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Who: John Sheppard, Ianto Jones & TJ!
What: ~~Florida~~ California Man introduces air-force medic to his roommate
When: Early in the month, when the new folk are waking up!
Where: Mess hall!
Warning(s): N/A

John had deferred the giant mech adventure for now -- since TJ was new and all, and it seemed like there was probably a lot of context and... general local information that might be beneficial to go over before plunging down in a time-frozen dystopia to tidy up after a dragon.

He's been evasive, which he feels a little bad about but overall he's not... quite sure he wants to open with 'oh, yeah, I was a branch of the US military which did space travel' right off the bat. It's meant to be classified, and sure he's... reasonably sure all that stuff no longer applies when Earth, New Lantea and probably all the other off-world bases have been eaten by the storm but --

But it's just such a long conversation, and people ask questions and he's tired and just wants to be normal for five minutes. So he's briefly mentioned Antarctica, Afghanistan, a vague summary of how he's flown in every continent and is currently idly going through 'my first adventure with the Natha' over a cup of tea and a plate of cheesy fries.

"So they finally beam us down to the planet," John is saying, "And this guy Voss is giving this twenty minute speech on how the Light of Thesa is a blessing or something and Thesa is a goddess who watches over them -- and I'm pretty sure the light is the teleport. But -- we're not meant to say, right? We've got to blend in. Pretend we're just local refugees even if we're all mismatched and weird. So --"

He pauses to take a sip of his drink, then something in his expression changes and he begins waving at someone behind TJ.

"Hey! There you are! TJ, this is Ianto Jones! Ianto, First Lieutenant Tamara Johansen -- Air Force. I was just giving her the delightful story of our first adventure out on the surface." Which was... definitely memorable, but John hasn't actually gone over all the more memorable bits and was probably planning to skip those. He glances back at TJ and flicks an idle smile. "Ianto's my roommate, he's in charge of telling me no. Ianto, sit!"

Apparently the 'no' part doesn't apply to things like diet choices. So Ianto should join them and eat more cheesy fries! They're in the middle of the table for a reason.

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Ianto rolls his eyes (fondly) at the mention of it. This has come up several times since this initial encounter after all. Mostly when John feels like lightening the mood with something ridiculous, he supposes. Then again, he supposes that's what he'd probably been doing in the first place, considering they had met outside of the stasis pod of one of John's friends from home -- while Ianto had been trying (and failing) to find any of his own.

"I don't think you ever really outlined my part in this venture," he points out. "But we did meet on Thesa and go for drinks. Rather a bit like this, actually." He gestures to their table, quirking a wry smile at them before sitting back in his chair himself and asking, "How did the pair of you meet each other then?" He pauses for a beat before adding, because it's a point he has to wonder, the fact that they are both Air Force after all, "You, ehm. You did just meet here...? On the station, I mean?"

TJ couldn't help herself, she laughed.

"Have a lot of experience with intergalactic take out businesses, do you?" Mostly, it reminded her of the Destiny, a lack of food, and how nowhere they'd stopped (ever) had anything resembling take out. She would have happily committed a crime for good Chinese food by the end.

Listening to the two of them banter was becoming a highlight of her arrival. Shaking her head at Ianto, she motioned to John and said, "Actually, he found me in a giant robot, about to do something I probably couldn't." It was an easy admission. "But, yeah. We just met here."

John gestures at Ianto accusingly.

"You were always a buzzkill. You never believed in me." Then, to TJ -- "You can tell when a man has never been without take-out for longer than a month at most. They don't get it."

Get the importance of intergalactic take-out. They could make a killing! People get desperate for good food! Never take food delivery for granted, life without choice is terrible -- especially when you're limited to rationed military food mixed with splashes of local cuisine.

Ianto makes a face at John as if to say ouch and also you'll get over it all in the same breath.

"Some of us chose to keep our feet firmly planted on the ground in sensible places, thank you very much," Ianto replies, well aware the quip applies to both their situations. But seriously, John, Antarctica.

And for that matter, "Are you certain that you hadn't caught him doing something that he probably shouldn't in a giant robot?" He raises an eyebrow at the other man over the rim of his mug as he takes another healthy sip. Oh yes, John, he knows you. This wasn't the Gundam, was it?

