Fic: Rolling Hills
Title: Rolling Hills
Author: badly_knitted
Characters: Ianto, Jack.
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Nada.
Summary: Taking a break on a planet that is still largely unspoiled, Ianto finds himself feeling a little homesick for Wales.
Word Count: 1191
Written For: Challenge 223: Landscape at beattheblackdog.
Disclaimer: I don’t own Torchwood, or the characters.
A/N: Set in my ‘Ghost Of A Chance’ ‘verse.
Ianto gazed out across the rolling hills and the distant, hazy moors, stark beneath a wide-open sky with scudding clouds like flocks of sheep. The sight touched him somewhere deep in his soul, stirring memories. It had been so long…
“Everything okay?” Jack asked, coming to stand beside him, sliding a warm, bare arm around his waist. It was early, just after sunrise, and Jack wasn’t dressed yet, which was fine because there was nowhere they needed to be.
One of the best things about being self-employed was that they could take time off whenever they felt like it, arrive on a planet and stick around for a bit to play tourist, check out the local attractions, do a bit of sightseeing, and buy souvenirs they didn’t need.
“Fine.” Ianto sipped from his cup, not coffee, but the local equivalent. It wasn’t bad, although obviously coffee was far superior. “It’s just… the view sort of reminds me of Wales, somewhere on the edge of the Beacons maybe.”
Jack sipped from his own mug, studying the scenery. “I guess it is sort of similar, if you ignore the colour.” The rolling hills were blue while the moors were deep purple, and the clouds overhead had a pinkish tinge that had nothing to do with the rising sun and everything to do with the forcefield that surrounded the planet and blocked harmful solar radiation.
Their hotel was right at the edge of the city, built there to make the most of the views across the rugged, and so far unspoiled, landscape. Looking the other way, the city spread out in all directions, covering the level ground along the coast as far as the eye could see. When the planet had first been settled a century or so earlier, the spaceport had been constructed on a convenient promontory stretching out into the ocean and the city had gradually been built up around it.
“I miss Wales,” Ianto said with a sigh. He didn’t think he was really homesick; home was wherever Jack was, but he was feeling oddly nostalgic. “It’s been such a long time I’d almost forgotten. Everything’s probably changed though. I imagine most of the places we used to go, the restaurants and pubs, the parks, the docks, the Plas… They’ll be gone by now, rebuilt or knocked down and replaced with modern buildings, taller skyscrapers, metal and glass, or some new synthetic building material we’ve never heard of. Like this city; no character, every building more or less the same as the next.”
“It’s not that bad,” Jack protested.
“There’s no history here, Jack.”
“Of course there isn’t. Give it a few centuries and it’ll be a different matter, but right now it’s too new to have much in the way of history.”
“Exactly my point. It doesn’t feel lived in the way Cardiff did. I wonder how long it will be before the people here start paving over that.” Ianto gestured toward the window and the countryside beyond, where there were no buildings to mar the landscape. “So much natural beauty, but before long they’ll want to level it, build more roads, housing, factories, shops, and office blocks. They’ll spoil it; that’s what always happens in the end.”
Setting his cup on the window ledge, Jack wrapped both his arms around his lover. “It’s okay to be homesick.”
“I’m not. I mean, how can I be? We left earth sixty-five years ago, and there’s so much to see out here, incredible sights, the wonders of the universe! I’m loving the adventure, there’s something new to marvel at every day, so why would I get homesick now? It’s nostalgia, nothing more than that.”
Jack gestured toward the wide windows with their panoramic views. “Why? How about because of that? This is the first time we’ve stopped off anywhere that looks anything like the landscapes you grew up with. It’s hardly surprising that it’s bringing back memories.”
Ianto had long ago told Jack about how, when he was growing up, his parents had used to take him and his sister camping and hiking in the Brecon Beacons during the school holidays, and sometimes at the weekends.
“You’re right, I suppose.” Ianto gave a wry smile. “Maybe I am a little homesick after all. Just a tiny bit.”
