[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]

"Aah, yeah, travelling.. the best times of anyone's life," he agreed with a vaguely wistful tone, eyes lifting skywards. "Suppose we all gotta settle down sometime or another though, whether we like it or not."

It wasn't long before they'd reached the place he'd mentioned, a comfortable looking Bed and Breakfast that certainly looked as quiet as he thought it would be. To keep up with his well-behaved act, he obtained a room with one double bed and a sofa bed, should the interview go on for a while..

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

Sarah Jane had been mostly quiet for the rest of the walk, thinking of his words instead. Settling down...that had never been her. Which was part of the reason she loved travelling with the Doctor so much.

But oh, how could anyone just simply settle down after all the things she had seen?

When they finally walked into the room (Sarah quite pleased and amused at Jack's request for a sofa bed), she smiled. The floral decoration wasn't ornate, only simple and homely. The room was pleasant, comfortable. The perfect place for an interview.

She walked over to a small table near a window and placed her purse on top. Then, Sarah Jane took a seat on the edge of the bed and smiled up at Jack. "It's lovely."

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

Jack's entrance to the room had consisted of peering around at the interior as he removed his coat, slinging it neatly onto the back of a chair set in the corner of the room and generally acting like he owned the place. It was apparent that Jack Harkness could get comfortable pretty much anywhere. But then, that's what happened to many seasoned travellers.

"Yeah, it ain't bad," he responded with a satisfied sort of shrug, slumping down onto the bed beside her though keeping a respectable distance, close enough to chat, though not close enough to freak her out before he even started. "Want anymore drink? I could probably call for some.."

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"Honestly?" Sarah looked over at him and gave him a small grin. "I could murder a cup of tea right now. It's been so long since I had a proper cup of Earl Grey. The Doctor, well, he has some interesting stuff on board the TARDIS, but it's nothing like a good old fashioned cup of Earl Grey."

It was clear from all expressions that really, a cup of tea would be amazing. Amazing and wonderful, and quite possibly cause Jack to earn all of Sarah's respect if he were to order some.

"Maybe a snack as well. If you're up to it, that is."

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

"Alright then, Earl Grey tea it is," Jack said with an amused smile at the corner of his lips, laying back to sprawl across the bed and twist around onto his front as he reached for the phone on the bedside table. He ordered a pot for two, sound somewhat bizarre as he casually ordered Earl Grey with that half-American accent that he possessed.

With that done, and simply awaiting for whatever a B&B's equivalent of room service was, Jack rolled onto his back once more, arms folding behind his head as he lazed on the bed, "No where can ever do tea quite like Britain. You know you can even have exactly the right ingredients, but it'll never taste the same as home."

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

She smiled as she crossed her legs and turned to better look at him. He was rather much like the Doctor in some ways, wasn't he? Making himself comfortable no matter where she was. It was an ability Sarah often wished she possessed. Still, she supposed, she handled everything she had come across remarkably well.

So. So there.

"It's true," Sarah agreed, unconciously fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. "It's always a homecoming of sorts whenever I have a cuppa. A reminder that no matter how odd my life becomes, there's one thing that will always remain in order."

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

"Nothing much better than a cup of tea, or a well-made coffee. None of that cheap truck-stop style coffee though, gotta be the real deal. Strong too," he agreed, sound rather passionate about his coffee, but then he was somewhat spoilt when it came to being supplied with coffee and tea at his work.

A light tap at the door had him suddenly jumping off the bed, stating an "I'll get it," as he bounded over, opening it to reveal a frail looking woman with greying hair, holding out a tray with teapot and pastries on it, prompting Jack to bow his head respectfully and take it from her, "Thank you, ma'am."

Door closed and all that, he placed the tray down on the bed as he sat back on the edge, placing it carefully between him and Sarah-Jane and peeking inside the tea-pot before snatching a pastry from the plate and taking a bite, "So, does it reach your approval?"

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

There's a murmur in reply as she busied herself with pouring a cup of tea, adding in a teaspoon of sugar and a small amount of milk. Sarah stirred the mixture carefully before placing the spoon back on the tray.

She lifted the cup to her noise and took a deep breath. "Oh, it certainly smells like the real thing." Then came the testing sip. "And tastes like it too."

Sarah beamed up at Jack. Her knight with shining tea-pot.

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

And he beamed right back, between mouthfuls of pastry, that was, because sweet tasty things were clearly as important to him as being the saviour of a tea crisis.

"Do I get a reward then? Or is my reward simply your tea drinking company? Don't get me wrong, that's plenty for me but.. you know.. anything extra is welcome." With a cheeky little smile, Jack brushed his hands together after finishing his snack, lounging back on the bed again careful to avoid disturbing the tray and causing spillages.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"I suppose it depends. I'm not leaving that quickly, if that's what your asking," Sarah answered, picking up one of the pastries for herself. "Not when there's tea and questions to be asked."

"Although..."

She looked down at the tea-pot and grinned again. It really had been forever since a good cup of tea. "If you would like to name a reward - and something in reason - I might be willing to agree."

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

With a dark brown being raised, a skeptical look was given to Sarah-Jane, still with a hint of amusement glittering in those blue eyes of his as Jack propped himself up on an elbow, "I think your definition of reason may differ greatly from my own."

He eyed the pastry plate again before mentally slapping himself, noting that now was not the time to be gorging himself . His body was a temple and all that.

"Though if I'm promised a kiss at the end of the night, that may be enough of a reward for now. Because, let's face it, by the time I'm done avoiding all your questions, I'll be lucky to get more than a slap tonight, am I right?" A grin and a chuckle seemed to prove the outcome of a slap wouldn't phase him in the slightest.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

Sarah shook her head. Somehow, someway she was determined to get through to him. "I'm starting to believe you simply like being insuferable."

