FIC: Torchwood drabble: Carnevale

[fajrdrako]

Title: Carnevale
Author: fajrdrako
Characters: Jack, Gwen, Ianto, Owen, Tosh, the Venetian court
Challenge: #18: alternate universes
Rating: G
Words: 100
Notes: No spoilers. Cross-posted to my LJ and tw100.



Carnevale

The English Captain arrived in Venice with a devastating smile and an entourage of four. The cognoscenti guessed he was a wealthy explorer, or alchemist, or charlatan. He danced and flirted with everyone. His mask revealed nothing but dimples.

He travelled with two women, a doctor, and a young Welshman. They said the women were his lovers, or the handsome youth was. Artists wanted to paint him or bed him. Men gossiped; women stared. The Doge watched.

To those who would listen, he spoke of change and the need for preparation.

One day he disappeared, taking his secrets with him.

~ ~ ~

Comments

[kikibug13.livejournal.com]

Beau-ti-ful!!!

So like Venice, to not really object to real configuration of the team LOL.

Oooh I love the thought of the team in Venice. Really really.

(is it traveled or travelled? I always type travelled and it always give me a spell check error)

[crabby-lioness.livejournal.com]

Nice.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

(is it traveled or travelled? I always type travelled and it always give me a spell check error)

It's "travelled", but these spell-check things are only literate in American, and thus not for the rest of us English-speakers!

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

Delightful concept: the Torchwood team time-travelling! I'd love to see it!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I'd certainly like to see more of it. I love time-travelling stories. There have been a few TV shows that had regular flashbacks to the historical past - Highlander was my favourite, but there was also Forever Knight, which I didn't much like on the whole, but I remember some great medieval scenes. Since Duncan MacLeod was born in 1594 we didn't get medieval scenes with him, but Amanda was born in the 9th century and I loved it when we had flashbacks to her youth.

Anyway: Torchwood could do that, and I wish they would! I loved the episode in 1941.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Beau-ti-ful!!!

With a happy smile - thank you!

So like Venice, to not really object to real configuration of the team LOL.

I see the Venetians as being crafty and flexible. The kind of culture that might actually understand Captain Jack, on an instinctual level.

"Traveled" is a strange American/Microsoft spelling of "travelled". Even worse, spell checkers think "kidnapped" should be "kidnaped", which I have never understood - how can you kid a nape?

I think in fact, Americans have different spelling conventions that aren't related to pronunciation in the way I learned it in school. I don't understand American spelling in the least, so I try to ignore it. You would probably understand it better than I!

And I never trust my computer's spelling. It's an ignoramus.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Variant spelling gives me a headache. It also confuses me. This is one reason I use dictionaries so often... it isn't just my addiction to reference books.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[skywardprodigal.livejournal.com]

Ah, gorgeous. Gorgeous. Gorgeous. I now have an urge to eat a roast chicken with my bare hands...

Though, if I may offer? Please permit me, and it's only a suggestion: perhaps switching "devasting smile" with "entourage of four".

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Gorgeous.

Aww, you've won my heart, you silver-tongued devil. Thank you!

switching "devasting smile" with "entourage of four".

Hmm. Yes, I think you're right.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Lovely, evocative stuff. I really liked "His mask revealed nothing but dimples." I can't imagine Jack not making himself at home wherever he ends up :)

*mems*

[rosiespark.livejournal.com]

Nice!

His mask revealed nothing but dimples.

Ah. I like the ambiguity of that. Is he wearing a Carnival mask or is it his usual "Torchwood mask" hiding the real Jack?

[skywardprodigal.livejournal.com]

Oh, well, okay!

*hugs*

Cool!

And, if ever you find yourself reading something fictional of mine, please do feel free to suggest/critique!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Is he wearing a Carnival mask or is it his usual "Torchwood mask" hiding the real Jack?

Either? Both?

So glad you enjoyed it.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Lovely, evocative stuff.

Thank you so much.

