Composition; Torchwood

[_ares]

Title: Composition
Author: nieded
Fandom; Characters: Whoniverse; Ianto-centric, Jack/Ianto, Gwen
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I do not own Torchwood. Those rights belong to the BBC and RTD. I’m just borrowing!
Author’s Notes: Sources are included at the end.
Warnings: Spoilers for any episode pertaining to Canary Wharf. AU. Themes involving genetic

Comments

[burntcopper]

eeep. Now that's chilling. Started getting inklings part way through, but the 'I serve; I serve'. GAH.

[nieded]

Thanks!

[bobthemole]

I would love to see more of this, especially the fate of the remaining 14 Newborn.

I saw Konrad once as a kid, and wish I could see it again.

[nieded]

Hmm, that would be interesting! I have a habit of writing one-shots and coming back months later to write more if I think of something. P'raps, p'raps.

While writing this story, I kept asking my friends, "Did you ever see this movie about a factory made boy who arrives in a barrel? ...No? Right. Just me then."

You are the only person I know now that has seen this movie.

[bobthemole]

It might amuse you to know I saw Konrad when I lived in Pakistan. Crazy small world we live in, huh?

[nieded]

That's so random! It's so strange how things work out like that. No one around here has seen it yet someone halfway across the world... *shakes head*

[tininess]

Brilliant!

[nieded]

Thanks!

[thaddeusfavour]

Really enjoyed reading this very much. I wish I had seen the movie you mentioned. It sounds interesting.

Great plot, great characterization, and - what I think set this apart for me - really lovely, intense dialogue. This was very much a drama, and not many of those get written. Conflict, moral dilemma, and emotionally tormenting Ianto. Very tense. I too love this idea and I think you could very possibly write more. The question and conflict still isn't resolved. Human? Not human? How different? Threat? Is it right to deny someone existence because they might be a threat? Personally, I don't think so. I think Jack was wrong on that one, though I realize he thought they were absolutely hard wired to be threats, Perhaps something in his future history led him to this conclusion?

You know, I just realized this is great scifi also. Bringing up these kinds of things to discuss. Love these kinds of thought provoking stories.

[nieded]

Wow! Thank you for your thoughtful comments.

The question and conflict still isn't resolved. Human? Not human? How different? Threat? Is it right to deny someone existence because they might be a threat?

Yes! I enjoy that ambiguity, especially when Ianto chants The Newborn slogan to Jack. How much of his loyalty comes out of earned respect and love, and how much of it is programming? It brings up new questions about his motivations to stay with Lisa and then staying with Torchwood Three afer her execution.

Thanks again for sharing your thoughts!

[thaddeusfavour]

It brings up new questions about his motivations to stay with Lisa and then staying with Torchwood Three afer her execution.

Oh it does indeed. But this leads the way to whether this makes a difference or not. After all, most people are hard wired for certain things. Ianto's responses may have been added by humans, but does that make him any less human? They're still his responses. Is it such a bad thing to be hard wired for loyalty? Of course, Devil's Advocate - how far would you be comfortable trusting someone, never sure what other little surprises their psyche might have in store? Loyalty is fine, but what if you can hard wire them to be so self-sacrificing they don't have that necessary amount of self preservation?

You can tell I love a good moral discussion.

[nieded]

Moral discussions are always fun. It's probably my favorite part about college -- as far as class goes.

Ianto's responses may have been added by humans, but does that make him any less human? They're still his responses. Is it such a bad thing to be hard wired for loyalty?

When I read this, the first thought I had was, "Would Ianto take a bullet for Jack? How far would Ianto go?"

I don't think Ianto does have much self-preservation. In the story, he pulls a gun on Jack when the Newborn is threatened, but there's a hierarchy to his loyalty. Newborns, Torchwood, "family", etc. And when all those things are at risk, the question becomes: How does he rationalize who to save? Saving himself isn't even up for discussion.

[rm]

I want to say something more cogent than "awesome" but it's Monday morning and I'm feeling a bit rough. But this awesome. The whole time Gwen and Jack are looking at that room I was sitting here going "Ianto was grown in a vat! Please tell me Ianto was grown in a vat!" and Ianto was grown in a vat! Awesome.

What _do_ they do with the others?

Also, dude, they are stored with the office supplies. That's such fucked up genius I don't know what to say.

[nieded]

Amen to rough Monday mornings!

What _do_ they do with the others?

I know what I would do, but I can't even begin to get inside Jack's head. Nor do I want to put my foot in my mouth because this is very very close to having define what an 'unborn child' is. :|

And yes, does it give new meaning to Jack's office fetishes?