Snakeling’s Recs

[Torchwood]

Title: The Long Game
Author: Adina adina-atl
Summary: Ianto had known Torchwood’s retirement policy since the first day he started in London: twenty years and a gold watch, or…less…and a little white pill. And he wanted out. A first season AU.
Characters: Ianto, Jack, team
Rating: PG
Warning: AU

Why?

Too many people seem to forget that Ianto is a master manipulator, as good as playing people as Jack, though they use different techniques. Adina not only doesn’t, she plays it up, to great effect.

[Torchwood]

Title: King and Country
Author: aeshna-uk
Summary: “I should have the sorry lot of you thrown in the Tower!”
Characters: Jack Harkness, King Edward VIII, OCs
Rating: PG

Why?

A brilliant interweaving of history and fiction. Jack is quite creepy, there, taking pleasure in being a mysterious, threatening presence.

[Torchwood/Doctor Who]

Title: Pocket Watch Boy
Author: Mhalachai mhalachaiswords
Summary: Ianto Jones is a very different sort of boy. (wee!Time Lord!Ianto)
Characters/Pairing: Ianto Jones/Jack Harkness, team Torchwood, the Doctor, Donna Noble
Rating: PG-13

Why?

A really good take on the Time Lord!Ianto cliché, especially the difference in point of view between Ianto and the Doctor, regarding Jack. Very good use of the Team, especially Gwen, as well as the Doctor. Donna feels a little off, but it was written before Season 4 aired.

Caveat Lector

There are a few too many references to pop culture, that don't always quite sit with British characters.

[Torchwood]

Title: Make a Beginning
Author: dsudis
Summary: Post-"Exit Wounds". Gwen couldn't go on like that much longer. Neither could Torchwood.
Characters: Gwen Cooper, Jack Harkness/Ianto Jones
Rating: PG-13

Why?

I want to see this in canon. I really, really want to see this in canon. This is Gwen Cooper as the show meant to show us, and never quite managed to.

[Torchwood]

Title: Soldier Boy
Author: ceefax-the-sane
Summary: The boys play with uniforms. There's mention of that thing that Jack asked Martha for in Reset.
Pairing: Jack Harkness/Ianto Jones
Rating: NC-17
Warning: spanking, roleplay

Why?

I have no problem whatsoever seeing Jack as a sub, but there's no doubt he'd make any Dom work for it. Thankfully, Ianto is more than up for the challenge. Very funny, and amazingly hot; Ianto is not the only one to understand the power of anticipation. ;)

[Torchwood]

Title: The End of a Circle
Author: k_haldane
Summary: Jack was in Cardiff because the Rift was here.
Character: Jack Harkness
Rating: PG-13

Why?

People who have been following this rec journal know how much I love complicated, Moebius-strip time-travel stories. This one is a glowing example of what I mean by that.

It's also a very realistic and very interesting look at what happened to Jack during Exit Wounds, and develops some interesting theories about the Rift.

[Torchwood]

Title: Transitional Spaces
Author: nightanddaze
Summary: They're changing, both of them, together.
Pairing: Jack Harkness/Ianto Jones, Ianto Jones/OFC
Rating: NC-17

Why?

The relationship between Jack and Ianto is dark and complex, and the author captures it perfectly, showing it in all its fucked-up glory. She even manages to sell me jealous!Jack, which is no mean feat.

[Torchwood]

Title: Shall I Compare Thee To A Tentacled Alien Corpse?
Author: marginaliana
Summary: Thou art more lovely and more temperate. Jack and Ianto's naughty limerick war.
Pairing: Jack Harkness/Ianto Jones
Rating: PG-13

Why?

Absolutely hilarious, and very, very in character for all of them. The perfect little interlude.

[Torchwood]

Title: Graphophilia
Author: apiphile
Summary: Jack knows the power of anticipation.
Pairing: Jack Harkness/Ianto Jones
Rating: NC-17

Why?

Because it's blindingly hot! And proof positive that you don't need sophisticated sex-toys for kinky sex; a simple biro will suffice.

[Torchwood]

Title: Proof of your Existence
Author: OneSarcasticChick sarcastic_jo
Summary: "Can you offer me proof of your existence? How can you? When neither modern science nor philosophy can explain what life is."
Pairing: Jack Harkness/Ianto Jones, team
Rating: NC-17

Why?

Very clever and original concept that I can't explain as it would spoil the story. You'll need to read it twice to realise how many clues to the plot twist there are, too.

It has the feel of an episode, with excellent plot and pacing, and while it's a Ianto-centric story, none of the cast is forgotten or shoe-horned into a tokenish role. Excellent sci-fi with philosophical undertones, exploring what it means to be alive, and human.

[Torchwood]

Title: Paradox
Author: snowwhiteliar
Summary: When Torchwood were sent to the Himalayas, Ianto chose to stay behind and look after the Hub. He didn't think it would be quite this much trouble.
Pairing: Jack Harkness/Ianto Jones, Ianto Jones/Ianto Jones
Rating: R
Warning: character death

Why?

