RL with notjackkerouac

[fortiter_in_re]

Jack Sparrow, James decides at some point over the next month, is clearly trying to drive him mad.  Completely bloody insane.  After their date that month ago- because yes, it was a date, no point denying that- James had expected, maybe hoped for a call in a week or so, after Jack had served his three days in prison.  But nothing.  And then nothing

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[notjackkerouac]

Enjoyed which part? Jack clicks his teeth together while Theo chuckles again, oblivious to the direction Jack's brain is headed, eyes narrowing at James. There's almost a compliment somewhere buried in there, followed by something that's almost a suggestion. It rubs against James' stiff tone.

Jack can't question him about it, though, not with Theo wedged on the other side of James. Jack's said nothing about having met James and it became clear over the passing weeks that James said nothing about meeting Jack, not until this very night. There's something in that, though which reasons Jack can only guess. James clearly has not forgotten him.

"They didn't leave you to go up against James by yourself?" Theo asks, and his words are coloured by the teasing respect of long friendships -- a thing Jack strangely likes in Theo. A loyal, supporting friend can be difficult to come by. "It's a small wonder you're a free man now."

Jack takes a sip from his mug and waves a hand at James. "Do you want to tell the story, or shall I? Since you haven't seemed wanting to share with your mate. Don't want to take that honour from you." And there is a question in that, buried beneath the words. Why hasn't James mentioned he knows Jack?

[fortiter_in_re]

James appreciates Theo's tone of voice on that; one doesn't like to brag, of course, but James knows he's good at what he does. He's always been good at what he does, and he takes pride in that, and it's nice to know it's such a lazy, easy fact for his friends. And he likes, too, in a slightly more vindictive way, the message that it sends to Jack.

When Jack prompts him to tell the story, James just shrugs. It doesn't seem to him that there's all that much to tell, and he says as much. 'Jack simply had the misfortune of being saddled with Rupert Selwyn as his defence.' There's a slight, quizzical look from Theo, and James elaborates. 'You've met Selwyn, Theo; Welshman with the- yes, quite.' He clears his throat, turning back to the subject at hand.

'I daresay it's hardly surprising he took matters into his own hands, so to speak.'

Jack is giving him a look that wavers somewhere in between utterly unimpressed and a little heartbroken, but James just (once again) lifts an eyebrow over the rim of his pint glass. It's hardly an epic tale, after all.

[notjackkerouac]

Bo-ring. Jack's brain feels like it's cracking in two at the way James condenses that entire afternoon into two sentences. He looks at Theo for help but Theo seems not at all concerned about it, taking it in a fully-fleshed anecdote and moving along. It's so distressing that he can't even laugh at the way Theo mimics Sel-whatever's overly-protruding nose.

Jack turns round on James, frowning (maybe pouting a little) at his lack of description. "You need to work on your conversational skills, mate."

Far more happened than just Jack taking matters into his own hands, though he did, and dumping what's-his-face to sit quiet on one of the chairs for the majority of the trial. James didn't even mention Jack climbing to his feet on one of the table tops and dramatically reciting some speech about courage and fortitude in the face of certain death. That might be because that didn't happen -- but the point is it could have happened. And James utterly missed the mark.

"You left out all the good parts," Jack -- it's not really a whine, per se, but it might be a plea for mercy.

"Why? Did something else happen?"

Theo, Jack thinks, is far too eager for gossip. It might be hard to tell, him sitting there, calmly sipping his drink, looking placidly interested between Jack and James, but that's really what he is deep down: a gossip-monger. Jack recoils from the question and focuses on draining his glass, grumbles echoing back out to him. What happened isn't the point.

[fortiter_in_re]

Good James may be, but he uses words in a different way from Jack. Which is to say, he uses them; they're a tool He's efficient and clever and knows how to use words, to use his voice, to accomplish things. He knows how to command an audience, how to get a point across, how to persuade someone of something, no matter how wrong it may be.

But storytelling? Not exactly a big part of his repertoire.

So when Jack lifts his glass, grumbling into the bottom of it, James actually chuckles; a tiny little exhalation of laughter. 'I'm afraid I couldn't say, Theo.' He meets Theo's eyes for a moment, before switching back to Jack. 'But if Jack thinks he can tell the story so much better than I, pray, go ahead.'

[notjackkerouac]

This is not how it's meant to go, an adventure wielded down to two bloody sentences and none of them communicating either Jack's brilliance, or for that matter, James' own. That's just -- Jack sticks his tongue out like the beer has somehow turned sour in the last five minutes.

