[ Action | Voice ]

[suitedforcoffee]

Jack...?

[The snow crunches under Ianto's feet as he looks around. There's a long, silent pause before he speaks again, and then the crunching resumes rhythmically as he begins to walk.]

Right, this is... I have no idea what this is. I have no idea where this is, but I'll have you know this isn't my diary. I don't even know why I picked it up

Comments

[Voice]

[captain_in_you]

Ianto...?

Ianto! It's... you're here? Where are you? Are you all right?

[Voice]

[suitedforcoffee]

Jack!

[Oh, is he glad to hear that voice.]

Jack, I'm... I'm not sure. I'm alright, just freezing my arse off, and I...I have wings. I have wings and I'm in a forest. What the bloody hell is going on? Where are you?

[Voice/Action]

[captain_in_you]

[He's already out the door, coat billowing behind him as he heads for the forest.] Stay where you are, I'll find you. Don't worry, I'll explain everything. Do you hear water running? Any landmarks around you?

[Voice/Action]

[suitedforcoffee]

J-just trees.

[He's shivering now, and it comes through in his voice.]

Wait. I might hear water. I'm going to head towards it.

[Voice/Action]

[captain_in_you]

Just hold on. I'll be there soon. [Jack is practically running now, finding the river and heading into the forest along its banks.] Follow the water downstream if you find it, okay?

[Voice/Action]

[suitedforcoffee]

Okay.

[There's just the sound of crunching snow for a couple minutes and then--]

F-found it! I'm heading downstream now.

[He walks for a bit, feet going numb, until eventually he sees movement up ahead.]

Jack!

[Action]

[captain_in_you]

Ianto! [He sees him ahead... and across the stream. Dammit.] Just... stay there! [Screw the cold water. He strips off his coat and holds it above his head, plunging into the snow-swollen stream, gasping at the cold as the water comes up to his waist but pressing on, scrambling up the other bank, now freezing, dripping wet but he doesn't care, Ianto is in front of him and now he can wrap his arms around him and drape the coat over his shoulders and just kiss him senseless.]

[Action]

[suitedforcoffee]

[Ianto obeys and stays where he is, but then sputters when Jack plunges into the stream.]

Jack! Are you insane?!

[As romantic gestures go, it's heartwarming, and he blushes even as he comes up with a dozen different ways to kill Jack for being so reckless. But he makes absolutely no protest when he ends up in Jack's arms, the warm greatcoat contrasting Jack's cold body as he returns the kiss with desperate relief.]

[Action]

[captain_in_you]

[Jack pulls back just enough to grin at him.] Only a little. God, Ianto... [He slides his hand up to the back of his neck, pulling him in for another kiss, just trying to reassure himself that he's really here, that this isn't just another crazy trick of the Malnosso.]

[Action]

[suitedforcoffee]

[Ianto's in need of reassurance himself, because he knows he was dead. There was no way he could have gotten out of there alive, so whatever this is, it feels fragile and impossible. He melts into Jack, ignoring the wet clothes, and everything feels solid and real. Not a dream. Eventually he has to reluctantly pull back for air, gasping Jack's name.]

Jack... Tell me this is real.

[Action]

[captain_in_you]

Yeah... yeah, it's real. [He's starting to shiver himself, but he touches Ianto's face, his hair, his hands, just wanting to feel the other again.] I'll explain everything, okay? Let's just... [He kisses him again, briefly, desperately, before pulling back with a deep breath.] Let's get somewhere warmer. And maybe out of these wet clothes. [He grins, unable to help the innuendo there, then adjusts the coat over Ianto's back, helping to slip it over his wings, trying to be gentle. There's a few more holes in the large greatcoat, too, and some stains Jack hasn't been able to get out, remnants of his recent death.] C'mon. My place isn't far.

[Action]

[suitedforcoffee]

[Ianto nods, smiling at Jack's innuendo. Yes, this is real. And yes, they are freezing. He gratefully burrows into the coat, pulling the sides together over his chest and instinctively tucking his wings close to his back. It takes a second glance before he notices the new holes and the blood stains. He frowns at them, but doesn't ask, not yet.]

Your place? How long have you been here?

[He starts walking as he speaks, staying close to Jack to share warmth and because he can't feel much of his feet anymore. If he stumbles, he'll have some support. He'll manage though, and then he's immediately dunking the two of them into a hot bath.]

[Action]

[captain_in_you]

[Jack puts his arm protectively around Ianto's shoulders... he'd carry him if he didn't think it'd get him punched in the face. His smile falters a little at that question, though, as he thinks of how long he's been here and everything that's happened too...]

Almost a year, now. [His voice is quieter, subdued.] And before that... it was several months since I'd left Earth. [He hasn't seen you in a very long time, Ianto.]

[Action]

[suitedforcoffee]

[Yes Jack, that would get you punched in the face. Startled, Ianto looks at Jack and sees the pain there. His heart clenches as he remembers the last time Jack was gone for a year, knows how badly things must have gone wrong if Jack left Earth, and he immediately pulls an arm out of the coat and wraps it around Jack's waist. He holds tightly.]

I did die, didn't I? [His voice is small, and he swallows hard] What happened? How am I...?

[Action]

[captain_in_you]

[Jack almost doesn't want to answer, but he knows that would be even worse.] Yeah. That was... six months before I left. So it's been about two years now, for me. [He pulls him close and kisses his temple.] Don't know how. They... the people that brought us here, they can do a lot of things.

[He laughs a little, shaking his head.] Guess I should tell you where you are anyway, huh? Place's called Luceti... we're guests of creatures called the Malnosso. They're the ones who gave you those wings... and don't let those get hurt or broken off, by the way. That'll kill you. Personal experience, here.

[Action]

[suitedforcoffee]

[He's been dead two years and brought back by creatures with powers or technology beyond what even Jack knows. It's a lot of information to take in. He nods absently about the wings, hurting for Jack, knowing how much Jack hates dying and how much he must hate being trapped here.]

What about the 456? The children? [It's almost a whisper. He isn't sure he wants to know.]