❪ introlog: #6 ❫ city of secrets

[natha]

You've spent the last few days on Thesa Station, taking in the knowledge that your world is no more. Now, the time to put all your survival training into practice has arrived: El Nysa needs you, and you're here to help the planet thrive. Are you ready? THE DESCENT     All refugees on the station are called to the hangar, where a large-scale teleporter awaits. Simply step onto the space between the arrays and wait; everyone will be sent down to the planet together. Before they depart, all refugees will be given a cold weather survival kit with warm clothing, rations, and bedding. The arrays build into a brilliant wash of light, creating a column that travels all the way from Thesa Station to the surface of El Nysa, teleporting the refugees to the planet on an aurora. Once on the planet's surface, refugees receive one last message from Darma. It has been a long, perilous year for you, refugees. And yet we must ask you to brave further peril. Within Nadril are the secrets to how poor Ysverai's revival was hidden from our sight and how this disaster has come to our star. Find the first refugee from beyond this planet, a man named Magda. He will not speak to us, for much has come between us, but to you… If you prove yourselves, he may be willing to answer your questions. We beseech you, for there is a veil over Nadril that hides all within from us. There may yet be more untold dangers waiting to befall this planet. For the good of all who make this world home, we ask you to lend us your aid. There is yet one more favor we would ask of you. In warding off the Storm's encroachment, the physical aspect of ourselves that you call Thesa Station was damaged. We must remain to continue repairs to El Nysa and to deal with Ysverai, but there should be suitable technology within Nadril that could be used for spare parts. If you have the chance to find it and can return it to us, it would hasten— Darma's message crackles with static, another image overlaying hers — her broadcast is cut off and replaced with another. A more sullen and alien voice takes Darma’s place, overlapping on itself in an ominous reveal. It has been a long, perilous year for you, refugees. And yet you’ve only just arrived here. To say I’m not disappointed in your… generation would be to lie, and I am nothing if not an honest creature. But I suppose these have been unusual circumstances. You must ask yourself this — are you only here as Darma's lapdogs? I can assure you, it's not worth being on the Natha's leash. With time, that will be something you'll have to learn for yourself. If you're so determined to come find Nadril, then follow the path north, and you'll find the border. What awaits you is revelation, if you're up to the challenge. A FROZEN LAND     The refugees land on a literally frozen world, both in temperature and time. Curls of icy wind hold swirls of snow aloft and an uncanny silence is broken only by the crunch of hoarfrost underfoot. Only Darma's protection allows the refugees to move through this frozen world — and movement is very necessary. Bitter cold sneaks through even the thickest clothing and without warning, a snowstorm rises: unnaturally quickly, a wall of white howls directly in the refugee's path. Bizarrely, the way back is perfectly calm; it's obvious that this storm is no product of nature. Magda's challenge becomes clear: the only way to Nadril lies through this storm. Visibility within the storm is near zero, the whiteout hiding any landmarks from view and making navigation near impossible. The only guidance refugees have is a sporadic path of faint, greenish lights, easily lost in the raging storm. Refugees need all the survival skills they practiced on Thesa Station to survive, for getting lost alone is a death sentence. Luckily, those separated from the group can happen upon guiding lights Magda has planted throughout the tundra. These blue-white sparks cause frostbite if handled recklessly, but they also serve as directional anchors, turning into ghostly flames that lead lost souls back to the path to Nadril. The trek through the storm will be no mean feat and will last for the better part of three days. By the time the refugees reach Nadril's gate, most will find themselves exhausted and running on fumes. As the snowstorm dies away and a gap in the glittering forcefield around the city opens to usher the refugees inside, it's clear that Nadril is a different beast. A WARM(?) WELCOME     I. Despite the unforgiving journey, entering Nadril is painless. Once inside, characters will be greeted by their predecessors: the original refugees who made this advanced city. They'll immediately be offered medical attention, as well as warm cider and blankets. But it's obvious that the Nadril citizens prefer higher tech to fend off the weather: they also offer wristlets and ear cuffs that that double as mittens and earmuffs by creating warm bubbles of air. The earrings also feature a few quality of life programs, such as timed alarms and thought-to-speech messaging. However, both programs are in beta stages so it's not unusual for a stray thought to accidentally slip through or an alarm to accidentally ring at an inopportune time. II. Refugees are offered free lodging in a large, crystalline building crafted from ice. Despite the coarse building material, the ice is unmelting and surprisingly well-insulated, and the beds are as warm and cozy. The rooms are, however, small. The sleeping