milliways_bar | (no subject)

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As usual, Ianto is sitting at the bar with a cup of coffee and his diary.

If one were to peek over his shoulder, one would see the words, "Today is my birthday" written at the top of today's page.

But one wouldn't do that, would one? It's terribly bad manners.

[tags of smallness: Maj. Evan Lorne, Billy Kaplan.]

[ooc: ~~Work-relate slowtime in effect.~~]

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"All right, why not? What films are you thinking of?" He pauses and raises an eyebrow. "S'not all demon apocalypse and seedy back alleys for me, you know. More often than I'd like it's beans on toast and Top Gear on the telly."

"Well, dating." He plays with the champagne glass. "It's odd to know how to approach it with anyone.

"I like old movies best. Classics. That's mostly what I've got on the computer right now, things like Casablanca and The Godfather."

"Can we do the Maltese Falcon as well? I love that one."

A pause, during which wait-rats come by with the food.

Then, "Dating," John says, looking at his plate and starting to eat with polite care. "Strange, innit? Like something out of an old film." He looks up at Ianto and winks.

"Absolutely. I love that one."

He eats a bite of duck with eyes closed in appreciation. Good food is so good.

"If we were an old film I'd be Myrna Loy, I suspect. To your Humphrey Bogart."

John snorts a laugh. "Myrna Loy, is it? Should I have got you diamonds, then?"

Bite, chew, swallow. "S'really good, this. You're going to be picking the food more often, I think. Broaden my horizons." Bite, chew, swallow. "We're pretty good too, aren't we, the two of us."

"I don't think diamonds go with my complexion," Ianto says dryly.

"I'll pick the food any time you like. Though sometimes I do like a curry and lager, too."

He eats a bite too. "Yeah. We are."

He has a sip of champagne. "There is something, though. An explanation I owe you, I think."

John looks up with a bit of a glower. "You don't owe me anything."

"Which is also what I said," Ianto points out. "But I'd feel better if you know how things are with me."

"All right."

John taps his fingers on the table. His hand goes to the pocket where he keeps his cigarettes, and then stops, and returns to tap on the table some more.

"There's this bloke at home," Ianto says, avoiding looking at the tapping fingers. "We're not together or anything. There hasn't been anything but a kiss and a lot of flirting. But the possibility's been there since basically the first day we met, and now I don't quite know what to do."

"Do as you please. You don't owe me anything," John repeats bluntly.

If you didn't know John, you probably wouldn't notice, but something's changed. Something behind the eyes -- something that's been open whenever Ianto's been around -- has just closed.

"I shouldn't have brought it up." He frowns at his plate.

John shrugs and keeps eating. "Bring up what you like, do as you please. No promises, no harm, no foul. You're a big lad now, make your own decisions."

"Right."

He has another drink.

"I really do like you, you know. I like being with you. I'm not just waiting around for him to make up his mind."

"Why don't you bloody well make up his mind for him," John snaps, then winces. "Sorry. Sorry.

"Look, sunshine," he continues in a more ... civilized manner. "You and me, good times all around, right? No promises and no regrets. Besides, not as if the bloke ever came around here."

"He used to," Ianto says evenly. "You might even know him. Jack Harkness."

At the name, John explodes into laughter. "Jack Harkness? Not the one who used to work the brothel! Oh, sunshine, you're going about it the wrong way."

"The . . . brothel.

"Oh, dear god." He buries his face in his hands a moment.

John raises an eyebrow in surprise and suddenly the smile is very, very cruel. "You didn't know? S'trewth, I've had him a few times meself. Highly recommended. Make him do that sword-swallower thing he does with his throat. Worth every penny."

[ooc: Mun is very sorry for John being a shit, and pets you and loves you and gives you chocolate.]

"No, I didn't know," Ianto says, raising his head. "Though I suppose nothing should surprise me anymore."

He takes a deep breath, folding his hands together. "Jack is my boss and my friend and I respect him no matter what he's done in the past. Don't give me crap about it, John."

[ooc: *pets and loves back* *is keeping the chocolate, though*]

Edited 2008-08-21 21:05 (UTC)

"Crap? Who's giving crap?" John says. "Just sharing information, me. Next you see him, give him my ... love."

He leans back in his chair, takes out a cigarette and lights it with considerable flair. "So, ready for dessert? Or should we just skip it and go right upstairs?"

Ianto doesn't say anything as he deliberately wipes his mouth with his napkin.

"Let's go upstairs. There's no reason to put off the sex any longer."

"No. No reason at all."

... again, if you didn't know John you wouldn't notice it, but there's something about his voice and the way he stands up and pushes his chair back ... as if he wished otherwise.

As if he'd almost dared to wish for more, once.

Life's a bitch, innit?

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likesthecoat - 2008-08-22 00:14 (UTC) - Expand

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[ooc: No problem. That'll be about when I'm headed home so I may not get back right away.]

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