ximilialog | If you've got forever

Entry tags:

If you've got forever

CHARACTERS: Captain Jack Harkness and YOU
LOCATION: Around the station
DATE: Catch-all for June
CONTENT: Arrival for Jack and adjustment to the ship and the situation!
WARNINGS: NSFW for sex marked below.

ARRIVAL

This is not even close to the strangest place Jack has woken up in, and also not the worst situation he has found himself in. It's time for another adventure, he thinks, as his eyes snap open and he sits up quickly, glancing around the room curiously. It's just him in the room so he springs out of bed and cracks his neck, patting down his clothes and relieved to see his vortex manipulator is intact. Not to worry about now, but good to know for later. Looks like his gun wasn't on him at the time, that's fine, he always finds one eventually.

Jack immediately steps out of the room after noting nothing in there is going to help him and starts wandering the corridors. He needs to get a lay of the land before making a plan, or you know, settling in and seeing where this one takes him. Jack's gait is quick but also he seems to come off as confident and comfortable, not in any alarm as he wanders the ship. He does not stop though, on a mission to get a look at everything.

Jack can be found wandering all over the ship including the living areas, the training room, simulation room, labs, pretty much every location that might be of importance to him later. If he spots you on his journey he'll smile warmly and toss a wink, acting like he very much belongs here.

TIME TO PARTY

After a little bit of time getting used to the place, Jack starts to visit locations on the ship solely to hang out and relax. He knows there's only a limited amout of time before the next adventure, he's gathered that much, so he might as well kick up his heels and enjoy the luxury of this place. Which it is, because recently he'd been in jail for almost two decades, and it wasn't a fun one. (Yes there are fun ones. Ask him about it sometime.)

Jack's favorite stop when settling in a place is of course the kitchen and mess hall. Jack loves a good meal and a cup of coffee, but he likes the opportunity to check out the other people there and make some connections. While he has been an island before, it's never his preference. If someone is sitting alone, congratulations, he slides into the seat across from you with a cheerful smile, whether it's with food of his own or only a drink. Or maybe you see him looking for a good place to sit and he catches your eye, jerking his head toward a table to indicate you should go together.

He can be found in the armory poking around and seeming to have little trouble adjusting to this new machine in front of him. It might be different from what he's used to, but he has a lot of knowledge in his noggin of futuristic tech. The problem is deciding what type of gun he wants. There are any number of Earth guns that he's always favored, and the first thing he does is create a Mark IV Webley Revolver. As soon as it appears Jack gasps in delight slides it into his belt where he had a gun holster without one. But! There are other options he's curious to explore, tapping a finger against his jaw as he thinks about it.

Jack can be found occasionally in the sunlight room, usually with a drink in hand, to just take in the fake atmosphere and pretend he's getting some sun. It's been awhile since he got to be in even a fake green environment so it's nice. He sometimes has his jacket folded nearby so it's him in a collared blue shirt with the buttons mostly undone over a white t-shirt and comfortable trousers.

WILDCARD

[ooc: feel free to respond to this with literally anything you feel like doing, I'm all good with it. Or message me on waftingcurtains!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He looks a little skeptically at Jack, because he still is absolutely caught off-guard when someone handsome or beautiful says anything positive about his appearance — confidence issues, he's got 'em — and he's not really on his A-Game lately, what with the superly massively awful week they've all had.

(Someone's gonna tell this guy, he thinks. Someone's gonna tell him what happened, and he's not gonna look at him like that after, so... better enjoy it while he can.)

But if there's anything Newton Geiszler can do, it's force his own brand of savvy, nerdy confidence where the rest is lacking, and he offers a grin; it's clear he loves giant robots — and he loves being a genius.]

Oh, dude, we're talking huge. Easy over 250 feet — 2,000 tons. Made for punching really big threats and kissing the Statue of Liberty.

[The grin grows more earnest as Jack talks, though. Because... ohhhh, yeah. He sees the kind of guy you are, Mr. Cheeky Monkey.]

