit pour que la nouvelle de ma capture arrive rapidement aux oreilles de Napoléon. Et comme cela, ni vos hommes ni les miens n'auront l'opportunité de se battre, au milieu de la foule."
She eyed him. "Mais le peuple de France connait mon visage, les gens pourraient éssayer de venir à mon secour. Il faudra que l'affaire soit bruyante, mais rapide. Je refuse que des innocents soient blessés."
With the dry confirmation, she had only a smile in return, polite, roguish in its own right but not malicious. While their goals aligned then there wasn't much that Nelson would do to upset her of course but if she wanted to save face, the pair of them had to make compromises to make the capture convincing enough to force Napoleon out onto the waves.
She would make a scene of it of course as they needed to do but Nelson considered her for a moment, "Veuillez vous abstenir de frapper trop fort." He didn't want any of his men getting hurt either. His head was clearly spinning in trying to come up with a means to make the capture convincing, somewhat dignified but fast and effective too. He didn't want an angry French mob of civilians coming after him to save her. He of course was not looking to harm the French people if they were not in uniform and actively trying to invade his home or kill his men. They would not understand that it was a rouse though and he had to be prepared for that. Maybe a minimal crew would be best for the opreration.
"Je ne voudrais pas blesser des civils," he tried to reassure her in any case though he would of course defend himself if he had to. "Seriez-vous très offensé si vous étiez physiquement emporté ?" He expected she would be but that would sell it all the more right? If they were too respectful of her then Napoleon might become suspicious.
He tried there to think of a way to quell too much insult and quickly followed up with "Quelle est votre arme de prédilection ? Nous pouvons vous la fournir une fois que vous serez à bord."
Pirate Captain Fish and Admiral Nelson Continued from Here @imprvdente
Evidently she had become very good at hiding that she was a woman and Nelson could only really smile and nod at her in response to that. It was tragic she had been forced to do so in the first place but all the more impressive that she had pulled it off so spectacularly that she could not only lead a mutiny against her former abuser but also keep a tight control of the pirate ship she now captained.
She accepted his compliment though she did at first seem to consider arguing with him around how she had managed all she had while maintaining her disguise. He smiled and for a moment he didn't really know what to say, he'd got his reassurances and compliments across but maybe she needed some sort of promise that he was still on her side.
"You have no need to worry of me revealing you, this is your ship and crew after all, I am but a surprise guest," he smiled given the nature of his arrival onto the ship and his constant worrying over his fleet as the storm raged on, he was not in charge of her nor her vessel, she was not part of his fleet. "Though I feel compelled to inform you that should you need to seek shelter for whatever reason, accommodations can be made upon my flag ship for you." If her crew found out and it did not go well, or if something else happened and she needed protection that was.
"Providing she has not crashed beneath the waves of this storm that is." He glanced to her cabin windows, seeing the sea churning beyond and the thunder rattling through the ship. He had to turn away, his eyes shut as he tried to settle his stomach. Oh how he hated storms and he was already so very twitchy in wanting to be able to check the deck and watch for signs of his sailors in distress or his worst nightmare, a ship ablaze!
Pirate Captain Fish and Admiral Nelson Continued from Here @imprvdente
Evidently she had become very good at hiding that she was a woman and Nelson could only really smile and nod at her in response to that. It was tragic she had been forced to do so in the first place but all the more impressive that she had pulled it off so spectacularly that she could not only lead a mutiny against her former abuser but also keep a tight control of the pirate ship she now captained.
She accepted his compliment though she did at first seem to consider arguing with him around how she had managed all she had while maintaining her disguise. He smiled and for a moment he didn't really know what to say, he'd got his reassurances and compliments across but maybe she needed some sort of promise that he was still on her side.
"You have no need to worry of me revealing you, this is your ship and crew after all, I am but a surprise guest," he smiled given the nature of his arrival onto the ship and his constant worrying over his fleet as the storm raged on, he was not in charge of her nor her vessel, she was not part of his fleet. "Though I feel compelled to inform you that should you need to seek shelter for whatever reason, accommodations can be made upon my flag ship for you." If her crew found out and it did not go well, or if something else happened and she needed protection that was.
