Fic: All The Fun...
May. 8th, 2025 06:16 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
badly_knittedTitle: All The Fun...
Author:
badly_knittedCharacters: Ianto, David, Mica, Rhiannon, Jack, Team.
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1657
Spoilers: Nada.
Summary: Ianto finds himself ‘volunteered’ for a day out at the funfair with his sister, nephew, and niece.
Written For: Weekend Challenge ‘Crazy Carnival’ at
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1_million_words.Disclaimer: I don’t own Torchwood, or the characters.
There were days when Ianto wondered how the Hell he got himself into these situations, and today was turning out to be one of them. He’d reluctantly taken the day off work because Jack had basically bullied him into it, saying it would do him good to spend some time with his family, doing something fun, and…
The ‘fun’ thing turned out to be a spring carnival, being held on Pontcanna Fields. Because the kids had wanted to go, and Rhiannon hadn’t been thrilled at the prospect of having to wrangle both her offspring by herself, she’d called her brother to ask if he’d like to go with them. Jack had answered Ianto’s phone for… reasons, and told her Ianto would love to, without bothering to ask him first, because Jack was helpful that way. So here Ianto was, having been volunteered, press-ganged, whatever, into a family day out. When he’d asked why Johnny wasn’t going, Rhi had told him her husband was working; he’d been offered overtime, and the pay was too good to turn down. Privately, Ianto suspected Johnny had taken the overtime so he wouldn’t have to go to the fair.
It hadn’t been so bad to start with. They’d played some of the sideshow games, which were rigged so it was almost impossible to win anything good, but the kids had still had fun. Then Ianto had won Mica a giant toy rabbit on the shooting range, surprising Rhi, and impressing both the kids. After trekking back to his car to stow the rabbit, Ianto had rejoined his family and they’d all gone on the Dodgems, two to a car, then they’d ridden the Carousel, and gone through the house of mirrors…
Ianto had started to think he might get through the day relatively unscathed, but then, to his horror, David had said he wanted to go of the Ferris Wheel. He was finally old enough, and tall enough, to be allowed on, but Mica was still too small, and didn’t like heights anyway. At last the reason Ianto had been invited became clear. Rhi had promised David he could go on the ride, but he would have to be accompanied by an adult, and since she would have to stay on the ground with Mica, and Johnny was working…
“I’m sure Uncle Ianto will go on with you.”
Uncle Ianto would very much have liked to say no, he’d never been keen on heights, but David had been so excited and eager that before Ianto knew it, they’d joined the queue. Ianto had paid for both of them, and when their turn came, they’d settled into the flimsy-looking metal seat, the safety bar was locked into place, and they rose slowly to let the next people board.
Ianto kept a firm grip and told David to do the same. Then he stared resolutely ahead, not looking at the ground, as they gradually rose higher and higher.
“Wow, look how high we are!” David exclaimed, looking down.
“I didn’t come up here to look at the ground,” Ianto replied as calmly as he could. “I can see that well enough when I’m on it. I’m here for the view.” That wasn’t true, he was there against his will, but he wasn’t going to tell David that. “I can see the castle.”
“Where?”
“Straight ahead.”
“Oh, wow, this is so cool, isn’t it?”
“We can see a long way,” Ianto agreed as the wheel slowly rotated and they headed downwards. He wondered how many times it went round before they were allowed off, but then they were going up again, and he concentrated on not looking terrified, told himself it was fine, they were perfectly safe, people rode these things all the time without falling off, there was absolutely nothing to be afraid of… And then, just as they reached the top for the third time, there was a vivid golden flash somewhere nearby, and the wheel stopped dead.
“Uncle Ianto? What’s happening?” David grabbed Ianto’s arm.
“We’ve stopped.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. Just sit still, enjoy the view, and I’m sure they’ll get us down soon. Nothing to worry about.” Ianto wasn’t sure of any such thing, but he didn’t want David to get scared. Being way up here with a panicking ten-year-old wouldn’t be good. “We’re getting the best view, so let’s just enjoy it while we can.”
