All About Lt. William Bush
by Rosa Lui

NAME: Lieutenant William Bush
LIVING ARRANGEMENT: Currantly the officer's quarters aboard the HMS Renown
FAVORITE PASTIME: Excercising the guns. There is nothing like that rush of
pride when you know your gun crew is working well. And I still have to beat
Mr. Hornblower's time record.
FAVORITE BOOK: I enjoy practicle books, and simple but enjoyable reading. It
is not my favorite way to spend my free time, I must admit.
THE BEST FEELING IN THE WORLD IS: Knowing I have been transfered onto a ship
whose captain is a legend, and one of Nelson's own.
THE WORST FEELING IN THE WORLD IS: Realising that captain is in reality a
quickly deteriorating loony, and I can't do a damned thing about it. Also
knowing that this is what the other lieutenants were trying to tell me all along,
but I was too blind to see it.
FAVORITE SMELLS: Fresh coffee, perhaps. One does not often have the pleasure
of waking to it when at sea.
WHAT'S THE FIRST THING YOU THINK WHEN YOU WAKE IN THE MORNING: I don't often
"wake in the morning". I have recently been waking every hour on the hour
every two bells of every watch of every day to report to Mr. HORNBLOWER, PROPERLY
DRESSED because the captain will have ways of KNOWING whether or not he is
OBAYED. I seem to be developing a cynical sense of humor; I have been spending
far too much time with Mr. Kennedy....
BATTLE: SCARY OR EXCITING: More exhiliarating than exciting, I should say.
In the heat of battle, with cannons blasting all around you and smoke in the
air - that, I say, is when a man is truly reminded of the honor and pleasure of
executing his duties, and defending his ship, captain, and country. I have no
qualms about sending the enemy to meet their own maker - but must submit,
however, that there is that occasional reality check one experiances when a chain
shot sends a mast chrashing down mere feet from where you stand.
FAVORITE FOODS: A good steak. Give me anything that Styles cooks, and I may
have to shoot you. Give me turnips, and I may have to shoot myself.
CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA: Chocolate, though I have not often had the pleasure of
induling in either.
STORMS, COOL OR SCARY: After days and days of monotonous calm, a brisk gale
is amazingly refreshing.
IF YOU COULD CHANGE ANYTHING IN THE WORLD, WHAT WOULD IT BE?: It could be a
bit more just; that would do everyone some good.
IF YOU COULD CHANGE ANYTHING ABOUT YOURSELF, WHAT WOULD IT BE: I believe a
bit more brilliance could certainly not hurt. I make no pretense at it, but a
genius, fool-proof plan now and then might be welcome.
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN LOVE? I consider that a highly personal question, sir!
IS THE GLASS HALF EMPTY OR HALF FULL: An equal volume on both sides, I should
say.
WHAT'S IN YOUR ANXIETY CLOSET: A great many things, very few of which I wish
to share. Perhaps see "What's Your Worst Nightmare." That about sums it up, I
believe.
WHAT'S YOUR LOFTIEST DREAM: To be a true Post Captain someday. Perhaps of a
ship-of-the-line.
WHAT'S YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE: Captain Sawyer finding out that I have called
him a deteriorating loony, deciding I and the other officers are plotting
against him, locking us all in the brig as we run hopelessly hard aground under
heavy fire of heated-shot, but there is no one to right the ship again because Mr.
Wellard is drunk on laudanum, the Captain is mad, we're stuck in the brig,
Dr. Clive is drunk, and the rest of the crew had deserted, so we will have to
swim out from under the sinking ship through one of the gaping hot-shot holes,
except I can't swim, and so I shall lose all dignity trying to do so, very much
in vain, and shall fall ill from sea-water intake when my ship-mates finally
drag me ashore, the only cure for which will be to eat nothing but turnips for
the rest of my life as we stand court-martial infront of a very mad, very
dissapproving Nelson, who shall tell us all how we will never get our own ships
and shall be stuck on half-pay for the rest of our lives.
WHAT DO YOU WISH PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT YOU THAT YOU FEEL THEY DON'T: I am not
entirely lacking an imagination, or a sense of humor. Or a good mind, for that
matter.
WHAT OTHER HH CHARACTER WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE ANSWER THIS QUESTIONNAIRE:
Mr. Hornblower. He seems amazingly complex.