cyus | Fic: "Dressing Down"

Entry tags:

Fic: "Dressing Down"

Title: Dressing Down
Pairing/Characters: Jack/Ianto
Rating: PG
Length: 1500 words
Summary: Jack and Ianto are going to a rugby match.
Notes: Beta by

51stcenturyfox and

copperbadge

Cardiff was boiling, if not with sun, then at least excitement. Ianto felt it. It was that thrum of a good match, anticipation of beer and crowds and the perfect try. The tickets were in his jeans pocket; he hadn't been to a game in too long.

There were rowers on the Taff further upstream maybe, but as Jack and Ianto strolled past the other side of the Brains plant to get to the stadium, it was Industrial Cardiff at its best, and Ianto didn't fancy a swim in the water. It reeked of everything you forgot when you looked at the new high rise buildings of the city's skyline. A group of blokes pushed past them, their rugby shirts damp with sweat, their voices hoarse. One of them jostled Jack, half-apologized, half laughed. A water taxi went by, cheering people on the way to the game themselves.

"Been to see them play before?" Ianto said, watching the group's retreating backs, white numbers on red, when their shouts of a sure win carried them towards the stadium.

"Was in the 60s." Jack nodded, cocked his head at the stadium like it had grown out of nothing and he wasn't quite sure how it had got there.

"Right. You said you hadn't." Ianto paused, glanced at Jack.

Jack shrugged. The braces pulled tight across the fabric of his shirt

"Should have got you to wear a rugby shirt," Ianto muttered when a girl on a bike peddled past, looked at Jack then at Ianto, trying to figure them out.

The stadium bulged over the side of the Taff like it was just waiting to take a dive in and expected you to have a bit more faith in the construction. Jack had opted out of the coat for summer and daytime, now if he'd lose the braces Ianto would actually not feel embarrassed or like he was leading a lunatic through town on his ten minutes of freedom a day.

"You'll die in the heat," Ianto had said earlier, down in the body of the Hub, slow day, nothing to do. Programs they'd started running had compiled data. "You'll die and come back up, and I'll be over there most certainly not belonging to you."

"Ashamed?" Jack had grinned, strutted down the walkway like he was walking for Galliano with crazy clothes for a politely clapping audience in hoods and bold shapes.

"Sometimes," Ianto had dead-panned, hands on his hips. He could get hard for that coat, but not in a crowd of rugby fans, not when they weren't TORCHWOOD, all-caps.

Jack had lost the coat then, a few seconds of eye contact and Ianto was willing to buy into telepathy when it made Jack shrug out of the coat for him, but the braces still made him stand out enough, and Ianto kept his gaze on his shoes more than on Cardiff's summer dress-up or the rugby fans. He was wearing his shirt, like a good Welsh lad and tried to put on the brave face of he just happens to be walking next to me.

It wasn't that Jack was a bloke, only that Jack was Jack.

"How did we do when you went?" Ianto asked now, as they ducked into the tunnel under the rails, split when a cyclist ignored the get-off-your-fucking-bicycle sign and nearly ran them over.

"Lost."

"Badly?"

Jack raised an eyebrow at Ianto. "Can't say I remember. Maybe?"

Ianto rolled his eyes. "Wrong answer, try again."

Memories were a sore topic with Jack, the having, the losing, and Ianto didn't ask usually, but it was rugby results of the 60s, a boy could dream and not think about the trauma of it all as if he was Jack's keeper of the moment.

Two girls in tight shirts, and Ianto appreciated that sight just fine, were giggling, sneaking glances at Jack. Jack grinned at them and they flushed, probably wet their knickers. Still Ianto kept a foot between him and Jack and the braces and the period clothes that he could have got away with for cricket but not for rugby. And Ianto, he wasn't a cricket lad, sorry.

Ianto produced their tickets for the stadium at the entrance, and Jack's muttered "Torchwood" got them past the security with their weapons, Jack's concealed around his ankle. He'd been watching too much Bond on Ianto's sofa. They made their way to their seats, grabbed a beer on the way.

