[Theatrical Muse] A drink with Jack.

[his_sarah_jane]

Sarah Jane wasn't nervous, not really. So the Doctor gave her a suspicious look when she asked if they could visit the near future, talking on and on about how she wanted to see England shortly after the millennium passed. She got another funny look when she mentioned Cardiff, but he reluctantly agreed.

And so here she was, waiting for Jack within distance of the city's center at Bute Park. The Doctor had actually done well this time, getting (as far as Sarah knew) the year (and month, if this chill meant anything) spot on. She shivered, hugging the blue jacket she wore as she waited on the park bench.

Hopefully, Jack would show up soon enough -- and the Doctor would remain none the wiser.

Comments

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

It wasn't a long walk for Jack, even with the chilly weather that he seemed hardly bothered by, battling against it rather effectively with the collar of his heavy military coat turned up and hands in his pockets.

The agreement to meet with Sarah Jane had been a bit spur-of-the-moment, still considering himself no more willing to talk than before, but with the idea of sitting down to drink with someone always attracted him into doing things he may not usually agree to.

"Not kept you waiting long, I hope," his question came as he approached the bench at a leisurely pace, holding out a hand to shake the moment he was close enough.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

Sarah looks up at the voice and hops off of the park bench that she had been sitting on. She straightens out her jacket and quickly adjusts the blue bandanna wrapped around her head, hoping that everyone looks proper - and well, nice too, of course.

If anything, Sarah Jane looks like a walking ad for some new late-70s clothing line.

"Oh, Captain Harkness!" She smiles at him and shakes his hand firmly. "I'm glad to see that this wasn't just a wild goose chase after all."

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

With a smile as his hand was shaken firmly, a pause was given to look her over, features spreading into a grin soon after as he noted the 70's gear. He was hardly one to talk about out of date fashion though, kitted out in his usual smart yet classic clothing that wouldn't be out of place sometime during the 40's.

"I'm not one to leave a lady waiting." Came his reply, a light and well-humoured wink aimed at her as his hands tucked back into the warmth of his pockets, an elbow pointed out if she fancied taking his arm, "Lets get out of this cold, shall we?"

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"Lead on," Sarah Jane replies, linking her arm in his after a moments consideration. She smiles up at him, a slightly flirty sort of smile.

After all, the best way to get information out of an unwilling informant is to play along.

"I'm afriad 2006 is completely unfamiliar territory to me. Although from the looks of things," she continues, noting the jacket, "I feel as if I could say the same about you."

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

"You'd be surprised. I know more than you'd think,"" he said with a soft shrug of his shoulders, catching that little analysing stare of hers and surprisingly not at all offended by it. If anything, he was making sure to keep that charming smile on his lips just in case anymore looks were given.

It was a short stroll to the nearest bar, the interior being that of the usual modern style, with lots of white and silver and plenty of wood surfaces, not to mention the numerous leather couches and stools scattered about. The door was opened for Sarah Jane first, before Jack followed inside into the warmth, ever the gentleman letting the lady go first.

"So, when abouts are you from, exactly?"

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"Oh, thank you!" Sarah said quickly, pleasantly surprised at the act of chivalry. Charming indeed, she noted to herself as she walked inside.

Stopped. And stared.

The interior of the bar was, well, not at all anything like she expected. Oh, Sarah Jane had been to plenty of bars and pubs in the past - most often to meet some informant or another - but this place, well, it looked so...futuristic. She laughed, delighted and pleased by it and her own reaction.

"South Croydon," she finally replied, realising that Jack's question was addressed to her. "At least that's where I live when I'm not travelling with the Doctor. Nearly 1980 on last account.

"What about yourself, Captain Harkness? Certainly not local born."

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

Sarah's reaction had him laughing back lightly, all too knowing of how much things could change in 20-odd years. Whilst bars used to be smoke filled and generally male populated, the fashion of the century seemed to be spacious, smoke free and great for socialising. That was the 21st Century for you.