There's a percieved challenge sharpening the edge of James' comment but Jack can't respond to it. Telling a story twice-over just isn't done; the magic is somehow ruined, like seeing a film before reading the book what belongs to it. Jack is not going to be the wordy footnote in the back that no one really cares about anyway.

"Go on, then, Jack," Theo prods, and Jack catches a look between him and James. James, who's fault this is anyway. Jack's never been unable to tell a story. It's cruel.

So it might be that Jack acts a little cruel back. "Not much left of the trial to tell after that... synopsis." He smiles thinly at James. "I was just thinking what a shame it would be not to have mentioned what happened after the trial. Those woods being far more interesting to explore, eh?"

Because James must have kept that bit to himself for a reason. Jack wants to know that reason, hopes its extraction is slightly uncomfortable for James. At least those two sentences, whatever they are, might lead to new adventures to be had.

[fortiter_in_re]

He can clearly read the amusement in Theo's face as he prompts Jack to continue, and he catches his eyes, at once grateful and silently laughing. Because while it's clear he likes Jack, he's still on the same page as James, and James appreciates that. It's nice to have someone to back you up. Even though in this situation, he rather suspects Theo is just as amused at his plight as he is at Jack's. But one can only ask for so much.

A scowl threatens to flit across his face at Jack's insinuation, but he quickly masters it. Whatever happened after the trial was hardly a big deal. Yes, they'd gone on a date. Yes, they'd had drinks and discussed Shakespeare, of all things. Yes, they'd... held hands under the stars and snogged in Kensington Park.

Good lord, they'd held hands under the stars and snogged in Kensington Park. Alright. Definitely not something he wants to discuss with both Jack and Theo present. It's something he would reasonably talk about with either of them on their own, but in combination, it becomes decidedly more awkward.

James clears his throat. 'I hardly think it's a topic worth exploring any further. We wouldn't want to bore Theo with unnecessary details, mmm?'

The look he shoots Theo pleads with him rather shamelessly not to ask about what happened after the trial. That he'll tell him later, but really, not now.

[notjackkerouac]

Two sentences exactly: Jack counts them for vindicative purposes. James does well at hiding his reaction, but Jack is good at finding things that don't want to be found and he thinks he spots a bit of pink tinging the tops of James' cheeks.

That's a bit better.

"Oh, but let's not be so quick to judge," Jack says, tight smile morphing into a convining grin. He wiggles his fingers to stop James from interupting. "Theo my lad might not find the tale boring at all. I certainly don't."

And he won't to hear James' tell it. That night, for what little happened, somehow managed to be one of the most interesting times of Jack's life. James is one of the most interesting times of Jack's life. All Jack seems to want these days is a chance to know more and more about him.

"Undoubtedly cruel to deprieve the man of a good story," Jack adds, slouching in the chair like they're having the friendliest of chats. Theo goes mad for some of Jack's stories and Jack glances at him, assured that this time will be no different.

"It's really not necessary right now, Jack," Theo says, pointedly -- Jack is sure -- not looking at James. "I'm sure James can fill me in later."

Traitor. Jack can see what he's up against, and he supposes it's in the right this way. Theo, for all that Jack's spent time with him recently, is James' friend first. Jack's not one to get between that, or hold it against the man. His smile softens at Theo and he chuffs a bit of a chuckle.

"Fair enough, then. Just promise to ask him about Kensington Park."

And Jack has little doubt that Theo will.

[fortiter_in_re]

Ah, so he does have someone to back him up. Well, thank God for small mercies. The smile James gives Theo is small, but he knows he'll be able to read it as grateful. Still, he also knows he'll have to explain later about what exactly Jack means by Kensington Park, and he'll get a talking to for not telling him that he'd gone on a date with Jack Sparrow, Theo's new favourite person.

But that's certainly better than having to deal with that in front of Jack. 'Quite so,' he says smoothly. 'I'm glad somebody sees things my way.'

'Well, only sometimes,' Theo shoots back with a grin that promises mischief later. And with that, he tips back his glass, draining the last dregs of beer at the bottom, setting it down on the counter with a clink, and a smile at both Jack and James. 'Fascinating though this is, gentlemen, I have to head off. I told Andrew I'd meet him later tonight.'

That last is directed at James, and accompanied by a little quirk of one eyebrow that says and won't he be interested to know that you and Jack are old pals? James just rolls his eyes and shoos him off with a request not to get Andrew too riled up in his absence.

