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Fic: Stepping Sideways: A Jack in the Box (2/4)
And part 2! :)
Chapter 1 and notes here.
Summary: “Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” – Miriam Beard (or: The Seeker takes some time out to travel and think things over)
Setting: Between A Good Day and The Death and Life of Rodageitmososa. (This is AU, but within New Who between Name of the Doctor and The Day of the Doctor.)
Spoilers: A Good Day. But can easily be read on its own.
Rating: PG-13.
Characters: The Third Seeker (OC), Alt!Capt Jack (during his con man days)
Beta: Um... That would be a no. All mistakes mine.
Feedback: Would be amazing. :)
Stepping Sideways: A Jack in the Box
“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” – Henry Miller
Two.
The fish was not alone. Ze was flanked by two other Time Agents, also fully armed and with their guns aimed at his and his new friend’s heads.
“Hands where I can see them and backs against the wall,” the fish snapped, and Jack sighed. This well and truly ruined a promising day. “And don’t even think about using your teleport.”
As he took a step back, he shot his handsome crush an apologetic look. He was about to say something, but the look on the other’s face gave him pause. He looked neither frightened or worried, no; he seemed… amused.
“You never change,” the stranger then said, studying Jack fondly. “It’s very reassuring.”
“Silence! We have no quarrel with you, but if you are an… associate of this man, we will need to question you. Who are you?”
The amusement changed to a cold smile as the stranger lifted his chin, somehow looking down on their captors even though they towered over them.
“Since you ask so nicely. I am the Seeker, and these… are my friends.”
He turned his palms upwards, and out of the thin air four metal spheres appeared. For a second Jack thought they were maybe some kind of cameras, until sharp knives abruptly emerged and within moments were at the Time Agents’ throats.
Jack stared, stunned, as ‘the Seeker’ then reached into his pocket and brought out an oblong, brushed metal tool.
‘The Seeker’ - odd name, to go with an odd guy. But he seemed to be very enterprising, so Jack wasn’t about to complain.
“Right, we’ll be off then – don’t try to fight, my friends are very trigger-happy…”
And - pressing a button on the tool - the interior of a spaceship grew up around them.
Jack considered himself pretty fly in the ways of escaping a sticky situation, but this one was new! Cute and smart, was there no end to his new friend’s talents?
In a flash, the Seeker was at the controls and they took off to… wherever. Jack was too busy studying the beautiful control room to care. The central console was hexagonal, with a central golden column and enough ingenious controls to make anyone weak at the knees in appreciation.
Around the edges were what looked like cupboards as well as seating, the colour scheme mostly white with red accents in the furnishings. Unusual, but definitely welcome.
“Nice outfit,” he grinned, as the spheres popped up again.
“Jack!” they chirped, in strange and somewhat unsettling voices, and the Seeker held up a hand to get their attention.
“Listen my little murderballs! This is a different Jack to the one you know, just like the Doctor that we met was different, OK? So please say a nice hello.”
“Hello Jack,” they sing-songed, and the Seeker nodded, pleased.
“Right Jack - this is Harvey, Princess, Bonnie and Clyde.
Jack waved at them vaguely, making a mental note to ask if they were robots or something else, but not really caring. Right now, his interest was elsewhere.
“Look, I believe we were having a moment…” he said, insinuating himself into the Seeker’s personal space. “And if we’re out of harm’s way, I’d say this would be the perfect opportunity to get better acquainted.”
And there is was again - that soft, fond smile, that pinged something that Jack couldn’t place. Something at the tip of his tongue; familiar, yet unexpected. The Seeker looked younger than Jack, but if Jack was a judge of people - and he was pretty good at that, even if he said so himself - the Seeker was a great deal older than he looked...
“You are incorrigible,” the Seeker chuckled, “I thought you’d at least ask about my ship before trying to seduce me…”
“Well, you tell me all about the gorgeous levers and handles, and how powerful your engine is and all the clever little tricks it can perform, and I’ll focus on trying to make you fly. Deal?”
There would be pillow talk afterwards. But the abrupt burst of adrenaline that the sudden peril had brought with it was still tingling under his skin, and he could think of no better way of spending it than by getting his handsome new friend out of his clothes.
Sadly his new friend didn’t fall into his arms the way he was hoping.
