The problem with using words in FOOTR is that it was a very badly written episode. It pretty much comes as everyones least favourite and that is mainly due to the writing. But we can only go on what we are given.
Jack knows that Ianto is upset, but they have to find out what is going on. They are first and foremost Torchwood. Jack and Ianto are very similar characters. They have shown that to us over the two seasons. Both of them often will not answer a direct question. So Jack can't come right out and ask about Ianto's feelings. Ianto won't answer that and he won't like it.
Also both of them do not like people touching them, unless they initiate the contact first. Jack not touching Ianto is fully in character for both of them. He normally waits for Ianto to make the first move. If Jack did touch him it would have seemed very strange and out of character. Most likely Ianto would have shrugged him off. You haven't seen them both talking about their feelings. The closest scene we got to that was TLLM, and even then they were saying more in the subtext than in the actual conversation. Plus it was Ianto who stopped the conversation about feelings with a physical demonstration.
It is Jack understanding who Ianto is in that scene. That he doesn't liked to be touched if he isn't aware of it. Look back to Small Worlds and Jack touching Ianto's back. Ianto looks at it straight away and isn't comfortable. He allows it for a short period of time and then he stands up straight and sighs, effectively dislodging Jack's hand. Jack comes back from the dead in End of Days and Ianto puts his hand out to shake it. Yes Jack does grab him then, but that is mutual comfort and in a fairly extreme situation for all of them. But Ianto's initial instinct was to put out a hand.
Part of loving and caring for someone is understanding them and their needs. Jack understands Ianto for the most part, because he is very similar.
Yeah, that episode was rather bad but we have to work on what we have.
And what do we have? Yes, Ianto is upset (I've read in Torchwood Yearbook [it was in Torchwood Magazine in the first place probably, but since they don't sell Torchwood Magazine where I live, I had to find it in the Yearbook] that some of Ianto's lines were supposed to be Gwen's but Eve had been busy with making Adrift so they handed them to Gareth, which explains his all of sudden sulky attitude to dying people). And yes, they have to catch the bad guys first, so they put their feelings away - thing I absolutely love in their relationship, so different from, let's say, Gwen's attitude, who wouldn't bear seeing her lover being shot at, which didn't startle Jack too much in Meat, because they're professionals. But back to the point. You think they really are this similar? I think they are really different and this is what makes them great match. Jack's a chaos and Ianto is an order and together they're just what the world needs.
The touching thing is intriguing. I think we should leave the Small Worlds out of it because it's been extreme situation. Ianto was surprised there and maybe not too happy about the touching, but it was right after Lisa. Ianto has lost his meaning and started to stay late at work and Jack, as good boss he is, has been worried so he offered the touch as comfort which surprised Ianto but which he accepted, eventually. It was a different situation. I don't think it applies to Ianto, to tell he is a person who doesn't like to be touched without him initiating the contact. I can't think of a scene where he doesn't accept touch, really. And as for Jack, I can remember only the Fragments Ianto scenes so it's not much either. Similar thing is in 1x13. Ianto is puts out a hand because he's not sure how to react and if it's okay to show his affection in public, if Jack would allow it and if Jack isn't still mad at Ianto for betraying him (again). But Jack isn't and Ianto is grateful for that. So it's another extreme situation that does not apply to their relationship as a whole. These are more of turning points than examples of how they act day to day.
I think touch is what their relationship is mostly about. They express most of their feelings by touch, yes, whatever the feelings are. Like Ianto kissing Jack in TLLM after hearing that Jack wants to be where he is and with who he is. But in the first place Ianto comes there to ask him if Jack is okay. Ianto does that on several occasions. I can't remember Jack asking Ianto the same after 2x01. He sees something is wrong - and he leaves Ianto with himself. And from what I've seen - it doesn't do Ianto *this* good, as he stays upset.
So no, it's not understanding for me. It's dismissing the problem and leaving Ianto alone. Not because he doesn't give the damn. Because he doesn't know what could he do. Because he doesn't know Ianto. Because Ianto didn't let Jack know him just as much a Jack didn't let anyone know him.
