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m_findlowTitle: For the right price
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters/Pairings: Jack, Ianto
Word Count: 500 words
Rating: PG
Notes: Written for Challenge 203 - Cloth at![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
anythingdrabble
Summary: Traders should know better than to try and swindle a master tailor's son.
Jack wasn't a fan of clothes shopping, and liked fabric shopping even less, but when they came across a market he could hardly say no to Ianto checking out what else they could buy apart from food and medicines. When they stumbled upon the vendor selling haberdashery, Jack knew he was in for the long haul. Once upon a time, he wouldn't have let Ianto bargain for anything, utterly hopeless at it, but now he was as well versed as any intergalactic traveller.
'Finest cloth this side of Eumeran Six,' the alien promised them, stroking the bolt of pale lavender fabric that Ianto's eyes hand landed upon with a reverence that bordered on obsessive. 'If you like this one, I have many more,' he said, turning to grab several heavy bolts from a worn timber shelf that looked like it was holding up the entire market stall, mostly by sheer will of force.
Jack watched his husband finger the edge of the cloth, assessing it for himself. 'What's the thread count?'
'One decimal four K,' he replied, Galactic Standard for fourteen hundred. 'As smooth as silk,' he added, 'without the price tag, though I have some very lovely silk as well. But this, worth the extra price for its loveliness.'
Jack watched the exchange with mild curiosity. Ianto was particular about what he bought, knowing he could take it to one of the best tailors in the universe to turn it into something magic and so quintessentially Ianto. Your average shirt just didn't cut it. His tastes were bespoke as was his look and Jack wouldn't have it any other way. Even Jack knew his way around a silk tie and its many fine qualities.
'Feels more like one decimal to me,' Ianto replied, still rubbing it judiciously between thumb pad and index finger.
'Oh, no, no, no!' the alien gushed, dropping the armful of fabrics and rushing to defend his wares. 'Much better than that. Why do you think it is so expensive?'
Ianto's eyes narrowed and it was all Jack could do to repress his smirk. 'I think that's because you've been trying to rip people off who don't know any better. Those bolts over there that you claimed were one hundred percent wool are actually a cotton blend. You do know that it's a crime to misrepresent your wares, don't you?'
The alien took umbrage at the accusation. 'I'm not forcing anyone to buy it. If they can't tell the difference…'
'Well, I can. I'll give you half of what you're asking for it, and even that's a decent price. Take it and I won't mention your dodgy practices to anyone.'
The alien begrudgingly began cutting out the length of cloth before Ianto pointed to two dozen more, walking away with a sizeable pile of fabrics and his pocket only slightly lighter.
'Who swindled who?' Jack observed, helping to carry the heavy load.
Ianto didn't look at all guilty. 'I bought you some as well, so hush.'
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters/Pairings: Jack, Ianto
Word Count: 500 words
Rating: PG
Notes: Written for Challenge 203 - Cloth at
anythingdrabbleSummary: Traders should know better than to try and swindle a master tailor's son.
Jack wasn't a fan of clothes shopping, and liked fabric shopping even less, but when they came across a market he could hardly say no to Ianto checking out what else they could buy apart from food and medicines. When they stumbled upon the vendor selling haberdashery, Jack knew he was in for the long haul. Once upon a time, he wouldn't have let Ianto bargain for anything, utterly hopeless at it, but now he was as well versed as any intergalactic traveller.
'Finest cloth this side of Eumeran Six,' the alien promised them, stroking the bolt of pale lavender fabric that Ianto's eyes hand landed upon with a reverence that bordered on obsessive. 'If you like this one, I have many more,' he said, turning to grab several heavy bolts from a worn timber shelf that looked like it was holding up the entire market stall, mostly by sheer will of force.
Jack watched his husband finger the edge of the cloth, assessing it for himself. 'What's the thread count?'
'One decimal four K,' he replied, Galactic Standard for fourteen hundred. 'As smooth as silk,' he added, 'without the price tag, though I have some very lovely silk as well. But this, worth the extra price for its loveliness.'
Jack watched the exchange with mild curiosity. Ianto was particular about what he bought, knowing he could take it to one of the best tailors in the universe to turn it into something magic and so quintessentially Ianto. Your average shirt just didn't cut it. His tastes were bespoke as was his look and Jack wouldn't have it any other way. Even Jack knew his way around a silk tie and its many fine qualities.
'Feels more like one decimal to me,' Ianto replied, still rubbing it judiciously between thumb pad and index finger.
'Oh, no, no, no!' the alien gushed, dropping the armful of fabrics and rushing to defend his wares. 'Much better than that. Why do you think it is so expensive?'
Ianto's eyes narrowed and it was all Jack could do to repress his smirk. 'I think that's because you've been trying to rip people off who don't know any better. Those bolts over there that you claimed were one hundred percent wool are actually a cotton blend. You do know that it's a crime to misrepresent your wares, don't you?'
The alien took umbrage at the accusation. 'I'm not forcing anyone to buy it. If they can't tell the difference…'
'Well, I can. I'll give you half of what you're asking for it, and even that's a decent price. Take it and I won't mention your dodgy practices to anyone.'
The alien begrudgingly began cutting out the length of cloth before Ianto pointed to two dozen more, walking away with a sizeable pile of fabrics and his pocket only slightly lighter.
'Who swindled who?' Jack observed, helping to carry the heavy load.
Ianto didn't look at all guilty. 'I bought you some as well, so hush.'
