Eliot

[im_torchwood]

Jack was on hiatus and enjoying his vacation. He'd hit Broadway and the West End, and now he had tickets to Hamilton in LA Friday night so he'd come home. Itching for a show, Jack couldn't find a musical on stage except a few local school productions. Now that Urban Legend was in the second season, high school was probably a bad look. He'd been scolded enough to know when to dial it down.

He'd found a diner, though. A diner he'd never heard of and immediately got in the car to enjoy his night.

He walked in wearing a blazer over a tshirt and shiny black trousers.

"One?" the hostess asked, then led him to a seat without waiting for an answer.

"Thanks," he smiled, taking the menu...but surveying the place.

Comments

[im_torchwood]

Jack only slid him a sideways glance and a cheeky smile.

"That's the idea," he quipped.

[eliot_thespectacular]

Eliot smirked a little and leaned back in his seat. "You must really like my singing," he said.

[im_torchwood]

"I mean, yeah," Jack smiled, eyes returning to the road. "You are really good. Wasted at that diner."

[eliot_thespectacular]

Eliot sighed. "Yeah," he said, and looked out the window. "This isn't me starting out, you know. This is me having crashed and burned. I had my moment... sorry you missed it."

[im_torchwood]

"Wait, what? Really?" he asked, looking over quickly, then back to the road. "What happened?"

He imagined maybe he should have googled him, but that was creepy and Jack had been busy reblogging and adding tags.

[eliot_thespectacular]

Eliot forced himself to look back at him. "You uh, hear of a Broadway show called Fallen Grace? I mean, it only ran for like three months, so barely anyone saw it. But it crashed and burned and my career with it."

[im_torchwood]

"Ohh nooo," he groaned. "That mess was you? God, I read what a nightmare it was."

He paused, sat in sympathy, the had to know-

"How was the script?" he asked.

[eliot_thespectacular]

"It was great," Eliot said quietly. "And the music was... gorgeous. It was just - people, mostly. People including me."

[im_torchwood]

"You fuck it up with ego or dick?" Jack asked directly.

[eliot_thespectacular]

An image of Mike leaning in for a kiss flashed into Eliot’s mind, and he winced.

“Both,” he said. “Also drugs. And trusting the wrong people.”

[im_torchwood]

"I'm really sorry, man," he commisserated.

The canyon flew by, few cars on the road to slow them down.

"So...now you're a waiter to pay the bills?"

[eliot_thespectacular]

"And to perform," Eliot said, wistfully. "I came here to start over, it hasn't been going well so far, but at least... I mean at least I can sing for someone this way."

[im_torchwood]

"I'm not kissing your ass- you are really talented. Come tomorrow and I'll introduce you around after the show," he said.

He slowed and turned, waited for the gate, then pulled into a mission style hacienda. He stopped the rig in the circular driveway and killed the engine.

"Mi casa," he grinned.

[eliot_thespectacular]

"Oh... wow, yeah I was definitely right that your place is better than mine," Eliot said, getting out of the car.

He wondered if he was serious about introducing him around. Just like with Nyx, he worried about being seen as trying to use someone.

[im_torchwood]

"My job is better than yours," he pointed out, walking around the rig to let them in.

"There was a time I lived in a sub-basement apartment under a divided Victorian zoning violation in Portland," he told him. "There's hope."

[eliot_thespectacular]

"My first apartment in New York was a bigger shithole than where I live now," Eliot assured him. "Honestly I'm doing okay, all considered. Better tips than a gay bar."

[im_torchwood]

"Not as good as a guaranteed year run," he replied. "Drink?"

Jack led the way to the kitchen to grab glasses. His bottles were on display.

[eliot_thespectacular]

"Yes please," said Eliot, and looked around his surroundings. "Whatever you're having."

[im_torchwood]

Jack nodded and went to the fridge for some tonic water and grabbed the gin.

"Have you fixed your issues?" he asked bluntly. "I know people in town, you know. I could get you a shot, but not if it'll come back on me. You know how it works here."

[eliot_thespectacular]

Eliot looked over at him. "Drugs aren't a problem," he said. "Trusting the wrong people... maybe." He paused, and then added, "A lot of what the papers wrote about me was... not true. Not that it mattered."

[im_torchwood]

"Have you gotten any better at picking your friends?' he asked, passing him the drink.

[eliot_thespectacular]

“I’ve gotten better at not trusting people,” Eliot said, and took the drink.

[im_torchwood]

"Sorry," he winced.

"But good," he continued. "Recognizing bullshit in this town is a survival skill."

[eliot_thespectacular]

Eliot wasn't sure that he'd necessarily gotten better at that part, but instead just gotten... way, in general.

"So what's your level of bullshit on a scale of one to ten?" he asked.

[im_torchwood]

"My bullshit?" he grinned. "My bullshit is out in the open. I hate secrets. I make mistakes out loud."

He took a swallow, winced, and went to find a lime.

"Things that should set off the alarms are anyone who forces an NDA on you and anyone who tells you something is an absolute done deal. Until the money is in you hand, believe no one." Jack offered as he picked through his fruit.