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

[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.]

In that case I’ll go speak with her tomorrow. [Frankly Ianto’s gotten used to living with Spike and as interesting as his roommates both seem to be there’s no way he would choose them over him. The question of Jack is more delicate but he decides to be as straightforward with it as he can.]

Would that move include you, Jack? I can understand if you’d prefer not to given how much you like having a bit of freedom, but you’re welcome to join us if you’d like.

[ All three of them are being awfully cagey about this whole arrangement. Spike never was too good with that kind of attitude. ]

Right. You haven't said much at all about your preferences here. Or what you've been up to for the last lit'le while, for that matter.

[Suddenly, they're both looking directly at him for an opinion and he abruptly starts to look a little cornered. Until this moment, he honestly thought he had no strong opinion one way or the other, and if Ianto had phrased it more as asking him to join them and less as assuming he wouldn't want to, he might have swung towards that and accepted.

However, not only does he have Ianto assuming he doesn't want that but he also suddenly has Spike pointing out his caginess in revealing what he actually wants here (not to mention asking even more pointedly about things that he really, really doesn't want to get into right at this moment in time) and suddenly all he can think about is how he really isn't ready to be thrust back into an intense threeway relationship again. It isn't even really because he wants to sleep around here, because honestly most of the people he's met here are way too young to even consider in that light and none of them have really struck him that way anyway. It's more about the similarities with how things were with Saavi and Taiana and that... it's just too much.

So he sits there staring between the two of them for a moment and then deliberately leans back in his seat, waving a negligent hand towards them.]

I'm fine. You two get your cabin together, but I think I'll just stay where I am for the moment. To be honest, I've kind of taken my housemate under my wing a bit and I'm not sure she even has anyone else here to talk to. I don't want her to feel like I'm abandoning her. Seems like virtually everyone else in her life has.

[Which is definitely a genuine reason, even if not the most important one.]

((OOC: Sorry, guys - he seems to have reverted to his old self after all that time away from them! Or maybe he just feels a little ganged up on. One of them at a time would probably be okay, but both at once just seems to be too much right now!))

[Christ, he’d forgotten how hard this balancing act can be. Ianto isn’t an idiot. Between his sudden reluctance now and the fact that he clearly wasn’t ready to talk about something yesterday Ianto knows Jack is going through things of his own. And if there’s one thing he knows about Jack it’s that he can’t be forced to share anything he doesn’t want to. He’ll open up when he’s ready, which might honestly mean never but badgering him isn’t going to change anything. If he needs space it’s best to let him have it, and maybe they can get him to start coming around on a regular basis until he’s moved in without realizing it. Based on the stubborn set of his face it’s the best they can hope for right now.

He reaches across the table to give his hand a gentle squeeze.] You know it’s your cabin, too. Any time you want it. [And by it he for once means more than just sex, although that’s certainly included in the offer. But it’s everything that their relationship entails, even if it’ just means talking.]

((I would expect no less from him! XD))

[ Spike's quiet, hanging back a bit to observe rather than be too involved in the discussion, so of course he notices it. He's spent so much time watching Jack, prying into the way he thinks, what makes him tick, and it's blatantly obvious that something is up right now.

He also knows that calling it out now, here, is really not the best way to go about it. Maybe later they can spend some time just the two of them, have a drink or two, spill the beans in a more relaxed setting. ]

Alright. [ He shrugs, nonchalant. ] As you please.

[He wants to open up to them, wants to talk about Saavi and Taiana and share the fun he'd had with them and then tragedy of losing them. It's a part of why he came here in the first place, to try and heal himself in a better way than he has in the past. But he needs to feel comfortable with all three of them being together again first. This three-way thing is always tricky, especially after a period of it only having been two of them, and he just needs some time to re-adjust, that's all.

And definitely, talking to either of them one on one would be easier than facing them both, like this.

His fingers curl around Ianto's when Ianto reaches across to him. He swallows, looking down at their joined hands for a moment, realising he's clinging more than he intended to, and he forces himself to let go and look up at them both with a slightly watery smile.]

Thanks. [He takes a sip of his coffee and his smile widens appreciatively at the flavour. He's missed that!]

And obviously you're both always welcome over in Moose too. I just think perhaps I should let you have your space a bit while you're getting used to having me around again.

So. Do I get to see your room here, Ianto? Probably best to know which one it is, even if you are planning to move!

[They can leave it for now. He’ll try to get Jack to open up later. At the moment he’s content to return the squeeze of Jack’s fingers before releasing his grip. If he’s honest Spike might even be a better option to get him taking. He’s good at that sort of thing and he shoots him a quick, fond glance to where he’s loitering off to the side of the conversation.

Upstairs to the left. I’ve actually enjoyed the company of both my roommates which oddly enough is more motivation to move out. I’d feel a little guilty about disrupting them with some of our more, shall we say energetic activities.

[ Don't worry, he's got this. Already kind of planning for a get-together in a couple of days — they have other things to talk about and maybe Ianto's practical planning habits have rubbed off a little bit, okay?

He snorts at the comment. ]

Right. Wouldn't want to get kicked out for disturbing the peace.

[He'll look forward to that, then, Spike. He might not even end up being surprised if he spills to Spike first, given how much more demanding Spike is about such things!

For now, he just grins and gets up to head for the stairs, taking his coffee with him. He's curious to see more of the cabin, but he's not leaving Ianto's delicious coffee behind!]

That actually makes a lot of sense. Who else lives here? I haven't really grasped where anyone else lives yet!

Noel and Miles. I believe I they’re both fairly new to this place as well. [Ianto stands up to follow Jack upstairs. Not that theees much to see in his room. Aside from clothes, a few treasure possessions and his ever present diary he didn’t pack much so the room looks more or less the same as it did when he arrived.]

I’ll admit I haven’t gotten out much to meet people yet, but it sounds as though they have plenty of excuses to socialize here.

Summer 7 - action; closed to Jack and Ianto

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go on without me for a bit!

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