Space Slut Captains and Snarky Sidekicks
Meta on the comparisons between the Captain James T Kirk and Captain Jack Harkness and their 'snarky side kicks' in Ianto Jones and Dr Leonard 'Bones' McCoy.
Be warned that there is a slight spoiler for season three of Torchwood.
OK, after being bugged by a certain raphaellover to go see the new Star Trek movie, like a good little friend, I trundled off.
What did I discover after my first viewing?
That my slash goggles were the same as hers, which wasn't the greatest of surprises to either of us. I also discovered that “I may vomit on you” has to be one of the best pick-up lines ever, on par with beating up a weevil with a stick and looking like a rent boy, *ahem*. (If you don't know what I am referring to, then check this pic out)
So, we started discussing the brilliance of Kirk/McCoy and that devolved into us deciding that if you are a captain in the future, what that really means is that you are a space slut.
How did we come by this hypothesis? Well, there are three captains that are very close to our hearts.
James T. Kirk, Jack Harkness and Malcolm Reynolds.
What trait are all three pretty well known for? For being sluts, with a heart of gold, but oh how we love them for it.
Now raphaellover and I became friends through the Torchwood fandom and it was through her that I learned all about slash. I was a naïve little newbie, but no longer, as she has educated me well. We also then bonded more fully over the love of essay writing to discuss the Jack and Ianto pairing in Torchwood. So be warned, there are many words ahead.
From my discussions with other friends, who also seemed to adore the same pairings, I started to see parallels between the canon* Jack / Ianto relationship in Torchwood and the fanon one of Kirk / Bones in Star Trek XI. Below are those parallels that I have observed.
Torchwood v Starfleet
In both of them, you have people who work together closely in a tight knit organisation that has limited contact with the outside world (except to save its arse on a regular basis). Torchwood is different, in that it has a desire to be 'invisible' to the outside world, while in Star Trek, the outside world is very aware of Starfleet. Torchwood fails on a regular basis to remain secret, while in Star Trek the outside world, while aware of Starfleet, has a limited understanding on what really goes on inside. So while both come at their ways of protecting lives from different angles, their final missions are often the same, a desire to understand the wonders of the universe while protecting others.
Both also have the 'captain' who gets involved with a subordinate, one in canon and one in fanon. I expand upon this further below.
Jack Harkness and James T Kirk
Jack has always had a lot in common with his a certain space captain who preceded him, Captain James Tiberius Kirk. That ability to flirt with anything, look before leaping and a little bit of reckless defiance towards authority is core to their make-up.
With the reboot and the tragic past of losing his father on the day of his birth, Jim now has more in common with Jack than he had previously in respect to their families.
Both men lose the connection with their respective brothers in their early teen years. Jim's older brother, Sam, leaves Jim to deal with their stepfather when he was 12, whereas Jack loses his younger brother, Gray, during an invasion on their home planet at a similar age. Jack blames himself for the loss of Gray, as he had been given responsibility by his father to look after his younger brother while his father went off to find his mother, this was a responsibility that he failed by letting go of Gray's hand. Since then, Jack had been looking for his brother all his life and only after Gray finds him again was Jack able to forgive himself and move on from this guilt.
Jim has a seemingly indifferent and distant mother and although we don't know anything about Jack's relationship with his mother after the death of his father and Gray being taken, it is logical to presume that there could have been similar issues.
Both men are fond of fighting and fucking and not necessarily in that order. Both are rogues until into their lives comes someone who sees more to them than others had previously. Both of these 'someones' expect the behaviour of Jack and Jim to match up to their expectations of them being "bigger on the inside". These men are the Doctor and Pike, respectively. Although Jack has an unrequited love and hero worship of the Doctor, which Jim does not have with Pike, there are strong parallels in their overall interactions in trying to please these men.
