☞ 021. (video)

[wouldnotkindly]

[Jack's sweater-and-jeans ensemble did well enough to keep out the chill of the Atlantic back home, but now it looks as though it's not faring so well against the heavy snowfall, not with the way he's shivering on camera. Of course, that's not exactly the most noticeable thing about him right now; that would be his left hand, just in view of the camera, scorched and charred and glowing red along his veins and at his fingertips. He doesn't seem to notice it, nor does he seem to be in any pain from it, even with the heat shimmering from his obviously burnt flesh.

But he doesn't seem to even notice that his camera is on in the first place, as he isn't looking anywhere near the device when he speaks.]

You know, I miss the water balloon fights. [He shivers and flexes his burnt hand, and a small flame licks up his hand and whiffs out at the glowing tips of his fingers.] Why couldn't we have a weekend of that instead of...well, this?

[He shivers again, gives his hand another flex, and snaps his fingers, causing his hand to briefly catch on fire — but just as before, it doesn't seem to cause him any pain. The loud hiss of steaming water can heard as he reaches for the device with his other hand, fumbling before managing to switch it off.]

Comments

[rudeandginger]

It could be, yes.

[wouldnotkindly]

I'll take that as a yes.

[And so he gets up to place an order. Don't sneak off on him, Turlough.]

[rudeandginger]

[He won't. It's too cold for sneaking off. He just sticks to staying in his chair looking pathetically tiny and cold because everyone needs to see how much PAIN he's going through.]

[wouldnotkindly]

[Careful, or else that might start working on Jack just as well.

Anyway, coffee now retrieved, he makes his way back to the table and slides it across to Turlough.] Thanks again.

[rudeandginger]

It's alright. You're not much use to me frozen to death.

[wouldnotkindly]

[That gives him pause. Knowing Turlough, he knows he shouldn't read too deeply into that, but still...]

And how exactly are you using me?

[rudeandginger]

I didn't mean in that way.

[He gets poked in the shin with his toe.]

[wouldnotkindly]

[He winces at that, drawing his feet back a bit.]

Sorry. [No, wait.] I mean... I knew that. [Should have known, at least.]

[rudeandginger]

[He takes his coffee and tries to pretend that Jack getting flustered isn't adorable.]

[wouldnotkindly]

[It's a good thing Jack doesn't pick up on that, or else he'd only be even more flustered.]

I didn't mean... [His lack of a way with words keeps him from knowing exactly how to say what he's thinking.] I didn't mean it like I thought you ever would. Use me, I mean. [A beat.] Because I don't.

[rudeandginger]

I know it's happened to you in the past. You're allowed to be jumpy about the subject.

[wouldnotkindly]

[He glances down at that, staring at his hands. He's still not sure how Turlough can manage to disarm him so easily.]

Thanks. [For understanding, he means. But he's not quite brave enough to voice that much.]

[rudeandginger]

[He kicks him again (in an affectionate way, obviously) and goes back to his coffee.]

[wouldnotkindly]

[Hey, now. Jack doesn't wince this time, though; there's a small smirk on his face as he nudges him back with his own foot. Fair's fair.]

[rudeandginger]

[Oh, don't start that with him. He fights dirty. All the same, he leaves of and just hooks his foot around Jack's ankle under the table.]]

[wouldnotkindly]

[His smirk softens into a smile at that, and he glances down again.]

Uh... Wherever you've been staying — you know, when you're not at my place... Is it far from here?

[rudeandginger]

[He swirls his coffee around a little in his cup, not looking up.]

Have you met the Doctor? Either one of them?

[wouldnotkindly]

[Unfortunately, the full meaning of that question goes over Jack's head.]

Uh... I think I've met a doctor here. [Of the medical sort, he means.]

[rudeandginger]

The Doctor. One has a shaved head and enormous ears. Wears a leather coat. The other is a beanpole in a pinstripe suit. There was one in a bowtie as well, but he... left.

[wouldnotkindly]

Oh... [He's pretty sure he would've remembered someone with any of those descriptions, even if Turlough is being a little overly generous.]

No, I haven't... I don't think so, anyway.

[rudeandginger]

Well, he's a friend of mine. I guess a friend, anyway. He found me, when I was trapped on Earth.

Except Timelords can re-generate, and the one I knew isn't here. But I till live with the other two.

It's rather confusing.

[wouldnotkindly]

They... Huh.

[Jack was following that pretty well, up until the regeneration bit. He's still wondering what this has to do with his original question.]

You can say that again.

[rudeandginger]

And I suppose it's a bit odd for me to bring anyone back there. Given everything.

[He still hasn't looked up yet, but his foot also hasn't moved from around his ankle.]

[wouldnotkindly]

[Oh.

Jack's face flushes when the full impact of it hits him, both what he's said and the fact that his foot is still wound around his ankle.]

No, uh— That's not, uh, not really what I... I mean, not that I wouldn't want to go back with you, if it was okay, but — uh. [He's not making this any better, is he.] That's not what I meant.

[rudeandginger]

Oh.

[Now it's Turlough's turn to flush. His normally pale and freckly skin turns a shade pinker.]

What did you mean?