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 could not help but smile at the obvious sentiment, the faith behind these words, and there was warmth in his voice as he replied, "No, I don't believe the world is going to hell at all."

[im_torchwood]

"An optimist?: he asked.

[whispersoflove]

"I suppose every true optimist would call himself a realist," Anael replied after a second's thought, and smiled over at Jack. "Someone with faith in men." They were wonderful creatures, and Anael could see why God Loved them so.

[im_torchwood]

"I've known a few pessimists who said they were realists," Jack replied, finally going on the green.

[whispersoflove]

"I've known more pessimists than optimists who called themselves that," Anael admitted. He supposed that was telling, in its own way.

[im_torchwood]

"Isn't that sad? I think that's sad," Jack said. "But I think even the most die hard pessimist has hope.

[whispersoflove]

"No," Anael said, frowning as he thought it over. "I think there's a desolate place beyond hope, that some poor souls reach." He blinked out of it, and smiled a little. "Sorry. I didn't mean to..." He had fought too many of his brothers. He knew the reality of that place, without hope, without faith. That place of darkness and despair.

[im_torchwood]

"It's all right," Jack said softly. "I think I know exactly what you're talking about."

[whispersoflove]

Anael looked at him in silence for a few seconds, empathy clear on his features. "I'm sorry. That you do."

[im_torchwood]

Jack sighed softly and gave a nod.

"I think I have a unique perspective," he said. "And I'd tell you more...but that's classified."

[whispersoflove]

"Talking to you is full of dead ends, Captain," Anael remarked, but there was no reproach in his voice. Instead, he was thoughtful.

[im_torchwood]

"I'm sorry. It's the way it is," he shrugged. "For what it's worth, I'm being as honest as I can be."

[whispersoflove]

"I believe you," Anael agreed, a small smile briefly twitching up his lips. "It is... appreciated. Very much." He wished that he could use the same tactic, but saying that anything was classified would be, in itself, a lie, and he did not know how to apply the strategy to his own situation.

[im_torchwood]

Traffic let up and Jack took the turn onto the street that would take them to the Eye. It loomed before them, reaching to the sky and lit up bright in the night.

"It's beautiful, isn't it? I love the London skyline. I always have."

[whispersoflove]

"London's my favourite city," Anael agreed, warmth in his voice. He could see, even from that distance, people walking away from the Eye, rather than towards it. It seemed as if they were too late, but who knew what the employees might be talked into.

Or there was always another option.

[im_torchwood]

"Where else have you been?" Jack asked curiously.

[whispersoflove]

"Oh, everywhere, really," Anael replied, and smiled cheekily at the man. "I would say it's classified, but I'd be lying." He shook his head. "No, honestly, there aren't many countries I haven't been to." Anael wasn't honestly sure, seeing as he doubted his geography was up to date, or had been in a long time, but that sounded close enough to the truth.

[im_torchwood]

"That's good. I like that. Travel makes for a well rounded person," he smiled. "You get to know other cultures. It's an opportunity most people never really have."

[whispersoflove]

"I don't think that I could stick to one country for too long, for all that I always come back here," Anael agreed. Variety was the spice of life, wasn't it what they said.

[im_torchwood]

"I love the U.K.- It's home," he smiled. "But I kind of love southeast Asia, too. Great food. Good climate."

[whispersoflove]

"Warm people," Anael finished with a smile of his own.

[im_torchwood]

"But did I mention the food?" Jack chuckled.

[whispersoflove]

"Once or twice," Anael confirmed, grinning at Jack.

[im_torchwood]

Jack had a good laugh at that, a real laugh that brought joy up from deep, deep down. Joy that he wasn't sure he was even ready to experience yet.

"We're almost there," he promised. "And the nicest thing about this rig is I can park anywhere," he added with a grin.

[whispersoflove]

Now that - that was a good laugh, Anael felt, the sort he hadn't yet heard from Jack. It meant that he was still smiling, eyes twinkling, as he answered, "And here I thought the nicest thing about it was the V8." Whatever a V8 actually was - something to do with the engine, he supposed.