10. What was your favorite book/series when you were growing up?
ARGH, this one is genuinely really difficult /o\ it's almost certainly going to be Something With Ponies In It, but there are a few strong contenders...
If I had to choose one, with a gun to my head, probably Patricia Leitch's Jinny and Shantih books, because honestly what's not to adore about a girl moving with her family to a big old house in the Highlands and rescuing a beautiful, half-wild Arab mare from a cruel circus? I think there are 12 in the series but I only had the first 4 and I read them TO DEATH. The setting is glorious, all the horses are such delightful personalities, and I can distinctly remember being terrified out of my mind reading Night of the Red Horse. Might have to do a re-read, actually...
(special mentions also go out to KM Peyton's Swallow trilogy, the Black Pony Inn and Phantom Horse series by Christine Pullein-Thompson, Caroline Akrill's eventing trilogy, and countless others I've forgotten <3)
For non-horse books, when I was a kid I did love Enid Blyton's books about the Five Find-Outers (and dog), and her Secrets series.
Thanks for the ask, I fear I'm going to be digging quite a few of these out as a result...
Ask game! #9 (if it's not too revealing) or if you don't want to do that one, then #7.
I will do both!
9. a film from the year you were born
I was born in 1985, which was a year with a lot of good movies; of the ones I've actually seen and enjoyed, I'm going to go with 'Ladyhawke', because I remember thinking it was absolutely magical when I first saw it as a young teenager.
7. film released before 1970
'The Wizard of Oz'! I watched it with my mom when I was a kid and found it so beautiful, and had the delightful experience of introducing my kids to it a few years ago and discovering that the Technicolor switch when Dorothy opens the door to Oz is still just as magical to a couple of children born in the 2010s.
For the prompts: Owen having to doctor someone on the team? (Ianto would be lovely, but I'm happy with any!)
Sick Day
“I told you not to kiss Jack,” Owen says patronizingly as he gazes down at the grumpy Ianto who is curled into a tight ball on the couch. “Just because the Beunarian flu is targeted towards a certain gene fifty-first century born humans happen to posses doesn’t mean us twenty-first century humans would be exempt from catching it.” He sighs, taking in Ianto’s trembling and the sweat glistening on his forehead. “And look what happened? You bloody caught it.”
Ianto grits his teeth. “If you wouldn’t mind buggering off right now,” he whispers, “your voice sounds like nails on a chalkboard.”
“Is this better?” Owen asks sarcastically, dropping his voice to a whisper almost as quiet as Ianto’s. He slowly rolls Tosh’s wheeled chair closer, mindful of the faint creaks. “You’re lucky you don’t have to be isolated like your boyfriend. Tosh says that the purple still hasn’t faded completely from his skin.”
“Why are you still here?” Ianto groans, teeth catching on his bottom lip. His fingers dig into the ragged cloth of the couch cushion. “We’re not going to die from this alien flu.”
Owen nods. “You’re right. You’re not going to die, but I have to make sure that you don’t do something like grow a third hand from the experimental vaccine I created.” He looks considerate. “Though I suppose Harkness would like that.”
“Could you bring me some water?” Ianto questions, and he sounds horrible and raspy enough that Owen actually springs to his feet and scurries away to the little kitchenette tucked away on a lower level.
When he returns, Ianto is nowhere to be found, the couch conspicuously empty. Owen’s eyes narrow. Apparently, even blindingly ill, Ianto moves like a bloody ghost.
Quickly, he raises a hand to his comm. “Tosh, we have an escaped patient. Ianto moved when my back was turned.”
Tosh’s response is a quiet sigh. “How did you lose a sick man in the Hub?”
“Don’t underestimate his sneakiness,” Owen replies. “Now, any idea where he would go?”
“Wait!” comes Gwen’s cry. “I see him on the CCTV. He’s limping over to the infirmary.” Her tone is wonderous. “How did Ianto make his way here so quickly?”