For Jack, he initially was sexually attracted to the Doctor, which for Jack isn’t saying much. If they have a postcode, he’s interested. The Doctor only accepted Jack to travel with him and Rose at Rose’s pleading. Jack had his work cut out for him to get the Doctor’s approval. Jack was an un-apologetic conman but he worked hard to get the Doctor’s respect. His sexual attraction has slowly faded, helped along by the Doctor now being a slightly different man, but his need for approval and respect is still paramount in his dealings with the Doctor. So much so, that he has moulded the Torchwood Three section into one he believes the Doctor would be proud of, one in the Doctor’s own image that Jack has in his head. He has love, respect and admiration for the Doctor and continually seeks his approval.
Jim responds initially to the father figure that is missing in his life. Frank in no way has his respect and causes him to act out and display his worst character traits. Jim has been searching for someone to fulfill this role. It is a subconscious need of his, and one that he shares with Jack. Pike challenges him from the get go to make something of his life. To man up to his father’s memory. I believe that Pike was fully aware that George Kirk’s son was at Riverside when the shuttle docked there and was wanting to encounter him. Pike is a Captain of his own Starship at this stage. He has dealt with enough men and women to know how to handle someone like Jim. That all he needed was a challenge to set him upon the correct path. Once at the Academy I am unsure how much interaction he has with Pike in the 3 years at the Academy, but seeing as how the Enterprise was destined for Pike, and most missions are for 5 years duration, I gather that Pike was possibly lecturing at the Academy while he waited for his new ship. We know that Jim read Pike’s dissertation on the destruction of the Kelvin, as he tells him when he is trying to make Pike understand his thinking. For Jim, Pike represents an authority figure that he can and does respect, one that he has admiration for. One that he will actually listen to, much like Jack will listen to the Doctor, instead of dismissing the folly of someone in authority. Pike makes Jim see himself as being worthy, that there is more to him than most assume.
The final parallel is the growing maturity of the two men once they are in a position of authority.
Jack was just a conman and rogue who was flitting about the universe with no aim in life. Then there was the pesky issue of his death and resurrection and marooning on earth. Once there, he had the aim of meeting up with the Doctor again. It was a slightly shallow aim, but it allowed him to actually grow up a bit, while still maintaining his sense of fun. He met up with the Doctor and realised that was not where he belonged anymore. He was now a responsible adult and he choose to return to his team back in Cardiff. Jack realised that he wasn’t free to wander about the universe seeking adventure. He had responsibilities and a love for his team that he left behind in Cardiff. He chose his team over a man who he now realised that he wasn’t needed by.
Jim was the same until he had an aim, prompted by Pike. Like Jack, it was a slightly shallow aim, to become a Captain in Starfleet quicker than anyone else. He does achieve this but along the way he learns responsibility and maturity while still maintaining his sense of fun.
It has also been pointed out to me (*waves hi to Anna*) that both Jack and Jim achieve their respective 'captain' ranks via nefarious means. Jack claims his name and title from a dead man and Jim is snuck onboard the Enterprise via deception and then once there uses the Starfleet regulations to goad Spock into losing control of his emotion.
Oh and they both have serious issues with authority, they both think they know better and they know when it really matters to ignore authority and go with their instincts.
Moving onto Ianto Jones and Leonard "Bones" McCoy.
Now both of these men have a difference in respect to their ages and their captain's ages. Ianto is considerably younger than Jack (by at last count, well over 2000 years younger) while Bones is 5 years older than Jim physically (and mentally a lot older).
Both men have an issue with a woman in their immediate past. For Ianto, it was the loss of his girlfriend and first love, Lisa, at the battle of Canary Wharf. Bones has gone through a very bitter divorce. So while Ianto still has the love of Lisa in his mind, Bones has some very unresolved issues and feelings of possible hatred for his ex.
Now I have to mention that the following parallel is not my own observation but was brought to my attention by raphaellover. I cannot claim the brilliance that is this observation.
