InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Stay in your Layne!"

Jack Hemingway (jackhemmingway) wrote in spinningcompass,
@ 2016-03-18 20:09:00

Entry tags:

!closed, ~amy fitzwilliam, ~ernest hemingway

Who: Jack and Hemingway
Where: The diner
What: Catching up
When: Today
Rating: TBD
Open: To Amy and Abi
Status: Ongoing

Jack had agreed to meet up with his father now things had calmed down enough that he was happy to leave Amy. Yes he knew damn well his girlfriend could handle herself, but it didn’t stop him worrying.

It had taken all he had to wait for his father to actually show up before he grabbed some food. Apparently chaos worked wonders for his appetite.

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ernestoic
2016-03-18 09:24 pm UTC (link)

Hemingway was still feeling rather unstable, but he figured Abi would be grateful if he would try to stop being so clingy and actually leave her in peace for a bit. Plus, he did want to see his son, and not just because he had considered asking him a few questions about the 'other' him.

It was clear that he hadn't been sleeping to well; he felt edgy and irritable which wasn't good, but he was doing his best to keep a lid on it all, no matter what was rolling about inside his head.

"Hey, kid-" he greeted his son, sliding into the booth opposite him and trying for a more relaxed expression.

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	jackhemmingway 2016-03-18 09:31 pm UTC (link)
	"Hi Papa, you look terrible," Jack said conversationally. His relationship with his father had improved immensely in the last few months, especially since they'd managed to check in with each other during the recent madness. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	ernestoic 2016-03-18 11:51 pm UTC (link)
	Ernest chuckled at that, feeling himself relax somewhat at how casual it was, a total contrast to the intense nonsense of his own brain. "Gee, thanks - least you're an honest man," he smiled, turning over a menu. "Things got kind of weird, I guess, during the... whatever the hell island shit that was meant to be," he admitted, with a bit of a shrug. "Hungry?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	jackhemmingway 2016-03-19 09:37 pm UTC (link)
	"It always helps to be honest Papa and I'm always hungry," Jack replied. "How are you after all the shit?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

ernestoic
2016-03-19 11:41 pm UTC (link)

"It does, it heals the soul," he commented, glad that his son had integrity. Maybe he'd learned from his father's mistakes, seen what keeping secrets could do to a man. "Good - let's eat."

Ernest looked at the menu instead of at Jack, but he wasn't really seeing what was written on it. He'd wanted to test the waters, to ask a couple of questions, but now Jack was actually asking him he automatically wanted to say he was fine. He'd always wanted to appear strong and steady to his son, but he supposed for this version of Jack, it was probably a bit too late to feign stability.

"Over-thinking," he admitted eventually. "Some things came up. About the future. Wondering if I can change it, I guess," he explained.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	jackhemmingway 2016-03-20 07:50 pm UTC (link)
	"Overthinking about what?" Jack asked, very aware his father wasn't looking at him. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

ernestoic
2016-03-20 08:36 pm UTC (link)

It was very telling that Ernest was now mentally backing out of it; his mind was racing, wondering how he could explain it without saying the word.

"Would you mind terribly if I asked you something about... the other me?" he asked, finally looking up. "If you don't want to talk about it, it's fine," he added quickly, not wanting to drag up bad memories for him just for the sake of a few quick answers.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	jackhemmingway 2016-03-20 08:43 pm UTC (link)
	"Course, but know you're not him. What I got angry with you for wasn't anything you, this you, did and I don't blame him. That woman...well she was a shit and I think getting like he did was the only way to survive." Jack replied. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

ernestoic
2016-03-20 08:54 pm UTC (link)

"I know," he nodded, genuinely appreciating that Jack had been able to put the past behind him, to not judge him by the other man's actions. But since getting a little snapshot of the possible future with Abi, he wasn't entirely sure that he was so different. That he wasn't one depressive episode away from total ruin.

"And I know that she was a grade A bitch, but did I -did he ever hurt her?" he asked, not sure he wanted to know the answer. "Physically, I mean. Did I hit her?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	jackhemmingway 2016-03-20 08:55 pm UTC (link)
	"No, you just hid, in booze and writing. Never hit me either," Jack replied (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

ernestoic
2016-03-20 09:02 pm UTC (link)

"Thank God-" Ernest actually felt himself let go of some tension at that answer - especially the part about not physically hurting Jack. He might not have been dad of the year exactly, but he didn't hit his kids. He wasn't his father, no matter how much his mother tried to convince him otherwise.

"Abi... the island..." he mumbled, not quite getting it right. "I had a bit of a Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come experience," he explained, a little more himself about it.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	jackhemmingway 2016-03-20 09:04 pm UTC (link)
	"You hit her Papa?" Jack asked. "Or saw yourself do it? If you just saw it, then you can change it." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

ernestoic
2016-03-20 09:14 pm UTC (link)

"No, God no-" he insisted, instantly feeling sick at the thought of it. "I don't know. I didn't see it happen, but..." he sighed a little, just hating the very thought of it. "There were bruises. God, I'd hurt her. Emotionally as well, I mean. She was just worn down, a different woman. Like I'd just sucked all the goodness out of her life," he admitted, perhaps a little dramatically, but it seemed so awful now she was back to herself. Now he could see the obvious contrast.