[ ... ah. It's the kind of platitude that Angelo would find laughable from anybody else, but he knows that Hickey means it. Has lived it. Would live it again, if he weren't locked in here to die.

Over and over, to stay alive. ]

So that's how you got to have such a scandalous name.

[ A flippant comment first, because there's a lot else to say and feel and he can't really wrap his whole mind around it yet. ]

I've survived this long because I've refused to die a pointless death. I know how to do it.

[ He doesn't know if he wants to, this time. But it's whatever. TIME TO REDIRECT A LITTLE. ]

You haven't given up on yourself yet, have you?