First entrance

[captgreatcoat]

[Torchwood Three, Cardiff, during episode 1.07, Greeks Bearing Gifts.]

Tosh is going to have to learn to believe in humanity herself. Nobody can instill that faith. However hard she's going to find it to learn, at least it won't be as hard -- or as costly -- as Jack's own lesson.

He shoves his hands into his coat pockets as he strides across Roald Dahl Plass, the breeze bringing the smell of the ocean in off the bay, ruffling in his hair and at the hem of his vintage RAF greatcoat.

Until suddenly, it isn't.

Jack's footsteps pause in mid-stride and he spins, hand going automatically to his holster to draw the Webley. The dim, warm light of the plaza at night is gone, just like the salt air and that playful little breeze. The sound of running water from the tower, the shape of the Millennium Centre with its hybrid verse spelled out in windows across its front.

Instead, he's in a bar.

A bar.

"What the hell?"

Comments

[bestpal]

Bucky is on his way past the bar when he catches sight of the man. The first thing he registers is the great coat. World War 2, officer, captain. The information comes easily to him and he follows the man silently into the bar. His hand goes to his knife as the Webley is drawn.

"Captain," he calls out. Steve wouldn't want innocent people to die. While Buck was sorting his memories out, his old best friend remains his moral compass. 'This is a civilian bar."

[captgreatcoat]

Captain.

He turns at the word, because most people he meets don't call him that until he's introduced. The voice doesn't sound familiar, but it could be somebody he's met. He's met a hell of a lot of people in his life.

Except that it's not. It's a young man, watching him warily with one hand to his side in the classic posture of a man preparing to draw a weapon. Tensed, alert, ready to react.

Just like Jack.

Jack's eyes narrow.

"And just what am I doing in this 'civilian bar'?" he says, his accent American despite the very British greatcoat. "And where the hell is it?"

That damn Rift is getting out of hand.

[bestpal]

"Somewhere in space." There are dates, figures that Bucky is told but they mean nothing to him. For a man out of time he thinks this will be the same. "Someone dropped us on a space ship for fun." He remembers Americans who joined the RAF before the Americans officially joined.

"It's a lot to take in."

[captgreatcoat]

So he's on a spaceship. Dropped from the middle of Cardiff onto a spaceship. Brilliant.

And apparently not because of the Rift.

That makes things more complicated. The Rift ... they may not understand it or know how to control it or stop it doing crazy stuff like this, but they'd at least have some idea, if it were the Rift.

"Someone? Does anyone know who?"

This guy's right. It is a lot to take in. Though maybe not for the reasons he thinks.

"You a soldier?" The guy has something of the look about him, something of the way of speaking.

And the description of the place as a 'civilian bar' is a bit of a hint, too, though someone recognizing Jack's coat as part of a uniform might call it that, too. Though ... it's not like Jack is exactly in that uniform. He hasn't worn it for over sixty years.

[tanteiotaku]

Did he have some kind of magnetism to new people? He was just trying to eat lunch. As such, he put a hand up toward Jack while he hurried to swallow so he could talk. "Careful now, the big guy in yellow with the wrinkly forehead is a little jumpy," he told him.

That jacket and his overall look shouted military of some kind. He didn't want to be a Ground Zero of an intergalactic incident.

[captgreatcoat]

It doesn't get a hell of a lot more unassuming than a young guy (in a very snappy shirt and waistcoat that sits really nicely on him) sitting down at a table and scoffing a meal. The guy holds a hand up in the air and Jack's lips purse as he glares at him for a moment, before letting out a sigh and lowering the gun. Lowering it, but not putting it away. Just yet.

No obvious threat there, but until he knows what the hell just happened, he's not about to put it away.

This is just great. What the hell's going on with the Rift now?

"Where is this?"

(That really is a nice shirt.)

[tanteiotaku]

Shotaro would be happy to talk menswear when the gun got put away. For now, he wiped at the corners of his mouth with a knuckle and approached Jack. "This is the USS Enterprise. The year is 2366. If you're more used to stardates, I can't help you there." He shrugged.

There was no harm in bringing him up to speed on what he knew about the place. "You were brought here by some kind of omnipotent being called Q. Because he was bored and he seems to like messing with Jean-Luc Picard, the captain of this ship." So no, no great heroic purpose here. "The alcohol's synthetic but if you ask nice Guinan might share the good stuff. So put the gun away and we'll talk."