The stadium was a sea of red and a sea of noise.

"Should've worn a rugby shirt," Ianto told Jack, snuck a glance at him from the side as Jack lounged in the plastic chair and Ianto sat ram-rod straight, playing with his plastic cup, observing the audience, the field, the fucking sky to avoid direct eye contact.

Jack leaned closer, expression vaguely amused and slightly sour, arms crossed in front of his chest. "You are fucking an ex-time agent."

Ianto snorted."I was just trying to forget that, thank you very much." He played with his cup, sipped on the beer, and Jack's slacks brushed against his leg, the braces just inside his field of vision. "Thought they'd have wanted you to blend in," he muttered.

"An immortal ex time agent," Jack continued, eyes on the field, chin jutted out.

Ianto could hear the self-deprecating twist on the word, because Jack didn't do conversations, he only did cold reality checks. The laugh made it into the cup of beer just as Ianto was trying to drink. "You forgot to capitalize that. The Immortal, thanks again for the reminder, Jack. I was-"

"-you enjoy it though." Jack turned to Ianto, a smile on his lips, hard lines around his eyes.

"What?"

"You enjoy fucking something that will never go away, never completely, a bit like leaving your mark on time itself. Must be a headrush."

Ianto turned to Jack fully, stared at him. "You are an idiot sometimes." He leaned in close. "I enjoy fucking you because I enjoy fucking you, not everything is about the great big mystery, Jack." He leaned back again, shrugged. "You'd have been hot in a rugby shirt. And not looked like you are playing dress-up for kink."

The game started and Ianto cheered, more than he'd thought he would, it helped that they were winning. Jack was watching, pouting maybe about the unfairness of his solitary existence and the weight of time on his shoulders.

When the game let out and they made it down the steps and out of the stadium, walked towards the Bay down Bute Street and passed a group of kids playing basketball, all in silence because Jack was brooding and not on a roof. Ianto was drunk enough to be ticked off at being ignored as the boy in the early 21st century or whatever he'd be remembered as if memory wasn't a hit and miss game.

Ianto turned to Jack, stopped him in the middle of the sidewalk and pushed his braces off his shoulders, unbuttoned Jack's shirt.

"Now that's what I call public," Jack started.

Ianto shook his head. "Stuff if, Jack." He pulled Jack's shirt from his trousers, tucked it between his knees, then pulled off his own rugby shirt.

Jack raised his eyebrows, a snapping remark forming behind those pursed lips.

"Arms up," Ianto said, calmly, ignoring the hoots from the teenagers across the street.

Jack raised his arms and Ianto pulled his rugby shirt over Jack's arms, tugged a bit harder to get Jack's head through and it into place, over the white shirt underneath, the braces loose against Jack's thighs, to fall down to around his Jack's crotch.

"Proper Welsh now," Ianto said as he shrugged on Jack's button-down.

The shirt made Jack look ridiculous, but at least it made him look like he was trying.

"You're half-naked," Jack said, nodded at Ianto's chest, reached out only to have Ianto take a step back

"Leave it." Ianto rolled his eyes and continued to walk towards the bay, buttoning up the shirt.

"Do I get an explanation?" Jack asked, catching up.

"Stop being stuck in your own fucking past, Jack, and live for the moment." Ianto turned, walking backwards so he could face Jack. "I'm here, you're here, I'm fucking a man, because it's you, so..." He shook his head. "Whatever."

"You're fucking an immortal."

"Yeah, do you honestly think I could forget that? So wear a fucking rugby shirt the next time so I don't feel I'm taking an alien to a match." Ianto shook his head. "Indulge me. It's what people do when they fuck."

Jack laughed. "Big speeches there."

The sun had set over the Bay and the last water taxi of the night, and Ianto knew the schedule, padded past them to let out the people just a few steps from the tourist office.

"I don't belong here," Jack added.