I mean, I could go for a glass or two. You sure you're okay to drink, though? I'd hate to make someone that,/i> accident prone even more likely to get himself into trouble. I'll leave the taser here, just in case lightning strikes twice, y'know?

Edited 2022-06-02 02:10 (UTC)

[ Jack on the other hand has the kind of swaggering confidence that comes from a strong sense of self, an awareness of his own appeal, and a whole lot of experience. He likes complimenting other people, especially those who seem surprised by it, everyone deserves a little flattery here and there. And he is the last person to judge people on bad decisions. He can tell something's weighing on the guy, he's jittery.

He is delighted to hear about the robots, eyes widening at the description. ]

That's incredible. The Statue of Liberty could use a little love, out there on her own. And you built these giant robots? Did people pilot them or were they remote? Please tell me no AI was involved.

[ After a beat he looks around. ]

No offense meant, Viveca.

[ Sure she might seem reasonable enough, but Jack's been through so many adventures over his long life, and robots with AI almost always ended up trouble. A giant one would be particularly difficult. Asking for trouble, and he's not a scientist, he's just genre-savvy.

Jack laughs and waves a hand at the playful return. ]

That was a long time ago, you only have to learn that lesson once. Take the taser, be careful where you put it. Let's go get a pint, it's been twenty years since the last time I had one, I'm dying.

[Jittery's definitely a word for it. Not that he isn't jittery in everyday life usually, but, y'know. It's usually the ADHD-inspired manic caffeine jitters at midnight. Anyway.]

Oh, Viv won't mind; she's really cool like that. She's got a robot bod, too, actually! Uses it sometimes when she's feeling super inspired. I built that for her a while back. [If it seems like he's proud of the work, it's because he is.] But I didn't actually build the robots in my world, no; just helped arm them and improve their armor. Always room for improvement... with anything not built by me, of course.

[He grins despite himself, looking a little less scattered as he talks. Maybe because Jack's new, and he doesn't know exactly why Newton needs reasons to grin and feel like himself, and there's something terribly freeing in that.

He looks at him with raised eyebrows, though, at the mention of-]

Wait, twenty years? Don't tell me you're sacrificing a sobriety chip or something, 'cus I definitely don't want to be an accomplice in ruining your streak, dude.

Oh, so you must be her favorite. Who can do better than making her a body?

[ Jack just hopes it's not a Cyberman situation. He's come across other robots before, many of them actually, so he knows it's a spectrum like anything else. The Doctor(s) would have warned him of anything serious, so she's probably a good one. He's an interesting if jittery man, smart as a whip, that much is clear, clever too and inventive. Jack is also fairly good with tech, better than a lot of people, but it's not the top of his arsenal.

His grin is nice too, very engaging, and Jack mirrors him with a playful one in return. And he follows that with a mistaken but almost sweet concern, and Jack chuckles, shaking his head. ]

No, no. I had to spring my friend out of a very high-tech and nigh impregnable space prison, and it took me nineteen years to get close to her. It's fine, I've been in worse jails.

[ Jack takes it mostly in stride, although he will find it fun to tease her the next time they run into each other about it. He did tell her he maybe did a few too many crimes, but they were all petty. It had to be enough to get closer to her wing, but not so much that he couldn't look at himself in the mirror. It's a fine line to walk.

He gestures in the direction of the door and starts moving that way, they have booze to get to. ]

You might've met my friend around here, the Doctor. We don't look at time the same way as most people.

Pfft, nooo! I don't think Viv plays favorites.

... But yeah, I'm totally her favorite. You didn't hear it from me, though.

[At least it's a little easier today, to joke around, play up the usual kinda banter that he'd enjoy around the station. It's a good day! Hanging out with a newbie, getting a drink, refocusing any downward spirals into something productive. (See: drinking). Also... kind of hard to downward spiral when someone's a.) talking 19-year prison busts and b.) the Doctor.

His eyes widen behind his thick-rimmed glasses, and he smiles more earnestly.]

