[BTR|RP] Without the light of wisdom, what else can be done?

[eelseason]

{BACKDATED FOREVER; LOCKED TO IANTO. Follows this madness.}

As it turns out, Elashte is either not as invested in answering Jack's proverbial phonecalls these days as he could be, or Jack chose a rather poor time to try to get in touch with him. And with Mio being not exactly a mindhealer, and the Vesmier being in a different country and rather comprehensively out of reach...

If it takes him a bit longer to find Ianto than it should, it's because he's had to track down a few tools he'd rather never have had cause to use again, and stow them safely in a dark canvas bag. And he's had to do quite a number of mental gymnastics to pout himself in a state where he can think yes, it's time to break someone and not turn around and walk straight for his link severer.

Some days, it's all he can do not to strangle Owen for dragging him back from that brink.

He knocks twice at Ianto's cell door before letting himself in, more as an announcement of his presence than any need for permission to enter. Once he steps in he activates the command on his wrist device that locks the door from the outside – thank you, Torchwood op-techs – and drops the bag, which lands with a soft jangle just inside the door.

He gives a smile that's more rue than warmth.

"So, I guess this is going to happen the hard way."

Comments

[stopwatchdabble.livejournal.com]

Ianto has been doing what Ianto does best these days: living in his head. Also, reminding himself of all the truly bad things he's done the last month or so. It's probably not healthy, but when has he really been known for making healthy life decisions? Being retconned after Lisa probably would have been wise, but instead he decided to stay and then fall in love with Jack, who shot her in the head. So he supposes that on the list of stupid things he's done, wallowing in his guilt is hardly the most destructive.

He looks up when Jack walks into his cell. His appearance reflects his mood, and he hasn't slept since Jack left. Sleeping means leaving the pain behind, and that means allowing his body to sink back into madness... so he hasn't slept, and has kept himself awake by standing up and doing push ups every twenty minutes. Very painful push ups, given his condition, but at least that's keeping him awake.

"Hey," he says quietly, glancing down at the bag for a moment, before back up at Jack. "Should I ask what the hard way is, or find out during so it's a fun surprise?" His voice probably shouldn't contain quite that much amusement, but he hasn't slept in a couple of days. His sense of humor is skewed.