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doctor who: jack harkness

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Who: Jack and YOU
What: Jack is a bit rattled as he tries to live his life
When: August 27-September 2nd
Where: Around the City
Warnings: Jack might let a few swear words slip because he's stressed.

Outside the Stage Door:

Jack was still a bit cranky as he left the theater tonight. He felt like he had too many thoughts in his head and no way to let them out. As such he isn't looking where he's going and doesn't realize he's not until he bumps into someone. "Oh sorry," he says sheepishly rubbing his hand through his hair embarrassed. "Kinda lost in my own thoughts, are you okay?"

In the Park:

Jack loved to jog in Central Park. He was a people watcher by nature. So he loves to jog without listening to music or a podcast. Then he would relax on a bench in the middle of the park sipping some water and eating a light snack. He was doing that now nibbling some peanuts and cheese as he hummed one of the songs from his new show. So far everything around him was staying what it was supposed to be...but he knew that could change given what is going on. He sighed and took another sip of water. No one said being Different would be easy.

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Jack was a bit nervous as he walked into the coffee shop. He'd known there might be a possibility he would be connected to more of the Different, but for some reason his possible connection to John was scaring him for reasons he doesn't understand. Almost like he's afraid of disappointing the other man.

He took a deep breath as he looked around for the other man.

Given that he often biked across Manhattan on a daily basis - when school was in session or he had business on campus, anyway - a short twenty minute ride to the coffee shop in question wasn't much of an issue - even if it was later at night. After his conversation with Jack over the Network, something within him felt, well - alive. He practically vibrated with questions that he knew neither of them had the answer to, and his mind, nimble as it was, whirled. He spent the entire ride mostly distracted, though he was careful not to cross any wayward cab drivers on the road. If he'd been standing still, he would have been bouncing on the heels of his feet, or pacing, anything to try and vent the nervous energy that he was feeling.

John had been hoping that he would have arrived on time, so Jack wouldn't have had to wait for him, but as it turned out, he was fashionably early, and wound up having to do exactly that - venting nervous energy - after chaining his bike up. Hands in his jeans pockets, he kept glancing through the crowds, impressive even at this time of night, and swallowed a bit. He ran a hand through his purposely messy hair, letting his palm rest against the back of his neck, and took a few breaths. The theatres had just let out, it looked like, judging by the number of people filling the sidewalks looking for post show meals or snacks. He realized then that he hadn't eaten since lunch - he'd been dreadfully distracted with everything, least of all a research plan turned lemon flavored -

Aha! There!

Through the crowd, he spotted who he thought must have been Jack based on their brief interaction online, and raised a hand. He smiled a bit playfully; it would have almost had a hint of mischief to it in another place.

"There you are - hello~!" he called out pleasantly, and turned to stride towards him.

Jack smiles at John and walks through the shop to meet him halfway offering out his hand. "Hey John right," he says, his voice slightly raspy given he's done two shows today and he hasn't had a chance to refresh yet. "Thanks for coming this way so late. It's nice to meet you in person." He smiles as warmly as he can. "So what do you like to drink," he adds, "my treat."

"Yes, it's John! Jack, it is nice, isn't it? Better than over the internet, in any case."

It was a nice smile that Jack had, John decided, though he picked up on a bit of strain in his voice. Well, he had said he was an actor, so perhaps he was simply tired? A drink might help that issue - he wasn't well versed in theatrical practices and necessity, or vocal training, but it made some sort of logical sense. Reaching over, he opened the door to the coffee shop to let Jack pass inside first.

"Oh no, no, thank you for coming after your shows; you must be tired. I didn't do anything today but make boring old lesson plans for classes starting next week. I have no excuse." He laughed a little, his expression bright despite the late night - but he was the sort of person who operated on very little sleep as it happened, and would likely end up being awake late after this coffee date - was it a date? Couldn't be a date, no - had ended.

