you can try to stop it but it keeps on coming

[miskatonic_dean]

Who: Dean Phillips, Lt. Summers, some crazy cultists, and YOU.
What: People begin showing up all over Arkham. All manner of nasties follow.
Where: Outside the Staff Housing Buildings.
When: Friday night.
Rating: PG-13 to be safe.

Comments

Outside the Staff House Buildings

[thatsharassment]

Ianto was furious, he'd waited for...it hardly mattered how long he waited for Jack to come back after Billis Manger had released the Abaddon and the captain had sacrificed so much of his--life force?-- to save the Earth. It wasn't that that made the Welshman so angry--well partly, but not entirely, no. It was the fact that no sooner does the immortal wake up...he vanishes.

No warning, no explanation. Nothing at all for any of those who sat and worried, and waited, and cried, while they thought that maybe, maybe Jack was wrong and he could die, and stay that way.

He is furious, because at the very least... the VERY least he had hoped that he was important enough to the captain to get some form of 'goodbye'. But no, just as he had already begun to assume, Ianto Jones is a sucker, duped by a conman and he should have known better

[cpt_51century]

Jack didn't even see him, as obvious by the way he smacked head first into him on the way back from playing hero with Laura and the Metacrisis. He groaned, holding his shoulder, before he reached out to grab the other man around the waist.

They turned in an odd sort of dance before Jack apologized, and fell silent, blue eyes wide and confused.

"Ian...I..."

[thatsharassment]

"Duw, cachu ..."

He nearly fell when the other man ran into him, but the strong arm around his waist catches him, and he's suddenly enveloped in the familiar scent of--

"Jack?..." His blue eyes narrow slightly as they sweep over the immortal and he pulls himself from his grip. Even though, the weaker part of him would rather stay there.

Of course, because this is exactly what he needs. The one person he isn't sure he wants to see, but is relieved is here to help shoulder some of the burden.

[cpt_51century]

"Not possible," Jack muttered before he put both hands on Ianto's shoulders and leaned in, looking from one pale eye to the next. Not robotic. Clone? Why would they clone Ianto? Who would have his DNA on file? Torchwood was a hole in the ground, absolutely nothing more. He breathed out and took his hands away. "You're dead." Not the nicest way to put it, but Jack was a bit in shock. Three days ago he'd kissed those dead lips for the last time. And now, here they were, pink and perfect again.

[thatsharassment]

The weight on his shoulders is, despite appearances, more welcome than it should be.

"Lovely to see you too, sir."

His tone is flat and even, in that way that he so expertly pulls off. Even if being told he's dead makes his pulse race. If wasn't already bad enough that he's in an unfamiliar place, god knows where. His brow furrows in just the slightest hint of a crease as Jack inspects him.

"What are you doing? If you play nice I might consider letting have a chance for a more thorough inspection once we figure out what is going on."

[cpt_51century]

"What am I doing? What are you doing? How did you even get here?" Answers, Ianto, he needed answers. Or, well, wanted them. The sound of something smacking into what appeared to be a force field above them. Gold sparks shot across the sky around the impact zone and Jack instinctively pulled Ianto down. "Okay, we talk later."

[thatsharassment]

"I'm not sure. I went to bed in my flat, and I woke up here." He doesn't have the answers Jack.. thanks for unintentionally rubbing that in. "What are you doing here? Is this where you went when you left?"

That...what ever that was that just smacked off the barrier above them--"Yes, sir. I believe saving this discussion for later is probably for the best."

He won't even mention that by pulling him down like you did you got grass stains on his slacks. Because given the circumstances it would seem that a ruined suit is the least of their pressing problems. "Have you seen anything like that before?"

[cpt_51century]

'Sir.' 'Left.' 'Went to bed.'

Jack growled under his breath as he looked up and saw that horrible thing flying over head, skimming the shielding. So that was what this was all about?

Fine. Fine, he could deal with that, even if he could almost feel it piercing into his soul. His hand shook as he hauled Ianto to his feet and shoved him back towards one of the buildings.

"You need to get in there and lock yourself in!"

[thatsharassment]

Oh yes, the hero thing. Right. "I'd rather not, sir."

There is a hint of irritation to his tone. He's hardly going to go and hide Jack, and you should know better. Whether it be low self worth, sense of duty or pride. You call it what you like, but he is not going to run like a coward and hide in the building.

[cpt_51century]

"Do you have a gun?" He wasn't going to let this go, Ianto. "No?" He gripped the young Welshman by the shoulders. Probably a bit too tight there. "I can't lose you again."

[thatsharassment]

If the grip on his shoulders is too tight he doesn't show it, nor does he back down. He's not going anywhere. So.deal.with.it.

"Of course I do." He does numpty when doesn't he? "You can't lose me? Sir, I am not the one who left. You are."

[cpt_51century]

No time for this. "I told you, you died. Fine, I've already figured out we're in an alternate universe, possibly a different dimension. We're still on Earth, or at least the people I've met think we are. I just... Fine, you want to help? We need to get as many people to safety as we can. I'm unarmed."

[thatsharassment]

"I realize that, sir. However, as you can plainly see that is not the case. I also already said that we haven't got the time to argue."

You really should keep up, Jack. He hardly bats an eye at the determination that this is a different universe, or dimension or whatever.

"Here. Take it." Ianto actually frowns a bit and pulls his pistol from it's holster.

"You're a better shot than I am anyway." He lies, or maybe only partly lies, it isn't as though they've actually competed in anyway to determine whom was the better shot. But as far as he's concerned a little ego stroking does a long way. He holds his pistol out to the captain.

"So, possible alternate universe, odd creatures of unknown origin trying to get in. How many people have you seen so far?"

[cpt_51century]

Torchwood. Personal feelings second to the mission. Jack immediately composed himself and started heading towards the school of Medicine, where it seemed a lot of people were fleeing too. His legs were long, but he knew Ianto would keep up.

He always did, and without prompting.

"Maybe three dozen, plus or minus. Most of those are in uniform, don't recognize it."

Behind them, a man with dark hair and blonde women run across the street. Ahead, a few of the seeming-soldiers march towards a guarded gate. No time.

"I was in that bell tower over there a few minutes ago. Alien tech like I've never seen before in there."

[thatsharassment]

At your side as always, he surveys the surrounding area, taking note of the people. The panic. The soldiers. It's easy to fall into step with the captain, it's a habit as natural as any other.

"Three dozen, give or take." He'd notes the uniforms, they aren't familiar to him either, but his knowledge is limited, even if he had some of the best resources on the planet.

Ianto glances at the bell tower, then back at Jack questioningly. "Tech in there that you never seen? I hardly believe that's possible."

[cpt_51century]

Oh you do flatter him, Ianto!

Jack just grinned, dimples popping into view as they pushed through the doors to the atrium of the medical school. "Huh, well that explains the logo on their uniforms."

It was the Miskatonic University logo.

"Miskatonic... Never heard of that either. I might like this place after all!"