Indeed, the view was so good, Ianto could see the Torchwood SUV as it sped along the roads near the park, saw it screech to a halt and the team get out, looking about the size of mice from this distance, saw them striding across Pontcanna Fields, then lost them as the entered the fair itself, wending their way through the crowds. Very carefully, because the last thing he needed was to drop it, he got his phone out and called Jack, who answered almost immediately.
“Ianto! Where are you?”
“On a ride. Whatever you’re looking for, try checking around the Ferris Wheel. The flash was in that vicinity, and the wheel seems to have stopped unexpectedly.”
“Great, we’ll do that! Thanks! Handy for us that we have a man on the ground.”
“Not so much ON the ground as above it.”
“What d’you mean above… Oh, I see you! Whatever are you doing all the way up there?”
“Mostly just waiting for someone to get us down.”
“Yeah, we’ll see what we can do about that.” Jack paused for a moment, then said, “Tosh says the Rift flare might have sent out a localised EM pulse, knocking the power offline. She’s going to talk with the operator, see if she can help get it going again. Shouldn’t take long. Sit tight, don’t go anywhere.”
“Where would we go? Sit still, David.”
“Sorry, Uncle Ianto. I was just waving to mum and Mica. Is that Uncle Jack on the phone? I can see him down on the ground with some other people.”
“Yes, it is. They’re friends of ours. If you sit still and wait patiently, I’ll buy you some candyfloss when we get back down.”
“Awesome!” David settled down.
“Got your hands full up there, have you?” Jack said over the phone.
Ianto almost jumped out of his skin; for a moment he’d forgotten his lover was still on the line. “Just a bit. How’re things going down there?”
“Tosh is working on it. We’ll have you down before you know it.”
“Glad to hear it. Did you find what you’re looking for yet?” Ianto was reluctant to hang up; talking to Jack was helping him to stay calm.
“Owen and Gwen are on that. How’s the view from up there?”
“I can see the castle, and almost all the way to the bay. There are tall buildings in the way though.”
“That’s a shame. Gotta go; Tosh needs another pair of hands. We’ll talk when you come down.” Then Jack was gone, leaving Ianto thinking, ‘When I come down? It’s not like I’m stuck up here by choice!’
It took another twenty minutes for Tosh and Jack to help get the wheel going again, and during that time, Ianto could hear children and some adults in some of the lower seats crying, or praying, and one couple having a loud argument over whose fault it was that they were stuck on a ride that had broken.
At least David was keeping calm, exclaiming about how cool it was that they’d been right at the top when everything stopped.
“We’re so lucky!! He borrowed Ianto’s phone and took some photos with it. “I want to always remember this!”
At least someone was enjoying the adventure.
By the time he was back on terra firma, Ianto’s legs barely worked, but when he stumbled getting off, he excused it by saying he’d been stuck in the same position for so long, his legs had gone to sleep.
As if by magic, Jack appeared beside him, offering a steadying hand. “C’mon, I’ll walk you around a bit to get your circulation going again.” He led Ianto away from where Rhi was hugging David and making a fuss of him, telling him how brave he’d been, and Ianto just caught David replying that he and Uncle Ianto hadn’t been scared at all, they’d been enjoying the view.
“You okay? You’re even paler than you usually are.”
“I’m fine, now I’m back on the ground. Not too keen on heights though; my legs still feel like jelly, but I’m fine.”
Jack grinned. “Keep saying that and you might eventually believe it.” He looked intently into Ianto’s face. “I didn’t know you were afraid of heights.” Thankfully, he kept his voice down, so nobody heard. “Why did you go on the Ferris wheel?”
“David wanted to, but he had to have an adult with him, or they wouldn’t have let him on. And I’m not scared of heights, I just have a very sensible respect for them,” Ianto corrected with quiet dignity. “It’s like with Weevils. Can’t afford to show fear around them. They can sense it.”
“It didn’t stop because you were scared of it, Ianto. It was a localised EM pulse, just like Tosh said.”
“I know that, but showing fear would have made things worse. The safety bar would have fallen off or something.”
“I thought you weren’t superstitious.”
“I’m not, but… Well, machinery these days, especially here, close to the Rift is… not quite as inanimate as people believe. Best to exercise a certain amount of caution, just in case.”
“Is that why you talk to the coffee machine?”