“Look, I have known you my whole life. This isn’t going to be simple…”
Curiouser and curiouser. But Jack was now determined to hang around. The Seeker was a mystery to unravel in every way.
“Here, let me show you the outside,” the Seeker smiled, pressing a button to open the door. Puzzled, but presuming the other wouldn’t go to all this trouble just to ditch him now, he stepped outside… And realised that his catch was something very different to what he had ever imagined.
tbc...
Chapter 1 and notes here.
Summary: “Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” – Miriam Beard (or: The Seeker takes some time out to travel and think things over)
Setting: Between A Good Day and The Death and Life of Rodageitmososa. (This is AU, but within New Who between Name of the Doctor and The Day of the Doctor.)
Spoilers: A Good Day. But can easily be read on its own.
Rating: PG-13.
Characters: The Third Seeker (OC), Alt!Capt Jack (during his con man days)
Beta: Um... That would be a no. All mistakes mine.
Feedback: Would be amazing. :)
“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” – Henry Miller
The fish was not alone. Ze was flanked by two other Time Agents, also fully armed and with their guns aimed at his and his new friend’s heads.
“Hands where I can see them and backs against the wall,” the fish snapped, and Jack sighed. This well and truly ruined a promising day. “And don’t even think about using your teleport.”
As he took a step back, he shot his handsome crush an apologetic look. He was about to say something, but the look on the other’s face gave him pause. He looked neither frightened or worried, no; he seemed… amused.
“You never change,” the stranger then said, studying Jack fondly. “It’s very reassuring.”
“Silence! We have no quarrel with you, but if you are an… associate of this man, we will need to question you. Who are you?”
The amusement changed to a cold smile as the stranger lifted his chin, somehow looking down on their captors even though they towered over them.
“Since you ask so nicely. I am the Seeker, and these… are my friends.”
He turned his palms upwards, and out of the thin air four metal spheres appeared. For a second Jack thought they were maybe some kind of cameras, until sharp knives abruptly emerged and within moments were at the Time Agents’ throats.
Jack stared, stunned, as ‘the Seeker’ then reached into his pocket and brought out an oblong, brushed metal tool.
‘The Seeker’ - odd name, to go with an odd guy. But he seemed to be very enterprising, so Jack wasn’t about to complain.
“Right, we’ll be off then – don’t try to fight, my friends are very trigger-happy…”
And - pressing a button on the tool - the interior of a spaceship grew up around them.
Jack considered himself pretty fly in the ways of escaping a sticky situation, but this one was new! Cute and smart, was there no end to his new friend’s talents?
In a flash, the Seeker was at the controls and they took off to… wherever. Jack was too busy studying the beautiful control room to care. The central console was hexagonal, with a central golden column and enough ingenious controls to make anyone weak at the knees in appreciation.
Around the edges were what looked like cupboards as well as seating, the colour scheme mostly white with red accents in the furnishings. Unusual, but definitely welcome.
“Nice outfit,” he grinned, as the spheres popped up again.
“Jack!” they chirped, in strange and somewhat unsettling voices, and the Seeker held up a hand to get their attention.
“Listen my little murderballs! This is a different Jack to the one you know, just like the Doctor that we met was different, OK? So please say a nice hello.”
“Hello Jack,” they sing-songed, and the Seeker nodded, pleased.
“Right Jack - this is Harvey, Princess, Bonnie and Clyde.
Jack waved at them vaguely, making a mental note to ask if they were robots or something else, but not really caring. Right now, his interest was elsewhere.
“Look, I believe we were having a moment…” he said, insinuating himself into the Seeker’s personal space. “And if we’re out of harm’s way, I’d say this would be the perfect opportunity to get better acquainted.”
And there is was again - that soft, fond smile, that pinged something that Jack couldn’t place. Something at the tip of his tongue; familiar, yet unexpected. The Seeker looked younger than Jack, but if Jack was a judge of people - and he was pretty good at that, even if he said so himself - the Seeker was a great deal older than he looked...
“You are incorrigible,” the Seeker chuckled, “I thought you’d at least ask about my ship before trying to seduce me…”
“Well, you tell me all about the gorgeous levers and handles, and how powerful your engine is and all the clever little tricks it can perform, and I’ll focus on trying to make you fly. Deal?”