"Late-70's Croydon, huh? Nice place to be, though probably not as great as your travelling. As for me, I'm from everywhere, though you're right, not entirely local." Upon approach to the bar, Jack waved over the bartender, leaning casually on the surface as he queried in a subject changing manner, "What you having?"

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

She had to agree with Jack on that: Sarah knew that no place she could ever go to on Earth would beat travelling in the TARDIS.

Even the bar itself looked nice, clean with no ash or beer stains. After a brief but thourogh inspection, Sarah Jane took a seat near to Jack. She glanced up at him and smiled sweetly.

"But everyone is from someplace originally, even such a mysterious man like yourself." Sarah's eyebrows raised, almost as if she was issuing a challenge. Then: "I suppose a...oh, a glass of red wine will do."

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

The drinks were ordered immediately- a red wine for her and the usual water for him- all done whilst he listened to yet more of her querying tone, amusement clearly defined by his lingering smile as he removed his hefty coat and sat down on a bar stool.

"But it's not important where I'm from. It doesn't change who I am or what I do. It's just a place and a time that remains insignificant." Reaching for his glass the moment it was placed near him, Jack took a slow sip, obviously not anymore willing to be cooperative over questions than he normally would be. Generally, the only time he divulged secrets was when amnesia pills were somewhere in the process, and he didn't fancy doing that to Sarah Jane. Not yet. Not to a friend of the Doctors..

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

Sarah picked up the wine glass and swirled the liquid gently before taking a testing sip. The glass then went down immediately at Jack's response as she leaned her head on her hand, staring up at him.

"Either you truly believe that or your just feinting your way out of my question."

She frowned, not liking his uncooperativeness one bit. There had to be some way to get through him.

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

"Either way, I ain't answering it," he retorted with a childish tone, his glass being placed down on the bar once more as he went back to leaning comfortably, arms folding in an obvious stance of defence.

"You reporter types really don't let up, do you?"

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"No, I don't," Sarah replied, trying hard not to let her frustrations show.

She sighed and grinned wryly, looking from the wine glass to Jack. "I wouldn't be good at what I do if I did give up that easily, you see. There has to be something you're willing to divulge."

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

"I already get enough of this at work. Shouldn't have employed a copper," he mused to himself out loud, face contorting into an overly thoughtful look as his fingers drummed against his upper arm idly.

He'd expected the questions. Would have been stupid not to. It was almost as if he was just doing this meeting to mess around, which wouldn't be entirely shocking. "Hmm, anyway, I suppose I can give away some information. For a start, I'm male.. white, possibly human, 6'1", dark hair- this the sort of thing you're after?"

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"Oh, you're as insuferable as the Doctor!" Sarah cried with a frustrated sigh after she lifted her head from her hand. "Really, what is it with you men and your secrets?"

The question is followed by another sigh and a sip of the wine. She should have known he'd be like this -- she had it written down in her notebook. But still, maybe Sarah Jane expected more from a face-to-face meeting. Especially if drinks were involved.

"That is clearly not the sort of thing I'm after as I'm sure you're aware."

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

Brows were lifted at Sarah Jane's frustration, just about managing to stifle a cheeky little smirk that was threatening it's way to Jack's lips, and reaching for his glass to hide any escaping smile behind it as he took the occasional sip.

"You're right, how very immature of me," came the mutter from over the rim of his glass, dripping with good humoured sarcasm before he managed to get a grip of his childish amusement.

"Alright then, how about this.. I will promise not to lie whilst answering your next question, however bizarre it may be."

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

Sarah nodded, the small frown still firmly in place. But now it was more of a thoughtful frown. If she had one question in which he promised not to lie, well every instinct inside of Sarah Jane knew she had to make it flippin' good.

"Alright," she said slowly, taking the wine glass in her hand and giving the red liquid another swirl. She held the glass up to the tip of her lips and then placed it back down again.

Oh, this was impossible. There were so many questions she wanted to ask, how could she possibly narrow it down to one?

"Who are you Captain Harkness? And I mean really, and not just some one sentence answer either."