"Providing she has not crashed beneath the waves of this storm that is." He glanced to her cabin windows, seeing the sea churning beyond and the thunder rattling through the ship. He had to turn away, his eyes shut as he tried to settle his stomach. Oh how he hated storms and he was already so very twitchy in wanting to be able to check the deck and watch for signs of his sailors in distress or his worst nightmare, a ship ablaze!
𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎 & 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐄 @admiraltyspride
"Merci." Marianne smiled softly, touched by Horatio's comment. Her smile, however, faded not too long after, replaced by a frown. "Capturée?" she repeated, her voice a little bit too high-pitched for it to bode well.
"Par vous?"
For a second, it looked like she was going to take offence, perhaps even get mad like she had back at the prison. Her eyes shone bright, her lips were pursed. Captured! By an Englishman, of all people! The audacity of that admiral was baffling. What a boor, what a...-
But Marianne's anger softened before the storm could truly explode. She spoke of pride, and how it was the downfall of men -and yet had she not just been prideful? Her fake capture would certainly lure Napoleon to sea. Not only that, but it would expertly hide her participation in this scheme.
"Je déteste votre idée," she said before anything else. "Mais je dois reconnaître qu'elle est ingénieuse. Napoléon ne pourra pas rester sur terre, si il sait que j'ai été capturée." Her ego would be bruised. But it was only a small sacrifice, for the good of her people. And was it all that mattered? Their plan had to be succesful. Napoleon had to die "Il sera aussi plus aisé pour moi d'être à bord de votre navire, en ces circonstances. On ne pourra m'accuser d'avoir conspirer avec l'ennemi."
Well he thought that was about to go down like a rock when she appeared almost mortified at the idea of suggesting she pretend to be captured by him. She shifted in the same way she had in the cell and Nelson really did hope she was not about to push him into the sea. He watched her though, a little wary still just in case that became an option for her yet she calmed down again and gave her honest opinion of the idea. He cracked a smile, relieved!
"Vous comprenez maintenant ce que ressentent mes compatriotes lorsque je fais des suggestions." Mad plans but they worked for the most part anyway and so far to his every success. "Nous pouvons bien sûr en faire tout un spectacle. Je ne voudrais pas que quelqu'un pense que vous êtes venu calmement."
A pause and Nelson considered how to go about that carefully too. She would be furious if they killed any of her protectors in her capture and he would equally be furious if his men died for a rouse. "Nous devrions le rendre très convaincant mais sans sacrifier de main-d'œuvre de part et d'autre." As far as Nelson was concerned, any disarmed Frenchman was better than an armed one as the war dragged on but he knew to protect his men, he had to accept he'd have to protect hers too.
𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎 & 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐄 @admiraltyspride
"Le peuple de France le sait," she assured him firmly. Marianne did not doubt that, not for one moment. She had always stood with them -in war, in sickness, in revolts. She was theirs, and theirs alone. Utterly devoted to them. Marianne was like a guarddog, only loyal to the sheep it protects. Ready to bite for them, kill for them. "C'est tout ce qui m'importe."
She sat down next to Horatio, on the wall. Her eyes were lost in the waves, but her mind was focused on the problem at hand. "Je pense qu'avec une audience, il se sentirait obligé d'agir, oui. Son égo est trop grand pour qu'il se laisse intimider par toi, surtout ici, sur les côtes de France." A smile curved her lips. "Il est un tacticien habile, je ne le conteste pas. Mais comme tous les hommes, son orgeuil sera sa perte."
Marianne looked away from the sea to look at Horatio. "Si il m'écoutait, il ne se serait pas proclamé empereur." There was bitterness in her voice, dripping from her lips like poison. "Il ne porte que peu d'intérêt à ce que j'ai à dire, et ne m'utilise que comme un outil. Une indication de la prospérité de notre patrie. Pourquoi? Esperiez-vous que je lui dise de vous affronter en mer?"
Well there was at least that devotion in her, he didn't doubt it for one moment either. Marianne belonged to the French people not it's governance and he respected that. He might not have fully comprehended how her kind worked but he was reassured they could not be bought by those who sought power. "Ils ont beaucoup de chance de vous avoir."
He didn't budge when she sat down next to him on the wall, he thought it was most casual and in truth he doubted that she would take any offense to it. He did glance at the hat box quickly, unable to stop himself but he was listening too, Napoleon's weakness was pride and while neither of them could be sure that he would meet him on the waves, Nelson at least knew if he could humiliate Napoleon it might be enough to turn the tides against him elsewhere should he fail in what he was sure would be his last chance. His heels kicked absently and gently at the sea wall.
