spotsalone | angelo and the hickster's post-belle arctic adventures

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angelo and the hickster's post-belle arctic adventures

MUTINEERS

SOLOMON TOZER

MARINE (T)

GEORGE HODGSON

LIEUTENANT (T)

CHARLES F. DES VOEUX

MATE (E)

MAGNUS MANSON

AB (T)

JOHN LANE

BOATSWAIN (T)

JOHN DIGGLE

COOK (T)

WILLIAM PILKINGTON

MARINE (E)

JAMES RIGDEN

COXSWAIN (E)

JOHN SULLIVAN

CAPT. OF MAINTOP (E)

ROBERT FERRIER

AB (T)

ROBERT THOMAS

MATE (T)

John Diggle

COOK

John Diggle

COOK

mutineers:

Sgt. Solomon Tozer, marine (T)
Magnus Manson, AB (T)
Lt. George Hodgson, lieutenant (T)
Charles Des Voeux, mate (E)
Pvt. William Pilkington, marine (E)
John Diggle, cook (T) - lung damage from inhaling goodsir's evil cloud
THE STUPID FOX
~~Pvt. James Daly, marine (T)~~ - mauled by the Tuunbaq
~~Edmund Hoar, captain's steward (E)~~ - throw into the water by the Tuunbaq
~~"Pvt." Thomas Armitage, gunroom steward (T)~~ - mauled by the Tuunbaq
~~Harry Goodsir, surgeon (E)~~ - rescued by Silna after the Tuunbaq attack

boat boys:

John Lane, boatswain (T)
James Rigden, coxswain (E)
John Sullivan, captain of the maintop (E)
Robert Ferrier, AB (T)
Robert Thomas, mate (T) - actively dying of scurvy for the crime of having two first names
and perhaps eventually lt. little depending on how much of our minds we lose along the way
~~Thomas Terry, boatswain (E)~~ - died from scurvy before the mutineers showed up
~~Thomas Work, AB (T)~~ - died from scurvy before the mutineers showed up

angelo cr chart
mutineers cr chart...

timeline:

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only | Expand All

[ Angelo snatches the cigarette up as if it were a matter of course. It's a horrible development any way you look at it, his newfound willingness to pollute his body with substances and another man's saliva, but Angelo's not in the mood to care too much about it. It's easy to fall back to what might generously be called 'self-medication' and his nerves certainly need it. ]

He's trying to find an in.

[ This doesn't explain anything, but only after taking a drag of nicotine that he feels like elaborating. ]

Apparently I'm the weaker link to him - he came to me to probe about the state of your health, and made very clear that he thinks what he says or doesn't say about it to the rest of the group will be of consequence.

[ Alright, so it's not a minor irritation. Still, Hickey is not altogether alarmed. He knows both players well enough by now to recognize that Angelo's outlook may be somewhat skewed. ]

Of course you're the weaker link between the two of us.

[ He says it kindly, eyebrows arching in a knowing look. Both of them wear their own brand of intimidation, but Hickey's is always going to be more effective where Tozer is concerned, especially given their history. Surely Angelo is not surprised by this.

The probing is a touch worrisome, however. ]

What did you say to him?

[ Angelo huffs at Hickey's brazen claim - it's not worth debating him on, because Angelo knows it to be true. His temper gets the better of him, and Hickey is the one who's actually familiar with the group and their goals. There are a million reasons Hickey is needed here in a way Angelo is not. Still, it's irritating to hear it said so plainly.

At the question, he huffs again. The cold shows it quite clearly, little puffs of respiration in front of his face, mingling with cigarette smoke. ]

Nothing. What do you take me for?

[ Even though he is aware of his own impulsive nature, there's a reason he was able to stand at Frontal's side. He knows how to keep secrets, thank you very much. ]

On the matter of your recovery, that is. He was also nominally out to mend our relationship so we can work together better, so I threw him a bone and told him the basic facts of my military career.

[ Doing so good at playing nice, just as he was told. Look at that!! ]

[ He holds up a hand. ]

Do not take offense. It's politics.

[ Not personals, as he's said. He imagines Angelo will often need this reminder. His hand drops again, though not before lighting briefly on Angelo's arm.

The rest... How interesting. ]

Tozer may very well want to mend the relationship. If he said this to you outright, you can believe the truth of it, even if he stands to gain something in return.