Ianto actually has two women in his immediate past, both of whom look remarkably like Lisa. He has the Lisa that he worked and fell in love with at Canary Wharf and he has the Cyberwoman who took over the body of Lisa during the Battle of Canary Wharf (who was conning him and who he finally realises later was not Lisa and caused the death of three people). This then parallels Bones' relationship with Jocelyn and Joanna. He has left behind a female that he loves in Joanna and a woman that he dislikes strongly in Jocelyn. From this, we can see that Ianto and Bones have more in common in respect to their previous relationship. There is an important difference though in that Jack has direct contact with Cyber!Lisa, while we are unsure if Jim is aware of Joanna and Jocelyn and has likely not had any contact with them.
This means that any future relationships that either of them have will have issues carried over.
Then there is the fact that both of them have lost their father (although this is not clear in nu!Trek if Bones' father has died yet or not in that timeline. From what I can gather Bones’ father dies in 2261 according to one of the ST books, therefore at the moment his father should still be alive).
Bones is an only child. His Grandfather was instrumental in his life, as he was a doctor as well. Ianto was pressured by his own father to work in a trade (or similar line of work to him) but Ianto disappeared on the death of his father and his family has not really heard from him since, except vague descriptions of what he does for a living. Although Ianto is not an only child, on first viewing many suspected that he was due to the way he acts. We have recently discovered that he has an older, married sister. By being the only son and the inherent pressures of that, he and Bones can relate.
Their relationship issues and similar family background means that both Ianto and Bones now look to their organisation to be their 'family'. Ianto was very explicit in the Adam episode that once he lost Lisa, he lost meaning and it was only Torchwood and Jack that had since given him that meaning in his life back. With the wife taking everything from him and literally forcing him to enrol in Starfleet, means that Bones now only has the Academy to be his de-facto family.
The snark! How can we talk about Bones and Ianto and not mention their snark and use of sarcasm? Both use it as a defensive mechanism at times and also as a way to get a message across to their respective captains. Bones is more acerbic and cutting while Ianto's is more deadpan humour delivered with a smile.
Another parallel is the changeable looks of the two men. Our first view of Bones is of a very disheveled and scruffy looking man, who is on the point of a breakdown. Then when we next see him, he is neat as a pin, all prim and proper. On Torchwood we were first introduced Ianto in his "looks good in a suit" persona and it wasn't until Fragments that we got to see Jack's first view of him. A considerably more casual and younger Ianto than we had previously seen.
However, the major defining traits of both men are that they are both intensely private and loyal to their friends and colleagues.
How do Jack and Ianto relate to each other in parallel with Jim and Bones?
Both Ianto and Bones might be the subordinate to the captain, but they always let their true thoughts about situations be known.
Where Bones will flat out tell Jim he is an idiot and disagree with Jim in no uncertain terms, Ianto will use other more slightly politic methods while still letting Jack know he doesn't agree with him. This can be linked in with the subordinate/boss relationship between the men. Bones has a more secure employee relationship as he is the CMO to the Enterprise. Ianto is just one of four agents and is more careful of the impression that is given about their relationship. From A Day in the Death episode we know that Ianto does not like the implication that he has ‘slept’ his way to better employment conditions. He takes the time to stress to Owen that he and Jack are “not like that, me and Jack”. So, while Ianto might disagree, he will not actively contradict Jack, as there has been two examples of him doing so and neither ended well, opening the Rift and refusing to kill Cyber!Lisa.
So what happens once Jim and Jack ignore the advice and opinions? Do Bones and Ianto sulk and pout about not being listened to?
No, they then will back up their captain. They might not agree but they still will follow orders, (well, most of the time, unless it is for their captain's own good). Ianto did not agree with Jack’s decision to use Janet as a lure in Combat and told him so, in front of another colleague. Bones will often tell Jim he is wrong in front of others, loudly and with forceful language.
Especially in case of Jack and Ianto, where they have the issue of a boss and employee, their relationship has to reflect that Ianto is an equal. There are many examples on Torchwood where we see Jack actively seeking Ianto's approval, which give us hints about their relationship when others are not around. Jack will wait for Ianto to let him in, or grant him permission. The Sleeper episode is a perfect example of this. Jack has just interrogated the suspected sleeper agent in Beth and has been the ‘bad cop’ during that time. He eagerly joins Ianto who has observed the interrogation. Jack seeks Ianto’s approval that he was appropriately menacing enough. Ianto, with a straight face, cons Jack into believing that Ianto had “shivers” down his spine over Jack’s performance. Only at the very end does Ianto let Jack know that he has ‘conned’ him. Jack responds with a growl and a clenched fist, but Ianto does not flinch or back down. He is not intimidated in the least by Jack’s threat.
