An interesting addendum to the fact Horatio’s nanny took him to the school she taught at on her off days is the way Horatio himself interacts with children now. Being exposed to seven – four year olds from the time he himself was four up until he left for the Navy at seventeen, Horatio is very adept at interacting with and engaging children in ways that will keep their interest and ensure they don’t get too mischievous under his observance.

Kids are a lot less judgemental and are very emotionally free, which is something Horatio has never really been – and after his dad’s lessons he got really bad at, so being around children is kind of — cathartic, in a way. Horatio smiles easily with them because there’s no reason not to, and he has so much restrained energy that playing and keeping them occupied is a good outlet for him, too.

His restrained nature does come in handy though because he’s very patient as a result, which can be a godsend with inquisitive children especially, and mischievous ones. His humor never hides with kids though – and this is poignant. Horatio loves making children laugh – so as long as he doesn’t notice that someone who knows him as ‘Mister Hornblower’ is nearby, he’s kind of comedic entertainment at it’s finest.

Horatio will suffer many indignities to garner a giggle, and especially in little ones that seem to be learning to lock their jaws – he sees it as both challenge and triumph – and any who do know him as Mister Hornblower may recognize immediately how uniquely lonely and strange that passion of Horatio’s is.  

Horatio does not laugh. His smiles can be broad and even – at times – cast the appearance of laughter and yet, there is never any sound to accompany it. Perhaps a huff – a sigh of breath caught in the process of restraint – but never a whole hearted noise. He has throttled and strangled his own laughter to a point of absolute viciousness because he hates the sound. Negative enforcement taught him that it was no more welcome than tears and so, Horatio both cries and laughs in absolute silence.

It is a contradictory aspect of himself – but as children are rarely around him after joining the Navy, Horatio has little reason to examine why he is the way he is right now.