[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]

"Yeah, they're still about, but according to records, we were founded first," he replied with a smile, a purposefully childish hint in the last part of his statement.

"What we do is different from them. Less organised maybe, but I'd say more professional and advanced. Torchwood Three- that's my lot, by the way- have plenty to deal with here in Cardiff, and that doesn't just mean alien, but also dimensional."

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

As if in a childhood argument, Sarah Jane scrunched up her face in annoyance. Founded first? Hah. Said who? Some mysterious charmer from the future who she had only just met?

"We've -- UNIT, I mean - has dealt with things other than alien in the past, you know. There was the time a group of scientists were playing around with a time machine. And another with a crazed robot."

She paused. "Wait, dimensional?"

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

He nodded vaguely at her explanation of UNIT's doings, clearly not that interested. Torchwood dealt with the group enough as it was, and the two organisations weren't always on the best of terms.

"Not so much dimensional.." Yeah, he better rephrase that, seeing as he wasn't dealing with someone completely ignorant. He kept forgetting that part.

"It's- Have you ever heard of The Rift in Cardiff?"

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

She shook her head, clearly intrigued. "A rift? A...dimensional rift?"

The Doctor had never mentioned anything of the sort. Huh.

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

"Well, it's a Rift in space and time. The Doctor did have something to do with it, but it's in his future, and in our past," a pause was given as he squinted thoughtfully, making sure he'd got that the right way round before continuing. All this time stuff could get complicated at times.

"But anyway, it runs right through Cardiff. All sorts of stuff passes through here, extraterrestrial and extratemporal. We're here to monitor it's progress and deal with whatever it lets through. Full time job, that's for sure."

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

She stiffled a giggle as she looked at him wide-eyed. The idea of some sort of rift (running through Cardiff of all places) sounds exciting. Like the things she and the Doctor usually faced, except on a more day-to-day basis.

"Oh, I bet. It certainly sounds like an intriguing full time job. The type you wouldn't mind having."

Like travelling with the Doctor. It had, in many ways, taken over her life. But being his companion was a role, and a job, she wouldn't give up just yet.

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

The shrug that followed her statement was uncertain, taking a moment to consider before replying, "It has it's ups and downs. There's times when it'd be nice to have a break, but then when we do get a break, I wish it would keep moving.. Guess I'm just not always easily satisfied."

It may have been partly to do with him being totally unused to staying in one place for so long. Jack Harkness really had settled down, "But it's certainly not as glamorous as travelling around with the Doctor."

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

Sarah frowned, thinking on his first response still. "I don't know," she finally said, more of a whisper than anything. "To be honest, after everything I've seen with the Doctor, I'm starting to think that anything that doesn't involve having to fight or hide from things might be boring and normal for me now."

It was a strange thought, actually. But it was one that had been nagging Sarah Jane for a while now, especially whenever she was faced with a moment of tranquility on one of their adventures. Was everything else simply mundane to her now?

She shrugged and shook her head, the thoughtful look still in place. "I don't think anything could ever be as glamorous as travelling around with the Doctor."

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

Jack missed his time with the Doctor, there was no arguing that, and he really wished it had been so much longer. Or at least, he wished he'd been remembered, because he was still very touchy one that subject, even if he had made up his own reasons and excuses why the Doctor did what he did.

"I guess you get used to normal life eventually. Well, as normal as something like Torchwood can be.. At least you'll always have that knowledge that we're not as alone as most this ignorant lot think we are."

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"We're not alone, and that there are so many great things out there. And here too, if you just know where to look," Sarah continued softly. She sighed and fell on to her back, staring up at the ceiling.

There was so much. She had only begun to see it all.

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

"And yet we can have all this around us and still be alone. Same goes for every race out there," Jack considered, staring up at the ceiling with a light frown.

He didn't remain like that for long though, his mind kicking in with the suggestion that laying around feeling sorry for yourself was really not the best way to woo women. And so, with a smile that was perhaps a little forced, he glanced over at her, "Not often I get to find someone who actually knows about this stuff."

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"Aside from my friends at UNIT, I haven't really had a chance to talk to anyone about this," Sarah said, leaning her head further back into the fluffy pillow. "It's not like anyone would understand it without thinking I was some daft person who belonged in one of those UFO or Flat-Earthers group."

She turned her head to look at him and grinned in return. "Thanks, Jack."

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

He grinned back, a lot more genuine than the previous smile, rolling on to his side to face her and going up onto an elbow for an easier view, "No, thank you. It's not everyday I get to spend my evenings like this.."

Despite his whole lone-wolf appearance that he liked to uphold a lot of the time these days, Jack adored company when he could get it. Especially this type of one on one encountering, even if it did mean having to put up with a few pesky questions.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"You mean you don't mind my never ending stream of questions?" Sarah Jane asked him with a mischievous grin. It had been way too long since she had a chance to do any sort of flirting, even something as silly as this. "Because there are plenty of more where those came from, you know."

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

"Oh, hooray," came an unenthusiastic though not entirely serious mutter.

"But I suppose I can cope with the questioning, seeing as you ask so nicely. Not to mention I've got something good to look at." Jack's normal sledgehammer approach to flirting was coming into play as the arm he was leaning on shifted under him slightly, just enough to brush his fingers through a few strands of her hair.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

She flinched at first when his fingers ran through her hair and then smiled, letting her eyes close as she enjoyed the feeling. It wasn't bad, being treated like this.

"Oh, if that's the case then," Sarah said softly. "How...how'd you wind up working with Torchwood? We've already established that you're not from this century."

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

His mind wasn't exactly on the question as he toyed with the brunette strands, looking rather pleased with himself as he kept close to her, leaning down with a smirk.

"It's.. complicated," he finally replied, vague as ever, taking his chance whilst her eyes were closed to lean in and brush his lips against softly and very briefly.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

She didn't quite sigh - no, that wouldn't be the correct term at all. But the chaste kiss did elicit a pleased murmur and a grin. It felt good, much better than when she was the one kissing him in the pub.

"Complicated how?" Sarah remembered to ask, moments later.

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

A small shrug of a shoulder was enough proof that he wasn't planning on answering, or at least not with anything that would be remotely useful to her, "Long story."

Change of subject time, he'd decided, still remaining close to her as he muttered in what had to be a mildly joking question, "Is it getting hot in here?"

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"Jack," she said in a sort of warning-type manner, "are you trying to change the subject again?"

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

"Whatever gave you that idea?" He queried with a well-acted air of innocence, drawing back in an affronted manner to pout down at her.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

Sarah Jane laughed, smiling back. It really had been forever since she was last in a position like this, and face it, she was enjoying herself immensely.

"Because," she replied, brushing a couple of strands of hair out of his face, "you don't like answering my questions."

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

The pout slipped from his features as quickly as it had come about, still trying to maintain a haughty attitude which seemed to fade at the touch as he twisted his head to place a soft kiss to her palm.

"That's because I'm secretly a criminal mastermind hiding out on this planet whilst I prepare for my latest plan of invasion."

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

Her palm tingled at the spot where he kissed her, and she giggled quietly to herself.

"That's not the truth," she says confidently. "I think I'd recognise a criminal mastermind by now."

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

"You gotta be careful with who you trust though," he smirks in response, following that kiss to her hand with numerous others trailing down her arm, across the fabric of her clothing.

"You don't wanna start booking into hotels with complete strangers. Never know what might happen."