Crozier's gaze follows the steward as he rises. He hasn't dismissed him, exactly, but he's always let Jopson move along the tide, so to speak. The young man knows his business better than Francis does, and the only reason to suddenly hew so close to tyrannical would be love of cruelty, which he has none of. It's the devotion that tempts, though he's not sure that isn't actually more dangerous. He could tell Jopson to sit back down and he'd sit.
He's reasonably certain he could tell Jopson to kneel, actually.
He does neither of these things. As ever, he lets him go about what he means to do, a professional steward as he is. Plenty to see to; there are no wasters on a ship.
"Only your continued competent workmanship, Mr Jopson." A pause. He runs a thumb over the edge of the teacup. A bad habit; keep your fingers out of your cup, Frank. He adjusts his hold. "We're in our own world here, at sea. I know you know that. But I know, too, that when it rears up in a reminder like this, it's like hitting a wall at speed. I have faith you'll walk it off and get back to it."
no subject
Crozier's gaze follows the steward as he rises. He hasn't dismissed him, exactly, but he's always let Jopson move along the tide, so to speak. The young man knows his business better than Francis does, and the only reason to suddenly hew so close to tyrannical would be love of cruelty, which he has none of. It's the devotion that tempts, though he's not sure that isn't actually more dangerous. He could tell Jopson to sit back down and he'd sit.
He's reasonably certain he could tell Jopson to kneel, actually.
He does neither of these things. As ever, he lets him go about what he means to do, a professional steward as he is. Plenty to see to; there are no wasters on a ship.
"Only your continued competent workmanship, Mr Jopson." A pause. He runs a thumb over the edge of the teacup. A bad habit; keep your fingers out of your cup, Frank. He adjusts his hold. "We're in our own world here, at sea. I know you know that. But I know, too, that when it rears up in a reminder like this, it's like hitting a wall at speed. I have faith you'll walk it off and get back to it."
Still: no help with the bath today.