[ Christ, even when he's trying to make peace, Jack is annoying. Not that he believes that Jack is actually trying to make peace, mind you. ]
I see. You may think your being privy to John's personal correspondence gives you some perspective on what I'm doing to salvage this, but it doesn't. I am doing what I can, which isn't your business. But if you're so keen on talking, you tell me what exactly you're trying to achieve messing him around like this, and we'll see if I believe you.
I'm not messing him around. But I don't expect you to believe me, like this. If I come to meet you, will I be greeted any differently than the last time?
I have no intention to get violent with you unless you force me to defend myself again. The goal of talking to you at all is to relieve for him any unnecessary stress that I am able to. Being exposed like that has been difficult enough for him without the two of us coming to blows over it a second time.
[ He sighs, running a hand over the back of his head. He's been vulnerable enough with Jopson, without his consent of course, when he decided to open those letters. And now he's supposed to, what? Prove his intentions over the phone? ]
My affection for him is genuine. It is not lost on me, how unlikely that sounds, I promise you, but my actions should speak for themselves. I have been at his side through this, holding him through his distress. I have suffered his pious neuroses and his shame and his insistence on sneaking around, and waited for him while he's dealt with the storm inside him. Everything that you read in those letters was true, Jopson.
[ There is an earnestness to Jack's voice that cannot be ignored, even as Jopson listens, chewing his bottom lip at the complication. There is a distinct difference in tone between manipulation and being genuine, and it makes him wonder if Jack is so accomplished a scoundrel that he can't be sure of what is and isn't true.
If Jack was Billy, or any unknown and unnamed pirate, Jopson might be more flexible. It's not the history of piracy in itself that is the problem. It is the evidence to the fact, lying, manipulation, unscrupulous intention, inability to renounce a past of scoundrel behavior that proves the point. That was what caused the rift with Billy, not the piracy in itself.
But Jack is different. Jack is famous. Jack has a reputation to combat, among other things. ]
If that were true, and I don't believe that you are capable of genuine affection for a decent man like him--But if that were true, you'd have dropped Mr. Hickey. You know what he did to him. The fact that you hold Mr. Hickey's confidence tells me a hell of a lot about you and your intentions.
Drop Hickey? Drop him where, back to the Down, to be harassed and felt up and auctioned off like livestock? That isn't going to happen. I made that man a promise, before I ever met John.
[ He knows, rationally, that it's a valid concern. Being shacked up with Irving's murderer isn't exactly helping his case, but he's been, one particularly debaucherous incident aside, keeping things separate. Jack does even have some genuine affection for the stabby little ginger as well, but he resists being known enough to let that escalate.
It's complicated, and he doesn't expect Jopson to understand the nuance. So, the practical approach. ]
I've heard the story from three sides now. John is fully aware of the situation, and we have agreed, that Hickey acts out in desperation and a sense that he's been wronged. Dropping him only agitates that.
[ If this were any man but Cornelius Hickey, Jopson might have had sympathy. If this were any man other than Calico Jack, he might have seen reason in what he said. It is the combination that he finds difficult to trust, above all things. For Cornelius Hickey, he feels not a shred of sympathy. He could rot for all Jopson cares. ]
Men like Mr. Hickey can throw tantrums till they're blue in the face if it means they get a scrap of attention, and you've given him three-course meal. If you can't handle him acting out then Christ knows how you handled a crew. As for John, if you've come to know him so well, then you know he'll take any sort of indignity if he thinks he's earned it.
[ He sighs, and then continues-- ]
Mr. Hickey came to me and threatened violence against John because I went for you. You should know that. You need to decide what's more important, a promise to a snake or affection for a good man who'se put his trust in you. That'll tell me what your character's like, and who's got your priority.
[ Well...that's news to him. It makes Jack grit his teeth and grip the device at his ear harder, in an effort not to let the agitation show, towards Hickey and Jopson both. He doesn't lash out at him for having the gall to act like he has the authority to force Jack to choose, a dilemma he's sure he'll have to face at some point, but that he's not ready to touch just yet.
And if neither of the men actually involved are forcing the issue, he won't. ]
I handled my crew by making sure they don't act out in the first place, Mr. Jopson. I'd sooner keep my eye on him to make sure he's not playing with matches than put his fires out after he's already made them. Hickey's got to throw his little tantrums to feel like he's in control, but he won't touch him.
