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come aboard, sir! may i request i be added to the list?

Horatio Hornblower Fans: A Directory

Dear Horatians,

A bunch of new fans have shown up on Tumblr in the last few weeks, and I just realized that I never added their accounts to the master list.

To fix that, here is a new, revised list of 53 (!!!!!) Tumblr users who post about Hornblower stuff:

@di-daydreamer @amynion @beforethemastrp @donnaimmaculata @tatzelwyrm @chancellorfangirl @thepiperpan @stayoutofitnick @iolauss @fionatlux  @lessthansix @athenasdragon @sonsofmahal @pansytheleia @eglantinebr @polarcell @underhyll  @landofev  @reesmorn @uponthemidnight @goldenfirefly96 @yours-truly-knightindustries2000 @sherlivalva @ihadenoughofthis @nevils-crest @hornblows @sluttysuperheroes  @ave-puella @truthisademurelady @acespectrummagneto @archiekennedy @camille-deadmoulins @wifeofbath @rulemaker @maybe-queen-of-numenor @nettlestonenell @hollywell-lane @bbcphile @bifilthatonthatseson @panamanga @doctorwithafryingpan @girabbit @scorpioscribe @cslewiscarroll @mothandpidgeon @smiley-asylum @watsonianfangirl @iwillbeyourhands @soodalgwayeou @brad-the-broman @allfinehere @hms-guardy @elizabethmaturin

If you know of an account I’ve omitted (or if you want to be taken off the list), then reblog with a note to that effect or send me an ask or message, and I’ll happy oblige!

Here’s some other fandom info for you all:

1. We tend to use the tag #HHornblower instead of just #Hornblower because the Niagara Hornblower cruise people have traditionally flooded that tag and it’s hard to find things.

2. A few months ago, a bunch of us filled out the “Hornblower Challenge,” a bunch of questions about your thoughts/feelings on the show as a way of getting us to get to know each other better. If you haven’t done it yet, feel free! 

3. At some point in September, we’re hoping to start a monthly Hornblower viewing party: we’ll find a time that works for as many people as possible and use the streaming service https://rabb.it/ to watch the movies in order! If you’re interested, let me know so I can start making a Doodle poll for it.

It’s been so exciting to watch more and more people join the fandom and start making new content! Thank you all, and let’s keep it going!

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1. How did you hear about the Horatio Hornblower series? The box-set was lying about the house. First time dad tried to get us to watch it we whined the whole way through [I remember distinctly the waves of horror and disbelief that each subsequent plot twist WASN’T the big final moment]  but revisiting it years down the line I find my opinion much changed.

2. What’s your favorite ship (people)? Horatio/Archie. They’re just such good foils for each other <3 3. What’s your favorite ship (vessel)? The Bloody Indy! If only because I like to imagine that its habit of swooping in to save the day is so ingrained that years down the line whenever H makes a social faux-pas or nearly trips over something a scaled-down version of the thing sails into frame in the nearest puddle/bath/teacup to provide backup. 4. Who’s your favorite character? Ooh, that’s hard, it’s such a character-driven series. All of them? For my top three I’d choose Horatio for being so intensely himself, Archie for being a ray of badass sunshine and then a tie between Matthews [who is just cool] and Kitty [who is like the awesome aunty I never had].

5. Who’s your least favorite character? I feel that Bush never grew on me in the way the other characters did. I like him alright in the radio series so far, though.

