poly_chromatic | || eight ☯ accidental video / action

Entry tags:

torchwood - jack harkness

|| eight ☯ accidental video / action

[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.

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[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.

[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.

[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.]

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?

There's not much we can do. Wait until midnight. Distract each other. Might work.

You too? [Of course, now that he realizes that she's cursed as well, he's more concerned about her than the image of his father sitting next to him asking him where Gray is, asking him why he's done the things he's done. That little angel on his shoulder that seems to be very disappointed in him. It's really not fair, Jack's life choices out of context.]

Care to join me in a drink, Gwen? I'm at that dive bar close to the Underground.

[There's the ghost of a smile on her lips, but it's a wry, humorless one. It doesn't suit her at all.]

If I start, I might not stop until you have to carry me back to the TARDIS.

I could bring a bottle or two of something to us in the TARDIS. And then we could... distract each other.

[He wouldn't normally be so forward with Gwen, given her marital status, but he's having a very bad day. Crossing those lines he usually tries so very hard not to cross seems like the best life decision.]

You're already distracting enough.

[As much as she's trying to divert him, there's no real challenge or heat in her comment. Right then, more than anything, she wants what he's offering. It could be solace, or company in dark times, but there's no way she can deny that such a distraction is something she's always wanted.]

Here or there, Jack?

[He's thought about it far too often too. And with how vivid his imagination can be, it's as well as already been done in Jack's mind. But to distract himself with the real Gwen, well...]

It depends on how distracted you want to get. Do you want to be completely distracted or only semi distracted?

I could ask you the same question.

[The real Gwen is always better. Always.]

[Well, now she's making him think about it instead of her making the decision one way or another. As far as Jack is concerned, he'd go all the way. But every time he thinks about it, he worries about Rhys and hurting Gwen where that's all concerned. She has a family back home. And if she were some random person that might not hold so much weight with the need for distraction he feels right now. But she's Gwen. And he gives a shit about her.]

Semi distraction is probably more appropriate. [Yes, you make him care about what's appropriate, Gwen. Hell, you just make him care and think like no one besides the Doctor did until you came along and no one has since.] Which means here, not there. I'll buy you all the drinks.

[He'd be all too easy to give in to if she didn't make him think. Thinking is the last thing she wants to do now. Thinking never seems to serve her as well. Not when her gut instinct has always been so very strong.]

Since when are you worried about appropriate?

Since I've had you sitting on my shoulder reminding me what being a normal human is like.

[He leans forward toward the video, a smile twisting over his lips and then disappearing again.] You, Gwen Cooper, make me a better person. I guess I've never told you that before. But it's true.

[Gwen ducks her head, but not before flashing a humorless, wry smile as she bit off a low noise that sounds like a choked off chuckle.]

Oh sweet Lord, don't do that. I'm no bloody angel. Never have been and sure as hell not one now.

Gwen Cooper, you have enough spice in you not to be an ordinary angel. But that doesn’t stop you from being mine.

[This is familiar territory, flirting with Gwen. It just so happens that what he’s saying is true.] And I don’t mind saying I happen to like a little spice with the halo.

I'm not angel at all. Devil might be more like it.

[A moment later and she glances away from the camera, distracted. Lips pursed, she shakes her head the slightest bit, then forces her gaze back to the video.]

I'm going to lose my mind before midnight.

Oh but it creates a much more creative story for the devil to corrupt an angel… me being the devil, of course.

[His features look concerned for her suddenly. Whatever her father is telling her must be having the same affect as what his father is telling him. Only Jack has had a lot longer to live with his mistakes. It would take much more time for him to break at being reminded of them.] Here or there, Gwen?

[For a moment, there's a wan, wry smile but it disappears as quickly as it showed up. To her, the corruption is all her own.]

... I'm staying where I'm at. Not a good idea for me to go out right now.

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