(Untitled)

[not_as_factual]

The Jack Harkness who enters the Nexus this particular evening looks like he's seen better days, to be honest. It's a combination of stress and very little sleep, which might be inferred by the dark circles under his eyes and the venti cup of Starbucks in his hand, combined with the lackluster way he settles back onto one of the Convenient Nexus

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[deoledig]

If there's one thing - person - that Ianto Jones has a weakness for, it's Jack Harkness. On his way through the Nexus for no particular reason other than the fact that he occasionally does pass through, Ianto settles down on a chair nearby.

"For one thing," he notes, "as much as I'd love coffee, I'd recommend against drinking it while trying to relax."

[not_as_factual]

At this particular point in his rather crappy weak, Jack only dignify Ianto Jones with a response because this is obviously not the Ianto Jones that he knows and, very recently, broke off things with. He smirks a little, glancing down at his Starbucks cup. "Yeah, tell me about it. This is more to stay awake than anything."

[deoledig]

Ianto breathes a quiet laugh. "... why do you want to stay awake if you're trying to relax?" he wonders, raising his eyebrows. "You should try getting some sleep. It really is the best medicine."

[not_as_factual]

"New baby," Jack says with a slow exhale of breath one might tentatively call a sigh. "Up in the middle of the night, that sort of thing. I work ... more than fulltime, actually, so that makes it a little difficult to get as much sleep as I'd like."

[deoledig]

Ianto's expression softens. "Oh, I completely understand that. I have a one-year-old son, and a daughter on the way. Franklin is a quiet sort, but we've still had our share of sleepless nights."

[not_as_factual]

That gets a quiet laugh out of Jack. "Stephen has discovered his lungs and the fact that we give him food when he uses them," he says, shaking his head, "so we'll never hear the end of that."

[deoledig]

"I do hear that's the source of most crying in infants," Ianto acknowledges with a smile. "How old is he?"

[not_as_factual]

Ridiculously, Jack checks his watch, though it doesn't tell him the date. "Four days?" he asks, sounding uncertain. When he looks up, he smiles a little. "Yeah. Four days. Still getting used to this whole 'grandpa' thing, too. Makes me feel really old."

[deoledig]

A bit surprised, Ianto raises his eyebrows at that. "Oh, he's your grandson," he notes. He isn't sure why he automatically assumed it would be Jack's son, except for, of course, his own living situation.

[not_as_factual]

"I'll take that as acknowledgment that I look far too young to have a grandson," Jack quips. "My daughter's just sixteen, though, and I met her mother when I pretty young."

[deoledig]

Knowing that Jack Harknesses can be egotistical men, Ianto decides to stroke the ego of this one a little (though he really does think Jack looks too young to have a grandson, Ianto is not aware that this one isn't as old as his own). "I'd go so far as to say you look young to have a sixteen year old daughter, too."

[not_as_factual]

That is a compliment that earns a laugh from him. "Oh, thank you. I feel a lot better about being a granddad now."

[deoledig]

"Good," Ianto replies, pleased that Jack took the compliment. "Now, would I also be correct in assuming your stress isn't just related to the baby?"

[not_as_factual]

At that, Jack goes just a little closed off, though not entirely ... talking to this Ianto is kind of refreshing, considering he's not had a proper conversation with his in what feels like forever. "I broke up with my boyfriend. My business isn't doing as well as I'd like. Life is kind of ... shitty all around lately, to be honest. But, uh, shit happens, right?"

[deoledig]

"That sounds ... pretty awful, actually," Ianto admits, offering this Jack a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry to hear that. All of it."

[not_as_factual]

He laughs a little. "I'm sorry to over-share," Jack admits, looking a little embarrassed. "But, uh, yeah. That's what's contributing to the stress. Less sleep isn't helping, but I think I can survive. I used to be in the army. In another life, it seems."