And you'll note that I never requested you should answer in quite so much unnecessary detail.
[ "Unnecessary detail," to Irving, of course referring to anything that happens to be just detailed enough that he may happen to picture it in his mind's eye as he's listening -- whether by accident or because it actually does merit some contemplation -- and as Hickey himself might remember Irving telling-him-without-telling-him once, Irving is very... rigorous about what he does or does not, can or cannot, allow into his mind.
Though he's still quite certain Hickey is most likely doing this all on purpose, deliberately going out of his way to make Irving as uncomfortable as possible, part of him also questions if maybe Hickey simply can't help himself, like naughty children who know of no other way than tantrums and violence to draw attention to themselves-- and, rather conveniently, being a lieutenant isn't too unlike having to help mind large groups of rowdy children either, so Irving is at least up to the task. Lucky for Hickey (maybe) and unfortunate for himself (definitely) that there are no other shipmates apart from Jopson here to compete for Irving's attention.
Clearing his throat, Irving lifts Hickey's fact sheet so he can read from it aloud, glad actually to have something other than Hickey's insinuations about quota to acknowledge, at least for however long as Irving can put that off. ]
One: That you have more scars than the "average person."
[ His tone invokes the air-quotes that his fingers do not, clearly a bit skeptical, because... well, these things are all rather relative, aren't they. ]
Two. You have received payment for sex. [ Voice clipped, lips pursed. ] And finally, that you evidently... like tall men. Fascinating.
[ He's sooooo uncomfortable right now. ]
And given your... history of employment, Mr. Hickey, as is in fact, once again, noted here on this very paper, you'll surely have very little trouble here.
no subject
[ "Unnecessary detail," to Irving, of course referring to anything that happens to be just detailed enough that he may happen to picture it in his mind's eye as he's listening -- whether by accident or because it actually does merit some contemplation -- and as Hickey himself might remember Irving telling-him-without-telling-him once, Irving is very... rigorous about what he does or does not, can or cannot, allow into his mind.
Though he's still quite certain Hickey is most likely doing this all on purpose, deliberately going out of his way to make Irving as uncomfortable as possible, part of him also questions if maybe Hickey simply can't help himself, like naughty children who know of no other way than tantrums and violence to draw attention to themselves-- and, rather conveniently, being a lieutenant isn't too unlike having to help mind large groups of rowdy children either, so Irving is at least up to the task. Lucky for Hickey (maybe) and unfortunate for himself (definitely) that there are no other shipmates apart from Jopson here to compete for Irving's attention.
Clearing his throat, Irving lifts Hickey's fact sheet so he can read from it aloud, glad actually to have something other than Hickey's insinuations about quota to acknowledge, at least for however long as Irving can put that off. ]
One: That you have more scars than the "average person."
[ His tone invokes the air-quotes that his fingers do not, clearly a bit skeptical, because... well, these things are all rather relative, aren't they. ]
Two. You have received payment for sex. [ Voice clipped, lips pursed. ] And finally, that you evidently... like tall men. Fascinating.
[ He's sooooo uncomfortable right now. ]
And given your... history of employment, Mr. Hickey, as is in fact, once again, noted here on this very paper, you'll surely have very little trouble here.