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

[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.

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

"Well I'd hate to keep Carolyn waiting." Jack says, utterly sarcastic, and very Jack, before seemingly retreating back into himself.

He turns his head to her and smiles softly, "But I am. And you are. And that's wonderful."

[mrsharker.livejournal.com]

"It is," Mina agrees. She steps around carefully finding her way to stand before him, tucks her cane against a nearby wall and puts her arms around him.

"You sound very American sometimes," she observes, remembering his comment that he'd been 'lying to her since they first met'. "Is that the real you?"

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

Jack ducks his head a little sheepishly. "Yeah. Yeah it is." He takes a deep breath, goes on. "But I'm not American. It's... complicated."

It's hard, but he whispers, "But I'll tell you the truth. Anything you want to know, I'll tell you."

[mrsharker.livejournal.com]

"I'll hold you to that," Mina smiles tenderly. She feels the shift in the air currents when he ducks his head and hears how close he's standing from his whisper; one hand cups his face -- mostly for guidance -- and she presses a sweet little kiss to his lips.

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

The kiss is unexpected but just wonderful, even in it's briefness. Lips he hasn't touched in such a long time. He savours it, pressing his own lips back against hers with a delicateness that seems hardly possible from a man such as Jack. He can't wait to spend time with her, and they have forever.

[mrsharker.livejournal.com]

She breaks the kiss after a moment and smiles privately, "Let's do this and then just go."

Mina leads the way out to the reception and is duly fussed over by a woman that could only be the infamous Carolyn. She's ushered over to a meet-and-greet table, champagne and a pen pressed into her hands, programs and CDs to sign. It seems interminable, the smiling and the small-talk.

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

Jack follows beside her, keeping close. He gets a glare from Carolyn which he dutifully ignores. He moves behind the table and stands there with his arms behind his back looking as though he's security. Out of the doors he can see the base of the water tower. It seems odd how two very different lives are clashing like this, so sudden and surprising.

He watches as people come along, gushing and praising Mina. His Mina. It warms his heart, and a smile spreads across his face, warm and happy.

[mrsharker.livejournal.com]

When the programs are all signed and the hands all shaken, and one or two offers of dinner politely and sweetly refused, she rises from her seat and informs Carolyn that she would arrive at the theatre for her call at 6:30 tomorrow night and until then, not to call.

"Unless the theatre's in flames or something similar," Mina smiles. "Goodnight Carolyn."

She glances around, unsure, remembering that Jonathan had given her the name he goes by here, but not remember what it was. "Are you there?" she calls out.

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

"I'm here, I'm here." Jack calls, only a step or so away, as he's been all evening watching her. It's dark outside now, and the lights from the Plass glisten in the moonlight.

He reaches his arm out and takes hers, letting her latch on to him. "Would you like to go for dinner?" He smiles softly.

"Because I'd love to take you."

[mrsharker.livejournal.com]

There had been a slight panic in her voice there, the possibility of losing him again so soon after finding him vivid in her mind. Mina relaxes visibly when he takes her arm. "I'd love to. As I said, I'm all yours."

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

"Perfect." Jack smiles and reaches over to where he left her coat. "Here, put this on. It's cold out." He holds it out open for her and gently directs her arm towards it.

"There's a little Italian place, just over the bay from here, it's lovely, we'll go there. I hope you'll like it."

Part of him wonders if he should feel guilty in suggesting it. The Italian in question after all is one which is his usual favoured date location for he and Ianto. But what can he do?