Ficlet: Man Of Mystery

[bk_forever]

Title: Man Of Mystery

Author: badly_knitted

Characters: Jack, Ianto, Owen, Tosh

Rating: G

Word Count: 300

Spoilers: Mostly small ones for everything up to, and including, Cyberwoman. Set pre-series.

Summary: Jack muses on the mystery that is Ianto Jones

Written For: Challenge #91: Puzzles at fan_flashworks

Disclaimer: I don’t own Torchwood, or the characters.

A/N: I’ve written a drabble and a double drabble for other challenges, so here’s a triple drabble. Such a pity that doesn’t count towards earning a badge.

Ianto Jones was a conundrum. With his perfectly tailored suits and polite, even deferential manners, on the surface he appeared almost subservient, the ever obedient employee. He willingly and efficiently carried out all the menial jobs he was handed, fetching and carrying for the team without a word of complaint, often providing them with what they needed before they even thought to ask.

When he was present, he blended into the background so as to go almost unnoticed unless he was needed; absent, it was a case of ‘out of sight, out of mind’, no one knowing or caring where he might go when he wasn’t making himself useful. It was as if he deliberately sought to be as invisible as he could possibly be.

And yet, he had qualities that simply didn’t fit with the role he inhabited within Torchwood. For one thing, he was blessed with a razor sharp wit that was more than a match for Owen’s scathing comments; nothing the medic threw at him seemed to ruffle his perfectly groomed exterior, but his deadpan comebacks often left Owen floundering for an equally effective retort. Perhaps even more importantly, he proved to be highly intelligent, able to keep up with Tosh’s detailed technical explanations almost as well as Jack could. Watching him from across the Hub, Jack frowned, deep in thought. Something about the young man didn’t add up.

Why would a man with such a brilliant mind allow himself to be turned into a general dogsbody, overworked, under-appreciated, and treated with disdain by his colleagues when they deigned to notice him at all?

Evidently there was a lot more to Ianto Jones than he was letting on; he was a perplexing mystery and Jack was determined to unravel the puzzle he presented, once and for all.

The End

Comments

[iantojjackh.livejournal.com]

So very very true,

Very well done.


I know...I'm sorry I'm so behind on everything...one of these days I'll catch up.

[tardisjournal.livejournal.com]

Nicely summed up! There is indeed a puzzle here, Jack, the scope of which might surprise even you!

A very cute puzzle, though. ;)

[milady-dragon.livejournal.com]

Loved this. Too bad Jack didn't figure it out before Lisa got loose....

[bk_forever]

I'm the same, I'm sure there are some of yours I haven't got to yet! We'll both catch up one of these days, other things have just been getting in the way of reading, it happens, lol!

Thank you!

[bk_forever]

Very cute indeed, which is probably why Jack is so intent on solving him. He's not going to be thrilled by what he finds out though.

Thank you!

[bk_forever]

Yeah, he really didn't do the best job of finding out what was going on, probably because Ianto didn't want him to and distracted him at every opportunity.

Thank you!

[owensheart.livejournal.com]

Yep he definitely is a mystery and one Jack will enjoy unravelling.

great drabble

[too-beauty.livejournal.com]

wow that was a powerful and very detailed description. I now know why Jack felt so determined to know him better!

[bk_forever]

Thank you!

The Mysterious Mr Jones is well worth unravelling!

[bk_forever]

Thank you!

Ianto did such a good job of making himself invisible, Jack was the only one who paid attention and started wondering about him.

[bluelilacs.livejournal.com]

It really is too bad Jack didn't pay a closer attention to Ianto, other than drooling over how his suits fit and plotting and executing his plan to get him into bed. Him spending so much time thinking with his other head made it way too easy for Ianto to manipulate him.

[bk_forever]

I guess Jack didn't expect an ordinary human to be able to con him so thoroughly. Of course, Ianto was a desperate man and desperation can make someone excel at things they never would have considered before. Jack had perhaps become somewhat complacent and didn't take the steps he should have to get answers to the questions he had about Ianto's motives. Things might have panned out very differently if he had.

Thank you!

[reddevilpoes.livejournal.com]

Nothing but love for Ianto..You described him well!

[bk_forever]

Thank you! He's my favourite, so I guess I'm biased a little in his favour!

[asia27.livejournal.com]

Ianto is the master of misdirection, and fooled everybody, especially Jack and it wasn't so much a con as it was using Jack against himself. That was Jack's fault to begin with; TW 1 was well aware of Jack's proclivities, especially where attractive young men were concerned. He ignored London's opinion of him, to his team's peril. Not too late to study this young master though; Jack's going to have serious fun doing that.

[bk_forever]

Exactly! Ianto used every trick he could come up with to ensure that Jack's attention was directed where Ianto wanted it to be directed. Jack could learn a thing or two from Ianto. And eventually, he does! Once everything settles down after the Cyberwoman incident, Jack gets the chance to study Ian to more thoroughly!

[jedi-harkness.livejournal.com]

Nicely done here. It makes me think of one of my theories of why Jack was so attracted to Ianto (beside the obvious). Ianto was one of the few who conned the con-man. It's just so sad that the ruse ended so tragically. Still, at least they found their way to each other.

[bk_forever]

Yeah, I think Jack's gotta feel respect for him for that, it's an impressive feat!

It really is sad, but it worked out in the end for both of them. After the tragedy of loss, Ianto finds he CAN love again.

Thank you!

[black59.livejournal.com]

it's Ianto
a great man.

[bk_forever]

He is, even though at the time he was keeping Lisa hidden.

Thank you!

[timelordshines.livejournal.com]

If only Jack had taken the time to solve the mystery...

[bk_forever]

Easy to be wise in hindsight though.

Thank you!