I can't imagine Jack not making himself at home wherever he ends up :)

True... wherever or whenever he came from, he has the knack of fitting in wherever he finds himself, blending into the local ambience, but doing it in his own way.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

So I shall. In fact, I know I have one of your stories printed out on my pile of "fic which I need to comment on a.s.a.p." which does you no good at all (unless you're telepathic) because the pile seems to grow rather than get commented on to the actual authors. One of these days a whole bunch of fan writers are suddenly going to get the comments from me that their stories deserve.

Love your icon!

[damalan.livejournal.com]

Oh I adore Venice (culturally that is, never visited there sadly), and the thought of the Torchwood team there is attractive and amusing.

Jack of course - well it's all old hat, though even his world weariness might find its match with the Venetians. Ianto would find a niche with the Council of Ten, sorting out 'disappearances' and their archives. Owen would be fine until the antibiotics run out and syphilis gets him! ;) For Tosh this is just torture, denying her electricity. And Gwen, bless, would be so far out of her depth you wouldn't see the top of her well-groomed hair.

Thanks for this one again :-)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Oh I adore Venice

So do I.

(culturally that is, never visited there sadly),

I visited there and it's one of my favourite cities ever. I went there so long ago... we'll, they weren't far out of the Renaissance at the time.

even his world weariness might find its match with the Venetians

He'd fit in perfectly.

would find a niche with the Council of Ten, sorting out 'disappearances' and their archives.

He'd be indispensible to the Doge within hours. Nobes would covet him. The question is - would our Ianto cleave loyally to Jack, or would he succumb to temptation and open the Venetian rift?

Owen would be fine until the antibiotics run out and syphilis gets him!

About a week, maybe?

So glad you enjoyed it. And it's fun to find another Venice fan.

[damalan.livejournal.com]

so long ago... we'll, they weren't far out of the Renaissance at the time

Just avoided Napoleon, eh? :-)

Venice really is Jack's ideal city. He could be happily outrageous and no-one would comment. I bet that conman Jack used the city. I reckon Ianto's compromise is to get Jack to marry into one of the great families, then serve as his (very) personal secretary. ;)

There's just something about Venice isn't there? Maybe it's because it was the last city state to have real world power. Maybe because its hedonism seems so modern.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Just avoided Napoleon, eh?

And just missed Richard Sharpe.

I bet that conman Jack used the city.

I certainly hope so!

I reckon Ianto's compromise is to get Jack to marry into one of the great families, then serve as his (very) personal secretary. ;)

What a lovely idea. One could do a whole beautiful AU novel on this.

Maybe it's because it was the last city state to have real world power.

Good point.

Maybe because its hedonism seems so modern.

They had a lovely mix of modern and traditional; and such an interest in the arts. Not just leaders in power politics including warfare and empire - didn't Venice do more than anyone to turn back the Turks at the Battle of Lepanto? - but in culture.

And in being basically the kind of state with secular roots that could defy the Church, not a bad trick in Italy.

[damalan.livejournal.com]

What a lovely idea. One could do a whole beautiful AU novel on this.

Well, as you're the Dorothy Dunnett fan, we volunteered! ;-)

You'd have one reader for sure.


They had a lovely mix of modern and traditional; and such an interest in the arts. Not just leaders in power politics including warfare and empire - didn't Venice do more than anyone to turn back the Turks at the Battle of Lepanto? - but in culture.


Yup, the Venetians contributed a huge part of the fleet that won at Lepanto in 1571, breaking Ottoman supremacy in the Mediterranean, and forcing the Empire to negotiate over trade.

And though perhaps other Italian city states could argue for greater cultural heritage (Florence, for example), Venice really began the tradition in my opinion.


And in being basically the kind of state with secular roots that could defy the Church, not a bad trick in Italy.

Venice was condemned often by the Papacy, but its influence was always such so as to leave its traditions broadly untouched. And then it developed such a reputation for wantonness that naturally the cognoscenti of Europe wanted to visit to find out for themselves! They were the original tourist destination. ;-)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

And they still are one of the best tourist destinations! A wonderful city however you look at it. I want to visit again. And stay a long time.

Too bad I can't visit its Baroque age. (Don't have a TARDIS. Drat.)

[damalan.livejournal.com]

And they still are one of the best tourist destinations! A wonderful city however you look at it. I want to visit again. And stay a long time.

