Jack Harkness' room :: Mid-2005 timewarp AU :: Milliways

[othercaptjack]

Jack's room is mostly basic, it has to be said.

In fairness, he hasn't had much chance to make it his own - it has only been (ahem) somewhere private to go that is not the TARDIS for when he visits Milliways.

And since he is not Bound, for most of the time it stays empty, storing just some clean clothes and basic necessities (well - basic if you're Jack) and not much else.


There is this to be said for it, too:

The door may be locked, but it is not booby-trapped.

Lucky for some.

Comments

[puckishly.livejournal.com]

Puck is gone about five minutes.

When he returns, it's perched on the balcony rail, and he is picking dirt insouciantly from beneath his nails.

"There is little to the roof but a view," he says.

"I think you might manage the climb, had you a mind to."

[oneman_onevote]

Havelock has made himself busy in the meantime, and two doors - one to the outside corridor, and the one through which they are arrived - are now effectively barred with what chairs and tables he could find; the other doors stand open from when he had checked to see where they led. They are mostly bedrooms, but two lead to small bathrooms (complete with jacuzzis, because the proprietress has her priorities straight) and one to a smaller private bar.

He reappears from the latter once he hears Puck's voice, and nods thoughtfully.

"I may well do before too long," he says. "Though we are reasonably secure here for the moment - and there may be a way downstairs that bypasses the corridors."

[puckishly.livejournal.com]

"From the roof, do you mean?"

Puck looks inquisitive.

[oneman_onevote]

Havelock shakes his head, and moves back into the room he had been investigating.

"Here," he says, going to the wall, which has a discreet hatch installed. From the size of the thing, it looks tight but possible for even a tall man like Havelock to climb into.*

"This probably goes down to the kitchens."

So saying, he starts undoing the hatch to have a look.



* Milliways remains committed to the easy and convenient flow of the narrative.

[puckishly.livejournal.com]

And in a flash, Puck is there at his side to peer down the hatch himself.

"In the kitchens," he notes, conversationally, "there is likely to be food."

[oneman_onevote]

"That's the usual state of affairs," Havelock agrees solemenly.

[puckishly.livejournal.com]

Puck's gaze slides suspiciously to him.

He cannot tell if the mortal is mocking him.

[oneman_onevote]

Havelock's face is as calm and unreadable as ever, opening the hatch and looking first up and then down into the darkness.



It may be a question that not even the ages can answer.

[puckishly.livejournal.com]

The longer this moment of calm and non-readability extends, the more clearly Puck's expression darkens into glowering territory.






"... What is your name?"

[oneman_onevote]

Havelock's gaze slides sideways to catch Puck's.

He considers for a moment - there are various theories he has read on the importance of names to faeries, enough to instill a vague caution. (Or a little more than his baseline, at any rate.)

Still.


"Havelock."

[puckishly.livejournal.com]

"Havelock," Puck repeats.

He seems faintly surprised that the dreadful mortal has a name at all, but rolls with it.

And, only slightly sarcastic, says, "Enchanting to make your acquaintance."

[oneman_onevote]

Havelock raises his eyebrows with the calm of complete innocence.

"Likewise."

His face may lie, but he rather thinks that this is quite true.

Even if it is only in the literal sense.

[puckishly.livejournal.com]

Puck, not sure what to do with that except scowl more, peers down into the darkness once again.

His fingers curl over the edge of the hatch and tap fitfully.


Then he makes a face.

"... We needn't go now."

[oneman_onevote]

Havelock keeps watching him, but shrugs amiably enough.

"Not necessarily, no. We should probably secure this area as far as we can first, in any case."


(Was that... tact?)

[puckishly.livejournal.com]

"Yes," Puck agrees, in a businesslike tone.

"Those creatures have such a capacity for the undoing of doors."

A glance back in the general direction from which they originally came.

"... Though now, so have we."

[oneman_onevote]

"Quite."

Havelock briefly looks less than happy about that, although it may equally be a trick of the light.

"I would currently rather we had a better way to seal them after us."


(Puck and Havelock: Not particularly well suited to technology Of The Future.)

[puckishly.livejournal.com]

"Perhaps one shall appear," Puck notes dryly.

Things have a way of doing that around here, although often, those things are him.

"In the meanwhile, what are we to do?"

This is his way of yielding to Havelock's likely superior knowledge of fortification and defense; mortals have much more to do with that than his sort ever have, the theory being that if you cannot stab, maul, or transfigure a problem, your best option is to hide.

[oneman_onevote]

"Well," Havelock says, turning to stare in a calculating manner at the rest of the room.

"I suppose we should really take advantage of being somewhere secure for the time being."

Hmm. Has he barricated absolutely everything necessary yet?

[puckishly.livejournal.com]

Puck appears on one of the voluptuous couches scattered about the central room. He casts a glance idly at the ceiling in a sort of show of looking for undefended areas.

Then he yawns.

"An I cannot eat-- and I cannot, until I will stir myself-- I think I had rather rest."

[oneman_onevote]

Havelock nods.

(So they sleep, creatures like Puck. He had wondered, among the hundreds of other wonderings he always has - that's one less, then.)

"I'll finish blocking the doors."


All night long, apparently.

[puckishly.livejournal.com]

Puck curls down onto the cushions, peering up at Havelock without moving anything but his eyes.

After a moment (and somewhat grudgingly), he says, "Perhaps, Havelock, I ought to come and be of aid, and the work be done the faster."

Surely the terrible m-- Havelock-- surely he must sleep.

[oneman_onevote]

Havelock waves an elegant hand in dismissal of the idea.

"One of us should stay alert. I may as well have something useful to do."

It's hardly the first time he's gone without sleep.

[puckishly.livejournal.com]

Puck's eyebrows arch.

"As you please," he says, and yawns again.

"But if I find you sleeping on your feet, I shall braid tangles in your hair."

[oneman_onevote]

Havelock rolls his eyes tolerantly, and heads for the door again.

"A grave consequence indeed. Go to sleep, Puck."

[puckishly.livejournal.com]

Puck's first instinct is to turn him into a toad.

But he can't do that right now.

So instead, he shifts slightly on the couch cushions.



After a long period of watchful, listening silence, he lets his eyes close.

But whether he's asleep or not is a question that can only be answered by the extremely discerning.