Seahorse steps: Wednesday Late Afternoon (after workshops)

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack was stretched out on the grass near the steps, basking in the afternoon heat -- shirtless, of course - he was back in Seawhorse, after all.

Oddly enough, he was also reading a book he'd handwavily picked up after his workshop. It wasn't as battered as Sam's copy, but the cover was the same.

There was a box of J,Gob's savoury muffins near his elbow, which he'd happily share, and a bottle of sunscreen, which he'd more than happily rub on share with anyone who wanted to join him in shirtlessness.

[As open as a thing that it is bounded neither by time nor space!]

Comments

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Rory helped herself to a muffin and considered the question. "I've been pretty good. My mother had her baby, and I spent last weekend in New York, so those are both good things. What's new with you? Did your trip go okay?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Congratulations on the - brother? sister? - and you seem happier, which is good." Jack sat up, and squeezed her shoulder. "Tell me you didn't go to New York by yourself? Because I would have gone with you, if I hadn't been in Mexico, drinking tequila and meeting the locals."

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"Brother," Rory answered, grinning. "And no, I went to New York with, um, a very good friend who hadn't seen the city before."

There, that seemed safe enough. "What part of Mexico did you visit? Tell me you weren't in TJ."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"A very good friend, huh?" Jack raised an eyebrow, but didn't say anything else. "TJ? I'm guessing...Tijuana? No, we passed through there, but we hit a bunch of places - mostly small towns. Great markets, great parties. I wouldn't mind going back sometime."

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"I've heard Tijuana's kind of tacky," Rory said, wrinkling her nose. "I'm glad to hear you made it to actual Mexico. Who were you traveling with? A very good friend of your own?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"It looked kind of tacky - like it had been invaded by drunken tourists." Jack's smile got a bit tight. "No, not so much. I was travelling with CJ."

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"Professor Cregg?" Rory asked curiously. "How's she doing?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"She's doing okay. I think she misses being here, though. Did you know her well?"

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"Not really? She was my teacher first term," she said with a small smile. "But she was fun. I'm glad she's well, in any case."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, she deserves to be happy," Jack said quietly, casting about for a subject change. "Are you still steering clear of the male of the species?"

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"Yup," Rory said a bit too quickly. "At least for awhile. I mean, having guy friends is fine, but no dating for me for awhile. Or flinging. Or any of that."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Uh huh." Jack stared at her, eyebrows raised.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"What?" Rory asked, blushing a bit darker. "I'm serious. No boys for me."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"I couldn't help but notice a certain boy who seems to spend a lot of time in the vicinity of my room, and he's not coming to see me," Jack said carefully. "You do remember I'm your next door neighbour, right?"

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

All of the blushing Rory had been doing abruptly stopped, and she paled.

"Oh. Duh. Um. We're just...very good friends?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Hey." Concerned, Jack reached out and wrapped his hands around her shoulders, squeezing reassuringly. "I'm not going to say anything, and if you tell me you're just very good friends, I'll believe you." He let her go and sat back. "Okay?"

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Rory gave him a hesitant smile, and after a second's consideration, softly replied, "As far as anyone knows, or can know, he and I are just very close friends. Whether that's true or not, I can't say, um, here. It's too easy for people to overhear, and the hypothetical level of secrecy's not just for kicks and giggles. But I promise I'll explain sometime when no one can be listening."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"I believe you, and you don't have to explain. Your secret's safe with me, I promise. And if you need help covering, I am right next door to you -- nothing I'd do would surprise anyone."

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

She grinned at that. "Still, everyone else who's figured it out has gotten the full explanation. And there are a few people who have. It's not a terribly well-kept secret." She raised her voice just a little and added, "And yup, that's why I've sworn off boys. Just a bad, bad idea for me to be involved with anyone these days."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Absolutely," Jack agreed, just as loudly. "You stay sworn off boys until you come to your senses and agree to go out with me."

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"See, that's dangerous, since I would so be succeptible to your charms," Rory said, smirking a little. "I'd be in a constant state of swooning."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Which means I'd constantly haved to catch you, which would make life interesting." He couldn't help laughing. "You're only little, I'd just carry you in my arms all the time, make sure you didn't suffer any swoon-related injuries."

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"But that would be so cyclical, since I'd come to and you'd be carrying me, and thus I would be force to swoon again," Rory pointed out.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"You make it sound like a hardship. I think having my own personal swooning Rory would be wonderful. I admit it might make some things a bit challenging, and you'd find it hard to study if you kept swooning."

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"That'd be very bad, yes," Rory said, giggling a little. "I wouldn't be able to read at all! Though, admittedly, if I were swooning, I probably wouldn't have my mind on books."