And then he's left alone with Jack Sparrow.

Brilliant.

[notjackkerouac]

Theo's parting smile in genuine, tinged at the corners with mischief, and Jack mirrors it, waggling his fingers as Theo departs. That leaves him with James. Who looks not exactly thrilled. Well, that's no good. Jack will just need to change that.

He kicks out Theo's vacated chair in a silent offer for James to sit. "Boyfriend?" he asks conversationally, actually half curious for the answer. "Andrew," he clarifies. "They together? Or just good mates?"

Jack's heard the name come up before anecdotally, usually paired with James, but he never let Theo go on much about it lest he somehow coerce Jack into revealing that his appreciation of Theo's stories went deeper than just polite curiousity. He's fairly sure Theo can work out the reasoning behind that now.

He doubts the answer to his question will be affirmative, however. Theo generally seems to be on top of things -- a quality Jack has come to realise belongs to most of James' acquaintances, a truth that bodes well for him -- and he has the sneaky suspicion that Theo left just to give Jack a chance to be alone with James.

Who seems to be suffering for that fact. Jack knew Theo couldn't be that much a traitor.

[fortiter_in_re]

The idea of Andrew as Theo's boyfriend is so singularly ridiculous that James nearly laughs. But then he remembers that Jack has been driving him completely 'round the bend for the past two months, and suppresses the urge. Instead, he snorts a little, scoffing.

'Boyfriend? Hardly.' And then, as if he feels the need to explain how the three of them- he, Andrew, and Theo- know each other, adds, 'We were all at school together.'

Andrew, he knows, will be hearing from Theo that something is going on between James and Jack Sparrow. Knowing Theo, he'll probably blow it out of all proportion, and Andrew, as the one James had sat and grumbled about Jack with whenever Theo wasn't there to join them, will be none too pleased. He's got more of a temper than either Theo or James, but really, James isn't terribly worried.

And even if he was, the notion of bearing the brunt of Andrew's wrath would be less important than the problem currently sitting right in front of him. James leans back against the bar, eying Jack with something in between idle curiosity and faint irritation.

'So, Jack, do tell, what have you been up to for the past few months?' His voice is light, purposefully so, tinged with a delicate edge of ire. 'Besides infiltrating every level of my social circle, that is.'

[notjackkerouac]

"Threesome, then?" Jack asks when James supplies that far too short explanation. That's something that, were it true, Jack would be very curious about. He doesn't try to hide that, narrowing his eyes to show just how overly-interested he is for it to be a completely harmless question.

Given the way James responded to his earlier question -- Jack saw his mouth twitch a little in amusement; that has to count for something -- it seems unlikely. But Jack's already determined that James is going to be his for the taking, and it would be good to know if there's anyone standing on the sidelines about to get in Jack's way.

Jack would liken it to rugby but he only played rugby the once, then sat on the kitchen counter as Teague fed him straight burbon while he stitched up Jack's knee. So that's out.

He considers ignoring James' question for a moment, hearing the underlying statement, but it's far more interesting being honest about it. "Surprisingly, that took up most of my time. Once Elizabeth decided that I should, that is." Jack smiles, perfectly pleased. "She's around here somewhere, by the way, if you wanted to say hi. I thought I'd introduce her to part of my social circle" -- some mockery there -- "just to repay the debt. You know quite the plethora of people who like you for being a lawyer." Jack raises his glass to that, as if it impresses him.

[fortiter_in_re]

'However did you guess?' James drawls sardonically. 'It's wild bacchanalias every Wednesday at Theo's place, but I'm missing out tonight to sit here with you. You should feel privileged.'

That would translate, in case Jack has somehow managed to miss it, as an emphatic 'no.' He and Theo and Andrew are good friends- the best of friends, have been ever since they were all about fourteen. Even if Theo and Andrew weren't both quite comfortably heterosexual, getting involved with either (or both, apparently) of them would be immensely awkward.

He's snapped back into the conversation by Jack's words about Elizabeth, and he narrows his eyes. 'Your social circle? She's seventeen years old, Jack, for God's sake.'

True, he doesn't know what sort of a social circle Jack keeps, but he hardly imagines they're the sort Mr. Swann would want his impressionable, free-spirited daughter hanging around with. Nor, for that matter, would James. Elizabeth is very much a younger sister to him, and he likes to look after her when he can.