Bones and Jim are a different kettle of fish in that a CMO can overrule a Captain if need be. Both are aware of this. In the Federation, the CMO has a lot of power. Bones routinely calls Jim, ‘Jim’ when there are discussions on the Bridge. Occasionally they will refer to each other as doctor and Captain, but invariably will then drop back into ‘Jim’ and ‘Bones’. Interestingly this is also reflected in Star Trek: The Next Generation in that Dr Crusher will refer to Captain Picard as ‘Jean-Luc’ the majority of the time.
Both Ianto and Bones see past the bravado front that Jim and Jack project.
Ianto most definitely sees to the man behind the big flappy coat and his desire to try and protect Jack from further pain is a marked difference to the other Torchwood team members. Ianto recognises the pain that Jack goes through when he dies and comes back. Where the other team members, once they learn the truth about Jack's ability to come back from the dead, nonchalantly allow Jack to put himself in the path of certain death, Ianto is the one who will try and stop Jack doing so, often at his own possible death instead. The one the rest of the team rely on to talk to Jack is Ianto.
Bones is Jim's emotional conscience, when Jim is planning something he has two people to listen to Spock for the logic of the situation and Bones for what is emotionally right. Now this is where Bones and Ianto differ. Ianto combines both Bones and Spock in the latter season in respect to his advice to Jack. Where Gwen used to be the emotional conscience for Jack, her ability to sway Jack has diminished considerably and Ianto has taken over this role.
So both Ianto and Bones can see the real men, are honest towards them and are the ones that both Jack and Jim explicitly trust above and beyond anyone else. When it is Bones and Ianto who are the ones who are then siding with others against them, it is particularly destroying to Jim and Jack. Jack’s reaction in Cyberwoman when he realised that Ianto had been less than truthful with him was above and beyond any betrayal response he has shown the other team members. This is then enforced again in End of Days when at Ianto’s defiance towards him, Jack gets more personal and tears up. In the tie-in novel to nu!Trek we discover that Jim is bitterly disappointed that Bones sided with Spock in marooning him on Delta Vega.
One final point is where Bones and Ianto stand in respect to Jim and Jack. In my picspam meta that I did on Jack and Ianto and their various interactions, it was noted that Ianto would continually position himself at Jack’s back, often at his right hand side. Now where do we often see Bones stand when he is on the Bridge? Right behind Jim, at his back is where Bones will place himself. Sometimes he can be found leaning over Jim.
What do Jim and Jack offer Bones and Ianto?
Many people just concentrate on the relationship in one direction and do not realise that it is just as important that Jack and Jim have value to add to their respective partners.
For Bones, Jim is someone who is there for him no matter what. He will not let him wallow in his depression. He has remained his friend for 3 years, in spite of Bones doing his very best to run him off with his acerbic nature. He sees past that surly, grumpy outside to the caring doctor within.
Ianto now has someone who, no matter his internal fears, will not leave him. Jack did leave all of them, but he came back, specifically for Ianto. Ianto does not fully believe this, he still has his fears (can I smack him upside the head please?). Jack accepts Ianto in all his little foibles and idiosyncrasies. Where others look at Ianto and think he's a bit weird, Jack loves everything about Ianto. Even though Jack is older, he is very childlike in his outlook towards everything, he has made Ianto act more his real age.
In conclusion, and this was a lot longer than originally intended as I discovered more as I thought about this, I can see strong parallels between both relationships. Without each other, all four men would flounder around the universe without a strong guiding hand. In each respective relationship it has to be an equal amount of support and love. So now I think I can call myself a true slasher in that I am seeing and shipping a sub-textural relationship. :D
* For those who are new to fandom and the terminology, canon means what we have seen on screen, what is “fact” while fanon is the fan personal canon that has been created from subtext.
