OTA

[im_torchwood]

After John Hart, after Gray, Jack couldn't be in Cardiff. He was Torchwood now, not just what he did but who he was, and he had a small crisis and had to get away. Although he'd broken with London's Torchwood after the incidents at Canary Wharf (which it seemed the population had either forgotten or written off) Jack found himself in England's jewel. He was ready to make a new start. And, he reckoned, the Doctor would probably visit London before Cardiff if truth be told.

He'd settled into the subterranean Hub that Alice and Emily had worked in. It had been long forgotten in favor of the building of steel and glass that had been built atop it. Bloody Torchwood...they were supposed to be secret. He'd made his contacts and had put himself to work. But even Jack needed to eat.

He had all of the city to choose from and rather than just go to a pub Jack stood on the sidewalk looking at his mobile reading Yelp reviews. There was a place just down the block and around the corner. Yelp was good and all but he kind of wanted a real opinion so he looked up from his screen and he smiled at the first person whose eye he caught.

"Excuse me...do you know if this place is any good?" he asked, showing the screen. His American accent immediately marked him as a tourist, even though he wasn't.

Comments

[whispersoflove]

Anael looked over at the man when he was addressed, and smiled in friendly greeting. Hands in his jeans pockets, his light denim jacket and t-shirt barely enough to pass as normal in the still chilly weather, he rocked on his heels, then peered at the screen. Oh, he actually knew this one. "That depends what you're in the mood for. Their wine list is terrific, but I've never tried their food."

His own accent marked him as a Londoner born and bred, right then - even though he wasn't.

[quartermaster_q]

Q made a point of keeping an eye on everything he could in London, and when Captain Jack Harkness had slipped into town, the man had instantly pinged on Q's radar. Honestly, little of that Torchwood nonsense held his interest for very long, (not his problem, not his headache), but he did have an interest in their tech- And the possibility of getting some hands on time with it.

He'd given the man ample time to settle in, but tonight was as good a night as any to make contact.

"If you want cheep beer, yes- If you want dinner, however, I might suggest looking elsewhere- Captain Harkness."

[im_torchwood]

"Nothing like taking a risk," Jack replied. "But in my experience if the place has good wine they generally have good food. Thanks."

He flashed a bright smile and offered a hand.

"Captain Jack Harkness."

[im_torchwood]

His eyebrow arched up and while his smile remained in place it no longer lit his eyes. In his eyes was only suspicion.

"You have me at a loss. You know my name...and I know I'd remember yours if we'd...met."

Met...he said it so suggestively there was no question just what he meant.

[whispersoflove]

The smile was nice, but Anael never knew what to do with his own feelings, when it came to soldiers. Still, he reached out and shook the man's hand with a small smile of his own. "Hani. Would you like some company - Captain?"

[quartermaster_q]

When you spent as much time around double-o's as Q did, you became numb to that sort of thing, and Q only shrugged.

"True- I am very memorable," he replied blandly. "We haven't met before though, no, despite how dreadful you are at staying off six's radar."

He paused a beat, then offered his hand. "I'm Q."

[im_torchwood]

The guy was good looking and forward, too. Jack could only appreciate that.

"I would love company," he said warmly. "It's only my second night in London. I've been here before but it's been a while. You a native?"

[im_torchwood]

"You're Six's new Quartermaster?" he asked, huffing a soft laugh. "Aren't you a little young?"

The jibe at staying off the radar washed over him. He didn't give a fuck what Six knew. Or Five. Or U.N.I.T.- or any one.

[quartermaster_q]

"I'm certainly young compared to you, captain," Q replied in that crisp and calm tone he always defaulted to. "Age is no indicator of one's skill level though, is it?"

[whispersoflove]

"You know when you've traveled enough that nowhere is home, yet everywhere feels like home?" Anael asked, pulling his hand back and nodding his head in the direction of the pub, for them to fall in stride together. "That's me. Yes and no, I suppose."

[im_torchwood]

"Aren't you cheeky?" he laughed. "Q, huh? All right. Want to get dinner with me somewhere better than this?"

[quartermaster_q]

Q nodded, then decided to push his luck a bit.

"Perhaps we could get take away, and I'll show you exactly how easily I hacked your systems this morning."

[im_torchwood]

"I know exactly what that's like, traveling that much," Jack chuckled. "I've only just come here from Cardiff, and before Cardiff I was...everywhere."

[im_torchwood]

"My own systems? Or Torchwood One?" he asked, jutting his head forward and then starting to walk.

[quartermaster_q]

"Both," Q replied pleasantly. "You're not properly implication the safe guards, and your firewall is set up all wrong- A sharp decline from previous security measures that had been set in place."

[whispersoflove]

"I haven't been to Cardiff in..." Anael tried to count back, then gave up. "A long time. How is it doing?" He hoped that it would be a slightly less odd question than 'what is it like,' given how young he looked.

[im_torchwood]

"Well I don't have Toshiko here," he replied. "It's just me. But I'll work on the safeguards. Thanks."

He was dry in his delivery. Flat. Unimpressed with the young boffin's confession.

[quartermaster_q]

"Or, I could set them up properly for you," Q countered. "...In exchange for a small favour."

[im_torchwood]

"A little worse for wear, but she'll be fine," Jack smiled. "Wales will always stand. But for me it was time to get away. Stretch my legs or spread my wings or however you want to put it."

[im_torchwood]

"I don't know if I want to be owing Six favors so soon after I arrived," Jack said suspiciously. "What is it you want?"

[quartermaster_q]

"You've got some technology that could help expand digital storage capacity and cpu speed. ...I was hoping to have a peek at it." Q replied. "You wouldn't owe Six anything, this is purely for my own interests."

[im_torchwood]

"That's alien tech. Alien tech that hasn't been completely cleared. I can't do that, Q and you know it. But you've got a lot of balls asking," he chuckled.

"I'll set up my own computer system. Thanks."

[whispersoflove]

"Wings, I think," Anael stated with a soft, almost private smile. "I like the image better," he added, turning his smile, now brighter, on the captain. "Here," he added, turning into the street where the pub stood.

[im_torchwood]

It was much darker inside- well lit, but like a cave in comparison to the sun. It took a minute for his eyes to adjust. Then he lead the way to a table in the back.

"This all right? I avoid sitting near the door if I can help it when I want to actually have a conversation," he explained.

[quartermaster_q]

"Cleared by who, Jack?" Q countered. "Who are you even working for now?"