From the Journal of Sarah Jane

"Hi," he replies, taking Luke's hand in his for a handshake. In another life his grip would've been painfully tight. In this life, it's a rather timid grip. "It's very good to meet you."

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He's read about people learning a lot about men because of their handshake, but he doesn't understand what there is to be learned except how firmly they can grip. "Are you from UNIT?" he asks, somewhat hopefully. He's always wanted to meet people from UNIT.

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Sarah Jane laughs, walking over to her boys. If dinner is ever going to be eaten, they need to sit.

"No, he isn't," she interrupts with a smile. "I met him at a pub, Luke. Rather recently, in the scheme of things. He's... well, I guess you can say he's my boyfriend."

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"You guess?"

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He's quiet, because he's chewing on this information, processing it and fitting what he knows to his mum and Simon Skinner.

He sits. It's not fitting too well.

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"Oh, not funny, Simon," she retorts, leading him over to the seat across from Luke.

She'll sit in between them at the head of the table. Probably for the best, Sarah Jane decides. She smiles - somewhat awkwardly - at both of them before looking at Luke in particular.

"Well, help yourselves."

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Simon uncovers the plate for the main dish, looking up at Luke. "After you."

He thinks he's doing a bad job covering up how nervous he is--though the truth's quite the opposite. He's holding that cover rather steadily.

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"Thanks," Luke says, not quite looking Simon in the face for reasons he can't quite work out himself. He takes a healthy portion. He's a growing boy, don'tchaknow.

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Sarah Jane smiles warmly as she watches them. She sighs ever so much, reaching for the green beans to serve herself a portion.

"I know I should have told you sooner, Luke, but truth is, I really didn't know how. Simon's a wonderful man. He's been looking forward to meeting you."

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"I have," he insists. "I've heard nothing but wonderful things about you."

Simon's an old pro at fake smiles that look genuine, but he can't quite seem to hide the falter in his expression when he notices Luke's failure to look him in the face. When he tries to broaden his grin, it only comes out looking slightly pained.

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He's read about self-deprecating jokes. They're used to insert a bit of humour into a conversation at the speaker's own expense. It looked good to him, especially since his disastrous attempt at humour at another's expense, and Simon just gave him a good line.

"Are you sure you heard right?" he says in his joke voice. The one that somehow manages to skewer any chance of a laugh with its careful tone.

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"Of course he heard right," Sarah replies, smiling at her son. "There's nothing but good things to say about you."

Beat.

"Or you, for that matter," she adds in, looking at Simon this time.

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"So you say."

How's that for self-depreciation?

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But it's not funny. Luke could give lectures on how to make it funny, which would be funny considering the source.

Incidently, he doesn't not believe there are nothing but good things to say about himself. "I can't knit," he volunteers, because that is knowledge pertaining to a lack of skill, which can't be a good thing to say about him.

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Sarah Jane looks startled at his announcement. "I never knew you were interested, Luke."

For the record? She has absolutely no idea how to knit either.

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"Neither can I. I'm also a complete failure at advanced mathematics."

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Earnestly, "I read that it's good for your blood pressure."

He is very good at advanced mathematics, but he's learned that saying so would be bragging.

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"Is that so?" Sarah grins a little. "Well. It would certainly explain why Aunt Lavinia would knit a lot when I was younger."

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"I thought he meant advanced mathematics was good for the blood pressure," he says with a smirk.

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There's a little face scrunch as he says, "No."

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Sarah shakes her head. "I can't imagine it would."

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"It might, if you like mathematics."

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"I do," he tells Simon, face lighting up.

{Of course I never re-post tags because of the icon, don't be silly.}

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