[ Irving does listen, face slack from drink yet still pinched with tension, eyes drifting vacantly somewhere around middle distance. Maybe he's simply losing the energy to keep arguing in circles, or maybe he's finally reaching the stage of "drunk enough to stop caring," but his eyes refocus onto Jack's, glazed but intent.
It's hard not to be brought to a sort of thoughtful silence, tipsy though he clearly is, because he's being spoken to now with a level of consideration that -- especially from Jack -- rather surprises him. For all Irving may have the obnoxious habit of speaking from atop his various soapboxes once something gets him going, rarely do those he's lectured about this or that ever seem to try actually seeing the subject from his perspective; to understand him, if still not necessarily respect or agree with his point of view.
Despite himself, he feels slightly moved for the fact Jack is making any sort of an effort at all; much more than Irving would have expected from a pirate. ]
I am no fool, Rackham-- I can see that it is clearly the Royal Navy to which you are referring. [ He observes dryly, but also doesn't protest the implications. ] Though I'm afraid it is still more complicated than only that alone.
[ His glass wobbles in place slightly as he traces his finger around the rim, pausing contemplatively before he goes on: ]
Perhaps not here. That I will grant you. [ And takes another drink. ] Or at least not in any such manner by which many a civilized society might normally determine what should or should not "matter."
[ At which point Irving puts up a hand, in demonstration that he's not trying to argue-- he's simply talking. On another level, this does feel a bit uncomfortably like a reversal of the speech he once gave to Hickey, even down to the slightly contrived "we're not inherently quite so different, are we," outreach of it, but luckily Irving is also too drunk at this point to feel patronized by it. ]
It soothes me some to be able to discuss this with you. [ He reaches across the table, placing his palm on Jack's wrist. ] Please speak if there is anything you may also wish to unburden yourself of-- I will listen.
no subject
It's hard not to be brought to a sort of thoughtful silence, tipsy though he clearly is, because he's being spoken to now with a level of consideration that -- especially from Jack -- rather surprises him. For all Irving may have the obnoxious habit of speaking from atop his various soapboxes once something gets him going, rarely do those he's lectured about this or that ever seem to try actually seeing the subject from his perspective; to understand him, if still not necessarily respect or agree with his point of view.
Despite himself, he feels slightly moved for the fact Jack is making any sort of an effort at all; much more than Irving would have expected from a pirate. ]
I am no fool, Rackham-- I can see that it is clearly the Royal Navy to which you are referring. [ He observes dryly, but also doesn't protest the implications. ] Though I'm afraid it is still more complicated than only that alone.
[ His glass wobbles in place slightly as he traces his finger around the rim, pausing contemplatively before he goes on: ]
Perhaps not here. That I will grant you. [ And takes another drink. ] Or at least not in any such manner by which many a civilized society might normally determine what should or should not "matter."
[ At which point Irving puts up a hand, in demonstration that he's not trying to argue-- he's simply talking. On another level, this does feel a bit uncomfortably like a reversal of the speech he once gave to Hickey, even down to the slightly contrived "we're not inherently quite so different, are we," outreach of it, but luckily Irving is also too drunk at this point to feel patronized by it. ]
It soothes me some to be able to discuss this with you. [ He reaches across the table, placing his palm on Jack's wrist. ] Please speak if there is anything you may also wish to unburden yourself of-- I will listen.