It's such a treat, seeing Hornblower so young and... open? hopeful? I'm not sure what word I want. It's still very much the same character -- there's that moment of him thinking that he's done it wrong and closing off in an effort to keep anyone from knowing he goofed -- but he's not nearly as closed-off as he becomes later. Instead, he's curious, and he wants, and he's charmingly eager... It's lovely. (Bush thinks it's lovely, too!) I know you're putting aside this pov, but you did such an excellent job with it here; I would enjoy seeing you take it for another spin. It's so much more fun than older Hornblower.

And god, the yearning in this. This is a man drowning in a sudden wealth of visual details, it's marvelous. (Hah, he didn't know if he would enjoy looking at Bush! You don't spend that much time and effort jonesing for a glimpse if you wouldn't enjoy looking! Such naivete!)

He did not want some pretty stranger, he wanted Bush.

Oof, that hit me hard. Lucky boy, he's about to get what he wants.