Arranging for a job offer [futureverse, for slayers_desire]

[fractured_agent]

The little yellow farmhouse looks just the same as it always has, perched on the flat plains of Kansas amidst miles of cornfields. Though it's nowhere near a beach, the small agricultural community of Smallville has always reminded Jack Harkness of Boeshane, a tiny little place out in the middle of nowhere, with neighbors who looks out for each other and stay close together as a community with a shared, tragic past.

The year is 2041 - he double-checked, just in case something went wrong with the Nexus again, or his vortex manipulator. The little piece of tech was never meant to last more than a century without maintenance, but it's served him well so far.

Jack looks the same as he always has, plus a single gray hair or two, his ancient gaze the only sign of the two thousand plus years he's already lived. It's warm in Kansas this time of year, but he doesn't seem to mind the heat from his wool greatcoat, one of his only constant companions, as he walks up the dirt road towards the Kent farm.

Comments

[fractured_agent]

Martha arrives home a few minutes later. She drops her backpack to the floor near the door, not looking up. "Mom, I'm home," she calls out before she notices that not only is Clark home, but they have company. "Oh, hey Uncle Jack! I didn't know you'd be stopping by."

"Martha," Jack says with a nod and a smile. "Good to see you."

[slayers_desire]

"Hi sweetie." April smiles softly, seeing her daughter again. She takes Clark's hand again, promising herself that she won't get weepy over this.

"Sit down for a second. Uncle Jack wants to talk to you about something important."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Is something wrong?" Usually that sort of talk means something's happened, and her parents look upset.

"Nothing's wrong, exactly," Clark says, not wanting to worry her. "Come and sit down."

Martha takes a seat in one of the armchairs, not sure why they're all behaving so strangely.

[slayers_desire]

"Uncle Jack just want to talk to you about an opportunity. He believes that you have potential to be a valuable member of Torchwood."

[fractured_agent]

It takes Martha a moment to realize what she's hearing. "Torchwood? Really?" she asks, excited by the idea.

"Eventually, yes," Jack says, leaning forward a little. "I've been watching you grow up, and I think you have what it takes to be an excellent field agent after you've had some training."

[slayers_desire]

"It will take hard work. And dedication to your training, especially what you decide to take in post-secondary education."

[fractured_agent]

"I won't get to start right away?" Martha's disappointed by that. It's such a tease, telling her that she could have a job at Torchwood and then making her wait.

"You're still young," Jack says. "You have a lot to learn yet, and refine your skills before taking them to the field. I know you have the drive to be an excellent agent, but you have an opportunity to train in a more specialized field first."

[slayers_desire]

"Torchwood is a more effective team because of each specialization the other team members bring to the field."

"Your father and I want you to face this opportunity ready for the challenges that it might bring... and that means time to train and study."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Martha's still excited, but now she's a little bit suspicious. "You guys are okay with this? What's the catch?"

"No catch," Clark promises. It's hard to tell her that this is something they want her to do, because it isn't. But she's nearly a grown woman now, and they won't be making decisions for her for much longer.

[slayers_desire]

"We... we aren't very excited about this opportunity." April knows her daughter can tell that they are both upset. And might be wondering why. "Not quite okay..."

"But it is time to let you make your own path."

"You will have to make your own decisions. Your own destiny."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"You haven't wanted me to before... what changed?" Martha wants to know.

"Let's... just say that Uncle Jack is a very persuasive guy," Clark says.

[slayers_desire]

"He feels that he can give your the opportunities that will lead you to success. And I... know he is right."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"We don't want to see you go," Clark tells her. "But we also know that you're being held back here, by our expectations and by those of our friends and family. You can forge your own reputation in a new place, with new people who don't know you as anything you're not. You can learn who you really are without our shadows hanging over you."

[slayers_desire]

"We will always be here for you... but you deserve your own chance to become your own person."

[fractured_agent]

"If you decide to join Torchwood, you'd be on an equal footing with those around you," Jack adds. "No one has any particular advantages over anyone else, it just comes down to training and hard work."

"But Uncle Jack, you aren't like the others," Martha points out.

It still hurts for him to think about it, and that'll never stop. But he's an expert at deflecting people away from probing at his feelings. "That's because I'm the boss," he says with a grin.

[slayers_desire]

April manages a small glance of concern, when Jack's pain is evident in the air for a moment. But notices that he deflects it away.

"And we trust that you will respect his orders, as leader of Torchwood."

[fractured_agent]

Jack has had a long time to come to terms with his immortality. And now that he knows there's nothing even the Doctor can do about it... his only option is to live with it. He literally can't do anything else. And part of that means sending friends in to die, knowing that the risks will never be the same for him. He would die for them thousands of times over - has done, even. But he can never take every bullet for them, no matter how much he tries.

"Well yeah, of course I would," Martha says.

[slayers_desire]

"We know you will do your best." April is proud of her, and that Martha will optimize the most out of this opportunity.

[fractured_agent]

"I don't want you to give me an answer right now," Jack says, and holds up his hand as Martha opens her mouth to protest and say yes. "But now you know that the offer is on the table. Finish high school, pick a degree that might be useful with or without Torchwood, and go to university for at least four years. Learn as much as you can. And when you have your diploma, then I want your answer."

((bedtime))

[slayers_desire]

"In addition to taking university, if you want any other training, you just have to let us know."

[fractured_agent]

"Like what?" Martha wants to know, thinking about her sports career in kickboxing.

"Well, for one, Torchwood field agents need training in psychic shielding," Jack says. "Now, I'm sure your mother has introduced you to the idea before, so it'll be nothing new to you. But you'll need to get in the habit of having your shields up all the time. You never know when you're talking to a telepath, and while some are friendly, Torchwood can't take the chance that none of them will use your thoughts against you. It's happened before."

[slayers_desire]

April knows the advantages of having psychic training. The fact that Martha will need her shields up all the time will be something she will have to get used to.

"I am sure we can help you train your shielding abilities."

[fractured_agent]

It's also one of the bigger benefits of waiting. She gets four years to train her shields without worrying about having to test them against a malevolent telepath, where immediate employment with Torchwood would have no such guarantee. "Torchwood also requires every agent, in the field or not, to be experienced with firearms," Jack continues.

[slayers_desire]

"You will have to find others to help you train with firearms. Like Uncle Ed. Or Uncle Jack."

[fractured_agent]

"Dad, don't you know how to use a gun?" Martha asks Clark.

"Only a shotgun," Clark says, still looking uncomfortable about the idea. "And not for use on people."

Martha herself hadn't thought about that before. "I'll have to shoot people?"

"If all goes well, no," Jack answers. He's gone through this with recruits before, like with Gwen. Most police in the UK don't use guns either. "But it's better to know how in case it does become necessary."