He's seen you pick a fight with me and figured you're more concerned about bodily harm towards John than yourself. Thought it would get to you more than a direct threat. It's hot air.
It's hot air until it's not. It won't take much to make a fire, not with him.
I've said my piece. Real affection's more than just patience and poetry. It's making tough choices and being the person they need more than the person they want. Imagine it were Miss Bonny we was talking about and not John, and you tell me what choice you'd make.
You think you're the authority on real affection, do you? Anne and I have been at each other's sides since we were kids, I'd wager I know a fair bit more about it than you do.
[ Jack's willing to tolerate his fair share of bullshit, to make nice as he told Irving that he would, but don't bring Anne into it. If Jopson's still hung up on the knife pressed against his side, which only found its way there because he had appeared to aggress towards her, he should damn well know that. ]
If anyone put an unwanted hand on her, I'd gut him like an animal. I've offered, to do the same on John's behalf, but he has more grace in his heart than either of us. He wants Hickey to find peace, Hickey considers his revenge successfully taken. I, and my contract with him, serve as a barrier to him changing his mind, which you should be grateful for, as it's given him something to lose.
[ To Jack's credit, that is a reasonable argument. It gives Jopson pause, because as stubbornly sure as he is on his opinion about Hickey, he's not so stubborn as to not accept that Jack has a point. There is silence, as he considers what exactly he wants to say. ]
Well I'll speak to John, and then we'll see if I believe he's not been fleeced.
[ The lack of argument is a good enough signal for Jack to be satisfied that he's stumped him on it. Thank God. This isn't even about Hickey. ]
Please do.
[ He's quiet, as if it's settled, but...one more thing. ]
For the life of me, I cannot figure out why, but he values your friendship, and holds you in esteem. No matter how hell-bent you are on hating me, be kind towards him. Whatever he tells you, I'm sure it will be the truth.
[ Its very good that this is an audio call and not a video one, because he can't help but roll his eyes a tad. You don't know the first thing about him or their friendship, Jack. ]
You took the words right out of my mouth. For as long as he's buying what you're selling, you're on best behavior. I find out you've not been, then we're going to have trouble again.
[ A good thing indeed - Jack would argue just the same point if it were to come up. Reading some stories written by people who never knew him hardly constitute the understanding of the kind of man he is that Jopson seems to think he has. ]
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no subject
Date: 2022-04-27 08:20 pm (UTC)I've got the gist of it, but of course, I did not read either message, myself.
no subject
Date: 2022-04-29 08:16 pm (UTC)I see.
You may think your being privy to John's personal correspondence gives you some perspective on what I'm doing to salvage this, but it doesn't. I am doing what I can, which isn't your business.
But if you're so keen on talking, you tell me what exactly you're trying to achieve messing him around like this, and we'll see if I believe you.
no subject
Date: 2022-04-29 08:24 pm (UTC)But I don't expect you to believe me, like this.
If I come to meet you, will I be greeted any differently than the last time?
no subject
Date: 2022-04-29 08:46 pm (UTC)You have a speaking function, use that.
no subject
Date: 2022-04-29 08:57 pm (UTC)Voice it is. ]
Mr. Jopson. That incident was over and done with months before John stepped foot in this place. It has no bearing on this.
no subject
Date: 2022-04-29 09:58 pm (UTC)[ You have a limited amount of time to convince him that you're worth listening to, Jack. ]
no subject
Date: 2022-04-30 01:10 am (UTC)[ He sighs, running a hand over the back of his head. He's been vulnerable enough with Jopson, without his consent of course, when he decided to open those letters. And now he's supposed to, what? Prove his intentions over the phone? ]
My affection for him is genuine. It is not lost on me, how unlikely that sounds, I promise you, but my actions should speak for themselves. I have been at his side through this, holding him through his distress. I have suffered his pious neuroses and his shame and his insistence on sneaking around, and waited for him while he's dealt with the storm inside him. Everything that you read in those letters was true, Jopson.
no subject
Date: 2022-05-01 03:17 pm (UTC)If Jack was Billy, or any unknown and unnamed pirate, Jopson might be more flexible. It's not the history of piracy in itself that is the problem. It is the evidence to the fact, lying, manipulation, unscrupulous intention, inability to renounce a past of scoundrel behavior that proves the point. That was what caused the rift with Billy, not the piracy in itself.