quarters house two people, and are some cross between an igloo and a capsule hotel. Though built for efficiency over comfort, all rooms are also outfitted with the latest Nadril AI, RoboAlfred, or Ralf for short. This helpful program is installed in practically all the furnishings: the closet tells guests to bundle up, the bathroom sink reminds them to brush their teeth, and the mirror offers helpful fashion tips. Ralf's personality matrix still needs polish, though: it may very well insult your clothes and passively-aggressively question your lifestyle choices for the entire stay. III. Though not as advanced as Thesa Station, the colony has technology far beyond the rest of the continent, such as rudimentary AIs and mechanical transportation. Nadril's skyline is a point of pride — refugees can take a (literal) lightrail that gives an aerial view of the colony, which is hewn almost entirely from ice and rock. Despite its tech, Nadril is much more sparsely populated than Olympia and Wyver, and its residents stay near a central hub: a Natha refugee drop ship, Central, which has crashed and long embedded itself into the earth. Central is similar to an older, smaller, grounded model of Thesa Station, in functional order with round-the-clock solar power. Within Central are lounges similar to ones on the Station, though many of the damaged areas have been converted. They include repair stations, different wings dedicated to science, botany, astrology, and mechanics, and a research and history facility, which has a smattering of technology from planets beyond El Nysa — including your own. The staff here don't mind if anything is sampled and studied, but objects cannot be taken from the labs. IV. On the outskirts of the central hub, many will find several curious looking bots with insect-like wings perched about high traffic walkways. Simply passing the bots will cause a dizzying flash before a series of photos print out. Upon closer inspection, people will find that these images reflect stills taken from their home worlds as they remember it. Unfortunately, these photos only last a couple of hours at best. At that time, they will revert back to regular pictures of the refugees. People will be encouraged to share these images of their worlds. The residents of Nadril comprehend the value of remembering one's origins, and will be pleased to see that people still hold memories of old homes close to them. RECREATION IN NADRIL     I. Small, mechanical creatures scampering through the city are a common sight. Ask anyone, and they’ll tell you that they come from a shop called Paws About Town. They’re very useful, as companions, gophers, and couriers (though the more mischievous will note that they’re just small enough to keep tabs on people without being noticed). Premade robotic pets are available on display inside the shop. They come in all shapes, but small sizes; one may be able to find robots that even look like miniature creatures from their homeworld. These are a part of a new, highly customizable line with programmable personalities. Customers have the chance to take pets for a one-day trial run. Those who don’t know how to program may want to enlist more knowledgeable aid, but the pets come with instructional pamphlets for basic personality traits such as obedience, helpfulness, playfulness, and bloodthirst. For returns, the switch to wipe the robot's personality to a blank slate is on the back of its neck, right between a switch to invert all traits, and a switch to have them learn by observing. Try not to press the wrong switch — you might wind up with a pet with a mind of its own! II. A. The Frosty Tap Cantina is a thriving hub of activity, but one of the major draws is the self-service bar: molecular mixology is wildly popular here. Playing with drink compositions can be a game in and of itself, and newcomers to the cantina will find that the bartender — a cheerful woman with lilac skin and three eyes — is always happy to give them a few tips on how to use the wide array of tools within reach of the barstools. All manner of drinks are possible — from glowing, layered cocktails, to clear drinks with colored, spherical bubbles and vividly-colored shots that give off their own smoke. There's a nightly contest in the cantina for the most creative drink created by a team — this may be as good a time as any to partner up with someone and see what can you come up with. Winner gets all their drinks for the night free! And, hey, even if you don't win, you get to drink whatever you make. The well-lubricated patrons of the bar are eager to challenge anyone nearby to a different sort of drinking game… Just how well can you hold your liquor? B. Holo-screens in the cantina are nearly always broadcasting some match or another of a game that looks very much like hockey, albeit played with sticks that light up and a puck that changes shape from time to time. Colonists here merely refer to the game as "the sport," and one of their favored pastimes is betting. However, they don't use currency — they wager dares. Nadril colonists are a tough, weathered lot, and they prefer to speak with actions over silver. Colonists will urge the refugees to take part as well. Common dares range from the ridiculous (lead a sing-a-long, attempt to make someone with a poker face smile) to the suggestive (kiss the person in the cantina you find most attractive, strip off a piece of clothing), to the outright reckless (venture out into the snow for