I am loving every [torturous] minute of this. I would watch the hell out of this show.
The characterizations in this 'verse have grown on me. I think the general theme of abandonment and impossible distance nearly scared me away at first. The way you've evolved the storyline one bit of reassurance and reconnection at a time is quite compelling; the gradually increasing momentum actually feels like the fog is lifting. I really love the way you write everyone on the team. Not real fond of Albert, however. To have Ianto referred to as an interloper when Albert is waltzing around like he owns the place just offends me. Hmph.
I make it a point never to rush a writer, and in fact I generally make it a point to avoid reading stories until all parts are posted. I have been devouring this story bite by bite as soon as bits were served. I am both anticipating and dreading your posting the last course. :) Thank you. It's delicious.
I have to come in and defend Albert! I'm fond of him.
From Albert's perspective, his boss has just spent weeks irrationally chasing a dead guy around the country based on rumors. And now Ianto is being kept safely at home while Jack leaves the office to spend time with Ianto, Jack is distracted by Ianto, and Ianto keeps getting in the way. Ianto seems like a sort of useless kept man. Who just ruined their sting. (This being from Ianto's perspective, of course, Ianto's resentment of Albert seems more reasonable.)
Hah hah, I don't like Albert at all. Now this is probably because I'm seeing it from Ianto's POV, but what made me so cross was him even thinking Ianto could be the murderer. I was so happy when Ianto told him to fuck off. Which of course is a great mirror to Ianto and Owen, I remember, all those years ago when Owen and Ianto had their big row and Ianto shot him, I went online during that ep and there were all these "Go Ianto" sort of messages. I think Nancy has done a great job of recreating that same sort of dynamic with Albert.
Don't get me wrong. I think Ianto's reactions and interactions with Albert are fantastic. (The "fuck off" make me laugh the first time.) My favorite moment is actually in chapter three, when Albert calls Jack after Jack and Ianto have had sex: "Ianto is proud of the deep drag in [Jack's] breath between words. Let Albert guess what they were doing."
It's so petty and snarky! It's brilliant! ♥
But Ianto isn't necessarily any more in the right. He's wildly envious of Albert, and deeply in Albert's debt and he hates it.
Meanwhile, Albert is watching Jack -- the guy responsible for the last line of defense for the HUMAN RACE -- fall into a crumbly idiot whenever Ianto is concerned. Ianto is obviously a liability at the best of times, and Albert has never seen him be competent or capable.
Watch the sparks fly!
(I also enjoy the analogies to Owen and Ianto. Ianto does well when he has someone to snark against.)
I absolutely meant no offense in my remark. I'm childishly, self-centeredly jealous of Albert on Ianto's behalf. LOL Albert's taken over where Ianto wants to be - where he would have been had a silly thing like death happened to get in his way. The comment about Albert seeing Ianto as a bumbling kept man who just blew their sting is perfect and exactly what had me so indignant. From Ianto's perspective he'd have not made half the glaring errors he has if he'd just been given a bit more information and not forced to dig into things on his own (which, in hindsight, is actually yet another embarrassing mistake and probably has him wondering if he's really where he needs to be at all).
The situation really can't be easy for any of them and I'm enjoying watching the story unfold.
I absolutely meant no offense in my remark. I'm childishly, self-centeredly jealous of Albert on Ianto's behalf. LOL Albert's taken over where Ianto wants to be - where he would have been had a silly thing like death happened to get in his way. The comment about Albert seeing Ianto as a bumbling kept man who just blew their sting is perfect and exactly what had me so indignant. From Ianto's perspective he'd have not made half the glaring errors he has if he'd just been given a bit more information and not forced to dig into things on his own (which, in hindsight, is actually yet another embarrassing mistake and probably has him wondering if he's really where he needs to be at all).
:D :D Yes, see, this! Ianto is seething in jealousy and it's clouding his judgement even if he doesn't know it. And as Eldar said, Albert is meanwhile looking at this guy who is sleeping with his boss, making Jack make bad decisions, and oh yes, just blew their best chance at catching a killer and defusing a war between humans and aliens. Yay for
Oh, don't worry, I didn't take any offense! I love nitpicking over character motivations and discussing the different perspectives. This stuff makes me so happy!
You are totally justified in your indignation on Ianto's behalf. He's been part of Torchwood for years! He's very good at his job when he's allowed to do it! The character conflicts are just so delightful to talk about. :D
Oh it makes me feel better, because otherwise I look like the one whose insanely over involved with this story and verse! Although as betas I think our job is to overthink it a lot!
I pretty much agree with you, I think I just got so into Ianto's POV in this story that I feel the same way he does. I also adored the pettiness of his thoughts in that sex scene. It's very in character and I think realistic to how any of us can feel.
By the way I laughed out loud the first time I read the fuck off line as well.
Oh, don't worry! I've been insanely thinky over this 'verse and this story for a very long time. YANA! (Betaing just gives me an excuse. :D)
I think we all empathize with Ianto in this story, and fandom defaults to Ianto's side anyway. But I've spent a lot of time pondering on Albert and his possible backstory so I can see things from his viewpoint. And petty kept-man Ianto manages to be hilarious while being realistic!