[zerocharliexray]

"Oh, it ain't so bad, sugar."

This blonde is lounging near the bar, one leg crossed over the other at the knee, hiking the hem of her already dangerously short uniform skirt up even higher.

She flaps a hand at him, unperturbed. "You put that thing away! Nobody's got time for that kinda trouble."

[captgreatcoat]

That's a sound that's sweet to his ears. And a sight that's sweet to his eyes. He's always had a hard time saying no to a pretty girl, and this one has legs right up to here and some sort of uniform with a flippy little skirt that really makes the most of them.

He raises his eyebrows, trying (and failing pretty miserably) to stop himself smirking.

"I know I've seen worse sights."

He's got to like her poise, the way she dismisses his revolver with a wave of her hand, and the utter unconcern she's showing at his entrance.

It's kind of hot.

"Captain Jack Harkness," he says, as he slips the Webley back into its holster. "And who are you?"

[zerocharliexray]

"Zinda Blake."

Zinda's having a pretty fun night, and this fella's really only improving it: pretty blue eyes and a devilish smile: she gives him a grin over the rim of the old-fashioned martini glass she'd had the replicator conjure up for her.

Her eyes trail down his body as he reholsters his sidearm, and lingers on the flap of his coat as it opens and swings back against his...we'll say hip, but it sure seems like she gets a pretty good looksee all the way down to his shoe tips before she looks up and winks, cheeky. "You sure you only got one gun in there, Captain? Shame you've gotta put it away."

[morphitudinous]

Billy seems to enjoy reading over his collection of notes in the bar. It's a change of pace from the library environment, which has the unsettling feature of being a little too silent.

He looks up from his notes about Vulcans and Romulans when he sees---or rather, hears---a small commotion. Thankfully, the others seem to be on top of it, but he'll still offer help if given the opportunity.

He smiles up at the passing man. "We haven't been in any immediate danger. This whole situation thus far has only been a massive inconvenience."

[captgreatcoat]

"Only a massive inconvenience," he repeats, snappish, the words hard. Okay. So the guy's barely more than a kid. But being suddenly and instantaneously transported from right outside his base to wherever the hell this is has had a bad effect on his temper.

Which is not always entirely level to begin with. And today's events? Haven't helped.

But it's probably not the kid's fault, so he breathes deeply and nods.

"So what is this situation, then?" he asks, eyes scanning the room and not seeing any immediate signs of danger.

What is going on? Things get pretty weird in Cardiff, but this sounds more like something more organized than that. And that? Is perhaps even more unsettling than the thought that the Rift's doing its thing again.

[morphitudinous]

Billy flinches slightly---oh, he understands the aggravation, but it worries him. Especially after what he saw not too long ago, so he does his best to stay calm and on the level as he explains.

"We have an omnipotent being called Q harassing the captain. Q decided he'd have some fun, so he pulled people from across time and space and dumped them onto a newly stationary ship. We're currently waiting for the crew to fix the engines and to see if they're capable of returning us to our home eras---all in all, not a great experience. But a fascinating one."


He briefly gestures to his notes .

[immortalthief]

Amanda notices the new arrival, really who could miss him, and saunters over to his position.

Offering her hand, "Welcome to .." she looks around to remind herself where she is, turns back to him, "The Enterprise. I'm Amanda."

[captgreatcoat]

Well.

She's bold. Most people are not that confident at approaching a clearly startled guy who's just drawn a gun and is pointing it in their general direction. Not the case with this woman, who coolly wanders over and sticks out her hand, like the gun is of no concern to her whatsoever.

Most people have more self-preservation than that.

"Welcome to the Enterprise?" he asks, pulling a face that creases his forehead and wrinkles his nose. But he lowers the gun, because that helps when shaking hands.

(Okay. It's possible this could be some sort of trick or trap, but ... well, it's not like she could kill him.)

"What, are you the welcoming committee?" he asks, as he takes her hand. "Captain Jack Harkness." He even smiles as he shakes, but that's mostly because she's kind of cute. "So what the hell am I doing here?"

[immortalthief]

She's happy to see him lower the gun. It's far better he point it at her then one of the mortals in the room.

