Mark Arbour

I agree.

While you probably know this, I'm going to expand on this in case others out there don't know how this worked. First rates were almost exclusively used as flagships. Command of a flagship at this juncture was given to a flag captain, appointed by the admiral. This was an incredible privilege of patronage for an admiral, as it let him pluck one of his favorite lieutenants and make that lieutenant into a post captain by virtue of their appointment to command the flagship. That's how Berry ended up in command of Vanguard, and how Hardy got his promotion from lieutenant in command of the Mutine to captain of the Vanguard after the Nile. Those of you who have read Alexander Kent's Bolitho series will note how he was totally unaware of this, by placing the admiral on the ship with the most senior captain. CS Forester did this as well in Ship of the Line, as Admiral Leighton's flag captain (I think it was Elliot) was a man of great seniority. My point is that it is highly unlikely that an admiral would eschew this privilege and opportunity to award a favorite lieutenant and appoint Granger (who is already a post captain) in his place. I think that the only way Granger would end up on a first rate is if he were appointed as a staff member to an admiral, probably a commander-in-chief like Jervis, probably as a captain of the fleet. In that capacity, he would be managing the admiral's staff, and I can't see Granger enjoying that one bit. This much is true, with one exception: the siege of Acre. I was sorely tempted to try and figure out a way for Granger to make it back to the Mediterranean by April so he could help Sir Sidney Smith resist Napoleon's forces. That would have been an interesting story arc, but virtually impossible at this juncture.

I just got back from a pretty massive roadtrip, where we piled everyone one (including pets) into the car. So I can't say that I missed a living being, and I really didn't miss specific possessions. What I did miss was the routine; going to the same familiar places and the like. I never thought of myself as being an organized person, and I've never really been all that conventional, so that surprised (and disturbed) me a bit, to find that I've become quite the creature of habit.

You asked some questions, and I've been traveling. Sorry I didn't respond sooner. No. Granger's pledge for parole was not to bear arms against France, so he can't fight as a privateer. That's true, I usually don't introduce a character only to never hear from him/her again. But there's no telling when that character will reappear. It is unlikely that William (or Lord Ryde as he is now known) would be sent to sea. The eldest son and heir of a peerage would be more likely to enter politics, or perhaps the military. Or maybe he'll go into the church ( ). I would expect that if one of Granger's sons followed him into the navy, it would be Alexander.

Your post prompted me to share a few of my thoughts. While you and I are so old and ancient we have forgotten young love, it does happen. I think that's actually a pretty normal progression for a guy who's 15/16. He can go from hate to infatuation remarkably fast. I think it's important to consider Will's perspective in this. He's not acting like Zach is a fellow kid who is dealing with shit from his parents, he's acting like he and Zach are a couple, and he's jumping in to prop up his "boyfriend" (even though they don't have that official status). That kind of partnership usually sparks an 'us vs. them' defensive reaction, regardless of age.

SMILE. If Mendoza is like Brian Kinney, that's not possible, since Mendoza would then be a total top. ;-)

Zach's complete focus and potential ruthlessness was summed up pretty well in Will's mind, when he pondered that his own relatives (and his father) are just as bad (or are actually worse). That's just one of the reasons why Zach and Will connect so well. Traits like that which Zach's other friends (and possibly his family, even Gathan) would consider to be terrible, are in fact something that Will understands perfectly.

You make a good point. I think that Will is fine with things as they are now, because his feelings for Zach aren't that intense (beyond friendship) and because this kind of arrangement works for him too. Fast forward 5-10 years, and things will probably be a lot different.

Thanks for the review! I suspect that the exchange would take a bit, and that will leave him at home. That's a good thing for him, but I can't help but think he'll be chafing at the bit to get another ship after a relatively short period of time. It's worth considering that a lot of powerful people are probably very interested in keeping him home. Would they delay his exchange?

Thanks for the review! It will be interesting to see how George handles all his relationships now that he's back.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KRISTA!

I'm going to choose to assume that this chapter just left you speechless. (SMILE)

I think that George and Cavendish are so well together because they are alike in many ways, and dissimilar in ways that complement each other. Their easy, playful banter is a sign of the deep feelings that run underneath their facades.

Thanks, and you're right about Granger being at home. The people who want him around are certainly powerful enough to try and make sure that he does.

Happy New Year to you as well. I had to get him home for Christmas. I love happy endings. ;-)

I'm so glad you liked it! Thanks for the review. This homecoming is certainly starting out better than the last one.

I think that's inevitable. It's probably good for him. He's been through quite a bit, and even his fit young body and psyche need some TLC once in a while.

Wow Ricky! Thanks for that effusive praise. I get a lot of help from my team, and that helps with the realism.

Thanks Miles! It's funny, because the walking on eggshells you describe is exactly the kind of environment Will has cultivated. I would not describe it as a lack of maturity, but I'm also not advocating it's a good thing either. I think Will wants people to not fuck with him. By being irascible, and losing it when they do, he sets the bar so someone else planning to dick him over will know what to expect. Some nice behavioral conditioning. The trick to that, IMHO, is knowing when to go postal, and when not to. Will's been doing better with that lately, but he still has a long way to go.

You ever have a friend where you just connect? Not necessarily sexually, but at a basic emotional level, where you and he/she seem to instinctively understand what the other person needs, and vice versa? I think that's what Will and Zach have. Brad's caveat to Will about that being nice, unless you're fighting, is probably also true.

Thanks. I see Zach as being more goal driven than probably any other CAP character. I think that's the kind of determination he'll need to be successful in football. The weather is a lot nicer here in DFW than it is in STL. Enjoy your comfy chair. Looks like I'll be driving into a snowstorm tomorrow on my way home. :-(

A great review! Thanks! Not much to add to your conclusions, since I find they pretty much mirror mine, but I'm glad you raised the issue of barebacking. I think that it's pretty unrealistic for a guy never to go there. I can see that a responsible guy would avoid 1970s/1980s bareback bathhouse bacchanalia (Lots of Bs. ;-)), but to never do it with someone you care about...at 15-19 years of age...

Brad is really struggling at this point. That's why Will is so tuned into him, and his actions. I think the trip to NYC will either help him turn the corner, or set him back significantly.

I think that's a pretty astute observation about Zach, but I get the feeling that he's only open and honest with people he likes/loves/respects. To the world, he's probably an enigma. To Will, he shows more of himself. Unless he is as good an actor as Paul Newman.

Thanks Jason. I think that Foucault's thoughts are a good reminder to all of us.