OTA

[im_torchwood]

Jack had a very bad habit of letting his guard down. He loved hard and loved well, but in all his long years he was aware that love was brief. Here and there love had lasted for years. Angelo. His wife. Logan. In between there were others, loves great and small. And when love came, even though he knew better, Jack would let his guard down.

Life with Torchwood was all too often painful, bloody, and short. People came and went, but no one retired. No. No one got out so easily.

And the newest, freshest wound was Val. It had all been going so well. Jack's knowledge of tech and Val's understanding of magic had furthered the research into the portal. They were nowhere near being able to pinpoint a time or location, but they'd gotten one to hold steady for a while. It was promising.

Until it all went to hell.

Val went missing right before Jack's eyes. He'd tried desperately to undo what they'd done, but after a while even Jack had to admit he was lost. Gone.

And so Jack threw himself into work. There was no point in drinking- he never got drunk. There was no thirst for companionship- that was just hollow. But work was always there. Work to be done. Aliens to track. Tech to catalogue. A world to keep safe. Jack jumped right back into it and let the satisfaction he found in duty mask the pain of a broken heart.

Tonight he had just confiscated a crate of 'antiquities' and they were loaded in the back of the SUV. He'd let the sellers go since they were just humans who hadn't the first clue about what they were trying to sell. Jack locked the rig up and looked around, trying to decide if he ought to get a bite. He really hadn't been hungry, not since Val vanished, but he knew he needed to eat. He'd died of starvation before and it was a hell of a way to go.

(OTA find him anywhere in London or the outlying towns if you prefer. Jack needs new friends, and old faces will be welcome too!)

Comments

[alcuin]

"I have a number of rare volumes of poetry," Alcuin said. "Anafiel was a poet, he collected them. There are first edition Keats, a signed T.S. Eliot. And I have some rare psychology texts now as well. Early Freud in very good condition."

Alcuin was still saddened by what had been lost in the fire at Hannibal's home. So much artwork, so many books. But what had been at his office, Alcuin had retrieved.

[im_torchwood]

"Interesting," he said. He thought it might be best to keep it to himself that he'd met Keats once. Alcuin didn't seem like the kind of person who might even believe him.

"What do you like better? THe poetry or the psychology?"

[alcuin]

Alcuin considered this for a moment and then said, "I like both. I suppose this is why I am myself and not a poet or a psychologist. Do you suppose there's a career somewhere at the intersection?"

[im_torchwood]

Jack shrugged and flashed a cheeky smile.

"Sounds like the makings of a teacher, if you ask me."

[alcuin]

Alcuin offered him a smile with a little shrug. "Maybe," he said. "Maybe college. With my history I doubt anyone would want me teaching children." He also felt like he knew next to nothing about children. He hadn't had a lot of experience with them, frankly even when he was one.

[im_torchwood]

"A professor, then," Jack said. "That might suit you. Something to think about, anyway."

[alcuin]

"Maybe," Alcuin said. "A lot more school, though. I think I need a break for a while." He wasn't going to let the one professor who'd harassed him ruin university for him forever, but it had left a sour taste in his mouth.

"I don't suppose you need an assistant for your antiquing?" he asked, with a playful smile.

[im_torchwood]

"Not right now. But I'll keep you in mind," Jack said. He had a good instinct for picking people who could handle the work with Torchwood. Alcuin wasn't one, he could tell by looking at him.

[alcuin]

"No you won't," said Alcuin with another little shrug, having a good instinct for when someone was lying. "That's okay." And then - "You barely know me, I don't expect you to trust me or to open up to me. Though for the record, except for the sense that you're one giant secret, I get a good feeling from you, myself."

[im_torchwood]

"Psychologists," Jack scoffed, followed by a laugh. "Okay, you caught me. I'm not likely to hire you. But that's nothing against you. I promise."

[alcuin]

Alcuin found himself wondering what kinds of secrets Jack had. What if they had something to do with the supernatural world, and he had no idea that Alcuin already knew all about it?

Or maybe not, and Alcuin would just seem crazy if he brought it up.

Their drinks appeared before Alcuin could think more about it. "Cheers," he offered.

[im_torchwood]

"Cheers," he replied and took a drink. He savored it a moment, delighting in the flavour.

"You're pretty perceptive," Jack said after a moment. "Have you considered forensics? Psychologist for the police?"

[alcuin]

"I've thought about that, yes," Alcuin said. "Ah... Hannibal always thought it was a bad idea for me to go into law enforcement. Something about revenge fantasies."

[im_torchwood]

"Is that a thing you have trouble with? Revenge fantasies?" he asked.

[alcuin]

Alcuin looked a bit sheepish. "I - no. Not exactly. I'd like to frame it as wanting to help victims, instead. But I won't pretend he didn't have something of a point."

[im_torchwood]

"If you ask me, there's nothing wrong with a little revenge. For a good cause," he replied lightly.

[alcuin]

"Mmmm... two of my lovers being murdered within three years?" Alcuin offered, and drained the rest of his drink.

[im_torchwood]

"That's a pretty good cause," he replied.

[alcuin]

"Glad you think so," Alcuin said with a slightly sour smile. He ran a finger over the rim of his drink. "Sorry, I didn't mean to just yank down the mood as far as it would go."

[im_torchwood]

"You're kind of a buzzkill, but I wasn't going to say anything," Jack teased.

[alcuin]

Alcuin groaned, looking sheepish. "I was on a date. It was terrible. I'm probably not at my best... which is unfortunate because I'd very much like to make a good impression on you."

[im_torchwood]

"You already have," Jack assured him. "You want to refill that glass?"

[alcuin]

Alcuin smiled at him. "Ah... yes, actually. Especially since - " A server had arrived with their food. "Oh man, that smells delicious." And he already felt better, a touch tipsy again.

[im_torchwood]

Jack got Alcuin another glass, then tucked into his fish. He broke a crispy battered fillet in half and smiled as steam boiled out of it. He put it aside to cool and doused his chips with vinegar.

"Yours looks good," he said. "How's it taste?"

[alcuin]

"It's so good," Alcuin said, having bhardly been paying attention at all as he'd begun eating. He tipped his plate towards Jack. "Have a taste."