Fic: Vizzini's Rule (78/105)
Title: Vizzini's Rule, Chapter 78
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Nope
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!
Summary: In which Ianto and Brendan go to lunch…
Notes: Brendan is back! Thanks so much to everyone who is excited he’s making a return. :) Hope you enjoy.
Previous Chapters
Vizzini's Rule: Chapter Seventy-Eight
Still shaking his head at Jack’s generous gesture, Ianto headed back upstairs to wait for Brendan. He was in the back office when the bell over the door finally jingled again. He slipped through the beaded curtain to find Brendan leaning on the counter.
Brendan smiled and said, in a horrible American accent, “Excuse me, can you please tell me the best way to the Castle?”
Ianto laughed. “That is the number one question I get asked by those brave enough to come inside. How are you, Brendan?” he asked, extending his hand.
“Good, good, no complaints, you know? You?” Brendan replied, shaking his hand across the counter, holding it just a little bit longer than necessary.
“The same,” Ianto said.
“Everything the same?” Brendan asked a shade too casually.
Ianto nodded, answering the question Brendan hadn’t asked. “Exactly the same.”
“Ah,” Brendan said as he flipped through a brochure. “Okay, then. SUV still in the garage?”
“Yep, let me take you over.” Ianto grabbed the keys to the garage and the SUV and turned the sign to CLOSED on the door as they left. “So…” Ianto said as they walked. “Are we still on for lunch, then?”
“Yeah, I mean, if you want to…”
“I do. I mean, if you have to get back or… or something, I can -”
“No! I mean, yes, I still want to, too. Go to lunch, that is.”
“Good,” Ianto said. “Good, I… I’ve been looking forward to seeing you, Brendan.”
“Me too. I almost sent you an email a few times, just to say hi? But I wasn’t sure… I mean, if you wanted…”
“I did the same thing,” Ianto admitted, opening the garage.
“I think it’s the job, you know? We have to keep everything a secret and pretty soon we’re only talking to other people who know just so we don’t slip up.” Brendan set his toolbox on the pavement next to the SUV and turned to face Ianto. “But we kind of know the secrets so it would be okay, don’t you think?”
Ianto smiled. “I think it would be great. I… you can never have too many friends, right?”
“Right.” Brendan smiled back. “Well, I’ll get to work and then we can go to lunch?”
“Sounds great. Thanks, Brendan,” Ianto said.
Brendan flapped a dismissive hand at Ianto and pulled his coveralls out of his bag.
Ianto smiled again and left him to his work.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
It was only 11:30 when Brendan returned to the Tourist Office. He reported that the SUV was in perfect working order and had only required the standard oil change. Ianto signed the appropriate forms and then left Brendan to get cleaned up and changed while he ran downstairs to see if anyone needed anything before he went to lunch.
Gwen begged for a second pot of coffee, so he got that going and then headed into Jack’s office. Jack was on hold with the Home Office when Ianto stuck his head in. He merely rolled his eyes and waved Ianto on his way, mimicking a phone call to remind Ianto of their plans for later. With everyone squared away, Ianto hurried back upstairs to find Brendan.
“What do you feel like for lunch?” Ianto asked as they stepped out of the Tourist Office. “The pub? Indian? Italian?”
“Actually, Italian sounds really good. Is there something nearby? If not, I can drive us. I didn’t see your Audi when I parked?”
Ianto groaned. “No, you didn’t, long story. There’s a pretty good Italian place just upstairs on the Quay. Sound good?”
“Sure,” Brendan said agreeably. Ianto pointed them up the stairs and Brendan followed, asking about his car.
“It was involved in a case and it didn’t end well,” Ianto said.
“The case? Or the car?”
“Either, actually,” Ianto said thoughtfully. “Can’t give you details, of course, but as far as my car goes, it was stolen, smashed and set on fire.”
“Oh, Ianto,” Brendan said sympathetically, opening the door to the restaurant and motioning Ianto inside.
“Yeah,” he replied. “Not good. Two, please,” he said to the hostess.
“Have you started looking for a new one?” Brendan asked as he unbuttoned his coat and hung it on the back of his chair.
“Not yet, I’m supposed - hey, nice suit,” Ianto said. “What’s the occasion?” he asked, sitting down and opening his menu.
“Oh this bloody thing? I have a meeting this evening in London with UNIT’s intelligence branch. I figured it’d be easiest just to put it on now when I had a place to change. Tie’s in my pocket and won’t be coming out until I’m in the car park. I dunno how you do it. I always feel like I’m being slowly strangled and I know I look like it.”
