We are fools to make war on our brothers in arms

[doesntlooktired]

It rarely snowed in London, not proper snow anyway, at least not snow like Harriet remembered from her childhood growing up in Yorkshire. But even so when she though about snow it was never her youth in Flydale North that came to mind but London streets on Christmas Day only three years ago. Despite appearances though, it hadn’t really been snow

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[coffee_sir]

Banon found the former Prime Minister first. The mask didn't smell good, but it smelled new and interesting, and the small dog bounded through the snow on smaller legs to nudge up against the woman's knees, looking for attention or better sniffing access to the mask.

"Fach!" Ianto called after her sharply, and at the sound of her master's voice, the corgi dropped to a seated position that didn't invade Harriet's personal space. She still looked up at the woman with imploring eyes, as if she might have a treat hidden away somewhere.

"She's incorrigible," Ianto said in an apologetic tone, closer now so that he could see just who Banon was bothering. And what she had in her hand. A slight frown pulled his brows together. "Island?" he asked.

[doesntlooktired]

"It would seem so," Harriet replied as she reached forward to absently scratch the Corgi's head with her free left hand. "You were with Torchwood 1 weren't you, Mr. Jones? Do you happen to recognise this by any chance?"

She held out the mask with her free right hand for him to look at.

[coffee_sir]

"Sycorax," he replied automatically, before his throat could go dry on him. Yes, he remembered that day. Ianto shoved his gloved hands into the pockets of his jacket as he stood beside the steps.

"I wasn't... directly involved in that, but I recognize it."

[doesntlooktired]

"I was involved in that," Harriet replied though she couldn't imagine that Ianto didn't know that. "Directly. Apparently someone thinks I need to be reminded of that."

[coffee_sir]

Ianto did indeed know that, but he did not comment. Some things needed to be said for one's own benefit, no one else's.

He cocked his head to the side, staring down at the alien mask, the events of the day playing out in his head. "Do you think you need to be reminded of that?" he asked, looking to Harriet.

[doesntlooktired]

"I never had the luxury of being allowed to forget it," she replied. She had thought of that day more times then she could count in the years following it, analysing both her actions and those of the Doctor to try and come to some conclusion.

[coffee_sir]

"Then fuck the mask," he said, sudden but certain. "It's like the island's whole purpose here is to mess with our minds. Don't let it."

Ianto held out a gloved hand to take the mask from her, if she wanted. He'd take it, and hide it, no questions asked, and never mention it again. It was what he did. What he had done, in fact.

[doesntlooktired]

Harriet wasn't too pleased by the language but she wasn't going to comment on it, not when Ianto was making such a kind offer.

"Thank you," she replied with a smile but she didn't hand over the mask. She felt, somehow, that it was her responsibility. "I don't intend to. If this is intended to make me break down then they have sorely underestimated the British spirit. I don't need a mask to remind me what I did anymore than I need to see happy British families to remind me why it was necessary."

[coffee_sir]

Ianto was left with an open, empty hand. He didn't mind, of course, but it was something of an unnatural state for him. He closed his hand into a fist, and let his arm drop beside his body.

"Then, forgive me for asking ma'am, but why are you sitting out in the cold looking pensive?" A small smile accompanied his words, like encouragement for her to rise up and carry on with her day.

[doesntlooktired]

"You're right," she replied with a smile. "Come on, then. Lets go inside. I don't suppose anyone has made you a cup of coffee yet this morning?"

[coffee_sir]

Ianto smiled in earnest. "I make the coffee around here, Prime Minister. Don't trust anyone else's."