Ianto snorted, kept his gaze on his feet as he was walking ahead of Jack. "You could try. That's what people do."

"Ouch," Jack said, reached out to catch Ianto by the waistband of his jeans, fingertips skirting over naked skin as he stopped him in mid-stride, "I won't say I love-"

"You shouldn't." Ianto turned, and wished he could wipe that smile off Jack's face. The lips twisted for defense and irony. He shook his head. "Just wear a rugby shirt next time, yeah? For me?"

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Brilliant! Great interaction, the dialoge was spot on.

Thanks very much. It's something I did enjoy writing. Thanks for the comment

and having said that, I have to say by unique I mean it reminds me of another writer *L* Mik, from the XF slash fandom, who, as far as I'm concerned, was one of the greatest writers ever. See, not just babble, but a real compliment in there.

Having said all that, I just want to thank you for your unique perspective, not just on Jack and Ianto, but on the world they live in. Cardiff haunts my dreams nightly, and that's in no small way thanks to you!

Oh, and your fluff is the least fluffy fluff ever--I love it!

Cheers!

You know, having been active in XF slash fandom (though M/K not M/Sk) around 2003ish I'm fairly aware of Mik. A friend of mine was a good friend of him. I don't think I ever actually communicated with Mik but yeah, I definitely know of him, if you will, have a read a few of his fics in my time, so it's kind of funny you bring him up. And X-Files.

So I'm very much taking that as a compliment. I'm not sure how unique my perspective is, I just write the stories as I see them, as I see people interacting, but I'm happy to hear that the amosphere and descriptions of this Cardiff work for you. I do want to make the setting part of the story all the time because the characters exist in that particular space so much. Having been to Cardiff, it's a really great city, I like that it's not sleek and clean, but has a lot of that grimyness, the down-to-earthness. It appeals to me, and it certainly appeals to me in terms of writing stories about it.

So thank you very very much for the comment, and I'm glad it's not fluffy fluff :D

I had a chance to visit Cardiff in 2008 (got to watch some CoE being filmed, as it turned out) and adored the place--I'm heading back there in 2010 (when you live an ocean away you have to plan these things well in advance *L*) and I will be taking your Cardiff with me as well as my own :)

And gawd help me if the M/Sk bug ever bit you--my first love and I bet you'd be brilliant with them! Of course, if you just keep giving us great J/I, you sure won't hear me complaining!

I like how you developed the business with Jack's immortality and brooding in this version -- hangs together nicely now. And the extra emphasis on Jack's faulty memory? Brill.

This has about 500 words more than the original draft, not quite sure where I even put them all, but yeah, it's nicely balanced out now, I think, and highlighted in the right places. The emphasis on memory is thanks to Sam pointing out that Jack had said he'd never been to a game in Cyberwoman (which I'd clearly forgotten about), so it was easy to start emphasizing there already instead of later, really. Also- it ties in with the theme of 'Don't forget me' of CoE because I'm never sure how Jack could possibly not forget Ianto with all the issues she's shown.

This has me all excited for the start of rugby season again, although loyalties are always torn. Another fic from you that is just so very real, and so very Jack and Ianto. Because they're talking here without actually talking and that's very much the way they are. A lovely insight into their relationship and how wonderfully stubborn they both are on the matter. Great fic, with some great description that really puts me in Cardiff.

This has ME excited for rugby, too, certainly. Thanks very much for your comment, that reality is certainly the main goal of all the pieces within this cluster of fics, to show interactions that don't feel scripted and put-on, but get as close to the structure of actual conversation as possible in content and in outside structure, as well as do that to the backdrop of intimacy between characters rather than dislike. So it's an ongoing experiment of sorts, but am glad to hear you are enjoying that. And glad the description of Cardiff works.

Really interesting scene. I can see how that would get to Ianto, Jack refusing to try to blend in to this time. Kinda painful. Ianto is certainly conscious of wearing the proper attire. Suit at work, rugby shirt at rugby game, everything in its place. Do they play rugby in Millenium Stadium or somewhere else?