Be warned that there is a slight spoiler for season three of Torchwood.
OK, after being bugged by a certain raphaellover to go see the new Star Trek movie, like a good little friend, I trundled off.
What did I discover after my first viewing?
That my slash goggles were the same as hers, which wasn't the greatest of surprises to either of us. I also discovered that “I may vomit on you” has to be one of the best pick-up lines ever, on par with beating up a weevil with a stick and looking like a rent boy, *ahem*. (If you don't know what I am referring to, then check this pic out)
So, we started discussing the brilliance of Kirk/McCoy and that devolved into us deciding that if you are a captain in the future, what that really means is that you are a space slut.
How did we come by this hypothesis? Well, there are three captains that are very close to our hearts.
James T. Kirk, Jack Harkness and Malcolm Reynolds.
What trait are all three pretty well known for? For being sluts, with a heart of gold, but oh how we love them for it.
Now raphaellover and I became friends through the Torchwood fandom and it was through her that I learned all about slash. I was a naïve little newbie, but no longer, as she has educated me well. We also then bonded more fully over the love of essay writing to discuss the Jack and Ianto pairing in Torchwood. So be warned, there are many words ahead.
From my discussions with other friends, who also seemed to adore the same pairings, I started to see parallels between the canon* Jack / Ianto relationship in Torchwood and the fanon one of Kirk / Bones in Star Trek XI. Below are those parallels that I have observed.
Torchwood v Starfleet
In both of them, you have people who work together closely in a tight knit organisation that has limited contact with the outside world (except to save its arse on a regular basis). Torchwood is different, in that it has a desire to be 'invisible' to the outside world, while in Star Trek, the outside world is very aware of Starfleet. Torchwood fails on a regular basis to remain secret, while in Star Trek the outside world, while aware of Starfleet, has a limited understanding on what really goes on inside. So while both come at their ways of protecting lives from different angles, their final missions are often the same, a desire to understand the wonders of the universe while protecting others.
Both also have the 'captain' who gets involved with a subordinate, one in canon and one in fanon. I expand upon this further below.
Jack Harkness and James T Kirk
Jack has always had a lot in common with his a certain space captain who preceded him, Captain James Tiberius Kirk. That ability to flirt with anything, look before leaping and a little bit of reckless defiance towards authority is core to their make-up.
With the reboot and the tragic past of losing his father on the day of his birth, Jim now has more in common with Jack than he had previously in respect to their families.
Both men lose the connection with their respective brothers in their early teen years. Jim's older brother, Sam, leaves Jim to deal with their stepfather when he was 12, whereas Jack loses his younger brother, Gray, during an invasion on their home planet at a similar age. Jack blames himself for the loss of Gray, as he had been given responsibility by his father to look after his younger brother while his father went off to find his mother, this was a responsibility that he failed by letting go of Gray's hand. Since then, Jack had been looking for his brother all his life and only after Gray finds him again was Jack able to forgive himself and move on from this guilt.
Jim has a seemingly indifferent and distant mother and although we don't know anything about Jack's relationship with his mother after the death of his father and Gray being taken, it is logical to presume that there could have been similar issues.
Both men are fond of fighting and fucking and not necessarily in that order. Both are rogues until into their lives comes someone who sees more to them than others had previously. Both of these 'someones' expect the behaviour of Jack and Jim to match up to their expectations of them being "bigger on the inside". These men are the Doctor and Pike, respectively. Although Jack has an unrequited love and hero worship of the Doctor, which Jim does not have with Pike, there are strong parallels in their overall interactions in trying to please these men.
For Jack, he initially was sexually attracted to the Doctor, which for Jack isn’t saying much. If they have a postcode, he’s interested. The Doctor only accepted Jack to travel with him and Rose at Rose’s pleading. Jack had his work cut out for him to get the Doctor’s approval. Jack was an un-apologetic conman but he worked hard to get the Doctor’s respect. His sexual attraction has slowly faded, helped along by the Doctor now being a slightly different man, but his need for approval and respect is still paramount in his dealings with the Doctor. So much so, that he has moulded the Torchwood Three section into one he believes the Doctor would be proud of, one in the Doctor’s own image that Jack has in his head. He has love, respect and admiration for the Doctor and continually seeks his approval.
