donutsweeper | Learning to Whistle

Title: Learning to Whistle
Pairing/Warning/Rating: Jack/Ianto, major crack warning and dark themes , rated R
Word Count: 437
Beta/Evil Prompter: mad_jaks
Summary: Ianto faces an unexpected future when he quit Torchwood.
Author's Note: Prequel to Whistle While You Work. This is the story of how Ianto got his chains.

Jack stood calmly and waited until Ianto's tirade began to wind down.

"I did warn you that leaving me wouldn't be easy."

"But this!" Spittle flew as Ianto yelled. "Chains, Jack! I'm in chains!"

"Yes, you are." Jack pressed on Ianto's shoulders, forcing him to his knees. "But, you are still you. Can you honestly say that if I'd retconned you that would be the case?"

Ianto sat back and let his hands fall to his thighs, the heavy chain between his wrists not being long enough for his hands to rest at his sides. "Maybe I don't want to be me anymore."

"Pain doesn't go away just because we've erased the memory of it, Ianto. It's still there, lurking, in our subconscious, in our dreams. I'm missing two years, much less time than you’d have me take from you, and I can barely live with that loss sometimes." The hand on Ianto's shoulder began stroking it gently. "Don't ask me to do that. Not to you. Please."

"Jack..."

"One month, that's all I ask. Do this, for me, for one month. Then if you still want the retcon I'll give it to you." He dragged a finger slowly along Ianto's neck and smiled as Ianto shuddered at the touch. "You can be happy here, Ianto, with me. I know you can."

"What about the chains?"

"You have no idea how good you look in them, do you?" Jack shook his head slightly. "For now, they stay on. If you're good, I'll lengthen them later."

“Not remove them?” Ianto’s tone bordered on incredulous.

“I bet, before long, you’ll find yourself loving these chains.” Ianto huffed and Jack regarded him quietly for a moment before continuing, “They represent my commitment to you- that I will always take care of you, protect you, love you. I swear to you that nothing bad will ever happen to you again on my watch, Ianto. Nothing.”

Looking carefully at Jack Ianto could see the sadness and loneliness in the other man’s eyes. “This is only for a month?”

“One month. If you want to go after that then... then I’ll let you go. You have my word on that.”

Ianto could hear the sincerity in Jack’s voice; the man was telling the truth. He shifted, relaxing under Jack’s steady gaze and felt the weight of the chains as they rested against him. There was something oddly comforting about wearing them. Almost soothing. "Can I at least get my clothes back?"

"No." Jack laughed at Ianto’s continued reaction to having his throat stroked. "But, I'm beginning to think you'd appreciate having a collar."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Okay, pretend I'm a rilly dum person, because I know this is lighthearted, and it comes across as very sweet and mischievous, and intellectually I'm guessing you're playing around with some conventions of bondage fiction, but I think my fear of being trapped is hindering me here - are the chains to keep Ianto safe, so he won't get into any situations where he would be in danger? I'm sorry! I think I've just jumped into an unfamiliar pool. :)

[ETA - please don't interpret my question as in any way reflecting on the quality of your writing or the story! I think I'm just out of my element, and I didn't want to not comment at all, because I'm interested.]

"Pain doesn't go away just because we've erased the memory of it, Ianto. It's still there, lurking, in our subconscious, in our dreams. I'm missing two years, much less time than you’d have me take from you, and I can barely live with that loss sometimes." The hand on Ianto's shoulder began stroking it gently. "Don't ask me to do that. Not to you. Please."

That's really sad and sweet.

No, you're not dumb. This started off as just crack when

mad_jaks and I we joking about the problem about writing 'life after torchwood' was that people tended to only leave if killed. Or retconned. Then I mentioned something about, unless Jack liked you and wanted to keep you around as a love slave.

The original drabble was just supposed to be a silly crack version of the future for Ianto. But people kept asking for me to write more and I started to think/wonder *how* Ianto and Jack started getting that dynamic together. My understanding of the D/s culture is that when in subspace, all that matters is your Dom, s/he'll protect you, be there for you, know what you need and what not. There is supposedly something reassuring about bondage or chastity belts and things like that and the sub's happier given up choice to the Dom and letting them choose.

I figure Ianto's had a lot go wrong in his life, and had a lot of heartache and pain because of it. TW1, Lisa, S2's ending, whatever caused him to hand his resignation in, and would- subconsciously at least- relish letting Jack (whom he already saw as a protector of sorts) take control and keep him from further harm. The chains would be a visual, tactile symbol of that.

*babbles massively* sorry

As you keep on telling me, babbling is good. I think you babble very intelligently.

thanks, I was afraid the point got away from me there.

mad_jaks and I we joking about the problem about writing 'life after torchwood' was that people tended to only leave if killed. Or retconned.

I'm surprised there haven't been more drabbles to that effect - I think it's what we were all thinking when we saw the prompt! You mentioned that conversation before, or I read about it - did it happen in my birthday fic, before Seven's Bear happened? Heh.

Thank you for the explanation about the D/s culture and the psychology of it - that actually does help me understand, and even if Ianto was surprised at first, I suppose, in this scenario, Jack might have known how he might react once he relaxed.

I figure Ianto's had a lot go wrong in his life, and had a lot of heartache and pain because of it. TW1, Lisa, S2's ending, whatever caused him to hand his resignation in, and would- subconsciously at least- relish letting Jack (whom he already saw as a protector of sorts) take control and keep him from further harm.

Okay, so I wasn't necessarily wrong in seeing serious undertones in this. :) That really does make sense. It's quite poignant.

Thanks. :)

I think I would have to read a lot of D/s stuff to even slightly get over my control issues to where it wouldn't stress me out to read, but I do want to understand! It's a really interesting idea.

the conversation happened around the same time as the commentfic, possibly in the same thread even so you might have read it.

This ficlet wound up with a much more serious tone than the first drabble- I had to find a way to explain his mental place in the drabble and where he started down the path that led him there.

Probably 75% of D/s out there is not written by people who even remotely understand the culture (I've read this in many rants by people who *do* understand and/or live it) so reading more might not be such a good idea. Lots of the stories are, simply put, bad.

becky_h (

fandom_me) would probably be able to point you to some good ones. I can't remember if she's written ones herself, I think so, but I'm not sure.

Hey *and* you'd just told me babbling was fine *pets you*

it *is* but when trying to get a point across to answer a question and if you're not sure you've managed that it's less acceptable

That is true *headsdesk*

ooh, just thought of the perfect story to link to Rusty to explain it better.

Am I likely to have read it?

No, it's NCIS. I don't think she reads NCIS, but it's Tony/OMC with other OMCs explaining things to him. Very well done, it's a series though so I need to find which has the scene I'm thinking of

That conversation we had aside? Link me too please? When you find it :)

It's a great series. And, oddly, I have a lot less difficulty in picturing Tony in a (very light) D/s relationship with someone OTHER than Gibbs.

OTHER than Gibbs sounds like something I can deal with *nods gently*

Found it. It's the second story in the series. The series started when NCIS is investigating a murder. The victim had apparently been stalking his neighbor- was obsessed- stole his stuff and videotaped them in bed. They were hardcore D/s. After accusing the neighbor's partner, Tony wind up clearing them both. He likes them (as people) and arranges to get all their stuff returned to them (including the videos)That's where this story, Right Angles (http://blueraccoon.livejournal.com/469233.html#cutid1), picks up. He's interested in D/s somewhat and near the end they explain some.

Learning to Whistle

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