“Of course.” Jack pressed a kiss to Ianto’s cheek. “I know it’s not Wales, but we could still go hiking, order up a picnic lunch and explore out there. Up close it’ll probably look a lot less like Wales, but it might be good to stretch our legs, breathe the fresh air, feel the sunshine…”
They’d been cooped up aboard the Happy Wanderer for several months, carrying cargo from one orbiting space station to another. Before deciding to land here they’d almost forgotten what sky, and clouds, and trees looked like, let alone actual weather. Most space stations had limited space for growing things and reserved it for hydroponically grown food crops, and algae that helped clean and replenish the air supply.
“Hiking?” Ianto smiled. “I think I’d like that, but it means you’ll have to put some clothes on.”
“Well, if I must.” Picking up his cup, Jack dropped it into the recycler on his way to the closet where they’d put their clothes when they’d unpacked the night before. “We might need to get more suitable footwear though. I doubt these will hold up on a long hike.”
Ianto was inclined to agree; the stylish soft-soled ankle boots they’d brought with them, while very comfortable, were nowhere near sturdy enough for trekking across uneven, rocky ground.
“You’re right, I’ll get on with that while you’re dressing.”
Going over to the room’s console, Ianto keyed in a search, examining the options available for purchase, and making selections. Moments later, several pairs of boots were delivered through a hatch below the console for them to choose from. After trying them on and making their selections, they sent the others back and paid for the ones they were keeping. Then Jack took over at the console, ordering up a picnic lunch, complete with carrying basket, and a micro-thin waterproof blanket to sit on while they ate, which folded up so small he could tuck it into his pocket.
Less than an hour later they were striding across a blue hillside, the hotel and the city already far behind them. The air was fresh and clean, with a faintly spicy aroma coming from the grass being crushed beneath their boots. The sun was pleasantly warm and there was a light breeze blowing from inland, carrying the scent of growing things.
As expected, up close, the resemblance to Wales was less apparent, but that was okay; this was an alien world with its own plant, animal, and insect life, just as fascinating and worthy of appreciation as anything they’d find back home. Someday, perhaps soon, they might take a trip back to earth and see what had changed in the time they’d been gone, but right now they had beautiful weather and a new and interesting alien landscape to explore. They intended to make the most of it.
The End
Author: badly_knitted
Characters: Ianto, Jack.
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Nada.
Summary: Taking a break on a planet that is still largely unspoiled, Ianto finds himself feeling a little homesick for Wales.
Word Count: 1191
Written For: Challenge 223: Landscape at beattheblackdog.
Disclaimer: I don’t own Torchwood, or the characters.
A/N: Set in my ‘Ghost Of A Chance’ ‘verse.
Ianto gazed out across the rolling hills and the distant, hazy moors, stark beneath a wide-open sky with scudding clouds like flocks of sheep. The sight touched him somewhere deep in his soul, stirring memories. It had been so long…
“Everything okay?” Jack asked, coming to stand beside him, sliding a warm, bare arm around his waist. It was early, just after sunrise, and Jack wasn’t dressed yet, which was fine because there was nowhere they needed to be.
One of the best things about being self-employed was that they could take time off whenever they felt like it, arrive on a planet and stick around for a bit to play tourist, check out the local attractions, do a bit of sightseeing, and buy souvenirs they didn’t need.
“Fine.” Ianto sipped from his cup, not coffee, but the local equivalent. It wasn’t bad, although obviously coffee was far superior. “It’s just… the view sort of reminds me of Wales, somewhere on the edge of the Beacons maybe.”
Jack sipped from his own mug, studying the scenery. “I guess it is sort of similar, if you ignore the colour.” The rolling hills were blue while the moors were deep purple, and the clouds overhead had a pinkish tinge that had nothing to do with the rising sun and everything to do with the forcefield that surrounded the planet and blocked harmful solar radiation.
Their hotel was right at the edge of the city, built there to make the most of the views across the rugged, and so far unspoiled, landscape. Looking the other way, the city spread out in all directions, covering the level ground along the coast as far as the eye could see. When the planet had first been settled a century or so earlier, the spaceport had been constructed on a convenient promontory stretching out into the ocean and the city had gradually been built up around it.
