Now then, some further follow up on Horatio – I want to examine for a moment why a man who judges himself so harshly for weakness as Horatio does in turn relies upon a man the rest of the crew see only as a liability.

Horatio has never really had an opportunity to form friendships with many people – the most influential forces upon him during his formative years were his nanny, the butler and of course, Geoffrey Hornblower himself. He had contemporaries in his classes, but Horatio was generally more interested in his coursework than those around him – this did not change when he pursued higher education, and in truth he managed to lead something of a ghost life prior to the Navy.

Head bowed over a book, scribbling calculations – he was not known for politics or boisterousness and in truth, only really seemed to come alive during his piano studies. While there were people he admired and looked up to – overall he lead a very isolated existence. The brightest spots, in fact, being when he went with his nanny on her off days and assisted her at her secondary work, a school for children roughly his own age at first – then steadily younger as he grew and the classes exchanged.

Positive reinforcement was almost alien to him, recognized only through his nanny’s kindness and care. Horatio had a concept of friendship through his readings and observations, but he had never once experienced anything like it until he met Archie.

Archie, who was outgoing, friendly, and teasing in a good natured way the likes of which Horatio was unused to and genuinely befuddled by. Again, this is a young man – a teenager – who has spent the whole of his life being told not to make a scene, not to feel too boldly, not to be too kind, not to be – well, frankly – Archie.

Archie fascinated Horatio, but it wasn’t until he saw the effect Jack Simpson had on the man that Horatio gained – an understanding of his father’s lessons that was likely never once intended. Horatio recognized the potential he had, to be a man prone to fits of fear if he didn’t maintain his own level of control – and for a hot minute, he did see Archie as weak. He saw him as damaged, and as something not good – something which ought not be aspired toward.

And then Archie turned his whole world upside down.

Archie hung by him – the man took active measures to help Horatio in spite of his own terror. Nobody had ever in the whole of Horatio’s life ever faced a goddamn thing for him, let alone fear with a bright eyed smile and soft spoken advice. When Horatio’s challenges made Simpson’s behaviour worse, Archie didn’t drop him – he was there, conspiring side by side, backing him up in a challenge Horatio was ill prepared to face.

Archie showed Horatio that a man could be warm, and kind, and broken, and strong all at once. And he had no idea how to cope with this epiphany so he never really did. He simply saw Archie as a man unique, a man special, a man – above the laws of Worthy, and indeed – something to aspire toward. Without ever meaning to, Archie coaxed Horatio to consider kindness – and with it being so deep and natural within himself, Horatio did not have to reach too far.

Archie saw Horatio at a time Horatio considers to be his lowest; he saw him when Horatio was, by his own estimation, at his weakest and most shameful. Yet despite this – he didn’t abandon Horatio. Archie knows Clayton is dead because of him – and yet he still treats Horatio with respect. He still seems – to like having him around. It means the world to Horatio, it truly does.

He lost Archie once, thanks to Simpson – finding him again was literally like unearthing a goddamn angel from on high. The guilt he carried for losing someone as profound as Archie was already anchoring in his heart alongside his mother by that point – and yet, in turn Archie was stronger than Horatio’s memories recalled.

The man, by himself, escaped prison again and again and again and then claimed his weakness – his fits – had returned because of Horatio. Despite the significance of this, Horatio accepted that because he failed Archie – but it also absolutely assured that Horatio would not ever – for one second – give up on Archie. Because Archie never once gave up on him and he had every reason to.

And we all know how that story ended.