#lieut-dundy-le-vesconte

[not-quite-so-gored]

“You were right: You are good with your mouth.“

Graham couldn't help but smile, smiled so much, in fact, that his mouth started straining a little, his chest so full with emotion that he was afraid that it might burst any second now. Gently, he brushed away the tears from Dundy's cheeks, pressing his lips against the damp skin as if to kiss him better.

He didn't fail to notice that he was well-liked wherever he went. But while everyone pretended to like him nobody seemed to care just the same. The benignity was directed at his name foremost, his rank and reputation second. He didn't exist as a person outside this frame. People put him on a pedestal for what he stood for, not for who he was. And while Dundy certainly had an idealised version of him in mind as well this felt different. He felt seen. Nobody has ever commented on his smile.

“You didn't fuck up. In fact, I think I'm a little in love with you right now, Henry.“

>he'll take his time, get a little more put together (it's just the first lieutenant, they're on somewhat friendly terms, n he wants to look presentable but not too outwardly like he's showing up for a date), grab those inks n papers n then head foreward for the sickbay

>then he kinda' hovers there awkwardly, not so sure how to start bc gore's always been the best of them, n dundy's always kinda' felt gore replaced him... gore's better at parties, gore's better at talking, gore's prettier, gore's not a fucking french-irish catholic, gore's an arctic veteran, gore's a smooth operator, and dundy's an elephant in a china shop trying to buy a very small dish for his mother

Hey @not-quite-so-gored >he offers a smile, trying to be smooth; now that they're no longer on print, and dundy's confronted with gore's frankly blinding visage, he's suddenly nervous and flustered brought you some papers.... how.. um... how've you been? >he's not sure if he should sit or what hope it's not been too much of a pain 😘 >god he's making a fool of himself

[ltgeorgehodgson]

standing up very suddenly from bridgens's seminar table, not making eye contact with anyone but clearly annoyed.

dundy. can we have a word outside, please? @lieut-dundy-le-vesconte

[jbridgens]

>VERY loudly, outside @chasdesvoeux's cabin while @ltgeorgehodgson and @lieut-dundy-le-vesconte are talking

CHARLIE!

What are you doing out in the hallway with those biscuits? Is there anything I can help you with? It's not your job to be catering to the others on board, you know.

[lieutenantjirv]

@lieut-dundy-le-vesconte I'm on Erebus awaiting our meeting.

And yes, I brought some tea.

[not-quite-so-gored]

Graham's shoulders tensed at Mr. Bridgsen's cry for assistance, immediately put on high alert. He had almost failed to realize that he was, in fact, the commanding officer on Erebus now with Commander Fitzjames being who-knows-where again. It probably wasn't a good call to leave the infirmary with stitches so fresh and muscles so sore, but who said that he needed to venture out into the cold on his own?

He winked at Dundy (@lieut-dundy-le-vesconte), giving his hand a squeeze.

“Interested in a little adventure, Lieutenant Le Vesconte?"

oough hg

[wpilks]

@sirjohnfranklin @jamiefitzjamie @jbridgens @lieut-dundy-le-vesconte @drstephenstanley do yall ever feel like our ship is less important. Like if our life was a tv show it would not be called The Erebus

[thomas-jopson]

*he is stumbling all around the ship…

a husk rounding the corners

a shell meandering the hallways

…were he not making the conscious effort to keep moving…

Jopson might not have even realized he was presently alive*

*he was almost there. almost had gotten close to the captain’s cabin, that seems to glow now. a glow of welcoming embrace. whether the glow be of heaven’s light or hell’s flames, Jopson did not care to think upon. No matter how the Captain would take him, he would kiss the ground he walks upon and continue to fight for his place alongside him.*

*he was almost… there… when he sees the lieutenant @lieut-dundy-le-vesconte, who looked to be in an equally horrible state of mind. frantic. the lieutenant has locked eyes, so jopson has no hopes of evading.*

*he just hopes he won’t have to clean up anymore mess he may have to spill tonight*

[claradesvoeux]

Cont. @ltgeorgehodgson @lieut-dundy-le-vesconte

if you litueannts are going to terror can I come with I want to talk to captain crozier and dr peddie and mr goodsir and mr jopson abt something

[not-quite-so-gored]

”Captain Crozier is here on Erebus, sir; injured, I may add.”

Graham chimed in promptly. Mr. Bridgsen had previously alerted him to Captain Crozier's unfortunate accident on the ice but the officers from Terror have simply been faster in their pursuit of assembling a rescue party.

”I fear Terror is without command at the moment. By rank Lieutenant Little (@nyedwardlittle) would be next in line as long as the captain is incapacitated. Or Lieutenant Hodgson (@ltgeorgehodgson).”

He had seen Little on deck when Captain Crozier has first been hauled on board of Erebus but Terror's first lieutenant has been awfully absent since the attack. Graham's eyes fell on the bodies lined up near Fitzjames, genuinely hoping that Little was not among those he couldn't identify for certain. Instead he threw a sideways glance at Hodgson, as if to tell him to be prepared for the worst case.

”I do not mean to stall by all means, sir, but I would suggest to consult the musters before we set out for burial. While we may not be able to identify the individual bodies we would at least be able to tell which men were lost today in total.”

Of course he would follow command, even if the prospect of facing these... creatures scared him out of his wits, making him question whether he was already in a good enough shape to command a group that was to venture out into the ice again. By God, he wished that he could just make Dundy tag along. In fact, Graham agreed with Fitzjames that keeping the bodies on board for too long might attract unwanted attention. It was in the nature of beasts and predators to return to where they could find easy prey. But despite the gravity of the situation - or maybe because of it - he wanted to do this properly; not just dump those who had been under their protection in an anonymous ice hole.