6. What’s your favorite moment/line? I love that bit in the beginning of The Frogs and the Lobsters where Oldroyd shouts “Vive le Roi!” with the French soldiers and then ducks a Dope Slap from Styles. 7. What’s your favorite Hornblower movie or book? I haven’t rewatched the full series in a while, but I’m gonna go with Mutiny. I love all the little character-interaction moments, and the general atmosphere of fear and resentment. 8. What’s your unpopular opinion about the series? That Simpson should have been expanded on as a character. He was terrible, but I wanted to get inside his head, understand why he did the stuff he did. 9. Which character needs more love from the fans? Oldroyd, because he is adorable. And... well, with Simpson, I couldn’t call it love, but “attention” or “analysis” would be cool. 10. Recommend a fanfic or a fanvid. When the Wind is Southerly by inlovewithnight [http://archiveofourown.org/works/185429/chapters/272865?show_comments=true&view_full_work=false#comment_100358082]. It’s really gut-punchy H/C and I like that it’s Archie taking care of Horatio for a change. Gives me a weird twisty feeling in my chest just thinking about it. 12. “It’s not history that concerns me: It’s the future”: describe a modern AU with our navy boys. I have a plot in the works for a boarding school AU that loosely parallels the events of the first four films. Horatio is the new kid at a school first principaled by Keane, later Pellew. The boys’ school is putting on a play with the aid of its sister school; Kitty is the leading lady, Archie is an enthusiastic but unsubtle supporting character. There’s a bunch of fistfights instead of pistol duels.  13. Describe a fanvid/fanfic you wish existed or that you want to write. I really want a gender-swapped or gender-role-swapped AU which strands our protagonists at home, looking after the house, fretting about the spouse away at sea. And possibly becoming highwaymen/women.

Horatio Hornblower Introductions

“What’s this? Another messmate!”

Now that we’ve found a contingent of Horatio Hornblower fans on Tumblr, let’s get to know each other by answering Hornblower-specific questions (movie and book fans welcome)!  Choose however many you want to answer, and pass it on!

1. How did you hear about the Horatio Hornblower series? 2. What’s your favorite ship (people)? 3. What’s your favorite ship (vessel)? 4. Who’s your favorite character? 5. Who’s your least favorite character? 6. What’s your favorite moment/line? 7. What’s your favorite Hornblower movie or book? 8. What’s your unpopular opinion about the series? 9. Which character needs more love from the fans? 10. Recommend a fanfic or a fanvid. 11. Choose a character and tell us your headcanon about that character. 12. “It’s not history that concerns me: It’s the future”: describe a modern AU with our navy boys. 13. Describe a fanvid/fanfic you wish existed or that you want to write. 14. What Hogwarts houses would the characters be in and why? 15. Share an anecdote about your experiences with the Hornblower series.

Tagging everyone who has responded to my earlier Hornblower post about finding the fandom (and everyone who someone else said I should add): @di-daydreamer @amynion @beforethemastrp @donnaimmaculata @tatzelwyrm @chancellorfangirl  @thepiperpan @stayoutofitnick @iolauss @fionatlux  @lessthansix @athenasdragon @sonsofmahal @pansytheleia @eglantinebr @polarcell  @underhyll  @landofev  @reesmorn @donnaimmaculata @uponthemidnight @goldenfirefly96 @yours-truly-knightindustries2000 @sherlivalva @ihadenoughofthis @nevils-crest @hornblows @sluttysuperheroes  @ave-puella @truthisademurelady​ @acespectrummagneto @archiekennedy @heyangelaf @camille-deadmoulins @wifeofbath @rulemaker @maybe-queen-of-numenor @panamanga

Let me know if you want me to take your name off the list (or add new names to it)!

And don’t forget about the new Horatio Hornblower chat community I set up: http://www.slashnet.org/webclient/horatiohornblower

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miscellaneous rhyming verse

just wanted to play about. spoilers for retribution, warning for mention of death and neglect of capital letters.

our mr hornblower, brave mr hornblower, no other captain could act in his stead, distinguished and handsome and clever hornblower, the stammering midshipman seasick in spithead.

[good mister captain horatio hornblower, awkwardest creature to cross land or sea. with all the fine grace of a ride-on lawnmower, who’d have the ship painted if t’weren’t for the fee.]

confident, loyal, and brave to the end, archie, our dear captain’s late mourned boyfriend. survived wretched simpson and three years in lock-up, only to pay for old sawyer’s cock-up.

[a hot day in kingston, the ‘guilty’ man lies attended by lover, and reaper, and flies; this last conversation, no chance of reprise, the dying man laughs - the audience cries.]