Well, you did help create Albert's backstory, so you've also got that connection with him. :D
I love going back to the "kept man" motif with these two. Normally their relationship is the kind of power dynamic that would send me screaming in the other direction if it was het. (Gimme partnership of equals every time.) But here, it's a goldmine for exploring character interactions.
Their power dynamic is a lot of fun to play with because we only see their "work" personas on the show. Normally I imagine them a little more balanced outside the office, but in Torchwood you can push it to the crazy extremes and it still works. It is really fascinating how it avoids pushing so many buttons because it's two dudes and not het. But hey, that's what the fic is for. :D
I think one of my issues with Albert is how much I dislike series one Owen. I see Albert as different in some ways, but the dynamic is very similar between them. I really like series two Owen, but in series one I have never felt he has any redeeming personality traits, he does work well as a professional and in the actiony bits, but that's about it for me.
I only really liked Owen retroactively, I think, after we see him develop in S2, admittedly. But while their interactions might parallel, I see everything Albert does as reasonable and justified from his perspective I admit I spent a lot of time pondering Albert's motivations earlier in this fic (I wanted him to be Liverpudlian. And not just so I could say that word a lot. *hugs pointy Albert*)
And of course part of this is me dissecting Albert because I'm addicted to meta and fandom discussion and I could talk about this fic all day! :)
I really can't imagine Albert with a Scouse accent. In fact I can't see him as a Northerner at all, more of a smug southerner. He could be from Scotland, Edinburgh maybe, sort of a Jean Brodie type. But I imagine he's from the home counties or maybe Dorset or Hampshire.
The characterizations in this 'verse have grown on me. I think the general theme of abandonment and impossible distance nearly scared me away at first. The way you've evolved the storyline one bit of reassurance and reconnection at a time is quite compelling; the gradually increasing momentum actually feels like the fog is lifting. I really love the way you write everyone on the team. Not real fond of Albert, however. To have Ianto referred to as an interloper when Albert is waltzing around like he owns the place just offends me. Hmph.
I make it a point never to rush a writer, and in fact I generally make it a point to avoid reading stories until all parts are posted. I have been devouring this story bite by bite as soon as bits were served. I am both anticipating and dreading your posting the last course. :) Thank you. It's delicious.
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From Albert's perspective, his boss has just spent weeks irrationally chasing a dead guy around the country based on rumors. And now Ianto is being kept safely at home while Jack leaves the office to spend time with Ianto, Jack is distracted by Ianto, and Ianto keeps getting in the way. Ianto seems like a sort of useless kept man. Who just ruined their sting. (This being from Ianto's perspective, of course, Ianto's resentment of Albert seems more reasonable.)
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It's so petty and snarky! It's brilliant! ♥
But Ianto isn't necessarily any more in the right. He's wildly envious of Albert, and deeply in Albert's debt and he hates it.
Meanwhile, Albert is watching Jack -- the guy responsible for the last line of defense for the HUMAN RACE -- fall into a crumbly idiot whenever Ianto is concerned. Ianto is obviously a liability at the best of times, and Albert has never seen him be competent or capable.
Watch the sparks fly!
(I also enjoy the analogies to Owen and Ianto. Ianto does well when he has someone to snark against.)
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(The Albert and Ianto interactions in this fic made me gleeful every time I read it. That's...a lot of times.)
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The situation really can't be easy for any of them and I'm enjoying watching the story unfold.
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:D :D Yes, see, this! Ianto is seething in jealousy and it's clouding his judgement even if he doesn't know it. And as Eldar said, Albert is meanwhile looking at this guy who is sleeping with his boss, making Jack make bad decisions, and oh yes, just blew their best chance at catching a killer and defusing a war between humans and aliens. Yay for
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You are totally justified in your indignation on Ianto's behalf. He's been part of Torchwood for years! He's very good at his job when he's allowed to do it! The character conflicts are just so delightful to talk about. :D
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I pretty much agree with you, I think I just got so into Ianto's POV in this story that I feel the same way he does. I also adored the pettiness of his thoughts in that sex scene. It's very in character and I think realistic to how any of us can feel.
By the way I laughed out loud the first time I read the fuck off line as well.
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I think we all empathize with Ianto in this story, and fandom defaults to Ianto's side anyway. But I've spent a lot of time pondering on Albert and his possible backstory so I can see things from his viewpoint. And petty kept-man Ianto manages to be hilarious while being realistic!
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I love going back to the "kept man" motif with these two. Normally their relationship is the kind of power dynamic that would send me screaming in the other direction if it was het. (Gimme partnership of equals every time.) But here, it's a goldmine for exploring character interactions.
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Their power dynamic is a lot of fun to play with because we only see their "work" personas on the show. Normally I imagine them a little more balanced outside the office, but in Torchwood you can push it to the crazy extremes and it still works. It is really fascinating how it avoids pushing so many buttons because it's two dudes and not het. But hey, that's what the fic is for. :D
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And of course part of this is me dissecting Albert because I'm addicted to meta and fandom discussion and I could talk about this fic all day! :)
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I might have to think of him as Bertie...
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