JMDC Challenge 162 - Life's a beach

[m_findlow]

Title: Life's a beach
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Jack, Ianto
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 1,507 words
Content notes: none
Author notes: Written for enchanted_jae's Monthly Drabble Challenge 162 - Beach, Cocktail, Sunglasses, Swim, Tan line(s).
Summary: Jack has some objections to calling Welsh beaches proper beaches.

Ianto studied the expression on Jack's face as he forced the SUV to go flying down the highway. 'What?' Ianto asked.

'What what?' Jack replied, being flippant.

'That expression on your face.'

Jack kept his eyes fixed on the road ahead. 'I have an expression?'

Ianto snorted. 'You always have an expression.'

'So... What kind of expression? Is this a guessing game like "I Spy" that we're playing? I didn't realise that we'd reached that level or boredom yet.'

'You look... I don't know, annoyed or puzzled or something. In any event, not the expression of someone who is enjoying having a day off.'

Jack chuckled. 'Don't be silly, Ianto. Of course I'm happy to be having a day off. They're few enough as it is. As if I'm going to be upset about getting to spend a day with you.'

'You spend every day with me. We work together, remember?'

'You know what I mean.'

'So? What's with the frown, then? You must have something on your mind. As much as I'm convinced you're sometimes so empty-headed that there's not even a hamster on a wheel in there, I know better than that.'

Jack leaned his wrist comfortably on the top of the steering wheel and eased off the accelerator just a touch. The turnoff came into view and Jack pulled the car left, slowing for the winding gravel road that would lead them down to the coast. 'It's just your idea of location.'

Ianto raised his eyebrows at Jack. 'The beach? What's wrong with the beach?'

Jack shook his head, as if he could shake away whatever was troubling him. 'Forget it. We've got the whole day together. Let's just enjoy it.'

Ianto furrowed his brow but let it go. He knew better than to press Jack when he decided to clam up like that.

Jack pulled the SUV up beside a patch of tall grasses in the small asphalt space that qualified as a car park. The grasses bent and swayed in the breeze, taking on the impression of something living and breathing as they undulated. He was quick to alight and pop the boot, retrieving the picnic basket and blanket that Ianto had so carefully packed earlier that morning. Ianto could read the look of anticipation on Jack's face from a mile away, knowing Ianto had packed all of his favourites, along with more than enough of his famous coffee to see them though lunch and the afternoon.

'Got everything?' Ianto asked.

'Yup. Let's go. The beach waits for no man.'

The walk through the shallow dunes didn't take long at all and the beach was virtually deserted on this slightly overcast day. They had their pick of spots to set up, selecting a partly sheltered spot in the lee of the rocky cliffs that encircled the small inlet. Ianto laid out the blanket whilst Jack borrowed a few nearby rocks to pin down the corners against the breeze blowing off the water.

Ianto unpacked some of their food, taking care to fill both mugs to the brim with a round of coffee. He caught that little frown again as he passed one of them to Jack. Jack sipped it in silence and stared out over the water, his own eyes matching it for their cool, stormy colour.

'What's going on with you? Ianto asked. You're all brooding. Can't we just enjoy the view? It's a lovely day at the beach and we've got it practically to ourselves.'

'This is not a beach, Ianto. '

'Don't be stupid, of course it's a beach.'

'It's shale,' Jack clarified. 'Granted there's a little sand way up here, but down there it's all rocks and pebbles.'

'It's still a beach.'

'Trust me, I know a thing or two about beaches. I grew up on a planet surrounded by them. Sand is literally in my blood.'

'Sand is just a concept,' Ianto replied. 'It depends on the currents and stuff as to how much the rocks and shells get broken down. Admittedly it's not perfect white sand as far as the eye can see, but...'

'Ianto, close you eyes for a minute and just imagine what I'm describing to you.'

'But,' he began.

Jack grabbed him by the hands. 'But nothing. Just go with me.'

Ianto sighed and reluctantly closed his eyes as instructed.

