[ Irving intends on treading very lightly here, very carefully, given how he and Jopson have certainly not had the easiest time of things so far here, constantly finding themselves clashing and butting heads with an increasingly troubling regularity, although they have also been... making someimprovement as of late. Overall they'll still most definitely have their work cut out for them as far as the bigger picture of improving their relationship goes, but the progress they've begun to make and show when it comes to communicating effectively with one another hasn't been insignificant, actually-- and in fact, that's why Irving is messaging Jopson now.
Progress or not, the subject of Jack Rackham will likely always be a tense one between them, but in the time Irving's both been becoming less guarded with Jopson, and more serious with Jack, it hasn't been lost on him entirely what a shame it would be (assuming he and Jack remain together; assuming things at least last a decently long while) if he could never talk about Jack to Jopson like a friend, a confidante, a brother.
Because yes, Irving struggles a great deal with opening up about his personal life, about intimacy, sex, love, and all the complicated emotions that he can't ever truly separate from those other things entirely, but as of late especially there have also been things he struggles even more with trying to handle or cope with all on his own-- to include this latest development he's tentatively planning on sharing with Jopson now. If nothing else, he'll at least be curious to see how it lands. ]
Jack moved Hickey out of his flat so that I could feel comfortable visiting him at home. He's even gotten a job. And all of it's already happened - it's done. Sorted.
I apologize for my abruptness Thomas but I just needed to share this with someone. I'm feeling quite overwhelmed at the moment.
[ This text is certainly a surprise. Not because Irving coming to him about Jack--no, Irving feeling awkward about it doesn't make it an uncommon or unexpected occurrence. Rather, it's Jack he's surprised by. The ellipses bounce for a few seconds, as Jopson considers what to say. ]
I'm happy for you, John. Truly I am. I can't imagine Mr. Hickey took it all well. What sort of job?
[ By now Jopson can neither be called an unwelcome or welcome presence at the periphery of Irving's relationship with Jack, his involvement from nearly the start of when things became more serious simply too tangled up in the foundations of it to be denied. It's a neutral fact at this point, mostly, despite the fact Jopson barely trusts Jack and Jack can barely stand Jopson. Very awkward for Irving, yes, but there are a lot of reasons for that; even if he puts aside the obvious ones, like the fact that it's a man he's been involved with, or how sharing anything even remotely intimate, i.e. romance- (or even worse, sex-) adjacent, about his personal life makes him stammer and break out into a cold sweat, it's also very awkward confiding in Jopson about Jack for the same reason it'd be awkward for anyone to try confiding in Irving about sex. That sense of inherent disapproval there. ]
Thank you. It's all still a bit of a shock to be honest.
If I know Mr. Hickey I'm sure he made quite a show of taking it on the chin, but no, I imagine he didn't take it well. Can't see how he could have. I'll admit I feel a bit at odds about the whole thing - I've not asked Jack for any more details about it. As far as Mr. Hickey is concerned that is.
Down at the Brothel with Anne. Apparently they used to own one.
It may be worth asking a bit, at the very least so that you know if you should be armed while you're out and about. I would advise being armed either way.
[ he keeps the fact that he knows from being nosy on the network that Anne and Jack have brothel experience very much to himself. ]
Not the most respectable work you can get, but it is certainly work, and a step in the right direction.
Armed with what, my Shotgun? Might be a bit Overkill even in this case, I think.
[ It's the only weapon he has and Irving would feel awfully foolish carrying it just to go a few floors up, then back, although... carrying something while out and about isn't the worst idea. He doesn't imagine Hickey will be lurking about here if only for the sake of his own pride, but who's to say he might not lie in wait elsewhere?
Irving isn't really a paranoid man, but a bit of caution never hurts. Forewarned is forearmed and all that. ]
I'll be careful.
It's hardly the sort of work I myself would have preferred either, but yes, it is what it is. [ He won't type it out, of course, but he hates to imagine where either Jack or Anne had been getting their money before this. ] Being a Career sailor of any Fashion doesn't always translate so easily to jobs back on shore, that much I do know.
I have a pistol. You're welcome to it, I've enough money saved to get myself another.
Please do, you know very well what he's like.
No, it doesn't. I've little judgement for the work, John. I actually am pleased he's making something of himself, even if he insists on staying on the wrong side of decent. I'm only concerned how you're taking it, given the association.
Still. I'll see that it's returned to you at the very soonest possible convenience.
Not long, I think. I'm not truly anticipating too much of a problem here, at least not one of this nature; Hickey's much too clever to attempt Violent retaliation over something like this.
[ At least, Irving thinks he is... would be? whatever the case. He hasn't let himself think overmuch about either the relationship or feelings involved when it comes to Jack and Hickey -- mostly for obvious reasons -- except to acknowledge that obviously, Jack has been good for him somehow; Hickey's seemed the most settled that Irving's ever known him to be, being contracted to Jack. For whatever reason that may be. And it's not that Irving wouldn't want such a thing for him, either, which is only but another factor in what makes this whole situation such a damn mess. ]
I wouldn't call it misplaced exactly. It's a very complicated position for one to be in.
There's no rush. As I said, I've got enough put aside for a new one. I would rather know you're protected than have it back.
Clever don't mean rational.
[ In this, and in most things, Irving has far more faith than Jopson. As for Jack's situation, Jopson certainly does not think it's that complicated. ]
I'm not the one he's in Contract with; it's only right he continue to see those Responsibilities through.