You're pals with the Doctor? Well, shit, why didn't you just say so? That makes the 20-year comment make total sense. [He will not elaborate on why it does, but they both know it just does.] I know the Doc really well, yeah! His companion Clara's my best friend, and the Doctor — well, not to brag, but I helped him not turn into a big scary monster once from a monster flu.

[His smile flickers, and he rubs the back of his neck.]

But — umm! He also saved my ass enough that I don't think helping him with that is enough to pay him back. Or, well, both of them helped me out a lot recently. You know there's two of them, right? I should probably make sure you know there's two.

[ Jack laughs and claps him on the back like they're old friends, that's just how he is. ]

Own it, it's fun to be the favorite. Nothing wrong with that.

[ Technically Jack was never the favorite of the one person he always wanted to be the favorite of, but he's been the favorite of a large number of other people, so that's had to be enough. He is not at all surprised to hear that the Doctor has made friends here too, he's just that kind of person. So many people have been sucked into his orbit over his long life, just like Jack. ]

Yep, we're very old friends. We're around the same age these days, I think, but it's hard to know how many years when you travel time and space.

[ So if Newt know how old the Doctor is, or around the ballpark, he'll know just how large of a number that is. The Doctor is also not shy about giving his age out. Jack is usually a little more close to the chest, depending on who he's talking to, but there's no reason to hide that sort of thing around here. They're all on the same team. He knows he's somewhere above two thousand, but he couldn't pinpoint a year. It also doesn't matter. ]

I wouldn't worry about paying him back, he doesn't really think like that. He helps people for the sake of helping them. Or yeah, I guess we should say they don't think like that.

[ It's one of the Doctor's traits that Jack loves. He might joke around about favors, but he always does things to help people or for the general good. A real hero, although he'd never accept that title himself. In some ways Jack has tried to live up to that paragon attitude, but he's not capable of it, so he's found a middle ground he thinks he can live with. ]

I've met a few versions of them, I actually just met a new one before I came here. They're always the same and different at the same time. And when they need help, I always come.

[ So he does some crimes to end up in jail and spends nineteen years getting close enough to the new Doctor to break her out. And drops everything to go fight Daleks with her. Sometimes that loyalty has included bailing on his entire team at Torchwood to run after the TARDIS, but it is what it is. It doesn't matter that he abandoned him, the Doctor explained himself for that, and Jack moved past it. Respects it, even.

He seems to know his way around the ship already, turning on their way toward where the drinks they desperately need will be. ]

Saved him from the monster flu though, huh? Are you a scientist too?

Edited 2022-06-04 23:53 (UTC)

Yeah, right. The time travel thing. Heard plenty about that scientific mess. Gotta admit, I'd love to travel through the decades, though... That's one of the fun things about this place. Seeing new worlds you'd never have seen, not in a million years — especially when your lifespan's about a hundred, tops.

[He tucks a hand into his leather jacket pockets, not all that confident in introducing himself like he usually is. His name doesn't really inspire much for himself at the moment, but he can't deny his work — he can't deny all the things he'd studied and practiced and excelled at, because Clara would wag her finger at him for being so critical of his work now.]

You bet I am! One of the best on this station, in my not-so-humble opinion. Saving people from weird sicknesses and making nifty tech is my bread and butter.

[His free hand is offered out to Jack for a friendly shake.]

Dr. Newton Geiszler, PhD times six and member of the K-Science division in the PPDC.

... We fought giant world-destroying aliens, basically.

I was a Time Agent before I met the Doctor, think of it as similar to the FBI for time travelers. It's where I got my vortex manipulator.

[ Jack pulls up his sleeve a little so Newt can see the vortex manipulator in question, permanently around his wrist. It doesn't look like much on purpose, it is supposed to be very covert and not raise any flags, no matter where in time the agent will go. If this guy is a friend to the Doctor, it's no big deal to show him, and Jack will be using it off and on if need be so it won't be a secret for long. ]

It does a lot of things but primarily teleports me through time and space. I don't use the time option much anymore, it tends to burn out faster, and while I'm good at repairing my tech, it's a headache when it keeps happening.