When they all finally rush to the infirmary, they find, in the only bed occupied, one completely purple Jack Harkness laying flat and breathing shallowly. He’s fast asleep, and curled up against him, skin even paler against the vivid purple, is one Ianto Jones, his nose tucked against Jack’s neck. Both quiver together, skin glistening with sweat.
“Awwww,” Tosh says, eyes - and voice - soft. Even Gwen looks gooey-eyed.
“Yes, yes, I agree,” Owen snarks. “They’re both precious.” He snaps his fingers before both women. “Now help me separate them before they both spontaneously combust.” They shoot him alarmed glances, and he rolls his eyes. “Next time, you are all required to read my full reports before we open up containers of plant spores from the Rift.”
Hi this is your secret santa. Happy holidays Both fics are under the cut and on ao3. I haven't figured out how to embed pictures so the pics just on this post. I dont have access to a scanner right now. (Will update the picture when I do soon)There is a bit of swearing in the first fic but its not that much.
ao3 posts- Ianto and Owen / Gwen and Tosh
It was early in the morning when the messy situation began. Since Lisa was discovered, I hadn’t been back at work. That was a terrible night. It happened so suddenly. I didn't feel happy when I realized what I had overlooked. I noticed we were running out of coffee beans. As soon as I could go, I went to go where I kept the rest of the walk in storage. This was the same floor where she inhabited for several months. It started sometime after I had joined after finding Myfanwy. That night I was exhausted. It was worth it in the end. While I didn't prefer being down there, I had to do something about the problem I had found. As I walked further towards the supply cupboard, the more uneasy I felt, almost like I knew something would go wrong. My fears were not out of the blue, but objectively I knew no one else could have done the same thing as I had. When I got there, the storage door was wide open and I could hear Owen Harper's loud voice. I sighed then spoke up loudly, enough that he could hear me from wherever he was inside. “Are you close to the coffee? We’re almost out upstairs.”.
I didn’t wait long. It seemed he was close to where I was. Odd, the room seemed to be much bigger on the inside. That might have just my mind playing tricks on me. Though I wouldn't have been surprised if it was.
“Can you repeat that? I don't know why not having galoshes would be a problem. ” Owen sounded confused.
“No where almost out of coffee. Is there any in there still?” I replied louder than I had done previously.
“I passed it on my way to the office supplies. I think that's all the coffee we have right now” Owens voice was apologetic. I could tell he meant it.
It was then and there, for the first time in ages, that I felt scared. Not only for me but everyone on the team. As much as I hated to admit it to myself, I had become dependent on coffee. My team was no different. That didn't mean any would do. Drastic times call for drastic measures.
After a short conversion, we decided to go upstairs and find Jack. Getting the bags of coffee to the car would require more than one person. It was a slow day so Owen could come and help for once. We walked together to the large elevator at the end of the hall and, after finding that it wasn't working, we sighed and took the stairs. I guess it was about time for a new elevator anyway. Nothing really lasts forever.
When I got out of the stairwell, I was met by a relieved Jack who was happy to see me. “Ianto about the coffee…”
“We have none in storage right now so the stuff upstairs is all we have at the moment. Me and Owen were going to go get more right now.”
“I'd be happy to help if you asked, but that's fine.” I could tell from Jack's tone of voice that he would like to spend that time with me, but we'd never get anything done if he came with. He is a real trouble magnet on top of that.
We walked inside the garage with the keys already in Owen's hands. I got in the driver's side on the right side while he got in the passenger side. The quickest route I knew could be confusing. If I was on the passenger side giving directions wouldn't help at all. It was hard to find a place and the directions were the oddest I have ever followed.
As they drove out it was still raining as it had been when they entered in the morning. By the time they had taken a left turn towards a block of warehouses, the rain had vanished, to Owen’s surprise. He thought the weather man said something about the rain lasting until the next day. He shook his head and told himself he must have misremembered what week that was for. The car made a sudden stop parking at the side of the road.
Ianto spoke saying “I know it might look weird, but this is really where I get all of the coffee. It's like the opposite of a Slitheen. It's the building on your side. Let's go.”