"Does he not normally keep his feet firmly on the ground?"

She's not answering the second half of the question; John had agreed rather quickly to help her do something she probably couldn't, but had redeemed them both by suggesting food, so she didn't think it should count against him. Besides, she figures she's learned more in this conversation than she ever would have earlier - despite the potential for being in John's memories.

Raising her own eyebrows at the man in question, she lifts her cup and mimics Ianto's pose, though her expression comes off more owl-eyed innocence. Or, at least that's what she's trying for.

Wait a minute. John flicks his eyes between the two of them with a slow frown.

"You're teaming up now? That's not fair!"

It's about as far from fair as you can get! He picks his tea back up and takes a slow sip, levelling thoughtful glower at Ianto.

"You know I could lock you out of our room, right?"

Probably. He's never actually tried to override the locks but he's pretty sure with effort he could.

Ianto raises his eyebrows at the other man at that threat. Oh really, we're lowering ourselves to threats now? After you were the one to invite him to this table and everything? He's being so careful with what he's saying and everything, since he hasn't got a clue what John has told her about himself. It's not really his place to spill the beans about John's job, after all.

"I would have thought it's rather a hazard of the job, being a pilot," Ianto replies, glancing between the pair of them -- watch it, John, if you don't like them talking about you maybe you could actually answer your own questions for a change, there's a novel idea.

TJ had thought that Ianto was speaking more figuratively rather than literally, despite their discussion on galactic takeout and, given the fact that John's in the Air Force, being a pilot really isn't that much of a stretch. Telling other dirty little (classified) secrets... well, it's true that John outranks her, so when it comes to telling anyone else what she does, she'll likely defer to him. He's a commanding officer, just not her commanding officer. Right? Right.

"No one's getting locked out," TJ says with another shake of her head and a slight roll of her eyes. Then she looks at John. "So, you said no transport? They don't have a ship," not the word she meant to use, "or a plane available for your galactic takeout service?"

"They won't give me anything," John laments with all the dramatic immaturity of a teenager. "Guess they don't trust me yet. Which is fine! I understand. I just..."

He gestures expansively, grabs a few fries off the plate and pointedly moves it a few inches away from Ianto again as he sets his tea down.

"Thought maybe we could all move past that, seeing how they wanted out help and all. What's the point in waking people up if you won't let them do anything?"

These subtle threats are not over, Ianto Jones. You are being warned.

Shunned from the cheesy fries. Ianto sees how it is. He can't help but quirk something of an eyebrow at the movement, though he makes no comment about it otherwise. He has a feeling that the Natha are monitoring their actions and waiting until they consider them worthy enough to give them their gear back. And John's stunt with the dragon probably caught their attention in more ways than one.

"I wouldn't say they haven't given you anything," Ianto points out, wondering whether the other man will go so far as to slap his hand away if he reaches for some food now. "Just nothing in the way of a vehicle."

"Wait."

Though TJ understands John's point about waking people up (and, frankly, as much as she can't stand some of the people she knows personally, she rather thinks they could help a lot), she can't help but furrow her brow when Ianto mentions that John's gotten something.

"You've gotten something out of all this?" And, though it's not nice or proper or even polite to ask or demand answers from someone she's basically just met, she really wants to know. "What've they given you that's not a vehicle?"

Wow, Ianto, that was vague enough to make it seem way more exciting. Was that on purpose? John lofts his eyebrows at him, because really.

"They gave me a gun back," John says slowly, then drags his eyes back to TJ. Honestly, it's really not some weird conspiracy. It was a gun. "Which is pretty much the minimum they could do after I was stabbed in the arm trying to defend their peace process without one."

So yes, thank you, he got a gun. He's just going to shove some more fries into his mouth for a moment and hope the topic moves off him again. Please stop ganging up and talking about him, it's uncomfortable. Thank you.

Actually, the guitar had been what he'd been thinking of, since it's more fresh in his memory given all of John's picking around on it of late. He supposes they did give him the gun back as well, though. He'd like to point out that yes, see John? They gave you these things in reward for your bravery with the caravan when Ianto himself hid under the carriage and he hadn't gotten a thing in return for that but he lets it go. Knowing that he could argue fault until he's blue in the face but that the other man will still blame himself for what happened.