[gave up his good name for life of another, should have been hidden away to recover, should have eloped and married his lover. should have known days untarnished by fear, and one thing pray tell me: explain why the dear didn’t die as he lived; paraphrasing Shakespeare?]

poor mister wellard not once caught a break, beaten insensate for each small mistake. shot dead when he seemed much too young yet to shave; the poor kid’s last words: “he said i was brave.”

he does follow orders, does lieutenant will; off cliffs, through the fog, into death, to the kill; but if there’s one truth in life, friends, this is it; Will Bush is too fucking old for this shit.

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The funny thing about Archie is that I’m not sure if the people making the series realised how interesting or compelling he was as a character, or if they ever really intended for that to happen. It feels like they didn’t really know what they were doing but accidentally managed to transform a cute side character in to a complex and distinctly human counterpart for Horatio. For example, Archie’s love for theatre probably stems from the fact that someone had to recognise Kitty for the plot to work, but as it is, it is an unconventional interest for a character like him to have in a series like this and it ended up making him just that much more interesting. Most characters in the series, while good characters, follow clear character tropes and don’t really surprise that much., And then there is Archie who is this strong, skilled and respected young officer (this is esp in mutiny and retribution when he has fully healed and the ‘true version himself’, a storyline worthy of another rant all together), who can a shoot a man with a fintlock pistol like 100 yards away (ridiculous) and command the attention of his men is also the kind big brother type, occasionally anxious and prone to quote shakespeare. The series shows him as both capable and strong & soft spoken and gentle without ever treating either of these traits as abnormal or contradictory. Not to mention he is like the only character in a period war drama I’ve ever seen to not only have a a mental illness, but not have it define him as a character or be treated as either pathetic or crazy because of it. But I don’t think this was very intentional. Idk where I was going with this I just really needed to vent about how much I love his character.

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[TW for suicide and ideation, death, food and drink mention]

About Horatio and Archie’s last conversation...

I need to talk about Horatio and Archie’s last conversation. Like, I think about it a lot. A lot a lot. Even in my ‘verses where Archie lives, it’s so key to understanding who he is and how he feels about Horatio I just need to ramble it all out.

Also, I wrote it with those who haven’t seen the series in mind. Sooo, if you haven’t seen Hornblower and are interested in knowing more about Archie for RP purposes, this’d be a good thing to look at.

Keep reading

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not a rp-er but this analysis is solid gold

[TW for rape and anxiety]

Okay, I give up, I need to talk about Archie’s sexuality. I’ve been putting it off because it’s complicated and awkward, but hey. In case anyone’s interested in knowing. FYI ahead of time for those unfamiliar with the series, there are some potential triggers in here. (Also, some info about shipping with Archie in the last paragraph.)

Keep reading

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Hunter: What I heard was he had a fit–Mr. Kennedy–during a night attack, and you had to knock him down in order to stop him getting the rest of you killed. What sort of a midship-man is that?  Horatio: You were not there. You do not comprehend the circumstances. We do not leave without him. Matthews: (with force) Aye-aye, sir. Styles: Aye.

So, a few quick things about this exchange…

Keep reading

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[TW for rape, abuse, depression]

Archie, before (left) and after (right) Simpson returns to the HMS Justinian.

A few character notes below the cut…

Keep reading

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Can we talk about how, in Frogs & Lobsters, it’s all about how Archie is terrified of dying and doesn’t feel like he’s brave enough to handle being under fire?

Then as soon as Horatio’s in danger, he outpaces a lit fuse to a bomb, running straight into enemy fire to get him to safety?

And not only does he not seem to consider the danger in that moment, but he doesn’t seem to think about it later either? 

It’s not like, hey, I was worried I wasn’t brave enough but I did this crazy brave thing. Instead, he still seems to think he’s not brave enough through to his death.

Like it honestly breaks my heart.

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Bush’s mum, many years in the past: and if all your friends jumped off cliffs, would you do it too?

Bush, mid-way through Retribution: forgive me mother

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The plan is, I’ll keep all my emotions right here, and then one day I’ll die.