[ The sergeant proved his skill in manipulation months ago, as the shape of their mutiny first came together. He's smarter than Hickey once gave him credit for, but only if he himself believes the story he's telling. If Tozer were to attempt at lying, Hickey doubts it would be his first play.

And look at Angelo, setting aside his distrust to bond, even thinly. Hickey makes a note to reward him for that later, once he's gotten the full picture of this new development. ]

[ Angelo rolls his eyes at Hickey's attempt to placate him, but he's fine with moving on from the matter. There is no need to engage in rivalry with Hickey - as far as this quest for survival is concerned, they have fallen into a hierarchy that Angelo is quite fine with keeping. ]

Well, I certainly seem more dangerous to him and the others as long as I remain an unknown... but there's not much my answers can do to satisfy them. I'd be astounded if he believed any of what I told him, even if it was the truth.

[ For the crew, many things might be easier if Angelo simply chose some convincing lies, but even for convincing lies one would need common knowledge appropriate for this time period. Even if Angelo had wanted to make up a story, he'd have failed at the carry-through. It's a problem without solution... but it's also not the important part here. He leans against the railing next to Hickey and lowers his voice a little more. They're alone on deck, but that doesn't mean that some caution isn't still warranted. ]

You should talk to him. I didn't confirm anything for him, but that doesn't mean he's not still convinced that something is up with your recovery. He'll want some perks to keep him quiet.

[ Ah, Hickey spots the problem here. ]

You see this as a setback.

[ He reaches for the cigarette again, and then takes a slow drag, listening to the dark water below lap against the side of the ship. He has no love for sailing, but he does feel more at ease with the variety of sounds on Terror. The world feels larger than just hollow wind and flapping canvas again, the sway of the waves steadier than the crunch of shales underfoot. ]

Why? Tozer is an asset and we would be wise to harness him.

[ 'See this as'... How terribly Hickey-like that wording is. Always vague, always a matter of mindset and perception. As if the world were so easily controlled. ]

That 'harnessing' should be done on our own terms. Having our secrets brought out and used against us is a problem.

[ A problem he is certainly not innocent in creating. How he handled the Manson situation wasn't ideal, but there was no way to make him truly unsee what he'd already laid eyes on. They've been negligent in their weariness, and mind-games aren't Angelo's strong suit even on a good day.

Hickey on the other hand... Angelo glances at him, eyebrows quirked up. ]

You're going to tell me to take it as an opportunity instead.

Edited 2025-07-13 23:42 (UTC)

[ Hickey laughs, pleased that Angelo can guess where this is headed. There's a pleasant flutter in his chest at the recognition. ]

It is an opportunity. To think it anything but would be to undermine our own capabilities.

[ He ashes the cigarette over the railing. Typically, he would not elaborate on his thought process, but he senses Angelo would benefit from further reassurance that they have this in hand. Hickey is more concerned by Angelo's mood than any schemes Tozer may be plotting. He still doubts that the marine's intentions are as nefarious as Angelo seems to believe. ]

True control is born from flexibility and forward-thinking. Worrying ourselves over developments we did not predict only serves to overcomplicate.

[ He turns to Angelo, his head tipping to the side. ]

What have we lost, truly? Nothing, by your account. We knew Tozer was growing bolder, but he knows nothing and you've given him nothing. What we've gained is a chance to allow him a victory, which will soothe his mind more than any attempts to beat him into obedience. He can threaten whatever he likes, but it would do him no good to betray us—unless we give him reason to believe we're a detriment to his survival.

[ This is about the kind of speech Angelo had expected from Hickey here, but as he's given it he's struck by how much that perfect pragmatism feels familiar. He's never before felt that Frontal and Hickey had anything in common and it's startling to notice a shadow of it now in the way they steer others by playing to their desires with a deceptively lenient hand. Hickey is sneaky where Frontal is forward and cool, but hearing the principle laid out so plainly like this--

Angelo is quiet for half a second too long, before tearing his eyes away to look at the stars instead. (How comforting to see the stars again, and the perfect endless darkness of the night sky.) ]

I dislike his insolence, but there's no way to harm us that wouldn't also harm himself.