'Now, imagine it's hot. So hot that you don't even sweat because the second you do, the hot winds whisk it straight off your body. The skies are the deepest shade of azure without a cloud in sight. Beneath your feet is sand so soft and warm that your feet sink into it with every step. It rolls on for miles, up and down in huge dunes thirty feet high in some places. You can climb all the way up to the top of one and slide all the way down the other side in seconds. Just over the top of that last dune, you can hear the ocean. It's crashing against the sand and sweeping up the beach in long arcs that wrap around your ankles. Even the water is warm, like sinking into a nice hot bath. The beach is littered with shells and seaglass that forms whenever the afternoon lightning storms sweep in. No matter how many times you visit, there's always some new treasure to collect. And as the sun sets, the ocean changes from a deep green to a blazing red as the sun sinks down into it. Now, that's a beach.'

Ianto opened his eyes and watched the strange faraway look on Jack's face. 'I thought you'd stopped hankering for home.'

Jack shrugged, wrapping his arms around his knees. 'I'm allowed to indulge every once in a while, aren't I?'

'Slip on a pair of sunglasses and pretend then.'

'I don't need sunglasses because there's no sun, the water is a few degrees above freezing, if that, so we won't be going for a swim, and I'm definitely not going to have to worry about tan lines with all this cloud. Hell, it's more likely to rain and for us to catch cold than to get sunburnt.'

Ianto pinched the bridge of his nose. Oi. And here he'd been thinking the beach would be a good idea for a date. 'Next thing you'll be complaining we don't have any cocktails served in coconuts with little umbrellas in them.'

'Hmm. I hadn't thought of that, but you're right. And not a palm tree in sight, swaying in the breeze.'

'So, what you're saying to me is that I'm not going to get to see you take off your shirt?' Ianto teased, trying to change the subject.

'There will be zero skinny dipping on my part,' Jack affirmed. 'If you want me naked it's going to have to be in the SUV.'

Ianto snorted. 'In a public car park? I don't think so.' They might have the beach to themselves but he wasn't about to trust that the car park would stay just as private.

'Seems we're at an impasse then,' Jack said.

'Well, that's just taken all the romance out of it, hasn't it?' Ianto huffed and leaned back on the rug, taking in the scenery. Yes, it was overcast, and yes, it was perhaps a little monotone, and yes, the wind and the general temperature were not going to convince anyone to strip down to their bathing suits unless they possessed an immunity to hypothermia. But having said that, it was also rugged and moody, windswept and generally unspoiled by the crowding of people. The waves crashed onto the beach, wind whistled as it caressed the craggy cliffs, and the sound of gulls and cormorants pierced the air with their cries. It was no Maldives and it was no Biarritz. It wasn't even Brighton or South End, but it was natural Welsh beauty at its finest. Or so he thought in his humble opinion.

'Take a good look around you, Jack, and tell me this isn't at least picturesque in its own way. And it's got to be better than hanging around at home.'

Jack stood up and Ianto watched as the winds buffeted his lover, sweeping his fringe sideways and he did a three sixty turn to take in the full view. He waited for some comment about how it was still no Boeshane Peninsula when he saw Jack freeze, staring fixatedly at something just over the dunes, back where they'd parked their car.

'Ooh! There's an ice cream van! Ianto, let's go!'

'Ice-cream?' Ianto queried. 'All the complaints in the world but it's still good enough weather for ice cream?'

'Hurry up before he leaves!' Jack said, reached down and grabbing him by the wrist. 'Leave all this stuff here. We'll come back for it.'

Ianto stumbled behind as Jack tugged at his arm, dragging him in his wake towards the colourful van. Okay, so maybe there was a little bit of South End about it. He bet Boeshane never had any ice cream vans.

Comments

[enchanted-jae.livejournal.com]

We all scream for ice cream. Ha ha! Thanks for the entry!

[bk_forever]

Jack is WAY too picky sometimes, I'd love to be on the windswept Welsh coast, a deserted little bay, with a hot Welshman for company!

[m-findlow.livejournal.com]

The hot Welshman aspect definitely sells it, lol! As much as I love holidaying and walking the miles of perfect beaches on the Gold Coast, I'd love a windswept, moody British beach just as much.