Horatio Hornblower, probably

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This might be an unsustainable level of detail, but I wanted to take note of events in the HB films in order to get a better grip on the source material in preparation for writing serious adaption fic. So here's my notes for the first bit of The Even Chance. Warnings for mention of food and my inability to shut up about Archie Kennedy’s voice.

Starts in a storm, grey-blue, beautiful score. Grey skies. “January 1793. The British fleet lies at anchor in Spithead. Ships and men rot in idleness. Across the channel, revolution in France is sweeping away the old order.”

-have France be represented by a nearby school with some kind of french ties. french patron and heritage, maybe.

on teal seas, two ladies row HB through the rain from the dock to the ship. They’re wrapped up in dark grey cloaks. They are strong. H looks faintly ridiculous in the uniform, expression grim. Squints up against the rain [putting up a hand to shield his eyes - delicate lil hands he has], looking over the ship. H’s sea-chest, which looks nice [well-made, elegant gold letters - idk if this is standard] has “H.Hornblower” inscribed on it. H braces himself against it as the boat rocks. Hesitates.

The man on the ship [clinging with one hand and one leg to the ladder, like he knows this position well and knows he shan’t fall] shouts down “Jump! You’ll be alright!” He can yell well, clear voice, even over the storm. H does not jump gracefully, foot catching in the boat; he jostles his hat out of place as he climbs. The deck is empty, coils of rope scattered on it. It looks abandoned.

The man from the ship [it is archie i realise now] has a broad face. Strong, dependable. Neutral-to-good cheer. Smiling, he says warmly: “Welcome to purgatory.” Hornblower is still wide-eyed and looking like a stunned mullet. Opens his mouth to respond, closes it again; follows Archie.

Under the little balcony a man [Mr Eccleston, first lieutenant] in pearl-grey coat stands conversing with two officers, all of them turned away. Mr Eccleston’s face is striking, though softened as if by erosion. “Mr Eccleston, sir.” “Come aboard, sir.” “Your name?” Horatio seems to be stammering, or trying not to gag, and keeps this up through this conversation. It’s possible he’s trying to keep his teeth from chattering. Closes his eyes against anxious nerves or weak stomach. “Horatio Hornblower, sir. Midshipman.” Mr Chad, lieutenant of the watch, has a pointed chin and pointed nose. A comedian’s kind of face; the thin chap from Laurel and Hardy, maybe.

“I’ll see it sent below. You should too; get out of those wet clothes.” “Yes sir!” H gives a relieved smile. Remembers himself and adopts military seriousness. His voice is soft, a little nervous. “I mean. Aye aye sir.” Presses his lips together, nods, salutes; poor thing, doesn’t know what to do with himself, does he? Mr Chad seems amused; gives a sidelong glance to Mr Eccleston, but says nothing.

“Mr Kennedy. Take Mr Hornblower down to the midshipman’s berth.” “Aye-aye, sir.” He does have a nice voice. Lighter than Horatio’s. He’s more sure of himself. Down below decks there’s a violin playing, squawks of women laughing or scolding, men laughing along, the general clamour of a lot of people going about their business.

“Mind your step!” A leads the way around swinging hammocks and swaying people; H self-consciously ducks his head and glances about, bewildered or perhaps wary. Redcoats pass by. “Difficult to say who smells worse, the men - or the beasts in the manger for’ard! One gets used to it.” Around them people are laughing raucously; Horatio looks ‘round at them, face mostly blank, guarded. Down another flight of steps.

A pig is squealing, bring coaxed along by a man addressing it as “piggy-wiggy”. Horatio does look like a drowned rat, doesn’t he? Set rosebud lips, those pretty under-shadowed eyes. Attractive face. Still looking guarded, surveying, not sure if there’s a threat afoot. Thump. Oldroyd, pink-faced and curly-haired [ginger, maybe blonde], in loose [pale blue and white] checkered shirt, is laughing. Archie smilingly chides H: “Watch your head.”