[ Funny how that's one way the lowliness of the arctic is totally different from the lowliness of the streets. When resources aren't scarce, just hard to obtain, there is a lot to be gained by crushing each other, taking and taking and taking. ]

He actually brought up the same when he urged me to play nice with the crew.

Did he?

[ This is not a surprise. If anything, it's confirmation that Hickey has read the situation correctly. ]

Then he sees things our way.

[ He moves a little closer to run a hand across Angelo's back. If anyone were to surprise them at the ladderway and spot them like this, the gesture could be written off as one of innocent camaraderie. ]

I will speak with him. Opening that avenue to him again should dissuade him from bothering you.

[ He says it to reassure Angelo, but he hopes it won't be the case. If Tozer thinks he's outplayed Angelo in some way, he's likely to reveal more than he would to Hickey directly. There's a wariness between them now, and Hickey suspects it began with their conversation about Mr. Collins' soul more than Angelo's arrival. He would have handled that differently had he expected Tozer to still be necessary in the longterm.

Angelo will be useful in understanding the full picture, then, at least until Hickey can reclaim some rapport. ]

[ It's been so long since he's bee touched by another person. Frontal could have gotten into his space whenever he wanted, but even a hand on his shoulder was exceedingly rare. By comparison, Hickey seems incapable of keeping his hands to himself now that touch has been established as an option. Angelo can't reason out how he feels about it. Sometimes the casual touch seems to make the room shrink and the temperature rise, other times it feels merely invasive. Right now, he can tell that Hickey means to calm him down. Whether it's working is debatable. ]

I can handle being bothered just fine.

[ There's no need to coddle him, he's fought off far worse. His tone is a little petulant, which also makes it quite casual and familiar. ]

Let him try and probe about my person all that he wants. It's annoying, but most things are.

[ He's not made any secret of the fact that he doesn't like anybody on this boat. ]

It's his pesky thoughts about what you're capable of that worry me. There's essentially no way he'll uncover the whole truth, but I figured you'd have some issue with letting him get close.

[ Hickey's hand falls away, though not for Angelo's sake. Even if there's an easy explanation for the touch, he doesn't want to risk too much while they're not behind a locked door.

Angelo's elaboration on his concern gives Hickey pause, though. ]

He has no more reason to suspect anything than the other men. He may be more inquisitive, but he'll be simpler to soothe as well.

[ There's more seriousness in his tone than there was a moment ago. Hickey hasn't done the best job of concealing his immortality, he knows, but largely out of necessity. Keeping that secret is not more important than conserving their resources, so he does not eat just for the show of it. The men may wonder, but surely they won't argue a thing that benefits them so directly.

But Tozer is not just one of the men. Even if Hickey hadn't granted him special privileges early on, he knows that Tozer has both more bark and bite than a mindlessly loyal guard dog. ]

If he insists on sticking his nose in our business... it may be in our best interest to pull back the curtain some. Better that we control the narrative than allow his imagination to run wild.

[ 'He has no more reason to suspect anything than the other men.'

Ah. There it is, the crux of the issue. Hickey's strangely casual attitude finally clicks into place for Angelo and he realizes that he'd missed an important detail in his reporting. Better rectify this now than later. ]

He mentioned Manson.

[ He lets that hang in the air for a moment, as they both understand the weight of it. ]

Cushioned it real nicely - 'even Manson is letting his imagination run wild', as if he were an afterthought and not the primary cause of the suspicion... but singling him out like this leaves a foul taste in my mouth.

[ Even if Manson told Tozer what he saw, there's no way to glean the nature of the magic from it, and no way for Manson to prove his ludicrous claim either. They'd have to strip Hickey down for others to see in order to get confirmation, and Angelo is not letting that happen. Still, rumors are unpleasant, and in a situation as tense as this, they can become weapons. It's how Hickey got this little group together, isn't it? ]

[ The last remnant of Hickey's easy smirk finally drops. Ah. So that's what Angelo meant by "recovery". No wonder he's in a foul mood. Hickey's eyes drift to the water again, brow furrowing as he thinks. ]

You might've led with that.

[ It sounds as if Tozer suspects rather than knows, but that may be more dangerous. Especially if he and Manson have discussed it. This could get out of hand quickly.

