The thing about Tozer is news to him. Though with the limited time the other man would have had for such a thing, Billy can imagine when it must have transpired - likely during the chaos that ensued during the bear attack, when they were scrambling to gather what they needed for the mutiny and run off. What other time would there have been, when Tozer's part in the mutiny had only been discovered so recently before that, and when Edward hadn't had an encounter after?
.. he supposes it doesn't matter. After all, it didn't change anything. Tozer was lucky to have run into Edward Little of all men, someone without the spine to pull the trigger. It's less surprising - or rather, less new - than the news about him abandoning the sick.
Billy glances over at the other, and in a way it's very reminiscent of what they went through back home. Their circumstances meant that you were often watching people unravel in front of your eyes - the same way Hickey and the other mutineers must have done with him as he grew weaker and weaker, surely - and that's exactly what it feels like he's doing right now. It's like Edward Little is crumbling with every single word he speaks, like he's trying to sink through the floor. Some of this even feels like confession. Like Billy is more than just a former steward.
It leaves a moment of silence between the two - Edward likely still thinking about what he just said, and Billy's mind now on the same words - until he speaks up again.
".. you see being here as being trapped. As a punishment," he states, echoing the other's words.
It's not like he can't see where it's coming from. This place is still cold and miserable. There's still food shortages sometimes, not to mention the ever-looming threat of the Darkwalker. It's no promised Sandwich Islands, that's for sure. It's not even London.
But--
"What do you imagine the alternative is, Mr. Little? If it was not for this place, I would not be alive. I would not be able to live my life the way I would wish to." Being open about his relationship, for one. Or not constantly having to serve others for a living. This place, for all the ways in which it sucks, is also-- "For some of us, this place is giving us autonomy in ways England never would have."
no subject
.. he supposes it doesn't matter. After all, it didn't change anything. Tozer was lucky to have run into Edward Little of all men, someone without the spine to pull the trigger. It's less surprising - or rather, less new - than the news about him abandoning the sick.
Billy glances over at the other, and in a way it's very reminiscent of what they went through back home. Their circumstances meant that you were often watching people unravel in front of your eyes - the same way Hickey and the other mutineers must have done with him as he grew weaker and weaker, surely - and that's exactly what it feels like he's doing right now. It's like Edward Little is crumbling with every single word he speaks, like he's trying to sink through the floor. Some of this even feels like confession. Like Billy is more than just a former steward.
It leaves a moment of silence between the two - Edward likely still thinking about what he just said, and Billy's mind now on the same words - until he speaks up again.
".. you see being here as being trapped. As a punishment," he states, echoing the other's words.
It's not like he can't see where it's coming from. This place is still cold and miserable. There's still food shortages sometimes, not to mention the ever-looming threat of the Darkwalker. It's no promised Sandwich Islands, that's for sure. It's not even London.
But--
"What do you imagine the alternative is, Mr. Little? If it was not for this place, I would not be alive. I would not be able to live my life the way I would wish to." Being open about his relationship, for one. Or not constantly having to serve others for a living. This place, for all the ways in which it sucks, is also-- "For some of us, this place is giving us autonomy in ways England never would have."