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Tweak says, "I'd rather drink wasps."

Simon Tam (fugitivedoctor) wrote in labyrinth_rpg,
@ 2009-04-13 00:42:00

Entry tags:

active, arrival, day six, jack harkness, simon tam

Who: Simon and OTA
When: Morning, Day 6
What: Arriving
Where: Just outside the dorm buildings
Rating: TBD
Status: Incomplete

This was like no planet Simon had ever seen before, and that included even the most uncivilized planets on the Rim. And this weather! If he'd known, he would've -- well, that was a pointless thought. If he'd known he was going to suddenly find himself further from Serenity than when he and River were kidnapped on Jiangyin, then surely he would've packed more supplies and taken some rations of protein for the long and treacherous journey back. And--

River. Oh, heavens, River. If he was here, then she was back on the ship, wasn't she? He had to get back. He had to find her. If this was some sort of joke, it was the sickest thing he could think of, possibly sicker than being made to believe Kaylee had died. Kaylee--

This was not helping. He was getting nowhere just wondering where everyone was and worrying after everyone in turn. Well, certainly not about Zoe or Wash or Mal or-- This was not helping. Simon needed to stay calm, needed to think. If he continued to simply stand there, he'd be easy to pick out, and the last thing he wanted, on top of everything else, was to attract unnecessary attention.

The least he could do was find a better shelter than under an awning. He watched people move to and fro for a while, then decided to go into the rather large building just across the street. He didn't know what to expect, so he tried to plan for anything as best he could. A fake name, a fake past... this might not be his sort of deal, but he hadn't spent all that time on board Serenity without picking up at least the very basics.

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fugitivedoctor
2009-04-18 02:37 pm UTC (link)

Simon only managed to glimpse the rather awkward grin, since at that point he'd genuinely been focused on finding River. He followed when the man indicated, glad that he'd be able to stop looking completely out of place.

As for the questions, he was too caught up taking in his surroundings to remember the fake name he'd thought up for himself earlier. "I'm Simon," he said, catching himself in time to keep at least his surname to himself. "My sister's sort of small with very long dark hair. She loves to run off and explore without telling anyone." He shook his head, half frustrated and half amused. Sometimes, her wanderings proved fruitful. Other times... well. He hoped this would be one of the former.

"Are you from this planet?"

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ex_notethest397
2009-04-20 11:55 pm UTC (link)

"Pleasure, Simon," Jack said, filing the man's name away for later reference. Jack wasn't getting much of a read on the young man as they walked towards the fair. Nervousness was there, but that could have been attributed to being caught in some strange place completely unawares. So making that a personality trait was out of the question as far as Jack was concerned.

Stopping long enough to hold out his hand by way of greeting, Jack flashed Simon another smile. "Captain Jack Harkness," he said, returning the favour of a name. Nodding at Simon's description of his sister, Jack began to scan the crowds, eyes hovering on those who fit the description given. Which, really, could fit just about anyone here.

"No, not from this planet," Jack replied, turning them both and motioning towards where the Faire grounds were. "Like just about everyone here, I was brought here by some unknown force and dropped in the middle of nowhere. Apparently this place is called the Labyrinth." Jack gestured behind himself. "Bloke lives in there and has given us lodgings and a journal. That's all I know so far. That and he has excellent taste in clothing."

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fugitivedoctor
2009-04-21 03:10 pm UTC (link)

"Likewise," Simon replied, offering a quick, polite smile before turning to look around for River. Captain of what, exactly? His own ship, Simon supposed, though with the Alliance about, he couldn't be sure.

It wasn't until Jack put his own arrival in those words that Simon remembered how he'd come here. He thought he'd fallen asleep and ... what else? He'd wandered, thoughts fuzzy with sleep, and then he'd seen the Faire and--

This wasn't the known universe. At least, not the universe he knew. And if he was here, did that mean River had landed here, too? If she hadn't-- oh, god--

"Lodgings and--" Simon stopped, turning to face Jack. "This... person, this force or whatever it is -- does it tend to bring people in clusters? Because..." And he trailed off for a moment as he thought of it, one of the most awful things he could imagine. When he spoke again, it was with an urgency he couldn't have suppressed if he tried. "I need to find my sister."