"Coffee's alright; helps me get through the days I suppose. I prefer a nice cup of tea though - goes down a bit more smoothly. I've never stopped into this shop, so I'll see what they have." His dark eyes cast a sideways glance at his new companion - and something about that word seemed deeply appropriate for some reason - and smiled. It was a warm, inviting sort of smile; he didn't often or easily make friends, and so it was nice to meet someone that he had something in common with - Sure, it was something intensely weird that they had in common, but still!

They also hadn't yet brought up this mysterious Rose - a connection that they may or may not have shared, and the fact that they both seemed as though they'd known one another once.

Strange.

"Tell you what. If you get it this time, I'll get it the next time, fair?"

"Sounds like a plan," Jack says, leading the way to the counter and greeting the girl manning it warmly. He comes here as often as he can when he's in a show because he loves the tea and the quiet he found here. "One lemon tea with two sugars and a grilled cheese and my friend will have?" It feels weird to be taking the lead like this with John. Part of him feels like he should be following John, but he can't understand where that feeling is coming from. As far as he knows the only connection he has to John right now is Rose Tyler whoever she is.

"I prefer coffee too," Jack admits, "but after a round of shows tea is better for my throat." He makes a quick face "Even though I'm not the biggest fan of lemon haven't been since I was a kid."

It did feel a touch strange, letting Jack lead them inside - as if they'd walked - or ran - together plenty of times in the past, and he'd always been in the lead. It was impossible; of course - they'd never met one another before on the Network today! Still, John sidled up behind Jack, perhaps just a hair closer than was generally necessary - his sense of personal boundaries lacked at times - and glanced up at the menu.

"Just a black tea - hot, please, uh, and ooh! A slice of that banana bread." He liked his tea strong - his friends used the words 'bitter and oversteeped' - but he was considering a bit of milk tonight. He glanced aside at Jack, smiling a bit. His dark eyes were bright. "Already ate dinner, but didn't want you to sit there eating alone." The smile he offered was a bit cheeky, and he took a half step back, thanking him for his kindness.

"Nah, don't have lemon in my tea, ever, really. Maybe a bit of milk and sugar, but not lemon. What show are you performing, by the way? Need to know so I can look it up and buy a ticket."

The cheek continued, even as he glanced around the somewhat crowded shop for a table they could steal away from the rest of the customers. Somewhere that they could talk, quietly, about the mysterious Rose and what, if any, connection, they had.

"Oh! There! I'll go snag the table, eh?"

Jack grins at John as they talk. "The show is called the "Odysseus' Journey ``, it's a musical version of the Odyssey by Homer. It just went into previews if you want cheap tickets. I also get tickets and I'd be willing to leave a pair at Will Call for you." He shrugs. "it's not as cheesy as you think...more Le Miz then 42 St. I play Hermes and the shepherd who takes Odysseus in when he finally gets home, through the show kind of implies it's Hermes helping Athena out...I have a couple of duets and a small solo, not really a star turn but again those kind of roles aren't my thing."

John was, admittedly, out of his realm of expertise. He did not know theatre, plays, or the like - but it wasn't that he din't enjoy them! He simply hadn't really studied them. Now, as he settled into a chair opposite his new companion, Jack, perhaps he had more of a reason to do so. He grinned a bit wider at the idea of tickets.

"Oh! Wouldn't dream of not paying for the tickets - you all have to get paid, after all! But I do like a bit of the Odyssey. Maybe I'll come to tomorrow's evening performance, eh? But no spoilers!" It was a bit of cheek, considering everyone knew how The Odyssey ended these days. Still, he wanted to support his fellows, and especially Jack, now that they were seated face to face. More and more, now that they had met in person, he felt something...a pull, perhaps, but he couldn't rightly explain it. He leaned forward on the table, clasping his hands together.

"Nothing as interesting at my job as a theatrical performance, but I have a hell of a telescope and a great planetarium if you wanted a peek at the stars," he teased a bit. Was he...flirting? Did he flirt now? Or was it something about this mysterious connection that sort of brought it out in him?

And, on that note...even though they hadn't received their food and drinks yet...

"So...Rose Tyler, eh? I saw her - in my Memory. Just for a moment. It's a common enough name, but...well." John tilted his head lightly to the side. "Not sure I believe in coincidence these days."

