[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

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

She shook her head, lips pressed in a small frown. He was a mystery, to say the least.

"I've met coppers who were more helpful than you. What is it that's so dangerous, Jack?"

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

"Knowledge. It's a dangerous thing to control. There's certain things that have happened in this time that you or the Doctor can't know about until the time is right. Granted, most the things you're asking about aren't going to affect much, but still.. I like to keep my excuses open."

He smiled lightly, taking some amusement from her annoyance, though gracious enough not to show it too much.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"Can't know about until the time is right?" Her look turned cross, not overly but still there. "You do realise that I live in a time machine right now, don't you? I would imagine something like time would be irrelevant."

Besides, why couldn't she or the Doctor know about it? It wasn't as if they would try to change anything, oh no. Sarah knew the Doctor well enough that he wouldn't go on some idealistic crusade unless he was dragged into it.

So what was the problem then?

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

"Even a time machine has it's limitations," Jack shrugged, reaching for his glass only to find it empty. "Look, I could tell you the future, of things not even the Doctor knows will happen yet, but what's the point? It's too risky and you'll find it all out eventually anyway. It just involves a little bit of patience on your behalf.. though I'm starting to realise you may not have much of that."

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

:O

Sarah glowered at him, annoyed by the accusation. "I have patience!"

Just, well, not much of it.

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

"Of course you do," he agreed with a nod, clearly not agreeing with her at all. "And with that incredibly abundance of patience you have, I ask that you wait until the future becomes the present, rather than having me tell you what's to come."

"Nice bar, this." Because he wasn't trying to change the subject at all.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"Oh! You're the one that picked the bar out in the first place."

She slouched down and crossed her arms over her chest, making her appear every inch the petulant child being told to do something she didn't want.

"Maybe I ought to talk the Doctor into a spin the 51st century, just so I can find out what Captain Harkness is hiding about his life."

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

He eyed her for a moment, tracing a finger boredly around the rim of his empty glass, surprisingly taking the time to think before he spoke, which was a rarity with him.

"You'd have to do a lot more travelling to find out something like that. Besides, I've got far more than one secret, all from different points in different times.." A thoughtful pause and then he added, "You wouldn't be able to find me in that century anyway. No chance."

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

She frowned, sitting up straight in her chair again and leaning closer to him. Sarah smiled sweetly and batted her eyelashes.

"And why's that, Captain Harkness?"

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

An equally sweet smile was given back, minus the fluttering of eyelashes, as he joined in with leaning closer, lowering his voice to a quieter tone as if about to say some big secret.

"Because.." He started, glancing about quickly to check no one was listening in, "because, I'm an enigma."

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"You do realise that I'm not likely to give up, Captain," Sarah whispered, still smiling. She doesn't move away, despite the fact that the closeness was making her heart beat faster.

"I'm rather persistant."

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, I'm kind of getting that." Jack kept the closeness for a moment longer, that innocent little smile twisting up into a far more suggestive smirk before going back to leaning an elbow on the bar.

"So, did you attempt any research on me before we met? Or were you planning on me being a little more open with my answers?"

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

Sarah cleared her throat and finally moved away to lean against the bar. She picked up the wine glass and finished the last of its contents with a slight frown.

"Honestly, what sort of journalist do you think I am?"

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

"I'm sure you're a very good one in your own right, but I'm assuming where you come from, the internet is yet to exist, and I know how tight the Doctor can be with letting people use the TARDIS for such research.. Then there was the chance that you just thought you'd got a date with an attractive male, and hadn't bothered to prepare anything to do with journalism."

He paused, still with that air of innocence as he glanced toward her wine glass, "More drink?"

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

She looked down at her glass. "You're not trying to get me drunk now, are you?"

Whatever the answer, Sarah waved a hand dismissively. "I tried, you know. When I thought that the Doctor would be distracted. It didn't really work."

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

Without taking his attention from her, Jack managed successfully to wave the bartender over and silently order another round of drinks. His own beverage still being water, of course.

"So, you didn't find out much about me before we met then, huh?"

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

Sarah Jane eyed the new glass of wine, and with a slight sigh, picked it up. She might as well - after all, there really wasn't anything to lose.

"Unfortunately. I had hoped it would have given me an edge in interviewing you," she explained as she gave the wine a slight swirl before taking a sip. "However, I suppose it probably wouldn't have helped much anyway. Especially seeing as he hasn't met you yet."

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

Jack mirrored her sip, reaching for his own glass and drinking from it as he nodded slowly, staring into the clear water afterwards as he replied, "Wouldn't have made much difference, to be honest. You wouldn't find anything out.."

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"Such an enigma," Sarah murmured from behind the rim of her glass. She took a sip, and laughed softly to herself. "Oh, Jack. Is this how you treat all the journalists in your life?"

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

"Only the good looking ones," he replied with a grin. "All the others are either ignored, or told to go away in not so many polite words. In fact, you're the only one that's ever got this far with me."

Whether that was meant to sound as perverted as he intended was anyones guess, though knowing him, it was. "So, what else do you want from me? Got any easy questions for me? What's 2 + 2? The capital of France? Stuff like that.."

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"That's too easy," Sarah answered with a coy smile. "And never let it be said Sarah Jane Smith asks pointless questions."

That would be rather embaressing, actually. And quite the ruin to the small reputation she had been building.

"I'm honoured though, that you've let me get this far. I must say, that this has certainly been an interesting -- if not very frustrating -- first meeting."

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

"Yeah but all your questions are so.. vague," he said, circling a finger in the air lazily as if that was going to help his explanation. "I'm better with multiple choice exams or those yes/no things."

Jack couldn't help but grin rather mischievously at the mention of the meeting being frustrating, clearly knowing that he was being an awkward bastard and enjoying every moment of it.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

She took another sip of the wine and nodded, watching the finger with a curious eye. "Then give me an example, Jack. If you were in my position, what sort of question would you ask?"

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

Reaching for his water again, Jack took a small sip, brows furrowing in an overly dramatic yet nevertheless thoughtful frown, "I dunno, I'm not a journalist. Maybe something like 'Jack, why are you so attractive? Is it a) You were born that way, 2) You just are, or all of the above?'.. See, I could answer a question like that. And for the record, the answer would be 'all of the above.'"

Placing his drink back down, arms now folded and never dropping that frown of his, he added quickly, "Or maybe something like 'Do you want to take me out on another date?'.. that answer would be 'yes', by the way."

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

Her lips quirked into a small grin, much to her dislike. He wasn't supposed to be this charming, or this tough to crack. But face it, Jack Harkness was truely an enigma.

And Sarah Jane Smith had always been attracted to mysterious men.

She lifted her wine glass to her lips again, serious and thoughtful in demeanor. If this was the way he wanted to play it, alright then. She could do this.

"Alright, Jack. I'll play by your rules for a small bit."

Sarah took another sip before allowing the grin to grow. "Do you want to take me out on another date?"