Anything Goes Performance

[song_n_dance]

The end of the rain had come just in time to squeeze in a few long rehearsals before the big day. Cole had been running around like a fool all morning (with the help of Dairine), making sure that costumes were finished, the stage was set, seating was arranged, props were ready, the musicians had everything they needed... and on and on. Back home

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[captainjack]

He'd known weeks ago that this would go well. Evey and Maureen and Joey and Summer and everyone had worked so hard. And, of course, he'd done well. Hard not to when he'd known the entire show for years.

He wandered through the crowd, smiling and shaking hands, giving kisses and saying thank you more times than he could count. This...this was the sort of thing he loved. This was where he excelled. He positively glowed as he wandered around, still wearing his fedora. He was definitely keeping his costume from this one.

[karmic_darwin]

"The hat becomes you," Mohinder said by way of greeting, lips already curving into the slightly wicked warm smile that Jack always brought out in him.

"As you see, I've kept my promise, even though you failed to live up to yours." Of course, he teased. He'd had no expectation of Jack playing matchmaker for him. In fact, he might've been offended if he had. Or not. It was Jack.

[captainjack]

"I tried," he said, clapping a hand on Mohinder's arm. "I don't see him, though...guess he didn't come."

He'd been looking around the crowd for Logan but it was clear he hadn't shown up for the show. Jack tried not to let it bother him. Not tonight.

"I guess I'm not cut out for matchmaking."

[karmic_darwin]

"The story of my life, told through dating," Mohinder answered with a wry shake of his head.

"I find it hard to imagine you not being cut out for anything to do with the arts of love, but we'll pretend I didn't say that and skip to how you were magnificent on stage."

His smile deepened to a grin that was almost puckish. Who knew why, but having once had sex with Jack, it now amused him endlessly to tease Jack - especially since Jack hardly cared.

[captainjack]

"I was, wasn't I?" he beamed, the teasing tone light and easy. It morphed quickly into a more serious line of praise. "The whole cast worked so hard. Evey was just brilliant. Fantastic. And Maureen makes anything easy."

[karmic_darwin]

By some accident of charm, Jack's arrogance never rankled. Mohinder patted Jack's cheek like he might a small child's, grinning with amusement. "Now, which was Evey and which Maureen?"

[captainjack]

"Evey was Hope," he answered, searching the crowd to point her out. "And Maureen...there she is...she was Reno. You should meet Mo. She's fun."

[karmic_darwin]

Mohinder glanced in the direction Jack pointed. "Your sort of fun or my...well, those can be the same. Perhaps I'll introduce myself."

She did seem lovely, but he found his gaze drifting, looking for Rupert or Alcuin. His interest in women seemed to have waned again. "How have you been, Jack?"

[captainjack]

"I've been great," he said without hesitation. "Busy. The rain put a crimp in the show, but other than that..."

Other than that, he'd gotten eaten by an alien ship and had to go save a lover from inevitable injury in the rain. Nothing all that new or different for him.

[karmic_darwin]

"Why do I suspect it's the 'other than that' that's the interesting part with you?" Mohinder asked, eyebrows lifting. "I hadn't seen you for a few days, so I'm glad to know you haven't disappeared."

[captainjack]

"Oh, probably because those are the parts that give me stories to tell at a later date," he laughed. "I take off for a few days sometimes. I've given up on disappearing. That's for other people."

[karmic_darwin]

Lips pressing together in a mild spurt of irritation, Mohinder glanced past Jack. "A fact for which we're all profoundly glad, I'm sure."

Maybe Jack hadn't known her, and he certainly hadn't been especially close to her, but Eostre had been an important part of their life here and his as a co-instructor. Jack didn't mean to be cruel, except in the callous way that he sometimes was, so Mohinder brushed it off with an impatient shake of his head.

[captainjack]

"Oh, I doubt it," he replied casually, keeping his tone and posture light and easy. It was a post-performance party. No time for serious discussions or deep thinking...two things Jack tried to avoid if at all possible. No time for dwelling on why Logan hadn't come, or why there were some people missing from the audience who had no say in their absence.

It had been comforting, in a twisted way, that so many people had been upset by his own vanishing act that they saw fit to beat the shit out of him. Or yell. Or, in the case of the Doctor, just give him That Look. He didn't honestly doubt that people were grateful...although maybe not profoundly.

[karmic_darwin]

"Now you develop modesty," Mohinder chided as his irritation faded. It was far too pleasant a day to dwell on their losses and the sun had returned, which made it possible to feel Eostre's absence just a little bit less.

"You are nothing if not perverse, Jack Harkness."

[captainjack]

Jack smiled brightly, a chuckle of true amusement bubbling up from deep within.

"That's the nicest compliment I've ever gotten," he teased as he clapped his hand against Mohinder's shoulder. "Thanks."

[karmic_darwin]

Mohinder scowled playfully, then gave up and ran his tongue over his mouth. "I'd add perverted, but I imagine that goes without saying."