[ Also he had that one time he went way, way far back into time and truly fucked himself over, and he's in no hurry for that. Jumping through time and into locations like the Tardis and enemy ships, much easier. Jack is actually very good at advanced tech himself, and although not an inventor (unless he has to make something in a pinch), he can repair most things. But he finds people who do that sort of work very interesting.

Jack reaches out and returns the shake firmly, shining a bright smile at him again. ]

I mentioned my full title, but you can just call me Jack. Or Captain if you're feeling it. [ He winks playfully. ] Nice to meet you Dr. Newton Geiszler, PhD times six. That's a whole lot of studying for someone so young.

[ He guesses Newt is mid-thirties at most, and he knows that PhDs take quite a long time, depending on who is doing them. So that is quite an achievement. He's met some geniuses in his day, but it never fails to impress him how complex a human mind can be. He nods at the world-destroying aliens part. Normal. ]

That's our thing too, well, sometimes. Most of the time it's a lot of running and exploring new worlds, not dissimilar from what we're doing here.

A time agent and a captain? Fucking badass!

[Where Jack's handshake is firm and deft and probably teeming with confidence, Newton's handshake is a wagging and overexcited flopping up and down with both hands involved. Mainly — especially — because science is being mentioned, and he fucking loves science, no matter the time, the place, the state of his brain —

Newton, it seems, is far more comfortable.]

And I appreciate you pointing out how young and nubile I am! Ha. But yeah, I guess we're kind of in the same boat now, huh? I've been on all the missions here, so if there's anything you ever got questions about, I'm your guy; I've got write-ups for every place we've been to — [Well, not the most detailed ones; those, he ripped apart. It's complicated.] — but learning over drinks is cool, too!

How's this vortex manipulator work? I'm assuming the design is made for concealment? Nobody from the eras you from will question it at first glance and all, since it looks to be made out of natural leather from the outside.

You're right, I am. If I gave you the whole list of everything I've been, you'd be very impressed. Maybe even PhD times six impressed.

[ Jack has this quality when it seems like he's always on the verge of laughing; he likes to joke, he likes to tease, his smile naturally engaging. He adores people who are passionate and Newt's into science, which is not really his thing, but it's enough of his thing that he appreciates it. He used to find brilliant minds and recruit them on purpose, so he knows what to look for. ]

I was probably around your age when I met the Doctor, actually. I thought I already had the whole universe figured out. You're ahead of the game, if you've got any of these universes figured out.

[ It's easy to look back at that with a smile, despite the trauma that came shortly after, and all the ones afterward. Jack doesn't like to spend all his time worrying about the worst things he went through. He has his days he lets himself do that, so all the other time he can be in a good mood, like now. ]

I'd love to read your write-ups!

[ They step into the kitchen/mess hall area and it seems that it's quiet for the time being, easy to have a drink in peace. Jack assumes it won't be for long, but enough time to chat with this pretty scientist and keep him seeming more relaxed than he was at the start of this conversation. He flips open the vortex manipulator so he can see some of the inner wiring. Only what is visible, most of it is inside. ]

Yeah they designed it to look as ordinary as possible. Technically it piggybacks onto the Time Vortex, the dimensional plane where time and space meet. By tapping into it, we can go anywhere or anywhen, although it's smart to have limitations. It's more complicated than it seems, also by design.

[ Meaning it looks like it only has a few buttons and space, but if Newt ever got the chance to take it apart (which he won't, sorry), he'd see that it is intricate and complicated and there's a lot of data that Jack actually transmits every time he taps on it. It's better if it seems simple, he's been using it so long it's second nature. ]

It can do other things like creating holograms, tapping into communication devices and controlling them, tracking heartbeats, play music, become a beacon if someone's in a bad way and needs a rescue. We run into a lot of trouble out there in the galaxy. Sometimes all you need is one of these to stay alive.

[ He'd say he's proof of that, but he's died. A lot. ]

I mean, you're already impressively handsome and impressively charming, so that's, like, two points right there already. The six-time PhD guy here appreciates both of those attributes.

[He snorts an amused laugh, probably at himself, because he thinks he's a hoot.]

