kollo_rpg | Summer 7 - action; closed to Jack and Ianto

No, he does. And even if he didn't, that's not exactly an option. [ He can't believe he still has to explain this whole demon-inhabiting-your-body thing after all this time, after all that drama, but that's Jack Harkness for you. ]

A soul puts the demon at bay, but that doesn't mean it's not still in there. He's going to change, there's no doubt about that. Only question is, how much.

[Give him a chance. He's doesn't exactly have the personal experience that Spike has, and he's probably missed an awful lot of discussions about this between the
two of them the last few months. He's lagging behind a bit.

But this, he does get.] Right, yeah. It'll change him. [He sighs and says, a little plaintively:] I don't want him to change. I like him just how he is.

Yeah, well... he will. He has. [ Spike's been teaching him, training him to skulk and fight, prepared him to survive because even if they're not going to go out and hunt glory and fame as Big Bads, the life of a vampire can be dangerous enough. ]

He's not the same man he was leaving that prison... or entering it.

I know. I know. [He gestures helplessly.] None of us are the same, and most if not all of that change has been for the better. I just... that's organic change, you know? This will be sudden and unpredictable and uncontrollable and, okay, I know I sound like a five year-old but I just don't want him to lose what makes him him, you know?

I know. Believe me, I know. [ He fakes a sigh. They should probably have this conversation somewhere that isn't literally outside the very house where Ianto currently lives, but this is how these things go. ]

If it's any consolation, I didn't lose what makes me me. [ Although. ] But... if it does go bad. Are you ready for what that means? What we'll have to do?

[Yeah, not the most sensible location, but it's a conversation that needs to be had, even if it's not the first and seems highly unlikely to be the last. He glances towards the house, but before he can suggest moving this Spike comes out with that.]

You mean... [He knows what Spike means, and he also knows that yes, of course he'd do it if he had to. He's killed his own grandson to save the world, for goodness' sake. He would do it. But it would break his heart to have to do so.]

No. I'm not ready. I'm not ready for any of it. I mean, yes, I'd do whatever needed to be done if things went wrong but that's not something I even want to contemplate right now! [He sets his mouth.] Before we do anything. We have to be as sure as we possibly can be that we've covered all the eventualities, and I don't feel like we're there yet.

[Of course, he hasn't actually spoken to Spike or Ianto about anything meaningful for several months, so they could well be a hell of a lot further along this path than he is...]

Agreed. [ He responds, jaw set. ] And... if it does come to that, I'll do the dirty work. No need to worry yourself about that.

[ He's done it before. He can do it again... maybe. ]

Edited 2018-10-27 19:44 (UTC)

[His eyebrows go up at that, just a little, because there's a part of him to whom Ianto is always going to be a part of his Torchwood team and therefore his responsibility. And, besides, he's the one who always has to do this sort of stuff.

Except, things have moved on. Torchwood is long gone and Spike has kind of taken over the responsibility for Ianto's welfare through, you know, actually being there. And he too is the kind of person who will do the dirty work that no-one else will touch.

The realisation is enough to give him pause, and he goes still for a moment, just processing, before he finally starts to relax a little.]

Yeah. [He nods, and glances towards the cabin again.]

We should go in. We can talk about this later.

At least, do you mind if I come in, or did you have plans just the two of you?

[ There's little Spike wouldn't do for love. Practically nothing, and after staking his own mother he's fairly certain he could handle this if it came down to it. It'd crush him, of course, grind him into dust but he's lived a long life. Maybe this would be fine.

Such a serious conversation on such a calm morning. He nods at Jack's suggestion to table this for another time and sets his sights for the cabin. ]

No, that's fine. We didn't have plans. [ He quirks a brow. ] Probably need to get used to sharing again, don't I?

[Perhaps, if it came down to it, at the very least neither of them would be on their own with it, but that's not exactly much of a consolation.

And really not something Jack's anxious to think about right now, so he's relieved when Spike agrees to leave it for now.

And grins with a bit of a leer at that next comment.] So will he!

[Because Ianto may still be the most important part of this to him, but he's missed Spike a lot too and he's definitely planning on making up for that too!

With another grin, he heads for the cabin and knocks smartly on the door.] Ianto? You in there?

[Ianto has been oblivious to the serious discussion taking place on his porch. Then again he’s been preoccupied with his own thoughts. This was the first night in years he’s slept alone and he doesn’t like how lonely it felt. What makes it worse is it’s hard to know how to resolve it. Once upon a time rotating between the two of them made sense but it feels like they’re all so far past that now. His first instinct is to spend his nights with Spike. It’s felt like them for so long especially with Jack so rarely in the picture but he also feels guilty for leaving Jack out of that equation. In the end he’s done what he always does and turned to making elaborate pros and cons list in his diary instead of getting much sleep. The knock on the door is a welcome relief and he sets it aside to go open it.]

Did you two coordinate your arrival?

[ That's the danger with places like these. Too much time to think and analyse and have deep, serious discussions on someone's porch. Then again, that's exactly why they're here, isn't it? To figure shit out. ]

Of course not. If I'd known he'd be sniffing around, I would've come a lot sooner. [ He smirks, quite happy to fall back into some lightly antagonistic ribbing. ]

Ditto! [Grinning, as he sweeps into the cabin, taking a curious look around to see how it differs from his own. He hasn't actually been inside any of the other cabins yet.

And then he pauses, glancing back at Spike:]

Do you need an invitation to come in?

