InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "tubular!"

Captain Jack Harkness (time_after_time) wrote,
@ 2008-12-31 22:51:00

Cards
There's a piece of mail that Jack has been considering for awhile— taking out, pondering, putting away again, taking back out, debating with himself how to respond.

If he'll respond isn't the problem; of course he'll respond. But how? That's harder.

What's he supposed to say? It's been half a year since they talked, and that was only once and over the phone. Only once since the Captain had suggested they just be friends and take it from there, and it took a month after that to even talk over the phone. Jack had tried going to the pub when it opened, seeing if they'd finally get to talk again, but it hadn't happened. The Captain had barely looked at him, and then Jack was really just assuming that maybe the Captain had looked his away because it wasn't eye contact. And he just... gave up, really. Defense mechanism, maybe, staying away since the Captain hadn't tried to see or talk to him and Jack figured he should just let the Captain get on with his new life instead of trying to be part of it. Better to get on with the work of getting over the Captain since apparently they weren't going to stay friends, so with there being little sense in holding out hope of friendship, there was even less sense in hoping for more.

But then the card, like the Captain actually had been expecting to see him around and did worry about why he wasn't there. It left Jack very, very confused.

He'd already lost the Captain once, after all, the death that he couldn't prevent yet turned out to not really be death since the Captain ended up in Margate instead. Losing the Captain again while still alive was in some ways easier since Jack had already done his mourning awhile ago, and at least this still left some possibilities, unlike death. But Jack had had to get over him and get on with his own life, too. At least, he thought he was mostly over him. It still hurt.

He really can't figure out much to say or how to say it after the months of silence, so he keeps it very brief and sends it along to the provided address.

(Post a new comment)

down_in_glory
2008-12-31 11:21 pm UTC (link)

Phone bill, thank-you note from a customer (he can't call them clients; it's just so ... officey), junk mail, junk mail ... not. Jack knows what it is as soon as his hands fall on it.

He reads it once. He reads it twice. He goes for the envelopes.

"Glad to hear most things are all right. Am doing well. Thought I'd see you around more than I have. What put you off pubs?"

After a moment's debate over whether it's idiotic or not, he signs it "other CJH" and carries it over himself.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

time_after_time
2008-12-31 11:26 pm UTC (link)

Jack is tidying up around the house while Ianto's working-- the kitchen is his primary concern since he does most of the cooking, and so he takes care of cleaning it as well. The spa gets a mix of walk-ups and people in cars, so it isn't unusual to see people walking outside on weekdays.

As he's scrubbing a pan, though, something makes him look twice at one of the figures approaching. He pauses to look out the window, then freezes when he realizes who he's seeing.

Oh.

Well.

He watches, seeing if-- the Captain-- if he's going to drop it in the box or knock.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

down_in_glory
2008-12-31 11:44 pm UTC (link)

Jack stands and debates just this for about -- well -- longer than he should. Staring at the slot in the post box. They could be inside right now. The question is how disappointed he's going to be if he knocks and they're not. He thinks the answer might be "very disappointed indeed."

Another very long moment's indecision, then he mutters "what the hell" to himself and walks up the drive.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

time_after_time
2008-12-31 11:50 pm UTC (link)

Oh. He's... Right. Apparently coming up the drive, then. Jack's very confused, not quite to the point of being flustered but definitely wrong-footed. He hurriedly tosses the towel he was using aside, pulls down his shirt sleeves and re-cuffs them, and heads out of the kitchen, careful not to let Alex's puppies get out the door.

Of course, the Captain might just be intending to leave the envelope up there, not actually knock or anything. Better be ready just in case, though.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	down_in_glory 2009-01-01 12:08 am UTC (link)
	So ... damn. Where to? Is there a front desk at a place like this? A service entrance? Jack has only been here once, to drop off the postcard. Standing indecisive, he turns his head when he hears the dogs. How many are there? He thought the Captain wasn't really a pet person ... (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

time_after_time
2009-01-01 12:13 am UTC (link)

He watches out the window and sees the Captain looking around in confusion, like he isn't sure where to go. Multiple doors along the exterior, must make it hard to tell how to get to the business and the residence, Jack guesses. He runs a hand through his hair and lets out a loud breath.