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

Jack let the question linger as he leant thoughtfully upon the bar, arms folding once more once his drink was placed down. He'd left his offer a little open-ended, giving him an opportunity to worm out of the question that would follow if he'd really wanted to. Not lie, exactly, but perhaps not tell the entire truth. Sarah Jane did have one great advantage to her name though.. she knew the Doctor. She knew of aliens, time travel, and all the weird stuff that came from space and time, and in this century and planet, that was a rarity. Maybe she did deserve some chance.

"That's a little profound, don't you think? I don't even know if I can answer that fully." Truth be told, he was willing to state he wasn't entirely sure who he was if he needed to, "But alright, I'll go for a little history check. I'm from the future, and I don't mean the 21st Century. I uh, well I had some dealings with time travel for a bit due to my job at the time, then I uh.. kind of quit and ended up meeting the Doctor in the past.. That enough?"

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

She shook her head, taking a drink of the wine. It was a start - the honesty he had just given her. And if Sarah wasn't so intent on getting more out of him, it would have even been rewarded with a pleased smile.

"No, Captain Harkness, I'm afraid not," she answered, sipping slowly at the wine. "That explanation only tells some of who you are, not all of it. You said you met the Doctor in the past...but, oh, what are you doing here in this time now? How did you meet the Doctor? What happened to make you you?"

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

"Some women are never satisfied," he stated with an eccentric roll of his eyes, knowing even before he'd asked that the information wouldn't be enough, especially not for a reporter. He couldn't let the questions keep coming though, not for much longer.

With a small inhale of breath, Jack allowed his mind to tackle the most recent queries before continuing cooperatively though highly guarded and a little vague, "Like I said, quit my old job, after that I did a bit of freelance. Just travelled here and there, until I eventually met with the Doctor. Was a while back now. 19.. 41, if I remember. Did the whole journeying bit, yadda yadda, then after one particularly big adventure, The Doctor-.. he uh, well, I mean I stayed behind. That's really as much as I can say."

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"What about now? What's so secretive that you can't tell?"

Sarah still wasn't satisfied and she wouldn't be until Jack gave her a straight answer with detail. All these vague replies simply just made her even more curious. She sighed again, giving him a rueful grin.

"I do work for UNIT, you see. In a way. So clearly, I must have some capability of keeping secrets. I just, oh, I want to know," she finished, stressing the last word with another exasperated sigh.

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

That was always the trouble with finding something out, there was always a need to find out more. Curiosity, really, and Jack had an abundance of it, and so did Sarah Jane, it seemed. "Well, I can give you a name and a place, but other than that, no one knows about us other than the people who work there, me and the Doctor."

The mention of UNIT didn't seem to phase him much, he'd dealt with them, but just because she sort of worked for them didn't seem to mean much to him. Anyway, on with one of his final revelations, which he just seemed to say out of the blue without any explanation and which would possibly mean nothing to her at all, "Torchwood Three: Cardiff."

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

He really was impossible. There was no other word to describe Captain Jack Harkness. Impossible, insufferable, conceited, arrogant -- oh, a right down prat!

Sarah Jane kicked the leg of the barstool in frustration, nearly loosing her balance in the process. "Oh really! Do you honestly expect me to be satisfied with just that?"

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

An almost childish little chuckle was given at her reaction, reaching for his glass but realising he'd more than likely choke on his stifled laughter, so he opted for leaning an elbow nonchalantly on the bar surface.

"You know, I've always found it best to keep 'em wanting more," he responded with a quick wink and an always charming grin.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

Had she left out infuriating? Because that wink and grin - the sort of grin that would normally cause flutters in her stomach - just, oh! He thought that she was funny, which was the last thing any self-respecting reporter desired.

With yet another sigh, she returned the gesture, leaning an elbow on the bar surface, followed by her head resting on her hand. "Must you really follow that now? You do know it's unlikely I'll see you again, eh?"

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

Sarah Jane's reply had him furrowing his brows a moment, looking honestly concerned for her though the words that followed soon proved he was still mucking around with his usual gusto, "That must be a tragic thought for you."

Because really, never meeting Jack again? That must be heartbreaking.. or at least that's what he believed.