Ianto shrugged. “You just get used to them, although I might suggest not tying them so tight,” he teased. “But why a suit? Why not your uniform?”
Brendan rolled his eyes. “Intelligence has this big office in the City and they don’t want to draw attention to themselves as a military presence so standard protocol whenever you’re summoned is to dress like you’re going to the bank. They’re a bunch of nutters.”
“Sounds like they -” Ianto broke off as his phone buzzed. He slid it out of his pocket and saw Jack’s name on the display. “Sorry,” he apologized as he flipped the phone open. “Yes, sir?”
“Ianto. You still at lunch?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good, good. Look, I’m sorry but I can’t make it this afternoon after all. The damn PM needs me to hold his hand through some decision making. Do you want me to call and reschedule? Or do you want to go ahead and just see what they have?”
“Why don’t I just go? It’s like you said, better just get it over with.”
“I really wanted to come with you,” Jack said, the disappointment ringing through the line.
“I know, Jack, but this is just a first look. It’s not like I’m going to buy something today.”
“Okay,” Jack grumbled. He told Ianto where the dealership was and who to ask for and then rang off.
Ianto closed his phone and smiled at Brendan. “How would you feel about some car shopping after lunch?”
“Seriously?” Brendan asked excitedly.
“Yeah. Jack set up an appointment at a dealership he knows. They just pulled together some cars I might like and should have them there to test drive this afternoon.”
Brendan looked surprised. “Jack must know this guy really well if they’re willing to do that.”
“Jack could talk anyone into anything,” Ianto said with a grin. “I’m curious to see what they have since he told them money is no object.”
Brendan’s green eyes got even bigger. “Is that true?”
Ianto laughed. “Yes and no. Jack feels awful that my car got destroyed because of Torchwood and said he’d pay the difference on any car I want, but I’m not going to take advantage.”
“You say that now,” Brendan warned. “Wait ‘til you get behind the wheel of something sweet and you might change your mind.”
“I’ll be happy with another Audi,” Ianto said firmly, nodding to the waiter who was circling the table.
“Hey, speaking as a mechanic, I wish everyone drove an Audi,” Brendan said.
“Oh yeah?”
“Oh yeah. I could retire at thirty with what I could make off the repairs alone,” Brendan said with a grin and a wink before he turned to talk to the waiter.
TBC in Chapter Seventy-Nine
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Nope
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!
Summary: In which Ianto and Brendan go to lunch…
Notes: Brendan is back! Thanks so much to everyone who is excited he’s making a return. :) Hope you enjoy.
Previous Chapters
Vizzini's Rule: Chapter Seventy-Eight
Still shaking his head at Jack’s generous gesture, Ianto headed back upstairs to wait for Brendan. He was in the back office when the bell over the door finally jingled again. He slipped through the beaded curtain to find Brendan leaning on the counter.
Brendan smiled and said, in a horrible American accent, “Excuse me, can you please tell me the best way to the Castle?”
Ianto laughed. “That is the number one question I get asked by those brave enough to come inside. How are you, Brendan?” he asked, extending his hand.
“Good, good, no complaints, you know? You?” Brendan replied, shaking his hand across the counter, holding it just a little bit longer than necessary.
“The same,” Ianto said.
“Everything the same?” Brendan asked a shade too casually.
Ianto nodded, answering the question Brendan hadn’t asked. “Exactly the same.”
“Ah,” Brendan said as he flipped through a brochure. “Okay, then. SUV still in the garage?”
“Yep, let me take you over.” Ianto grabbed the keys to the garage and the SUV and turned the sign to CLOSED on the door as they left. “So…” Ianto said as they walked. “Are we still on for lunch, then?”
“Yeah, I mean, if you want to…”
“I do. I mean, if you have to get back or… or something, I can -”
“No! I mean, yes, I still want to, too. Go to lunch, that is.”
“Good,” Ianto said. “Good, I… I’ve been looking forward to seeing you, Brendan.”
“Me too. I almost sent you an email a few times, just to say hi? But I wasn’t sure… I mean, if you wanted…”
“I did the same thing,” Ianto admitted, opening the garage.
“I think it’s the job, you know? We have to keep everything a secret and pretty soon we’re only talking to other people who know just so we don’t slip up.” Brendan set his toolbox on the pavement next to the SUV and turned to face Ianto. “But we kind of know the secrets so it would be okay, don’t you think?”
Ianto smiled. “I think it would be great. I… you can never have too many friends, right?”
“Right.” Brendan smiled back. “Well, I’ll get to work and then we can go to lunch?”