While Ianto stepped out of the car ,Owen took a deep breath and opened the door quickly then closed it just as fast. His face was drawn to the massive eyesore in front of his face. The building that once held a clothing warehouse full of books was now filled with rows and rows of coffee. Owen didn't know what to think.
He turned his head and said to Ianto “ You go to a building that's bright orange called Groovy Moods to get coffee that we drink everyday. Something about that sentence just sounds wrong.”
“It's better than it sounds. They used to have a different name, but they were inherited by the old owner's hippy son. I miss the old building, but the stuff is still the same. My mouth would know the difference.”
Owen Harper then said in response “So it's a rebranding. Lets just go in and get this all over and done with. I heard it was supposed to rain today.”
The inside was clean as a whistle and the colors were more muted, though, the wall art wasn't. Owen couldn’t say he was surprised at the abstract art on the wall above displayed bags of various kinds of coffee. He followed Ianto to a window at the back of the store and found something unexpected, visible behind the glass.
“Well shit.”
I couldn't agree with Owen more. Some kind of face hugger was on the workers face and they were trying to tear it off. That was a poor bloke.
“Did we bring anything in the car or did you grab something? I don’t think a gun will help us with that.” Owen was panicking and so was I.
“ I always have medical supplies on me, and I also have some food. You?”
I leafed through my pockets and groaned. “I grabbed the wrong jacket. This spray might make it worse.”
“Why?”
“It's novocaine in a can. I don't know what it will do to it. It could do nothing.”
“It's worth a shot. At least the guy won't feel anything if something goes wrong.”
Owen, with a medical tool, opened the door and I sprayed the face hugger. The weirdest thing happened.
“I think I made it horny”. I was embarrassed. Instead of sucking the man's face, it was now humping my foot.
Owen laughed while I sighed. “We have a carrying cage in the car right? Get it. I think we might have to retcon this guy when it's taken care of.”
Fic 2 It was a Friday when I finally had some time to myself. I had some great plans including going to this nice curry place and eating what I couldn't while I was at home since Rhys was allergic. My day didn't go as planned after I managed to get that one thing out of the way. As I was walking to my car, out of nowhere I got pulled into an alleyway. I almost kicked them, knocking them out before I saw who it was. It was Toshiko, but she was a mess. Concertedly, I watched as she panted.
“What happened?" I said plainly as she stood wobbling in front of me.
Her eyes wide, she spoke a few words before fainting onto me “Aliens smuggling cocaine into space.”
I had just enough time to catch my weight and Tosh by sheer will alone. A few seconds passed before I could catch my bearings.
My mouth gaped as I was shook by what she had just said. I guess I'm going to hold off on those plans for another day. This, I could feel, wouldn't be easy. She looked at Tosh's wrist and sighed. Maybe she would have a day out. Whatever had happened hadn't happened yet. On Toshiko's right wrist was a vortex manipulator. For all Gwen knew Tosh was going to then say and time if that one wasn't Jacks. It wasn't like he was unique in the cosmos. It was mass produced. From what she had gathered after Jack came back after a year in tandem with the radiation scare they were similar to company cars. While not totally unique, there are a limited amount.
Though for all I know I am already involved in what happened and will have to sit it out to keep out of sight. That might possibly be some good news. I haven't signed up for overtime, but I was due for a break as well. Whatever the case I had to get Tosh to wake up somehow. For all I knew it would come today and we needed to start walking now. So, out of my pocket I grabbed what I always kept on me and what I knew she couldn't stand.
“Peppermint, really Gwen?”
It had worked after all, to my delight.
“We are in an alleyway and I had it on me. Now, do we have to hide somewhere or was I involved in what got you here?”
“I have to stay out of sight, but we need to call Jack so I only knew one thing you did out of the next three days.”
“Well that's short, but what are you getting at?”
“Well what we need to do exactly is this.”
Tosh's game plan was not something I would do if I didn't have to. There were parts she had to repeat since to be perfectly honest was plain odd. I guess I could blame the rift for this.
