Title: Questions
Rating: PG
Word count: 100
Pairings or characters involved: Stephen and Jack
Character to give rum to: The Cabin Boys
Author and notes: linaerys . . . this is what comes of feeling melancholy


"I feel I should experience it once, the pain of flogging, if I'm to pronounce a man's fitness for it. I've felt pain before, as well you know, but not that particular one. Why did the navy settle on that form of punishment?"

Jack did not say "pain is sometimes all they understand"; though Stephen felt he wanted to. "'Tis a tradition from time immemorial, Stephen, but gentlemen are not flogged," Jack answered. "Why must you always ask?"

Stephen sighed. Jack regarded "tradition" as an unassailable answer, and Stephen did not pursue the issue. Sometimes just asking punished Jack enough.