Right. Okay. Even if the Captain just intends to drop the postcard off, should probably-- go out and talk to him. Yeah.

He heads to the door that leads off the spa waiting area, and then opens it slowly.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	down_in_glory 2009-01-01 12:23 am UTC (link)
	The opening door catches his eye and he stops breathing as he looks up and makes eye contact. Jesus Christ, he's missed him. Jack lifts a hand in greeting. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	time_after_time 2009-01-01 12:27 am UTC (link)
	He steps out the door, breath catching when their eyes meet. Fuck, easier to pretend he didn't miss the Captain when he couldn't see him. He takes a hand out of a pocket and waves in return. "... Hey." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	down_in_glory 2009-01-01 12:33 am UTC (link)
	He cuts up the drive toward him. First step is the hardest. "Hey." I should have waited for him to ask. I shouldn't have made him see me. Not yet. "Is this okay? Thought I'd drop in, see how you were doing." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	time_after_time 2009-01-01 12:37 am UTC (link)
	"Hey. ... Right, said that already." He pushes his hand back into his pocket for now. "It's, uh. Yeah. Guess this is the visit I invited you for months ago, huh? Except I was living in the TARDIS then." Okay, that came off snarkier than he intended, but still. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	down_in_glory 2009-01-01 12:49 am UTC (link)
	He winces visibly. "Yeah, guess so. Dora told me you'd moved." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	time_after_time 2009-01-01 12:50 am UTC (link)
	"Ah. Yeah. I still drop by plenty. And you've got a new house going, yeah?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	down_in_glory 2009-01-01 12:57 am UTC (link)
	He nods. "And the new little kid who ended up here -- he's staying with us." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	time_after_time 2009-01-01 01:02 am UTC (link)
	"New little kid...?" He isn't aware of any new kids arriving. Hasn't shown up anywhere Jack's been, at least. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	down_in_glory 2009-01-01 01:04 am UTC (link)
	"Yeah. Val. He's about this big and has wings." He holds his hand in the vicinity of his knee. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	time_after_time 2009-01-01 01:07 am UTC (link)
	"Huh! Like flight wings, or ostrich-type wings?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	down_in_glory 2009-01-01 01:11 am UTC (link)
	"Flight wings. He's not human, apparently." He shrugs. They're conversing; this is good. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	time_after_time 2009-01-01 01:14 am UTC (link)
	"Ah. So is it like, uh, putting him up for awhile staying with you, or like adopted staying with you...?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	down_in_glory 2009-01-01 01:17 am UTC (link)
	He lifts his hands, shrugs a little -- who knows? "I think he's mostly using us for food and shelter but he seems like he's planning to stick around. Not a normal little kid." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	time_after_time 2009-01-01 01:21 am UTC (link)
	He raises his eyebrows slightly with that. "A kid freeloader, huh?" He pauses a few moments, awkward about asking the next question, and then clears his throat to help get it out. "How are things with, uh... Zel, was it?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	down_in_glory 2009-01-01 01:24 am UTC (link)
	"Pretty much. But he looks about four so we let him get away with it." His eyes drop to the ground for a minute. "Yeah, Zel. Zelgadis. Doing well." He looks back up. Eye contact. He owes that much. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	time_after_time 2009-01-01 01:27 am UTC (link)
	"Looks can be deceiving. Case in point..." He takes out a hand to gesture to himself. He makes eye contact and nods slightly. "How long has it been now? Since the summer?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	down_in_glory 2009-01-01 01:36 am UTC (link)
	He nods, smiling only just a little. "True." "Yeah. Five months or so." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	time_after_time 2009-01-01 01:38 am UTC (link)
	"The Doctor more than me, though. He's over 900." He manages a polite smile at that. "And Dora's doing well?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	down_in_glory 2009-01-01 01:40 am UTC (link)
	"Is he? Looking good." He scolds himself for being inane. The smile looks like it hurts. "She's fine, yeah. She said to tell you hello." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)