ic contact for tlv

[friendsfordinner]

[ it literally is just the generic ic contact post, Hickey hasn't changed the outgoing message yet or anything. ]

Comments

[friendsfordinner]

"Yeah, but there are people. Get a whaling ship in and that whale's out of luck. But a bear...even a large group of people won't mess with a bear. You'd be able to do whatever the hell you want."

Which is definitely enticing in Hickey's mind.

[magician_king]

"You know, if we really want to be hardcore assholes, we should just bite the bullet and do geese."

Says Quentin, leaning back in his seat and stretching his spine out.

"They don't have the claws or teeth but their brains are a trip in and of themselves. You'll never be more self-righteous than when you're a goose."

[friendsfordinner]

Hickey shakes his head.

"Geese are good eating. They're assholes, but they'll still fall against someone with a gun. It'll take more than one shot to bring down a bear."

[magician_king]

"True," says Quentin, leaning back in his seat, giving him a quick smile;

"Please don't get shot as a bear, though. We should be doing zero that requires a gun battle."

[friendsfordinner]

"You ruin all my fun." But there's a laugh and a smile on Hickey's face that tells Quentin he's 100% teasing.

[magician_king]

Quentin returns him an exceptionally rare smile- he runs a bit subdued in affect- even when he's been enthusiastic with Hickey it's intensity more than it is happiness or good humour.

"So what else are you doing to keep from going nuts on board?"

[friendsfordinner]

"I've spent some time in the library," Hickey shrugs. "I can honestly say, I've never seen as many books in there in my entire life. Figured it might be good trying to learn as much as I can about my future. After all, the likelihood I've got a warden from my time'll be slim."

[magician_king]

"That's true, we do tend to skew a little later than you. I'm from 2015."

He may as well contextualize- although he doubts he's passing as local to Hickey in any way at all.

"It's a different world entirely. I sometimes wonder- well, I can ask you. Is it hard, being around people whose frame of reference is so different from yours?"

[friendsfordinner]

There's a pause as Hickey thinks things over. When he answers, he's answering honestly.

"If anything, it makes me angry. Everything's so easy for you all. If I had even half of the perks in my life that your lot had in yours, things would have been so much better."

[magician_king]

"I'm sorry. I don't think this place does a good enough job in taking to account the things people have gone through."

Admits Quentin, quietly.

"I know it was a hard time to live in, for a lot of reasons."

[friendsfordinner]

"You don't know the half of it," Hickey points out, with a sharp little laugh. There's a pause before he points out.

"I know I'm going to graduate eventually. And I know I'm going to take on an inmate eventually. But after that, I don't know what the hell I do. I've only been here for a few months and I already know I won't be able to return home."

[magician_king]

"Oh- well that part comes a little easier."

He can at least give him good news, there.

"Most people graduate by making strong relationships with people? Finding connections, forming found-families, friendships, and so on. That'll happen for you, too, and eventually, one of them is going to be the right fit for you to go home with."

[friendsfordinner]

Hickey gives Quentin a very skeptical look.

"Mate, you've got a lot of faith for someone you've only recently."

He knows the memory of Harry Goodsir looms large in these men. Friendships, maybe, but Hickey sincerely doubts anything more than that would happen.

[magician_king]

"Don't take it personally; it's the rule more than the exception. I'm not really assuming you're great, I'm just assuming you're not exceptionally shittier than anyone else."

He says, hopefully encouragingly.

[friendsfordinner]

Hickey can't help but let out a small little laugh at that. "I'll try to keep my shittiness at an expected level."

[magician_king]

"Thank you. I'm extremely pleased to hear that."

He says, giving in to the impulse to laugh.

[friendsfordinner]

Huh. Hickey likes that laugh. He gives Quentin a grin before continuing the conversation.

"Anyway, I'm still interested in maths, but I suppose I'd better work up to it a bit." He'll give Quentin that much. He knows he's not going to be some maths genius overnight. "Do you have any books that are a bit more beginner level?"

[magician_king]

"We can find you those out there," he says, nodding at the library door and stretching out, settling back in his seat. In a second.

"Learning stuff like this is a great way to fill time here- there can be kind of a lot of time."

[friendsfordinner]

Hickey nods. 'Kind of a lot of time' seems like an understatement. "I've already learned that I need to find a hobby. Practicing maths might as well be it."

[magician_king]

"Maybe pick two? And make the other one, you know, more- conventionally fun?"

Quentin loves math, but even can see Hickey may not have stumbled on the path to happiness here.

[friendsfordinner]

It's obvious from Hickey's blank stare that he doesn't know much about the ways of 'conventionally fun.' He gives Quentin a blank frown before hiding it behind a grin.

"I'll take up reading as well. We had a lot of men who enjoyed that sort of thing back on the ships. Maybe they were onto something."

[magician_king]

"Yes. Now this is an area where I'm qualified to help. What do you like reading? Or- what have you read recently?"

Both, either, he's just openly animated about books.

[friendsfordinner]

"Mostly history books," Hickey explains, with a shrug. "I want to catch up on what happened."

[magician_king]

"I read more fantasy, but I bet I could find you some cool stuff between you and- what year are you again?"

He's got it probably to a century or so.

[friendsfordinner]

"1848," Hickey answers.

At least, he thinks it's 1848. It's 1848 now.