Styles: “There goes his Majesty’s latest bargain!” A drawl. Brown curly hair, idk what the accent is but it seems broad, truly incredible acne scars. [Pizzaface.] Archie and Hrrrratio both stop and turn; “Belay that, Styles!” Severity. Composed, voice still light, a voice like he’s shoving the man briskly. God horatio looks cute with like a little curl slicked down on his forehead. “Unless you want to find yourself at the gratings.” Says it so pleasantly. [also: Styles and Oldroyd have a lady with them. Maybe 18th century chicks dig baggy check shirts.]

A beat; “Aye-aye, sir,” intonation like he doesn’t take him quite seriously. Not actually afraid. Matthews gives Styles a reproachful look, then looks away. M in thin-striped shirt [teracotta-white]. Closer fitting. Brown neckerchief. Teeny little ponytail. white curly hair. A goes on, resigned i suppose [what-can-you-do and a shrug], as they walk: “They’re not bad men for the most part, provided they’re kept busy.” His voice goes up and down as he speaks, it’s nice. Flows easily. Well-spoken. Gentle voice, oh my god, can I get over his voice. I think I can’t.

“But this endless waiting-“ edging past people moving. The violin still singing. “Most of us have been here six months already! Discipline you see. Things will be different once we transfer to a fighting vessel, I don’t doubt; but who knows when that may be?” I can’t tell if he’s phrasing things more ornamentally than one normally would during these olde times. He does have something of the entertaining monologue about him. Giving an easily-spoken speech. Opens his mouth, enunciates, leaves those pauses; not quite realistic, but good for presentating.

“Our only -“ someone clips him as they pass. “Our only hope at present is that the unpleasantness in France might come to something. You’ve heard the latest rumours of course! That Louis was captured just before Christmas!” Horatio’s just following silently, looking dubious, oh my god the cheekbones. “What do you think they’ll do with him? You can’t kill a king.” Oh-ho, a little faith in the monarchy, then? Respect for the power structures. Speaks with the ease of someone who knows it won’t hurt him. Conversational. Horatio bounces on his toes, hesitating. People around them are canoodling rather vigorously.

“But as my father explained to his [gillet?] Alright, p’haps some of these people have missed the odd meal o’two, but lopping the heads off the nobility’s not gonna fill their bellies, is it? Still, that’s Johnny [cradburg? crappo?] for you.” Not a lot of sympathy for the working classes, I’ll wager, [is there anything in canon that prompted us all to agree A comes from a well-off/slightly noble family or is it just headcanon and hearsay?] Quiet as they get to the midshipman’s berth; a small room lit by lanterns and the odd candle, where men sit at a largish table in white shirts, waistcoats and neckerchiefs. Horatio really does look like death walking.

“Oh. Allow me to introduce, the midshipmen of His Majesty’s ship-of-the-line Justinian.” ruddy-faced now, taking off his brown coat. Sweat or rain shining on his face. It feels cosy in this room. “Known elsewise to her intimates as the good ship [i don’t even fucking know. sounded like “slau of des-pot.” slough of despair? might have been said with an appalling accent.]

Someone else speaks; a man with a round face, voluminous [80’s] hair, mutton-chops. “Wh’sis, Archie?” “Another mess-mate, gentlemen.” Someone with a meaty face high forehead prominent nose and slightly posher accent asks “And whose pretty arse did you neglect kissing to find yourself among the fleet’s forgotten, eh?”

Good God, A looks lovely. His pretty face. Cheekbones. A mild face. The beefcake side of mild though, mind. Especially next to HB, who looks about halfway dead, hollow cheeks, curls ragged on his forehead, face sweaty, puffiness about the full lips, under-shadowed eyes, Kubrick stare. Is silent [swaying somewhat, trying to gather himself]. Meat-man again: “well, speak, apparition!” “My name is Hornblower.” A rich voice.

Mutton-chops: “What an infernal piece of bad luck for ya.” His accent is clipped only on certain sounds, makes me think he’s from somewhere in the country. Or maybe Northern? [Those two will be Hether and Cleveland.] Clayton looks across, with a hand gesture like he’s holding a cigarette to his lips. His face is mild in a different way, sleepy, the shape of his eyes, his resting expression. Milk-sop is putting it a bit strongly. More like the drunk and dishevelled Sad Case, the man stretched out and smiling languidly, who dreams instead of eating. I know I’ve seen him before, he looks older than he must be, his hair is lank brown and stringy-straight on his forehead. Beaky nose.