a certain amount of time, and no one will judge if you find some company to keep warm). The colonists are unfazed by even the most insane or tawdry of dares — but you'll certainly be called a killjoy for refusing too often! Why not grab a friend and give it a whirl, or challenge a rival to a dare yourself? THE MISSION     I. On the outskirts of Nadril is the communications tower of the old refugees. This is where Magda resides, monitoring Nadril's technological protections, the extent of the Natha’s influence, and running his own personal projects for El Nysa’s technological advancement. It is isolated, filled with research labs and relics of the past refugees who have come to El Nysa — a living mausoleum of worlds swallowed up by the Storm whose peoples have refused to forget where they came from. Crew photos line the walls of the tower: pictures of alien families and friends, the refugees who came to Nadril before you. Each group of photos gradually becomes smaller in number, and the most recent of the pictures are from half a century ago. Magda's picture can be found among the first group of refugees, an unusually small cluster of photos dating back centuries in El Nysa's past. I have been on this planet for nearly two centuries. Life has come, evolved, and collided in an ever expanding culture. But Darma fears interference, and made this place a prison, with she our warden, stifling the growth of the creatures native to this world rather than encouraging them to flourish. She sent you here for answers in her stead because she knows I'll spurn her, and after seeing what that fool Raysc has wrought, I'll give you them — not for Darma's sake, but because I trust after all the Natha have done to you, you'll understand my decision. Mistakes were made, and I won't hide them. You've made it here so there's some mettle to you, and unlike the Orbiters, I'm not interested in hiding the secrets of the dangers we face. I gave Raysc what he needed to keep his actions hidden from Darma's eyes — what he needed to advance the primitive magics the Natha had doomed him to. It was old Natha tech, Darma's very own used against her. Hilarious, isn't it? Raysc learned of Nadril, and like you, braved the snow to find his way here. He proved his worth and his determination, and he spoke of a brighter future, El Nysa coming into its own, its people realizing their true potential, unhindered by the shackles that had been put upon them. I believed him. He had vision — or so I thought. In truth, he was a fool. A madman. He wasted the opportunity I gave him on his petty vengeance. But not everyone on this planet is such an idiot. Surely you lot aren't. The Natha are hiding things from us — about the Storm, about everything. And here in Nadril, we're going to find all those secrets. What's it going to be? Will you help us, or are you going to stay obedient dogs on Darma's leash? Magda isn't too talkative yet; after all, the new flock of refugees may just be here as eyes and ears for the Orbiters. But what he has said leaves you with plenty to talk about, and if you can earn his trust by helping out around Nadril, he doubtless has a great deal more to reveal. II. Central isn't the only Natha ship that made its way to El Nysa — another, crashed just outside Nadril's borders, is little more than a junk heap. It's here that you'll find the spare parts Darma asked you to retrieve for Thesa Station. What remains of the ship's hull serves as a windbreak, and snow has built up against it, turning the piles of old Natha tech inside into something of a snowy morass. Holes in the deck offer would-be scavengers passage to the ship's innards, barely illuminated with flickering lights — the tech is old, but hardy enough to withstand a crash landing, the severe weather, and the passage of centuries. Deep in the wreck are the remains of living quarters, research labs, VR arenas, mecha bays, cafeterias, and a host of other rooms, many of which may seem familiar from Thesa Station, albeit with a decidedly older feel to what remains of the smooth curves and sleek surfaces of the Natha architecture. Most of the ship's systems are damaged and the technology is nonfunctional, but that just means there's plenty of spare parts to be found. The wreck isn't in the best shape, its structural integrity damaged, and the drifting snow threatens to block off exit routes. Be careful while exploring and be sure to bring a partner. As it turns out, Darma isn't the only one interested in the wreck — Magda is also eager to get his hands on Natha technology. In his own way of taking some responsibility for Raysc, he's asking scavengers to bring him parts, muttering about seeing what he can do about Ysverai's curse. Bring him anything that looks useful, and he may have a chance to succeed, though whether he'll be more effective than the Natha Orbiters is up for debate... FINAL OOC NOTES     An AC-eligible thread with a new character as a participant for 2 NADRIL REP POINTS may be submitted from this log. SUBMIT THE THREAD HERE BY AUGUST 5TH, 11:59 PM EST. As always, feel free to create your own prompts and explore the Nadril location page! There are a variety of activities made available, including fishing and cave exploration! Please direct questions to the questions thread below! Thank you! QUICK NAV premise ● faq ● lore ● map ● npcs taken ● atp/emp ● application ● rep/acp calendar ● hiatus/drops ● modbox [ FULL NAVIGATION ] elnysa nysalogs nysaisles nysaooc elnyan