Please, come in. [Ianto’s one step ahead of Jack as he steps aside for them. Inviting Spike in is something he’s gotten quite accustomed to in the past few years.

It’s nice, having the gang back together again. It’s been a long time since the three of them were in the same place together. Luckily for them all his roommates are or at the moment so they’ve got the cabin to themselves for any, well, let’s say conversation.]

It’s been awhile, hasn’t it? Having the three of us together.

Thanks, love.

[ He steps in unhindered, quite happy to play it safe with invitations. After all, chances are he'll sneak back in here come nightfall and he'd rather not get stuck on the wrong side of a window. There's a somewhat possessive peck on Ianto's cheek as he saunters in. ]

Too long. I was getting used to the peace and quiet.

[Perhaps unexpectedly, Jack doesn't edge in to kiss Ianto too. He did yesterday, when it was just the two of them, but somehow now it's all three of them together it doesn't quite feel right. Nowadays, it's very much Ianto and Spike who are the primary couple in the triangle, and he doesn't want to seem like he's infringing on that.

It still feels good when they both independently emphasise that they're glad he's here, though, and he grins round at them as he shrugs out of his coat and hangs it over the back of a chair.]

Oh, honestly, don't tell me the two of you have got all old and boring and had to come here just to find me to liven things up!

[He lets his hand rest on the small of Spike’s back as he plants that kiss, not missing out on the fact that Jack keeps his distance. There’s definitely an unspoken tension here and he’s not sure how to go about resolving it. Maybe Jack’s tactic of breaking the ice with humor is the right one. It feels like they all need to relax and get used to being around each other again.]

Ah yes, what gave us away?

[ They need to find a way to navigate this complication to the relationship but that doesn't mean he's going to act like the past five years hasn't been domestic bliss. Jack will just have to find a way to live with that. ]

Cut us some slack, you can only circle the globe so many times before it turns dull. [ Not really. ]

[Honestly, Jack doesn't expect things to instantly jump back to how they were in the early days, when the emphasis shifted from him and Ianto to all three of them and then inevitably through to Spike and Ianto when he started looking for excitement elsewhere.

In a lot of ways, he's fine with that. He loves Ianto, Spike is hot (and really good for him), but he's made his peace with them being a couple first and foremost. It's just never simple finding his place within that again, and it's much, much more complicated this time, due to the time that's passed and the things he's not telling them, and the tensions regarding turning Ianto.

Still, he's okay with staying back for the moment and letting them have their space, until he's invited back into it.]

Well, you know, you could always try travelling off-world if you're getting tired of Earth! [Grinning as he flops into an easy chair (because this could start feeling confrontational if they keep standing here in the common room), then gives Ianto a hopeful look.]

I don't suppose you were planning on making any coffee? I've missed your coffee.

[As much work as this might take there’s certainly less drama than there would have been five years go. He gives Spike a small, fond smile at his comment because no, dull is not the word he would have used for it either.]

We’ll just have to live through your adventures instead I’m afraid. And of course I’ll make you some coffee. [He hasn’t had time to get that many supplies but there’s enough here and his sleep schedule is still confusing enough to need it as well so he starts making too cups.]

Have you two given any thought to our living arrangements here?

Already sick of your housemates, are you? [ Like they'd sleep apart for more than a night or two, if that. ]

I haven't thought about it. Figured you'd have a chart ready by now.

[He really can't understand Ianto's lack of desire to get out and see the universe, but he's learned to live with it and, besides, there are far more important things to discuss.

He gives Ianto a beaming smile when he accedes to the prompting and goes off to make coffee, and then tilts his head curiously at Ianto's question regarding housing and Spike's nonchalant response to it.]

Have to say, I'm surprised you two were happy to spend even last night apart! I rather thought you'd have already asked Olivia about changing cabins - or, you know, just commandeering one. Isn't that what you used to do in the early days? [With a wink and a bit of a leer.]

If you’re going to make fun of my chart you don’t get to see it. [Ianto replies primly as he finishes up the coffee. It might have been awhile since he’s made it for him but preparing it the way Jack likes will always be second nature to him. He lets their fingers brush together as he passes over the mug before taking a seat beside him at the table.]

And I thought we shouldn’t start off our first day demanding special treatment. [He’s honestly not sure if requesting a private cabin will be the best solution or if it might not be better to stay separate and give themselves more flexibility now that their are three of them again. Frankly he’s gotten used to living with them - well, with Spike - and doesn’t want to lose that. The whole purpose of their stay here was to spend some time together before changing him and he doesn’t want to lose that opportunity but of course that plan didn’t include Jack and it makes him pause to reevaluate.]

[ Spike doesn't take a seat just yet, instead opts for casually leaning back against the kitchen counter and deciding against a smoke - he's grown some manners in the past few years, some respect for other people's property however fleeting. ]

Wouldn't do to get thrown out just as we got here. [ He muses. ] You've been here awhile, Jack. What's management like?

[He accepts the coffee with a smile that brightens even further at that little brush of Ianto's fingers against his own. All those little things mean such a lot when he's feeling low and frankly a little unsure of himself here with the two of them again after such a long time.

He inclines his head in response to Spike's comment.] Well, management seems to be pretty much Olivia - the lady who met everyone at the docks? - and I haven't had much to do with her yet, but she seems very earnest and eager to please and make sure everyone's got what they want. I honestly can't imagine she'd have a problem with you two changing cabin if you want to. If nothing else, it'd seem more practical for you to at least be under the same roof, even if you still want a room each?

[Fishing, a little, for either of them to express a preference about that.]

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