003

[hark_of_swords]

[The sphere clicks on. A terrified boy stares up at it, scrabbling backwards in horror, drowning in a greatcoat far too big for him]

Get away from me! Get away! What have you done with my brother?

Gray?

Mom?

Dad?

[He's looking around frantically, his hand closing on the Webley. He stares at it, from the looks of it, it's not a type of gun he'

Comments

[cofficer]

[ohshi -- 'Gray'?]

Jack?

[hark_of_swords]

[The fear and bewilderment continues on child-Jack's face. He realises the source of the transmission is the sphere, and peers at it, shaking.]

Where am I? Where are my family?

[cofficer]

[Ianto blows out a thoughtful breath. Okay. Jack is a child. This can be handled.]

It's all right. You're safe. You're aboard the Crucible.

[hark_of_swords]

How can I be safe if I don't know what that is?

[Young Jack seems to have worked out the gun, even though his hand is trembling as he holds it.]

How did I get here? Whose clothes are these? What is going to happen to me. And where are my family?

[cofficer]

[Ianto eyes the gun, knowing it won't hurt his holographic image, but still]

Your family are back home. This ship takes people, brings them here for... well, we're not really sure. But you're safe. I promise.

Um... my name is Ianto.

[hark_of_swords]

[Young jack is huddling under the coat now, using it like a blanket, although one arm is out, still holding the gun. His teeth are chattering audibly.]

Eeee-an-to.

If you're not sure why we're here how can you know it's safe? There's ... there's things out there. Sometimes you can't even see them.

[He looks around, frantically.]

[cofficer]

[That's a good point. And for all intents and purposes, Ianto thinks, they're not safe at all, but, well...]

... Are you all right? What happened before you came here?

[hark_of_swords]

I... can't quite remember. I was playing with my brother, on the sand. Mom was calling us home for dinner. I didn't want to go.

OOC: He's gone slightly earlier than the canon loss of his brother.

[cofficer]

[he looks down, feeling a pang of sympathy]

I... may I come by? Help you get situated... are you hungry?

[hark_of_swords]

[Young Jack looks concerned, worried about trusting a stranger perhaps.]

I don't know I...

I suppose I am pretty hungry.

I don't really know where I am though.

[cofficer]

That's fine. I can find you. I'll, ah... be there soon.

[hark_of_swords]

Mmmmm.

Okay.

[cofficer]

[the image flickers out. several minutes later, Ianto arrives at the door, knocking]

[hark_of_swords]

Who's there?

Oh

[Jack's aleggy kid, he has no trouble with the door. he peers round it cautiously.]

Hi.

[cofficer]

[has sandwiches! and tries to look pleasant and accommodating as possible, despite everything. what do you do when your lover reverts to eleven? fff]

Hello.

[hark_of_swords]

[Jack tries very hard to look grown up and not like a starving 11 year old who is only keeping the trousers on by dint of Jack's fondness for braces*. He eyes the sandwiches hungrily.]

*OOC: Braces being the English term for what I think are called suspenders in some parts of the world, but not suspenders as in the things that hold up stockings.