It certainly seemed that way the entire evening. She shook her head again and stood up to place the tea cup on the bedside table. Then, Sarah walked over to her purse to pull out a small reporter's notebook and a pen. If he was going to answer anything tonight, Sarah wanted to be sure to get it down.

Briefly glancing over the notes she had taken previously, Sarah Jane returned to the bed, kicking off her shoes and scooting up against one of the pillows. No use in being uncomfortable, after all.

"So, where should we begin?"

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

"Hey, we all gotta have a hobby," Jack mused as he sat up, reaching for the tea lazily and pouring himself a cup- plenty of sugar and a dash of milk- whilst Sarah went for her notebook.

It was as Sarah Jane asked her question that Jack took that direct moment to take a sip from his cup, shrugging his shoulders wordlessly as he eyed that pad of hers.

"What you got on me so far?" A clear avoidance of where to begin as he questioned the notes, tea-cup held close to his lips as if preparing to go for another sip at any moment.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"That you're an absolutely arrogant and frustrating man with too many secrets for his own good," Sarah replied curtly, wiggling further in to the bed. This was a rather comfortable bed, much like her one back on the TARDIS.

"And that you travelled with the Doctor, which certainly means you're no wimp. And gives you somewhat of a spot in my book."

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

Lounging back on the bed once more, the tea cup was cast aside on the bedside table and forgotten about within moments as he watched Sarah Jane with a keen stare, arms folding behind his head as before.

"Awr, you write such nice things about me. But that's pretty much me in a nutshell, you really don't need any more information than that, other than 'handsome'. I'll write that in for you if y'want," he grinned as he sat up just enough to reach out for her pen.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

She tried her best to stiffle her laugh, holding the pen above her head. "Oh no you don't! Handsome is not a quality I put down on these things."

Sarah Jane glanced back down at her notes, looking over them closely. "There really isn't much there, in my opinion. You just have to be so secretive, don't you?"

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

With a put-on pout and giving up far too easily, he rose to sit up once more, fingers working skillfully on the laces of his boots as he glanced over to her, "Gotta keep a few secrets. If I tell you everything, then I'm just another guy with no mystery that you know everything about. Where's the excitement in that?"

And whilst there had been some humour in his tone, his question was serious enough. He really did enjoy that sense of secrecy.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

Sometimes, Sarah Jane really detested a man with a valid point. But still!

"You haven't told me everything though. There are huge gaps of information that you just leave blank." She shook her head, rolling her eyes slightly.

"Besides," Sarah continued, looking him over as he undid his laces, "something tells me that knowing you isn't boring at all. You're certainly the type that I imagine would keep a girl busy."

Meant in the most innocent way possible!

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

"Oh, I know how to keep a girl busy, alright." Charming as ever, though easily defined innuendo as always. There was no way such an innocent comment could simply be passed by when a man like Jack Harkness was nearby, though it had been said more for amusement rather than any real intention to follow his words for now.

With his boots and socks dealt with and kicked off the side of the bed carelessly, Jack went back to leaning on an elbow as he eyed her, "But I suppose you're right, I could still keep your interest, secrets or not. I'm not so sure you can handle them though."

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

That last statement certainly came across to Sarah Jane as a challenge. Handle them? Hah! Sarah could handle loads. Or, at least, that was what she always told herself.

And for the most part, it always turned out to be true.

Her eyebrows raise in doubt and she tilts her head at him. "Is that a challenge, Captain Harkness?"

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

Well it seemed he couldn't scare her off that easily, and that thought made him smile. Sarah Jane definitely wasn't your everyday female reporter, but of course, that was surely the reason the Doctor had taken her on. Not everyone could handle a life with the Doctor.

"You seem to be taking it as one.. Do you really think you can handle them?" He questioned with amusement, leaning in closer.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

Sarah braced herself, not allowing any movement of nervousness when he leaned closer. That would betray the air of confidence she had going. An air that was, for the most part, true.

"Yes, in fact, I think I can do. I'm not your average reporter, Jack."

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

By the time he was done leaning in, his lips where almost to hers, head tilted and a smug sort of smirk gracing his features as he mumbled softly, "Mm, so I noticed.."

But he didn't move further, just simply lingered ever so close for a moment longer before dropping himself back onto the bed to stare up at the ceiling, that smugness never failing, "You want secrets? I got tonnes of 'em. I suppose I could try sharing a few. You ask the right sorta questions and you might just get lucky tonight.. with receiving answers, I mean." Yeah right. That's obviously exactly what he meant.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

She didn't blink again until Jack had moved away, having been frozen in place by his close proximity. She cursed herself for being such a fool: for the sudden flutters in her stomach and the sudden pounding of her heart. It had been far too long since the last time Sarah Jane had been alone with a man like him, and clearly, she had forgotten how to act.

Deep breath. Deep breath. Questions. Right. She could ask questions.

"Okay then." Paused by another breath as Sarah worked to get her nerves under control. "What exactly is Torchwood?"

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

Resting his hands on his stomach, his fingers began to drum out an idle sort of beat, a lengthy pause given after Sarah's question as he stared rather blankly towards her, taking his time over considering his reply.

The very secrecy of Torchwood was heavily due to people's ignorance towards what they did.. but when it came to someone like Sarah Jane, such lack of knowledge to anything alien wasn't an issue. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to say just a bit..

"We're an organisation that deals with all things alien on Earth. I mean, it's a lot more than that, but, y'know.. that's the basic job description."