Fic: Vizzini's Rule (58/105)
Title: Vizzini's Rule, Chapter 58
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Nope, unless you find male chauvinism really offensive...
Spoilers: Season One thru Out of Time (1x10)
Disclaimer: Torchwood and all its wonderfulness belong to Russell T. Davies and the Mighty Beeb. Just goofin' around! All ©’s to Catherine Tregenna for dialogue and situations borrowed from Out of Time.
Summary: In which Ianto goes shopping...
Notes: Okay, so I’m stuck at work - going on 7:30 now. :( So I took a break to reach teachwriteslash’s brilliant new chapter and decided to see if the firewall would let me post. If you’re reading this then it worked! Enjoy!!
Previous Chapters
Vizzini's Rule: Chapter Fifty-Eight
Ianto arrived at the Tourist Office bright and early. He went downstairs to get the coffee going and Jack came out of his office as soon as he heard the door alarm announce Ianto’s entrance.
“Ianto! Good, here are the files on our guests. I need you to make some new IDs for them. I want your best work!” Jack tossed the folder to him and then asked if there was coffee yet.
“Good morning to you too, sir, and no, I just got here.”
“Oh,” Jack said and stared rather blankly at Ianto for a moment. “Right. Good morning. Let me know when the coffee’s ready.”
Ianto stared after Jack as he strode back into his office. He must not have slept at all, Ianto thought sympathetically.
By the time Ianto had finished the new pieces of identification, it was almost eleven o’clock and the rest of the team was working in the Hub, except Gwen whom Jack had sent to fetch their guests.
As they waited, Jack reviewed Ianto’s work. “Nice job, thanks Ianto.”
“You’re welcome,” Ianto replied, glad that the coffee seemed to have mellowed Jack out a bit.
“Hey, do we have any pastries?” Jack asked.
“No, I didn’t stop this morning. Would you like me to run and get some?”
“Thanks, that would be great. It’s too early for lunch and I feel the need for some sugar. Plus, it would be nice to have something for the others when they get here.”
“I’ll be right back,” Ianto said. He drove quickly to the bakery and back to the Hub. When he returned, he could hear John yelling about something in Jack’s office. He waited as Jack talked to John just outside the door, not wanting to interrupt.
“You’re right,” Jack said quietly. “I didn’t think. You should keep your name.” Jack patted John on the shoulder and then caught sight of Ianto. He murmured something to John who nodded and went back into Jack’s office. Jack walked over to Ianto and grabbed the bag of pastries.
“I need you to run up another set of IDs. This time with their real names,” Jack ordered.
“But Jack, that’s not -”
“Just do it, okay? Without a big long discussion? They’ve been through enough.”
Ianto felt as though he’d been slapped. He stepped back from Jack, his face a careful blank. “Yes, sir,” he said.
Jack sighed. “Thank you. Before you do that though, I need you to take them shopping. Maybe to the ASDA?”
“Sorry, you need me to take them shopping? Whatever for?” Ianto asked, very confused.
“To practice with their allowance and to see what things cost these days. You’re the most sensible of all of us so I thought you’d be perfect. They’re ready now.”
“Okay,” Ianto said slowly. “I’ll go pull my car around.”
“Great,” Jack said and headed back into his office.
Ianto punched the button on the lift with a little more force than strictly necessary. What the hell is wrong with Jack today? he wondered. He’s tired, fine, that’s not my fault, and it’s not my fault the IDs made John mad, it’s Torchwood protocol, so what the hell? Ianto sighed, thinking that the sooner they got their ‘guests’ out from under Torchwood’s wing, the better for everyone.
Diane admired Ianto’s car when they met him outside the Tourist Office. She asked him a few questions about the engine and other technical things, but was disappointed when she realized he didn’t actually know much about his vehicle. He wished Brendan were there to share his vast knowledge of automobiles, Diane would have enjoyed a nice long blether with the young mechanic. As it was, the drive to the ASDA was fairly quiet. Emma asked a few questions at first, but John told her to stop making a pest of herself and, despite Ianto’s assurances that her curiosity was normal and welcome, she didn’t speak again.
The next hour was one of the longest of Ianto’s life. He hated the ASDA under normal circumstances, preferring the small market by his flat, but his charges made it even worse. John seemed to disapprove of everything, Diane was alternately enthralled and bored, and even Emma’s charming enthusiasm for everything from candy to cosmetics began to wear on him after a while. As they were bagging up their purchases, Diane approached him with a concerned look on her face.
“You alright?” Ianto asked.
She held up a pack of cigarettes to show him the warning label. “What does that mean?”
Ianto sighed. “Smoking can lead to lung cancer and emphysema and other nasty things.”
“Really?” she asked.
“Really.”