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[torchwoodteaboy]

It takes a moment for that to sink in for Ianto, because he actually had been readying himself to peel away from the other man's side and give him the space he'd assumed that he'd want. He turns to glance up at the other man, his blue eyes searching John's face in the attempt to find whether this is just something he has resigned himself to or whether it's actually an invitation. He's... Going to hope that it's the latter. He really would like for it to be, anyway.

He'd like to pretend it's the chill in the air that brings the color to his cheeks, but they both know better than that anyway. There's about a thousand questions that go through his head as he meets John's eyes. Are you sure you'll get any sleep if we do? Do you resent the fact that I want this? Do you want this? Would you promise to tell me at least if you didn't?

"Well..." Ianto says at last. "You... Are very warm..."

[impavid]

"I am," John confirms. His expression is mostly locked in a tiredly neutral expression, not giving much else away. "And --"

There's a gentle digital tone, and John's expression immediately drops into cynical irritation.

In cold weather, it is advisable to --

"Yes, thank you," he says, trying to talk over it. He takes a deep breath and lets it out in a sigh, dropping his arm from around Ianto and pushing to his feet. "Why don't I see if I can kill off our friend here while you re-arrange the furniture?"

By kill off, John really means force a shut down. He can at least try.

[torchwoodteaboy]

Ianto presses his lips tightly together and nods in response to the other man's offer. "Right," he says, pushing himself up to stand as well. "Probably for the best..." He's not sure he can take that much more 'helpful' advice from their 'friend' tonight himself.

Of course, the task of rearranging the furniture is easier said than done as well. After a bit of doing, Ianto shrugs out of his jacket and tosses it across his bed before really putting his back into it.

The beds, it seems, had probably not been moved in some time and may or may not have been frozen in place. A fact that Ianto learns quite suddenly when, with a sudden release, the whole thing shifts quite easily and slides to slam into the bed across the room. Rather loudly, considering this is a communal living space, of sorts.

Oops.

[impavid]

John has managed to turn off the control panels in the small living-come-bedroom area at least. He's thinking about searching the bathroom when the beds suddenly clunk together and he startles, turns around sharply to make sure Ianto is okay.

He is, though, and John lets out a heavy sigh as he shrugs out of his own jacket finally.

"These are all off now anyway. Might be one in the bathroom."

He doesn't really know or care, at this point, just drops to sit on the end of the half of the bed that was his and leans to begin unlacing his shoes.

"Anyway, if you want to use the bathroom first go ahead. Or if you want me to check it for obnoxious AI first, I guess wait and I'll turn off anything I find."

The one benefit to his gene becoming over-active, he supposes, is now he can turn stuff off too.

[torchwoodteaboy]

Ianto holds up his hands at John's startle, silently indicating that he hasn't managed to trap any limbs or otherwise injure himself in the movement. Sorry.

