Fic: An Overpowering Staleness (5/5)

[yamx]

Title: An Overpowering Staleness (5/5)
Betas: canaana, kae_nine & wendymr - Thank you, guys! All remaining mistakes are mine.
Rating: Adult (strong language, dark motives)
Spoilers: The Doctor Dances, Human Nature/The Family of Blood
Characters: Nine/Jack/Rose
Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction; the characters are the property of the BBC and used here

Comments

[kholly]

At the start of this, when you jumped in with the story in progress, I thought that's cool, I can hit the ground running, I don't need to know. Now I realize oh yes I needed to know. It's so integral both to this story and to their larger story.

"I don't want to hear any more of that self-depreciating bullshit!" Jack squares his shoulders, stepping right back into the Doctor's personal space.
I think they both handled it well, but I especially loved Jack's reaction here and in the bit that followed.

[kholly]

Oh, and here's a question: is it some canon that I'm forgetting that Jack was a soldier in his younger days? Like everyone else I take that as given, but I can't think of why.

[yamx]

Yes, it is. In TW: Captain Jack Harkness, he says to the real Jack Harkness that when he was a boy, he enlisted and went to war against "the most horrible creatures imaginable." Also talked his best friend into enlisting with him. We never really find out the details.

Also, I personally tend to count the Time Agency as a quasi-military organization - more like special forces than one of the "regular" branches, I suppose, and of course we don't know if they are associated with any government or a a law upon themselves or what. But they have ranks, a military command structure, missions, etc.

That plus the way Jack carries himself, salutes, says "Yes, sir," like he means it (well, sometimes *g*)... Definitely a soldier.

[kholly]

He definitely feels like an old soldier even if they'd never explained it. It could have just been in JB's mental backstory, except I felt like I knew it. It's been a while since I've seen that ep though so I guess I forgot.

[taffimai]

This was a wonderful resolution, everything that they needed to say was said and they're ready to move forward. Lovely.

[yamx]

Thank you! I'm glad you found it satisfying.

[yamx]

Me, too. :( Thanks!

[dark_aegis]

That was amazing. Simply amazing. I love how Jack and Rose got one over the Doctor, and got him to admit that he needs and loves them. I love that there is the realisation that it's not going to be easy, but he's going to try. And the ending was absolutely perfect. Absolutely.

This is most definitely your best work yet. Raw, emotional, vivid, magical. Thank you for sharing :)

[yamx]

Yeah, they were rather strict with him, I suppose - but he needed it! *g* And yes, this is going to be a work in progress - the Doctor can't change overnight, and they don't expect him to - but they do expect him to try.

I'm glad you liked the ending. As I said above, I figured we all (the characters, the readers, and me) needed some balm to pour on the wounds. :)

This is most definitely your best work yet. Raw, emotional, vivid, magical.
*blushes* Thank you so much!

[dshael]

That was beautiful! Perfect heart-lifting ending for the story. It was never gonna end well for poor John, and it didn't, but the Doctor and Rose and Jack are happy and better off than they were before. I liked the tension, and the way they released it *g*. I liked the way Jack called the Doctor's BS and Rose cut through Jack's.

I'm glad I got to read this. :)

[yamx]

Yes, there was nothing to be done about poor John. :( But at least they learned something important from this experience - even if some of them *ahemDoctorahem* got slightly mauled in the process. ;)