She looked back to him again at his question and he could see and sense the bitterness in her tone, Napoleon had insulted her, he was so bold as to believe possibly even spat in her face for his disregard of her wishes. She worked out his plan and Nelson answered with an honest, "Oui." He returned to pondering again and looked out towards the fort on the coast, he'd dealt with worse but Copenhagen had been a vicious battle, his hardest in fact. So he thought what it would take to lure him onto land to fight.
His blue eye slowly turned to look at her as an idea hatched in his head. "Comment vous sentiriez-vous à l'idée de faire semblant d'être capturé?" Cheeky again perhaps but she had to see at least part of his plan. If pride was Napoleon's weakness then losing France herself to Nelson would surely be enough to force the man to face him, if nothing else to bring Marianne back to him.
𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎 & 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐄 @admiraltyspride
"Je vois ça," she chuckled lightly, though she was talking less about his fake arm, and more about his escape and then his return to France. "Je tiens ma parole. A deal is a deal. C'est l'expression, n'est-ce-pas?"
Marianne didn't want him putting his hat on right away, as it would defeat the entire purpose of their discreet meeting. And so, she was relieved when he asked her to hold onto the hat for now. "Bien sûr. Vous pourrez être réuni avec votre chapeau lorsque nous seront à bord."
"Qui me soupçonnerai?" she asked, though the question required no answers. Nobody would ever suspect her. Not even the guard who had mistaken their scheming for something else entirely. "Votre évasion a causé bien des vagues, mais aucune d'entre elles ne m'a mouillé. Je ne sais pas si je pourrais en dire autant de ce que nous nous apprêtons à faire, mais il n'y a aucun risque que je ne prendrais pas pour le peuple de France."
She pondered over his question for a few seconds. "Je suis sûre que vous pourriez l'attirer en mer, si vous le désirez. Mais Napoléon sait que vous être plus fort sur les vagues, il restera sur terre si vous ne lui forcez pas la main."
"A deal is a deal," he echoed back to her, surprised she would utter anything in English and to an Englishman at that. She was at least had not been bothered by his escape in any way and Nelson gave something of a shrug, supposing it was right that she would be the last person anyone would suspect of helping him. "C'est toujours une sage décision de garder quelques astuces dans sa manche."
With her agreement to keep hold of box for his hat, Nelson smiled though he of course longed to take it, it was best that he did keep his hand free to be able to act fast if something happened. She was loyal to her people at least and he could as ever admire that even if they were currently officially enemies. "J'espère que ceux qui vous connaissent, le savent aussi."
But next came their talks of their plans and Nelson let out a deep sigh that Napoleon would need to be lured out to sea if he was going to fight him there. His face twisted in some thought on how to go about doing just that. "Penses-tu qu'avec une audacieux, il monterait à bord d'un navire pour affronter ma flotte de front?" Peer pressure was a powerful thing when used correctly. If Napoleon felt eyes on him for not daring to face Nelson at sea then maybe his own vanity and pride would force his hand. He looked to Marianne, wondering if she would accept what he was about to ask.
"Écouterait-il ce que vous dites ?" Asking her to send one of her own into a plot to kill him, she didn't like Napoleon but he was a Frenchman after all.
𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎 & 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐄 @admiraltyspride
Marianne had heard of his escape, of course. But who would ever, in their right mind, accuse her of helping an enemy of France? She had easily played the part -shocked, angry, demanding his arrest. All the while, she waited anxiously for their meeting. She believed him alive, as news of his death would have surely made their way to her ears. And when he managed to send her a message in the shape of a carved bear, Marianne was relieved to see that he was not only alive, but still loyal to his word.
She traveled to Cherbourg, disguised. Her silk gowns had been traded for simpler dresses, and her long, blonde hair was hidden under a heavy cloak. Marianne was also carrying Horatio's hat in a small trunk, easy to transport. No one stopped her, no one asked her what she was doing in Cherbourg. She was a stranger, melting in the morning crowd.
Relieved to see that he was indeed not waiting for her at the port, she made her way along the coast. Her heart was still beating fast -what if had lied? What if this was a trap? England would surely enjoy capturing her, if only to gloat.