Yeah and, hmm, I did antagonise a bit about it, frankly, if this was Ianto being too bratty or too pushy on minor issues that have no bearing whatsoever, but obviously it's not just about the shirt, it's more about a general lack of effort I tried to tie-in to the never-dying-permanently business. But yeah, it's one of these possible-and-plausible-not-immediately-likely scenario I think that this would be painful for Ianto, to, in teh end, be constantly reminded that he is one of the crowd of normal humans on the planet and Captain Jack is something else. And, well, Ianto knows that Jack potentially knows how to blend in, so it is a bit deliberate there to stand out in uncomfortable ways.

And yeah, they play rugby there indeed. Far as I know the stadium was originally built/redone/expanded into what it is today for the 6 Nations thing a few years back.

Wow, the dialogue was brilliant, just to "normal" friends going to a match.With that certain undertone only lovers have!I enjoyed it very much! Let's have a nother one, pretty please !!!
C

Thanks very much. All these pieces make me enjoy writing dialogue, it's a very different experience. So I'm glad you enjoyed it. No promises on another one, I'm afraid, but if it happens it happens. Thanks very much for the comment

Really enjoyed this!!! Great, and thanks for posting ♥

Thanks very much. Glad to hear you enjoyed it :)

this was very good. great dialogue that rang true. thank you.

Thank you, I appreciate that. Thanks for the comment.

Painful, but very honest and poignant. I love it.

Thanks. Glad to know it feels honest, rather than superficially annoyed or something similar. Thank you for the comment

I like how Ianto calls Jack on his emo mess

Yeah, watching the show I always think that, come on, there are things two people who have an intimate, sexual relationship would talk about, things they call the other person out about, and that is certainly one of them. So glad to hear that that is appreciated.

This Sharing Spaces universe is refreshingly authentic; their dialogue sounds like what you would expect to hear if you were eavesdropping. It's both intimate and prickly, which just rings true for me. As others have said, you write the least fluffy fluff I've ever seen.

By the way forgive me for pointing out a minor typo, because you're always so accurate: "Jack leaned closer, expression baguely amused"

I'm just trying to write them as I would expect people to have a conversation, only that their issues are maybe a bit different but ultimately not that much. People are bitey if they are hurt, they are occasionally unfair, they are flip about things and regret it later. People don't give speeches, people don't say anything at all most of the time. Things like that, just normal conversation, really, that's what I want with it, with obviously the layer of it being Jack and Ianto, so I'm glad that comes across.

And thanks for pointing that typo out.

This was very good.

Thanks

This was solid, and really interesting. A lot of pithy little observations and truths, like Jack didn't do conversations, he only did cold reality checks. I like Ianto calling Jack on using his clothing and his absent memories as a way of keeping himself from being in the world with both feet (and who could after a hundred years?), from being with Ianto with both feet. I like Ianto trying to get Jack to be more boyfriend-like, while being embarrassed that he wants him to be that.

Thanks very much. It was a bit of a balance act there with Ianto because I dislike stories with Ianto as the one who continually demands Jack to change, the nagging little thing that is never satisfied etc., so I didn't want to go down that road while still showing reasonable expectations and wishes really and tie all up into the bigger issues that they as a couple must have. Mostly I worked from the Ianto POV of wanting to tell Jack to "snap the fuck out of it" because people who are continuously not there are really hard to reach and it would be frustrating and disappointing. It's a very relationship-focused affair, all these stories, and so I'm only too aware of trying to not write cliches, ultimately.

If I had to guess, I'd say that Jack would do a fair bit of trying to get his partners to change, too. Maybe more. He's One hundred and Holy-fuck years old -- he must have a few opinions on How To Be. Probably not so good at keeping those opinions to himself, either, lotsa old folks aren't.

I love the contrasts you're building in this series.

Thanks very much, and glad that works for you.