He glances at the bathroom at the offer and contemplates the question and the state of himself. It's been three days since the last time he had washed, after all. Three days of travel, and if they're going to be sleeping in the same bed...

"Listen, I'm. I think I might try and clean up a bit," Ianto says, trailing off awkwardly. "If there really is anything in there, you really might get an earful if you don't turn it off first." Not about masturbation, as John had suggested earlier, but he can only imaging what other 'advice' the thing might have for him yet.

[impavid]

He squints up at Ianto as he talks, trying to discern what this answer actually means. He... does want to use the bathroom first, maybe? But only if John deactivates anything in it?

"Alright," he says, finishes hauling off his boots -- sets them aside as he pads in. For a moment the entire place goes dark, and John curses softly under his breath. "No, no, lights are fine keep the --" The lights snap back on, and John is illuminated squinting around the small bathroom. "Yeah," he says vaguely, and begins things to make sure he's not turned off anything keeping them or the water from freezing. "I think that's it...? Maybe? I dunno, there's not exactly a big control panel that tells me what I've turned off here."

This is where displays come in handy when you're a technopath and just guessing at what you're doing.

[torchwoodteaboy]

Ianto jumps slightly at the sudden plunge into darkness, but he stays still and waits while John talks the lighting back into cooperating. Padding blearily to the doorway of the bathroom to peer in at the other man in the attempt to make out what it is he's doing exactly, but really it doesn't look like anything. There's only one way to find out if it worked, though.

"Well," Ianto replies, peering up and around at the room around them, as if there's anything they might be able to visualize. "I suppose we'll hear if you missed anything."

He shoots the other man the flash of a smile and moves to step out of the way to let him pass by before he ducks into the bathroom himself. "I wont be long," he tosses over his shoulder and slides the door shut behind him.

True to word, he doesn't take too long. Partially because he's afraid there really might be someone watching from somewhere, partially because he doesn't want to leave John waiting for too long, and partially because he really is tired. When he emerges from the bathroom shortly thereafter, he feels a little warmer, a lot cleaner, certainly more comfortable, and like he could fall asleep right then and there if he let himself.

"I still feel a bit as if there are eyes on me everywhere I go," he comments, padding across the room to drop onto the edge of the bed. He took the liberty of changing in the bathroom, and dropping his clothes by the foot of the bed to deal with tomorrow, he tucks his feet underneath a corner of the blankets to keep them warm.

[impavid]

"That's just me making sure you don't fall on your ass."

John looks up from where he's flopped onto the bed, stripped down to a t-shirt and his boxers. He's been reading something on his phone, which he sets aside now -- swiping up a bundle of things to duck into the bathroom with. Three days on the road in the same set of clothes is enough to have him feeling a little grimy, no matter how cold it is, and he strips off his t-shirt to wash up -- changes into a clean pair of boxers and tries scrub himself down as much as he can before heading back out. He dumps his old clothes by his bag on his side of the bed, towelling drops of water off his chest and out of his hair with a sigh as he sits on the end of the bed.

After a moment he drapes the towel around his neck and reaches for the wrist cuff thing hidden in his bag, frowns at it a long moment trying to feel out if it's doing anything -- if he can turn it off just in case it is listening to them.

[torchwoodteaboy]

Ianto contemplates making a comment about John watching his ass in other ways but in truth he's not certain if he does. If he really is interested in him in such a way as that. So he leaves it where it is. Giving the other man a 'very funny' sort of a look as he lets him have the bathroom in turn.

He takes the time to tidy his things a little while John is in there, at least. Unpack and poke about the room. He's just wondering exactly how they're going to share this bed when John emerges, shirtless and dripping and Ianto decides he might just. Hover by the wardrobe for a moment longer, tidying his clothes, even if he's technically already tidied them once already.

"It's awfully helpful of them, to supply us with devices we'd need to carry with us wherever we go," Ianto muses aloud, following the other man's train of thought as he watches him fiddle with the cuff out of the corner of his eye.

[impavid]

"No kidding," John says, and lifts a corner of his towel to rub absently at his hair. "It's not exactly got much in the way of feedback, so I'm hoping it's off."

