(no subject)
Jack is not scholarly-minded by nature, but sometimes a little theoretical work is unavoidable, especially for those who use a great deal of cyphers and code and have nasty, suspicious and above all twisty minds (like Jack). His notebook is slowly being filled with number combinations, together with bits and pieces of Thirbite algebra.
(So much easier than the earth variety, provided you have the necessary languages to translate back when you're done.)
Since, however, there's only so much dry data you can take when you are by nature a social creature, he's doing this at a table in the middle of the bar, with the vague hope that someone will interrupt.
He can't be rude enough to ignore anyone, and then he'll have a legitimate excuse to wrap things up for the day.
(So much easier than the earth variety, provided you have the necessary languages to translate back when you're done.)
Since, however, there's only so much dry data you can take when you are by nature a social creature, he's doing this at a table in the middle of the bar, with the vague hope that someone will interrupt.
He can't be rude enough to ignore anyone, and then he'll have a legitimate excuse to wrap things up for the day.