All of that sounds pretty wild, dude. I love the design; gives it an old vintage feel, makes it feel like some bitchin' jewelry. I'm a lover of fine jewelry, y'know. Or, well, obviously. But! [He holds up a finger, as if Jack needs any more emphasis on what he's saying.] The most important question of all is:

What kinda music do you have on that thing?

Edited 2022-06-09 05:10 (UTC)

[ It's around this time that Jack connects Newton to the man that River told him about and it fills in some of the blanks about why he was acting squirrelly earlier. The context with his fear of getting anything lethal in his hands makes more sense. It doesn't in any way change how Jack looks at him or is acting, he's always a smooth operator, it's why even the people who know him best sometimes have trouble reading him.

Instead he grins and winks at him. Jack loves compliments and he knows exactly how handsome and charming he is, but all the more reason for him to feed on the appreciation of other people.]

Oh so I am impressing you. Good, then I can only go up from here.

[ Jack slips behind where he knows there is booze because it was one of the first places he learned about. It's very difficult to get him drunk, but he loves liquor anyway. He pulls out what is probably equivalent to some kind of whiskey and gets them two glasses. Newt can ask for something else though, it's just automatic pilot at this point. ]

I love Earth classic rock from the 21st century, pretty much anything you can get a beat out of will get me in a dancing mood, whether it's bouncy or slow. I hear the most beautiful sound in the world is on Darillium, the Singing Towers, but my dear friend River Song told me that, and I'm pretty sure she's biased.

[ He knows it's from a fond memory she had with her other husband, the Doctor, although not all of the details. It's Jack's gentle way of dropping the name, it's not only the Doctor he knows. ]

Tell me what you want to hear and we'll see if it's on here.

[He's smiling as he takes the glass; surely McCoy won't begrudge him taking a little edge off with some whiskey? Just enough to get warmed up and relaxed. He feels like he's been on edge, like... most of the day. Most of the week. Month? Time's all screwy.]

I'll admit I'm easy to impress when it comes to looks. That's never been a bad thing, in my professional opinion! But you're definitely a real model-type; I can see you selling toothpaste on billboards and strutting some jeans in a magazine.

[Newt calls 'em like he sees 'em.]

Any time you want some tunes, though, I've got a ton uploaded onto my earpiece! Newton Geiszler's Awesome Playlist, just for the ears of the blessed. [But something else of interest-] You're friends with Riv? Well, I guess I can't be that surprised; you time traveling folks always seem to know each other around here.

... Actually, I think she's mentioned you before.

[His eyes widen, and his pointer finger aims at Jack in awe.]

Wait, were you the one who got to hang out with dinosaurs with her?

Very flattering, I'm going to blush.

[ No, he never blushes, but it's the principle of the thing. ]

I was the poster boy for the Time Agency in my area when I was young, so these pearly whites were plastered everywhere, once upon a time. But I'm glad I still got it.

[ The Face of Boe they called him, and Jack as of right now doesn't know what that may or may not mean for thousands of years in his future. He does love flattery though; his ego doesn't need stroking, but who doesn't love some genuine stroking now and again?]

I would love your playlist. Aren't you just full of so many great details?

[ He knows River told him the man has been struggling since his experience, so Jack's happy to maybe stroke his ego a little too.

It's true that time travelers in his world do have a habit of running into each other! Even if it's a very large galaxy, when you have all the options of time and space, things eventually convene. Or there could be some destiny sprinkled in, he doesn't think it's as simple as coincidence, especially not when it comes to him and River. It would be impossible to think that two people so closely entwined with the Doctor would end up not only coming across each other, but eventually getting married themselves. ]

Yep, that's me.

[ He laughs. ]

We rode them. It was very fun. River and I are a classic time travel tale. We've met many times over the years, often at the wrong points in time so we didn't always know the other.

[ Jack knows the full timeline now, no question, but it did take a little following before they were able to get to the same spot. His smile is very fond and gentle.]

We're two of a kind, honestly. Sometimes people say meeting someone too much like you is a bad thing, but it works for us.