“Keeps it happy. Did you find what came though?”
“Rubber duck,” Jack said with a grin.
“Of course. What else would the Rift drop off at a fairground?” Ianto turned to Jack. “Word of warning… If you EVER volunteer me again for a day out with my family, alone, I will kill you.”
Jack just laughed.
The End
The ‘fun’ thing turned out to be a spring carnival, being held on Pontcanna Fields. Because the kids had wanted to go, and Rhiannon hadn’t been thrilled at the prospect of having to wrangle both her offspring by herself, she’d called her brother to ask if he’d like to go with them. Jack had answered Ianto’s phone for… reasons, and told her Ianto would love to, without bothering to ask him first, because Jack was helpful that way. So here Ianto was, having been volunteered, press-ganged, whatever, into a family day out. When he’d asked why Johnny wasn’t going, Rhi had told him her husband was working; he’d been offered overtime, and the pay was too good to turn down. Privately, Ianto suspected Johnny had taken the overtime so he wouldn’t have to go to the fair.
It hadn’t been so bad to start with. They’d played some of the sideshow games, which were rigged so it was almost impossible to win anything good, but the kids had still had fun. Then Ianto had won Mica a giant toy rabbit on the shooting range, surprising Rhi, and impressing both the kids. After trekking back to his car to stow the rabbit, Ianto had rejoined his family and they’d all gone on the Dodgems, two to a car, then they’d ridden the Carousel, and gone through the house of mirrors…
Ianto had started to think he might get through the day relatively unscathed, but then, to his horror, David had said he wanted to go of the Ferris Wheel. He was finally old enough, and tall enough, to be allowed on, but Mica was still too small, and didn’t like heights anyway. At last the reason Ianto had been invited became clear. Rhi had promised David he could go on the ride, but he would have to be accompanied by an adult, and since she would have to stay on the ground with Mica, and Johnny was working…
“I’m sure Uncle Ianto will go on with you.”
Uncle Ianto would very much have liked to say no, he’d never been keen on heights, but David had been so excited and eager that before Ianto knew it, they’d joined the queue. Ianto had paid for both of them, and when their turn came, they’d settled into the flimsy-looking metal seat, the safety bar was locked into place, and they rose slowly to let the next people board.
Ianto kept a firm grip and told David to do the same. Then he stared resolutely ahead, not looking at the ground, as they gradually rose higher and higher.
“Wow, look how high we are!” David exclaimed, looking down.
“I didn’t come up here to look at the ground,” Ianto replied as calmly as he could. “I can see that well enough when I’m on it. I’m here for the view.” That wasn’t true, he was there against his will, but he wasn’t going to tell David that. “I can see the castle.”
“Where?”
“Straight ahead.”
“Oh, wow, this is so cool, isn’t it?”
“We can see a long way,” Ianto agreed as the wheel slowly rotated and they headed downwards. He wondered how many times it went round before they were allowed off, but then they were going up again, and he concentrated on not looking terrified, told himself it was fine, they were perfectly safe, people rode these things all the time without falling off, there was absolutely nothing to be afraid of… And then, just as they reached the top for the third time, there was a vivid golden flash somewhere nearby, and the wheel stopped dead.
“Uncle Ianto? What’s happening?” David grabbed Ianto’s arm.
“We’ve stopped.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. Just sit still, enjoy the view, and I’m sure they’ll get us down soon. Nothing to worry about.” Ianto wasn’t sure of any such thing, but he didn’t want David to get scared. Being way up here with a panicking ten-year-old wouldn’t be good. “We’re getting the best view, so let’s just enjoy it while we can.”
Indeed, the view was so good, Ianto could see the Torchwood SUV as it sped along the roads near the park, saw it screech to a halt and the team get out, looking about the size of mice from this distance, saw them striding across Pontcanna Fields, then lost them as the entered the fair itself, wending their way through the crowds. Very carefully, because the last thing he needed was to drop it, he got his phone out and called Jack, who answered almost immediately.
“Ianto! Where are you?”
“On a ride. Whatever you’re looking for, try checking around the Ferris Wheel. The flash was in that vicinity, and the wheel seems to have stopped unexpectedly.”
