Huh.

[unfeathered]

I cannot write Torchwood-era!Jack from his own POV, not when the story is about his team.

I can write it from his POV when he's on Doctor Who (i.e. Valiant and post-Valiant fic, and post-end of S4 fic). I can write from his POV when it's pre-Torchwood (e.g. crossovers with Buffyverse). I can even write him with John from his POV in RP.

And I can write Torchwood-era!Jack from other people's POV (e.g. John, Ianto). I have a very clear image of what he looks like when he's talking to them, what he sounds like.

I just don't know what the fuck is going on in his head. I don't know how he feels about them. I can't write it.

Which of course means that one day I will have to try. So far, every time I try, I still just get mannerisms etc. and no actual thoughts or feelings, so I end up just switching to the other person's POV!

Comments

[darthhellokitty.livejournal.com]

Jack in Torchwood era keeps a lot of secrets about what he thinks and feels. In a way we only know him from others' POV.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

*nods* makes sense, TW Jack is much more guarded than DW Jack

[omphalos.livejournal.com]

While I don't have a problem with TW Jack, I completely know the feeling of just not being able to get into a character's head. When I was writing Buffyfic I just couldn't, in any way, get into the head of Buffy herself. It was a real problem at times.

Maybe you should start a series of short stories that dot through Jack's life on Earth, starting with when he first arrives back in the 19th C. and is still very much the Jack of s1 of new Who and then darting forward a decade or so for the next one and so on. Maybe once you get to the modern day, you will find you now understand what's going on in his head a bit better?

[unfeathered]

Yeah, that's true, I know. But it makes it jolly hard to write him!

[unfeathered]

Yeah. I know. Still fed up about it, though. *g*

(Especially as other people seem to manage to write him fine!)

[unfeathered]

Actually, you know what, I was exactly the same with Buffy until I started RP-ing her. Then, suddenly, I finally found sympathy for the character, and understanding.

I was thinking of trying the same by RP-ing Jack, in a very similar way to what you just suggested. I have a just-post-DW S1 Jack in RP who has really helped with insights into then, but he's AU from that point onwards. But perhaps I could RP Jack at different stages. That might work, and I definitely find RP very enlightening. Playing them against a different person definitely, definitely helps!

[skipthedemon.livejournal.com]

I have a hard time with Jack, too! Which is why I never brought Alt!Jack into whoville. Even with my characters interacting with him intensely for a long time, he's still sort of elusive.

[unfeathered]

Yeah, I kind of assumed you had trouble with him too, since you killed him off just to ensure you didn't have to bring him in... *g*

[skipthedemon.livejournal.com]

It made for good story!

[unfeathered]

It did! :-)

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

feed him donuts, that'll get him to talk! :)

*hugs*

[unfeathered]

...But only with his mouth full. *g*

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

hmmm, good point. Although he's probably good at charades and showing you...

[unfeathered]

But then we're just back to mannerisms! *g*

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

true true...

the other problem is I think S1 Jack is different from S2 Jack (pre-Utopia/Lotl vs post) are you trying to focus on one vs the other?

[sistercarrion.livejournal.com]

Well if you want to throw him against any of mine from any stage any time, feel free! Don't forget I still have a Spike hanging about too, and potentially a few others. I can do Simm!era Master in writing, and I've been dying to have a go in RP, although that would probs fall into 'Valiant-fic' territory, so hmm. I could set up an OC if you just wanted him to chat to get his viewpoints on things clearer in your head? That'd be in the sandbox natch, but I can do some things in Whoville too.

Too bad I can't use any of my LeChance folk. I know a couple that'd just love Victorian-era Jack!!

[unfeathered]

Um. I seem to be writing S2 Jack - since it tends to be with John... *g*

And yes, he's definitely different. Not that it helps, since I still can't get into his head!

[unfeathered]

I have to admit, I was just thinking that is what I need to do! Especially since we seem to be completely running out of ideas in Whoville!

And I would love, love, love to play with your Simm!Master. :-)

Yeah, I have to admit I think he'd get on very well with one or two of your Le Chance folk. (Except that I'm not supposed to be able to tell which ones they are... *g*)

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I find the Ianto/Jack scene in "to the last man" helpful for S2 Jack-


JACK: I left home a long time ago. I don't really know where I really belong. Maybe that doesn't matter anymore.

IANTO: I – don’t you get lonely.

JACK: Going home wouldn't fix that. Being here, I've seen things I never dreamt I'd see. Loved people I never would have known if I'd just stayed where I was... And I wouldn't change that for the world.

he seems, overall, a lot more accepting of how things are and they way they are

[unfeathered]

Yeah. That's definitely what I get post-YoH too. That he realises what he's got.

But I still can't work out what he actually feels for his team. Or even John, really.

Mind you, I really do need to go and rewatch some TW if I'm going to start really writing it as I am!

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I know what you mean, he loves them- all of them- the team, John, Martha, the Doctor, but what that means is hard to pin down

[unfeathered]

Yep. That's it exactly!

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I tend to go with the '51st century kind of guy' explanation- love is not all consuming, he can love many different people with all his heart at the same time

[unfeathered]

Yeah. Mmmm. Maybe, then, my problem is needing to get my head around that.

Plus. He may love them all, but it's got to be different and to different degrees with each of them.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

oh yeah, there's a different kind of love for each.

In a way, his love with/for John may be easier, because there is a man with the same morals/ upbringing/ mindset who understands that flirting is just fun and it's the person, not the package that matters