"Maybe someday they will take pity on me and give me back my espresso machine," Ianto replies, helpfully. See, John? He can take a hint. For the moment, anyway. "Especially since they've frozen the rest of our things, it's he least they could do."

Part of the reason they're ganging up is because, clearly, they're going to be best friends and need someone to pick on. That aside, she finds it interesting that they gave him... "A gun?"

Her confusion shows because it seems like a minimal thing in relation to, well,everything else and she focuses on John for a moment before looking back at Ianto. "And you want an espresso machine. Not that I'm knocking it, really. I'd commit a good number of minor crimes for a good cup of coffee. And probably a major one. It's been years..."

Trailing off, she reaches for a fry and takes a breath. "I don't even know what I'd ask for if given a chance." The two men get a grin. "So, now we're just waiting to see what happens down there before they release us back into the wild?"

"I think they've gotta like you more before you get anything more interesting. You know, like your own personal giant robot."

Or whatever else it is the Natha give people they like. Access, he thinks? To more important parts of the ship? Anyway, the point is they just gave him a gun and it's not very exciting. Even an espresso machine would be more interesting! Espresso also brings all the ladies to the yard, apparently. He looks between TJ and Ianto hesitantly.

"Why do I feel like I'm watching myself being replaced?"

Ianto reaches out and offers John a consoling pat on the arm. Don't worry, John. She's very charming and obviously they're getting along quite well, but he's still very fond of you too. In case you'd forgotten.

"Don't worry, as my roommate, you'll be the first served you own Ianto Jones special," he reassures the other man with a smile, before glancing aside at TJ. "Though you're welcome to come over for a cup as well. I can't promise I'll have much in the way of ingredients for anything fancy." It depends on what they decide to give him with his machine, or how much money he's got saved up by that point. "But I'm sure this place should be able to spare a little cream and sugar, if nothing else?"

Honestly, TJ has no actual interest in breaking up whatever it is the two men have between them and she holds up her hands in a gesture of surrender as Ianto pats John's arm in that gesture of consolation.

"I'm just trying to make friends," she tells him, her tone as sincere as she can possibly make it. "That and your military background, I was hoping for a heads up on anything else you might know. Any other military types? Is there a command structure of some sort?" Do they all just fend for themselves? He does outrank her, after all.

She looks over at Ianto and, still trying to make sure she's not stepping on any New Friend toes, adds, "I'll be grateful for anything, if you wanna share it."

John rolls his eyes and shoves the plate of fries an inch closer to Ianto again.

"Don't worry about it," he says to TJ, "I've changed my mind. You can have him for free."

Goodbye, Ianto Jones, you were a good roommate for a short period of time.

"Anyway, it's all a little spread out. People from all different structures and places. There's no real command because it doesn't all fit together and nobody recognises each other. Loosely we all come under Darma but not everyone likes or agrees with the Natha, so in reality it's a 'The rules are more like guidelines' sort of situation. There's a whole heap of civilians here, and some of them are more than willing to step back and take instruction in a crisis but some want to try and help -- to varying degrees of effectiveness. There's also an attrition rate here on refugees. We'll wake up, learn all the rules, get to know people and then you'll see them bounced back into the stasis pods. I'm fuzzy on the why -- if it's the Natha actually restraining them or, if as they imply it's something to do with this mysterious Storm. I'm not the right guy for science, though. If you want science you'll need to persuade them to wake up McKay."

Wow, John, after he offered you a 'Ianto Jones special' and everything? He's wounded. Ianto makes a face at the other man and steals a few more fries from the plate just for that. John did push it closer to him again, after all.

Her question is obviously directed at John and he sits back and lets the other man field it, swiping a few more fries as he listens to John's response. It really is a sort of military mindset, to be fresh out of a pod and looking for some sort of structure or chain of command to follow. He doesn't know what it says about himself that he'd always assumed from the start they would be on their own to figure it out for themselves. Perhaps it's his lack of military training. Or perhaps it's what his experience from Torchwood has taught.