Still, Tozer would not sow distrust for personal gain. He may leverage his suspicions, but he will not betray for fear of cutting himself off at the knees. Hickey can turn this around yet. It's still an opportunity. It must be. ]

Tozer is correct. His words will have sway over the others if he can offer them insight we have denied them.

[ He inhales another lungful of smoke and holds out the cigarette for Angelo again. ]

I'll tell him as much as he needs to understand the importance of keeping this secret. We can trust him with that much.

[ Ah. So that's what it took to make Hickey believe him that the matter is urgent. Angelo doesn't know if he's satisfied to have gotten through or... maybe a little disappointed that Hickey isn't meeting this with the same all-powerful smile. That's a dangerous sentiment. Relying on someone's strength is quite close to trust, and he still refuses to indulge the latter.

Angelo takes the cigarette back, though he doesn't take a drag just yet. ]

None of it is to his detriment, so his hunger for survival should keep him in line.

[ 'Should' being a keyword that Angelo doesn't like the sound of. ]

Just let me know how much he knows by the end of it.

[ He's not demanding to be part of selecting the information Tozer will be fed, but he doesn't want to become one of the people in the dark about the internal politics of all this. ]

[ Hickey's eyes flick back to Angelo. How much of this is jealousy, he wonders? Maybe none. Angelo hasn't been as biting on that front since their talk the other night. The reassurances must've worked. Still, Hickey would be surprised if that issue was resolved so easily.

In any case, Hickey ignores the request. It's a given, in his mind, that he'll report back after. ]

You mentioned he was looking for an in.

[ 'Mhm', Angelo affirms, around the cigarette between his lips. It's on its last legs now, nearly burned up. ]

"You'll need some help, keeping all those secrets". He's clocked in on us having knowledge we're not sharing with the rest and he wants a piece of the cake.

[ Meager cake that it is. Knowing about Ish and the castle isn't going to do Tozer any good even if the story is relayed to him. Will that be a disappointment to Tozer? Is he expecting more 'miracles' like Hickey had suspected way back? ]

He was your inner circle before, right? He probably feels he lost a privilege.

[ Hickey chuckles. Well played, Solomon. Perhaps Tozer's greatest strength as a second is his ability to anticipate an order. He doesn't need to be told how to best complement the greater strategy. Even now, he's predicted exactly how Hickey would put him to use. Sly, indeed. ]

He did lose a privilege. You've stolen all of my attention these past weeks.

[ It's a flirt, yes, but it's also just fact. Both of them know it. ]

The sergeant will find reward enough in making himself useful. His word will carry with the men where ours won't. If Manson has spoken with any of the others, having Tozer to back our story will be especially important.

[ It seems like Hickey has found his footing with the situation again - if it wasn't an opportunity to him before, he has now willed it to be. Angelo relaxes as soon as he hears that little huff of laughter. The relentless optimism is often infuriating, but it is also a power that Angelo has wound up betting his life on.

He finishes the cigarette and tosses the small bud over the railing, into the dark waters below. ]

Let's hope you're right about that, because I have no intention of stopping my thieving ways.

[ The tone is a little lighter now, and there's an actual smile to go with the words. ]

[ The return volley is unexpected, in part because Hickey didn't think Angelo's mood would turn around so quickly. It's a relief, but also a distraction. ]

Even if I'm wrong?

[ He is not wrong. He knows how Tozer operates by now. ]

That's quite the risk to keep me all to yourself. Are you the jealous type, lieutenant?

[ Hickey grins. It's all play, he tells himself. He would stop Angelo pushing too hard if he sensed a real threat to further damaging relations with Tozer—or with the rest of the crew, if suspicion truly ran rampant. He will not let their fun compromise their odds of survival.

But he watches Angelo lean against the gunwale, the flicker of a faint aurora overhead shining in his eyes as he smiles, and Hickey doubts his own resolve. They'll be stuck here a while yet. How far will Hickey let the scales tip? Already, Tozer knows more than he should because of their missteps, but it's difficult to care. Immortality comes with overconfidence. All he has to do is keep Angelo alive until Ish returns, and in these moments, that feels like a simple task with or without a crew.