Jim responds initially to the father figure that is missing in his life. Frank in no way has his respect and causes him to act out and display his worst character traits. Jim has been searching for someone to fulfill this role. It is a subconscious need of his, and one that he shares with Jack. Pike challenges him from the get go to make something of his life. To man up to his father’s memory. I believe that Pike was fully aware that George Kirk’s son was at Riverside when the shuttle docked there and was wanting to encounter him. Pike is a Captain of his own Starship at this stage. He has dealt with enough men and women to know how to handle someone like Jim. That all he needed was a challenge to set him upon the correct path. Once at the Academy I am unsure how much interaction he has with Pike in the 3 years at the Academy, but seeing as how the Enterprise was destined for Pike, and most missions are for 5 years duration, I gather that Pike was possibly lecturing at the Academy while he waited for his new ship. We know that Jim read Pike’s dissertation on the destruction of the Kelvin, as he tells him when he is trying to make Pike understand his thinking. For Jim, Pike represents an authority figure that he can and does respect, one that he has admiration for. One that he will actually listen to, much like Jack will listen to the Doctor, instead of dismissing the folly of someone in authority. Pike makes Jim see himself as being worthy, that there is more to him than most assume.
The final parallel is the growing maturity of the two men once they are in a position of authority.
Jack was just a conman and rogue who was flitting about the universe with no aim in life. Then there was the pesky issue of his death and resurrection and marooning on earth. Once there, he had the aim of meeting up with the Doctor again. It was a slightly shallow aim, but it allowed him to actually grow up a bit, while still maintaining his sense of fun. He met up with the Doctor and realised that was not where he belonged anymore. He was now a responsible adult and he choose to return to his team back in Cardiff. Jack realised that he wasn’t free to wander about the universe seeking adventure. He had responsibilities and a love for his team that he left behind in Cardiff. He chose his team over a man who he now realised that he wasn’t needed by.
Jim was the same until he had an aim, prompted by Pike. Like Jack, it was a slightly shallow aim, to become a Captain in Starfleet quicker than anyone else. He does achieve this but along the way he learns responsibility and maturity while still maintaining his sense of fun.
It has also been pointed out to me (*waves hi to Anna*) that both Jack and Jim achieve their respective 'captain' ranks via nefarious means. Jack claims his name and title from a dead man and Jim is snuck onboard the Enterprise via deception and then once there uses the Starfleet regulations to goad Spock into losing control of his emotion.
Oh and they both have serious issues with authority, they both think they know better and they know when it really matters to ignore authority and go with their instincts.
Moving onto Ianto Jones and Leonard "Bones" McCoy.
Now both of these men have a difference in respect to their ages and their captain's ages. Ianto is considerably younger than Jack (by at last count, well over 2000 years younger) while Bones is 5 years older than Jim physically (and mentally a lot older).
Both men have an issue with a woman in their immediate past. For Ianto, it was the loss of his girlfriend and first love, Lisa, at the battle of Canary Wharf. Bones has gone through a very bitter divorce. So while Ianto still has the love of Lisa in his mind, Bones has some very unresolved issues and feelings of possible hatred for his ex.
Now I have to mention that the following parallel is not my own observation but was brought to my attention by raphaellover. I cannot claim the brilliance that is this observation.
Ianto actually has two women in his immediate past, both of whom look remarkably like Lisa. He has the Lisa that he worked and fell in love with at Canary Wharf and he has the Cyberwoman who took over the body of Lisa during the Battle of Canary Wharf (who was conning him and who he finally realises later was not Lisa and caused the death of three people). This then parallels Bones' relationship with Jocelyn and Joanna. He has left behind a female that he loves in Joanna and a woman that he dislikes strongly in Jocelyn. From this, we can see that Ianto and Bones have more in common in respect to their previous relationship. There is an important difference though in that Jack has direct contact with Cyber!Lisa, while we are unsure if Jim is aware of Joanna and Jocelyn and has likely not had any contact with them.
