Entry tags:
Challenge 847 - Normal for some
Title: Normal for some
Character: Jack, Ianto
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 300 words
Length: 300 words
Content notes: None
Author notes: Written for Challenge 847 - Normal at
torchwood100
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Summary: Ianto has some preconceived notions of what constitutes normal that need deeper examination. A triple drabble.
Ianto studied the curious alien corpse on the autopsy table, awaiting Owen's examination. ‘Why can’t they be normal like us?’
‘Normal?’ Jack replied. ‘Humans happen to be considered quite strange by many species in the universe. I mean, just look at us. We’re full of bones that can break and soft organs that can be easily damaged, skin that does nothing to protect us, not even from the sun’s UV rays. We've only got eyes enough to have a limited field of vision and no ability to swivel our heads a full three hundred and sixty degrees. We need to sleep every day and refuel almost as often without the ability to store energy or have periods of deep hibernation. We have to control the length of our hair and nails by cutting and shaving. Our brains aren't sufficiently evolved to allow for telepathic communication or enable future insight. And we have completely heterosexual reproduction, able to reproduce only a single offspring at a time, which has to be gestated for what is universally considered a very long time. Face it, we’re deficient in just about every physical aspect. We’re as far from normal as it’s possible to get.’
‘Well,’ Ianto said, trying to wrap his brain around Jack's description of them. ‘We’re not totally deficient,’ he finally said. ‘You have some physical aspects that are more than sufficient.’
Jack gave him a teasing grin. ‘Oh, I do, do I?’
‘Some might say excessively sufficient, almost bordering on abnormal.’
‘Care to elaborate?’
‘Perhaps in a more intimate setting,’ Ianto replied. ‘Can’t have all the humans here thinking you're abnormal in any way. Even if it is a good way.’
‘Depends what you consider to be abnormal. I mean, if we’re comparing…’
Ianto grinned. ‘We won't be needing the tape measure.’
Ianto studied the curious alien corpse on the autopsy table, awaiting Owen's examination. ‘Why can’t they be normal like us?’
‘Normal?’ Jack replied. ‘Humans happen to be considered quite strange by many species in the universe. I mean, just look at us. We’re full of bones that can break and soft organs that can be easily damaged, skin that does nothing to protect us, not even from the sun’s UV rays. We've only got eyes enough to have a limited field of vision and no ability to swivel our heads a full three hundred and sixty degrees. We need to sleep every day and refuel almost as often without the ability to store energy or have periods of deep hibernation. We have to control the length of our hair and nails by cutting and shaving. Our brains aren't sufficiently evolved to allow for telepathic communication or enable future insight. And we have completely heterosexual reproduction, able to reproduce only a single offspring at a time, which has to be gestated for what is universally considered a very long time. Face it, we’re deficient in just about every physical aspect. We’re as far from normal as it’s possible to get.’
‘Well,’ Ianto said, trying to wrap his brain around Jack's description of them. ‘We’re not totally deficient,’ he finally said. ‘You have some physical aspects that are more than sufficient.’
Jack gave him a teasing grin. ‘Oh, I do, do I?’
‘Some might say excessively sufficient, almost bordering on abnormal.’
‘Care to elaborate?’
‘Perhaps in a more intimate setting,’ Ianto replied. ‘Can’t have all the humans here thinking you're abnormal in any way. Even if it is a good way.’
‘Depends what you consider to be abnormal. I mean, if we’re comparing…’
Ianto grinned. ‘We won't be needing the tape measure.’
no subject
Still, they do have a few aspects that other humans can sometimes enjoy.