The front lawns, outside the dorms: Monday afternoon

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack had gone for a run. A very long run, down to the beach and back, though about half way through he'd decided he was insane, because it was too damn hot, which was bad timing, because he still had to run back.

Luckily there was a hose he could soak his head with and a nice bit of lawn to stretch out on. Which was what he was doing right now, wearing nothing but a pair of very short shorts, lying on his back while he worked on his tan.

[ooc: and lo, the post was open!]

Comments

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

He stayed where he was, watching. "Now you'll be safe," he said, and anyone looking closely might see his fingers curling into the grass. "You can stay shirtless as long as you like."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Should I get my scorecard?" Isabel asked, not particularly impressed.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Really?" The look in Jack's eye was partly speculative, but mostly teasing. "So if I asked you to sit and talk for awhile, you would?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Man after my own heart, then. Or my own something," Jack said. "You're only just now figuring out that there's two sexes? Well, on this planet, at least."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Were you intending to keep track?" he asked neutrally.

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

He grinned shyly before rubbing some more of the sunscreen against his sides and stomach. "Yes, I suppose I could, couldn't I?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"You brought it up. Do you want me to keep track for you?" Isabel tucked her hands in her pockets so he wouldn't see her fingers clench.

[ambassadorinara.livejournal.com]

Recognizing Jack's look for what it was, Inara laughed. This she could handle. "I suppose I would, yes."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, you could." His voice was much lower than he meant it to be, and he made himself sit back, move so he was next to him again. Not watching. "If you wanted, you could stay out here for awhile."

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

"No. I mean yes. I mean...no." Johnny stuttered and looked mildly embarrassed. Grinning a bit, he ducked his head and rubbed his neck. "Just new to me, is all."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack looked at her for a long time, head tilted to the side, before he asked, very calmly, "Why do you care?"

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

"Maybe," Cedric said, dropping the bottle next to him. "Englishmen aren't used to this much fun. I might fall asleep."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack's smile got a lot warmer. "I hear that a lot," he said gently. "This place, this time, has a habit of tucking people into these quaint little categories. It can be hard to get over that." He paused, studying Johnny, the corner of his mouth lifting. "Want some help?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Because you're going to wind up hurting someone I love very much," she said quietly. Although she was tempted to push the issue, Isabel knew this wasn't the place for it. "Think about that."

Without waiting for an answer, she turned and walked away.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"That would be okay, too," he said after a bit. "I could keep an eye on you."

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

He was nodding. "I'm getting that and I'll admit to feeling a bit overwhelmed by it at times." He shrugged a shoulder, looking at Jack. "I'm not sure what category I'm fitting into and thinking about it is driving me nuts." He paused, wondering about the last question. "I wouldn't refuse it, no."

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

"You wouldn't just leave then?" Cedric asked, unable to stop himself.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Then come, sit, tell me all about Inara Serra," he invited, waving a hand at the grass next to him.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

His expression closed down. "If you were trusting me to watch over you?" he replied, voice flat. "No."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"I was thinking of the practical kind of help," he clarified, leaning closer to Johnny, smile slowly turning back into a smirk. "But if you want advice, the best I can give is forget about categories."

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

"Hm." He didn't apologize because he was being honest. "I don't think I'm quite tired enough to really sleep in this heat. Perhaps another time."

[ambassadorinara.livejournal.com]

"There's not much to tell," she shrugged one shoulder as she sat down on the grass, gracefully folding her feet underneath her, "I'm fifteen, grew up in Companion House Madrassa on Shinon--that's one of the best ones in the Alliance," she said with some pride, "and ended up here because of a lottery."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Whatever makes you happy, Cedric." He lay back down on the grass, one arm folded under his head, his other lying across his stomach, and stared up into the sky.

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

"I should go," Cedric said after a moment. "I don't want to get sunburnt."

Yes, he knew that he had sunblock on and he didn't have anything else to do but he felt awkward and tense now.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack watched her appreciatively, admiring her grace. "Companion House?" he asked, having an inkling what that might be. 'The Alliance' was ringing a bell, but he couldn't quite place it.