This means that any future relationships that either of them have will have issues carried over.
Then there is the fact that both of them have lost their father (although this is not clear in nu!Trek if Bones' father has died yet or not in that timeline. From what I can gather Bones’ father dies in 2261 according to one of the ST books, therefore at the moment his father should still be alive).
Bones is an only child. His Grandfather was instrumental in his life, as he was a doctor as well. Ianto was pressured by his own father to work in a trade (or similar line of work to him) but Ianto disappeared on the death of his father and his family has not really heard from him since, except vague descriptions of what he does for a living. Although Ianto is not an only child, on first viewing many suspected that he was due to the way he acts. We have recently discovered that he has an older, married sister. By being the only son and the inherent pressures of that, he and Bones can relate.
Their relationship issues and similar family background means that both Ianto and Bones now look to their organisation to be their 'family'. Ianto was very explicit in the Adam episode that once he lost Lisa, he lost meaning and it was only Torchwood and Jack that had since given him that meaning in his life back. With the wife taking everything from him and literally forcing him to enrol in Starfleet, means that Bones now only has the Academy to be his de-facto family.
The snark! How can we talk about Bones and Ianto and not mention their snark and use of sarcasm? Both use it as a defensive mechanism at times and also as a way to get a message across to their respective captains. Bones is more acerbic and cutting while Ianto's is more deadpan humour delivered with a smile.
Another parallel is the changeable looks of the two men. Our first view of Bones is of a very disheveled and scruffy looking man, who is on the point of a breakdown. Then when we next see him, he is neat as a pin, all prim and proper. On Torchwood we were first introduced Ianto in his "looks good in a suit" persona and it wasn't until Fragments that we got to see Jack's first view of him. A considerably more casual and younger Ianto than we had previously seen.
However, the major defining traits of both men are that they are both intensely private and loyal to their friends and colleagues.
How do Jack and Ianto relate to each other in parallel with Jim and Bones?
Both Ianto and Bones might be the subordinate to the captain, but they always let their true thoughts about situations be known.
Where Bones will flat out tell Jim he is an idiot and disagree with Jim in no uncertain terms, Ianto will use other more slightly politic methods while still letting Jack know he doesn't agree with him. This can be linked in with the subordinate/boss relationship between the men. Bones has a more secure employee relationship as he is the CMO to the Enterprise. Ianto is just one of four agents and is more careful of the impression that is given about their relationship. From A Day in the Death episode we know that Ianto does not like the implication that he has ‘slept’ his way to better employment conditions. He takes the time to stress to Owen that he and Jack are “not like that, me and Jack”. So, while Ianto might disagree, he will not actively contradict Jack, as there has been two examples of him doing so and neither ended well, opening the Rift and refusing to kill Cyber!Lisa.
So what happens once Jim and Jack ignore the advice and opinions? Do Bones and Ianto sulk and pout about not being listened to?
No, they then will back up their captain. They might not agree but they still will follow orders, (well, most of the time, unless it is for their captain's own good). Ianto did not agree with Jack’s decision to use Janet as a lure in Combat and told him so, in front of another colleague. Bones will often tell Jim he is wrong in front of others, loudly and with forceful language.
Especially in case of Jack and Ianto, where they have the issue of a boss and employee, their relationship has to reflect that Ianto is an equal. There are many examples on Torchwood where we see Jack actively seeking Ianto's approval, which give us hints about their relationship when others are not around. Jack will wait for Ianto to let him in, or grant him permission. The Sleeper episode is a perfect example of this. Jack has just interrogated the suspected sleeper agent in Beth and has been the ‘bad cop’ during that time. He eagerly joins Ianto who has observed the interrogation. Jack seeks Ianto’s approval that he was appropriately menacing enough. Ianto, with a straight face, cons Jack into believing that Ianto had “shivers” down his spine over Jack’s performance. Only at the very end does Ianto let Jack know that he has ‘conned’ him. Jack responds with a growl and a clenched fist, but Ianto does not flinch or back down. He is not intimidated in the least by Jack’s threat.
