Dear Torchwood Fandom,

[rm]

Dear Torchwood Fandom,

I am as much about Jack/Ianto as many of the rest of you, BUT, perhaps you have not noticed, these are two really fucked up people in fucked up circumstances with a distinctive disinclination towards monogamy.

So, can we please stop writing fics that involve Jack cooing over how adorable Ianto is? or making him breakfast in bed? Or saying "I love you" every two seconds?

BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT THOSE GUYS. Even in happy ending fics (which I like), even when they are taking comfort from each other (which is probably how it evolved out of Ianto trying to get Lisa into the Hub) and even when they're in love with each other (which I can totally buy).

Ianto is both weirdly innocent and incredibly fucking devious and generally pretty at sea and FILLED WITH TRAUMA and also tough as nails. And Jack is actually out of his goddamn mind. And immortal (more or less). And a huge slut. And a very manly man. Mostly. And also, FILLED WITH TRAUMA, and I don't mean screaming girl trauma for either of them, okay?

So, please, pelase, please, people, let these characters be into each other on their own terms, not your unimaginative heteronormative romance novel crap.

Also, didn't we learn anything about sickeningly cute and character inappropriate nicknames from the Harry Potter fandom?

Thank you.

Gah. I hate new fandoms.

Comments

[chaos-by-design.livejournal.com]

Ha!

I think those are written by the same people who hate Gwen because they see her as some kind of threat to Jack/Ianto. I'm reminded of why I only read very few fanfic authors.

[upstart-crow.livejournal.com]

I finally googled Torchwood because everyone I know is talking about it. Does it have gay characters on it, or just a lot of hints?

I couldn't help myself...

[neitherday.livejournal.com]

[britgeekgrrl.livejournal.com]

*applauds*

Thank you.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Jack -- bisexual, fucking Ianto and probably a lot of other peopel as well. Lots of relationships with both genders (more men than women though) in his backstory.

Ianto -- bisexual, fucking Jack. One significant relationship with a woman in his backstory.

Owen -- mostly into women, but makes out with a guy early on in Season 1.

Gwen -- partnered to a man, makes out with a woman early on in Season 1.

Toshiko -- has a crush on Owen, also has a relationship with a woman early on in season 1.

Queerest show ever.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Jeez. The main threat to Jack/Ianto is the Rift and, well, Jack and Ianto their damn selves.

Re: I couldn't help myself...

[rm.livejournal.com]

lol!

[rm.livejournal.com]

and thank you.

Since I've not watched season 2 yet, but know that Ianto basically flirted (or more) his way into Torchwood via Jack. Do we have any information on whether he and Jack had it out about the Lisa thing during Ianto's suspenion (or later, for that matter, I guess). As I am getting something of a fic bunny myself and it's not the "oh, Jack is worried about Ianto and goes to check on him" variety, it's the "Jack calms down enough to realize he's been had and feels the needs to go over there and ask What the Fuck?" variety.

[coriander.livejournal.com]

I couldn't agree more. Right on.

[britgeekgrrl.livejournal.com]

I'm woefully behind on season 2, myself. Five eps in and nothing of that sort has come up, yet. Which is a shame, as I want it to. Still, there's seven more eps to go...

[rm.livejournal.com]

Okay, I need to find this out, because this is sort of forming in my head (I'm realizing I totally know how to write Jack's voice when he's pissed off, but probably don't have a handle on the characters otherwise -- perhaps because they don't have a handle on themselves).

[markdeniz.livejournal.com]

See, I hate Gwen but that has nothing to do with Jack or Ianto (who are cool) but because she's a crap actress and a crap character.

[rm.livejournal.com]

I go back and forth on Gwen. Certainly she's supposed to be our viewpoint character, but as I'm neither that dumpy, earnest or clueless, it doesn't really work for me. She does at least approximate a functional human being though (interpersonal relationship cowardice aside), which the show could certainly use.

[markdeniz.livejournal.com]

Well in season two she becomes a 'I shout a lot when I'm stressed therefore I am a good actress' kind of character...

You'll love her then!

I do know what you mean though regarding the functional human element.

[valancy17.livejournal.com]

I think I need to start watching this show.

:)

[marcmagus]

I have no memory of their having done so. I wasn't watching for it, but I like to think I'd remember it if they had. (Just checked with K, who also doesn't think they did.)

I think that got conveniently forgotten like so many other plot elements.

[featherofeeling.livejournal.com]

Would you be OK if I linked to metafandom?

[rm.livejournal.com]

Please feel free. Maybe it will cause someone to lead me to the good stuff.

[x-pixel-x.livejournal.com]

<--- :D

Umm, yes, more than hints...and *cough* stuff.

<lj user="metafandom"> made me do it

[x-pixel-x.livejournal.com]

AMEN. As much as I love shmoop, neither of them are really all that schmoopy, and I like it that way.

[matildabj.livejournal.com]

Here via metafandom also, just to add a THANK YOU to this.

Do you write Jack/Ianto, and if so, where can I find it pls? I love your take on them.

[rm.livejournal.com]

I am in the process of writing fic for them, but nothing is done yet, because after writing this rant, I'm checking and rechecking their motivations in what I'm doing. It'll just be posted in this journal, as this is where I put all my fic (mostly HP, but also Swordspoint, Kushiel's Dart, His Dark Materials) or at least link to it.

[matildabj.livejournal.com]

Great! Thanks. I'll keep an eye out.

[speshulduck.livejournal.com]

Here via metafandom, and I must give you a big ole helping of WORD. I dipped a toe in the Torchwood fandom and scurried out rather quickly. There seems to be a complete and total lack of good fic -- calufrax recced an amusing Jack/Ianto fic the other day, thus far the only Torchwood fic I've enjoyed -- and if any of the people in the fandom less inclined to squee have been producing decent fanfic, I've yet to see it.

I must confess that I'm not overly surprised, though rather disappointed all the same, to find there are smooshed ship names floating around. I don't even want to know what they are either.

[rm.livejournal.com]

copperbadge writes some good stuff, but otherwise I've been striking out too.