She found him sitting on a wall, alone. "Bonjour," she greeted as she approached (carefully). "Je suis surprise que vous ayez réussi à faire repousser votre bras en seulement trois semaines." A tease, but also an acknoledgment of his ingenious disguise. She lifted the trunk. "J'ai vôtre chapeau. Sain et sauf."
A familiar voice greeted him and Nelson turned and then stood from the wall out of respect. "Bonjour," he gave in turn and was himself relieved to see she had not brought others with her to capture him again. He looked to his disguised arm, neatly tucked into his right hand pocket as if holding very dearly onto some precious item, slightly bent too. "Il n'y a aucune limite à ce que je peux accomplir lorsqu'on me donne du temps," he teased her in turn when his eyes landed on the box she was carrying. His hat! "Merci de me l'avoir rapporté."
He knew of course he could not put it on yet, it would have made the whole meet up pointless but it played a key part in his plans, he was rather easy to spot with it on and found it much more efficient in rallying his fleet if they could see he was on deck, leading from the front as always. "Pourriez-vous le porter pour notre entretien?" Perhaps it would reassure her too that he was not about to spring a trap.
"J'espère que je ne vous ai causé aucun problème lors de ma fuite?" She seemed fine though she had come in disguise he assumed that it was as tense a time for her as it had been for him in hoping they had put their faith in the right place.
"J'ai pris contact avec mes alliés et homologues, quelle est la probabilité qu'il soit lui-même attiré en mer ?" Nelson of course wanted to face him on the waves, where he was at his strongest, though he could attack a fort and as he looked across the bay he could see just such a place Napoleon could hide in.
𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎 & 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐄 @admiraltyspride
Marianne didn't seem too fussed. "Bien sûr, je comprends. Je n'attends pas de vous que vous protégiez ma patrie par bonté de coeur. Notre alliance ne marche que parce que nos intérêts, bien que différents, se rencontrent aux extrêmes. Mais vos intentions n'affectent en rien le fait que le peuple Français respirera plus tranquillement, loin du joug de Napoleon." She smiled. "En aidant l'Angleterre, vous aidez la France. Mais ne le dites peut-être pas à votre cher ami." A wink was added, for good measure.
"Parfait." She nodded, once. "Et vous serez réuni avec votre chapeau, oui. Intact, bien sûr."
The plan had been formed surprisingly fast, though she supposed that the hardest part began now. "Ce fut une journée pleine de surprises, et j'en suis ravie. Mais je pense qu'il est temps que je me retire dans mes quartiers, et que je vous laisse vous reposer." Her eyes glimmered. "Bien sûr, personne ne s'attends à ce que vous soyez assez fou pour tenter une autre évasion si vite. Vous pourrez vous reposer sans interruptions."
"Et, qui sait? Peut-être oublierais-je de vérouiller une porte en partant..." she finally whispered, before stepping away. "Bonne nuit, Horatio."
Nelson laughed that he should not tell his friend that in helping him he would be helping France, he kept nothing from England but he supposed for now it would do not to bring it up directly if he was reunited with him before the push home. Their conspiring was over though and he supposed now the clock was ticking, her message was received loud and clear, his escape had to be imminent. He gave a gracious bow, "Bonne nuit, dormez bien mademoiselle."
She stepped away and once he could only faintly hear her footsteps, Nelson got to work on the chain holding him to the floor, snatching the buckle of his shoe loose and used it to open a weak link in the chain. It took a few minutes, not helped by doing it all one handed, tucking the buckle into his stocking and wrapping the chain up enough to be able to use as a weapon if needed, he hurried from the cell, quietly moving up the corridors and into the room they had discussed. Unlocked and empty it was an easy dive out of the window into some water below and Nelson was once again free.
Weeks passed and the only real indication that he was still alive was that there was no report of his death announced. Save for one wooden carved child's toy in the shape of a bear, crudely written words read simply, Ne le brûlez pas. The three week mark came up and Nelson had been able to locate and gather up his allies and forces quietly which had been the most important aspect. He had not forgotten his appointment though and turned up in Cherbourg as agreed.
He had dressed down, trying to remain in disguise and having stuffed his right sleeve with cloth to fill it out and make it appear as an arm to further his deception. He sat casually on a wall, watching the waters though nerves were building as he kept the port in view, conscious that it could all be a trap he had seemingly come alone while he waited for Marianne.
