Don't--! [ Irving snaps sharply before managing to cut himself off, to settle down slightly and continue in a slower, more deliberate hiss: ] I've asked you before, Rackham, to spare me hearing the Lord's name taken in vain off your tongue-- and I shouldn't think that is too much for me to be asking of you.
[ As if "for Christ's sake" isn't literally the least of Irving's problems right now... what he takes to be problems, anyway.
He should calm himself, should take a few minutes at least to enjoy the peace of this sexual aftermath -- such as, for example, how distractingly appealing Jack looks with his long, lanky body stretched out over the bed luxuriously, still nude and glistened with sweat -- but instead he's scrambling for something, anything to cover up with, eyes wide and agitated enough that he looks slightly crazed. He looks down at the towel Jack offers him, begins to reach for it before deciding he doesn't even want to touch it and instead grabs an unused pillow off the bed, holding it over his middle while he frankly scans his gaze around the room in search of wherever his clothes ended up.
(He definitely should have accepted the towel, he is... dripping, as he moves around or even just stands upright, but since Irving has already rejected it, that's that.)
When Irving's eyes raise back up to look at Jack again is when his demeanor finally does relax, somewhat, mildly, from the reassurance that what they just did together will remain a secret, but that's also short-lived; his face colors deeply and darkly at what Jack says next, mouth opening and then shutting speechlessly. ]
I--
[ His eyebrows twitch, like he isn't sure suddenly whether or not to be outraged, chagrined, or apprehensive, ultimately looking somewhat chastened when he finally takes a couple steps back towards the bed. ]
No one else knows about me what you do, Rackham. Do you hear? Not one other person. And there are still other men here that have known me for years... men who would lose all respect they had for me in mere moments, should they ever find out about-- that I-- [ (Possibly he is being a little irrational. Possibly.) ] It was a mistake for me to come up here with you. A moment of weakness only.
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[ As if "for Christ's sake" isn't literally the least of Irving's problems right now... what he takes to be problems, anyway.
He should calm himself, should take a few minutes at least to enjoy the peace of this sexual aftermath -- such as, for example, how distractingly appealing Jack looks with his long, lanky body stretched out over the bed luxuriously, still nude and glistened with sweat -- but instead he's scrambling for something, anything to cover up with, eyes wide and agitated enough that he looks slightly crazed. He looks down at the towel Jack offers him, begins to reach for it before deciding he doesn't even want to touch it and instead grabs an unused pillow off the bed, holding it over his middle while he frankly scans his gaze around the room in search of wherever his clothes ended up.
(He definitely should have accepted the towel, he is... dripping, as he moves around or even just stands upright, but since Irving has already rejected it, that's that.)
When Irving's eyes raise back up to look at Jack again is when his demeanor finally does relax, somewhat, mildly, from the reassurance that what they just did together will remain a secret, but that's also short-lived; his face colors deeply and darkly at what Jack says next, mouth opening and then shutting speechlessly. ]
I--
[ His eyebrows twitch, like he isn't sure suddenly whether or not to be outraged, chagrined, or apprehensive, ultimately looking somewhat chastened when he finally takes a couple steps back towards the bed. ]
No one else knows about me what you do, Rackham. Do you hear? Not one other person. And there are still other men here that have known me for years... men who would lose all respect they had for me in mere moments, should they ever find out about-- that I-- [ (Possibly he is being a little irrational. Possibly.) ] It was a mistake for me to come up here with you. A moment of weakness only.