Middle of 'Hourglass'

[kangeiko]

OK, so it's half an hour before Sloane gets executed. Except that, well, last conversation with Jack? Not so much.

Here's the way it plays out in my head -

Hourglass
Episode filler for Hourglass. Jack and Arvin share a drink.



*

So, what's the betting the execution gets delayed or Jack changes his mind?

In fact, I'm going with Jack changing his mind. Because he owns Sloane. And no one - no one - harms what belongs to Jack, even if he's just saving them for the pleasure of hurting them himself. If Sloane dies in any way other than stabbed or strangled by Jack, he's going to be exceedingly surprised. Irina, too. Dead by jack's hands or not at all, and that's just the end of it. And, yes, I can just see Laura smiling a little, "You should be careful, Arvin. Jack collects people who love him."

ETA: OMG OMG Some days you are just right!!! *jaw drop*

Comments

[andraste]

You still love that bitch more than me and there is absolutely nothing I can do about it.

So, yes, let this toast be for Irina Derevko, a woman who somehow managed to retain the love of the daughter she abandoned and the husband she duped. A woman for whom both of them would kill the one person they can be completely sure loves them. Would die for them. For them, Irina, not for you. It's galling to have to die for you.

I loved this very much, and especially this part, because it's so true. He's not jealous of Jack's relationship with Irina, he's jealous of Irina's relationship with Jack.

And when I have finished watching Season Four I am so writing the threesome. No matter how drunk I have to get them first.

[kangeiko]

I loved this very much, and especially this part, because it's so true. He's not jealous of Jack's relationship with Irina, he's jealous of Irina's relationship with Jack.

Thank you, and, yes, I read you thoughts on this and I think you're spot-on. I'm actually thinking hard as to what would make Jack think otherwise (other than the fact that he was duped, and it probably soothes his ego to think that she was just that good). I mean, there was Sloane extracting Irina - but, well, whatever - and Nadia herself, I guess, but Sloane hasn't really mentioned anything about irina. Anything at all. He talks about Sydney and Jack (and now Nadia), but no Irina. And he hasn't gone out of his way to help her in any way, whereas he's sacrificed quite a bit for Jack and Sydney. So it really does make me wonder, this willful blindness of Jack's. I want to 'tut' at him. And make someone slap him really hard.

And when I have finished watching Season Four I am so writing the threesome. No matter how drunk I have to get them first.

*g* Go watch now immediately!! And write that! I read this and went about the entirety of today thinking up scenarios where it would be only too natural for all three of them to shag like bunnies. Mmm, Jack!sandwich.

So, I'm thinking -

1) Jack has been injured (nearly drowned, say), and Irina and Sloane manage to drag him out of the river/lake/sea/bath before he's dead. But he's quite unconscious and weak, poor kitten. They're a bit stranded, he's a bit hypothermic and unsconscious, so they cuddle up to him to keep themselves alive.

Bitching happens.

Jealousy follows.

Irina totally completely gets it. And finds it hyterical.

Sloane considers killing her and saying that "she was like that when we got here!"

Irina puts Possessive Hands (tm) on Jack, to tick off Sloane.

Jack wakes up.

Mortification all around.

[andraste]

Thank you, and, yes, I read you thoughts on this and I think you're spot-on. I'm actually thinking hard as to what would make Jack think otherwise (other than the fact that he was duped, and it probably soothes his ego to think that she was just that good).

Also, on some level he's still so besotted with her he thinks everyone must love Irina. Because she is so completely loveable. He has the same anxiety about how Sydney is going to abandon him for her mother in Season Two.

He talks about Sydney and Jack (and now Nadia), but no Irina. And he hasn't gone out of his way to help her in any way, whereas he's sacrificed quite a bit for Jack and Sydney.

To anyone with eyes who is not Jack Bristow, it is obvious that Sloane does not love Irina Derevko. He respects her, certainly, is maybe even kind of fond of her when she's not sending his best friend to kill him. But when Sloane loves someone, he is very very obvious about it.

Go watch now immediately!!

Alas, the disks just arrived in Melbourne today, but I am in the country away from my letterbox. Woe.