[notjackkerouac]

Jack does indeed catch the implied negative, and in fact laughs at how descriptive James can be with the right sort of motivation. "Always do, mate," he says around the amusement, warm and sincere, and drinks to that.

Elizabeth seems to be another matter, and oh, she was right when she said that James could come off a touch too much Protective Older Brother. Jack feels the need to inform James of that, in fact. "Seems she was right about you." He raises his eyebrows over the rim of his glass, taking too much perverse pleasure in the fact that, apparently, Jack has been corrupting James' baby sister. "Seventeen's a fine age, anyway. He's only twenty or so. Son of an old mate of mine. Good, solid lad straight through. If anything, she'll be the one doing the damage to him."

He scans the room to see if he can spot them but Elizabeth said a quick hello to Will before dragging him off by his shirt sleeve to get into some sort of trouble -- at least, that's what Jack imagines Elizabeth had in mind with her cheeky parting comment of We'll see you two grandpas later to him and Theo.

Jack can't spot them, though, and it might be just as well. He doesn't plan to waste his few moments (wagers they'll be only a few moments, anyway) with James discussing other people. He puts his lips to the rim again but doesn't drink before placing it back on the table. "And your two months, Mr. Norrington. I take it they were filled with far more exciting things since we didn't see you around the pubs."

It's a tiny dig but earned for the way James balked at who Jack might have for friends.

[fortiter_in_re]

Despite Jack's assurances, James's lips still firm themselves into a little line above the rim of his glass. If Elizabeth is here with this man, James is going to make a point to meet him before the night is up. Just to see if he really is what Jack says he is. Though he has to admit, Elizabeth is the sort to do damage to the occasional, unsuspecting man if she has a mind to. Besides being young and beautiful, after all, the girl's got a wicked streak a mile wide.

But still.

Never mind the fact that James himself had gone out with the man at the centre of the social circle this young man is a part of. Hypocrisy is an occasional side effect of being protective of one's friends.

He doesn't say any of this, though, instead merely nods a little, a small, wry smile curling his mouth. 'Elizabeth can occasionally have that effect, yes.'

Jack's question is both leading and slightly mocking, but James doesn't give him the satisfaction of going along with either. 'I am a law student,' he says coolly. 'Shockingly, that manages to take up most of my time. And if I've not run into you in... "the pubs," well; London's a big place.'

[notjackkerouac]

That is distressingly less fascinating than Jack had been hoping to here. James spent the two months Jack has been trying to woo him studying. It could be a lie, he supposes, but why lie about that? A boring time, that, or at least what Jack can recall of staring at books and trying to memorize page numbers to write on the back of his hands, and the only reason to lie is to give an alternative more interest than the truth. there's little point to lying about something less than truth. Jack folds his arms on the table and tries not to seem too disappointed.

He still hasn't gotten his question answered, about why he hasn't caught a glimpse of James in all this time, about why James refrained from mentioning Jack to his friends. Jack will just need to find other ways to ask.

Tracing small cirlces into the table top with a finger, Jack comments idly, "I find London to be the type of place that can be as big or small as a body sees it fit to be."

This is one of the few cities Jack's seen that's more than capable of that feat, shrinking and expanding depending upon the day. Jack's frequently run out of things to do before he's lost the will to do them. It's only been these two months that London has begun to seem far more filled with things to do and see. Or people to do and see.

Jack smirks, reaching to drain the rest of his beer. "Not trying to avoid me, are you?"

And it's a grand joke because Jack's purposefully made himself both impossible to find and to avoid.

[fortiter_in_re]

Jack seems either disappointed or confused by James's answer, which, in turn, rather confuses James. It had seemed to him a purposefully vague response, something obviously evasive which, while not fundamentally untrue, hardly addressed the issue in question either. Jack seems to have missed that somehow, and a small, slightly confused smirk cracks James's face.

It's true that London can be big or small according, apparently, to its own whims. And James, theoretically, could easily have sought Jack out; accompanied Theo or Elizabeth on a night on the clubs when he knew Jack would be there. But really, he was hardly going to extend himself like that. He had his pride. It would hardly do to look as though he was mooning after Jack like some lovesick girl when he'd failed to ring.

That, and perhaps, maybe just a little, he was interested- when he wasn't too busy being driven mental- by Jack's mad game.

So he just shrugs. 'I don't see Tony Blair whilst wandering around London, but that doesn't mean I'm trying to avoid him. Mere chance, I assure you.'

Again, not strictly untrue.