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ex_notethest397
2009-04-22 12:59 am UTC (link)

Lost in his own thoughts about the man who was following him as Jack tried to place him in some sort of timeline, Jack didn't even realise Simon had stopped walking. Jack knew as well as anyone that you couldn't judge a man's age or era by his appearance, yet that didn't stop him from trying to do the same thing with Simon. Foolish, yes, but it was a way to pass the time -- and, apparently, zone out on whatever Simon had been saying.

Reversing to rejoin Simon, Jack slid his hands into the pockets of his greatcoat. "I don't know. I know several other people here that have, for lack of a better word, come from my world. But none of us arrived here at the same time. Really, we were all a couple days apart, but not everyone I know has come here either." Jack gave Simon his best encouraging smile, removing a hand and lightly clapping Simon on the shoulder. "I can't promise we'll find her, but we'll do our best. That's the best I can do for you."

One day he was hunting down aliens, the next searching for lost girls. What was the world coming to?

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fugitivedoctor
2009-04-23 09:30 am UTC (link)

Once again, Simon found himself following Jack, only now, since he wasn't worried about the Alliance finding him -- well, part of him probably always would be, but at least he knew on some level that they couldn't find him here -- he had the presence of mind to think back on what life used to be like, what it was to be polite and make conversation, especially when people were being polite and helpful in their own right.

"So, I take it, since you and others have been here enough to know to give that explanation, that no one's figured a way out yet?" It was somewhere between statement and question, not a judgment, more an observation. The possibility of being here for who knew how long unnerved him, even if it meant temporary safety from the monsters pursuing him and River. "I never thought I'd want my old life back."

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ex_notethest397
2009-04-27 07:42 am UTC (link)

Simon was following and that was just fine and dandy as far as Jack was concerned. He operated best when in the position of leader anyway. He let Simon fall into step beside him, casting cursory glances in his direction every now and again. There was something about the man that seemed, well, odd. Not odd as in touched in the head, but just odd. Like the man was severely out of his element -- more than the rest of them.

Withdrawing a hand from his pocket, Jack pointed out various things as they walked. Fantastic, Time Agent and leader of Torchwood 3, demoted all the way to tour guide.

"I've been here for about a week now," Jack replied. "I have a feeling I was in the first group brought here as we got an explanation from our host himself. Sounds like now he's just bringing folks here and letting you fend for yourselves." Jack paused, stopping and turning around, pointing at the castle in the background. "Apparently if one solves his Labyrinth, you're given something. The assumption is one's freedom but it's hard to say for certain." Turning around once more, Jack dropped an arm around Simon's shoulder and started walking again. "I think a lot of us are wanting our old lives back," Jack said with a half-shrug. "Why did you want to escape yours so badly?"

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fugitivedoctor
2009-04-29 04:22 pm UTC (link)

Simon was mostly a stranger to physical contact. His father's praise had always come with expectations, and overall he had been the polar opposite of affectionate. His mother had done as most any mother would, Simon imagined, but as he and River grew up, she became more involved in the upkeep of the Tams' social network. Simon's classmates at university only ever shared appropriately manly punches and slaps amongst themselves, and since joining the crew of Serenity, any contact outside of River was brusque and usually violent.

So to suddenly find himself under the arm of someone who, in any other world, would probably beat the life out of him -- well, it was an experience, one Simon didn't quite know what to do about. Thus, he did nothing, simply let it be. Maybe this was a friendly gesture, and if Simon was going to be here by himself for who knew how long, he might as well make at least acquaintances.

The whole idea of solving the Labyrinth appealed to Simon, but he imagined it was dangerous. Anything offering such untold of prizes had to have consequences. Yet even if it didn't, for him to return home would be a consequence in itself. Back to running, back to thieving, back to regretting the danger he put everyone in.

He'd only ever told the story once, and then because he'd needed Mal's sympathy. But now... Well, maybe it would make Jack see why he was so concerned with finding River.

"My sister and I are fugitives," he said, glancing at Jack briefly as they walked. "We've committed no crimes, just... She's very smart, to put it lightly, and they want to use that for... well, we're not really sure what, but they want her badly enough to kill. I've been trying to keep her safe from them."

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