They loaded their purchases into the boot of Ianto’s car and then headed back to Llwellyn House. Along the way, John spied something told Ianto to pull over. Like I’m his personal chauffer or a taxi, Ianto though sourly. John opened his door and said to Ianto, “I’m just going to take a look at the stadium.” He turned to face the backseat where Emma and Diane were sitting and added in a patronizing tone, “You girls stick together now. I’ll be back for supper.”
After Ianto had pulled away, Diane muttered, “I suppose he thinks we’re to get supper for him.”
“Not bloody likely,” Ianto said and they all laughed. Having John out of the car had lightened the mood considerably. “No, John has to learn what it means to live in the 21st Century.”
“And that means getting his own supper?” Emma asked.
“Indeed it does. Here we are then,” Ianto said as he pulled up in front of the house. “I’ll just help you get your purchases inside and then I’ll leave you to it.” Ianto grabbed John’s bags, noting that he just assumed someone would do it for him. Not unlike Jack today, Ianto thought peevishly and then immediately felt guilty about the comparison. He reminded Diane and Emma about how to use the mobile phones they’d been given, just in case, and headed back to the Hub.
When he arrived in the Tourist Office, the wall was just beginning to swing open. Owen came through and nodded to Ianto on his way out the door. Ianto hesitated, torn between going downstairs to see if Jack was in a better mood and avoiding him altogether. He deliberated for so long that the wall swung shut again. Taking that as a sign, Ianto went to his office and set to work on the second set of identifications for their guests.
He had almost finished Diane’s passport when he heard the wall swing open again. He stepped through the beaded curtain to see Jack striding towards the door.
“Trouble, sir?” he asked.
Jack stopped with his hand on the door and turned to face Ianto. “You just left him out there on his own,” he said accusingly. “I trusted you to look after them.”
Ianto was stunned. “Who? You mean John?” When Jack nodded brusquely, Ianto continued, “He told me too! Practically demanded that I pull over so that he could tour the stadium.”
“Well he’s not there now. He’s at a pub with no idea how to get home again. He said he was afraid to call a taxi because he didn’t know how much money he’d need.”
Ianto bit his lip to keep from apologizing. This is not my fault, he thought to himself. He reached for his keys and said, “Where is he? I’ll go and fetch him right now.”
“No need, I’m going. It’s just…” Jack voice trailed off. “Never mind. Those ID packages ready?”
“Almost.”
“Good. I… Thanks, Ianto. I’ll be back later,” Jack said as he hurried out the door.
Still wondering just what the hell was wrong with Jack, Ianto returned to his office and got back to work.
TBC in Chapter Fifty-Nine
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Nope, unless you find male chauvinism really offensive...
Spoilers: Season One thru Out of Time (1x10)
Disclaimer: Torchwood and all its wonderfulness belong to Russell T. Davies and the Mighty Beeb. Just goofin' around! All ©’s to Catherine Tregenna for dialogue and situations borrowed from Out of Time.
Summary: In which Ianto goes shopping...
Notes: Okay, so I’m stuck at work - going on 7:30 now. :( So I took a break to reach teachwriteslash’s brilliant new chapter and decided to see if the firewall would let me post. If you’re reading this then it worked! Enjoy!!
Previous Chapters
Vizzini's Rule: Chapter Fifty-Eight
Ianto arrived at the Tourist Office bright and early. He went downstairs to get the coffee going and Jack came out of his office as soon as he heard the door alarm announce Ianto’s entrance.
“Ianto! Good, here are the files on our guests. I need you to make some new IDs for them. I want your best work!” Jack tossed the folder to him and then asked if there was coffee yet.
“Good morning to you too, sir, and no, I just got here.”
“Oh,” Jack said and stared rather blankly at Ianto for a moment. “Right. Good morning. Let me know when the coffee’s ready.”
Ianto stared after Jack as he strode back into his office. He must not have slept at all, Ianto thought sympathetically.
By the time Ianto had finished the new pieces of identification, it was almost eleven o’clock and the rest of the team was working in the Hub, except Gwen whom Jack had sent to fetch their guests.
As they waited, Jack reviewed Ianto’s work. “Nice job, thanks Ianto.”
“You’re welcome,” Ianto replied, glad that the coffee seemed to have mellowed Jack out a bit.
“Hey, do we have any pastries?” Jack asked.
“No, I didn’t stop this morning. Would you like me to run and get some?”
“Thanks, that would be great. It’s too early for lunch and I feel the need for some sugar. Plus, it would be nice to have something for the others when they get here.”
“I’ll be right back,” Ianto said. He drove quickly to the bakery and back to the Hub. When he returned, he could hear John yelling about something in Jack’s office. He waited as Jack talked to John just outside the door, not wanting to interrupt.
“You’re right,” Jack said quietly. “I didn’t think. You should keep your name.” Jack patted John on the shoulder and then caught sight of Ianto. He murmured something to John who nodded and went back into Jack’s office. Jack walked over to Ianto and grabbed the bag of pastries.