A look at what might have happened if Ianto had stayed at the Hub instead of going to the Himalayas with the team. Loneliness and paranoia do not make a good combination, and it's never quite clear how much of the events are real, or due to Ianto's mind snapping, as the author very cleverly drops clues pointing to both explanations.

Very dark and creepy, this is a story that will stay with you long after you've closed the page.

[Torchwood]

Title: Love the Coat
Author: sanginmychains
Summary: This slowly-growing series covers Jack and Ianto's relationship from just after the pterodactyl scene in "Fragments" until, well, it remains to be seen.
Pairing: Jack Harkness/Ianto Jones
Rating: NC-17

Why?

Pre-Cyberwoman Jack/Ianto has potential for really complicated sex and mind-fuckery of the first order. This certainly delivers, with characterisations of Jack and Ianto that could have been taken straight off my mind. Delicious

[Torchwood]

Title: Something Like Hope
Author: Kate amazonqueenkate
Summary: In Torchwood, everything's possible.
Pairing: Jack Harkness/Ianto Jones
Rating: R
Warning: mpreg

Why?

I usually approach mpreg with a great deal of wariness, because most of it is dire, but the author pulls off a serious mpreg without once writing the characters OOC.

The pregnancy itself is written realistically, never for comic effect, and the explanation is never handwoven, and is in fact an integral part of the plot.

[Torchwood]

Title: Getting to Yes
Author: technosage
Summary: Now that they've settled into this pattern, how is he to tell Jack that, in all fairness, he thinks Jack ought to let him have a go?
Pairing: Ianto Jones/Jack Harkness
Rating: NC-17

Why?

Slow, vivid build-up leading to scorching sex! And the author has an excellent grip on both Jack and Ianto. Excellent.

[Torchwood]

Title: Take Me There
Author: coffeejunkii
Summary:Jack and Ianto get some hands-on experience with The Joy of Gay Sex.
Pairing: Ianto Jones/Jack Harkness
Rating: NC-17

Why?

A deliciously porny story, all in the build-up, with sex made an intrinsic part of the plot. It also happens to be the best fisting fic I’ve ever read, even though there isn’t any fisting in it.

[Torchwood]

Title: Moving In
Author: Calico ukcalico
Summary: Ianto's first day at work. AKA, Oblivious Jack is oblivious!
Pairing: Ianto Jones/Jack Harkness
Rating: NC-17

Why?

I'm firmly of the opinion that Jack and Ianto were fucking well before Lisa died. And thankfully, there are some great writers who agree with me. And of course, any story set at that time would feature a fucked-up Ianto, with complicated feelings and motivations, and a totally oblivious, but curious Jack. Mmmm.

[Torchwood]

Title: Kingdom of Air
Author: Karen lookninjas
Summary: The Torchwood Team is sent to the Himalayas by Harold Saxon.
Characters: Ianto Jones, Gwen Cooper, Owen Harper, Toshiko Sato
Rating: R

Why?

Absolutely gorgeous, amazing story! It's very difficult to write a team fic, where all the roles are balanced out and nobody's neglected, but Karen pulls it off masterly.

As much as it is a team fic, it's also a Ianto fic: Ianto is thrust into the role of leader, by virtue of being the only one with climbing experience, and he has to cope through horrific situations. The dichotomy between his private emotions and what he lets show is written very well, as unsettling for the reader as it is for Ianto.

Probably one of the best Torchwood fics, highly recommended.

[Torchwood]

Title: Trying to Communicate
Author: Sam Starbuck sams_cafe
Summary: There's an alien in the Hub, and it's trying to communicate.
Characters: Team, with hints of Jack Harkness/Ianto Jones
Rating: PG

Why?

Complete and utter crack, but the excellent kind. It will leave you in tears of laughter. You'll need to be familiar with the concept of LOLcats.

Caveat Lector

Spoilers for Dead Man Walking (2x07).

[Torchwood]

Title: Everything Changes but Paperwork
Author: basingstoke
Summary: Orientation will be provided by the administrative staff.
Characters: Gwen Cooper, Ianto Jones, Jack Harkness
Rating: PG

Why?

A quiet little story about Gwen signing her Torchwood contract. Fun and somewhat bittersweet.

[Torchwood]

Title: Nemo Me Impune Lacessit
Author: Derry derryderrydown
Summary: "You let Ianto fall into the Rift," Jack said, with a level of strained calm that had Owen edging towards the door. "Alright." He took a deep breath. "But you should know that nobody sleeps until we find him. And I'm probably going to fire you all."
Pairing: Jack Harkness/Ianto Jones
Rating: R

Why?

It's no secret that I love Moebius strip plots, and this is a very good example of it. Set in one of my favourite periods of history, to boot.

The contrast between pre-World-Wars!Jack and Torchwood!Jack is what makes the story. Pre-World-Wars!Jack is carefree and careless, charming and annoying. Torchwood!Jack has learnt the meaning of responsibility, and their confrontation is a thing of beauty.

A lovely story, with just the right amount of angst and humour.