RP for mrsharker

[quitehomoerotic]

It's early evening and in the half light the Bay has a comfortable quiet. Jack sent the team off to have a little social time. They've all worked so hard lately and they could do with it. He went for a walk, somewhere with a high roof and a vantage point for him to look over the city.

He's back on his way home now, taking a slow stroll down Lloyd George Avenue and back towards Butetown and the Bay. Outside the Millennium centre are couples and people milling around, all preparing for an evening of entertainment. It makes Jack smile as he seems them all, all safe in this city he loves so much.

On his way across the Plass he takes a slight de-tour to one of the poster boards, to take a look at just what these people are waiting to see. The sight before him though is not one he expects, and one he's far from prepared for.

The face is familiar, oh so familiar, and his breath gets caught in his chest, taking him a moment or two to realise he isn't breathing at all.

"It can't be," he whispers, but there's nobody there to listen.

Jack's eyes are swimming and he's glued to the spot. This can't be right, he's sure this can't be right. Just an odd co-incidence. Someone who happens to look similar. It has to be. It can't be her.

But it doesn't hurt to make sure. So instead of back to the Hub, Jack heads into the Millennium center and with the aid of the word 'Torchwood', he goes backstage.

Comments

[mrsharker.livejournal.com]

Jonathan had always been better than she was at making sure they both took time for themselves. She'd been a good wife, but he had taken care of her, too, and made sure she didn't run herself ragged. It's been... a long time since she slowed down.

"I've missed you so much," Mina breathes, and she touches his hands on her face with her own small hands, one still gloved, the other bare.

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

"I've missed you too," Jack whispers, "so much." His thumb brushes delicately over her lips. He's desperate to kiss her, to hold her in his arms until the world around them just melts away.

"Where are you staying tonight?"

[mrsharker.livejournal.com]

She places a delicate kiss to the pad of his thumb, parting her lips just a little to allow him his explorations. (He was always a very sensual man, her husband...)

"Jolyons," she tells him. "Just off Bute Crescent. It's a tiny little quiet sort of place. Quite lovely, and they've been very helpful in accommodating my, ah, special requirements."

There's a reception going on that she's supposed to attend. In the back of her mind, Mina's expecting Carolyn to trot into the dressing room to find out what the hell is taking her so long.

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

Jack closes his eyes a moment, imagines that those lips are touching his own, not just his thumb.

"Oh I know it well." He smiles, glad she's staying somewhere so close. "I've used it many a time when I've had guests over. I live just out in the bay."

He grips gently on her hand that sits on his face and delicately draws it back until he can lift her fingers to his lips and delicately kiss them.

"Do you have plans tonight?"

[mrsharker.livejournal.com]

"Just the reception I'm supposed to be attending, ooh, probably right now?" Mina exhales a soft huffing laugh, barely a noise at all, but her eyes sparkle with it as she makes an 'oops?' face.

"Beyond that, I'm all yours." In so very many ways.

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

Jack laughs along with her, just gently under his breath. It's odd too that he notices just now, as time goes on, his accent seems to be gently slipping back towards Scottish again. An unconscious reaction.

"Glad to hear it." He smiles. "So should I wait for you?"

[mrsharker.livejournal.com]

"You could escort me," Mina smiles, "save me from making yet another entrance on my publicist's arm?"

She doesn't want him to go. Doesn't want him out of reach, lest he disappear again. Lest she lose the courage she's needing to open up this much.

"They usually have champagne..."

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

"I'd love to." Jack smiles. He was hoping she'd ask that, but didn't quite want to impose himself. It's odd really, how his attitude, just by being around her, seems to slip back into that which he used to have. The one he adopted when he created the character of Jonathan.

"Champagne?" His smile turns to a grin. "Well now I'm sold."

[mrsharker.livejournal.com]

"There's my street-clothes hanging on the rail: would you bring them over? If I change now, we can slip out of the reception without having to come back here again."

Coyly, she slips out of his arms and finds her cane again. There's a lovely dressing table area set up in front of a useless mirror and Mina finds her way over to sit down on the stool. "I will have to request your aid in a moment to unzip this dress."

The diamond earrings she wore for the concert are returned carefully to a jewelry box, and a pair of antique pearl chandeliers take their place. (An anniversary present, once upon a time, if she remembers correctly.) She slips off her second glove and unbinds her chestnut hair from the twisted updo, letting it cascade loosely in waves about her shoulders.

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

"Of course!" He steps over and takes the hanger from the rail, bringing the clothes over towards her.

He stands beside her, looking forward at her reflection, watching her as she moves, so utterly engrossed with every small little motion. Almost erotic in it's own way. The curve of her neck, the way her hands move and shift as she slides the glove from her delicate finger, the bounce of her hair as it falls against her skin. It's all beautiful to him. Like he's trapped within a dream.

"I'd be happy to." He smiles and reaches a hand down to her shoulder, just laying his fingers there, a contact that he craves, not wanting to let her go.

[mrsharker.livejournal.com]

She sets her hair with touch alone thanks to long practice and can't hide the smile that curves her lips as soon as she feels the warmth of his hand on her bare shoulder. "Thank you," Mina murmurs, rising to her feet and turning her back towards him. She gathers her hair over one shoulder out of the way of the zipper.

