Hoorah, I got a review at last! Thanks to moonchild94 - I'm dedicating this chapter to you! Sorry, I would have updated yesterday, but I needed to double-check something with Orrien and she went offline because of family issues.
Disclaimer applies as usual. Please review!
Twitch was completely oblivious to the strange conversation taking place right beside her. Well, not completely, but she was only half-listening. Instead, her attention was once more fixed on the words inscribed on the building. The Doctor knew a lot of strangers, she had realised, and it was pointless trying to keep track of them all. So she simply decided not to bother with them.
Jack followed her gaze. "It's Welsh," he said. "Translates roughly as 'creating truth like glass from the furnace of inspiration'."
Twitch turned to look at the man, her voice and expression equally scathing. "That's not Welsh."
"Well for God's sake, don't tell the rest of Cardiff that, they'll throw a hissy fit." He flashed her a toothy grin.
The Doctor appeared to his right and ruffled Jack's hair. "Aww, bless. You're going native, Jack."
"I feel a certain attachment to the place, I'll admit," Jack said with a frown, "but what makes you say that?"
"You just call it Welsh now. 51st century, it should be Ancient Welsh to you. Didn't they teach you anything at the Time Agency?"
Jack grinned again. "They tried."
Twitch blinked at him. Stupid though it was, she'd assumed that a man on Earth during the 21st century was from Earth during the 21st century. She ought to have known better. Anybody who knew the Doctor had to have had their timeline warped in some way, though if she had judged by appearance alone, she probably would have guessed he was from the past rather than the future. "You're from the 51st century?" she asked.
"Boeshane Peninsula," he replied, holding out a hand. "And judging by those cute panda eyes of yours, you're from Collyria."
Twitch coloured. She tried not to, but she did. "Twitch Endelbeyar." She took his hand and froze a little. Jack didn't appear to notice, and shook firmly enough for the both of them.
"Captain Jack Harkness. Usually I'd insist on keeping the title, but with eyes like those, you can call me Jack."
The Doctor rolled his eyes. "Spare me." Just then, he saw a familiar figure headed towards them. "And here comes your 'certain attachment to the place', Jack."
"Everything all right, sir?" Ianto smiled at Jack as he approached.
"Fine, but it'd be better with coffee," Jack replied.
Ianto took the unsubtle hint. "There's a mug waiting for you on your desk."
"Ianto Jones, brilliant as ever." Jack grinned, slipping a hand behind the young man.
"I do my best, sir." There was a slight lilt on the 'sir' this time.
The Doctor, noticing it, beamed. "Do I not get a cup? I mean, I prefer tea, but if it's only coffee going, I'm fine with coffee, too."
"Sorry, have we met?"
"We have, yes. Yesterday, in fact. I'm the Doctor."
Ianto sent Jack a sidelong glance, silently asking if the man before them was a complete nutter. Jack quirked his eyebrows in response and gave a slight nod – not to indicate that, yes, this man was a complete nutter, but to indicate that, yes, this man was in fact the Doctor. Although it was entirely possible that he was indicating both.
"He changes his face to avoid dying," Jack explained. "And the rest of him, actually. Not that I've checked," he quickly added, seeing the suspicion on Ianto's face. "Recently. And this is Twitch, his travelling companion. Twitch, this is Ianto Jones, head archivist of Torchwood, and general…support." His eyebrows quirked again.
"And Torchwood is what exactly?"