There would be pillow talk afterwards. But the abrupt burst of adrenaline that the sudden peril had brought with it was still tingling under his skin, and he could think of no better way of spending it than by getting his handsome new friend out of his clothes.
Sadly his new friend didn’t fall into his arms the way he was hoping.
“Look, I have known you my whole life. This isn’t going to be simple…”
Curiouser and curiouser. But Jack was now determined to hang around. The Seeker was a mystery to unravel in every way.
“Here, let me show you the outside,” the Seeker smiled, pressing a button to open the door. Puzzled, but presuming the other wouldn’t go to all this trouble just to ditch him now, he stepped outside… And realised that his catch was something very different to what he had ever imagined.
tbc...
no subject
The imagery in "these are my friends", calling back to The Sound of Drums/Last of the Time Lords is very much not missed. It works well, for us the readers, because of course it has no impact on not-quite-Jack.
It's interesting to note that since this isn't his universe, and he doesn't plan to stick around, there's a degree to which the Seeker has free reign to uh, not be careful for lack of better wording. He can allow himself the vanity of dramatic flourishes - to impress Jack? - and sharing his name with potentially dangerous information. It also shows the almost ego rush he got at the end of A Good Day that comes crashing down in the fic after this one. He just saved the universe. He can do what he likes.
Jack's characterisation continues to be both amusing and spot-on. I like seeing this from Jack's POV, even though the Journey is the Seeker's, because in a way he's the audience as much as we are. I appreciate the rogue-ish nature and the incorrigible flirt showing through, along with an apology for dragging the Seeker into his mess, even though he could easily have just abandoned him (perhaps, it depended how events would have gone without the TARDIS).
And now you've left me pining for more with YET ANOTHER CLIFFHANGER. You are evil. I have my guesses where they are...
no subject
Another interesting chapter and one that didn't go the way I expected it to go.
:D
I assumed it would be dealt with in a Jack-like manner but then I didn't take into account that this is 1. the Seeker we're talking about and 2. just after A Good Day so the way that the Seeker steps in makes... perfect sense.
I like it when I manage to surprise people, yet in an 'oh of course' way, if that makes sense.
The imagery in "these are my friends", calling back to The Sound of Drums/Last of the Time Lords is very much not missed. It works well, for us the readers, because of course it has no impact on not-quite-Jack.
That's it - that moment, in A Good Day, was horrifying for his nearest and dearest. Here... it's just surprising and unexpected, and not-quite-Jack has no understanding of what he's seeing.
It's interesting to note that since this isn't his universe, and he doesn't plan to stick around, there's a degree to which the Seeker has free reign to uh, not be careful for lack of better wording. [...] He can do what he likes.
I love how you phrase all of this. He's done pretty much the same in Pete's World, and yes, there's a good deal of 'I won the war, I can do whatever the hell I like'. Not quite Victorious a la Ten, but his self-assurance hasn't had cause to be undermined (yet). Well, there was his regeneration, which put a big check on his vanity, but it has in many ways made him more cautious and more of a control-freak. He thinks that as long as he is in charge, he can make everything work.
Jack's characterisation continues to be both amusing and spot-on.
I have all the love for Jack. Partly because he's also perfectly self-assured, which makes for a nice contrast in their approach.
I like seeing this from Jack's POV, even though the Journey is the Seeker's, because in a way he's the audience as much as we are.
Exactly!
I appreciate the rogue-ish nature and the incorrigible flirt showing through, along with an apology for dragging the Seeker into his mess, even though he could easily have just abandoned him (perhaps, it depended how events would have gone without the TARDIS).
I'm not even sure how he would have gotten out of it. I don't think he knows either. It would have depended on the situation.
And now you've left me pining for more with YET ANOTHER CLIFFHANGER. You are evil. I have my guesses where they are...
... That was an unintentional cliff hanger. Um. You'll see.
no subject
... That was an unintentional cliff hanger.
Unintentional cliffhangers are also evil yet fun. They make you have to rethink what you're doing with a story. (Is this the chapter we were discussing the cliffhanger about on Hangouts the other day? If so, you made a good call, so far.)
Also, I think I'm starting to work out how your mind works ;)
Not quite Victorious a la Ten, but his self-assurance hasn't had cause to be undermined (yet).
