|| eight ☯ accidental video / action

[captaininnuendo]

[The feed opens to show Jack, obviously in a bar setting. But instead of his usual attempts to liven up the place, he's sitting in the farthest corner of the bar, the music blaring around him and both an empty glass of beer and a freshly filled one in front of him. He's very subdued for those who actually know how he is on most days. It's dimly lit so it's difficult to see, but his eyes are a little bit swollen, his cheeks a little damp. It's obvious he's not having a good day. And despite his attempts to hide away and wait it out, the City has a different plan as he doesn't know the video came on for all to see him in his melancholy.]




ooc: Jack's first curse in the City and I'm so cruel to him! Daddy Dearest curse, of course.

Comments

[coyote_walking]

[She'd hesitated before saying anything, but her Jack or not, she knew the signs well enough to know how much he was hurting.]

Jack?

You okay?

[captaininnuendo]

[Jack stirs at the sound of his voice, drawing a deep breath like he's suddenly resurfaced from an ocean of thoughts. First he looks around the bar where he's seated, then down to his device, where yep, there's Mercy.

He forces a small smile.] Mercy Thompson. I'm just... fine, you know? Enjoying some alone time. [Alone time with the family, you know. The family who's been dead for thousands of years according to Jack.] How are you?

[coyote_walking]

[Mercy shrugged, but there was concern and empathy in her face and voice.]

Hanging in. Just saw...

You looked a little...

[How to say what she wanted, but both spare his feelings and prevent him from shutting her down with some glib answer?]

...Cursed, I guess.

They can be rough.

[captaininnuendo]

[He's very much relieved for the concern and empathy right now. Conversations with Mercy have always been hit or miss as far as her mood. He understands why now, of course. But at the moment, he wouldn't have known how to deal with her upset, however justified it may be. Of course, he isn't much better at dealing with people worrying about him, but it is easier in some ways... especially today. He offers her a grateful look, a thankful nod and he purses his lips and takes in a deep breath. Maybe if she's having a good day he can let his guard down just a tiny smidgen.]

Yeah, I'm guessing that's what this is... seeing people long gone. Rough is an excellent way to describe it. You're not seeing dead people too, are you?

[coyote_walking]

[She nodded.]

I'm sorry.

]She knew a little about his past, enough to understand how hard this must be. Not that she was going to tell him she knew anything about it.]

No dead people for me, though I can see ghosts ordinarily anyway. But in this case, from what I can tell, it seems to mostly be fathers and I never knew mine.

video

[likeabreath]

[Gwen can see it on his face, but she's almost at a loss. Does she go to him, or let him have his space?]

... you're too pretty a person to look so glum, Jack.

video

[captaininnuendo]

[He's caught on to the fact that the City decided his uncharacteristically down mood was good fodder for a spectator sport. And he isn't happy about it, which just piles more bad on top of the bad. But when he hears Gwen's voice and sees her in the video, he tries to smile anyway. It doesn't work all that well, a sad attempt at a smile.]

It's in the genes. I was really lucky my parents were so good looking.

video

[likeabreath]

[For a moment, she reaches up with what looks like a slightly shaky finger to trace along the false smile, but it drops away as quickly as it appears.]

They must've been stunning.

[ooc: She's seeing her own dad as well, and since she's still pretty fresh from 'killing' him, she's a bit off herself.]

video

[captaininnuendo]

They were.

[Jack looks beside him at nothing that anyone else can see and then back to the video. He grows quiet for a moment, draws in a deep breath and shakes his head, as if trying to get something out or get past something.] I think I'm cursed. How do we stop it?

video;

[majorcrotchgrab]

... Jack?

video;

[captaininnuendo]

[His name gets his attention away from the invisible trial and jury sitting next to him at the table. He picks up the video, a corner of his lips twitching just barely into a smile that disappears too quickly when he sees Ivan.]

Ivan Raikov, as I live and breathe. Don't you look nice. [Jack's normal flirtation, minus the spark it usually has. Just words. Words that he might genuinely mean but has no energy to put behind them to back them up.]

video;

[majorcrotchgrab]

[Oh, that look just kills him. Poor, poor Jack.]

You look like you could use some company, perhaps? I've been rather lonely since Yevgeny left myself...

video;

[captaininnuendo]

[He starts to decline, loathe for anyone he doesn't know all that intimately to see him like this. But then, maybe Ivan seeing him not at his best isn't so bad. There's no standard to live up to that way. And maybe the distraction of a handsome man would be nice. Good, even.]

I would love your company. This little bar is... packed enough to get lost in. It's a dive by the entrance to the Underground. Do you know it?

[iwasherefirst]

[Rose sees the video and immediately starts looking for him. Rose has been here long enough, she recognizes the bar. It's not long before she slides onto the stool next to Jack.]

Livin' in the TARDIS with the lot of us gettin' to you?

[She knows that's not it and it's said in a teasing sort of voice.]

[captaininnuendo]

[He hadn't been watching for her, so when she plops down beside him in the booth at the bar, he's surprised. It's a pleasant surprise though. Jack has always been a number one Rose fan, aside from the Doctor, which he supposed made him number thirteen in the line of Rose fans... until the next Doctor came along. He tries for a smile that doesn't really happen and tries to cover up the smile failure with a shake of his head and a drink of his beer.] Rose Tyler, you know I love living with the lot of you. And the TARDIS is like home to me. What do you want to drink?

[iwasherefirst]

[She smiles at him and presses her shoulder against his.]

Beer? Maybe a Bass?

[captaininnuendo]

[Jack nods and flags down a barmaid. She takes his order for another beer for himself and one for Rose too. Then as the girl leaves, Jack proceeds to down almost all of the beer in front of him. He sets the glass down, licks his lips and glances at Rose.] Better to start on even keel, you know?

[He knows that he’s way ahead of Rose on the drinking front, but the sentiment is still there.]

voice;

[leathered]

That doesn't look like the fun kind of drinking.

voice;

[captaininnuendo]

Drinking is always a hoot. [It's a joke, but it really has no umph behind it.] Just one of those days, Doctor.

voice;

[leathered]

I see. [ The Doctor feels pretty lucky that his father isn't here, so. ] Do you need some company, Captain?

voice;

[captaininnuendo]

I always need company. But I also know I’m not the best right now and when I’m around you, I tend to want to be at my best. [The Doctor just brings that out in Jack, wanting to be a better person than he has a tendency to be.]

[private voice;]

[jiyuna_togabito]

Someone paid a visit, I take it?

[private voice;]

[captaininnuendo]

Unfortunately. Can't say I'm thrilled about it. What about you, mysterious voice? You get a visit?

[private voice;]

[jiyuna_togabito]

Mysterious voice, huh?

[Another who has forgotten him from his previous visit but that was expected.]

Fortunately not. Or perhaps unfortunately. I haven't the slightest who mine is.

[private voice;]

[captaininnuendo]

Don’t worry, mysterious can be sexy. And in some cases that can be better, not knowing rather than knowing. Although I guess if I didn’t know, I’d do my damndest to find out… out of curiosity. I’ve always had a problem with too much curiosity.