He will keep sense enough not to let them fall too far into recklessness. Their ragtag crew is easy to control, easy to predict, easy to assuage. They will be fine. ]

[ Is he? Angelo barely knows. For much of his life, he hadn't cared about anybody but himself and about himself only barely. Not much to be jealous over. Then Frontal entered his life, cast out all the care Angelo had left and replaced his every cell with feverish devotion. There had been no room for petty jealousy there, Angelo would like to tell himself. It surely had been larger than that. But he knows how he felt when Frontal removed his mask for Banagher Links, how everything started slipping out of his hands in that precise moment... A Full Frontal he hadn't known, a Full Frontal beyond what Angelo needed him to be, a terrifying uncertainty.

Was that jealousy? Was it jealousy that made his world feel like it had been disintegrating? If it was, then is he capable of feeling something so shattering about Elias Cooper? Surely not. He's watched him die before.

But the thought of Hickey and Tozer having had an entanglement in the past had bothered him. The thought of splitting the status of Hickey's favorite had bothered him. A much more benign emotion, an irritation that feels entirely human.

Angelo shrugs, still smiling thinly. ]

Shouldn't you be able to guess the answer by now?

[ Hickey shrugs too, turning to lean his back against the railing. His hands find his pockets. ]

I don't like guessing. I like hearing.

[ For the sake of his own ego, yes, but it's also safer to draw conclusions when Angelo speaks plainly. There's still a tension between them as they attempt to pinpoint this new dynamic. Hickey is never quite sure how much he can get away with now that they're no longer delirious with exhaustion. He won't back off entirely, he doesn't have the patience for it, but he's deliberate with the pressure he applies. Care is needed if he hopes to avoid Angelo's many tripwires.

Angelo did say he wanted this, after all. He'll open doors eventually if Hickey keeps knocking. ]

Reading you is not as simple as you may think.

[ That makes Angelo raise an eyebrow, looking over at Hickey's profile in the dark, a futile attempt to turn the tables and read him instead. There is nobody in the world who knows more about Angelo than Hickey does. Even Frontal might not have known as many details about his biography - sharing such information with words hadn't been necessary then. It hadn't been necessary with Hickey either, but Angelo still did it, because it was nice to share on his own terms rather than through horrible magical photographs.

If that isn't enough to read him, even when he so often is overtaken and steered by his emotions, then maybe nothing is. That's a satisfying thought, at least. Now that Frontal is gone, nobody gets to touch his soul. And Hickey... maybe Hickey won't get bored too quickly.

Though just as likely, Hickey is just lying to get him to speak plainly. It is a subject they've been dancing around for two days after all. He should affirm that he's not regretting his choices, at least. ]

If your attention were to wander too far, I definitely wouldn't appreciate it. And you know I don't hide my displeasure.

[ Hickey wonders if Angelo is even capable of hiding his true feelings so completely. What a surprise that would be.

He can say with certainty that he won't allow his attention to stray off of Angelo, in no small part because it's not as if Angelo has any true competition. Any wandering on Hickey's part would be a product of boredom and idle curiosity, neither of which holds a candle to this relationship and thus can be considered a closed book. Angelo is his favorite, and that position is secure.

In return, ranking as Angelo's favorite should be an easy victory for Hickey. This is true as far as the ship's roster is concerned, but...

My heart belongs to the Captain. ]

You'll need to hide it some if I'm going to secure Tozer's trust. He craves human connection, and he'll be all the more starved for it with the loss of his marines.

[ It's vague, and purposely so. Hickey has already assured Angelo that Tozer is no threat. ]

[ Angelo's stomach drops, and so does his expression. The order itself isn't unexpected - there was always going to be some tension here, and he understands it as a necessity for their survival. The way in which Hickey chose to deliver it? That's what smarts.

Goading Angelo into that verbal admission of attachment only to throw it in his face purposefully... He hates feeling like he is being played with. The cold air out on deck hadn't bothered him before, even the growing numbness of his cheeks had been easy to ignore, but now it seems as though the temperature has dropped another few degrees.

True to his word, he does not hide his displeasure any. What used to be a smile just moments ago is now a glare. ]

Understood.

[ Still, he has no intention of giving Hickey the satisfaction of bargaining on the matter. He's not a wind-up toy that dances for someone else's entertainment.

Angelo pushes off the gunwale. ]

Goodnight, Mr. Hickey.

[ With a bitter scoff, he moves to retire below deck. His pace is brisk. ]

angelo and the hickster's post-belle arctic adventures

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