torchwoodteaboy | el nysa inbox;

With his past that's certainly true.

( she knows that the same is true about what is written about the doctor and the truth and would like to hope the same is true about herself )

How well can you really know a time traveller?

[He flashes her a smile that again doesn't quite meet his eyes, moving to swirl his drink in his glass as he does.]

Well, I like to think that I know him better than most. Especially with him living a rather linear life, as of late. But you're right, of course.

[He pulls a face, before taking another healthy swallow of his drink.]

I never could follow whether he was ever telling me the truth or not.

I know what you mean.

( her fingers tap her glass but she doesn't quite yet pick it back up. this works for two people she knows -- more, really )

In my experience, it's usually safer to believe that he's lying.

( because a lot of the time they had to. for safety, for spoilers. for so many other things )

[Ianto raises an eyebrow at her suggestion.]

Safer, yes. That doesn't mean that it's right.

[This is Jack Harkness that they're talking about. You wouldn't believe the sorts of things he's gotten up to in Ianto's lifetime alone.

He takes a tentative sip of his drink, watching her over the rim of his glass, before he hazards:]

"In your experience"?

( there's a sort of shrug in her expression that river refrains from making physical. it might not be right but often it was necessary )

Jack isn't the only time traveller I'm familiar with.

( especially being one herself. she takes a drink now, almost steeling herself for the conversation. he's torchwood, he'll know the name )

The Doctor.

[River may not have admitted to traveling, but mentioning the Doctor's name is all she needs to do for Ianto to make at least some connection. You don't know the Doctor without being involved in time travel at at least some level yourself. Even if it's only peripherally.]

Well. The one and only. If ever there were a time traveler to get to know, I suppose that would be the one.

[He tries to keep his voice and his expression as neutral as he can as he continues:] He does make his way around, doesn't he...

He does.

( and she can't help but sound fond as she talks about him, her eyes lighting up. all of their adventures and running... oh, they had some good times )

He's had a lot of time to.

Mmm. [Ianto hums under his breath. He's read a lot on the Doctor. As much as Torchwood has on him, at least. But it's all fairy tales, mostly. Smoke and mirrors. He's never stayed for long enough or left enough of a trail for anything substantial. Which was probably on purpose.

He glances aside at her again.]

Have you traveled with him yourself, then?

[She must have done. How else would she have gotten to know him as well as she seems to do.]

For many years.

( there's a small hum as river lets herself think over their long past. they'd been together for a while )

I was with him before I woke up.

( at least it's the last memory that she currently has )

[For years? That catches Ianto's attention. As far as Ianto's aware, no one ever travels with the Doctor for very long. For one reason or another, they seem to go their separate ways. River, though...?]

It must have been quite the adventure. For an archaeologist.

[He raises his eyebrows at her, rather pointedly.] You are an archaeologist...?

[That wasn't just a lie she'd told him because she thought he couldn't handle the time traveling bit instead?]

( she nods. she is an archaeologist and oh, those adventures-- )

It's incredible. ( her smile, if possible, turns fonder ) The stories I could tell.

( but she won't. she'll save you that particular gushing )

And getting to see some of these civilisations is very good research.

[Ianto regards her for a long moment with a critical eye. Listening to everything that she's saying. And everything that she's not.]

Several years is quite a long time to travel together. The pair of you must have become quite close.

[Is this a pointed statement? Wouldn't you like to know.]

( several years is an understatement. decades, centuries depending on perspective )

You could say that.

( she'd married the idiot though she's not broadcasting that )

As well as you can know him.

( better than most still )

[Ianto makes a soft noise in the back of throat, as if to suggest he knows exactly what she means. And he does, rather. Considering how well he knows Jack.

As well as anyone can know Jack, after all.

He takes another sip of his drink, staying quiet for a long moment before he says, quietly:]

He's up there, somewhere. You might not be able to find him, but he is. That's -- how this all works.

( her smile falls, just for a few seconds before river makes an effort to put it back, though it's one that isn't quite so natural )

I've already found him.

( multiple versions of him. river was still following each ping to a pod but she had found him. she had found him and it had hurt )

At least he's safe, so I can assume.

[Ah. Well. There it is, Ianto supposes.

He doesn't really know if it's a comfort, in the end. Knowing that a person is there, but in stasis, as opposed to the constant searching.

He doesn't really know if it's a comfort when they wake up in the same hell that you have yourself in the end for that matter. It hasn't really been so far for Ianto himself.]

I'm sorry.

[At least he does mean that. For whatever complicated emotions he might feel about the Doctor. He knows what it is to miss a person.]

At least... There's the guessing out of it, I suppose.

( there's a small nod, a response to both his concern and statement. it certainly was something )

I suppose it saves him the trial.

( river was just as good, better in some situations. as much as she'd rather him here, able to discuss ideas or just have him to help she was able to figure things out alone. she'd had as many adventures without him, doing similar things. 'saving the day' )

((ooc: i'm sorry i'm awful -- we should totally start something newer than this if you're interested!!))

[Ianto chews on his lip for a moment. The sentiment isn't exactly a happy one, but it is true. He's probably safer in that pod than he is out here, down on the planet. Probably.]

You might want to look out for him. When you know that there are people waking up again. Just in case. Weird things tend to be happening to the ship then, so. Even if he doesn't wake up.

[He offers her a sideways glance, pressing his lips tightly together.] If you know where his pod is, that is. Better safe than sorry, yeah?

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