“Sounds great. Thanks, Brendan,” Ianto said.
Brendan flapped a dismissive hand at Ianto and pulled his coveralls out of his bag.
Ianto smiled again and left him to his work.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
It was only 11:30 when Brendan returned to the Tourist Office. He reported that the SUV was in perfect working order and had only required the standard oil change. Ianto signed the appropriate forms and then left Brendan to get cleaned up and changed while he ran downstairs to see if anyone needed anything before he went to lunch.
Gwen begged for a second pot of coffee, so he got that going and then headed into Jack’s office. Jack was on hold with the Home Office when Ianto stuck his head in. He merely rolled his eyes and waved Ianto on his way, mimicking a phone call to remind Ianto of their plans for later. With everyone squared away, Ianto hurried back upstairs to find Brendan.
“What do you feel like for lunch?” Ianto asked as they stepped out of the Tourist Office. “The pub? Indian? Italian?”
“Actually, Italian sounds really good. Is there something nearby? If not, I can drive us. I didn’t see your Audi when I parked?”
Ianto groaned. “No, you didn’t, long story. There’s a pretty good Italian place just upstairs on the Quay. Sound good?”
“Sure,” Brendan said agreeably. Ianto pointed them up the stairs and Brendan followed, asking about his car.
“It was involved in a case and it didn’t end well,” Ianto said.
“The case? Or the car?”
“Either, actually,” Ianto said thoughtfully. “Can’t give you details, of course, but as far as my car goes, it was stolen, smashed and set on fire.”
“Oh, Ianto,” Brendan said sympathetically, opening the door to the restaurant and motioning Ianto inside.
“Yeah,” he replied. “Not good. Two, please,” he said to the hostess.
“Have you started looking for a new one?” Brendan asked as he unbuttoned his coat and hung it on the back of his chair.
“Not yet, I’m supposed - hey, nice suit,” Ianto said. “What’s the occasion?” he asked, sitting down and opening his menu.
“Oh this bloody thing? I have a meeting this evening in London with UNIT’s intelligence branch. I figured it’d be easiest just to put it on now when I had a place to change. Tie’s in my pocket and won’t be coming out until I’m in the car park. I dunno how you do it. I always feel like I’m being slowly strangled and I know I look like it.”
Ianto shrugged. “You just get used to them, although I might suggest not tying them so tight,” he teased. “But why a suit? Why not your uniform?”
Brendan rolled his eyes. “Intelligence has this big office in the City and they don’t want to draw attention to themselves as a military presence so standard protocol whenever you’re summoned is to dress like you’re going to the bank. They’re a bunch of nutters.”
“Sounds like they -” Ianto broke off as his phone buzzed. He slid it out of his pocket and saw Jack’s name on the display. “Sorry,” he apologized as he flipped the phone open. “Yes, sir?”
“Ianto. You still at lunch?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good, good. Look, I’m sorry but I can’t make it this afternoon after all. The damn PM needs me to hold his hand through some decision making. Do you want me to call and reschedule? Or do you want to go ahead and just see what they have?”
“Why don’t I just go? It’s like you said, better just get it over with.”
“I really wanted to come with you,” Jack said, the disappointment ringing through the line.
“I know, Jack, but this is just a first look. It’s not like I’m going to buy something today.”
“Okay,” Jack grumbled. He told Ianto where the dealership was and who to ask for and then rang off.
Ianto closed his phone and smiled at Brendan. “How would you feel about some car shopping after lunch?”
“Seriously?” Brendan asked excitedly.
“Yeah. Jack set up an appointment at a dealership he knows. They just pulled together some cars I might like and should have them there to test drive this afternoon.”
Brendan looked surprised. “Jack must know this guy really well if they’re willing to do that.”
“Jack could talk anyone into anything,” Ianto said with a grin. “I’m curious to see what they have since he told them money is no object.”
Brendan’s green eyes got even bigger. “Is that true?”
Ianto laughed. “Yes and no. Jack feels awful that my car got destroyed because of Torchwood and said he’d pay the difference on any car I want, but I’m not going to take advantage.”
“You say that now,” Brendan warned. “Wait ‘til you get behind the wheel of something sweet and you might change your mind.”
“I’ll be happy with another Audi,” Ianto said firmly, nodding to the waiter who was circling the table.
“Hey, speaking as a mechanic, I wish everyone drove an Audi,” Brendan said.
“Oh yeah?”
“Oh yeah. I could retire at thirty with what I could make off the repairs alone,” Brendan said with a grin and a wink before he turned to talk to the waiter.
TBC in Chapter Seventy-Nine