The Seeker's too. It's a power rush, and not one he's realised, yet. It's not that he thinks he's omnipotent, or that everything should obey him, but he thinks he's Very Clever and that it means everything will be simple enough to figure out. A Peter Pan quote comes to mind: "Oh the cleverness of me!" Obviously not that simple, but the Seeker IS still innocent, in some regards.
no subject
I was eating dinner. :)
Unintentional cliffhangers are also evil yet fun. They make you have to rethink what you're doing with a story. (Is this the chapter we were discussing the cliffhanger about on Hangouts the other day? If so, you made a good call, so far.)
Um, no this was not the one AT ALL. This one I didn't realise could be seen as a cliffhanger.
Also, I think I'm starting to work out how your mind works ;)
*wraps self in mystery* You know NOTHING! *Jedi mindtrick swirly cape*
The Seeker's too. It's a power rush, and not one he's realised, yet. It's not that he thinks he's omnipotent, or that everything should obey him, but he thinks he's Very Clever and that it means everything will be simple enough to figure out.
Well, like I said, 2nd Seeker managed to kill himself, so that was quite the check on his vanity. But 2nd Seeker was also a bit more impulsive... No not impulsive, over-confident. 3rd Seeker is a control-freak in response (look how carefully he manages everything in A Good Day). And he IS very clever. He feels a little... disappointed that none of his friends really appreciated his cleverness, which might be why he (subconsciously) seeks them out in other worlds. Like "How do you like me now?"
no subject
Another cliffhanger? Oh man!
no subject
And I am still surprised that people think it's a cliffhanger. I mean, it's great, but that's not what I meant it to be...
no subject
– Years of training. From both of them, though the Doctor wouldn’t want to think it was also partly his fault. And yet…
DOCTOR: Why even do it? Even if you could get your hands on a brand new Time Lord, what for?
VASTRA: A weapon?
DOCTOR: Why would a Time Lord be a weapon?
VASTRA: Well, they've seen you.
DOCTOR: Me?
The central console was hexagonal, with a central golden column and enough ingenious controls to make anyone weak at the knees in appreciation.
– Love not-yet-Jack not recognizing the TARDIS…
“Listen my little murderballs!
– Ouch. Yes, technically true. Also technically true that they’ve just killed all the Daleks, which is a fundamentally good thing. But… still hard to hear the Seeker call them that.
no subject
Good point. (Remind me, have you read Dune?)
From both of them, though the Doctor wouldn’t want to think it was also partly his fault. And yet…
Oh, nice one. And the Seeker would definitely adhere to that world view.
– Love not-yet-Jack not recognizing the TARDIS…
It's both fun and frustrating to have to describe stuff YET AGAIN. Am glad you like it, rather than your eyes glazing over.
– Ouch. Yes, technically true. Also technically true that they’ve just killed all the Daleks, which is a fundamentally good thing. But… still hard to hear the Seeker call them that.
Killing Daleks is good. He has zero regrets. The fact that his friends all decided to be upset was unfortunate, but he'd not have done anything differently.
I'm reminded of this little exchange from Busman's Honeymoon:
The Seeker has a very logical mind. He wanted the thing done, the consequences be damned.
no subject
– I haven’t. I inherited my sister’s copy, so I’ve really no excuse, but I haven’t gotten around to it yet.
Killing Daleks is good. He has zero regrets
– I think my problem here isn’t him killing the Daleks (and now I want an icon of the little boy from Princess Bride saying “Killing the Daleks is good”), but him calling them “little murderballs”. Which yes, they can be, and that was what the Master originally used them for, but... possibly as unrealistically as Allison, I don’t want the Seeker to consider that just one of his options, and accept is so casually. I get that he does, but I... don’t like it. So murdering Daleks, totally fine. Potentially murdering people that casually, less happy about.
no subject
Huh. How odd. Well, I can't throw parallels (and differences) at you. Nevermind.
So murdering Daleks, totally fine. Potentially murdering people that casually, less happy about.
I am not entirely sure how you get from an amusing (but true) nickname to presuming that the Seeker would order them to kill on a whim/for fun. Quill's fannish nickname is #murderwife (as you probably know) and I don't see much of a difference.