Torchwood (drabble): "Father's Day"

[fajrdrako]

Title: Father's Day
Genre: Torchwood drabble
Author: fajrdrako
Characters: Jack, Gwen
Challenge: tw100 challenge: free for all, using #20: Doctor Who titles, #8 in a series of 13
Rating: G
Words: 100
Disclaimer: Not mine, no claims, all property of the BBC.
Notes: Spoilers for up to "The Keep Killing Suzie". Cross-posted to my LJ and tw100.


Father's Day

Henry Costello's funeral was sparsely attended. Gwen and Jack described themselves as friends of his late daughter. They didn't need to explain. Only they knew Costello's death was anything other than an accident.

Gwen wondered what she would say to him, if he could hear. I'm sorry I brought Suzie to kill you. I didn't know. What had he done to earn such hatred? Maybe nothing.

If it's any consolation, Henry, she almost murdered me, too.

Impulsively, she asked Jack, "Were you close to your father?"

He grinned. "I must have been. I don't remember ever killing him."


~ ~ ~

Comments

[cupati.livejournal.com]

Wow.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Thanks for commenting!

[lacesforalady.livejournal.com]

Love it.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad!

Love your icon.

[raissad.livejournal.com]

Love the last line. :)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Thank you - and nice of you to say so.

[damalan.livejournal.com]

We really do want to know what her father did to earn such enmity. In other words, did she have any justification, or was he an excuse to get out, and she was psychotic? And now we'll never know.

And you know, I've never really stopped before to think of Jack's parents and siblings. I suppose, in strictness, given how little we know of Jack, he could be a tank-grown clone. Again, I wonder if we'll ever know?

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

From the way she was talking about her relationship with her mother with Gwen, I got the impression that perhaps he'd abandoned her and her mother when she was a child.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Abandonment? That rings true. Could well be.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

My suspicion is that she uses her mother's (Irish) surname; her father's Asian. That would reinforce the idea of a major family breakdown when she was young.

[vervassal.livejournal.com]

I suppose, in strictness, given how little we know of Jack, he could be a tank-grown clone made in a vat by fanboys.

[damalan.livejournal.com]

LOL! We can but dream! :-)

Of course, if he were, we could make multiple copies. Then everyone could have their own Captain Jack!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

And a greatcoat to dress him in, too.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

And a good job they did of him, too.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

did she have any justification...?

It would be good to know, though I don't know how anyone could find out now - short of using the glove to raise either either Suzie or her father for an explanation. Really bad idea. I'd prefer to think Suzie was just psychotic and he didn't deserve his fate; in storytelling terms, I think it might be more likely that he had abused her horribly and earned his fate.

It's just one of those things that we're left guessing about. If there are real clues, I don't see them.

I've never really stopped before to think of Jack's parents and siblings

Another interesting question - with no hint so far as to whether he had any or what they were like.

he could be a tank-grown clone.

So he could. I read a fanfic story that I enjoyed where he had five parents with genetic input - I think it was three human mothers, a human father, and an alien.

We won't really know unless they tell us, but it's fun to speculate.

[damalan.livejournal.com]

n storytelling terms, I think it might be more likely that he had abused her horribly and earned his fate

It would make more sense that way. Though I am not sure if that's more satisfying than Suzie the Psycho. It is worth noting that when he wakes up and sees her he looks afraid of her. It's possible she's been violent or dangerous to him in the past.


[Jack's parentage]

About all we know is that he scans human as I recall. Though even that might be a deception (as a Time Agent, it would be best to not show up as 'other' when you are travelling to different eras).

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I am not sure if that's more satisfying than Suzie the Psycho.

I vote for Suzie the Psycho myself.

It is worth noting that when he wakes up and sees her he looks afraid of her.

Yes, that's one of the more interesting things about the whole scenario. Perhaps she had visited him before, when she was still alive, but dangerous?

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

Typical witty Jack punchline! I love it!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

I wish we knew something about Jack's father... but that's just me being a glutton for information. Maybe it's more fun to wonder.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Another great installment. The last line's got just the right amount of twisted humour that I love to hear from Jack. Really good stuff.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

I like the way Jack can and does deflect another person's curiosity about him by answering outrageously, or unexpectedly, or with humour. It's one of his most charming traits.

[sunstar77.livejournal.com]

Really good.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the lovely comment.

[laurab1.livejournal.com]

Great!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Gladn you enjoyed it!