Bute Park, Cardiff

[likesthecoat]

It's chilly but clear out--though it will rain by nightfall, from the look of the clouds in the distance--and Ianto spreads a blanket on the grass near other picnickers and kneels down to unpack the basket. "Cheese and crackers for starter?"

Comments

[hisdarklady.livejournal.com]

"I thought he was in the air force...? I guess they'd also have a similar policy. But what if it was only for like ten minutes he would be gone?"

[morethanteaboy.livejournal.com]

"Air Force, Marines . . . I can't keep them straight. He's in charge of Marines.

"It's the showing up out of nowhere, taking one of their people and disappearing into nothing that worries me. Not how long you'd be gone. It's a military base. They'd probably notice you right away."

[hisdarklady.livejournal.com]

"I can be sneaky... We can... Umm, do you think blue police boxes blend in with their decor?"

[morethanteaboy.livejournal.com]

"Somehow I doubt it," Ianto says, think of the ways Lorne's described where he lives, and little hints he's let drop.


[ooc: bedtime.]

[hisdarklady.livejournal.com]

Martha sighs, "Well, we can always elope to Aruba, I hear the virgins are on sale this season..."

[morethanteaboy.livejournal.com]

He raises his head to look at her. "Is that your solution? Virgins?"

[hisdarklady.livejournal.com]

"Only if it will make you laugh," Martha sighed, looking down sadly at Ianto. "I have no solution short of either Lorne quitting or you quitting Torchwood and joining him out there."

[morethanteaboy.livejournal.com]

"Virgins," Ianto mutters.

"I can't quit Torchwood. And I'm not ready to leave Jack."

[hisdarklady.livejournal.com]

Martha paused, almost afraid Ianto would snap at her for the next question, "You can't but love him can you?"

[morethanteaboy.livejournal.com]

Ianto stares at the sky.

"No. I can't."

He turns onto his stomach and rests his chin on his arms, thoroughly depressed.

[hisdarklady.livejournal.com]

Martha sighs and nods and places a hand on the small of Ianto's back and gently rubs his back, wishing there was an easy solution for her friend.

[morethanteaboy.livejournal.com]

He says quietly, "Jack says as long as we both want it there's no reason to stop. I think he's right. I'm not sure I like that I think he's right. I'm not sure I like what it says about me, or about my faith in Lorne."

[hisdarklady.livejournal.com]

"i don't think it's a lack of faith in Lorne... Or says anything bad about you love," Martha sighed and moved closer to Ianto.

"You feel for Jack, care deeply about him and he's apparently a very good lover. There's every reason why you would want to continue seeing him."

[morethanteaboy.livejournal.com]

"But it shouldn't be about how good the sex is, should it? Even people who hate each other can have good sex."

[hisdarklady.livejournal.com]

"But you don't hate Jack, you like him don't you?"

[morethanteaboy.livejournal.com]

Long silence.

"No. I don't hate him. But I can't love him, either. He'd never love me back--it's just not him."

[hisdarklady.livejournal.com]

"But he does care for you doesn't he? And," Martha bit her lip and sighed, "and he is actually here for you..."

[morethanteaboy.livejournal.com]

"Yes," Ianto says quietly. "I think he does. And he is here . . ."

He sighs and leans on his elbow to look at her. "But is that enough? Proximity and affection? Sometimes I think it is and sometimes I think I must be mad for getting in this deep. I just--I just wanted him for so long . . ."

[hisdarklady.livejournal.com]

"I know I said to hold on to hope, and you should, but, I'll be honest, I'm a physical person. It's not just about the sex, its about being able to be there, being able to see and touch... I need that, some people don't. And maybe you're one of the ones that don't but..."

[morethanteaboy.livejournal.com]

"Oh, no," Ianto says quietly. "I do. I do."

[hisdarklady.livejournal.com]

Martha sighed and leaned over, resting her forehead on his shoulder, "So maybe, hold on to hope for Lorne, but realise that right now neither of you can make commitments to each other and can't do a long distance relationship... And maybe leave it at that?"

[morethanteaboy.livejournal.com]

"Yeah. I know that's the only thing to do. I'd feel better about it, though, if Lorne had somebody, too."

[hisdarklady.livejournal.com]

"Lorne has his job," Martha says softly, playing with the grass by her elbow. "I'm sure he knew when he took this post that, everything else in life would be put not just on the back burner but... off the stove entirely. If you want to keep with that metaphor."

"And, at least this way, the only interaction you guys have had is just chatting online right? So I mean, you can still talk to each other... You just, realise that..."

[morethanteaboy.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, we talk. And talk and talk and talk . . . and have cybersex." He coughs and looks away.

[hisdarklady.livejournal.com]

It had just been bad luck that Martha had attempted to take a small sip of her juice, as it went spitting everywhere, "You do what? Ianto Jones, I'm surprised at you... Looking all innocent and then... this development."

Martha pauses for a moment before looking at Ianto with a sly grin, "Well, how is it? Is he any good?"