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

[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."

[im_torchwood]

"It's okay. I'm not even going to have room for all of mine," he replied. He popped a chip in his mouth and the server came back with a new glass for Alcuin, and water for Jack.

"God, slow down. You'll get the hiccups," he laughed.

[alcuin]

Alcuin flushed a little, and set down his fork, smiling at Jack for a moment before taking a sip from the new glass.

"I'm glad I ran into you."

[im_torchwood]

"Feeling a little better than before?" Jack asked talking with a chip in his mouth.

[alcuin]

"Mmmhmm," Alcuin said. "And I'm even going to kindly give credit to the company rather than the food." He winked.

[im_torchwood]

"I do't know that I've done anything," Jack chuckled. "But if you're feeling better that's good. Tell me a little more about what had happened before I ran into you."

[alcuin]

Alcuin shrugged a bit as he ran a finger over the rim of his glass again, looking slightly uncomfortable. "I met a man last week. He asked if I wanted to have a drink. A date. It seemed so awfully... normal. I haven't done a lot of that. So I said yes. Only - well, it was clear very quickly that he did not have much interest in me. He wanted sex. Which just wasn't what I was expecting, and when I decided to leave - " He looked down at his glass. "He got mean. It's okay, it isn't the first time this kind of thing has happened, won't be the last I imagine."

[im_torchwood]

"Unfortunately, there's a lot of those in the world," Jack said sympathetically. "Have you dated much? I mean, like, dated around?"

[alcuin]

"No," Alcuin said, which was certainly true. He'd been paid for sex. He'd had lovers. He'd been in love. But he hadn't been on many dates.

[im_torchwood]

"You should. It's good for you. I've always found that meeting people, doing that dance, you get to know a lot about humanity. You get to know yourself better, too," he replied before shoving a bit of fish in his mouth.