Bones and Jim are a different kettle of fish in that a CMO can overrule a Captain if need be. Both are aware of this. In the Federation, the CMO has a lot of power. Bones routinely calls Jim, ‘Jim’ when there are discussions on the Bridge. Occasionally they will refer to each other as doctor and Captain, but invariably will then drop back into ‘Jim’ and ‘Bones’. Interestingly this is also reflected in Star Trek: The Next Generation in that Dr Crusher will refer to Captain Picard as ‘Jean-Luc’ the majority of the time.
Both Ianto and Bones see past the bravado front that Jim and Jack project.
Ianto most definitely sees to the man behind the big flappy coat and his desire to try and protect Jack from further pain is a marked difference to the other Torchwood team members. Ianto recognises the pain that Jack goes through when he dies and comes back. Where the other team members, once they learn the truth about Jack's ability to come back from the dead, nonchalantly allow Jack to put himself in the path of certain death, Ianto is the one who will try and stop Jack doing so, often at his own possible death instead. The one the rest of the team rely on to talk to Jack is Ianto.
Bones is Jim's emotional conscience, when Jim is planning something he has two people to listen to Spock for the logic of the situation and Bones for what is emotionally right. Now this is where Bones and Ianto differ. Ianto combines both Bones and Spock in the latter season in respect to his advice to Jack. Where Gwen used to be the emotional conscience for Jack, her ability to sway Jack has diminished considerably and Ianto has taken over this role.
So both Ianto and Bones can see the real men, are honest towards them and are the ones that both Jack and Jim explicitly trust above and beyond anyone else. When it is Bones and Ianto who are the ones who are then siding with others against them, it is particularly destroying to Jim and Jack. Jack’s reaction in Cyberwoman when he realised that Ianto had been less than truthful with him was above and beyond any betrayal response he has shown the other team members. This is then enforced again in End of Days when at Ianto’s defiance towards him, Jack gets more personal and tears up. In the tie-in novel to nu!Trek we discover that Jim is bitterly disappointed that Bones sided with Spock in marooning him on Delta Vega.
One final point is where Bones and Ianto stand in respect to Jim and Jack. In my picspam meta that I did on Jack and Ianto and their various interactions, it was noted that Ianto would continually position himself at Jack’s back, often at his right hand side. Now where do we often see Bones stand when he is on the Bridge? Right behind Jim, at his back is where Bones will place himself. Sometimes he can be found leaning over Jim.
What do Jim and Jack offer Bones and Ianto?
Many people just concentrate on the relationship in one direction and do not realise that it is just as important that Jack and Jim have value to add to their respective partners.
For Bones, Jim is someone who is there for him no matter what. He will not let him wallow in his depression. He has remained his friend for 3 years, in spite of Bones doing his very best to run him off with his acerbic nature. He sees past that surly, grumpy outside to the caring doctor within.
Ianto now has someone who, no matter his internal fears, will not leave him. Jack did leave all of them, but he came back, specifically for Ianto. Ianto does not fully believe this, he still has his fears (can I smack him upside the head please?). Jack accepts Ianto in all his little foibles and idiosyncrasies. Where others look at Ianto and think he's a bit weird, Jack loves everything about Ianto. Even though Jack is older, he is very childlike in his outlook towards everything, he has made Ianto act more his real age.
In conclusion, and this was a lot longer than originally intended as I discovered more as I thought about this, I can see strong parallels between both relationships. Without each other, all four men would flounder around the universe without a strong guiding hand. In each respective relationship it has to be an equal amount of support and love. So now I think I can call myself a true slasher in that I am seeing and shipping a sub-textural relationship. :D
* For those who are new to fandom and the terminology, canon means what we have seen on screen, what is “fact” while fanon is the fan personal canon that has been created from subtext.