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

Jack brushes his fingers delicately over the bare skin along the back of the neck. A gentle indulgence before he reaches to find the zip. When he pulls it down it's slow, his eyes trying to take her in, trying to absorb this memory. It reaches the bottom and he steps back slightly, out of respect and duty, it seems. "There," he whispers, and his voice is a little hoarse.

[mrsharker.livejournal.com]

A shiver dances down the length of her spine at his soft touch and Mina's cheeks flush a delicate crimson. Although her back is to him, the mirror before her betrays the blush.

She slips her red evening gown off her shoulders and steps out of it, draping it over the dressing-table stool. Underneath, she's wearing a corselet and full petticoat, stockings and garters: ever the old-fashioned lady.

"Will you unzip my day-dress and hand it to me?"

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

As she steps from her dress, Jack finds himself needing to avert his eyes. She looks utterly stunning, to him, and if he intends to keep a clear head, he'd best not look.

"Of course, of course." He speaks quickly, and if possible, a little flustered. After fumbling with the zip on the dress he hands it over to her, and allows himself just a moment to look at her, to gaze from head to toe. His hand reaches out and holds her waist, half to offer support, half to just be touching her again.

"Here," he whispers.

[mrsharker.livejournal.com]

Mina steps carefully into the red and black day dress, grateful for his supporting hand. His tone is soft, husky, and she remembers only too well the promises that particular voice used to herald.

"And zip again," she prompts quietly, unsure of quite what else to say.

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

And he does just that, responding to her every whim. His hands smooth down the silk of her shoulders, cautiously brushing her hair back, his fingers touching the back of her neck, just at the root of her hair. He lingers there a moment, in that touch, before drawing himself back with a slight cough to clear his throat.

"Right. So. Shall we go?"

[mrsharker.livejournal.com]

"I'm not quite ready." Mina smiles fondly -- another series of memories brought to the fore. She finds her gloves again and pulls them back on. She toes out of her indoor shoes and into a pair of very impractical, borderline-fetish black patent leather heels. A bracelet over the gloves, a spray of perfume, another slick of scarlet lipstick. All the little details to complete her outfit.

"Will you carry my coat?" she asks. There's a red wool overcoat hanging on the same rack her street clothes had been. "It would be rude to emerge wearing it, but I don't want to have to come back for it."

She finds her handbag and slips the diamond earrings, perfume and lipstick in. Careful hands wander over the objects on her dressing table to verify that she's not forgotten anything.

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

"Sorry," Jack utters sheepishly. He rocks back and forth on his heels as he waits, watching her apply all the finishing touches, and add a good three inches to her height thanks to the shoes.

"Wow." He utters, when she's finally done. "You look... stunning." He reaches over to take her coat, draping it over his arm. "Of course."

He reaches his other out for her to take and hold. "You'll be the centre of attention in there."

[mrsharker.livejournal.com]

"Well, good: that is rather the intention," Mina teases warmly. (She feels almost girlish again: that's surprising.) "I have something of a fanbase, my beloved, and I would so loathe to disappoint."

She tucks her handbag over one shoulder and takes up her cane again. Unseeing, she misses the offered hand and takes a moment to re-orient herself in the room with the pattern of the ceiling lights. A careful, light sweep of the cane taps one of his feet, revealing his nearness to her and she half-turns her head towards him. "Believe me, I'd skip the reception if it wouldn't be intolerably rude."

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

"Well as long as they know that I'll be standing there watching them all," Jack teasingly warns. "And trust, me, I can be menacing when I want to." He laughs slightly and looks down with a smile.

Immediately he recognises his error. Foolish of him not to realise that she can't see the proffered hand. He reaches it forward, touching her arm lightly. "Here, take my arm."

"Well," he smiles, "I'd hate for you to be rude. And besides, I'm just happy to watch you."

[mrsharker.livejournal.com]

She remembers any number of occasions when his last comment had a more lascivious edge to it and turns her face to hide yet another blush. With the higher heels, she's almost tall enough to lay her head upon his shoulder as she takes his arm.

"There's never been anyone else," she tells him suddenly, unable to keep it in any longer. "I never remarried, or... no. Not ever."

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

Jack smiles as he sees her attempt to hide her blush. There's something warming in knowing he can, after all this time, still have that effect.

He keeps his arm strong, holding her delicately as he guides her from the room. "Where's this reception then?"

Her words take him off guard though. It's a little unexpected, and it makes him feel guilt too, when he considers the lives and loves he's had since. "I'm sorry," he whispers. "I should have been there."

[mrsharker.livejournal.com]

"You don't need to apologize," Mina makes a face. "I don't want sympathy or apologies or pity.... I just wanted you to know."

She half-turns back and pulls the dressing room door shut. "It should be out in the lobby. Carolyn's probably having a fit wondering where I am."

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

Jack nods briefly, "Okay," understated and whispered. He still feels bad by it, feels the need to apologise, more than just once. A simple word can't really make up for it, can it?

"The lobby it is then!" Jack holds her arm and gently directs her along through the corridors. "And good. Keep them waiting." He laughs slightly, his grin evident in the tone of his voice. "Does that mean I'm going to get in trouble with this Carolyn person?"

[mrsharker.livejournal.com]

"Carolyn's my publicist, and, yes, quite likely. Or at least I will be scolded. She's a little highly strung," Mina offers a crooked smile and draws them to a stop just before the doors from backstage to the lobby (she memorized the pattern of lights). She's not quite ready to emerge into public yet.

"I still can't believe you're here," she murmurs.