[ Irving doesn't always appreciate having to -- well, feeling he has to, anyway -- be magnanimous about such a thing, given his own history with Hickey, but at the end of the day he's still a reasonable man. Jack had known and contracted with Hickey first, at least a month or longer before Irving had even appeared in Duplicity, and... well, he can't exactly pretend Hickey and Jack have nothing in common to bond over. On the face of things, they certainly appear more suited than Jack and Irving ever could be.
Though the reality, of course, has turned out to be very different. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
text | @J.IRVING
Date: 2022-06-29 10:42 pm (UTC)Progress or not, the subject of Jack Rackham will likely always be a tense one between them, but in the time Irving's both been becoming less guarded with Jopson, and more serious with Jack, it hasn't been lost on him entirely what a shame it would be (assuming he and Jack remain together; assuming things at least last a decently long while) if he could never talk about Jack to Jopson like a friend, a confidante, a brother.
Because yes, Irving struggles a great deal with opening up about his personal life, about intimacy, sex, love, and all the complicated emotions that he can't ever truly separate from those other things entirely, but as of late especially there have also been things he struggles even more with trying to handle or cope with all on his own-- to include this latest development he's tentatively planning on sharing with Jopson now. If nothing else, he'll at least be curious to see how it lands. ]
Jack moved Hickey out of his flat so that I could feel comfortable visiting him at home. He's even gotten a job. And all of it's already happened - it's done. Sorted.
I apologize for my abruptness Thomas but I just needed to share this with someone. I'm feeling quite overwhelmed at the moment.
no subject
Date: 2022-07-20 08:33 pm (UTC)I'm happy for you, John.
Truly I am.
I can't imagine Mr. Hickey took it all well.
What sort of job?
no subject
Date: 2022-07-23 10:23 am (UTC)Thank you. It's all still a bit of a shock to be honest.
If I know Mr. Hickey I'm sure he made quite a show of taking it on the chin, but no, I imagine he didn't take it well. Can't see how he could have. I'll admit I feel a bit at odds about the whole thing - I've not asked Jack for any more details about it. As far as Mr. Hickey is concerned that is.
Down at the Brothel with Anne. Apparently they used to own one.
no subject
Date: 2022-08-03 07:36 pm (UTC)I would advise being armed either way.
[ he keeps the fact that he knows from being nosy on the network that Anne and Jack have brothel experience very much to himself. ]
Not the most respectable work you can get, but it is certainly work, and a step in the right direction.
no subject
Date: 2022-08-03 09:10 pm (UTC)[ It's the only weapon he has and Irving would feel awfully foolish carrying it just to go a few floors up, then back, although... carrying something while out and about isn't the worst idea. He doesn't imagine Hickey will be lurking about here if only for the sake of his own pride, but who's to say he might not lie in wait elsewhere?
Irving isn't really a paranoid man, but a bit of caution never hurts. Forewarned is forearmed and all that. ]
I'll be careful.
It's hardly the sort of work I myself would have preferred either, but yes, it is what it is. [ He won't type it out, of course, but he hates to imagine where either Jack or Anne had been getting their money before this. ] Being a Career sailor of any Fashion doesn't always translate so easily to jobs back on shore, that much I do know.
no subject
Date: 2022-08-05 02:31 pm (UTC)Please do, you know very well what he's like.
No, it doesn't.
I've little judgement for the work, John. I actually am pleased he's making something of himself, even if he insists on staying on the wrong side of decent. I'm only concerned how you're taking it, given the association.
no subject
Date: 2022-08-05 05:31 pm (UTC)But I can't really complain now can I. He's only taken it to help cover Mr Hickey's expenses, now that he's moved him out.
no subject
Date: 2022-08-19 09:38 pm (UTC)That's very good of him, even if his kindness is misplaced.
no subject
Date: 2022-08-20 04:57 am (UTC)Not long, I think. I'm not truly anticipating too much of a problem here, at least not one of this nature; Hickey's much too clever to attempt Violent retaliation over something like this.
[ At least, Irving thinks he is... would be? whatever the case. He hasn't let himself think overmuch about either the relationship or feelings involved when it comes to Jack and Hickey -- mostly for obvious reasons -- except to acknowledge that obviously, Jack has been good for him somehow; Hickey's seemed the most settled that Irving's ever known him to be, being contracted to Jack. For whatever reason that may be. And it's not that Irving wouldn't want such a thing for him, either, which is only but another factor in what makes this whole situation such a damn mess. ]
I wouldn't call it misplaced exactly. It's a very complicated position for one to be in.
no subject
Date: 2022-08-21 04:03 pm (UTC)Clever don't mean rational.
[ In this, and in most things, Irving has far more faith than Jopson. As for Jack's situation, Jopson certainly does not think it's that complicated. ]
How do you think?
no subject
Date: 2022-08-23 09:04 am (UTC)[ Irving doesn't always appreciate having to -- well, feeling he has to, anyway -- be magnanimous about such a thing, given his own history with Hickey, but at the end of the day he's still a reasonable man. Jack had known and contracted with Hickey first, at least a month or longer before Irving had even appeared in Duplicity, and... well, he can't exactly pretend Hickey and Jack have nothing in common to bond over. On the face of things, they certainly appear more suited than Jack and Irving ever could be.
Though the reality, of course, has turned out to be very different. ]
At any rate, thank you. Is there ammo as well?