Jack leans in as John does and can't help the soft laugh as the other man talks. He feels a pull too and a hesitation almost like he's afraid of what he's feeling. "I'd love to see your telescope," he said, "I've always loved the stars. Part of me wishes I could have joined NASA but I'm not as smart as my sisters."

Then John mentions Rose Tyler and Jack's smile melts off his face. "I know I don't," he said, "Every time I hear that name I feel....sad....but I can't figure out why."

For a half moment, John wondered if there was a double entendre there to be had that he could play with, but he quickly let it go. There were more important things to discuss than cheeky flirtations - for now, anyway. A great mystery laid out before him, and he was determined to try and understand more about who he apparently was beneath his mundane life here.

"Well. I'll take you there. And I'm willing to bet you're plenty smart - everyone has their own skills, talents, areas of expertise. Doesn't make you any less intelligent if yours is in acting and theirs is in maths."

He offered Jack a warm smile and reached out, patting him just as warmly on the shoulder. It was almost a shame to see the smile flee his face, but...well. John let out a breath and considered what he knew for a moment.

"I'm sad when I think about Rose as well. In my dream, she and I were...stopping. These Daleks. They were being drawn into some sort of vacuum, and I know it's absolutely mad, but they were alien...robotic sort of things, apparently. And the whole thing would have failed if she hadn't...reached out and pulled the lever. And then she was gone. Drawn into, I assume some other plane of existence. A man saved her in the very end, and I...was alone. She was pretty. Blonde...you know, it's strange?" He sat back as their drinks and food arrived, and politely thanked the server before he went for his tea. He took a sip, but only just, as it was still dreadfully scalding.

"...It's strange, but when I saw you pop into my feed earlier, I swear I'd seen you before. I think I mentioned that? But I haven't ever been to a show, and don't watch that much television either. Do you think...perhaps we know one another? In this...other place?"

The touch on his shoulder feels familiar and for a moment Jack's mind goes blank as his body soaks in the warmth. He mentally gives himself a shake as he answers the question. "I think we did," he says, "there are two other men who look like you here Alec and Anthony...and while I've had the same hesitation with them as I do with you....sitting here with you feels different then being around them does." Jack is still navigating this whole being Different thing and there is still a lot he doesn't understand, but he's also been good about listening to his instincts and right now they are telling him John is someone his old self knew though he doesn't know how they knew each other and what happened between them. "I'm sure we knew each other in our Different lives...that we have a history that might be important."

Jack sips his tea feeling slightly silly for having said that. What if he was wrong? What if John and Rose were just some sort of passing friendship? Jack wasn't sure he could handle the idea of that. "Of course all this is probably me making too much of things again my friend Martha always says I think too much."

"Oh, I've met Alec - not in person, just over the Network. Not a bad fellow, but he seemed very...disgruntled that I was so enthused about having doppelgangers. But...yeah, I know what you mean. When you first responded to my post, I really thought that I..."

John smiled a bit, eyes bright. He took a drink of his tea, and took the moment of silence to mull over the possibilities. It was still so very strange, thinking about this whole Different situation, and what it meant. But there was also some comfort in the idea that there was someone out there who shared an experience beyond just the status of being Different.

"...I thought for a second that I knew you. It's sort of funny, though - it was almost as though I was relieved to see you - and I almost felt sad. Like a pang of regret - and fondness. But...it also felt like those weren't my thoughts. It felt like...the horror and panic when I lost Rose in my Memory. It was my Memory, but it also was something I experienced as someone else. So...maybe you're not making any sense, but maybe you're also onto something."

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Coffee Date: Closed to John Smith

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Re: Coffee Date: Closed to John Smith

Re: Coffee Date: Closed to John Smith

Re: Coffee Date: Closed to John Smith

Re: Coffee Date: Closed to John Smith

Re: Coffee Date: Closed to John Smith

Re: Coffee Date: Closed to John Smith

Re: Coffee Date: Closed to John Smith

Re: Coffee Date: Closed to John Smith