He tried to will it to turn off? It doesn't seem to be doing whatever it did before, anyway. He sighs and throws it back toward his bag, rubs the towel through his hair more vigorously.

"I guess maybe we can wrap them in towels in case they aren't, muffle anything they record."

You know, a token effort. He sighs and lets the towel drop to his shoulders again, leans back on his hands and stares blandly at the ceiling.

"Remember when you were complaining about the heat?"

His lips twitch into a fond sort of smile. This is what you get, Ianto. Complain about the heat and you get a snowstorm instead.

[torchwoodteaboy]

Ianto lets out a snort of laughter at that, moving at last to pad softly and perch on the edge of the (quite large) bed beside the other man.

"I suppose that you get what you wish for, in the end," he replies, with a quirk of a smile of his own. He moves to cross his legs at the ankles, since it really is chilly, even though it's warmer than it is outside, honestly John he doesn't understand how you are going about so scantily clad (though he's hardly complaining about it either).

"I wonder what I should start complaining about next," he muses aloud.

[impavid]

"The cold, I assume. Though we're already starting in on the AI."

He glances over at Ianto, studies him a long moment before nudging their shoulders together.

"If you're cold get under the blankets, that's what they're for."

Being warm, and sleeping under. You know. He reaches out to give Ianto's arm a gentle squeeze then pushes to his feet so he can dig for a t-shirt to put on, vaguely dropping his towel to one side.

[torchwoodteaboy]

He's still a little self-conscious of -- a great many things, really -- yet he follows John's advice and plucks aside the blanket to slip himself underneath them nonetheless. It does feel better like this, though his feet will still take some time to warm up again. He glances aside at John, before down at his hands in his lap. Folded over the blanket as they are.

"John," Ianto says, quietly. "Is this. Alright? With you, I mean. Why are..." He lets out a soft sigh before he pushes himself to continue. "I hope that you aren't just doing this for my sake. Because I can. Technically they're still two separate beds, even like this..."

[impavid]

Is this alright? John turns slowly, t-shirt in hand, and gives Ianto a frown of confusion.

"You can what?" he prompts, then begins to pull on the t-shirt. "And if you're expecting me to go out there and demand a double you'll be disappointed. Use your imagination."

Of course they're technically two beds, what does that even mean? For that matter, why is Ianto trying to back-peddle out of this all of a sudden? After how hard he pushed earlier it's a weirdly mixed message.

[torchwoodteaboy]

It's not so much back-peddling out as just trying to feel the situation out and still trying to get a handle on what this really means to John. Though he supposes he could keep asking all night at this rate.

Momentarily bewildered by the other man's reply -- use your imagination? oh, about the double made of twins -- Ianto shakes his head in reply to the question, before forcing himself to answer it anyway.

"I can, you know. Stay on just the one." It's easier when there's a great crack of mattresses in the middle, after all.

[impavid]

He smooths the front of his t-shirt, the familiar panda face on it studying Ianto along with John's concerned hazel eyes.

"I mean that'd make shoving the beds together a waste of time, but if you've changed your mind go ahead."

Although it seems a very quick, uneasy change. Ianto had seemed pretty enthusiastic about the idea before, so presumably he's just... nervous? It's not like John really feels much more confident about the... general dynamic, but he can give this the good old college try. He can be... reassuring.

"I was kinda hoping you'd stay," he says finally. "Even though your feet are like ice blocks and you squirm."

[torchwoodteaboy]

I was kinda hoping you'd stay. Ianto doesn't really know how much he had needed the words until he's heard them. A smile quirking his lips at the next words even as relief floods through him at the first.

"Yeah, well," he replies. "Get used to it, I suppose. We're staying in a veritable ice hotel after all."

Ianto pauses a moment, before patting the bed beside him to invite the other man in. "Come on, then," he says, softly. "I'll try not to squirm," he shoots the other man a look at the word choice, "but these blankets won't be enough alone to keep warm."

[impavid]

"Good thing you've got me, then."

