likesthecoat | (no subject)

"How big is the city?" Her eyes are still a bit wide as she takes in her surroundings.

"Big. It's the capital. Caerdydd, in Welsh--and I can't speak much more, I studied it in school and forgot most of it."

He nods to the vehicle in front of them. "That's my car."

"Caerdydd," Teyla repeats. Her pronunciation is flawless.

She puts a hand out to touch the car--she's not entirely sure what she expects it to feel like--and she sniffs a little, the smell of rubber and oil an unfamiliar one.

"It's a combustion engine that runs on petroleum," Ianto says. "I don't know if any of that means anything to you, but that's the technology." He unlocks the passenger door and opens it for her.

She shrugs. "I am not an engineer," she says, smiling almost apologetically. She thanks him and slides into the seat.

"Neither am I," Ianto admits as he gets into the driver's seat. "Mostly I just know, turn the key, step on the gas, go."

He does just that.

He drives them through the prettier parts of the city, so she can see things like the Norwegian church and the bay.

Teyla leans forward to look through the windshield at many of the sights, smiling in wonder.

"It is a beautiful city," she says softly. "And...so many people."

"Thank you. I'm quite fond of it.

"Three hundred thousand, give or take. It feels like more because we're so close together."

"Three hundred thousand," she repeats quietly, as though she can't quite believe that.

"The whole population of the planet is six billion," Ianto says. "I can't even picture that many naughts."

"I had heard that," Teyla says. "I...am still not entirely certain I believe it."

"I could show you pictures of Hong Kong."

"Hong Kong?" The name is vaguely familiar, but she can't quite place it.

"It's a city in China. It's very crowded. They're shoulder-to-shoulder on the streets."

"I cannot even imagine such a thing," Teyla says, looking at him like she thinks he is pulling her leg. "How can people live like that?"

"I've no idea," Ianto says. "I suppose you just get used to it, if you must."

She shakes her head, turning to look out the window. "It must be...suffocating."

"I imagine it is. Here, though, when it gets feeling too much I just go to the park, go for a walk along the Taff, and eventually it's fine.

"I used to live in London, the other capital--it's complicated, how Great Britain works--and it's an even bigger city, and it felt crowded except at rush hour."

Edited 2009-01-11 06:37 (UTC)

"It did not feel crowded at rush hour?" Teyla asks, confused.

Mun facepalms.

"Sorry, concentrating on driving. It only felt crowded at rush hour.

"Here's my flat," he says with relief as he pulls up in front of the block.

"Ah." Teyla had simply worried she didn't quite understand the concept of 'rush hour'.

She glances up at the building. "You live here?"

"Yes. There's an elevator so you won't have to take the stairs." He parks the car and gets out, and goes around the car to open the door for her.

Ianto might be gratified to know that he is probably the most gentlemanly person Teyla knows. She takes his hand for support as she gets out of the car, following him to the building.

If Ianto knew Sheppard, Ronan or McKay, he's understand.

"Um, do you know elevators?" he says as they walk inside. "They're . . . lifts. They, er, lift."

He knows Lorne, at least. That might add to his understanding.

"I am familiar with the concept, yes." It's how the people in Atlantis had described the transporters at first.