“I miss Wales,” Ianto said with a sigh. He didn’t think he was really homesick; home was wherever Jack was, but he was feeling oddly nostalgic. “It’s been such a long time I’d almost forgotten. Everything’s probably changed though. I imagine most of the places we used to go, the restaurants and pubs, the parks, the docks, the Plas… They’ll be gone by now, rebuilt or knocked down and replaced with modern buildings, taller skyscrapers, metal and glass, or some new synthetic building material we’ve never heard of. Like this city; no character, every building more or less the same as the next.”
“It’s not that bad,” Jack protested.
“There’s no history here, Jack.”
“Of course there isn’t. Give it a few centuries and it’ll be a different matter, but right now it’s too new to have much in the way of history.”
“Exactly my point. It doesn’t feel lived in the way Cardiff did. I wonder how long it will be before the people here start paving over that.” Ianto gestured toward the window and the countryside beyond, where there were no buildings to mar the landscape. “So much natural beauty, but before long they’ll want to level it, build more roads, housing, factories, shops, and office blocks. They’ll spoil it; that’s what always happens in the end.”
Setting his cup on the window ledge, Jack wrapped both his arms around his lover. “It’s okay to be homesick.”
“I’m not. I mean, how can I be? We left earth sixty-five years ago, and there’s so much to see out here, incredible sights, the wonders of the universe! I’m loving the adventure, there’s something new to marvel at every day, so why would I get homesick now? It’s nostalgia, nothing more than that.”
Jack gestured toward the wide windows with their panoramic views. “Why? How about because of that? This is the first time we’ve stopped off anywhere that looks anything like the landscapes you grew up with. It’s hardly surprising that it’s bringing back memories.”
Ianto had long ago told Jack about how, when he was growing up, his parents had used to take him and his sister camping and hiking in the Brecon Beacons during the school holidays, and sometimes at the weekends.
“You’re right, I suppose.” Ianto gave a wry smile. “Maybe I am a little homesick after all. Just a tiny bit.”
“Of course.” Jack pressed a kiss to Ianto’s cheek. “I know it’s not Wales, but we could still go hiking, order up a picnic lunch and explore out there. Up close it’ll probably look a lot less like Wales, but it might be good to stretch our legs, breathe the fresh air, feel the sunshine…”
They’d been cooped up aboard the Happy Wanderer for several months, carrying cargo from one orbiting space station to another. Before deciding to land here they’d almost forgotten what sky, and clouds, and trees looked like, let alone actual weather. Most space stations had limited space for growing things and reserved it for hydroponically grown food crops, and algae that helped clean and replenish the air supply.
“Hiking?” Ianto smiled. “I think I’d like that, but it means you’ll have to put some clothes on.”
“Well, if I must.” Picking up his cup, Jack dropped it into the recycler on his way to the closet where they’d put their clothes when they’d unpacked the night before. “We might need to get more suitable footwear though. I doubt these will hold up on a long hike.”
Ianto was inclined to agree; the stylish soft-soled ankle boots they’d brought with them, while very comfortable, were nowhere near sturdy enough for trekking across uneven, rocky ground.
“You’re right, I’ll get on with that while you’re dressing.”
Going over to the room’s console, Ianto keyed in a search, examining the options available for purchase, and making selections. Moments later, several pairs of boots were delivered through a hatch below the console for them to choose from. After trying them on and making their selections, they sent the others back and paid for the ones they were keeping. Then Jack took over at the console, ordering up a picnic lunch, complete with carrying basket, and a micro-thin waterproof blanket to sit on while they ate, which folded up so small he could tuck it into his pocket.
Less than an hour later they were striding across a blue hillside, the hotel and the city already far behind them. The air was fresh and clean, with a faintly spicy aroma coming from the grass being crushed beneath their boots. The sun was pleasantly warm and there was a light breeze blowing from inland, carrying the scent of growing things.
As expected, up close, the resemblance to Wales was less apparent, but that was okay; this was an alien world with its own plant, animal, and insect life, just as fascinating and worthy of appreciation as anything they’d find back home. Someday, perhaps soon, they might take a trip back to earth and see what had changed in the time they’d been gone, but right now they had beautiful weather and a new and interesting alien landscape to explore. They intended to make the most of it.
The End