Jack knows that Ianto is upset, but they have to find out what is going on. They are first and foremost Torchwood. Jack and Ianto are very similar characters. They have shown that to us over the two seasons. Both of them often will not answer a direct question. So Jack can't come right out and ask about Ianto's feelings. Ianto won't answer that and he won't like it.
Also both of them do not like people touching them, unless they initiate the contact first. Jack not touching Ianto is fully in character for both of them. He normally waits for Ianto to make the first move. If Jack did touch him it would have seemed very strange and out of character. Most likely Ianto would have shrugged him off. You haven't seen them both talking about their feelings. The closest scene we got to that was TLLM, and even then they were saying more in the subtext than in the actual conversation. Plus it was Ianto who stopped the conversation about feelings with a physical demonstration.
It is Jack understanding who Ianto is in that scene. That he doesn't liked to be touched if he isn't aware of it. Look back to Small Worlds and Jack touching Ianto's back. Ianto looks at it straight away and isn't comfortable. He allows it for a short period of time and then he stands up straight and sighs, effectively dislodging Jack's hand. Jack comes back from the dead in End of Days and Ianto puts his hand out to shake it. Yes Jack does grab him then, but that is mutual comfort and in a fairly extreme situation for all of them. But Ianto's initial instinct was to put out a hand.
Part of loving and caring for someone is understanding them and their needs. Jack understands Ianto for the most part, because he is very similar.
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And what do we have? Yes, Ianto is upset (I've read in Torchwood Yearbook [it was in Torchwood Magazine in the first place probably, but since they don't sell Torchwood Magazine where I live, I had to find it in the Yearbook] that some of Ianto's lines were supposed to be Gwen's but Eve had been busy with making Adrift so they handed them to Gareth, which explains his all of sudden sulky attitude to dying people). And yes, they have to catch the bad guys first, so they put their feelings away - thing I absolutely love in their relationship, so different from, let's say, Gwen's attitude, who wouldn't bear seeing her lover being shot at, which didn't startle Jack too much in Meat, because they're professionals. But back to the point.
You think they really are this similar? I think they are really different and this is what makes them great match. Jack's a chaos and Ianto is an order and together they're just what the world needs.
The touching thing is intriguing. I think we should leave the Small Worlds out of it because it's been extreme situation. Ianto was surprised there and maybe not too happy about the touching, but it was right after Lisa. Ianto has lost his meaning and started to stay late at work and Jack, as good boss he is, has been worried so he offered the touch as comfort which surprised Ianto but which he accepted, eventually. It was a different situation. I don't think it applies to Ianto, to tell he is a person who doesn't like to be touched without him initiating the contact. I can't think of a scene where he doesn't accept touch, really. And as for Jack, I can remember only the Fragments Ianto scenes so it's not much either.
Similar thing is in 1x13. Ianto is puts out a hand because he's not sure how to react and if it's okay to show his affection in public, if Jack would allow it and if Jack isn't still mad at Ianto for betraying him (again). But Jack isn't and Ianto is grateful for that. So it's another extreme situation that does not apply to their relationship as a whole. These are more of turning points than examples of how they act day to day.
I think touch is what their relationship is mostly about. They express most of their feelings by touch, yes, whatever the feelings are. Like Ianto kissing Jack in TLLM after hearing that Jack wants to be where he is and with who he is. But in the first place Ianto comes there to ask him if Jack is okay. Ianto does that on several occasions. I can't remember Jack asking Ianto the same after 2x01. He sees something is wrong - and he leaves Ianto with himself. And from what I've seen - it doesn't do Ianto *this* good, as he stays upset.
So no, it's not understanding for me. It's dismissing the problem and leaving Ianto alone. Not because he doesn't give the damn. Because he doesn't know what could he do. Because he doesn't know Ianto. Because Ianto didn't let Jack know him just as much a Jack didn't let anyone know him.
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