[He puffs his cheeks out indignantly at that, though it's really just for show.]

Ugh, I'm so jealous. I've been dying for us to show up somewhere with some legitimate dinosaurs! Or at least aliens that look like dinosaurs! [He gestures dramatically with his hands; seems like he does a lot of talking with them, those little hands, and they dash and flap and move like a maestro that has forgotten their little musical baton.] Hopefully now that you're here, we'll have some luck! Maybe run into a prehistoric alien dream come true...!

[Normal folks would worry about getting eaten by said creatures. Newton is absolutely brimming with eagerness at the thought of studying such beasts from afar and up close, cataloguing everything about them that he could.]

It sounds like time travel's a pain in the ass, though. You're telling me there's times you've met her without knowing her? How the hell does anyone ever keep things straight?

[ Jack laughs and tips his drink to him. ]

Hey you never know, with both the Doctors, River, and me here, we may end up looping into a dinosaur situation. Although I'm not sure how we'd get Orbs out of them.

[ It seems that the orbs are always a lot more complicated than that. Although they could always end up on a planet where dinosaurs roam free and there is a civilized culture there too, wilder things have happened. At this point nothing shocks Jack. If something ever manages to shock him, it'll be something truly insane. The only thing he's ever surprised by these days is people, something he holds on to since he doesn't want to become an old, tired, numb immortal. ]

Yeah we met the first time and then I think the next time she saw me, I didn't remember her because I was earlier in my timeline, and then later on we were at different points in our timeline again. Eventually it all evened out and we were on the same page.

[ And they got married! And had a delightful honeymoon! That is not something he plans on sharing unless River feels like it, she's the one who is also technically married to two other people on the ship. And Jack doesn't know if she's had that conversation with them, so for now, they're time-traveling friends who kept having occasional adventures together. And sometimes trying to kill each other, the way these things always go. ]

River keeps track of things using a journal, I just basically accept the chaos of the universe as it is and let it have its way with me. What's the point of immortality if you don't enjoy the ride?

Oh, yikes... sentient, hyperintelligent dinosaurs. Now that'd be scary.

[And yet... he would still be a little excited, not going to lie. Taking a sip of his drink, he slides it absently along the table, an easy-going expression somewhat marred by what seem to weariness.]

Honestly, though, it'd be nice to have a month off. We did that for Christmas, y'know?

Had a whole month on the station. Chance to not be stressed out or anything.

[... Ah.]

Sorry, I'm probably selling this place as a pretty shitty experience. It's not all bad or anything like that! You just — get a little overworked sometimes. Which... my last job did a lot, but it's a little different when nothing stays consistent. Makes it harder to adjust is all.

Scary ... or great?

[ There's Jack, leaning into the excitement aspect more than the concern. To be fair, it's easy to do that when you don't have to worry about life, but he's always been this way. When he was mortal he had a reckless streak a mile long too. He likes adventure and sentient hyperintelligent dinosaurs sound like something worth exploring.

He smiles at Newt's attempt to be reassuring and shakes his head, setting his drink down. ]

Don't worry about it. I'm not under any illusions. We're not here to have a pleasure cruise.

[ Jack agreed to the situation, although at the time he wasn't 100% certain what it all meant, but now he is here and he's rolling with whatever comes at him. If it turns out that the promise to alter a regret was true, it will be worth it. It's not as if he had anything more important to do, having finished saving the Doctor and the world again from Daleks. ]

Honestly this is pretty much my usual life, only usually I fly by the seat of my pants, not with any help or breakdown of a mission.

[ Even when he was in charge of Torchwood, plans were a nebulous thing for him. He tried whenever necessary, but so many of their jobs ended up being guessing as things went and being happy they survived it. The Doctor's lifestyle syncs up the same way. Jack is laidback about it, fairly similar to how the other Team TARDIS members seem to take things off the cuff. ]

One thing I've learned is to take advantage of every minute you aren't in the field and be grateful for them.

Both.

[He nods sagely, though he also is very well aware he would happily take scary and great when it came to anything close to resembling earth dinosaurs. But as Jack explains himself, Newton's attention sharpens in focus — he eats up every word, gives a small, sure nod.]

