TW fic: "The Cat in the Plass, and the Robot Below" (G, 1,095 words)

[kayliemalinza]

Another no-pressure free-write. I'm feeling my way back to a calmer, more emo Ianto. ^^

Title: The Cat in the Plass, and the Robot Below
Rating: G
Word Count: 1,095
Setting: Post Fragments, pre-series
Spoilers: You've seen Cyberwoman, right

Comments

[criccieth]

oh that was good. That's the sneaky, devious and manipulative Ianto we saw in Fragments. Personally, I don't get why lots of people seem to think that doesn't match up with Season 1 Ianto - after all, in Eps 1 -3 we don't see much of him so why not assume a lot is happening off screen?

Liked that. Shall have to see if you have a back-catalogue...

[kayliemalinza]

Thanks!

we don't see much of him so why not assume a lot is happening off screen?
Yeah! Not to mention, his quietness- in terms of sound and physical presence-- is highly coloured by the knowledge that he's hiding Lisa. The fact that he is so helpful and non-offensive completely screws with your head in the context of episode 4.

"Don't mind me, I'm just the butler. I'm over here, doing... butlering things. Nothing suspicious at all, I assure you." ::something explodes::

I *do* have a back-catalogue. ^_^ I'm crap at tagging, so the best place to find my fic is in my memories, although I warn you that not everything in my memories has been posted to torch_wood-- in other words, it's either not complete, or I felt it was too short to post alone.

[criccieth]

exactly! He's so much in the background that if you actually look at what Gwen is typing on her computer as she tries to fight the retcon (the file that Ianto hacks and deletes) she doesn't actually mention him. Jack, Tosh, Susie and Owen yes - but no mention at all of a third man on the team. He actively does not want to be noticed as IANTO, but Jack;s level of anger suggests that there is something going on between them that we haven't seen.

[pinkfairy727]

Wow! That's brilliant!

[kayliemalinza]

Thanks!

[order_of_chaos]

Brilliant!
Subtly creepy.
Ianto talking to the kitten reminded me a little of the man talking to his lions. They have, iirc, a similar feel.
My favourite line was part of the piece you used as a teaser: Even in the horrible shop lighting, which tinted everything orange, Jack's eyes made a point of being blue. Jack's eyes - they know exactly how pretty they are, don't they?

Jack believed there was no shame in using old tricks, apparently, because he brushed closer to Ianto than was necessary as he left. More cat-imagery. Deliberate or not, I liked that.

It was a very kittenish kitten. I didn't mind at all when Ianto so abruptly threw it out - it seemed natural that he should do so, once he had finished waiting.

[kayliemalinza]

Ianto talking to the kitten reminded me a little of the man talking to his lions.
Are you implying that Ianto has a Bedazzler in the back of his wagon? 'Cause that's what I'm hearing. >P

...wow. That sounds like a euphemism for something. >.0

really, though, that's how we talk to animals in my house. as if they could understand us, and completely undaunted by any indication to the contrary.

Jack's eyes - they know exactly how pretty they are, don't they?
For some reason, I'm imagining Jack's eyes doing a pole dance in a strip-club. Really not sure how that would work.

More cat-imagery. Deliberate or not, I liked that.
Ooh, that was actually completely uninten-- I mean, yes. It was deliberate. Every sentence and insinuation of my work has been carefully wrought, I'll have you know. >.> fun fact: when cats rub against things with their faces, it's to mark the object with scent glands and thusly claim it as their territory. That fits nicely, if you view Jack as cat-like in that scene. ^^

It was a very kittenish kitten. I didn't

[order_of_chaos]

Easier to picture Jack's eyes molesting the pole-dancer than molesting the pole. Although... that would work, too.

Every sentence and insinuation of my work has been carefully wrought, I'll have you know. Yes. Yes, of course it was :P
*grins* That fun fact has been one of my favourite fun facts, these past few days. There is much scent-marking in Cats. And an orgy. No-one told me there would be an orgy :D

I keep reading that as CuteOverlord by accident.
It was mean. But it wasn't malicious mean, it was efficiently-remove-all-obstacles-to-taking-care-of-Lisa mean, and perfectly Ianto-like.

[criccieth]

oh the cat-out-the-door thing worked. It made the sudden gear-shift from "flirt with the boss to stop him wondering why I'm here 24.7" to the "Have X time to see to Lisa, check her, make sure she can manage whilst I'm doing the next flirt". The imagery is good as well - you can see Ianto standing there calmly till about half a second after Jack's gone and then going into full speed - kind of like the post-basketball scene in cyberwoman, where he goes into full sprint across the Hub the second the team has gone.

[doctor_addicted]

You're right. Not as fluffy by a long shot. Ianto knows his priorities and whatever else is happening around him is just one more hurdle to overcome. Great little piece.

[kayliemalinza]

::nodnod:: I like how you describe his single-mindedness. Thanks for the comment!

[used_songs]

Oh Ianto, you devious man. I love how ruthless and single minded he is.

[kayliemalinza]

::nodnod:: Ruthless enough to fling a kitten. And, er, manipulate Jack's affection and need for companionship. Same difference. ^^

Thanks for commenting!