So, here I was now, with Tosh in a bar in the middle of the day at the start of winter. There was barely anyone inside which was definitely not a good sign. We went to the restroom and waited for a few minutes. Then I heard that noise that had to be what Tosh had told me about earlier. So I kicked down the restroom door and chucked a can of mayo at a sabretooth tiger. While it layed there unconscious, Jack stared at me, dumbfounded for the first time since I had met him.
“Thanks Gwen but how did you time that so well? It's your day off you didn't mention going to a bar” He was scratching his head staring at the jar of mayo on the ground.
“It's kind of you from a few days laters fault. Tosh said she came back to perverse the timeline to ensure I did what I did. You gave Tosh your vortex manipulator 3 days away. I guess i'm going to have more time off than planned. This was the only thing you saw me doing with everyone else while the alien cocaine smugglers were dealt with. I'm having trouble saying their name. It's a mouthful.”
“Can you tell me something about them so I know what i'm dealing with?” Jack responded quickly.
“ She did say that one of the people who took them back to their homeworld used to be mayor Blaine. Tosh said she was cute.”
He started laughing for a second then the image of what I was describing finally got past his processing for how ridiculous it all sounded.
“Even for torchwood this sounds..”
“Insane I know. I'm the one who was dragged into an alley by a chip shop's trash cans by a future Tosh and had to wake her up. She seems fine, even after passing out. I don't think she got a concussion, but it's even more of a reason for me to stay out of this one. I wouldn't want to be home alone if that happened to me.“
“You do that Gwen, you do that.”
Tosh walked up right next to me and said, “We have five minutes until my past self walks by. We need to head out. Nice seeing you Jack.”
We finished saying our goodbyes and Tosh headed out first, initially going left while in the distance I heard a familiar voice talking to him. While I knew I could relax, I wouldn't be able to do everything I could.
“I haven asked yet, but are you okay with sleeping on my couch?”
“Gwen, I’ve slept in worse places before, it's fine.”
Tosh opened up the fridge while I was cleaning dishes. “Gwen, when's the last time you ate something that wasn't takeout? There's only milk in here and I think it's gone off.”
“Well, I guess we'll have to go get food. Rhys usually does it, but he’s at the funeral I was talking about before all of this. You didn't go to a grocery store did you?”
“No, so we can go anywhere.”
I didn't feel the need to change so we went out in both of our pajamas. The sight of her in my pajamas brought a smile to my face.
I hadn't gone here this time of night or this particular place, but Tosh seemed pretty familiar with it. There was some stuff I hadn't seen in person before, but it was pretty clean. I grabbed something called a dragon fruit and put it into the cart as well as some pasta and additional stuff to put on it. Can't forget the wine either. This kind of opportunity doesn’t happen as often for me anymore.
I don't know how, but we ended up at a rec center painting. It was a small place nearby with a blue façade. It felt nice actually, to my surprise. It's not the best representation of a pear, but at least I tried.
I looked at my watch and realized how much time had passed.
“This is the last day we have to stay out of this.” I didn't know how I felt about that just yet.
Tosh pulled down the newspaper and sat in silence for a bit. Then she simply said . “I'll miss this break, but it had to end sometime. It will be all okay.”
“I hope so.” I thought to myself. The last few days had been calm but I don't think I can relax much longer anyways.
laylainalaska replied to your photo “Brothers of the Cup meet again”
Oh, you drew this!! I didn't realize it wasn't a reblog 'til reading the tags. This is adorable!
Awwww, thank you! Yeah, I did some drawing specifically for One Piece around 2009-2010 when I was in Japan, where drawing is like. The thing people do! (It’s considered weird to use official art for things like your user icon or whatever.) Sadly I’ve kind of let those attempts to get somewhere atrophy, so this fall I actually took a drawing class!
..still not at the point where I’m going to start trying to do fanart again (I don’t know if my old tablet even works), but it was fun to have a look through my old stuff, and see there were some pieces I could see myself sharing. So I did!