Yeah! By the seat of your pants is definitely how to do it around here. But the breaks are pretty fucking important after some of the crazy stuff we get wrapped up in. Whole wars and major attacks by big threats... stuff like that! Way too many of us spend a chunk of our time aboard the Ximilia in the infirmary...

[He furrows his brow and nods, determined.]

But it's worth it. For helping the planets we visit where we can.

And to repair things back home for all of us, too. We've all got our regrets, right?

Everyone has their breaking point. It doesn't matter where you come from or what species you are. Too much drama has to be followed by some quiet, or we won't be very helpful on our quest.

[ Jack has learned this firsthand. He was always good about encouraging his people to occasionally step out and have some fun, go home, sleep while they could. He never really followed that himself though, not when he was in Torchwood, but since his team died, he's gone out into the world with no set plan. He's one of the few people who never really breaks, but that comes out of necessity. He is far more aware, and empathetic, about the people around him.

Jack quiets the part of his mind that questions whether they really are helping planets where they show up, find the orb, and then abandon the place just as quickly. Which to be fair is how the Doctor and his people operate anyway. Sometimes their adventures are only that, and they don't always know what gets left behind. He wonders if most people ignore that on this ship too. Safer.]

That's why we're here. I'm not usually given an option before I get a sudden kidnapping, so that was appreciated.

[ Jack takes a sip of his drink, deciding how to word the next part, but he goes with his gut. ]

So this is the point where I tell you River mentioned what happened to you recently. She was very worried about you. I didn't know it was you right away, but I put it together.

[ He could have kept this to himself but he wants to provide Newt an outside perspective in case it helps. And in a way it's an indirect lie not to be forthright. ]

My best friend was possessed by an alien not too long ago. It did some terrible things while in her body, and she's still coping with the guilt and sadness to when I last saw her, which was right before I came here.

[ Gwen's experience is very complicated and painful and Jack holds some part of the tragedy. Things will never be the same between them again because of it. But they will always love each other, and he crashes on her couch whenever he comes back to Earth. ]

If you ever want to talk to someone outside of the situation, I know we just met, but I'm easy to talk to.

[Newton freezes when recent events are mentioned, hand on his glass and gaze fixed nervously on an imperfection on the counter top. Maybe he should have known it would come up; this guy's obviously close with River, so it makes sense she'd mention the obvious red flag on the ship. After all, he'd been unknowingly a vessel for a dangerous hivemind who had hurt and almost killed a lot of people on this station. Why wouldn't she warn Jack?

(Not warn, his brain wars, she didn't warn him — River's not like that. She just worries. He has to remind himself that people worry about him. Not worry because of him. Not worry that he's still a threat-)

Clearing his throat, he offers a thin smile.]

I'm still here, right? Alive and kicking. So... don't sweat it.

[An easy dismissal. But his hands are fidgeting anxiously with his glass.]

Riv worries too much anyway; she's cool like that.

... But I'm fine. I mean, I'll be fine. It's fine.

[Is it????

He takes a big gulp.]

[ Jack knew that it was likely it would make the man clam up, he's clearly feeling guilty about what happened, and that's what happens. It was a calculated risk to be upfront, but he is only deceptive when he has to be. And Jack is coming from a genuine place. ]

Hey, you don't have to be uncomfortable. It's an open offer. River told me because we are very old friends, and she cares about you. Which, by the way, is special, because despite the way she acts, she doesn't get that close to a lot of people.

[ By how she acts, Jack means very similar to himself. Friendly, warm, easy for people to get comfortable around. River does that, but they are both underneath it very guarded people. There is something to be said for opposites attracting, but just as much to be said about marrying someone just like you. Both can be good. ]

We can consider it forgotten for now. I could tell you about that time River pretended to be Queen Elizabeth.

Edited 2022-07-08 22:37 (UTC)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

If you've got forever

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pretend my html didn't betray me in that last tag :')

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sorry this is ancient ignore it if need be!

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Can maybe wind down on this one :D