Mmm, Jack!sandwich.

It's a nice thought, isn't it?

They're a bit stranded, he's a bit hypothermic and unsconscious, so they cuddle up to him to keep themselves alive.

Ah, hypothermia. Best beloved medical condition of slash writers everywhere.

[kangeiko]

Also, on some level he's still so besotted with her he thinks everyone must love Irina. Because she is so completely loveable. He has the same anxiety about how Sydney is going to abandon him for her mother in Season Two.

It's... sweet. *g*

To anyone with eyes who is not Jack Bristow, it is obvious that Sloane does not love Irina Derevko. He respects her, certainly, is maybe even kind of fond of her when she's not sending his best friend to kill him. But when Sloane loves someone, he is very very obvious about it.

Is there anyone in a position to see him interact with Irina, though? I reckon that Sark would have the best view of this, and wouldn't be adverse to sharing his opinion with the world. (Tacky, but true.) Everyone else tends to be at minion or supporting guest star level and don't really get to watch the big three interact.

Alas, the disks just arrived in Melbourne today, but I am in the country away from my letterbox. Woe.

*sympathy*

Ah, hypothermia. Best beloved medical condition of slash writers everywhere.

*g* It's right up there in the cliche department with, "and they're stranded in a cave/cabin/flooded apartment, and they can't leave, right, and then Stuff Happens."

Oh, wait. I used that one too. *g*

[andraste]

It's... sweet. *g*

It is, in a twisted Jack Bristow kind of way.

Is there anyone in a position to see him interact with Irina, though?

To be honest, I was thinking more of the fans than the characters. I am reliably informed that most of the fic dealing with this subject has Sloane obsessed with Irina and ... no. None of the character other than Jack seem to think it was anything serious, and Jack's perceptions are skewed all to hell where Irina is concerned.

Alas, the disks just arrived in Melbourne today, but I am in the country away from my letterbox. Woe.

*sympathy*

I get them Thursday, at the latest. Hooray!

It's right up there in the cliche department with, "and they're stranded in a cave/cabin/flooded apartment, and they can't leave, right, and then Stuff Happens."

Yeah. And hypothermia goes so well with the caves, cabins and flooded apartments too.

Oh, wait. I used that one too. *g*

I have a fondness for escape pods, myself *g*. And I think the threesome is going to have a prison cell and a cabin.

[kangeiko]

2) Someone gives Jack a clue. Or, rather, Jack gets captured by Sark, who gives him a clue, a stick and a beating. Irina features (in a bad way or good way, who cares). Sloane to the rescue! (Well, sort of.) Jack, previously denying the ridiculousness of what he's started calling "Sloane's School-boy Crush" (because, hey, petty), suddenly Gets It. And fails to freak out. Because he's just that unflappable. He asks Sloane about it.

Who, it turns out, isn't as unflappable as Jack (Sloane traded everything for Rambaldi including, it turns out, his Clue). So, newly rescued, Jack leans in and kisses him, and it's a mark of how confused and off-balance Sloane is that he has Jack in a death-grip before he's had a chance to think. He lets go immediately, of course, but not quickly enough, because Jack is also combat-trained, and his reflexes kick in. And they're tussling a little - not really fighting, not really not - just to have something to do with themselves other than OMGthinkNONO, and Sloane is laughing a little at how stupid this all is, and jack is too - maybe it's the oxygen deprivation, or the beating, or the drugs, but Sloane had always been able to get under his skin. It's just been a while since he used his knowledge to make Jack laugh, is all, and then Jack leans in and kisses him again. And this time Sloane lets him.

And it's just... it's odd. Because, because, they know each other. Jack was the one that pulled Sloane out of that body-bag and manipulated his shaking limbs through underwear and clothing, rubbing life into his cold flesh. And Sloane is a little awed at how incongruous that knowledge must be, now, because he knows Jack too - pulling him through barbed wire and binding him up and then there was the time with the electric shock where Jack's body just gave out and Sloane really doesn't want to be thinking about the smell of burned flesh when Jack's tongue is in his mouth and it should all be familiar but not, somehow,

And that's when irina walks in. Because she has perfect timing, and because she defends the things that belong to her and, damnit, this is one thing that Sloane will not have. (Thought she knows that Katya has had Jack already, and that is already a bone of contention between them.) And maybe she'll participate or maybe watch, but either way, this isn't going to be one of those things that just 'happens' and then they'll have something to smile over (because she knows that they'll smile over it. If Irina had her way, this would be the perfect wedge to drive between them, but it doesn't quite work that way, does it? And hystrionics was never her thing, nor Jack's. Nor even Sloane's).