“How old are you, mister Hornblower?” “Seventeen sir,” [while blurry Archie grins in the foreground]. Looks about. “Seventeen, sir!” parrots meat-man. “Y’hear that, Cleveland?” “If you wanted to be a seaman, boy, you should’ve started at twelve.” “I doubt he even knows the difference between a head and a halliard.”

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Burning Bright

This is another Hornblower fic set in the boarding school AU. Experimentation with character contrast and more flowery language than I think I can get away wth in the story proper. Horatio POV. Warnings: drowning, suicide ideation.

and you meet a boy who is light and life for every inch that you are gaunt and cold. who speaks so freely, so beautifully, while you stumble around words no matter what language they’re in. who is able to be swept up in the fire that races around the sportsfield, not hanging back and over-thinking about jarred fingers like the milk-sop you are. and you meet a beast, and fire runs through your veins as he makes your boy gutter.

you meet a boy who is light and life and sunlight and fire and he says if you care you’ll let me do this and god help you you care, you care so hard it hurts. you carry this thing inside you, inside your ugly hairless chest, while sunlight dances in his eyes and he acts like there is nothing wrong.

you meet a boy who keeps the sea in his eyes, you dream of drowning. just once. someone’s in the water and the sun is beaming down at you. hands splash helplessly. you’re standing in the sand and they’re not a meter away from you, the water can’t be as deep as it is, and you reach down on this perfect sunny day and they grip tight. and then there’s a scar on that hand and you’re being pulled under. you wake so afraid, and feel selfish. lie quiet and check that he’s still breathing.

it takes you a long time to realise you love this boy. love had been a foreign concept you never truly understood. first it was the thing that would happen to you when you grew up and met your person; then it was putting your mouth on some poor girl you didn’t really like, but whom they assured you was a “find”; you never stopped to consider maybe it was the feeling you get when you think about him smiling and you want to hold him with both hands and keep him there, keep him smiling like that, forever. that feeling you get when you get to fourth period and the desk beside you is empty and it’s like a current dragged you under and every time you try to take a breath it knocks you back down into the soundless bawling rush of water. you think maybe you’ll be crushed. that this is all your fault. that the crushing will be more than you deserve.

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Reprieve

Boarding school drabble. The boys go sailing.

this is the story of an afternoon when for reasons that aren’t particularly important a boat is procured, and for reasons that neither can agree on they find themselves in the middle of the water long past their evening curfew; this is the story of impassioned, rousing pleas for the wind to pick up, and Horatio’s attempts to row them along with the bailing-bucket, and how two capable young sailors spend the better part of an hour swimming around their boat, in turn pulling it along and scrambling back aboard at the merest hint of a breeze. this is the story of an interminably long battle with the elements themselves; of a truly monstrous argument which resolved itself when the boom dealt swift capital punishment and all was forgotten in a panic over what was and was not symptomatic of a concussion; this is the story of hauling up the cold sand a boat they had both come to hate dearly and hosing it down, and stowing its sails, and generally demonstrating that they were the bigger people. this is a trudge home in sodden, salty clothing, the prospect of punishment ahead, and yet somewhere inside them the knowledge that it was all worth it to leave the school behind for a few hours.

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Sounds like a blast!

I just realised next year will be the 20th anniversary of Hornblower: The Even Chance. What’s the (even) chances that we could get some kind of celebration? Like a reunion interview with Ioan, Jamie, Paul McG, Robert, Paul C, Sean… all the squad!

I realise probably quite low, but I would love that. The show is still so popular, I feel like we need to have some kind of big shindig for it. Let the boys know that we’re still here, still devoted, and still making the trashiest crack videos on YouTube.

Who’s with me?

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totally necessary what are you talking about

okay, but was it REALLY necessary to show rainwater splattering sensually all over Ioan Gruffudd’s open-mouthed face?

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they’re just SUCH GOOD PARALLELS