He sits on the bed and moves to slide under the covers, turns in toward Ianto and braces one hand the other side of him -- leaning into his space just enough to crowd him and lowering his voice to a playful whisper.

"I've been told I'm pretty hot, but I could always use a second opinion."

[torchwoodteaboy]

Ianto isn't really certain where this is going until John is leaning over him and whispering like that. Whispering what has to be one of the worst pick up lines Ianto has heard in a while, but he honestly wouldn't have it any other way. It's mad and perfect and utterly John, the ridiculous panda shirt and all.

"Is that so?" he asks, flicking his eyes up to meet the other man's, his lips quirking at the sides despite his better judgment, before he reaches a hand up to brace against the other man's shoulder. Just at the edge of his collar, curling his fingers just under the hem of the fabric. Playing his cool touch against the warmth of his skin below.

[impavid]

John squirms over onto his knees and straddles Ianto, lifts a hand to snag up the one Ianto isn't holding onto his collar with and encourages him to slide it under his t-shirt -- over the warm planes of his stomach.

"Well you are a researcher," he points out. "I'm hoping this will be a very scientific study. You'll need a control set to compare to, and we'll need to repeat the experiment a few times to make sure it's good -- possibly in a few different places to rule out any environmental factors."

The only sure way to know if John Sheppard is truly hot, of course. Hope you're taking this seriously, Ianto.

[torchwoodteaboy]

Oh. Ianto hadn't honestly been expecting this after all of John's earlier uncertainty on the matter, not for John's ridiculous little come-ons nor for the physicality that seems to be coming with it. He can hardly say that he's complaining, though he quirks an eyebrow to at least pretend he's putting up a good fight in questioning his reasoning.

Spreading his hand wide across the other man's stomach where John has directed it, Ianto strokes his fingers across his skin. His other hand slipping out of his collar to play against the back of his neck.

"Very scientific," he agrees, wryly.

[impavid]

"I appreciate the importance of data integrity."

He leans in and gently nuzzles at the side of Ianto's neck, slips his arms around the other man slowly.

"So what's your thesis, Jones? I'm expecting graphs and footnotes for this. A full bibliography of references."

References to what? John hasn't really thought it through but he's sure there's something Ianto can reference.

[torchwoodteaboy]

He tips his head to the side to allow the other man better access to his neck. This is -- nice. Better than nice, Ianto's not quite sure how or why John has started it now when they were supposed to be going to bed, but he'll take it.

"Research mission," he murmurs, sliding his hand up the line of John's torso to trace his fingers in idle patterns across the line of his chest. They may have been cool to start but John really is warm, and Ianto's hands are no doubt warming from the touch as well. "I might have known."

Ianto might be tired but the presence of John straddling his lap is doing a lot to keep that at bay. His heart feels like it's pounding a mile a minute in his chest as he slides his other hand up to tangle in John's hair. Pulling at it slightly, although certainly not to tug him away. "It may take me some time," he replies. "To be that thorough."

[impavid]

Because this is easy, far easier than the messy complexity of emotional conversations. This, John can do with barely a thought. Easy seduction is as second nature to John as breathing, and Ianto did want to be warm.

"We got time," he says, and John pulls back enough to touch his forehead to Ianto's -- moves one hand to brush along his cheek before pulling back to meet his eyes properly. "Just so you know," he adds finally, "I still think this is a terrible idea -- but, now it's officially your terrible idea. Not mine."

So, you know, don't blame him. He twitches a wry, teasing sort of smile.

[torchwoodteaboy]

Ianto's eyes fall shut for the briefest of moments as John's hand brushes against his face before opening again to meet John's warm hazel ones as he pulls back. He brushes his fingers through the other man's hair, flicking him a smile in return.

"Oh, I see how it is," he replies. "Pinning all the blame on me so you can tell me that you told me so in case it doesn't work out? Well just for that, John Sheppard, I'm going to prove you wrong."

He tilts his head at the other man. Pausing a moment to simply keep stroking his fingers through John's hair and twisting him another softer, more private smile before he continues, "It'll be alright though. Even if this is a sinking ship, I know you'll keep my head above water."