Jack is the human equivalent of a golden retriever who humps everybody's leg and gets into a good deal of trouble in the process. But this is so, SO good. Painful, but good. From what I know of the Aubreyad (admittedly just the first book + the film) your Jack's voice is perfect. He's really just there for a bit of fun and doesn't realise until it's too late the mess he's accidentally fucked himself into. And oh boy, what a mess (at least in the first ending.) It's heartbreaking. Because of course Hornblower would only realise he'd had a chance when it was too late, because he'd be so caught up in his own head that he wouldn't realise what was before him. And Bush would never ask, because that sort of thing just isn't done.

Ugh, so good. Thank you!