“Great, we’ll do that! Thanks! Handy for us that we have a man on the ground.”
“Not so much ON the ground as above it.”
“What d’you mean above… Oh, I see you! Whatever are you doing all the way up there?”
“Mostly just waiting for someone to get us down.”
“Yeah, we’ll see what we can do about that.” Jack paused for a moment, then said, “Tosh says the Rift flare might have sent out a localised EM pulse, knocking the power offline. She’s going to talk with the operator, see if she can help get it going again. Shouldn’t take long. Sit tight, don’t go anywhere.”
“Where would we go? Sit still, David.”
“Sorry, Uncle Ianto. I was just waving to mum and Mica. Is that Uncle Jack on the phone? I can see him down on the ground with some other people.”
“Yes, it is. They’re friends of ours. If you sit still and wait patiently, I’ll buy you some candyfloss when we get back down.”
“Awesome!” David settled down.
“Got your hands full up there, have you?” Jack said over the phone.
Ianto almost jumped out of his skin; for a moment he’d forgotten his lover was still on the line. “Just a bit. How’re things going down there?”
“Tosh is working on it. We’ll have you down before you know it.”
“Glad to hear it. Did you find what you’re looking for yet?” Ianto was reluctant to hang up; talking to Jack was helping him to stay calm.
“Owen and Gwen are on that. How’s the view from up there?”
“I can see the castle, and almost all the way to the bay. There are tall buildings in the way though.”
“That’s a shame. Gotta go; Tosh needs another pair of hands. We’ll talk when you come down.” Then Jack was gone, leaving Ianto thinking, ‘When I come down? It’s not like I’m stuck up here by choice!’
It took another twenty minutes for Tosh and Jack to help get the wheel going again, and during that time, Ianto could hear children and some adults in some of the lower seats crying, or praying, and one couple having a loud argument over whose fault it was that they were stuck on a ride that had broken.
At least David was keeping calm, exclaiming about how cool it was that they’d been right at the top when everything stopped.
“We’re so lucky!! He borrowed Ianto’s phone and took some photos with it. “I want to always remember this!”
At least someone was enjoying the adventure.
By the time he was back on terra firma, Ianto’s legs barely worked, but when he stumbled getting off, he excused it by saying he’d been stuck in the same position for so long, his legs had gone to sleep.
As if by magic, Jack appeared beside him, offering a steadying hand. “C’mon, I’ll walk you around a bit to get your circulation going again.” He led Ianto away from where Rhi was hugging David and making a fuss of him, telling him how brave he’d been, and Ianto just caught David replying that he and Uncle Ianto hadn’t been scared at all, they’d been enjoying the view.
“You okay? You’re even paler than you usually are.”
“I’m fine, now I’m back on the ground. Not too keen on heights though; my legs still feel like jelly, but I’m fine.”
Jack grinned. “Keep saying that and you might eventually believe it.” He looked intently into Ianto’s face. “I didn’t know you were afraid of heights.” Thankfully, he kept his voice down, so nobody heard. “Why did you go on the Ferris wheel?”
“David wanted to, but he had to have an adult with him, or they wouldn’t have let him on. And I’m not scared of heights, I just have a very sensible respect for them,” Ianto corrected with quiet dignity. “It’s like with Weevils. Can’t afford to show fear around them. They can sense it.”
“It didn’t stop because you were scared of it, Ianto. It was a localised EM pulse, just like Tosh said.”
“I know that, but showing fear would have made things worse. The safety bar would have fallen off or something.”
“I thought you weren’t superstitious.”
“I’m not, but… Well, machinery these days, especially here, close to the Rift is… not quite as inanimate as people believe. Best to exercise a certain amount of caution, just in case.”
“Is that why you talk to the coffee machine?”
“Keeps it happy. Did you find what came though?”
“Rubber duck,” Jack said with a grin.
“Of course. What else would the Rift drop off at a fairground?” Ianto turned to Jack. “Word of warning… If you EVER volunteer me again for a day out with my family, alone, I will kill you.”
Jack just laughed.
The End
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Date: 2025-05-08 09:02 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2025-05-08 09:18 pm (UTC)Thank you!