She hates Sloane then, just a little. Not the casual dislike and slow malice that she had previously felt, but sharp, pointed hate - only a little, she reminds herself, and it is over hurt pride rather than jealousy - and thinks, well, aren't you stupid.

For all his lack of social graces, Jack Bristow has managed to surround himself with people who love him. It is not a simple feeling, nor is it pure, but it is there nonetheless, and that is why she doesn't simply shoot them both and be done with it.

3) and then there was that thing that time -

*cough*

Sorry. You probably wanted to write this yourself, yeah? *embarrassed* A wee bit carried away... *shuffles feet*

Anyway. Where's my fic??

[andraste]

3) and then there was that thing that time -

*cough*

Sorry. You probably wanted to write this yourself, yeah? *embarrassed* A wee bit carried away... *shuffles feet*

But I see no reason why you should not also write Jack/Sloane/Irina! Or whatever order that should go in. Since you made such a good beginning and all.

Anyway. Where's my fic??

Your fic *points* is up there, being all unfinished and drafty. (Er, you know what I mean.) My fic is in my brain, percolating away until after I've actually see the rest of Season Four ...

[kangeiko]

But I see no reason why you should not also write Jack/Sloane/Irina! Or whatever order that should go in. Since you made such a good beginning and all.

LOL. I'd get their limbs tangled up again, I can never keep them all in my head. No, no, best you write the hot&smutty.

I'll just, er, sit over here and angst. :)

Your fic *points* is up there, being all unfinished and drafty. (Er, you know what I mean.) My fic is in my brain, percolating away until after I've actually see the rest of Season Four ...

So, post-S4, what're your thoughts on the matter? Doable? :)

I like the time-gap between the climax and coda - lots of stuff could fit in there. They're stranded(&waiting to be found), Nadia's very hurt, Sloane's all broken, Irina's yet to leave, Jack's all relaxed post-torture, it's idea, innit...

[andraste]

LOL. I'd get their limbs tangled up again, I can never keep them all in my head.

Well, one of them could watch and make suggestions ...

No, no, best you write the hot&smutty.

Oh, I shall. At some point.

So, post-S4, what're your thoughts on the matter? Doable? :)

Oh yes. I have a plot, even! Involving a Rambaldi device, Katya and a helicopter.

I like the time-gap between the climax and coda - lots of stuff could fit in there. They're stranded(&waiting to be found), Nadia's very hurt, Sloane's all broken, Irina's yet to leave, Jack's all relaxed post-torture, it's idea, innit...

*prods you, again*

[kangeiko]

Well, one of them could watch and make suggestions ...

... which pretty much sums up every threesome fic I've ever attempted. :)

Oh yes. I have a plot, even! Involving a Rambaldi device, Katya and a helicopter.

*bounce*

...

fic soon? *bats lashes*

[andraste]

... which pretty much sums up every threesome fic I've ever attempted. :)

Hey, there's nothing wrong with voyeurism. Or they could take turns?

*bounce*

...

fic soon? *bats lashes*

*eyes queue of unfished fics*

Uh, maybe?

[kangeiko]

Aww, honey pie! *snuggles* I wrote this before I saw your post - you just focus on feeling better. Fic can wait.

Although I am fully committed to writing you fic-to-order if it will help. *hugs*

[andraste]

Aww, honey pie! *snuggles* I wrote this before I saw your post - you just focus on feeling better. Fic can wait.

There actually are things I want to write now - I'm feeling rather better, at least until the codeine wears off tomorrow - but I'm telling myself I must get the ficathon story posted first. It's only right.

Although I am fully committed to writing you fic-to-order if it will help. *hugs*

Fic always helps. Thank you *g*.