[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]

With an audible sigh and his eyes rolling upwards, Jack took on all the same airs one did when dealing with a child that didn't quite get it, even edging on patronising as he spoke, "There's a Torchwood in your time too.. somewhere. You may not know it, but there will be. We keep ourselves quiet. Usually. And there's no way I can trust you not to write any of what I say down. Even personal notes get found eventually."

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

She mutters something under her breath that sounds a lot like flippin' secrets and damn chauvenistic men. Don't bother asking her about it; Sarah will admit to only saying nothing.

"Oh, you're just all the same, aren't you!"

Once again, her foot goes down angrily on the leg of her barstool. This time, though, her foot slips on the metal bar, causing her to lose her balance and seat as Sarah Jane goes flying face-foward.

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

Luckily Jack seemed conveniently angled in front of her, his reaction quick enough to hold out an arm suddenly, yet so fluidly that there was a casual ease in the movement making it look more like an idle stretch of his arm than a quick shift to grab at her. Of course, all done for show, but nevertheless quite impressive in his charismatic style calm.

"All the same as what?" came his question of feigned innocence, his smile bordering on flirtatious (probably beyond) as he gave her a helping hand.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

Sarah had never been a good damsel in distress, and the minute she caught her balance (quite possibly thanks to Jack catching her) she let out a snort of frustration. She sat back up in the barstool, careful to lean against the bar as not to repeat the incident.

It did, however, take Sarah a couple of seconds to realise that her hand was still resting on Jack's arm, and that maybe it was time to remove it.

"You know perfectly well what," she replied, now feeling flustered over the whole incident.

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

A short pause was needed from him just to wipe the grin off his face, finally lowering his arm after the prolonged touch and going back to the bar leaning of previous times.

"You always this quick to judge, or do you only do it to men you're afraid to get close to?" He certainly preferred all this from the earlier questioning.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

Her mouth formed into a shocked 'o' and she stared at him, completely taken aback by his own question.

"Oh!" It's all Sarah Jane was capable of getting out for the next few seconds. "Oh! Whatever... oh, where did you get an idea like that?"

It might be because it's quite true.

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

Jack really did love it when he was right, and making a reporter partly speechless just seemed to add to his overly self-satisfied demeanour. Thankfully for Sarah Jane, he didn't rub it in, though gave a quick wink as he replied, "Experience. It's where I get most my ideas."

Now settled rather comfortably in his leaning spot, it seemed Jack was keen to question just as much as she was, though his subject matter was a little different, "So, is this your usual dating style, picking men up and interrogating them? Or am I one of the special few?"

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

Sarah remained speechless as she ducked her head into her hands, trying her very hardest not to blush. "I cannot believe you're asking me this. It's positively ridiculous."

She really didn't expect questions like this from the man, not at all. Usual dating style? Special few?

This was all positively horrible, Sarah Jane decided as she drank the last of her wine quickly. Ridiculous!

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

He waved a hand briefly, looking as though he may be dismissing his questions due to her lack of wanting to answer, but that cheeky smirk that plastered on his features probably suggested otherwise. In fact, it was quickly obvious that he'd just been dismissing her avoidance of the subject.

"I'm to assume that's a yes, then? Because it seems you're experienced enough in this. Casual yet excitable, talkative, interested in others, attractive.. you know, with qualities like that I'm sure you've had plenty of attention before." Yes, he did enjoy flirting under any circumstances.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"But that doesn't mean I necessarily enjoyed it," Sarah lied. A rather pitiful lie at that.

Of course she enjoyed it -- after coming into her own in college, and realising just how fun male attention could be, it made up for all those years in secondary when she was ignored for being just a little too chubby.

"Especially when I was in the middle of questioning an informant," she continued, a slight grin on her face.

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

"Oh, so I'm just an informant now? Here's me thinking I was a date," Jack pouted humorously in return, ignoring the fact that they'd agreed to meet for questioning purposes. He always did have ulterior motives.

"For an informant, I'm not doing a hell of a lot of informing. Do I have to co-operate..?"

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

A date? The last time Sarah Jane had gone on a date...oh, was it really that long ago?

"And here I would think that if this was a date, there would be a lot more...oh, flirting and drinking I suppose."

She grimaced and blushed, clearly uncomortable in her skin right now. Face it: it had been too long. Sarah doubted she even knew how to act on a date.

"Oh, please cooperate, Captain Harkness? I would appreciate it ever so much."

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

A small tilt of his head and smile was enough to show Jack was easing up on the onslaught of flirting for a moment, noticing Sarah-Jane's awkward movements and giving her at least a little mercy.

"Flirting and drinking? Isn't that what we're doing already?" He questioned with a raise of a dark brow, glancing to her wine glass to clarify the point.

"So, if this isn't a date. What am I gonna get out of it? Because I don't co-operate unless there's something in it for me."

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"You're not drinking anything except for that glass water. If this was a date," she continued, nodding towards his glass, "I'd be expecting you to drink something more."

She took a deep breath, trying to calm her suddenly fluttering nerves. It wasn't as if she had never been out with a man before -- it's just that it had been years.

"If this was a date, what do you think you would get out of it?"

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

Glancing at the glass of water for moment, Jack shrugged his shoulders passing on the subject despite the fact he could argue his point if he'd wanted. However, the question posed was far more interesting that talking about his lack of alcoholic drink.

"Is that a trick question?" Came his only response, a lopsided smirk creeping to his lips, overly suggestive in his tone.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

She took another breath, telling herself that this was perfectly normal. She was just out of practice, that's all.

"It's a question," Sarah answered with a grin.

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

"Well then," Jack said with that lingering smirk, arms folded and fingers drumming thoughtfully on a bicep. "Seeing as you can't come back to my place, and you don't have a place in this century for us to go back to, I guess we'd get a hotel room.. ooor, at least have the promise of meeting again."

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

Her eyebrows raised and she looked over Jack, thoughtful. "If I agreed to the promise of meeting you again, I would at least expect a walk back to the TARDIS."

There's a pause as she swirled the wine around, watching the red liquid before taking a sip.

"And I would expect a goodnight kiss."

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

"Being the gentleman I am, you'd definitely get both. But not until I'm through with you for the day," he replied with a dazzling sort of smile, the type he always used to charm his way out of any situation. Years of practice and dedication went into getting that smile perfect.

"So, these questions you've been asking. What were you planning to do with your findings, exactly? I can't imagine too many people sharing an interest in my private life."

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

The smile worked, even if Sarah Jane would never admit to it. She giggled and smiled back at him. It really was a rather charming smile.

"To be honest? You peaked my curiousity. The findings will stay private, with me, I suppose. It's not as if Clorinda will allow me to publish the profile on a man from the future." Sarah shrugged and looked up at him, honesty in her eyes. "I like to know the truth."

[flexibledancer.livejournal.com]

It seemed the stare of honesty on her behalf got some sort of reaction from him, even if it was only a tiny flicker of a look, a mixture of guilt and sympathy lingering somewhere in it. For the apparent extrovert that jack was, he was rarely willing to divulge in anything personal.

"Guess I'm not being too helpful in your search for truth."

[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."