Don’t get friendly with me, captain. This is all your fault. And if we lose good men for it, the captain—the real Captain—and Jopson, I don’t like to think how we’d fare in your hands. Whatever Dundy saw in you I hope he’s seen reason

Charlie's words are a smack to the face, and James almost stumbles again, going cold, the world shutting down, bit by bit around him. Everything seems to fade.

Well, he thinks, there goes my command. Ha, ha. But that's okay. They shouldn't have put me in charge anyways. Lord knows, I'm inadequate at everything. He stands there for too long a second, then slowly turns, as if in a daze. He has a job to do, that if neglected, will get him court martialed. This is a severe lapse in duty. He can't be ill like this. Slowly, he puts his hands on his face, pulls down. Come on, he thinks. Come on. Come on. You're in charge. You're a big boy.

As if moving through molasses, he shakes the weight of pain off him, lets command take over. This is just war. He loves war. He's a war freak. He even got to set off his rockets today! What joys! None of this hurts him. He's a god, remember? He's capable. He's not a bastard son with a shitty father and no mother. He's not a little orphan child picked off the street. He's not any of that. He comes from a noble family, well bred. He's well trained. He's second in command. He should be first in command, actually, because he's better at captaining than that Crozier ever could be. Des Voeux, one of his trusted boys, who he had offered help to, because he cares for him, because he remembers him from when he was just a young boy, must just be scared. James knows how scared people often say what they don't mean to say.

As Dundy's always said: 'this shit is nothing to him.' These men need leading. So lead them he shall.

"Alright!" he calls out. "Lets start cleaning up! Get a count of the dead, assess the damage, see what needs rebuilding. Come on, men, lets get this ship back in shape!"

As activity picks up again, the crew glad, finally, to be lead, James scans, looking for someone higher in rank, eyes landing on @not-quite-so-gored, who he remembers having died, then having been a little off, now seeming ready and prepared. Gore, who was Sir John's favorite. Oh God, what twisted sick fucked up fate brought Gore back instead of Sir John... he cannot be dwelling on it.

"Graham!" He smiles at him. "Help me count the dead, will you? And find if any of them are injured; we need to send them to Mr. Goodsir as soon as possible."

[ej-helpman]

Good day @lieut-dundy-le-vesconte !

I was quite heartened to learn that you do not completely hate me for my little misadventure during our escapade. I don't think it was even intended for that one night affair to last several, but I really would like to see you again. And this time, I promise to finish you off as well.

Love,

EJ

PS. You simply must refer to me as a woman again when we are in private, I enjoyed that immensely.

[the-secret-admirer]

@lieut-dundy-le-vesconte ,

I apologise profusely but I have learned of some facets of your personality that truly disgust me. I am very glad that I have not revealed my identity to you to save me from this embarrassment. You are still extremely physically attractive to me, but it delights me greatly that we serve on different ships and I shall not have to interact with you often if at all. I pity everyone else who you have embroiled in your treacherous web of scandal.

Signed,

E

[franciscrozierofficial]

@lieut-dundy-le-vesconte I am in a foul mood (physical insecurities + biting wind chill + craving whiskey like a twitching gutter snipe) and could do with someone with some equally unpleasant company.

My cabin. Let’s talk about this ice-fucked mess of an expedition.

[not-quite-so-gored]

Graham couldn't help but snort at John's reaction, returning his smile fondly.

“Actually, I agree with both of you.“

Somewhat wearily, he stared at the harness in his hand, probably for a beat too long to have gone unnoticed, before he finally put it on. There was no question that he would haul, he insisted on it even. However, Graham also knew that he wouldn't be able to pull much of his own weight this time. He was definitely going to get a scolding from Dr. Goodsir afterwards.

“Lets make the most of it.“

>after muster, and the dead are accounted for, (eight dead, most everyone on watch, really), and it's figured out who died and who didn't, dundy goes down to sickbay where everyone was last gathered. steadies himself, rights himself. now to find everyone. not that hard, considering they're all in the same place. he spots @lieutenantjirv and @chasdesvoeux first

john, charlie. captain fitzjames wants you to go with lieutenant gore out on the ice to take care of the dead. burn them away from the ship. you'll need to take at least four more men with you for protection, i'd say, but it's at your discretion. i have to go with george, the marine sergeant tozer, and the steward armitage, to terror to deliver the news and check in on the command there. yes, he's splitting us up, i know. don't. question him >he grabs both their shoulders, first charlie's, then john's, and then he'll give each of them a hug, and john a kiss don't fucking die out there, okay? just don't. n... >he'll drop his voice to a whisper. we can regroup. once we're out there. or set out together. just don't mention it, okay? >he pats their shoulders again

[captainjamesfitzjamesofficial]

@lieut-dundy-le-vesconte I was hoping we could catch up at some point? It was long and hard journeying out on the ice, and often did I think of you and our tenure in the Persian Gulf. Just as friends, no rank between us? Just a little friendly chat, like old times? I do apologize for disappearing so suddenly and for so long.

[ltgeorgehodgson]

@lieut-dundy-le-vesconte the morning has brought sobriety (and a headache) but NOT forgiveness or forgetfulness. I cannot let what you said to me rest, and thus will be on my way over to erebus as soon as I am able.

[sirjohnfranklin]

>through heavy pants, as though they’ve just run a long way between the ships

Sir, there’s- there’s a situation on Terror, Captain Crozier and Lieutenant le Vesconte are about to murder each other, you’ve got to get over there and do something about this, and begging your pardon sir holy SHIT get your officers under control please

@franciscrozierofficial @lieut-dundy-le-vesconte

(extends arms between them)

STOP FIGHTTTINGGGG!!