Challenge 875 - Universal language
Jul. 27th, 2025 08:35 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
m_findlowTitle: Universal language
Character: Gwen, Jack, Owen, Ianto
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 300 words
Length: 300 words
Content notes: None
Author notes: Written for Challenge 875 - Bridge at ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
torchwood100
torchwood100Summary: Everyone is at their wits end trying to bridge the language gap. A triple drabble.
‘I give up,’ Gwen said. We’ve tried everything to try and figure out what language they speak, she said referring to the four tentacled alien creatures. ‘Tosh has run every translation program we have and shown them every different piece of written text from our database to see if they recognise any of them.’
‘And I’ve given every language I know a go,’ Jack added, ‘Including air guitar.’
Gwen frowned. ‘What?’
‘Don’t ask, it’s a long story.’
Owen gave a cheeky smirk. ‘What, you don’t speak tentacle creature? Thought you’d be well versed in that kinky crap. Couldn't shag your way to a translation?’
‘Certain things cross all language barriers,’ Jack replied, ‘but we’re not there. Yet.’
Owen snorted. ‘Only because Teaboy would make sure it was the last encounter you ever had.’
Jack looked around. ‘Where is Ianto with those coffees, anyway?’
‘Ask and you shall receive,’ came the soft Welsh undertones as he descended the spiral staircase. As soon as Ianto appeared with his tray of coffees for the team, four pairs of eyes became fixated on him. There was an “oooooohh….” and then the aliens rushed at him, grasping mugs from the tray and slurping them with wild abandon before corralling him once more, waving the now empty mugs in a sign that seconds were required.
‘Well, there you go,’ Ianto remarked. ‘It turns out the language they speak is espresso macchiato, long black, cappuccino and triple shot Americano, no sugar. Finally some appreciation around here.’
‘They drank my sodding coffee,’ Owen moaned.
‘Nice work, Ianto. Now that we’ve managed to bridge the communication gap, we just need to figure out how to translate it.’
‘Didn’t I tell you that one day I’d find my people and that they’d worship me?’
Jack smirked. ‘All hail King Ianto.’
‘I give up,’ Gwen said. We’ve tried everything to try and figure out what language they speak, she said referring to the four tentacled alien creatures. ‘Tosh has run every translation program we have and shown them every different piece of written text from our database to see if they recognise any of them.’
‘And I’ve given every language I know a go,’ Jack added, ‘Including air guitar.’
Gwen frowned. ‘What?’
‘Don’t ask, it’s a long story.’
Owen gave a cheeky smirk. ‘What, you don’t speak tentacle creature? Thought you’d be well versed in that kinky crap. Couldn't shag your way to a translation?’
‘Certain things cross all language barriers,’ Jack replied, ‘but we’re not there. Yet.’
Owen snorted. ‘Only because Teaboy would make sure it was the last encounter you ever had.’
Jack looked around. ‘Where is Ianto with those coffees, anyway?’
‘Ask and you shall receive,’ came the soft Welsh undertones as he descended the spiral staircase. As soon as Ianto appeared with his tray of coffees for the team, four pairs of eyes became fixated on him. There was an “oooooohh….” and then the aliens rushed at him, grasping mugs from the tray and slurping them with wild abandon before corralling him once more, waving the now empty mugs in a sign that seconds were required.
‘Well, there you go,’ Ianto remarked. ‘It turns out the language they speak is espresso macchiato, long black, cappuccino and triple shot Americano, no sugar. Finally some appreciation around here.’
‘They drank my sodding coffee,’ Owen moaned.
‘Nice work, Ianto. Now that we’ve managed to bridge the communication gap, we just need to figure out how to translate it.’
‘Didn’t I tell you that one day I’d find my people and that they’d worship me?’
Jack smirked. ‘All hail King Ianto.’
no subject
Date: 2025-07-27 10:55 am (UTC)