But Jack is different. Jack is famous. Jack has a reputation to combat, among other things. ]
If that were true, and I don't believe that you are capable of genuine affection for a decent man like him--But if that were true, you'd have dropped Mr. Hickey. You know what he did to him. The fact that you hold Mr. Hickey's confidence tells me a hell of a lot about you and your intentions.
no subject
Date: 2022-05-01 04:26 pm (UTC)[ He knows, rationally, that it's a valid concern. Being shacked up with Irving's murderer isn't exactly helping his case, but he's been, one particularly debaucherous incident aside, keeping things separate. Jack does even have some genuine affection for the stabby little ginger as well, but he resists being known enough to let that escalate.
It's complicated, and he doesn't expect Jopson to understand the nuance. So, the practical approach. ]
I've heard the story from three sides now. John is fully aware of the situation, and we have agreed, that Hickey acts out in desperation and a sense that he's been wronged. Dropping him only agitates that.
no subject
Date: 2022-05-07 09:38 pm (UTC)Men like Mr. Hickey can throw tantrums till they're blue in the face if it means they get a scrap of attention, and you've given him three-course meal. If you can't handle him acting out then Christ knows how you handled a crew. As for John, if you've come to know him so well, then you know he'll take any sort of indignity if he thinks he's earned it.
[ He sighs, and then continues-- ]
Mr. Hickey came to me and threatened violence against John because I went for you. You should know that. You need to decide what's more important, a promise to a snake or affection for a good man who'se put his trust in you. That'll tell me what your character's like, and who's got your priority.
no subject
Date: 2022-05-07 10:44 pm (UTC)And if neither of the men actually involved are forcing the issue, he won't. ]
I handled my crew by making sure they don't act out in the first place, Mr. Jopson. I'd sooner keep my eye on him to make sure he's not playing with matches than put his fires out after he's already made them. Hickey's got to throw his little tantrums to feel like he's in control, but he won't touch him.
He's seen you pick a fight with me and figured you're more concerned about bodily harm towards John than yourself. Thought it would get to you more than a direct threat. It's hot air.
no subject
Date: 2022-05-11 03:44 pm (UTC)I've said my piece. Real affection's more than just patience and poetry. It's making tough choices and being the person they need more than the person they want. Imagine it were Miss Bonny we was talking about and not John, and you tell me what choice you'd make.
no subject
Date: 2022-05-11 04:40 pm (UTC)[ Jack's willing to tolerate his fair share of bullshit, to make nice as he told Irving that he would, but don't bring Anne into it. If Jopson's still hung up on the knife pressed against his side, which only found its way there because he had appeared to aggress towards her, he should damn well know that. ]
If anyone put an unwanted hand on her, I'd gut him like an animal. I've offered, to do the same on John's behalf, but he has more grace in his heart than either of us. He wants Hickey to find peace, Hickey considers his revenge successfully taken. I, and my contract with him, serve as a barrier to him changing his mind, which you should be grateful for, as it's given him something to lose.
no subject
Date: 2022-05-14 11:53 pm (UTC)Well I'll speak to John, and then we'll see if I believe he's not been fleeced.
no subject
Date: 2022-05-15 12:44 am (UTC)Please do.
[ He's quiet, as if it's settled, but...one more thing. ]
For the life of me, I cannot figure out why, but he values your friendship, and holds you in esteem. No matter how hell-bent you are on hating me, be kind towards him. Whatever he tells you, I'm sure it will be the truth.
no subject
Date: 2022-05-18 08:29 pm (UTC)You took the words right out of my mouth. For as long as he's buying what you're selling, you're on best behavior. I find out you've not been, then we're going to have trouble again.
no subject
Date: 2022-05-18 08:55 pm (UTC)I don't doubt it.
no subject
Date: 2022-05-18 09:14 pm (UTC)Now unless you've got anything else on your mind, I think we're done.
no subject
Date: 2022-05-18 09:20 pm (UTC)