"The natives have a king and queen," he points out. "Of Wyver and Olympia, respectively. But it's a bit more of a free for all amongst the rest of us. The Natha only brought us here," he points out. "They expect us to behave, and yes, I'm pretty sure they could put us right back where we came from if we don't, but there's hardly a structure to it beyond that." He glances aside at John. "It’s anyone’s guess when a person will wake up and no use asking the Natha themselves. I’ve certainly never gotten anywhere with that myself.” Though granted it had been about the pterodactyl but still. “You’re just going to have to wait for your grumpy Canadian scientist like everyone else.”

For the most part, TJ was following along on what John was saying, right up until he said that if she wanted science, she'd have to get them to wake up McKay. She'd only ever heard of one McKay attached to the Air Force and the man wasn't a member of it. He was a Canadian, but he was a scientist and it struck her as odd that John would pick such a random name.

That confusion shows on her face and she turns to let Ianto fill her in on the royalty and nobility of the people below and then he confirms what had just gone through her head: McKay, to the two of them, is a Canadian scientist. A grumpy one.

"Wait. Do you mean Rodney McKay?" Because that man, as far as she knows, is nowhere near Earth and hasn't been for years, which mean John Sheppard isn't an Air Force Colonel stationed on Earth, either.

Half way through stealing himself some more of the fries John stops, looks up and squints.

"Yeah," he says, and he sounds faintly surprised. "Where did you meet him? I'm guessing not Russia, so, Area 51? NORAD? McMurdo?"

Since it could be any of the above, after all. McKay has done a lot of work on the Stargate programme but he's also done other things, technically. It's also possible TJ met him in a social context, although the thought is a little... weird. McKay is not exactly an expert on mastering social situations. John shoots Ianto a sideways frown that says I'm not sure where this is going either and shoves some fries in his mouth before looking back at TJ.

Ianto glances between the pair of them, surprised at the fact that the name should ring any particular bells with TJ herself. From what little he's heard about Rodney (which albeit isn't much), he doesn't seem to be like the Air Force sort, but. Stranger things have happened, he supposes.

At least John doesn't seem to understand it either, he thinks to himself. The idea that the pair of them are from -- the same world feels a bit odd to think about, they're all from Earth technically, but at least the same place. It makes him feel a bit odd and suddenly that much further out of place. As if he really doesn't belong here in this conversation between two service members who may in fact have more of a connection with each other than simply just that.

"Russia?" Ianto asks, mostly because it's the only name on the list that isn't a military base of some sort.

As soon as the words are out of her mouth, TJ knows she should have kept it to herself. Honestly, there are probably a dozen people named McKay who've worked with the Air Force - even if this one is specifically a grumpy Canadian scientist - and as much of a coincidence as it might have been, even she recognizes that it's probably not.

"Colorado," she answers, then reaches for a fry, before sliding Ianto another glance, mostly because John did. Ianto seems to be the anchor of the two of them and she really doesn't want to alienate either of them because, well, they've been really nice. "I haven't seen him in years, though. Probably just a coincidence."

Saying it didn't really help. She'd been assigned to the program in 2005 and had been on various missions and places since, which meant their paths hadn't crossed except that once.

Colorado. There's no doubt in John's mind this is definitely not a coincidence. Five years ago, though? John squints, trying to turn his mind back five years, and glances over to Ianto again.

"McKay did some work for the Russians. Siberia, I think? He got around a lot before he settled."

Settled in Atlantis, that is. John turns back his attention to TJ and squints at her critically. This is like a game now, who blinks first. He sips his tea slowly.

"Five years ago? Do you know who he was working under in Colorado?"

What was five years ago for her, for that matter? Who was in charge of the SGC? Was it Hammond? Was it O'Neill? Or was it Landry by then? It's hard to guess, given the fuzziness of timeliness here.

Siberia. Ianto thinks about making a joke about him being Canadian and used to the cold, but mostly he's just bewildered by the fact that the pair of them know the same man and are therefore connected by this fact.

"Colorado," Ianto echoes, like it should mean anything to him. It doesn't really, except that he's pretty sure McKay's been spending most of his time far, far away from Colorado as of late. And Earth itself, for that matter. How long has John been on this mission, has he said? He studies John's face for any sign of recognition before turning to TJ again.

"Time works strangely in this place," he explains. "Five years ago for you might be different than what it was for me, versus what it was for John." He glances aside at the other man, before asking her, "What were you doing in Colorado, then? To have run into McKay there?"

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