thoughtformed | gr8 ideas

That's good. Still got to meet him, see if I get recruited [ grins ] would be good to know what exactly he has in mind.

Do keep in mind that he may have tried to recruit your future selves, so it may be suspicious... You may also want to keep a leash on your screwdriver. I don't think he's much of a thief, but he may fancy it if he figures out what it is... And we can't have that.

I'm younger, more like him than my future versions, if his ideas are too borderline I might be able to help him. [ takes out the screwdriver from his jacket pocket and offers it to Jack ] Here. Hold on to it for a few days, let's see how I cope without it.

[ Jack looks genuinely surprised at the gesture and looks from the tool to The Doctor and back again, apprehensively reaching forth a hand to take it and look it over. There is a strange reverence on his features, but only for a moment before he realises that surely he was supposed to make light of this. ]

And if I keep it safe, will you let me touch the other one?

[ The Doctor just laughs, open and honest and just plainly amused. It takes him a full minute before he can bring himself to speak again. ]

I should feel insulted. [ but he's still chuckling, rubbing at the corner of his eye ] Honestly, can't take you anywhere.

[ When The Doctor laughs, that old, distantly familiar laugh, Jack can't help himself but to feel a sense of romantic nostalgia. He even sighs a little, clearly smitten, but straightens right up because, well, Ianto is right there, after all. ]

See? Time hasn't changed me that much. 2,000 years and I've still got it.

[ He takes a moment to look at Jack and be amazed by him. Two thousand years and still Jack. ]

Two thousand years. [ looks at the street for a moment, thoughtful, he could ask, but the Doctor hates it when people ask him questions about his past. It wouldn't be fair to expect Jack to tell him. ] Got better skin than me, impressive... well. Sort of impressive. Oldest incarnation of me has better skin than both of us.

Edited 2013-02-20 04:19 (UTC)

His hair's almost as good as mine. More length and body but I still think mine looks better. Only difference between us is that I still look the same. Well, mostly the same. At least I'm recognisable.

[ Jack can sense the questions from the Time Lord, and his smile shows it. He nods, conceding. After all, he had the right to know. ]

You have something you want to ask?

... when did you get to know me so well?

[ not what he wanted to ask, but it's good enough to get started ]

We've spent a lot of time together, Doctor. Don't think I wasn't paying attention. And you've always got questions about everything. You always get this look when you want to investigate something. It's an expression I remember fondly.

[ He sighs aggravated but in a fond way. Jack had a point, but it had been so long for him. ]

I would like to know about you. If you don't mind, that is.

[ He laughs and shakes his head. ]

A little mystery keeps things interesting, Doctor. You always sound so surprised when I mention how much older than you I am. Well... The reason for that is that after what happened on the satellite, when Rose brought me back, she brought me back for good. You called me "a fixed point in time". I don't age, I don't die. I'm always brought back to how I was when Rose brought me back. So I decided to try to do something good. I worked with Torchwood, mostly to wait and find you, and I did. But I went back to my team at Torchwood.

My past caught up to me there. My old partner in the Time Agency showed up, caused some havoc in 2009 and used his vortex manipulator to send me back to before Cardiff was even built. Back before Rome had fallen. Before St. Peter had ever even graced it. My brother found me there and buried me there.

[ Jack pauses, choosing his words carefully. ]

He wanted me to suffer. And I did. Every time I woke up choking on dirt, my skeleton and organs being crushed by hundreds of pounds of dirt. I wanted to die for good. [ He shakes his head. ] I couldn't. So I waited.

Eventually I was found and put into the cryo-freeze at Torchwood - eh.. long story, - and as luck would have it, woke up not an hour after I'd been taken.

[ The Doctor remains quiet and attentive while Jack speaks. He'd known about Jack's immortality, had felt it as soon as it'd happened, and he'd left. No time to think things through, he'd just ran. He shouldn't have. Not that there's anything he can do about it now.

He doesn't have any words to offer, he can't even claim to relate— the Captain has him beat in both age and experience. Instead, without thinking, his hand reaches across the table to grasp Jack's.]

[ Jack looks to their hands and squeezes The Doctor's in his briefly. By way of apologies, it isn't much of one, but it's the best he's likely to get from him now or in the future. At least now maybe he can understand just a little of what he'd gone through just to get to this moment. He smiles kindly at him, feeling at least to some extent, unencumbered by it all for the first time in over 2,000 years. ]

Thank you. Waited a long time to get that off my chest.

Glad I asked, then.

[ He smiles back, a small smile at first but it quickly turns into a full-blown grin. ]

[ Jack laughs and shakes his head. ]

Does that satisfy you? Or do you have other questions?

You could tell me about the boyfriend since we're at it.

Oh, Ianto?

[ A big smile grows on his lips at the mention of him. ]

What, having a hard time believing that I'd want to settle down? Well, it's been.. a process. But Ianto and I started seeing each other a couple of years ago. Workplace romances are the best, don't you think? But anyway, just over a year ago, he showed up here and, well, things have continued going well, I'd say.

[ Jack turns to look at his lover and watches him fondly for a moment. ]

He's cute, don't you think? I think he's a keeper.

[ turns around to look at Ianto ]

Don't know about cute. [ he turns back to Jack, smiling ] Good dresser, though.

You should see what he wears underneath.

[ Jack winks and chuckles, turning back around to sit properly. ]

I love him. I really do. I guess I've been holding onto him so tight because I don't want to lose him again.. He died in my timeline before I arrived. I met with his spirit and lost him again just before I arrived here. Then he arrived here, fully alive.. he hadn't yet died in his timeline. But recently he woke up with memories of his death.. like he'd lived out the rest of his life in a dream or something. I can't... I can't explain it.

[ The Doctor looks confused at that. He's thoughtful for a few seconds, trying to sort it out. ]

This is place is being kind, then [ he sounds surprised even as he says it ] ... is that right? That doesn't sound right.

It doesn't sound right. But... the island giveth and the island taketh away. Just like I was telling you about Rose. Although.. if she were to return... I wonder how that would go. Might be interesting seeing you three fight over the same woman.

[ looks away, trying to appear casual and most likely failing miserably. ]

Should get a drink. They'll want to shoo me off otherwise.

Nah. It's Ianto's place. Mine's in the back if you want to see it. How 'bout it?

... you're not taking me to your bedroom, are you?

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