There's something to be said for having centuries of experience catering to tourists! I would love to visit.


Don't have a TARDIS.

Perhaps you could try writing "c/o UNIT"? ;-)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Those UNIT guys make me nervous!

[damalan.livejournal.com]

Dontcha know they're the heroes? Torchwood is full of monsters. ;-)

From a certain Point of View.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes. I guess I sometimes see things from the monsters' point of view. (When it's Jack, anyway....)

[damalan.livejournal.com]

Now if only the aliens would play nice, then Jack could too. Sadly he lacks access to the Doctor's limitless knowledge; A-Team like ability to build whatever he needs from just wires and spoons; and the luck that always makes the bad guys make an exploitable mistake... :)

But that might be slightly off-topic.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Limitless knowledge and limitless perception would be handy in a pinch. But we know that the really important thing where the Doctor is concerned is the ability to run when told to. Fast.

It's also good to own a sonic screwdriver.

[damalan.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the TARDIS makes a handy escape device, and it does tend to be there when he needs it.

And the sonic screwdriver? It's a plot device that gets writers round all sorts of difficulties explaining how the Doctor does something - it just does it. And we accept it, again and again. Jack had better damn well ask the Doc to get him one from the hardware store while they're out and about!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I think Jack tried to make his own - the device he's using to track ... something ... the trajectory of the spacecraft ... in "Day One". Obviously it doesn't work very well yet: he's probably still experimenting with the theoretical design. From memory.

No wonder he wants to find the Doctor again!

[damalan.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah. He used it again, or something very like it, in End of Days doing something (!) to the unconscious Roman soldier.

Jack clearly doesn't realise that sonic screwdrivers are blue, not green! Or maybe they're like Star Wars lightsabers, a reflection of their user. ;)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

He used it again, or something very like it, in End of Days doing something (!) to the unconscious Roman soldier.

Making it look suspiciously like a tricorder. Yes.

Jack clearly doesn't realise that sonic screwdrivers are blue, not green!

Ah, that's the key. He just can't achieve that right shade of blue. Cearly greed doesn't do the trick. He will have to continue to experiment with Roman soldiers. At every opportunity.

[damalan.livejournal.com]

Ah yes, that line. So very very Jack. :)

And it does beg the question: has Jack already had experience with exuberant Roman soldiers?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

it does beg the question: has Jack already had experience with exuberant Roman soldiers?

Well, he has been to Pompeii to wait for Volcano Day. I'm sure he made the most of his opportunities while there.

[damalan.livejournal.com]

Good point! Jack clearly has a thing for men in uniform. ;)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

He doesn't exactly try to hide it!

[damalan.livejournal.com]

We may know almost nothing else about him, but we do know that! What does that say about our captain?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Well, for one thing, that his 'vintage military' clothes are not accidentally chosen. That it may be the result of having gone into the army very young. That he likes action and action-oriented people.

[damalan.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Jack really is a military man. You wonder what dealings Captain Harkness of the Torchwood Institute has with UNIT? He's mentioned them a few times, and it might be he's always been the Institute point man.

Of course, sensibly, he doesn't try and run his team in Torchwood Three as military. Bunch of prima donnas! ;-)

Oh, and Ianto's suit is definitely a uniform. I understand, I've been a servant of the court system, and it works a treat!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

You wonder what dealings Captain Harkness of the Torchwood Institute has with UNIT? He's mentioned them a few times, and it might be he's always been the Institute point man.

Interesting thought. Maybe. I like the way the references have not been clear - there's always such an edge of ambiguity in Jack's life. My theory has been that Jack is running Torchwood the way he'd run a scam - that he isn't as legitimate as we've been led to believe - and that UNIT is one of the few organizations that could expose him if they chose to.

Of course, sensibly, he doesn't try and run his team in Torchwood Three as military.

Not in the least. I'm not sure if this is a choice of temperament or his attempts to adjust to a non-military lifestyle. Could be both.

Ianto's suit is definitely a uniform. I understand, I've been a servant of the court system, and it works a treat!

It obviously worked where Jack is concerned. "Looks good in a suit." I'm not sure if it's a uniform, or if it's simply bait....