“I need you to run up another set of IDs. This time with their real names,” Jack ordered.
“But Jack, that’s not -”
“Just do it, okay? Without a big long discussion? They’ve been through enough.”
Ianto felt as though he’d been slapped. He stepped back from Jack, his face a careful blank. “Yes, sir,” he said.
Jack sighed. “Thank you. Before you do that though, I need you to take them shopping. Maybe to the ASDA?”
“Sorry, you need me to take them shopping? Whatever for?” Ianto asked, very confused.
“To practice with their allowance and to see what things cost these days. You’re the most sensible of all of us so I thought you’d be perfect. They’re ready now.”
“Okay,” Ianto said slowly. “I’ll go pull my car around.”
“Great,” Jack said and headed back into his office.
Ianto punched the button on the lift with a little more force than strictly necessary. What the hell is wrong with Jack today? he wondered. He’s tired, fine, that’s not my fault, and it’s not my fault the IDs made John mad, it’s Torchwood protocol, so what the hell? Ianto sighed, thinking that the sooner they got their ‘guests’ out from under Torchwood’s wing, the better for everyone.
Diane admired Ianto’s car when they met him outside the Tourist Office. She asked him a few questions about the engine and other technical things, but was disappointed when she realized he didn’t actually know much about his vehicle. He wished Brendan were there to share his vast knowledge of automobiles, Diane would have enjoyed a nice long blether with the young mechanic. As it was, the drive to the ASDA was fairly quiet. Emma asked a few questions at first, but John told her to stop making a pest of herself and, despite Ianto’s assurances that her curiosity was normal and welcome, she didn’t speak again.
The next hour was one of the longest of Ianto’s life. He hated the ASDA under normal circumstances, preferring the small market by his flat, but his charges made it even worse. John seemed to disapprove of everything, Diane was alternately enthralled and bored, and even Emma’s charming enthusiasm for everything from candy to cosmetics began to wear on him after a while. As they were bagging up their purchases, Diane approached him with a concerned look on her face.
“You alright?” Ianto asked.
She held up a pack of cigarettes to show him the warning label. “What does that mean?”
Ianto sighed. “Smoking can lead to lung cancer and emphysema and other nasty things.”
“Really?” she asked.
“Really.”
They loaded their purchases into the boot of Ianto’s car and then headed back to Llwellyn House. Along the way, John spied something told Ianto to pull over. Like I’m his personal chauffer or a taxi, Ianto though sourly. John opened his door and said to Ianto, “I’m just going to take a look at the stadium.” He turned to face the backseat where Emma and Diane were sitting and added in a patronizing tone, “You girls stick together now. I’ll be back for supper.”
After Ianto had pulled away, Diane muttered, “I suppose he thinks we’re to get supper for him.”
“Not bloody likely,” Ianto said and they all laughed. Having John out of the car had lightened the mood considerably. “No, John has to learn what it means to live in the 21st Century.”
“And that means getting his own supper?” Emma asked.
“Indeed it does. Here we are then,” Ianto said as he pulled up in front of the house. “I’ll just help you get your purchases inside and then I’ll leave you to it.” Ianto grabbed John’s bags, noting that he just assumed someone would do it for him. Not unlike Jack today, Ianto thought peevishly and then immediately felt guilty about the comparison. He reminded Diane and Emma about how to use the mobile phones they’d been given, just in case, and headed back to the Hub.
When he arrived in the Tourist Office, the wall was just beginning to swing open. Owen came through and nodded to Ianto on his way out the door. Ianto hesitated, torn between going downstairs to see if Jack was in a better mood and avoiding him altogether. He deliberated for so long that the wall swung shut again. Taking that as a sign, Ianto went to his office and set to work on the second set of identifications for their guests.
He had almost finished Diane’s passport when he heard the wall swing open again. He stepped through the beaded curtain to see Jack striding towards the door.
“Trouble, sir?” he asked.
Jack stopped with his hand on the door and turned to face Ianto. “You just left him out there on his own,” he said accusingly. “I trusted you to look after them.”
Ianto was stunned. “Who? You mean John?” When Jack nodded brusquely, Ianto continued, “He told me too! Practically demanded that I pull over so that he could tour the stadium.”
“Well he’s not there now. He’s at a pub with no idea how to get home again. He said he was afraid to call a taxi because he didn’t know how much money he’d need.”
Ianto bit his lip to keep from apologizing. This is not my fault, he thought to himself. He reached for his keys and said, “Where is he? I’ll go and fetch him right now.”
“No need, I’m going. It’s just…” Jack voice trailed off. “Never mind. Those ID packages ready?”
“Almost.”
“Good. I… Thanks, Ianto. I’ll be back later,” Jack said as he hurried out the door.
Still wondering just what the hell was wrong with Jack, Ianto returned to his office and got back to work.
TBC in Chapter Fifty-Nine