I am so loving your "domestic" series. This is great and I love the descriptions of the stadium and the crowds etc. It is all very grounded and real.

Also it's nice how you have taken what is frankly out of character dialogue in CoE and made some sense out of it. Yours works much better of course, as it's Ianto being really very clear about what he wants, and actually calling Jack on the living in the past thing, and how he could make an effort, so yes, be more "couple" like, but Ianto comes from an equal, strong place here. It's his usual style, rather than some kind of insecure nonsense.

I do try to keep Jack and Ianto very much in this world, even when, as soon as you take them out of the Hub, they are aliens moving amongst people in a way, walking with the crowds, walking in the sunshine. Cardiff offers interesting contrasts there to play with as a setting as opposed to setting stories in the Hub, so I'm happy to explore those.

You know, I didn't even think of CoE when I wrote that but I can see your point actually. This version of Ianto is certainly less passive than the CoE version, and well, I hope a little less pathetic (and I say that as someone who did enjoy CoE and its plot points in general)

I don't have much to add, except that I'm finding your fics to be like comfort food for me (oddly enough).

I love the interaction and placing them in public for this very hard topic. I love it!

They are comfort food to write, for me. Not necessarily with the intent of actually comforting anything specific, but because they are somewhat easy on the eyes, maybe.

Thanks for the comment, and yeah, the contrast of the public space and the intimate conversation is probably one of my favorite pieces in this, so thanks.

(deleted comment)

Indeed it was. :P Glad it worked for you.

And I have to disappoint you, Sam didn't touch that line. He doesn't actually edit lines when he betas, so yknow, I doubt you'd be able to pinpoint exactly what his beta job entailed just by looking at the finished text.

(deleted comment)

I actually had that conversation with Sam recently. I don't like Pratchett based on having read the first of the Discworld books and finding it utterly boring and a bit of a waste of time. I never touched another Pratchett book after that, so if it is Pratchett-esque, I'll have to take that at face-value from you there because I don't actually read that guy. ;)

I can't add much.

It's very real. My favorite part is Jack grabbing Ianto by the waist of his jeans. I just perv on little incidental touches like that.

deleted semi-double-post, computer hates me

Thanks very much for that, I appreciate that, certainly, and yeah, I'm a fan of small touches to knees, thighs, backs, chests, etc too, so I'm happy to hear that that worked.

loved that very much, you got their interactions really down

Thanks for the comment, and glad to hear their interaction worked for you here.

absolutely excellent fic, great characterisation.

Thanks very much, I appreciate that.

You write the least fluffy fluff ever but it ring so much more true due to the realistic part of the story and strong characterisation.

With another writer, this could have easily turned into an emo-estic story for either of the characters with big speeches about either memory and "poor me, I am an immortal" or "You don't put enough effort in, you don't love me." and a miraculous fixing of the problem with cock. (Or at least an enough distraction to forestall the conversation for another day.)

Instead you kept the prickly conversation interspersed with the game, which is most realistic when you are pissed off with your partner about something and I love Jack's comment "you are fucking an ex-time agent". Took about an excellent reality check. Your writing of Ianto feels very much like a COE and Maggot background Ianto in his desire to "fit in" with the normalcy of a rugby game and his thought/speech patterns.

I enjoy how in all of the sharing spaces cluster, you write Ianto as an equal in the relationship with it deep enough to not need verbal reassurance of whether they love each other (which really? With their backgrounds?) but Ianto demanding more of an effort on something he cares about-wearing the damn shirt.

*blushes* Sorry for the long comment.

"You could try. That's what people do."

i love this--great interaction, realistic dialogue. i really like ianto pushing jack out of his own head, here. lovely.

Great stuff you've got there. Really, Jack, just because you're a gorgeous time traveller stuck in the 21st century it doesn't mean that you can go to a bloody rugby match with period clothing.

That said, I'm trying, and failing, to picture him in a rugby shirt. XD

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Fic: "Dressing Down"

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You have a unique style

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JUST WONDERFULL !!!

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