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[shavedaway]

@ LtJopson | txt | audio | video | snail mail

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[adherency]

( billy startles just a bit at having his foot hefted up but once he realizes what thomas is doing, he stills. it's unusual but definitely not the strangest thing that's happened to him here. )

Yeah, I'd do what I could. There's not a lot I can do with this mark on mu neck but I'd definitely be around, provide company at least.

( and then he smiles a bit. )

A boat if you nee to get away and all.

[shavedaway]

[ Thomas smiles back, and there's a warmth in his chest about it. About feeling like he's got someone he can rely on in strange new lands. This experience seems the exact opposite of the one he had in life, and yet themes repeat. He considers telling Billy that the last person whom he trusted completely left him to die, but he doesn't. He only considers it, with some hesitation. ]

The pleasure of your company's more than enough. For as little of you that I know, I find you to be a good man, Billy Bones, and I'm glad to know you.

[adherency]

( billy knows that he's not a good man. he's managed to cultivate an image of his own making because no one knows him here and he hopes to keep it that way.

a smile flickers its way across his face and he nods. )

There isn't much to know about me, I promise. I'm quite boring.

( he's been boring for a few months, at least, but he knows that that's not true overall. )

[shavedaway]

I find that hard to believe. You'll be hard pressed to find a boring seaman and you don't seem the type.

[ he nudges Billy's knee with his own, now that he's gone and put Billy's leg down. ]

If you want to be shy about, I'll offer a tale for a tale.

[adherency]

( that could be dangerous, couldn't it? he pauses for a moment before he nods. )

All right.

( there were things that he could say that weren't about his life as a pirate, he thinks. )

Do you want to go first?

[shavedaway]

[ Well, he should have expected that. For just a moment, his smile is more...strained than it was before. But. Well. He did start with the inquiry, so sure. ]

Alright. I've been to the South Pole. Serving as a subordinate officer's steward, but I've been there.

[adherency]

South Pole? Isn't it very cold there?

( he's never been but he's heard things. )

What brought you there?

[shavedaway]

It's freezing.

[ Colder than the north by all accounts, and yet his memories of Arctic North are far colder, and far less cozy. ]

Sir James Clark Ross went looking for magnetic south. We didn't make it all the way, but we made it well further than anyone else. I was serving the lieutenants, and the Captain's second.

[adherency]

I've sailed to many far off places but never that far.

( he's been cold before, freezing, but he thinks the south pole would be a whole new level of cold. )

Would you ever go back, do you think?

[shavedaway]

[ He thinks on it, watching the rock of the sea. His immediate reaction is no, but that's not necessarily the truth. The truth only compounds melancholy. ]

If the right person asked me to, I think I would. I wouldn't volunteer, though.

[adherency]

I don't think I would either. I don't mind the cold but spending that much time in it?

( he shivers like he can feel it right there around him. )

I don't think I'm meant for it, really. Not enough meat on my bones. You probably had that problem too.

[shavedaway]

[ there is a tension in Thomas's jaw as he listens and watches Billy feel about it, a harrowed sadness in his eyes even as he tries to remain neutral. It's still too fresh, and he's still too skinny from recent starvation. The flirting quip that comes to mind, that Billy has plenty of meat on his bones, in all the right places, feels inappropriate, feels vulgar for everything that he's known had occurred to the men, might have happened after they left him to die for all he knows. The great and terrible custom of the sea.

He doesn't want to talk about this. For all that he likes Billy, they haven't known each other long enough yet to warrant that sort of clarity.

When he smiles back, it's tight, and it's quick. He knocks his foot against the bag he brought with him. Inside is a box from Honestea, with a biscuit and pastry selection. ]

Luckily for us both, I brought snacks. We're blessed with a wealth of affordable baked goods here.

[adherency]

You were thinking further than in advance than I was.

( billy's more than happy to let the matter drop, not wanting to press a sore subject. he latches onto thomas' baked goods and nods. )

They really do have some good food here. And most of the time, it's not even drugged.

( it tended to happen during the strange occurrences and not just during daily trips to the bakery. )

[shavedaway]

It's been my job for many years to think in advance. Hard habit to shake, really.

[ He reaches over to grab a biscuit from the box, careful not to rock the boat too much. ]

Drugged? How do you mean?

[adherency]

This place — it will sometimes drug the food and drink and even air to make it so you want to fuck whoever you see.

( he's seen it happen many a time and he knows that it will continue to happen. )

I've had it happen to me a few times since I've been here. But, just be aware that it does occur even if it's hard to really avoid.

[shavedaway]

[ That. is brand new information that he's not sure what to do with. He stills, and goes a bit pink in the cheeks. Not because his sensibilities are delicate, Billy can talk about fucking however much he likes, but because he couldn't account for his behavior at the Carnival and now...he can. And it sinks into his stomach, the realization that he might have entirely misread the situation. ]

Ah.

[ He takes a beat to assess, to choose his words carefully. ]

That does explain a few things. And I feel the need to apologize again.

[adherency]

No. Don't apologize.

( billy holds up a hand and shakes it, waving it away. )

I would have done that with you even without any city influence.

( he doesn't blush as he says it, far too old and jaded to do that but he does look away. just in case that is too bold for thomas. )

[shavedaway]

[ Billy may look away, but Thomas does not. He just watches him, attentively, and that cautious control with which he carries himself, that has no place on this boat, out here on the water by themselves, melts away again into a soft smile. ]

I wouldn't have. But I'm glad I did.

[adherency]

I'm glad you did too.

( it's a confirmation of a sort that they both enjoyed what happened. and maybe want to have it happen again. )

We'll have to...do it again sometime. With or without this city's influence.

[shavedaway]

Without, I hope.

[ Happy birthday Thomas Jopson indeed. He nudges Billy's leg with his own. ]

It's your turn, don't think you'll weasel your way out of a story.

[adherency]

( billy laughs and sits back, not having intentionally been trying to get out of the story. he'd just gotten interested in what thomas was telling him. )

Hm. Let me see then.

( he taps the edge of the boat while he considers what to tell him. )

My parents were Levellers back in Kensington and before I even knew what it was, they made me one of them. I spent some of my childhood passing out pamphlets about their causes. It was...quite boring.

[shavedaway]

A Kensington lad! I'm from down Marylebone way. I'd say we were a stones through from one another but, Levellers...

[ that certainly is odd, but miles from the oddest thing he's heard here. ]

When were you born?

this is a total freaking guess okay

[adherency]

1685.

( he thinks? he doesn't really know. the time change from one place to another has thrown him a bit. he knows how old he is and what year it had been back on the walrus but this place has confused me. )

So, probably a bit before you?

( perhaps levellers weren't a thing during thomas' time. )

look its a wonderful guess we can't all be blessed/cursed by perfect victorian record keeping

[shavedaway]

[ He whistles--yeah, a bit before him. ]

A bit yeah. Mine's 1816, thirty two years ago yesterday. Either you look amazing for your age or you passed well before I did.

[adherency]

Your birthday was yesterday?

( that seems to be an important thing to focus on. billy laughs and leans forward, arms on his knees. )

Happy birthday. Did you do anything?