He'd rather she didn't. Pull over or touch him. It's easier to talk when they're both focused on something else and the touch... it's too kind. Too tender. That sort of thing isn't reserved for men like him.

Izzy tries not to flinch from it this time, but his fingers still twitch.

"I dueled him. I'm sure you know, he crows about it often enough. I gave him every opportunity, I lead with mercy, I asked him to yield and quietly go. And when he refused only then did I run him into the mast. I would've had him, I would've fucking had him, but his shit fucking épée broke in my hand on withdraw. Dueling rules go.. so I had to go. And Edward didn't stop it. That's when I knew Stede Bonnet would be the death of them all. It was only a matter of time before Nigel's brother would have found out who killed him and gone looking himself. Bonnet would have gotten them killed. He needed to go. Edward needed to disengage from his plaything and-"

He so mad he can't think, spitting fury as he thinks about it. Everything Izzy did. Every chance he gave, all his years of service, every cornered, begging, pleading to bring Ed back to sense. All of it ignored because EdWaRd wAs BoReD.