"It's nice to meet you." A warm smile, "Perhaps I should offer my services in an official capacity." joking, "I am like yourself, someone who found themselves unexpectedly on this ship. What we are doing here I have no idea. But like with most things in life, all we can do is make the best of it." she gives a playful wink, because well he is kind of cute too.

[do_your_duty]

"You're going to want to put that down now."

That voice is hard and perfectly flat. Absolute threat and order in one.

Aeryn wasn't looking to shoot anyone here. But as long as he was aiming his.

[captgreatcoat]

"Am I now?"

He was already on edge, reflexes sharp, ready to track any movement and lock onto it, watching, aiming, readying himself for defence, to shoot in a moment.

And now there's a woman pointing a gun right back at him.

Jack's hands are perfectly steady on the revolver as he aims it at her. He has no fear of her, or her gun. Not when he's here alone.

What's she going to do, shoot him?

[do_your_duty]

"Yes." It's unconcerned with consideration.

Like every good soldier, her gun is just another piece of her.

"You're probably not where you expected to be. But you shouldn't make it worse."



Don't go about accosting the Doctors for being honest either. It's just awkward, and idiotic.

[and_she_waited]

"Oi, don't you dare," shouts a voice, Highlands accent thick.

Sadly, Amy is without a police uniform this time about. She doesn't even have a cricket bat. Well, she makes do with what she's got, and what she's got is a glare that could make a petunia wilt.

She makes a little spinning gesture with a finger, indicating the hand on his Webley.

"I'll be havin' none of that, and neither will any of the blokes in gold," she warns.

Some people.

[captgreatcoat]

A guy never knows what to expect when he's instantaneously transported somewhere, and it's been a hell of a long time since that's happened to Jack. But if he'd had expectations, a Scot shouting at him would not have been among them.

It's not immediately apparent just what gives her any authority to start shouting at him about his gun.

There's only one person who gets to do that, and Jack hasn't seen him in well over a century.

"And just how are you going to stop me?" he asks, giving her an amused look, but when she mentions the blokes in gold, he looks around a little more closely, and that's when he sees the guys she means.

There's just something in the stance that gives away a security guy on duty, without him even having to be told who they are. They don't look happy.

Neither does Jack, as he lowers the gun.

[and_she_waited]

She holds up a hand, which is grasping what looks like a button. A red button, rimmed in pale gold.

"Self-destruct fail-safe," she says, deadly serious. "If this place goes tits up, I'm authorized to take every one of us out."

(What she's holding is a jammie dodger.)

[shut_up_dammit]

God, he just wanted a drink. Could new people stop showing up for a goddamn minute so he could at least enjoy his liquor? Normally he would ignore the new man's inevitable freak out, but this one had a gun and he, in good conscious, couldn't let him run around like that. He might shoot someone. Or demand answers from someone that didn't know anything.

Leonard didn't get up from his seat - he didn't want to alarm the man more than he already was - but he did wave at the bartender for another drink. He'd probably need one.

"Hey." His voice gently called to the man. "It's alright. You're in a new place. Try not to flaunt that goddamn gun of yours around and calm down."

[captgreatcoat]

As far as Jack's concerned, it's far from alright. Alright is being still in Cardiff, where he was a few seconds ago.

"What about this would encourage me to be calm?" he asks, his tone a little strained.

How did I get here is probably the first question most people would ask on suddenly arriving somewhere that has nothing to do with where they used to be. Jack, though, has played this particular game before. Not like this, of course, but ... well, weird things happen at Torchwood. And the Time Agency. And to companions of the Doctor.

It's not like you even really need to wonder too much what causes any wacky spatial disruptions in Cardiff. Not with a rift in space-time running through the city.

He sighs.

"So where exactly am I?"

[shut_up_dammit]

Leonard kept a completely straight face.

"Nothing sunshine, but freaking out isn't going to solve your damn problems. Sure in the hell didn't solve mine when I first got here."

And he's still here, look at that. Nothing changes. Of course, Leonard isn't the one for away missions and poking his nose for trouble that might kill him but could also send him home. Though he already knew the source of why he was here, which was probably more than a lot of the people on the ship knew.

"You're on the Enterprise in 2366. I don't know where the hell in space we are. That's a question for the original crew."